GB2197975A - Token verification system - Google Patents

Abstract

A token verification system comprises a first entrance passageway (4) for coins and a second entrance passageway (5) for tokens, which both lead to an electronic multi-coin tester (7) which can discriminate between different coin denominations and tokens but may not provide a clear discrimination between different types of token. A front plate (1) is provided with an entrance slot (2) for the first passageway (4) large enough to allow all coins of the UK coin set to be inserted, and also a grooved slot (3) for the second passageway (5) so that only predetermined true tokens can be inserted. To prevent false tokens being inserted through the first passageway (4), an inductive sensor (12) is provided to provide a signal indicative of when no true token is inserted. Thus, if a false token is inserted through passageway (4) it can be rejected even though it may be detected as a token by the tester (7). <IMAGE>

Description

TOKEN VERIFICATION SYSTEM DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a token verification system for use in a coin acceptor.

Coin acceptors used in gaming and other amusement machines are sometimes adapted to accept tokens provided by a proprietor of å~pre-m-ises using the machines. A secure type of token which is widely used in the UK consists of a circular metal disc which has a number of parallel grooves cut into its face in such a manner that it will only pass through a slot with corresponding grooves. The slot is typically punched into a plate which forms an entrance for a coin tester.

Conventionally, the tokens are a diameter less than a 50 pence coin and of a thickness less than a UK one pound coin.

Multi-coin electronic testers for example our model Sentinel are available which can discriminate between all coins in the UK coin set. In order that all coins of the UK coin set can pass to the multi-coin tester, it is essential that the entrance slot is of larger dimensions than a conventional token and consequently cannot be provided with a customised plate.

It might be thought that an answer to this problem would be to provide two entrance slots to the coin tester, one for conventional coins and the other having a customised plate for a grooved token. However, electronic testers cannot satisfactorily discriminate one type of custom grooved oken~-from another and moreover cannot discriminate between a customised token and a plain, lower value token of similar diameter and thickeness. Consequently, it would be possible for a plain, lower value token of similar alloy and dimensions to the customised token, to be inserted through the coin entrance slot thereby bypassing the grooved plate and the electronic tester would accept this as a true higher value token, i.e. as if it were inserted through the grooved plate.

With a view to overcoming this problem, the present invention provides a token verification system comprising a first entrance passageway for receiving coins tbut which may also receive fraudulent tokens) a second entrance passageway configured to receive only predetermined tokens, discrimination means responsive to coins and tokens from both of said passageways, a sensor for sensing the passage of both coins and tokens in only one of said entrance passageways, and acceptance means responsive to said discrimination means and said sensor to accept a token only if it is entered via said second entrance passageway.

Conveniently, the sensor is arrange to detect the presence of coins and tokens in the first passageway although it may be desirable additionally or alternatively to provide a sensor for the second passageway.

Preferably, the system includes a second sensor for sensing items after passage past the first sensor, and said acceptance means is configured to accept a token only if the item previously entered in the first passageway passes the second sensor within a predetermined time from its passage past the first sensor.

Thus, by means of the invention, the first passageway may have an entrance slot wide enough to accept all coins and the second entrance slot may be provided with a grooved plate to accept only a predetermined token type. The system according to the invention will not be defrauded by the insertion of lower value token of similar diameter into the coin entrance slot.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic general view of a token verification system in a coin acceptor; Figure 2 illustrates the front plate of the coin acceptor; and Figure 3 is an elevational view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1.

The token verification system shown in the drawings consists of a front plate 1 having a first entrance slot 2 for coins and a second entrance slot 3 for tokens. The slot 2 is of sufficient size to accept all coins of the conventional UK coin set including 50 pence and one pound coins. The entrance slot 3 has a smaller dimension than the slot 2 and is provided with a grooved side edge 3a which is adapted to engage the grooves cut into the face of a predetermined token type, in a manner known per se in the art.

The slots 2, 3 lead to respective first and second entrance passageways 4, 5. As can be seen in Figure 3, the entrance passageways 4, 5 merge into a common coin run down path 6 which extends into an electronic coin acceptor 7 e.g. our model Sentinel the circuits of which are described in more detail in co-pending UK Patent Application No. 8531781. Broadly, the electronic coin acceptor includes microprocessor driven circuits 8 that can discriminate between different coin denominations, tokens and fraudulent coins. The circuits 8 respond to the result of inductive tests performed on the coins in the run down path 6 by means of induction coils (not shown). The circuits 8 drive a solenoid operated accept gate 9 which is opened to allow.acceptable coins and tokens to pass down an accept path 10; non-accepted coins, tokens and the like pass along a reject path 11.Selection between different detected coin denominations and tokens may be performed by means not shown in Figure 3 as a result of the outputs provided by circuits 8.

