Patent US3701405A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3701405A
Expired / Lapsed
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Coin selector utilizing a coin impeller
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-03
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1991-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A coin selector which utilizes a coin impeller is disclosed, the impeller comprising magnetic field means for accelerating the coin. Coin velocity sensing means located downstream from the coin impeller and associated circuitry serve to compare the coin''s acceptance ratio with predetermined values for acceptable coins.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy L Fougere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:10
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D9/00; C; C08; C08K; C08K7/00; C08K7/02; C08K7/04; C08K7/10; C08K7/12; G07D3/00; G07D5/00; G07D5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for determining the denomination of a coin comprising a coin passageway, means for admitting a coin to the passageway, an impeller of electrically conductive coins adjacent to the passageway, the impeller comprising means for generating a magnetic field traveling relative to a coin in the passageway, the generated magnetic field inducing eddy currents in the coin and interacting with the magnetic fields associated with the induced eddy currents to impel the coin in the direction of the traveling magnetic field, and means for examining a velocity related property of the coin after the coin has been exposed to at least a portion of the generated magnetic field.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for determining the denomination of a coin comprising a coin passageway, means for admitting a coin to the passageway, an impeller of electrically conductive coins adjacent to the passageway, the impeller comprising means for generating a magnetic field traveling relative to a coin in the passageway, the generated magnetic field inducing eddy currents in the coin and interacting with the magnetic fields associated with the induced eddy currents to impel the coin in the direction of the traveling magnetic field, and means for examining a velocity related property of the coin after the coin has been exposed to at least a portion of the generated magnetic field.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
114 words
A device for comparing characteristics of a coin with characteristics of a genuine coin of given denomination comprising a passageway for conducting the coin along a predetermined path, a magnetic field generator so positioned in proximity to the passageway that a coin in the passageway may be brought within its field, means associated with the generator to apply to a coin in the field a force having a component aligned with the path by moving the field relative to the passageway, and means for comparing a characteristic representative of the velocity of the coin which has been acted upon by the field with the corresponding characteristic of a genuine coin of the given denomination.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
114 words
A device for comparing characteristics of a coin with characteristics of a genuine coin of given denomination comprising a passageway for conducting the coin along a predetermined path, a magnetic field generator so positioned in proximity to the passageway that a coin in the passageway may be brought within its field, means associated with the generator to apply to a coin in the field a force having a component aligned with the path by moving the field relative to the passageway, and means for comparing a characteristic representative of the velocity of the coin which has been acted upon by the field with the corresponding characteristic of a genuine coin of the given denomination.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of determining the denomination of a coin comprising the steps of generating a traveling magnetic field, directing a coin to the magnetic field so that the field impels the coin in a desired direction, and examining a velocity related characteristic of the coin when the coin has been impelled.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of determining the denomination of a coin comprising the steps of generating a traveling magnetic field, directing a coin to the magnetic field so that the field impels the coin in a desired direction, and examining a velocity related characteristic of the coin when the coin has been impelled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the traveling magnetic field is generated by moving a plurality of magnets relative to the coin in the direction in which it is desired to impel the coin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 3 including the step of arresting the movement of the coin as the coin approaches the traveling magnetic field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 3 including the steps of arresting movement of a coin by impelling the coin in a first direction causing the coin to abut a stationary member and then impelling the coin in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the impeller is electrically operated and including the step of sensing the impeller coil temperature and regulating the impeller supply voltage as a function of the impeller coil temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the velocity related property is examined while the coin is under thE magnetic influence of the traveling magnetic field and including the step of varying the magnitude of the magnetic field by an amount based upon a predetermined program related to the denomination of the coin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the coin is impelled along an inclined track.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as defined in claim 3 including the steps of examining a chordal dimension of the coin, examining the velocity related characteristic while the coin is under the influence of the traveling magnetic field and comparing the coin''s chordal dimension and velocity related characteristic with predetermined values to determine the denomination of the coin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 10 including the step of varying the magnitude of the magnetic field by an amount based upon a predetermined program related to the denomination of the coin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the traveling magnetic field is generated by supplying a variable current to a plurality of longitudinally spaced coils such that the current through adjacent coils has a phase shift relationship.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the impeller is electrically operated and including the steps of sensing the current supplied to the impeller, producing a signal dependent upon a velocity related characteristic of a coin, comparing that signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins, and accounting for variations in the current from a predetermined standard during the comparison step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 12 including the steps of arresting the movement of the coin in said direction, sensing the arrival of a coin and supplying the variable current to the coils in response to a signal from the coin sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 14 including the steps of causing the coin to move in a first direction and abut against a stationary member and then impelling the coin in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
A device for determining the authenticity of a coin comprising a coin passageway having an entrance for the reception of a coin, a coin accelerating impeller adjacent to the passageway, the impeller comprising means for generating a magnetic field having a component traveling along a region of the passageway, the magnetic field component being arranged to impel a coin along the passageway, and means for examining a function dependent upon the velocity of the coin after the coin has passed through at least a portion of the region.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
88 words
A device for determining the authenticity of a coin comprising a coin passageway having an entrance for the reception of a coin, a coin accelerating impeller adjacent to the passageway, the impeller comprising means for generating a magnetic field having a component traveling along a region of the passageway, the magnetic field component being arranged to impel a coin along the passageway, and means for examining a function dependent upon the velocity of the coin after the coin has passed through at least a portion of the region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the coin passageway includes a coin support track having a slope greater than 0* and less than 5* to the horizontal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 16 including coin arrival sensing means for sensing the arrival of a coin in the device and means actuated by the arrival sensing means for actuating the impeller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 16 including means for reversing the direction in which the magnetic field travels.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 16 including a coin support across the passageway onto which a coin entering the device drops and a coin stop adjacent to the coin support, means for initially directing the entering coin toward the coin stop and means to impel the coin away from a position of rest against the coin stop toward the velocity dependent function examining means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as defined in claim 16 wherein the impeller is electrically operated and including means for regulating the impeller supply voltage as a function of the impeller temperature so that the impeller provides a relatively constant magnetic flux as the impeller temperature varies.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
86 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides an output signal related to the velocity of the coin while the coin is under the magnetic influence of the impeller, first circuit means for comparing the output signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins and for providing a resultanT signal indicative of the coin''s denomination, means sensitive to the resultant signal to modify the traveling magnetic field in order to spacially separate the coins in accordance with their velocity dependent function.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the coin passageway includes a coin support track adjacent to the impeller and wherein the impeller provides a magnetic field region across the passageway which varies in location height above the coin support track along at least a portion of the length of the coin support track.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
The device of claim 16 including means providing a first signal dependent upon the chordal dimension of the coin and wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides a second signal related to the velocity of the coin as the coin passes said examining means and means for comparing the first and second signals with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the impeller comprises at least one magnet having a component of motion in the direction in which it is desired to impel the coin.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 25 wherein the coin passageway includes a coin support track and wherein the magnet is arranged for rotation about an axis positioned with relation to the passageway as to dispose in proximity to the support track a magnetic field having a major component in the desired direction of coin travel along the support track.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
88 words
A device as defined in claim 16 wherein the impeller is electrically operated and wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides an output signal dependent upon the velocity of the coin as the coin passes the examining means and including a first circuit means for comparing the output signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins, means sensitive to the impeller current and operatively connected to the first circuit means to modify the operation of the first circuit means to compensate for variations in the impeller current.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device as defined in claim 27 wherein the examining means includes a pair of coin presence sensors and wherein the first circuit means includes a pulsating signal source, a pulse counter, and gate means for gating the pulsating signal to the counter in response to signal from the coin presence sensors, and wherein the pulsating signal source frequency is controlled by the impeller current sensitive means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the coin passageway includes a first coin support track adjacent to the coin accelerating impeller, said track sloping upwardly in the direction in which the magnetic field travels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 29 including a second coin support track and a second impeller adjacent to the second coin support track, the second coin support track and second impeller being located below one end of the first coin support track whereby coins leaving said one end of the first coin support track drop onto the second coin support track adjacent to the second impeller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 16 including means for arresting movement of the coin before the impeller impels the coin toward the velocity dependent function examining means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
80 words
The device of claim 31 wherein the movement arresting means includes a coin support across the passageway onto which the coin is directed, the coin support having an initial section inclining from one end thereof and a second section declining from the other end of the first section, a coin stop adjacent to said one end and means for directing a coin entering the device toward the initial section whereby the coin rests against the coin support and coin stop.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 32 wherein the inclining and declining sections are each at an angle of between 0.5* and 5* from horizontal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
83 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides an output signal related to the velocity of the coin, first circuit means for comparing the outPut signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins and for providing a resultant signal indicative of the coin''s denomination, means sensitive to the resultant signal to modify the velocity of the coin in order to spacially separate the coin from other coins examined in accordance with the differences in their velocity dependent functions.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 34 wherein the means sensitive to the resultant signal are arranged to further impel the coil an amount dependent upon the coin''s denomination.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 35 wherein the means sensitive to the resultant signal is arranged to impel the coin in a direction different from the coin''s direction when the coin is exposed to the velocity dependent function examining means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
55 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of coils spaced in the desired direction of coin travel and an electrical power source for supplying a variable current to the coils in a manner such that a phase shift relationship exists between adjacent coils providing a magnetic field traveling in one direction.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 37 including means for actuating the impeller at a predetermined point in the wave form of the variable current.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 37 wherein each of the coils are wound around a pole piece and are located on one side of the coin passageway and including magnetic shunt means on the side of the passageway opposite the coils.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 39 wherein the dimensions between two adjacent pole pieces is no greater than the diameter of the smallest coin which the device is designed to accept.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |