CA2013719A1 - Bag switching system for coin sorting apparatus - Google Patents
Bag switching system for coin sorting apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA2013719A1 CA2013719A1 CA 2013719 CA2013719A CA2013719A1 CA 2013719 A1 CA2013719 A1 CA 2013719A1 CA 2013719 CA2013719 CA 2013719 CA 2013719 A CA2013719 A CA 2013719A CA 2013719 A1 CA2013719 A1 CA 2013719A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- coin
- bag
- channel
- coins
- denomination
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D3/00—Sorting a mixed bulk of coins into denominations
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved coin bag switching system is provided for coin sorting apparatus and includes means for reasonably supporting at least two coin bags each for at least one selected coin denomination, means for selectively establishing a channel between the exit chute for the selected coin denomination and selected one of the releasably supported coin bags, means for temporarily suspending the sorting operation when the selected bag is found to be full or when a predefined coin count is determined to have been reached, means responsive thereto for displacing the previously established coin channel and establishing an alternate channel between the exit chute and a second selected coin bag, and means for resuming the sorting operation after the new channel has been established.
A coin switching module is provided for the establishment of channels between a coin exit tube of a given denomination and selected ones of empty coin bags corresponding to that denomination. The module is adapted to be conveniently connected to a selected coin exit tube for a coin sorting machine with little modification, if any, to the existing coin bag arrangement for the sorter. An integrally formed channel member is displaceably affixed about a coin input slot inside the switching module and is pivotally mounted to the module in such a way that when the member is circularly displaced about a coin inlet section of the member, the coin outlet section of the member can register with selected ones of a plurality of coin exit slots corresponding to the plurality of coin bags provided for the selected coin denomination. Controllable displacement of the channel member is affected by means of a lever attached thereto and projecting outwardly of the switching module.
An improved coin bag switching system is provided for coin sorting apparatus and includes means for reasonably supporting at least two coin bags each for at least one selected coin denomination, means for selectively establishing a channel between the exit chute for the selected coin denomination and selected one of the releasably supported coin bags, means for temporarily suspending the sorting operation when the selected bag is found to be full or when a predefined coin count is determined to have been reached, means responsive thereto for displacing the previously established coin channel and establishing an alternate channel between the exit chute and a second selected coin bag, and means for resuming the sorting operation after the new channel has been established.
A coin switching module is provided for the establishment of channels between a coin exit tube of a given denomination and selected ones of empty coin bags corresponding to that denomination. The module is adapted to be conveniently connected to a selected coin exit tube for a coin sorting machine with little modification, if any, to the existing coin bag arrangement for the sorter. An integrally formed channel member is displaceably affixed about a coin input slot inside the switching module and is pivotally mounted to the module in such a way that when the member is circularly displaced about a coin inlet section of the member, the coin outlet section of the member can register with selected ones of a plurality of coin exit slots corresponding to the plurality of coin bags provided for the selected coin denomination. Controllable displacement of the channel member is affected by means of a lever attached thereto and projecting outwardly of the switching module.
Description
2~37~9 FI~ OF ~8~ I~Y~TIO~
The pr~sent invention r~lates gen0rally to lmprovement~
in apparatus for sortlng coin curr~ncy by denomlnatlon. More particularly, this invention relates to ~n improved sy~tem for switching bags ~ d with ~ortad coln~ ln such coin sorting apparatu~ with only a minimal lnterruption o~ th~
normal operational s~quenc~ o~ the sorting apparatus.
1o BA~G~OU~ Q~ ~ N~
The rapidly incr~asing u~ of coln-operated machlne~ in today'~ economy has spawned a variety 0~ commercial apparatus capable of automatically ~orking mixed group~ o~ coin~ by 1~ denomination. S~ch machine~ typically 80rt coln~
denominationally by using centrifugal ~orce ~or separating incoming coin~ and provide ~ count o~ lndividual coin denominations by u~ing ~ome form of magnetic or optical s~nsing. The machine~ u~ually arQ capable o~ ~toring and displaying inform~tion about coin Gount~ during th~ ~orting process. In addi~ion, such machines nece~arily provide means for s~orage and removal of coins that have been sorted and counted by denomination.
Mo~t of today'3 commercial coin-~orting machine~ provide highly accurate denominational BOrting and counting o~ coins ~;
at high speeds by u~ing microprocessor-bas~d ~y~tems ~or sensing, ~toring, regulating, and displaying various critical parameter~ associated with th~ ~ortlng!counting operation.
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~1 37~9 The JetSort series of coin ~or~er~ marketed by Cummin~-Alli~on corp. of ~ount Pro3pect, Illinoi~, 20r in~tance, provide accurata ~orting/counting at apeed~ up ~o 6,000 mixed coin~ per minute ui~ing a microproce~or-controlled ~y~tem for sensing and counting denominationally ~orted coin3 as well as for providing a u~r-rrlendly in~ar~ac~ ~or di~pl~ying and controlling various count parameters ~uch a~ batch totals, day totals, etc.
The incre~singly highor counti~g ~pQeds r~allzed by ~uch machines have al~o generi~ted an accomp~ying ho3t of concerns, one of the ~ost prominent of which i~ the disparity between the accelerated ~illing timG for coin bag~ at hlgh -speeds and th~ relatively pro~racted operator time involved in replacing coin bags a~ th~y becomH ~illsd with ~orted and counted coin~. Typlcally, when a pArticular coin bag becomes full, th0 counting process has to be halted ~o th~t the operator may relQase the bag from the chute to which it i8 connected, fasten the bag ~or ~ecurity or other purpo~es, and replace the full bag with an ~mpty one. The time involved ln thi~ operation severely restrict~ the operational speed o~
the sorting machine and al80 limits the number of machlne~
which can be manned by one operator, particularly at high ~orting speed~
The problem i8 ~igni~icantly compounded when the coins to b~ counted include a high concentration o~ one partlcular denomination ralativ~ to th~ oth~r denomlna~lons whlch the machine i5 capable of sorting. Such a dlsproportionate coin denomination ratio i8, ~or in~tance, common in coin~
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collected from commerclal vending machln~ ln the Un~ted states, which typically inolude a large number o~ quarter~ a~
compared ~o nickel~, dimes or psnnie~. When ~uah coin groups are processed by a sorter, the coin bag connected to tha coin axit chute corre~ponding to the "quarters" Blot geta filled much more rapidly than the other bag~, thereby requiring the bag to be replace~ ~uch more ~requently than the bag~ ~or th~
other coin denomination~. Consequantly, th~ sortlng proce~s has to be halted frequQntly and addQd op~rator att~ntion i~
reguired, particularly at high spe~d~.
Attempt~ have been made to approach this proble~ ~y provision o~ ~ean~ to de~lect a stre m o~ ooin3 ~rom a ~illsd coin bag into an empty one. Such arrangements have been disadvantage~us ae they ~rQ rel~tively co~plex meahanically, can frequently lead to coin spill-ov~r during the proces~ o~
deflection, and, more importantly, provide inadsquate continuity in adiusting th~ count data to account ~or thQ
switching of bags.
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,, It is a primary ob~ect o~ this inventlon to provide mean~ for adapting the coin bag ~rrang~ent ~or A coin ' 5 sorting ma~hine to permit more ~f~lcient ~illlng and handling of coin bag~.
With rQg~rd to tha above ob~ect, it 1~ a rel~ted object of this invention to provida modular m~ana that can be conveniently incorporated inSo a sort~r machine, with minimal modification ther~to, the modular means being adapted to ~:
provide ~electively switchable exit channel3 ~or counted coins to be directed to desirQd coin bags.
A further ob~ect i8 to provide modular mean~ of the above type which i~ adapted to ~aintaining a continuity between count data b~fore ~nd a~ter coin channela have been switched.
Briefly, in accordance with thls inv~ntion, th~s~ and other objects are realized by providing coin sorting apparatus with means for raleasably supporting at leact two coin bags each for at lea~t ona selected coin denomlnation, mean~ for Qstablishing a channel b~tw~en the exit tube for the ~elected coin denomination and-a ~elected one o~ the releasably ~upported coin bags, maans ~or temporarlly 6uspending the sorting operation when the selectQd bag 1 full or when a predefined coin count has been reached9 means reapon6ive thereto for displacing th~ previou31y established coin channel and establi~hing a channel between the exit tube - - , .. : ' ' -- - : ~
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2013V;~19 r~
and a second selected coin bag, ~nd mean~ ~or re~u~lng the sorting OpQrati~n after the n~w ch~nnel ha~ be~n ~stablished.
According to ~ pr~rred ~bodiment o~ th~ lnv~ntlon, the a~tabliahment of channel~ betw~en a coin ex1t tub~ o~ a given denomination ~nd a ~ cted one o~ ampty bag~
corre~ponding to that tube i~ accompli~hed by me~ns o~ ~ coin switching module adapted to be conveniently connected to a coin ~orting machine with little modl~ication, i~ any, to the existing coin bag arrang~m~nt ~or th~ machine. The module includes a coin recQiving ~ction having a generally circular coin input ~lot which corresponds to thQ exit slot on the coin tube to which the module i~ to be linked. At least two generally circular coin exlt ~lot~ are provided on the module and correspond to coin slot~ provided on output chute~ to which coin bag~ may be att~ched by m~an~ o~ a conv~ntional clamping-ring arrangement. The chut~s are ~ttached to the external surface of the module in such a way that the coin ~lot~ on the chut~ and the coin exi~ slot~ on the module are substantially in al1gnment.
To divert ~orted coins exiting th~ coin exit tube 810t to the output chute ~orre~ponding to a select~d coin bag, an integrally formed channel member i~ displaceably a~ix~d to the coin input ~lot inside the switching modul~. ~he channel member includes a generally cylindrical ooin inlet ~ection having a coln inlet correspondlng in circular dim~n~ion to the coin input 810t of tho ~witch~ng module nnd a g~nerally cylindrical coin outlet ~ction having a coin outlat which corre~ponds in circular dimension to the coin exit slot~.
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,':'': ';., .-.~, ': ' : : , .;'' :' ~: ' 2~3719 PrQferably, the inlet and outlet sQctlons of the channol member are ~ub~tantially non-coaxial to each other ~nd are integrally llnkad by an angularly di~po~ed cyllndrlcal section so that the coin outlet may b~ po~ltioned over plurality of circumf~rentially dl~pl~c~d ¢oin ~xit slot~
whlle maintaining the coln lnlat rogi~tQr~d with the coin input ~lot.
At it~ coin inl~t end, th~ chnnn~ mber i8 plvotally mounted to th~ switch~ng ~odul~ cabinet in ~uch a way thht when the mamber ~s circularly di~pl~c~d about tho coin inlet, the coin outlet swing~ about an arc which run~ across the coin exit slot~. Pre~erably, the extremo limit~ o~ circular displacement of the channel member at ite inlat end cau~ the coin outlet o~ thQ membar to be align~ with re~pectivo on~
of the coin exit slot~. 8uch dl~placQm-nt i8 affected by mean~ of a lovar attnched to th~ chann~ b~r and pro~ecting outwardly o~ th~ owitching ~odule.
According to a preferr~d embodim~nt, limit ~wltGhes are provided about each of th~ coln exit ~lots nnd ~re positioned to be activated when the coin outl~t on the channel memb~r regi~ters with the corr~sponding coln exit 6~lot upon being activated by the displacem~nt l~ver. Electrical ~lgnal~ from the limit switches are link~d to the microprocossor typically used to control conventlon~l ~orting ma¢hinQEa. Tho~e signals are used, in con~unction with ~i~ilar algnal~ ~rom limit switche3 corresponding to th~ clamping-ring arr~ngo~ent for the attach~ent of co~n bags to corro~ponding chutes on th~
switching module, as a ba~i~ for ~oni~oring and counting the , . . : : . , :: - , ~ . .. .
7 ~a~7~
coins being ~ed to a s~lect~d coin bag onco th~ re~uir~d channel i8 eE~tab~ hed betweon the appropriate coln tubo and the coin bag by manipulating th~ ¢hannel memb~r Appropr~ately through the d~aplAcement lever.
B~IEF ~ÇRIPTION O~ ~NB D~
Other ob~ecto and advantage~ of th~ inventlon will become appar~nt upon reading the ~ollowlng detailed deGcription and upon reference to the drawing~ ln whloh:
FIG. 1 i~ a per~pective vi~w, in parti~l ~ut-out, o~ a switching module, adapted to b~ lncorpcr~ted into ¢oin sorting apparatus, according to a pre~err~d e~bodiment o~ the bag switching ~yBtam o~ this invention;
FIG. 2 i~ a front vi~w o~ th~ ~wl~ch~ng module Or FIG. 1 illustrating the rol~tlve d~po~ltlon o~ th6 ¢hannel member and the coin input and exit ~lots defined on the ~odul~;
F~G. 3 is a partial exploded viaw illu~tr~ting the arrangement ~or rotatably mountlng the channel member in~ide the switching modulQ of FIGS. 1 and 2 FIG. 4 is a partial ~xplod0d view illuatr~ting ~ections of the channel member in detail;
FIG. 5 is a block diaqram~atic illu3tration o~ a microprocessor-baaed control syatem wlth which ~he aw~tch ~ -~ignale ~rom the ewltching module o~ FIGS. 1-4 m~y b~
inter~aced for implementing thi~ invention;
2~ 3719 FIG. ~ is a sch~matic block diagram illu~tratlng the arrangement of limit switehe~ according to a preferred embodlment of thi~ inventions ~ .
FIG. 7 is a ~low char~ illu~trating thQ pra~rred seguence o~ operation~ lnvolvod in utlllzlng the ~witchlng mechanlsm o~ FIG. C in con~unctlon with tho ~witahlng module ot FIGS. 1-4, in ~ccordance with the sy~tem Or thl~
inventlon.
Whlle the inven~ion i6 6u~ceptlble to various modl~lcatlon~ and alternative ~orm~, sp~cific embodiments theraof have been shown by way o~ example in the drawlng3 and will be de~cribed in detail her~ln. It ~hould be understood, howevex, that it i3 not intended to limit the invention to the particular ~orm3 di~closed, but on th~ contrary, the intention i~ to cover all ~odi~oation~, guivalent~, ~nd alternative~ ~alling within th- 8pirit and ~cope of the invention a~ de~ined by the appended clalm~.
9 ~-137~ 9 DE~CRI P~LQN 0~ T~la PR15~ EMBODIMEN~
Referrlng now to FIGS. 1 and 2, they are shown, re~pectivaly, per~psctiv~ ~ront view8 og ~ ~wltchlng module adapted to be conveniently incorporated into coin ~orting apparatus, according to a pra~rr~d ~mbodiment o~ thl~
invention. A8 shown ~hQr~in, the ~witching ~odul~ lo i~
hou~ed within a ~ubstantlally trapezoidal cabinet 12 the upper sur~ace of which i8 provided with a c~ntrally dispo~ed coin 810t 14 ~or accepting coins that have been procee~sd by the coin sort~ng apparatu~ with whlch th~ lllu~trative bag switching system i~ to be usad. More speci~ically, the coin ~lot 14 correspond~ sub~tantially in diameter to the coin output 810t 15 provlded on the coin exit tube 16 of conventional coin sorting apparatu~ ~or ~ca~pting and directing processed coin~ o~ a p~rticular denomlnatlon to corre~ponding coin bag~.
The structural detAil~ o~ the coin exit tube and the manner in which it is linked to the sorting channel, ae well 2~ as the structural and operational detail~ of the coin.sorting arrangement itselr are not o~ i~portance to the operation of the pre~ent invention and, accordingly, will not be di~cussed ::
herein. The present lnvention may b~ advantageously incorporated into any o~ a variety of co~mercially available coin sorting apparatus, ae long a~ th~ coin bag arrangement provided with the apparatu~ include~ su~ficient room to house the support cabinet which define3 the switching ~odule. The attention of the reader i8 directed to the abov~-mentioned ,. . - , , . . - . , .... . .. ~ .
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~ t) JetSor~ seri~s o~ coin ~orter~ marketed by Cummin~-Allison corp. the cons~ruction of which 1~ particularly ~uited ~or use wlth the switching syotem de~oribed herein. ~or purpo~es of this application, it su~ice~ to ~tate that the coln input slot 14 is dispo~ed in such a way a~ to be capable Or alignment with the coin slot 15 o~ the coin ~xlt tube 16 corrQspondinq to th~ select~d coin denomlnation wlth which the presQnt bag ~witching sy~te~ i~ to b~ used.
Returning now to FIGS. 1-2, the cabinet 12 o~ tha 6witching module 10 is provided on i ~ bottom ~urface with at least two spaced apart coin exit slot~ 17 ~nd 18 through which ~electively ch~nneled coin~ may b~ direated to corre6ponding coin bags A and B, rospectively, which are each relea~ably attachad to the ~lot~ through a conv~ntlonal clamping-ring arrangement, a~ will be di wu~d b~low in detail. T~e ~xit 810t8 17, 18 and the corre~ponding clamping-ring arrangement connectlng a coin bag to each exit slot provide, in combination, dual storage means which may be used to speed up the proce~9 Or storing counted coin~ and replacing ~illsd bags with e~pty one~. For a ~elacted coin denomination, this Xunction i~ acco.mpli~hed ~y ~el~ctively establishing a channel betwe~n th~ coin exit nlot ~or that coin denomination ~nd a s~l~cted onQ o~ the raleasably ~upported coin bags.
In order to divert soxted coins ex1ting the coin ex~t slot 15 to a ~elected coin bag, the switching ~odule 10 i~
provided with an integrally form~d channel member 20 which is displaceably af~ixed to ths coin input slot 15 on the .. ~ .
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I 1 2~ ~719 switching module. Tho ch~nnel member 20 lnclude~ a generally cylindrical coin inlet s~ction 22 correspGnding ln circular dimension to the coin input ~lot 14 o~ the ~witching module, and a generally cylindrical coin outlet ~ection 24 whlch corre~ponds ln circular d~men~ion to the coin exit 810t~ on the switching module. ~h~ inlet ~ection ~2 lnclude~ a circular opening 23 corre~ponding ln di~met~r to the coin input slot 14 and the ~xit 810t 15 on the tu~e 16.
Similarly, the outlet section 24 i8 provided with an open~ng 25 which corresponds in diameter to the coin exit ~lot~ 17 and 18.
In order to maX~ th~ channel me~ber 20 capable o~
establlshing a channel b~tween the coin input elot 14 a~d each of th~ coin exit slots 17 and 18, th~ ~nlet ~ection 22 and outlet ~ectlon 24 are d~igned to b~ ~ub~tantially non- :
coaxial with each other. Th~so s-ctlon~ are llnked togetber by means of an angularly dispo~ed, sub~tantlally cylindrical :~
Bection 26 having a circular dimen3ion corresponding to that of the two sections. The angular section 26 i~ connected, ~ :
through an elbow-like connection, on one o~ it3 ends to the :
inlet section 22 in ~uch a way that th~ axe3 of th~ ~oined 6ection~ are disposed at a predetermined angle relatlve to each other. The other end of the angular seation 26 in similarly connected to the outlet section 24 with the axes of the sections being dispo~ed at the ~ame ~elected angle to each other.
The angular disposition of tho cylindrical ~ection 26 relative to the inlet section 22 and the outlet section 24, .. . . . . .. ... .
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1? 2013719 as best illustrated in FIG. ~ elect~d to be euch that th~ s~ctlon can b~ plac~d lnto rR~1stration with e~ch o~ ths coin exit 810t8 17, 18 by pivoting ths channQl memb~r 20 sufficiently about the axis of the coln inl~t ~ection 22.
When the coin inlet ~ection 22 i~ coaxially aligned with the coin exlt tube 16, any circular di~placament o~ the inlet about it~ axi~ cau~es the outlQt ~ection 2~ to travers~ an arcuate path about the bottom ~urface of the switching module cabinet. Accordingly, the output ~lot 25 on the outl~t 10 section 24 can be made to regi~ter with any of a plurality of coin ~lots disposed about ~uch an arcuate path by prov~ding an appropriate circular displacement to the channel member 20 while anchoring the inlet ~action 22 about its axi~. Thu~, ~he chann~l member is particularly adap~ed to the ~elsctive 15 establi~hment o~ channele betw~an the coin input ~lot and one of a plurality o~ coin output slots, each l~nked to a corre~ponding coin bag ~or ~toring counted coins o~ the ~elected denomination.
In order to e~fectuat3 the circular dieplacement o~ the 20 channel me~ber required to establish sslec~ed coin channel~, the switching module is provided with a collar/bracket arrangement which i5 bQst illu~trated ln FIGS. 3-4 and includes the provi~ion o~ a circular collar section 28 dispo~ed about the coin inlet on the outer sur~aae Or the 25 coin inlet section 22.
The collar 28 is adapted to fit in A rotatable manner within a generally U-shaped support bracket 30. Th~ bracket 30 includes an integrally formed, substantially circular : ., . .. .,. . : . .. , , :. - .... . .. . ., .. .. . ~ :. . :.
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~V~3719 l3 platform 32 adapted to accopt and ~upport the collar ~ction 28 of the channel member 20 in an ~xially ~ixQd m~nner relatlve to the coin inlet ~ectlon 22. The plat~orm 32 i8 definad by a clrcularly extending wall 34 and a cooperatlng circularly extending ledge 36 having circum~erential dimension~ corre~ponding to that of the collar a8. The platform 32 opens outwardly of the U-shaped support bracket -30 through a throat section 33 and, accordingly, the channel member 20 can b~ slld into po~ition through the throat Or thQ
support bracket 30 80 that the circular bottom ~urrace o~ the collar 28 on the coin inlet ~ection iB ~eated upon the ;~
circular ledge 36 in abutment with th~ ad~oining circular ~ :
wall 34. In this position, ~he collar 28 is held ~ecurely by ::
the platform 32.
The circumferential dimen3ion o~ the ledge 36 i~
selected to be slightly largQr than th~ outer circumference of the collar 28 and, accordingly, the collar 28, and hence the coin inlet sectiGn to which it iB attached, remain~
rotatably anchored within the support bracket 30.
For realizing the circular displacement of the coll~r :
z8, a radially projecting lever 48 i8 di~posed about the coin inlet section 22 and include~ a substantially triangular section 52 tapering inwardly from around the outer sur~ace o~ . -the inlet ~ection 22 to an elongated ~egment 54 havlng a downwardly pro~ecting handle 56 disposed at lt~ end. The lever 48 is linked to the inlet ~ection 22 in such a manner that it pro~ects outwardly through the front o~ the switching module 10 from a longitudinally extending slot 50 defined in .
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14 ~1371~ .
the upper section of the front surface o~ the cabinet 12 (See FIG. 2).
The bracket 30 i8 a~fixed to the inn~r ~ide o~ the top surface of the cabinet 12 (where the coin input olot 14 i8 defined) by means of an appropriate screw arrangement or the like (not shown). When the collar 28 of the channel member 20 is disposed within the circular plat~orm 32 with the lever 48 projecting outwardly of the cabinet 12 through the longitudinal slot 50, any lateral displacement o~ the l~vsr 48 produces a corre~ponding circular displacement o~ the sollar 28. The arrangement allows an operator to manually displace the lever 48 through lateral di~tances ~uf~icient ts generate the rotational displacement o~ the channel member 20 required to align the output section 24 with a ~elected coin output 810t ( 17 or 18 in FIGS. 1-2). Thu~, ~elective establishment of coin channals between the output slot 15 of the coin tube 16 of a particular coin denomination and a selected one of a pluxality of coi~ bags (A or ~) i8 conveniently realized.
In order to ensure optimum registration of the coin outlets on the channel member with corresponding coin exit 810ts and to provide a positive mechanical feedback indicative of such alignment, the circularly extending side wall 34 in the support bracket 30 i5 provided with at least one cylindrical cavity 38 extending transversely through the bracket to the outside (See FIG. 4). The cavity is adapted to hold a steel ball 40, which is biased inwardly through a spring 42 by a set screw 44. When the c~annel member is .. ~ -. . . . . . . - . , :: . : . . : .. . . . - ~ : : .
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.: , .. ... : , : . . . ,, ~r~ L3719 suspended from the bracket 30 with the collar 28 resting within the support platform 32, the ~et screw 44 i~ ad~usted to bias the ~pring 42 against the ball 40, ~hereby pro~scting the ball through the inner opening of the cavity 38 into frictional contact with the ~urface of the collar 28.
A plurality of grooves 46 are defined on the circumference of the collar 28 and are adapted to support the ~teel ball 40 therein when the collar 28 i~ rotatably displaced to a point where a groove 46 i~ pocitioned immediately across the cylindrical cavity 38. In the preferred embodiment, a second cylindr~cal cavity (not shown3 is provided on the support bracket 30 in a diametrically opposite position to that of cavity 38. An identical spring biased, set screw activated steel ball (not shown) is disposed within that cylindrical cavity.
The relative positions o~ tha groove~ 46 provided on the collar 28 are selected to be such that at least one groove registers with one of ~che cylindrical cavities, and the ~teel ball carried therein, when the channel msmber ie displaced to a position that places the coin outlet section 24 in alignment with either of the coin output ~lot~ 17 sr 18. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3, for instance, two pairs of grooves 46 are provided on the collar 28. One pair of diametrically opposed grooves 46A are so positioned as to become aligned with respective ones o~ the diametrically opposed cylindrical cavities 38 when the channel member is displaced to establish a coin channel between the coin input slot 14 and the coin output slot 17 for bag A. The other - . . .- . - , . .
