LV11234B

LV11234B - Device for testing coins, tokens or other flat objects

Info

Publication number: LV11234B
Application number: LVP-95-326A
Authority: LV
Inventors: Manuel Vasconcelos; Albert Lumbroso
Original assignee: Landis & Gyr Tech Innovat
Priority date: 1994-10-28
Filing date: 1995-10-27
Publication date: 1996-08-20
Also published as: NO954257D0; LV11234A; CZ280895A3; DK0710935T3; FI955163A0; DE59400285D1; GR3020421T3; ATE138213T1; NO954257L; CN1127907A; RU2134902C1; EP0710935A1; ES2089900T3; EE03010B1; TR199501318A2; PL311157A1; EP0710935B1; TW312006B; FI955163A

Abstract

The checking of the validity of a coin, token or similar round object (M) has sensors (13) set into the side wall of a guide channel formed within a block (1). The block is set at an angle to the vertical such that the coin falls against the wall that houses the sensors. When dropped into the entrance section the coin contacts an angled surface (45) and then falls onto an energy absorbing pad (9) in the base. The side walls are formed with ridges such that the coin has only line contact and rolls easily.

Description

LV 11234

Device for testing coins. tokens or other flat obiects

The invention relates to a device for testing the authenticity of coins, tokens or other flat objects of the type mentioned in the precharacterizing clause of Claim 1.

Such coin testers are especially suitable for the Identification of coins in telephones, automatic vending machines, meters for measuring electricity, etc. A device for testing coins, tokens or other flat objects of the type mentioned in the precharacterizing clause of Claim 1 is known from US 3,944,038. Another device is known from US 3,844,297. These devices do not provide special precautions to brake coins which are flung with force into the inlet opening.

Another device is known from GB 2 266 804. Although this device contains, after the coin inlet opening, a shock-absorbing element, it has no particular precautions for braking a coin, in particular one flung with force into the inlet opening, before the impact on the shock-absorbing element, with the result that bouncing or jumping of the coin in the region of the sensors which are provided for the authenticity testing is not prevented.

It is also known from German Utility Modei G 90 13 836.8 to cause the coin to be tested to impact on an impact surface and to provide a sensor for determining the impact which supplies a signal which is used as a decision criterion for the acceptance or rejection of the coin. The impact surface is designed as an energy-absorbing platelet made of ceramie. Provided before the impact surface is a curved section for braking coins which are flung in. This solution requires a relatively large space and is also capable of braking the coins to a certain extent, but it is not ensured that the coin, after leaving the impact surface, rolls further in a planē-parallel fashion resting on a side wall of the coin channel.

The invention is based on the object of eonstrueting the coin channel of a device of the type mentioned at the beginning in a space-saving manner in such a way that a coin inserted normally into the inlet opening, like a coin flung into 2 the inlet opening, rolls ori the base of the coin channel in a manner which is approximately planē-para1lel to a side wall of the coin channel in the region of the sensors testing the authenticity.

The invention comprises the features specified in Claim 1. Advantageous refinements emerge from the dependent claims.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below, with reference to the drawing. In this context, the concept of the coin M is also to be understood as tokens or other flat objects.

Fig. 1 shows a body having a coin channel in longitudinal section and

Fig. 2 shows the body in cross-section.

Fig. 1 shows the longitudinal section of a body 1 in the planē formed by the front side wall 2 (Fig. 2) of a coin channel K. The body 1 has a coin inlet opening 3 and a first and a second impact surface 4 and 5, which are designed as flat planēs. The first impact surface 4 is designed as an oblique planē in the running direction of the coin M, which planē encloses an angle a in the range from 15° to 30° with the horizontal H. In a further section 6 of the coin channel K there is located in the base 7 a recess 8 into which an energy-absorbing element 9 is inserted. The element 9 extends to the side through a slot 10 in the front side wall 2 and through a slot in the rear side wall 11 (Fig. 2). The element 9 is preferably a platelet made of stainless mētai or of ceramie. The clear width w of the coin channel K is slightly larger than the diameter of the largest coin to be tested; it is, for example, 35 mm. This clear width w is a recommended size, which can also be somewhat larger in the region of the impacc surfaces 4 and 5. Fig. 1 shows a conf iguration of the coin channel K, to scale, with advantageous dimensions.

