EP0609923A1 - Device for testing the conformity of and for transfering the objects, introduced into a dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for testing the conformity of objects (of the coin type) inserted as payment into a dispenser of products or services through an opening and for transferring the said objects towards means for processing them, of the type comprising a displacement member including a housing able to receive the said object, characterised in that the said member can move between a first position in which the said housing communicates with the said opening, access to the said processing means then being blocked, and a second position in which the said housing communicates with the said means, the opening then been blanked off. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device intended to verify the conformity of objects, of the coin type, introduced as payment, in a distributor of products or services, and capable of directing said objects towards means for processing the latter. .

By way of example, the invention can be applied to distributors of consumable products, such as foodstuffs or the like, or to service distributors, such as transport tickets, vehicle parking tickets.

Distribution devices, hereinafter called distributors, of products and services in exchange for payment in cash, generally have a front face provided with a slot-shaped opening into which the coins are inserted, and one or more other openings intended the return of change, the return of coins, and / or the delivery of the product or a ticket representing the consideration for the transaction. These devices usually include a parallelepiped enclosure inside which are arranged various systems necessary for the operation of the dispenser, such as a device called "coin entry", a currency selector, a piggy bank, means of evacuation of 'non-conforming objects, and a bowl for example.

The device called "room entry" and which is the subject more particularly of the present invention, has several functions and in particular, closing the slot for inserting the pieces outside the periods of use of the dispensing device, the delivery of the parts to the selector intended for the identification of the parts according to their respective value, and the evacuation of the objects introduced into the distributor and which do not conform.

The parts input device consequently comprises various elements and in particular, sensors making it possible to perform a pre-recognition of the objects introduced in order either to prevent the introduction of non-conforming objects, or if these objects are nevertheless introduced , to evacuate them.

The distributors referred to above are, by definition, located in public places and therefore exposed to acts of vandalism and / or fraud. Resistance to vandalism supposes a high mechanical resistance of the distributor, in particular at the level of the openings, and more particularly, of the entry of parts.

Fraud is also a major problem with this type of distributor. For example, an attempt has been made to introduce into the distributor a part attached to a wire or the like, in order to trigger the operation of the device and then to recover the part thus introduced; one also seeks to introduce objects resembling, either by their shape or their composition, with parts; examples have also been encountered of blocking the introduction of coins in order to recover the coins introduced subsequently by other customers who abandon their currency thus introduced without obtaining consideration for their payment voucher; the fraudster then unlocks the system and recovers the coins entered and / or obtains the counterpart in product and / or service. Attempts have also been made to introduce foreign bodies such as liquids, for example acid, in order to block or deactivate the electronic means of management of the distributor, which can thus be placed in a state of permanent distribution or rendering of change.

The few examples above show the difficulty of protecting such distributors. Access should therefore be prevented, outside of authorized persons, to the coin transport system between the slot through which it is inserted and the coin selector which identifies the coins.

We have tried, in a known manner, to remedy the above drawbacks.

The type of known device, the simplest, has no detection means and comprises a flap, mounted for rotation, between a first position where it closes a slot for introducing the parts, and a second retracted position where the opening is open and allows the introduction of the part. The opening and closing of the shutter is actuated by a central unit, capable of triggering the opening when, for example, the terms of payment and selection of products and services are correctly entered by the user.

This known device, relatively rudimentary, has drawbacks. First of all, it gives access to the interior of the device very easily once the shutter is open, and in particular access to the path of parts which can thus be blocked, or by which one can introduce an attached part, such than previously mentioned. Also, it does not recognize the objects introduced.

Attempts have been made, in a known manner, to improve the device mentioned above, and there are known devices for entering parts comprising a sensor, of the inductive type for example, and disposed near the slot and capable of triggering, by the 'intermediary of the central unit, the order of opening of the entry of parts.

