Coin selector

A coin selector comprises a first receiving coil and a first exciting coil disposed along one side of a coin path, a second receiving coil and a second exciting coil disposed along the other side of the coin path facing the first receiving coil and the first exciting coil, and drive devices for exciting and driving the first and second exciting coils. A magnetic field developed by the first exciting coil acts on the first and second receiving coils and a magnetic field developed by the second excitign coil acts on the second and first receiving coils. The coin selector further comprises judging devices. When a coin is put into and passes through the coin path, the magnetic fields presented to the first and second receiving coils change and consequence a change in the output voltages of these coils. The judging devices judge the coin passing through the coin path on the basis of the sum of the output signals of the first and second receiving coils.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a coin selector in use with various types 
of service machines such as a vending machine and a coin exchanging 
machine, and more particularly to a coin selector of the type in which 
different types of coins are sorted by electronically recognizing the 
materials or other properties of the coins. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
An example of the conventional coin selectors of the type which 
electronically sorts coins is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3870137. The coin 
selector is so arranged that a coil of an oscillator is disposed along one 
side of a coin path. The coin selector electronically recognizes the type 
of a coin in accordance with a deviation of an oscillating frequency of 
the oscillator, which deviation is caused when the coin passes through the 
coin path. There are so-called cladding coins, such as 10 cent, 25 cent 
and one dollar coins. The cladding coin is formed by laminating thin 
layers of different materials. The cladding coins cannot be detected by 
using a single oscillator generating a signal of a single frequency. As is 
well known, when a magnetic field is applied to a coin, magnetic fluxes in 
a magnetic field alternating at a low frequency penetrates deeply into the 
coin, while magnetic fluxes in a magnetic field alternating at a high 
frequency act only in the surface region of the coin. Accordingly, a coin 
selector whose oscillator oscillates at a frequency so selected as to 
detect the material of the inner portion of a coin, cannot detect the 
material of the surface of the coin. To the contrary, a coin selector 
whose oscillator oscillates at a frequency so selected as to detect the 
material of the surface of a coin, cannot detect the material of the inner 
portion of the coin. To cope with this problem, the coin selector 
disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3870137 uses a plurality of coils arrayed 
along the coin path, and a plurality of oscillators in connection with the 
coils. The oscillating frequencies of the oscillators are made different 
from one another so as to detect the cladding coins. This approach, 
however, creates another problem that the array of the plurality of coils 
along the coin path results in an elongation of the coin path, and 
consequently an increase of a size of the coin selector. The approach has 
a further problem that the provision of the plurality of oscillators 
oscillating at different frequencies requires an intricated circuit 
arrangement. 
In the coin selector of the U.S. Pat. No. 3870137, the coin path is 
inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical line. This is 
done to prevent a coin passing through the coin path from moving in a 
direction transverse to the path so as to maintain a fixed relationship of 
the coils arrayed on one side of the coin path and the coin passing 
through the coin path. If the coin path is arranged exactly vertically, 
distance between a passing coin and the coils changes as the coin moves 
transversely in the coin path. As the distance between the coin and the 
coils changes, the deviation of the oscillating frequency of the 
oscillator changes. Therefore, the coin selector mistakenly recognizes the 
types of the passing coin. However, the inclined arrangement of the coin 
path creates another problem. In the arrangement, a coin slides along one 
side wall of the coin path. When the coin is wet, it tends to jam in the 
path. Further, in the arrangement, dusty materials tend to deposit on the 
side wall of the path. When dust is deposited to a certain thickness on 
the sidewall, a magnetic coupling between a coin and each coil changes. 
Therefore, a coin sliding down the dusty side wall provides an output 
signal different from the output signal when the same coin slides down on 
a clean side wall of the coin path. This degrades an accuracy of the coin 
selection of the coin selector, and possibly causes frequent improper 
operations of the coin selector. Further, the inclined arrangement of the 
coin path requires a larger space. This leads to an increased size of the 
coin selector. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin 
selector which is simple in construction and is able to discriminately 
recognize the types of coins stably and accurately. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin 
selector comprising a first receiving coil disposed along a coin path, a 
first exciting coil so disposed as to magnetically couple with the first 
receiving coil, a second receiving coil disposed facing the first 
receiving coil with respect to the coin path, a second exciting coil so 
disposed as to magnetically couple with the second receiving coil, drive 
means for exciting and driving the first and second exciting coils, and 
judging means for judging a coin passing through the coin path on the 
basis of a signal representing the sum of the output signals of the first 
and second receiving coils. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
coin selector comprising a first receiving coil disposed along a coin 
path, a first exciting coil so disposed as to magnetically couple with the 
first receiving coil, a second receiving coil disposed facing the first 
receiving coil with respect to the coin path, a second exciting coil so 
disposed as to magnetically couple with the second receiving coil, drive 
means for driving the first and second exciting coils, coin diameter 
detecting means disposed along the coin path for detecting a diameter of a 
coin passing through the coin path, and judging means for judging a coin 
by determining properties of a coin passing through the coin path on the 
basis of a signal representing the sum of the output signals of the first 
and second receiving coils, and by determining a diameter of the coin 
passing through the coin path on the basis of an output of the diameter 
detecting means. 
The first and second exciting coils are driven by the drive means. A 
magnetic field developed by the first exciting coil acts on the first and 
second receiving coils. A magnetic field developed by the second exciting 
coil acts on the second and first receiving coils. When a coin is put into 
and passes through the coin path, the magnetic fields of the first and 
second receiving coils and consequence the output signals of those coils 
change. The recognizing means recognizes properties a passing coin in 
accordance with a signal representing the sum of the output signals of the 
first and second receiving coils. The coin diameter detecting means 
detects a diameter of the passing coin in the coin path. 
With such an arrangement, the coin selector is simple in construction and 
reduced in size, and is able to exactly recognize the properties of a 
passing coin in the coin path. The arrangement of the coin selector allows 
the coin path to be set vertically, not obliquely. The coin selector using 
a vertically arrayed coin path is free from the problems of the dusty 
material deposition and coin jamming in the coin path, that are essential 
to the obliquely arrayed coin path structure. Therefore, a stable and 
exact recognition of the properties of coins may be realized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a part of a coin detecting section employed 
in a coin selector according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a first 
receiving coil 40A is disposed on one side wall 3A of a coin path 3 
through which a coin 22 passes. A second receiving coil 40B is disposed on 
the other side wall 3B such that it is arranged to be coaxial with the 
first receiving coil 40A. A first exciting coil 41A is disposed adjacent 
to and coaxial with the first receiving coil 40A. A second exciting coil 
41B is disposed adjacent to and coaxial with the second receiving coil 
40B. 
FIG. 2 shows connections of the first and second exciting coils 41A and 
41B, and first and second receiving coils 40A and 40B. The first and 
second exciting coils 41A and 41B are connected in series to each other, 
and are energized by a single drive source 23. The first and second 
receiving coils 40A and 40B are also connected in series with each other. 
The series circuit of the first and second receiving coils 40A and 40B is 
connected in parallel with a capacitor 29. The type of a coin 22 put into 
the coin path 3 is recognized on the basis of an output voltage V.sub.OUT 
of the series circuit of the first and second receiving coils 40A and 40B. 
The first and second exciting coils 41A and 41B are energized by an AC 
signal alternately inverting its polarity at predetermined periods that is 
derived from the drive source 23. Accordingly, first and second states are 
alternately set up in the first and second exciting coils 41A and 41B in 
accordance with the alternately changing polarities of the AC signal. 
FIG. 3 shows a state of magnetic fluxes in the first state, and FIG. 4 a 
state of magnetic fluxes in the second state. 
Referring to FIG. 3, in the first state before the coin 22 is put into the 
coin path 3, magnetic fluxes 401 and 402 developed by the exciting coil 
41A pass through the receiving coil 40A, to induce in the receiving coil 
40A a voltage corresponding to the magnetic fluxes 401 and 402. Also in 
this state, magnetic fluxes 403 and 404 developed by the exciting coil 41B 
pass through the receiving coil 40B, and magnetic flux 405, which is a 
part of magnetic fluxes developed by the exciting coil 41A, passes through 
the receiving coil 40B. As a result, a voltage is induced in the receiving 
coil 40B by the magnetic fluxes 403, 404, and 405. 
Referring to FIG. 4, in the second state before the coin 22 is put into the 
coin path 3, magnetic fluxes 401' and 402' developed by the exciting coil 
41A pass through the receiving coil 40A, and magnetic flux 406 which is a 
part of magnetic fluxes developed by the exciting coil 41B, passes through 
the receiving coil 40A. As a result, a voltage is induced in the receiving 
coil 40A by the magnetic fluxes 401', 402', and 406. 
Also in this state, magnetic fluxes 403' and 404' developed by the exciting 
coil 41B pass through the receiving coil 40B, to induce in the receiving 
coil 40B a voltage corresponding to the magnetic fluxes 403' and 404'. 
In FIGS. 3 and 4, it is assumed now that under these conditions, the coin 
22 is put into the coin path 3. The magnetic fluxes 401, 402, 401' and 
402' that are developed by the exciting coil 41A, when they reach the coin 
22, are influenced by an eddy current generated in the surface part of the 
coin 22, and hence change. The change of the magnetic fluxes causes the 
induced voltage in the receiving coil 40A to change. In the same manner, 
the magnetic fluxes 403, 404, 403', and 404' that are developed by the 
exciting coils 41B, when they read the coin 22, are influenced by an eddy 
current generated in a surface part of the coin 22, and change. The change 
of the magnetic fluxes causes the reduced voltage in the receiving coil 
40B to change. On the other hand, the magnetic fluxes 405 and 406 
penetrate into and passes through the coin 22. During the passage of the 
fluxes, the fluxes 405 and 406 are influenced by the material of the coin 
22 in its central part, so as to change the induced voltages in the 
receiving coils 40B and 40A, respectively. In this way, the voltage 
V.sub.OUT, which is the sum of the output voltages of the receiving coils 
40A and 40B, changes in accordance with the materials of the coin 22 in 
the surface and central parts. In other words, voltage V.sub.OUT contains 
the information different materials of the coin in the surface and central 
portions. 
The output voltages of the receiving coils 40A and 40B also change in 
accordance with a distance between the coils and the coin 22 as the coin 
22 passes through the coin path. When the coin 22 traces a path at the 
center of the coin path so that it maintains the equal distance from the 
receiving coils 40A and 40B, the voltages induced in the receiving coils 
40A and 40B are equal to each other. However, when the coin traces a path 
deviated toward the receiving coil 40A from the center of the coin path as 
shown in FIG. 5, the influence by the coin 22 on the receiving coil 40A 
increases and an output signal of the receiving coil 40A increases. On the 
other hand, the influence by the coin 22 on the receiving coil 40B 
decreases and an output signal of the coil 40B decreases. Similarly, when 
the coin traces a path deviated toward the receiving coil 40B from the 
center of the coin path as shown in FIG. 6, the influence by the coin 22 
on the receiving coil 40B increases and an output signal of the coil 40B 
increases. On the other hand, the influence by the coin 22 on the coil 40A 
decreases and an output signal of the coil 40A decreases. Whatever paths 
the coin may trace, the summation of the induced voltages of the receiving 
coils 40A and 40B is always constant. 
With the connection of the receiving coils 40A and 40B as shown in FIG. 2, 
the induced voltages of the receiving coils 40A and 40B are summed to 
cancel the influences due to the transverse displacement of the path 
traced by the coin 22 in the coin path 3. 
FIG. 7 is a graph showing a variation of the output voltage V.sub.OUT of 
the circuit of FIG. 2 when the coin 22 passes through the coils, with the 
abscissa representing a frequency of the exciting voltage and the ordinate 
representing the output voltage V.sub.OUT. In FIG. 7, if the exciting 
frequency is set at "fo", the output voltage V.sub.OUT shows Vo before the 
coin 22 is put into the coin path. Under this condition, the output 
voltage V.sub.OUT exhibits a peak voltage Vo at the frequency "fo". When 
the coin 22 is put into the coin path 3, inductances of the receiving 
coils 40A and 40B change and the frequency at which the output voltage 
V.sub.OUT exhibits a peak value, changes. Assuming that the inductances of 
the receiving coils 40A and 40B before the coin 22 is put into the path 
are L1 and L2, and that a capacitance of the capacitor 29 is C, the 
resultant inductance of the coils 40A and 40B is L=L1+L2, and the output 
voltage V.sub.OUT exhibits a maximum value at frequency "fo" 
(=1/2.pi..sqroot.LC). When the coin 22 is put into the coin path 3, the 
resultant inductance L changes to an inductance L', and a frequency at 
which the output voltage V.sub.OUT exhibits a maximum voltage change to 
fl=1/2.pi..sqroot.L'C. The frequency difference f is 
1/2.sqroot..pi.L'C-1/2.pi..sqroot.LC. 
The peak value of the output voltage V.sub.OUT changes from Vo to Vl as the 
coin 22 passes through the coils. At the frequency of fo, the output 
voltage V.sub.OUT changes V2 due to the coin 22 passing through the coils. 
A voltage difference .DELTA.V (=V0-V2) depends on the materials of the 
coin 22. Therefore, the voltage difference .DELTA.V is employed to 
discriminate the types of coins in this embodiment. 
FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show an overall configuration of an embodiment of a 
coin selector according to the present invention in which FIG. 9(a) shows 
a sectional view of the coin selector as viewed from the front side of the 
selector, and FIG. 9(b) shows a sectional view taken on line 9B--9B in 
FIG. 9(a). In FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), like reference symbols are used for 
designating like or equivalent portions in the basic configuration shown 
in FIG. 1. 
In these drawings, a slot 2 is provided at the top of a main frame of the 
coin selector 1. The coin 22 as put into the slot 2 drops on a first rail 
3R slanted down in the direction going away from the slot 2. The coin 22 
drops and rolls down on the rail 3R. A coil 4 for detecting the materials 
and construction of the coin and a coil 5 for detecting the size of it are 
disposed around the middle of the rail 3R. A processing to discriminately 
select coins passing through the coin path is conducted based on the 
outputs of the coils 4 and 5, which will be described later. 
A solenoid 6 is energized in response to the validity of the coin 22 as put 
in, under control of the coin select processing previously conducted. When 
it is energized, a gate 7 is driven to allow the coin to go to a true coin 
path 8, if the coin is true. If the coin is false, the coin is directed to 
a false coin path 9. More specifically, in the case of the false coin, the 
solenoid 6 is not energized and the gate 7 lies in the true coin path 8. 
Accordingly, the coin is directed into the false coin path 9. When the 
coin is true, the solenoid 6 is energized to retract the gate 7 from the 
true coin path 8 in which the gate 7 is placed in a stand-by state, to 
allow the true coin to go into the true coin path 8. 
The coins led to the path 8 are sorted into groups of coins A and B, and C 
and D in accordance with the denominations of coins. When the coin belongs 
to the group of the coins of the denomination A or B, the solenoid 11 is 
driven and the lever 13 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 9(a), and the path 
leading to the group the coin of the denomination C or D is closed, and 
the coins of the denomination A or B are led to the rail 10. When the 
coins are of the denomination C or D, the solenoid 11 is not driven and 
the coins pass under the coin path 8. 
The coin of the denomination A or B led to the rail 10 is directed to 
either of paths 12A and 12B in accordance with the size of the coin. The 
coin of the denomination C or D passed through the true coin path 8 is 
directed to either of paths 12C and 12D in accordance with the size of the 
coin. The coin led to the false path 9 is discharged through an exit (not 
shown). 
The coil 4 for recognizing properties of a coin, such as material, size and 
surface conditions of the coin, has substantially the same basic 
configuration as that of FIG. 1, and is composed of the receiving coils 
40A and 40B, and the exciting coils 41A and 41B. 
The receiving coils 40A and 40B, as shown in FIG. 10(a) showing its front 
view and FIG. 10(b) showing a sectional view taken on line 10B--10B FIG. 
10(a), are each made up of a pot type coil arranged such that a coil 40 
wound around a bobbin 43 is disposed in a pot type core 42 having a 
cylindrical bore 42a at the center. 
The exciting coils 41A and 41B, as shown in FIG. 11(a) showing its front 
view and in FIG. 11(b) showing a sectional view taken on line 11B--11B in 
FIG. 11(a), are each made of a drum type coil arranged such that a coil 41 
is wound around a drum type core 44 with a projection 44a at the center, 
that will be fitted into the bore 42a of the pot type core 42. The core 42 
for the pot type coil and the core 44 for the drum type coil may be made 
of magnetic material such as ferrite. The bobbin 43 for the pot type coil 
may be made of nonmagnetic material such as plastic. 
The receiving coils 40A and 40B and the exciting coils 41A and 41B, that 
are structured as shown above, are arranged as shown in FIG. 12. The 
projection 44a located at the central part of the exciting coil 41A is 
fitted into the bore 42a of the receiving coil 40A. Under this condition, 
the surface of the receiving coil 40a that is opposite to the mounting 
surface of the exciting coil 41A is tightly mounted on the side wall 3A of 
the coin path 3. In the same manner, the exciting coil 41B is fitted to 
the receiving coil 40B, and then is mounted on the side wall 3B of the 
coin path 3 such that he axis of the exciting coil 41B and the receiving 
coil 40B is aligned with that of the exciting coil 41A and the receiving 
coil 40A mounted on the side wall 3A. 
In the above instance, the receiving coils and the exciting coils are 
separately formed. However, those may be assembled into a single core as 
shown in FIGS. 13 an 14. FIG. 13 shows a coil arrangement in which coils 
40 and 41 respectively wound on bobbins 45 and 46 are disposed in an 
integrally formed core (44'). In FIG. 13, a couple of coil assemblies of 
the receiving and exciting coils thus arranged are disposed on both sides 
of the coin path, with the coil 40 of each coil assembly facing the coin 
path. In a coil assembly shown in FIG. 14, a bobbin 48 wound by coils 40 
and 41 is assembled into a unit core 47. A couple of the coil assemblies 
are disposed on both sides of a coin path through which a coin passes, 
with the coil 40 of each assembly facing the coin path. 
The coil 5 for detecting the diameter of coins is made up of an exciting 
coil mounted on one side wall of the first rail 3R and a receiving coil 
mounted on the other side wall, as will subsequently be described. The 
diameter of the coin is recognized on the basis of a level change of an 
output voltage of the receiving coil. The mounting position of the coil 5 
is deviated from the first rail 3R by a predetermined distance in order to 
make it easy to recognize the coin diameter. 
Description to follow is an elaboration of a circuit arrangement to 
determine the type of the coin 22 by using the receiving coils 40A and 40B 
and the exciting coils 41A and 41B. 
FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of a circuit for determining the properties of 
a coin put into a coin path, such as material, size and surface conditions 
of the coin. The first receiving coil 40A, first exciting coil 41A, second 
receiving coil 40B, and second exciting coil 41B make up a property coil 4 
for detecting the properties of a coin. The exciting coils 41A and 41B for 
exciting the property detecting coil 4 and the exciting coil 5A for 
exciting the diameter-detecting coil 5 are connected in series, and then 
connected to the output of a drive circuit 23. The drive circuit 23 
receives an AC exciting signal of 20 to 60 kHz, for example, that is 
derived from a frequency divider 24. The frequency divider 24 frequency 
divides a pulse signal of a reference frequency outputted from a central 
processing unit (CPU) 25 into the signal at 20 to 60 kHz. The drive 
circuit 23 amplifies the AC exciting signal and supplies it to the 
exciting coils 41A, 41B and 5A. The AC exciting signal may be a signal of 
a sinusoidal wave or a signal of a nonsinusoidal wave such as a 
rectangular wave, triangle wave and a saw-tooth signal. 
The receiving coils 40A and 40B of the property-detecting coil 4 are 
connected in series and then connected in parallel to a capacitor 29 for 
parallel resonance. The capacitor 29, which is inserted in the series 
circuit of the coils 40A and 40B, is connected across the input of an 
amplifier/detector circuit 30A. 
The receiving coil 5B for the diameter detecting coil 5 is coupled in 
parallel with a capacitor 28 for parallel resonance which is further 
coupled across the input of an amplifier/detector circuit 30B. 
The amplifier/detector 30A amplifies and detects a high frequency signal 
induced in the series circuit made up of the receiving coils 40A and 40B, 
and outputs an envelope of the high frequency signal. 
FIG. 16 shows an example of a waveform of a high frequency induced in the 
series circuit of the receiving coils 40A and 40B. The high frequency 
signal indicates a state of the coin 22 that is passing through the coin 
path 3. The amplifier/detector circuit 30A amplifies and detects the high 
frequency signal 34 and extracts a variation in an envelope 35 of the high 
frequency signal 34. The output signal of the circuit 30A is inputted into 
an integration circuit 31A. 
The integration circuit 31A integrates the detected signal of the 
amplifier/detector circuit 30A, to form a voltage signal corresponding to 
the detected signal. An example of the voltage signal outputted from the 
integration circuit 31A is illustrated in FIG. 17. The voltage signal 
shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the high frequency signal shown in FIG. 8. 
A voltage V.sub.A in FIG. 17 shows a voltage drop due to the passage of 
the coin 22. The output signal of the integration circuit 31A is converted 
into a corresponding digital signal by an A/D converter 26 and is applied 
to the CPU 25. 
Similarly, an output signal of the receiving coil 5B is amplified and 
detected by the amplifier/detector circuit 30B, and is integrated by the 
integration circuit 31B, and converted into a corresponding digital 
voltage signal by the A/D converter 26, and finally inputted into the CPU 
25. 
The CPU 25 decides the properties of the coin 22 on the basis of an amount 
of the drop of each of the induced voltages in the receiving coils 40A and 
40B that is caused by the passage of the coin 22. The CPU 25 also decides 
the diameter of the coin 22 o the basis of an amount of the drop of the 
induced voltage in the receiving coil 5B. The programs for the decision of 
the properties and the diameter of the coin and the data concerning a 
level to discriminate the amounts of the voltage drop are stored in a read 
only memory (ROM) 33. 
After deciding that the properties and the diameter of the coin, the CPU 25 
decides if the passing coin 22 is true or false. If it is true, the CPU 25 
drives a true/false selecting solenoid 6 through a solenoid driver 32A. 
Further, the CPU 25 decides the type of denominations A, B, C or D of the 
coin 22. If the coin 22 belongs to the denominations A or B, the CPU 25 
drives a denomination selecting solenoid 11 by a solenoid drive circuit 
32B. 
Interface terminals 25A to 25D of the CPU 25 are for driving devices such 
as a display. 
FIG. 18 shows a flowchart showing a processing flow to recognize passing 
coins that is executed by the CPU 25. 
The operation of the circuit of FIG. 15 will be described with reference to 
the above flowchart. 
