EP0734002A2

EP0734002A2 - Improved coin selector

Info

Publication number: EP0734002A2
Application number: EP96200608A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jesus Guindulain Busto
Original assignee: TREMOYA SL
Current assignee: JOFEMAR I MAS D.S.L.
Priority date: 1995-03-22
Filing date: 1996-03-12
Publication date: 1996-09-25
Also published as: ES1030459U; ES1030459Y; EP0734002A3

Abstract

Improved coin selector of the type that are used in machines that operate automatically by inserting coins and that carry out the validation of coins as they pass in front of the corresponding measurement sensors, whose improvements are based on the string-proof mechanisms and on the carrying out of the readings of the parameters of coins, in such a way that the selector (1) in relation to the coin slot (2) has a lever (3) that rotates with respect to the shaft (4) provided with an extension (5) that remains fitted between a pair of projections (6) of a second lever (7) that is likewise provided with an extension (8) that remains between a pair of diodes (9).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

As expressed in the title of the present specification, the following invention, consists of an improved coin selector, in such a way that the improvements introduced are based on safety string-proof mechanisms that the selector includes, as well as the measurement of the parameters of the coins to be validated, upon the different sensors carrying out readings according to the same relative position of coins, upon passing in front of the same.
Hence, it deals with obtaining the measurement of the different parameters of the coins according to a single arrangement so that all the measurements obtained have the smallest dispersion possible, at the same time that it prevents insertion of a coin tied to a string activating the coin acceptance system of the selector, once or several times as if the coin had been validated and accepted as acceptable and as if it had been led to the coin box of the machine, even preventing it from being recovered and thus preventing the subsequent fraud from taking place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Over the years, coin selectors have been developing, in such a way that in the beginning the selectors basically referred to carrying out a reading of a series of parameters of the coins for their validation, for which in the through duct of the coins in the selector, they faced some sensors that carried out the corresponding readings.
In this way, if the readings carried out by the sensors were within a range of pre-recorded values in the selector itself, the coin was validated as acceptable and if said values were not within the pre-recorded intervals, the coin was validated as unsuitable, being rejected.
Later on, coin selectors developed upon including different safety different safety string-proof mechanisms to prevents coins being tied to strings from being inserted thus activating the coin acceptance system. The coins where subsequently removed with different results.
Hence, certain selectors include close to the coin slot, a rotating lever that by its free end interferes with the beam of a pair of diodes, in such a way that upon introducing the coin said lever moves and thus the beam is released, in such a way that until said beam is interfered with again, the system will not definitively accept the coin, whereby if the coin is tied to a string, this prevents the lever from returning to its initial position, whereby there is no acceptance of the coin, though it has been validated as acceptable.
On the other hand, as the coins fall freely through the coin slot, upon coming in contact with the base of the through duct opposite the measurement sensors, the coins bounce forward, which causes when the coins face said sensors that the relative position of the same is not always the same, thus there is a dispersion of measurements. It is convenient to make the measurements with the coins always in the same relative position with regard to the sensors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present specification describes some improvements introduced in coin selectors, fundamentally based on improvements in the safety string-proof mechanisms and on the measurements of the different parameters for the validation of the coins with the coins placed in the same relative position with respect to the measurement sensors, whereby the data obtained are much more reliable and have a much smaller dispersion.
First of all, in the coin slot to the selector there is a lever that as the coins pass by, it turns actuating a second lever that upon turning stops interfering with the beam of a pair of diodes at which time the system is activated. The validation of the coin must take place in a specific amount of time.
Likewise, upon inserting the coins, they come up against a new lever provided with a projection positioned crosswise to the through duct of the coins, and which remains rotating with respect to a shaft parallel to the coin through duct. Said position between the position of the swivel shaft and the projection transversal to the coin through duct has a wedge-shaped projection in relation to the through duct in such a way as the coin rolls it comes up against said projection, causing the rotation of the lever and the subsequent withdrawal thereof towards the wall of the duct in which its swivel shaft has been placed leaving a free way to the coin.
Hence, as the coins fall through the input duct of the selector, they come up against the transversal projection of the described lever, making them bounce back, falling on a metal body that totally damps the knock, making them roll smoothly, abutted against one of the walls of the coin through ducts, the sensors carrying out the measurements of the different parameters of the coins, which are always in the same relative position with regard to the sensors. The measurements turn out to be more reliable.
The base of the rolling duct is beveled so that the coins abut against one of the walls of the through duct, and in the same there is a weight sensor, provided with a double gage, in such a way that upon falling on a projecting end of the weight sensor, the weight thereof is measured, for which purpose said weight sensor is placed according to a plane slightly below the rolling place along the base of the duct, and inclined upward according to its free projecting end, in such a way that as the coin rolls it knocks against said end.
The cited weight sensor is formed by a C-shaped strip, which remains fastened by the free end to one of its wings, while the other wing thereof, which is longer projects through a window of the corresponding through duct so that the coins to be validated knock against it, carrying out the weighing by means of the sensor with the pair of gages integral to the C-shaped strip.
Finally, once the coin has been validated as acceptable and is lead towards the coin box, the same comes up against a lever that will prevent the coin acceptance mechanism from activating until it has been overcome and the same faces two pairs of diodes, which according to a passing sequence of the coin allows its final acceptance, once the coin cannot be pushed upward with a string, upon the lever placed above the cited pair of diodes preventing it.
In order to complete the description that is going to be made hereinafter and for the purpose of providing a better understanding of the features thereof, the present specification is accompanied by a series of drawings, in whose figures, the most significant details of the invention, described in the specification, are represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a front view of the selector in which the essential elements for the perfect operation thereof in the validation of coins, as well as the safety string-proof mechanisms have been represented.
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the selector in which the lever provided with a projection, positioned transversally to the coin through duct, wherein the coins bounce to roll from the highest position of the roll duct to come up against a second projection of said lever placed according to a bottom plane and which has a wedge shape so that upon the corresponding coin knocking against it, the same withdraws, is observed.
Figure 3 shows a side raised detailed view of the lever position in relation to the coin slot to the selector, observing how the same has a projection that remains inserted between two projections of a second lever upon which the same will actuate upon the passing of the coins.
Figure 4 is a front view of the selector, according to a 180° turn with regard to figure 1, in which the base of the coin rolling duct with the gage in its free ends is observed, from which there is the vertical duct of the coin passing by the selector towards the final acceptance or rejection duct.
Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the base of the coin through duct opposite the measurements sensors, the dotted line showing the position of the gage with regard to said rolling base. Once can see how the free end of said gage remains raised with respect to the same.
Figure 6 shows a sectioned view, according to cut I-I of the previous figure, wherein one can observe the arrangement of the weight sensor, formed by a C-shaped strip, at one of whose wings it is fastened to the body of the selector, while the other end projects through a window of the corresponding wall of the through duct to then remain placed after the rolling base.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In view of the commented figures and in accordance with the numbering used, we can see how the coin selector (1) has in relation to the coin slot (2), a lever (3) rotating with regard to the shaft (4), provided with an extension (5) that remains between a pair of projections (6) of a second lever (7) that is likewise provided with an extension (8) by whose free end, when it is in the inoperative position, it remains placed between a pair of diodes (9), in other words, it interferes with the beam of the emitting diode.
In this way, when a coin is inserted in the selector, the lever (3) is actuated, at the same time, that the lever (7) is actuated, in such a way that its rotation leaves free the beam of the pair of diodes (9) from which time the system is activated and the selector has a specific amount of time within which to carry out the validation of the coin, since on the contrary the system is deactivated and the coin is returned without being validated.
This structure, shape or construction of the levers (3) and (7) causes that in the movement of both oscillations or bouncing upon the passing of the cons from taking place which can hamper the good operation of the selector, since the interrelation thereof and the positioning stops permit suitable arrangement thereof.
On the other hand, upon the coins for validation penetrating in the selector (1), the same come up against a projection (10) of a lever (11) that causes them to withdraw, falling on a metal piece, that totally damps their fall, making them roll smoothly from the top part of the through duct in which they face the different measurement sensors. Projection (10) of the lever (11) remains in a position transversal to the coin through duct (12), the swivel shaft (13) of said lever (11) being in a position orthogonal to projection (10) placed in relation to one of the walls of the through duct and parallel to the same, in such a way that as the coins come up against the projection (10), in no case with the lever (11) turn, as the pressure exerted is parallel to the swivel shaft of the same.
Cited lever (11) is likewise provided with a wedge-shaped projection (14), placed between the projection (10) and the swivel shaft (13) of the lever, placed upon the coin through duct (12). In such a way as the coins roll over the base (15) of said duct, coming from the metal part (209 that has damped their fall, they come up against the wedge-shaped projection (14) causing the rotation of the lever (11) and its withdrawal to the side wall to which the swivel shaft (13) has been placed allowing the regular forward movement of the coin abutted to one of the walls of the duct.
The damping of the fall of the coins by the metal part (20) and the smooth rolling thereof towards the measurement sensors, permits reading or measuring of the different parameters of coins, done by the sensors according to the same relative position of the coins, obtaining some much more reliable measurements and with a smaller dispersion.
Base (15) of the rolling duct (12) defines a bevel to allow the coins remaining abutted to one of the walls of the cited rolling duct, without undergoing zigzag movement, which after its free ends has an projecting end (24) of the weight sensor (22), which provided with a pair of gages (23) carries out the weighing of the coins, in such a way that said weight sensor (22) is placed according to a plane lower than the rolling one with which the coins in their rolling knock against the free end (24) of the same, projecting from a window (21) of the wall of the through duct of the coins, carrying out a perfect weighing, with electronic simplicity.
This arrangement is clearly represented in figure 5, since in the same one sees with the dotted line the positioning plane of the weight sensor (22), observing how the same remains under the rolling plane (15) and forming with it a convergence towards its free end.
On the other hand, figure 6 represents a plan view of the arrangement of the weight sensor (22), wherein one can see how the same is generally C-shaped, remaining fastened by area (16) of one of its wings, while its other free wings projects through the window (21) of the wall, then remains after the rolling plane (115), in such a way that the end area (24) of its free end, will knock the coins in their rolling in order to read the weight of the same.
Once the coins have been weighed by the weight sensor (22) they drop to a duct to go either towards the coin box if they have been validated as acceptable, or towards the return duct if they have been validated as unacceptable.
In the event that the coin has been validated as acceptable, it must go beyond a safety string-proof mechanism so that the system is activated giving the coin as accepted, a mechanism that prevents the coin from being tied to a string and being able to activate the mechanism several times and even from being recovered with the fraud that this represents.
Hence, in the through duct of the coins towards the coin box, there is a lever (17) that is generally trapezoidal with a projection in relation to one of its vertexes, remaining under it two pairs of diodes (18) and (19) that acting together cause the coin to be accepted and counted definitively a specific passing sequence and the same cannot be lifted over the lever (17).
In this way, the sequence that can be produced in the passing of the coins in front of the diodes (18) and (19) so that the same are accepted definitively and the selector gives the order in this sense, will be the following:

