HOUSING FOR COIN SELECTORS

Abstract: The present housing for coin selectors is provided with an electronic circuit wherein are included elements for measuring the variation of the field produced by the passage of coins through a magnetic field generated by a group of coils, said housing being provided, on one of its faces (9) corresponding to the path of coins, with various ribs (10) parallel to each other and parallel with the rolling ramp for the coins, preferably three ribs, with selfcleaning effect which avoids the deposition of dirt entrained by the coins.

Description: OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a housing for coin selectors, in particular selectors having electromagnetic coils generating a magnetic field modified by passing coins, in accordance with the intrinsic features of each of them, or also sensors of the optical kind, which housing has been improved in order to overcome the conventional problems deriving from the dirt deposited upon the passage of coins. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Within the scope of coin selectors one of the most advanced and efficient solutions comprises the use of an electronic circuit measuring the magnetic field modifications generated by a number of coils upon the passage of coins, such that with the assistance of a number of standard measurements the appliance is able to select various kinds of coins, not only through their dimensions but also through the nature of the constituent material thereof. To such end the selector's housing is provided with a rolling ramp suitable for the passage of coins and for the appropriate measurements to be made. More specifically, the selector's housing is provided with two sectors of swivel union to each other and tending towards a limiting adaptation position due to a spring, one of which is provided with the said electronic circuit and the other with the said electromagnetic coils or as appropriate optical sensors. defining between them a "laminar" space that is closed at the bottom by an oblique divider belonging to one of the two sectors and defining the aforesaid rolling ramp for the coins, obviously parallel with the imaginary alignment mark of the coils. Furthermore, the coins naturally, due to their constant movement and change of ownership, are often dirty and gradually deposit their dirt upon the areas of the selector's housing that they contact, in particular the areas of the housing containing the vital selector elements, namely the measuring area. This accumulation of dirt upon the passage of the coins brings about the critical need to have to proceed to regular and frequent cleaning of the selector, which will otherwise reject the coins. European Patent 0 052 043 is known, which has a track along which the coins roll, it having on its side surface three longitudinal ribs parallel to the said track, whose fundamental and exclusive object is to offer the least possible friction when the coins slide through said running track. French Patent 2.474.207 discloses a support wall and coins rolling surface having a plastic material coating of low friction coefficient, which makes it easy for the coins to run and therefore prevents the coin from stopping owing to its friction against the wall. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The housing subject of the invention, which is defined in the appended claim, has been designed to fully solve the above problems, to which end the characteristics thereof are focussed on the fact that the sector thereof with the electronic circuit, and in particular where the measuring elements are located, is provided with longitudinal ribs, parallel with the path of the coins down their rolling ramp, such that the said ribs bring about a selfcleaning effect, preventing the dirt from accumulating at such area which must needs be kept clean in order for measurement to be appropriate. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to provide a fuller description and contribute to the complete understanding of the characteristics of this invention, a single sheet of drawings is attached to the specification which, while purely illustrative and not fully comprehensive, shows the following: Figure 1.- Is a perspective view of a coin selector provided with a housing made in accordance with the subject of this invention, with both its sectors open against the force of the spring relating the same, to clearly show their structure and in particular the improvements with which such housing is provided. Figure 2.- Is a cross-section of the same housing when closed. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In light of these figures it is clear that the housing for coin selectors subject hereof comprises two sectors (1) and (2) joined to each other through a shaft (3) that allows a sector to swing in respect to the other against the force of a spring, not shown in the figures, such that while the housing sector (1) receives therein the electronic control or selection circuit as such, with the respective magnetic field variation sensors, inside the sector (2) are the coils (4) shown with the dash-line in figure 1, generating the magnetic field that shall be modified by the coins as they pass. Between the housing sectors (1) and (2), as is usually the case, an inclined plane or rolling ramp is defined for the coins, actually comprising a divider (5) projecting from one of the two housing sectors, which divider (5) closes the bottom of the flat chamber defined by the sectors (1) and (2) from the slot (6) for insertion of the coins towards the slot (7) for the outlet thereof, with a deviation (8) for the return of faulty or counterfeit coins. Now then, the invention focuses on the fact that the housing sector (1), in particular at area (9) located right above the rolling ramp (4) and namely at the area where the electronic circuit's measuring elements are located, is provided with several longitudinal ribs or protuberances (10) which in the practical embodiment shown in the figures are three, though this number can vary without this affecting the essence of the invention, which ribs or protuberances run parallel with the path of the coins and their presence brings about a selfcleaning effect to prevent dirt from accumulating at the vital area of the apparatus, namely the measuring area, that is to say the area marked (9) and mentioned above, thereby to considerably prolong the selector's maintenance period.

Claims: A housing suitable for coin selectors, in particular for selectors having an electronic circuit wherein are included elements for measuring the field variation produced by the passage of the coins through the magnetic field generated by a group of electromagnetic coils associated to such circuit, characterised in being provided on one of its faces corresponding to the path of the coins between the insertion slot and the various outlet slots, in particular at the area and wall where the said elements for measuring the field variations are located, with various ribs or protuberances parallel to each other and parallel with the rolling ramp for the coins, preferably three ribs, with selfcleaning effect which avoids the deposition of the dirt entrained by the coins upon the said face.

Inventors: ECHAPARE IBARROLA JESUS, ECHAPARE IBARROLA, JESUS, Echapare Ibarrola, Jesús 
Applicants: AZKOYEN IND SA, AZKOYEN INDUSTRIAL, S.A.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G07F1
IPC codes: G07F1