GB2045502A - Coin-separating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for separating coins (12, 13) of different diameters comprises a fixed guide (15) for supporting one edge of a coin and an in use moving guide (1) spaced apart substantially horizontally and divergingly from the fixed guide (15), for supporting the opposite edge of the coin. One of the fixed or moving guides has an inclined non-supporting surface (4) whereby coins (12, 13) of different diameters, travelling along the fixed guide (15) under the influence of the moving guide (1), drop between and fall away from the guides at different positions where the distance between the guides becomes larger than the diameter of the respective coin (12, 13). Chutes (20, 21) are provided to receive the coins (12, 13) dropping from the guides. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coin separating apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for separating coins or tokens having different diameters.

Such apparatus is used by individuals or companies handling large amounts of cash in coin form in order to reduce the time taken for sorting and counting the coins. Normally, apparatus for separating and counting coins of different diameters includes a first mechanism which produces a single stream of coins, regardless of size, and a further mechanism for removing the different coins from the single stream according to their size. One way in which the latter function is carried out is by passing the coins in a single stream along a track in the base of which slots are provided corresponding to the respective sizes of the coins to be separated and counted, the coins being moved over the track by an endless belt which lies above the base of the track and which engages the top face of the coin, the coins dropping under gravity through the respective slots.

Whilst such a device may work well, particularly when only two types of coins have to be segregated, with increasing numbers of coins to be separated from one another the length of the track over which the coins pass can become excessively long. This is a considerable disadvantage where the apparatus is intended to be portable in use, for example, by vending machine operators who require to count coins at each vending machine installation prior to moving onto the next and thus carrying a portable coin separator and counter with them.

In order to overcome this problem and in accordance with the present invention apparatus for separating coins of different diameters comprises a fixed guide for supporting one edge of a coin and an, in use moving, guide spaced apart substantially horizontally and divergingly from the fixed guide, for supporting the opposite edge of the coin, one of the fixed or moving guides having an inclined coin-supporting surface whereby coins of different diameters, travelling along the fixed guide under the influence of the moving guide, drop between and fall away from the guides at different positions where the distance between the guides becomes larger than the diameter of the respective coin.

In one example of such apparatus the functions of streaming and separating the different sized coins can be combined. Such a device comprises a rotating disc onto which the collected coins are fed, a fixed wall closely spaced above and adjacent the edge of the disc and having a slot through which, under centrifugal action, the coins can pass only one by one, the edge of the disc lying outside the wall having an outwardly and downwardly inclined surface. A fixed guide surrounds at least partially the disc and is spaced apart therefrom by a distance which increases as the distance from the slot in the wall increases.By means of such a device coins can be streamed by passing through the slot in the surrounding wall and are thereafter supported at one edge by the fixed guide and at the opposite edge by the inclined surface on the edge of the disc and propelled around the fixed guide engagement with the moving inclined surface of the disc until such point that the gap between the fixed guide and the edge of the disc is larger than the diameter of the particular coin. At this point the coin will drop from the guides under the action of gravity. It will be appreciated that the divergance of the fixed guide from the disc enables larger coins to travel further along the path defined by the fixed guide and the edge of the moving disc so that coins of different sizes can be arranged to be collected through chutes arranged at appropriate positions below the path of the coins.

The coins are moved around the disc rather in the form of planet wheels moved around between a rotating sun wheel and a fixed annulus. As the fixed guide moves away from the edge of the disc the edge of the coin supported by the inclined surface is lowered.

At the same time, due to the increased radius of the point at which the coin is supported on the inclined surface and hence the greater peripheral speed of the point of support, the coin gains a slightly higher speed and thus tends to separate from following coins.

It is envisaged that the fixed guide could be the one provided with the inclined surface, but in the above example it is preferable if the fixed guide has a first upright surface which engages the peripheral surface of the coin and a second, substantially horizontai surface which engages the lower face of the coin adjacent the periphery, the two surfaces combining to support the coin against both outwards movement and downwards movement.

The coin is thus effectively wedged between the vertical surface of the fixed guide and the inclined surface of the edge of the disc.

On each of the chutes down which coins of a particular diameter arc arranged to fall, a sensing mechanism can be provided in order to enable the coins falling down that particular chute to be counted, and by appropriate electronic circuitry a figure for the total value of the coins separated and counted can be provided.

One example of apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, showing a first size of coin entering the path defined by the fixed and moving guides; Figure 2 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a larger coin in the same position; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2; Figures 4 and 5 are part sectional views through the guides; and, Figure 6 is a view on arrow V1 in Fig. 3.

The drawings are diagrammatic for simplication.

The apparatus comprises a metal disc 1 which has a shallow concave upper surface 2, a central upstanding frusto-conical boss 3 and an inclined outer edge 4 which forms a moving coin guide. The disc is arranged to be driven, in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1, through suitable gearing 5 by a 1 2 volt dc motor 6. In order to provide for flexibility in use, an electrical circuit can be provided to enable the apparatus to be plugged into a conventional 250 volt ac mains supply or a 1 2 volt battery.

Above the top surface 2 of the disc 1 there is provided a surrounding wall 7 which is spaced by a minute gap from the top surface 2. The wall 7 is supported by members 8 and, preferably, the disc will be wholly enclosed in order to prevent the user from coming into contact with the disc when it is moving and possibly injuring themselves. A lower wall 9 encloses the bottom of the disc.

The wall 7 has a slot 10 provided at one point on its periphery, the slot being dimensioned so as to enable coins to pass through it when they are lying flat on the top surface 2 of the disc, the depth of the slot in the vertical direction being such as to prevent more than one coin at a time from passing therethrough.

A deflector 11 extends inwardly of the wall 7 from the trailing edge of the slot in order to deflect coins 1 2 and 1 3 through the slot. A part-cylindrical abutment 1 4 is provided on the wall 7 closely adjacent the slot in order to help to separate coins prior to them passing through the slot.

Outside the disc is supported (by means not shown) a fixed guide 1 5 which comprises a vertical guide wall 1 6 which defines the pe periphery of the guide and a guide rail 1 7 which is spaced apart slightly from the guide wall 1 6 and which serves to support one edge of a coin in the vertical direction.To enable coins 12, 1 3 passing through the slot to enter the guide path between the fixed guide 1 5 and the moving guide formed by the edge of the disc a short platform 1 8 is provided adjacent the slot over when the coins travel to engage with the guide wall 1 6. A deflector wall 1 9 is positioned at one edge of the platform 1 8 to urge the coins in the circumferential direction of the disc and into the guide path.

At selected points along the path of the coins outside the disc chutes 20 and 21 are provided into which coins are arranged to pass for separation. Each of the chutes may contain a sensor (not shown) for sensing the passage of a coin through the chute and for producing a corresponding signal which can be fed to a counter.

In use, when the disc is rotated in the direction of arrow A, coins 12, 1 3 of, in the present case two, different sizes when dropped onto the disc 1 are urged by centrifugal action outwardly against the peripheral wall 7 and ultimately through the slot 1 0. The boss 3 and the slightly concave formation of the top surface 2 of the disc 1 serve to increase the centrifugal action on the coins and the latter also reduces frictional forces on each coin. The frictional forces are reduced because each coin rests on the disc at only two points rather than other its whole periphery as would be the case if the top surface of the disc was completely flat.

As the coins pass one by one through the slot 10 they pass over the platform 1 8 and one side of the coin engages against the guide wall 1 6 supported on the guide rail 17, the other side of the coin being supported on the moving inclined edge 4 of the disc 1. The rail 1 7 is spaced from the wall 1 6 in order to prevent any build-up of dust or other small particles in the corner between the rail 1 7 and the wall 1 6 which would otherwise distort the effective diameter of coins passing along the guide and lead to coins coming off the guide path at incorrect positions.The rail 1 7 and wall 1 6 gradually diverge from the peripheral edge 4 of the disc 1 so that as a coin passes along the guide it moves outwardly relative to the inclined edge of the disc, thus moving downwards along the inclined edge 4 until such point that the gap between the wall 1 6 and the inclined wall 4 is just slightly greater than the diameter of the coin, at which point the coin will drop from the guide path under the action of gravity and into a respective chute. The coins are moved along the guide by rolling along the wall 1 3 rather in the form of planet wheels rotating around a sun wheel between the sun wheel and a fixed annulus.

