EP2897104B1 - Coin separation system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a coin separating device according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for operating a coin separating device.

Such a coin separating device comprises a conveying device for conveying coins from an input container in a conveying direction along a conveying path and a testing device arranged on the conveying path for detecting a type of coin of a coin conveyed along the conveying path.

At one of the US 7,147,552 known coin separating device of this type, a conveyor in the form of a two-stranded conveyor belt is provided, which forms a conveying path along which coins are conveyed from an input container in an upward direction (counter to a gravitational force). On the conveyor belt drivers are arranged to receive the coins from the input container and convey along the conveyor line. Distributed along the conveyor line different means are provided to ensure that each driver is promoted only a single coin. Depending on a detection, the coins are conveyed to a coin collecting device, whereby objects not recognized as coins are sorted out and returned to a user.

Such coin separating devices serve to separate coins from other items. A coin separating device may be followed by a sorting device that sorts coins sorted by the coin separating device and passes them into sorted containers in sorted form.

The from the US 7,147,552 B2 Known separation device operates on the so-called "vertical separation principle". In the vertical dicing principle, coins are conveyed out of an input tray, moved along a conveyor line in an upward direction, and fed to a coin collector in response to a coin detection. Such Münzvereinzungsungsvorrichtungen are usually insensitive to foreign bodies and can have a high recognition accuracy. By suitable design of the conveyor line, if possible only coins should be transported along the conveyor line, while other items remain in the input container. Depending on a recognition detected coins are then transported from the conveyor line down in a coin collection device for further processing of the coins. At the time of the US 7,147,552 B2 known Münzvereinzungsvorrichtung, for example, an electromagnetic ejector for conveying a recognized coin from the conveyor line is provided in a coin collecting device.

The EP 2 525 330 A1 discloses a coin separating device in which a coin can be dropped from a conveyor by means of an ejection element acting perpendicular to a conveying direction along a direction of ejection, and thus enters a singling centrifuge. The ejection element acts perpendicular to the conveying direction, along which the conveyor promotes coins. The trajectory of the coin results from superimposition of the conveying movement of the coin and the acceleration occurring perpendicular to the conveying direction by means of the ejection element.

The GB 2 099 199 A discloses a conveyor with an acceleration device arranged in the form of electric motors. The acceleration is the same for all coins, which can be used to differentiate different coins based on their alloy by different types of coins are transported in different containers.

In the EP 0 660 274 A coins are conveyed from a rotating disc into a coin channel, using movable projection elements Coins can either pass through or, upon detection of a counterfeit coin, can be conveyed into an ejection opening.

The DE 102 61 819 A1 discloses an apparatus for sorting, counting or inspecting objects, in particular coins, in which coins can be conveyed by means of an accelerator wheel into a running track.

The DE 2 334 076 A1 describes an apparatus and method for checking the authenticity of coins. The coins are hereby incorporated into the device via a coin receiving hopper and directed via a Münzleitweg towards a driver. The driver is a linear stator in which a magnetic field progresses linearly along the length of the driver at a rate determined by the frequency of the current supplied and the geometry of the pole arrangement of the driver. The driver takes advantage of the electrical conductivity properties of coins by inducing eddy currents into the coins passing into the driver due to the driving magnetic field, which in turn results in a magnetic field on the coins interacting with the driver field and accelerating the coins of the driver's channel. Because different coins have different properties, in particular a different magnetic susceptibility, the coins are accelerated in different ways and thrown into different containers.

From the DE 2 045 241 A1 goes out a Münzprüfeinrichtung in which an acceleration of coins takes place via magnets arranged on a rotor.

The EP 2 336 983 A1 relates to a coin-operated machine in which coins can be inserted through a coin insertion opening and fed to a coin validator.

The DE 10 2011 001 870 A1 relates to a device for separating and sorting coins, in which the coins are transported via a conveying path from an input container and are accelerated out of the conveying path as a function of a test result perpendicular to the conveying direction.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coin separating device and a method for operating a coin separating device, which convey coins reliably from the conveying path into a coin collecting device.

This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, in the case of a coin separating device, an acceleration device is additionally provided, which is designed in such a way as to promote a coin conveyed along the conveying path as a function of recognition by the checking device accelerate the coin from being conveyed to a coin collector, the accelerator being arranged to act on the coin to accelerate the coin according to the coin type detected by the inspection means, by accelerating the coin to a first acceleration mode when the coin has a first coin type and is accelerated in a second acceleration mode different from the first acceleration mode when the coin has a second coin type.

This is based on the idea of providing an additional accelerating device on the conveying path which accelerates a coin recognized as such out of the conveying movement and in this way hurls the recognized coin in the direction of a downstream coin collecting device. The acceleration device thus serves to accelerate a recognized coin out of the conveying movement, so that the coin is conveyed by the conveying path in the direction of the coin collecting device.

However, the accelerator does not act in a similar manner to all coins, but accelerates coins of different coin types according to different types of acceleration. This is done against the background of that of the Conveyor conveyed towards the downstream coin collection device should preferably have an at least similar trajectory (trajectory) to ensure that the coins reach regardless of their specific coin type and their related physical properties (size, weight) equally reliable in the coin collecting device.

In order to convey small, light coins and large, heavy coins along a similar trajectory, it is necessary to design the accelerator so that different coins are accelerated in different ways.

For example, coins of a first coin type, for example coins of low mass and correspondingly of low inertia, may be accelerated after a first type of acceleration by means of a pulse acceleration. Here, an acceleration element of the accelerator is located before the acceleration of the coin in a position in which the acceleration element is spaced from the coin and then beats when the coin has reached a predetermined location on the conveyor line against the coin to the coin on this Way of impulsive transport of the conveyor line.

For coins of a second type of coin, for example, coins with a comparatively large mass and a correspondingly large inertia, on the other hand, for example, a second type of acceleration is used in the form of a sliding acceleration, in which the acceleration element of the acceleration device is already in contact with the coin before the coin is accelerated and then accelerated to take the coin and thus to transport from the conveyor line.

However, it is also conceivable and possible for the types of acceleration to differ only in one transmitted pulse, in that a smaller coin is exerted on a light coin than on a heavy coin. It is essential in this connection only that, depending on a coin type of a coin, the accelerating element performs a different acceleration from that of another coin of another coin type so as to accelerate coins of different coin types differently. The acceleration by the acceleration element is therefore not always the same for different coins with different coin types, but may differ.

In this text, a coin type refers to the denomination of a coin in a specific currency. For example, in the euro currency, there are the coin types "1 euro coin", "2 euro coin", "50 cent coin", "10 cent coin", etc. Depending on their coin type, a coin has a predetermined nominal size , predetermined electrical properties and a predetermined nominal weight. The coin type of a coin is recognized by the testing device, which has, for example, an optical sensor device for detecting geometric dimensions of the coin and / or an electromagnetic sensor device for detecting electrical properties of the coin.

The testing device has, for example, an evaluation and storage device in which data of different types of coins are stored in currency data sets. By comparing measured, detected properties of a coin with data of a previously stored currency data set, a coin can then be assigned to a coin type.

The acceleration of the coin by means of the acceleration device takes place in the conveying direction. Assuming that the acceleration device accelerates a recognized coin in the conveying direction, it is to be understood in the present case that the acceleration device exerts an acceleration force on the recognized coin, which is directed in the conveying direction at least with one direction vector component. The acceleration direction does not have to correspond exactly to the conveying direction, but can also be directed obliquely to the conveying direction, for example, as long as only one direction vector component points the direction of acceleration in the conveying direction (that is to say that the acceleration direction can be decomposed into vector components, at least one of which points in the conveying direction).

In a concrete, advantageous embodiment, the acceleration direction, in which the acceleration device accelerates a recognized coin, but directed collinear to the conveying direction.

By means of the accelerator, a detected coin is thus accelerated out of its conveying movement, wherein the acceleration in the conveying direction is such that the speed to which a detected coin is accelerated by means of the accelerator is greater than the conveying speed with which the coin by means of the conveyor is transported along the conveyor line. By means of the accelerator, a recognized coin is thus out of its Conveying movement out forward (as seen in the conveying direction) accelerated and transported in this way in the direction of a downstream coin collecting device.

By means of the acceleration device, a recognized coin is thus conveyed from the conveying path to the coin collecting device. This allows reliable transport of coins recognized as such to a coin collector and can reliably ensure that only coins, but not other items, enter the coin collector.

Advantageously, the conveying path has a first end and a second end, wherein the input container in the region of the first end and the acceleration device are arranged in the region of the second end. The accelerator is then preferably configured to convey a recognized coin beyond the second end into the coin collector beyond the second end. By means of the acceleration device, a recognized coin is thus accelerated beyond the second end and in this way moved by the conveying path in the direction of the coin collecting device, wherein the coin collecting device is designed in a suitable manner for collecting the coin.

In an advantageous embodiment, the coin collecting device - viewed along the conveying direction - spaced from the second end of the conveying path. The coin collecting device thus does not directly adjoin the conveying path, but is at a predetermined distance from the second end of the conveying path. If a coin is accelerated by means of the acceleration device, it is thrown over the distance beyond the second end of the conveyor line out into the coin collecting device, wherein the accelerating force caused by the acceleration means is dimensioned so that a recognized coin overcoming the distance also reaches the coin collecting device and thus reliably enters the coin collecting device. On the other hand, if a coin or other object is not accelerated or not sufficiently accelerated, the coin or article will not enter the coin collector, but will be conveyed through, for example, an opening formed by the distance between the second end of the conveyor and the coin collector this way in a different from the coin collection device return device. Unrecognized coins - such as counterfeit money or coins of other currency or coins that can not be picked up by the coin collector (for example, because the coin collector or individual containers of the coin collecting device are already filled) - or other foreign objects are thus returned to a user and not further processed in the downstream coin collecting device.

The accelerator may include, for example, a stepper motor and an accelerator driven by the stepper motor, e.g. B. a rotary wheel, to accelerate a coin. An acceleration element embodied as a rotary wheel can be formed, for example, as a paddle wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation with one or more paddles for acting on a coin to be accelerated. During operation of the coin separating device, the stepping motor drives the acceleration element - depending on the detection of a coin by the checking device - by, for example, rotating the paddle wheel and accelerating the coin out of its conveying motion by acting on a paddle on the coin to be accelerated. In this case, the stepping motor is activated stepwise as a function of the detection by the checking device and thus moves the acceleration element only when the checking device generates a suitable control signal which indicates the recognition of a coin. The acceleration is thus selective: only those coins are accelerated, which have been recognized and the coin collecting device to be supplied.

The conveying direction is directed at the intended arrangement and use of the coin separating device at least with a direction vector component against a direction of gravity. The coin separating device thus operates according to the vertical separation principle by conveying coins from the input container in an upward direction along the conveying path. The conveying direction here does not have to be directed exactly vertically against the direction of gravity (ie counter to the direction in which gravity acts), but advantageously points obliquely to the direction of gravity such that a direction vector component of the conveying direction is directed against the direction of gravity.

In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor on a conveyor belt with two parallel to each other along the conveying direction extending, synchronously moving conveyor lines. The conveyor strands can each be realized by a circulating conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor strands are moved synchronously and thus jointly promote coins from the input container. At every conveyor track is arranged for this purpose at least one driver, wherein a driver of a conveyor line and a driver of the other conveyor line form a pair of takers to take away each of a coin.

The acceleration element of the acceleration device is advantageously placed in such a way relative to the conveyor strands that it is arranged - viewed transversely to the conveying direction - between the conveyor strands. In order to accelerate a coin, the acceleration element is thus moved between the carriers of the carrier pair on which the coin to be accelerated is guided, thus acting on the coin and hurling it in the direction of the coin collection device. Characterized in that the acceleration element is moved through between the drivers, the acceleration element can act in a defined manner on the coin to be accelerated and accelerate relative to the conveyor strands, so that the coin is conveyed by the conveying path in the direction of the coin collecting device.

The coin collecting device serves to catch the coins accelerated away from the conveying path. The coin collecting device can advantageously have a sorting device for sorting the coins conveyed into the coin collecting device, which is designed, in particular, to guide each coin, depending on its type of coin, into a coin collecting container assigned to the coin type. The type of coin is already recognized by the testing device of the conveyor, so that the coin type of the coin is already fixed when it is conveyed by means of the accelerating device in the coin collecting device. Depending on the coin type, the coin is then further processed and fed to a coin collection container assigned to it, so that, for example, a one-euro coin enters a collection container for one-euro coins.

The object is further achieved by a method for operating a coin separating device. The coin separating device comprises a conveying device for conveying coins from an input container in a conveying direction along a conveying path and a testing device arranged on the conveying path for detecting a type of coin of a coin conveyed along the conveying path. In this case, it is provided that an acceleration device accelerates a coin conveyed along the conveying path and recognized by the checking device in the conveying direction such that the coin is conveyed from the conveying path into a coin collecting device, the acceleration device being dependent the coin is accelerated by the coin detected by the inspection means by accelerating the coin in a first acceleration mode when the coin has a first coin type and accelerating in a second acceleration mode different from the first acceleration mode when the coin Coin has a second coin type.

The advantages and advantageous embodiments described above for the coin separating device apply analogously also to the method for operating the coin separating device. Preferably, the method is for operating a coin separating device of the type described above.

Advantageously, the acceleration device is controlled as a function of a control signal generated by the checking device for accelerating a coin conveyed on the conveying path. The acceleration device is thus selectively activated as a function of a recognition of a coin by the checking device, for which purpose, for example, a stepper motor of the acceleration device can be selectively energized in order to drive a suitable acceleration element, for example a paddlewheel, stepwise for accelerating a coin.

The testing device preferably has a sensor device which detects geometric and / or electrical properties of the coin in order to determine the coin type of the coin on the basis of the geometric and / or electrical properties. For this purpose, the checking device has, for example, an evaluation and storage device in which at least one currency data record with data of different coin types of a coin currency is stored. The evaluation and storage device compares data of the coin acquired by the sensor device with previously stored data of the at least one currency data record and, on the basis of the comparison, assigns the coin to a coin type of the currency data record. If the coin can be clearly assigned to a coin type and thus the coin type of the coin is identified, the accelerator can be controlled depending on the coin type to accelerate the coin in a suitable manner depending on the type of coin and thereby from the conveying path to the coin collecting device transport.

In the acceleration of different coins, a preferred goal is that different coins of different coin type have at least approximately the same trajectory. A small, light coin (eg an aluminum coin) should At least approximately along a same trajectory of the conveyor line are transported as a large, heavy coin (eg a steel coin).

For this purpose, the type of acceleration with which the accelerator acts on a coin is adjusted depending on the coin type of the coin.

For example, if the coin has a first coin type, a first type of acceleration may be used in which the accelerator is accelerated against the coin from a position where an acceleration element of the accelerator is spaced from the coin and the coin is thereby deflected from the coin Conveyed conveyor line. By such a pulse acceleration, the coin is thus transported away in a pulse-like manner from the conveying path, in which the acceleration device acts in a pulse-like manner on the coin. Such a type of acceleration can be used in particular for small, light coins.

If, on the other hand, the coin has a second coin type, the acceleration device can be accelerated in a second type of acceleration, for example from a position in which an acceleration element of the acceleration device is in contact with the coin, in order to take the coin with it and thereby convey it from the conveying path. Thus, in this second type of acceleration, the accelerator accelerates the coin by taking the coin with it and transporting it from the conveyor line by its own acceleration. Such a shift acceleration can be used in particular for large, heavy coins. Such large, heavy coins have a comparatively large inertia. By such a sliding acceleration in which an acceleration element of the accelerator is first brought into abutment with the coin to then be accelerated and spin the coin from the conveyor line, the inertial pulse acting on the accelerator due to the inertial forces of the coin is less than at the momentum acceleration.

In both types of acceleration, the acceleration device is preferably decelerated again after its acceleration in order to prevent a coin conveyed by the conveyor path from receiving a (further) pulse from the acceleration device which could deflect the coin from its trajectory.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer Münzvereinzelungsvorrichtung mit einer Fördereinrichtung und einer an der Fördereinrichtung angeordneten Beschleunigungseinrichtung zum Beschleunigen einer Münze aus ihrer Förderbewegung heraus, betrachtet von der Seite; und

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht der Fördereinrichtung und der Beschleunigungseinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, betrachtet in einer Draufsicht von oben.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a Münzvereinzungsvorrichtung with a conveyor and arranged on the conveyor accelerator for accelerating a coin from its conveying movement, viewed from the side; and

Fig. 2

a view of the conveyor and the accelerator according to Fig. 1 , viewed from above in a plan view.

Fig. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a coin separating device 1, which has a conveyor 2 for conveying coins from an input container 40 along a conveying path 200 towards a coin collecting device 3.

The conveyor 2 is designed as a conveyor belt with two parallel, synchronously driven conveyor lines 20A, 20B. Each conveyor line 20A, 20B is realized here by a circulating conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor strands 20A, 20B are guided on identical deflection elements 21, 22 in the form of deflection rollers and are driven in synchronous manner for a same direction movement with the same speed.

The conveyor belt 20 formed by the conveyor lines 20A, 20B serves to convey coins M from the input container 40 in a conveying direction F along the conveying path 200. In this case, the conveying device 2 implements the so-called vertical separating principle in that the conveying direction F is directed with a directional vector component counter to the direction of gravity G (that is, the conveying direction F can be broken down into vector components, one of which is erected counter to the direction of gravity G). Coins M are thus conveyed from the input container 40 along the conveying direction F with respect to the direction of gravity G obliquely upwards (ie upwards), for this purpose on the conveyor lines 20A, 20B driver pairs 23 are formed, each by one on the one conveyor line 20A arranged first driver 23A and arranged on the other conveyor line 20B second carrier 23B are realized.

For conveying a coin M from the input container 40, a pair of carriers 23 is moved through the input container 40 and thus accesses a coin M, which - as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown - comes to rest on the conveyor lines 20A, 20B and is held between the drivers 23A, 23B of the driver pair 23. By moving the conveyor strands 20A, 20B in the conveying direction F, the coin M is now moved along the conveying path 200 in the conveying direction F, whereby the movement of the conveyor strands 20A, 20B takes place continuously and thus successively received coins and M from the input container 40 and along the conveyor line 200 are transported.

When picking up a coin M from the input container 40, it may happen that at a pair of carriers 23 several coins M come to rest, for example by two coins are superimposed or by a coin M on a pair of carriers 23 another coin M pushes in front of him.

Therefore, first a ramp 24 and then in the conveying direction F thereafter a discharge device 25 are arranged on the conveyor line 200, which are to ensure that only one coin M is conveyed to each driver pair 23. If a coin M conveyed on a carrier pair 23 reaches the ramp 24, it runs on it and is thus offset (slightly) perpendicularly to the conveying direction F on the carrier pair 23 assigned to it. In this way, the coin M is lifted from the conveyor strands 20A, 20B, causing a second coin M disposed on the coin M to slide from the dogs 23A, 23B of the dog pair 23 and thus fall off the conveyor belt 20.

After the ramp 24, the coin M arrives at the ejection device 25, which has an inductive sensor 250, for example, and a downstream ejector 251 arranged in the conveying direction F, for example, of electromagnetic design. If it is detected by means of the (inductive) sensor 250 that a coin M on a pair of carriers 23 pushes another coin M in front of it, then the ejector 251 is actuated in a corresponding manner, and the further coin is thrown off.

After the ramp 24 and the discharge device 25 is thus ensured that only one coin M is conveyed to a driver pair 23. The coin M then passes to a arranged on the conveyor line 200 test device 26, which serves to detect a coin, so to recognize whether it is a weiterzuverarbeitende coin M or another object, such as a foreign body or a coin, not can be further processed (because they are, for example, another currency comes from), acts. Depending on the detection, which can be performed, for example, based on a diameter detection, a weight detection or an optical pattern recognition, a control signal is generated, which serves to control a downstream accelerator 29, as will be explained below.

After passing through the test device 26, a coin M passes to a discharge device 27, the ejector 270, 271, 272 for selectively ejecting the coin M from the conveyor belt 20 has. Two of the ejectors 270, 271, 272 serve here to produce coins M having extreme properties (eg extremely light or extremely heavy coins M or coins M of exceptional shape, eg angular coins which do not interact with the downstream accelerator 29 can be optimally accelerated) to throw off. A third of the ejectors 270, 271, 272 serves to selectively drop a coin M when the coin M has been recognized and verified, but then it has been determined that the downstream coin collector 3 is unable to receive the coin M. and further process, for example, because one of the coin M associated container is full and thus no more coins M can take more.

After passing the discharge device 27 with the Abwerfern 270, 271, 272 is a guided on a driver pair 23 coin M - if they have not been discarded, but has been detected and verified by the tester 26 - the coin collecting device 3 are fed to further processing. Serving for this purpose is the acceleration device 29, which is arranged in fixed positional relationship to the conveyor belt 20 of the conveyor 2 and has a stepping motor 293 which has an acceleration element 291 in the form of a paddle wheel with a number of individual paddles 292 via a rotation axis 290.

The acceleration device 29 is arranged at a second end 202 of the conveying path 200 of the conveyor 2 (at an opposite first end 201, the conveyor 2 receives the coins M from the input container 40). The acceleration element 29 is rotatable about the axis of rotation 290 and thereby - viewed in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction F - between the conveyor lines 20A, 20B and thus spatially disposed between the carriers 23A, 23B arranged thereon (see Fig. 2 ). The acceleration element 291 can thus be moved between the drivers 23 A, 23 B of a driver pair 23, in order in this way with one of its paddles 292 act on a arranged on a pair of carriers 23 coin M.

In operation, by means of the stepping motor 293, the acceleration element 291 in the form of the paddlewheel is gradually shifted into a rotational movement in a direction of rotation D about the axis of rotation 290. The control of the stepping motor 293 is effected in response to a control signal generated by the test device 26, which indicates the correct recognition of a coin M and correspondingly controls the stepping motor 293 for conveying the coin M into the collecting device 3. With appropriate control, the stepping motor 293 thus drives the acceleration element 291 in the direction of rotation D in the form of the paddle wheel so that a paddle 292 acts on the coin M to be accelerated and accelerates it in an acceleration direction B approximately rectified in the conveying direction F.

The acceleration element 291 of the acceleration device 29 is controlled by the test device 26 depending on the coin type of a coin conveyed on the conveyor line 200. The coin type of a coin M is detected by the test device 26, the sensor devices 261, 262 and an evaluation and Memory device 260 has. By means of the sensor devices 261, 262, for example, the geometric dimensions of a coin M can be detected optically and, for example, using suitable electromagnetic coils, electrical properties of the coin M can be determined. In the evaluation and storage device 260, one or more currency data sets are stored, in which data of coin types of one or more currencies are included. By comparing data measured by means of the sensor devices 261, 262 with the data stored in the evaluation and storage device 260, a coin M can then be assigned to a type of coin deposited in a currency data record, so that a coin can be identified, for example, as a "1-euro coin", "2 euro coin" or the like can be detected.

Depending on its coin type, a coin has predetermined nominal physical properties, in particular a predetermined nominal weight (for example, a 1 euro coin has a predetermined nominal weight from which the real weight of the 1 euro coin will deviate only negligibly). Such physical properties, in particular the weight and the size, are also stored in the associated currency data record, so that in particular the weight and size thereof are known by identifying the coin type of the coin M.

Depending on the type of coin, the acceleration device 29 can thus be controlled in such a way that it advantageously accelerates the recognized coin M so that it is conveyed along a suitable trajectory to the left to the coin collecting device 3. The acceleration by the acceleration device 29 may be such that the trajectory for coins M of different coin types is at least approximately the same, to ensure in this way that all coins M arrive in the entrance 300 of a channel 30 of the coin collecting device 3 in a reliable manner.

Depending on the types of coins of different coins M in this case the accelerator 29 can be controlled in different ways.

For example, the accelerator 29 is driven to accelerate a small, lightweight coin (eg, an aluminum coin) to perform a first acceleration mode in which the accelerator element 291 in the form of the paddle wheel of the coin M is tracked at a distance and then, when the coin M is approximately in the in Fig. 1 is for the coin M under the accelerator element 291 shown position is hit against the coin M, so that the coin M is accelerated like a pulse and thereby conveyed by the conveyor line 200 to the coin collecting device 3. The acceleration device 29 thus acts like a pulse on the coin M and strikes it from the conveying path 200.

In the case of a large, heavy coin M (for example, a steel coin), the acceleration element 291 in the form of the paddle wheel of the coin M, however, be tracked with a paddle so that the paddle comes into contact with the coin M and the coin M possibly already from the Mitnehmerpaar 23 on which the coin M is promoted, (slightly) lifts. From this investment position is then, if the coin M in the in Fig. 1 is shown accelerates the acceleration element 291 in the form of the paddle wheel and thereby takes the coin M with. The coin M is thus accelerated by the conveyor line 200 towards the coin collecting device 3.

The provision of these concrete different types of acceleration is not mandatory. It is also conceivable, depending on the coin type, the acceleration element 291 in the form of the paddle wheel for exerting a predetermined pulse on a coin M. to drive, wherein the applied pulse varies for coins M different coin type.

In order to prevent, regardless of the type of acceleration, that after an acceleration of a coin M there is a (re) action of a paddle of the acceleration element 291 on the already accelerated coin M, the acceleration element 291 in the form of the paddle wheel after acting on a coin M is again braked until the next coin M is to be transported away from the conveyor line 200 and the acceleration element 291 is again controlled for this purpose.

By means of the accelerator 29, a coin M to be conveyed into the coin collecting device 3 is accelerated out of the conveyance movement along the convey path 200 and thus thrown into the entrance 300 of the channel 30 of the coin collector 3. The acceleration takes place here out of the conveying movement and thus at least approximately in the conveying direction F in that the coin M is accelerated in the conveying direction F to a speed which the conveying speed of the conveyor 2 along the conveying path 200 (caused by the conveying movement of the conveyor belt 20 with its delivery lines 20A, 20B) exceeds. The coin M is thus accelerated beyond the second end 202 of the conveying path 200 and enters the coin collecting device 3.

