Cummins-allison Corporation

Magnaflux Corporation

Eric J Strauts

John J Flaherty

John R Blake

Joseph J Geib

David J Mecklenburg

Scott D Casanova

David J Wendell

Timothy C Loose

Helmut F Wagerer

A coin processing system for processing a plurality of coins of mixed denominations comprises a rotatable disc for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, a sensor for differentiating between valid and invalid coins, a stationary sorting head, a diverter and a controller. The stationary sorting head has a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the rotatable disc. The lower surface forms a queuing channel and a plurality of exit channels for sorting and discharging coins of particular denominations. The queuing channel has a first segment for receiving coins and a second segment for moving the coins past the sensor and is configured to move coins at a faster rate along the second segment for increasing the spacing between adjacent coins. The diverter is disposed along the second segment beyond the sensor and is moveable between a first position for permitting coins to proceed to the plurality of exit channels and a second position for diverting coins to a reject region. The controller moves the diverter from the first position to the second position when the sensor detects an invalid coin.

Disc-type coin processing device having improved coin discrimination system

A coin discrimination sensor having an excitation coil and two detector coils arranged to detect eddy currents in a passing coin. The excitation coil is provided a composite waveform formed by adding a low frequency signal (30 KHz) with a high frequency signal (480 KHz). The two detector coils are arranged at different distances from the passing coin, and are calibrated to eliminate the common-mode voltage when no coin is present. As a coin passes by the sensor, eddy currents are induced in the coin which result in phase and amplitude shifts in the low and high frequency components of the detector signal. The low and high frequency components are separated from the detector signal, and their respective phases and amplitudes are ascertained and compared against values stored in a lookup table. These values represent the composition, thickness, and diameter characteristics of known coins, and if the signature of the processed coin does not appear in the lookup table, it can be flagged as an invalid coin.

Coin processing machine and method for discriminating coins of varied composition, thickness, and diameter

Sensor and method for discriminating coins of varied composition, thickness, and diameter

A coin discrimination sensor for discriminating among desired and undesired coins, comprised of an excitation coil for producing an alternating magnetic field. These alternating magnetic fields couple to said desired and undesired coins to induce eddy-currents. The sensor also is comprised of a detection coil for detecting eddy-currents from desired and undesired coins. The detection coil produces a differential voltage corresponding to the composition of the desired and undesired coins being sensed.

Coin discrimination sensor and coin handling system

A coin discrimination sensor and coin handling system for discriminating among desired and undesired coins, comprised of an excitation coil for producing an alternating magnetic field. These alternating magnetic fields couple to the desired and undesired coins to induce eddy-currents. The sensor also is comprised of a detection coil for detecting eddy-currents from desired and undesired coins. The detection coil produces a differential voltage corresponding to the composition of the desired and undesired coins being sensed.

An indicating system is disclosed for use with nondestructive testing systems of various types including an eddy current instrument in which the characteristics of a specimen structure are indicated by the form, position and dimensions of a trace on a screen. The system indicates whether or not the relationship of two test signals is within certain limits which can be shown in the form of outlines or a series of contiguous boxes on a screen. Prior to the testing of a structure of unknown characteristics, such limits may be learned or recorded by the system either during the manual manipulation of a joystick control or the like or during the testing of a structure of known or standard characteristics.

Indicating system for use in nondestructive testing

An eddy current type of nondestructive testing instrument is disclosed in which the operating frequency is automatically adjusted in accordance with a comparison of output signals obtained in scanning operations in which the frequency is adjusted over its range. The system may be used, for example, in providing lift-off compensation for conductivity measurements or flaw detection or it may be used for sorting of parts of different characteristics.

Nondestructive testing system having automatic set-up means

An ultrasonic system for detection of defects is provided including a pulse-echo instrument having a cathode ray tube on which an A-scan visual indication of flaws is produced and including a doppler circuit arranged to produce a doppler signal in an audible range in response to movement of a transducer relative to defects in a pipe seam or other region being investigated. The doppler signal is applied to earphones, permitting the existence of defects to be reliably determined audibly, after which the defects may be more carefully studied through the visual indications on the cathode ray tube. The doppler signal is also recorded on one track of a magnetic tape with operator's comments being recorded on a second track of the same tape. The doppler circuit includes an oscillator operated during a gating time interval to generate a reference signal, a phase detector responsive to a reference signal and to echo ignals, and a sample and hold circuit for storing the output of the phase detector from one cycle to the next.

Ultrasonic testing system

A storage system is provided in which digital numbers are read into a memory by periodically sampling a pair of analog input signals and in which the memory is scanned in timed relation to the signal sampling and also in timed relation to the scanning of a cathode ray tube screen in a raster pattern, the scanning spot being brightened when a stored digital number is detected. A pair of digital-to-analog converters are used both in sampling and for raster scanning. In sampling, the outputs thereof are compared with the input signals to control analog-to-digital logic circuits and the inputs thereof are connected through multiplexers to the output of the analog-to-digital logic circuits which operate as successive approximation registers. In raster scanning, the inputs of the digital-to-analog converters are connected to counter sections driven from a high frequency clock one being operative to develop a sawtooth signal to generate a sweep line and the other being operative at a field or frame rate. The memory is also connected through the multiplexers, alternately to the outputs of the analog-to-digital logic circuits and to the counters to be scanned in synchronism with the scanning of the screen. The multiplexers are so switched that sampling is performed between successive sweep lines.

Flying spot pattern storage system

An X-ray unit is provided having a self-contained high voltage supply including a pair of capacitors charged through diodes from a pair of transformer secondary windings and connected in series through the windings to the anode and cathode of an X-ray tube. Switching means are provided for operation either in a first mode in which the alternating voltages across the secondary windings are in phase and in which the output voltage is equal to the sum of the DC voltages across the capacitors to be substantially constant, and a second mode in which the alternating voltages across the secondary windings are out of phase and in which they are added to produce a pulsating output voltage having a peak value which is approximately double that of the substantially constant voltage obtained in the first mode of operation.

Portable X-ray unit with self-contained voltage supply

Automatic balancing circuits are provided for non-destructive testing systems such as eddy current systems in which an unbalance of a probe circuit including a test coil produces undesired deviations from a null indication. Error signal components are generated from a probe circuit output signal, stored in storage means and then applied in a balancing direction to cancel the effect of the unbalance of the probe circuit. Preferably, the error signal components are generated by a pair of quadrature phase detectors and the storage means comprises either a capacitor or the combination of digital storage and digital-analog converter means. The balancing is performed either automatically, with a delay in the storage operation, or by operation of a switch means between a sample or null condition in which the error signals are stored and a hold condition in which the stored error signals are applied. In one embodiment, the stored error signals are used to modulate AC signal components in quadrature phase relation which are applied in a balancing direction. In another, the stored error signals are developed from phase detector output signals and then combined therewith. In both embodiments, balancing signals are combined with signals derived from the probe circuit output signal and applied at points preceding high gain amplification in signal processing circuitry.

Growing community of inventors

Park Ridge, IL, United States of America

Eric J Strauts