EP0146251B1 - Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit von Münzen - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit von Münzen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0146251B1
EP0146251B1 EP19840307619 EP84307619A EP0146251B1 EP 0146251 B1 EP0146251 B1 EP 0146251B1 EP 19840307619 EP19840307619 EP 19840307619 EP 84307619 A EP84307619 A EP 84307619A EP 0146251 B1 EP0146251 B1 EP 0146251B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coin
validator
sensor
processor
output
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19840307619
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0146251A1 (de
Inventor
Eric Shouksmith
Mark Jeremy Roberts
Robert Dean
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mars Inc
Original Assignee
Mars Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=26286975&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0146251(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from GB838329533A external-priority patent/GB8329533D0/en
Application filed by Mars Inc filed Critical Mars Inc
Priority to AT84307619T priority Critical patent/ATE79478T1/de
Publication of EP0146251A1 publication Critical patent/EP0146251A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0146251B1 publication Critical patent/EP0146251B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D5/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
    • G07D5/02—Testing the dimensions, e.g. thickness, diameter; Testing the deformation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D5/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
    • G07D5/08—Testing the magnetic or electric properties

Definitions

  • This invention relates to coin validators, and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with validators which use very little power, and which are therefore suitable for use in, for example, pay telephones.
  • US-A-4 124 111 discloses coin validators in which the outputs of inductive sensors are delivered to window comparators in order to determine whether the peak values of the outputs are within preset limits. Timers are also provided to determine whether the period for which the sensor output exceeds a predetermined threshold level is within predetermined limits.
  • An alternative embodiment disclosed in US-A-4 124 111 is intended to avoid problems due to the possibility of a counterfeit coin causing the same peak value in the sensor output as a genuine coin.
  • a level detector causes clock pulses to be generated during the period that the sensor output exceeds a predetermined threshold.
  • the sensor output is digitised, and the clock pulses cause successive digitised outputs to be accumulated in a counter.
  • the final counter output thus represents the integral of the sensor output level throughout the period that the sensor output exceeds the threshold level.
  • a coin validator for determining whether an item is a genuine coin
  • the validator having sensing means comprising a coin-testing sensor and a validation circuit coupled to an output of the sensing means for calculating a coin measurement based on the sum of values indicative of successive amplitudes of an output signal from said sensing means produced as said item moves relative to said sensor, and for determining whether said measurement is appropriate for a genuine coin, characterised in that the measurement is based on the sum of values indicative of successive amplitudes of said output signal produced while the item is substantially at a position at which a peak level of the output signal amplitude occurs, whereby the measurement is representative of said peak level.
  • the coin measurement is based on the first n of a greater number of values read by said circuit, but not on any subsequent read value.
  • the coin measurement is based on selected output values, the validator having a circuit responsive to the sensor output values for detecting when a coin is leaving the sensor and in response thereto for selecting the values on which the measurement is based.
  • a predetermined number of measurements are stored, and when the latest measurements indicate that the coin is leaving the sensor, the first n of these measurements are averaged, where n is a predetermined value.
  • EP-A1-0 058 094 describes a coin validator which provides very accurate and reliable results, and which consumes very little power. Preferred aspects of the present invention are concerned with further improvements in this field, directed to a large extent to reducing the cost of the apparatus without increasing the power consumption.
  • a coin validator of the present invention has an arrival sensor for sensing the arrival of a coin at a sensing station, and a processor having a first state in which it performs processing operations and operates at a relatively high current level, and a second state in which it operates at a relatively low current level, and means for periodically causing the processor to enter the first state in order to determine, using said arrival sensor, whether a coin has arrived.
  • the processor is caused to perform, in its first, active state, a validity checking operation in response to arrival of the coin as detected by the arrival sensor.
  • the processor is preferably a microprocessor.
  • the arrival of a coin is detected by performing, periodically, a measurement using an arrival sensor, and determining that a coin has arrived if measurements produce values which change in a predetermined manner.
  • the last two measurements taken of the frequency of the output of the arrival sensor are considered, and if that frequency is found to have increased by more than a predetermined amount, it is determined that a coin has arrived at the sensor. This determination is made in response to measurements taken over a short period, and therefore the effects of drift caused by, e.g. temperature changes or aging of components, does not have any material effect upon the detection of coin arrival.
  • the processor is preferably activated periodically only long enough to perform a measurement and determine whether a coin has arrived. The processor then returns to its second state, to reduce power consumption, unless coin arrival is detected in which case a validation operation is performed.
  • a circuit is provided for automatically resetting the processor after the processor has been caused to enter its active state unless the circuit is inhibited from doing so by the processor itself.
  • the processor will inhibit the operation of the resetting circuit, but if the processor "hangs-up", i.e. ceases to operate properly, it will automatically be reset so that proper operation of the processor can be recommenced.
  • the resetting circuitry can also be arranged to respond to other signals; for example, it can be responsive to an output of the processor and cause resetting if a signal at the output lasts for more than a predetermined interval.
  • a counter is arranged to count, following the activation of the processor, and to cause resetting if a predetermined count is reached. Under normal circumstances the counter would be cleared by the processor before this predetermined count is reached. The counter may also be used for periodically causing the processor to enter its first state.
  • the output of the arrival sensor can be measured by using a counter (possibly the above-mentioned counter) which is caused to count the oscillations of the arrival sensor for a predetermined period to produce a count representing frequency.
  • This method can also be used during the validation operation to produce a measure of a parameter (preferably diameter) of the coin.
  • the coin validator does not normalise the speed of coins delivered to a sensing station thereof, and has means responsive to a value indicative of the speed at which a coin is travelling through said sensing station for providing a signal indicating that the coin is not acceptable in response to determining that the coin has travelled too fast through the sensing station.
  • the coin speed may be detected by measuring the interval between the coin passing two separate sensors and/or by measuring the rate of change of an output signal of a single sensor.
  • Such an arrangement is particularly valuable in small coin validators where the distance between a coin entry slot and the coin sensors is short and therefore there is severe risk that the coin's motion when it reaches the sensor will not have stabilised to such an extent as to ensure accurate test results.
  • US-A-3797628 discloses a coin validator in which token velocity is measured in order to determine whether a coin is acceptable. However, this is concerned with a different type of validator, in which the velocity of an inserted coin is normalised and then altered in accordance with the properties of the coin, so that the velocity measurement is in effect a test of the coin, rather than a test of whether the coin's flight is suitable for validation.
  • the validator 2 has a main processor 4 which uses an arrival/diameter sensing circuit 6 and a material/thickness sensing circuit 8 for detecting the arrival of coins and for testing those coins and providing signals indicating whether a coin is genuine, and if so the type of the coin.
  • the arrival/diameter sensing circuit 6 has a sensing coil 10 connected in an oscillator circuit to be described in more detail subsequently.
  • the coil 10 is situated at one side of a coin passageway 7.
  • the passageway 7 is inclined and canted so that coins, such as that shown at 9, travel down the passageway 7 in the direction A with their faces in contact with the side of the passageway on which the coil 10 is located.
  • the circuit 6 is so arranged that the signal appearing at the output 12 of the circuit 6 has a frequency which alters as a coin passes the coil 10, and which peaks at a level predominantly dependent upon the diameter of the coin.
  • the material/thickness sensing circuit 8 has a coil 14 disposed at the opposite side of the coin passageway 7 from the coil 10.
  • the coil 14 is connected in an oscillator circuit, and the circuit is so arranged that the signal appearing at the output terminal 16 is attenuated in response to a coin passing the coil 14.
  • the peak level of attenuation is predominantly dependent upon the material from which the coin is made, and the thickness of the coin. Because the coin contacts the side of the passageway 7 opposite to that on which the coil 14 is located, the spacing of the coin from the coil will depend upon coin thickness, so that it is ensured that this will have a significant effect on the output of circuit 8.
  • the processor 4 is a CMOS 8048 (or CMOS 8049) microprocessor. This has terminals P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5, which can be used as, respectively, a clock output terminal, an interrupt input terminal, a reset input terminal, an input/output terminal and a testable input terminal. There are also address/data bus terminals D. The remaining terminals referred to below are further input/output terminals which, unlike the terminal P4 which is used at different times as both an input and an output, are only required to perform a single input or output function in the particular circuit shown.
  • the processor 4 also has power supply terminals, clock input terminals etc. which are not shown in Fig. 2.
  • the processor 4 has in its instruction set a HALT instruction, which when executed causes the processor to enter a quiescent state, in which no processing operations are carried out and the power consumption is substantially reduced.
  • the processor can be switched back to an active state by a signal on the interrupt terminal P2.
  • the validator is installed in a pay telephone. Under normal circumstances the entire validator is switched off. When the handset is lifted, parts of the validator circuit, including the processor 4 and arrival/diameter sensing circuit 6, but excluding the material/thickness sensing circuit 8, are switched on.
  • the processor 4 then executes an initialisation routine, following which a HALT instruction is executed so that the processor enters a quiescent state.
  • the oscillations appearing at the output terminal 12 of the arrival/diameter sensing circuit 6 are delivered via gates 18 and 20 to the clock input 22 of a counter 24.
  • the counter has output terminals C1 to C10.
  • the counter counts the pulses until a signal appears at count output C10.
  • This signal is delivered to the interrupt terminal P2 of the processor 4 in order to cause the processor to enter its active state.
  • the processor then proceeds to issue on line 26 a clear signal which is delivered to the clear terminal 28 of the counter 24.
  • the processor also delivers on line 30 a signal for closing the gate 18.
  • the processor 4 then temporarily opens the gate 18 for a predetermined duration.
  • the counter 24 is thus caused to count the pulses appearing at the output terminal 12 of the circuit 6.
  • the final count, which appears at the count terminals C1 to C8, is noted by the processor 4 which has input/output terminals connected to those count terminals, before the counter 24 is cleared by the processor.
  • the processor 4 has a memory into which the count is stored, the arrangement being such that the memory always stores the previous count measured in this way.
  • the processor determines that a coin has arrived at the coil 10 if the second count exceeds the first by more than a predetermined number. Thus, a coin is detected in response to an increasing frequency appearing at the output terminal 12.
  • the processor 4 Assuming that a coin has not been detected, the processor 4, after clearing the counter 24, opens the gate 18 and executes the HALT instruction. The processor 4 will then adopt its quiescent state until a signal appears once more at the count terminal C10.
  • the processor is thus regularly caused to enter its active state in order to determine whether or not a coin has arrived, and if not the processor re-enters its quiescent state. This may occur at intervals of, for example, 5 milliseconds, the processor being active for a period of less than 1 millisecond during each of these intervals. The average current consumption of the processor 4 is thus low.
  • the processor 4 then continues to sample the frequency of the signal appearing at the terminal 12. The frequency continuously increases until a peak is reached, following which the frequency decreases until an idling level is reached, after the coin has left the coil.
  • the processor 4 recognises and stores the peak and idle levels, and thereafter calculates the ratio of these two levels in order to produce a diameter-indicating value.
  • the processor issues on line 32 a signal for operating a power switch 34. This causes the power supply to be connected to the material/thickness sensor circuit 8.
  • the processor 4 may be arranged to switch on the material/thickness sensor circuit 8 immediately after the detection of the arrival of a coin to ensure that the operation of circuit 8 has stabilised by the time the coin reaches coil 14. Alternatively, to conserve power, the processor 4 may be arranged to switch on the circuit 8 after detection of the peak in the output frequency of the signal at terminal 12, or possibly when the processor 4 has detected that the frequency has dropped to an idling level.
