DE2240145C2 - Device for checking coins - Google Patents

Description

that in the direction of travel of the coins in front of the detector arrangement (21) a device (20) for generating a decelerating the coins passing through Magnetfeldc, is arranged, and jo

that the evaluation circuit (47)

a time interval of the eggs arrival of the coin at a second in the running direction detector (42) to the exit of a first in the running direction is de- tektors (44,46) measures if both Detekiorcn the presence of the coin to determine simultaneously), or

b) the time interval from leaving a first detector (44, 46) in the direction of travel to arrival at a second detector (42) in the direction of travel, if the two detectors are the Determine the presence of the coin one after the other, and

c) generates an output signal when the measured time interval is within one for one of the Device to be accepted coin is predetermined tolerance range.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (47) has:

a first coincidence circuit (48, 52) which can be activated by signals indicating the simultaneous presence a coin on the or a secondary detector (44, 46) and on the primary detector (42) specify as well

a second coincidence circuit (50, 54) which can be controlled by signals that after the presence of a Coin on the or, a secondary detector (44, 46) the simultaneous absence of the coin on the t> <> on the secondary detector (44, 46) and on the primary Specify detector (44).

3. Apparatus according to claim I or 2, characterized in that at least two secondary detectors (44, 46) are provided which have ^{different distances from both t, 1} »the primary detector (42) and from the coin track (12).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that that at least one (46) of the secondary detectors is spaced from the coin track (12) which is smaller than the diameter of the smallest coin to be accepted.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (47) has:

a first coincidence circuit (48) which signals du / ch can be controlled, the simultaneous presence of a coin on the first in the direction of travel specify secondary detector (44) and on the primary detector (42),

a second coincidence circuit (50) which can be opened by signals after the presence of a Coin at the first secondary detector (44) the simultaneous absence of the coin at the first secondary Specify detector (44) and on the primary detector (42).

a third coincidence circuit (52) which can be controlled by signals. which indicate the simultaneous presence of a coin at the second downstream detector (46) and at the primary detector (42) and the absence of the coin at the first secondary detector (44), and
a fourth coincidence circuit (54) which is aufsteuerh.'J by signals which indicate the presence of a coin on the second secondary detector (46) the simultaneous absence of the coin on the second secondary detector (46) on the primary detector (42).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (47) has a with the output signals of the detector arrangement (21) and a clock (114) acted upon logic element (116) , at the output of which evaluates the respective coin Counter (112) is connected.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 insofar as this refers back to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (47) has a stage (102,104,106,108,124, 126,128 ) connected to the counter (112) and the coincidence circuits (48, 50, 52, 54) ) to compare the signal values derived from the respective coin with default values and to display the coin size.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by one in front of the running direction Detector arrangement (21) arranged, the arrival of a coin detecting and the evaluation circuit (47) activating detector (28).

The invention relates to a device in the preamble of claim I specified type for checking coins.

Such a device is known from DE-OS 49 277. There are on the coin career a primary detector as well as several secondary detectors in spatial relationship to the diameters of the Coins to be checked and arranged at a movable stop likewise provided on the coin track. The coin to be tested is stopped at the stop, and in this position is determined. which of the secondary detectors will detect the coin, whereupon the stop is withdrawn.

Since in the known device only fixed

it is adjustable whether the individual detectors the respective Detect coin in its measuring position or not, a total of a number of detectors is required is the same as the number of coins to be distinguished.

The invention is based on the object of developing a device of the type specified at the outset in such a way that that a predetermined number of different coins with a smaller number of each Detectors can be distinguished.

The solution to this problem according to the invention is specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. the afterwards designed device works dynamically by measuring the time span that the coin needs, to move from a first to a second detector. If the coin is big enough to move from to be detected simultaneously by both detectors, then the time span from reaching the in the running direction second detector determined until leaving the first detector; it is so small that it is of the two Detectors is only detected one after the other, so the time span from leaving the first to bringing up measured by the second detector. In principle, it is therefore possible to use two detectors between differentiate between several coin diameters.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings; in the Drawings shows

F i g. 1 is a schematic front view of a device for checking coins,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic enlarged illustration of the detector arrangement used in the device according to FIG. 1 to illustrate the location of each detector in relation to various typical ones Coin diameter,

F i g. 3 shows a block diagram for the evaluation circuit used in connection with the device according to FIG. 1, and

4 shows the time course of the output signals of the detectors for four typical coins.