It will be appreciated that with the physical arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3, it would be possible to insert a low value token (ungrooved) into the coin entrance slot 2. The circuitry 8 may be incapable of discriminating between such a low value token and a higher value token of the grooved type inserted through the token entrance slot 3. To overcome this problem, the system includes a sensor 12 which detects the passage of coins, tokens and the like passing along the coin entrance passageway 4. Thus the output of the sensor 12 indicates the presence of an item which is not a token, i.e. no token detected (NTD).The output of the sensor 12 is fed to the circuits 8 so as to override any output which indicates the presence of a token for example, if a false token or a lower value token is inserted through the coin entrance slot 2, the circuits 8 might be unable per se to discriminate between the token and a true higher value token that should be inserted through slot 3.

However the output of the sensor 12 indicates that the false token should not be accepted as a true token and the output of sensor 12 is caused to override the output of circuits 8 and to direct the false token to the reject path 11.

The sensor 12 is preferably an inductive sensor but could be optical, Hall effectreen a microswitch.

If necessary, for further security, another sensor similar to the sensor 12 could be fitted to the passageway 5. The output of this further sensor could be used to enable acceptance of a token by the circuits 8, thus permitting the gate 9 to be opened only in response to a true token being inserted into the entrance slot 3. This further sensor could be used in addition or alternatively to the sensor 12.

The electronic sensor 7 operates cyclically. It runs through a predetermined testing routine for each detected coin token or the like, after which it initialises itself in preparation for the next coin.

In order to overcome another type of fraud associated with this cyclic operation, the arrangement includes a second sensor 13 conveniently an inductive sensor, coupled to the microprocessor circuit 8. The circuits 8 are programmed to accept a token only if the token passes from the sensor 12 to the sensor 13 within a predetermined short time, e.g. less than one second.

It has been appreciated that it would be otherwise possible to confuse the circuitry by lowering a fraudulent token e.g. on a piece of string past the sensor 12 and holding it there until the circuitry 8 has completed its predetermined sensing routine. The fraudulent token could then be released and the circuits 8 would accept it as a true high value token as if it has been inserted through entrance slot 3.

However, the provision of the second sensor 13 overcomes this problem by ensuring that the inserted token passes through the acceptor at the expected rate, without delay, so that if the token is held up temporarily as previously described, it will be rejected. Preferably, in this situation the token accept is inhibited for some minutes by extra circuitry or circuitry which already exists.in some gaming machines.

Although in the accompanying Figures, the sensor 13 is shown as a separate item, it may in fact be integrated into the sensor arrangement used for the coin acceptor 7.

Also, it may be desirable to include in the token path, means for determining token parameters such as material, thickness or diameter.-- -This may include an optical, inductive or capacitative sensor (not shown) responsive to token diameter, which may be connected to the circuits 8 to reject tokens lying outside of a particular parameter range, e.g. tokens of less than a peredetermined diameter.

Claims (10)

1. A token verification system comprising a first entrance passageway for receiving coins but which may also receive fraudulent tokens, a second entrance passageway configured to receive only predetermined tokens, discrimination means responsive to coins and tokens from both of said passageways, a sensor for sensing the passage of items in only one of said entrance passageways, and acceptance means responsive to said discrimination means and said sensor to accept a token only if it is entered via said second entrance passageway.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is arranged to detect the passage of said items in the first entrance passageway only, said items comprising both coins and tokens.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is arranged to detect the passage of said items in the second passageway only.

4. - A system according to any preceding claim including a second sensor for sensing items after passage past the first sensor, said acceptance means being configured to accept a token only if the iterm previously entered passes the second sensor within a predetermined time from its passage past the first sensor.

5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the second entrance passageway is provided with a grooved plate to permit entry of~predetermined tokens only.

6. A system according to any preceding claim wherein said sensor(s) comprise inductive devices.

7. A system according to any preceding claim including means for discriminating between tokens of different diameters.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said diameter discrimination means includes a diameter sensor responsive to tokens in said second entrance passageway.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said diameter sensor includes an inductive or optical or capacitative sensor.

10. A token verification system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.