  • the processor 4 may be arranged to check that the diameter value is appropriate for a genuine coin of a denomination which the validator is arranged to accept before switching on the circuit 8. In this way, the circuit 8 will not be operated unless the coin has an acceptable diameter, and thereby power consumption is further reduced.
  • the processor 4 issues a signal on line 30 to close the gate 18, so that no more pulses from the circuit 6 can reach the counter 24.
  • the counter is cleared, and the processor issues a signal on line 36 to open a gate 38. This permits the gate to pass pulses from the terminal P1 via the gate 20 to the clock input terminal 22 of the counter 24.
  • the counter 24 thus counts up at a constant, predetermined rate.
  • the count terminals C1 to C8 are connected via resistors R1 to R8 to respective points on a series resistor network R9 to R16 coupled between ground and one input 40 of a comparator 42.
  • the other input 44 of the comparator 42 is connected to the output terminal 16 of the circuit 8.
  • the resistors R1 to R16 act as potential dividers in such a manner that a signal at any one of the count output terminals C1 to C8 will produce, at the input terminal 40 of the comparator 42, a voltage corresponding to the respective count terminal. The effect of this is to cause the voltage at the terminal 40 to increase progressively in a stepwise manner as the count reached by the counter 24 increases.
  • the resistors are of close tolerance to ensure an even distribution of the voltages produced as the count increases.
  • the counter 24 is then cleared, the terminal P4 switched to behave as an output terminal, and the gate 38 re-opened so as to permit the processor 4 to take a further measurement of the output signal appearing at terminal 16 of the circuit 8.
  • the comparator 42 has an open-collector output so that this and the terminal P4 can be directly connected to the gate 38, whereby each can control gate 38, without interfering with each other.
  • the processor 4 repeatedly measures the output appearing at terminal 16, and determines from these measurements the idle value. This is done before the coin reaches the sensor coil 14, and may be initiated by the circuit 6 sensing the departure of the coin from coil 10. Then as the attenuation increases during the movement of the coin past the sensor, the peak value of the signal is determined. This is preferably achieved by storing successive measurement values. The processor detects when these values alter in such a manner as to indicate that the attenuation is decreasing due to the coin leaving the sensor. The processor then averages the stored values, preferably ignoring the more recent measurements so that the values used represent measurements taken when the coin was substantially at the mid-point of its travel past the sensor. For example, the processor may be arranged to take the average of the first, say, four of the last twelve measurements.
  • the processor could simply sum the values without dividing the result; the stored ranges would be correspondingly greater.
  • the ratio of the idle and peak values is determined in order to produce a thickness/material-indicating value.
  • the idle value is measured before the peak so that the decision as to whether an accept/reject gate should be opened can be made very soon after the peak has been reached, and therefore little space is required between the coil 14 and this gate.
  • the circuit 8 is switched off, the counter 24 is cleared and the gate 18 is re-opened to allow the pulses appearing at output terminal 12 of circuit 6 to reach the counter 24.
  • the processor 4 For each of the denominations of coins which the validator 2 is designed to accept, the processor 4 stores information defining a diameter range and a material/thickness range. For example, the processor 4 may store upper and lower limits of the respective ranges, or alternatively may store a single value from which the processor can calculate, using a stored or predetermined tolerance, the appropriate range.
  • the processor 4 compares the two measurements, i.e. the diameter value and the thickness/material value, with the ranges for the respective coins, and determines that a valid coin of a particular denomination has been received if both values fall within the appropriate ranges for that denomination. In that case, the processor 4 produces on one or both of data lines 46 an ACCEPT signal, and on lines 48 a binary signal indicating the denomination of the coin.
  • the coin validator 2 is intended for installation in various types of machines, e.g. gaming machines. In some of these, it is desired that the machine be capable of accepting a first range of coins (e.g. 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p U.K. denomination coins), and in other machines a different range (e.g. 10p, 20p, 50p and £1 coins). To cater for this without requiring different types of validator to be manufactured, the validator is arranged to recognise all five coins and generate ACCEPT signals on lines 46 in accordance with the range of coin denominations within which a received coin lies. Thus, if the denomination of a received coin falls within both ranges (e.g.
  • an ACCEPT signal is generated on both lines 46, and the coin denomination indicated by the data on lines 48. If the coin denomination lies in only one range (e.g. 5p), then only one of the lines 46 (corresponding to that range of denominations) carries the ACCEPT signal while the lines 48 carry data representing the denomination 5p. When a coin denomination which belongs only to the other range is received (e.g. a £1 coin), the same data on lines 48 can be generated, but this time the ACCEPT signal is generated on the other of the lines 46.
  • the same validator can be installed in any of the above types of machines, and in each case it is merely necessary to select which of the lines 46 is to be used in accordance with the range of denominations which the machine is intended to accept.
  • the validator 2 has a reset pulse generator 50, which produces a pulse of predetermined length to reset the processor 4 in the event that any one of three conditions indicative of "hang-up" occurs.
  • the output of counter terminal C10 is used to deliver a signal to interrupt terminal P2 of processor 4, which causes the processor to issue a signal on line 26 to clear the counter 24. If this does not occur, due to faulty operation of the processor 4, the counter will not be cleared and will continue to count in response to pulses from the circuit 6. Eventually, an output signal will appear at terminal C9 of the counter 24, and the simultaneous appearance of signals at terminals C9 and C10 will be detected by a gate 52, which will deliver an activating signal via a gate 54 to the circuit 50 to cause resetting of the processor 4.
  • the gate 54 has two further inputs connected to respective detection circuits 56 and 58. Each of these receives a signal at its input and delays that signal, but the signal appears at the output only if the input signal lasts for more than a predetermined amount of time. Circuit 56 is connected to the clear terminal 28 of the counter 24, so that if after issuing a signal to clear the counter the processor suddenly begins to behave incorrectly, the signal at the clear input terminal 28 will persist longer than it should, and this will be detected by the circuit 56 which will issue a signal via gate 54 to circuit 50 to cause resetting of the processor 4.
  • the circuit 58 has its input connected to the line 30 which carries the signal issued by the processor 4 to close the gate 18.
  • the longest time for which the gate 18 is closed occurs when the processor is measuring the output of circuit 8.
  • the delay of circuit 58 is set to be longer than this time. If the processor 4 begins to behave incorrectly during the thickness/material measuring operation, and the gate 18 thus remains closed, this will be detected by the circuit 58 and cause resetting of the processor.
  • processor 4 Even if the processor 4 begins to behave improperly, it may nevertheless execute an interrupt routine, initiated by the signal delivered to terminal P2, in a correct manner. To detect this situation, the processor 4 is arranged to set a number of internal flags while executing the arrival detection routine. During the interrupt routine, the processor 4 checks to see that these flags are set. If they are not, because the main routine was not being executed properly, the processor 4 executes an instruction which causes it to be reset.
  • the validator is preferably made in such a way that the coin measurements which are made produce fairly predictable results for given denominations, so that the parameter ranges stored by the processor 4 do not have to be specially worked out for each validator.
  • the sensing circuits 6 and 8 can be adjusted in respect of frequency and/or gain to vary their outputs.
  • the processor 4 can be switched into a test mode by connecting a link 59 between a power supply rail and the testable input terminal P5, which terminal is normally held at a low potential by a resistor R17 connected to ground. At the same time, the operator connects a device to the data lines D to display the potentials on these lines.
  • the operator After switching the validator into the test mode, the operator inserts a coin of a particular denomination (e.g. 10p), and determines what signals are produced on the data lines 46 and 48 in response thereto.
  • a coin of a particular denomination e.g. 10p
  • the inserted coin is preferably specially selected so that its properties are of an average value with respect to the normal variations expected of coins of that denomination.
  • the processor 4 operates as described up to and including the obtaining of digital values representing the measurements made by the sensing circuits 6 and 8. At that time the processor checks the terminal P5, and if this is found to be high the processor then executes a test routine instead of continuing with the validation operations described above.
  • test ranges correspond to the ranges used to determine whether an acceptable coin of the particular denomination (e.g. 10p) has been received, except that they are narrower than the acceptability ranges.
  • the processor's output on data lines 46 and 48 is in a different format, and has a different meaning, from the outputs in the normal validation operation.
  • a high-level logic signal is applied to all the output lines 46 and 48. If the value derived from the sensing circuit 6 exceeds or falls below the respective range, the lines 46 are caused to carry a binary value of "10" or "01", respectively. Similarly, if the value derived from sensing circuit 8 exceeds or falls below its respective test range, the value produced on lines 48 is "10" or "01", respectively.
  • An output value of "0000" on lines 46 and 48 is reserved for situations in which the sensing circuits 6 and 8 produce incorrect values which are clearly not due merely to poor adjustment (e.g. values resulting from two coins being detected at the same time, a poor coin flight path, etc.) so that the operator will be able to take appropriate action.
  • the arrival/diameter sensing circuit 6 comprises the coil 10 connected in a Colpitt's oscillator circuit.
  • an amplifier formed by a transistor 60 has a feedback loop including the coil 10 connected between its collector and base.
  • the coil 10 is connected in series with an adjustment circuit comprising variable resistor 61 connected in parallel with inductance 63.
  • Capacitors 62 and 64 are each connected between, on the one hand, a respective end of the circuit formed by components 10, 61 and 63, and on the other hand, ground.
  • the variable resistor 61 is used for the adjustment made during the test mode.
  • Resistors 66, 68 and 70 are provided for biasing the transistor 60 into conduction.
  • the load on the transistor 60 is distributed between a collector impedance (formed by a resistance RL and an inductance LL) and the resonant circuit formed by the components 10, 61, 62, 63 and 64.
  • the output voltage appearing across the capacitor 62 is dependent to a large extent on the fixed impedance RL and LL.
  • the degree of attenuation will be relatively small, because the load impedance does not change, compared with a circuit such as those used in the above-mentioned British Patent specification No. 2093620, in which the coil is connected to the collector current path and therefore has a very substantial effect on the output voltage.
  • the incorporation of inductance LL increases the stability of the output voltage with changes in frequency.
  • the circuit 6 can be arranged so that it normally consumes a low level of current, but nevertheless will provide an output signal which will not disappear even when a coin is in close proximity to the coil 10.
  • the circuit is, as mentioned above, also used for measuring purposes. It has been found that if the coil 10 is suitably arranged for diameter measurement, and the frequency of the output rather than the amplitude is used for measurement purposes, good discrimination can be achieved with the same low operating current as is used for arrival sensing.
  • the sensing circuit 8 produced an output whose amplitude was sensed in order to provide an indication of the material and thickness of the coin.
  • the sensor is used for providing an output which is predominantly dependent upon the material of the coin, and somewhat less dependent upon thickness.
  • there are two coils 14 and 14' (the latter of which is shown in phantom in Figure 1) positioned on respective sides of the coin passageway.
  • the amplitude of the output of the sensing circuit 8 is used for measurement purposes; however in the present embodiment the frequency of the output is used as an additional measurement. In total, there are therefore three measurements, which are compared with respective stored ranges, and as a consequence of this the rejection of non-genuine coins is made much more reliable.
  • FIG. 4 shows the circuit 8, which is additionally suitable for use in the first-described embodiment.
  • the circuit has a standard oscillator configuration, using a transistor 100.
  • the two coils 14 and 14' which are in field-aiding relationship,are connected in series with each other and with a variable inductance 102.
  • the inductances are connected in the collector path of the transistor 100.
  • the emitter path includes a variable resistor 104.
  • the output of the circuit 8 is indicated at 106, and is taken from the collector of transistor 100. As a coin passes between the sensors 14 and 14', both the frequency and amplitude of the output signal vary.
  • variable inductance 102 and the variable resistor 104.
  • the frequency is adjusted first using the variable inductance 102, as this will also have an effect on amplitude.
  • the microprocessor 4 is of the Motorola 6805 family. This has a plurality of ports which can be used as input or output terminals. In the arrangement shown, terminals I1 to I3 are used as input terminals, and terminals O1 to O11 are used as output terminals.
  • the microprocessor has an internal counter which can be clocked at regular intervals so that it acts as a timer the operation of which can be initiated or halted by the application of a signal to terminal T1. Alternatively, the counter can be used to count pulses appearing on terminal T1. This internal counter is used in place of the counter 24 of Figure 2.