Fig. 2 shows the cross-section of the body 1 in a section passing through the first impact surface 4. The front and the back side wall 2 and 11 of the coin channel K are inclined by 3 LV 11234 a predetermined angle Θ of typically ten degrees with respect to the vertical V. The back side wall 11 is provided with moulded-on ribs 12 which are primarily constructed in the falling or running direction of the coin. The impact surface 4 is inclined with respect to the side walls 2 and 11, so that an obtuse angle β is formed between the side wall 2 and the impact surface 4 and an acute angle having the value 180°-β is formed between the side wall 11 and the impact surface 4. A preferred value for the angleβ is 120°. The spacing d of the side walls 2 and 11 is about 3.5 mm.

The second impact surface 5 is first of ali inclined with respect to the side walls 2 and 11, so that an obtuse angle is also formed between the side wall 2 and the impact surface 5 and an acute angle is formed between the side wall 11 and the impact surface 5. Secondly, the impact surface 5 is also inclined by a predetermined angle φ (Fig. 1) with respect to the vertical V, φ being, for example, five to ten degrees.

In the further section 6 (Fig. 1) of the coin channel K, which begins after the impact surface 5, considered in the running direction of the coin, the base 7 of the coin channel K encloses a right angle with both side walls 2 and 11. The element 9 and the base 7 form an approximately plane-parallel surface in the rest condition of the element 9. Sensors 13 for testing the authenticity of the coin M are arranged in the section 6 after the element 9.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the first impact surface 4 effects a change of direction of an inserted coin M from a more or less vertical movement direction into a predominantly horizontal movement direction. The oblique arrangement of the impact surface 4 with respect to the side walls 2 and 11 (Fig. 2, angle β) has the further effect that the coin M impacting on the surface 4 receives a recoil having a force component directed towards the back side wall 11. Consequently, the coin M is t’hrown against the back side wall 11. The strength of this force component increases with increasing angle β. 4

The second impact surface 5 effects a reversai of the horizontal movement direction of the coin M.

Further, if the coin M impacts on the surface 5 and does not fall directly onto the element 9 after leaving the impact surface 4, it receives from the impact surface 5 a recoil with a force component directed towards the back side wall 11, so that the coin M is, if necessary, transported stili further towards the back side wall 11 and finally rolls down the section 6, after leaving the element 9, lying in plane-parallel fashion on the ribs 12 of the back side wall 11. The vertical inclination of the impact surface 5 by the angle φ effects, if necessary, a thrust on the coin M with a force component which is directed towards the energy-absorbing element 9, with the aim that the coin M always lands on the element 9.

The element 9 serves to deflect the movement direction of the coin M and to absorb excessive energy from the coin M, so that the coin M rolls down on the base 7 at the latest after leaving the element 9 vvithout the coin M bouncing or jumping.

On the one hand, the conf iguration of the back side wall 11 with ribs 12 reduces the friction between the coin M and the side wall 11, on the other hand the space between the ribs 12 also serves for the accommodation of dirt pārticies.

The function of the impact surfaces 4 and 5 consists in guiding the coin M on its way to the energy-ab3orbing element 9, and in particular in braking a coin M flung into the inlet opening 3, in such a way that the element 9 is capable of absorbing the kinetic energy of the coin M remaining after the impact on the surface 4 and, if necessary, the surface 5 to such an extent that the coin M, irrespective of its thickness, its diameter and its insertion speed, rolls in the section 6 of the coin channel K and lies on the back side wall 11 in so doing. A small coin, which has a small mass and is inserted quite normally into the inlet opening 3, will run through the coin channel K without contacting the impact surface 5. A small coin which is flung into the inlet opening 3 is thrown by the first impact surface 4 against the back side wall 11, so that it 5 LV 11234 skids along on the back side wall 11. Thanks to the friction associated with this, although it is braked somewhat, its kinetic energy will be sufficient that it impacts on the second impact surface 5. In contrast, a large coin M which is slightly smaller than the width w of the coin channel K always impacts on the second impact surface 5.

The body 1 consists preferably of two plastic parts produced by injection moulding, so that the coin channel K. is formed as a recess in the body 1. During the assembly of the body 1, the element 9 is inserted loosely. The plastic parts are provided with stops which have the effect that the element 9 cannot become stuck in any way, either during transport or in operation of the device, so that an impairment of its function is excluded.

The first and the second impact surface 4, 5 are preferably formed directly in the corresponding plastic part as surfaces predetermined in terms of their position with reference to the coin channel K. However, it is also possible to provide the impact surface 5 as part of a further movable body which is separate from the body 1, this further movable body being inserted loosely during the assembly of the body 1 in a manner analogous to the element 9, and the freedom of movement of the impact surface 5 being prescribed by corresponding stops for this body. This embodiment enables a stili greater energy transfer from the coin M to this body.

The use of plastic for the impact surfaces 4 and 5 results in an at least partially elastic collision between the coin M and the impact surface.

The weight of the element 9 is of a similar order of magnitude to the weights of the coins M to be tested. 6 LV 11234

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device for testing the authenticity of coins (M), tokens or other flat objects, having a coin channel (K) which contains a coin inlet opening (3), a first and a second impact suface (4, 5) and sensors (13), the coin (M) rolling along in contact in the region of the sensors (13) on a back side wall (11) of the coin channel (K) , said side wall (11) being inclined by a predetermined angle (Θ) with respect to the vertical and said first impact surface (4) including in the rolling direction of the coin (M) an angle a ct with the horizontal (H) , characterized in that the second impact surface (5) which is adjacent to the first impact surface (4) is approximately vertical and is inclined with respect to the vertical by a predetermined angle (φ) and in that after the second impact surface (5) a section (6) of the coin channel (K) contains an energy-absorbing element (9) . 2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first impact surface (4) is inclined by an acute angle (180°-β) with respect to the back side wall (11). 3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle a is in the range from 15° to 30°. 4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an acute angle is formed between the second impact surface (5) and the back side wall (11). 5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second impact surface (5) is a surface which is stationary in relation to the coin channel (K). 6. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second impact surface (5) is part of a body which is movable in relation to the coin channel (K). 7 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, in that the energy-absorbing element (9) is loosely recess (8) of the base (7) of the coin channel (K). 8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, in that the coin channel (K) is formed as a recess consisting of plastic parts. characterized inserted in a characterized in a body (1) LV 11234

ABSTRACT A device for testing the authenticity of coins (M) , tokens or other flat objects has a coin channel (K) which contains a coin inlet opening (3) , a first and a second impact surface (4, 5), an energy- absorbing element (9) and sensors (13) . The side walls of the coin channel (K) are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical. The first impact surface (4) is inclined by a predetermined angle (β) with respect to the side walls, so that a coin (M) which impacts on it is transported against the back side wall. The energy-absorbing element (9) is inserted loosely into a depression (8) of the base (7) of the coin channel (K) . The impact surfaces (4, 5) serve further for the purpose of braking a coin (M) which is thrown or flung into the coin inlet opening, to such an extent that the coin (M) , after the impact on the element (9), rolls along in contact in the region of the sensors (13) on the back side wall (11). The coin channel (K) is preferably formed as a recess in a body (1) consisting of two plastic parts. (Fig. 1)

Claims

EN 11234 DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Coin (M), token or other flat object authentication device with a coin channel (K) containing a coin slot (3), first and second rebound surfaces (4, 5) and sensors (13) , wherein the coin (M) moves in contact with the sensors (13) located on the rear wall (11) of the coin channel (K), said rear wall (11) forms a predetermined angle (Θ) with respect to the vertical and said first rebound surface (4) forming a coin angle (M) of the coin (M) with respect to the horizontal H, characterized in that the second rebound surface (5) adjacent to the first rebound surface (4) is approximately vertical and forms a certain angle (φ) relative to vertically, and that the portion (6) of the coin channel (K) located behind the second rebound surface (5) comprises an energy absorbing element (9).

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first rebound surface (4) forms a narrow angle (180 ° -β) relative to the rear wall (11).

Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle α is between 15 ° and 30 °.

Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a narrow angle is formed between the second rebound surface (5) and the rear wall (11).

Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second rebound surface (5) is a stationary surface relative to the coin channel (K).

Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second rebound surface (5) is part of a housing which is movable relative to the coin channel (K). 2

Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the energy absorbing element (9) is freely placed in the recess (8) of the base (7) of the coin channel (K).

Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the coin channel (K) is formed as a recess in a housing (1) consisting of plastic parts.