This device, although making it possible to eliminate obviously non-conforming objects such as a cardboard washer, is nonetheless limited to a characteristic of the object introduced. In addition, the flap once retracted on the order of the sensor, allows the opening of the slot and therefore access to the interior of the dispenser, with the harmful consequences mentioned above. Furthermore, the proximity of the sensor to the coin insertion slot results in a great vulnerability of the sensor which can be damaged, by insertion by the slot, of an object such as a screwdriver or other, thus putting the sensor out of service. .

The two types of workpiece input device, of known type and mentioned above, are sometimes associated with means of gravity routing of the pieces introduced, from the workpiece entry to the selector. The gravity conveying means generally consist of an inclined ramp, in the form of a chute. The chute can be of the simple type, in this case it conveys the part directly by rolling the latter, or of the so-called "dynamic" type and provided with means making it possible to sort, according to their dynamic characteristic, the objects introduced, the parts being susceptible to travel a determined path leading to the selector, while non-conforming objects are supposed to be evacuated before arriving at the selector. If this evacuation is advantageous in itself, it is however not satisfactory insofar as it is carried out downstream of the device for entering parts, and therefore inside the apparatus where damage may have already been carried out. by non-conforming objects introduced, in particular corrosive liquids. In addition, the ramps or chutes for gravity routing have a considerable size in height. However, the constraints linked to the use of dispensers, in particular by disabled people, limit the height of the coin insertion slot to a maximum height of 1.30 m from the ground. Also, the dispenser being capable of being used by people without disabilities, must have a device for evacuating the return of coins, coins or tickets located at a height above the ground of at least 0.65 m. This therefore limits the total height and size of the dispenser systems and means to a maximum height dimension of 0.65 m. However, gravity systems use a large part of this height simply to route the pieces between the piece inlet and the selector.

A third type of device for inputting parts has been proposed, in particular for devices of the parking meter type, and comprising two flaps capable of being moved between a first position end to end where they block access to the input device of parts, and a second position where they are spaced from each other and thus allow the inserted object to enter the parts input device. The opening control of the two flaps is carried out by the object itself, by means of a cam, one end of which bears against the field of the part or of the object introduced and the other end is associated with a mechanism capable of causing the separation of the two flaps, thus giving access, if the object introduced is conforming, by its dimensions due to the movement of the cam, to the device for entering parts.

This device, if it improves the conditions of access to the parts path, has nevertheless characteristics of detection and validation of the objects introduced, limited to the shape of the latter. Note also the relative vulnerability of the shutter which could be kept in the open position by mechanical means or glue. It will also be noted that this disadvantage is found in the first two known devices mentioned above in which the flap is mounted for rotation. Locking the flap in the open position, and in an unauthorized manner, would allow access to the interior of the machine and therefore to carry out the fraud operations already mentioned.

A fourth type of workpiece input device is known, comprising a disc mounted for rotation outside the device, the drive in rotation being carried out by the user himself, once the workpiece is inserted into a housing. provided in the disc, the part being arranged in the plane of the disc. The rotation of the disc causes the object or the part introduced to pass in front of a sensor, and brings said part to a selector and / or a box. A variant of this type of device comprises a slider provided with a housing disposed opposite the slot, for a first position of the slider, and opposite the selector, for a second position of the slider.

This type of device makes it possible to prevent access to the parts path, during the transport of the latter, between the parts input and the selector. However, it firstly has the disadvantage of not allowing the rejection of a foreign object introduced, with the difficulties and damaging consequences that may result for the operation of the distributor. Also, this type of device is vulnerable and sensitive to external conditions, such as frost and dust. In addition, with regard to the device placed outside, this results in increased vulnerability to vandalism. Finally, recognition by the sensor is only carried out once the object has been inserted and is being transported to the selector or the cash register.

In this context, the invention proposes a device for entering parts making it possible to ensure the detection and evacuation of non-conforming objects and this, very upstream of the path of parts, while ensuring reliable detection, covering at least two criteria, in order to prevent access to the parts path in the event of the introduction of non-conforming objects and / or outside any unauthorized operation.

To this end, according to the invention, the device for checking the conformity of objects (of the coin type) introduced as payment in a distributor of products or services, through a slot, and for directing said objects towards means for processing the latter, of the type comprising a displacement member comprising a housing capable of receiving said object, is characterized in that said member is movable between a first position where said housing communicates with said slot, access to said processing means then being blocked, and a second position where said housing communicates with said means, the slot then being closed.

The housing capable of receiving said object thus forms an airlock.

Preferably, the displacement member is mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the objects, and more particularly, it is formed of a disc provided with a recess opening on the periphery of the disc, the rest of the disc field. being capable of closing the slot, when the recess is not facing the slot, and the disc is rotated in an arc, between the first and the second position mentioned above.

Advantageously, the disc has two substantially diametrically opposite recesses.

The disc is preferably capable of being driven in two possible directions of rotation.

The device also includes means for checking objects, such as for example an inductive sensor and an optical sensor, and preferably arranged facing said housing when the latter communicates with said opening.

The device advantageously comprises means of communication between the housing receiving the object and means for evacuating non-conforming objects, and these means of communication preferably consist of a conduit opening on the one hand, into the housing capable of receiving the object, and on the other hand, on the periphery of the disc.

• - la figure 1 montre de façon schématique le rôle du dispositif d'entrée de pièces dans un distributeur;
• - la figure 2A montre une coupe longitudinale de l'entrée de pièces de l'invention suivant un plan passant par l'entrée de pièce;
• - la figure 2B montre une vue en pespective du disque;
• - la figure 3 montre une coupe longitudinale de l'entrée de pièces de l'invention, suivant un plan passant par le dispositif d'entraînement;
• - la figure 4 montre une vue en coupe reprenant les éléments des figures 2A et 3;
• - la figure 5 montre en détail les capteurs et leur disposition;
• - la figure 6 est une vue de côté du disque tournant, montrant la disposition des capteurs par rapport à ce dernier;
• - les figures 7A, 7B, 7C et 7D montrent les positions successives du disque porteur de pièces lors de l'acheminement des pièces vers le sélecteur; et
• - les figures 8A, 8B et 8C montrent, en vue de côté, le dispositif de l'invention pour les positions successives du disque, en vue de l'évacuation d'objets non conformes.

The invention will be clearly understood in the light of the following description relating to an exemplary implementation of the invention, by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 shows schematically the role of the parts input device in a dispenser;
• - Figure 2A shows a longitudinal section of the entry of parts of the invention along a plane passing through the entry of room;
• - Figure 2B shows a perspective view of the disc;
• - Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the entry of parts of the invention, along a plane passing through the drive device;
• - Figure 4 shows a sectional view showing the elements of Figures 2A and 3;
• - Figure 5 shows in detail the sensors and their arrangement;
• - Figure 6 is a side view of the rotating disc, showing the arrangement of the sensors relative to the latter;
• - Figures 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D show the successive positions of the disc carrying parts during the routing of the parts to the selector; and
• - Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show, in side view, the device of the invention for the successive positions of the disc, for the removal of non-conforming objects.

Figure 1 shows schematically and in the manner of a block diagram, the arrangement of the device of the invention bearing the general reference 10 and hereinafter called "room entry", and arranged inside a device dispenser, for example a ticket, part of the front wall 11 of which is shown. The entry of parts 10 is arranged opposite a slot-shaped opening 12 provided on the front wall 11. It is understood that, in the example of FIG. 1, the interior of the appliance is located the right of the wall 11, while the part located to the left of the wall 11 corresponds to the outside of the dispensing device. A part 13 is capable of being introduced through the slot 12 (arrow F). The role of the entry of coins 10 is to verify by a pre-recognition, the conformity of the object introduced, that is to say to check if it consists of a coin, or by in any case, has some of its main characteristics, for example the material. The part entry 10 also has the role, as shown schematically of the arrow g, of conveying the part, once its conformity has been established, to a device called selector and bearing the reference 14, where the parts 13 ′ are sorted. The selector 14 is generally connected, on the one hand, to a box 15 and, on the other hand, to a change-over bowl, bearing the reference 16 and opening into an opening 17 provided on the front wall 11 of the dispenser. Note that the dispenser includes other systems and devices necessary for its operation, and which are not shown and known in themselves, such as means of selecting the ticket desired by the user, a central unit capable to issue a transport ticket once the payment has been checked and made, means allow both printing a transport ticket and issuing it through an opening in the front wall of the dispenser. The selector 14, the box 15 and the coin bowl 16 are known in themselves and are not shown in detail.

