Low-power device for sorting tokens
First Claim
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1. A token-receiving machine equipped with a power-saving device for sequentially directing a first substantially disk-shaped token to one of a first path and a second path, the token-receiving machine comprising:
- A. a token chute for receiving said token;
B. a first token characteristic sensor, mounted adjacent to said token chute, said sensor producing a first sensor token signal influenced by a characteristic of said token;
C. a programmable microprocessor, connected to said sensor, said microprocessor programmed;
i. to compare said first sensor token signal with a predetermined criterion, to assert a token acceptance signal if said first sensor token signal meets said predetermined criterion, and otherwise to assert a token rejection signal,ii. to recall a quantity from a memory location, said quantity having a first value if an acceptance control signal was the last control signal asserted, said quantity having a second value if a rejection control signal was the last control signal asserted; and
iii. later to take one of the steps of;
a. if said token acceptance signal is asserted, and if said quantity has said second value, asserting said acceptance control signal and storing said first value in said memory location,b. if said token rejection signal is asserted, and if said quantity has said first value, asserting said rejection control signal and storing said second value in said memory location, andc. otherwise asserting neither said acceptance control signal nor said rejection control signal and making no change to said quantity stored in said memory location;
D. a gate, connected to said token receptacle, said gate comprising a barrier movable between a first stable position in which said gate directs said token to said first path and a second stable position in which said gate directs said token to said second path;
E. a DC motor having a first power connection and a second power connection, said motor equipped with a shaft, said first turnable in a first direction in response to a flow of current in said first power connection and out said second power connection, said shaft turnable in a second direction opposite to said first direction in response to a flow of current in said second power connection and out said first power connection;
F. a mechanical connection between said shaft and said barrier, said mechanical connection urging said barrier toward said first position when said shaft turns in said first direction and toward said second position when said shaft turns in said second direction;
G. a power control circuit having a first control signal input, a second control signal input, a first power output, and a second power output, said first control signal input receiving said acceptance control signal from said microprocessor, said second control signal input receiving said rejection control signal from said microprocessor, said first power output connected to said first power connection, said second power output connected to said second power connection, said power control circuit connected to a connection for higher potential and a connection for lower potential, said power control circuit operable to direct current in said first power connection and out said second power connection in response to the assertion of said first control signal and to direct current in said second power connection and out said first power connection in response to the assertion of said second control signal;
H. a timer connected to said microprocessor;
I. wherein said token chute further comprises;
i. a token insertion plate defining a slot sized to pass said token if said token has a diameter less than or equal to a predetermined diameter and a thickness less than or equal to a predetermined thickness,ii. a token insertion slot lever raisable from a lowered position to a raised position, andiii. a wake-up switch for asserting a wake-up signal if said token insertion slot lever is not in said lowered position; and
,J. wherein said microprocessor is further programmed to assert said second control signal, and to store said second value in said memory, if said first sensor token signal is not asserted within a predetermined interval of time after said wake-up signal is asserted.
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Abstract
A low power device for sorting tokens as part of a coin-operated meter is disclosed. The device sorts a token while it is falling under the influence of gravity and assures that a movable gate, which directs the token to one of two paths, is in the proper position before the token reaches the gate. Power to move the gate is used only when the position of the gate is to be changed.
69 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A token-receiving machine equipped with a power-saving device for sequentially directing a first substantially disk-shaped token to one of a first path and a second path, the token-receiving machine comprising:
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A. a token chute for receiving said token; B. a first token characteristic sensor, mounted adjacent to said token chute, said sensor producing a first sensor token signal influenced by a characteristic of said token; C. a programmable microprocessor, connected to said sensor, said microprocessor programmed; i. to compare said first sensor token signal with a predetermined criterion, to assert a token acceptance signal if said first sensor token signal meets said predetermined criterion, and otherwise to assert a token rejection signal, ii. to recall a quantity from a memory location, said quantity having a first value if an acceptance control signal was the last control signal asserted, said quantity having a second value if a rejection control signal was the last control signal asserted; and iii. later to take one of the steps of; a. if said token acceptance signal is asserted, and if said quantity has said second value, asserting said acceptance control signal and storing said first value in said memory location, b. if said token rejection signal is asserted, and if said quantity has said first value, asserting said rejection control signal and storing said second value in said memory location, and c. otherwise asserting neither said acceptance control signal nor said rejection control signal and making no change to said quantity stored in said memory location; D. a gate, connected to said token receptacle, said gate comprising a barrier movable between a first stable position in which said gate directs said token to said first path and a second stable position in which said gate directs said token to said second path; E. a DC motor having a first power connection and a second power connection, said motor equipped with a shaft, said first turnable in a first direction in response to a flow of current in said first power connection and out said second power connection, said shaft turnable in a second direction opposite to said first direction in response to a flow of current in said second power connection and out said first power connection; F. a mechanical connection between said shaft and said barrier, said mechanical connection urging said barrier toward said first position when said shaft turns in said first direction and toward said second position when said shaft turns in said second direction; G. a power control circuit having a first control signal input, a second control signal input, a first power output, and a second power output, said first control signal input receiving said acceptance control signal from said microprocessor, said second control signal input receiving said rejection control signal from said microprocessor, said first power output connected to said first power connection, said second power output connected to said second power connection, said power control circuit connected to a connection for higher potential and a connection for lower potential, said power control circuit operable to direct current in said first power connection and out said second power connection in response to the assertion of said first control signal and to direct current in said second power connection and out said first power connection in response to the assertion of said second control signal; H. a timer connected to said microprocessor; I. wherein said token chute further comprises; i. a token insertion plate defining a slot sized to pass said token if said token has a diameter less than or equal to a predetermined diameter and a thickness less than or equal to a predetermined thickness, ii. a token insertion slot lever raisable from a lowered position to a raised position, and iii. a wake-up switch for asserting a wake-up signal if said token insertion slot lever is not in said lowered position; and
,J. wherein said microprocessor is further programmed to assert said second control signal, and to store said second value in said memory, if said first sensor token signal is not asserted within a predetermined interval of time after said wake-up signal is asserted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A token-receiving machine equipped with a low-power device for sorting a substantially disk-shaped token into a first group having a predetermined characteristic and a second group lacking the predetermined characteristic, the token-receiving machine comprising:
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A. token chute means for receiving said token; B. token characteristic sensing means for producing a token signal influenced by a characteristic of said token; C. token signal evaluation means, connected to said token characteristic sensing means, for comparing said token signal with a predetermined criterion and asserting a token acceptance signal if said token signal meets said predetermined criterion and otherwise asserting a token rejection signal; D. command signal control means, connected to said token signal evaluation means, for; i. recalling a quantity from a memory location, said quantity having a first value if an acceptance control signal was the last control signal asserted, said quantity having a second value if a rejection control signal was the last control signal asserted, ii. later taking one of the steps of; a. if said token acceptance signal is asserted, and if said quantity has said second value, asserting said first control signal and storing said first value in said memory location, b. if said token rejection signal is asserted, and if said quantity has said first value, asserting said second control signal and storing said second value in said memory location, and c. otherwise asserting neither said first control signal nor said second control signal and making no change to said quantity stored at said memory location; and E. token path control means, connected to said token receiving means and to said command signal control means, for directing said first token to one of a first path and a second path, said token path control means having first stable state and a second stable state, said first stable state directing said token to a first holding means for holding a first group of tokens, said second stable state directing said token to a second holding means for holding a second group of tokens, said token path control means changeable from said second stable state to said first stable state in response to said first control signal and from said first stable state to said second stable state in response to said second control signal; F. wherein said token chute means further comprises; i. slot means for excluding said token from said token from said token chute means unless said token has a thickness less than or equal to a predetermined thickness and a diameter less than or equal to a predetermined diameter, ii. barrier means for partially closing said slot means, said barrier means raiseable from a lowered position to a raised position, and iii. wake-up means, connected to said barrier means, for asserting a wake-up signal if said barrier means is not in said lowered position; and G. wherein said command signal control means further comprises; i. timing means for measuring intervals of time, and ii. override means, connected to said wake-up signal means, to said token characteristic sensing means, and to said timing means, for causing said command signal control means to assert said second command signal and to store said second value in said memory location, if said token characteristic sensing means does not assert said token signal within a predetermined interval of time after said wake-up signal is asserted. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification