Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable elastic repositioning appliances. Due to the nature of elastic appliances, such components may take a variety of forms ranging from readily available traditional accessories to specially created devices. Thus, traditional components may be mounted on or embedded in an elastic appliance, or the appliance may be formed to provide similar components. Likewise, the appliance may be modified to provide additional features for specific orthodontic treatments.

Embedded features and methods of a dental appliance

An electronically controlled coin tester which positions a sample coin in a magnetic field then passes a test coin through a similar magnetic field to create a null in a detector coil sensing the fields. The output of a square wave oscillator is differentiated to generate a spiked signal for exciting the magnetic field. The presence of the test coin is detected by sensing the quality of the null and test coin is accepted in response to the duration of the null. Preferably, a capacitor is charged in the absence of the test coin and discharged in the presence of the test coin and the test coin is accepted in response to the amount of energy stored in the capacitor at the time the null is produced. In addition, a pendulum damper is provided for engaging the test coin prior to its entry into the magnetic field and variably retarding the test coin in response to the coin size.

Coin detector system

A coin discrimination apparatus and method is provided. Coins, preferably after cleaning, e.g. using a trommel, are singulated by a coin pickup assembly configured to reduce jamming. A coin rail assists in providing separation between coins as they travel past a sensor. The sensor provides an oscillating electromagnetic field generated on a single sensing core. The oscillating electromagnetic field is composed of one or more frequency components. The electromagnetic field interacts with a coin, and these interactions are monitored and used to classify the coin according to its physical properties. All frequency components of the magnetic field are phase-locked to a common reference frequency. The phase relationships between the various frequencies are fixed, and the interaction of each frequency component with the coin can be accurately determined without the need for complicated electrical filters. In one embodiment, a sensor having a core, preferably ferrite, which is curved, such as in a U-shape or in the shape of a section of a torus, and defining a gap, is provided with a wire winding for excitation and/or detection. The sensor can be used for simultaneously obtaining data relating to two or more parameters of a coin or other object, such as size and conductivity of the object. Two or more frequencies can be used to sense core and/or cladding properties. Objects recognized as acceptable coins, using the sensor data, are diverted by a controllable deflecting door, to tubes for delivery to acceptable coin bins.

Coin discrimination apparatus and method

A machine for vending snacks, product samples, customer appreciation prizes, or time-metered services which offers a patron a game of chance. A patron receives a free fractional vend with a previously purchased product for use in a vending machine having products produced by the same manufacturer, wherein the token activates a game of chance used to determine the value of the token toward the purchase of one of the products. Alternatively, a patron receives a free token within, as part of, or attached to the package of a manufacturer's product to activate a game of chance in a sample vending machine sponsored by the product's manufacturer to determine which free product sample, or other higher value prize, the patron may vend from the machine. As another alternative, a patron uses a purchase receipt having barcoded information summarizing the transaction at a customer appreciation vending machine to activate a game of chance to determine which of a plurality of prizes a patron may vend from the machine. Finally, a patron uses a promotional token to activate a game of chance in a time-metered service vending machine to determine an amount of bonus service time to grant to the patron.

Vending machine having a game of chance

A coin discrimination apparatus and method is provided in which an oscillating electromagnetic field is generated on a single sensing core. The oscillating electromagnetic field is composed on one or more frequency components. The electromagnetic field interacts with a coin, and these interactions are monitored and used to classify the coin according to its physical properties. All frequency components of the magnetic field are phase-locked to a common reference frequency. The phase relationships between the various frequencies are fixed, and the interaction of each frequency component with the coin can be accurately determined without the need for complicated electrical filters or special geometric shaping of the sensing core. In one embodiment, a sensor having a core, preferably ferrite, which is curved, such as in a U-shape or in the shape of a section of a torus, and defining a gap, is provided with a wire winding for excitation and/or detection. The sensor can be used for simultaneously obtaining data relating to two or more parameters of a coin or other object, such as size and conductivity of the object. Two or more frequencies can be used to sense core and/or cladding properties.

Coin sensing apparatus and method

A method and apparatus for use in identification of coins is disclosed in which a coin is passed through the electromagnetic field of an inductor in an oscillator circuit and the changes in both the frequency and amplitude of oscillation of said oscillator circuit are separately detected.

Guy Lloyd Fougere

Papers

Coin selection method and apparatus