Coin selector utilizing a coin impeller

Abstract

A coin selector which utilizes a coin impeller is disclosed, the impeller comprising .[.magnetic field means.]. .Iadd.a magnetic field generator .Iaddend.for accelerating the coin. Coin velocity sensing .[.means .]. .Iadd.photodetectors .Iaddend. located downstream from the coin impeller and associated circuitry serve to compare the coin's acceptance ratio with predetermined values for acceptable coins. .Iadd.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for determining the denomination of a coin comprising a coin passageway .Iadd.including a track for supporting a coin on its edge, .Iaddend.means for admitting a coin to the passageway, an impeller of electrically conductive coins adjacent to the .[.passageway.]. .Iadd.coin support track, .Iaddend.the impeller comprising means for generating a magnetic field traveling relative to a coin .[.in the passageway.]. .Iadd.on the coin support track, .Iaddend.the generated magnetic field inducing eddy currents in the coin and interacting with the magnetic fields associated with the induced eddy currents to impel the coin .Iadd.along the coin support track .Iaddend.in the direction of the traveling magnetic field, and means for examining a velocity related property of the coin .Iadd.while the coin is still supported by the track and .Iaddend.after the coin has been exposed to at least a portion of the generated magnetic field. 
     
     
       2. A device for comparing characteristics of a coin with characteristics of a genuine coin of given denomination comprising a passageway for conducting the coin along a predetermined path, a magnetic field generator so positioned in proximity to the passageway that a coin in the passageway may be brought within its field, means associated with the generator to apply to a coin in the field a force having a component aligned with the path by moving the field relative to the passageway, and means for comparing .[.a characteristic representative of the velocity of.]. .Iadd.the time for .Iaddend.the coin which has been acted upon by the field .Iadd.to travel a known distance .Iaddend.with the corresponding .[.characteristic of.]. .Iadd.time for .Iaddend.a genuine coin of the given denomination. 
     
     
       3. A method of determining the denomination of a .Iadd.non-ferromagnetic electrically conductive .Iaddend.coin comprising the steps of generating a traveling magnetic field, directing a coin to .Iadd.a coin support track in .Iaddend.the magnetic field so that the field impels the coin in a desired direction .Iadd.along the coin support track, .Iaddend.and examining a velocity related characteristic of the coin when the coin has been impelled .Iadd.along the coin support track and while it is still supported by the track.Iaddend. . 
     
     
       4. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the traveling magnetic field is generated by moving a plurality of magnets relative to the coin in the direction in which it is desired to impel the coin. 
     
     
       5. A method as defined in claim 3 including the step of arresting the movement of the coin .[.as.]. .Iadd.along the coin support track immediately before .Iaddend.the coin .[.approaches.]. .Iadd.is subjected to .Iaddend.the traveling magnetic field. 
     
     
       6. A method as defined in claim 3 including the steps of arresting movement of a coin by impelling the coin in a first direction .Iadd.along the coin support track .Iaddend.causing the coin to abut a stationary member and then impelling the coin in a second direction .Iadd.along the coin support track .Iaddend.opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
       7. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the .[.impeller.]. .Iadd.traveling magnetic field .Iaddend.is .Iadd.generated by an .Iaddend.electrically operated .Iadd.impeller .Iaddend.and including the step of sensing the impeller coil temperature and regulating the impeller supply voltage as a function of the impeller coil temperature. 
     
     
       8. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the velocity related property is examined while the coin is under the magnetic influence of the traveling magnetic field and including the step of varying the magnitude of the magnetic field by an amount based upon a predetermined .[.program.]. .Iadd.function .Iaddend.related to the denomination of the coin. 
     
     
       9. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein .Iadd.the coin support track along which .Iaddend.the coin is impelled .[.along.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.an inclined track. 
     
     
       10. A method as defined in claim 3 including the steps of examining a chordal dimension of the coin, examining the velocity related characteristic while the coin is under the influence of the traveling magnetic field and comparing the coin's chordal dimension and velocity related characteristic with predetermined values to determine the denomination of the coin. 
     
