Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including means to test validity of check – By testing material composition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-17
2001-06-26
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including means to test validity of check
By testing material composition
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250453
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting a coin, and more particularly to a method and a device for detecting a coin which can detect the existence of a coin in vending machines, game machines and the like by a simple structure without making any adjustment.
BACKGROUND ART
Vending machines, game machines and the like are provided with a device for detecting the presence of coins (including not only coins used as money but also coin-type tokens for game machines, etc.). This device is used for example to detect the existence of coins in a cylinder for storing change in a coin processor of a vending machine, and the detection by the device is made by various methods.
The method of detecting a coin includes an optical method as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,718. This method uses a light emitting device and a photodetector which are mounted in the neighborhood of a coin-storing cylinder and detects that light is blocked by the coins stored in the cylinder.
Another method detects the existence of a coin by a proximity switch which has a coil as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,003.
Now, detection of the presence of change by a coil in the coin processor used for the vending machine or the like will be described.
FIG. 12
is front diagram schematically showing coin processor.
In
FIG. 12
, a coin processor
560
has a coin insertion port
561
for receiving a coin
531
, coin passages
562
(
562
a
to
562
d
) for rolling and transporting the coin
531
inserted from the coin insertion port
561
, a coin inspection unit
563
located near the coin passage
562
a
for judging whether the coin passing through the coin passage
562
a
is real or not and its money type, a dividing unit
564
for guiding a counterfeit coin from a counterfeit coin passage (not shown) to a return port (not shown) based on the judgement made by the coin inspection unit
563
and guiding a true coin to one of the coin passages
562
b
to
562
d
according to its money type, and a coin storing unit
530
for storing coins according to their money types.
The coin storing unit
530
comprises three cylinders
530
a
to
530
c
so that a maximum of three types of coins can be stored. The cylinders
530
a
to
530
c
are provided with coils
501
a
to
501
c
respectively.
FIG. 13
is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A′ of the coin processor
560
shown in FIG.
12
.
As shown in
FIG. 13
, the coils
501
a
to
501
c
are arranged in the neighborhood of the cylinders
530
a
to
530
c
respectively to detect the presence of coins in the cylinders when the number of coins is at least a predetermined number.
FIG. 14
is a diagram showing a circuit structure for detecting the presence of coins by means of the coils
501
a
to
501
c.
The coil
501
a
(L
51
) is connected with an oscillation unit
504
a
as shown in FIG.
14
and then with a comparison judgment circuit
507
a
and a reference value circuit
508
a
via the oscillation unit
504
a
. In the same manner, the coil
501
b
(L
52
) is connected with an oscillation unit
504
b
and then with a comparison judgment circuit
507
b
and a reference value circuit
508
b
via the oscillation unit
504
b
. Coil
501
c
(L
53
) is connected with an oscillation unit
504
c
and then with a comparison judgment circuit
507
c
and a reference value circuit
508
c
via the oscillation unit
504
c.
In the configuration described above, the coil
501
a
(
501
b
,
501
c
) is excited at a fixed frequency by the operation of the oscillation unit
504
a
(
504
b
,
504
c
). When a coin approaches the coil
501
a
(
501
b
,
501
c
), an inductance L
1
(L
2
, L
3
) of the coil changes (including changes of impedance (R+j&ohgr;L) and Q(&ohgr;L/R)), resulting in varying an oscillation frequency. The comparison judgment circuit
507
a
(
507
b
,
507
c
) compares the oscillation frequency with a reference value generated by the reference value circuit
508
a
(
508
b
,
508
c
) to detect the presence
510
a
(
510
b
,
510
c
) of the coin.
Of the above-mentioned conventional technologies, the optical type can be configured relatively easily but has a drawback that, for example, dust or the like adheres to cause malfunction.
Meanwhile, the one using a coil is extensively used because it is resistant against dust or the like. But, an inspection circuit which contains the oscillation circuit and the like is needed for each coil and becomes complex. Besides, it is necessary to differentiate the oscillation frequency of each circuit to avoid the interference between the coils. It is also necessary to make the temperature compensation of the inspection circuits individually because the oscillation frequency is different in each inspection circuit.
Thus, in the conventional technology using the coil, two or more inspection circuits are necessary and such circuits must be adjusted individually. Therefore, the circuits become complex, and the number of parts increases. And the manufacture and adjustment of the circuits become complex and expensive.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a device for detecting a coin, which can be achieved by a simple circuit structure which has no interference between circuits and excels in extendibility.
In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention of claim
1
is a method of detecting a coin, which comprises steps of:
arranging coils corresponding to a plurality of coin detecting positions;
selectively connecting the plurality of coils to an oscillation circuit which has the coils as circuit structure elements; and
detecting coins to be detected at the plurality of coin detecting positions in view of a change in oscillation output from the oscillation circuit as the coins to be detected approach the coils.
The invention of claim
2
relates to the invention according to claim
1
, wherein the plurality of coils are sequentially switched to connect to the oscillation circuit.
The invention of claim
3
relates to the invention according to claim
1
, wherein the oscillation output is converted into a digital signal, the converted digital signal is compared with a predetermined value, and the coins to be detected are detected based on the comparison result.
The invention of claim
4
relates to the invention according to claim
3
, wherein the predetermined value is switched according to the coil-to be connected.
The invention of claim
5
relates to the invention according to claim
1
, wherein the change in the oscillation output is a change in the output level of the oscillation circuit.
The invention of claim
6
relates to the invention according to claim
1
, wherein the change in the oscillation output is a stop of the oscillation of the oscillation circuit.
The invention of claim
7
relates to the invention according to claim
1
, wherein the oscillation circuit has a positive feedback type amplifier and a capacitor and oscillates by connecting the coil with the capacitor in parallel, and the frequency of the oscillation is a resonance frequency of the oscillation circuit.
The invention of claim
8
relates to the invention according to claim
1
, wherein the oscillation circuit comprises an amplifier which has positive feedback with a resistor and a first capacitor connected in series and a second capacitor and oscillates by connecting the coil to the second capacitor in parallel, and the frequency of the oscillation is a frequency based on an amplification factor of the amplifier and a resonance frequency of the positive feedback and the oscillation circuit.
The invention of claim
9
relates to the invention according to claim
1
, wherein the coil is arranged together with the capacitor connected to the coil in parallel, and the coil and the capacitor are selectively connected with the oscillation circuit.
The invention of claim
10
relates to the invention according to any of claims
1
to
9
, wherein the coil is wound around a core having a magnetic core, and the core is protruded from the coil.
Th
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Jaketic Bryan
Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
Olszewski Robert P.
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