Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including means to test validity of check – Having means to test surface configuration
Patent
1995-07-14
1996-05-14
Bucci, David A.
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including means to test validity of check
Having means to test surface configuration
194344, G07D 502
Patent
active
055159605
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to coin sensing apparatus that has particular but not exclusive application to a post-acceptance coin sensor, for sensing that an acceptable coin is passing along a predetermined path, subsequent to validation thereof by a coin validator.
BACKGROUND
In a conventional multi-coin validator, coins pass along a path past at least one sensor coil energised to produce an inductive coupling with the coin. The degree of interaction between the coil and the coin can be used to discriminate between different coin denominations and fraudulent coins. An example of such a validator is described in our co-pending application PCT/GB92/00791.
After passing the inductive sensor(s) the coin passes towards a solenoid operated accept gate. If, as a result of the inductive test, the coin is determined to be of acceptable denomination, the accept gate is opened and the coin passes along an accept path. Alternatively, if the coin is determined to have non-acceptable characteristics, the gate remains closed and the coin is diverted to a reject path. Operation of the gate is controlled by a microprocessor in dependence upon the output of the sensor(s). In order positively to confirm that an acceptable coin has passed the accept gate into the accept path, a sensor is included in the accept path, which provides an output to the microprocessor so that, for example, the microprocessor can monitor the credit accumulated through the accept path.
This post-acceptance sensor in the accept path has hitherto been constituted by a further inductive sensor but recently, proposals have been made to use optical sensing arrangements in the accept path. It has previously been proposed to use a pair of infra-red sources each with an associated phototransistor mounted in a common wall of the accept path. When a coin passes along the accept path, its side surface reflects infra-red radiation from at least one of the sources to the detector(s) in order to enable the coin to be detected. Source-detector pairs are used in order to provide sensitivity over the entire width of the accept path which may be significantly wider than the diameter of the coin. However, on occasions, the optical sensing arrangement may not detect an acceptable coin, particularly small coins, due mainly to the angle at which the coins fall as they pass the sensors or the dullness of the coin's surface. Whilst it would be possible to increase the sensitivity of the system by increasing the power of the emitted infra-red radiation, a problem arises in that with increased power, significant levels of radiation are reflected from the opposite side wall of the accept path, towards the detectors, which degrades their performance, since the difference between the levels of radiation received by the detectors in the presence and absence of a coin is reduced by the increased level of reflection from the opposite side wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a solution to this problem which has particular, but not exclusive application to post-acceptance sensors.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided coin sensing apparatus including a coin sensing station; a path for coins, extending through the station, the path including a side wall; an optical source for directing radiation across the path towards the side wall; and an optical detector for detecting optical radiation returned thereto from the source by a coin when present at the sensing station, the side wall including an angled surface configuration which inhibits light incident thereon from the source from being returned to the detector by the side wall in the absence of a coin at the sensing station.
Preferably, the surface configuration consists of a plurality of facets arranged in an array so as to direct light incident thereon from the source in a direction away from the detector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example,
REFERENCES:
patent: 3978962 (1976-09-01), Gregory, Jr.
patent: 4277774 (1981-07-01), Fujii et al.
patent: 4298116 (1981-11-01), Niemeyer
patent: 4333557 (1982-06-01), Kozak
patent: 5236074 (1993-08-01), Gotaas
patent: 5383546 (1995-01-01), Mulder
Bucci David A.
Coin Controls Ltd.
Lowe Scott L.
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