  • the microprocessor 4 can operate a switch 150 which selectively delivers the output pulses of sensing circuit 6 to a divide-by-four circuit 152 formed of two flip-flops.
  • the output of circuit 152 is delivered to the terminal T1.
  • the internal counter can thus be used for counting pulses from the circuit 6 and hence measuring the frequency of the output.
  • the states of the flip-flops in circuit 152 are detected on input lines I2 and I3 so that two extra bits of resolution can be achieved.
  • the circuit 152 is released from its set state by changing the signal appearing on output terminal O5. After the measuring operation, the circuit 152 is held in a set state which allows the input terminal T1 to receive other signals, as will be described.
  • the output of sensing circuit 8 is delivered via another microprocessor-controlled switch 154 to terminal T1 so that the frequency of this output can be measured.
  • the divide-by-four circuit 152 is not required as the coils 14, 14' are driven at a substantially lower frequency than the coil 10.
  • the output of the sensing circuit 8 is also delivered via a rectifying circuit 156 to a comparator 158.
  • Another input of the comparator 158 is connected to a junction between a constant current charging circuit 160 and a capacitor 162.
  • the charging circuit 160 can be switched on or off by an output terminal O2 of the microprocessor 4.
  • the microprocessor switches on the charging circuit 160 and at substantially the same time starts the internal counter, which is acting in its timer mode. This causes the voltage on the capacitor 162 to rise linearly. As soon as this voltage equals that from the rectifying circuit 156, the output of comparator 158 switches polarity, which is detected at input terminal I1. The microprocessor senses this, and determines the count reached by the internal timer, which is digital representation of the amplitude of the output of sensing circuit 8.
  • the output of the comparator 158 is delivered to the timer terminal T1 via a microprocessor-controlled switch 164. This is to ensure that the operation of the timer is halted immediately the output of the comparator 158 changes state; this avoids problems caused by the delay in the microprocessor first detecting the change in state at terminal I1 and then halting the timer.
  • the internal counter measures (a) frequency of output of sensing circuit 6, (b) frequency of output of sensing circuit 8, and (c) amplitude of output of sensing circuit 8.
  • the circuit operates substantially as described with reference to Figure 2. However, after the coin starts to leave the coil 10, the microprocessor 4 first measures the amplitude of the output of sensing circuit 8, then measures its frequency, and then once more measures the amplitude. The two amplitude measurements are averaged to obtain the idle amplitude value. The frequency measurement takes place over a sufficiently long time that any slight fluctuations in frequency do not affect the result.
  • amplitude measurements are repeatedly taken. As the coin enters the space between coils 14 and 14', the amplitude will start to decrease. Successive amplitude measurements are compared, and once the amplitude stops decreasing, a frequency measurement is made. Thereafter, a succession of further amplitude measurements are made, and when they indicate that the coin is leaving the coils 14, 14', a plurality of these measurements (preferably excluding the most recent measurements) are averaged to obtain the peak amplitude value.
  • This operation gives rise to three measurement values, each comprising the ratio of an idle value with the peak value, which are compared with respective ranges to determine whether the coin is valid, and if so the denomination of the coin.
  • the microprocessor 4 also times the interval between the coin arriving at the coil 10 and departing from the coils 14, 14'. If this interval is less than a predetermined value, it is indicative of a coin which is travelling too fast for accurate measurement, and the coin is therefore rejected. Also, the microprocessor checks the successive values of the frequency of the sensing circuit 6, and successive values of the amplitude of sensing circuit 8, and if either of these is altering too rapidly the coin is rejected on the basis that it is travelling either too fast or in an unstable manner.
  • an operator When an operator wishes to test the operation of the validator, he operates a switch or connects a link to issue a pulse to an interrupt terminal INT of the microprocessor 4 (instead of using a test terminal T1 as in Fig. 2).
  • This causes the microprocessor to execute an interrupt routine which results in signals being generated on a serial data output line O10 in response to a coin passing the coils 10, 14, 14'.
  • the operator inserts a coin having known characteristics, such as a coin of a particular denomination which has been chosen so as to have substantially exactly average properties.
  • the microprocessor compares the three measurements produced by this coin with special ranges which are narrower than those normally used for this denomination of coin, and as a consequence the data on output line O10 indicates what adjustments need to be made to the sensing circuits 6 and 8.
  • the operator has a test device connected to receive the data from output terminal O10 and clock pulses from output terminal O11.
  • the device includes logic circuitry which decodes the data so as to provide a display indicating whether and in which manner any of the components 61 (Fig. 3), 102 and 104 (Fig. 4) need adjustment.
  • the switches 150, 154 and 164 of Fig. 5 may be simply logic gates, such as NAND gates.
  • the coil is formed by a printed circuit etched on both sides of a double-sided printed circuit board 80.
  • Fig. 6A shows the side 82 of the board 80 which in use is more closely adjacent the coin path, and Fig. 6B shows the opposite side 84.
  • the board 82 is located in a plane parallel to the side walls of the passageway 7.
  • the printed circuit board On each side, the printed circuit board has been etched to form a spiral conductive pattern having an overall substantially circular configuration.
  • the side 82 carries two terminal portions 86 and 88.
  • the conductive path starts from the terminal portion 86 and then spirals inwardly to an inner contact portion 94.
  • the terminal portions 86 and 88 are positioned directly opposite corresponding terminal portions on the side 84 which are respectively labelled 86' and 88', and may if desired be connected thereto by respective plated through-holes.
  • the inner contact portion 94 is connected via a plated through-hole to a corresponding contact portion 94' on the side 84. From there, the printed circuit pattern spirals outwardly to terminal portion 88'.
  • terminal portions 86 and 88' form the opposite ends of the coil 10.
  • the field created by the portion of the coil 10 on side 82 will extend in the same direction as the field produced by the part of the coil on the side 84.
  • the respective parts of the coil 10 on the opposite sides of the board 80 can be positioned very accurately with respect to the coin path, so that there is good consistency in the measurements produced by the coil 10 from validator to validator. Thus, only minor adjustments using the variable resistor 61 of Fig. 3 are needed.
  • the bottom edge of the coil 10 is located at or preferably slightly below the bottom of the coin path so that if a coin passing the coil 10 tends to bounce there is little or no effect upon the coil area covered by the coin and hence upon the measured value.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Testing Of Coins (AREA)

