ES2380484B1 - COIN SELECTOR DEVICE AND METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

Device and coin selector method, comprising a path (4) along which a coin (5) runs between an inlet and one or more mouths, a first set of sensors (2, 2 ', 2 ''), a second set of sensors (3), said first and second sets of sensors being located along said path. For each instant of time, the first set of sensors provides first data related to a position of said currency with respect to the second set of sensors, while the second set of sensors provides second data related to one or more characteristic properties of said currency. .

Description

Device and coin selector method.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to coin selectors that internally define a path or path along which the coins run between an inlet and one or more mouths.

This type of selectors is used in machines whose operation is carried out by introducing one or more coins, of sufficient value to obtain the requested product or service.

These selectors have sensors in the coin path capable of measuring different dimensional characteristics (radius, thickness), alloy (weight, hardness), electrical and magnetic. In this way the value and validity of the coins can be detected.

Background of the invention

One of the most important requirements for coin selector manufacturers is greater accuracy in coin characterization. Bicolor coins, consisting of two different materials in the core and edge, are increasingly used. In these currencies it is not enough to make precise measurements, but it is necessary to perform separate measurements of both the core and the edge, avoiding the areas of attachment.

It is possible to find two-color coin frauds, consisting of a legal-colored single-colored coin to which an edge of a material similar to that of the currency to be imitated has been added. An accurate determination of the edge material would allow its discrimination. Likewise, it is possible to find single-color currency fraud attempts that consist of a ring-shaped supplement added to legal tender coins of the same material, in order to adjust its diameter and make it similar to that of the currency to be imitated. In these cases a precise measurement of the outer edge would detect said ring.

In European Patent EP-710933-B1 a device for determining the predetermined characteristics of an object (coin or sheet) consisting of two materials with different electromagnetic properties is presented. The device basically comprises a path where the coin passes, an electromagnetic sensor, two optical barriers placed at the entrance and exit of the sensor and a third optical barrier at the center of the electromagnetic sensor. The measurement of the ring is performed when the optical barrier placed in the center of the sensor is activated. When the measurement is made in a fixed position, depending on the width of the edge, it may be impossible to obtain a measurement exclusively from the edge. Also, to measure the center of the coin first, the time that the coin blocks the first barrier is measured. The measurement of the center of the coin is taken with the electromagnetic sensor when a time equal to half of said interval has elapsed since the second barrier begins to block. This method assumes that the currency velocity is approximately constant, when in reality it is subject to constant acceleration. It is also necessary that the first and second barriers be separated by a distance greater than the diameter of the largest coin to be measured, with the consequent loss of flexibility in the arrangement of the barriers. Another way to make measurements in specific areas of the coin is to arrange several electromagnetic sensors at different heights, so that each sensor measures a different area of the coin. Patent applications WO 99/12130 of Azkoyen and WO 99/23616 of Coin Controls describe arrangements of sensors of this type. This system also lacks flexibility, since the measurement zones are fixed by the position of the sensors and the size of the coin. Using several sensors also means a significant cost increase.

Another alternative is the one presented in the German patent application DE-10003289-A1 where basically a procedure is described in which the measurements of a sensor between two determined amplitudes when passing a coin are stored in a memory. Subsequently, the width of the curve is determined, which gives an approximation of the speed of the coin. As the number of samples taken per unit of time is known, the realization of a linear correspondence allows to calculate what measurements correspond to each area of the coin. However, this method does not take into account that the movement of the currency is accelerated, which makes the function that relates space and time not linear. Thus, for example, the measurements at the intermediate point of the measurement curve with respect to time do not correspond to the central point of the coin.

On the other hand, document DE-29720045-U describes the use of phototransistors for coin selectors, describing a configuration in which an equal current is applied for all photodiodes, but the point of operation of the phototransistors is different. The large manufacturing dispersion of optoelectronic devices can make it difficult to ensure the operation of all phototransistors in the linear zone by applying the same current to all photodiodes.

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 7. Preferred embodiments of the device and method are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention aims at providing a coin selector method and device that solve the problems described above in the current selectors, providing a selector that not only makes precise measurements of the coins, but also identifies which part of the coin corresponds to a certain measure and vice versa.

The present invention refers to a method that improves the quality of a sensor or sensors, by means of the ability to relate the measurements obtained with said sensors for a coin with the relative position between said coin and the sensor with which each measurement was taken. . In this way, by this method it can be identified which measure corresponds to the relative currency-sensor positions that are of interest to characterize. Thus, for example, to measure a two-color coin with an electromagnetic sensor it is necessary to measure the center of the coin and the edge; with the coin selector and by means of the method of the present invention both measurements corresponding to center and ring can be made, determining the measurement corresponding to each position of the coin with respect to the sensor. Additionally, the inverse method can be used, so that it can be identified to which position of the currency certain measures correspond, identifiable by owning a specific property such as, for example, having exceeded a threshold or corresponding to extreme values (minimum or maximum of the signal).