There is now described below, in more detail, the entry of parts forming the subject of the present invention, with reference, firstly, to FIG. 2A showing a longitudinal section of the device for entering parts.

With reference to FIG. 2A, the entry of parts 10 comprises a box 20, of generally elongated shape and whose axis is substantially orthogonal to the front wall 11 of the dispenser. The box 20 is open at its two ends, namely a first end 21 capable of being embedded in a complementary opening 22 provided on the front wall 11, and corresponding to the slot 12 for introducing the parts, and a second end 23 closed by an element 24 described in more detail later.

The box 20 has an upper panel 25, two side panels of which only one is shown, namely the panel 26 in Figure 2A. The three upper and side panels thus delimit a box in the general U shape seen in cross section. The first end 21, on the side of the front wall 11, has the general shape of a cylinder with a rectangular base, and corresponding to the opening 22 provided on the front wall 11, and for this purpose has a bottom wall 27 which projects slightly from the front wall 11 towards the interior of the appliance. Thus, the lower part of the box 20 is open downwards, on the major part of the box 20; a segment of the lower part of the box 20 is located near and above a currency selector 14, known in itself and not shown in detail, and provided with an upper opening 28 disposed opposite the part open bottom of the box 20, on the side of the second end 23 of the box 20.

Inside the box 20, a disc 29 is arranged rotatably mounted on the side walls of the box 20, along an axis of rotation 30, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the box 20 and substantially parallel to the planes of the opening 12 d introduction of parts, and therefore to the plane of the front wall 11.

The disc 29 is arranged inside the box 20 so that it is flush, preferably in an arc, on the inside surface of the upper wall 25 of the box 20 and so that it also flush the distal end of the lower part 27, of the end 21 of the box 20, on the side of the front wall 11.

A plate 31 is disposed between the disc 29, substantially at the level of a diameter of the latter, and the edge of the opening 28 of the selector 14. The plate 31 is substantially disposed in the longitudinal direction of the box 20, and preferably slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the box 20, and materialized by the straight line 32.

Thus, the box 20 and the members arranged inside the latter, successively comprise, starting from the front wall 11: an insertion neck 33 intended to receive the part introduced by the slot 12, the disc 29, and finally a clearance volume 34, inside the box 20, and of cylindrical shape with a quadrangular base. The internal volume 34 is delimited by the upper wall 25, the disc 29, the plate 31, the opening 28 of the selector 14 and the element 24. The latter comprises a panel 35 substantially transverse to the upper panel 25 of the box 20, and closing the second end 23 of the box 20 (opposite the front wall 11). The panel 35 is for example extended by a lug 36 disposed at a right angle and made integral with at least one of the side panels, by rivets 37. Note that the shutter panel 35 is arranged so that its lower end is arranged opposite and close to the distal edge of the opening 28 of the selector 14. Also, the obturating panel 35 is disposed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane of the opening 28, itself disposed substantially orthogonally to the front wall 11.

The disc 29 is provided with a recess 40 and preferably two recesses 40 and 41, and having a general shape of J, seen in cross section in the plane of the disc. The edge of each recess opens onto the periphery of the disc 29. The lower part of each recess is in the general shape of a semicircle with a diameter substantially equivalent to the largest of the parts admissible in the dispenser. The recesses 40 and 41 are shaped so that their concavity faces the periphery of the disc 29. The recesses 40 and 41 are separated by solid parts 29A and 29B capable of sealing the neck 33 for inserting parts. Figure 2B shows a perspective view of the disc. The disc 29 comprises two conduits 46 and 47 respectively connecting the bottom (that is to say the base of the J) of each recess to the periphery of the disc, each conduit 46, 47, being turned on the convex side of the curved part of each recess.

