Abstract:
A coin selecting apparatus includes a coin detection coil disposed in a coin channel for outputting a coin detection signal having a waveform changing gradually as the coin passes in the channel and uniquely accordance with the kind of the coin, and window device having a plurality of different windows for corresponding coins to be detected for producing a pulse signal when the coin detection signal is in a window. A timer device monitors the time duration of the pulse signal to thereby determine the validation and kind of the coin in accordance with the output from the timer device. A counter counts pulse signals produced by the window device to thereby determine the validation and kind of the coin in accordance with the count therein.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/373,710, filed 7/3/89; now abandoned, which is a Rule 62 continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/139,667 filed 12/30/87; now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a coin selecting apparatus used in vending machines, exchanging machines, service devices, etc., and more particularly to improvements to an electronic coin selecting apparatus which determines the kind of a coin electronically. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there are a mechanical coin selecting apparatus which discriminates a coin by checking the properties of a coin mechanically and an electronic coin selecting apparatus which senses the properties of a coin electronically and discriminates the coin in accordance with the sensing output. The latter has an enlarged range of applications because its accuracy of discrimination is excellent and it can be miniaturized. 
     Generally, an electronic coin selecting apparatus includes an oscillation coil disposed on one side of a coin channel and excited by a signal having a predetermined frequency, and a receiving coil disposed on an opposite side and coupled electromagnetically to the oscillation coil whereby the validity and kind of the coin are determined on the basis of an attenuating voltage waveform from the receiving coil generated due to passage of a coin and the coin is discriminated in accordance with the results of the determination. In other words, the fact that the maximum attenuation voltage of an attenuating voltage waveform produced by the receiving coil due to passage of a coin varies depending upon that coin has been noticed. The validity and kind of a coil are determined depending upon whether the attenuating voltage waveform produced by the receiving coil falls in a predetermined range (window) of determination for a maximum attenuation voltage for the corresponding coin to be discriminated. 
     However, according to this arrangement, with a coin which causes the receiving coil to produce a greatly attenuating voltage waveform, a signal indicative of the determination of a genuine coin will be produced each time the voltage waveform traverses an allowable range for another coin. 
     With a coin whose voltage waveform attenuates greatly, a plurality of signals indicative of the determination of a genuine coin will be produced by sole depositing of the coin. In order to cope with this situation, a maximum attenuation point sensing circuit is conventionally provided which senses that the attenuating voltage waveform produced by the receiving coil reaches a maximum attenuation point, and the output from the receiving coil is determined synchronously with a peak signal from the sensing circuit. 
     However, the sensing circuit includes a unit which stores the outputs from the receiving coil sequentially, a unit which detects the output from the receiving coil being reversed and starting to rise, etc., so that it itself is considerably complicated and renders the entire circuit structure very complicated. 
     Since the peak signal output from the maximum attenuation point sensing circuit is a discontinuous signal which is produced only when the output from the coil attenuates to a maximum degree, the sensing circuit may operate erroneously due to possible noise similar in magnitude to the peak signal and produced at a time other than when the output from the receiving coil attenuates to a maximum degree. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a coin selecting apparatus which is less likely to operate erroneously and has a simple structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to achieve the above object, in a coin selecting apparatus according to this invention, a coin detection coil is disposed in a coin channel. The coil produces a coin detection signal having a waveform changing gradually as the coin passes in the channel and uniquely in accordance with the kind of the coin. Window means are provided which include a plurality of different windows set for corresponding coins to be detected for producing a pulse signal so long as the coin detection signal is within a window. The time duration in which the pulse signal exists is monitored by timer means and the validation and kind of the coin is determined in accordance with the output from the timer means. 
     The number of pulse signals produced by the window means is counted by counting means and the validation and kind of the coin are determined in accordance with the count in the counting means. 
     According to this invention, the validation and kind of a coin are determined in accordance with the output from timer means and/or the output from counting means. For example, when a coin to be detected is a genuine one, the output from the receiving coil decreases gradually as the coin passes in the channel, reaches an allowable range window preset for the coin to be detected, and then rises to its original level. The pulse width of the pulse signal obtained when the output from the receiving coil reaches the allowable range differs from that of a pulse signal obtained when the output from the receiving coil solely traverses another window. Therefore, the pulse width of the pulse signal is monitored by timer means in this invention. 
     If the output from the receiving coil traverses n windows until it reaches the allowable range, n signals will be produced from the window means until the coil output reaches the allowable range, one signal is produced when the coil output reaches the allowable range, and n signals will be produced until the coil output returns to its original level from the allowable range, so that (2n+1) signals in all are produced. The value (2n+1) changes depending upon the kind of a coin to be detected. In contrast, if a coin to be detected is a false one, the output from receiving coil does not reach any window or only traverses windows as the coin passes in the channel, so that the count in the counting means in that case becomes 2m where m is 0 or an integer. Thus in this invention the validation and kind of a coin to be detected is determined in accordance with both the monitoring output from the timer means and the count in the counting means. 
     According to this invention, a coin selecting apparatus is provided which hardly performs an erroneous operation and which is simplified greatly in structure because the use of peak signals is not required at all. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of this invention; 
     FIGS. 2-11 are waveforms illustrating the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 12-16 are block diagrams illustrating another embodiment of this invention; and 
     FIG. 17 is a waveform illustrating the operation of the device shown in FIG. 15. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a coin selecting apparatus according to this invention. In FIG. 1, an oscillation coil 4 which is excited by the output from an oscillator 3 is disposed on one side of a coin channel 1. The oscillation frequency from the oscillator 3 differs depending upon the property (material or shape), to be marked, of a coin 2 to be detected. For example, 25 KHz is used when the material is to be marked while 100 KHz is used when the shape is to be marked. A receiving coil 5 is disposed on the other side of the coil channel 1 opposite the oscillation coil 4. In this embodiment, the validation and kind of the coin 2 are determined on the basis of the output signal or an attenuating voltage waveform from the receiving coil 5 produced when the coin 2 passes between the coil 4 and 5 in the channel. The output signal from the receiving coil 5 is detected and amplified by a detection and amplification circuit 6, the output from which is then applied to window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10 where corresponding allowable ranges or windows of maximum attenuation voltage for A-, B-, C- and D coins are set. The window circuits 7-10 each produce a pulse rising when the output from the amplification circuit 6 enters it and falling when the output from the amplification circuit 6 disappears from the window. These windows circuits 7-10 may be constituted by a well-known window comparator. The outputs from the window circuits 7-10 are applied to corresponding timers 11, 12, 13 and 14. 
     The timers 11-14 each start a timekeeping operation when the input pulse signal rises and output a high level signal when the pulse signal does not fall even if the set timer times T1, T2, T3 and T4 have past. When the timer 11 outputs a high level signal as the coin 2 passes between the oscillation and receiving coils 4 and 5, it is determined that the coin is A-coin. When the timer 12 outputs a high level signal, it is determined that the coin is B-coin. When the timer 13 outputs a high level signal, it is determined that the coin is C-coin. When the timer 14 outputs a high level signal, it is determined that the coin is D-coin. When any one of timers 11-14 outputs no high level signal, it is determined that the coin 2 is a false one. 
     FIG. 2-5 show respective attenuating voltage waveforms output from the detection and amplification circuit 6 as genuine A-, B-, C- and D-coins each pass between the oscillation and receiving coils 4 and 5, and the output pulses from the window circuits 7-10. In FIGS. 2-5, the windows A, B, C and D show corresponding allowable ranges of maximum attenuation voltage (genuine-coin determination ranges) for A-, B-, C- and D- coins. FIGS. 2(b), (c), (d), (e); FIGS. 3(b), (c), (d), (e); FIGS. 4(b), (c), (d), (e); and FIGS. 5(b), (c), (d), (e) show the output pulses from the corresponding window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10. 
     In the case of A-coin, the output from the detection and amplification circuit 6 attenuates to window A and then rises to return to its original level, as shown in FIG. 2. In that case, since the attenuating voltage waveform does not at all traverse the windows B, C and D for other coins, only one pulse is produced by the window circuit 7. In that case, the pulse width of the output pulse from the window circuit 7 is wider than the pulse width T1 set in the timer 11, so that only timer 11 outputs a high level signal. 
     In the case of B-coin, the attenuating voltage waveform attenuates to the window B and then rises to return to its original level, as shown in FIG. 3. In that case, the attenuating voltage waveform traverses the window A once when it attenuates and rises, respectively. The pulse width of each of the output pulses from the window circuit 7 is narrower than the set pulse width T1 in the timer 11, so that no high level signal is produced from the timer 11. However, the pulse width of a pulse signal output from the window circuit 8 is wider than the set pulse width T2 in the timer 12, so that timer 12 produces a high level signal. Eventually, only timer 12 produces a high level signal. 
     In the case of C-coin, the attenuating voltage waveform attenuates to the window C and then rises to return to its original level, as shown in FIG. 4. The attenuating voltage waveform traverses the windows A and B when it attenuates, and also traverses the windows A and B when it rises. The pulse widths of the output pulses from the window circuits 7 and 8 are narrower than the set pulse widths T1 and T2 in the timers 11 and 12, respectively, so that the timers 11 and 12 do not produce a high level signal. However, the pulse width of a pulse signal output from the window circuit 9 is wider than the set pulse width T3 in the timer 13, so that timer 13 produces a high level signal. 
     In the case of D-coin, the attenuating voltage waveform attenuates to the window D and then returns to its original level, as shown in FIG. 5. The voltage waveform traverses the windows A, B and C when it attenuating and when it rises, respectively. The pulse widths of the output pulses from the window circuits 7, 8 and 9 are narrower than the set pulse widths T1, T2 and T3 in the timers 11, 12 and 13, respectively, so that timers 11, 12 and 13 do not produce a high level signal. However, the pulse width of a pulse signal output from the window circuit 10 is wider than the set pulse width T4 in the timer 14, so that timer 14 produces a high level signal. 
     In summary, when the coin passing through the coin channel 1 is A-coin, only timer 11 produces a high level signal; if the coin is B-coin, only timer 12 produces a high level signal; if the coin is C-coin, only timer 13 produces a high level signal; and if the coin is D-coin, only timer 14 produces a high level signal. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates one example of waveforms produced when the coin 2 passing through channel 1 is a false one. In that case, the maximum attenuation voltage of the attenuating voltage waveform does not belong to any of the windows A, B, C and D. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the voltage waveform traverses the window A and B and returns to its original level. The pulse width of pulse signals output from the window circuits 7 and 8 is narrower than the set pulse widths T1 and T2 in the timers 11 and 12 and eventually timers 11 and 12 do not produce a high level signal. 
     As just described above, when the coin passing through the channel 1 is a false one, any of timers 11, 12, 13 and 14 does not produce a high level signal. 
     The outputs from timers 11, 12, 13 and 14 are input to corresponding AND gates AN1, AN2, AN3 and AN4. 
     The outputs from the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10 are input via an OR gate OR1 to a counter 15 which is arranged to be reset by appropriate means before a coin enters between the oscillation and receiving coils 4 and 5. As the coin 1 passes between the coils 4 and 5, the counter 15 counts the pulses produced from the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10. 
     FIGS. 7-10 show attenuating voltage waveforms output from the detection and amplification circuit 6 as respective genuine A-, B-, C- and D-coins pass between the oscillation and receiving coils 4 and 5, and the output pulses from the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10. The windows A, B, C and D in FIGS. 7-10 show allowable ranges of maximum attenuation voltage (genuine-coin determination ranges) for A-, B-, C- and D-coins, respectively. The reference characters (b), (c), (d) and (e) of FIG. 7-10 denote output pulses from the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively. 
     First, in the case of A-coin, the output from the detection and amplification circuit 6 attenuates to window A and then rises to return to its original level, as shown in FIG. 7. In that case, the voltage waveform does not at all traverse the windows B, C and D for other coins, so that only the window circuit 7 produces one pulse. Therefore, the count in the counter 15 becomes &#34;1&#34;. 
     In the case of B-coin, the attenuating voltage waveform attenuates to window B and then rises to return to its original level, as shown in FIG. 8. The voltage waveform traverses the window A once when it attenuates and when it rises, respectively. Therefore, the window circuit 7 produces two pulses and the window circuit 8 produces one pulse, so that the count in the counter 15 becomes 3. 
     In the case of C-coin, the voltage waveform attenuates to window C and then rises to return to its original level, as shown in FIG. 9. The voltage waveform traverses the windows A and B when it attenuates and when it rises, respectively. Therefore, in that case, the window circuits 7 and 8 each produce two pulses and the window circuits 9 produces one pulse, so that the count in the counter 15 becomes &#34;5&#34;. 
     In the case of D-coin, the voltage waveform attenuates to window D and then returns to its original level, as shown in FIG. 10. The voltage waveform traverses the windows A, B and C when it attenuates and when it rises, respectively. Therefore, in that case, the window circuits 7, 8 and 9 each produce two pulses and the window circuit 10 produces one pulse, so that the count in the counter 15 becomes &#34;7&#34;. 
     In summary, when the coin passing through the coin channel 1 is A-coin, the count in the counter 15 becomes &#34;1&#34;; when the coin is B-coin, the count becomes &#34;3&#34;; when the coin is C-coin, the count becomes &#34;5&#34;; and when the coin is D-coin, the count becomes &#34;7&#34;. Any of these counts is an odd number. 
     FIG. 11 shows one example of waveforms produced when the coin passing through the coin channel 1 is a false one. In that case, the maximum attenuation voltage of the voltage waveform does not belong to any of the windows A, B, C and D. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the attenuation voltage waveform traverses windows A and B and returns to its original level. In that case, the window circuits 7 and 8 each produce two pulses, so that the count in the counter 15 become &#34;4&#34;. 
     As just described above, when the coin passing through the coin channel 1 is a false one, the count in the counter 15 becomes an even number. 
     The output from counter 15 is input to a decoder 16 which outputs a signal indicative of detection of A-coin when the count in the counter 15 is &#34;1&#34;; a signal indicative of detection of B-coin when the count is &#34;3&#34;; a signal indicative of detection of C-coin when the count is &#34;5&#34;; and a signal indicative of detection of D-coin when the count is &#34;7&#34;. The docoder 16 outputs a false-coin signal indicating that the deposited coin is a false one when the count in the counter 15 is an even number. 
     The signals output from the decoder 16 and indicating the detection of A-, B-, C-, and D-coins are input to the other input to the corresponding AND gates AN1, AN2, AN 3 and AN4. 
     Therefore, AND gate AN1 outputs an A-coin signal indicative of detection of A-coin only when it is determined by the timer 11 and by counter 15 and decoder 16 that the coin is A-coin. AND gate AN2 outputs a B-coin signal indicative of detection of B-coin only when it is determined by timer 12 and by counter 15 and decoder 16 that the coin is B-coin. AND gate AN3 outputs a C-coin signal indicative of detection of C-coin only when it is determined by timer 13 and by counter 15 and decoder 16 that the coin is C-coin. AND gate AN4 outputs a D-coin signal indicative of detection of D-coin only when it is determined by timer 14 and by counter 15 and decoder 16 that the coin is D-coin. 
     As just described above, A-, B-, and C-coin signals output from AND gates AN1-AN4 and a false coin signal output from decoder 16 are input to a coin discriminater (not shown) to discriminate a genuine coin or a false one, and the type of that coin. 
     While in the embodiment of FIG. 1 the times for timers 11, 12, 13 and 14 are set separately, as shown by T1, T2, T3 and T4, they may be the same value. 
     While in the embodiment of FIG. 1 a false coin signal is shown as being provided from the even-number output from decoder 16, an AND gate (not shown) which performs an AND operation on the respective inverses of the outputs from the timer circuits 11-14 may be provided in order to produce a false signal. Alternatively, a false signal may be obtained from an AND operation on the output from the AND gate and an even number output from decoder 16. 
     FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, oscillation coils 4 and 4&#39; excited by oscillators 3 and 3&#39;, respectively, are disposed on one side of coin channel 1 while receiving coils 5 and 5&#39; are disposed on the other side of the coil channel such that they oppose the oscillation coils 4 and 4&#39;, respectively. The output from the receiving coil 5 is applied via detection and amplification circuit 6 to window circuit 7, 8, 9 and 10 while the output from the receiving coil 5&#39; is applied via detection and amplification circuit 6&#39; to window circuits 7&#39;, 8&#39;, 9&#39; and 10&#39;. In this embodiment, the two pairs of oscillation and receiving coils are provided along the coin channel 1, one particular pair for the window circuits 7-10 and the other particular pair for the window circuits 7&#39;-10&#39;. The oscillation coils 4 and 4&#39; are excited by the corresponding different frequencies, and separate windows for the respective frequencies are set in the corresponding window circuits 7-10 and 7&#39;-10. In this embodiment, timers 11, 12, 13 and 14 determine A-, B-, C-, and D-coins in accordance with the outputs from window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively, while the counter 1 which counts the outputs from the window circuits 7&#39;, 8&#39;, 9&#39; and 10&#39; and decoder 16 determine A-, B-, C- and D-coins. AND gates AN1, AN2, AN3 and AN4 which perform an AND operation on the outputs from the timers 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the output from decoder 16 provide signals indicative of detection of A-, B-, C- and D-coins. The embodiment of FIG. 12 is the same in basic operation as the embodiment of FIG. 1 except for the use of oscillation coils 4 and 4&#39; which are excited by the corresponding different frequencies. 
     FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of this invention in which only timers 11, 12, 13 and 14 determine the validation and kind of a deposited coin. This circuit is basically the same in operation as the circuit which includes oscillator 3, oscillation coils 4, receiving coil 5, detection and amplification circuit 6, window circuits 7-10 and timers 11-14, shown in FIG. 1. Like reference numerals are used to identify like blocks in FIGS. 13 and 1 throughout for convenience of explanation. 
     FIG. 14 shows a further embodiment of this invention in which the pulse signals output from window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10 are counted by counter 15, the output of which is decoded by decoder 16, only the output of which in turn determines the validation and kind of the deposited coin. The circuit is basically the same in operation as the circuit which includes oscillator 3, oscillation coil 4, receiving coil 5, detection and amplification circuit 6, window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10, counter 15 and decoder 16, shown in FIG. 1. Like reference numerals are used to identify like blocks also in FIGS. 14 and 1 throughout for convenience of explanation. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 show other embodiments in which part of the circuit is constituted by a central processing unit (CPU). The embodiments of FIGS. 15 and 16 are similar in function to the embodiment, for example, shown in FIG. 1. 
     The embodiment of FIG. 15 is obtained, for example, by replacing with a CPU 17 the timers 11-14, OR gate OR1, counter 15 and decoder 16 and AND gates AN1-AN4 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the output from the detection and amplification circuit 6 is converted by an analog/digital converter 18 to a digital signal which is then applied to CPU 17. CPU 17 serves functions, for example, similar to those of window circuits 7-10 in addition to those of timers 11-14, OR gate OR1, counter 15, decoder 16, AND gates AN1-AN4 of FIGS. 1. It is to be noted that part of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12-14 may also be replaced with a central processing unit (CPU). 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the outputs from the window circuits 7, 8, 9 and 10 are input separately to CPU 17 in order to accurately count or determine pulse signals from the respective window circuits even if windows (A, B in FIG. 17) for two coins overlap, as shown in FIG. 17. If the windows for coins do not overlap, the outputs from the respective window circuits may be connected together. 
     While in any of the above embodiments the coins to be discriminated are shown as being four different ones; A-, B-, C-, D-coins, the number of types of coins is optional.