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(11) | EP 0 607 741 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | New system for programming coin selectors |
| (57) The system comprises using types of disc-shaped pieces (A, B, C, ...) that due to
their mechanical or electric characteristics offer an especially favourable performance
in the selector (low measurement dispersion), establishing in relation to such types
of disc-shaped pieces a correction function for each type of coin that is to be accepted
by the selector, as in Mn = fn (A, B, C, ...), subsequently inserting those types of pieces in each of the selectors
to be programmed, in which a programming equipment shall generate, with the information
provided by the very selector and with the assistance of the said correction functions
(fn) the reference levels suited to each name or type of coin, that are stored in the
respective selector memory. The number of types of different tokens to be used will
preferably be two. |
SPECIFICATION
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for programming coin selectors, of the kind used in games machines, automatic vending machines and so forth, that is to say in all kinds of machines automatically dispensing a product or service upon insertion therein of a coin or number of coins, which system has been designed to significantly minimise the programming time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are coin selectors in which the coins are controlled or selected as they pass through a measurement area in which various sensors are provided in order to measure the different physical characteristics of the coins. When the measurement process is over, the values obtained are set aside with the standard values of the various names of admissible coins duly stored in the selector memory, and the coin is accepted when such values coincide and rejected when not.
[0003] The problem that arises after the manufacture of the selector is that because there are inevitably certain tolerances therein there is a need to make a final adjustment in each appliance.
[0004] Programming procedures are known that comprise choosing a group of standard coins for each of the various names or types of coins that are to be admitted by the selector, and all the coins in such group must be inserted in the selector to be adjusted. An equipment connected to the selector, supported by a specific program for the selected standards, shall generate the threshold levels defining the admissible values of each of the admissible names, applying the appropriate tolerances and recording the memory that shall later on be fitted in the selector at the programming or adjustment stage.
[0005] The programming time with this procedure is however significant, and increases as the number of different names or type of coins to be programmed increases.
[0006] Furthermore, there are also problems of reliability of the appliances, for any electronic selector performs differently as regards accurate measurement with the various existing coins, depending upon the thickness, diameter, alloy or irregularities thereof, which brings about a dispersion when programming the selectors, that shall be that much greater as the performance of the standard coins is worse, and shall adversely impinge upon the final quality of the product, and that if the said quality is to be improved, shall cause a larger number of standard coins to be used, whence programming shall be slower.
[0007] The coin standards are moreover chosen so as to represent the coins existing for each of the names, which implies an intricate procedure that requires examining a large number of coins. Furthermore, if the dispersion of characteristics of a given name or type of coin is high, the number of coins in the standard for this name shall also be high, whence the increase in the programming times this entails, as aforesaid.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The system subject of the invention allows the use of coins to be eliminated in proportion to the names of different coins to be programmed in the unit programming process of each selector, thereby representing a significant time savings.
[0009] More specifically, the said system relies on the use of types of calibrating pieces, the number of selected types being less than the number of coins of different value acceptable for the selector and the number being preferably two. These pieces can comprise tokens or coins that shall hereinafter be referred to as calibres or calibration tokens and with regard to which a survey is made previously in order to establish the relation between the same and the various kinds of coins to be programmed.
[0010] In this specification, "type of disc-shaped pieces" shall mean a set of tokens having very close physical characteristics (diameter, thickness, alloy and so forth) or coins that in addition to fulfilling the above condition have the same value.
[0011] The classical analysis of a wide range of coins, to correct to the greatest extent potential practical deviations, is thus made once only, when establishing the existing relation between each kind of coin and the respective calibres, whereas in the later and repetitive operation for the unit programming of each selector, where the time used with the classical method is very important, it is sufficient to use the calibration pieces, and hence the operation is much shorter in time. This advantage is enhanced if the number of disc-shaped calibration pieces is reduced for instance to two different types of pieces.
[0012] The use of two types of calibration tokens has been provided, so as to generate measurement parameters that are sufficiently distinct to define a representative measurement field, both for admissible coins and for the measurement characteristics of each of the selectors to be programmed.
[0013] The duly calibrated tokens are inserted in the selector to be programmed and a programming equipment shall, with the information provided by the selector upon programming and the assistance of known correction functions, generate the appropriate reference levels for each name or type of coin.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In order to provide a fuller description and contribute to the complete understanding of the characteristics of this invention, a set of drawings is attached to the specification which, while purely illustrative and not fully comprehensive, shows the following:
Figure 1.- Is a block diagram of the process to program each coin selector.
Figure 2.- Is another block diagram of the process for calibrating the standard tokens.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In the light of these figures and more specifically figure 1 it can be observed that two types of calibration tokens A and B are initially used, inserted in the selector to be programmed (1) and a calculation process (2) is then carried out by a programming equipment and with the assistance of the information provided by the selector being programmed (1) itself, and likewise with the assistance of the threshold or reference levels (3) suited to each measurement parameter of each name or type of acceptable coin, that are saved in the relevant memory (4).
[0016] For its part the correction function is applied in the calculation process (2) and is obtained as shown in figure 2 with the assistance of a computerised measurement equipment (5) together with a set (6) comprising the calibration token, types A and B and a number of coins, of names or types M1, M2, ..., MN, yielding the correction factors (F1, F2, ..., FN) for each name or type of coin (M1, M2, ..., MN), depending on the calibration tokens, as shown in the block numbered (7) in figure 2.
[0017] A number of advantages are thus achieved, amongst which the following should be noted:
- A significant decrease in the programming times in regard to which it should be noted that not only the number of names or types of different coins to be inserted in the programming process decreases, but the number of units of each name decreases, for the calibration tokens are stable and have a uniform performance in the selector.
- Aconsiderable increase in the programming reliability, for all the names of types of coins are programmes with the same precision, without the specific quality of the coins having any influence thereon.
- Ease of reproduction of new standards (calibration tokens).
- Finally and for any type of coin to be programmed, the same standard of tokens or coins can be used, and it is sufficient to suitably adjust the correction functions (fn).
a) selecting one or several types of disc-shaped calibration pieces, the number being preferably less than the number of different coins acceptable for the selector, for which pieces the performance of the selector is especially favourable due to the high repetitiveness;
b) establishing a specific correction function for each of the different coins acceptable for the selector, with regard to the selected disc-shaped pieces, by determining the existing relation between the different measurement parameters, such as dimensions, specific electric and magnetic characteristics, weight, for each of the said coins and the selected disc-shaped pieces; and
c) inserting the coins in the selector to be programmed and generating, using a programming equipment and based upon the information provided by the selector itself and on the previously obtained correction function, the reference levels suited to the different measurement parameters of each of the different coins acceptable for the selector.