1 - The coin interferes with diodes (18)
2 - The coin interferes with diodes (19)
3 - The coin releases diodes (18)
4 - The coin releases diodes (19)

Hence, if the coin has carried out the desired sequence, it will be inevitably under the lever (17) and the same will not only be irrecoverable although it is tied to a string, but rather it will also be impossible to carry out the sequence of passing in front of the diodes (18) and (19) again which will prevent fraud.
In short, with the improvements introduced in the selector (1) based on the string-proof mechanism to prevent fraud and on the carrying out of reading or measuring of the different parameters of the coins by sensors in a smoother way, a more reliable selector is obtained and hence greater safety against fraud.

Claims

Improved coin selector, being of the type that are used in machines that operate automatically by inserting coins and that carry out the validation of coins upon the same passing in front of the corresponding measurement sensors, essentially characterized in that the improvements are based on string-proof mechanisms and on carrying out the readings of the parameters of the coins in such a way that selector (1) in relation to the coin slot (2) has a lever (3) rotating with regard to a shaft (4)provided with an extension (5) that remains fitted between a pair of projections of a second lever (7) that is likewise provided with an extension (8) that remains placed between a pair of diodes (9), it being provided for that the selector has a new lever (11) rotating with regard to a shaft (13), positioned in relation to a wall of the coin through duct (12) and parallel to the same, the same being provided with a projection (10) in transversal position to the through duct upon which the coins come up against upon falling, bouncing towards a part (20) that totally damps the fall thereof, and likewise, said lever (11) has a second wedge-shaped projection (14) placed between the top projection (10) and the swivel shaft (13), with the particularity that in the free end of the rolling base (15) of the coin through duct (12) opposite the sensors, there is the free end (24) of the weight sensor (22), that has a pair of gages (23) and underneath in relation to the definitive coin acceptance duct, there is a new lever (17) that acts in combination with two pairs of diodes (18) and (19) as an string-proof safety device.
Improved coin selector according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge-shaped projection (14) of the lever (11) remains situated in relation to the duct (12) in such as way that as the coins roll by, upon coming up against it, they cause the rotation of the lever (11) towards the wall of the positioning duct of the shaft (13), causing it to withdraw.
Improved coin selector, according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight sensor (22), formed by a generally C-shaped strip, remains fastened by the free end (16) of one of its wings, while its other wing projects through a window (21) of one of the walls of the through duct (12), to remain the free section (24) positioned in relation to the through duct after the rolling base (15), in such a way that said weight sensor (22) remains placed according to a plane lower than the rolling one and converging towards its free end, making the rolling coins drop, knocking against the free end thereof (24) to read the weight, upon said sensor having a pair of gages (23) one on each side of the same.
Improved coin selector, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (17) placed in the definitive acceptance duct of the coins generally has a trapezoidal shape with a projection in relation to one of its vertexes that acts in combination with two pairs of diodes (18) and (19) that upon the sequential passing of the coins activate the definitive coin acceptance system.