One of the advantages presented by the method of the present invention over the prior art is that it allows measurements in the relative sensor-currency positions of greater interest for its characterization, regardless of the acceleration and velocity of the coin. Another advantage is that this is done regardless of the relative position of the sensors and the size of the coin.

The coin selector device of the present invention comprises a path along which a coin will flow between an inlet and one or more mouths, a first set of sensors and a second set of sensors. For each instant of time, the first set of sensors provides a first set of data from which the position of said coin with respect to the second set of sensors is calculated and the second set of sensors provides second data related to one or more characteristic properties of said currency.

Preferably, said first set of sensors is composed of at least two optical sensors; more preferably, the number of optical sensors is greater than or equal to three, which allows the choice of measurements corresponding to the most stable part of the coin path.

Preferably, said optical sensors are located at the same height with respect to the trajectory of the coin. By placing the optical sensors at the same height with respect to the trajectory of the coin (and in the direction of movement thereof), greater precision is achieved for the selector device of the invention. The optical sensors may be composed, for example, of pairs of photodiodes and phototransistors. Preferably, for each of these phototransistors a control loop is established between the receiver and the emitter, which injects the current necessary to each photodiode so that all the phototransistors are maintained at a common point of operation.

Preferably, the second set of sensors may be composed of electromagnetic sensors. They can also be magnetic sensors, optical or extensometric capacitors, or sensors of any other type that can provide one or more characteristic properties of the coin.

That is, the coin selector device of the present invention is based on at least two sets of sensors. With the first set of sensors the relative position of the coin is determined with respect to the second set of sensors at each instant of time, and it can also provide data related to its speed and acceleration. The second set of sensors determines, at the time of the currency, one or several characteristic properties of said currency, also for each instant of time. In this way, by having both signals in time, the measurements of both sets can be related.

Depending on the relative position between the first and second set of sensors, it may be necessary to store the measurements of the second set of sensors in a memory, until the first provides the coin position in each instant. This is the case when the two sets of sensors share the same position in the coin path. However, if the second set of sensors is arranged after the first set of sensors in said path and far enough away, it is not necessary to store the measurements taken by the second set of sensors.

The invention also refers to a coin selector method, which comprises:

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arrange a first set of sensors along a path of a coin in a selector,

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disposing a second set of sensors in said path,

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measure with the first set of sensors, for each instant of time, first data from which a position of said currency with respect to the second set of sensors is calculated,

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measure with the second set of sensors, for each instant of time, a second set of data relating to one or more characteristic properties of said currency;

in such a way that said first data, from which the position of the currency is calculated, and said second data, relative to one or more characteristic properties of said currency, are related to each other.

Preferably, said first data is measured with at least two optical sensors. According to a preferred embodiment, the first data is measured with at least three pairs of photodiodes and phototransistors, establishing a control loop between each receiver and emitter that injects a photodiode into a current, so that all phototransistors work in a linear zone , which increases the stability of the selector method of the invention.

Preferably, at least one specific property of said second data relative to one or more characteristic properties of said currency is measured with the selector method of the invention, and said specific property is related to the relative position of the coin and the second set of sensors . Said specific property may consist of exceeding a predetermined threshold for said second data, or it may also consist of exceeding or corresponding to an extreme value, maximum or minimum, for said second data.

It is also possible to relate the first data from which the currency position is calculated with a

or more characteristic properties of said coin measured by the second set of sensors, thereby improving the quality of said second set of sensors.

In this way, the method of the present invention allows to improve the quality of any second set of sensors, by means of the ability to relate the measurements obtained with said second set of sensors to the relative position of the coin and the second set of sensors, to which was taken each measure. Likewise, the method allows the inverse process, so that it can be identified to which position of the currency certain measures correspond, identifiable by owning some specific property such as, for example, having exceeded a predetermined threshold or corresponding to extreme values (minimum or maximum) .

That is, the method of the present invention can be used to improve the discrimination quality of a sensor of any type, such as, for example, electromagnetic, magnetic, capacitive, optical, extensometric sensors, etc. The quality of the measurement is determined not only by the quality of the sensor (of whatever type) itself, but also by the ability to characterize certain areas of the currency regardless of the rest.

Brief description of the drawings

A series of drawings that help to better understand the invention and that expressly relate to an embodiment of said invention which is presented as a non-limiting example thereof is described very briefly below.

Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of the selector device of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows several relative positions between the coin and the optical sensors that are used for calculations for the determination of the string and the position of the coin.

Figure 3 shows a diagram with two graphs of the relationship of the position of the currency with time, and of measurements of the currency with time.

Figure 4 shows, for a preferred embodiment of the invention, a block diagram of the control loop to keep the phototransistors at the same point of operation.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

As shown in Figure 1, in which a possible embodiment of the selector device 1 of the invention is shown, it comprises a first optical sensor 2, a second optical sensor 2 'and a third optical sensor 2 "and a sensor electromagnetic 3, located on a path 4 of a coin 5; arrow U indicates the direction of movement of the coin 5.

The set of optical sensors 2, 2 ’, 2” provides a precise and stable measurement of the position of the coin with respect to time. The electromagnetic sensor 3 provides one or more characteristic properties of the coin. This electromagnetic sensor may be that described in EP-246993 or EP-936582.

The first and second optical sensors 2 and 2 are separated by a distance d1 and the second and third optical sensors 2 and 2 are separated by a distance d2. Coin 5 has a chord height of the optical sensors.

The coin is considered to describe a uniformly accelerated movement, which is governed by equation [1]:

Being at the acceleration of coin 5, v0 its velocity at t = 0 and x0 its position for t = 0.

Figure 2 shows the first, second and third optical sensors 2, 2 ’and 2” and the coin in five positions of its trajectory. In position P1 the coin is entering the second optical sensor 2 ’. This position P1 is set as the origin of time and space, which means that in that position the time t is 0 and the space traveled x is 0. Therefore the term x0 of the equation [1] is 0.

In position P2 the coin is leaving the first optical sensor 2. In this position P2 the distance traveled by the coin is c-d1, and the elapsed time is tSA and therefore the equation [1] for this position can be written :

In position P3 the coin is entering the third optical sensor 2 ”. In this position P3 the distance traveled by the coin is d2, and the elapsed time is tEC.

In position P4 the coin is coming out of the second optical sensor 2 ’. In this position P4 the distance traveled by the coin is c, and the elapsed time is tSB.

Solving the set of equations [2], [3] and [4] allows calculating the string c, the acceleration a and the initial velocity v0. Instead of the mentioned positions that have been used for these calculations, other positions could have been used, such as the output of the third optical sensor 2 ”or the input on the first optical sensor 2. The positions corresponding to the most part should always be used stable of the currency's trajectory.

Once the acceleration and speed are known, the position of the currency at each moment can be calculated

or vice versa, the moment in which the currency occupies a specific position. For the first case, equation [5] is used, for the second one the [6] is used, which is obtained by clearing t in equation [5]. Thus, for example, it may be of interest to know the measurement taken by the electromagnetic sensor 3 , when the coin occupies the position P5, which would correspond to the measurement of the edge by said sensor. In that case, equation [6] would be used where x is the distance traveled by the coin from the reference position P1 to the desired position P5.

In Figure 3 this procedure is shown graphically, whereby a zone Z of the coin 5 that is to be identified is related and the measurements made with the electromagnetic sensor 3. It is assumed that the same coin enters twice with different speed and acceleration , which, applying equation [5], generates two graphs E1 and E2 of time position. For these introductions, two possible graphs M1 and M2 of the measurements (electromagnetic) versus time are shown, corresponding to measurements taken by the electromagnetic sensor 3 for coin 5. Graph M1 corresponds to graph E1 and graph M2 corresponds to the graphic E2.

It is observed how with the present invention the measurement made by the electromagnetic sensor is the same for the graph M1 as for the graph M2, since they correspond to the same position and therefore to the same zone Z of the coin; Thus, with the present invention, any area of the coin independent of its size can be measured.

In order to increase the stability, the operation of the optical sensors 10 in the linear zone, consisting of phototransistors 8, is proposed in a preferred embodiment, which is schematically shown in the block diagram of Figure 4. In Figure 4 a controlled current source 6, fed to a voltage Vcc, that feeds a photodiode 7. The level received in the phototransistor 8 is used, by means of a control loop 9, to control the current source 6. Thus, the operating point The receiver is set at the same point on all optical sensors regardless of the characteristics of the transmitter and receiver and the temperature and cleaning conditions with which they work.

Claims (11)

1. Coin selector device (1), characterized in that it comprises:

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a path (4) along which a coin (5) will run between an inlet and one or more outlets,

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a first set of sensors (2, 2 ’, 2”), which for each instant of time provides first data from which a position of said currency with respect to a second set of sensors is calculated,

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said second set of sensors (3), which for each instant of time provides a few seconds data relative to one or more magnitudes characteristic of said currency,

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said first and second sets of sensors being located on said path.

2.

