Apparatus for detecting coins and method thereof
First Claim
1. A method for determining coin identity by detecting quality, thickness and diameter of coins inserted into a coin receiving device having a series of sensors for sequentially sensing the quality, thickness and diameter of a coin as the coin travels along a predetermined path, comprising the steps of:
- counting the time required until a last positioned sensor of a serial array of a plurality of sensors senses the coin after a first one of the plurality of sensors senses the coin;
restarting the counting of the time required when the counter time exceeds a predetermined time; and
determining the identity of the inserted coins based on the value data of the quality, the thickness and the diameter of the detected coins, and on the counted time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting inserted coins and method thereof in units which are operated by inserting coins such as a vending machine, by using the configuration including the microcomputer for controlling the whole operation to detect the inserted coins, the quality, thickness and diameter detecting sensors for detecting the quality, the thickness and the diameter of the inserted coin and having the method comprising the steps of: counting the time required until the lastly positioned sensor senses the maximum value data after the firstly positioned sensor sensed the maximum value data; performing reset of the apparatus in case that the time required is more than the predetermined time; and discriminating the kinds of the inserted coins based on the quality, the thickness and the diameter maximum value data of the detected coins and the time required, thereby obtaining the advantage that the apparatus stops the operation and is reset when the insertion path is stopped up and that the kinds of the inseted coins are detected more correctly according to the quality, the thickness and the diameter of them.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for determining coin identity by detecting quality, thickness and diameter of coins inserted into a coin receiving device having a series of sensors for sequentially sensing the quality, thickness and diameter of a coin as the coin travels along a predetermined path, comprising the steps of:
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counting the time required until a last positioned sensor of a serial array of a plurality of sensors senses the coin after a first one of the plurality of sensors senses the coin; restarting the counting of the time required when the counter time exceeds a predetermined time; and determining the identity of the inserted coins based on the value data of the quality, the thickness and the diameter of the detected coins, and on the counted time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for evaluating coins, comprising:
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a plurality of conducting means for conducting sensed signals representing quality and a plurality of dimensions from a serial array of a plurality of sensors disposed along a path of travel for coins to sense quality and a plurality of dimensions of the coins passing along said path of travel; means for providing an interrupt signal indicative of passage of each of the coins passing a first of the plurality of sensing means; counting means coupled to receive said sensed signals from said conducting means, for generating quality data and a plurality of dimension data from said sensed signals; control means for; selecting a first maximum value from among said quality data and said plurality of dimension data, selecting a second maximum value for one of said plurality of dimensions from among said plurality of dimension data, determining a first period of time until occurrence of said sensed signals representing one of said plurality of dimensions corresponding to said second maximum value, if said first period of time is greater than a predetermined period of time, making a determination of whether to accept or to reject each of the coins by comparing said first maximum value and said first period of time with predetermined data, and generating output signals for operating a gate to enable one of either reception or rejection of each coin, in dependence upon said determination. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In an apparatus for evaluating coins having a coin travel path, a series array of sensors disposed along said coin travel path for sensing the quality, thickness and diameter of a coin as the coin travels along the coin travel path, the improvement comprising:
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a microcomputer for determining a first maximum value detected by a first sensor and a last maximum value detected by a last sensor in said series array of sensors, and for comparing the difference in times when the first and last maximum values were detected with a predetermined time period in order to determine if said coin is jammed; means for providing an interrupt signal corresponding to the passage of said coin past said series array of sensors; a counter for receiving signals from said series array of sensors and for determining the elapsed time for said coin to pass between said series array of sensors; and a memory for storing data corresponding to acceptable signals and elapsed time combinations, and for providing said data to the microcomputer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification