Abstract:
A bill acceptor includes a housing defining an insertion slot and a passage extending from said insertion slot, a transmission mechanism for delivering each inserted bill/license from the insertion slot to the passage and then to a bill box been attached to the housing, a gate controllable to open/close the insertion slot, an solenoid valve controllable to move the gate between the close position and the open position, a first media sensor disposed at a front side relative to the gate for driving the solenoid valve to open the gate upon detection of the insertion of a bill/license into the insertion slot, and a second media sensor disposed at a rear side relative to the gate and adapted for driving the solenoid valve to close the gate after the delivery of an inserted bill/license to the passage by the transmission mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a bill acceptor for use in an automatic vending machine and more specifically, to an improved structure of bill acceptor that has a gate control unit therein for blocking the bill/license insertion slot to protect the internal parts against outside dust and to avoid interference of outside light with bill/license recognition operation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Following fast development of technology, our mode of living has been changed, and everything requires efficiency, time saving and quickness. In consequence, different automatic vending machines are used everywhere to sell different products without serviceman. These automatic vending machines are highly invited for the advantage of saving much labor and bringing convenience to people. Nowadays, Q-shops are seen in many places to provide different services to consumers. A Q-shop has the advantages of scientific intelligence, quick service and quick finish of payment. A Q-shop may provide automatic vending machines for vending drinks, cigarettes, tickets, ice creams, memorial coins, key rings or even hamburgers and noodles. Further, many virtual shops are established to make online shopping, allowing shoppers to shop across millions of products. 
         [0005]    However, regular vending machines do not limit the sales to any person of any age. Therefore, regular vending machines commonly sell popular goods such as fruit juice beverages, carbonated beverages, food, etc. These vending machines cannot sell age-controlled merchandises such as cigarettes or alcohol drinks, or other controlled merchandises such as drugs, strong acid/alkaline detergent, or other hazardous items. To prohibit young children from buying age-controlled merchandises or unqualified people from buying controlled items, a vending machine for vending age-controlled or controlled merchandises must be equipped with a license recognition device to recognize the age and identity of the trader. Following the development of printing technology, evil persons may utilize high tech to make counterfeit bills and money laundering by means of purchasing commodities from automatic vending machines. 
         [0006]    Further, an automatic vending machine may have a stop plate pivotally provided at the bill insertion slot to protect the internal parts against outside dust, but the stop plate not only is fragile but also cannot block external light. However, the arrangement of the stop plate is still not satisfactory in function because of the following drawbacks:
   1. An evil person can damage the stop plate easily by means of a tool. Further, the stop plate cannot block external light from entering the internal bill/license passage, and external light may interfere with the recognition operation of the internal recognition device of the vending machine, resulting in recognition error.   2. The thin, light and small stop plate may be swung by an external force, and external dust will enter the machine to dust the precision components of the internal recognition device of the machine during accidental swinging of the stop plate. When the precision components of the recognition device are covered with dust, the recognition device may be unable to function well.   
 
         [0009]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide an automatic vending machine with a bill/license acceptor that eliminates the aforesaid problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a bill acceptor for automatic vending machine, which improves bill/license verification accuracy and well protects the bill/license recognition device against external dust and interference of outside light. 
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the present invention, the bill acceptor comprises a housing, which comprises an insertion slot for the insertion of a bill and a license selectively and a passage extending inwardly from the insertion slot to a bill box that is attached to the housing, a transmission mechanism mounted inside the housing and adapted for delivering each inserted bill/license from the insertion slot to a predetermined location in the passage for recognition and returning the license to the insertion slot after recognition and delivering each recognized bill to the bill box, a gate control unit, which comprises a gate controllable to open the insertion slot for the insertion of a bill/license through the bill insertion slot into the passage and to close the insertion slot after the insertion of a bill/license pass through the bill insertion slot into the passage and an solenoid valve controllable to move the gate between a close position to close the insertion slot and an open position to open the insertion slot, and a detection module, which comprises a first media sensor disposed at a front side relative to the gate and adapted for detecting the insertion of a bill/license into the insertion slot and the solenoid valve is activated to open the gate upon insertion of a bill/license and a second media sensor disposed at a rear side relative to the gate and adapted for detecting the delivery of an inserted bill transmitted from the insertion slot into the passage by the transmission mechanism and the solenoid valve is deactivated to close the gate after the delivery of an inserted bill/license to the passage. The gate protects the internal parts of the bill acceptor against outside dust, and blocks outside light from entering the passage during recognition of the inserted bill or license by the bill acceptor. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the bill acceptor further comprises a transmission mechanism, which is comprised of a motor, a plurality of bill-transfer rollers and transmission belts for moving each inserted bill/license, and a recognition unit, which comprises a sampling module for picking up an image of an inserted license and verifying the authenticity of the license and data of date of birth carrying on the license and an optical identification module adapted for identifying the authenticity and value of an inserted bill. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a bill acceptor according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the bill acceptor shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a part of the present invention, showing the structure of the gate control unit. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a part of the present invention, showing the arrangement of a part of the transmission mechanism, the recognition unit and the detection module in the housing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional side view of the bill box in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional side view in an enlarged scale of a part of the present invention, showing a bill inserted through the insertion slot into the passage of the bill box. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional side view in an enlarged scale of a part of the present invention, showing a license inserted through the insertion slot into the passage of the bill box. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  corresponds to  FIG. 7 , showing the inserted license entered the passage and the gate closed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1˜4 , a bill acceptor in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a housing  1 , a transmission mechanism  2 , a recognition unit  3 , a bill box  4 , a gate control unit  5  and a detection module  6 . 
         [0022]    The housing  1  houses the transmission mechanism  2 , the recognition unit  3 , the bill box  4 , the gate control unit  5  and the detection module  6 , having an insertion slot  11 , an inside hole  111  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) in communication with the insertion slot  11  at one side, a passage  12  extending from the insertion slot  11 , and an anti-theft hook  13  provided at a middle turn of the passage  12 . 
         [0023]    The transmission mechanism  2  is mounted around the passage  12 , comprising a motor  21 , a set of bill-transfer rollers  22 , transmission belts  23 , an encoder wheel  211 , an optical sensor  212 , and a bill-pressing device  24 . The encoder wheel  211  and the optical sensor  212  are adapted for counting the revolving speed of the bill-transfer rollers  22 . The motor  21  is controlled to drive the bill-transfer rollers  22  and the transmission belts  23 , transferring each inserted bill  7 . The bill-pressing device  24  is adapted for moving each inserted bill  7  out of the passage  12  into the bill box  4 . 
         [0024]    The recognition unit  3  is provided at top and bottom sides of the passage  12 , comprising a sampling module  31  and an optical identification module  32 . The sampling module  31  is adapted for reading and identifying anti-counterfeit characteristics and character data of a license  8  inserted into the insertion slot  11 . The optical identification module  32  comprises a plurality of light emitting devices  321 , a plurality of optical sensors  322  respectively axially aimed at the light emitting devices  321 , and lenses  323  respectively set between the light emitting devices  321  and the optical sensors  322 . 
         [0025]    The bill box  4  is mounted to the housing  1  corresponding to the rear end of the passage  12  and opposing the bill-pressing device  24 , having a bill-bearing board  41  and spring members  42  that supports the bill-bearing board  41 . The spring members  42  impart a pressure to the bill-bearing board  41  in direction toward the passage  12  and the bill-pressing device  24 . The bill-bearing board  41  is adapted for receiving each bill  7  that is moved out of the passage  12  by the bill-pressing device  24 . 
         [0026]    The gate control unit  5  comprises a gate  51  and a solenoid valve  52 . The solenoid valve  52  comprises a driving rod  521 , and a power line  522  electrically connected to power supply. The gate  51  is mounted in the inside hole  111  and movable to close/open the passage  12 , comprising a link  511 , an axle  512  connected with the distal end of the link  511 , a coupling portion  513  upwardly extending from the periphery of the axle  512  and coupled to the driving rod  521  of the solenoid valve  52 , a probe  514  upwardly extending from the periphery of the axle  512 , and a plurality of upright pins  516 . The gate control unit  5  further comprises a displacement sensor  515  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) adapted for detecting displacement of the probe  514 , and a plurality of spring members  5161  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) respectively sleeved onto the upright pins  516 . 
         [0027]    The detection module  6  comprises a top circuit board  65  disposed at the top side relative to the insertion slot  11  and the passage  12  and electrically connected with the power line  522  of the solenoid valve  52 , a bottom circuit board  66  disposed at the bottom side relative to the insertion slot  11  and the passage  12  and electrically connected with the power line  522  of the solenoid valve  52 , a first media sensor  61  installed in the top circuit board  65  corresponding to the insertion slot  11  and adapted for transmitting a signal, a first signal receiver  62  installed in the bottom circuit board  66  corresponding to the insertion slot  11  and adapted for receiving the signal from the first media sensor  61 , a second media sensor  63  installed in the top circuit board  65  corresponding to the passage  12  and adapted for transmitting a signal, a second signal receiver  64  installed in the bottom circuit board  66  corresponding to the passage  12  and adapted for receiving the signal from the second media sensor  63 . The first media sensor  61  and the first signal receiver  62  are disposed at a front side relative to the gate  51 , the second media sensor  63  and the second signal receiver  64  are disposed at a back side relative to the gate  51 , and the signals transmitted from the first media sensor  61  and the second sensor  62  are used to control the solenoid valve  52  open or close. 
         [0028]    The aforesaid sampling module  31  comprises an image sensor adapted to pick up the image of the anti-counterfeit characteristics of a license  8  that is inserted through the insertion slot  11  into the passage  12 . The image sensor can be a charge coupled device (CCD), complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or any suitable type image sensor. The anti-counterfeit characteristics include watermarking, steel stamp, invisible barcode, laser label, and etc. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 5˜8  again, the bill acceptor is installed in an automatic vending machine for the insertion of a bill  7  or license  8 . When a bill  7  or license  8  is inserted through the insertion slot  11  of the bill acceptor into the passage  12 , the inserted bill  7  or license  8  shields the first media sensor  61 , blocking the first signal receiver  62  from receiving the output signal of the first media sensor  61 . When the first signal receiver  62  receives no signal from the first media sensor  61 , the top circuit board  65  and the bottom circuit board  66  are caused to drive the solenoid valve  52 , causing the coupling portion  513  to have the fan-shaped displacement by taking the axle  512  as an axle center, thereby lifting the gate  51  from the insertion slot  11 . When the gate  51  is lifted, the probe  514  shields the displacement sensor  515  to confirm the displacement of the coupling portion  513 , meanwhile, the spring members  5161  sleeved onto the upright pins  516  are compressed, causing the top circuit board  65  and the bottom circuit board  66  to start the transmission mechanism  2  and the recognition unit  3 . At this time, the motor  21  drives the bill-transfer rollers  22  and the transmission belts  23  to transfer the inserted bill  7  or license  8  forwards. During operation of the motor  21 , the encoder wheel  211  is rotated with the bill-transfer rollers  22  synchronously, causing the optical sensor  212  to count the number of turns of the bill-transfer rollers  22 . Subject to the number of turns of the bill-transfer rollers  22 , the moving distance of the inserted bill  7  or license  8  is calculated. Therefore, the inserted bill  7  or license  8  can be accurately delivered to a predetermined location for examination by the sampling module  31  and the optical identification module  32  of the optical recognition unit  3  to recognize the value, authenticity, and/or data of date of birth of the inserted bill  7  or license  8 . 
         [0030]    When one bill  7  entered the passage  12 , the second signal receiver  64  receives the signal from the second media sensor  63  again, causing the top circuit board  65  and the bottom circuit board  66  to stop the solenoid valve  52 . At this time, the spring force of the spring members  5161  forces the gate  51  downwards through the inside hole  111  into the insertion slot  11  to block the insertion slot  11 , prohibiting the insertion of any external body. Further, the gate  51  is made out of an opaque material. When the gate  51  is closed, it protects the passage  12  against outside dust and blocks outside light from passing through the insertion slot  11  into the passage  12 , allowing the optical recognition unit  3  to recognize the bill  7  or license  8  accurately, preventing a recognition error. 
         [0031]    As stated above, the bill acceptor comprises an insertion slot  11  in the front side of the housing  1  thereof for the insertion of a bill  7  or license  8 , a gate control unit  5  controllable to open the insertion slot  11  for the insertion of a bill  7  or license  8  and to close the insertion slot  11  after the insertion of a bill  7  or license  8 . When the gate control unit  5  closes the insertion slot  11  after the insertion of a bill  7  or license  8 , it blocks outside light from passing through the insertion slot  11  into the inside of the bill acceptor, preventing interference of external light with the operation of a sampling module  31  and an optical identification module  32  inside the bill acceptor and protecting the internal devices against outside dust. 
         [0032]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.