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2 ~ 1 9 l h diametrically oppo~ite pair of groove~ 46B on the collar 28 are arranged to be aligned with the respective cav~ties 38 when a channel iB establlshad betwaen ~he coin input slot 14 and the coin output slot 18 for bag B.
The above-descrlbed arrangement i6 a~vantageous in that audlble as well as tactile feed~ack ie provided each time a pair of grooves becomes aligned with thQ corrQsponding cylindrical cavities, and the ~teel ball~ di~posed therein are clicked into pos$tion within the corre~ponding gxooves under tha urging of the springs. Thu~, an operator can rely on ~uch ~eedback for ensuring, in a guick and aimple manner/
optimum align~ent of the outlet section of the channel member with the output 610t corre~pondin~ to a selected coin bag~
It should be notsd that more than two palrs of grooves, as well as more than two cylindrical ball-loaded cavities, may be provided on the collar 28 in order to extend the positive feedback arrangement described above, if more than two coin output slots are provided along th~ arcuate path traversed by the outlet section of tha channel member as it is rotated about it~ inlet ~ection.
For releasably supporting the coin bags A and B to the corrasponding coin output slots 17 and 18, respectively, identical clamping-ring arrangements 58 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, each arrangement 58 includes a ~upport bracket 60 through which a coin output chute 62 is fixed externally to the bottom surface of the switching module cabinet 12 in such a way that the input opening 63 of the chut~ is aligned with the corresponding coin output slot 17.
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, . , ~ . , , , ~ . ., 2~7:~9 l7 The chute 62 is subst~ntlally cylindrical at it~ input ~ection 62A where it is ~upported by the bracket 60 and lncludes a lower portion 62B which ~aper~ outw~rdly.
A clamping ring 64 having a diameter which i ~llghtly larger than th~ diameter o~ the cylindrical ~ection 62A o~
the chute 62 ~ 8 slidably di~posed on the chute. Accordingly, a coin bag can be releasably fastened to the chute 62 by po~itioning the bag over the chute ~nd ~liding the clamping ring down until it fits tightly over th~ outwardly tapered s2ction of the chut~ 62. Relea~ing the co~n bag merely reguires the cla~pl~g ring to be pushed up and away ~rom the taperin~ section into th~ cylindrical ~ection o~ the chute 62. The clamping-ring i~ preferably made o~ steel and a plurality of magnat 65 are dispo~ed on the underside of ~upport bracke~ 60. Aa th~ ring i~ slld onto he cylindrical ~ction 6~A, it i6 pulled upwardly ~nd become~ attached to the magnets. As a result, the releasing operation i~
racilitated and the ring is ~ecurely retained during the time needed to replace the coin bag.
According to a feature of this invention, ~witching means are provided within the switching module 10 for monitoring the arcuate di3placement o~ the channel member 20 and providing an indication as to whether or not the coin outlet section of the channel member i~ regi~ter~d with the desired coin output slots. A~ 6hown in FIG. 2, li~it switches 66, 68 are disposed about the coin output slot~ 17 and 18, respectively, and ar~ each adapted to be activated on contact with the coin outlet section of the channel member - ~ , , ~ .:
. : . :., , , . , . : , .:: . . ., : : :.- . . ......... . . .
' ' . , : :~'. ' t, ' , ., ':, , ' ' ' '.,`, ' ............... ' .' '. - : ' " ., ' , . : , .,, ~ ., l R
when the section is aligned with ~he corre~ponding coin outlet ~lot. ~he switche~ are pr~ferably of the ~'nor~ally-closed~ type and become "open" when the outer periphary o~
the coin outlet abut~ contact member~ 67 provided on ~he switches, The relative po~ltioning o~ each switch about the corresponding coin outlet slot ~s ~uch that thQ contact members 67 comQ into abutment wlth the ~witching msmber only when there i8 exact alignmsnt between the outlet s~ction o~
the channel member and the coin output 810t with which the switch iB a~BoCiated .
The clamping-ring arrangement3 58 aro al80 provided with a similar switching By8tem ~or aach coin bag. For instance, limit switches 70 and 72, also o~ the ~normally-closed" type, are disposed underneath the bracket 60 corresponding to each of the coin output ~lota 17 and 18, re~pactively. The limit switch 70 i~ adapted to ba activatad when the corr~sponding clamp-ring 64 i~ ~lid into contact with the magnQt~ provided on the support bracket 60; this normally occurs when a previously clamped full coin bag i8 released or when an empty coin bag i~ load~d onto the coin exit chute. A similar mechani6m i8 provided for coin bag B. Th~ limit 8W~ tche~ 70, 72 may be replaced with magnetic reed switches which are activated when the clamping-ring~ 64 af ~ect the magnetic ~ield generated by the magnets 65.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there iB shown an upper level block diagram o~ an illustrative microproce~sor-based control system for controlling the operation of a coin sorter apparatus particularly 6uited to incorporating therein the . ~ ~ ~ , . ,: ; .
.. ;,, .. -, - . . . .
. ~ , . .. .
. : . . ; i :
. ~. . - ~............ .
~.; ~ - . . .
.- . . . .
7 ~ 9 bag swi~ching ~ystem of thl~ ~nvention. The control ~y~tem 80 include~ a central proce~or unit ~CPU) board ~or houslng at least one CPU for monitoring and regulating the variou~
parameters involved in the coin ~orting/counting operation.
The CPU accepts signal~ ~rom variou~ interlock ~witches corrsspondlng to the coin bags a~sociated with the differQnt coin denominations which the coin sorter apparatu~ i8 capable of recognizing. These switches typically provide an indication of the position o~ the clampin~-ring or like mechani~m which is used to ~ecure coln bag~ to corr~sponding coin exit chutes and provid~ a signal to the CPU indicating whether or not the a~60ciatQd coin bag i~ in a secured or relea ed ~tate. The CPU i3 programmed to halt tha coin~
sorting operation wh~n the ~ignal ~rom any o~ the interlock switch~s indicates that the corre~ponding bag i~ in a released po~it~on in order to ~void coin ~pillago.
The CPU is linked to an input/output (I/0) unit 84 and a serial interface unit 86 through a data bus 88, an addres~
bu~ 90, and a control bu~ 92. The I/0 unit 84, the CPU 82, and the serial interface unit 86 are all supplied with power through power line 94 ~ed by a power supply unit 96. ~he power supply unit 96 al~o ssrveq, through appropriate transformer means 98, as the source of power for a mother board 99 which houses additional con~rol compon~nts nece~sary for regulating the operation o~ the coin sorter ~pparatus.
Such component~ may, for example, include relays lO0, 102, respectively, for controlling the operation of the motor 104 ~or imparting rotary motion to the sorting channel, and the -2 ~ 7 ~ '3 2() associated fan 106 for regulating the internal temperature of the machine.
The mother boar~ 1~ also linked to th~ solenoids 107 used ~or various machine operations and a circuit breaker 108 for providing surge protection. The I/0 unlt provide~ the interface between the CPU 82 and the external world and may be linked to a ramote di~play unit 110. The I/0 unit iB
usually linked to a di~play unit 112 ~or provlding a visual ~ndication o~ variou~ machine parameter~, an as~ociated lo keyboard 114 for acc~pting u~er command~, and a speaker unit 116 for providing audible alarms. The I/0 unit 84 i~ al80 linked to the plurality of coin sensors 117 associated with the sensing mschanisms for each o~ the coin denominat~on~
recognized by the ~orting apparatus. These sen~ors typically correspond to ~ensing mechanism~ for dimes (D), penni~s (P), nickels (N), quarters (Q), half-dollars (H), and dollars ($~.
~he interlock ~witch signal~ Ped to the CPU typically also include signals from bag switches corrs~ponding to coin bag~ for pennies (P), nickele ~N), dlmes (D), quartQrs (Q), half-dollars (H), dollar~ (~). During operation, the CPU i8 programmed in ~uch a way that the sorting/counting process is activated only when all the interlock Qwitch signals indicate that the corresponding clamping-rings are in the "secured"
position. Sorting and counting are initiated concurrsntly and each sorted coin is directed to the coin exit chute ~or the corresponding denomination, where it is sensed and counted. The CPU is also programmed to display the individual cou~t for each coin denomination and possibly for : . . ~ .; - , -, . , . - . ~ . :
. . . .
.
2. 2~7~
providing count totals ~or a batch of coins, ~or aoin ~ub-batches, date-wise coin total~, etc.
The bag swltching ~ystem, according to the present invention, can conveniently be lncorporat~d into a CPU-ba~ed control ~y tem of the above type. Thi3 i9 accomplished by connecting the output signals from the limit switche~ -provided within the swi~ching modu~e 10 for the s~lected coln denomination and also providing aignals from the corresponding clamping-ring limit switchee to the C~U. The CPU 82 can then use the~e signal~ to regulate the sorting/counting operation in accordance with the ~elective establishment of coin channel~ to direct counted coins to desired ones of the plurality of coin bag~ a~sociated with the switching module.
FIG. 6 illustrate~ ~ ~ehematle representation o~ how the lim1t switche~ in the prererred two-bag ombodiment Or the switching module (described abovo with respect to FIGS. 1-4) are affected by the po~ition o~ the ehannel member lever 48.
AB shown in FIG. 6 the limit ~witchee corresponding to coln bag A, i.e., limit ~witeh 66 for eoin output slot 17 and the limit switeh 70 for the clamping-ring for bag A are shown as corresponding to position A of the lever. The limit ~witches eorresponding to bag B, i.e., the limit ~witch 68 for the coin output ~lot 18 and the limit switch 72 for the clamping- ~:` .~.
ring of bag B are repra3ented a~ corr~ponding to po~ition B
of the lever.
The output signal from each of the four limit ~witehas 66, 68, 70 and 72 is eonnected to the CPU board 82 aecording ''.:
: ::. ~ . ~ . - . . . . . . ................................... ..
: ~ : . . : :, , - -: . . .: . .
22 2~1371~
to the illustr~tiva arrangement ~hown in FI~. ~. S~nce the switches are of the ~normally-clos~d~ typ~, limit switch 66 i5 activatsd or ope~ed wh~n the channel memb~r lever 1~ at its first extrems po~ition, i.~., po~ition A. When the lever iS switched to its other ex~re~e position, i.e., position B, the limit swltch 68 i~ activatQd or opened. ~mit ~witche~ -70 and 72 re~ain closed when the clamping-ring is ln it~
secured position and are opened when th~ ring i~ moved up into the relea~e position. The ~ignals gznerated by the lo limit switches of FIG. 6 are processed by the CPU board and used as a basis ~or regulating the counting operatlon, particularly the display of count data, on the basi~ of preprogrammed in6truction6.
According to a prePerred arrangemen~, thQ coin count for bag A i8 displayed when the channel mQm~sr lever 48 1~ ~ound to be in position A, i.e., limit ~witch 66 ror bag A i~ ~ound to be open and limlt ~witch 68 ~or bag B i8 found to be closed. If the lever i~ found to be at po~ition B, i.e., if limit switch 68 for bag B i6 round to be open and llmit switch 66 for bag A i8 found to b~ clo~ed, the coin count ~or bag B i5 displayed. However, i~ the lever i8 not found to be at either position A or B, i.e., both the limit 6witches 66 and 68 are found to be closed, the sum o~ the coln count5 ~or ~ -bag A and bag B i8 displayQd. Of cour~e, the C~U is programmed to halt the ~orting apparatus i~ the limit ~wltch corresponding to a selected coin bag i5 found to be open.
Referring now to FIG. 7, ~here i8 shown a flow chart 120 illustrating the seguence of operation~ involved in utilizing . . ~ .
. , . , ~ . , . . - . .: :
~ ~ - ~ - : : ; .
2~ ~31371~
the bag ~witching system o~ this inv~n~ion ~n conjunction with sorting apparatu~ Or the type controlled by the microproces~or-ba6ed sy~tem dl~cussed above with r~spact to FIG. 5. The sequsnce of operation8 i~ initiated at 3tep 122 when the operator ~Qlects a part~ular bag, ~ay bag A, ~or thQ 6torage of counted coins o~ th~ particular denomination for which the bag switching mech~nis~ i8 being u~d. In effect, the machine operator mov~s the channel me~ber lever to the position corresponding to the desired coin bag, i.e., po6ition A. At th~ next 6tep, i.~., ~tep 124, the operator use~ t~e keyboard as~ociated with the di~play unit (~ee FIG.
5) to set the coin coun~ limit rOr the selected bag.
Sub3equently, at step 126, the oporator initiate~ the counting o~ aoin~, again through the keyboard.
The machine continue~ ~ortiny and counting coins and keeps track Or every coin exiting th~ ~orting chann~l which has been identified immediately thereafter as being a coin of the selected denomination. When the predefined count limit has been reached (ctep 128) ~ha CPU causes the machine to su6pend its operation, and stores the coin count gener~ted up to that point. It should be noted that ~uspension Or eorting stops further in-feeding o~ coins into the sorting channel.
However, there are, almost always, at least a few coin~ which are already inside the sorting channel at the time the ~ignal to suspend ~orting is generated. Conventionally, ~uch coins proceed through the sorting operation and are directed to the corre~ponding coin bag. Accordingly, each time the sorting operation is ~uspended, there i5 a distinct po~sibility that .. , - - . . , : : .:
.. , . . . ~ : .. ,. ~ . . .. . . . . . . .
- . . -. - . .: . . . , .
,. ~.:: : ' ~ ~ ' ,; - ; :
2~L371~
the coin bag ror whlch tho count limit has b~en r~achs~ m~y contain mor~ coln~ th~n th~ op~rator-d~fin~d ll~lt.
According to a re~tur~ oP thi3 lnv~ntion, the counting operation is controlled by t~ CPU in uch ~ way that any colns t~t arQ proc~ed by the ~orting ch~n~ r ~hQ
signal to su~pend ~orting op~ratlon 1~ gon~rate~ ~r~ counted and addad to the total ~or the corr~ponding coln bag.
~owever, tho CPU i~ program~Qd ~o di~ y th- xaat numbar of coin~ th~ have axceeded tho pr~d~in~d count llmit, th~reby providing the op-rator with ~n lndicatlon o~ how m~ny coln~
ne~d to bo oxtracted ~ro~ ~h- filled bag in ord-r to achlev~
the exact prQde~insd count.
R~turning now to th~ ~low ¢h~rt o~ FIG. 7, at ~t~p 130, the operator ~21ect~ th~ other b~g, i.e., b~g B, ~or ~toraga o~ coin~ by approprlatoly ~hl~lng th~ po~itlon Or th~
channel memb~r lov~r. At ~top 132, th~ o~o~ator ~oa~tiv~t~
the sorting/counting oper~tion and th~ ~toraga o~ coin~ i~
directed to coin bag ~.
Subssquently, after ~tep 134, tha oporator proce~d~ wlth removing th~ ~illQd coin bag A and r~placing it with an empty one. The op~rator al~Q ha~ an opportunlty to r~mov~ the exce~ number Or coin~, a~ lndicated by the count di~play ~or bag A, ~rom bag A and ~ransrQrrlng th~ OXCQ~O coin~ lnto bag B. This maintainB the in~agrity of coin oount in both the -bag~ ~ince the count for bag B hag, at thi~ point, alr~ady been credited with the exoe~e number o~ coln~. Th~ nbove-described sequenç0 o~ operatlons i8 relterated e~¢h tlme a coin bag i5 found to be full.
,,. .~. . ~ ......... . : - . -, :
- , . . ., . - : :;
. . , . . - ,,: . - .- . ;, , . : . , ~, .. . . : .
. ;-- : . . . . ... ~ . .. :: : .
It will b~ app~r~nt ~rom tho ~oregolnq that tha pre~ent invention provid~s a ~l~pl~ bag ~witchlng ~y~to~ which i4 easily incorporat~d into convontional coln ~ortlng apparatu~.
The ~witching ~odul~ provld~ an~ ~or ~iclontly snd s~lQctlvqly divortlng ¢oina ~rom ~ d coln ~g to an empty one whlle con~umlng vory littl4 tlmo and le~va~ the operator wlth ~ur~ioient tlme to r~plac- ~illod coin bag~.
It will, o~ courss, b~ obvlou~ that th~ rotatlonal dl~plAcement o~ th- ahann-l m-mbær ~or 6-l~ctlvo sstabliahment o~ coin channol~ may also ~ handl~d ~utomatlcally through dlroct ~l-ctrlcal moana or und~r tha control of tha microproces~or ~y~tem.
.. . . :. :... ... . .... -. . ... . . ..
- . . .
. . - . . . - .
.. , .: . . - . . .. .
: ... : -:: . . ::, : ~ .
- . - . . .
.: . - . - .
. . .
The pr~sent invention r~lates gen0rally to lmprovement~
in apparatus for sortlng coin curr~ncy by denomlnatlon. More particularly, this invention relates to ~n improved sy~tem for switching bags ~ d with ~ortad coln~ ln such coin sorting apparatu~ with only a minimal lnterruption o~ th~
normal operational s~quenc~ o~ the sorting apparatus.
1o BA~G~OU~ Q~ ~ N~
The rapidly incr~asing u~ of coln-operated machlne~ in today'~ economy has spawned a variety 0~ commercial apparatus capable of automatically ~orking mixed group~ o~ coin~ by 1~ denomination. S~ch machine~ typically 80rt coln~
denominationally by using centrifugal ~orce ~or separating incoming coin~ and provide ~ count o~ lndividual coin denominations by u~ing ~ome form of magnetic or optical s~nsing. The machine~ u~ually arQ capable o~ ~toring and displaying inform~tion about coin Gount~ during th~ ~orting process. In addi~ion, such machines nece~arily provide means for s~orage and removal of coins that have been sorted and counted by denomination.
Mo~t of today'3 commercial coin-~orting machine~ provide highly accurate denominational BOrting and counting o~ coins ~;
at high speeds by u~ing microprocessor-bas~d ~y~tems ~or sensing, ~toring, regulating, and displaying various critical parameter~ associated with th~ ~ortlng!counting operation.
.. . .. .. - ~.i ...................... ...........~, , . -. .. ~ . .. . -. -. ..................... - . - . -... . . .
~1 37~9 The JetSort series of coin ~or~er~ marketed by Cummin~-Alli~on corp. of ~ount Pro3pect, Illinoi~, 20r in~tance, provide accurata ~orting/counting at apeed~ up ~o 6,000 mixed coin~ per minute ui~ing a microproce~or-controlled ~y~tem for sensing and counting denominationally ~orted coin3 as well as for providing a u~r-rrlendly in~ar~ac~ ~or di~pl~ying and controlling various count parameters ~uch a~ batch totals, day totals, etc.
The incre~singly highor counti~g ~pQeds r~allzed by ~uch machines have al~o generi~ted an accomp~ying ho3t of concerns, one of the ~ost prominent of which i~ the disparity between the accelerated ~illing timG for coin bag~ at hlgh -speeds and th~ relatively pro~racted operator time involved in replacing coin bags a~ th~y becomH ~illsd with ~orted and counted coin~. Typlcally, when a pArticular coin bag becomes full, th0 counting process has to be halted ~o th~t the operator may relQase the bag from the chute to which it i8 connected, fasten the bag ~or ~ecurity or other purpo~es, and replace the full bag with an ~mpty one. The time involved ln thi~ operation severely restrict~ the operational speed o~
the sorting machine and al80 limits the number of machlne~
which can be manned by one operator, particularly at high ~orting speed~
The problem i8 ~igni~icantly compounded when the coins to b~ counted include a high concentration o~ one partlcular denomination ralativ~ to th~ oth~r denomlna~lons whlch the machine i5 capable of sorting. Such a dlsproportionate coin denomination ratio i8, ~or in~tance, common in coin~
.: : - ~
2,~
collected from commerclal vending machln~ ln the Un~ted states, which typically inolude a large number o~ quarter~ a~
compared ~o nickel~, dimes or psnnie~. When ~uah coin groups are processed by a sorter, the coin bag connected to tha coin axit chute corre~ponding to the "quarters" Blot geta filled much more rapidly than the other bag~, thereby requiring the bag to be replace~ ~uch more ~requently than the bag~ ~or th~
other coin denomination~. Consequantly, th~ sortlng proce~s has to be halted frequQntly and addQd op~rator att~ntion i~
reguired, particularly at high spe~d~.
Attempt~ have been made to approach this proble~ ~y provision o~ ~ean~ to de~lect a stre m o~ ooin3 ~rom a ~illsd coin bag into an empty one. Such arrangements have been disadvantage~us ae they ~rQ rel~tively co~plex meahanically, can frequently lead to coin spill-ov~r during the proces~ o~
deflection, and, more importantly, provide inadsquate continuity in adiusting th~ count data to account ~or thQ
switching of bags.
. .
:
'; . . : : ; , , 2~-~37 ~ ~
,, It is a primary ob~ect o~ this inventlon to provide mean~ for adapting the coin bag ~rrang~ent ~or A coin ' 5 sorting ma~hine to permit more ~f~lcient ~illlng and handling of coin bag~.
With rQg~rd to tha above ob~ect, it 1~ a rel~ted object of this invention to provida modular m~ana that can be conveniently incorporated inSo a sort~r machine, with minimal modification ther~to, the modular means being adapted to ~:
provide ~electively switchable exit channel3 ~or counted coins to be directed to desirQd coin bags.
A further ob~ect i8 to provide modular mean~ of the above type which i~ adapted to ~aintaining a continuity between count data b~fore ~nd a~ter coin channela have been switched.
Briefly, in accordance with thls inv~ntion, th~s~ and other objects are realized by providing coin sorting apparatus with means for raleasably supporting at leact two coin bags each for at lea~t ona selected coin denomlnation, mean~ for Qstablishing a channel b~tw~en the exit tube for the ~elected coin denomination and-a ~elected one o~ the releasably ~upported coin bags, maans ~or temporarlly 6uspending the sorting operation when the selectQd bag 1 full or when a predefined coin count has been reached9 means reapon6ive thereto for displacing th~ previou31y established coin channel and establi~hing a channel between the exit tube - - , .. : ' ' -- - : ~
. . . . . : : . ~ .
; . . . - ~; :
.: . : , .:; ., .
2013V;~19 r~
and a second selected coin bag, ~nd mean~ ~or re~u~lng the sorting OpQrati~n after the n~w ch~nnel ha~ be~n ~stablished.
According to ~ pr~rred ~bodiment o~ th~ lnv~ntlon, the a~tabliahment of channel~ betw~en a coin ex1t tub~ o~ a given denomination ~nd a ~ cted one o~ ampty bag~
corre~ponding to that tube i~ accompli~hed by me~ns o~ ~ coin switching module adapted to be conveniently connected to a coin ~orting machine with little modl~ication, i~ any, to the existing coin bag arrang~m~nt ~or th~ machine. The module includes a coin recQiving ~ction having a generally circular coin input ~lot which corresponds to thQ exit slot on the coin tube to which the module i~ to be linked. At least two generally circular coin exlt ~lot~ are provided on the module and correspond to coin slot~ provided on output chute~ to which coin bag~ may be att~ched by m~an~ o~ a conv~ntional clamping-ring arrangement. The chut~s are ~ttached to the external surface of the module in such a way that the coin ~lot~ on the chut~ and the coin exi~ slot~ on the module are substantially in al1gnment.
To divert ~orted coins exiting th~ coin exit tube 810t to the output chute ~orre~ponding to a select~d coin bag, an integrally formed channel member i~ displaceably a~ix~d to the coin input ~lot inside the switching modul~. ~he channel member includes a generally cylindrical ooin inlet ~ection having a coln inlet correspondlng in circular dim~n~ion to the coin input 810t of tho ~witch~ng module nnd a g~nerally cylindrical coin outlet ~ction having a coin outlat which corre~ponds in circular dimension to the coin exit slot~.
, . . . ~ - . :
. .. : .
,':'': ';., .-.~, ': ' : : , .;'' :' ~: ' 2~3719 PrQferably, the inlet and outlet sQctlons of the channol member are ~ub~tantially non-coaxial to each other ~nd are integrally llnkad by an angularly di~po~ed cyllndrlcal section so that the coin outlet may b~ po~ltioned over plurality of circumf~rentially dl~pl~c~d ¢oin ~xit slot~
whlle maintaining the coln lnlat rogi~tQr~d with the coin input ~lot.
At it~ coin inl~t end, th~ chnnn~ mber i8 plvotally mounted to th~ switch~ng ~odul~ cabinet in ~uch a way thht when the mamber ~s circularly di~pl~c~d about tho coin inlet, the coin outlet swing~ about an arc which run~ across the coin exit slot~. Pre~erably, the extremo limit~ o~ circular displacement of the channel member at ite inlat end cau~ the coin outlet o~ thQ membar to be align~ with re~pectivo on~
of the coin exit slot~. 8uch dl~placQm-nt i8 affected by mean~ of a lovar attnched to th~ chann~ b~r and pro~ecting outwardly o~ th~ owitching ~odule.
According to a preferr~d embodim~nt, limit ~wltGhes are provided about each of th~ coln exit ~lots nnd ~re positioned to be activated when the coin outl~t on the channel memb~r regi~ters with the corr~sponding coln exit 6~lot upon being activated by the displacem~nt l~ver. Electrical ~lgnal~ from the limit switches are link~d to the microprocossor typically used to control conventlon~l ~orting ma¢hinQEa. Tho~e signals are used, in con~unction with ~i~ilar algnal~ ~rom limit switche3 corresponding to th~ clamping-ring arr~ngo~ent for the attach~ent of co~n bags to corro~ponding chutes on th~
switching module, as a ba~i~ for ~oni~oring and counting the , . . : : . , :: - , ~ . .. .
7 ~a~7~
coins being ~ed to a s~lect~d coin bag onco th~ re~uir~d channel i8 eE~tab~ hed betweon the appropriate coln tubo and the coin bag by manipulating th~ ¢hannel memb~r Appropr~ately through the d~aplAcement lever.
B~IEF ~ÇRIPTION O~ ~NB D~
Other ob~ecto and advantage~ of th~ inventlon will become appar~nt upon reading the ~ollowlng detailed deGcription and upon reference to the drawing~ ln whloh:
FIG. 1 i~ a per~pective vi~w, in parti~l ~ut-out, o~ a switching module, adapted to b~ lncorpcr~ted into ¢oin sorting apparatus, according to a pre~err~d e~bodiment o~ the bag switching ~yBtam o~ this invention;
FIG. 2 i~ a front vi~w o~ th~ ~wl~ch~ng module Or FIG. 1 illustrating the rol~tlve d~po~ltlon o~ th6 ¢hannel member and the coin input and exit ~lots defined on the ~odul~;
F~G. 3 is a partial exploded viaw illu~tr~ting the arrangement ~or rotatably mountlng the channel member in~ide the switching modulQ of FIGS. 1 and 2 FIG. 4 is a partial ~xplod0d view illuatr~ting ~ections of the channel member in detail;
FIG. 5 is a block diaqram~atic illu3tration o~ a microprocessor-baaed control syatem wlth which ~he aw~tch ~ -~ignale ~rom the ewltching module o~ FIGS. 1-4 m~y b~
inter~aced for implementing thi~ invention;
2~ 3719 FIG. ~ is a sch~matic block diagram illu~tratlng the arrangement of limit switehe~ according to a preferred embodlment of thi~ inventions ~ .
FIG. 7 is a ~low char~ illu~trating thQ pra~rred seguence o~ operation~ lnvolvod in utlllzlng the ~witchlng mechanlsm o~ FIG. C in con~unctlon with tho ~witahlng module ot FIGS. 1-4, in ~ccordance with the sy~tem Or thl~
inventlon.
Whlle the inven~ion i6 6u~ceptlble to various modl~lcatlon~ and alternative ~orm~, sp~cific embodiments theraof have been shown by way o~ example in the drawlng3 and will be de~cribed in detail her~ln. It ~hould be understood, howevex, that it i3 not intended to limit the invention to the particular ~orm3 di~closed, but on th~ contrary, the intention i~ to cover all ~odi~oation~, guivalent~, ~nd alternative~ ~alling within th- 8pirit and ~cope of the invention a~ de~ined by the appended clalm~.
9 ~-137~ 9 DE~CRI P~LQN 0~ T~la PR15~ EMBODIMEN~
Referrlng now to FIGS. 1 and 2, they are shown, re~pectivaly, per~psctiv~ ~ront view8 og ~ ~wltchlng module adapted to be conveniently incorporated into coin ~orting apparatus, according to a pra~rr~d ~mbodiment o~ thl~
invention. A8 shown ~hQr~in, the ~witching ~odul~ lo i~
hou~ed within a ~ubstantlally trapezoidal cabinet 12 the upper sur~ace of which i8 provided with a c~ntrally dispo~ed coin 810t 14 ~or accepting coins that have been procee~sd by the coin sort~ng apparatu~ with whlch th~ lllu~trative bag switching system i~ to be usad. More speci~ically, the coin ~lot 14 correspond~ sub~tantially in diameter to the coin output 810t 15 provlded on the coin exit tube 16 of conventional coin sorting apparatu~ ~or ~ca~pting and directing processed coin~ o~ a p~rticular denomlnatlon to corre~ponding coin bag~.
The structural detAil~ o~ the coin exit tube and the manner in which it is linked to the sorting channel, ae well 2~ as the structural and operational detail~ of the coin.sorting arrangement itselr are not o~ i~portance to the operation of the pre~ent invention and, accordingly, will not be di~cussed ::
herein. The present lnvention may b~ advantageously incorporated into any o~ a variety of co~mercially available coin sorting apparatus, ae long a~ th~ coin bag arrangement provided with the apparatu~ include~ su~ficient room to house the support cabinet which define3 the switching ~odule. The attention of the reader i8 directed to the abov~-mentioned ,. . - , , . . - . , .... . .. ~ .
., ~ : - . . . . :........ , - . . , - . .:
. ,.: ~ . : - ::
,.. : . ,.. , .. : : :,. . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . .
: ~ . -- . , - ~ . .... : : . . -; ~ . : i : . :, .: . : . .
', ~, '- :~-; '' ' . ' ' 7 ~ ~
~ t) JetSor~ seri~s o~ coin ~orter~ marketed by Cummin~-Allison corp. the cons~ruction of which 1~ particularly ~uited ~or use wlth the switching syotem de~oribed herein. ~or purpo~es of this application, it su~ice~ to ~tate that the coln input slot 14 is dispo~ed in such a way a~ to be capable Or alignment with the coin slot 15 o~ the coin ~xlt tube 16 corrQspondinq to th~ select~d coin denomlnation wlth which the presQnt bag ~witching sy~te~ i~ to b~ used.
Returning now to FIGS. 1-2, the cabinet 12 o~ tha 6witching module 10 is provided on i ~ bottom ~urface with at least two spaced apart coin exit slot~ 17 ~nd 18 through which ~electively ch~nneled coin~ may b~ direated to corre6ponding coin bags A and B, rospectively, which are each relea~ably attachad to the ~lot~ through a conv~ntlonal clamping-ring arrangement, a~ will be di wu~d b~low in detail. T~e ~xit 810t8 17, 18 and the corre~ponding clamping-ring arrangement connectlng a coin bag to each exit slot provide, in combination, dual storage means which may be used to speed up the proce~9 Or storing counted coin~ and replacing ~illsd bags with e~pty one~. For a ~elacted coin denomination, this Xunction i~ acco.mpli~hed ~y ~el~ctively establishing a channel betwe~n th~ coin exit nlot ~or that coin denomination ~nd a s~l~cted onQ o~ the raleasably ~upported coin bags.
In order to divert soxted coins ex1ting the coin ex~t slot 15 to a ~elected coin bag, the switching ~odule 10 i~
provided with an integrally form~d channel member 20 which is displaceably af~ixed to ths coin input slot 15 on the .. ~ .
- . . . .. :: ,. ~
.. ;. . . ....
: : ~ . ,. - . ~
... ..
I 1 2~ ~719 switching module. Tho ch~nnel member 20 lnclude~ a generally cylindrical coin inlet s~ction 22 correspGnding ln circular dimension to the coin input ~lot 14 o~ the ~witching module, and a generally cylindrical coin outlet ~ection 24 whlch corre~ponds ln circular d~men~ion to the coin exit 810t~ on the switching module. ~h~ inlet ~ection ~2 lnclude~ a circular opening 23 corre~ponding ln di~met~r to the coin input slot 14 and the ~xit 810t 15 on the tu~e 16.
Similarly, the outlet section 24 i8 provided with an open~ng 25 which corresponds in diameter to the coin exit ~lot~ 17 and 18.
In order to maX~ th~ channel me~ber 20 capable o~
establlshing a channel b~tween the coin input elot 14 a~d each of th~ coin exit slots 17 and 18, th~ ~nlet ~ection 22 and outlet ~ectlon 24 are d~igned to b~ ~ub~tantially non- :
coaxial with each other. Th~so s-ctlon~ are llnked togetber by means of an angularly dispo~ed, sub~tantlally cylindrical :~
Bection 26 having a circular dimen3ion corresponding to that of the two sections. The angular section 26 i~ connected, ~ :
through an elbow-like connection, on one o~ it3 ends to the :
inlet section 22 in ~uch a way that th~ axe3 of th~ ~oined 6ection~ are disposed at a predetermined angle relatlve to each other. The other end of the angular seation 26 in similarly connected to the outlet section 24 with the axes of the sections being dispo~ed at the ~ame ~elected angle to each other.
The angular disposition of tho cylindrical ~ection 26 relative to the inlet section 22 and the outlet section 24, .. . . . . .. ... .
