EP0500366B1 - Méchanisme de validation d'un jeton - Google Patents

Méchanisme de validation d'un jeton Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0500366B1
EP0500366B1 EP92301400A EP92301400A EP0500366B1 EP 0500366 B1 EP0500366 B1 EP 0500366B1 EP 92301400 A EP92301400 A EP 92301400A EP 92301400 A EP92301400 A EP 92301400A EP 0500366 B1 EP0500366 B1 EP 0500366B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
token
exit
validation mechanism
arresting
cradle
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
EP92301400A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0500366A2 (fr
EP0500366A3 (en
Inventor
Omar Farouk Variawa
Edward Shane Simmonds
Jacobus Theron Botha
Edgar Herbert Chinneck
Piotr Leonard Kowalczyk
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.)
TELKOR Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
TELKOR Pty 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 TELKOR Pty Ltd filed Critical TELKOR Pty Ltd
Publication of EP0500366A2 publication Critical patent/EP0500366A2/fr
Publication of EP0500366A3 publication Critical patent/EP0500366A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0500366B1 publication Critical patent/EP0500366B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F1/00—Coin inlet arrangements; Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
    • G07F1/04—Coin chutes
    • G07F1/041—Coin chutes with means, other than for testing currency, for dealing with inserted foreign matter, e.g. "stuffing", "stringing" or "salting"
    • G07F1/042—Coin chutes with means, other than for testing currency, for dealing with inserted foreign matter, e.g. "stuffing", "stringing" or "salting" the foreign matter being a long flexible member attached to a coin
    • G07F1/044—Automatic detection of the flexible member
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F1/00—Coin inlet arrangements; Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
    • G07F1/04—Coin chutes
    • G07F1/048—Coin chutes with means for damping coin motion

