Coin handling – Assorter
Patent
1998-06-08
2000-02-29
Bartuska, F. J.
Coin handling
Assorter
1988362, 453 56, G07D 316
Patent
active
060302844
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a coin counting and sorting machine, comprising a coin lifting device for receiving and forwarding an unsorted mass of coins, a sorting device for sorting coins supplied thereto, and a coin transferring device for transferring the coins from the coin lifting device to the sorting device while establishing an order among the coins suitable for the sorting and counting process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Various devices for sorting and/or counting coins are previously known. Main parts in one common type of such coin handling machines are: a coin lifting device for receiving a typically unsorted mass of coins, a sorting device, some kind of transferring device for transporting coins forwarded from the coin lifting device to the sorting device, and sensor means for counting the number of coins of each type.
SE-C-375 173 discloses a coin lifting device, comprising a coin bowl and a rotatable disc of elastic material arranged at an inclination therein, said disc contacting a concave support means, which is arranged to provide the disc with a steeper inclination at the upper part of its rotational path than at the lower portion thereof, and a separating knife arranged in contact with the disc surface at the upper portion thereof, said knife providing a roller way for coins lifted by the coin lifting device. The disc is provided with a plurality of radially oriented carrier rails protruding from the surface of the disc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,868 discloses a coin sorting machine with a coin lifting device, where the latter comprises a plane and rotatable disc, which is arranged at a certain backward inclination in a coin bowl and is provided with a plurality of carriers along the disc circumference. When the disc is rotated, any coins present in the coin bowl are intercepted by the carriers and are thus carried along a substantially vertical and circular path. When a coin reaches the upper portion of the path, due to the gravity the coin will slide off the carrier and down to an inclined roller path, the coin thereafter being transported in a rolling motion to the next step of the coin handling process.
For instance through the Swedish patent application 9501357-9--which has not become public yet--it is known to use a roller path, i.e. an inclined path, which at its upper end is supplied with coins from for instance a coin lifting device according to the above, as a transferring device for the coins. Thanks to the inclination of the path the coins are forced to roll down the same and may hence be transported to a sorting device positioned at the end of the path. The risk of having a coin fall off the path during the transport is reduced, but not completely eliminated, by the fact that the path has been given a slight inclination backwards in the cross direction. An important function of the coin transferring device is to establish such an order among the coins, which is suitable for any subsequent sorting and/or counting process. A suitable order is fulfilled for instance when the coins are separated by a sufficiently--but not excessively--large distance between each other and when they are not positioned on top of each other. The path is required to have a rather considerable length, which obviously will limit the possibilities of implementing a compact machine, in order for the coins to be arranged in a suitable order during such a passive transport down a roller path. Another drawback with such a passive coin transferring device is the difficulties in transporting coins with a non-circular shape, such as a polygonal shape. The lack of active elements further reduces the possibilities of automatically relieving coin congestions, which otherwise will lead to an undesired interruption of the coin flow. To remedy such coin congestions there is consequently a need for a manual operation, e.g. uncovering the location of the congestion and then clearing the location by means of suitable tools.
In the Swedish patent application (9501357-9) mentioned above there is al
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patent: 5232398 (1993-08-01), Maki
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Bartuska F. J.
Scan Coin AB
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