     
       11. A method as defined in claim 10 including the step of varying the magnitude of the magnetic field by an amount based upon a predetermined .[.program.]. .Iadd.function .Iaddend.related to the denomination of the coin. 
     
     
       12. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the traveling magnetic field is generated by supplying a variable current to a plurality of longitudinally spaced coils such that the current through adjacent coils has a phase shift relationship. 
     
     
       13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the .[.impeller is.]. .Iadd.coils comprise an .Iaddend.electrically operated .Iadd.impeller .Iaddend.and including the steps of sensing the current supplied to the impeller, producing a signal dependent upon a velocity related characteristic of a coin, comparing that signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins, and accounting for variations in the current from a predetermined standard during the comparison step. 
     
     
       14. A method as defined in claim 12 including the steps of arresting the movement of the coin in said direction .Iadd.along the coin support track, .Iaddend.sensing the arrival of a coin .Iadd.on the coin support track .Iaddend.and supplying the variable current to the coils in response to a signal from the coin sensor. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in claim 14 including the steps of causing the coin to move in a first direction .Iadd.along the coin support track .Iaddend.and abut against a stationary member and then impelling the coin in a second direction .Iadd.along the coin support track .Iaddend.opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
       16. A device for determining the authenticity of a .Iadd.non-ferromagnetic electrically conductive .Iaddend.coin comprising a coin passageway .[.having.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.an entrance for the reception of a coin .Iadd.and a coin support track for supporting a coin on its edge, .Iaddend.a coin accelerating impeller adjacent to the .[.passageway.]. .Iadd.coin support track, .Iaddend.the impeller comprising means for generating a magnetic field having a component traveling along a region of the .[.passageway.]. .Iadd.coin support track, .Iaddend.the magnetic field component being arranged to impel a coin along the .[.passageway.]. .Iadd.coin support track, .Iaddend.and means for examining a function dependent upon the velocity of the coin .Iadd.while it is still supported by the track and .Iaddend.after the coin has passed .Iadd.along the coin support track .Iaddend.through at least a portion of the region. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 16 wherein the .[.coin passageway includes a.]. a coin support track .[.having.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.a slope greater than 0° and less than 5° to the horizontal. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 16 including coin arrival sensing means for sensing the arrival of a coin in the device and means actuated by the arrival sensing means for actuating the impeller. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 16 including means for reversing the direction in which the magnetic field travels. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 16 including .[.a coin support across the passageway onto which a coin entering the device drops and.]. a coin stop adjacent to the coin support .Iadd.track, .Iaddend.means for initially directing .[.the.]. .Iadd.a coin .Iaddend.entering .[.coin.]. .Iadd.the device .Iaddend.toward the coin stop .[.and means to impel.]. .Iadd.wherein the impeller impels .Iaddend.the coin away from a position of rest against the coin stop toward the velocity dependent function examining means. 
     
     
       21. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein the impeller is electrically operated and including means for regulating the impeller supply voltage as a function of the impeller temperature so that the impeller provides a relatively constant magnetic flux as the impeller temperature varies. 
     
     
       22. The device of claim 16 wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides an output signal related to the velocity of the coin while the coin is under the magnetic influence of the impeller, first circuit means for comparing the output signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins and for providing a resultant signal indicative of the coin's denomination, means .[.sensitive.]. .Iadd.responsive .Iaddend.to the resultant signal to modify the traveling magnetic field in order to spacially separate the coins in accordance with their velocity dependent function. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 16 .[.wherein the coin passageway includes a coin support track adjacent to the impeller and.]. wherein the impeller provides a magnetic field region across the passageway which varies in location height above the coin support track along at least a portion of the length of the coin support track. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 16 including means providing a first signal dependent upon the chordal dimension of the coin and wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides a second signal related to the velocity of the coin as the coin passes said examining means and means for comparing the first and second signals with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins. 
     
     
       25. The device of claim 16 wherein the impeller comprises at least one magnet having a component of motion in the direction in which it is desired to impel the coin. 
     
     
       26. The device of claim 25 .[.wherein the coin passageway includes a coin support track and.]. wherein the magnet is arranged for rotation about an axis positioned with relation to the passageway as to dispose in proximity to the support track a magnetic field having a major component in the desired direction of coin travel along the support track. 
     
     
       27. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein the impeller is electrically operated and wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides an output signal dependent upon the velocity of the coin as the coin passes the examining means and including a first circuit means for comparing the output signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins, means .[.sensitive.]. .Iadd.responsive .Iaddend.to the impeller current and operatively connected to the first circuit means to modify the operation of the first circuit means to compensate for variations in the impeller current. 
     
     
       28. A device as defined in claim 27 wherein the examining means includes a pair of coin presence sensors and wherein the first circuit means includes a pulsating signal source, a pulse counter, and gate means for gating the pulsating signal to the counter in response to .Iadd.a .Iaddend.signal from the coin presence sensors, and wherein the pulsating signal source frequency is controlled by the impeller current sensitive means. 
     
     
       29. The device of claim 16 wherein .[.the coin passageway includes a first coin support track adjacent to the coin accelerating impeller, said.]. .Iadd.the coin support .Iaddend.track .[.sloping.]. .Iadd.slopes .Iaddend.upwardly in the direction in which the magnetic field travels. 
     
     
       30. The device of claim 29 .[.including.]. .Iadd.wherein the coin passageway includes .Iaddend.a second coin support track and a second impeller adjacent to the second coin support track, the second coin support track and second impeller being located below one end of the .[.first.]. coin support track whereby coins leaving said one end of the .[.first.]. coin support track drop onto the second coin support track adjacent to the second impeller. 
     
     
       31. The device of claim 16 including means for arresting movement of the coin .Iadd.along the coin support track immediately .Iaddend.before the impeller impels the coin toward the velocity dependent function examining means. 
     
     
       32. The device of claim 31 wherein the movement arresting means includes .[.a coin support across the passageway onto which the coin is directed, the coin support having.]. an initial section .Iadd.of the coin support track .Iaddend.inclining from one end thereof and a second section declining from the other end of the first section, a coin stop adjacent to said one end and means for directing a coin entering the device toward the initial section whereby the coin rests against the coin support .Iadd.track .Iaddend.and coin stop. 
     
     
       33. The device of claim 32 wherein the inclining and declining sections are each at an angle of between 0.5° and 5° from horizontal. 
     
     
       34. The device of claim 16 wherein the velocity dependent function examining means provides an output signal related to the velocity of the coin, first circuit means for comparing the output signal with predetermined signals characteristic of acceptable coins and for providing a resultant signal indicative of the coin's denomination, means .[.sensitive.]. .Iadd.responsive .Iaddend.to the resultant signal to modify the velocity of the coin in order to spacially separate the coin from other coins examined in accordance with the differences in their velocity dependent functions. 
     
     
       35. The device of claim 34 wherein the means .[.sensitive.]. .Iadd.responsive .Iaddend.to the resultant signal are arranged to further impel the coin an amount dependent upon the coin's denomination. 
     
     
       36. The device of claim 35 wherein the means .[.sensitive.]. .Iadd.responsive .Iaddend.to the resultant signal is arranged to impel the coin in a direction different from the coin's direction when the coin is exposed to the velocity dependent function examining means. 
     
     
       37. The device of claim 16 wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of coils spaced in the desired direction of coin travel and an electrical power source for supplying a variable current to the coils in a manner such that a phase shift relationship exists between adjacent coils providing a magnetic field traveling in one direction. 
     
     
       38. The device of claim 37 including means for actuating the impeller at a predetermined point in the wave form of the variable current. 
     
     
       39. The device of claim 37 wherein each of the coils are wound around a pole piece and are located on one side of the coin passageway and including magnetic shunt means on the side of the passageway opposite the coils. 
     
     
       40. The device of claim 39 wherein the dimensions between two adjacent pole pieces is no greater than the diameter of the smallest coin which the device is designed to accept.