AU594571B2

AU594571B2 - Improvements in coin counting and sorting machines

Info

Publication number: AU594571B2
Application number: AU15503/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald Alwyn Faulkner
Original assignee: AUTOMATIC CURRENCY EQUIP
Current assignee: AUTOMATIC CURRENCY EQUIPMENT PTY Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-16
Filing date: 1988-05-02
Publication date: 1990-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-02
Also published as: AU1550388A

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patent Act 1952 4 COM P L ET E S P E C I F I C A T I 0 N

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class 0* 00 S S

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Application Number :PI 2504 Lodged 1t 0 tqq7 Complete Specification Lodged Accepted Published Priority: Related Art I J s i ;U( aniendinents idcunider Lcction 49 and is corrcL;L for p-rintinig Name of Applicant Address of Applicant Actual Inventor Address for Service AUTOMATIC CURRENCY EQUIPMENT PTY.

LTD.

90-92 Dunning Avenue, Rosehery, New South Wales, Comonealth of Australia Ronald Alwyn Faulkner F.B. RICE CO., Patent Attorneys, 28A Montague Street, BALMAIN. 2041.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEM4ENTS IN COIN COtJNTINGIAND SORTING MACHINES The following statement a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 The present invention relates to improvements in coin counting and sorting machines and in particular to machines of the kind (hereinafter referred to as "the kind set forth") in which mixed coins are lifted from a bowl by means of an inclined disk and transferred onto a tangential runner which consists of a ledge and a back face both of which are inclined backwardly and transversely so that coins run along the ledge of the runner by gravity, the rim of the coin resting on the 10 ledge and the flat of the coin lying against the back face.

•The sorting arrangement used in such machines is

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illustrated in Figures i, 2 and 3 in which coins run on

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the ledge 11 of a runner 10 the flat of the coins resting against the back face 12 of the runner. A number of coins of different diameters indicated at A, B, C and D are shown on the runner 10. Separation of the coins is effected by means of curved deflector plates such as the plate 13. These are arranged along the length of the runner and are set at exact heights above the ledge 11 20 according to the diameter of the coins to be sorted. In Fig. 1 coins B, C and D have a diameter less than the distance between the bottom of the plate 13 and the ledge 11 and are therefore unaffected by the plate 13. They will run further down the runner 10 until a corresponding plate arranged at a lesser height above the ledge 11 is encountered. Coin A, however, is of a diameter greater of the distance between the plate 13 and the ledge 11 and will therefore be deflected by the plate 13 as is best seen in Figure 3 into a suitable receptacle.

The arrangement in machines of the kind set forth as described aboa is generally satisfactory except that problems can arise where foreign coins are introduced into the system. Such coins could have a diameter approximating closely to that of one of the coins of the currency being sorted. Such a coin could either jam under 1 ii..

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3 a deflector plate or be sorted in a receptacle with coins that it resembled.

It has been found, however, that where coins or tokens that are different in denomination or significance but of substantially the same diameter are in many cases of different thickness. The present invention provides an arrangement where, under certain circumstances, advantage can be taken of this difference in thickness to separate :0.:.and collect some unwanted coins from the system.

The present invention consists in the provision in a coin counting and sort 4 ,ng mchine of the kind set forth of a 0V l,~J 9 i oN means associated with)r deflector plateswhereby beneath each deflector plate a channel is created of a width corresponding to the thickness of a coin desired to be sorted, the said means acting to increase the effective height of a coin of. greater thickness, the arrangement being such that for a given deflector plate, coins of a thickness such that they will pass through the channel, pass beneath the deflector plate undeflected whereas coins 20 of a greater thickness do not enter the channel and are thus, in effect, raised and thereby strike the deflector plate and are deflected.

In order that the nature of the invention may be better understood a preferred form of the invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the principal operation of known machines of the kind set forth; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the runner of a machine according to the invention; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the arrangement shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a modified arrangement in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 is a Figure similar to Figure 5 being a

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4 sectional elevation of Figure 6 on line X-X.

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure 7 illustrating a construction in which the width of the channel can be varied.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, an additional plate 24 is secured to the runner 20 by means of a screw. The plate 24 has an upper surface including a sloping portion 26 which slopes up from the e....level of the ledge 21. As is seen in Figure 5 the plate 10 24 partially overlies the surface of the ledge 21 and "there is a space 27 between the plate 24 and the back face 22 of the runner 20. The width of this space is such as S. to allow the passage of a coin of normal thickness such as that indicated at B in Figure 4. On the other hand, a thicker coin or token such as B1 will ride up on the surfaces 25 and 26. The result of this is that whereas *the coin B will pass beneath the curved plate 23- the coin or token B1 of greater thickness will be caused to strike the curved plate 23- and be deflected. A larger coin such 20 as that shown at A in Figure 4 would strike the curved plate 23 and be deflected at that point.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative form of construction in which, in place of the additional plate 24 a channel 28 is cut into the ledge 21 adjacent to the back face 22. The effect of this is that coins of normal width such as B, C and D pass down the channel 28 and pass beneath the curved plate 23-. However, a coin such as B1 which is of the same diameter as the coin B but of greater thickness rides on the normal surface of the ledge 21 and will strike the curved plate 23- and be deflected. A coin such as A will be deflected by the curved plate 23 and will thus not reach the channel 28.

In Figure 8 there is shown an alternative form of construction in which the width of the channel 28 can be varied by means of the screw 29 which holds the ledge 21 I 1 ii~~lijW___Y__il__LII 5 in position against the coil spring 30. By screwing the screw 29 in or out the effective width of the channel 28 can be adjusted.

In a practical construction the machine will normally be arranged to eliminate some particular coin which is known to be of greater thickness and which is likely to occur with sufficient frequency in the normal mix of coins to require special treatment.

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Claims

1. In a coin counting and sor ing. raciime of the kind )LI t ov set forth means associated with/, deflector plates whereby beneath each deflector plate a channel is created of a width corresponding to the thickness of a coin desired to be sorted, the said means acting to increase the effective height of a coin of greater thickness, the arrangement being such that for a given deflector plate, coins of a thickness such that they will pass through the "channel, pass beneath the deflector plate undeflected Goo* whereas coins of a greater thickness do not enter the S channel and are thus, in effect, raised and thereby strike the deflector plate and are deflected. 00 oe

2. In a coin counting and sorting machine of the kind set forth the combination claimed in claim 1 wherein the said channel is created by means of an additional plate secured to a front face of the runner, the additional plate partially overlying the surface of the ledge.

3. In a coin counting and sorting machine of the kind set forth the combination claimed in claim 2 wherein the additional plate has a sloping surface e:tending from the level of the ledge to a point in the upper surface of the S• additional plate.

4. In a coin counting and sorting machine of the kind r set forth the combination claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel is cut into the surface of the ledge adjacent to the back face of the runner.

In a coin counting and sorting machine as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the effective width of the channel can be varied by means permitting the variation of the position of the ledge.

6. In a coin counting and sorting machine of the kind set forth the provision of means as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs 4 and 5 or Fig 6 Lyo ':NT I 7 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 29 day of April 1988 AUTOMATIC CURRENCY EQUIPMENT PTY. LTD. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: S F.B. RICE CO. o0 a a pp* p* r r- '1 I