The coin collecting device 3 is at a distance A from the second end 202 of the conveyor line 200 spaced. The acceleration of the coin M is such that the accelerated coin M can overcome the distance A and thus enters the entrance 300 of the channel 30.

The channel 30 is formed curved in the plane defined by the conveying direction F and the direction of gravity G plane. The channel 30 forms in particular with its remote from the conveyor 2 outer wall (parabolic due to the acting force of gravity) trajectory of an accelerated and promoted in the coin collecting device 3 coin M after. As a result, a coin M thrown into the channel 30 slidably abuts the outer wall of the channel 30 and is slidably guided on the outer wall, so that a defined movement of the coin M along the channel 30 results without the For example, coin M starts to tumble.

An object M '(for example, a faulty body or a coin which is not intended to enter the coin collecting device 3), which is still located on the conveyor belt 20 at the second end 202 of the conveying path 200 and thus all devices 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 has passed on the conveyor line 200 and has not been accelerated by the accelerator 29 is conveyed beyond the second end 202 of the conveyor line 200 out, but falls through the distance A between the second end 202 of the conveyor line 200 and the input 300th the Münzsammeleinrichtung 3 created opening on a chute 42, the object M '(see Fig. 1 ) transported back into a collection container 41 of a return device 4 and thus returned to an operator.

Downstream of the discharge device 27 in the conveying direction F on the conveyor line 200 is a control device 28, which serves to check the correct ejection of a coin M - if this is to take place - at the discharge device 27. The control device 28 is designed, for example, as an inductive sensor, which checks whether a metallic coin M, which should have been dropped by the discharge device 27, also dropped in fact and inductively generated in a possible passage of the coin M a signal.

The coin collecting device 3 catches a coin M thrown by the accelerating device 29 from the conveying path 200 toward the coin collecting device 3 at its entrance 300 and passes the coin M via the channel 30 to a sorting device 32 in the form of a sorting hopper pivotable about a pivot axis 320. Before the coin M arrives at the sorting device 32, it passes a control device 31, which serves to detect the coin M, in order to verify that the coin M has actually entered the coin collecting device 3. In addition, when the coin M passes control device 31 (which may be configured, for example, as a light barrier), a position signal may be generated which can be used to trigger an adjustment movement of sorter 32 to properly sort coin M into a coin collection channel 330 -334 and a Münzsammelkanal 330-334 downstream Müntssammelbehälter 340-344 to pass.

Upon reaching the sorter 32, the coin M enters a funnel-shaped inlet 321 of the sorter 32 and is fed via an outlet 322 to the associated coin collection channel 330-334 and above to the associated coin sump 340-344.

For example, each coin type may be associated with a coin collection container 340-344. For example, a one-euro coin can be directed into a coin collection container 340-344 where one-euro coins are collected. The same applies to coins of other coin types.

The acceleration direction in which the accelerator accelerates a coin to be accelerated is not necessarily directed collinearly to the conveying direction. The acceleration direction may, for example, also be directed obliquely to the conveying direction.

The accelerator can basically be configured arbitrarily and does not necessarily use a paddlewheel. For example, the acceleration can also take place in a completely different manner, for example by means of compressed air or by an electromagnetic ejection device, which causes an acceleration (also) in the conveying direction. Basically, all acceleration devices are suitable, which can cause an acceleration from the conveying movement out.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

coin queuing

2

Conveyor

20

conveyor belt

200

conveyor line

201,202

The End

20A, 20B

production string

21.22

deflecting

23

follower pair

23A, 23B

takeaway

24

ramp

25

discarding equipment

250

(inductive sensor

251

ejector

26

test equipment

260

Evaluation and storage device

261, 262

sensor device

27

discarding equipment

270,271,272

ejector

28

control device

29

accelerator

290

axis of rotation

291

Accelerator element (paddlewheel)

292

paddle

293

stepper motor

3

Münzsammeleinrichtung

30

channel

300

entrance

301

exit

31

control device

32

sorter

320

swivel axis

321

inlet

322

outlet

330-334

Münzsammelkanal

340-344

coin collection

4

return device

40

input container

41

Clippings

42

slide

A

distance

B

acceleration direction

D

direction of rotation

F

conveying direction

G

The direction of gravity

M

coin

M '

object

X

Horizontal direction

Y

vertical direction

Claims (13)

1. Coin separation device (1), having

   - a conveying device (2) for conveying coins (M) in a conveying direction (F) out of an input container (40) along a conveying section (200),

   - a testing device (26) which is arranged on the conveying section (200) for recognizing a coin type of a coin (M) which is conveyed along the conveying section (200), and

   - an accelerating device (29) which is realized to accelerate a coin (M) conveyed along the conveying section (200) in dependence on recognition by the testing device (26) in such a manner that the coin (M) is conveyed from the conveying section (200) into a coin collecting device (3), wherein the accelerating device (29) is realized, in dependence on the coin type of the coin (M) recognized by the testing device (26), to act upon the coin for acceleration by the coin (M) being accelerated in a first manner of acceleration when the coin (M) comprises a first coin type, and in a second manner of acceleration which is different to the first manner of acceleration when the coin (M) comprises a second coin type, wherein the conveying direction (F) in which the conveying device (2) conveys coins (M) out of the input container (40) is directed against a direction of gravity at least with one direction vector component,

   characterized
   in that the acceleration device (29) is realized to accelerate the coin (M) in the conveying direction (F) .
2. Coin separation device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the conveying section (200) comprises a first end (201) and a second end (202), wherein the input container (40) is arranged on the first end (201) and the acceleration device (29) is arranged on the second end (202).
3. Coin separation device (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the acceleration device (29) is realized to convey a recognized coin (M) beyond the second end (202) into the coin collecting device (3) on the other side of the second end (202).
4. Coin separation device (1) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the coin collecting device (3), when viewed along the conveying direction (F), is at a spacing to the second end (202) of the conveying section (200).
5. Coin separation device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acceleration device (29) comprises a stepping motor (293) and an acceleration element (291) which is driven by the stepping motor (293) for accelerating a coin (M).
6. Coin separation device (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the acceleration element is formed by a paddle wheel (291) which is rotatable about a rotational axis (290) having paddles (292) for acting upon a coin (M).
7. Method for operating a coin separation device (1) which comprises

   - a conveying device (2) for conveying coins (M) in a conveying direction (F) out of an input container (40) along a conveying section (200) and

   - a testing device (26) which is arranged on the conveying section (200) for recognizing a coin type of a coin (M) which is conveyed along a conveying section (200),

   wherein an acceleration device (29) accelerates a coin (M), which is conveyed along the conveying section (200) and is recognized by the testing device (26), in the conveying direction (F) in such a manner that the coin (M) is conveyed from the conveying section (200) into a coin collecting device (3), wherein the accelerating device (29), in dependence on the coin type of the coin (M) recognized by the testing device (26), acts upon the coin for acceleration by the coin (M) being accelerated in a first manner of acceleration when the coin (M) comprises a first coin type, and in a second manner of acceleration which is different to the first manner of acceleration when the coin (M) comprises a second coin type, wherein the conveying direction (F) in which the conveying device (2) conveys is directed against a direction of gravity at least with one direction vector component,
   characterized
   in that the acceleration device (29) accelerates the coin (M) in the conveying direction (F).
8. Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that the acceleration device (29) is actuated in dependence on a control signal generated by the testing device (26) for accelerating a coin (M) which is conveyed on the conveying section (200).
9. Method according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the testing device (26) comprises a sensor device (261, 262) which detects geometric and/or electric characteristics of the coin (M) in order to determine the coin type of the coin (M) by way of the geometric and/or electric characteristics.
10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that the testing device (26) comprises an evaluation and storage device (260) in which at least one currency data set with data of different coin types of a coinage is stored, wherein the evaluation and storage device (260) compares data on the coin (M) detected by means of the sensor device (261, 262) with stored data of the at least one currency data set und by way of the comparison assigns the coin (M) to a coin type of the currency data set.
11. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that in the case of the first manner of acceleration the acceleration device (29) is accelerated out of a position in which an acceleration element (291) of the acceleration device (29) is at a spacing from the coin (M), strikes against the coin (M) and as a result conveys the coin (M) from the conveying section (200).
12. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that in the case of the second manner of acceleration the acceleration device (29) is accelerated out of a position in which an acceleration element (291) of the acceleration device (29) abuts against the coin (M), at the same time entrains the coin (M) and as a result conveys the coin (M) from the conveying section (200).
13. Method according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the acceleration device (29) is braked after acceleration.

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