GB1397649A - Method and apparatus for coin discrimination utilizing a coin impeller - Google Patents

Abstract

1397649 Testing coins MARS Inc 25 June 1973 [5 July 1972] 30088/73 Addition to 1319126 Heading G4V The apparatus of the parent Specification 1,319,126 has been modified by including means for provisionally classifying the coin's denomination on the basis of its dimension, the coin being accepted if its trajectory after being impelled by the travelling magnetic field corresponds to that of the coin denomination under which it is provisionally classified. In the embodiment shown coins fed to support track 12 obscure one or more photo-electric sensors 31, 32 and 33 according to their diameters and a logic circuit 25 provisionally classifies the coin on this basis. The logic circuit 25 provides signals to a drive level selector 60 of a linear motor impeller 16, the rate of change or strength of the magnetic field being selected so that the trajectory of acceptable coins of all denominations will pass between fixed pins 41, 42 of a bin 5, and also provides signals for the retraction of one or both pins 43, 44 to define an acceptance window on the trajectory according to the provisional classification of the coin. The direction of the travelling magnetic field may initially be reversed to ensure that the coins are brought to rest against a stop 19. In another embodiment (Fig. 1, not shown) each acceptable denomination has a separate bin (7) to (9) the frequency or value of the impeller current being selected according to the provisional classification to project the coin into the appropriate bin with stops being moved to block the entrances of the other bins. U.S.A. Specification 3,701,405 is referred to.