Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a solely battery-powered, low-powered, money-operated vending and dispensing apparatus which can be utilized in the vending or dispensing of products, such as newspapers or other printed matter, or services. The present invention comprises at least one battery (14), a control system housed on a control board (11), money sensing devices (19, 21), money validating devices (16, 17), battery power test circuitry (40), circuitry (D28) to indicate a low battery power condition, circuitry and devices (50, 6) to determine and indicate the acceptability of various types of money, or its equivalent, a product delivery circuit (70) and device (18), circuitry to indicate the activation, or lack thereof, of the product delivery device, and circuitry and a device (27) to indicate when the apparatus is being serviced. The present invention utilizes power saving components and operational techniques to facilitate low power operation.
Abstract:
Un dispositif de détection de présence de pièces de monnaie (100) comprend un ou plusieurs circuits électroniques auto-oscillateurs (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720) dont au moins quelques-uns comprennent un inducteur (121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621, 721), possédant un noyau en forme d'haltère (102, 104, 106) à proximité d'un passage de pièces de monnaie (112A). Un multiplexeur (110) envoie de manière sélective des impulsions à chaque oscillateur. Après qu'un oscillateur reçoit une impulsion, il commence à osciller. La proximité d'une pièce de monnaie à l'inducteur de l'oscillateur recevant l'impulsion pendant le temps d'oscillation du circuit oscillant est déterminée en comparant la sortie du circuit oscillant avec la sortie d'un circuit oscillant (820) possédant un inducteur de référence (821) isolé des pièces de monnaie. Les détecteurs de l'art antérieur sont gênants lors de l'ouverture du tube de pièces de monnaie pour le nettoyage et l'extraction de pièces de monnaie coincées et ils sont soumis à des influences extérieures telles que la présence de pièces de monnaiedans un tube de pièces de monnaie adjacent.
Abstract:
An improved currency validitor (1) has one or more sensors (18; 24; 30) positioned along a bill passageway (4) for testing a bill transported along the bill passageway and for generating electrical signals in response to certain features of the bill. Data derived from the electrical signals is processed by a logic circuit, such as microprocessor (102), to determine the authenticity and denomination of the bill. The data may be normalized during this processing. Either or both a histogram technique or a percent denomination space technique may be used in determining the authenticity and denomination of the bill.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for reducing vandalism and minimizing damage from liquids injected into apertures of a vending machine is described. An anti-salting module (1), having a housing with an integral tray (2) for collecting liquids, is connected beneath a bill validator (100) in a vending machine. A rubber fillet (5) is connected to the rear of the bill validator and directs injected fluids to the tray. A moisture sensor (4) integral to the tray is connected to detection and control circuitry. When moisture is detected, the detection and control circuitry operates to interrupt power and control signals to the bill validator. After moisture has been detected, vending machine power and control signals can be restored only when moisture is no longer present, and a set switch (84) is depressed by service personnel.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for detecting magnetic data on media is disclosed which utilizes an array of horizontal magnetoresistive sensors. The present invention detects the pitch or separation of parallel magnetic transition data (12) on the magnetic medium (15) under test, and generates a signal that is independent of the velocity of the medium. In one embodiment, the magnetoresistive sensors (1) employed in an array are spaced apart a distance (d) of which corresponds to the separation of magnetic transition data of interest, and the output of each sensor (1) is connected to a voltage adder (8). The signal from the voltage adder (8) is at a maximum when the separation of the magnetic transition data corresponds to the sensor separation. A peak detector (10) is connected to the output of each voltage adder to indicate when a medium having a particular magnetic transition data pattern is detected.
Abstract:
An improved motor control for banknote handling apparatus (10). An improved stacker pusher motor arrangement (200) has a defined cycle of operation. The time it takes the stacker pusher motor (116) to complete a predetermined portion of this cycle is measured. A braking time is computed from the measured time, and a braking control signal dependent thereon is applied to the stacker pusher motor (116) to stop the stacker pusher motor (116) at the appropriate position. An improved banknote transporting arrangement (200) measures the time needed for a banknote to travel from a first point to a second point. A braking time is computed from the measured time and an appropriate braking control signal is applied to stop the banknote (600) at the appropriate position.