JP2964057B2 - Coin sensor of coin discriminator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sensor for a coin discriminating apparatus provided in a device used by coin insertion, such as a public telephone or a vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 13, a coin C inserted from a coin slot 1 is rolled and dropped along an inclined coin orbit 10 and provided along the coin orbit. The material of the coin according to the signal from the coin sensor
A coin discriminating device is provided for detecting the thickness and diameter of the coin, discriminating the truth and type of the coin, and discriminating the inserted coin.

As shown in FIG. 14A, a cross section of a coin orbit 10 of a conventional coin discriminating apparatus has a substrate 15 inclined with respect to a vertical plane and a predetermined interval from the substrate 15. The flapper 16 includes a parallel flapper 16 and a rail 11 that is attached to the flapper 16 at an angle to a horizontal line at the lower end thereof. Then, the coin C that has fallen from the slot into the coin orbit 10 has the inclined rail 1 with the peripheral end surface C contacting the rail 11 and the abdominal surface C ″ contacting the substrate 15.
It rolls and falls along 1 and passes through a coin sensor S consisting of a transmission coil 12 and a reception coil 13 attached to face the substrate 15 and the flapper 16, respectively, with the coin orbit interposed. The transmission coil 12 generates an alternating magnetic field in the coin orbit 10, and an eddy current is generated in the coin receiving the magnetic field, and the magnetic field due to the eddy current changes the magnetic field of the transmission coil. In the receiving coil 13, a signal whose phase and amplitude change in accordance with the change in the magnetic field is induced.

The coin discriminating device obtains the material, passing timing, thickness, etc. of the coin from the magnitude and timing of the change of the induced voltage signal of the receiving coil 13 and discriminates the type of the coin and its truth. Available coins are sorted to a route according to their type, and unusable coins are sent to a return route.

[0005] When coins are jammed on the coin orbit or when the safe cannot be used due to the fullness of the safe, the flapper 16 is opened as shown in FIG. 10 and returned via a return path (not shown).

[0006]

However, in the coin sensor having the structure in which the receiving coil 13 moves together with the flapper 16 with respect to the transmitting coil 12 as described above, a slight displacement of the return position of the flapper 16 and the vibration of the flapper 16 occur. Due to such factors, the distance between the transmission coil 12 and the reception coil 13 changes, and the distance between the reception coil 13 and the coin also changes. For this reason, even if the same coin is inserted, a large variation occurs in the induced voltage signal of the receiving coil 13, and the coin cannot be discriminated with high accuracy.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coin sensor for a coin discriminating apparatus which solves this problem.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a coin sensor of the coin discriminating apparatus of the present invention is provided near a coin orbit of the coin discriminating apparatus and generates a magnetic field in the coin orbit. In a coin sensor of a coin discriminating apparatus having a receiving coil for detecting a magnetic field change due to an eddy current generated in a coin receiving a magnetic field of the transmitting coil, the transmitting coil has a cylindrical magnetic shape having one end face side and a peripheral wall closed. The outer peripheral portion is in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the core, and is fixed concentrically inside the magnetic core so as to be substantially flush with the peripheral wall end surface on the opening side of the magnetic core. Smaller than the inner diameter of the coin and smaller than the diameter of the coin so as to be able to detect the difference in the magnitude of the eddy current distributed on the coin. Wall end surface of the mouth side and is fixed to the substantially flush with a position, between the outer peripheral portion of the receiver coil and the inner peripheral portion of the transmission coil is formed of a non-magnetic material.

[0009]

As described above, in the coin sensor of the present invention, the annular transmission coil is fixed along the inner peripheral wall on the opening side of the cylindrical magnetic core, and the reception coil is substantially flush with the inside of the transmission coil in the same direction. Since the transmission coil is excited, the magnetic flux generated from the end face on the opening side of the magnetic core concentrates near the opening face because the non-magnetic material is fixed at the position Gives a strong magnetic field to the coin moving along the coin orbit, the relative position of the receiving coil and the transmitting coil does not change, and since both coils are almost flush, this coin sensor is used for the coin discriminating device. If it is fixed so as to be flush with the inner wall of the substrate, the gap between the two coils becomes constant at the shortest distance, and the change in the magnetic field can be detected stably and with high sensitivity.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an example of the coin sensor 20.

This coin sensor 20 has a cylindrical high-permeability magnetic core 21 having a closed bottom, and small-diameter lead holes 22, 23 penetrate the bottom 21a. A ring-shaped transmission coil 25 is adhesively fixed to the inner peripheral wall 21b of the magnetic core 21 so that the outer periphery thereof is in contact with the outer peripheral wall. The lead wires L1 and L2 of the transmission coil 25 are drawn out of lead holes 22 in the bottom 21a of the magnetic core 21.
The height of the transmission coil 25 is the inner peripheral wall 21 b of the magnetic core 21.
And the upper surface 22a of the transmission coil 22 and the upper end surface 21c of the magnetic core 21 are flush with each other.

