Patent Description:
Conventionally known coin depositing and dispensing machines include coin handling machines such as cash settlement apparatus, money change dispensers, and automated teller machines (ATMs). For example, <CIT> discloses a coin handling device including first and second recognizing means for recognizing the authenticity and denomination of a coin fed, first and second judging means for judging the abilities of the first and second recognizing means to recognize the coin, and a determining means for determining the authenticity and denomination of the coin while giving priority to recognition results of the first or second recognizing means having a higher recognizing ability based on judging results by the first and second judging means. <CIT> discloses a coin discrimination apparatus and method which is capable of repeatedly and accurately discriminating between coins of similar properties includes sensing with a test coin sensor the characteristics of a test coin and comparing the characteristics of the test coin with characteristics of a plurality of coin denominations. of the matches represents a valid match. <CIT> discloses a coin processor and method having the features of the pre-characterising portion of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

For example, a coin handling device detects features of a coin such as the diameter, material, presence of a hole, thickness, and pattern by one or both of a magnetic sensor and an image sensor, and determines the properties such as the denomination based on these detection results. In the case of <NUM> yen coins, not only non-rare (abundant), common <NUM> yen coins currently issued but also rare, old series <NUM> yen coins are present and circulate in the market. The main difference between these two types of <NUM> yen coins is the form of the characters engraved on each coin, and therefore these types are difficult to distinguish from each other using a coin handling device. Both the new and old types may be mentioned as options and the device may fail to determine the type of each coin. Similarly in the case of <NUM> yen coins, not only non-rare (abundant), common <NUM> yen coins currently issued but also rare, old series <NUM> yen coins are present and circulate in the market. The main difference between these two types of <NUM> yen coins is the presence or absence of reeds carved on the edge of each coin, and therefore these types are difficult to distinguish from each other. Both the new and old types may be mentioned as options and the device may fail to determine the type of each coin. Herein, the non-rare (abundant), common coins currently issued are also referred to as new series coins in comparison with the old series coins.

When a coin fed into a coin handling device is an old series coin, some financial markets may have to take the old series coin into the coin handling device and prevent recirculation thereof. In contrast, some vending machines may have to accept an old series coin, like new series coins, so as to enable product purchase even using an old series coin. As described, on the one hand, there is a need for active elimination of old series coins, but on the other hand, there is a need for giving priority to wide acceptance of coins including old series coin over elimination of old series coins. Accordingly, when a coin handling device is used to determine the type of a coin of which new series and old series coins circulate and both the new series coin and the old series coin are mentioned as options of the type of the coin, the preferentially selected result among these is different from user to user. In conventional cases, coin handling devices are customized with software particularly prepared for the respective users.

In response to the above current state of the art, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin handling device and a coin handling method each enabling a simple and easy change of a way of handling a coin of which the type is difficult to determine according to the user needs.

In order to solve the above issue and to achieve the object, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a coin handling device according to claim <NUM> including: a detection unit configured to detect a feature of a coin; a determination unit configured to determine a type of the coin based on the feature of the coin detected by the detection unit; a reception unit configured to receive from an operator handling settings that designate a way of handling the coin that is an indeterminate coin of which the type is not determined and for which multiple options of the type are extracted by the determination unit; and a handling unit configured to handle the indeterminate coin based on the handling settings received by the reception unit.

In the coin handling device, the handling settings include a first setting item that designates the indeterminate coin as a coin to be subjected to rejection handling, a second setting item that designates the indeterminate coin as a coin of a type having a highest degree of similarity among the multiple options of the type, and a third setting item that designates a degree of priority of the type of the indeterminate coin.

In the coin handling device, the reception unit is configured to receive one of the first, second, and third setting items from the operator, and, based on the setting item received by the reception unit, the handling unit is configured to: perform the rejection handling on the indeterminate coin based on the first setting item; handle the indeterminate coin as a coin of the type having the highest degree of similarity among the multiple options of the type based on the second setting item; or handle the indeterminate coin as a coin of a type having a highest degree of priority among the multiple options of the type based on the third setting item.

In one or more embodiments, the detection unit may include a magnetic sensor configured to detect a magnetic feature of the coin.

In one or more embodiments, the detection unit may include an image sensor configured to detect an optical feature of the coin.

In one or more embodiments, the multiple options of the type may have the same denomination.

In one or more embodiments, the multiple options of the type may include a rare type and a non-rare type that is equal in denomination to the rare type, the handling settings may include a setting item that designates a transport destination of the indeterminate coin to a transport destination of a coin of the non-rare type, and the handling unit may be configured to perform handling of transporting the indeterminate coin to the same transport destination as that of a coin of the non-rare type.

In one or more embodiments, the multiple options of the type may include a rare type and a non-rare type that is equal in denomination to the rare type, the handling settings may include a setting item that designates a transport destination of the indeterminate coin to a transport destination different from that of a coin of the non-rare type, and the handling unit may be configured to perform handling of transporting the indeterminate coin to the transport destination different from that of a coin of the non-rare type.

In one or more embodiments, the multiple options of the type may include a rare type and a non-rare type having the same denomination as the rare type, the setting item may designate the non-rare type to have a higher degree of priority than the rare type, and the handling unit may be configured to handle the indeterminate coin as a coin of the non-rare type.

In one or more embodiments, the handling settings may include a setting item that designates a transport destination of the indeterminate coin to a transport destination of a coin of the non-rare type, and the handling unit may be configured to perform handling of transporting the indeterminate coin to the same transport destination as that of a coin of the non-rare type.

In one or more embodiments, the handling settings may include a setting item that designates a transport destination of the indeterminate coin to a transport destination different from that of a coin of the non-rare type, and the handling unit may be configured to perform handling of transporting the indeterminate coin to the transport destination different from that of a coin of the non-rare type.

In one or more embodiments, the multiple options of the type may include a rare type and a non-rare type that is equal in denomination to the rare type, the setting item may designate the rare type to have a higher degree of priority than the non-rare type, and the handling unit may be configured to handle the indeterminate coin as a coin of the rare type.

In one or more embodiments, the handling settings may include a setting item that designates a transport destination of the indeterminate coin to a transport destination of a coin of the non-rare type, and the handling unit may be configured to perform handling of transporting the indeterminate coin to the same transport destination of a coin of the non-rare type.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a coin handling method according to claim <NUM> including: detecting a feature of a coin; determining a type of the coin based on the feature of the coin detected in the detecting; receiving from an operator handling settings that designate a way of handling the coin that is an indeterminate coin of which the type is not determined and for which multiple options of the type are extracted in the determining; and handling the indeterminate coin based on the handling settings received in the receiving.

In the coin handling method, the handling settings include a first setting item that designates the indeterminate coin as a coin to be subjected to rejection handling, a second setting item that designates the indeterminate coin as a coin of a type having a highest degree of similarity among the multiple options of the type, and a third setting item that designates a degree of priority of the type of the indeterminate coin. The receiving includes receiving one of the first, second, and third setting items from the operator, and based on the setting item received in the receiving, the handling includes: performing the rejection handling on the indeterminate coin based on the first setting item; handling the indeterminate coin as a coin of the type having the highest degree of similarity among the multiple options of the type based on the second setting item; or handling the indeterminate coin as a coin of a type having a highest degree of priority among the multiple options of the type based on the third setting item.

Also disclosed herein is a coin recognition device including a magnetic sensor configured to detect a magnetic feature of a coin, a magnetism determination unit configured to determine multiple options of a type of the coin based on the magnetic feature of the coin detected by the magnetic sensor, an image sensor configured to image a surface of the coin, and an image determination unit configured to determine the type of the coin among the multiple options of the type determined by the magnetism determination unit based on an image of the coin imaged by the image sensor.

The coin recognition device may further include a denomination determination unit configured to determine the type of the coin based on the multiple options from the magnetism determination unit and a determination result from the image determination unit.

The coin handling device and the coin handling method of the present invention enable a simple and easy change of a way of handling a coin of which the type is difficult to determine according to the user needs.

Preferred embodiments of the coin handling device and the coin handling method of the present invention are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment <NUM>) First, the summary of the coin handling device and the coin handling method in the present embodiment is described. For coins of which the type is difficult to recognize, such as new series and old series <NUM> yen coins and new series and old series <NUM> yen coins, the result preferentially selected therefrom for handling the coins in the coin handling device is different from user (or model on which the device is mounted) to user. In conventional cases, particular software is prepared for the respective users. In the present embodiment, a coin is to be handled based on handling settings flexibly customizable by an operator when a recognition unit of the coin handling device fails to specify the type of the coin to be handled and multiple options are present for the type. This enables appropriate customization of the way of handling a coin of which the type is difficult to recognize only by receiving a change of handling settings from an operator without preparation of any particular software. Further, in the coin handling device of the embodiment, a setting table is devised for associating the types of coins with the specific contents of the handling settings, i.e., setting items, which enables easy customization of the handling settings. The setting items of the handling settings include a setting item (e.g., the priority order of the recognition results to be replied) that designates how to determine the type of a coin of which the type is not determined to a single type. The handling settings include a first setting item that designates an indeterminate coin as a coin to be subjected to rejection handling, a second setting item that designates an indeterminate coin as a coin of a type having a highest degree of similarity among the multiple options of the type, and a third setting item that designates a degree of priority of the type of an indeterminate coin. In this case, determination processing for determining the type of such a coin is executed based on the handling settings. The setting items of the handling settings also preferably include, but are not limited to, a setting item (e.g., transport destination of a coin) that designates how to transport a coin of which the type is not determined to a single type. In this case, transport handling of transporting such a coin is performed based on the handling settings.

<FIG> is a diagram of part of an exemplary setting table relating to determination processing used in a coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating multi-pass behavior settings. The setting table relating to determination processing includes the following items: type number, coin type, multi-pass group number, multi-pass behavior setting, magnetism template reference ID, and image template reference ID. For the magnetism template reference ID and the image template reference ID, each coin type is assigned an ID corresponding to the template of a magnetic feature obtained by a magnetic sensor and an ID corresponding to the template of an optical feature obtained by an image sensor. The multi-pass group number is a variable setting item and is the number to be referred when a coin to be handled is an indeterminate coin of which the type is not determined and for which multiple options of the type are extracted by the determination unit of the recognition unit. When the multi-pass group numbers of the multiple options of the type extracted are different from each other, the coin of interest is immediately determined as a coin to be rejected. When the multi-pass group numbers of the multiple options extracted are the same as each other, the coin of interest is determined based on the multi-pass behavior setting to be described later. That the type of a coin to be handled is not determined and multiple options of the type are extracted by the determination unit of the recognition unit is also referred to as that multi-pass occurs. The multi-pass behavior setting is selected from a plurality of options and is a variable setting item. This item designates how to determine a coin to be handled when multi-pass occurs. The type number is the number assigned to each coin type with the respective multi-pass group number, multi-pass behavior setting, magnetism template reference ID, and image template reference ID assigned thereto. In <FIG>, the sequential numbers are assigned in ascending order from the top row to the bottom row.

In setting of the multi-pass group numbers, multi-pass group numbers are assigned to coins of the respective type numbers, as indicated in the setting table of <FIG>. Specifically, the same multi-pass group number is assigned to groups in which coins are determined based on the multi-pass behavior setting when multi-pass occurs, while different multi-pass group numbers are assigned to groups in which coins are immediately determined as coins to be rejected when multi-pass occurs. For example, in <FIG>, the same multi-pass group number <NUM> is assigned to the new series and old series <NUM> yen coins respectively having the magnetism template reference IDs <NUM> and <NUM>. Thereby, when the determination unit of the coin handling device fails to determine the type of a coin and extracts new series and old series <NUM> yen coins as options, the determination processing unit that executes determination processing on coins in the recognition unit does not immediately determine the coin as a coin to be rejected but determines the coin based on the multi-pass behavior setting to be described later that designates the behavior in determining the coin. In contrast, in <FIG>, different multi-pass group numbers are assigned to a <NUM> yen coin and a new series <NUM> yen coin respectively having the magnetism template reference IDs <NUM> and <NUM>. Thereby, when the determination unit of the coin handling device fails to determine the type of a coin and extracts a <NUM> yen coin and a new series <NUM> yen coin as options, the determination processing unit immediately determines the coin as a coin to be rejected.

The multi-pass behavior setting designates the way of determination processing on the respective types of coins when multi-pass occurs between the templates of the same multi-pass group number.

Specifically, a multi-pass behavior setting A illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is a setting in which the determination processing unit of the recognition unit executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a coin to be rejected. A multi-pass behavior setting B is a setting in which the determination processing unit executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a coin of the type having the highest degree of similarity among multiple options of the type. A multi-pass behavior setting C is a setting in which the determination processing unit executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a coin of the type having the highest degree of priority among multiple options of the type. An operator can change the multi-pass behavior setting among the multiple options (e.g., multi-pass behavior settings A to C). The degree of priority is determined by the type number in the setting table of <FIG>. The smaller the type number is, the higher the degree of priority is.

The multi-pass behavior setting C may be assumed to include two cases where the type of a coin is not determined and new series and old series <NUM> yen coins are extracted as options, as illustrated in <FIG>. One is the case where priority is given to the new series <NUM> yen coin and the coin of interest is determined as a new series <NUM> yen coin. The other is the case where priority is given to the old series <NUM> yen coin and the coin of interest is determined as an old series <NUM> yen coin.

The above described is the setting table relating to determination processing. In the present embodiment, a setting table relating to transport handling may also be used. The setting table relating to transport handling includes a setting item that, when the determination unit of the recognition unit determines a coin to be handled as an indeterminate coin, designates the transport destination of the indeterminate coin. Then, the setting item designates the device to perform rejection handling on the indeterminate coin, to store the indeterminate coin in a storage unit for new series coins, or to store the indeterminate coin in a storage unit for unfit coins. An operator can select and change the setting item for designating the transport destination among multiple options.

The coin handling device in the present embodiment can handle a coin of which the type is difficult to determine based on the information in the setting table. The setting table can be rewritten by an operator according to the user needs. In other words, the coin handling device in the present embodiment enables a simple and easy change of the way of handling a coin of which the type is difficult to determine using the setting table according to the user needs.

The appearance and internal structure of the coin handling device in the present embodiment are described hereinbelow.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the appearance of the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of the structure of the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram of the internal structure of the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a coin handling device <NUM> is configured to perform a variety of handling such as coin depositing and dispensing handling, formation of coin rolls, and coin roll dispensing handling. Each coin roll consists of a predetermined number of coins (e.g., <NUM> coins). The predetermined number of coins is wrapped by wrapping paper.

The coin handling device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is in the form of a cuboidal box. The coin handling device <NUM> includes a coin inlet <NUM>, a recognition unit <NUM>, a coin selection unit <NUM>, a coin temporary storage unit <NUM>, a coin storage unit <NUM>, a rejection unit <NUM>, a return box <NUM>, a coin transport unit <NUM>, a dispensing recognition unit <NUM>, a dispensing box <NUM>, a collection unit <NUM>, a wrapping unit <NUM>, a coin roll storage unit <NUM>, a coin roll dispensing unit <NUM>, a coin roll gathering box <NUM>, a coin roll outlet <NUM>, and a coin roll transport unit <NUM>. These components are accommodated in the housing <NUM>. The coin handling device <NUM> also includes a control unit <NUM>, an operation display <NUM>, a printing unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, and a communication unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> includes a transport handling unit <NUM>. The storage unit <NUM> stores as the handling settings a setting table 342b relating to transport handling.

The coin inlet <NUM> is configured to allow coins to be inserted. The coin inlet <NUM> is configured to allow the inserted coins to be fed one by one.

The recognition unit <NUM> is configured to execute recognition processing (recognition of properties of a coin such as type, authenticity, and fitness) on a coin fed through the coin inlet <NUM>. For example, the recognition unit <NUM> includes a variety of sensors such as a magnetic sensor and an image sensor, a processing unit such as a CPU, and a storage unit such as a memory that stores programs and information for driving the processing unit. The results of the recognition processing by the recognition unit <NUM> are transmitted to the control unit <NUM> to be described later.

The coin selection unit <NUM> is configured to sort the coins passed through the recognition unit <NUM> and release them to the coin temporary storage unit <NUM>. For example, the coin selection unit <NUM> may include a coin pathway for transporting coins, a transport belt for transporting coins on the coin pathway, and diverter holes which are provided on the coin pathway and through one of which the coin of interest is dropped and diverted. In the coin selection unit <NUM>, a coin recognized as a coin that should be rejected (coin to be rejected) by the recognition unit <NUM> is guided to the rejection unit <NUM> through a return chute C1 provided below the coin selection unit <NUM>. A coin recognized as corresponding to a coin designated in advance by the recognition unit <NUM> passes through a coin chute C2 provided below the coin selection unit <NUM>, and is then guided to a bag <NUM> mounted on a bag mounting unit provided on the front of the housing <NUM> through a bag inlet chute C3 provided below the coin chute C2 or is guided to the wrapping unit <NUM> through a direct wrapping chute C4 provided below the coin chute C2.

The coin temporary storage unit <NUM> is configured to temporarily store the coins released from the coin selection unit <NUM> by denomination. The coin temporary storage unit <NUM> is configured to release the temporarily stored coins to the coin storage unit <NUM> or the return box <NUM>.

The coin storage unit <NUM> is configured to store the coins released from the coin temporary storage unit <NUM> by denomination. Specific examples of the coin storage unit <NUM> include a <NUM> yen coin storage unit, a <NUM> yen coin storage unit, and a <NUM> yen coin storage unit. The coin storage unit <NUM> is configured to feed the stored coins one by one by type to the coin transport unit <NUM>.

The rejection unit <NUM> is configured to stack the coins guided through the return chute C1 (i.e., the coins to be rejected).

The return box <NUM> is configured to store the coins (coins that should be returned) released from the coin temporary storage unit <NUM>. Specifically, the return box <NUM> is in the form of a cuboidal box with an upper opening. The return box <NUM> is removable from the housing <NUM> of the coin handling device <NUM> and is drawable from the front of the housing <NUM>.

The coin transport unit <NUM> is configured to transport the coins fed out of the coin storage unit <NUM> to the dispensing box <NUM> or the wrapping unit <NUM>. In this example, the coin transport unit <NUM> includes a conveyor that transports the coins in the depth direction (forward-backward direction) of the housing <NUM> and a feed-out mechanism (not shown) that feeds out the coins on the conveyor to the wrapping unit <NUM>. The coins transported to the front edge of the coin transport unit <NUM> (specifically, the conveyor) are guided to the dispensing box <NUM> through a dispensing chute C5 provided below the front edge of the coin transport unit <NUM>. The feed-out mechanism is provided at a central portion of the coin transport unit <NUM> (specifically, the conveyor) in the forward-backward direction. The coins fed out of the feed-out mechanism are guided to the wrapping unit <NUM> through a wrapping chute C6 provided below the central portion of the coin transport unit <NUM> in the forward-backward direction.

The dispensing recognition unit <NUM> is configured to execute recognition processing and count processing on the coins under transport from the coin transport unit <NUM> to the dispensing box <NUM>. In the recognition processing, the dispensing recognition unit <NUM> recognizes properties such as the type, authenticity, and fitness of the coins. In the count processing, the dispensing recognition unit <NUM> counts the number of coins by type. For example, the dispensing recognition unit <NUM> includes a variety of sensors such as a magnetic sensor and an image sensor, a processing unit such as a CPU, and a storage unit such as a memory that stores programs and information for driving the processing unit. The results of the recognition processing by the dispensing recognition unit <NUM> are transmitted to the control unit <NUM> to be described later.

The dispensing box <NUM> is configured to store the coins (coins that should be fed out) fed out of the coin storage unit <NUM> and transported by the coin transport unit <NUM>. The dispensing box <NUM> is configured to release the coins stored therein to the collection unit <NUM>. Specifically, the dispensing box <NUM> is in the form of a cuboidal box with an upper opening, and includes a bottom plate 210a that can be opened and closed. The coins released from the dispensing box <NUM> as a result of opening the bottom plate 210a of the dispensing box <NUM> is guided to the collection unit <NUM> through a collect chute C7 provided below the dispensing box <NUM>. The dispensing box <NUM> is removable from the housing <NUM> of the coin handling device <NUM>, and is drawable from the front of the housing <NUM>.

The collection unit <NUM> is configured to store the coins that should be collected. Specifically, the collection unit <NUM> is in the form of a cuboidal box with an upper opening, and is configured to store the coins released from the dispensing box <NUM> and guided through the collect chute C7 and the coins guided through a discharge chute C8 to be described later. The collection unit <NUM> is removable from the housing <NUM> of the coin handling device <NUM> and is drawable from the front of the housing <NUM>.

The wrapping unit <NUM> is configured to form coin rolls. Specifically, the wrapping unit <NUM> is configured to form rolls of the coins fed out of the coin storage unit <NUM>, transported by the coin transport unit <NUM>, and guided through the wrapping chute C6 (or the coins guided through the direct wrapping chute C4) and to release the resulting coin rolls to the coin roll transport unit <NUM>. In this example, the wrapping unit <NUM> is provided with a wrapping switching unit 212a that can switch the wrapping unit <NUM> between the state of allowing release of the coin rolls to the coin roll transport unit <NUM> and the state of inhibiting the release. The coins not used for formation of coin rolls by the wrapping unit <NUM> are guided to the collection unit <NUM> through the discharge chute C8 provided below the wrapping unit <NUM>.

The coin roll storage unit <NUM> is configured to store the coin rolls by denomination. The coin roll storage unit <NUM> is configured to transfer the coin rolls to/from the coin roll transport unit <NUM>. In this example, the coin roll storage unit <NUM> includes multiple (specifically, six) coin roll trays 230a. The multiple coin roll trays 230a store coin rolls of respective different denominations. The coin roll storage unit <NUM> is removable from the coin handling device <NUM> (specifically, the housing <NUM>).

The coin roll dispensing unit <NUM> is configured to stack the coin rolls (coin rolls that should be fed out) transported by the coin roll transport unit <NUM>. The coin roll dispensing unit <NUM> is provided with an outlet that opens on the front surface of the housing <NUM> of the coin handling device <NUM>, and the outlet is provided with a shutter 231a. When the shutter 231a is opened, an operator can take the coin rolls out of the coin roll dispensing unit <NUM>. The coin handling device <NUM> includes a first light-emitting unit L1 near the coin roll dispensing unit <NUM>. The first light-emitting unit L1 may include an LED, for example.

The coin roll gathering box <NUM> is configured to stack the coin rolls transported by the coin roll transport unit <NUM>. The coin roll gathering box <NUM> has a larger stacking capacity than the coin roll dispensing unit <NUM>. For example, the stacking capacity of the coin roll dispensing unit <NUM> may be set to stack about <NUM> coin rolls, while the stacking capacity of the coin roll gathering box <NUM> may be set to stack about <NUM> coin rolls. The coin roll gathering box <NUM> is removable from the coin handling device <NUM> (specifically, the housing <NUM>). The coin roll gathering box <NUM> is configured to be able to switch between the locked state (the state of the box being not removable from the coin handling device <NUM>) and the unlocked state. The coin handling device <NUM> includes a second light-emitting unit L2 near the coin roll gathering box <NUM>. The second light-emitting unit L2 may include an LED, for example.

The coin roll outlet <NUM> is configured to feed out the coin rolls transported by the coin roll transport unit <NUM> to the outside of the coin handling device <NUM>. The coin rolls fed out of the coin roll outlet <NUM> are stacked in a collection container (not shown) provided on the front of the coin handling device <NUM>. The collection container used may be a container having a larger stacking capacity than the coin roll gathering box <NUM>. The coin handling device <NUM> includes a third light-emitting unit L3 near the coin roll outlet <NUM>. The third light-emitting unit L3 may include an LED, for example.

The coin roll transport unit <NUM> is connected with the wrapping unit <NUM>, the coin roll storage unit <NUM>, the coin roll gathering box <NUM>, the coin roll dispensing unit <NUM>, and the coin roll outlet <NUM>, and is thereby configured to transport the coin rolls.

The transport handling unit <NUM>, one example of the handling unit, has functions of determining a way of transport handling on the coins (the transport destination of the coins) based on the determination result by the determination processing unit of the recognition unit <NUM> to be described later and the setting table 342b relating to transport handling stored in the storage unit <NUM> and of controlling the coin selection unit <NUM> and the coin temporary storage unit <NUM>. The transport handling unit <NUM> is realized by allowing a processor such as a CPU to execute a predetermined program stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

The operation display <NUM> includes an operation unit 600a and a display 600b. The operation unit 600a is configured to allow an operator to operate the system and to receive the input information corresponding to the operation by the operator. As a result of operating the operation unit 600a, the operator can make the coin handling device <NUM> perform and execute a variety of handling and processing. In other words, the coin handling device <NUM> is configured to work in response to the operation input to the operation unit 600a by the operator. The display 600b is configured to display a variety of information such as the status of handling and processing the coins in the coin handling device <NUM> and an operation screen for receiving operation inputs. For example, the operation display <NUM> may include a touch screen. As described, the operation display <NUM> functions as a reception unit that receives operation information input by an operator.

The printing unit <NUM> is configured to print on a receipt a variety of information such as the status of handling and processing the coins in the coin handling device <NUM> and the inventory amount of the coins and to issue the receipt with the variety of information printed. The storage unit <NUM> is configured to store a variety of information such as information relating to the status of handling and processing the coins in the coin handling device <NUM>, information relating to the inventory amount of the coins in the coin handling device <NUM>, image information such as the operation screen displayed on the operation display <NUM>, and control information for controlling the operation of the coin handling device <NUM>. For example, the storage unit <NUM> may include a general-purpose storage device such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory. The communication unit <NUM> is provided to establish wired or wireless communication between the control unit <NUM> and an external device <NUM> such as a tablet device or a smartphone.

The control unit <NUM> is configured to transmit/receive signals to/from the respective units of the coin handling device <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> can communicate with the external device <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>.

In order to allow the coin handling device <NUM> to perform and execute a variety of handling and processing, the control unit <NUM> is configured to control the respective units of the coin handling device <NUM> and thereby to control the operation of the coin handling device <NUM> based on the operation input through the operation display <NUM> (specifically, the operation unit 600a) and signals and information received from the respective units of the coin handling device <NUM> or the external device <NUM>. For example, the control unit <NUM> may include a processing unit such as a CPU and a storage unit such as a memory that stores programs and information for operating the processing unit.

The recognition unit <NUM> of the coin handling device <NUM> is specifically described hereinbelow.

<FIG> is a block diagram of the internal structure of a recognition unit in the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. The recognition unit <NUM> includes a recognition communication unit <NUM>, a detection unit <NUM>, a recognition control unit <NUM>, a recognition storage unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, and a determination processing unit <NUM>. The recognition control unit <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, and the determination processing unit <NUM> are realized by allowing a processor such as a CPU to execute a predetermined program stored in the recognition storage unit <NUM>.

The recognition communication unit <NUM> has a function of transmitting/receiving the information to/from the control unit <NUM>.

The detection unit <NUM> has a function of detecting a feature of a coin. The detection unit <NUM> is provided with multiple sensors <NUM>. Specific examples of the sensors <NUM> include a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic feature of a coin and an image sensor that images a coin. The detection unit <NUM> may include either or both of the magnetic sensor and the image sensor.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of a sensor unit included in the recognition unit of the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic plan view of the sensor unit included in the recognition unit of the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a sensor unit 321U includes a magnetic sensor 321A and an image sensor 321B in the stated order from the upstream to the downstream of the transport path on which coins <NUM> are to be transported, and is an assembly of these multiple sensors. The arrow in the <FIG> indicates the direction of transporting coins <NUM> on the transport path.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the recognition unit includes as means for transporting coins <NUM> a transport belt 21a stretched along the transport path above the transport surface and transport pins 21b fixed relative to the transport belt 21a at regular intervals. The transport belt 21a is driven by a driving device including a motor, for example. The transport pins 21b each in the form of a cylinder come into contact with the edge of each coin <NUM> and the transport belt 21a moves, whereby coins <NUM> are transported one by one at intervals on the transport path. The structure of the means for transporting coins <NUM> is not limited to the structure illustrated as long as it can transport coins <NUM>. The structure may not include any transport pin 21b and may consist of the transport belt 21a.

The magnetic sensor 321A includes an AC power supply, an exciting coil, and a detection coil. The exciting coil is configured to generate a magnetic field on the transport path in response to an AC voltage applied from the AC power supply. The detection coil is configured to output a detection signal based on a voltage induced by the magnetic field generated by the exciting coil. The detection coil then outputs a detection signal based on a voltage induced by the magnetic field changed as a result of transport of a coin <NUM> on the transport path.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the image sensor 321B includes a circular planar transparent portion corresponding to an imaging area 22a and, below the transparent portion, a light source that illuminates the imaging area 22a and an imaging element <NUM> that images the imaging area 22a. When a coin <NUM> enters the imaging area 22a, the light source emits light toward the imaging area 22a (the transparent portion) and the imaging element <NUM> receives the light reflected on a surface (one of the surfaces) of the coin <NUM> under transport to form an image. Thereby, an image of the coin <NUM> is collected.

The recognition control unit <NUM> has a function of controlling the units in the recognition unit <NUM>. The recognition control unit <NUM> includes an input/output control unit <NUM>, a setting control unit <NUM>, a sensor control unit <NUM>, and a sensor data acquisition unit <NUM>. The input/output control unit <NUM> controls transmission and reception of information between the recognition communication unit <NUM> and the control unit <NUM>. The setting control unit <NUM> has a function of changing the information in the setting table stored in the recognition storage unit <NUM> based on the information from the input/output control unit <NUM>. In other words, the setting control unit <NUM> receives from the input/output control unit <NUM> the information relating to a change of the setting table input by an operator through the operation display <NUM> and changes the setting table in accordance with the information received. The sensor control unit <NUM> has a function of controlling the detection unit <NUM>. The sensor data acquisition unit <NUM> has functions of acquiring data of a feature of a coin acquired by the detection unit <NUM>, of converting the data into data that can be compared with the reference data of the template stored in the recognition storage unit <NUM>, and of storing the converted data as sensor data <NUM> in the recognition storage unit <NUM>.

The recognition storage unit <NUM> has a function of storing a type information table <NUM>, a setting table 342a relating to determination processing, a determination result <NUM>, an option extraction result <NUM>, the sensor data <NUM>, a magnetism template 346a, an image template 346b, and the like.

<FIG> is a diagram of part of an exemplary type information table. The type information table <NUM> of <FIG> is a table in which each type of coins are assigned a magnetism template reference ID and an image template reference ID. The magnetism template reference ID is the number that associates the type of a coin with the magnetism template corresponding to the type. The magnetism template includes the reference data and threshold of a magnetic feature. The image template reference ID is the number that associates the type of a coin with the image template corresponding to the type. The image template includes the data and threshold relating to the reference image. The letter N in the tables herein means the total number of types of coins registered.

<FIG> is a diagram of part of another exemplary setting table relating to determination processing. The setting table 342a relating to determination processing illustrated in <FIG> includes the following items: type number, coin type, pattern class, multi-pass group number, multi-pass behavior setting, magnetism template reference ID, and image template reference ID. In addition to the type number, coin type, multi-pass group number, multi-pass behavior setting, magnetism template reference ID, and image template reference ID as in the setting table illustrated in <FIG>, the setting table 342a also includes the item of pattern class that indicates the obverse or reverse of a coin.

For the setting item "multi-pass group number" of the setting table 342a, different multi-pass group numbers are assigned to groups in which coins are immediately determined as coins to be rejected when the determination unit <NUM> fails to determine the type of a coin and extracts multiple options of the type, while the same multi-pass group number is assigned to groups in which coins are not immediately determined as coins to be rejected and the behavior in handling the coins of interest is to be customized. The multi-pass group numbers assigned to the respective types of coins can be determined by an operator through the operation display <NUM>.

The setting item "multi-pass behavior setting" in the setting table 342a designates the way of determination processing on a coin to be handled which is an indeterminate coin of which the type is not determined and for which multiple options of the type are extracted by the determination unit <NUM> with the multiple options of the type being assigned the same multi-pass group number.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating modes in the determination processing on coins. The determination processing unit <NUM>, another example of the handling unit executes the determination processing in any of the four modes illustrated in <FIG>, specifically, a mode I in which an indeterminate coin is determined as a coin to be rejected; a mode II in which an indeterminate coin is determined as a coin of the type having the highest degree of similarity among multiple options of the type; and modes III and IV in each of which an indeterminate coin is determined as a coin of the type having the highest degree of priority among multiple options of the type. The mode III is the case where the new series coin has a higher degree of priority, while the mode IV is the case where the old series coin has a higher degree of priority.

The determination result <NUM> is a result of the determination processing by the determination processing unit <NUM> and includes the information of whether multi-pass occurs or not.

The option extraction result <NUM> is a result of extracting options of the type for one or more types of coins by the determination unit <NUM>.

The determination unit <NUM> has a function of identifying the type of a coin based on the feature of the coin detected by the detection unit <NUM>. Specifically, the determination unit <NUM> compares the detection data from the detection unit <NUM> with each of the templates, and calculates the degree of similarity. When the calculated degree of similarity is within the tolerance relative to the threshold, the template ID is searched in the type information table <NUM>, the corresponding type is extracted as an option of the type of the coin of interest, and it is stored as the option extraction result <NUM> in the storage unit <NUM>.

When the option extraction result <NUM> includes a single type, the determination processing unit <NUM> determines the coin of interest as a coin of this type. When the option extraction result <NUM> includes multiple types, the determination processing unit <NUM> executes the determination processing on the indeterminate coin based on the setting table relating to determination processing.

New series coins and old series coins having the same denomination may be difficult to distinguish from each other as different types of coins. There are a variety of ways of handling new series coins and old series coins having the same denomination according to the user needs. The coin handling device in the present embodiment enables a simple and easy change of the way of handling a coin of which the type is difficult to determine according to the user needs, and thus can favorably be used even in the case where the multiple options of the type have the same denomination.

In the recognition unit <NUM>, the determination processing unit <NUM> utilizes the setting table 342a relating to determination processing to execute determination processing on a coin. In the transport handling unit <NUM>, as described above, the transport handling on a coin is performed based on the determination result by the determination processing unit <NUM> and the setting table 342b relating to transport handling. <FIG> is a diagram of part of an exemplary setting table relating to transport handling. In the setting item "transport destination setting" in the setting table 342b relating to transport handling illustrated in <FIG>, the transport destination of each coin is selected among multiple options. In the example of <FIG>, the selection is performed as follows. When the result from the determination unit <NUM> indicates that the coin of interest is a new series <NUM> yen coin, the coin is to be stored in the <NUM>-yen storage unit; when the determination unit <NUM> extracts both a new series and old series <NUM>-yen coins as options, the coin is to be stored in the unfit coin storage unit; and when the result from the determination unit <NUM> indicates that the coin of interest is an old series <NUM> yen coin, the coin is to be stored in the unfit coin storage unit.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating modes in the transport handling on coins. In <FIG>, the transport destination is set for each coin. The transport handling unit <NUM> performs the transport handling in any of eight modes (modes I to VIII) indicated in <FIG>. For example, a mode II is a mode in which, when the determination processing unit <NUM> determines an indeterminate coin, for which both new series and old series coins are extracted, as a coin having the higher degree of similarity among the new series and old series coins (in the case of the multi-pass behavior setting B), the coin is to be stored in the new series coin storage unit or the unfit coin storage unit. In this case, whether the coin is stored in the new series coin storage unit or the unfit coin storage unit can be set by an operator as appropriate. In the mode II, a coin determined as a new series coin without multi-pass is stored in the new series coin storage unit, while a coin determined as an old series coin without multi-pass is stored in the unfit coin storage unit.

The modes III to V are each a mode of transport handling in which the multi-pass behavior setting relating to determination processing is C and the new series coin has a higher degree of priority than the old series coin. The modes VI to VIII are each a mode of transport handling in which the multi-pass behavior setting relating to determination processing is C and the old series coin has a higher degree of priority than the new series coin. The transport destination settings may not be consistent with the determination result from the determination processing unit. For example, when the multi-pass behavior setting is C and the new series coin has a higher degree of priority than the old series coin, the coin of interest for which both new series and old series coins are extracted by the determination unit <NUM> is to be stored in the new series coin storage unit in the mode IV, while it is to be stored in the unfit coin storage unit in the mode V. As described, the transport destination of an indeterminate coin may be consistent or inconsistent with the result from the determination processing unit <NUM>.

A new series coin and an old series coin may have slightly different thicknesses. The coexistence of them may cause inappropriate coin wrapping. Still, in the mode II (limited to the setting in which coins are to be stored in the unfit coin storage unit when both new series and old series coins are extracted), mode V, and mode VIII in <FIG>, coins to be handled are to be stored in the new series coin storage unit only when they are determined as new series coins by the determination unit <NUM>, while old series coins are excluded. Thus, coin wrapping can be performed as appropriate.

