COIN DISCRIMINATION APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A sensor for discriminating coins, comprising:
- a magnetic core having first and second legs, each leg having a free end and a second end, said legs defining, respectively first and second generally opposed and spaced-apart faces and a bight region connecting said second ends of said first and second legs;
a low frequency winding coupled to a first portion of said bight region; and
a high frequency winding coupled to said core, wherein said high frequency winding is closer to at least one of said free ends than is said low frequency winding.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coin discrimination apparatus and method is provided. Coins, preferably after cleaning, e.g. using a trommel, are singulated by a coin pickup assembly configured to reduce jamming. A coin rail assists in providing separation between coins as they travel past a sensor. The sensor provides an oscillating electromagnetic field generated on a single sensing core. The oscillating electromagnetic field is composed of one or more frequency components. The electromagnetic field interacts with a coin, and these interactions are monitored and used to classify the coin according to its physical properties. All frequency components of the magnetic field are phase-locked to a common reference frequency. The phase relationships between the various frequencies are fixed, and the interaction of each frequency component with the coin can be accurately determined without the need for complicated electrical filters. In one embodiment, a sensor having a core, preferably ferrite, which is curved, such as in a U-shape or in the shape of a section of a torus, and defining a gap, is provided with a wire winding for excitation and/or detection. The sensor can be used for simultaneously obtaining data relating to two or more parameters of a coin or other object, such as size and conductivity of the object. Two or more frequencies can be used to sense core and/or cladding properties. Objects recognized as acceptable coins, using the sensor data, are diverted by a controllable deflecting door, to tubes for delivery to acceptable coin bins.
109 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sensor for discriminating coins, comprising:
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a magnetic core having first and second legs, each leg having a free end and a second end, said legs defining, respectively first and second generally opposed and spaced-apart faces and a bight region connecting said second ends of said first and second legs; a low frequency winding coupled to a first portion of said bight region; and a high frequency winding coupled to said core, wherein said high frequency winding is closer to at least one of said free ends than is said low frequency winding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A coin-handling apparatus comprising:
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a first region for receiving a plurality of coins of a plurality of denominations in random orientation; means for singulating at least some of said plurality of coins and transporting along a path toward at least a first sensing location; at least a first sensor for receiving at least a first driving signal, for driving said sensor and providing sensor output, said sensor output including at least a first signal, said output being indicative of at least a first low-frequency coin characteristic and a second high-frequency coin characteristic; circuitry coupled to said at least first sensor for receiving at least said sensor output and outputting at least a second signal indicative of whether a sensed object is an acceptable coin. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21-26. -26. (canceled)
Specification