Coin handling apparatus and methods of determining information r

Details Coin handling apparatus and methods of determining information r Coin handling apparatus and methods of determining information r

1995-08-25

1997-07-29

Bartuska, F. J.

Check-actuated control mechanisms

Including means to test validity of check

By testing material composition

367127, G07D 500

Patent

active

056514441

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to coin handling apparatus, and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with apparatus of the type incorporating a coin validator for determining authenticity of coins, and a coin routing device for directing coins along alternative paths, for example to a reject slot or coin storage location, in dependence upon the output of the coin validator.
in such apparatus it is often desirable to determine the position of a coin within the apparatus. It is well known to provide sensors, e.g. optical, inductive, or piezoelectric, each of which detects when a coin reaches a particular position within the apparatus. See, e.g. EP-A-0 470 587. Typically, several such sensors are provided. The use of such sensors increases the cost of the apparatus, and adds to the difficulty of assembly as a result of both the need to position the sensors accurately and the requirement to provide connecting leads.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of determining which route out of a plurality of alternative routes has been taken by a coin travelling through a coin handling apparatus, the method comprising examining the output of a single sensor responsive to vibrations produced by coin impacts at a plurality of positions throughout the apparatus, and providing a signal indicative of the route taken in dependence upon the nature of said output.
It has been found that a single sensor, e.g. a piezoelectric sensor, mounted on a coin handling apparatus can pick up vibrations produced by coin impacts at different positions within the apparatus, and the pattern of the output of the sensor will differ depending upon the route taken by the coin. In this way, it is possible to use a single sensor where previously two or more were required. (It is to be noted that the term "single" is used to indicate that the apparatus has at least one sensor which can detect impacts at least two different positions; it would be possible to provide one or more additional sensors if desired, or if necessary to detect impacts at further positions.) This could be achieved by examining just the pattern of the output of the sensor. Alternatively, or additionally, if the nature of the impact vibrations, e.g. the frequency and/or amplitude response thereof, varies in dependence on the position of impact, the vibration characteristics can be examined also.
The invention also extends to coin handling apparatus including control means operable to perform the method of the invention. For example, there may be a routing means which directs valid coins to a coin storage location, and which as a result of the insertion of such valid coins issues a credit signal enabling the dispensing of products or the performing of services by a machine. A known fraud technique in such apparatus involves causing an inserted valid coin to be directed to a reject path where it is returned to the user, instead of to the coin storage location. In accordance with the present invention, a coin handling apparatus may include a control means which detects the routing of the coin using a method referred to above, and cancels the credit when it is found that the coin has been directed to the reject path.
The credit signal is often generated in response to the coin passing what is known as the "post-gate sensor", which is located downstream of the accept gate through which pass coins deemed to be valid. In an arrangement of the invention, the routing detection technique described above could be used to trigger the credit signal when a coin is determined to have taken the accept path. However, for added reliability, it is preferred that the post-gate sensor be retained, and for the credit signal to be triggered in response either to the post-gate sensor alone, or to a combination of an output from the post-gate sensor and an indication from the routing-detection arrangement that the coin has taken the accept path.
In addition, or alternatively, the arrangement is pr

REFERENCES:
patent: 1741978 (1929-12-01), Courtney
patent: 4392214 (1983-07-01), Marini et al.
patent: 5085309 (1992-02-01), Adamson et al.
patent: 5092816 (1992-03-01), Levasseur

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