EP2752822A1 - Coin dispensing system with coin tubes with capacitative coin level sensors - Google Patents
Coin dispensing system with coin tubes with capacitative coin level sensors Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2752822A1 EP2752822A1 EP13150051.4A EP13150051A EP2752822A1 EP 2752822 A1 EP2752822 A1 EP 2752822A1 EP 13150051 A EP13150051 A EP 13150051A EP 2752822 A1 EP2752822 A1 EP 2752822A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- coin
- tube
- electrodes
- metal coins
- metal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D1/00—Coin dispensers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to bill acceptor technology and more particularly, to an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system, which uses electrodes at each coin tube to induce coupling capacitance and a detection circuit to measure the value of each induced coupling capacitance indicative of the coin storage status in each coin tube.
- a coin-operated automatic vending machine or amusement machine generally uses a coin validator module to validate the authenticity and value of each inserted coin or token. Different coins or tokens have different sizes. After validation of an inserted coin, the coin will be dispensed into one of a number of coin tubes inside the machine. If the number of coins stored in one coin tube reaches a predetermined high level, the coin dispenser cannot dispense any further coin into the respective coin tube. If the coin storage status of one coin tube reaches a predetermined low level, the coin hopper of the machine cannot discharge coins from the respective coin tube, ensuring normal operation of the machine.
- non-contact type displacement sensors are commonly used in coin-operated vending machines and amusement machines to detect the storage status of coins in each coin tube.
- These non-contact type displacement sensors include ultrasonic displacement sensors, magnetic displacement sensors and optical displacement sensors.
- An ultrasonic displacement sensor transmits an ultrasonic wave onto a coin and to receive reflection of ultrasonic wave from the coin. The energy difference between the transmitted ultrasonic wave and reflected ultrasonic wave, i.e., the attenuation of the ultrasonic energy indicative of the position of the coin is measured by a controller.
- An ultrasonic displacement sensor has the disadvantages of large size and high cost. Further, the signal strength of an ultrasonic displacement sensor is indirectly proportional to the distance of the coin.
- a magnetic displacement sensor is adapted to induce an eddy current upon presence of a coin within the effective sensing range. The value of the induced eddy current is measured by a controller to figure out the current position of the coin.
- a magnetic displacement sensor is simply suitable for a short distance sensing application. When used in a coin tube, the exciting frequency of the sensing coil will be increased, complicating posterior signal processing and relatively increasing the cost.
- an optical displacement sensor is adapted to detect the position of coins in a coin tube by means of light chopping.
- a light reflector is provided to reflect emitted light onto the coin tube. When a coin passes to chop the light beam, a shadow is produced. A controller calculates the position of the coin subject to change of the shadow.
- An optical displacement sensor is free from the interference of electronic noises, and has the advantage of low signal attenuation.
- the size of the coin tube does not significantly affect the sensing accuracy of the optical displacement sensor. When increasing the size of the coin tube, the size of the light reflector must be relatively increased. However, because the light reflector is inexpensive, increasing the size of the light reflector does not increase much the cost of the optical displacement sensor. However, recognition error may occur if the optical displacement sensor is used under a dust or polluted environment.
- the present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system, which detects the coin storage status in each coin tube of the coin dispenser system by means of capacitive coupling technology, having the advantages of simple structure, rapid response, workability under high temperature, dust and/or polluted environment, ease of installation and low cost.
- an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system comprises a housing, a coin tubes mounted in the housing for storing predetermined metal coins having a predetermined value and size, a coin dispensing unit mounted in the housing at a top side for validating the authenticity and value of metal coins and dispensing validated metal coins into the coin tubes, a coin hopper mounted in the housing at a bottom side for discharging metal coins out of the coin tubes, and a sensor module, which comprises an upper set of electrodes mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube near the top end thereof for sensing the presence of metal coins in the respective coin tube and generating a corresponding first induced current of analog signal, a lower set of electrodes mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube near the bottom end thereof for sensing the presence of said metal coins in the respective coin tube and generating a corresponding second induced current of analog signal, and a detection circuit electrically coupled with the upper and lower sets of electrodes and adapted to receive the first induced current of analog signal and second
- the detection circuit If the detection circuit receives a first induced current of analog signal from the upper set of electrodes at one coin tube, the detection circuit immediately stops the coin dispenser unit from dispensing metal coins into the respective coin tube. If the detection circuit receives a second induced current of analog signal from the lower set of electrodes at one coin tube, the detection circuit immediately stops the coin hopper from discharging metal coins out of the respective coin tube.
- the in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system comprises a housing, a coin tubes mounted in the housing for storing predetermined metal coins having a predetermined value and size, a coin dispensing unit mounted in the housing at a top side for validating the authenticity and value of metal coins and dispensing validated metal coins into the coin tubes, a coin hopper mounted in the housing at a bottom side for discharging metal coins out of the coin tubes, and a sensor module, which comprises multiple sets of electrodes bilaterally and longitudinally mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube along the length thereof for generating a coupling capacitance, and a detection circuit electrically coupled with the multiple sets of electrodes and adapted to receive the coupling capacitance and to convert the coupling capacitance received from the set of electrodes at each coin tube into a corresponding digital signal indicative of the number of metal coins being stored in the respective coin tube.
- the coin dispenser system comprises a machine main unit 1, and a set of coin tubes 2.
- the machine main unit 1 comprises a housing 11 defining therein an accommodation space 10, a coin dispensing unit 12 mounted in a top side in the accommodation space 10 inside the housing 11, a sensor module 13 mounted in a bottom side of the coin dispensing unit 12, and a coin hopper 14 mounted in a bottom side in the accommodation space 10 inside the housing 11.
- the set of coin tubes 2 is mounted in the coin hopper 14 at the bottom side of the coin dispensing unit 12.
- the coin dispensing unit 12 comprises a coin inlet 120 disposed at a top side thereof for receiving metal coins 3, a coin validator module 121 for validating the authenticity and values of metal coins 3 being put into the coin inlet 120, and a coin dispensing module 122 for dispensing validated metal coins 3 into the coin tubes 2 in a proper order.
- the sensor module 13 comprises multiple sets of electrodes 131 respectively mounted on the outer perimeters of the coin tubes 2 at different elevations, a detection circuit 132 electrically coupled with the multiple sets of electrodes 131 by electric wires and arranged at the bottom side of the coin dispenser unit 12.
- the detection circuit 132 can be mounted inside the coin dispenser unit 12, or at any suitable location inside the housing 11 to detect change of capacitance of storage metal coins 3 in each of the coin tubes 2.
- the coin hopper 14 is mounted at the bottom side in the accommodation space 10 inside the housing 11 to accommodate the coin tubes 2 and to propel storage metal coins 3 out of the coin tubes 2 for coin exchange or giving change.
- the coin tubes 2 are cylindrical coin storage devices for receiving sorted metal coins 3, each defining a cylindrical passage 20 that has a specific inner diameter for accommodating a predetermined number of metal coins 3 having a specific value.
- the coin dispenser unit 12 is mounted in the housing 11 of the machine main unit 1 at the top side; the hopper 14 is mounted in the housing 11 at the bottom side of the coin tubes 2; the multiple sets of electrodes 131 of the sensor module 13 are respectively mounted around the outer perimeters of the coin tubes 2 near the opposing top and bottom ends thereof and respectively electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the detection circuit 132; each coin tube 2 defines therein a cylindrical passage 20 having a specific inner diameter for accommodating a predetermined number of metal coins 3.
- the electrodes 131 of the sensor module 13 can be configured having a thickness equal to, or, greater or smaller than the thickness of the metal coins 3 to be dispensed into the coin tubes 2.
