Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including means to test validity of check – Having means to test surface configuration
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-14
2002-11-26
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including means to test validity of check
Having means to test surface configuration
C194S328000, C194S317000, C382S136000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484865
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coin discriminating apparatus and, in particular, to a coin discriminating apparatus for reliably discriminating whether or not coins are acceptable, whether or not coins are damaged to higher than a predetermined level and the denominations of coins by optically detecting coin surface patterns.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Conventionally, it is discriminated whether or not coins are acceptable, namely, whether coins are genuine or counterfeit and whether or not coins are current coins by detecting the diameter, material, thickness and the like of the coins. However, a coin discriminating apparatus for discriminating coins by optically detecting coin surface patterns has been recently proposed in order to improve the discriminating accuracy.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-36661 proposes a coin discriminating apparatus which is provided with a magnetic sensor disposed in a coin passage for detecting magnetic properties of coins, a number of light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes for projecting light onto coins being transported on a transparent passage portion formed in the coin passage from the lower portion and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) for photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the light emitting elements and reflected by the surface of a coin and discriminates whether or not coins are acceptable and the denominations of coins based on image pattern data of coins photoelectrically detected by the CCD and digitized.
One side surface of Euro coins issued following by the currency unification in Europe is formed with a common pattern for each denomination and the other side surface thereof is formed with a pattern which differs depending upon countries issuing Euro coins. Therefore, when Euro coins are required to be classified in accordance with issuing countries of Euro coins in the Federal Banks or the like, since the above-mentioned coin discriminating apparatus discriminates coins by optically only surface patterns of one side of coins, it is impossible to classify Euro coins in accordance with issuing countries of Euro coins.
Further, since the above-mentioned coin discriminating apparatus discriminates coins by optically only surface patterns of one side of coins, even when the coin side surface whose pattern is not detected is damaged to higher than a predetermined level, such a coin cannot be discriminated as a damaged coin.
Moreover, in the case where a surface pattern of one side of a coin is detected by projecting light onto one surface of the coin being transported in a coin passage, it is impossible to detect a surface pattern of the other surface of the coin even when the other surface of the coin is irradiated with light, because a transporting belt for pressing the coin onto the surface of the coin passage and transporting it abuts against the other surface of the coin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin discriminating apparatus capable of discriminating whether or not coins are acceptable and the denominations of coins with high accuracy even when the coins have a common pattern on one side surface thereof but a different pattern on the other side surface thereof like Euro coins.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin discriminating apparatus capable of discriminating whether or not coins are damaged to higher than a predetermined level with high accuracy.
The above and other objects of the present invention can be accomplished by a coin discriminating apparatus comprising a coin passage member for supporting a lower surface of a coin, a first transporting belt disposed above the coin passage member adapted for forming a coin passage between the coin passage member and itself and holding the coin between the coin passage member and itself, thereby transporting it, a first light source for emitting light via a first transparent passage portion formed in the coin passage. member toward the lower surface of the coin being transported on the coin passage member, first light receiving means for photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the first light source and reflected from the lower surface of the coin via the first transparent portion and producing image pattern data of the lower surface of the coin, a second transporting belt for supporting the lower surface of the coin, a coin passage forming member disposed above the second transporting belt for forming the coin passage between the lower surface thereof and the second transporting belt and holding the coin between the lower surface thereof and the second, transporting belt, thereby transporting it, a second light source for emitting light via a second transparent passage portion formed in the coin passage forming member toward an upper surface of the coin being supported and transported by the second transporting belt, second light receiving means for photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the second light source and reflected from the upper surface of the coin via the second transparent portion and producing image pattern data of the upper surface of the coin, first pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the lower surface of the coin produced by the first light receiving means, second pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the upper surface of the coin produced by the second light receiving means, reference pattern data storing means for storing reference pattern data of coins of each denomination, discriminating means for comparing the image pattern data of the lower surface of the coin stored in the first pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of coins of each denomination stored in the reference pattern data storing means and comparing the image pattern data of the upper surface of the coin stored in the second pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of coins of each denomination stored in the reference pattern data storing means, thereby discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin.
According to the present invention, in the region of the first light source, a coin is transported while it is being pressed onto the upper surface of the first transparent passage portion formed in the coin passage member by the first transporting belt and is irradiated via the first transparent portion with light emitted from the first light source disposed below the coin passage member and light reflected from the lower surface of the coin is photoelectrically detected by the first light receiving means, thereby producing pattern data of the lower surface of the coin. Further, the coin is transported while the lower surface thereof is being supported by the second transporting belt so that it is being pressed onto the lower surface of the coin passage forming member provided above the second transporting belt and is irradiated via the second transparent passage portion formed in the coin passage forming member with light emitted from the second light source disposed above the coin passage forming member and light reflected from the upper surface of the coin is photoelectrically detected by the second light receiving means, thereby producing pattern data of the upper surface of the coin. Therefore, it is possible to detect optical patterns of both surfaces of a coin in a desired manner while the coin is being transported, and discriminate, based on the thus obtained pattern data of both surfaces of the coin, whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the discriminating means discriminates whether or not a coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin by comparing the image pattern data of the lower surface of the coin stored in the first pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of coins of each denomination stored in the reference pattern data storing means and comparing the imag
Arikawa Junichi
Hibari Eiko
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Laurel Bank Machines Co. Ltd.
Shapiro Jeffrey A.
Walsh Donald P.
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