GB2277398A - Coin selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin selection device for a vending machine comprises a coin receiving chute, first coin sensing means at an entrance 9 to the chute and second coin sensing means (37, 41) for detecting the presence of correct coinage within the chute. A control circuit of the coin selection device is arranged to respond to signals from the first and second coin sensing means and to operate a coin rejection means if signals are not received from both the first and second coin sensing means within a predetermined period of time. As described a coin entering the device at (9) causes linkage to operate a microswitch (60) to actuate the control circuitry. The coin then falls to a position between sensing means (37, 41) which are in the form of electrical contacts. If the coin (or possibly a plurality of coins) bridges the contacts an acceptance signal is generated thus causing a flap (18) to pivot in a first direction to allow the coins to pass to an acceptance region. If no acceptance signal is generated within a set time of actuating the control circuitry the flap (18) is pivoted in the opposite direction to reject the coin. The device may include a thickness gauge (14) and means to separate parts of the device to release jammed coins. <IMAGE>

Description

Coin selection device The present invention relates to a coin selection device, particularly although not exclusively for use in a coin operated vending machine.

Conventionally coin selection devices are used to check that the correct amount of money has been entered into a vending machine and then to accept the coinage as a product is vended.

Such devices are also commonly provided with means for rejecting incorrect or insufficient coinage.

In known mechanically operated machines, the correct coinage frees a vending means such as a drawer, the arrangement being such that the coins are accepted by the machine as the drawer is withdrawn for access to the contents. If incorrect coinage is inserted the vending means is not released and the user is required to operate a rejection device for returning the coins to the user.

With increased vandalism of mechanically operated machines, however, there is a requirement for machines to be operated solely in response to insertion of coins, without providing external controls for operation by the user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved coin selection device.

It is a further object of the device to provide a simple electrically actuated coin selection device that is of mechanically simple construction and requires a relatively low power for operation.

According to one aspect of the invention a device for coin selection comprises a coin receiving chute, coin sensing means associated with an entry portion of said chute, coin accepting and coin rejecting means associated with a coin exit portion of said chute, means for detecting the presence of correct coinage within said chute and control means for actuating said coin accepting and coin rejecting means, the arrangement being such that said control means is primed in response to detection of a first inserted coin by said coin sensing means and is then triggered to actuate either said coin accepting means, in response to detection of the correct coinage by said detecting means, or said coin rejecting means, after a predetermined period of time.

Advantageously, the said control means comprises an electronic logic circuit, or microprocessor, in which case the coin sensing means may be a microswitch arranged to provide an input signal to the control means, the means for detecting the presence of correct coinage within the chute may simply comprise a pair of electrical contacts arranged to be bridged by coins, and the coin accepting and coin rejecting means may include solenoids actuated by the control means.

Further objects of the invention are thus to provide a simple, passive electrical contact means for detecting the presence of correct coinage, and to provide a mechanically simple coin accepting and coin rejecting means.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is accordingly provided a coin detecting means comprising a coin receiving chute, said chute incorporating a ramp upon which inserted coins can rest edgewise, and a pair of electrical contacts associated with said ramp, the arrangement being such that said electrical contacts are bridged by a coin or coins inserted in said chute only when the diameter or collective diameter of said coin or coins corresponds to that of a coin or combination of coins of a predetermined denomination.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a coin chute of a coin selection device may be provided with a coin exit gate in the form of a pivoted plate, an edge of which is arranged, in a central position, to close a boundary of said chute and provide an abutment surface for the edges of inserted coins, the arrangement being such that said plate can be pivoted away from the coin chute in each of two opposite directions, for acceptance and rejection of coins respectively.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is side elevation of one embodiment of a coin selection device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of the device with a side plate of the case removed for clarity; Figure 3 is the opposite side elevation of the device of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a front elevation of the device of Figure 1; Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are fragmentary views of the device of Figure 1 in use; and Figure 7 is rear elevation of the device of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings the coin selection device 1 has a case 2 having a pair of spaced apart side plates 3, 4. The side plates 3, 4 are interconnected along a rear vertical edge by a support section 5 which depends from the case 2. The side plates are further separated internally by a set of coin guides 6, 7, 8, 99 which, in use, determine the path A of a coin B (shown in broken line) through the device and define, in the front vertical edge 18 of the device a coin entry slot 9 and a coin rejection slot 10. The coin entry slot 9 has a lower roller 11 at its bottom lip 12. A pivotally mounted coin damper 13 occupies a portion of the coin path A close to the coin slot 9. The guide 7 does not, for part of its length, extend fully between the two side plates, 3, 4 so as to form a coin thickness gauge 14.An adjustably mounted stand off element 15 is fitted to the coin guide 99 mounted on the plate 3. A support element 16 is attached to the side plate 3 and depends from the case 2.

A quadrilateral coin exit gate or flap 18 is journaled in bearings 19, 20 provided in the depending portion of the channel section 5 and the support element 16 respectively. A first leaf return spring 21 fixedly mounted on the plate 3, has a free end 22 in pressing contact with one side of the topmost front portion 23 of the flap 18 so as to restrain the flap 18 from excessive rotation in one sense about its axis and to urge it into a generally upright position. A second return spring 24, mounted with the first spring 21 acts in a similar manner on the other side 25 of the flap 18 to prevent rotation in the opposite sense. A pin 26 is set in the rear lower edge portion 27 of the flap 13. Another pin 28 is also set in the front lower edge portion 29 of the flap 18.A push rod 30 having a top contact surface 31 and a bottom cam surface 32 has a pair of spaced apart equally sized longitudinal apertures 70. The rod 30 is slidingly connected to the section 5 by a pair of loose fitting rivets 71 carrying washers 72, one rivet passing through each aperture 70. The linear bearings so formed allow the rod to slide between abutment of top and bottom surfaces of the apertures with the rivets. The longitudinal length of the apertures and the diameter of the rivets therefore defines the stroke of the rod 30. A spring 33 connects the top edge of the plate 3 to an anchorage 34 on the rod 30 so as to bias the rod 30 to the top of its stroke. A reject solenoid 35 is mounted on the plate 3 at its front edge 17. The solenoid 35 is connected via a flexible link 36 to the pin 29.A first electrical contact 37 is attached to the flap 18 at its top most rear portion 38. An ear 39 of the contact 37 extends above the top edge 40 of the flap 18 into the coin path A immediately below the stand off element 15. A second electrical contact and coin stop 41 is adjustably slidingly mounted in an elongate aperture 42 in the plate 3 which extends parallel to top edge 40 of the flap 18 and is secured in a predetermined position by means of a clamping screw not shown.

Turning to Figure 3, a coin entry lever arm 44 is mounted on the external face 45 of the plate 3. The arm 44 is pivotally mounted near one free end 46 whilst the other free end 47 carries a threaded shaft 48. The shaft 48 extends perpendicularly from the arm 44 and passes through an arcuate elongate aperture 49 adjacent the coin entry slot 9, in each of the plates 3, 4, in turn. The distal end 50 of the shaft 48 carries a washer 51 which is urged into sliding contact with the external face 52 of the side plate 4 by a nut 53. An upper roller 54 is carried by the shaft 48 intermediate of the side plates 3, 4. A spring 55 connects the mid point of the lever arm 44 to a stud 56 on the plate 3 and thereby urges the shaft 48 into abutment with the lower end 57 of each aperture 48.

Upstanding from the arm 44 near its mid point there is provided a cam 58 which extends through an aperture 59 in the plate 3. A microswitch 60 mounted on the plate 3 is closed by the action of the cam 58 when the arm 44 is urged out of abutment with the lower end 57 of the apertures 49. The microswitch 60 is connected to a printed circuit board 61 carrying the control circuitry (not shown) of the device and which is mounted on the plate 3. The circuit board 61 has connections to an external solenoid (not shown) which acts on the top surface 31 of the push rod 30, and to the reject solenoid 35. The circuit board 61 is also provided with infra red receiver 62 and transmitter 63 elements. These elements 62, 63 are positioned on the circuit board 61 so as to be visible from without the device through the coin entry slot 9.Power is supplied directly to the circuit board 61 from a battery (not shown) or in the case of failure of the battery, via electrical connections 64, 65 to a stud 66 on the lever arm 44 and the shaft 67 of the roller 11 respectively. Probes coupled to an external battery can then be applied to the upper and lower rollers 54, 11 via a coin entry slot of a vending machine incorporating the coin selection device.

In use a first coin B is introduced in to the coin slot 9 between the upper and lower rollers 11, 54 and in so doing temporarily displaces the roller 54 to move the lever arm 44 upwardly extending the spring 55. This causes the cam 58 to briefly close the microswitch 60 contacts. The actuation of the switch 60 activates the control circuitry for a certain period from a quiescent state and increments a coin counter by one.

The coin rolls along the sloped first coin guide 6 and then drops vertically onto the next guide 7. The kinetic energy of the falling coin is reduced by it striking against the coin damper 13. This results in the coin being slowed as it passes into the gauge section 14. A coin having a thickness less than that of the gauge 14 will fall between the guide 7 and the side plate 4 and pass out of the coin reject slot 10. A coin of the correct width will pass along the guide 7 and drop at its end vertically to abut the contact 41 and the top edge 40 of the flap 18. The contact 41 may be adjusted along the aperture 42 so that one or more coins of the correct total amount will bridge the contacts 37, 41 and thus close a circuit to the circuit board 61.

Figures 5a, b, c illustrate the operation of the device with different coin combinations. Hence Figure 5a shows a single incorrect coin of too small a diameter resting on the top edge 40 of the flap 18 and failing to bridge the contacts; Figure 5b shows a single coin of correct diameter resting on the contacts and forming a bridge. It will be appreciated that the contacts 37,41 have a wedging action on the inserted coin that not only gauges the diameter of the coin very accurately but also gives the contacts a self cleaning action. When more than one coin is required to bridge the contacts, the effect will be the same, but the penultimate coin takes the place of the contact 41.When the contacts are to be bridged by a single coin, a coin insertion slot will be dimensioned to prevent insertion of coins of greater diameter than that shown in Fig.5b. However, when the dimension between the contacts is such that two or more coins can be admitted between the contacts it is necessary to prevent the contacts being bridged by a combination of coins the collective diameter of which is too great. This condition is shown in Fig.5c, where the last inserted coin is held away from the contact 39 by the stand off element 15. The adjustable mounting of contact 41 and element 15 allows the operational limits of the machine to be set very accurately.

