 Detection of counterfeit objects, for instance counterfeit banknotes |
| It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus of detecting ... |
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| Software loading system for a coin wrapper |
| In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin wrapping system ... |
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| Method and apparatus for discriminating and counting documents |
| It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for ... |
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| Automatic funds processing system |
| The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic teller machine ("ATM... |
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| Intelligent currency handling system |
| In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a currency handling ... |
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| Software loading system for a coin sorter |
| In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin sorting system ... |
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| Method and apparatus for document identification |
| It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for ... |
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| Document facing method and apparatus |
| Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a novel and improved bill facing ... |
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| Method and apparatus for discriminating and counting documents |
| It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved currency scanning and counting ... |
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Universal currency acceptor
| Details |
Inventors: Mays, David S.; Blevins, Robert E.;
Assignee: Diversified Technologies, Inc. (Blue Bell, PA)
Primary Examiner: Bucci; David A.
Assistant Examiner: Lowe; Scott L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.
A note acceptor for validating a paper currency note introduced therein. The acceptor includes a note validator unit and plural, interchangeable nose-pieces for releasable mounting on the validator unit. The validator unit includes a housing having a path extending through it, a conveyor for moving a paper currency note along the path, and plural optical and magnetic sensors to sense features of the note conveyed along the path. The path is of a width sufficient to accommodate the widest of any paper currency note to be validated. Each nose-piece forms a respective entrance port and note-guide to the path in the validator by defining a channel of a predetermined width corresponding to the width of an associated sized paper currency note. By mounting a nose-piece designed for a particular sized paper currency onto the validator housing, the resulting acceptor is configured to handle that size paper currency. When the nose piece is removed the validator is arranged to accept the largest size currency note. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to various figures of the drawings where like reference numerals refer to like parts there is shown at 20 in FIG.
1, an acceptor apparatus or device for validating a paper currency note 10 constructed in accordance with this invention.
The acceptor apparatus basically comprises a validator unit 22 and at least one interchangeable entrance port or nose-piece 24A.
The nose-piece 24A is arranged to be releasably secured to the validator unit 22 to serve as an entrance port and note guide for a path 26 (to be described later) through the validator unit 22 along which the paper currency note 10 will be conveyed for validation.
The paper currency note is conveyed through the path 26 in the unit 22 by a conveyor subassembly (to be described later) so that the note can be brought past plural sensors (also to be described later) for determining if the note is valid, e.
g.
, genuine, and its denomination.
The sensors are coupled to conventional electronic circuitry (not shown) including a microprocessor with associated computer programs stored in random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM) for accomplishing the bill validation procedure, for controlling the operation of the conveyor subassembly, and for providing signals to associated equipment, e.
g.
, a slot machine (not shown) or vending machine (not shown), when the bill or note is determined to be valid.
All of these validating functions are conventional in the art.
As will be described later each nose-piece of this invention serves to establish a channel of a predetermined width to accurately guide a paper currency note of that width to the path 26 so that the note is centered and properly oriented (i.
e.
, not skewed) on the path, so that it can be accurately validated, even if the width of the note is less than the width of the path 26.
This action ensures that the note can be readily validated using conventional techniques.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of this invention plural nose-pieces will be provided with the validator unit 22 so that that unit can be readily converted to accommodate different size paper currency notes, without having to change the validator unit itself
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