Coin discriminating apparatus

Claim 2

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detector means comprises: a coin passage switch disposed above said mechanical filter mechanism along said coin passageway; an amplifier connected to said coin passage switch; and a Schmitt trigger connected to said amplifier.

Claim 4

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said coin passageway comprises an inclined coin passageway portion inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and a vertical plane passing therethrough, wherein said pressure sensitive senser comprises a piezo-electric element and a semi-spherical tip made of a synthetic resinous material and attached to the top of said piezo-electric element, said tip being adapted to cooperate with said stopper to hold at two points the coin when said stopper is projected into said inclined coin passageway portion.

Claim 5

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said coin passageway comprises an inclined coin passageway portion inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and a vertical plane passing therethrough, wherein said pressure sensitive senser comprises a piezo-electric element and a semi-spherical tip made of a synthetic resinous material and attached to the top of said piezo-electric element, said tip being adapted to cooperate with said stopper to hold at two points the coin when said stopper is projected into said inclined coin passageway portion.

Claim 6

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said selective oscillator circuit comprises: a series circuit of a first gate and a limiter interposed in said positive feedback loop; a series circuit of a phase inverter and a second gate connected in parallel to said first gate: an astable multivibrator which is energized with the starting signal generated by said coin detector means so as alternately to open and close both gates; and means for locking the astable multivibrator into a state at which the feedback phase of the selective oscillator circuit is positive.

Claim 7

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said selective oscillator circuit comprises: a series circuit of a first gate and a limiter interposed in said positive feedback loop; a series circuit of a phase inverter and a second gate connected in parallel to said first gate: an astable multivibrator which is energized with the starting signal generated by said coin detector means so as alternately to open and close both gates; and means for locking the astable multivibrator into a state at which the feedback phase of the selective oscillator circuit is positive.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, including a monostable multivibrator interposed between said coin detector means and said astable multivibrator.

Claim 9

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said selective oscillator circuit comprises at least one cascade connection circuit interposed in the positive feedback loop, said cascade connection circuit including a phase shift circuit, a limiter, a band phase filter and an impedance converter.

Claim 10

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said selective oscillator circuit comprises at least one cascade connection circuit interposed in the positive feedback loop, said cascade connection circuit including a phase shift circuit, a limiter, a band phase filter and an impedance converter.

Claim 11

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, including a collation processing timer connected to said coin detector.

Claim 12

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, including a collation processing timer connected to said coin detector.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said one cycle selector comprises an AND circuit connected to said selective oscillator, a main flip-flop connected to the AND circuit, and a sub flip-flop connected to the main flip-flop said main and sub flip-flops capable of being preset by the output of said collation processing timer and said AND circuit capable of being opened by the reverse output of the sub flip-flop.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 7, including an AND circuit connected to said collation processing timer for producing a collation ending signal for exciting a stopper solenoid, said AND circuit being opened by the reverse output of the one cycle selector.

Claim 15

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, including a definite oscillation discriminator comprising an AND circuit and a rectifier circuit interposed between the both inputs of said AND circuit, said definite oscillation discriminator being interposed between said selective oscillator and said cycle selector.

Claim 16

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, including a definite oscillation discriminator comprising an AND circuit and a rectifier circuit interposed between the both inputs of said AND circuit, said definite oscillation discriminator being interposed between said selective oscillator and said cycle selector.

Claim 17

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said means for determining whether or not the number of pulses is within a predetermined range comprises counter means having at least one ring counter at and at least one decoder unit connected to said ring counter, at least one OR circuits having a pair of input terminals connected to any pair of a plurality of output terminals of said at least one decoder unit corresponding to a leading value and a trailing value of a predetermined range of values allowable for the cycle of the natural frequency of one of more than two types of coins being deemed a genuine coin in circulation, and at least one descriminating flip-flop connected to one of said OR circuits and disposed posterior thereto.

Claim 18

A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin detector means for sensing a coin fed to the apparatus and for producing a starting signal; a mechanical filter mechanism including a speaker, a pressure sensitive senser, a horizontally and vertically inclined passageway for said coin, a stopper for projection into said passageway, said coin fed to the apparatus being held between said speaker and said senser in said passageway by said stopper as said coin rolls down said passageway; a selective oscillator circuit having a positive feedback loop connected in series with said senser and speaker in which said mechanical filter mechanism is interposed to generate an oscillation output at the same frequency as the mechanical natural frequency of the coin fed to the apparatus; a one cycle selector circuit connected to said selective oscillator circuit adapted to take out one period of the oscillation frequency generated at said selective oscillator circuit; means connected to said one cycle selector circuit for producing impulses whose number depends on the wave length of said one period each time a coin is fed to the apparatus; and means connected to said means for producing impulses for determining whether the number of said impulses is within a range predetermined by a genuine coin to be discriminated, wherein said means for determining whether or not the number of pulses is within a predetermined range comprises counter means having at least one ring counter at and at least one decoder unit connected to said ring counter, at least one OR circuits having a pair of input terminals connected to any pair of a plurality of output terminals of said at least one decoder unit corresponding to a leading value and a trailing value of a predetermined range of values allowable for the cycle of the natural frequency of one of more than two types of coins being deemed a genuine coin in circulation, and at least one descriminating flip-flop connected to one of said OR circuits and disposed posterior thereto.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 11, including a collation processing timer connected to said coin detector, a first AND circuit connected to said collation processing timer and the reverse output of said one cycle selector, and at least one AND circuit connected to one of the discriminating flip-flops and to said first AND circuit.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 11, including a collation processing timer connected to said coin detector, a first AND circuit connected to said collation processing timer and the reverse output of said one cycle selector, a second AND circuit connected to each of the reverse outputs of the discriminating flip-flops and to said first AND circuit, and a discrimination solenoid excited by the output of said second AND circuit to introduce a coin into a return port through a branch passageway.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 11, including AND circuits each interposed between one of said OR circuits and one of said discriminating flip-flops, a flip-flop connected to said coin detector to gate said AND circuits corresponding to the difference between perforated and non-perforated coins fed to the apparatus.