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:
Jul. 04, 2000
Filed:
May. 20, 1998
Eiji Itako, Sakado, JP;
Jun Yamada, Kawagoe, JP;
Genzo Yoshizawa, Tokyo, JP;
Kunio Iwakawa, Tsurugashima, JP;
Tsunehiro Aso, Kawagoe, JP;
Abstract
The invention provides a money sorting method and unit that can detect such a counterfeit as foreign money for which material, outer diameter and other features are very similar to a genuine coin, and that can decrease damage caused by the continuous trial of entry of counterfeit money. Sensors detect the material of a coin entered from a coin entry section, and at the same time, the outer diameter of the coin is detected by three sensors with a highly accurate method utilizing time ratio, pattern on the surface of the rolling coin is detected by converting output of the sensors to a basic pattern, and genuineness of the entered coin is judged based on these detection results. Detection detects features of the money entered from the money entry section based on output of the feature sensor, comparison judges whether the entered money is genuine or counterfeit, and if the entered money is a counterfeit, the counterfeit money is returned and at the same time an acceptance prohibition timer is activated, and while the acceptance prohibition timer is operating, acceptance is rejected whether the entered money is genuine or counterfeit.