The modes III, IV, VI, and VII in <FIG> are settings in which coins are to be stored in the new series coin storage unit when the determination unit <NUM> extracts both new series and old series coins. This can therefore increase the coin reception rate.

The unfit coin storage unit used may be the return box <NUM>. In this case, the transport handling unit <NUM> controls the coin selection unit <NUM> and the coin temporary storage unit <NUM> based on the determination result from the determination processing unit <NUM> and the setting table 342b relating to transport handling, and the coin selection unit <NUM> and the coin temporary storage unit <NUM> transport coins that should be stored in the unfit coin storage unit to the return box <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow chart illustrating a handling way of the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the coin handling device <NUM> successively performs or executes a reception step S10, a detection step S20, a determination step S30, a determination processing step S40, and a transport handling step S50, thereby handling a coin. The coin handling in the present embodiment includes, as processing or handling steps based on the handling settings, the determination processing step S40 and the transport handling step S50.

The reception step S10 is a step of receiving from an operator a change in the handling settings that designate the way of handling a coin to be handled which is an indeterminate coin of which the type is not determined and for which multiple options of the type are extracted in the determination step S30 to be described later. In the reception step S10, the operation display <NUM> is used to receive from an operator a change in the setting table relating to determination processing and a change in the setting table relating to transport handling. If no change is made in the contents of the handling settings, the reception step S10 may be skipped.

The detection step S20 is a step in which the detection unit <NUM> detects a feature of the coin to be handled.

The determination step S30 is a step in which the determination unit <NUM> determines the type of the coin based on the feature of the coin acquired in the detection step S20. When the type of the coin to be handled is not determined in the determination step S30, the coin is determined as an indeterminate coin.

The determination processing step S40 is a step in which, when the determination result in the determination step S30 indicates an indeterminate coin, the determination processing unit <NUM> executes the determination processing on the indeterminate coin based on the setting table 342a.

<FIG> is a flow chart illustrating the determination processing by the determination processing unit in the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>. The determination processing unit <NUM> executes the determination processing based on the flow chart illustrated in <FIG>.

First, in a step S101, the determination processing unit <NUM> determines whether the number of options for the type of the coin is one or not. When the number of options for the type of the coin is one, the process proceeds to a step S102. The determination processing unit <NUM> treats the coin to be handled as a coin of the type mentioned as the option, completing the determination processing.

When the number of options for the type of the coin is not one, the process proceeds to a step S103. The determination processing unit <NUM> determines whether the multiple options of the type have the same multi-pass group number or not based on the determination table 342a relating to determination processing. When the multiple options of the type do not have the same multi-pass group number, the process proceeds to a step <NUM>. The determination processing unit <NUM> determines the indeterminate coin as a coin to be rejected, completing the determination processing.

When the multiple options of the type have the same multi-pass group number, the process proceeds to a step S105. The determination processing unit <NUM> makes determination according to the multi-pass behavior setting A, B, or C based on the determination table 342a relating to determination processing, completing the determination processing.

The transport handling step S50 is a step in which the transport handling unit <NUM> performs the transport handling on the coin to be handled based on the setting table 342b relating to transport handling received in the reception step S10 and the determination result in the determination processing step S40.

<FIG> is a flow chart illustrating the transport handling by the transport handling unit in the coin handling device of Embodiment <NUM>.

First, in a step S201, the transport handling unit <NUM> determines whether or not the determination result <NUM> indicates that the indeterminate coin is a coin to be rejected. In the case of a coin to be rejected, the process proceeds to a step S202. The transport handling unit <NUM> performs rejection handling on the indeterminate coin, completing the transport handling.

When the determination result <NUM> indicates that the indeterminate coin is not a coin to be rejected, the process proceeds to a step S203. The transport handling unit <NUM> performs transport handling on the indeterminate coin based on the determination result <NUM> and the setting table 342b relating to transport handling.

<FIG> are each a diagram of an exemplary setting screen on a display when an operator is to perform handling settings.

<FIG> is a diagram relating to option mode settings for setting the transport mode for coins. The way of transport handling on coins with multi-pass can be set for each denomination. For <NUM> yen coins and <NUM> yen coins of which both new series and old series coins circulate, the setting can be selected from the setting of accepting old series coins, the setting of collecting old series coins, and the setting of separating new series coins and old series coins. For <NUM> yen coins and <NUM> yen coins of which old series coins do not circulate, the "no option" setting is displayed. The scroll button on the right side of the screen enables scroll up and down of the setting screen. The setting of the way of handling coins of each denomination with options displayed can be saved by pushing the "Save" button on the upper right of the screen, while the setting can be cancelled by pushing the "Cancel" button.

<FIG> is a diagram relating to option table settings for setting the setting table relating to determination processing. The option table settings enable changes of the multi-pass group number and the multi-pass behavior setting for each type. Further, any row of the setting items of a type with the multi-pass group number and the multi-pass behavior setting having been input may be moved in a drag-and-drop manner so that the order of the rows may be changed. As a result, for example, a type having a higher degree of priority can be placed at an upper row of the setting table. When the order of the rows is changed as described, the type numbers are automatically renumbered in ascending order from the top row to the bottom row.

As described above, the coin handling device <NUM> in the present embodiment can handle an indeterminate coin based on the handling settings received from an operator through the operation display <NUM>, and thus enables a simple and easy change of the way of handling a coin of which the type is difficult to determine according to the user needs.

In the present embodiment, the type numbers are sequentially assigned from the top row to the bottom tow in the setting tables, and thus a type placed at an upper row in each setting table has a higher degree of priority. Alternatively, the type numbers may not be sequentially assigned. In this case, the degree of priority of each type of coins are not determined by the position in the setting table but determined by the type number.

In the present embodiment, the multi-pass behavior settings A to C are described with reference to <FIG>. Alternatively, a different behavior may be set in the multi-pass behavior setting. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating multi-pass behavior settings. Examples of the multi-pass behavior settings selected in the setting table 342a relating to determination processing include settings D to F as illustrated in <FIG>. A multi-pass behavior setting D is a setting in which the determination processing unit <NUM> executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as an unfit coin. A multi-pass behavior setting E is a setting in which the determination processing unit <NUM> executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a coin to be returned. A multi-pass behavior setting F is a setting in which the determination processing unit <NUM> executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a coin to be stored in a specific storage unit.

In the present embodiment, described is the case where the coin to be handled is an indeterminate coin for which two, new series and old series types are extracted as options. Alternatively, the coin to be handled may be an indeterminate coin for which three types may be extracted as options. In this case, examples of the multi-pass behavior settings include the settings illustrated in <FIG> is a diagram illustrating multi-pass behavior setting. When the coin to be handled is an indeterminate coin for which three types of <NUM>-yen commemorative coins (referred to as commemorative coins <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) are extracted, a multi-pass behavior setting G illustrated in <FIG> is a setting in which the determination processing unit <NUM> executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as an unfit coin. A multi-pass behavior setting H is a setting in which the determination processing unit <NUM> executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a coin to be returned. A multi-pass behavior setting I is a setting in which the determination processing unit <NUM> executes processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a coin to be stored in a specific storage unit. <FIG> also illustrates the cases where the coin to be handled is an indeterminate coin for which two options of the type are extracted. For example, when the <NUM>-yen commemorative coins <NUM> and <NUM> are extracted as options in the multi-pass behavior setting G, the determination processing unit <NUM> is set to execute processing of determining an indeterminate coin as a <NUM>-yen commemorative coin <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, described is the case where the magnetic sensor and the image sensor are used as the sensors <NUM>. Alternatively, only the magnetic sensor may be used as the sensor. <FIG> is a diagram of part of another exemplary type information table. <FIG> and <FIG> are each a diagram of part of still another exemplary setting table relating to determination processing. For the cases where only the magnetic sensor is used as the sensor <NUM>, <FIG> illustrates an exemplary type information table, and <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate exemplary setting tables relating to determination processing.

(Embodiment <NUM>) In the present embodiment, features unique to the present embodiment are mainly described, and the same contents as those in Embodiment <NUM> will not be elaborated upon here. The components having a similar or the same function in both the present embodiment and Embodiment <NUM> are provided with the same reference sign, and these components will not be elaborated upon in the present embodiment.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an internal structure of a coin recognition device of Embodiment <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a coin recognition device <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM> includes the magnetic sensor 321A that detects a magnetic feature of a coin, a magnetism determination unit <NUM> that determines multiple options of a type of the coin based on the magnetic feature of the coin detected by the magnetic sensor 321A, the image sensor 321B that images a surface of the coin, and an image determination unit <NUM> that determines the type of the coin among the multiple options determined by the magnetism determination unit <NUM> based on the image of the coin imaged by the image sensor 321B. Such an embodiment can narrow the types of the coin down to multiple options based on the output from the magnetic sensor 321A and can narrow the multiple options limited by the image sensor 321B down to the single type.

A coin recognition device is awaited that can deal with expected recoining although nobody can know what magnetic feature the recoined one has. A conventional coin recognition device utilizes a magnetic sensor to execute processing of determining a coin to be handled as a coin of a single type, and then utilizes an image sensor to determine the type of the coin based only on the determination result from the magnetic sensor (i.e., the single type coin). Thus, for example, recoining may cause such a conventional coin recognition device to fail to determine the type of coins with a magnetic sensor. In this case, what the coin recognition device can do is only to reject the coins so as to prevent misrecognition, which may cause a failure in meeting the reception rate the coin recognition device needs to have.

The coin recognition device <NUM> in the present embodiment includes the image determination unit <NUM> that determines the type of a coin among the multiple options determined by the magnetism determination unit <NUM>. Thus, even when the magnetic sensor 321A cannot determine the type of the coin, the image determination unit <NUM> can determine the type because the coins necessarily have different patterns. As a result, the coin recognition device <NUM> does not need to reject the coins for prevention of misrecognition, achieving an improved reception rate. If factors such as the processing time and the memory allow, the coin recognition device <NUM> can also determine the authenticity of coins having the same magnetic feature and different patterns, such as commemorative coins of local governments, using the image sensor 321B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the coin recognition device <NUM> in the present embodiment further includes a denomination determination unit <NUM> that determines the type of a coin based on the multiple options from the magnetism determination unit <NUM> and the determination result from the image determination unit <NUM>. The magnetism determination unit <NUM> compares the magnetism data acquired by the magnetic sensor 321A with the magnetism template 346a and extracts multiple options (two types, in <FIG>). The image determination unit <NUM> compares the respective image templates 346b corresponding to the multiple options extracted by the magnetism determination unit <NUM> with the image data acquired by the image sensor 321B, and determines the type of the coin among the multiple options acquired by the magnetism determination unit <NUM>. The denomination determination unit <NUM> integrates the multiple options from the magnetism determination unit <NUM> and the determination result from the image determination unit <NUM>, finally determining the type of the coin.

As described hereinabove, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. Still, the above embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. The structures of the embodiments may be combined or modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A coin handling device (<NUM>) comprising:
a detection unit (<NUM>) configured to detect a feature of a coin (<NUM>);
a determination unit (<NUM>) configured to determine a type of the coin (<NUM>) based on the feature of the coin (<NUM>) detected by the detection unit (<NUM>);
a reception unit configured to receive from an operator handling settings that designate a way of handling the coin (<NUM>) that is an indeterminate coin (<NUM>) of which the type is not determined and for which multiple options of the type are extracted by the determination unit (<NUM>);
and
a handling unit (<NUM>) configured to handle the indeterminate coin (<NUM>) based on the handling settings received by the reception unit;
characterised in that the handling settings include a first setting item that designates the indeterminate coin (<NUM>) as a coin to be subjected to rejection handling, a second setting item that designates the indeterminate coin (<NUM>) as a coin of a type having a highest degree of similarity among the multiple options of the type, and a third setting item that designates a degree of priority of the type of the indeterminate coin (<NUM>),
the reception unit is configured to receive one of the first, second, and third setting items from the operator, and
based on the setting item received by the reception unit, the handling unit (<NUM>) is configured to: perform the rejection handling on the indeterminate coin (<NUM>) based on the first setting item; handle the indeterminate coin (<NUM>) as a coin of the type having the highest degree of similarity among the multiple options of the type based on the second setting item; or determine the indeterminate coin (<NUM>) as a coin of a type having a highest degree of priority among the multiple options of the type based on the third setting item and handle the indeterminate coin (<NUM>) as a coin of this type.