EP0680021A1 - Dispositif pour détecter le niveau dans les tubes d'un distributeur de pièces de monnaie - Google Patents

Dispositif pour détecter le niveau dans les tubes d'un distributeur de pièces de monnaie Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0680021A1
EP0680021A1 EP95104986A EP95104986A EP0680021A1 EP 0680021 A1 EP0680021 A1 EP 0680021A1 EP 95104986 A EP95104986 A EP 95104986A EP 95104986 A EP95104986 A EP 95104986A EP 0680021 A1 EP0680021 A1 EP 0680021A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coin
tube
sensor
coins
tubes
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
EP95104986A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0680021B1 (fr
Inventor
Klaus Dipl.-Ing. Fh Meyer-Steffens
Arnold Dipl.-Ing. Fh Frerichs
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.)
Crane Payment Innovations GmbH
Original Assignee
National Rejectors Inc GmbH
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 National Rejectors Inc GmbH filed Critical National Rejectors Inc GmbH
Publication of EP0680021A1 publication Critical patent/EP0680021A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0680021B1 publication Critical patent/EP0680021B1/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
    • G07D9/00—Counting coins; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • G07D9/04—Hand- or motor-driven devices for counting coins
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D1/00—Coin dispensers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for detecting the fill level in tubes of a coin operated device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
  • Money changers and similar coin-operated devices must provide a storage facility for individual coin values in order to be able to pay out exchange amounts. It is known to provide tubes or tubes for storing coins, in which the coins are stacked in columns. A payout device controlled by a suitable control device preferably takes out the coins at the bottom End of the tube and feeds it to a coin channel or a coin path, from where the repayment is then made.
  • Known money changers contain three or four tubes, depending on the desired exchange behavior.
  • the fill level can theoretically be determined at any time by electronically counting the coins entering the coin tubes. However, since it cannot be ensured that every coin inserted and paid out is counted, a difference can easily result. It is therefore also known to assign an overflow sensor to the coin tubes, which responds when the coin column has reached a predetermined height. In this case, additional coins of the same type are directed directly into the cash register. If such an overflow protection were not provided, there is a risk that the coins jam. It is also known to provide a so-called empty sensor. It is usually arranged at a certain distance above the bottom of the coin tube and emits a signal when the coin column comes below the measured level of the sensor. This prevents a sales transaction with change change from being initiated, although a change value payment has become impossible due to insufficient coins.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a device for detecting the level in tubes of a coin operated device, which can be used regardless of the dimensions of the tube and is able to determine the actual empty state of a tube.
  • a payout device which has a slide element, for example in the form of a pin or the like, which projects into the coin tube through a slot in the bottom of the tube when it is actuated during a payout process.
  • the payout element crosses hence the bottom of the tube along a path, preferably a circular arc path, taking the bottom coin of the coin column with it in order to deflect it into a coin path.
  • This allows the bottom of the tube to be essentially stationary.
  • the invention makes use of this fact in order to accommodate a sensor in the fixed base section for detecting the presence of at least one coin in the tube.
  • the bottom of the tube can be designed such that it is fixed except for the passage slot for the slide element.
  • the presence sensor is preferably arranged on the side facing away from the center of the circular arc.
  • a wide variety of sensors are conceivable for registering the presence of a coin.
  • a simple sensor for example, consists of a switch whose contacts are bridged while there is still a coin in the tube.
  • the switch is also adjustable so that it responds when two or more coins are in the tube, whereby an empty signal can be generated when the tube has emptied to a minimum number of coins.
  • the presence sensor can be a pressure-sensitive sensor, for example a piezo element or a strain gauge. With the help of a pressure sensitive Sensors can not only determine the presence of at least one coin in the tube, but also generate a signal proportional to the weight of the column. If the pressure measurement is accurate enough, the number of coins in the tube can also be determined in this way and, for example, the electronic count can be checked.
  • the sensor can also be designed as an inductive or capacitive sensor.
  • a circuit board can be attached as an inductive sensor below the fixed floor section.
  • a coil is helically formed into the circuit board with conductor tracks, the magnetic field of which is influenced by the presence of at least one coin in the tube.
  • Another possibility is to provide an optical sensor. With the help of a light-sensitive element, which determines the reflection of the light from the coin in the coin tube, it can be determined whether the tube is empty or still filled.
  • the device according to the invention has the advantage that it is possible to determine the true empty state of a tube. It also has the advantage that it is independent of the size of a coin tube can be used. As is known, the dimensions of a coin tube depend on the dimensions of the coins that are to be received in the tube. Therefore, regardless of the dimensions of the coin tubes used, a base module can be used, which contains, for example, the sensor per coin tube as well as the required evaluation electronics and the associated payout unit.
  • the fixed bottom surface has two electrically insulated electrically conductive surface sections to which an electrical voltage is applied and an electrical measuring element is provided which detects the current flow or the voltage drop when a coin is in contact with both surface sections.
  • the coin acts as a switch contact that bridges the conductive, electrically insulated floor surfaces.
  • the fixed base section is divided into at least three electrically insulated, electrically conductive surface sections and connected to a voltage source, a pulse being generated when a coin comes into contact or with a first and a second pair of surface sections. out of contact.
  • the surface sections are arranged such that the pulses are generated with a time delay during a payout process and a measuring element is provided for evaluating the pulses.
  • Fig. 1 the bottom 10 of a changer is indicated, on which, for example, two coin tubes 12, 14 are arranged, which have different inner diameters due to the inclusion of different types of coins.
  • Accepted coins from a coin validator enter the coin tubes 12, 14 and are paid out by a payment unit (not shown).
  • the payout unit is located in the plate area 10. It has a pin (not shown) which moves along a circular path, as indicated at 16.
  • the payout element for example the pin, projects into the tube 12 or 14 in order to push a coin out of the tube.
  • the payout unit can be designed so that in one direction of rotation of the electric motor, which moves the pin on a circular path, the pin protrudes into one tube and in the opposite direction into the other tube, while driving under the bottom of the other tube , therefore does not make a withdrawal.
  • Appropriate cam control makes it easy to control such a payout pin realize.
  • the coins ejected from the tubes 12 and 14 go to a coin track (not shown), from where they are then directed for repayment.
  • the slots 18, 20 divide the fixed base of the coin tubes 12, 14 into base sections 22, 24 and 26, 28.
  • the base sections 22, 28 contain a sensor 30 and 32, respectively, which detects the presence of a coin on the base of the tubes 12, 14 notes.
  • the sensor can be designed as a switch, pressure-sensitive, designed as an optical sensor, or it can also be an inductive sensor.
  • the weight of the column on the bottom of the tube 12, 14 can be determined and thus also the number of coins in the tube. This makes it possible to check the counting of the tubes entering the coin by means of a coin counter and to implement an overflow sensor which indicates when the number of coins in the tube exceeds a predetermined value. In this case, it is necessary to direct additional coins directly into the cash register.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 The use of an inductive sensor is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • a coil 34 is assigned to the bottom of the coin tube 12a and a coil 38 is assigned to the bottom of the tube 14a, specifically in the form of printed circuit boards 40 (see FIG. 3), which are arranged below the bottom of the tube 12a.
  • the coil is part of the circuit board, which is mounted on the underside of the tube surface.
  • FIG. 4 shows a tube 12b, the bottom of which, as already described above, is divided by an arcuate slot 18b. Further subdivided surface sections 46, 48, 50 and 52 are formed by an insulation 44. The surface sections 46 to 52 are electrically conductive. The surface sections 46, 48 are at one potential and the sections 50, 52 are at a different potential when a voltage is applied to the lines 56, 58. If there is a coin on the floor, a short circuit between the lines 56, 58 is generated, which can be determined. However, if there is no coin on the floor, the "switch" is open.
  • FIG. 5 shows a possible evaluation of the embodiment according to FIG. 4. 5, the surface sections 46 to 52 are shown as associated contact points. They are therefore provided with the same reference symbols.
  • a comparator 54 can be used to adjust the sensitivity.
  • At 56 an empty signal is generated when there is no longer a bypass by a coin.
  • FIG. 6 shows a plate 10c and coin tubes 12c, 14c or 12c 'and 14c', in which a first common electrically conductive contact surface 60 is assigned to the bottom of the tubes.
  • a further electrically conductive contact surface 62, 64, 66 and 68 is assigned to each tube in order to form a switch in the manner described above.
  • the bottom of a coin tube 12d has three surface sections 70, 72, 74, which are each electrically insulated from one another. It can be seen that when a coin is ejected, the coin initially leaves the surface 72, but is still in contact with the surfaces 70 and 74. Accordingly, pulses can be generated. This is shown in FIG. 8, where S2 represents the pulse formation with respect to the areas 70, 72 and S1 the pulse formation with respect to the areas 70 and 74 as a function of time. The impulses can be used to register payouts. This makes it possible to count the coins paid out and, for example, to check the contents of a tube, which is otherwise only done with an electronic coin counter, which checks the coins entered but cannot record the coins issued.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Testing Of Coins (AREA)
EP95104986A 1994-04-30 1995-04-04 Dispositif pour détecter le niveau dans les tubes d'un distributeur de pièces de monnaie Expired - Lifetime EP0680021B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4415283A DE4415283C2 (de) 1994-04-30 1994-04-30 Vorrichtung zur Erkennung des Füllstands in Tuben eines Münzgerätes
DE4415283 1994-04-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0680021A1 true EP0680021A1 (fr) 1995-11-02
EP0680021B1 EP0680021B1 (fr) 1997-09-17

Family

ID=6516974

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95104986A Expired - Lifetime EP0680021B1 (fr) 1994-04-30 1995-04-04 Dispositif pour détecter le niveau dans les tubes d'un distributeur de pièces de monnaie

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0680021B1 (fr)
DE (2) DE4415283C2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2108507T3 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1302909A1 (fr) * 2001-10-09 2003-04-16 Kabelsystem Srl Distributeur automatique
EP2752822A1 (fr) * 2013-01-02 2014-07-09 International Currency Technologies Corporation Système distributeur de pièces de monnaie avec tubes à pièces de monnaie avec capteurs capacitatifs de niveau de remplissage
EP2960873A1 (fr) * 2014-06-24 2015-12-30 International Currency Technologies Corporation Système de détection de pièce de passage de pièces

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006037947B3 (de) * 2006-08-12 2007-12-13 National Rejectors, Inc. Gmbh Münzgerät mit Gewichtsmessung
DE102007023678B4 (de) 2007-05-22 2014-02-06 National Rejectors, Inc. Gmbh Münzauszahlvorrichtung
US8827777B2 (en) 2007-05-24 2014-09-09 National Rejectors, Inc. Gmbh Method for operating a coin dispensing device and a coin dispensing device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT362169B (de) * 1978-10-24 1981-04-27 Heywood Joseph Richard Muenzenausgabeautomat
GB2107875A (en) * 1981-09-15 1983-05-05 Cardrox Systems Limited Inductive switches
GB2124006A (en) * 1982-07-20 1984-02-08 Jpm Improvements relating to coin dispensers
EP0247785A2 (fr) * 1986-05-22 1987-12-02 Bell-Fruit Manufacturing Company Limited Surveillance du niveau d'une pile de pièces de monnaie
DE3810074A1 (de) * 1988-03-22 1989-10-05 Trenner D Wh Muenzpruefer Muenzauszahleinrichtung
WO1993001568A1 (fr) * 1991-07-08 1993-01-21 Mars Incorporated Mecanisme pour pieces de monnaie

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3902085C2 (de) * 1989-01-25 1998-07-16 Paul Gauselmann Einrichtung zur Ermittlung des Füllstandes eines in einem münzbetätigten Automaten angeordneten Münzstapelbehälters
DE4214366C2 (de) * 1992-03-30 1995-04-06 Nsm Ag Münzausgabevorrichtung

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT362169B (de) * 1978-10-24 1981-04-27 Heywood Joseph Richard Muenzenausgabeautomat
GB2107875A (en) * 1981-09-15 1983-05-05 Cardrox Systems Limited Inductive switches
GB2124006A (en) * 1982-07-20 1984-02-08 Jpm Improvements relating to coin dispensers
EP0247785A2 (fr) * 1986-05-22 1987-12-02 Bell-Fruit Manufacturing Company Limited Surveillance du niveau d'une pile de pièces de monnaie
DE3810074A1 (de) * 1988-03-22 1989-10-05 Trenner D Wh Muenzpruefer Muenzauszahleinrichtung
WO1993001568A1 (fr) * 1991-07-08 1993-01-21 Mars Incorporated Mecanisme pour pieces de monnaie

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1302909A1 (fr) * 2001-10-09 2003-04-16 Kabelsystem Srl Distributeur automatique
EP2752822A1 (fr) * 2013-01-02 2014-07-09 International Currency Technologies Corporation Système distributeur de pièces de monnaie avec tubes à pièces de monnaie avec capteurs capacitatifs de niveau de remplissage
EP2960873A1 (fr) * 2014-06-24 2015-12-30 International Currency Technologies Corporation Système de détection de pièce de passage de pièces

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2108507T3 (es) 1997-12-16
EP0680021B1 (fr) 1997-09-17
DE59500662D1 (de) 1997-10-23
DE4415283C2 (de) 1996-09-12
DE4415283A1 (de) 1995-11-02

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