A coin processing apparatus includes a processor to obtain an image of a deposited coin and specify a center of the deposited coin in the image. The processor then performs a first noise removal on a first image region of the image using a first process setting and a second noise removal on a second image region of the image using a second process setting that is different from the first process setting. A processed image of the deposited coin is generated including the first image region after the first noise removal and the second image region after the second noise removal. The processor identifies then the deposited coin using the processed image. The first image region and the second image region are defined based on a predetermined distance from the specified center of the coin.

A coin identification apparatus includes: a line sensor that detects line image data of a coin being conveyed, the coin being subject to identification; an acquisition unit that acquires the line image data at predetermined sampling intervals; an estimation unit that calculates, for each of the acquired line image data items, a similarity between the acquired line image data and reference line data for each angle, the reference line data being a part of reference pattern image data indicating a coin having a reference pattern, the estimation unit estimating a rotary angle of the coin subject to identification based on the calculated similarity; a correction unit that corrects the line image data based on the estimated rotary angle; and an identification unit that identifies the coin subject to identification based on the corrected line image data.

A currency classification device that classifies currency types using currency images includes a feature value calculator, a storage, and an output unit. The feature value calculator calculates feature values for every currency type that is a candidate for classification from an image area common in images of every currency type. The storage stores the feature values calculated by the feature value calculator from learning images, which are currency models, as templates for every currency type. The output unit outputs the currency type corresponding to the template having a highest value of similarity with the feature value calculated by the feature value calculator an input image, which is a currency image subject to classification, in the templates stored in the storage as a classification result.

A coin identification method and device, as well as a coin register are provided, which are related to a field of image identification. A specific implementation includes: extracting, from a to-be-identified image comprising coins, image blocks corresponding to the coins, to form an input coin set; inputting the input coin set into a coin classification model, to obtain categories and a classification confidences of the image blocks of the coins in the input coin set, wherein the category comprises a face value of the coin; incorporating an image block, with a classification confidence reaching a threshold, of a coin of the input coin set into a first coin set; and determining a face value indicated by a category of the image block of the coin in the first coin set as a final face value of the coin in the first coin set.

Detection of surface irregularities in coins. Three-dimensional topographic data of at least one surface of a coin, having at least one feature, is acquired and used to determine characteristics of the coin features, based on vector components of normal vectors at various points on the surface of the coin. The feature characteristics are then compared to reference feature characteristics. Based on this comparison, an irregularity indication is provided if differences between the feature characteristics and the reference characteristics are found.

According to one embodiment, an optical inspection apparatus including: an imaging optical system; one or more light sources; a light guide which extends cylindrically along an optical axis of the imaging optical system and whose end face is opposed to the one or more light sources; a total reflecting surface formed on an inner surface of the light guide to totally internally reflect light struck into the light guide from the end face; a mirror surface formed on an outer surface of the light guide to reflect light struck into the light guide from the one or more light sources, toward the inspection target; and a transmission surface formed on the inner surface of the light guide to transmit the light reflected by the mirror surface, toward the inspection target.

A coin input to a deposit opening is determined a denomination by a coin identifying device, and is allocated and held in a denomination storing and dispensing device in a course of being transported to a coin transporting and distributing device. The coin of a specified denomination is sent from the denomination storing and dispensing device based on a pay-out command, and paid out to a pay-out opening by a pay out transporting device. When the holding amount of the denomination storing and dispensing device becomes full, the coin is not allocated to the denomination storing and dispensing device by the coin transporting and distributing device, but is dropped to an overflow coin slot, guided to an overflow coin guiding tube juxtaposed to the denomination storing and dispensing device and held in an overflow coin storing unit arranged on the lower side of the denomination storing and dispensing device.

A method as well as an inspection device are provided for automatically checking the authenticity of objects, such as coins. The method includes carrying out an X-ray fluorescence analysis, XRFA, of an object which is to be checked, and carrying out a first comparison in which one or more properties of at least one fluorescence spectrum generated during the course of the XRFA are compared with an associated first body of reference information; carrying out a second analysis of the object on the basis of a corresponding second inspection method other than XRFA, as well as a second comparison in which an examination result obtained during the course of the second analysis is compared with an associated second body of reference information; and determining an analysis result relating to the authenticity of the object in dependence upon the results of the first comparison as well as the second comparison.

The present invention provides a coin handling device that enables a simple and easy change of a way of handling a coin of which a type is difficult to determine according to the user needs. The coin handling device includes a detector that detects a feature of a coin, a determiner that determines a type of the coin based on the feature of the coin detected by the detector, a reception unit that receives from an operating person 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 determiner, and a handling unit that handles the indeterminate coin based on the handling settings received by the reception unit.

A coin separating and detecting device includes: a separating and feeding rotating body disposed inclinedly and configured to receive and separate coins; a coin separating and feeding device configured to push out the coins that have been separated; and a coin detecting device configured to receive the coins from the coin separating and feeding device, the coin detecting device including: a detecting rotating body configured to move the coins; and a sensor configured to acquire physical information on the coins, wherein the separating and feeding rotating body and the detecting rotating body are positioned adjacent each other in a horizontal direction; and wherein the detecting rotating body is configured to receive the coins; hold the coins; deliver the coins onto the detecting portion introduction guide; and push the coins forward along the detecting portion introduction guide.