US3682286A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for electronically checking coins
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-07-17
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1990-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of electronically checking coins which comprises the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon the coins to be checked, obtaining electrical signals by virtue of the measuring operation characteristic of the coins undergoing checking. The thus obtained electrical signals are at least partially stored, the measuring operation is completed and the thus checked coins are evaluated to determine whether the coins have generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked.
Inventors
- 👤 Georg Prumm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:06
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon a coin to be checked by means of at least one contactless measuring and evaluation circuit, obtaining electrical signals in the form of a voltage measurement value characteristic of the coin being checked, transforming such measurement value into a Yes/No response, at least partially storing the thus obtained response, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coin to determine whether the coin has generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, and wherein the indirect measuring operation comprises the steps of passing the coins in front of a measuring location to obtain a wave-shaped increase or decrease of an amplitude value, providing a response threshold value at each side of a desired peak value of said amplitude value which is typical for the coin desired to be checked in order to measure the peak value of one of each wave, logically coupling with one another both response threshold values such that only the response of one threshold value generates a signal, the response of both threshold values eliminates the presence of any signal, and the evaluation step comprises evaluating a pulse train resulting upon crossover of one or both pulse threshold values, which is limited to a maximum of two pulses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon a coin to be checked by means of at least one contactless measuring and evaluation circuit, obtaining electrical signals in the form of a voltage measurement value characteristic of the coin being checked, transforming such measurement value into a Yes/No response, at least partially storing the thus obtained response, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coin to determine whether the coin has generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, and wherein the indirect measuring operation comprises the steps of passing the coins in front of a measuring location to obtain a wave-shaped increase or decrease of an amplitude value, providing a response threshold value at each side of a desired peak value of said amplitude value which is typical for the coin desired to be checked in order to measure the peak value of one of each wave, logically coupling with one another both response threshold values such that only the response of one threshold value generates a signal, the response of both threshold values eliminates the presence of any signal, and the evaluation step comprises evaluating a pulse train resulting upon crossover of one or both pulse threshold values, which is limited to a maximum of two pulses.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon the coins to be checked, obtaining electrical signals by virtue of the measuring operation characteristic of the coins undergoing checking, at least partially storing the thus obtained electrical signals, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coins to determine whether the coins have generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, and further including the step of utilizing a single transistor having an operating range between saturation and blocking (A-operation), and wherein there is undertaken the steps of superimposing a high frequency voltage of low amplitude upon a rectified starting voltage, amplifying such signal, and processing such signal via the transistor so as to obtain pulse-like information.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon the coins to be checked, obtaining electrical signals by virtue of the measuring operation characteristic of the coins undergoing checking, at least partially storing the thus obtained electrical signals, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coins to determine whether the coins have generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, and further including the step of utilizing a single transistor having an operating range between saturation and blocking (A-operation), and wherein there is undertaken the steps of superimposing a high frequency voltage of low amplitude upon a rectified starting voltage, amplifying such signal, and processing such signal via the transistor so as to obtain pulse-like information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 2, including the step of increasing the range of the A-operation determined by the specific characteristics of the transistor to increase the ''''window width'''' of a voltage discriminator by suitably selecting the amplitude of the superimposed high frequency voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 2, including the step of increasing said ''''window width'''' through the use of a counter-coupling circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as defined in claim 3, including the step of delivering an auxilliary voltage to the voltage discriminator in order to fix the voltage related position of the A-operation of the transistor in a voltage discriminator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as defined in claim 2, including the step of at least partially employing a predetermined minimum through-passage speed of the coins for carrying out the measuring operation, and generating a rectified high-frequency evaluation pulse possessing a certain flank steepness which is dependent upon the through-passage speed of the coins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as defined in claim 6, including the step of influencing the travelling speed of ferromagnetic coins by at least one magnet, and employing the thus influenced travelling speed at least partially as the criteria for the acceptance or rejection of a coin.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon the coins to be checked, obtaining electrical signals by virtue of the measuring operation characteristic of the coins undergoing checking, at least partially storing the thus obtained electrical signals, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coins to determine whether the coins have generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, and wherein the measuring operation step is undertaken as a damping measurement, energizing a sorting mechanism upon exceeding an upper voltage threshold value, and upon exceeding a second voltage threshold value removing the prior energization of the sorting mechanism.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon the coins to be checked, obtaining electrical signals by virtue of the measuring operation characteristic of the coins undergoing checking, at least partially storing the thus obtained electrical signals, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coins to determine whether the coins have generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, and wherein the measuring operation step is undertaken as a damping measurement, energizing a sorting mechanism upon exceeding an upper voltage threshold value, and upon exceeding a second voltage threshold value removing the prior energization of the sorting mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of energizing the sorting mechanism with a time delay upon exceeding the upper threshold value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the time delay for energizing the sorting mechanism is at least as great in magnitude as the time needed for passing through the upper and the lower voltage threshold values as a function of the speed of movement of the coin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 8, further including the step of using the cross-over of one of the threshold values for energizing a bistable mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of using the cross-over of one of the threshold values to operate a Schmitt-Trigger.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of using the cross-over of one of the threshold values to energize a steep threshold value amplifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 11, including the step of using the output signal of the lower threshold value to extinguish the signal at the output of the bistable mechanism of the upper threshold value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of interrupting a measuring circuit and/or an evaluation circuit for the duration of the response of a coin collecting mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of utilizing a comparative measuring technique wherein the initial attainment of a O-cross over is used with a time-delay for causing a coin collecting mechanism to respond provided that within the time-delay period there occurs a phaSe reversal which is opposite to the phase position determined during no-load.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon the coins to be checked, obtaining electrical signals by virtue of the measuring operation characteristic of the coins undergoing checking, at least partially storing the thus obtained electrical signals, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coins to determine whether the coins have generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, further including the step of using at least one measuring device for determining the genuineness of coins and a subsequently arranged electrically energizable coin collecting mechanism for certain coins, wherein the response of the collecting mechanism is only undertaken upon completion of the measuring operation by the measuring device, and without using time determining components occurs without delay and positively.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of electronically checking coins comprising the steps of performing an indirect measuring operation upon the coins to be checked, obtaining electrical signals by virtue of the measuring operation characteristic of the coins undergoing checking, at least partially storing the thus obtained electrical signals, completing the measuring operation, and evaluating the thus checked coins to determine whether the coins have generated a signal characteristic of the specific type of coin desired to be checked, further including the step of using at least one measuring device for determining the genuineness of coins and a subsequently arranged electrically energizable coin collecting mechanism for certain coins, wherein the response of the collecting mechanism is only undertaken upon completion of the measuring operation by the measuring device, and without using time determining components occurs without delay and positively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 17, including the step of utilizing the reoccurence of a no-load amplitude which has disappeared during a measuring operation for activating the coin collecting mechanism.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as defined in claim 18, including the step of using a number of measuring devices in a coin channel wherein the no-load amplitude of that measuring device which is situated closest to the coin collecting mechanism is used for energizing the coin collecting mechanism.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 17, further including the step of using a timing element for determining the reaction time of the coin collecting mechanism.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method as defined in claim 17, including the step of terminating activation of the coin collecting mechanism by a switch which is only then actuated by a collected coin of a number of different coins, while takang into account their different diameters, when the coin has entered the coin collecting mechanism to such an extent that it no longer prevents return of the coin collecting mechanism into its starting position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 17, including the step of using a switch which at least operates partially without contact, such switch effectuating the null-setting of the measuring device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of utilizing the switch for setting a flip-flop.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in claim 17, including the step of resetting measuring and evaluation circuits directly prior to the beginning of each operation performed upon a coin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined in claim 24, wherein resetting occurs by means of an amplitude sensitive switch which records slight changes of the no-load amplitude brought about by a coin travelling into the measuring location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3373856A
Cited
US3561580A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |