US5082099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for accepting two kinds of coins
Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-04-20
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Granted: 1992-01-21
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Expires: 2010-04-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for accepting two kinds of coins comprises a coin diameter discriminating passage unit having a coin passage adapted for discriminating diameters of coins and being openable downwards for dropping an unacceptable coin from the coin passage, a vertically extending coin returning chute arranged below the coin diameter discriminating passage unit for receiving the unacceptable coin dropped therefrom and two coin material discriminating units arranged at both sides of the coin returning chute, respectively. The coin diameter discriminating passage unit has two opposed side outlets adapted for introducing acceptable coins into the respective coin material discriminating units. Thus, the apparatus has a reduced width and thickness and a high flexibility owing to possibility of exchanging the coin diameter discriminating passage unit and/or the coin material discriminating unit for various kinds of coins.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Abe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:24
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D3/00; G07D5/00; G07D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for receiving larger and smaller diameter coins and discriminating them to identify unacceptable coins, larger diameter acceptable coins, and smaller diameter acceptable coins, comprising: a front plate having upper and lower portions, a coin inlet in said upper portion and a coin returning outlet opening in said lower portion; a coin diameter discriminating passage unit, a portion of which is adapted for discriminating diameters of coins inserted into said coin inlet and which is operable to form a downward opening for dropping an unacceptable larger or smaller diameter coin from said portion, said unit including an outlet end with two opposed side outlets for discharging acceptable diameter coins, and a vertically extending coin returning chute arranged below the coin diameter discriminating passage unit for receiving the unacceptable diameter coin dropped therefrom and for delivering the unacceptable coin to the coin returning outlet; two coin material discriminating units arranged at opposite sides of the coin returning chute, respectively, one of the two opposed side outlets introducing the larger acceptable coins received from said coin diameter discriminating passage unit into one of the coin material discriminating units and the other of the two opposed side outlets introducing the smaller acceptable coin into the other of said coin material discriminating units; and said front plate, coin diameter discriminating passage unit, coin returning chute and two coin material discriminating units being integrally connected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for receiving larger and smaller diameter coins and discriminating them to identify unacceptable coins, larger diameter acceptable coins, and smaller diameter acceptable coins, comprising: a front plate having upper and lower portions, a coin inlet in said upper portion and a coin returning outlet opening in said lower portion; a coin diameter discriminating passage unit, a portion of which is adapted for discriminating diameters of coins inserted into said coin inlet and which is operable to form a downward opening for dropping an unacceptable larger or smaller diameter coin from said portion, said unit including an outlet end with two opposed side outlets for discharging acceptable diameter coins, and a vertically extending coin returning chute arranged below the coin diameter discriminating passage unit for receiving the unacceptable diameter coin dropped therefrom and for delivering the unacceptable coin to the coin returning outlet; two coin material discriminating units arranged at opposite sides of the coin returning chute, respectively, one of the two opposed side outlets introducing the larger acceptable coins received from said coin diameter discriminating passage unit into one of the coin material discriminating units and the other of the two opposed side outlets introducing the smaller acceptable coin into the other of said coin material discriminating units; and said front plate, coin diameter discriminating passage unit, coin returning chute and two coin material discriminating units being integrally connected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the coin diameter discriminating passage unit portion includes two parallel spaced side plates one of which is fixed and the other is movable and an inclined coin guide rail positioned between the side plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable side plate is held in a normally open position by means of a spring and is movable to a closed position by a selectably energizable electromagnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein said movable side plate has an inner guide surface, an opening, and a coin diameter checking plate which extends parallel to the coin guide rail, the fixed and movable side plates being inclined at an angle to the vertical so as to cause a passing coin to lean against the inner guide surface of the movable side plate, the checking plate having upper and lower coin guide surfaces for guiding the upper edges of the respective larger and smaller acceptable coins rolling on the guide rail, the upper guide surface being substantially coplanar with the inner guide surface of the movable side plate, and the lower guide surface being spaced from the upper guide surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the two opposed side outlets include a larger side outlet in the movable side plate and a smaller side outlet in the fixed side plate, and the coin diameter discriminating passage unit includes an outlet rail aligned with the coin guide rail at the outlet end of the passage unit, the outlet rail having a larger acceptable coin guiding surface which is inclined so as to guide the larger acceptable coin toward the larger side outlet of said two opposed side outlets, the larger side outlet having a dimension sufficient to permit the larger acceptable coin to pass therethrough, and the outlet rail also having a smaller acceptable coin guiding surface which is inclined so as to guide the smaller acceptable coin toward the smaller side outlet of said two opposed side outlets, the smaller side outlet having a dimension, sufficient to permit only the smaller acceptable coin to pass therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the coin material discriminating units has: an inlet and an outlet at the respective upper and the lower ends thereof; a sensor for discriminating material of a coin; and a coin accumulating passage arranged for accumulating a plurality of coins; one of said coin material discriminating unit inlets being connected to one of the side outlets of the coin diameter discriminating passage unit.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for receiving larger and smaller diameter coins and discriminating them to identify unacceptable coins, larger diameter acceptable coins, and smaller diameter acceptable coins, comprising: a frame means having a coin inlet and a coin return outlet spaced below said inlet; a coin diameter discriminating unit mounted on said frame means, a portion of said unit being adapted for receiving coins from said inlet and discriminating their diameters, said portion being operable to form an unacceptable coin outlet, said unit comprising a central coin returning chute having opposite sides and mounted to receive and return said unacceptable coins to said coin returning outlet, and further comprising two spaced apart opposed side outlets, one of said side outlets discharging said larger acceptable diameter coins to one side of said central coin returning chute and the other of said side outlets discharging smaller acceptable diameter coins to the other side of said central coin returning chute; and two coin material discriminating units mounted on said frame means, one on each side of said coin returning chute, to receive said discharged acceptable large and small diameter coins, respectively.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for receiving larger and smaller diameter coins and discriminating them to identify unacceptable coins, larger diameter acceptable coins, and smaller diameter acceptable coins, comprising: a frame means having a coin inlet and a coin return outlet spaced below said inlet; a coin diameter discriminating unit mounted on said frame means, a portion of said unit being adapted for receiving coins from said inlet and discriminating their diameters, said portion being operable to form an unacceptable coin outlet, said unit comprising a central coin returning chute having opposite sides and mounted to receive and return said unacceptable coins to said coin returning outlet, and further comprising two spaced apart opposed side outlets, one of said side outlets discharging said larger acceptable diameter coins to one side of said central coin returning chute and the other of said side outlets discharging smaller acceptable diameter coins to the other side of said central coin returning chute; and two coin material discriminating units mounted on said frame means, one on each side of said coin returning chute, to receive said discharged acceptable large and small diameter coins, respectively.
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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) | 1995-01-20 | 1995-07-22 | 1996-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-20 | 1999-07-22 | 2000-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-20 | 2003-07-22 | 2004-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |