| 摘要 |
<p>A coin handling apparatus comprises a validator (102) which delivers acceptable coins via an accept/reject gate (112) to a separator (104). The separator (104) separates the coins of different denominations and delivers these via respective passageways (4) to coin storage tubes (8) or cashboxes. Each storage tube (8) has at its entrance a gate (18) which determines whether the coins are delivered to the storage tube (8) or to an alternative destination (12). All these gates (18) are mechanically coupled, and controlled by a common solenoid (60). The separator (104) handles the coins so quickly that different denomination coins may arrive at different gates (18) in rapid succession. To avoid overfilling of the tubes (8), the gates (18) are controlled in such a manner as to give priority to those coins intended to be routed to the alternative destinations (12). Each gate (18) is so configured that jamming cannot occur if a coin arrives at the gate (18) while the gate (18) is moving toward the position for routing coins (11) to the alternative destination (12). To avoid any jamming which might occur due to a coin arriving at a gate (18) while the gate (18) is moving toward the position for routing coins to the storage tube (8), the separation rate is temporarily reduced by rejecting a coin to allow sufficient time for the movement to be completed before a subsequent coin arrives. The maximum rate at which coins are delivered to the separator (104) is optimised by altering the rate in accordance with the types of coins presently being handled. This is achieved by rejecting any coin which arrives within a predetermined, variable interval following arrival of a preceding coin. If a coin is rejected, the control system (200) outputs or stores a signal indicating why rejection has occurred, for diagnostic purposes.</p> |