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a token validation mechanism.
  • Most conventional token validators have one or more inclined passages along which the token to be validated runs.
  • One or more parameters of the moving token are measured by a linear array of sensors which line the walls of the passage.
  • the passage In order to accommodate the array of sensors, the passage has to be relatively long, which results in a token validation mechanism which is fairly bulky.
  • the passage may be shortened by employing static measurement of the tokens. However, static measurement is considerably more time consuming, as the token parameters can only be measured once the token has come to a complete halt.
  • a token validation mechanism comprising a passageway having an entrance for receiving a token and at least one exit means, token arresting means being located in the passageway for arresting forward movement of the token, and token freeing means for freeing the token from the token arresting means once measurement of the validity of the token has occured, characterised in that it further comprises token damping means positioned adjacent the token arresting means for damping sideways movement of the token for facilitating static measurement of the validity thereof by static measurement means.
  • the token damping means comprises a cage having a token damping body housed therein, the token damping body being biased to impinge on a token as forward movement of the token is arrested by the token arresting means.
  • the token damping body is conveniently arranged to be displaced by a token into the cage as forward movement of the token is arrested by the token arresting means.
  • the token arresting means comprises a cradle arranged to centre the token relative both to the token damping means and to the static measurement means.
  • the exit means advantageously comprised a token accept exit and a token reject exit, and token steering means, which are responsive to a signal from the static measurement means, are provided for steering the token through either the token accept exit of the token reject exit, depending on the validity of the token.
  • the token arresting means and the token freeing means preferably comprise a movable V-shaped cradle being carried on an arm, and actuating means for moving the cradle between a token arresting position, in which the cradle lies in the path of a token travelling through the passageway, to a token freeing position, in which the V-shaped cradle is moved out of the path of the token and away from the passageway.
  • the token damping body conveniently comprises a ball, and the cage is inclined downwardly towards the passage so that the ball is gravity-biased into the path of the token.
  • the token steering means preferably comprises a gate, and actuating means responsive to a signal from the measurement means for moving the gate between a token reject position, in which it allows the passage of a token through the token reject exit, and a token accept position, in which it allows the passage of a token through the token accept exit.
  • Monitoring means such as an optical sensor, may be provided in the token accept exit for monitoring the passage of a valid token through the token accept exit.
  • the token validation mechanism 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a body having a first and second hinged flaps 12 and 14 which are pivoted to one another on hinge pins 16 and 18.
  • the flap 14 has a passageway, or chamber 20 formed therein which has a entrance slot 22 for accepting a token such as a coin.
  • Token reject and accept exit passages 24 and 26 extend from the chamber 20.
  • Token arresting and freeing means 28, includes a V-shaped cradle 30, which is carried on an arm 32.
  • the arm 32 is in turn pivotably connected to one end of the coil 34 of a solenoid 36 by means of stirrup 38.
  • a leaf spring 40 biased the arm 32 and the V-shaped cradle 30 towards the closed position, as is shown in Figures 3 and 4. (The cradle could, in some applications, be biased to a normally-open position.)
  • An inclined tubular cage 42 extends laterally from the wall of the chamber 20 just above the V-shaped cradle 30.
  • a ball 44 which is formed from a hard-wearing plastics material such as a polycarbonate plastic, is held captive within the cage 42.
  • the ball could also be formed from glass or metal, for example.
  • a rectangular recess 46 is formed in the flap 12 for accommodating a coil arrangement for measuring one or more of the characteristics of a static coin when it is centred in the cradle 30.
  • Token steering means 49 comprises a gate 50 which is operated by means of a solenoid 52.
  • the gate 50 has a downwardly slanting serrated barrier 54 which is held in the normally closed position by means of a leaf spring, and controls the passage of coins through the exit passage 26.
  • the token validation mechanism operates as follows.
  • a coin is inserted into the entrance slot 22, rolls down the upper edge of a first metal, plastic of ceramic buffer block 58 and comes to rest in the V-shaped cradle 30.
  • the coin 60 enters the V-shaped cradle 30, it displaces the ball 44 from a position indicated in Figure 3 to the position indicated in Figure 4, in which the ball is displaced out of the chamber and up into the inclined cage 42.
  • the ball 44 and inclined cage 42 in combination act as damping means to damp movement of the coin 60.
  • the ball 44 absorbs some of the kinetic energy of the coin 60, causing it to come to rest far more quickly than is usual.
  • the V-shaped cradle 30 acts both to arrest the coin and to locate it accurately.
  • the ball-and-cradle arrangement is also positioned so that it dampens the movement of coins of varying sizes, which have previously been centred on the cradle 30. Consequently, the token validation mechanism is not confined to measuring the validity of coin having a specific size or denomination.
  • the coil arrangement is used to measure various characteristics of the coin 60 once it is stationary, such as the core and surface material from which the coin is composed, and the size of the coin.
  • the various signals from the coil arrangement are then processed to ascertain whether the coin is valid or not.
  • the solenoid 36 is then energised to move the arm 32 and the cradle 30 out of the path of the coin 60, which subsequently lands on a second buffer block 61, which is similar in both form and function to the first buffer block 58. If the coin is valid, the gate 54 is opened so as to allow the coin to pass through the accept exit passage 26. If the coin is not valid, the gate 54 is not opened, allowing the coin 60 to pass through the reject exit passage 24.
  • accept and reject exit passages may, of course, be interchanged.
  • Optical sensors 56 are located adjacent the entrance slot 22, and in the token accept and reject exits 26 and 24, in order to monitor the progress of a coin through the passage and the exits. These sensors are so positioned that so-called “tickey-on-a-string" methods of tricking the validator mechanism are defeated.
  • the first and second flaps 12 and 14 may merely be separated from one another and swung to the open position, as shown at Figure 1 so as to allow the token to be unjammed.
  • An advantage of the token validation mechanism is that it facilitates the static measurement of one or more characteristics of a coin by ensuring that it comes to a halt as soon as possible. Furthermore, the token validation mechanism is able to accept coins of varying sizes and denominations, as the V-shaped cradle is arranged to centre a coin, and the ball and inclined chamber are arranged to dampen the movement of a coin of any size to facilitate a static measurement thereof. Embodiments of the invention aim to allow for the rapid and consistent validation of coins and tokens, regardless of their size or denomination.
  • the actuating means forming part of the open arresting means preferably comprises a solenoid for moving cradle in one direction, and biasing means for biasing the cradle in the opposite direction.
  • the actuating means performing part of the token steering means comprises a solenoid for moving the gate in one direction, and biasing means for moving the gate in the opposite direction.
  • the validation mechanism conveniently has a body comprising a pair of hinged flaps which are pivotable between a closed position, in which they in combination define the passageway, the entrance and the at least one exit, and an open position, for allowing the removal of tokens which have jammed within the passageway.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Testing Of Coins (AREA)
  • Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
  • Measuring Pulse, Heart Rate, Blood Pressure Or Blood Flow (AREA)
  • Iron Core Of Rotating Electric Machines (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Mécanisme (10) de validation de jeton comprenant un chemin de passage (20) comportant une entrée (22) pour recevoir un jeton et au moins un moyen (24,26) de sortie, des moyens (28) d'arrêt de jeton étant disposés dans le chemin de passage (20) pour arrêter le déplacement vers l'avant du jeton, et des moyens (28) de libération de jeton pour libérer le jeton des moyens d'arrêt de jeton après que la mesure de la validité du jeton a été réalisée, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend de plus des moyens (42,44) d'amortissement de jeton placés au voisinage des moyens (30) d'arrêt de jeton pour amortir le mouvement latéral du jeton (60) pour faciliter la mesure statique de la validité de celui-ci à l'aide de moyens de mesure statique.
  2. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens (42,44) d'amortissement de jeton comprennent une cage (42) comportant un corps (44) d'amortissement de jeton logé dans celle-ci, le corps (44) d'amortissement de jeton étant sollicité de façon à buter contre un jeton (60) lorsque le mouvement vers l'avant du jeton (60) est arrêté par les moyens (28) d'arrêt de jeton.
  3. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le corps (44) d'amortissement de jeton est agencé de manière à être déplacé par un jeton (60) dans la cage (42) lorsque le mouvement vers l'avant du jeton (60) est arrêté par les moyens (28) d'arrêt de jeton.
  4. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens (28) d'arrêt de jeton comprennent un berceau (30) agencé de façon à centrer le jeton (60) par rapport aux moyens (42,44) d'amortissement de jeton et aux moyens de mesure statique.
  5. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le moyen (24,26) de sortie comprend une sortie (26) d'acceptation de jeton et une sortie (24) de rejet de jeton, et en ce que des moyens (49) de direction de jeton, répondant à un signal provenant des moyens de mesure statique, sont prévus pour diriger le jeton (60) à travers soit la sortie (26) d'acceptation de jeton soit la sortie (24) de rejet de jeton, selon la validité du jeton.
  6. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'arrêt de jeton et les moyens (28) de libération de jeton comprennent un berceau (30) en forme de V déplaçable porté par un bras (32), et des moyens (34,36,38,40) d'actionnement pour déplacer le berceau entre une position d'arrêt de jeton, dans laquelle le berceau (30) s'étend dans le trajet d'un jeton (60) se déplaçant le long du chemin de passage (20), et une position de libération de jeton dans laquelle le berceau (30) en forme de V est écarté du trajet du jeton (60) et éloigné du chemin de passage (20).
  7. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon la revendication 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que le corps d'amortissement de jeton comprend une bille (44), et la cage (42) est inclinée vers le bas vers le chemin (20) si bien que la bille (44) est sollicitée par gravité vers le trajet de jeton (60).
  8. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens (49) de direction de jeton comprennent une porte (50), et des moyens (52) d'actionnement répondant à un signal provenant des moyens de mesure pour déplacer la porte (50) entre une position de rejet de jeton, dans laquelle elle permet le passage d'un jeton (60) à travers la sortie (24) de rejet de jeton, et une position d'acceptation de jeton, dans laquelle elle permet le passage d'un jeton à travers la sortie (26) d'acceptation de jeton.
  9. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que des moyens (56) de contrôle sont prévus dans la sortie d'acceptation de jeton pour contrôler le passage d'un jeton valide à travers la sortie d'acceptation de jeton.
  10. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'actionnement comprennent un solénoïde (36) pour déplacer le berceau dans une direction, et des moyens (40) de sollicitation pour solliciter le berceau dans la direction opposée.
  11. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de contrôle comprennent un capteur optique (56).
  12. Mécanisme de validation de jeton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de validation comporte un corps, le corps comprenant une paire de volets articulés (12,14) montés pivotants entre une position fermée, dans laquelle ils définissent en combinaison le chemin (20) de passage, l'entrée (22) et la au moins une sortie (24,26), et une position ouverte, permettant le déplacement de jetons qui se sont bloqués dans le chemin de passage.
EP92301400A 1991-02-20 1992-02-20 Méchanisme de validation d'un jeton Expired - Lifetime EP0500366B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA911249 1991-02-20
ZA911249 1991-02-20
ZA911247 1991-02-20
ZA911247 1991-02-20

