Money processing device

Abstract

To satisfactorily identify money even when an abnormality occurs in any of a plurality of detection units constituting an identification sensor.SOLUTION: Provided is a money processing device 1 including a control unit 20 that identifies, through an identification sensor 15, authenticity and denomination of input money and causes a relevant storage 16 to store money which is authentic and whose denomination has been identified. The identification sensor 15 includes a first detection unit 151 that detects money using a first detection element, and a second detection unit 152 that detects money using a second detection element. The control unit 20 is configured to, when an abnormality occurs in one of the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152, expand computation based on a detection result obtained by the other one of the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152 to identify money.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a money processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a money processing device applied to, for example, an automatic change dispenser has been proposed in Patent Document 1. In this money processing device, the authenticity and denomination of inserted money are identified using an identification sensor, and the money that is authentic and of identified denomination is stored in the corresponding storage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-171617 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned money processing device, an abnormality may occur due to noise being superimposed on the detection result of one of the multiple detection units constituting the identification sensor, depending on the installation environment, etc. When an abnormality occurs in one of the multiple detection units in this way, it may become difficult to identify the inserted money.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned situation, the present invention aims to provide a money processing device that can properly identify money even if an abnormality occurs in any of the multiple detection parts that make up the identification sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the money processing device of the present invention is a money processing device that identifies the authenticity and denomination of inserted money through an identification sensor, and is equipped with a control unit that stores genuine money whose denomination has been identified in an appropriate storage cabinet, wherein the identification sensor is equipped with a first detection unit that detects the money using a first detection element, and a second detection unit that detects the money using a second detection element, and the control unit is characterized in that when an abnormality occurs in one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, the control unit identifies the money by expanding the calculation based on the detection result of the other of the first detection unit and the second detection unit.

[0007] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned money processing device, the first detection unit detects the money using light rays of different wavelengths as the first detection element, and the second detection unit detects the money using magnetism as the second detection element.

[0008] In a further aspect of the present invention, in the money processing device, the first detection unit detects the money using visible light and infrared light as the first detection elements.

[0009] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned money processing device, when an abnormality occurs in the second detection unit, the control unit calculates the detection result using visible light and the detection result using infrared light by the first detection unit, and identifies the money by calculating the calculation result obtained by dividing or subtracting the detection result using visible light by the detection result using infrared light.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned money processing device, the control unit reduces the money transport speed to the identification sensor below normal when an abnormality occurs in one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, the control unit identifies the money by expanding the calculation based on the detection result of the other of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, thereby achieving the effect of enabling money to be identified well even if an abnormality occurs in any of the multiple detection units that make up the identification sensor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a money processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the money processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c) are explanatory diagrams showing the detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of the deposit control process carried out by the control unit shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] (a) and (b) of Figure 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the detection results of the first detection unit, and (c) of Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the calculation results calculated from (a) and (b) of Figure 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a money processing device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a money processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a characteristic control system of the money processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] The money processing device 1 illustrated here is a banknote processing device that is used as an automatic change dispenser in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, and includes a device main body 1a.

[0016] Such device body 1a is formed at the front with a deposit port 10 for inserting banknotes and a withdrawal port 11 for dispensing stored banknotes as change. The withdrawal port 11 is opened and closed by a shutter 12 and is normally closed by the shutter 12. A collection box 19 is detachably provided at the bottom of the front part of device body 1a.

[0017] The device main body 1a is provided with a deposit section 13, a withdrawal section 14, an identification sensor 15, a storage box 16, an inspection box 17, and a control section 20.

[0018] The deposit unit 13 introduces banknotes inserted through the deposit port 10, and includes a deposit sensor 13a. The deposit sensor 13a detects whether or not banknotes have been inserted into the deposit unit 13. The withdrawal unit 14 dispenses banknotes to the withdrawal port 11.

[0019] The identification sensor 15 includes a first detection unit 151 and a second detection unit 152. As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 3, the first detection unit 151 detects a characteristic part of an arbitrary banknote (money) using visible light and infrared light. Note that (a) of FIG. 3 shows a detection result of an arbitrary banknote using visible light, and (b) of FIG. 3 shows a detection result of an arbitrary banknote using infrared light. The second detection unit 152 detects a characteristic part of an arbitrary banknote using magnetism, as shown in (c) of FIG. 3.

[0020] The storage 16 stores banknotes, and has a 1,000 yen banknote storage 16a for storing 1,000 yen banknotes, and a mixed storage 16b for storing banknotes other than 1,000 yen banknotes. The reconciliation storage 17 is used as a temporary holding section during collection processing, etc. The deposit section 13, the withdrawal section 14, the collection storage 19, the identification sensor 15, the storage 16, and the reconciliation storage 17 are connected by a transport mechanism 18.

[0021] The control unit 20 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the money processing device 1 in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memory unit 21. The control unit 20 includes a computation and identification processing unit 20a, which is a feature of the present invention.

[0022] The arithmetic and recognition processing unit 20a performs a predetermined arithmetic process based on the detection results of the recognition sensor 15 (the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152), and performs arithmetic and recognition to identify the authenticity and denomination of the banknote by the logical product of the arithmetic results. In other words, the control unit 20 identifies the authenticity and denomination of the banknote inserted into the deposit unit 13 through the recognition sensor 15.

[0023] The control unit 20 may be realized, for example, by having a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a program, that is, by software, or may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0024] Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the contents of the deposit control process carried out by the control unit 20 shown in Fig. 2. The deposit operation of the money processing device 1 will be described while explaining the deposit control process.

[0025] 4, the control unit 20 judges whether the deposit sensor 13a detects that a bill has been inserted into the deposit unit 13 through the deposit port 10 (step S101). If no bill has been inserted into the deposit unit 13 (step S101: No), the control unit 20 repeats the above process.

[0026] On the other hand, if the deposit sensor 13a detects that a banknote has been inserted into the deposit section 13 (step S101: Yes), the control section 20 drives the conveying mechanism 18 (step S102) and determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the first detection section 151 or the second detection section 152 of the identification sensor 15 (step S103).

[0027] Here, if a banknote jam or the like occurs during transport by driving the transport mechanism 18 in step S102 above, the control unit 20 returns the banknote to the deposit port 10 via the deposit unit 13 once.

[0028] In the above step S103, if no abnormality has occurred in the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152 (step S103: No), the control unit 20 waits for detection of the banknote by the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152, i.e., waits for input of the detection results of the banknote by the first detection unit 151 and the detection results of the banknote by the second detection unit 152 (step S104).

[0029] When the control unit 20 receives the banknote detection results from the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152 (step S104: Yes), i.e., when the detection results of (a) to (c) in Figure 3 are received, the control unit 20 performs a calculation and recognition process using the calculation and recognition processing unit 20a (step S105).

[0030] In the arithmetic and recognition process, the control unit 20 performs a predetermined arithmetic process on the basis of each detection result through the arithmetic and recognition processing unit 20a, and identifies the authenticity and denomination of the banknote by logical AND of the arithmetic results.

[0031] On the other hand, in the above step S103, if an abnormality has occurred in either the first detection unit 151 or the second detection unit 152 (step S103: Yes), that is, for example, if an abnormality has occurred in the second detection unit 152, the control unit 20 waits for the detection of the banknote by the first detection unit 151, that is, waits for input of the detection result of the banknote by the first detection unit 151 (step S106).

[0032] When the control unit 20 receives the detection result of the banknote by the first detection unit 151 (step S106: Yes), that is, when the detection results shown in Fig. 5(a) and (b) are received, the control unit 20 performs a calculation extension recognition process by the calculation recognition processing unit 20a (step S107). Note that Fig. 5(a) is the detection result of an arbitrary banknote using visible light, similar to Fig. 3(a), and Fig. 5(b) is the detection result of an arbitrary banknote using infrared light, similar to Fig. 3(b).

[0033] In the calculation and extension identification process, the control unit 20 performs a predetermined calculation process from each detection result through the calculation and identification processing unit 20a, and also performs a predetermined calculation process from the calculation result (see FIG. 5(c)) obtained by dividing the detection result using visible light (FIG. 5(a)) by the detection result using infrared light (FIG. 5(b)) and multiplying it by a predetermined coefficient as necessary, and identifies the authenticity and denomination of the banknote based on the logical product of the calculation results. Here, the calculation result shown in FIG. 5(c) is similar to the magnetic detection result in FIG. 3(c) and can be used as an equivalent to magnetic detection.

[0034] The control unit 20, which has performed the above-mentioned calculation and identification process or the above-mentioned calculation and extension identification process, judges whether or not the conveyance of the banknote has been completed (step S108). More specifically, when the control unit 20 identifies the banknote as not being a genuine coin through the identification sensor 15, it causes the banknote to be conveyed to the dispensing unit 14 through the conveyance mechanism 18, and judges whether or not the conveyance of the banknote has been completed. When the control unit 20 identifies the banknote as being a genuine coin through the identification sensor 15, it causes the conveyance mechanism 18 to convey the banknote determined to be a genuine coin to the storage vault 16 (the 1,000-yen banknote storage vault 16a or the mixed vault 16b) corresponding to the denomination for storage, and judges whether or not the conveyance of the banknote has been completed.