When a power supply is turned on, the CPU 25 initialize internal registers 
and the like, and fetches various types of data for coin recognition from 
the ROM 33 (steps 46 and 47). After this, the CPU 25 makes an error check 
as to whether or not an erroneous drive signal is applied to the 
denomination solenoid 11 and the like. For the error check, the output 
signal of the A/D converter 26 in a stand-by mode is measured as a 
reference voltage signal (steps 48 and 49). The measurement of the voltage 
signal of the A/D converter 26 in the stand-by mode is made to detect an 
amount of the output voltage drop of the A/D converter 26 that results 
from the inserting of a coin, in the form of a value relative to the value 
of the reference voltage signal in the stand-by mode. That measurement 
ensures an exact detection of an amount of the output voltage drop of the 
A/D converter 26 that is caused by the passage of the coin, regardless of 
a variation of the power source voltage and an aging of the exciting coils 
41A and 41B. 
After the output voltage (reference voltage) of the A/D converter 26 in the 
stand-by mode is loaded into the internal register R0, the CPU 25 waits 
for another coin to be inputted (steps 50 and 51). 
When the coin 22 is inputted from the slot 2, the CPU 25 starts to collect 
the coin data (step 52). The exciting coils 41A and 41B, and 5A are 
excited by an exciting signal outputted from the drive circuit 23. As a 
result, predetermined voltages are induced in the receiving coils 40A, 40B 
and 5B through magnetic couplings with the corresponding exciting coils. A 
coin 22 is put into the coin path, and passes the locations of those 
receiving coils 40A, 40B and 5B. The passage of the coin 22 changes the 
magnetic fluxes acting on the receiving coils 40A, 40B and 5B which are 
magnetically coupled with the exciting coils 41A, 41B and 5A, and 
consequently changes the induced voltage in the receiving coils 40A, 40B 
and 5B. The amounts of these voltage changes depend on the properties and 
diameter of the passing coin. If the passing coin is true, the voltage 
change is determined by values proper to the true coin of each 
denomination. 
The output voltages of the receiving coils 40A, 40B and 5B are respectively 
amplified and detected by the amplifier/detector circuits 30A and 30B and 
integrated by the integration circuits 31A and 31B. As a result, the 
integration circuits 31A and 31B produce respectively voltage signals each 
varying as shown in FIG. 17 in accordance with the denomination of the 
coin 22. The CPU 25 fetches the variations of the output signals of the 
integration circuits 31A and 31B that results from the coin passage, in 
the form of coin data. An amount of the voltage change V.sub.X (X 
represents the denominations of coins A to D) of each of the output 
signals of the integration circuits 31A and 31B is compared with reference 
values RV.sub.X representing the amount of voltage change for each 
denomination of coins that are stored in and read out from the ROM 33, to 
find the denomination of the coin (steps 53 and 54). 
If it turns out that the coin does not belong to any denomination and 
therefore the coin is a false coin, the solenoid 6 is not energized and 
the coin is discharged through a discharging slot. If it turns out that 
the coin belongs to one of the denominations A to D, the solenoid 6 is 
driven to lead the coin 22 to the true coin path 8. Then, if the coin 
belongs to the denominations of coins A or B, the solenoid 11 is driven to 
lead the coin to the path 12A or 12B. If the coin belongs to the 
denomination C or D, the solenoid 11 is not driven, and the coin is led to 
the path 12C or 12D (step 55). 
The combination of the exciting coil 41A and receiving coil 40A and the 
combination of the exciting coil 41B and the receiving coil 40B are 
oppositely disposed with respect to the side walls 3A and 3B of the coin 
path (first rail 3R). Accordingly, even if the coin 22 passes through the 
coin path along a path set aside to either of the side walls 3A and 3B, 
the sum of the induced voltages in the receiving coils 40A and 40B is 
always constant for the same denomination of passing coins. 
Let us consider a case, for example, that the coin 22 passes along a path 
closer to the side wall 3A in the coin path and that an amount of the 
induced voltage drop in the receiving coil 40A is increased and becomes 
larger than that caused when the coin 22 passes along a path extending at 
the center of the coin path. In this case, an amount of the induced 
voltage drop in the receiving coil 40B is decreased by a value 
corresponding to the increase in the receiving coil 40A. Therefore, the 
sum of the induced voltages in the receiving coils 40A and 40B is 
constant. Thus, correct voltage is detected regardless of the path the 
coin 22 takes in the coin path. 
With the arrangement of the coin selector as mentioned above, if in place 
of a cladding coin in which a core layer of copper is laminated with a 
cupro-nickel layer, such as coins of 10 and 25 cent, and one dollar that 
are currently used in the U.S.A., a coin of copper whose outer 
configuration and the thickness are the same as those of the cladding coin 
is inputted, the coin selector according to the present invention may 
readily recognize the copper coin. Thus, according to the embodiment, the 
difference between the cladding coin and the copper coin is distinctly 
observed. Therefore, the coin selector may correctly sort the cladding 
coin and the copper coin. 
The arrangement of the coin selector eliminates a necessity for slanting 
the coin path to slide coins on either of the side walls of the coin path. 
Accordingly, the coin path for detecting the coin may be arrayed 
vertically. Therefore, no dusty materials are deposited on the coin path. 
Further, a passing coin, even if it is wet, will smoothly travel in the 
coin path. FIG. 21 shows the irregular surfaces of the side walls 3A and 
3B of the coin path on which the coil 4 is disposed for preventing a wet 
coin from sticking to the side wall surfaces. 
Further, according to the embodiment, only two groups of coils, the 
property detecting coil 4 and the diameter detecting coil 5, are disposed 
at the first rail 3R. Therefore, the rail may be substantially shortened. 
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the exciting coils 41A and 41B for the 
property detecting coil 4 and the exciting coil 5A for the diameter 
detecting coil 5 are connected in series, and are energized by the single 
drive circuit 23. Accordingly, a frequency of an exciting signal applied 
to the exciting coils 41A and 41B is equal to that of an exciting signal 
applied to the exciting coil 5A of the diameter detecting coil 5. 
Alternatively, the exciting coils 41A and 41B for the property detecting 
coil 4, and the exciting coil 5A of the diameter detecting coil 5 may be 
arranged in parallel and coupled with the drive circuit 23. Those coils 
may be energized by different drive circuits, respectively. 
Further, although the exciting coils 41A and 41B are connected in series 
and energized by one drive circuit 23, if required, these exciting coils 
may be connected in parallel to the drive circuit 23. Further, these coils 
may be driven by two independent drive circuits. 
The receiving coils 40A and 40B, that are connected in series in the 
above-mentioned embodiment, may be connected in any manner so long as the 
voltages induced in those coils are summed and applied to the 
amplifier/detector circuit 30A. 
Although the pairs of the exciting and receiving coils 40A and 41A, 40B and 
41B are aligned and face with each other, these pairs of the coils may be 
disposed out of the alignment so long as the paired coils satisfy a 
predetermined magnetic coupling relationship. Further, relative position 
of the exciting coil and the receiving coil in each pair may be changed so 
long as they are magnetically coupled with each other with a magnetic 
coupling strength greater than a predetermined level. 
The same thing is true for the alignment of each coil in the paired coils. 
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a modification of the coin selector. In 
the modification, two coils 5 and 5' are used for the coil for detecting 
the diameter of a coin. Structurally, as shown in FIG. 20, the first coil 
5 is disposed at a location suitable for detecting a large coin 22L having 
the maximum diameter. The second coil 5' is located at the best place to 
detect a small coin 22S of the minimum diameter. With the use of the two 
coils for the diameter detecting purpose, the diameters of the coils may 
be reduced. The diameter reduction reduces a space required for disposing 
the property detecting coils and the diameter detecting coils. As a 
result, the size of the coin selector may be further reduced.