WO2004036510A1 - Appareil de detection de blocage de pieces - Google Patents

Appareil de detection de blocage de pieces Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004036510A1
WO2004036510A1 PCT/GB2003/004143 GB0304143W WO2004036510A1 WO 2004036510 A1 WO2004036510 A1 WO 2004036510A1 GB 0304143 W GB0304143 W GB 0304143W WO 2004036510 A1 WO2004036510 A1 WO 2004036510A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
coin
sensors
error code
jam
chute
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2003/004143
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Nick Mackie
Original Assignee
Vianet Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vianet Limited filed Critical Vianet Limited
Priority to AU2003267635A priority Critical patent/AU2003267635A1/en
Publication of WO2004036510A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004036510A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D1/00—Coin dispensers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F1/00—Coin inlet arrangements; Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
    • G07F1/04—Coin chutes
    • G07F1/046—Coin chutes with means for dealing with jamming, e.g. by bent wires
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/18—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/002—Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for detecting a coin jam, particularly, but not exclusively, to a diagnostics system for sensing the severity of coin jams within vending machines capable of remote management by telemetry.
  • Known telemetrically managed vending machines comprise of a coin entry chute, a coin validation mechanism, a coin store and a coin exit chute.
  • the vending machine hardware communicates, via a Vending Machine Controller (VMC) , with a remote host to report machine critical data, for example, product levels, power usage and machine malfunctions.
  • VMC Vending Machine Controller
  • the advantage of such telemetrically managed vending machines lies in their ability to proactively monitor or manage, for example, stock levels, staff utilisation and machine servicing to thereby maximise profitability through increasing sales and efficiency.
  • the ability of a vending machine to report system malfunctions, such as coin jams, is obviously important in terms of reducing machine down time. It is particularly important from a staff management perspective to be able to determine the cause and/or severity of a coin jam. For example, if it can be established that the jam is of a relatively simple nature and can be easily resolved by a non- specialist employee, significant time and cost savings can be made.
  • coin jams are commonly recognised as a consequence of the absence of a coin reaching the coin validation mechanism. In such circumstances, the severity, exact location or cause of the coin jam is not known.
  • a specialist employee may be required to access the problem area and/or to repair or replace malfunctioning parts.
  • a mere clearing of the jammed coins may be sufficient. This would be more cost effective if carried out by a non- specialist employee.
  • apparatus for detecting a coin jam comprising a coin validation mechanism positioned downstream of a coin entry chute and upstream of a coin exit chute wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one sensor which reports information to a diagnostic device which, when a coin jam occurs, generates an error code indicative of the severity and/or location of the coin jam.
  • the error code is communicated telemetrically to a remote host.
  • the error code is displayed on the vending machine.
  • the qualitative information is both communicated telemetrically to a remote host and displayed on the vending machine.
  • the coin validation mechanism operates under the Multi Drop Bus (MDB) standard.
  • MDB Multi Drop Bus
  • a plurality of sensors are positioned within one or more of the coin entry chute, the coin validation mechanism and the coin exit chute.
  • the one or more sensors are proximity sensors using inductive and/or capacitive proximity field sensing.
  • proximity sensors using inductive and/or capacitive proximity field sensing, and optical sensors are employed.
  • Fig. 1 shows a coin sensing system comprising the apparatus of the present invention
  • FIG. 1 shows a coin sensing system associated with a coin operated vending machine which comprises a coin entry chute 10 leading to a coin validation mechanism 12 which in turn leads to a coin exit chute 14.
  • the coin validation mechanism operates under the Multi Drop Bus (MDB) standard.
  • MDB Multi Drop Bus
  • Proximity Sensors 16 and 18 are provided on the coin entry chute 10 and a further proximity sensor 20 is provided on the coin exit chute 14.
  • Sensors 16, 18 and 20 interface with a diagnostic device 22 which in turn communicates with a remote Telemetric Interface Unit (TIU) 26.
  • the diagnostic device 22 also interfaces with the coin validation mechanism 12.
  • the diagnostic device is further connected to the Vending Machine Controller (VMC) 24.
  • VMC Vending Machine Controller
  • a coin In use, a coin is inserted into the coin entry chute 10 and creates an actuating signal as it passes sensors 16 and 18. The progress of a coin passing through the entry chute 10, and subsequently through the coin validation mechanism and coin exit chute, can therefore be positively confirmed as actuating signals are reported to the diagnostic device 22.
  • a coin jam occurring in the entry chute 10 between the first sensor 16 and the second sensor 18 can be confirmed by the diagnostic device 22 interpreting' the information received from the sensors 16 and 18. For example, the absence of an actuating signal from sensor 18 within the expected time delay window from the actuating signal received from sensor 16 would allow the diagnostic device 22 to positively locate where the jam has occurred.
  • a coin jam occurring in other locations would be located using the same principle.
  • the greater the number of sensors provided within the system the more detailed and useful the information fed back to the diagnostic device 22 can be.
  • an error code is generated and communicated telemetrically to a remote host via the vending machine controller 24 and/or the telemetry interface unit 26.
  • the error code may instead, or in addition, be displayed on the vending machine itself in order to assist the specialist or non-specialist in identifying the cause and/or location and/or severity of the coin j am .
  • Inductive or capacitive proximity sensors 16, 18 and 20 are suitable for use in non-metallic entry and exit chutes 10 and 14. If the chutes are made of a metallic material the sensors may be replaced with optical sensors such as retro-reflective sensors. .
  • proximity sensors over optical sensors is that their actuating signals can either be simply ON/OFF signals or, alternatively generate an output which is indicative of the amount of metallic material within their sensing fields. Therefore, such sensors can report to the diagnostic device the number of coins involved in a jam, i.e. the severity of the coin jam.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil pouvant détecter la gravité d'un blocage de pièces en utilisant des capteurs de proximité afin de fournir des qualitatives à un dispositif de diagnostic. Le dispositif de diagnostic génère un code d'erreur basé sur les informations reçues d'un ou plusieurs capteurs, indiquant la gravité et l'emplacement du blocage de pièces. Le code d'erreur peut être envoyé à un hôte éloigné où il peut être déterminé, par exemple, s'il faut recourir à un technicien qualifié ou compétent pour résoudre le problème.
PCT/GB2003/004143 2002-10-17 2003-09-24 Appareil de detection de blocage de pieces WO2004036510A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003267635A AU2003267635A1 (en) 2002-10-17 2003-09-24 Apparatus for detecting a coin jam

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0224128.9 2002-10-17
GBGB0224128.9A GB0224128D0 (en) 2002-10-17 2002-10-17 Intelligent coin sensing system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004036510A1 true WO2004036510A1 (fr) 2004-04-29

Family

ID=9946056

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2003/004143 WO2004036510A1 (fr) 2002-10-17 2003-09-24 Appareil de detection de blocage de pieces

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003267635A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB0224128D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004036510A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8444051B2 (en) 2010-06-21 2013-05-21 Bank Of America Self-service machine problem code
US8490864B2 (en) * 2010-06-21 2013-07-23 Bank Of America Corporation Self-service machine contact me now
JP2017134708A (ja) * 2016-01-29 2017-08-03 富士電機株式会社 硬貨処理装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1564723A (en) * 1977-05-10 1980-04-10 Post Office Coin and token-freed apparatus
US4356829A (en) * 1976-12-29 1982-11-02 Laurel Bank Machine Co., Ltd. Anti-jamming means for coin counting machines
EP0509146A2 (fr) * 1991-04-16 1992-10-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux Appareil pour le traitement de pièces de monnaie
US5647469A (en) * 1994-09-27 1997-07-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux Coin sorting device
EP1065632A2 (fr) * 1999-06-28 2001-01-03 Mars Incorporated Détecteur de monnaies dans des machines automatiques

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4356829A (en) * 1976-12-29 1982-11-02 Laurel Bank Machine Co., Ltd. Anti-jamming means for coin counting machines
GB1564723A (en) * 1977-05-10 1980-04-10 Post Office Coin and token-freed apparatus
EP0509146A2 (fr) * 1991-04-16 1992-10-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux Appareil pour le traitement de pièces de monnaie
US5647469A (en) * 1994-09-27 1997-07-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux Coin sorting device
EP1065632A2 (fr) * 1999-06-28 2001-01-03 Mars Incorporated Détecteur de monnaies dans des machines automatiques

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8444051B2 (en) 2010-06-21 2013-05-21 Bank Of America Self-service machine problem code
US8490864B2 (en) * 2010-06-21 2013-07-23 Bank Of America Corporation Self-service machine contact me now
JP2017134708A (ja) * 2016-01-29 2017-08-03 富士電機株式会社 硬貨処理装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003267635A1 (en) 2004-05-04
GB0224128D0 (en) 2002-11-27

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