Coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function

Abstract

A coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function comprises a coil module, a first detection module, a second detection module, and a third detection module arranged along a channel of the receiver body. The side edge of the coin moves downward along the bottom slope of the channel. The control module calculates the coin's chord length, center-to-center distance, and radius based on the time and distance the coin travels through each detection module using the acceleration-distance equation and the Pythagorean theorem. Then, it calculates the coin's thickness using trigonometric functions based on the channel's inclination angle on the bottom slope. Finally, the control module uses the calculated coin radius and thickness to determine the authenticity of the coin, thereby improving the accuracy of coin authenticity identification.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin receiver, and more particularly to a coin receiver with a coin thickness measurement function. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Note that most electronic machines such as vending machines, ticket machines, stored value machines, coin exchange machines, and electronic game machines are equipped with coin acceptors to allow for shopping, stored value, or transactions by using coins.

[0003] In the structure of most commercially available coin receivers, a coil module and a detection module are arranged along the channel of the machine. The coil module generates an inductance value when a coin passes through, while the detection module generates a detection signal when a coin passes through. Then, the control module calculates the string length of the coin as it passes through the detection module based on the time and distance, and then determines the authenticity of the coin. However, this control module only calculates the string length of the coin and compares it with the diameter of the coin, which cannot improve the accuracy of coin authenticity identification. Therefore, how to solve the above problem is the topic that industry players are eager to study. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to calculate the chord length, chord center distance, and coin radius when the coin passes through the detection modules based on the time and distance of the coin passing through each detection module, using the acceleration distance equation and the Pythagorean theorem equation in sequence. Then, the thickness of the coin is calculated using trigonometric functions based on the inclination angle of the channel on the bottom slope. Finally, the control module judges the authenticity of the coin based on the calculated coin radius and thickness, thereby improving the accuracy of coin authenticity identification.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the coin receiver of the present invention with coin thickness measurement function includes a body, a coil module, a first detection module, a second detection module, a third detection module, a switching device, and a control module, wherein: the body includes a base and a cover disposed opposite to each other, and a channel connecting the coin inlet, coin outlet, and coin return outlet is provided between the base and the cover, and the bottom wall of the channel is configured as a bottom inclined edge facing the cover, allowing the side edge of the coin to move downward along the bottom inclined edge of the channel; the coil module is disposed on the base, and the coil module is close to the coin inlet of the channel, and the coil module generates an inductance value when the coin passes through; the first detection module is... The first detection module is installed on the base, with its position close to the coin inlet of the channel. This first detection module generates a first detection signal based on the arrival and departure times of the coins. The second detection module is also installed on the base, with its position close to the coin inlet of the channel. The height of the second detection module relative to the bottom wall of the channel is less than that of the first detection module. This second detection module generates a second detection signal based on the arrival and departure times of the coins. The third detection module is installed on the base, located downstream of the second detection module. Both the second and third detection modules are installed at the same height relative to the bottom wall of the channel. The third detection module generates a third detection signal based on the arrival and departure time of the coin. A baffle is movably installed at the end of the channel, between the coin outlet and the coin return outlet, to controllably open or close the coin outlet. The control module is mounted on the base and is electrically connected to the coil module, the first detection module, the second detection module, the third detection module, and the switching device. When a coin passes through the coil module, the control module determines the authenticity of the coin based on the inductance value generated by the coil module. The control module also determines the authenticity of the coin based on the first, second, and third detection signals, as well as the time it takes for the coin to contact the second detection module until it makes contact with the coin. The third detection module measures the time and distance, and uses the acceleration-distance equation to calculate the length of the first chord obtained by the coin as it passes through the first detection module, and the length of the second chord obtained by the coin as it passes through the second detection module. Then, it uses the Pythagorean theorem equation to calculate the distance between the center of the second chord and the radius of the coin. Based on the radius of the coin, it calculates the distance between the center of the third chord obtained by the coin as it passes through the second detection module when it does not have a bottom slope. Based on the distance between the second and third chords and the inclination angle of the bottom slope, it uses trigonometric functions to calculate the thickness of the coin. Finally, the control module uses the calculated radius and thickness of the coin to determine whether the coin is genuine or counterfeit.

[0006] In the aforementioned coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function, the first detection module is located between the second detection module and the third detection module.

[0007] The aforementioned coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function, wherein the first detection module, the second detection module and the third detection module each include an infrared transmitter and a corresponding infrared receiver.

[0008] The aforementioned coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function includes a switching device comprising a solenoid valve disposed on the base, the solenoid valve being connected to drive the baffle to move. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0034] The first figure is a perspective view (a) of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] The second figure is a perspective view (II) of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The third figure is a block diagram of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The fourth figure is an exploded perspective view of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 5 is an operational diagram of the switching device of the coin receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 6 is a side view of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention at the base.

[0040] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner side of the cover of the coin receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention measuring a coin.

[0042] Figure 9 is a front view of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention measuring the chord length of a coin.

[0043] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the coin receiver measuring the chord length of a coin according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 11 is a view of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention before measuring the chord length of a coin when there is no bottom bevel.

[0045] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention measuring the chord length of a coin when there is no bottom bevel.

[0046] Figure 13 is a front view of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention when measuring the chord length of a coin with or without a bottom bevel.

[0047] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the coin receiver of the first embodiment of the present invention measuring the chord length of a coin when there is no bottom bevel.

[0048] Figure 15 is a perspective view of the coin receiver with a coin divider installed according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 16 is a side view of the coin receiver of the second embodiment of the present invention at the base.

[0050] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the coin receiver measuring coins according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Implementation Method

[0009] Regarding the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, feasible embodiments are given below, and illustrated with reference to the drawings: First, please refer to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 8. It can be clearly seen from the figures that the coin receiver of the present invention mainly has the function of measuring the size and thickness of coin 9 (see Figures 3 and 8). The coin receiver includes a body 1, a coil module 2, a first detection module 3, a second detection module 4, a third detection module 5, a switching device 7, and a control module 8. The body 1 includes a base 11 and a cover 12 arranged opposite to each other on both sides, and is fitted with screws 141. The locking cover 14 and the fixing hole 113 are connected to the front panel 13. The cover plate 121 of the cover 12 is connected to the base 11 with the pivot shaft 122 and the torsion spring 124. The bottom bevel 123 of the cover 12 protrudes and abuts against the side of the base 11. There is a channel 111 between the base 11 and the cover 12 that connects the coin inlet 131, the coin outlet 112 and the coin return outlet 132. The base 11, the cover 12 and the channel 111 are tilted left and right. The bottom wall of the channel 111 is the bottom bevel 123 that tilts upward toward the cover 12, so that the side edge of the coin 9 rolls down along the bottom bevel 123 of the channel 111.

[0010] The coil module 2 is installed inside the base 11 (see Figure 6), and the coil module 2 is close to the coin inlet 131 of the channel 111. The coil module 2 generates an inductance value when the coin 9 passes through.

[0011] The first detection module 3 is installed inside the base 11 and is located near the coin inlet 131 of the channel 111. The first detection module 3 generates a first detection signal based on the arrival and departure time of the coin 9.

[0012] The second detection module 4 is installed inside the base 11 and is located near the coin inlet 131 of the channel 111. The height distance of the second detection module 4 relative to the bottom wall of the channel 111 is less than the height distance of the first detection module 3 relative to the bottom wall of the channel 111. The second detection module 4 generates a second detection signal based on the arrival and departure time of the coin 9.

[0013] The third detection module 5 is installed inside the base 11 and is located downstream of the channel 111 and the second detection module 4. The second detection module 4 and the third detection module 5 are set at the same height distance relative to the bottom wall of the channel 111. The third detection module 5 generates a third detection signal based on the arrival and departure time of the coin 9.

[0014] The first detection module 3 is located above the second detection module 4 and the third detection module 5. The first detection module 3, the second detection module 4 and the third detection module 5 each include an infrared transmitter 31, 41 and 51 and a relative infrared receiver 32, 42 and 52, and are respectively disposed inside the base 11 and the cover 12.

[0015] The switching device 7 includes a solenoid valve 71 disposed on the base 11, and a baffle 72 is movably disposed at the end of the channel 111 between the coin outlet 112 and the coin return outlet 132. The solenoid valve 71 is controlled to drive the baffle 72 to move forward or backward to open or close the coin outlet 112 and the coin return outlet 132.

[0016] The control module 8 is installed inside the base 11 and is electrically connected to the coil module 2, the first detection module 3, the second detection module 4, the third detection module 5, and the switching device 7. When the coin 9 passes through the coil module 2, the control module 8 determines the authenticity of the coin 9 based on the inductance value generated by the coil module 2. Simultaneously, based on the first, second, and third detection signals, and the time and distance from when the coin 9 contacts the second detection module 4 to when it contacts the third detection module 5, the control module 8 calculates the length n1 of the first chord M1 obtained by the coin 9 through the first detection module 3 (see Figure 10) and the length n2 of the second chord M2 obtained by the coin 9 through the second detection module 4 using the acceleration-distance equation. Then, it uses the Pythagorean theorem equation to calculate the center-to-center distance L1 of the second chord M2 and the radius r of the coin 9. Based on the radius r of coin 9, the distance L2 between the center of the third chord M3 obtained by the second detection module 4 when coin 9 does not have the bottom bevel 123 is calculated (see Figures 12 to 14). Then, based on the distance between the second chord M2 and the third chord M3 and the tilt angle θ of the bottom bevel 123, the thickness w of coin 9 is calculated using trigonometric functions. Then, the control module 8 determines the authenticity of coin 9 based on whether the calculated radius r and thickness w of coin 9 conform to the correct dimensions, thereby improving the accuracy of coin 9 authenticity identification.

[0017] Please refer to the first embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 10. When coin 9 enters channel 111, coin 9 moves with constant acceleration along the bottom inclined side 123 to roll through the first detection module 3, the second detection module 4, and the third detection module 5. Therefore, an acceleration-distance equation system is established to determine the initial velocity V0 and acceleration α of the coin insertion.

[0018] t1: The time taken for coin 9 to contact the second detection module 4 until it contacts the third detection module 5; d1: The distance between the second detection module 4 and the third detection module 5; pl1: The time it takes for coin 9 to completely pass through the second detection module 4; pl2: The time it takes for coin 9 to completely pass through the third detection module 5; pu: The time it takes for coin 9 to completely pass through the first detection module 3; dlu: The start-up time difference between the first detection module 3 and the second detection module 4; Calculate the initial velocity of the coin insertion:

[0019] Calculate the acceleration:

[0020] Then import dlu and pu into the acceleration-distance formula to extract the length n1 of the first chord M1 and the length n2 of the second chord M2:

[0021]

[0022] By using the lengths n1 and n2, radius r, distance from the center of the chord L1, and distance g between the two chords to form the Pythagorean theorem system, the distance from the center of the chord L1 (the distance from the second chord M2 to the center of the circle) can be obtained by solving the system of equations:

[0023] Substituting equation (7) into equation (6) will give the radius r of coin 9.

[0024] When the original bottom bevel 123 structure is excluded and the size of coin 9 remains unchanged, coin 9 obtains the third chord M3 through the second detection module 4 without the bottom bevel 123. Given the radius r and the height distance L of the second detection module 4 relative to the bottom wall of channel 111 (see Figures 11 and 12), the center distance L2 of the chord can be obtained: L2 = Lr……(8)

[0025] Since the difference between the center distances L1 and L2 lies in the presence or absence of the bottom hypotenuse 123 (see Figures 13 and 14), in other words, the actual measured chord length of coin 9 is not only affected by the radius r, but also needs to take into account the thickness w and tilt angle θ of coin 9. Therefore, by substituting the center distances L1 and L2 and the tilt angle θ into the trigonometric function equation, the thickness w of coin 9 can be obtained: w = (L2 - L1)cot θ……(9)

[0026] Please refer to the first embodiment shown in Figure 5 and Figure 15. The body 1 can be equipped with a coin dispenser 15 at the coin outlet 112 and locked in place with screws 151.

[0027] Please refer to Figures 16 and 17 for the second embodiment. The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the second embodiment further includes a fourth detection module 6 disposed on the base 11. The fourth detection module 6 is located downstream of the channel 111 and the third detection module 5. The second detection module 4, the third detection module 5, and the fourth detection module 6 are all at the same height relative to the bottom wall of the channel 111, while the first detection module 3 is located above the second detection module 4. The second embodiment also establishes a set of acceleration-distance equations to determine the initial velocity V0 and acceleration α of the coin insertion.

[0028] T1: The time taken for coin 9 to contact the second detection module 4 until it contacts the third detection module 5; T2: The time taken for coin 9 to contact the second detection module 4 until it contacts the fourth detection module 6; D1: The distance from the second detection module 4 to the third detection module 5; D2: The distance from the second detection module 4 to the fourth detection module 6; PL: The time it takes for coin 9 to completely pass through the second detection module 4; PU: The time it takes for coin 9 to completely pass through the first detection module 3; DLU: The start-up time difference between the first detection module 3 and the second detection module 4; Calculate the initial velocity of the coin insertion:

[0029] Calculate the acceleration:

[0030] Then import DLU, PL, and PU into the acceleration-distance formula to extract the length n1 of the first chord M1 and the length n2 of the second chord M2:

[0031]

[0032] The thickness w of coin 9 is calculated sequentially according to the aforementioned equations (6) to (9). Then, the control module 8 determines the authenticity of the coin based on the calculated radius r and thickness w of coin 9.

[0033] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Various simple changes and modifications that can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention should still be included in the following patent application scope.

Claims

1. A coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function, comprising a body, a coil module, a first detection module, a second detection module, a third detection module, a switching device, and a control module, wherein: The device includes a base and a cover disposed opposite to each other. A channel connecting the base, cover, and coin inlet is provided between the base and cover. The bottom wall of the channel is sloped downwards towards the cover, allowing the side edge of the coin to move downwards along the sloped edge of the channel. A coil module is disposed on the base, near the coin inlet of the channel, and generates an inductance value when the coin passes through. A first detection module is disposed on the base, near the coin inlet of the channel, and generates a first detection signal based on the arrival and departure times of the coin. A second detection module is disposed on the cover. The base is provided with a second detection module located near the coin inlet of the channel. The height distance of the second detection module relative to the bottom wall of the channel is less than the height distance of the first detection module relative to the bottom wall of the channel. The second detection module generates a second detection signal based on the arrival and departure times of the coin. A third detection module is located on the base and downstream of the channel and the second detection module. The second and third detection modules are at the same height relative to the bottom wall of the channel. The third detection module generates a third detection signal based on the arrival and departure times of the coin. The switching device is located at the end of the channel. A baffle is movably installed between the coin dispensing slot and the coin return slot, and is controlled to open or close the coin dispensing slot. A control module is mounted on the base and is electrically connected to the coil module, the first detection module, the second detection module, the third detection module, and the switching device. When a coin passes through the coil module, the control module determines the authenticity of the coin based on the inductance value generated by the coil module. Furthermore, the control module uses the first, second, and third detection signals, as well as the time and distance between the coin's contact with the second and third detection modules, and accelerates the coin accordingly. The system calculates the length of the first chord obtained by the coin as it passes through the first detection module and the length of the second chord obtained by the coin as it passes through the second detection module using an equation. Then, it uses the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the distance between the center of the second chord and the radius of the coin. Based on the radius of the coin, it calculates the distance between the center of the third chord obtained by the coin as it passes through the second detection module without the bottom slope. Based on the distance between the second and third chords and the inclination angle of the bottom slope, it calculates the thickness of the coin using trigonometric functions. Finally, the control module uses the calculated radius and thickness of the coin to determine whether the coin is genuine or counterfeit.

2. A coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function as described in claim 1, wherein the first detection module is located between the second detection module and the third detection module.

3. The coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function as described in claim 1, wherein the first detection module, the second detection module and the third detection module each include an infrared transmitter and a corresponding infrared receiver.

4. A coin receiver with coin thickness measurement function as described in claim 1, wherein the switching device includes a solenoid valve disposed on the base, the solenoid valve being connected to drive the baffle to move.

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