The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1997
Masataka Takahashi, Matsudo, JP;
Laurel Bank Machines Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A coin discriminating apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting elements, an area sensor for optically detecting light reflected by the coin and producing pattern data of the coin, a mirror member provided on one side portion of the coin along the coin passage at a predetermined angle with an axis of the coin for reflecting light reflected from a side surface of the coin and leading the light to the area sensor, and a coin discriminator for discriminating the coin based on first pattern data produced by detecting light reflected from a lower surface of the coin and second pattern data produced by detecting light reflected by the side surface of the coin. According to the thus constituted coin discriminating apparatus, it is possible to discriminate coins by optically detecting the pattern of the obverse or reverse surface and the side surface of a coin with simple structure and with high accuracy.