EP0294068A2 - Münzbetätigte Einrichtung - Google Patents

Münzbetätigte Einrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0294068A2
EP0294068A2 EP88304647A EP88304647A EP0294068A2 EP 0294068 A2 EP0294068 A2 EP 0294068A2 EP 88304647 A EP88304647 A EP 88304647A EP 88304647 A EP88304647 A EP 88304647A EP 0294068 A2 EP0294068 A2 EP 0294068A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coins
coin
acceptance
coin validator
rejection ratio
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP88304647A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0294068B1 (de
EP0294068A3 (en
Inventor
Neville Dale Chadwick
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.)
Bell Fruit Manufacturing Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Bell Fruit Manufacturing Co Ltd
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
Application filed by Bell Fruit Manufacturing Co Ltd filed Critical Bell Fruit Manufacturing Co Ltd
Publication of EP0294068A2 publication Critical patent/EP0294068A2/de
Publication of EP0294068A3 publication Critical patent/EP0294068A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0294068B1 publication Critical patent/EP0294068B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/08—Counting total of coins inserted

Definitions

  • This invention relates to systems comprising coin-released apparatus such as vending machines, amusement and gaming machines, change-givers and public telephones, and so-called coin validators with which such machines are equipped.
  • Coin validators are generally self-contained devices, the construction of which is much the same regardless of the function of the machine to which they are fitted.
  • the purpose is to check that the coin inserted by the user is of the correct denomination and is not a foreign coin or say, a washer or other similar disc.
  • this was done mechanically by sensing the diameter, thickness, weight, magnetic properties, presence or absence of a milled edge, presence or absence of a hole in the middle and so on, but nowadays it is done largely electronically by sensing the waveform of the pulse induced in it by a coil as it passes through a high frequency field; this pulse is compared with stored information on that generated by a coin of the correct denomination.
  • the setting of the mechanism is critical, if the limits are too wide then it will accept a proportion of false coins and this represents a direct loss to the operator or owner of the machine; if the limits are set unduly narrow then it will reject a proportion of perfectly valid coins, for example those which are worn or dirty. This last result can produce considerable annoyance in the user, and this is its turn can lead to the machine being damaged.
  • a coin validator or a system comprising coin-released apparatus and a coin validator incorporates means for monitoring the acceptance/rejection ratio between the number of coins (or purported coins) inserted and the number accepted or rejected, and means for issuing an alarm signal and/or for indicating that corrective action may be necessary when the ratio departs outside predetermined limits.
  • the acceptance/rejection ratio may be monitored by counting the total number of coins inserted and the number of coins rejected. However, it will be appreciated that one could instead count the total number of insertions and the number accepted, or simply the number accepted and the number rejected. Any two of the three possible figures will give sufficient information to reveal a change in the behaviour pattern, indicating that the acceptor mechanism requires adjustment or that the machine is being misused.
  • the ideal ratio should be constant for a given location, but is by no means the same everywhere. For example it is likely that machines in ports or at least airports will habitually have inserted in them a higher proportion of foreign coins than those in say, a country town. It is to be expected that amusement machines in well-regulated clubs will receive a lower proportion of faulty coins or of discs than those in amusement arcades. However, for a given location, barring an exceptional change in the usage pattern, an alteration in the average number of coins rejected generally indicates a drift in the mechanism itself that needs correcting. Alternatively it may indicate that repeated attempts are being made by a particular user or group of users to insert false coins; again, an indication of this fact is desirable.
  • the basic method of achieving the result according the invention need not be described in detail as it only requires counters of a known kind, for example employing optical switches or micro-switches, and .connected to a circuit for continually comparing their recorded values over pre-set periods or pre-set totals. It is already usual to count the coins that are accepted by the validator. Hitherto it has not been known to count also those which pass to the rejection chute.
  • the monitoring system can be arranged to take action if the acceptance rate falls rapidly below the normal range, such as might indicate an attempt at fraudulent use, and in that case it could be used not only to trigger a remote alarm but also to disable the machine.
  • the details of the variation in the acceptance/rejection ratio even within acceptable limits, may be recorded and stored for subsequent analysis.
  • the length of time, or the number of insertions, over which the acceptance/rejection ratio is calculated can vary according to the exact use to which the information is to be put.
  • a sudden downward shift in the acceptance rate over a short period of time may indicate fraudulent use or a significant malfunction, whereas a gradual deterioration over a large number of coin insertions might indicate that a maintenance action such as internal cleaning or adjustment is necessary.
  • a more comprehensive system might include additional signals referring to various parameters of the inserted coin, such as its diameter, thickness, mass, material etc. These additional signals could yield useful information as to the parameters on which rejected coins were judged to be invalid, and from an evaluation of 'near misses' attempted fraudulent manipulation could be detected, in particular in the case of illegally-manufactured counterfeit coins or 'slugs'.
  • This information could be stored in a similar manner to the acceptance rate data, within the coin machine for immediate or subsequent display or action, or transmitted to a separate internal or external data store used as an independent security monitoring device.
  • the system shown in Figure 1 comprises a coin validator l incorporated within coin-released apparatus 2 and disposed between a coin entry chute 3, a coin exit chute 4 leading to a reject coin hopper (not shown) and another chute 5 leading to a cash box or payout system (not shown) of the coin-released apparatus 2.
  • the coin validator l not only counts the number of coins accepted which pass into chute 5 and travel down to the cash box or payout system, but also counts the number of coins or purported coins either inserted into the coin entry chute 3 or which pass into the coin exit chute 4 so that the ratio of accepted/rejected coins to the total number of coins inserted into the entry chute 3 can be determined.
  • Predetermined upper and lower limits for the percentage acceptance rate are stored either in the coin validator 1, the central control unit 7 or in the remote security unit 11, and the alarm system 10 is arranged to sound an alarm either when the percentage acceptance rate falls below the predetermined lower limit, possibly indicating that repeated attempts are being made by a user or users to insert false coins into the apparatus 2, or when the percentage acceptance rate rises above the predetermined upper limit, possibly indicating that the coin rejection mechanism of the coin validator is faulty and in need of maintenance.
  • Figure 2 shows an enhanced system similar to the simple system of Figure 1, but in which the coin validator 1 also obtains information referring to different parameters of the coins inserted into the entry chute 3 or at least of all the coins rejected and which pass into the coin exit chute 4.
  • Extra data channels 16 are provided along which coin parameter signals are passed to the central control unit 7 of the coin-released apparatus.
  • a print-out 12 is made showing the proportions of each class of insertion rejected.
  • the print-out 12 may display information as follows: From the above example it will be seen that there is evidently a potential problem developing in respect of the 20p coins.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
EP19880304647 1987-06-04 1988-05-23 Münzbetätigte Einrichtung Expired - Lifetime EP0294068B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB878713059A GB8713059D0 (en) 1987-06-04 1987-06-04 Coin-released apparatus
GB8713059 1987-06-04

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0294068A2 true EP0294068A2 (de) 1988-12-07
EP0294068A3 EP0294068A3 (en) 1989-09-20
EP0294068B1 EP0294068B1 (de) 1993-01-27

Family

ID=10618351

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880304647 Expired - Lifetime EP0294068B1 (de) 1987-06-04 1988-05-23 Münzbetätigte Einrichtung

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0294068B1 (de)
ES (1) ES2037827T3 (de)
GB (2) GB8713059D0 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0689171A2 (de) * 1994-06-03 1995-12-27 National Rejectors Inc. GmbH Münzprüfer
GB2325327A (en) * 1997-05-14 1998-11-18 Irvine Business Corp Inc Currency monitoring
EP1113406A1 (de) * 1999-07-12 2001-07-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux Verkaufsautomat
EP1391852A1 (de) * 2002-08-23 2004-02-25 Mars Incorporated Bargeldprüfer

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5167313A (en) * 1990-10-10 1992-12-01 Mars Incorporated Method and apparatus for improved coin, bill and other currency acceptance and slug or counterfeit rejection

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0086648A2 (de) * 1982-02-12 1983-08-24 Mars Incorporated Vorrichtung zum Testen von Münzen
DE3333511A1 (de) * 1983-09-14 1985-04-04 Automaten AG, Alpnach Verfahren und vorrichtung zur ueberwachung mehrerer warenverkaufsautomaten
EP0151761A2 (de) * 1984-01-13 1985-08-21 URMET S.p.A. Costruzioni Elettro-Telefoniche Elektronische Münzbehälter, insbesondere für öffentliche Telefonanlagen
GB2182477A (en) * 1985-10-31 1987-05-13 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Method and device for establishing the reference values in coin testing apparatus
US4666027A (en) * 1986-02-07 1987-05-19 Validation Systems, Inc. Coin validation apparatus and method for detecting stringing of coins and distinguishing valid tokens or coins from slugs

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0086648A2 (de) * 1982-02-12 1983-08-24 Mars Incorporated Vorrichtung zum Testen von Münzen
DE3333511A1 (de) * 1983-09-14 1985-04-04 Automaten AG, Alpnach Verfahren und vorrichtung zur ueberwachung mehrerer warenverkaufsautomaten
EP0151761A2 (de) * 1984-01-13 1985-08-21 URMET S.p.A. Costruzioni Elettro-Telefoniche Elektronische Münzbehälter, insbesondere für öffentliche Telefonanlagen
GB2182477A (en) * 1985-10-31 1987-05-13 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Method and device for establishing the reference values in coin testing apparatus
US4666027A (en) * 1986-02-07 1987-05-19 Validation Systems, Inc. Coin validation apparatus and method for detecting stringing of coins and distinguishing valid tokens or coins from slugs

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0689171A2 (de) * 1994-06-03 1995-12-27 National Rejectors Inc. GmbH Münzprüfer
EP0689171A3 (de) * 1994-06-03 1996-03-13 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Münzprüfer
GB2325327A (en) * 1997-05-14 1998-11-18 Irvine Business Corp Inc Currency monitoring
EP1113406A1 (de) * 1999-07-12 2001-07-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux Verkaufsautomat
EP1113406A4 (de) * 1999-07-12 2006-03-01 Nippon Conlux Co Ltd Verkaufsautomat
EP1391852A1 (de) * 2002-08-23 2004-02-25 Mars Incorporated Bargeldprüfer
US6974016B2 (en) 2002-08-23 2005-12-13 Mars Incorporated Currency acceptors
CN1495678B (zh) * 2002-08-23 2013-09-11 Mei公司 货币接收器
CN103295318A (zh) * 2002-08-23 2013-09-11 Mei公司 货币接收器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8713059D0 (en) 1987-07-08
GB8812122D0 (en) 1988-06-29
EP0294068B1 (de) 1993-01-27
ES2037827T3 (es) 1993-07-01
GB2205430A (en) 1988-12-07
GB2205430B (en) 1991-01-30
EP0294068A3 (en) 1989-09-20

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