ES299733A1 - Device for controlling the payment of coins in an automatic machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for controlling the payment of coins I, II, III, IV through a single slot in, for example, a telephone call box comprises detectors 3, 4, 5, 6 which are disposed in the path followed by the coins in such a way that each can detect the presence of a coin of certain diameter as well as that of any coin of greater diameter, and an electronic circuit for transforming the indication of the detectors into a signal, there being as many detectors as there are different sizes of coins and the signal produced having a characteristic of the number of detectors which are simultaneously affected by a coin and, as a consequence a characteristic of the monetary value of this coin. In Figs. 2 and 3 (not shown), each detector is magnetic and has concentric primary and secondary inductive windings l 1 , l 2 connected to an amplifier 12 in a resonant circuit the leak flux from the detector is formed parallel to the axis of the windings and produces eddy currents in a coin if one is present. When no coin is present, an alternating signal is produced and this is transformed into a continuous signal of -ve polarity at a terminal E. The terminals E of each circuit are connected to respective terminals A, B, C, D of a computing circuit, Fig. 6 (not shown). When a coin of size I is present in front of the detectors, the circuit of detector 3 will cease to oscillate causing a terminal a to become +ve similarly a coin of size II would effect detectors 3 and 4 causing only its associated terminal b to become + ve and the rest of the terminals n, a, c, d -ve. These signals of +ve polarity can be used for crediting the value of all coins inserted. Such detectors may also be used to check the material, weight and thickness of coins to permit the rejection of faulty coins. In another embodiment, the detectors are constituted by photo-electric cells.