EP0061302A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coin discrimination
Assignee: ICC MACHINES Ltd
•
Filing: 1982-03-18
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2002-03-18
Abstract
Abstract Discrimination between two coin-denomination (Xp, Yp) of equal diameter but different thicknesses, is made in a coin-sorter (Figures 1 to 4) by sweeping the coins round an annular plate (10) in abutment with the inner edge (13) of an upstanding rim (11) which in the region of a sizing aperture (143) for receiving the thinner denomination (Xp) is undercut to admit coins of that denomination, but not of the other, thicker denomination (Yp), into abutment with an outer auxiliary edge (17) such that only coins of the thinner denomination (Xp) will be accepted within the diametral threshold set for that aperture (143) from the auxiliary edge (17). The thicker coins (Yp), because they abut the undercut edge (13), lie outside this threshold but are accepted within the same threshold set from that edge (13) at the next aperture (144). In another sorter (Figures 5 and 6) coins are tipped from an inclined and slotted shoulder (30) by deflectors (35 to 37) depending upon diametral thresholds set from the top (38) of the shoulder (30) or the bottom (40) of the slot (39) according to coin thickness, whereas in other apparatus (Figure 7) discrimination is made photoelectroni- cally in response to coins which run along different rails (60, 61) according to their thicknesses (or other characteristics).
Inventors
- 👤 David Thomas Overfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:56
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D3/00; G07D3/12; G07D3/128; G07D3/02; G07D3/06; G07D3/121; G07D3/123; G07D5/00; G07D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for discriminating between coins of different denominations in which discrimination is effected by determining whether each individual coin lies within or outside a threshold (143; 36; 57) of diametral size that is related to a reference abutment (13; 38; 60) for the coin, characterised in that the determination of the relationship of each coin to the said threshold (143; 36; 57) as aforesaid is carried out with the coin abutting one or the other of two reference abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) in dependence upon whether or not that coin has a characteristic, other than of diameter, which as between two denominations is distinctive of one denomination or the other, the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) being displaced with respect to one another such that a coin of a predetermined diameter lies within or outside the said threshold (143; 36; 57) in dependence upon which of the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) the coin abuts during said determination.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for discriminating between coins of different denominations in which discrimination is effected by determining whether each individual coin lies within or outside a threshold (143; 36; 57) of diametral size that is related to a reference abutment (13; 38; 60) for the coin, characterised in that the determination of the relationship of each coin to the said threshold (143; 36; 57) as aforesaid is carried out with the coin abutting one or the other of two reference abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) in dependence upon whether or not that coin has a characteristic, other than of diameter, which as between two denominations is distinctive of one denomination or the other, the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) being displaced with respect to one another such that a coin of a predetermined diameter lies within or outside the said threshold (143; 36; 57) in dependence upon which of the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) the coin abuts during said determination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to Claim 1 characterised in that said characteristic is thickness, the individual coins abutting one or the other of the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) during said determination in dependence upon their thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the threshold is established in the size of an aperture (143) through which a coin of the predetermined diameter will pass only when in abutment with one (17) of the two reference abutments (13, 17).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the threshold is established in the spacing of a deflector device (36) from one (38) of the two reference abutments (38,40) such that a coin of the predetermined diameter will be deflected by the deflector device (36) only when in abutment with this one (38) of the two reference abutments (38,40).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the threshold is established in the location of a sensor device (57)-with respect to one (60) of the two reference abutments (60, 61) such that a coin of the predetermined diameter is sensed by the sensor device (57) only when in abutment with this one (60) of the two reference abutments (60, 61).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for discriminating between coins of different denominations in which a threshold (143; 36; 57) for gauging coin diameter is established with respect to a reference abutment (13; 38; 60), and coins are presented to the threshold (143; 36; 57) abutting the reference abutment (13; 38; 60) for determining whether they lie within or outside the said threshold, characterised in that a second reference abutment (17; 40; 61) displaced from the first-mentioned reference abutment (13; 38; 60) is provided, and that each individual coin is presented to the threshold (143; 36; 57) in abutment with one or the other of the two reference abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) in dependence upon whether or not that coin has a characteristic, other than of diameter, which as between two denominations is distinctive of one denomination over the other, the displacement of the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) from one another being such that a coin of a predetermined diameter lies within or outside the said threshold (143; 36; 57) in dependence upon which of the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) the coin abuts during said determination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for discriminating between coins of different denominations in which a threshold (143; 36; 57) for gauging coin diameter is established with respect to a reference abutment (13; 38; 60), and coins are presented to the threshold (143; 36; 57) abutting the reference abutment (13; 38; 60) for determining whether they lie within or outside the said threshold, characterised in that a second reference abutment (17; 40; 61) displaced from the first-mentioned reference abutment (13; 38; 60) is provided, and that each individual coin is presented to the threshold (143; 36; 57) in abutment with one or the other of the two reference abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) in dependence upon whether or not that coin has a characteristic, other than of diameter, which as between two denominations is distinctive of one denomination over the other, the displacement of the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) from one another being such that a coin of a predetermined diameter lies within or outside the said threshold (143; 36; 57) in dependence upon which of the two abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) the coin abuts during said determination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 characterised in that said characteristic is thickness, that the two reference abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) are being arranged such that all coins are urged towards abutment with the same one (17; 40; 61) of the reference abutments (13, 17; 38, 40; 60, 61) at the location of said threshold (143; 36; 57), and that any coin of more than a predetermined thickness is obstructed at that location from abutment with the said one reference abutment (17; 40; 61) by the other reference abutment (13; 38; 60).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to Claim 7 characterised in that a surface (9; 31) against which coins lie in movement into the location of said threshold (143; 36), and a recessed element (11; 30) upstanding from said surface (9, 31) to provide the two reference abutments (13, 17; 38, 39) .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.