Returning to FIG. 2A, an anti-static electricity member 43 is provided in the introduction neck 33 intended for coins.

Two sensors, namely an inductive type sensor 44 and an optical type sensor 45 are arranged on the side wall 26, facing and near the location of the recesses 40 and 41. The arrangement and the role of these two sensors will be explained later.

With reference to FIG. 3, the means for driving the disc 29 in rotation are now described. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2A except that it shows the opposite face of the disc 29 relative to the face of the disc shown in Figure 2A. Said opposite face of the disc 29 comprises a relief pattern constituting a Maltese cross, bearing the reference 50. The means for driving the disc 29 in rotation comprise, on the one hand, a toothed wheel 51 rotatably mounted on an axis 52 and on the other hand, a motor 53 driving by a toothed pinion 54 the wheel 51 provided with teeth 55 on its periphery. The wheel 51 is provided with a relief pattern bearing the general reference 56 on the face turned on the same side as the face of the disc 29 provided with the Maltese cross. The pattern 56 in relief has a diameter corresponding to the arcs of a convex circle provided on the pattern 50 of the Maltese cross of the disc 29. The wheel 51, also called the drive wheel, comprises a stud 57, of cylindrical shape and provided in a curved notch 58 (whose concavity is turned towards the periphery of the wheel 51), of the relief pattern 56 of the wheel 51. The stud 57 is arranged at a radial distance such that it is capable of cooperating with the channels 59, 60, 61 and 62 of the Maltese cross 50 placed on the disc 29.

When the motor 53 is activated, it drives the wheel 51 in rotation, and the raised part 56 provided on the latter is driven in rotation tangentially or edge to edge with one of the corresponding concave parts of the Maltese cross 50, up to '' that the pin 57 comes in an angular position such that it engages in one of the channels of the Maltese cross, for example channel 59, in the event that the wheel 51 rotates clockwise . The rotation of the wheel 51 being continued, the stud 57 engaged in the channel 59 causes the rotation of the Maltese cross in the opposite direction to the wheel 51 (counterclockwise) until, according to the principle from the Maltese cross, the stud 57 emerges from the channel 59 in which it was engaged, said channel then coming in a position offset by an arc of a circle, namely a quarter turn in the example of the figure. In this second position, the channel in which the drive pin 57 was previously engaged, is in a position corresponding to the channel 62 in FIG. 3. It is thus possible to rotate the disc 29 according to given arcs of a circle , and preferably a quarter turn. A position sensor 65 is provided on the raised part 56 of the wheel 51, and connected to the central unit.

Figure 4 shows the device of Figures 2A and 3, in which have been more particularly represented on the disc 29, both, the Maltese cross 50 provided on one of the faces of the disc and the recesses 40 and 41 (Figure 2) provided on the other side of the disc. It is understood that starting from the position shown in FIG. 2A, where the recess 40 is arranged opposite the neck 33 for inserting parts, the rotation of a quarter-turn clockwise of the wheel 51, causes the rotation in the opposite direction of the disc 29, by a quarter of a turn, thus putting the solid part 29A of the disc 29 opposite the neck 33, thus closing the latter, and therefore preventing the introduction of parts. In this second position, after rotation of a quarter turn, the recess 40 is then turned downwards, which causes the object which was contained therein to fall. Conversely, the counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 51 causes the disc 29 to rotate clockwise by a quarter of a turn. Starting from the position shown in FIG. 2A, the solid part 29B of the disc 29 is arranged opposite the neck 33 for inserting parts, preventing the introduction of parts through the slot 12 of the distributor, and the recess 40 is then in communication with the clearance volume 34 provided on the rear part of the box 20, connecting the recess 40 and the currency selector 14, through the opening 28. The movement of the disc will be described in relation to the figures 7 and 8 highlighting in more detail, the operation of the device.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is described below, the detection means allowing the pre-recognition of the object introduced into the dispenser. In Figure 5, there is shown a partial sectional view, in a horizontal plane, of the box 20 and the disc 29, with the associated detection means, for the end part of the box 20 and the disc 29 arranged on the side of the front wall 11 of the dispenser. The side wall 26 of the box 20 is provided with two through holes 64 and 65 in which are arranged light-emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as LEDs), namely an emitting LED 66 and a receiving LED 67, both connected to an electronic card 68 connected in a known manner, to a power source and to the central unit capable of processing the information received from said diodes 66 and 67. The recess 40 of the disc 29 is extended by a hollow part, marked with the reference 69, in the plane of the disc. In the hollow portion 69 is disposed a block of transparent material forming a prism and in the general shape of L seen in cross section, and bearing the reference 70. The prism 70 in the shape of an inverted L, has a relatively short branch and arranged opposite of the receiving diode 67, and flush with the edge of the recess 40 (in the plane of the disc), while the other branch, of greater length, of the L formed by the prism 70 is arranged in the hollow part 69 , substantially in the plane of the disc. As shown on the Figure 6, the recess 69 receiving the prism 70, of generally quadrangular shape, seen in the plane of the disc, is disposed relative to the recess 40 so that a portion of the recessed portion 69 protrudes opposite the 'recess 40; the rest of the recessed portion 69 does not open into the recess 40, so that the receiving diode 67 is not placed facing the recess 40.

An inductive type sensor 71 is also provided, disposed in a housing provided on the side wall 26 of the box 20. The inductive sensor 71 is also connected to the electronic card 68, and is offset radially with respect to the diodes 66 and 67, in the direction of the coin insertion slot 12. Thus, starting from the position presented in FIG. 2A, that is to say for which the recess 40 is capable of receiving an object, and disposed opposite the neck 33, a part 73 introduced through the slot 12 penetrates inside the casing 20 and more particularly, is housed in the recess 40. The inductive sensor 71, brought to wake by the central unit, upon receipt of information from the user concerning the choice of title transport desired by the latter, sends information, via the electronic card 68, to the central unit so as to allow verification of the material constituting the object introduced, namely whether it is a metallic material. Note that, the part 73 being disposed in the recess 40, the emitting diode 66 is located opposite the part. The emitting diode 66 is actuated so as to emit light which is then stopped by the part, and therefore is not received by the receiving diode 67, which confirms the presence of an opaque object. The combination of information from an object considered to be opaque and made of metallic material leads to the conclusion of conformity, at least on these two criteria, of the object introduced in relation to a coin. In the event that the object introduced is not made of metallic material, the inductive sensor 71 will emit a corresponding signal. In the event that a metallic object is introduced, of the trombone type for example, the inductive sensor will send a compliance signal since the object is indeed a metallic material, but the optical sensor (consisting of the two emitting and receiving diodes) will send a non-compliance signal since the receiving diode will receive light emitted by the emitting diode, via the prism 70. Similarly, a cardboard of circular shape introduced into the slot 12 will cause a non-compliance signal from the inductive sensor, although the optical sensor emits a compliance signal (opacity).

The sensor device provided by the invention is simple enough to remain economical, while allowing reliable pre-recognition of the objects introduced. Also note that the sensors are arranged inside the device, relative to the slot, so that they are relatively protected and thus, are not liable to be subjected to attempts at deterioration, in order to put them out of use. At the very least, an attempt to deteriorate the latter would also cause the deterioration of the whole system and would make any operation of vandalism in this regard futile.

The operation of the apparatus is described below in relation to FIGS. 7A to 7B, showing schematically, in side view, the device in different positions of the disc corresponding to different stages of conveying the part introduced into the coin input device of the invention.

In the position shown in FIG. 7A, the device is in "standby", that is to say that the disc is positioned so that one of the solid parts 29A (or 29B) is placed facing the neck 33 introduction of parts, thus preventing the introduction of any object into the dispenser. This standby or standby position corresponds to the period of use of the device between two successive transactions, or when the device is put out of service.

In the event that a user selects a type of transaction, for example a transport ticket and provides the device, that is to say the central unit of the latter, the information necessary for determining a transport ticket given to the central unit then determines the corresponding sum and controls the rotation of the disc 29 so that one of the recesses, for example the recess 40, is placed opposite the introduction neck 33 and therefore opposite the slot 12. This leads to the position shown in FIG. 7B where the parts input device is capable of receiving an object introduced by the user.

With reference to FIG. 7C, the object, namely a coin 75 is introduced into the slot 12 and, after passing through the insertion neck 33, is housed in the recess 40 of the disc 29, where said part is shown in dotted lines under the reference 76. The set of sensors 66, 67 and 71 symbolized by the unique reference 77, emits a compliance signal to the central unit, which in turn controls the rotation clockwise of the disc 29, in a substantially quarter turn (as shown and explained with reference to Figures 3 and 4). The rotation of the disc 29 causes the recess 40 to pass from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 7C to the position shifted by a quarter of a turn, bearing the reference 40 ', and represented in dotted lines in FIG. 7C. The part shown in dotted lines under the reference 78 in the recess 40 '(in dotted lines) is subjected to this movement, and once the disc 29 stopped in the position shown in dotted lines, leaves the housing 40 ', subjected to its acceleration, and thus rebounds on the upper wall 25 of the box 20, then on the closure panel 35 disposed at the end 23 of the box 20, and then leaves the latter to pass through the opening 28 provided on the currency selector 14 (part shown in dotted lines under the reference 79).

FIG. 7D shows the position of the disc 29 once the part has left the recess 40 '. The solid part 29B is arranged opposite the slot 12 and thus closes the latter. Note that the position shown in Figure 7D is offset by a half-turn from that shown in Figure 7A where, from a mechanical point of view and from the operating point of view, the positions shown in the figures 7A and 7D are equivalent since in one case, it is the solid part 29A which closes the slot 12 while in the other case, it is the part 29B which plays the same role. In these two positions, the device is in "standby" or standby mode, and only a command from the central unit is capable of causing the disc 29 to rotate so as to have the slot 12 and the insertion neck opposite. of parts 33 one of the recesses 40 or 41.

It is important to note that the disc and each recess with which it is provided, functions in the same way as an airlock, namely that the interior volume defined by the recess is in communication, either with the insertion neck 33, or with the release volume 34, opening into the selector 14.

The fact of having two recesses diametrically opposite makes it possible to limit the rotational movement of the disc 29, which can thus have, by successive quarter turns, either a solid part, or a recess facing the slot 12.

The foregoing description, with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7D, corresponds to the operation of the apparatus when the object inserted is declared to be in conformity with a coin.

Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show, as described below, the operation of the device in the event that the object inserted is not in conformity or declared as such. The element elements of Figures 8, similar to those of Figures 7, have the same references. It should be noted in this regard that Figures 7 and Figures 8 show a slightly modified embodiment of the rear part of the box 20, compared to the embodiments shown in Figures 2A, 3 and 4 and does not constitute than a variant.

FIG. 8A is equivalent to FIG. 7A in the sense that the disc is in a position such that the solid part 29A closes the slot 12, the apparatus being in the standby or standby position.

In FIG. 8B the central unit has caused the disc 29 to rotate so that the recess 40 comes opposite the insertion neck 33, and therefore of the slot 12, and the position shown in FIG. 7B is found again. The reference 77 symbolically represents the set of sensors both optical 66, 67, and inductive 71.

Either an object 80 and non-conforming, that is to say an object which is not a coin, introduced by the slot 12 and coming to be housed in the recess 40 of the disc 29. The set of sensors 77 then sends, after detection, information-carrying signals according to which the inserted object 80 does not conform, and the central unit then controls the rotation of the disc in the opposite direction to that shown in FIGS. 7, c that is to say in the anticlockwise direction, thus passing the recess from position 40 (dotted lines) to position 40 "(solid lines) where the recess 40" has its opening and its concavity turned downwards, which causes the object to fall, bearing the reference 80 'towards evacuation or storage means, bearing the general reference 83 and known in themselves.

Also, as shown in FIG. 8B, the bottom of the recesses is connected by conduits, of which only the conduit 46 has been shown, and connecting the bottom of the conduit 40 and the periphery of the disc 29. For reasons of clarity, only the conduit has been shown in FIG. 8B, but it is understood that the conduits 46 and 47 shown in FIGS. 2A, 3 and 4 are provided on the disc 29.

The conduit 46 opens more particularly, in the position shown in FIG. 8B where the recess 40 is capable of receiving an object, downwards, and therefore towards the means 83 for storing or evacuating non-conforming objects. The conduit 46 is more particularly intended for the evacuation of liquids possibly introduced by the slot 12, and in particular of corrosive liquids such as acids, and introduced by fraudsters in order to try to inhibit the operation of the device or cause harm operation of the latter in order to place the dispenser in the position for example of change of money.

It should be noted, with reference to FIGS. 8, that the evacuation of non-conforming objects is carried out very upstream of the circuit of parts, since the non-conforming object is not authorized to penetrate inside the circuit of parts, and in any event inside the clearance volume 34, inside the box 20 opening into the selector 14.

The entry of parts of the invention also has an advantageous characteristic according to which the passage 33 for introducing the part is disposed at a level (in a vertical plane) lower than the level (measured in height) of the evacuation of the part at the outlet of the box 20. Figures 2A, 3, 4 and in particular 7 and 8 illustrate this characteristic which allows reduce the overall height of the device.

This is particularly important given the constraints set by the standards and mentioned in the preamble, according to which the coin insertion slot must be arranged at a maximum height of 1.30 m from the ground, while the bowl of change and the opening for the distribution of tickets must be arranged at least 0.65 m. Thus, thanks to the invention, as can be seen in particular in Figures 7 and 8, the insertion passage 33 of the part is located substantially at the same level as the opening 28 of the selector 14, which means, in in other words, that the entry of parts of the invention allows the pre-recognition of parts, the evacuation of non-conforming objects, and the routing of the part to the selector 14, without loss of overall height, and even with a slight gain. This is particularly advantageous compared to the prior art, and in particular to known devices ensuring the evacuation of the parts towards the selector by gravity.

Claims (11)

1. Device for checking the conformity of objects (of the coin type) introduced as payment into a distributor of products or services through an opening and for directing said objects to means for processing the latter, the type comprising a displacement member comprising a housing capable of receiving said object, characterized in that said member is movable between a first position where said housing communicates with said opening, access to said processing means then being blocked, and a second position where said housing communicates with said means, the opening then being closed. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said member is mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the plane of said objects. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the member consists of a disc provided with a recess opening on the periphery of said disc, according to an angular sector corresponding to the opening, the rest of the periphery of the disc being capable of closing said opening, said disk being capable of being driven in rotation according to an arc of a circle. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said disc has two recesses arranged diametrically opposite. 5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the disc is capable of being rotated in two opposite directions. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for checking the conformity of the objects. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said verification means are arranged opposite said object receiving housing, when the latter communicates with said opening. 8. Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said means for verifying the conformity of objects, include a sensor of the optical type and / or a sensor of the inductive type. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing is able to communicate either with said means for processing objects, including means for sorting objects, or with means for evacuating non-conforming objects. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a conduit, capable of evacuating introduced liquids, and connecting said housing to said evacuation means. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the access (28) to the processing means (14) is arranged at a level (in the plane of movement of said object) equal to or greater than the base of said opening (12).

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