Coin/token sorting method
US5676234A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07D3/14
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of sorting coins according to predetermined information and allowing the coins to pass to a required outlet in accordance with the predetermined information, including the steps of: PA0 (a) detecting the presence of a leading edge portion of a coin falling into a free fall reference path above the outlets; and PA0 either PA0 (b) if the predetermined information indicates the coin-token is to be allowed to be accepted: (i) energising a solenoid to withdraw a separator from the reference path at a location above the outlets to allow the coin to free-fall towards and into the acceptance outlet; (ii) maintaining the solenoid energised, and thus the separator withdrawn from the reference path, for a predetermined period of time; (iii) resetting the predetermined time if the predetermined information indicates a following coin is also to be accepted; and (iv) de-energising the solenoid at the expiry of the predetermined period of time to allow the separator to move into the reference path; PA0 or PA0 (c) if the predetermined information indicates the coin is to be rejected: (i) maintaining the separator in the reference path at a location above the outle…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.