Inside the transmitting coil 25, a columnar spacer 26 made of a non-magnetic material (for example, plastic) is adhered and fixed. The outer periphery of the spacer 26 is in contact with the inner periphery of the transmission coil 25, and the height of the spacer 26 is the same as that of the transmission coil 25.
At the center of a, a cylindrical support hole 27 is provided at a predetermined depth.

A small-diameter lead hole 28 continuous with the lead hole 23 of the magnetic core 21 penetrates between the bottom of the support hole 27 and the bottom of the spacer 26. Inside the support hole 27,
The receiving coil 30 is adhesively fixed in the same direction as the transmitting coil 25. Lead wires L3 and L4 of receiving coil 30
Are drawn through the lead hole 28 of the spacer 26 and the lead hole 23 of the magnetic core 21.

At the center of the receiving coil 30, a magnetic core 31 having a high magnetic susceptibility is mounted. The outer periphery of the receiving coil 30 is in contact with the inner periphery of the supporting hole 27, and the height of the receiving coil 30 and the magnetic core 31 is equal to the depth of the supporting hole 27.

Therefore, the receiving coil 30 is fixed to the transmitting coil 25 and the magnetic core 21 by the spacer 26 at a position which is concentric and flush with the magnetic core 21.

FIG. 4 shows a magnetic field distribution when the transmission coil 25 of the coin sensor 20 is excited at a predetermined frequency (for example, 40 KHz). The magnetic field lines from the upper end surface 21c of the magnetic core 21 outside the transmission coil 25 are shown. But the receiving coil 3
It occurs at a high density near 0, and as a result of the experiment, it is confirmed that a magnetic force of several times higher density is given to a coin close to the transmission coil 25 and the reception coil 30 as compared with a state without the magnetic core 21. Was done.

Also, in an experimental comparison with a coin sensor in which a magnetic material exists in the gap between the transmitting coil 25 and the receiving coil 30, the coin sensor 20 has almost twice the magnetic flux density of the receiving coil 30 (magnetic It was confirmed that the ratio was higher by 2.4 times (with the magnetic core 31) than by (without the core 31).

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the coin sensor 20 is mounted on the substrate 15 'of the coin orbit 10. The coin sensor 20 is inserted into the circular sensor hole 18. The coil surface of the coin sensor 20 is fixed to the back of the sensor hole 18 so as to be substantially flush with the inner wall surface 15a 'of the substrate 15'.

As shown in FIG. 6, the transmission coil 25 is excited and driven at a predetermined frequency by an AC signal (FIG. 7A) from the oscillator 40 to generate an alternating magnetic field in the coin orbit 10, and The AC signal ((b) in FIG. 7) induced at 30 is output to the sample and hold circuit 42 via the buffer amplifier 41.

The sampling pulse generating circuit 43 receives the AC signal from the oscillator 40 and generates a sampling pulse (FIG. 7 (c)) delayed by 180 degrees from the induced signal of the receiving coil 30 when there is no coin. I do.

Therefore, from the sample and hold circuit 42, when there is no coin, when the coin passes, when the phase and amplitude of the induced signal of the receiving coil 30 change due to the magnetic field generated by the eddy current, the phase and amplitude change (D in FIG. 7) is held and output.

The waveform, peak position, and the like of the detection signal depend on the excitation frequency, the diameter, material, and thickness of the coin. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, when a small-diameter coin C1 and a large-diameter coin C2 having the same excitation frequency and the same material are compared with each other, the waveform of the detection signal due to the passage of the small-diameter coin C1 is represented by an eddy current. Since only the large outer portion of the coin C2 passes through the receiving coil 30 portion, the waveform due to the passage of the large-diameter coin C2 has a vortex shape while the single-peak shape and the width are narrow as shown in A of FIG. Since the outer peripheral portion where the current is large and the central portion where the eddy current is small pass through the receiving coil 30, the width becomes bimodal as shown in B. Further, if the material and the thickness are different, the magnitude of the eddy current also changes, and the peak value of the waveform also changes.

The coin discriminating circuit 45 discriminates any or all of the unique information (material, diameter, thickness) of the coin from the detected waveform and the detected waveforms of other coin sensors (not shown) to determine the type and trueness of the coin. Determine false.

The coin distribution circuit 46 receives the discrimination result, drives a distribution mechanism (not shown), and sends the coin to a path corresponding to the discrimination result.