Claims (26)

  1. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit von Münzen zum Bestimmen, ob ein Gegenstand eine echte Münze ist, wobei die Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit eine Fühleinrichtung (8, 14; 8, 14, 14') aufweist, die einen Münzen-Prüffühler (14; 14, 14') und eine Schaltung (4) zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit aufweist, die mit einem Ausgang (16) der Fühleinrichtung (8, 14; 8, 14, 14') gekoppelt ist, um eine Münzenmessung auf der Grundlage der Summe von Werten zu errechnen, die aufeinanderfolgende Amplituden eines Ausgangssignals aus der Fühleinrichtung (8, 14; 8, 14, 14') bezeichnen, die erzeugt werden, wenn sich der Gegenstand relativ zum Fühler (14; 14, 14') bewegt, und um zu bestimmen, ob die Messung einer echten Münze angemessen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Messung auf der Grundlage der Summe von Werten erfolgt, die aufeinanderfolgende Amplituden des genannten Ausgangssignals bezeichnen, das erzeugt wird, während sich der Gegenstand im wesentlichen in einer Lage befindet, in der ein Spitzenpegel der Ausgangssignal-Amplitude stattfindet, wobei die Messung repräsentativ ist für den Spitzenpegel.
  2. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 1, worin die Schaltung (4) zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit betreibbar ist, um Werte abzuleiten, die eine Aussage über aufeinanderfolgende Abschwächungen des Ausgangssignals liefern, das vom Fühler (14; 14, 14') erzeugt wird, wenn sich der genannte Gegenstand relativ zum genannten Fühler (14; 14, 14') bewegt, und um die genannte Berechnung (wenn aufeinanderfolgende Werte sich in einer solchen Weise ändern, daß ausgesagt wird, daß die Abschwächung abnimmt) auf der Grundlage der Summe der ersten n einer größeren Anzahl von Werten durchzuführen, die von der genannten Schaltung (4) abgeleitet sind.
  3. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 1, worin die Schaltung (4) zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit auf abgeleitete Werte anspricht, die eine Aussage über aufeinanderfolgende Amplituden des Ausgangssignals liefern, das vom genannten Fühler (14; 14, 14') erzeugt wird, wenn sich der genannte Gegenstand relativ zum genannten Fühler bewegt, um zu ermitteln, wenn eine Münze den Fühler (14; 14, 14') verläßt, und um in Abhängigkeit hiervon jene Werte auszuwählen, auf denen die Messung beruht.
  4. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 2, worin die Schaltung (4) zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit auf die abgeleiteten Werte anspricht, um zu ermitteln, wenn eine Münze den Fühler (14; 14, 14') verläßt, und um in Abhängigkeit hiervon jene Werte auszuwählen, auf denen die Messung beruht.
  5. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 2 oder Anspruch 4, worin die genannte Schaltung (4) zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit so angeordnet ist, um eine vorbestimmte Anzahl von Werten abzulesen und zu speichern, und um die genannte Berechnung auf der Grundlage der ersten n dieser Werte durchzuführen, wobei n kleiner ist als die vorbestimmte Anzahl.
  6. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach jedem vorangehenden Anspruch, worin der Fühler ein induktiver Münzprüffühler (14, 14') ist und die Schaltung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit so angeordnet ist, daß sie bestimmt, ob sowohl Amplituden- als auch Frequenzänderungen, die von einer Münze in der Nähe des Fühlers (14, 14') erzeugt werden, repräsentativ sind für eine gültige Münze.
  7. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 6, wobei die Schaltung (4) zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit eine Einrichtung umfaßt, um alternierend die Frequenz und die Amplitude des Ausgangs des Fühlers zu messen.
  8. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 6 oder Anspruch 7, wobei die Schaltung (4) zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit eine Einrichtung umfaßt, die auf Änderungen in der Amplitude des Ausgangs des Fühlers (14, 14') anspricht, um zu bestimmen, wenn die Frequenz gefühlt werden soll.
  9. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach jedem der Ansprüche 6 bis 8, mit einem Zähler, um eine Anzeige von Änderungen im Ausgang des genannten Fühlers (14, 14') zu liefern.
  10. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 9, worin der Zähler verwendet wird, um Impulse aus dem Fühler (14, 14') zu zählen, um eine Aussage über deren Frequenz zu liefern, und Teil eines Analog-/Digital-Wandlers bildet, um die Amplitude des Ausgangs des genannten Fühlers (14, 14') zu bestimmen.
  11. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach jedem vorangehenden Anspruch, ferner mit einem Ankunftfühler (6, 10), um mindestens einen Teil der Schaltung der Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit in Abhängigkeit vom Fühlen der Ankunft einer Münze an einer Fühlstation der Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit unter Strom zu setzen.
  12. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 11, mit einem Prozessor (4), der einen ersten Zustand aufweist, in welchem er Verarbeitungsvorgänge durchführt und mit einem verhältnismäßig hohen Strompegel arbeitet, und einen zweiten Zustand, in dem er bei einem verhältnismäßig niedrigen Strompegel arbeitet, und einer Einrichtung (24), um den Prozessor periodisch zu veranlassen, in den ersten Zustand einzutreten, um unter Benutzung des genannten Ankunftfühlers (6, 10) zu bestimmen, ob eine Münze angekommen ist.
  13. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 12, worin der Prozessor (4) so angeordnet ist, daß er in seinem ersten Zustand einen Gültigkeits-Prüfvorgang in Abhängigkeit von der Ankunft einer Münze durchführt, wenn sie vom Ankunftfühler (6, 10) gefühlt wird.
  14. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 12 oder 13, worin der Ankunftfühler (6, 10) ein Oszillator ist, der ein Induktionsglied (10) aufweist, die Frequenz des Oszillators (6, 10) abhängt vom Wert des Induktionsglieds (10) und die Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit ferner eine Einrichtung aufweist, die auf eine Änderung in der Frequenz des Oszillators (6, 10) anspricht, die von einer Münze verursacht wird, die in die Nähe des Induktionsglieds (10) gelangt, um ein Signal zu liefern, das die Ankunft der Münze anzeigt.
  15. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 14, worin das Induktionsglied (10) mit einem Verstärker gekoppelt ist, um den Oszillator (6, 10) zu erzeugen, wobei mindestens ein wesentlicher Teil der Last des Verstärkers (6) unabhängig ist von der Anwesenheit der Münze.
  16. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 14 oder 15, worin die Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit so betreibbar ist, daß sie bestimmt, ob die geänderte Frequenz, die von der Nähe der Münze zum Induktionsglied (10) verursacht wurde, bezeichnet, daß die Münze echt ist.
  17. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 16, worin die geänderte Frequenz des Oszillators (6, 10) überwiegend eine Aussage über den Durchmesser der Münze liefert.
  18. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 17, worin das Induktionsglied (10) des Oszillators (6, 10) eine Spule umfaßt, die eine Höhe aufweist, die im wesentlichen gleich ist ihrer Breite.
  19. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach jedem der Ansprüche 16 bis 18, worin der Oszillator (6, 10) so angeordnet ist, daß er an das Induktionsglied (10) einen Strom anlegt, für Änderungen in der Frequenz des Oszillators (6, 10), die von der Nähe der zu fühlenden Münze verursacht wurden, um das genannte Unter-Strom-Setzen zu verursachen, und worin die geänderte Frequenz, die beim Bestimmen, ob die Münze echt ist oder nicht, verwendet wird, ermittelt wird, ohne den erhöhten Strom anzulegen.
  20. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach jedem der Ansprüche 15 bis 19, mit einer Zähleinrichtung (24), die mit dem Ausgang des Oszillators (6, 10) gekoppelt ist, um eine Anzeige der Frequenz des Oszillators (6, 10) zu liefern.
  21. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 20, worin die Zähleinrichtung (24) auch dazu eingerichtet ist, den Prozessor periodisch zu veranlassen, in seinen ersten Zustand einzutreten.
  22. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach jedem der Ansprüche 12 bis 19, worin die Einrichtung (24), um den Prozessor (4) periodisch zu veranlassen, in den ersten Zustand einzutreten, eine Zähleinrichtung (24) aufweist, die betreibbar ist, um in Abhängigkeit von einem Ausgang des Ankunftfühlers (6, 10) eine Zählung durchzuführen und den Prozessor (4) zu veranlassen, in den ersten Zustand einzutreten, wenn ein vorbestimmter Zählwert erreicht ist.
  23. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 20, 21 oder 22, worin die Zähleinrichtung (24) betreibbar ist, während sich der Prozessor (4) in seinem ersten Zustand befindet, um wiederholt eine Zählung durchzuführen und die Rückstellung des Prozessors (4) infolge des Erreichens eines vorbestimmten Zählwerts zu veranlassen, wobei der Prozessor (4) so programmiert ist, daß er den Zähler löscht, bevor der vorbestimmte Zählwert erreicht ist.
  24. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach jedem vorangehenden Anspruch, mit einer Einrichtung (4), die auf einen Wert anspricht, der eine Aussage über die Geschwindigkeit liefert, mit welcher eine Münze durch eine Fühlstation hindurchläuft, um ein Signal zu liefern, das eine Aussage darüber, daß die Münze nicht annehmbar ist, in Abhängigkeit von der Bestimmung liefert, daß die Münze zu rasch durch die Fühlstation hindurchgelaufen ist.
  25. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 24, worin die ein Signal vorsehende Einrichtung (4) in Abhängigkeit von einem Wert betreibbar ist, der eine Aussage über die gesamte Durchlaufzeit durch die Fühlstation liefert.
  26. Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit nach Anspruch 24 oder 25, worin die ein Signal liefernde Einrichtung (4) in Abhängigkeit von einem Wert betreibbar ist, der eine Aussage über die Geschwindigkeit der Änderung eines Signals liefert, das in Abhängigkeit von einer Münze erzeugt wird, die in die Nähe eines Münzprüffühlers (14, 14') gelangt.
EP19840307619 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit von Münzen Expired - Lifetime EP0146251B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT84307619T ATE79478T1 (de) 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Vorrichtung zum erkennen der gueltigkeit von muenzen.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB838329533A GB8329533D0 (en) 1983-11-04 1983-11-04 Coin validators
GB8329533 1983-11-04
GB8405721 1984-03-05
GB848405721A GB8405721D0 (en) 1983-11-04 1984-03-05 Coin validators

Related Child Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88117267A Division EP0308996A3 (de) 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Münzprüfer
EP88117267.0 Division-Into 1988-10-17
EP88117268.8 Division-Into 1988-10-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0146251A1 EP0146251A1 (de) 1985-06-26
EP0146251B1 true EP0146251B1 (de) 1992-08-12

Family

ID=26286975

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88117268A Expired - Lifetime EP0308997B1 (de) 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Münzprüfer
EP88117267A Withdrawn EP0308996A3 (de) 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Münzprüfer
EP19840307619 Expired - Lifetime EP0146251B1 (de) 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit von Münzen

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88117268A Expired - Lifetime EP0308997B1 (de) 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Münzprüfer
EP88117267A Withdrawn EP0308996A3 (de) 1983-11-04 1984-11-05 Münzprüfer

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (3) EP0308997B1 (de)
DE (2) DE3486213T2 (de)
GB (1) GB2151062B (de)
HK (1) HK74297A (de)
SG (1) SG32491G (de)
WO (1) WO1985002047A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8509609D0 (en) * 1985-04-15 1985-05-22 Coin Controls Discriminating between different metallic articles
JPH0546127Y2 (de) * 1986-12-29 1993-12-01
JPH0534060Y2 (de) * 1987-10-08 1993-08-30
GB8814980D0 (en) * 1988-06-23 1988-07-27 Ace Coin Equip Coin checking device
JPH0673151B2 (ja) * 1988-12-14 1994-09-14 サンデン株式会社 自動販売機の硬貨受入装置
IT1232018B (it) * 1989-02-23 1992-01-23 Urmet Spa Selezionatore di monete perfezionato
IT1232019B (it) * 1989-02-23 1992-01-23 Urmet Spa Perfezionamento ai selezionatori di monete
ES1011067Y (es) * 1989-07-12 1992-04-01 Jofemar, S.A. Mejoras en la lectura de sensores magneticos en selectores de monedas.
GB2234619B (en) * 1989-07-28 1993-04-14 Mars Inc Coin validators
DE4025328A1 (de) * 1990-08-10 1992-02-13 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Elektronischer muenzpruefer
CA2095034C (en) * 1990-11-07 1999-01-05 Elwood E. Barnes Method and apparatus for a low-power, battery-powered vending and dispensing apparatus
US5244070A (en) * 1992-03-04 1993-09-14 Duncan Industries Parking Control Systems Corp. Dual coil coin sensing apparatus
DK0572847T3 (da) * 1992-06-03 1999-05-25 Ip Tpg Holdco S O R L Møntdetektor
DE59304985D1 (de) * 1992-08-13 1997-02-13 Landis & Gyr Business Support Kalibrieren von münzprüfern
DE4301530C1 (de) * 1993-01-21 1994-06-30 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Induktiver Einschaltsensor für batteriebetriebene Münzprüfer
DE59501034D1 (de) * 1994-09-21 1998-01-08 Landis & Gyr Tech Innovat Einrichtung zur Prüfung der Echtheit von Münzen, Jetons oder anderen flachen metallischen Gegenständen
GB2323200B (en) 1997-02-24 2001-02-28 Mars Inc Coin validator
GB2401980B (en) * 2003-03-14 2006-02-15 Int Currency Tech Power control circuit for use in a vending machine
US20070007104A1 (en) * 2005-06-22 2007-01-11 Piccirillo James S Electronic coin recognition system

