GB1246622A - Coin or token testing system - Google Patents

Abstract

1,246,622. Coin testing. MARS Inc. 17 July, 1968 [17 July, 1967; 19 Feb., 1968; 15 June, 1968], Nos. 32672/67, 7967/68 and 28608/68. Heading G4V. A coin or token to be tested passes down a runway 19 to actuate a photo-electric transistor 27 applying a signal to a circuit determining whether the time taken by the coin to pass the photo-electric transistor lies within predetermined limits. A coin inserted in shoot 14<SP>1</SP> falls past a magnet 20 (which retains ferromagnetic coins until manually released to fall to the bottom of the device) on to the runway 19 where it is held by a catch 23 and actuates a photo-electric transistor 26 releasing the catch after a predetermined delay. A magnet 28 induces eddy currents in non-ferrous coins as they roll down the runway to brake them. Outputs from photo-electric transistors 26, 27 trigger monostable circuits 37, 38 and 39, 40, respectively, providing outputs the duration of which correspond to the upper and lower time limits for genuine coins to travel between the photo-electric transistors 26, 27 and pass photoelectric transistor 27 alone. The outputs from the monostable circuits and the photo-electric transistor 27 are applied to coincidence gates 41-44 energizing memory circuits 45-48 if the times taken lie within the aforementioned limits. Three identical circuits are provided for penny, threepenny and sixpenny pieces, the outputs from the circuits energizing corresponding counters 50-53 and acceptance solenoid 29 withdrawing guide track 30 to deposit a genuine coin in a coin box. In an alternative embodiment, Fig. 4 (not shown), an inserted coin is deflected against wall (63) by pin (62) whereby the coin starts down an inclined track (61) from rest. A magnet (64) slows coins of acceptable resistivity so that they fall into a vertical shoot (65) past a photo-electric transistor (67) and on to a vertically displaceable anvil (68) connected to a transducer (69). The displacement of the anvil and the time taken by the coin to pass the photo-electric transistor are compared with standards characteristic of genuine coins by means of circuits identical to those of Fig. 3 except in that the signal from the transducer (69) alone is passed to a bi-stable circuit (76) which provides a signal corresponding to the duration of displacement of anvil (68). Clearing apparatus.-The apparatus may be cleared of a ferromagnetic coin &c., retained by magnet 20 by hinging front member 14 away from back member 12 about pin (16), Fig. 2 (not shown), magnet 20 being moved away from back member 12 by lug 22 on front member 14 engaging with the end of pivoted magnet mounting lever 21.