GB2400482A

GB2400482A - Coin insertion Barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2400482A
Application number: GB0406577A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Trenner
Original assignee: Walter Hanke Mechanische Werkstaetten GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Walter Hanke Mechanische Werkstaetten GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2003-03-25
Filing date: 2004-03-24
Publication date: 2004-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-24
Also published as: GB0406577D0; GB2400482B; DE10314145A1; DE10314145B4

Abstract

A coin insertion barrier for a slot machine has a coin slot 3 behind which are a first pivoted shutter 5, a pivoted track 8 and a second pivoted shutter 12. When a coin is detected at slot 3, using a coil 4, the first shutter 5 is pivoted to allow the coin to be inserted and the track 8 is pivoted to accept the coin. Once the coin is detected at the end of the track the first shutter 5 is closed and only if this closure is completed is the second shutter 12 opened to allow the coin to continue into the mechanism. If the first shutter 5 fails to close afer a predetermined time the second shutter 12 remains closed and track 8 is pivoted to drop the coin and any foreign matter (arrow 11).

Description

Coin insertion barrier for a slot-machine The invention relates to a coin

insertion barrier for a slot-machine according to the preamble of the main claim.

To avoid slot-machines being tampered with, so-called coin insertion barriers are known which have a slot shutter closing the coin slot. At the coin slot is provided a metal detector, e.g. a coil, which detects a coin to be inserted, whereupon the slot shutter is moved away. Furthermore a swivelling coin track is provided behind the coin slot, which track, when the slot shutter is opened, swivels into an insertion position in which a coin is received by the slot and passed on to the slot-machine. As soon as the slot shutter closes again, the track is also swivelled into a downwardly open position so that dirt and foreign objects can be ejected downwards.

It has now been demonstrated that despite this coin insertion barrier, tampering continues to take place along the lines that after the opening of the slot shutter, cardboard strips or the like are introduced which become caught in the track. Coins which are subsequently inserted are prevented from travelling on by these cardboard strips and accumulate in the region of the admittedly downwardly open track; however the cardboard strip or corresponding objects prevent the coins from dropping down. If sufficient coins are collected, the manipulator handles the coin insertion barrier with force, e.g. by hammering, so that the collected coins drop out downwards. In this process damage is frequently caused.

The object underlying the invention is so to improve a coin insertion barrier that no accumulations of coins can occur so that there is no incentive to the above- described tampering.

This object is accomplished according to the invention by the characterizing features of the main claim in conjunction with the features of the preamble.

Due to the provision of a second slot shutter behind the track, which shutter, controlled by the control device, only releases the coin path when the first slot shutter has been brought from the insertion position back into a position closing the coin slot, and due to the fact that the track is brought into the downwardly open position after a predetermined time and/or when the first slot shutter is not completely closed,

accumulation of coins due to the introduction of

foreign bodies such as cardboard strips is substantially prevented. If a foreign body such as a cardboard strip is introduced with a coin, the first slot shutter generally does not close properly, and therefore the second slot shutter is not:opened and after a predetermined time the track is swivelled into the open position. In this way, both the coin and the cardboard strip drop into the coin return dish or into a receiving box, and thus no coins can be accumulated in the region of the track. Should the first slot shutter also then not be completely closed, the control device can cause the slot shutter to open and close several times in order to release any foreign bodies or dirt which may possibly have penetrated. Otherwise an error signal is emitted after a predetermined time.

Advantageous developments and improvements are possible through the measures quoted in the subordinate claims.

Due to the provision of a sensor to detect a coin in the region of the track, an improved control can be undertaken for the slot shutters and the track in dependence on the presence of a coin.

It is particularly advantageous that the slot shutters and the track can be actuated independently of one another since in this way, too, the control can be optimised.

Position sensors such as light barriers make possible exact detection of the positions of the slot shutters.

Because the second slot shutter is configured self- locking, it can also not be pushed open with additional tools such as wires or the like.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and are explained in greater detail in the

following description. The figures show:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of a coin insertion barrier, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the coin slot with slot shutters and track swivelled away,: 4 a Fig. 3 a side view of the slot shutters and track with metal sensor, and Figs. 4, 4a to 4c a view of the second slot shutter in different positions to illustrate the self-locking, and Fig. 5 a flow chart of the operation of the coin insertion barrier.

In Fig. 1 a coin insertion barrier is shown in perspective view, and in Fig. 2 this coin insertion barrier is shown in such a way that one half of the housing, the rear half of the housing in Fig. 1, is omitted. The coin insertion barrier, which has two housing halves 1 and 2, is provided on the front side with a slot 3, around which a coil 4 is arranged configured as a metal sensor. As can be recognized from Fig. 2, a first or front slot shutter 5 is arranged behind the slot 3, the slot shutter being configured as a pendulum which can be rotated around a pivot point 6 centrally with respect to the housing halves 1, 2. In its rest position, the front slot shutter 5 closes the coin slot 3 and also has a slot 7 which in the insertion position is in alignment with the coin slot 3.

Behind the front slot shutter 5 is arranged a swivelling track 8, which can be seen in the open position in Fig. 2. The track 8 is in the form of an angle steel, a lower narrow member 9 being the actual coin track. Thus in the position shown in Fig. 2, there is between the wall 10 of housing half 2 and member 9 a space through which objects, including coins, can fall in accordance with arrow 11 downwards into a receiving vessel or the like. Behind the track 8 is again arranged a second or rear slot shutter 12 which is also designed as a pendulum with: a central axis of rotation 13 (see Fig. 3), and which also has a slot 14 and which forms the separation between the coin insertion barrier and the run-in channel 15 to the slot-machine or also to a coin checker.

To establish the position of the front slot shutter 5, there is associated with it a hybrid light barrier 16 or an optocoupler, and in a corresponding manner a hybrid light barrier 17 or optocoupler is associated with the rear slot shutter 12. According to Fig. 3, in the rear region of the track 8, which can be swivelled about a rotational axis 18, is disposed a sensor 19 for detecting coins 20.

As can be recognized from Fig. 1, the front slot shutter 5, the track 8 and the rear slot shutter 12 are actuated by three respectively independent actuating members which are in the form of electromagnets 21, 22, 23. The electromagnets 21, 22, 23 just like the sensors, namely the coil 4, the hybrid light barriers 16, 17 and the metal sensor 19, are connected to a control device of the coin insertion barrier, which device is preferably in the form of a microprocessor.

The rear slot lock 12 is provided with self-locking, the entire arrangement of the rear slot lock 12 or slot shutter being illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 4.

As can be recognised, the rear slot lock 12 is connected to electromagnet 23 via a driver part 42.

The driver part can be pivoted about an axis 25 of the housing, which is indicated in 9a by a cross. In Figs. 4a to 4c, the different positions of the rear slot lock 12 are represented. The driver part 24 has a run-down groove 26 in which a pin connected with the rear slot lock 12 is guided. In Fig. 4a is shown the closing position of the rear slot shutter 12, whilst in Fig. 4b an interim position is illustrated, magnet 23 being excited here. The driver part 24 swivels about the rotational axis 25, and in this process the pin 27 in the receiving slot 26 swivels from the one end position (4a) into the second end position (4c). The self 6 - locking of the slot shutter 12 is realised by these measures and swivelling of this slot shutter 12 with a tool is not possible.

The functioning of the control device of the coin insertion barrier will be explained in greater detail below with reference to Fig. 5. As already explained, there is associated with the coin insertion barrier its own control device which is in the form of a microprocessor. This control device is connected to a slot-machine control system via a plug-type connector, the power supply and various signals (e.g. release signal, sensor signal, filament signal) being able to be transmitted via this plug-type connector. Generally the coin insertion barrier is on standby, i.e. the power consumption is minimal.

When a coin 20 is introduced into the coin slot, the metal sensor configured as a coil 4 detects the coin and thus rouses the rest of the circuit, i.e. activates the entire control system (step S1, S2). Thereafter in step S3 a check is made as to whether the slot shutters S and 12 are closed, it being possible for this check to be carried out via the position sensors configured as reflex or light fork couplers 16, 17. When the slot shutters 5, 12 are closed, the microprocessor of the slot lock electronics reports via an open-collector transistor to the control system of the slot-machine the presence of a coin in the slot (S4). If the slot shutters 5, 12 are not closed, an error signal is passed to the control system of the slot-machine (S5).

The slot-machine passes, via a LOW or HIGH active signal, the command to open the slot 3 to the microprocessor of the coin insertion barrier (S6). If this command does not come within a predetermined time (TIME-OUT time), the slot shutter 5 is kept closed and the microprocessor switches off the power supply of the circuit again (S7). As soon as the release has been carried out by the slot-machine, the front slot shutter is opened and the track 8, positioned thereafter, is closed. For this purpose electromagnets 21, 22 are activated (S8). The rear slot shutter 12 remains closed.

As soon as the sensor 19 at the end of track 8 has recognized that a coin 20 is running in, the control system or respectively the microprocessor closes the front slot shutter 5 and powers the light fork coupler 16 to monitor the shutter position (S9, S10). As soon as it is established (S11) that the front slot shutter is completely closed, the rear slot shutter 12 is opened (S12).

If up to the expiry of a predetermined time (TIME-OUT time) the proper closure of the front slot shutter 5 is not detected, the track 8 is opened so that foreign bodies which have penetrated and jammed coins can drop out downwards. If then a further predetermined time passes without the front slot shutter 5 being properly closed, an error signal (S13), preferably a pulse-code notification of the error source, or alternatively a non-specific pulse, is emitted to the slot-machine.

Then the electronic means of the coin insertion barrier switches off again.

If up to the expiry of a predetermined time no coin runs in track 8 up to sensor 19 (S9), the rear slot shutter 12 remains closed, the front slot shutter 5 is closed and the track 8 is opened again, so that any foreign bodies and coins which are possibly present can drop out downwards (S13). If after the expiry of a further TIME-OUT time, the front slot shutter 5 is not completely closed (S14), an error signal is emitted to the control system of the slot-machine and the electronic means of the coin insertion barrier is then switched off (S15). : 8 - - The control device holds the rear slot shutter 12 open until the coin 20 has run out of the region of the metal detector 19 again, plus a fixed TIME-OUT time (S16). Then the rear slot shutter 12 is closed again and the track opened (S17).

In one embodiment the position of the rear slot shutter 12 can also be monitored by the light fork coupler. If the rear shutter 12 does not close completely, a corresponding error signal can be generated (S18, S19) and the front slot shutter 5 does not open as long as the rear shutter is not completely closed.

If a slot shutter does not close completely, the control device of the coin insertion barrier can open and close the corresponding slot shutter several times in order in this way to release any foreign bodies or dirt which have possibly penetrated.

In the previously described embodiment, the control was operated in dependence on the position sensors 16, 17 and the sensor 19 in the region of track 8. However time quantities can also be used instead of individual sensors.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Coin insertion barrier for a slot-machine, having a coin

slot which may be closed by a first slot shutter, a track which is arranged behind the coin slot and which may be swivelled from a downwardly open position into an insertion position, and a control device, a detector being provided in the region of the coin slot which detects a coin to be inserted and emits a signal to the control device which steers the slot shutter and the track into an insertion position, characterized in that a second slot shutter (12) is arranged behind the track (8), which shutter, controlled by the control device, only releases the coin path when the first slot shutter (5) is brought from the insertion position back into a position closing the coin slot (3), and in that the track (8) controlled by the control device, is brought after a predetermined time and/or when the first slot shutter (5) is not completely closed, into the downwardly open position.
2. Coin insertion barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second slot shutters (5, 12) and the swivelling track (8) may be actuated electromagnetically independently of one another.
3. Coin insertion barrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a sensor (19) for detecting a coin is arranged in the region of the swivelling track (8), it being possible to control the first and/or second slot shutters (5, 12) 1 0 _ _ and/or the track (8) in dependence on the sensor signal.
Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that position sensors (16, 17) are associated with the first and/or second slot shutter (5, 12).
5. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, after a coin has passed through the second slot shutter (12), the control device causes the second slot shutter to close and the track (8) to swivel into the downwardly open position.
6. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the control device controls actuating members for actuating the first and second slot shutters and the swivelling track, said actuating members being electromagnets.
7. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that, when the first and/or second slot shutter is not completely closed, the control device causes it to open and close several times.
8. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the second slot shutter (12) is configured self-locking.
9. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the control device is in the form of a microprocessor.
10. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterised in that the sensor for detecting a coin is in the form o-f a metal detector.
11. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the position sensors are in the form of light barriers or optocouplers.
12. Coin insertion barrier according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first and second slot shutters are configured as pendulums.
13. Coin insertion barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device emits an error signal if the first slot shutter is not completely closed after the track has been swivelled into the downwardly open position.