GB2324188A - Coin-insertion mechanism with shutter - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin-insertion mechanism comprising a slot (2) through which a coin may be inserted. A shutter 3 is movable between an open and closed position to open or close the slot (2). A coin detection circuit 10 has a single coil 9 which on detection of a coin, signals solenoid 6, attached to the shutter 3, to move the shutter 3 to its open position. The mechanism can be used on coin operated devices such as an amusement ride, where, when the ride is operative, the shutter closes the slot so that no further coinage can be inserted.

Description

COIN-INSERTION MECHANISM Field of the Invention This invention relates to a mechanism which permits the insertion of a coin but prevents the insertion of other objects.

Background to the Invention Coin-insertion mechanisms are used on many devices such as vending machines, meters, telephones, car park ticketing machines, fun rides etc.

The curiosity of children, amongst others, often leads them to place foreign objects in the open slots of coin operated machines. When a foreign object has been placed in the slot it must be removed. This may require an engineer to be called out. It is also important to keep other foreign matter, such as dust and dirt, out of the slots of coin operated machines. In order to overcome this problem it has been suggested to provide a shutter to close off the slot. Shutters which are opened by the action of the coin being inserted into the slot are known.

It is also known to provide a shutter which will only open when a coin is brought close to it. One type of known device which opens the shutter when a coin is brought close to it relies on four coils to detect the presence of a coin. The four coils are connected to a rheostat which is adjusted so as to tune the coils so as to enable a detectable signal to be produced. A rheostat is required to tune the device because there is a tendency for the resistors and other components used in conjunction with the coils to drift.

Drift within components may cause the shutter opening mechanism not work and hence re-tuning is then required.

In some coin-operated rides and amusement machines it is important to prevent coins being inserted into the coin receiving slot whilst the ride is in operation. It would therefore be desirable to provided a means to disable a shutter mechanism in a position which closes the slot whilst the ride is in operation.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a coin-insertion mechanism comprising a slot through which a coin may be inserted, a shutter movable between an open and closed position to open or close the slot, a coin detection circuit comprising a single coil to detect the presence of a coin, and an actuator attached to the shutter to move the shutter between its open and closed positions upon detection of a coin by the coil.

Preferably a guide is provided to guide a coin passing through the slot, and more preferably the guide is arranged to guide the coin to a coin collection means.

The actuator may be a relay or a solenoid, and may be mounted on a mounting plate.

The coil is suitably an induction coil.

Preferably, the actuator is operably connected to the coin detection circuit.

In one embodiment of the invention the coin detection circuit comprises a printed circuit board.

It is desirable for the coin collection means to be able to detect when an appropriate amount of coinage has been inserted to activate the machine of which the coin-insertion mechanism forms a part.

In one embodiment of the invention, the coin collection means is provided with a coin counting means adapted to provide a signal indicating that an appropriate coinage has been inserted through the slot, the said signal activating a part of the machine, for example the motor, of which the coin-insertion mechanism forms a part.

Advantageously, the components of the coin detection circuit, and in particular the resistors and capacitors thereof, have high tolerances, and therefore no re-tuning of the said once set up is required to compensate for drift. A variable resistor or potentiometer may be provided in the said circuit to allow initial tuning of the circuit. Preferably, the variable resistor or potentiometer is provided with a tamper detection means, such as a tamper evident seal which may be placed around the adjusting member of the variable resistor or potentiometer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the coin detection circuit comprises an oscillator circuit, and preferably the resistors of the oscillator circuit have a high tolerance. More preferably, the resistors of the oscillator circuit have a tolerance of approximately 1%.

The coin-insertion mechanism of the invention may be used in conjunction with any coin-operated machine, for example vending machines, parking meters, pay-telephones, electricity, gas, and water meters, gaming machines, amusement machines, etc.

One embodiment of the invention in particular provides an amusement ride having a coin-insertion mechanism comprising a slot through which a coin may be inserted, a shutter movable between an open and closed position to open or close the slot, a coin detection circuit comprising a coil to detect the presence of a coin, and an actuator attached to the shutter to move the shutter between its open and closed positions upon detection of a coin by the coil, and means to lock the shutter in the closed position when the ride is operative.

Preferably, the means to lock the shutter in the closed position when the ride is operative comprises a sensor which detects whether the ride is operative or inoperative, and control means responsive to the sensor which prevents the shutter from opening when the ride is operative, and permits opening of the shutter when the ride is inoperative.

Preferably, the coin detection circuit is disabled with the shutter in its closed position when the sensor detects that the ride is operative.