[0035] When the conveyance of the banknotes has been completed (step S108: Yes), the control unit 20 stops driving the conveyance mechanism 18 (step S109), and then returns the procedure to end this processing.

[0036] In this way, in the above-mentioned money processing device 1, when an abnormality occurs in one of the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152, the control unit 20 extends the calculation based on the detection result of the other of the first detection unit 151 and the second detection unit 152 to identify the money.

[0037] As described above, according to the money processing device 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the second detection unit 152, the control unit 20 calculates the visible light detection result and the infrared light detection result by the first detection unit 151, respectively, and calculates the calculation result by dividing the visible light detection result by the infrared light detection result to identify the money. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in any of the multiple detection units 151, 152 that make up the identification sensor 15, money can be identified well.

[0038] In this way, the control unit 20 identifies money by expanding the calculation based on the detection result of the first detection unit 151, which can be achieved by updating software, etc., and since an increase in the number of parts is suppressed, there is no risk of an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0039] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the money processing device 1 has been described as a banknote processing device, but in the present invention, the money processing device may also be a coin processing device.

[0041] In the above embodiment, a case has been described where an abnormality occurs in the second detection unit 152, but the present invention is also applicable to a case where an abnormality occurs in the first detection unit 151. When an abnormality occurs in the first detection unit 151, the calculation based on the detection result in the second detection unit 152 may be expanded to identify the authenticity and denomination of the money.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, the detection of a banknote by the deposit sensor 13a was used as a trigger to determine whether or not an abnormality had occurred in the first detection unit 151 or the second detection unit 152. However, in the present invention, the determination of the occurrence of an abnormality in the first detection unit and the second detection unit constituting the identification sensor can be made at any timing.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the first detection unit 151 detects money using visible light and infrared rays as the first detection element, and the second detection unit 152 detects money using magnetism as the second detection element, but in the present invention, the first detection unit is not limited to visible light and infrared rays, and may use light rays of different wavelengths as the first detection element. Furthermore, in the present invention, the first detection element and the second detection element may be something other than visible light, infrared rays, and magnetism.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the result of detection using visible light is divided by the result of detection using infrared light to calculate the result, and then money is identified. However, in the present invention, the result of detection using visible light may be subtracted by the result of detection using infrared light to calculate the result, and then money may be identified.

[0045] Although not specifically mentioned in the above-described embodiment, in the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in one of the first and second detection units, the conveying speed of money to the identification sensor may be slowed down from the normal speed. More specifically, the conveying speed of money to the identification sensor may be, for example, about half of the normal speed. This makes it possible to obtain detection results at least twice as fast in the other of the first and second detection units, and the calculation based on this detection result can be expanded to identify the authenticity and denomination of the money. Furthermore, the conveying speed may be slowed down by temporarily stopping the conveying of money, or by temporarily conveying the money in the reverse direction.

[0046] The configurations illustrated in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely functional schematics, and are not necessarily physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the form of distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various usage conditions, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1...money processing device, 1a...device main body, 10...deposit port, 11...withdrawal port, 12...shutter, 13...deposit section, 13a...deposit sensor, 14...withdrawal section, 15...identification sensor, 16...storage cabinet, 16a...1,000 yen banknote storage cabinet, 16b...mixing cabinet, 17...scrutiny cabinet, 18...transport mechanism, 19...collection cabinet, 20...control section, 20a...arithmetic and identification processing section, 21...memory section.

Claims

1. A money processing device including a control unit that identifies the authenticity and denomination of inserted money through an identification sensor and stores the authentic money in a corresponding storage unit, The identification sensor includes: a first detection unit that detects the money using a first detection element; a second detection unit that detects the money using a second detection element; Equipped with The control unit, when an abnormality occurs in one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, extends the calculation based on the detection result of the other of the first detection unit and the second detection unit to identify the money.

2. the first detection unit detects the money using light beams of different wavelengths as the first detection elements; The money processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the second detection unit detects the money by using magnetism as the second detection element.

3. The money processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the first detection unit detects the money using visible light and infrared light as the first detection elements.

4. The money processing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, when an abnormality occurs in the second detection unit, the control unit calculates the detection result using visible light and the detection result using infrared light by the first detection unit, respectively, and identifies the money by calculating a calculation result obtained by dividing or subtracting the detection result using visible light by the detection result using infrared light.

5. The money processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control unit reduces the speed at which the money is transported to the identification sensor compared to normal when an abnormality occurs in one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit.

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