Coin handling – Assorter – Smallest first
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-19
2004-01-20
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Coin handling
Assorter
Smallest first
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679770
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a token counting and sorting apparatus to which unassorted tokens of different kinds (e.g. denominations), which may be coins as currency or coin-shaped medals used for various game machines, are supplied and which is capable of sorting the tokens based on the kinds (denominations) and counting and displaying the number of the sorted tokens for each kind (e.g. denomination) and the total number of the all kinds of tokens.
BACKGROUND ART
Token counting and sorting apparatuses of this kind are conventionally proposed. For example, JP-A-9-500468 discloses an apparatus comprising a rotary disc having an elastic upper surface, means for rotating the rotary disc, and a stationary sorting head in the form of an annular disc arranged in parallel to the upper surface of the rotary disc while being slightly spaced therefrom. An opening for supplying coins is provided at the central portion above the mount disc.
The lower surface of the stationary sorting head includes an alignment region for aligning respective radially outer peripheral edges of coins of all denominations at a common radial position, a plurality of exit passages for receiving coins of different diameters, respectively, and for guiding the coins to the respective exit openings arranged along the outer circumference of the sorting head, and a guide wall extending between at least a selected pair of the exit passages. The guide wall engages the radially outer peripheral edge of a coin, which cannot enter at least a first one of the two adjacent exit passages, for guiding and retaining the radially outer peripheral edge of the coin at the common radial position.
A drawback of the above-described structure resides in the difficulty of machining the alignment region, the exiting passages and the guide wall.
On the other hand, JP-A-63-250792 and JP-A-5-29517 disclose an apparatus which includes a rotary disc rotatable by a driving motor for carrying plural kinds of tokens supplied from a supplying section arranged above. The apparatus further includes a generally linear token discerning track which has an inlet for receiving tokens paid out from the rotary disc one by one and which has a down stream portion bent generally perpendicularly as viewed in plan, and a linear sorting track provided downstream from the token discerning track. A transfer belt which is straight as viewed in plan is disposed above each of the token discerning track and the token sorting track. The token discerning track is provided with a material sensor and a diameter sensor. The transfer belt transfers the tokens one by one while pressing the tokens against a guide member. The token sorting track is formed with a plurality of aligned sorting holes arranged at a predetermined pitch as viewed in plan. An edge portion of each sorting hole on the guide member side is spaced from the guide member by a predetermined amount. The distance between the guide member and the edge portion of the sorting hole on the side farther from the guide member increases correspondingly to the diameter of the token to be sorted at that hole as compared with a preceding sorting hole of the transfer direction. The tokens sorted are dropped into respective storage spaces provided correspondingly to the sorting holes.
However, the token counting and sorting apparatus having the above-described structure is disadvantageously large, because the apparatus includes the token discerning track extending generally tangentially to the outer circumference of the rotary disc, and the generally straight token sorting track connected generally perpendicularly to the curved downstream portion of the token discerning track. Moreover, the transfer belt, which is an endless belt, is disposed so that the lower side thereof is kept facing the upper surface of the token discerning track and the token sorting track. Therefore, the transfer belt rotates in a plane which is perpendicular to the token discerning track and the token sorting track. With this structure, a large space need be provided above the token discerning track and the token sorting track for the arrangement of the transfer belt, which makes the apparatus bulky.
Further, since two transfer belts need be driven, the driving mechanism therefor becomes complicated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,602 discloses a further prior art apparatus wherein a rotary feed disc for tokens is disposed adjacent to a sorter plate which is generally circular as viewed in plan.
The sorter plate is formed with an arcuate outer circumferential rim having an end at which a pointed projection extends radially inwardly from the outer circumference of the upper surface of the rotary feed disc. The upper surface of the sorter plate is formed, at a position radially inwardly from the outer circumferential rim, with a sorting track in the form of a partially cut-away circle adjoining the outer circumferential edge of the rotating feed disc. The tokens on the rotary feed disc are arrested by the pointed projection and guided along the side surface thereof to slide along the outer circumferential rim to the sorting track. A rotary disc is disposed above the sorter plate to cover the sorting track. The rotary disc is provided, at the lower surface thereof, with inner and outer rows of projecting fingers formed of an elastic material such as a rubber. The tokens guided by the pointed projection are pressed by the fingers against the outer circumferential rim to move along the sorting track.
The sorting track is formed with a plurality of generally rectangular openings arranged in a row at a predetermined pitch radially inwardly from the outer circumferential rim. When the distance between the inner surface of the outer circumferential rim and the radially inner edge of each opening is smaller than the diameter of a token to be sorted, the token passes over the opening. Conversely, when that distance is larger than the diameter of the token, the token drops through the opening. In this way, tokens are sorted in accordance with the differences of the diameters. Therefore, the openings are arranged in the order of increasing width from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the transfer direction.
An induction coil for determining whether or not the tokens are proper ones and a trigger sensor for detecting the passing of the tokens are disposed downstream of the token transfer track relative to the base portion of the pointed projection and at the starting end of the sorting track. Further, at the starting end of the outer circumferential rim, a shaft having a notch is provided for rotation by an actuator. Further, the starting end of the sorting track is formed with a discharge hole for discharging improper tokens toward the upstream side in the transfer direction relative to the row of the openings. When the induction coil determines that a token is improper, the shaft pivots about the axis so that the side surface thereof projects radially inwardly from the inner surface of the outer circumferential rim, thereby deflecting and guiding the improper token toward the discharge hole.
This structure is also complicated and the apparatus becomes bulky, because the rotary feed disc and the sorter plate are arranged in side-by-side relationship. Therefore, the object of providing a compact apparatus cannot be accomplished with this structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems of the prior art apparatuses and to provide a compact token counting and sorting apparatus having a simple structure.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for counting and sorting different kinds of tokens comprising: a rotary disc having an upper surface for supporting the tokens, the disc being rotatable manually or by a driver; a generally arcuate token transfer track extending along an outer circumference of the rotary disc and including a token transfer inlet for receiving the tokens across the outer circumference of the rotar
Nakatani Nobuyuki
Sugai Katsumi
Bower Kenneth W.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Sugai General Industries Ltd.
Walsh Donald P.
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