In addition, coin clogging on the coin orbit 10 and
If the coin cannot be used for equipment,
6 'is opened as shown in FIG. 9A, and the coin C is discharged to a return path (not shown). After this discharge, even if the flapper 16 'does not return completely as shown in FIG.
Since the transmitting coil 25 and the receiving coil 30 are integrated and the distance between the coin sensor 20 and the coin C does not change, there is no influence on the discrimination of the coin. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the coin sensor 20 has a magnetic flux leaking in the outer circumferential direction.
1, it is extremely small, so that even if other magnetic sensors are arranged nearby, there is no adverse effect.
Since the coin sensor 20 itself has a small shape, the coin orbit can be shortened, and the size of the entire coin discriminating device can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the transmission coil 25 and the reception coil 30 are fixed in the cylindrical magnetic core 21. However, as shown in a coin sensor 20 'shown in FIG. Transmitter coil 25 'and spacer 2 in core 21'
6 ', the receiving coil 30' may be fixed, the position of the receiving coil may be fixed at a position shifted from the center of the transmitting coil, and the method of fixing each coil is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Deformation is possible.

Further, as shown in FIG.
May be fixed so as to face the flapper 16 'side. Such a magnetic core 5
When 0 is used, compared to the case where only the coin sensor 20 is used,
Although the magnitude of the signal induced in the receiving coil 30 'hardly changes, a stronger magnetic field can be applied to the outer periphery of the coin, and the entire coin sensor is magnetically closed except for the coin orbital portion. In addition, there is an advantage that stable detection can be performed without being affected by magnetism from the outside, and there is no adverse magnetic effect on the outside, and another magnetic sensor can be arranged in proximity.

In the above-described embodiment, the plastic spacer 26 for supporting the receiving coil is used as the non-magnetic material between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil. The receiving coil may be supported by a small supporting member by forming a gap (air is made of a non-magnetic material).

As shown in a coin sensor 60 shown in FIG. 12, a plurality (4 in FIG.
) Of the receiving coils 30 may be arranged substantially in a line. In this case, if the coin sensor 60 is mounted in a direction in which the respective receiving coils 30 are at different height positions with respect to the trajectory, the receiving coil according to the size of the coin can be selected and the coin can be discriminated.

[0030]

As described above, in the coin sensor of the coin discriminating apparatus of the present invention, an annular transmission coil is attached along the inner peripheral wall of a cylindrical magnetic core having a closed surface, and the reception coil is connected to the transmission coil. Since the non-magnetic material is sandwiched inside and fixed in the same direction and flush with each other to form an integral structure, the relative position between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil does not change, and there is a displacement due to opening and closing of the flapper. However, stable detection can be performed. In addition, since it can be mounted flush with the inner wall of the coin orbit, a strong magnetic field generated by the excitation driving of the transmission coil from the opening side end face of the magnetic core to the vicinity of the opening face can be given to the coin, Stable and highly sensitive detection for coins.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a magnetic field distribution diagram of one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a coin orbit showing a state where the coin sensor according to the embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a coin discriminating apparatus using a coin sensor according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a signal diagram of each part of the circuit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a difference in a detected waveform depending on the size of a coin diameter.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an opening and closing operation of a flapper.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a layout diagram of a transmission coil and a reception coil according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a coin orbit of the coin discriminating apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a coin orbit on which a conventional coin sensor is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Coin track 11 Rail 15 'Substrate 16' Flapper 20 Coin sensor 21 Magnetic core 25 Transmitting coil 26 Spacer 27 Support hole 30 Receiving coil 31 Magnetic core

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G07F 3/02 G07D 5/08

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coin orbit of a coin discriminating apparatus.NearbyPlaced beside
The coinOrbitA transmission coil for generating a magnetic field in the transmission,
Magnetic field change due to eddy current generated in coins subjected to coil magnetic field
Coin of a coin discriminating device having a receiving coil for detecting a coin
In the sensor, the transmission coil is,one endSurface sideAnd surrounding wallsClosed cylinder
The outer peripheral part is connected to the inner peripheral wall of theAnd said magnetic core
Is almost flush with the end face of the peripheral wall on the opening side ofSo that the magnetic core
The receiving coil is fixed concentrically inside theOuter diameter is smaller than inner diameter of the transmission coil
And can detect differences in the size of eddy currents distributed on coins
Is formed smaller than the diameter of the coinOf the transmitting coil
InsideToThe same direction as the transmitting coil andOpening of the magnetic core
With the peripheral wall end face on the mouth sideIt is fixed at a position that is almost flush, Between the inner periphery of the transmission coil and the outer periphery of the reception coil
The space is made of non-magnetic material Coin format characterized by that
Coin sensor of another device. 2. A magnetic body is provided inside the receiving coil.
The coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
Coin sensor. 3. A magnetic core having substantially the same shape as the magnetic core.
Wherein the coin orbits are opposed to each other across the coin orbit.
Item 2. A coin sensor of the coin discriminating apparatus according to Item 1. 4. The receiving coil is inside the transmitting coil.
It is noted that a plurality of
The coin sensor of the coin discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein