Patent Publication Number: US-9894966-B2

Title: Coin and method for testing the coin

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a coin and a method for testing the coin. 
     BACKGROUND 
     For many years, so-called bicolour coins have been in use around the world that consist of an inner core and an outer ring surrounding the core. The core and outer ring are produced from different metal materials. It is also disclosed in DE 10 2010 013 148 to add to the coin an additional material component in the form of a central ring. The central ring which is produced, for example, from a polymer or a composite material is connected in an electrically insulating and fixed manner to the outer ring and core. 
     The testing of bimetal coins takes place primarily by electromagnetic measuring methods. It has been shown that due to corrosion, for example, the transition resistance between the core and the outer ring leads to errors in the measurement results. The effect of these errors is all the greater the higher the differences in potential of the metals or alloys used. 
     It is further disclosed in DE 10 2010 013 148 that the central ring is intended to consist of a transparent, semi-transparent, opalescent material and/or a material producing a colour effect. The width of the central ring is preferably between 0.5 mm and 3 mm. 
     In addition to improving the ability to test said coins by electromagnetic means, an improved capacity for differentiation relative to other conventional coins is also achieved. The user may identify, for example, a transparent central ring simply by observation. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the teachings herein, a coin results that may be easily detected by means of optical arrangements. The methods described herein allow coins comprising a central ring to be detected in a simple and effective manner. 
     The coin has a central ring that is transparent to electromagnetic waves of a first wavelength range and/or is less transparent or not transparent to a second wavelength range. 
     If such a coin passes through a light barrier, for example, when the central ring is made of transparent material, the number of light barrier signals or even the number of light barrier interruptions may be counted. At the same time, the individual times when the light beam is interrupted, or respectively the light beam passes through, may be recorded in the form of changes to the signal or durations of the signal. From the resulting signal sequence, the presence of the transparent or translucent ring may be detected and from the detected times, the individual widths of the outer ring, of the translucent central ring and the metal core may be determined. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the material of the central ring is translucent to the visible wavelength range. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the material of the central ring is translucent to the invisible wavelength range. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the material of the central ring is translucent to the visible and invisible wavelength ranges and not transparent to a wavelength range or to specific wavelength ranges of visible or invisible light, in particular the infrared range. The last embodiment of the invention is particularly preferred. This is due to the fact that in coin test devices, detection light barriers normally operate using infrared light. If the central ring consists of a material which is translucent but which is not transparent to infrared light, then the sensor arrangement, which is sensitive both to infrared light and to visible light, reacts differently if a coin moves through the optical arrangement and light is passed through the sensor arrangement without an obstruction or with an obstruction. On the other hand, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide that the material for the central ring is not transparent to a visible wavelength range, for example to the red range. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the material of the central ring is translucent to the visible wavelength range and not transparent to at least one specific wave range of visible light. A further embodiment of the invention provides that the material of the central ring is translucent to the invisible wavelength range and transparent to at least one specific wavelength range of visible light. 
     All disclosed possibilities for the transparency or non-transparency of electromagnetic waves in the visible or the invisible range, permit simple methods for discriminating coins provided with a central ring made of an electrically insulating material that is transparent to at least one limited spectral range of the light. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, the central ring has a different reflection factor from the core or the outer ring. The reflective nature of the coin surfaces may also be detected by means of an optical arrangement to determine if the reflection factor of the central ring is different from that of the outer ring, or respectively the core. Thus, for example, the central ring may be more reflective than the core or the outer ring. Moreover, additional optically detectable properties of the central ring may be detected by means of a suitable optical arrangement, for example colour pigments, ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers, fluorescent or holographic particles, etc. 
     A method for testing a coin comprising a central ring made of electrically insulating material is based on an optical arrangement through which the coins move and at the same time produce a signal that is evaluated in an evaluation device for producing a genuine coin signal or counterfeit coin signal. According to the method, light is passed through the coins from at least one optical transmitter and an optical arrangement receives the light reflected by the central ring and/or the light passing therethrough, and an evaluation device produces a signal when the coins are moved through the sensor arrangement. If the material of the central ring is transparent, for example, light in the visible wavelength range is passed through the central ring and is able to strike the sensor arrangement and produce a corresponding signal. If the central ring is transparent to light in the invisible wave range and the sensor arrangement is sensitive to this light, a signal may also be produced if invisible light of the light source or the optical sensor passes through the material of the central ring and strikes the sensor arrangement. Thus, for example, a light barrier located transversely to the direction of travel of the coin may be provided and the evaluation device counts the number of changes to the signal when the coin passes through the light barrier. At the same time, the individual times when the light beam is interrupted, or respectively the light beam passes through, are recorded via the duration of the signal. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the evaluation device analyses the signal of the sensor arrangement and produces a genuine coin signal if the spectrum of the received light corresponds to the material of the central ring of a genuine coin. If, for example, white light is produced by the optical sensor, by means of a spectral analysis it may be established by the sensor arrangement whether the spectrum of the light passed therethrough corresponds to that which is generally produced by the material of the central ring of a genuine coin. It is possible to determine from the analysis whether the light of the optical transmitter has an invisible component or not, in order to test for example whether the material of the central ring is not transparent to invisible light. 
     When electromagnetic waves or light are discussed above and below, this is broadly understood as light in the visible and invisible spectrum, provided it is able to be processed by conventional elements and devices available at the time without safety precautions. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the sensor arrangement is sensitive to at least one defined wavelength range. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sensor arrangement is sensitive to a wavelength range of visible light. Alternatively, the sensor arrangement may be sensitive to a wavelength range of invisible light. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sensor arrangement is sensitive to a wavelength range of visible light and a wavelength range of invisible light. 
     It is also possible, instead of assuming the selective sensitivity of the sensor arrangement itself, to arrange one or more filters upstream thereof that allow through, or respectively block, specific wavelength ranges of the light of the optical transmitter. 
     The sensor arrangement contains at least one sensor element, for example in the form of a phototransistor. According to an embodiment of the invention, two or more sensors may also be provided. Instead of providing sensors with a narrow field of view, it is conceivable to use a surface sensor or line sensor according to an embodiment of the invention. To this end, for example, on one side of the coin channel a light source is used which transmits light of the transparent and blocked wavelength range, for example white light. On the opposing side a light sensitive surface sensor or line sensor is located. Said sensor is preferably as least as wide as the width of the central ring of the coin. Generally, this ring width is 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. The light-sensitive sensor arrangement is designed so that it detects the two wavelength ranges, namely that of the transparent light and also that of the blocked wavelength range. In the resting state, the sensor arrangement detects both visible and invisible wavelength ranges as no object is located between the transmitter and receiver. However, if the coin rolls with the central ring past the sensor arrangement, initially all wavelengths are blocked by the metal outer ring. If the specific material of the central ring passes the sensor arrangement, only the blocked wavelength range is absorbed, for example the infrared range, and not the other wavelengths. This is therefore a feature which is able to be evaluated and which serves for testing or discriminating the coins. In the disclosed process, if the core now moves past the sensor arrangement, once again all wavelengths are blocked. Subsequently at a second location, the central ring passes the sensor arrangement and finally the second side of the metal outer ring. 
     By means of the disclosed light-sensitive sensor arrangement, the entire irradiated surface may be determined in terms of size as well as the width of the individual components of the outer ring and core. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the mechanical dimensions of the coins are determined by means of the signals of the sensor arrangement, in particular the width of the outer ring, the width of the central ring, the diameter of the core and the diameter of the coin. 
     The simplest optical arrangement for testing the three-part coins may consist of a single light path. According to an embodiment of the invention, it is preferred to move the coins through two optical paths which in each case have an optical transmitter and an optical sensor, wherein for example one path operates at wavelengths of the visible spectral range and the other path operates at wavelengths of the invisible spectral range. In a light source that transmits light both in the visible range and in the invisible range, for example, both optical sensors are activated when they receive the light. If the central ring is made of a material that is not transparent to invisible light, only one sensor of the two optical paths receives light when the central ring is moved through the two optical paths. 
     Alternatively, the sensor arrangement may be simultaneously sensitive to wavelengths in the visible and invisible range so as to activate the optical sensor in sequence in order to produce firstly light in the visible range and secondly light in the invisible range. To this end, two optical transmitters may be used according to an embodiment of the invention. Finally, it is also conceivable to operate the optical sensor temporarily in sequence to have different sensitivities, i.e., for defined wavelength ranges. 
     The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a plan view of a coin made of three materials. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a sectional view along line B-B in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of the coin according to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  when passing through two light barriers L 1  and L 2 . 
         FIG. 3  shows the response of the light barriers to different materials of the central ring of the coins. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic view similar to  FIG. 2  with two light barriers on top of one another. 
         FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of an optical arrangement for carrying out a method according to the invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic view similar to  FIG. 2  with a line detector or surface detector for the optical arrangement. 
         FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of the optical arrangement according to  FIG. 6  for carrying out a method according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  is a coin  10  consisting of three parts, namely having a core  1  made of a first metal material, an outer ring  2  made of a second metal material and a central ring  3  made of an electrically insulating material, for example a polymer. Moreover, the material of the central ring  3  may be translucent or transparent. The thickness of the core  1  is indicated as dd and the thickness of the outer ring  2  is indicated as dr. 
     Shown in  FIG. 2  is a coin running track  20  along which the coin  10  rolls. Two light barriers L 1  and L 2  are arranged in the spacing a, said light barriers being at a height h above the coin running track  20 . The light barriers consist, for example, of at least one optical transmitter and an optical receiver or sensor on different sides of the path of the coin  10 . The light barrier L 1  operates with light in the visible wavelength range and the light barrier  2  operates with light in the infrared wavelength range. When the coin  10  passes the light barriers L 1  and L 2 , time recordings are made when the light barriers L 1 , L 2  are interrupted. The interruption takes place for the first time when the edge of the coin  10  passes into the light barrier L 1  and represents the time t 0  in  FIG. 3( a ) . At this time, both (transparent and non-transparent) wavelength ranges are blocked. However, if the edge of the transition from the metal outer ring  2  to the central ring  3  passes the light barrier L 1 , the transparent wave range is detected by the optical sensor of the light barrier L 1 , which is represented by the time t 1 . At the transition from the central ring  3  to the metal core  1 , both wavelength ranges are blocked once again. This occurs at the time t 2 . When the second half of the coin  10  passes, the times t 3 , t 4  and t 5  are similarly determined. The individual ring widths or, respectively, the core diameter and the entire coin diameter may be detected from the determined time periods t 0  to t 1 , t 1  to t 2 , t 2  to t 3 , t 3  to t 4  and t 4  to t 5 . Such detections are described in DE 27 24 868, EP 0 839 364 and EP 0 694 888, for example. The determined individual ring widths may be used as security features. 
     The light barrier L 2  is positioned at the same distance from the track  20  as the light barrier L 1  and the spacing a between L 1  to L 2  is known. From these preset measurements the mechanical spacings of the coins may be calculated. The light barrier L 2  is designed for a specific wavelength range, for example infrared light. For this specific wavelength range, no changes to the signal are currently identified at t 11  and t 12 , t 13  and t 14 , but only at t 15  if the entire coin  10  has passed the light barrier L 2 , as the material of the central ring does not allow the infrared light to pass. This is revealed from the graph of  FIG. 3( a )  at the bottom.  FIG. 3( b )  shows the process when a coin with a material of the central ring that is transparent to infrared light is tested. It may be seen that the same signal sequences are then produced for the light barriers L 1  and L 2 . Thus, this is an effective discriminating feature for identifying coins provided with a counterfeit material for the central ring. 
       FIG. 3( c )  shows the signal sequence for the two light barriers L 1  and L 2  both for a conventional bicolour coin and for coins provided with a central ring, where the material for the central ring is not transparent to both visible light and invisible light. 
     As a whole, the following security features are able to be identified: 
     Material of the central ring which is transparent to visible light; 
     Material where infrared light is blocked; 
     Widths of the outer ring to the left and right; 
     Width of the material of the central ring to the left and right; and 
     Core diameter. 
     In  FIG. 4  four light barriers respectively consisting of one optical transmitter and one optical receiver which are identified by  11  and  12 , or respectively  11 ′ and  12 ′, are arranged one above the other at a distance h, and respectively h′, from the coin running track  20  and at a distance a from one another. If a standard coin of smaller diameter moves through the light barriers  11  and  12 , a signal sequence t 1  and t 2  is produced. For a coin of larger diameter, similar signal sequences are also produced by the light paths  11 ′ and  12 ′. However, if the light barriers are located level with a central ring according to  FIG. 1A or 1B , similar signal sequences for  11  and  12  and  11 ′ and  12 ′ may be produced once again, as have been described in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
     In  FIG. 5  a principal plate  30  and a pivoting plate  32  are shown, wherein said pivoting plate  32  forms the coin running track  20 . An LED  34  is incorporated in the pivoting plate  32 , said LED  34  passing light through the coin  10  when it moves along the running track  20  past the LED  34 . A phototransistor  36  is arranged in the principal plate  30 , said phototransistor  36  cooperating with an optical element  38  that produces the effect of a lens and having a portion  40  with a small diameter protruding into a recess  42  of the principal plate  30 . The optical element  38  receives the light produced by the LED  34  provided it is either not blocked by the coin  10  or is allowed through by a region of the coin  10  as is the case in connection with the above-described figures. 
     Instead of a receiver at one point for the light of the LED  34 , a line sensor or surface sensor may also be provided in a vertical and or horizontal arrangement as is shown by sensor  44  or respectively by sensor  46  in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 7 , the sensor  46  is shown in a horizontal arrangement through which light is passed by the LED  34  over the entire width of sensor  46  in order to receive light from the LED  34 , which is either not blocked by the coin  10  or is allowed to pass therethrough.