The in F i g. Apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1 includes a coin track 12 and two inclined surfaces 14, 16 which together form a winding path. The device 10 is also provided with one controlled by a M; ignet Coin locking member 18, a Magnelscheider 19 for removing certain coins, a brake magnet 20, which works with the eddy currents, and a detector arrangement 21 for determining the presence of a coin or for scanning various properties of a coin and for determining the acceptability the coin. The device also has a gate 22, a passage 23 for the removal of the Coin and a passage 24 to reject the coin.

A coin is placed in a funnel-shaped inlet 26 thrown in, from which it falls onto the track 12, being slowed down by the surfaces 14, 16 and brought into the rest position on the track 12 by the locking member 18, which has a mechanical stop will. As the coin moves along the track 12, it passes a detector 28, sensing the presence of a coin in the system and switching on various electronic ones Components are divided as described below.

Various types of detectors are suitable. like / .. B. mechanical or inductive switches, but with a preferred detector cii "photoelectric device, z. B. is a photosensitive transistor with a light source on the opposite side of the coin passage cooperates and generates signals, which indicate whether the detector is charged or darkened.

The coin released by the locking member 18 begins to roll down the track 12 and comes through a magnetic field generated by the magnet 20. The magnet 20, a permanent magnet or a ίο Electromagnet is arranged on one side of the track 12 The magnetic field circuit is established by a second magnet or by a plate (not shown) made of ferromagnetic material, such as. B. wrought iron, completes the immediately opposite the magnet 20 may be arranged to create a field at the passage through which the coin rolls. The preferred strength of the magnetic field is chosen so that the speed of the coins is reduced is, this delay e. a is 10 to 50%. The change in cash flow rate during their movement through the magnetic field is an indication of the acceptability of the coin.

After the coin has rolled past the magnet 20. comes "ie between a light source (not shown) on one side of the track 12 and the detector arrangement 21 on the other side. Then it rolls off the Track away and arrives at the gate 22, which can be actuated by an electromagnet and is in the Coin passage extends into it. Sets the detector arrangement together with the logical one discussed below Evaluation circuit determines that the coin passing through the system is not acceptable, so it will Gate not removed from the passage so that the coin from gate 22 into reject passage 24 rebounds. However, if it turns out that an acceptable coin has passed through the system, so will the gate 22 is withdrawn from the coin passage so that the coin falls into the acceptance passage 23.

The in F i g. The detector arrangement 21 shown in more detail in FIG. 2 is mainly for the recognition of at least four Coins with different denominations are determined, 5, - 10, - for the sake of simplicity. 25 and 50 cent pieces of the should be North American coinage. The detector arrangement 21 has a primary detector 42 and

4% a row of secondary detectors 44 and 46 which are arranged at a distance from the primary detector 42, the detector arrangement 21 being arranged fixedly with respect to the coin track 12. which supports the edge of the coins being tested. The secondary detector 46 is spaced from the primary detector 42 by a distance which is greater than the length of the chord along the line between the detectors 42 and 46 of the largest coin to be accepted with the smallest nominal dimension (10 piece). if this coin is in the track / between the detectors and one edge of it is just slightly darkening the detector 42, and on the other hand is smaller than the chord length along this line of the smallest coin to be accepted

bo the second smallest nominal diameter 5 cents piece). The position of the detectors 42 and 46 above the Coin track 12 is a distance less than the diameter of the smallest acceptable Coin, namely the smallest acceptable 10 cenl

b ^r i coin.

The secondary detector 44 is from the primary detector 42 arranged at a distance which, on the one hand, is greater than the length of the line along the line

between detectors 42 and 44 of the largest acceptable coin with the second largest nominal diameter (25-cent piece) if this coin is in the track between the detector and a Edge of the same the detector 42 just slightly darkened, and on the other hand smaller than the Schncnlänge along this line of the smallest acceptable coin with the largest nominal diameter (50 ccn. piece). Of the The distance of the detector 44 from the coin track is greater than the diameter of the largest acceptable Coin of the second smallest nominal diameter (the 5-cent piece) and smaller than the diameter of the smallest acceptable coin of the second largest nominal diameter (the 25-cent piece).

It can be seen that the three detectors 42, 44 and 46 are arranged so that the detector 44 is never obscured by 10 cents or 5 cents but this detector is obscured by the 25 cents and 50 cents, and that detectors 42 and 44 can be darkened at the same time (i.e., detector 42 is turned off during part of the period in which the detector 44 is eclipsed by the 50 cent piece, however is not obscured by the 25 cent coin). Similarly, detector 46 is acceptable through all Coins obscured, while detectors 46 and 42 were replaced by three larger coins, the 5-cent, 25-cent and 50-cent pieces obscured at the same time, but by the Vleinste acceptable coin, the 10-cent piece cannot be darkened at the same time. By using the below described The information provided by these three detectors can be compared to the relatively simple evaluation circuit Classify all coins into five categories as follows: (a) Coins that are large enough are to simultaneously all three detectors cover, (b) coins that are only large enough to cover a selected one of the three detectors at the same time, however large enough to obscure the third at a time when at least one of the other is not obscured, (c) coins large enough to simultaneously see the primary detector and one of the cover both secondary detectors, but are not large enough to cover the other secondary detector at all times to cover up, (d) coins that are not large enough to pass the higher of the secondary detectors to obscure, but large enough to obscure the other secondary detector and the primary detector one after the other, but not simultaneously, and (e) coins that are not large enough at all to cover a detector.

The in F i g. 3 is to be used in conjunction with the evaluation circuit 47 shown in FIG. 4 can be considered. The evaluation circuit 47 contains four coincidence circuits 48, 50, 52, 54 and two bistable multivibrators or flip-flop circuits 56, 58. Each coincidence circuit represents acceptable coins and is driven to generate an output signal t \\ when all of the input signals of the same are in the high state. Each coincidence circuit responds to signals from the three detectors 42, 44, 46 for sensing the properties of the coin / c. as well as to signals from the flip-flop circuit 56. For purposes of visualization, the signals from the detectors are considered "high" when the detectors are illuminated and not darkened, while the signals are considered "low" when the detectors are obscured by a coin.

Referring first to the coincidence gate 48 for the 50 cent, it can be seen that the coincidence circuit 48 generates a low signal only when a coin that is big enough. around all three Deicktors 42,44,46 to cover up, runs through the system. The output from each detector 42, 44 and 46 will be passed through an inverter circuit 60 or 64, and then fed to the inputs of the coincidence circuit 48. The fourth input of the coincidence circuit 48

in comes from the flip-flop circuit 56 which is passed through a Signal from detector 44 is excited. Before a coin obscures the detectors, the detectors generate a high signal which results in a low signal at the input of the coincidence circuit 48, namely as a result of the Invcrrtcrschaltungen 60, 62, 64. The flip-flop circuit 56. which by the entry of a coin in the system or has been canceled by a signal from the scanner 28 /. also does not produce a correct one Signal at the input of the gate circuit until the detector 44 is covered and the flip-flop circuit 56 is energized will. When a large coin runs down the track 12, it first obscures the scanner 44, the the flip-flop circuit 56 turns on to produce the desired high signal on the input line 66 of the Coincidence circuit 48 and the high control signal due to the inverter circuit 62 on the input supply line 6 ^ to generate. Then the coin obscures the detector 46. This creates a high signal due to the Inverter circuit 64 is generated on line 70,

jo whereupon the coin covers the detector 42, whereby a high signal on line 72 due to inverter circuit 60 is generated. The state of four simultaneous high signals at the inputs of gate 48 only arises when all three detectors are concealed at the same time (see FIG. 4), which leads to the generation of a low signal on the output line 74 the coincidence circuit 48 until the trailing edge of the coin leaves the first detector 44. Hence shows a low signal on output line 74 indicates that a coin large enough to detect all three detectors to conceal at the same time, has passed through the detector arrangement 21. This coin size category includes 50 cent pieces.

Similarly, it can be seen that all four input lines of coincidence circuit 50 are high only when the coin is large enough to obscure detector 44, thereby driving flip-flop circuit 56, and when it is large enough. conceal coincidence circuits 42 and 46 at the same time, but not large enough to obscure detector 44 during the time that coincidence circuits 42 and 46 are obscured. This is due to the fact that the output from the detector 44 is passed directly to the coincidence circuit 50, unc not through the! Inverter circuit 62 is supplied, whereas the output of detectors 46 and 42 is supplied to inverter circuits 64 and 60, respectively, before it is supplied to coincidence circuit 50.
Referring now to the coincidence circuit 52

bo which refers to a coin size category, wel before encompassing the 5 cent pieces, a high signal ai the input line 66 is only generated when the flip-flop circuit 56 is triggered by a coin that has the Detekto 44 has been darkened, has not been activated because the off

b5 gang from the flip-flop circuit 56 to coincidence circuit 52 is opposite to that which the coincidence circuits 48 and 50 has been fed. Dai in addition, it can be seen that the output signal au

the detector 44 directly to the input line 78 and is not fed through the inverter circuit 62, so that a high signal at. of the line 78 is only present is. when the detector 44 is generally obscured. The from Input lines 80 and 82 coming to detectors 46 and 42 contain inverter circuits 64 and 60, so that ~ ί only carry high signals at the same time, when these detectors are darkened at the same time. A similar analysis of the coincidence circuit 54 shows that it only receives four high input signals when detector 44 has not been obscured at all and detectors 42 and 46 not at the same time have been covered. The coincidence circuits 52 and 54 have a fifth input 84 and 86, respectively, the comes from the flip-flop circuit 58. The purpose of this input is to indicate that there is a coin has passed through the system which has a diameter softer ucr riüi'ic of the scanner 46 above the Career is at least the same. Since the coincidence circuit 54 is energized when none of the three detectors 42,44,46 is covered, it can be seen that this state exists even when no coin is running through the system. To avoid this ambiguity, the Flip-flop 58 reset by a coin running through the system with the aid of of the detector 30 to generate a low signal at the inputs 84,86, and if the detector 46 is obscured by a coin, the flip-flop circuit 58 is energized and a high signal is sent to the Inputs 84, 86 generated, whereby the coincidence circuits 52,54 are driven, if the others Conditions are met. Therefore, indicates a low signal on the output line 92 of the coincidence circuit 54 indicates that a coin large enough to obscure detector 46 but not detector 44 and which is not large enough to accommodate the detectors 46 and 42 to conceal at the same time, has passed through the gate assembly 21. This coin size category includes the 10 cent pieces.

The output lines 74, 88, 90 and 92 lead from the coincidence circuits 48 and 50 and 52 and 54, respectively to a coincidence circuit 94 which produces a high output when the signal is passed to any Input line of the same 74,88,90 or 92 is low. The output of the coincidence circuit 94 is passed through a differential circuit 95 and an OR circuit 96 routed to the flip-flop circuit 58. The flip-flop circuit 58 is reset as soon as a high output from coincidence circuit 94 indicates that by the termination of a signal for the classification of the coins according to their size has been blocked. As mentioned above, the flip-flop 58 is also activated by a signal from the detector 30 for sensing the arrival of a Coin reset, indicating that a coin has entered the device

The output signal from the coincidence circuit 94 is also used for the test phase of the evaluation circuit 47 in FIG with respect to the take-up ratio of the coin, as described below. In addition to the lines 74,88,90 and 92, which go to the coincidence circuit 94 lead, corresponding individual lines 74 ', 88', 90 'and 92 * are also provided in order to make individual signals available which indicate the size category of the coin. When a coin does not obscure the detector 46 either because it is too small or because it does not reach the detector 46, nothing appears Signal on any line 74 ', 88', 90 'and 92'.

The following description refers to the Circuit for checking the coin speed and the chord length of the coin. F i g. J also shows one Part of the output circuit 47. through which a

s equal to the signals produced by the various detectors are generated with predetermined signals to determine whether an acceptable Coin has passed through the system or not. Four flip-flop circuits 102,104,106 and 108 are provided, which represent the acceptable coins, in this case a 50, 25, 5 and 10 cent coin respectively are. A control line from the respective coincidence circuits 48, 50, 54, 52 becomes each of the flip-flop circuits 102, 104, 106 and 108 supplied, so

is that a low signal on any output line 74 ', 88', 90 'and 92' partially controls one of the flip-flop circuits 102, 104, 106 and 108, respectively. Because only each one of these Ausgarigsleitup.gen a low signal the remaining three are flip-fiop circuits deferred.

Each of the flip-flop circuits 102, 104, 106 and 108 is connected to a decoder 110 which is fed by a counter 112. A clock 114 is with connected to the counter 112 via a line 115 and a coincidence circuit 116, which is a desired Signal to counter 112 only if its inputs are all high. The other entrances to the Coincidence circuit 116 is the output line from circuit 94, a line 117 from the set

jo output of flip-flop circuit 58, thereby indicating it is that a coin of a correct size is in front of the scanning arrangement 21 for the coins, and a line 118 from the decoder 110. The line 118 of the decoder sets a counting lock

J5 represents. So that as soon as the counter is above the highest count In addition to which an acceptable coin may have, the signal on line 118 passes circuit 116 resets automatically to avoid repeating the counting cycle.

The signal from the clock 114 is converted by a circuit 119 into positive pulses, which as Λ clock pulses are designated, as well as in negative Pulses referred to as β clock pulses, these pulses being out of phase with one another.

The positive pulses are fed to the counter 112 and the negative pulses are fed to the decoder 110, to control the decoder and the counter 112 between read the transitions between the high and the low state of the positive pulses.

so For a four-coin set as described in this embodiment, the decoder provides one row from four sets as output signals, each of which consists of a low and a high count for each one Each of these sets of decoder output signals is a corresponding flip-flop circuit 102,104,106,108, the signal with the low count being a control signal and the high count signal is a reset signal. The fourth control signal to each flip-flop is

ω a signal on common line 120 from the Output of the coincidence circuit 116 so that the flip-flop circuit cannot be reset unless circuit 116 has all of its four inputs in the desired state, in this case im

b5 high state. This prevents it from being switched on Flip-flop circuits if the counter or decoder has been erroneously activated by interference signals. If one in a size category accordingly

ίο

one of the 10-, 5-, 25- or 50-cent pieces matching coin runs through the device 10, the circuit 116 turned on, the positive pulses being fed to the counter 112. The number of the counter 112 and then the decoder 110 supplied pulses is proportional to the size of the coin and is inversely proportional to the speed of the coin. As soon the coincidence circuit 48,50,52 or 54 which the coincidence circuit 94 has turned on, is blocked, the coincidence circuit 116 is blocked, wherein the meter stops receiving pulses.

The diagram of Figure 4 shows the time during which flip- flops 102, 104, 106 and 108 are set for acceptable coins. Is the count received by the decoder during the interval shown by the dash-dotted lines in the diagram for setting and resetting the more prescribed! If the value for an acceptable coin is the same as represented by the flip-flop circuit which has been excited by the determination of the coin size, this flip-flop circuit remains set. The set flip-flop provides a signal which indicates that a coin has passed through the system at an acceptable cut size and speed, and also indicates the denomination of that coin. Since the counts represent the size and speed of the coin and, for the reasons described above, the speed of an electrically conductive non-ferromagnetic coin after it has been exposed to the magnet 18 is related to the acceptance ratio of the coin, this check gives the coin size and the Coin Speed A way of accurately determining the authenticity and face value of a moving coin.

Since only one of the flip-flop circuits 102, 104, 106, 108 can be activated at the same time, there is no ambiguity.

A signal from the set flip-flop circuit becomes

128. who sell at certain accumulated values can.

A coincidence circuit 130 for blocking the pulse generator is provided which has a pair of inputs, one input coming from the accumulator and representing a blocking device at high prices, the second input coming from the last detector 42 from the arrangement 21. A signal on a line 132 blocks the pulse generator 124 when the ίο accumulator has registered a predetermined maximum value, such as / ,. B. the price of the most expensive item in the vending machine. A similar line 134 carries a signal to a coincidence circuit 136 to prevent acceptance of any coins after the accumulator has registered the predetermined maximum value. If any additional coins are scanned into the coin scanner after the accumulator has reached its maximum spin value, the coins are rejected and returned to the customer.

The signal from the detector 42 is fed to the pulser 124 to turn the pulser off until the coin has left the detector 42, thus ensuring that the counter has recorded an appropriate count for the coin before the pulser takes any Checks flip-flops 102, 104, 106, 108. This prevents the pulse generator from recognizing a signal from one of the flip-flop circuits anerjo during an intermediate period while the counter is still recording the coin speed.

While the above description relates to a detector arrangement 21 for scanning the coins with a single primary detector 42 and a series of two j5 secondary detectors 44, 46, the disclosed A. embodiment can of course be modified and use only a single secondary detector or more than two detectors. Any secondary detector enables the precise assessment of at least

then fed to a coin acceptance device 122 , 40 at least two different coins, which, however, are similar in size to the electromagnets (not shown). While each secondary detector energizes coin acceptance to remove gate 22 from the way along with primary detector 42 more than two of the coins so that it can check coins in the passageway, 23 is dropped for coin acceptance for maximum accuracy. If none of the preferably provided that the secondary detector flip-flop circuits 102, 104, 106, 108 is set at the time in such a manner with respect to the primary detector to which the coin the gate 22 is assigned. that the length of time while the coin is on

their speed is checked, is reduced to a minimum. So is z. B. with reference to F i g. 2 it can be seen that the secondary detector 24 together with the primary detector 42 for checking the speed characteristics of all coins ver

reached, the coin strikes the gate and is directed into the passage 24 to reject the coin.

In addition to the signal that is fed to the coin acceptor by the set flip-flop circuit, a signal is also fed to a conventional pulse generator 124 , which in turn can apply a valuation signal to a conventional binary accumulator which is greater than the distance between these two detectors namely the 5, 25 and 50 cent pieces. The length of time for a review

mulator 126 feeds The evaluation signal is for each speed for the 25- and 50-cent pieces.

Typical flip-flop circuit that has been set. For example, pulse generator 124 sends a single pulse when flip-flop 108 is set for 5 cents, a double pulse when flip-flop 106 is set for 10 cents. five pulses if flip-flop 104 is set for 25 cents and ten pulses if flip-flop 102 is set for 50 cents. Alternatively, one for a 50-cent piece, whose weighed de could, however, be unduly long and make the coin scanning system less accurate. The accuracy of the system is largely increased by the additional arrangement of the further detector 44, which enables the coin acceptance ratio and the chord dimension of the two larger coins to be checked more closely.

It should also be noted that, while the above description and the accompanying drawings

Value is ten times as large as that of the 5-OMH piece, b5 order of the secondary detectors in relation to which the pulse generators show five pulses in the second stage of the coin movement in front of the primary detector 42, the binary T accumulator 126 drive. The accumulator controls a device in a conventional manner

Alignment of these detectors can be reversed with a corresponding modification of the evaluation circuit

can. Finally, it should be noted that the device described here only applies to the disclosed embodiment for conductive, non-fenomagnetic coins,
but can also be used with other coins or tokens.

For this purpose 2 sheets of drawings

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Claims (1)

Patent claims: 1. Apparatus for testing coins of different nominal diameter with an electrode disposed on a s coin track (12), detector array (21) comprising at least one comprises a primary detector (42) and spaced from this arranged secondary detector (44,46) and whose output signals are fed to an evaluation circuit (47), characterized in that
that the distance between the primary detector (42) and each secondary detector (44,46) in the direction of travel of the coins 15th a) is greater than that measured along the connecting line between these two detectors Chord of the largest coin to be accepted by the device, any given one Nominal diameter and b) smaller than the chord of the smallest to be assumed chord measured along said connecting line Coin each with a different nominal diameter, which is larger than one nominal diameter,