Coin processing machine and method for discriminating coins of varied composition, thickness, and diameter
First Claim
1. A coin processing machine for sorting a plurality of coins having different characteristics, comprising:
- a rotatable disc for imparting motion to said plurality of coins;
a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the rotatable disc, said lower surface forming a coin path leading to an exit station at which said coins are discharged;
a discrimination sensor for discriminating among said plurality of coins based on said characteristics of said coins, said sensor being located over said coin path and within said stationary sorting head, said sensor having a transmission coil and two reception coils, said transmission coil producing a magnetic field over a section of said coin path, said transmission coil being further adapted to receive a composite signal including a high frequency component and a low frequency component, said two reception coils being configured to detect signals that are indicative of said characteristics of each coin passing along said coin path, said characteristics including at least a coin composition, a coin thickness, and a coin diameter; and
a processor coupled to said discrimination sensor for selectively processing said coins in response to said signals received from said discrimination sensor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coin discrimination sensor having an excitation coil and two detector coils arranged to detect eddy currents in a passing coin. The excitation coil is provided a composite waveform formed by adding a low frequency signal (30 KHz) with a high frequency signal (480 KHz). The two detector coils are arranged at different distances from the passing coin, and are calibrated to eliminate the common-mode voltage when no coin is present. As a coin passes by the sensor, eddy currents are induced in the coin which result in phase and amplitude shifts in the low and high frequency components of the detector signal. The low and high frequency components are separated from the detector signal, and their respective phases and amplitudes are ascertained and compared against values stored in a lookup table. These values represent the composition, thickness, and diameter characteristics of known coins, and if the signature of the processed coin does not appear in the lookup table, it can be flagged as an invalid coin.
98 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A coin processing machine for sorting a plurality of coins having different characteristics, comprising:
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a rotatable disc for imparting motion to said plurality of coins;
a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the rotatable disc, said lower surface forming a coin path leading to an exit station at which said coins are discharged;
a discrimination sensor for discriminating among said plurality of coins based on said characteristics of said coins, said sensor being located over said coin path and within said stationary sorting head, said sensor having a transmission coil and two reception coils, said transmission coil producing a magnetic field over a section of said coin path, said transmission coil being further adapted to receive a composite signal including a high frequency component and a low frequency component, said two reception coils being configured to detect signals that are indicative of said characteristics of each coin passing along said coin path, said characteristics including at least a coin composition, a coin thickness, and a coin diameter; and
a processor coupled to said discrimination sensor for selectively processing said coins in response to said signals received from said discrimination sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification