GB2070307A - Coin handling - Google Patents

Abstract

A coil collecting mechanism particularly but not exclusively suited for use in telephone systems comprises a horizontally or vertically mounted wheel divided into a number of segments 4. Coin values are checked and their locations and value noted in a microprocessor memory on insertion so that, on completion of a call, only such coins as are required to cover the call cost are collected. Coins not so collected are refunded to the caller without further intervention of the microprocessor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coin handling mechanisms The present invention relates to coin handling mechanisms and more particularly to such mechanisms for use in coin collecting telephone apparatus.

The collection of revenue from public telephones has in the past required complicated apparatus in telephone exchanges and a complicated sequence of signal interchanges between the telephone instrument and the exchange.

Prior to the introduction of long distance (trunk) dialling a coin mechanism capable of identifying the presence of sufficient funds to pay for a local call on a single unit fee basis was adequate since iong distance calls were established by an operator who indentified coins inserted to cover the call cost.

Long distance direct dialling led to the introduction in the United Kingdom of the pay-on-answer coin box. In the pay-on-answer system, apparatus in the telephone exchange sends a signal to the coinbox to cause the coinslots to open when the called number answers. This signal is accompanied by an audio signal known as pay tone (e.g. a "pip" tone) to indicate to the caller that coins should be inserted.

When a coin is inserted by the caller a signal or a series of signals is sent to the exchange by tone or, more usually, by line reversal to indicate to the exchange apparatus the value of coin inserted. The value of inserted coin and fee check apparatus and each time a meter pulse is received from the exchange apparatus the counter is counted down by an appropriate amount.

If the counter reaches zero pay tone is again sent to the telephone and should the caller not insert further coins within a predetermined period the call is disconnected.

One disadvantage of the system described above is the difficulty of handling calls which attract a larye fee, such as international calls, which may be metered at such a rate as to prohibit conversation due to the almost continual presence of pay tone.

Other useful facilities such as indications of last coin in use or refund of unused coins cannot be readily implemented introducting further complications to the signalling between exchange and the coinbox.

Recently introduced coinboxes are such that the sole difference in equipment practice in the exchange for a coinbox as opposed to an ordinary telephone is the provision of a metering over line circuit. The metering over line circuit causes either a line reversal or an "out of band" tone signal to be transmitted to line in respect of each meter pulse.

Neither line reversal or out of band tone signals affect voice communication over the line.

In this latter type of coinbox the collection or refund of coins is determined within the coinbox itself in accordance with the metering pulses received. For example if a standard meter unit charge is five pence a caller using the coinbox mey have inserted, at the commencement of the call, say, two five pence coins and a ten pence coin. If whilst the call is in progress four meter pulses are received over the line and no further coins are inserted then the mechanism is arranged to disconnect the call and to collect all of the deposited coins. However, if only three meter pulses have been received before the caller voluntarily terminates the call then the mechanism must collect the ten pence coin and one of the five pence coins and return the remaining coin to the caller.

Therefore, the coinbox must be capable of holding a number of coins of each of a plurality of denominations pending collection or return.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved coin handling mechanisms.

The term coin as used herein includes legal tender coins and coin-like tokens issued by any authority, company or other body specifically for the purchasing of goods or services supplied by that authority, company or other body.

According to the present invention a coin handling mechanism comprises coin storage means mounted for rotation about an axis and having a plurality of coin storage segments each arranged to store a single coin, indexable driving means arranged to rotate said coin storage means such that each segment in turn may be indexably rotated to a coin receiving position at which an inserted coin may enter a segment and to first and second coin depositing positions at which a coin held in the coin storage means may be released, said first coin depositing position having releasing means responsive to control means selectively to release a coin stored in any of the segments, said second coin depositing position being arranged such that any coin not previously released from a segment indexed to the second coin depositing position is released without intervention of the control means, and said control means is arranged to store data relating to the value and location of coins inserted in the coin storage means and to determine which coins (if any) are to be released by said releasing means in order that the value of coins released either at said first coin depositing position or at said second coind depositing position equals or exceeds a value determined from external signals supplied to the mechanism from a remote location.

Preferably a further coin depositing position is or further coin depositing positions are provided between said first and second coin depositing positions to which each segment may be indexably rotated, the or each of the further coin depositing positions having respective releasing means responsive to said control means selectively to release a coin stored in any of the segments, and said control means is arranged to determine which coins (if any) are to be released at each respective coin depositing position in order that the value of coins released at a particular coin depositing position or at a plurality of the coin depositing positions equals or exceeds said value determined from said external signals.

The axis of rotation may be vertical or horizontal.

Two coin storage mechanisms in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows schematically a first coin storage mechanism in accordance with the invention, Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show respectively a plan, front elevation and side elevation of a part of Figure 1, Figures 3A and 3b show respectively front and side elevations of a further part of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a partly sectioned elevation of a second coin storage mechanism in accordance with the invention, Figure 6 shows a cross section through the coin storage mechanism along the line X-X of Figure 4, and Figure 6 shows schematically the path of coins through either of the mechanisms of Figures 1 and 4.

Referring to Figure 1, the coin storage mechanism comprises an upper circular plate 1 attached to a vertical spindle 2 and having therein a plurality of radially located coinslots 3 through which coins may pass. Each coinslot 3 has a respective coinstorage segment 4 extending from it, the lip 5 of the coin segment 4 being attached to the upper plate 1 by a screw (not shown). The back of the coin segment 4 is attached at its lower end to a coin shoe 6 by a screw (not shown), the coin shoe 6 being in turn attached to a lower circular plate 7.

The spindle 2 may be directly linked or linked by way of a gear wheel (not shown) to a stepping motor (not shown).

Referring also to Figures 2A, B and C each coin segment 4 of Figure 1 is made of a resilient thin sheet material Phosphor Bronze for example bent into the form of an open-ended box.

The lip 5 is formed on the back section of the segment and the segment is shaped at the rear edge so as not to trap an inserted coin. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the coin segments 4 are fitted between the plates 1 and 7 at an angle to the vertical so that inserted coins will rest with one face against the back of the segments. Inserted coins are prevented from rolling from their respective segments 4 by respective front flaps 9 formed on the segments.

To allow a coin to leave a segment 4 a catch plate 8, also formed in the material of the segment, is provided. Thus if a lever, for example an electromechanically operated pin, is inserted in the path of the catch plateS, when the mechanism is stepped in a clockwise direction by the stepping motor (not shown) the front flap 9 will open against the resilience of the material of the coin segment allowing the coin to roll from the mechanism.

It will be appreciated that an alternative method of working may be adopted in which a coin depositing position is provided at a segment position anticlockwise from the coin insertion position such that deposition of coins close to the coin insertion position may be carried out by stepping the mechanism in an anto-clockwise direction coins may then leave the mechanism in a last in-first out mode which may serve to reduce the time taken to clear the mechanism for subsequent use.

To ensure that an inserted coin rolls freely from the mechanism under the influence of gravity the coin shoes 6 are shaped as shown in Figure 3. It will be seen from Figure 3 that the coin shoe 6 includes a curved top section (although a slope may equally well be used) to ensure that inserted coins rest with an edge against the front flap 9.

The mechanism just described is used with the spindle 2 approximately vertical and is intended for use in telephone apparatus but may be used in other coin handling systems such as in coin operated vending machinery or gaming machines or in coin sorting apparatus. Control circuitry required for use with the mechanism described above and for the mechanism to be described hereinafter is known in the art and coin chutes required for use by the mechanism may be readily constructed.

Referring now to Figure 6 coins may be inserted through coin entry mechanisms 10 for example coinslots and may have any necessary validation checks such as metal detection, size checks or comparison checks made on them by validity and value checking circuitry 11. The coin value is passed by the validity and value circuitry 11 to a control and memory circuit 12 which may be a microprocessor for example. The memory circuit 12 records the value of the coin inserted and the segment in the temporary coin storage mechanism 14 into which the coin has dropped. The control and memory circuit 12 then causes the stepping motor 15 to advance the storage mechanism by one space.

Subsequent coins inserted at the volition of the user are similarly handled. The provision of a separate coin reject system is unnecessary since the memory 12 records that an invalid coin has been deposited in a particular segment and may deal with its return during a coin collection cycle.

However, in order to prevent the storage mechanism becoming overburdened with invalid coins a separate electro-mechanically operable reject system of known kind may be provided to reject such invalid coins prior to them reaching a storage segment.

At the time when the amount to be collected has been determined the control 12 causes the stepping motor 15 to turn the coin store 14 until a segment containing a coin is adjacent a coin collection point.

If the coin is to be collected the control 12 causes a collect/refund mechanism 17 (for example a relay) to operate so that a lever causes the respective segment to open and deposit the coin to a cash box 16. If the coin is not to be collected the control 12 causes the stepping motor 15 to advance the coin store 14 until a coin which is to be collected is adjacent the collecting point. Each coin which is to be collected is similarly handled.

Coins which are not to be collected will be released by a fixed release lever adjacent a refund point.

It will be appreciated that a plurality of coin collection points may be provided and similarly a plurality of coin entry points to the coin store 14 may be provided.

It will also be appreciated that any of the coin collection points may be used to refund coins which are not to be collected. If the fixed coin release point is not used for refund purposes then the control 12 is arranged to release coins not required for collection at the controllable coin depositing position being used for refund purposes.

Where a simpler coin store with a single coin entry point, a small number of coin collection points and a positive coin release action is required then use may be made of the mechanism of Figures 4 and 5 to which reference is now made.

The mechanism comprises a central boss 21 including a spindle 22 to which a stepping motor (not shown) may be connected either directly or by way of a gear 23. Coin plates 24 on which inserted coins rest are hinged to the boss 21 by respective spindles 25 so that they may move freely with respect to the boss within the limits prescribed by respective apertures 26 in sideplates 27 of the mechanism. Respective plate control pins 28 pass through the apertures 26 and the coin plates 24 to limit the movement of the respective coin plated 24 in relation to the boss 21 and to provide a coin collect function as hereinafter described. It will be appreciated, however, that the plate control pin 28 may be formed as an integral extension of the coin plate 24.

To prevent premature release in the lower left hand quarter of the circule of rotation of the mechanism each plate has associated therewith a respective roller 29 which is mounted between the side plates 27 by a spindle 30.

The mechanism is operated with the spindle 22 being horizontally mounted and, for the purposes of description, with the stepping motor being arranged to drive the mechanism in an anti-clockwise direction according to the view of Figure 4.

Coin chutes (not shown) are arranged so that an inserted coin is introduced to the mechanism at the point CI. As the mechanism is rotated by the stepping motor (not shown) the coin plate 24 will fall under gravity in an anti-clockwise direction until the respective plate control pin 28 reaches the limit of the respective aperture 26. With subsequent steps of the motor (not shown) the coin plate 24 remains in this position, the inserted coin having a face on the coin plate 24 and an edge resting against the boss 21. When the coin plate 24 is one or two steps past the horizontal position the inserted coin will slide away from the boss 21 under gravity until it has an edge resting against the respective roller 29.

If the coin is to be collected than a release lever (not shown) is introduced into the path of the plate control lever 28 so that when the mechanism is rotated by the motor to bring the respective coin plate 24 adjacent one of the points CC the coin plate is held in position by the release lever and the plate control lever 28 so that the coin is clear of the respective roller 29 and will slide from the mechanism over the roller under gravitational influence.

If the coin is not collected in the manner described above then when the respective coin plate 24 passes position FR the coin plate will fall back to its rest position and the coin will slide from the mechanism.

In the example of Figure 4 the side plates 27 are for example of an acrylic material, the boss 22 of bakelite, the coin plates 24 of an aluminium alloy and the spindles 25 and plate control pins 28 of stainless steel.

Claims (20)

1. Acoin handling mechanism comprising coin storage means mounted for rotation about an axis and having a plurality of coin storage segments each arranged to store a single coin, indexable driving means arranged to rotate said coin storage means such that each segment in turn may be indexably rotated to a coin receiving position at which an inserted coin may enter a segment and to first and second coin depositing positions at which a coin held in the coin storage means may be released, said first coin depositing position having releasing means responsive to control means selectively to release a coin stored in any of the segments, said second coin depositing position being arranged such that any coin not previously released from a segment indexed to the second coin depositing position is released without intervention of the control means, and said control means is arranged to store data relating to the value and location of coins inserted in the coin storage means and to determine which coins (if any) are to be released said releasing means in order that the value of coins released either at said first coin depositing position or at said second coin depositing position equals or exceeds a value determined from external signals supplied to the mechanism from a remote location.

2. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which a further coin depositing position is or further coin depositing position are provided between said first and second coin depositing positions to which each segment may be indexably rotated, the or each of the further coin depositing positions having respective releasing means responsive to said control means selectively to release a coin stored in any of the segments, and said control means is arranged to determine which coins (if any) are to be released at each respective coin depositing position in order that the value of coins released at a particular coin depositing position or at a plurality of the coin depositing positions equals or exceeds said value determined from said external signals.

3. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the indexable driving means is a stepping motor operating under control of the control means.

4. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 in which the control means is a microprocessor.

5. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim in which the axis of rotation of the coin storage means is approximately vertical.

6. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 5 in which each of the segments has a respective base member on which an edge of an inserted coin may rest, said base member being shaped to urge an inserted coin to move in a direction away from the axis of rotation and towards a respective segment closing member such that any inserted coin will leave the segment under the influence of gravitational forces when the segment closing member is opened by action of the releasing means responsive to the control means or by action of fixed releasing means at said second coin depositing position.

7. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 6 in which said segment closing member and a back member of the segment are integrally formed from a sheet of resilient material, said segment closing member having a catch plate arranged such that each of the releasing means may cause the segment closing member to open to release a stored coin from the segment and the segment closing member tends to close by virtue of the resilience of the resilient material when the catch plate is clear of the releasing means.

8. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 in which each segment is mounted between a substantially disc shaped top plate member and a substantially disc shaped bottom plate member, said top plate member having a respective slot for each segment through which a coin may pass.

9. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 8 in which said top plate member and said bottom plate member are formed from plastics material.

10. A mechanical handling mechanism as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which each segment is mounted in a plane at an angle to the vertical such than an inserted coin will tend to rest against a determinate face of the segment.

11. A coin handling mechanism, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the axis of rotation of the coin storage means is substantially horizontal.

12. Acoin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 11 in which each segment is formed by a substantially planar member pivotally connected at an end thereof to a rotateable hub and having restricting means to limit movement of the opposed end planar member.

13. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 12 in which said rotatable hub and said planar members are mounted between two substantially planar disc members.

14. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 13 in which said disc members have a respective aperture for each segment through which the respective restricting means extend.

15. A coin handling mechansim as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 in which said restricting means is also arranged to co-operate with the respectived releasing means of the coin depositing positions to effect release of a coin stored in its respective segment.

16. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 in which any coin stored in one of the segments is prevented from prematurely leaving that segment by a respective roller mounted between said disc members said respective rollers being arranged such that in said first and any further coin depositing positions except said second coin depositing position when said releasing means is not operated an edge of a stored coin rests against the respective roller.

17. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in claim 16 in which said releasing means is/are respectively arranged in operation to raise the respective planar member of any segment at the respective coin depositing position to enable a stored coin to leave the coin storage means by raising the edge above the level of the roller.

18. A coin handling mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17 in which said second coin depositing position is positioned such that any coin stored in a segment reaching that position falls from the coin storage means under the influence of gravity without intervention of mechanical or electro-mechanical releasing means.

19. A coin handling mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A coin handling mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.