Abstract:
In a currency acceptor, a transport having a reversible drive conveys a bill to be tested along a path of travel past a first photoelectric detector, a transducer head at a test station for sensing the physical properties of the bill, and then a second photoelectric detector. If the grid areas on opposite sides of the portrait on the bill have physical properties indicative of validity, testing circuitry responsive to the head produces an accept signal as each grid area passes the head. To be deemed valid, the first grid area must cause the production of an accept signal, the leading and trailing edges of the bill must be concurrently detected by the two photoelectric detectors as the portrait passes the head (determines that the bill is not too short), the second grid area must cause the production of a second accept signal by the time the bill reaches a predetermined position along the path, and thereafter the first photoelectric detector must not detect the bill or another, following bill until such time that the bill completely passes the second photoelectric detector and is accepted. If an invalid condition is encountered, the transport drive is reversed and the bill or counterfeit material is returned to the depositor and thereby rejected.
Abstract:
A combined optical and magnetic transducer for sensing both optical and magnetic properties of an article, for example, a piece of paper currency or other document having both visible and magnetic markings to be tested or read, an information-bearing medium such as a data-recording tape to be read, or the like. The transducer comprises a magnetic-sensing head having a transparent gap separating the poles of the magnetic core of the head, a photoelectric element being disposed in the head in alignment with the gap. Outside the head, one side of the article contacts or is in close proximity to the poles at the gap, and the article is illuminated by a light source, so that both magnetic properties and optical properties of the article may be detected simultaneously during relative movement of the article and the transducer.
Abstract:
A bill transport of a currency acceptor conveys a bill inserted thereinto along a path of travel having a sharp initial bend followed by a rectilinear stretch defined by an elongated, narrow channel. The bend is formed by rollers at the inside of the bend opposed by endless belts presenting the outside of the bend. A validity test station is located intermediate the ends of the cannel, and the bill is held flat as it is advanced along the channel by two rows of opposed pairs of rollers projecting into the channel and receiving the bill adjacent its longitudinal edges. A constant speed transport drive is provided by a direct current motor governed by a centrifugal chopper. Failure to maintain proper operating speed due to jamming or the like results in the application of an unchopped voltage to the motor, causing voltage to build up across a capacitor to a level which fires a programmable unijunction transistor that, through associated switching circuits, reverses the polarity at the motor input connections to reverse the drive and return the bill to the insert opening. Such switching circuits are also operated by the validity tester to return a bill found to be invalid.
Abstract:
A coin acceptor that detects the bulk resistivity and permeability of a coin and determines whether or not the coin is valid. A two-coil inductor forms one arm of a normally unbalanced Maxwell bridge and is disposed at a test station which is interposed in a channel through which the coin passes. The two coils have series aiding magnetic fields and are disposed on opposite sides of the coin channel with the lines of force crossing the channel at generally right angles to the opposed faces of a coin under test. A valid coin moving through the lines of force causes the inductance to change and effect balancing of the bridge. If this occurs throughout a predetermined test period, a coin deflector below the test station is withdrawn to permit the coin to enter an accept path.