The sensor may detect that the ride is operative by detecting that the motor of the ride is running. Advantageously, the control means forms part of the coin detection circuit, and the control means may disable the coin detection circuit when it receives a low voltage from the sensor and may enable the coin detection circuit when it receives a high voltage from the sensor.

The invention provides a particularly advantageous coin-insertion mechanism which prevents the insertion of objects other than coins into the slot, and which does not require frequent re-tuning to compensate for drift in components. By removing the need for re-tuning, the maintenance costs of operating coin-operated machines using a coin-insertion mechanism according to the invention are drastically reduced. Furthermore, the invention prevents coins being fed into the slot of an amusement ride when the ride is running.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a rear view of a coin-insertion mechanism according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the coin-insertion mechanism shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a coin detection circuit for use with the mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a front plate 1 of a coin operated device, e.g. a childrens' ride, having a slot 2 through which a coin, or other coin-like token, may be passed. Behind slot 2 there is mounted a guide 4 which guides an inserted coin to coin mechanism 13.

As can be best seen from Figure 2, shutter 3 obscures slot 2 so that objects cannot be passed therethrough. Shutter 3 is substantially "L" shaped and is attached to a solenoid 6 by means of a nut 7 which cooperates with a threaded bar 8, the bar 8 passing through an aperture in shutter 3. The solenoid 6 is attached at its other end to a mounting plate 5.

Looking now at Figure 1, it can be seen that a coil 9 of the coin detection circuit 10, best shown in Figure 3, is mounted in the region of slot 2. Coil 9 is connected by means of a wire 11 to a printed circuit board of the coin detection circuit 10. Solenoid 6 is also connected to the coin detection circuit 10. When a coin is brought close to the slot 2, the presence of the coin is detected by the coil 9, and a signal is sent to the solenoid 6 which causes the solenoid to move the shutter 3 so as to allow the coin to be inserted into the slot 2.

When the coin has passed through the slot 2 it is guided by guide 4 into coin mechanism 13. When coins to the appropriate value have been passed through the slot 2 and into mechanism 13, a signal is sent to a motor to operate the childrens' ride.

As soon as there is no coin in the region of the slot 2, coil 9 detects this and a signal is sent via the coin detection circuit to the solenoid 6 which causes shutter 3 to close off the slot 2.

When the ride is in operation it is important that neither coins nor other objects can be inserted into slot 2. To this end, when the motor is operative the coin detection circuit 10 is disabled so that shutter 3 closes slot 2.

Referring now to the circuit diagram shown in Figure 3 which shows the coin detection circuit 10, pins 3 and 4 of the terminal block 15 are connected to ground, whilst pin 1 is connected to a twelve volt D.C.

supply. Pin 3 is connected to wire 14. Pin 2 is at twelve volts D.C. when the motor of the ride is not running, but when the motor is started by a solid state relay, the voltage at pin 2 is switched to ground by the ride timer unit. Terminal block 15 is a printed circuit board terminal block and is available from Farnell Electronic Components.

When pin 2 of terminal block 15 is at ground, there is no current supplied to the opto-isolator 16A and hence no current flows through the photo-transistor of opto-isolator 16A, which in turn also disables the action of the opto-isolator 16B. When the opto-isolator 16B is disabled, port 7 of integrated circuit 17 is then no longer connected to twelve volts D.C., and hence the rest of the circuit is isolated. Opto-isolators 16A and 16B are the two components which give the signal on pin 2 of terminal block 15 double isolation. It is preferable to provide double isolation because it is possible that without double isolation the current drained by the coin detection circuit 10 would interfere with the solid state relay which could turn the motor on unnecessarily. Double isolation prevents this happening. Integrated circuit (IC) 17 is a proximity sensor, and is available from Farnell Electronic Components.

When the motor of the ride is not running, pin 2 of terminal block 15 is at twelve volts D.C. causing light to be emitted from the LED of optoisolator 16, which in turn operates the photo-transistor of opto-isolator 16A causing the LED to radiate and the photo-transistor of opto-isolator 16B to pass twelve volts D.C., allowing port 7 of IC 17 to be at twelve volts. When port 7 of IC 17 is at twelve volts, the rest of circuit 10 is not isolated, and becomes functional.

