GB2182477A

GB2182477A - Method and device for establishing the reference values in coin testing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2182477A
Application number: GB8611058A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jorn Knabbe
Original assignee: National Rejectors Inc GmbH
Current assignee: Crane Payment Innovations GmbH
Priority date: 1985-10-31
Filing date: 1986-05-07
Publication date: 1987-05-13
Also published as: GB8611058D0; GB2182477B

Abstract

A method for establishing the reference values in coin testing apparatuses, in which the analogous detector signals coming from coin detectors 12,13,14 and representing properties of the tested coins 11 are digitalized and compared with digital minimum and maximum reference values stored in a memory 20 of an evaluation device, and the signals of comparison are processed into signals of acceptance and signals of rejection for the coins, with the minimum and maximum reference values being produced by producing with the aid of at least one genuine coin detector signals and-if desired or required, under addition and subtraction of additional values-storing them in the memory, with the analogous detector signals being generated in an independent measuring unit and converted into reference values adapted to be stored in the memory by means of an electronic data processing system, and with the reference values being transmitted from the electronic data processing system to the memory in the coin testing apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and device for establishing the reference values in coin testing apparatus The invention relates to a process for establishing the reference values in coin testing apparatus, wherein the anologous detector signals coming from the coin detectors and which represent properties of the tested coins, are digitalized and compared to maximum and minimum digital reference values which are stored in the memory of an evaluation device, and the signals of comparison are processed into acceptance and rejection signals for the coins, with the minimum and maximum reference values being generated in that detector signal are generated with the aid of at least one genuine coin and are stored in the memory-optionally, with the addition and subtraction of additional values.

The genuineness of coins in the coin testing apparatus is established with the aid of one or several sensors or detectors. The detectors may examine the coins for their thickness, size, composition of material, magnetic behaviour, etc. The respectively measured signals are compared with a reference value so that an acceptance or rejection signal may be generated. It is known to digitalize detector signals for the purpose of a better processing and to compare the digital measuring signals with reference values which are stored in a memory. The evaluation and control circuit mostly comprises a microprocessor. Since coins due to wear in different degrees and manufacturing tolerances are not fully identical as regards the properties thereof, the reference for such a property mostly consists of an upper and a lower reference value.Only when the detector signals are situated within such a reference value "window" will an acceptance signal be generated. Otherwise, the coin is rejected. It is known with such a coin testing apparatus to establish the reference values with the aid of standard coins. The standard coins are caused to pass through a hundred times, for example. The memory in this operation stores the maximum upward and downward deviation, thereby defining the range of reference values (EP 0101276). It is also possible, alternatively, to add safety values to the reference values and subtract therefrom, in order to enlarge the reference window.

With the process as described above the acceptance of false coins is very effectively prevented. However, due to the genuine coins being rather different from each other as regards the properties thereof the danger exists that relatively large numbers of genuine coins are rejected by such a coin testing apparatus.

The reason for this lies in that the coins in current use were coined in different years and different places and, as already mentioned above, have been subjected to wear in different degrees. It has therefore also become known to establish the reference values of a predeterminable range of tolerances by feeding into the coin testing apparatus, actually ad libitum, a plurality of coins of a respectively given sort of coins having perhaps different years of coining, different places of coining and/or different phenomena of wear (German disclosure letter 31 03 371). The program memory provided in the coin testing apparatus, and switched to "read-in", retains the limits of maximum reference value which, after switching to "read-out" now predetermine the range of references.

What the two processes described above both have in common is that the establishing of the limit- values of a range of tolerances to be predetermined for coins to be accepted must be performed separateiy for each coin testing apparatus and, above all, in case of changes in the properties of the coins must be newly detected and adjusted.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a process for establishing the limit values of a prederminabie range of tolerances of coins to be accepted, with the aid of which any desired change in the limits of tolerances may be carried out in a simple manner, in particular in coin testing apparatuses which are already installed in automatic delivery apparatuses.

The above object is attained in accordance with the invention in that the analogous detector signals are generated in an independent measuring unit and, with the aid of a data processing system (electronic data processing system) are converted into reference values adapted to be stored in a memory, and the reference values are transmitted from the electronic data processing system to the memory in the coin testing apparatus.

What is essential to the invention is that the reference values such as are predetermined by the coin testing apparatus in normal operation, are detected independently of the coin testing apparatus. For this purpose, a measuring device is necessary which generates like detector signals corresponding to the detectors in the coin testing apparatus, in order to detect the limit values for the range of references with the aid of standard coins or a selection of different genuine coins of one and the same type. It goes without saying that such a measuring device as regards the detection of the detector signals may be constituted by a standard coin testing apparatus. The limit values obtained in this manner are stored in the electronic data processing system and may then be transmitted to the coin testing apparatus ad libitum.Such a transmission may take place, for example, already in the course of the manufacturing process of coin testing apparatuses. The coin testing apparatuses are connected to the electronic data processing system in series or also in parallel and get the limit values stored into their own memories. A transmission may, however, also be effected on site, in case the danger exists that stored values may get lost between the manufacture of the coin testing apparatus and the comissioning thereof. Such is the case, for instance, when a so-called RAM memory is used as the memory, which must connected to a source of energy so that the stored values may be maintained.

A third possibility of transmission of the reference values to the coin testing apparatus, according to the invention, consists in that the reference values are transmitted to the coin testing apparatus via a means of remote transmission of data. This may take place in accordance with another embodiment of the invention also via telephone. The latter possibility perhaps offers itself in connection with telephone automats the- reference values of which are to be adjusted and changed, respectively. The individual automats are addressed from a central location with a suitable signal of the electronic data processing system switching the memory to "read-in". Following this, the transmission of the reference values then takes place from the electronic data processing system into the memory, whereby the coin testing apparatus is now "programmed" to altered ranges of reference.

It goes without saying that other coin-operated automats may also be programmed in the same manner from a central location.

Apart from the simplification in the production and the re-adjustment, respectively, of the coin testing apparatuses the advantage of the invention resides in that the electronic circuit for the coin testing apparatus may be produced with the lowest possible expenditure. All the components for programming the coin testing apparatus to the desired limit values for any desired defined ranges as have been necessary up to now, may be dispensed with.

For carrying out the process according to the invention, a feeding and issuing unit is provided which is connected to a microprocessor or any other computer and the memory in the coin testing apparatus, and which has external junctions for connection to an electronic data processing system.

It goes without saying that the connections need not be formed necessarily by galvanic contacts. Rather, a contact-less transmission may be effected. What is essential to the invention, on the contrary, is the feeding and issuing unit and the transmission module with the aid of which the detected limit values are read into the internal memory of the coin testing apparatus. With the aid of the invention, however, it is also possible, likewise with the aid of the electronic data processing system, to carry out from time to time a general inspection of the coin testing apparatus as to whether any change has occurred in the stored data. This inspection, too, as described above, may be conducted from a central location via a means of remote data transmission.

Besides, data may be interrogated from the coin testing apparatuses with the aid of the feeding and issuing unit, such as turnovers, etc. for example.

If a feeding and issuing unit may be contacted by dialling via telephone or is obtainable via a radio transmission, it may be a component of an automat containing a coin testing apparatus with electronic processing of the detector signals. Junctions leading outside for the purpose of connection to a an electronic data processing system are not necessary then but may, however, be additionally provided, in order to be able to conduct a programming or an interrogation for certain data on site.

The invention will be described in short in the following in more detail by way of drawings.

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a circuit diagram for carrying out the process according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically three detectors for measuring properties of coins to be tested.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a coin canal 10 inclined towards the vertical with a coin 11 rolling therethrough. Two inductive detectors 12, 13 serve to test the coin 11 for its material which has a different magnetic bahaviour depending on the composition and is effective to cause a corresponding dampening.

A further inductive detector 14 is responsive to a different diameter of the coin 11. The output signals of the detectors 12 to 14 arrive on an analog-to-digital converter 18 via amplifiers 15, 16 17, said converters being in connection with a microprocessor 19. Associated with the microprocessor 19 is a memory 20, such as a RAM memory, for example. A control block 21 controls the analog-to-digital converter as indicated by the microprocessor 19. Furthermore, acceptance and rejection signals generated by the microprocessor 19 arrive on an acceptance switch via the control block 21, said switch guiding the coin 11 selectively into a return chute 23 or into an acceptance chute 24.

In the memory 20 there is an upper and a lower limit range stored for each type of coin, to which limit range the detector signals coming from the analog-to-digital converter are compared. If said signals are within the range of reference, the microprocessor 19 will generate a signal of acceptance which leads to the acceptance of the coin 11. In the other case, a rejection signal is generated.

Furthermore, a feeding-issuing unit 25 is provided which disposes of connections 26 to which a data processing system 27 may be connected. In the case of an automat, the connections 26 may be passed to the outside for the purpose of connection to an electronic data processing system 27. Alternatively, however, a contactless coupling to unit 25 may be effected.

In the case of the invention, the range of reference is detected outside the coin testing apparatus. True, the detectors 12 to 14 may theoretically be made use of for the detection of the detector signals when genuine coins are passing through. The establishing of the range of reference by detection of the maximum and minimum reference values, however, takes place externally through the data processing system 27. With the aid of the data processing system 27 the signals coming from the detectors or from another measuring device are conditioned so that they may be stored.

This is performed, for instance, through direct connection of the data processing system 27 to the feeding and issuing unit 25. Coupling of the data processing system to the feeding and issuing unit 25 may, however, also be through remote transmission, for example, through a radio connection or by telephone. Through the feeding and issuing unit it is also possible with the aid of the data processing system to perform an inspection of the coin testing apparatus for function of the individual components and for correctness of the programmed limit values. Furthermore, data may be taken from the coin testing apparatus giving information, for example, of the turnover achieved per unit time.

Claims

1. A process for establishing the reference values in coin testing apparatuses, in which the analogous detector signals coming from coin detectors and representing properties of the tested coins are digitalized and compared with digital minimum and maximum reference values stored in a memory of an evaluation device, and the signals of comparison are processed into acceptance or rejection signals for the corn, with the minimum and maximum reference values being produced by generating detector signals with the aid of at least one genuine coin and-if desired or required, under addition and subtraction of additional values-storing them in the memory, characterized in that the analogous detector signals are generated in an independent measuring device and are converted by means of an electronic data processing system into reference values adapted to be stored in the memory, and the reference values are transmitted from the electronic data processing system to the memory in the coin testing apparatus.

2. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the reference values are transmitted to the coin testing apparatus via a means of remote data transmission.

3. A process according to claim 2, characterized in that the reference values are transmitted to the coin testing apparatus via telephone.

4. A coin operated automat for carrying out the process according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, comprising a coin testing apparatus having at least one coin detector for the generation of analogous signals characterizing the respective coin, a microprocessor into which the detector signals digitalized in an analog-to-digital converter are fed and compared with reference values which are stored in a memory for the generation of acceptance and rejection signals as indicated by the signals of comparison, characterized in that a feeding and issuing unit (25) is provided which is connected to the microprocessor (19) and the memory (20) and which comprises external junctions (26) for connection to an electronic data processing system (27).