FR2638266A1 - COIN SELECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for selecting coins for automatic devices, incorporating a slot 6 which has a vertical fixed wall 7 and a tilting inclined longitudinal wall 8, converging towards the fixed wall and resting on it by its lower edge. The movable wall is pushed towards this support by its own weight and separates from the fixed wall each time a coin is inserted. Two photodiodes 13 are arranged outside the slot and mounted opposite. They cooperate with an arm integral with the movable wall to detect at any time the position of the latter depending on whether the arm cuts the beam between the two photodiodes or not, any medium interposed between the two walls, and preventing support. of the movable wall on the fixed wall, thus being detected. The photodiodes serve as connection elements of the electronic equipment to the selection device.

Description

COIN SELECTOR FOR AN AUTOMATIC MACHINE.

  The present invention relates to a selection device

  coins for automatic devices, such as playing machines and dispensers, which operate at

using coins.

  Automatic devices, as well as playing devices

  that the distributors are provided with a selector device

  tion of coins which fulfills two functions: detecting the value of the coin inserted to trigger in the machine the corresponding order of operation and detecting whether the coin inserted is false or does not correspond to the value or values for which the device has been designed, i.e. detecting whether the part is acceptable

or not.

  To fulfill the two functions indicated, the coin selection devices have a series of elements by means of which the value of the coin is detected.

  part introduced and every effort is made to prevent the introduction

  fraudulent claims of invalid documents.

  The elements mentioned generally work electrically.

  cited and both these elements and the rest of the device's electronic equipment are constantly connected to the power source, which implies consumption - 2 -

  constant of electric current, despite the fact that the utility

  The reader only uses the device at specified times.

  nes. Since the trajectory of the pieces of

  currency inside the selection device is incli-

  born down, there is no risk of dismissal of these, and the selection devices are not, by

  Therefore, not equipped with means preventing such a return.

  It is however possible to introduce into a selection device

  a valid piece suspended from a resistant and flexible wire.

  With this system, you can, by inserting the part, turn on the device and then remove this

piece by pulling on the wire.

  To avoid this possibility of fraud, we already know, thanks to the Spanish utility model 280 131, an anti-fraud device located immediately behind the entry opening of the selection device, consisting of two flaps articulated along axes parallel to each other and which move in inclined planes and converge downwards. The flaps rest, one against the other, by their lower edges to define a closed position towards

  which they are pushed by springs. When we introduce

  duit a piece, the shutters separate, but return to

  their closed position as soon as said part has exceeded them

  thus preventing its extraction.

  The object of the present invention is the production of a coin selection device provided with a

  anti-fraud device, simple to operate and present

  so much, moreover, means by which the electronic equipment of the apparatus starts to operate only when a coin enters the selection device. To this end, the selection device presents, - 3 -

  at its entry, means which remain permanently connected

  this, so on alert, while the rest of

  the electronic equipment of the device is disconnected.

  When the means mentioned above detect the entry

  of a coin, the power supply is connected automatically

  to the validation set of the selection device

  tion and electrical equipment in general.

  In the selection device of the invention, a slot is provided immediately in front of the inlet mouth. This slot is constituted by a fixed vertical wall and a tilting inclined longitudinal wall which converges towards

  the fixed wall and rests on it by its lower edge

  laughing next to the entrance mouth. The movable wall is constantly pushed by its own weight towards the abovementioned support position. When the part is introduced, the movable wall rocks and its lower edge separates from the fixed flap to allow the introduction of the part. As soon as the room

  has passed the slot, the movable wall returns to its posi-

closing tion.

  The basic characteristic of the slot having the described arrangement is that it has on its outside two photodiodes mounted fixed opposite one another, between which a curved arm fixedly moves with the movable wall of the slot. This arm is provided with an orifice aligned with the photodiodes when the slot is closed, the movable wall resting on the fixed wall, while, when said movable wall pivots and separates from the fixed wall, the orifice of the arm is out of alignment with the photodiodes, their beam being intercepted by said arm. When the movable wall returns to its initial position, the orifice of the movable arm aligns again with the photodiodes, letting pass the beam which acts as a detector of the introduction of a coin, and, then connecting electronic equipment. If, on the contrary, the movable wall does not return completely to its initial support position - 4 -

  on the fixed wall, the photodiodes beam remains inter-

  receipt and connection of electronic equipment is not made. By the arrangement described, one obtains: on the one hand, a considerable saving in electric current, since the electronic equipment only starts to operate at

  the moment a coin is inserted into the dispo-

  selection sitive; on the other hand, greater security against fraud, given that, if a part suspended from a wire is introduced, the electronic equipment does not start, the thickness of the wire preventing the total closure of the slot or movable wall thereof, and that the necessary alignment of the photodiodes is therefore not effected

  with the arm hole, the electronic equipment of the device

  reil therefore not starting.

  The characteristics and operation of the selection device of the invention will be better understood using the

  description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings,

  which illustrate an example of a non-limiting embodiment and in which: FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are a front, side and rear elevation of a selection device produced in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a top view of the selection device of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a detail view showing in

  cross section the slot which constitutes the device

  anti-fraud tif located in front of the entry mouth of the selection device; Figure 6 is a detail view similar to that of Figure 5, the coin receiving slot being in

fully closed position.

  FIGS. I to 4 show a device for

  selection of traditional construction coins-

  the comprising a carcass 1 provided, in its upper face 2, with an inlet mouth for coins, while, in the lower face 3, an outlet mouth is arranged. Between these mouths, not shown in the drawings, extends the trajectory along which the coins will have to move, passing in front of detection elements which detect the value of the coin and

if it is acceptable.

  These selection devices are provided, in one of their main faces, with a flap 4, articulated along the axis 5, thanks to the opening from which it is possible to extract

parts in case of obstruction.

  In the upper face 2 of the selection device, immersed

  diatly above the inlet mouth, there is a coin receiving slot, bearing the general reference

  6 and defined by two longitudinal walls, one vertica-

  the, referenced 7, the other tilting and inclined, referenced 8, which, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, moves into a transversely inclined position converging towards and resting on the lower edge of the fixed wall 7. The movable wall 8 is pushed by its own weight towards the closed position shown in the

figure 6.

  The movable wall 8 can pivot around a horizontal axis 9 on which said flap is mounted by lateral eyelets 10. When a coin 11, FIG. 5 is introduced, the wall 8 pivots around the axis 9 and its lower edge separates from the fixed wall 7, to allow the passage of said part. As soon as the part 11 has passed the slot, the movable wall 8 of the latter returns to its closed position

shown in figure 6.

  - 6 - The slot 6 has on its outside two facing photodiodes 13, which are, for example, mounted on supports 14 integral with the fixed wall 7. Between these two photodiodes passes a curved planar arm 15, integral with the movable wall 8 of the slot. The planar arm 15 has an orifice 16 which is aligned with the photodiodes 13 when

  said movable wall 8 occupies the closed position shown

  felt in Figure 6, while when the wall 8 pivots towards its open position and the arm 15 is

  moves, the orifice 16 is out of alignment with the photo-

  diodes 13 and interrupts the beam between them.

  The set of photodiodes 13 is designed to serve as a device for switching on the electronic equipment of the selector, equipment which is disconnected until a

coin be introduced.

  Each time a coin is inserted into the slot 6, the displacement of the movable wall 8 thereof produces an interruption of the beam between the photodiodes 13 and its restoration when the coin has passed and the movable wall occupies the Figure 6 closed position.

  This change of state causes the team to start-

  electronic selector, which disconnects again

after a predetermined time.

  In the case where a part 11 suspended from a wire 12 is introduced, as shown in FIG. 5, the thickness of the wire 12 prevents, after the part has passed through the slot 6, that the movable flap 8 returns completely in its rest position where it rests on the fixed wall 8. This implies that the orifice 16 of the arm 15 will not be aligned with the photodiodes 13 and that the beam between them will remain interrupted, the electronic equipment n being thus not put

  running and the device does not work.

-7-

  The selector of the invention thus fulfills a double function.

tion:

  a) it serves as an anti-fraud device, preventing the

  operation of the apparatus by means of acceptable parts, but introduced at the end of a wire or the like, with a view to recovering them when the apparatus has been started; and

  b) it serves as a device for connecting electrical equipment

  which is out of service as long as the device

  is not used, which implies considerable savings

energy rables.

  The decommissioning of electronic equipment, after entering a coin, can be obtained using

  a microswitch or a timer, in the event of an obstruction

  tion, so that the system is not in working order-

  for an extended period of time.

  The set of photodiodes 13 can be mounted at opposite points on the passage or the path which goes inside the selector and along which the coins will move. These photodiodes would then be located at the start of said passage. The photodiodes beam would be interrupted by the parts introduced themselves and

  would recover when the room is passed. At each intro

  production of a part, the electronic equipment would be switched on. It goes without saying that the arrangements indicated above and represented in the appended drawings may undergo modifications of detail, provided that the basic principle

is not altered.

-8-

Claims (1)

Claim   Coin selection device for automatic devices, comprising an inlet for coins, from which a passageway for said coins   rooms in which detectors are mounted which detects   whether the inserted coin is acceptable or not, as well as its value when accepted, an enlarged receiving slot being placed in front of the mouth,   characterized in that the slot (6) comprises a wall longi-   fixed vertical tudinal (7) and an inclined longitudinal tilting wall (8) which converges towards the fixed wall and   leans on it by its lower edge located near   the inlet mouth swims, the movable wall (8) being pushed   placed towards this support position by its own weight, the   movable wall separating from the fixed wall when intro   picks up a coin; said slot having on its outside two photodiodes (13) mounted fixed and facing each other, between which a curved arm (15) moves secured to the movable wall of said slot, this arm having an orifice (16) in alignment with the photodiodes when the slot is closed due to the support of the movable wall on   the fixed wall, while, when said movable wall pivots   te and separates from the fixed wall, the opening of the arm   found out of alignment with photodiodes whose   this is intercepted by said arm, said photodiodes acting as connecting elements of the electronic equipment of the selector each time the orifice of the movable arm and the photodiodes are aligned after the interruption of the beam.