- the detection circuit 132 detects a change in the capacitance value between the lower set of electrode 131 at one coin tube 2, it means that the respective coin tube 2 has metal coin(s) 3 stored therein. At this time, this coin tube 2 is at a low-level status, and the coin hopper 14 is prohibited from discharging metal coins. If the detection circuit 132 detects a change in the capacitance value between the upper set of electrode 131 at one coin tube 2, it means that the respective coin tube 2 has metal coin(s) 3 stored therein. At this time, this coin tube 2 is at a full-level status, and the coin dispenser unit 12 is stopped from dispensing metal coins into the coin tubes 2.
- the invention effectively detects the coin storage status of each coin tube 2 to be at a low level or full level status.
- the electrodes 131 have the advantages of simple structure, rapid response, workability under high temperature, dust and/or polluted environment, ease of installation and low cost.
- two electrodes 131 are bilaterally and longitudinally mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube 2 along the length of the respective coin tube 2, and electrically connected to the detection circuit 132. During operation, a capacitance is induced between the two electrodes 131 indicative of the amount of metal coins 3 stored in the cylindrical passage 20. Further, the surface area of the electrodes 131 can be increased to relatively increase the sensitivity, assuring a high level of sensing reliability.
- the invention is characterized by arranging the electrodes 131 of the sensor module 13 at the outer perimeter of each coin tube 2 in the coin hopper 14 at the bottom side of the coin dispenser unit 12 inside the housing 11 of the machine main unit 1 and electrically connecting the electrodes 131 to the detection circuit 132 such that when metal coins 3 are dispensed into the cylindrical passage 20 in each coin tube 2, a change of capacitance between the electrodes 131 at the respective coin tube 2 occurs, and the detection circuit 132 measures the capacitance value and converts it into a digital signal indicative of the low-level or high-level coin storage status of the respective coin tube 2 or the amount of metal coins 3 being stored in the respective coin tube 2.
- This coin sensing method is simple, highly reliable, and cost effective.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
Abstract
An in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system includes coin tubes mounted in a machine main unit, a coin dispenser unit for validating inserted coins and dispensing validated coins into the coin tubes, a coin hopper controllable to discharge coins out of the coin tubes, and a. sensor module including multiple sets of electrodes mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube for generating a coupling capacitance and a detection circuit for converting the coupling capacitance from each set of electrodes into a respective digital signal indicative of a low-level or full-level coin storage status of the respective coin tube or the related metal coin storage amount.
Description
- The present invention relates to bill acceptor technology and more particularly, to an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system, which uses electrodes at each coin tube to induce coupling capacitance and a detection circuit to measure the value of each induced coupling capacitance indicative of the coin storage status in each coin tube.
- Following fast development of modern technology, convenience and rapidness are highly demanded in our modern daily life. Nowadays, different automatic vending machines, card dispensers, ticket machines and bill exchange machines are used everywhere to sell different products without serviceman. These machines are highly appreciated for the advantage of saving much labor and bringing convenience to people. With the selling of more and more kinds of goods, advanced vending machines need added functions.
- Further, commercial automatic vending machines and amusement machines commonly provide a coin acceptor for allowing people to insert coins, achieving unmanned operation and self-checkout. Further, a coin-operated automatic vending machine or amusement machine generally uses a coin validator module to validate the authenticity and value of each inserted coin or token. Different coins or tokens have different sizes. After validation of an inserted coin, the coin will be dispensed into one of a number of coin tubes inside the machine. If the number of coins stored in one coin tube reaches a predetermined high level, the coin dispenser cannot dispense any further coin into the respective coin tube. If the coin storage status of one coin tube reaches a predetermined low level, the coin hopper of the machine cannot discharge coins from the respective coin tube, ensuring normal operation of the machine.
- At the present time, non-contact type displacement sensors are commonly used in coin-operated vending machines and amusement machines to detect the storage status of coins in each coin tube. These non-contact type displacement sensors include ultrasonic displacement sensors, magnetic displacement sensors and optical displacement sensors. An ultrasonic displacement sensor transmits an ultrasonic wave onto a coin and to receive reflection of ultrasonic wave from the coin. The energy difference between the transmitted ultrasonic wave and reflected ultrasonic wave, i.e., the attenuation of the ultrasonic energy indicative of the position of the coin is measured by a controller. An ultrasonic displacement sensor has the disadvantages of large size and high cost. Further, the signal strength of an ultrasonic displacement sensor is indirectly proportional to the distance of the coin. For use with an ultrasonic displacement sensor, the length of the coin tubes must be limited. A coin tube having an excessive length may contribute to the problems of scattering attenuation, insufficiency of excited energy and recognition error. A magnetic displacement sensor is adapted to induce an eddy current upon presence of a coin within the effective sensing range. The value of the induced eddy current is measured by a controller to figure out the current position of the coin. A magnetic displacement sensor is simply suitable for a short distance sensing application. When used in a coin tube, the exciting frequency of the sensing coil will be increased, complicating posterior signal processing and relatively increasing the cost.
- Further, an optical displacement sensor is adapted to detect the position of coins in a coin tube by means of light chopping. A light reflector is provided to reflect emitted light onto the coin tube. When a coin passes to chop the light beam, a shadow is produced. A controller calculates the position of the coin subject to change of the shadow. An optical displacement sensor is free from the interference of electronic noises, and has the advantage of low signal attenuation. The size of the coin tube does not significantly affect the sensing accuracy of the optical displacement sensor. When increasing the size of the coin tube, the size of the light reflector must be relatively increased. However, because the light reflector is inexpensive, increasing the size of the light reflector does not increase much the cost of the optical displacement sensor. However, recognition error may occur if the optical displacement sensor is used under a dust or polluted environment.
- In view of the above statement, there is still room for improvement in coin detection
- The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system, which detects the coin storage status in each coin tube of the coin dispenser system by means of capacitive coupling technology, having the advantages of simple structure, rapid response, workability under high temperature, dust and/or polluted environment, ease of installation and low cost.
- To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system comprises a housing, a coin tubes mounted in the housing for storing predetermined metal coins having a predetermined value and size, a coin dispensing unit mounted in the housing at a top side for validating the authenticity and value of metal coins and dispensing validated metal coins into the coin tubes, a coin hopper mounted in the housing at a bottom side for discharging metal coins out of the coin tubes, and a sensor module, which comprises an upper set of electrodes mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube near the top end thereof for sensing the presence of metal coins in the respective coin tube and generating a corresponding first induced current of analog signal, a lower set of electrodes mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube near the bottom end thereof for sensing the presence of said metal coins in the respective coin tube and generating a corresponding second induced current of analog signal, and a detection circuit electrically coupled with the upper and lower sets of electrodes and adapted to receive the first induced current of analog signal and second induced current of analog signal. If the detection circuit receives a first induced current of analog signal from the upper set of electrodes at one coin tube, the detection circuit immediately stops the coin dispenser unit from dispensing metal coins into the respective coin tube. If the detection circuit receives a second induced current of analog signal from the lower set of electrodes at one coin tube, the detection circuit immediately stops the coin hopper from discharging metal coins out of the respective coin tube.
- In an alternate form of the present invention, the in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system comprises a housing, a coin tubes mounted in the housing for storing predetermined metal coins having a predetermined value and size, a coin dispensing unit mounted in the housing at a top side for validating the authenticity and value of metal coins and dispensing validated metal coins into the coin tubes, a coin hopper mounted in the housing at a bottom side for discharging metal coins out of the coin tubes, and a sensor module, which comprises multiple sets of electrodes bilaterally and longitudinally mounted at the outer perimeter of each coin tube along the length thereof for generating a coupling capacitance, and a detection circuit electrically coupled with the multiple sets of electrodes and adapted to receive the coupling capacitance and to convert the coupling capacitance received from the set of electrodes at each coin tube into a corresponding digital signal indicative of the number of metal coins being stored in the respective coin tube.
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FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the sensor module of the in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating electrodes mounted at the outer perimeters of coin tubes near top and bottom ends thereof in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is similar toFIG. 4 , illustrating the storage of metal coins in one coin tube at a low-level status and the storage of metal coins in the other coin tube at a full-level status. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view illustrating electrodes mounted at the outer perimeters of coin tubes in a parallel manner and extended along the length of the coin tubes in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 7 corresponds toFIG. 6 , illustrating the storage amount of metal coins in one coin tube changed. - Referring to
FIGS. 1-5 , an in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system in accordance with the present invention is shown. The coin dispenser system comprises a machine main unit 1, and a set ofcoin tubes 2. - The machine main unit 1 comprises a
housing 11 defining therein anaccommodation space 10, acoin dispensing unit 12 mounted in a top side in theaccommodation space 10 inside thehousing 11, asensor module 13 mounted in a bottom side of thecoin dispensing unit 12, and acoin hopper 14 mounted in a bottom side in theaccommodation space 10 inside thehousing 11. The set ofcoin tubes 2 is mounted in thecoin hopper 14 at the bottom side of thecoin dispensing unit 12. Thecoin dispensing unit 12 comprises acoin inlet 120 disposed at a top side thereof for receivingmetal coins 3, acoin validator module 121 for validating the authenticity and values ofmetal coins 3 being put into thecoin inlet 120, and acoin dispensing module 122 for dispensing validatedmetal coins 3 into thecoin tubes 2 in a proper order. - The
sensor module 13 comprises multiple sets ofelectrodes 131 respectively mounted on the outer perimeters of thecoin tubes 2 at different elevations, adetection circuit 132 electrically coupled with the multiple sets ofelectrodes 131 by electric wires and arranged at the bottom side of thecoin dispenser unit 12. In actual application, thedetection circuit 132 can be mounted inside thecoin dispenser unit 12, or at any suitable location inside thehousing 11 to detect change of capacitance ofstorage metal coins 3 in each of thecoin tubes 2. Further, thecoin hopper 14 is mounted at the bottom side in theaccommodation space 10 inside thehousing 11 to accommodate thecoin tubes 2 and to propelstorage metal coins 3 out of thecoin tubes 2 for coin exchange or giving change. - The
coin tubes 2 are cylindrical coin storage devices for receiving sortedmetal coins 3, each defining acylindrical passage 20 that has a specific inner diameter for accommodating a predetermined number ofmetal coins 3 having a specific value. - As stated above, the
coin dispenser unit 12 is mounted in thehousing 11 of the machine main unit 1 at the top side; thehopper 14 is mounted in thehousing 11 at the bottom side of thecoin tubes 2; the multiple sets ofelectrodes 131 of thesensor module 13 are respectively mounted around the outer perimeters of thecoin tubes 2 near the opposing top and bottom ends thereof and respectively electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of thedetection circuit 132; eachcoin tube 2 defines therein acylindrical passage 20 having a specific inner diameter for accommodating a predetermined number ofmetal coins 3. Further, theelectrodes 131 of thesensor module 13 can be configured having a thickness equal to, or, greater or smaller than the thickness of themetal coins 3 to be dispensed into thecoin tubes 2. - When
metal coins 3 are guided into thecoin tubes 2 by thecoin dispenser unit 12, themetal coins 3 are kept in thecylindrical passages 20 of therespective coin tubes 2 between the respective upper and lower sets ofelectrodes 131. At this time, a change of capacitance occurs in the capacitive coupling between theelectrodes 131 and thestorage metal coins 3 in eachcoin tube 2, causing the upper or lower set ofelectrodes 131 at eachcoin tube 2 to provide a respective induced current of analog signal to thedetection circuit 132 for conversion into a respective digital signal indicative of the capacitance value between the upper or lower set ofelectrodes 131 at therespective coin tube 2. If thedetection circuit 132 detects a change in the capacitance value between the lower set ofelectrode 131 at onecoin tube 2, it means that therespective coin tube 2 has metal coin(s) 3 stored therein. At this time, thiscoin tube 2 is at a low-level status, and thecoin hopper 14 is prohibited from discharging metal coins. If thedetection circuit 132 detects a change in the capacitance value between the upper set ofelectrode 131 at onecoin tube 2, it means that therespective coin tube 2 has metal coin(s) 3 stored therein. At this time, thiscoin tube 2 is at a full-level status, and thecoin dispenser unit 12 is stopped from dispensing metal coins into thecoin tubes 2. Subject to the arrangement described above, the invention effectively detects the coin storage status of eachcoin tube 2 to be at a low level or full level status. Further, theelectrodes 131 have the advantages of simple structure, rapid response, workability under high temperature, dust and/or polluted environment, ease of installation and low cost. - Referring to
FIGS. 6 and7 , in an alternate form of the present invention, twoelectrodes 131 are bilaterally and longitudinally mounted at the outer perimeter of eachcoin tube 2 along the length of therespective coin tube 2, and electrically connected to thedetection circuit 132. During operation, a capacitance is induced between the twoelectrodes 131 indicative of the amount ofmetal coins 3 stored in thecylindrical passage 20. Further, the surface area of theelectrodes 131 can be increased to relatively increase the sensitivity, assuring a high level of sensing reliability. - When
metal coins 3 are put into thecylindrical passage 20 in eachcoin tube 2, the capacitance between the twoelectrodes 131 at the outer perimeter of therespective coin tube 2 is changed, generating an induced current that is measured by thedetection circuit 132 and converted into a corresponding digital signal indicative of the amount ofmetal coins 3 in thecylindrical passage 20 of therespective coin tube 2. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 ,3 ,5 and7 again, the invention is characterized by arranging theelectrodes 131 of thesensor module 13 at the outer perimeter of eachcoin tube 2 in thecoin hopper 14 at the bottom side of thecoin dispenser unit 12 inside thehousing 11 of the machine main unit 1 and electrically connecting theelectrodes 131 to thedetection circuit 132 such that whenmetal coins 3 are dispensed into thecylindrical passage 20 in eachcoin tube 2, a change of capacitance between theelectrodes 131 at therespective coin tube 2 occurs, and thedetection circuit 132 measures the capacitance value and converts it into a digital signal indicative of the low-level or high-level coin storage status of therespective coin tube 2 or the amount ofmetal coins 3 being stored in therespective coin tube 2. This coin sensing method is simple, highly reliable, and cost effective. - 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.
Claims (8)
- An in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system, comprising:a machine main unit comprising a housing;a coin tubes mounted in said housing, each said coin tube defining therein a cylindrical passage for storing predetermined metal coins having a predetermined value and size;a coin dispensing unit mounted in a top side in said housing, said coin dispensing unit comprising a coin inlet disposed at a top side thereof for receiving said metal coins, a coin validator module for validating the authenticity and values of the metal coins being put into said coin inlet, and a coin dispensing module for dispensing validated said metal coins into said coin tubes;a coin hopper mounted in said housing for discharging said metal coins out of said coin tubes; anda sensor module comprising an upper set of electrodes mounted at the outer perimeter of each said coin tube near a top end thereof for sensing the presence of said metal coins in the respective said coin tube and generating a corresponding first induced current of analog signal, a lower set of electrodes mounted at the outer perimeter of each said coin tube near a bottom end thereof for sensing the presence of said metal coins in the respective said coin tube and generating a corresponding second induced current of analog signal, and a detection circuit electrically coupled with each said upper set of electrodes and each said lower set of electrodes adapted to receive said first induced current of analog signal and said second induced current of analog signal, detection circuit stopping said coin dispenser unit from dispensing said metal coins into each said coin tube when received said first induced current of analog signal from the associating upper set of electrodes, said detection circuit stopping said coin hopper from discharging said metal coins out of each said coin tube when received said second induced current of analog signal from the associating lower set of electrodes.
- The in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detection circuit converts said first induced current of analog signal into a first digital signal indicative of a full-level metal coin storage status of the respective said coin tube and said second induced current of analog signal into a second digital signal indicative of a low-level metal coin storage status of the respective said coin tube.
- The in-passage sensing type in dispenser system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said electrode of said sensor module is configured having a thickness equal to the thickness of one individual said metal coin.
- The in-passage sensing type in dispenser system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said electrode of said sensor module is configured having a thickness greater than the thickness of one individual said metal coin.
- The in-passage sensing type in dispenser system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said electrode of said sensor module is configured having a thickness smaller than the thickness of one individual said metal coin.
- An in-passage sensing type coin dispenser system, comprising:a machine main unit comprising a housing;a coin tubes mounted in said housing, each said coin tube defining therein a cylindrical passage for storing predetermined metal coins having a predetermined size and value;a coin dispensing unit mounted in a top side in said housing, said coin dispensing unit comprising a coin inlet disposed at a top side thereof for receiving said metal coins, a coin validator module for validating the authenticity and values of metal coins being put into said coin inlet, and a coin dispensing module for dispensing validated said metal coins into said coin tubes;a coin hopper mounted in said housing for discharging said metal coins out of said coin tubes; anda sensor module comprising multiple sets of electrodes respectively and bilaterally mounted at the outer perimeter of each
said coin tube and longitudinally extending along the length of each said coin tube for generating a coupling capacitance, and a detection circuit electrically coupled with said multiple sets of electrodes and adapted to receive said coupling capacitance and to measure the value of said coupling capacitance that is indicative of the number of said metal coins being stored in the respective said coin tube. - The in-passage sensing type in dispenser system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said detection circuit converts the coupling capacitance received from the set of electrodes at each said coin tube into a corresponding digital signal indicative of the number of said metal coins being stored in the respective said coin tube.
- The in-passage sensing type in dispenser system as claimed in claim 6, wherein each set of electrodes at each said coin tube has a vertical height extending along the length of the respective said coin tube over the combined thickness of a stack of a predetermined number of said metal coins.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP13150051.4A EP2752822A1 (en) | 2013-01-02 | 2013-01-02 | Coin dispensing system with coin tubes with capacitative coin level sensors |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP13150051.4A EP2752822A1 (en) | 2013-01-02 | 2013-01-02 | Coin dispensing system with coin tubes with capacitative coin level sensors |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2752822A1 true EP2752822A1 (en) | 2014-07-09 |
Family
ID=47632799
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP13150051.4A Withdrawn EP2752822A1 (en) | 2013-01-02 | 2013-01-02 | Coin dispensing system with coin tubes with capacitative coin level sensors |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2752822A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109186806A (en) * | 2018-10-12 | 2019-01-11 | 徐州天泽乘龙机械制造有限公司 | A kind of temperature sense system for storing metalwork |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0680021A1 (en) * | 1994-04-30 | 1995-11-02 | National Rejectors Inc. GmbH | Apparatus for detecting the level in the tubes of a coin dispenser |
US6267662B1 (en) * | 1999-04-13 | 2001-07-31 | Mars Incorporated | Measuring a stack of coins in a coin handling device |
DE10105332A1 (en) * | 2001-02-05 | 2002-08-29 | Hess Sb Automatenbau Gmbh & Co | Coin roll dispenser has at least one magazine with coin rolls to be dispensed and optical light barrier level sensor for detecting level of filling of magazine. |
-
2013
- 2013-01-02 EP EP13150051.4A patent/EP2752822A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0680021A1 (en) * | 1994-04-30 | 1995-11-02 | National Rejectors Inc. GmbH | Apparatus for detecting the level in the tubes of a coin dispenser |
US6267662B1 (en) * | 1999-04-13 | 2001-07-31 | Mars Incorporated | Measuring a stack of coins in a coin handling device |
DE10105332A1 (en) * | 2001-02-05 | 2002-08-29 | Hess Sb Automatenbau Gmbh & Co | Coin roll dispenser has at least one magazine with coin rolls to be dispensed and optical light barrier level sensor for detecting level of filling of magazine. |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109186806A (en) * | 2018-10-12 | 2019-01-11 | 徐州天泽乘龙机械制造有限公司 | A kind of temperature sense system for storing metalwork |
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