Coin selector device according to any of claims 1-2, characterized in that the first set of sensors is composed of at least two optical sensors.

3.

Coin selector device according to claim 2, characterized in that said optical sensors are located at the same height with respect to said coin path (4) (5).

Four.

Coin selector device according to any of claims 2-3, characterized in that said optical sensors are pairs of photodiodes (7) and phototransistors (8), and for each pair a control loop is established

(9) between the receiver and the emitter that injects a photodiode with a current, so that all the phototransistors are kept at a common point of operation.

5.

Coin selector device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second set of sensors is composed of electromagnetic sensors.

6.

Coin selector device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the second set of sensors is composed of magnetic, capacitive, optical or extensometric sensors.

7. Coin selector method, comprising

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arranging a first set of sensors (2, 2 ’, 2”) in a path (4) of passing a coin (5) in a selector;

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disposing a second set of sensors (3) in said path;

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use the first set of sensors to measure, for each instant of time, first data from which a position of said currency with respect to the second set of sensors is calculated;

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use the second set of sensors to measure, for each instant of time, a few seconds data relative to one or more magnitudes characteristic of said currency,

characterized in that the method comprises

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measure at least one specific property of said second data relating to one or more magnitudes characteristic of said currency, and

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relating said specific property to the relative position between the currency and said second set of sensors.

8.

Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said specific property consists in exceeding a predetermined threshold for said second data, or corresponding to an extreme, maximum or minimum value, for said second data.

9.

Method according to any of claims 7-8, characterized in that the first set of data is measured with at least two optical sensors.

10.

Method according to any of claims 7-9, characterized in that said first set of data is measured with pairs of photodiodes (7) and phototransistors (8), establishing for each pair a control loop (9) between the receiver and the emitter that injects a current into each photodiode, so that all phototransistors work in the linear zone.

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201000162 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 15.09.2009 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: G07D5 / 02 (2006.01) G07D5 / 08 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

X

EP 1391851 A1 (AZKOYEN MEDIOS DE PAGO SA) 02/25/2004, the whole document. 1-10

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 25.04.2012

Examiner D. Cavia del Olmo Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201000162 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) G07D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201000162 Date of Written Opinion: 25.04.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-10 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-10 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201000162 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

EP 1391851 A1 (AZKOYEN MEDIOS DE PAGO SA) 02.25.2004

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement D01 (with publication date 02/25/2004) is considered the state of the art document closest to the object of the claimed application. Following the wording of the independent claims D01 describes the following: Coin selector device characterized by (see claim 1): -A path along which a coin runs between an outlet and an inlet -A first set of sensors that provides data on the position of the currency at each instant with respect to a second set of sensors. -A second set of sensors that for each instant of time provides a few second data relative to one or more magnitudes characteristic of said coin Coin selector method comprising (see claim 7): - Having a first set of sensors in a trajectory of passing a coin in a selector -Dispose of a second set of sensors in said path -Use the first set of sensors to measure, at each instant of time, first data from which a position of said coin is calculated with respect to of the second set of sensors. -Use the second set of sensors to measure, for each instant of time, data relating to one or more magnitudes characteristic of the coin -Relate the data related to the position collected by the first set of sensors and the data related to one or more more features of the coin collected by the second set of sensors. Additionally, in relation to the coin selector device, the following technical characteristics stand out: The first set of sensors is composed of at least two optical sensors (see claim 2) said optical sensors being located at the same height with respect to the path of the coin (see claim 3). The optical sensors are pairs of photodiodes and phototransistors, establishing a control loop between each receiver and emitter for each pair that injects a current into each photodiode so that all phototransistors are kept at a common point of operation (see claim 4). The second set of sensors consists of electromagnetic sensors (see claim 5) or magnetic, capacitive, optical or extensometric sensors (see claim 6). Also, in relation to the coin selector method, the following technical characteristics stand out: Method according to which said specific property consists in exceeding a predetermined threshold for said second data or corresponding to an extreme, maximum or minimum value, for those second data ( see claim 11) Method characterized in that the first set of data is measured with at least two optical sensors (see claim 8) Method according to which the first set of data is measured with pairs of photodiodes and phototransistors establishing a control loop for each pair Between the receiver and the emitter that injects a photodiode into a current so that all the phototransistors work in the linear zone (see claim 9). With regard to independent claims numbers 1 and 7 and taking into account the content of D01, it is concluded that these are not new in the sense of article 6.1 of the Patent Law since the object of the invention set out in R1 and R7 is identically described in D01. As regards the product dependent claims numbers 2-6 and the procedure dependent claims numbers 8-10, these are novel in the same way as the independent claims on which they depend. State of the Art Report Page 4/4