As can be seen from Figure 3, coil 9 is connected to L1 and L2. The effect of bringing a coin close to coil 9 is to induce a high e.m.f. in the coil allowing the oscillation width of the detection circuit to increase, which is detected at port 6 of IC 17. Port 6 is the demodulation pickup of the circuit and it examines the oscillation width, waiting for the width to become so great that it is unable to recognise any oscillation. When the oscillation is unrecognisable there is an output voltage at port 4 of IC 17 which allows LED 18 and the LED of opto-isolator 19 to emit light, which in turn operates the photo-transistor of opto-isolator 19 allowing voltage to transistor 20. Transistor 20 is switched on by the said voltage and this switching on of the transistor operates solenoid 6 and opens shutter 3.

When there is no coin close to coil 9, no e.m.f. is induced, and hence the change in oscillation is not detected at port 6 of IC 17 and no current flows through the LED of opto-isolator 19 from port 4 of IC 17 resulting in no signal being received by solenoid 6 and shutter 3 remaining closed.

The coin detection circuit 10 is very stable and does not require further tuning once the coin detection circuit has been set up in the factory.

Initial in factory set-up tuning is carried out by adjusting potentiometer 21. Potentiometer 21 is provided with an adjuster screw. When the coin detection circuit has been set up in the factory, the adjuster screw is covered with a tamper proof or tamper evident seal. No re-tuning of the detection circuit is required because R1 of the oscillator circuit and potentiometer 21 have tolerances of approximately 1%. Potentiometer 21 is made to standard MIL-R-22097.

In operation, when the ride is running, the coin detection circuit 10 is in operative, shutter 3 closes slot 2 so that nothing can be introduced into the slot, and bringing a coin close to induction coil 9 has no effect.

When the ride is not running the shutter 3 closes slot 2 unless a coin is brought close to induction coil 9, the effect of bringing a coin close to induction coil 9 being to activate the solenoid 6 which moves shutter 3 and opens slot 2, thus permitting a coin to be passed therethrough.

Claims (23)

Claims

1. A coin-insertion mechanism comprising a slot through which a coin may be inserted, a shutter movable between an open and closed position to open or close the slot, a coin detection circuit comprising a single coil to detect the presence of a coin, and an actuator attached to the shutter to move the shutter between its open and closed positions upon detection of a coin by the coil.

2. A mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein a guide is provided to guide a coin passing through the slot.

3. A mechanism according to Claim 2, wherein the guide is arranged to guide the coin to a coin collection means.

4. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator is a relay or a solenoid,

5. A mechanism according to Claim 4, wherein the actuator is mounted on a mounting plate.

6. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the coil is an induction coil.

7. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator is operably connected to the coin detection circuit.

8. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the coin detection circuit comprises a printed circuit board.

9. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the coin collection means detects when an appropriate amount of coinage has been inserted to activate the machine of which the coin insertion mechanism forms a part.

10. A mechanism according Claim 9, wherein the coin collection means is provided with a coin counting means adapted to provide a signal indicating that an appropriate coinage has been inserted through the slot, the said signal activating a part of the machine, for example the motor, of which the coin-insertion mechanism forms a part.

11. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the components of the coin detection circuit have high tolerances.

12. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein a variable resistor or potentiometer is provided in the said circuit to allow initial tuning of the circuit.

13. A mechanism according to Claim 12, wherein the variable resistor or potentiometer is provided with a tamper detection means.

14. A mechanism according to Claim 13, wherein the tamper detection means comprises a tamper evident seal placed around the adjusting member of the variable resistor or potentiometer.

15. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the coin detection circuit comprises an oscillator circuit.

16. A mechanism according to Claim 15, wherein the resistors of the oscillator circuit have a high tolerance.

17. A mechanism according to Claim 16, wherein the resistors of the oscillator circuit have a tolerance of approximately 1%.

18. A coin-operated mechanism comprising a coin-insertion mechanism according to any of Claims 1 to 17.

19. A coin-operated mechanism according to Claim 18, wherein the mechanism is an amusement ride, and further comprising means to lock the shutter in the closed position when the ride is operative.

20. An amusement ride according to Claim 19, wherein the means to lock the shutter in the closed position when the ride is operative comprises a sensor which detects whether the ride is operative or inoperative, and control means responsive to the sensor which prevents the shutter from opening when the ride is operative, and permits opening of the shutter when the ride is inoperative.

21. An amusement ride according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein the coin detection circuit is disabled with the shutter in its closed position when the sensor detects that the ride is operative.

22. An amusement ride according to any of Claims 19 to 21, wherein the control means forms part of the coin detection circuit, and the control means may disable the coin detection circuit when it receives a low voltage from the sensor and may enable the coin detection circuit when it receives a high voltage from the sensor.

23. A coin-insertion mechanism substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the drawings.