Patent US3769189A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0016696A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0016696A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Coin detecting apparatus
Assignee: Third Wave Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1980-03-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2000-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A coin, spurious coin and the like (11) is passed in close proximity with the inductance (L1) of the resonant tank circuit of an oscillator and varies the losses of the tank circuit and thereby the amplitude of a signal produced by the oscillator in accordance with the metal content of the coin, and the like. The signal produced by the oscillator is converted to a control signal having an amplitude which when in a predetermined range indicates an acceptable coin and which when outside the range indicates a rejectable spurious coin, and the like. After passing the inductance, the coin is selectively directed to an accepted location (19) or a rejected location (18) in accordance with the amplitude of the control signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald C. Davies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:35
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
A coin detecting apparatus for distinguishing genuine coins from slugs, spurious coins and the like, characterized in that it comprises an oscillator circuit having a resonant tank circuit (L1, C2; L51,'C52) including a single inductance and capacitance means for varying the amplitude of a signal produced by the oscillator circuit in accordance with the losses of the tank circuit; coin directing means of non-magnetic material having at least a vertical upper section (12;21) for guiding coins, slugs, spurious coins and the like to a predetermined locality (17;23), the single inductance means (Ll;L51) of the resonant tank circuit being positioned completely around the coin directing means in close proximity with an area of the coin directing means in a manner whereby the inductance means forms an air core coil and the coins and the like pass completely through the coil from one end to the other and said losses are determined by the metal content of a coin and the like passing through the coin directing means and through the coil, the coin and the like forming the core of the coil when passing through the coil; direction switching means in said coin directing means at said predetermined locality for selectively accepting and rejecting coins and the like in accordance with the amplitude of a control signal, said direction switching means comprising a movably mounted member (16;24), an accept solenoid (SL2;53) for moving said member to an accept position dependent on its condition of energization, triac means (63) having a gate circuit, an opto - isolator (62) having a photocell so that the light-emitting diode optically coupled to said photocell is energized when a genuine coin passes in close proximity to the inductance means of said resonant circuit, the photocell resistance being thereupon lowered and said accept solenoid being energized to move said member to said accept position for directing the coin to said accept position via said guide means (19;26), and gate means (1C1) connected between said resonant circuit and said opto-isolator (62) for detecting whether a voltage drop is associated with a genuine coin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
A coin detecting apparatus for distinguishing genuine coins from slugs, spurious coins and the like, characterized in that it comprises an oscillator circuit having a resonant tank circuit (L1, C2; L51,'C52) including a single inductance and capacitance means for varying the amplitude of a signal produced by the oscillator circuit in accordance with the losses of the tank circuit; coin directing means of non-magnetic material having at least a vertical upper section (12;21) for guiding coins, slugs, spurious coins and the like to a predetermined locality (17;23), the single inductance means (Ll;L51) of the resonant tank circuit being positioned completely around the coin directing means in close proximity with an area of the coin directing means in a manner whereby the inductance means forms an air core coil and the coins and the like pass completely through the coil from one end to the other and said losses are determined by the metal content of a coin and the like passing through the coin directing means and through the coil, the coin and the like forming the core of the coil when passing through the coil; direction switching means in said coin directing means at said predetermined locality for selectively accepting and rejecting coins and the like in accordance with the amplitude of a control signal, said direction switching means comprising a movably mounted member (16;24), an accept solenoid (SL2;53) for moving said member to an accept position dependent on its condition of energization, triac means (63) having a gate circuit, an opto - isolator (62) having a photocell so that the light-emitting diode optically coupled to said photocell is energized when a genuine coin passes in close proximity to the inductance means of said resonant circuit, the photocell resistance being thereupon lowered and said accept solenoid being energized to move said member to said accept position for directing the coin to said accept position via said guide means (19;26), and gate means (1C1) connected between said resonant circuit and said opto-isolator (62) for detecting whether a voltage drop is associated with a genuine coin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Coin detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gate means comprises CMOS input NOR gates (1C1 A,B,C,D).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Coin detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means includes variable means (VR2) for varying the amplitude range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
Coin detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction switching means comprises a movably mounted member (16), a solenoid (SL2) for selectively moving said member in accordance with its condition of energization and an electronic switching component (SCR1) connected to said solenoid and having a control electrode, and the control means (VR2) is connected to the control electrode of the electronic switching component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Coin detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oscillator circuit comprises a field effect transistor (FET1) having a source-drain circuit and a gate terminal, the resonant tank circuit being connected in said source-drain circuit and a steady negative bias being produced at the gate terminal due to normal oscillator activity of the field effect transistor, said negative bias automatically limiting the magnitude of current flowing in said source-drain circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Coin detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capacitance means of the resonant tank circuit of the oscillator circuit comprises a variable capacitor (C2) connected in parallel with the inductance means of said resonant tank circuit for varying the amplitude range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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