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0500366A2 EP0500366A2 (fr) 1992-08-26
EP0500366A3 EP0500366A3 (en) 1992-10-21
EP0500366B1 true EP0500366B1 (fr) 1995-07-26

Family

ID=27141803

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92301400A Expired - Lifetime EP0500366B1 (fr) 1991-02-20 1992-02-20 Méchanisme de validation d'un jeton

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0500366B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE125630T1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR950003793B1 (ko) * 1992-06-19 1995-04-18 한국전기통신공사 주화처리장치
US5392891A (en) * 1994-02-10 1995-02-28 Raytheon Company Apparatus and method for discriminating coins based on metal content
GB9415717D0 (en) * 1994-08-03 1994-09-21 Coin Controls Coin validator
JP2000259892A (ja) * 1999-03-11 2000-09-22 Nippon Conlux Co Ltd 硬貨案内装置

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1468162A (en) * 1973-05-18 1977-03-23 Mars Inc Coin handling apparatus
GB2039684B (en) * 1979-01-18 1983-03-02 Mars Inc Hinge mechanism for a coin testing mechanism
GB2121579A (en) * 1982-03-31 1983-12-21 Coin Controls Coin validating
GB9013054D0 (en) * 1990-06-12 1990-08-01 Landis & Gyr Communications Coin escrow

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE125630T1 (de) 1995-08-15
EP0500366A2 (fr) 1992-08-26
EP0500366A3 (en) 1992-10-21

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