The rail 1 7 is arranged so as to slope gradually downwards as the distance from the slot 10 increases so that coins moving along the guide path are maintained as near horizontal as possible as they creep down the inclined edge 4.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show respectively the position of a larger one 1 3 of two different sizes of coin firstly at the position of entry to the guide path, secondly at an intermediate position, and thirdly at the position at which the coin 1 3 falls off the guide.

The positions of the chutes 20 and 21 can be adjusted to suitable positions dependent upon the sizes of the coins which require to be separated and additional chutes can be provided dependent upon the number of coins of different sizes which are to be separated from one another.

If the guide wall 1 6 and guide rail 1 7 are formed of a relatively flexible material or in short sections which can be moved relative to one another then additional adjustability of the position at which coins leave the guide path can be provided.

From time to time two coins will try to pass through the slot 10 in the wall 7 together, one lying partly on top of the other and both inserting an edge towards the slot. In such a case, no coins will pass through the slot 10 as the entry to the slot will be jammed. In order to overcome this problem the motor can be reversed, thus changing the direction of rotation of the disc and moving the coins back from the slot and rearranging them to prevent the jamming. The motor can then be returned to its original direction of rotation so that the separation process continues. Reversing of the motor can be achieved by sensing the passage of coins from the slot by means of a suitable, sensor, and if no coins pass through the slot during a given period of time, causing automatic actuation of a relay to reverse the motor.Alternatively, the motor might be arranged continually to reverse itself automatically after a given interval of time, thereafter returning to its original direction of motion.

If the mixture of coins is large and the difference in size between the largest and smallest coin is also large then it might be possible to arrange for very small coins not to enter the guide path between the fixed guide 1 5 and the edge 4 of the disc, but to pass across the platform 1 8 at the entrance to the guide path and through a slot (not shown) formed in the guide wall 16. Thus, the length of the guide path required for the number of coins can be shortened. As shown in the drawings, the largest size of coin to be separated does not require to be dropped between the fixed guide and the edge of the disc, but can be arranged simply to fall off the end of the guide rail into a suitable chute 21.

The sensors in each of the chutes 20 and 21 can pass signals to an electronic counting system provided to indicate to the user the total number of coins of a particular size or all sizes being separated, or a total value of those coins. Additionally, the electronic system can be arranged to store individual totals in batches so that as the user moves the machine from one site to another throughout say the course of a day, he or she can recall the individual total values at each site and also a total value at the end of the day.

Although it is preferred that the device be electrically powered, it would be possible to hand crank the device if electrical actuation were not required.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for separating coins of different diameters, the apparatus comprising a fixed guide for supporting one edge of a coin and an, in use moving, guide spaced apart substantially horizontally and divergingly from the fixed guide, for supporting the opposite edge of the coin, one of the fixed or moving guides having an inclined coin-supporting surface whereby coins of different diameters, travelling along the fixed guide under the influence of the moving guide, drop between and fall away from the guides at different positions where the distance between the guides becomes larger than the diameter of the respective coin.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inclined coin-supporting surface is provided on the moving guide.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the moving guide comprises the periphery of a rotating disc.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 and claim 3, wherein the edge of the disc is chamfered to form the inclined surface.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, in which the upper face of the disc is slightly concave.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, which includes a fixed wall closely spaced above and adjacent the edge of the disc, the lower edge of the wall having a slot therein for the passage of coins to the guides.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which the fixed guide comprises a substantially vertical guide wall and closely spaced therefrom, a gude rail for supporting the edge of a coin.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the guide rail slopes downwardly as it diverges from the moving guide.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8, which includes a plurality of chutes positioned beneath the gap between the fixed and moving guides, for receiving coins dropping from the guides.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, in which each chute has a sensor arranged to sense the passage of a coin, the apparatus also including means for counting the number of coins passing through each chute.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.