Money validators
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsPeter J. Waine, Bernard J. Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coin validator checks the measured properties of a tested item against stored ranges to determine whether the tested item is acceptable. Individual sets of ranges can be enabled and disabled, and switched between narrow and wide ranges, in a teach mode of the validator. Selection of the ranges to be enabled, disabled or switched is accomplished by causing the validator to test an item to determine its type.
Claims46
A method of adjusting a money validator which is operable in a testing mode to compare measured properties of an item with a set of ranges to determine whether the item is genuine money, the validator being arranged to deliver items which have been tested and found genuine to a store, wherein the method comprises selecting from the store a non-genuine item which has erroneously been found by the validator to be genuine, and causing the validator to test the non-genuine item while the validator is in a teach mode, the validator being responsive to the measured-properties of the item for enabling or disabling at least one set of ranges in such a manner as to prevent future erroneous determination that items with such properties are genuine.
A method of selecting the particular monetary types which can be accepted by a coin validator out of a plurality of monetary types which can be accepted by the validator, comprising:
- enabling a teach mode wherein the validator is responsive to at least one measured value of a test item inserted into the validator;
- measuring at least one value of the inserted test item;
- selecting acceptance criteria corresponding to the type of the inserted test item in response to the measured value of the inserted test item;
- and
- enabling the acceptance criteria corresponding to the type of the inserted test item such that test items of that type can be accepted by the validator.
A money validator comprising:
- means for measuring a plurality of properties of a tested item;
- means for storing data defining predetermined ranges of acceptable measured properties for each monetary type which can be accepted by the validator;
- manually operable switch means enabling the validator to be switched between a testing mode and a teach mode;
- means for selecting in the teach mode the predetermined ranges corresponding to a particular monetary type based on the measured properties;
- and
- means for comparing in the testing mode the measured properties to the ranges selected in the teach mode.
A money validator comprising:
- at least one sensor for examining a test item inserted into the validator, the sensor producing an output due to examination of the test item;
- memory means storing a plurality of predetermined acceptance criteria corresponding to a plurality of monetary types, and state data indicating whether each of said acceptance criteria is in an enabled state or a disabled state;
- a control circuit operatively connected to the output of the test item sensor and the memory means, the control circuit having a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in the first mode, the control circuit determines the acceptability of the test item based on the output of the sensor and the acceptance criteria indicated by the state data to be in an enabled state and, in the second mode, the control circuit selects particular acceptance criteria based on the output of the test item and in response thereto changes the associated state data;
- and
- a manual switch operatively connected to the control circuit for enabling the first mode or the second mode.
A money validator capable of accepting a plurality of monetary types comprising:
- at least one sensor for examining a test item inserted into the validator, the sensor producing an output due to examination of the test item;
- a memory storing data defining a plurality of predetermined acceptance criteria for the monetary types which can be accepted by the validator;
- a control circuit operatively connected to the output of the test item sensor and the memory, the control circuit having a first and second mode wherein in the first mode, the control circuit enables particular acceptance criteria based on the output of the sensor due to examination of the test item so that the particular acceptance criteria is effective for validating money, and in the second mode, the control circuit determines the acceptability of the test item based on the output of the sensor and the acceptance criteria enabled when the validator was in the first mode;
- and
- a manual switch operatively connected to the control circuit for enabling the first or second mode.
A money validator capable of accepting a plurality of monetary types comprising:
- at least one sensor for examining a test item inserted into the validator, the sensor producing an output due to examination of the test item;
- a memory storing data defining a plurality of predetermined acceptance criteria for the monetary types which can be accepted by the validator;
- a control circuit operatively connected to the output of the test item sensor and the memory, the control circuit having a first and second mode wherein in the first mode, the control circuit disables particular acceptance criteria based on the output of the sensor due to examination of the test item so that the particular acceptance criteria is not effective for validating money, and in the second mode, the control circuit determines the acceptability of the test item based on the output of the sensor and the acceptance criteria not disabled when the validator was in the first mode;
- and
- a manual switch operatively connected to the control circuit for enabling the first or second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.