EP0300781A2 - Münzendiskriminierer - Google Patents

Münzendiskriminierer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0300781A2
EP0300781A2 EP88306690A EP88306690A EP0300781A2 EP 0300781 A2 EP0300781 A2 EP 0300781A2 EP 88306690 A EP88306690 A EP 88306690A EP 88306690 A EP88306690 A EP 88306690A EP 0300781 A2 EP0300781 A2 EP 0300781A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coin
coil
time
comp
current detection
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
EP88306690A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0300781B1 (de
EP0300781A3 (en
Inventor
Geoffrey Howells
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.)
Scan Coin AB
Original Assignee
Scan Coin AB
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 Scan Coin AB filed Critical Scan Coin AB
Priority to AT88306690T priority Critical patent/ATE83571T1/de
Publication of EP0300781A2 publication Critical patent/EP0300781A2/de
Publication of EP0300781A3 publication Critical patent/EP0300781A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0300781B1 publication Critical patent/EP0300781B1/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
    • G07D5/08—Testing the magnetic or electric properties

Definitions

  • This invention relates to coin discriminators.
  • the term "coin” is intended to cover coin-like items such as bogus coins, tokens and circular blanks.
  • Discriminators employing one or more coils for inductively linking with the coin under test have been used. It has been proposed in Patent Specification G.B. No. 2 041 532A to subject a coil to a voltage pulse and then to monitor the decay of eddy currents produced in a coin by the pulse, in order to test the electrical characteristics of the coin. The decay signal is sampled at predetermined times and is compared with stored reference values appropriate to those times in order to determine the coin type.
  • a coin discriminator comprises a coin path along which a coin under test is arranged to pass, a coil means positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, eddy current detection means adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, and monitoring means arranged to detect when the output of the eddy current detection means reaches a first predetermined level and then a second predetermined level, and comparison means for comparing at least one time measurement made by the monitoring means with reference times to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and a corresponding reference time.
  • the times at which the output of the eddy current detection means reaches the first and second levels are each compared with respective reference times, and a concordance between both measured times and corresponding reference times is taken as an indication of a coin type.
  • a problem with the method of G.B. 2 041 532 is that the proximity of the coin to the test coil/coils affects the magnitude of the eddy currents, and for various reasons some coins may proceed past the test coil/coils at a greater distance from the coil/coils than other coins, for example due to bouncing of the coins. This can lead the discriminator to assign an incorrect value to the coin.
  • a coin discriminator comprises a coin path along which a coin under test is arranged to pass, a coil means positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, eddy current detection means adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, and monitoring means arranged to measure the time taken for the output of the eddy current detection means to fall from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level, and comparison means for comparing said time with a reference time to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and the reference time.
  • the eddy current detection means may comprise a sampling coil which is additional to the coil means, or the coil means may itself constitute a sampling coil.
  • the coil or coils are preferably arranged to be substantially critically damped.
  • a single coil 1 is shown mounted in a recess in a non-magnetic support surface or wall 2 defining one side 3 of a coin passage of the discriminator.
  • the coil is, for example, of diameter 2mm and is wound on a ferrite core, the axis of the coil being arranged substantially normal to the surface 3.
  • FIG 2 the coil voltage of the coil 1 is shown, the decay curves (a) and (b) corresponding to voltages induced in the coil by the magnetic field which is produced by the decaying eddy currents, a coin of a conductive material being present for curve (a) but with no coin for curve (b).
  • the flat top 4 to the curve is due to the saturation of the amplifier of the monitoring circuit.
  • a coin may proceed along the coin passage in contact with surface 3 as coin 5, or it may be spaced from surface 3, as coin 6.
  • Figure 3 shows two superimposed plots (c) and (d) of the coil voltage due to identical coins which are respectively positioned against surface 3 and away from surface 3. It will be seen that the shapes of the decay portions of the curves (c) and (d) are closely similar, but that the curve (c) represents greater induced voltages than curve (d).
  • this adjustment is achieved by setting two voltage thresholds levels V1 and v2 and measuring the time T2-T1 for the coil voltage to fall from V1 to V2.
  • the time T2-T1 is not significantly different for the two curves (c) and (d), but the corresponding time would be different for a coin of a different type.
  • Figure 4 shows how with a window detector a rectangular pulse of length T2-T1 can be generated for the curve (c). The duration of the pulse T2-T1 is then compared with a series of stored reference values of the time difference to determine the conductivity characteristics of the coin.
  • the curves of induced coil voltage will have sufficiently consistent parameters to enable the coin types to be characterised by the times T1 and T2 measured separately, the measured times T1,T2 being compared with stored reference sets of T1 and T2 to determine the coin type.
  • FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram of a second discriminator in accordance with the invention in which times T1 and T2 are separately measured.
  • a microcomputer applies a drive pulse, signal A ( Figure 6), to an electronic switch 8 to pulse coil 1.
  • the detector coil voltage, signal B, is amplified by amplifier 9 and the amplified signal C is compared with two reference voltage levels V1 and V2 by comparators COMP 1 and COMP 2 respectively, the voltage levels V1 and V2 being set on a potential divider.
  • the microcomputer 7 incorporates a timing function and is programmed to time the occurrence of the pulse edges produced in the outputs, signals D and E, from the comparators COMP 1 and COMP 2, to provide measurements of the times T1 and T2. The microcomputer then compares the measured times T1 and T2 with stored reference sets to determine the coin type. For each coin type the reference set will comprise maximum and minimum values of T1, and maximum and minimum values of T2.
  • Such discriminators are preferably used in conjunction with other discriminators which measure, for example, coin diameter and coin thickness, to provide an accurate determination of the coin type.
EP88306690A 1987-07-23 1988-07-21 Münzendiskriminierer Expired - Lifetime EP0300781B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88306690T ATE83571T1 (de) 1987-07-23 1988-07-21 Muenzendiskriminierer.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB878717493A GB8717493D0 (en) 1987-07-23 1987-07-23 Coin discriminator
GB8717493 1987-07-23

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0300781A2 true EP0300781A2 (de) 1989-01-25
EP0300781A3 EP0300781A3 (en) 1990-01-31
EP0300781B1 EP0300781B1 (de) 1992-12-16

Family

ID=10621190

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88306690A Expired - Lifetime EP0300781B1 (de) 1987-07-23 1988-07-21 Münzendiskriminierer

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0300781B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE83571T1 (de)
DE (1) DE3876708T2 (de)
GB (1) GB8717493D0 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992001270A1 (en) * 1990-07-05 1992-01-23 Microsystem Controls Pty. Ltd. Coin validator
DE4224204A1 (de) * 1992-07-22 1994-02-03 Nsm Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Bestimmung der Echtheit von Münzen
DE4339543A1 (de) * 1993-11-19 1995-05-24 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Verfahren zum Prüfen von Münzen
WO1995016978A1 (en) * 1993-12-17 1995-06-22 Microsystem Controls Pty. Ltd. Coin discriminator
WO2004072912A1 (en) * 2003-02-13 2004-08-26 Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd Identification of coins, including magnetic characteristics
CN103971457A (zh) * 2013-01-24 2014-08-06 鸿富锦精密工业(武汉)有限公司 掉货检测系统

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9010507D0 (en) * 1990-05-10 1990-07-04 Mars Inc Apparatus and method for testing coins
AU660418B2 (en) * 1990-07-05 1995-06-29 Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd Coin validator
US6047808A (en) * 1996-03-07 2000-04-11 Coinstar, Inc. Coin sensing apparatus and method
US6520308B1 (en) 1996-06-28 2003-02-18 Coinstar, Inc. Coin discrimination apparatus and method
US6056104A (en) * 1996-06-28 2000-05-02 Coinstar, Inc. Coin sensing apparatus and method
US5988348A (en) 1996-06-28 1999-11-23 Coinstar, Inc. Coin discrimination apparatus and method
US9036890B2 (en) 2012-06-05 2015-05-19 Outerwall Inc. Optical coin discrimination systems and methods for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like
US8967361B2 (en) 2013-02-27 2015-03-03 Outerwall Inc. Coin counting and sorting machines
US9022841B2 (en) 2013-05-08 2015-05-05 Outerwall Inc. Coin counting and/or sorting machines and associated systems and methods
US9443367B2 (en) 2014-01-17 2016-09-13 Outerwall Inc. Digital image coin discrimination for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2041532A (en) * 1979-01-31 1980-09-10 Plessey Co Ltd Metal detector
GB2135492A (en) * 1983-02-09 1984-08-30 Chapman Cash Processing Limite Coin recognition
EP0119000B1 (de) * 1983-02-09 1989-04-12 Cash & Security Equipment Limited Münzenerkennungsvorrichtung

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2041532A (en) * 1979-01-31 1980-09-10 Plessey Co Ltd Metal detector
GB2135492A (en) * 1983-02-09 1984-08-30 Chapman Cash Processing Limite Coin recognition
EP0119000B1 (de) * 1983-02-09 1989-04-12 Cash & Security Equipment Limited Münzenerkennungsvorrichtung

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992001270A1 (en) * 1990-07-05 1992-01-23 Microsystem Controls Pty. Ltd. Coin validator
EP0537251A4 (de) * 1990-07-05 1995-04-19 Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd
DE4224204A1 (de) * 1992-07-22 1994-02-03 Nsm Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Bestimmung der Echtheit von Münzen
DE4224204C2 (de) * 1992-07-22 1998-08-06 Nsm Ag Vorrichtung zur Bestimmung der Echtheit von Münzen
DE4339543A1 (de) * 1993-11-19 1995-05-24 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Verfahren zum Prüfen von Münzen
DE4339543C2 (de) * 1993-11-19 1998-07-23 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Verfahren zur Prüfung von Münzen
WO1995016978A1 (en) * 1993-12-17 1995-06-22 Microsystem Controls Pty. Ltd. Coin discriminator
WO2004072912A1 (en) * 2003-02-13 2004-08-26 Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd Identification of coins, including magnetic characteristics
CN103971457A (zh) * 2013-01-24 2014-08-06 鸿富锦精密工业(武汉)有限公司 掉货检测系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8717493D0 (en) 1987-08-26
DE3876708D1 (en) 1993-01-28
ATE83571T1 (de) 1993-01-15
EP0300781B1 (de) 1992-12-16
DE3876708T2 (de) 1993-04-22
EP0300781A3 (en) 1990-01-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0300781B1 (de) Münzendiskriminierer
US5351798A (en) Coin discrimination apparatus and method
US5452785A (en) Coin diameter discriminating apparatus
US4488116A (en) Inductive coin sensor for measuring more than one parameter of a moving coin
US3966034A (en) Phase sensitive coin discrimination method and apparatus
US4436196A (en) Method of and apparatus for assessing coins
US5573099A (en) Apparatus and method for identifying metallic tokens and coins
US5568854A (en) Coin discrimination method
EP0639288B1 (de) Münzprüfer
US7584833B2 (en) Coin discriminators
JP4111350B2 (ja) コインの妥当性をチェックするための方法および装置
US6325197B1 (en) Method and device for checking coin for forgery
US4124110A (en) Magnetic coin element sensor
EP1051691B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum unterscheiden von bimetallischen münzen
RU2155381C2 (ru) Устройство для проверки подлинности монет, жетонов и других плоских металлических предметов (варианты)
GB2160689A (en) Coin detection
EP0978807A1 (de) Münzprüfer
US4335604A (en) Method and apparatus for the identification of coins or equivalent
JPH08212416A (ja) 硬貨判別装置
JP2920798B2 (ja) 硬貨判別装置
GB2040526A (en) Magnetic Coin Element Sensor
JPH081669B2 (ja) 硬貨判別装置
EP1602082B1 (de) Identifizierung von münzen umfassend die magnetischen eigenschaften
JPH07118031B2 (ja) 硬貨判別装置
GB2284291A (en) Coin discriminating apparatus

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

Kind code of ref document: A2

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

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900717

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920505

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 ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

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

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: LI

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: FR

Effective date: 19921216

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19921216

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 83571

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19930115

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3876708

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19930128

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

EN Fr: translation not filed
NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
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: 19930731

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

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

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
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: DE

Payment date: 20040508

Year of fee payment: 17

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20040706

Year of fee payment: 17

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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050721

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

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20060201

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20050721