Family Cites Families (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1465636A (fr) * 1965-12-01 1967-01-13 Signaux Entr Electriques Contrôleur de corps métalliques en mouvement
GB1217066A (en) * 1967-05-12 1970-12-23 Tateisi Electronics Company Coin detecting system
US3682286A (en) * 1969-07-19 1972-08-08 Georg Prumm Method for electronically checking coins
DE2146184A1 (de) * 1971-09-15 1973-03-22 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Muenzpruefer
US3797628A (en) * 1972-03-17 1974-03-19 Little Inc A Device and method for testing coins employing velocity determining means
FR2212589B1 (de) * 1972-12-29 1976-10-29 Satmam
GB1461404A (en) * 1973-05-18 1977-01-13 Mars Inc Coin selection method and apparatus
US3901368A (en) * 1974-03-11 1975-08-26 Lance T Klinger Coin acceptor/rejector
CH580811A5 (de) * 1975-01-14 1976-10-15 Sodeco Compteurs De Geneve
JPS5611181Y2 (de) * 1975-12-02 1981-03-13
US4108296A (en) * 1976-04-08 1978-08-22 Nippon Coinco Co., Ltd. Coin receiving apparatus for a vending machine
US4381552A (en) * 1978-12-08 1983-04-26 Motorola Inc. Stanby mode controller utilizing microprocessor
US4323148A (en) * 1979-03-12 1982-04-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Coin selector for vending machine
GR69124B (de) * 1980-02-06 1982-05-03 Mars Inc
GB2084310B (en) * 1980-09-19 1984-03-14 Mitchell Douglas Allison A solid fuel effect gas fire
US4359148A (en) * 1980-10-28 1982-11-16 Third Wave Electronics Company, Inc. Coin acceptor or rejector
GB2094008B (en) * 1981-02-11 1985-02-13 Mars Inc Improvements in and relating to apparatus for checking the validity of coins
GB2093620B (en) 1981-02-11 1985-09-04 Mars Inc Checking coins
ZA821411B (en) * 1981-03-19 1983-02-23 Aeronautical General Instr Coin validation apparatus
GB2118344A (en) * 1982-02-12 1983-10-26 Mars Inc Coin testing apparatus
JPS59111587A (ja) * 1982-12-16 1984-06-27 ロ−レルバンクマシン株式会社 硬貨処理機の検銭装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0146251A1 (de) 1985-06-26
EP0308996A2 (de) 1989-03-29
EP0308997B1 (de) 1993-09-22
SG32491G (en) 1991-06-21
DE3485866D1 (de) 1992-09-17
EP0308996A3 (de) 1989-05-17
DE3485866T2 (de) 1992-12-10
WO1985002047A1 (en) 1985-05-09
GB2151062A (en) 1985-07-10
GB2151062B (en) 1988-06-29
HK74297A (en) 1997-06-13
DE3486213T2 (de) 1994-01-13
EP0308997A3 (en) 1989-05-17
GB8427935D0 (en) 1984-12-12
EP0308997A2 (de) 1989-03-29
DE3486213D1 (de) 1993-10-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0146251B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum Erkennen der Gültigkeit von Münzen
US4538719A (en) Electronic coin acceptor
US4601380A (en) Apparatus for checking the validity of coins
EP0155126B1 (de) Selbstabstimmendes Münzerkennungssystem
GB2143982A (en) Checking coins
EP0203702B1 (de) Bestimmen des Wertes einer sich bewegenden Münze
US5460256A (en) Coin sensor device
EP1012796B1 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung zum überprüfen von münzen
CA2184147C (en) Coin detection device and associated method
US4275806A (en) Coin sorting machine
EP0316308A1 (de) Detektorvorrichtung für münzen
US6223878B1 (en) Method and apparatus for validating coins
JPH0117195B2 (de)
JPS6129040B2 (de)
IES62628B2 (en) Method for fecognizing coins

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19851217

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19870304

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19920812

Ref country code: LI

Effective date: 19920812

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19920812

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19920812

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 79478

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19920815

Kind code of ref document: T

XX Miscellaneous (additional remarks)

Free format text: TEILANMELDUNG 88117267.0 EINGEREICHT AM 05/11/84.

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3485866

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19920917

ET Fr: translation filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19921130

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19921130

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19921211

Year of fee payment: 9

PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: AZKOYEN INDUSTRIAL A.A.

Effective date: 19930510

NLR1 Nl: opposition has been filed with the epo

Opponent name: AZKOYEN INDUSTRIAL A.A.

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19931130

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: MARS INC.

Effective date: 19931130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19940601

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee
PLBO Opposition rejected

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS REJO

APAC Appeal dossier modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO

APAA Appeal reference recorded

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS REFN

PLBQ Unpublished change to opponent data

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OPPO

PLAB Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO

R26 Opposition filed (corrected)

Opponent name: AZKOYEN INDUSTRIAL A.A.

Effective date: 19930510

APAC Appeal dossier modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO

PLBN Opposition rejected

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009273

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTED

27O Opposition rejected

Effective date: 19960330

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20021108

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20031105

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20031113

Year of fee payment: 20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040730

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20041104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

APAH Appeal reference modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCREFNO

PLAB Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO