Integrated Coin Sensor Assembly for Accurate Discrimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coin identifying sensors face challenges in accuracy and assembly complexity due to the need for precise positioning of individual sensors, leading to high manufacturing costs and difficulties in distinguishing between sequential coins, with existing designs being cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A coin identifying sensor configuration featuring three sensors aligned and fixed integrally, with two pairs disposed symmetrically across the coin path, allowing for accurate detection of coin diameter and material without positional deviation, simplifying assembly and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple individual sensors are disposed on side walls in the coin path, then coin discrimination capability is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to precise positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coin sensors are integrated into a single sensor unit with a common structure, where several coil assemblies are arranged in a matrix pattern within one housing. This merging approach maintains the discrimination capability of multiple sensors while eliminating the need for precise individual positioning on side walls, as the entire unit is installed as one component.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it performs coin discrimination, detects coin presence, and provides structural support for multiple coil assemblies. The integrated design allows a single component to replace what would otherwise require multiple separate sensor installations, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple individual sensors are disposed on side walls, then coin detection capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to handling many small sensors
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coil assemblies and sensors are combined into a single integrated sensor unit with a common housing and mounting structure. This reduces the number of discrete parts that need to be manufactured, stored, and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the detection accuracy provided by multiple sensing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is designed as a modular assembly where multiple coil assemblies are segmented and arranged in a matrix pattern within a single housing. This segmentation allows for standardized production of identical modular units that can be easily manufactured and replaced as complete units, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Area of stationary object
If sensors are disposed on narrow coin path of coin selector, then space utilization is improved, but assembly accuracy deteriorates due to physical limitations
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors are merged into a single integrated unit that occupies a compact space within the narrow coin path. The unified structure ensures that all sensor elements maintain their relative positions automatically, eliminating the need for individual positioning adjustments and ensuring high assembly accuracy within the limited space available.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor arrangements extend in the widthwise direction of the coin path rather than only in the vertical direction. By utilizing the width dimension, the patent achieves effective use of the narrow coin path space while maintaining proper sensor spacing and orientation, thus avoiding positioning accuracy issues.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances coin identification accuracy, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows for easier assembly, enabling reliable and efficient detection of individual coins, even when dropped sequentially, while preventing illegal operations by differentiating between valid and invalid coins.
Implementation Method 1
a discriminating apparatus having a configuration in which a plurality of coin sensors (hereinafter 'sensors'), each of which includes a pair of coils attached opposite to each other on the opposite side walls in a thickness direction
Data Source
AI summary
A coin identifying sensor and a coin identifying apparatus has coin detecting sections (25X and 25Z) that are formed by relatively disposing a group of coin identifying sensors (21A, 21B, 21C and 21D) with each group provided with three aligned and integrated coin sensors. Each, of the sensors has a core wound with a coil. The sensors are disposed in a coin path in a direction crossing a movement direction of a coin. The first and second coin detecting sections are sequentially disposed on a coin path (4) to determine whether a coin is real or not using detection data of diameter, material and thickness of the coin based upon detection outputs sequentially obtained from the coin detecting sections.