When the contacts are correctly bridged within a predetermined period of time after the first actuation of the microswitch 60, a vend signal is made by the control circuit to the vending apparatus of a vending machine (not shown) causing the external solenoid (not shown) to be activated. The solenoid displaces a vend ejector (not shown) and simultaneously depresses the push rod 30. A successful vend will occur when the vend ejector is fully displaced by the solenoid. Full displacement of the rod 30 by the solenoid is required in order for cam surface 32 to impinge on the pin 26 and so cause the flap 18 to rotate (in the direction indicated by the arrow marked V on Figure 4) to an open position. This allows the coins to fall and simultaneously to be directed by the flap 18 into a coin collection bin (not shown).

If, within the predetermined period, the contacts, do not become bridged by an inserted coin or coins, the control circuit will briefly activate the reject solenoid 36. The solenoid 36 will then retract causing the flap 18 to rotate in the opposite sense to that mentioned above to an open position. Any coins resting on the top edge 40 of the flap 18 are thus free to fall and be directed by the flap 18 into a coin reject chute (not shown).

In either case as soon as the flap has been opened the power supply to the respective solenoid is removed and the flap 18 returns under the influence of the springs 21, 24 to the closed coin support position. The control circuit returns to its quiescent state.

It will be appreciated that the above described arrangement provides a simple electrically actuated coin selecting device having a minimum of moving parts. Detection of the insertion of the correct denomination of coinage is effected passively by electrical contacts that can only be bridged by a coin or combination of coins having a diameter or cumulative diameter that is within closely defined upper and lower limits, and the actuation of the coin acceptance or coin rejection mechanism is dependent only upon selective actuation of one of two solenoids.

This in turn is dependent upon the control circuit detecting correct actuation of the microswitch 60 and the bridging of the coin sensing contacts within a predetermined period of time.

Since the control circuit can be implemented economically by a programmed microprocessor, it is further possible for the device to incorporate additional logical controls to prevent improper actuation of the coin release mechanism.

Thus, the coin release mechanism may be programmed to actuate the coin reject solenoid when, within the predetermined period of time referred to, the microswitch 60 detects insertion of more than the correct number of coins required to bridge the contacts 37,41. Thus, attempts to bridge the contacts by inserting small coins having a collective diameter within the required limits can be defeated. The reject solenoid may also be caused to operate if the external vending solenoid is not effective, after a predetermined number of attempts to discharge an item from the vending machine, in which case the rod 20 does not complete its full stroke of movement to acept coins.

Other means may be provided for releasing jammed coins, for example, one side of the thickness gauge formed by guide 7 may be arranged to be pivoted outwardly to release any jammed coins, via a linkage to the lever arm 44, when the next coin is inserted.

The control circuitry may also form a means of communication with a service engineer by means of an infra red remote control/communication device capable of being inserted in the coin entry slot. In this case, the infra red receiver and transmitter elements 62 and 63 may be arranged to respond to a coded communication and, for example, to release an internal lock allowing access to the vending machine and/or to provide information relating to a sales record held within a memory of the control device and detailing, for example, a number of items sold since the last servicing of the machine.

Claims (6)

Claims:

1. A device for coin selection comprising a coin receiving chute, coin sensing means associated with an entry portion of said chute, coin accepting and coin rejecting means associated with a coin exit portion of said chute, means for detecting the presence of correct coinage within said chute and control means for actuating said coin accepting and coin rejecting means, the arrangement being such that said control means is primed in response to detection of a first inserted coin by said coin sensing means and is then triggered to actuate either said coin accepting means, in response to detection of the correct coinage by said detecting means, or said coin rejecting means, after a predetermined period of time.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises an electronic logic circuit, or microprocessor.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the coin sensing means is a microswitch arranged to provide an input signal to the control means, the means for detecting the presence of correct coinage within the chute comprises a pair of electrical contacts arranged to be bridged by coins, and the coin accepting and coin rejecting means comprise solenoids actuatable by the control means.

4. A coin detecting means comprising a coin receiving chute, said chute incorporating a ramp upon which inserted coins can rest edgewise, and a pair of electrical contacts associated with said ramp, the arrangement being such that said electrical contacts are bridged by a coin or coins inserted in said chute only when the diameter or collective diameter of said coin or coins corresponds to that of a coin or combination of coins of a predetermined denomination.

5. A coin selection device including a coin chute provided with a coin exit gate in the form of a pivoted plate, an edge of which is arranged, in a central position, to close a boundary of said chute and provide an abutment surface for the edges of inserted coins, the arrangement being such that said plate can be pivoted away from the coin chute in each of two opposite directions, for acceptance and rejection of coins respectively.

6. A coin selection device substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.