US4361218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coin testing apparatus
Assignee: Mars Inc
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Filing: 1980-03-26
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Granted: 1982-11-30
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Expires: 2000-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A coin testing apparatus (10) comprises a coin passageway, a coin track (13) along which coins pass on their edges through the coin passageway and an inductor (16) adjacent the coin passageway. The inductor is connected in an oscillating circuit (40) so that the inductor (16) produces an oscillating magnetic field in the coin passageway. The frequency of the oscillating circuit is measured using a counter (41). A number representative of the idle frequency is stored in register (44). When a coin passes the inductor (16), the apparatus (10) detects whether the resulting frequency shift corresponds to the shift for an acceptable coin by comparing the difference between the number stored in register (44) and the number stored in counter (41) with a number previously stored in memory (48). The inductor (16) is oblong and has its major axis perpendicular to the track so that the arrangement is sensitive to variations in diameter over a large range of diameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaas P. Van Dort
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:34
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A multidenomination coin testing apparatus for performing a diameter sensitive test on coins, said apparatus having a relatively high sensitivity to variations in coin diameter over a relatively large range of coin diameters, said apparatus comprising a coin passageway, a coin track along which coins pass on their edges and substantially in a predetermined plane through the coin passageway, and inductive coin examining means arranged to produce an oscillating magnetic field in the coin passageway and to respond to the interaction between a coin travelling in the passageway and the oscillating magnetic field, the coin examining means including an inductor adjacent the coin passageway connected in a coin acceptability testing circuit arranged to determine whether the interaction corresponds to the interaction for an acceptable coin, the inductor comprising a coil which is oblong, has the major axis of its oblong shape substantially parallel with said plane and transverse to the path of a coin along the track, is located alongside the passageway, and has the axis of the magnetic field directed through said plane, the inductor being arranged with the lower edge of its coil spaced above the coin track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A multidenomination coin testing apparatus for performing a diameter sensitive test on coins, said apparatus having a relatively high sensitivity to variations in coin diameter over a relatively large range of coin diameters, said apparatus comprising a coin passageway, a coin track along which coins pass on their edges and substantially in a predetermined plane through the coin passageway, and inductive coin examining means arranged to produce an oscillating magnetic field in the coin passageway and to respond to the interaction between a coin travelling in the passageway and the oscillating magnetic field, the coin examining means including an inductor adjacent the coin passageway connected in a coin acceptability testing circuit arranged to determine whether the interaction corresponds to the interaction for an acceptable coin, the inductor comprising a coil which is oblong, has the major axis of its oblong shape substantially parallel with said plane and transverse to the path of a coin along the track, is located alongside the passageway, and has the axis of the magnetic field directed through said plane, the inductor being arranged with the lower edge of its coil spaced above the coin track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparaus according to claim 1, wherein the inductor comprises a coil in a ferrite pot core and said coil is substantially oval with straight portions parallel to its major axis and a semi-circular portion joining the straight portions at each end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coil is in a similarly shaped groove in the pot core between a peripheral ferrite wall and an oval central pole piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inductor is so arranged that the smallest coin which the apparatus is required to accept overlaps the lower end of the central pole piece of the inductor when the coin is on the track adjacent the inductor and the largest coin which the apparatus is required to accept does not extend above the central pole piece of the inductor when it is on the track adjacent the inductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the peripheral wall at the bottom is 4.6 mm. above the track and at the top is 38.6 mm. above the track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the inductor is less than 15 mm., and the top is at least 33 mm., above the track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oscillator circuit oscillates at a frequency above 75 kHz, in order that the oscillating magnetic field is concentrated mainly at the surface of the coin under test.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the oscillating circuit has a normal oscillating frequency of 600-700 kHz in the absence of a coin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for examining the interaction of the coin with the magnetic field comprise means for sensing the frequency of the oscillator when a coin passes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for determining whether the interaction corresponds to that for an acceptable coin comprises a comparator which compares a value representative of the maximum frequency with a maximum value for an acceptable coin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the comparator compares said representative value with a plurality of maximum value bands for respective acceptable coins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the comparator compares the instantaneous frequency of the oscillator sequentially with a plurality of stored values which, in turn, define the lower and upper limits of maximum value bands for respective acceptable coins, and means is provided for recognising which of the stored values is the highest reached by the instantaneous frequency or frequency shift, this being indicative of whether or not the maximum lies within an acceptable coin band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for examining the interaction of the coin with the magnetic field comprise means for sensing the frequency shift of the oscillator when a coin passes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the means for determining whether the interaction corresponds to that for an acceptable coin comprises a comparator which compares a value representative of the maximum shift in frequency with a maximum value for an acceptable coin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the comparator compares said representative value with a plurality of maximum value bands for respective acceptable coins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the comparator compares the instantaneous frequency shift of the oscillator sequentially with a plurality of stored values which, in turn, define the lower and upper limits of maximum value bands for respective acceptable coins, and means are provided for recognising which of the stored values is the highest reached by the instantaneous frequency of frequency shift, this being indicative of whether or not the maximum lies within an acceptable coin band.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-05-31 | 1986-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-29 | 1990-05-31 | 1990-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-29 | 1994-05-31 | 1994-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |