Abstract: An apparatus and method for validating a paper-like piece are of a type having a detector which irradiates light onto a deposited paper-like piece and thereby produces a detection signal corresponding to a pattern on the paper-like piece and validating the paper-like piece by collating the detection signal produced by the detector in response to deposition of the paper-like piece with a predetermined standard pattern. Features of the apparatus and method are that a reference paper-like piece having no particular pattern is deposited and reference level data is obtained on the basis of a detection signal produced by the detector in response to this deposition, that data to be examined is provided by converting a detection signal produced by the detector in response to deposition of a paper-like piece to be validated to a ratio to or deviation from the reference level data and that validation is made by collating this data to be examined with the standard pattern.

Abstract: A coin validator of a static capacitance system for discerning the thickness and/or pattern of a coin in a non-contact manner. A pair of electrode assemblies including a first and a second sensor electrodes and a first and a second guard ring electrodes are disposed on the corresponding sides of a coin path. The first and the second guard ring electrodes prevent the dispersion of electric lines of force generated by the first and the second sensor electrodes. The first and the second sensor electrodes are impressed with resonating output signals from resonators. Under such condition, when the coin passes through the coin path between these electrodes, the entire inter-electrode capacitance changes to fluctuate the resonating output voltage and hence allow the thickness and/or pattern of the coin to be detected. The guard ring electrodes serve to focus the electric lines of force into a beam to thereby allow the thickness of the coin to be detected finely.

Abstract: A coin validator for discerning a thickness or a pattern of a coin in a non-contact manner. When the coin passes through a coin path, a coin sensor senses the passage of the coin to cause a change in a resonant frequency of a resonator and hence to fluctuate a resonant output voltage. The thickness and pattern of the coin are detected in accordance with that fluctuation. The resonator has a variable capacitance diode added thereto as a resonant element. If the resonant frequency of the resonator deviates out of a reference resonant frequency range, a voltage corresponding to the deviation is applied across the variable capacitance diode to provide feedback control such that the resonant frequency returns within the reference resonant frequency range.

Abstract: A gift coupon detectable by a bill sorter, comprising a rectangular paper having a width capable of being inserted into a travelling path of the bill sorter and also having predetermined characters and design, the gift coupon further having: a first data train comprising data units formed by a magnetic ink and arranged in a row at predetermined intervals, and a second data train comprising data units corresponding respectively to the data units of the first data train, formed by a magnetic ink and arranged in a row, data units in predetermined positions of the second data train being cut off to provide blank units to record data required for the gift coupon such as the significance of an amount of money, the name of commodity to be exchanged, etc.