.. . , .- , .: , :
.. , . - . . -: . . .,, . , - - - ~:
- . , - . : . : :
1? 2013719 as best illustrated in FIG. ~ elect~d to be euch that th~ s~ctlon can b~ plac~d lnto rR~1stration with e~ch o~ ths coin exit 810t8 17, 18 by pivoting ths channQl memb~r 20 sufficiently about the axis of the coln inl~t ~ection 22.
When the coin inlet ~ection 22 i~ coaxially aligned with the coin exlt tube 16, any circular di~placament o~ the inlet about it~ axi~ cau~es the outlQt ~ection 2~ to travers~ an arcuate path about the bottom ~urface of the switching module cabinet. Accordingly, the output ~lot 25 on the outl~t 10 section 24 can be made to regi~ter with any of a plurality of coin ~lots disposed about ~uch an arcuate path by prov~ding an appropriate circular displacement to the channel member 20 while anchoring the inlet ~action 22 about its axi~. Thu~, ~he chann~l member is particularly adap~ed to the ~elsctive 15 establi~hment o~ channele betw~an the coin input ~lot and one of a plurality o~ coin output slots, each l~nked to a corre~ponding coin bag ~or ~toring counted coins o~ the ~elected denomination.
In order to e~fectuat3 the circular dieplacement o~ the 20 channel me~ber required to establish sslec~ed coin channel~, the switching module is provided with a collar/bracket arrangement which i5 bQst illu~trated ln FIGS. 3-4 and includes the provi~ion o~ a circular collar section 28 dispo~ed about the coin inlet on the outer sur~aae Or the 25 coin inlet section 22.
The collar 28 is adapted to fit in A rotatable manner within a generally U-shaped support bracket 30. Th~ bracket 30 includes an integrally formed, substantially circular : ., . .. .,. . : . .. , , :. - .... . .. . ., .. .. . ~ :. . :.
i, . , . : . . . - ,:- . : ; .
:. : , . ..
. ~ - , ,. - ~ : :: : : , :: ~ , . - : .
~V~3719 l3 platform 32 adapted to accopt and ~upport the collar ~ction 28 of the channel member 20 in an ~xially ~ixQd m~nner relatlve to the coin inlet ~ectlon 22. The plat~orm 32 i8 definad by a clrcularly extending wall 34 and a cooperatlng circularly extending ledge 36 having circum~erential dimension~ corre~ponding to that of the collar a8. The platform 32 opens outwardly of the U-shaped support bracket -30 through a throat section 33 and, accordingly, the channel member 20 can b~ slld into po~ition through the throat Or thQ
support bracket 30 80 that the circular bottom ~urrace o~ the collar 28 on the coin inlet ~ection iB ~eated upon the ;~
circular ledge 36 in abutment with th~ ad~oining circular ~ :
wall 34. In this position, ~he collar 28 is held ~ecurely by ::
the platform 32.
The circumferential dimen3ion o~ the ledge 36 i~
selected to be slightly largQr than th~ outer circumference of the collar 28 and, accordingly, the collar 28, and hence the coin inlet sectiGn to which it iB attached, remain~
rotatably anchored within the support bracket 30.
For realizing the circular displacement of the coll~r :
z8, a radially projecting lever 48 i8 di~posed about the coin inlet section 22 and include~ a substantially triangular section 52 tapering inwardly from around the outer sur~ace o~ . -the inlet ~ection 22 to an elongated ~egment 54 havlng a downwardly pro~ecting handle 56 disposed at lt~ end. The lever 48 is linked to the inlet ~ection 22 in such a manner that it pro~ects outwardly through the front o~ the switching module 10 from a longitudinally extending slot 50 defined in .
.. : - : ~ : .. . . : : , .,: . - ; . ~
14 ~1371~ .
the upper section of the front surface o~ the cabinet 12 (See FIG. 2).
The bracket 30 i8 a~fixed to the inn~r ~ide o~ the top surface of the cabinet 12 (where the coin input olot 14 i8 defined) by means of an appropriate screw arrangement or the like (not shown). When the collar 28 of the channel member 20 is disposed within the circular plat~orm 32 with the lever 48 projecting outwardly of the cabinet 12 through the longitudinal slot 50, any lateral displacement o~ the l~vsr 48 produces a corre~ponding circular displacement o~ the sollar 28. The arrangement allows an operator to manually displace the lever 48 through lateral di~tances ~uf~icient ts generate the rotational displacement o~ the channel member 20 required to align the output section 24 with a ~elected coin output 810t ( 17 or 18 in FIGS. 1-2). Thu~, ~elective establishment of coin channals between the output slot 15 of the coin tube 16 of a particular coin denomination and a selected one of a pluxality of coi~ bags (A or ~) i8 conveniently realized.
In order to ensure optimum registration of the coin outlets on the channel member with corresponding coin exit 810ts and to provide a positive mechanical feedback indicative of such alignment, the circularly extending side wall 34 in the support bracket 30 i5 provided with at least one cylindrical cavity 38 extending transversely through the bracket to the outside (See FIG. 4). The cavity is adapted to hold a steel ball 40, which is biased inwardly through a spring 42 by a set screw 44. When the c~annel member is .. ~ -. . . . . . . - . , :: . : . . : .. . . . - ~ : : .
: . -. : . .. ... ... . ..
.. - ~. . . . . .
.: , .. ... : , : . . . ,, ~r~ L3719 suspended from the bracket 30 with the collar 28 resting within the support platform 32, the ~et screw 44 i~ ad~usted to bias the ~pring 42 against the ball 40, ~hereby pro~scting the ball through the inner opening of the cavity 38 into frictional contact with the ~urface of the collar 28.
A plurality of grooves 46 are defined on the circumference of the collar 28 and are adapted to support the ~teel ball 40 therein when the collar 28 i~ rotatably displaced to a point where a groove 46 i~ pocitioned immediately across the cylindrical cavity 38. In the preferred embodiment, a second cylindr~cal cavity (not shown3 is provided on the support bracket 30 in a diametrically opposite position to that of cavity 38. An identical spring biased, set screw activated steel ball (not shown) is disposed within that cylindrical cavity.
The relative positions o~ tha groove~ 46 provided on the collar 28 are selected to be such that at least one groove registers with one of ~che cylindrical cavities, and the ~teel ball carried therein, when the channel msmber ie displaced to a position that places the coin outlet section 24 in alignment with either of the coin output ~lot~ 17 sr 18. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3, for instance, two pairs of grooves 46 are provided on the collar 28. One pair of diametrically opposed grooves 46A are so positioned as to become aligned with respective ones o~ the diametrically opposed cylindrical cavities 38 when the channel member is displaced to establish a coin channel between the coin input slot 14 and the coin output slot 17 for bag A. The other - . . .- . - , . .
: :: -: . : . :.. .- -. . . ~
, . , :: . . . , :: : .
2 ~ 1 9 l h diametrically oppo~ite pair of groove~ 46B on the collar 28 are arranged to be aligned with the respective cav~ties 38 when a channel iB establlshad betwaen ~he coin input slot 14 and the coin output slot 18 for bag B.
The above-descrlbed arrangement i6 a~vantageous in that audlble as well as tactile feed~ack ie provided each time a pair of grooves becomes aligned with thQ corrQsponding cylindrical cavities, and the ~teel ball~ di~posed therein are clicked into pos$tion within the corre~ponding gxooves under tha urging of the springs. Thu~, an operator can rely on ~uch ~eedback for ensuring, in a guick and aimple manner/
optimum align~ent of the outlet section of the channel member with the output 610t corre~pondin~ to a selected coin bag~
It should be notsd that more than two palrs of grooves, as well as more than two cylindrical ball-loaded cavities, may be provided on the collar 28 in order to extend the positive feedback arrangement described above, if more than two coin output slots are provided along th~ arcuate path traversed by the outlet section of tha channel member as it is rotated about it~ inlet ~ection.
For releasably supporting the coin bags A and B to the corrasponding coin output slots 17 and 18, respectively, identical clamping-ring arrangements 58 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, each arrangement 58 includes a ~upport bracket 60 through which a coin output chute 62 is fixed externally to the bottom surface of the switching module cabinet 12 in such a way that the input opening 63 of the chut~ is aligned with the corresponding coin output slot 17.
: . . . :- .- . . . . .
. , ,: ::, . - ; , . :~
.: ~ , ~ -. -. : . .
, . , ~ . , , , ~ . ., 2~7:~9 l7 The chute 62 is subst~ntlally cylindrical at it~ input ~ection 62A where it is ~upported by the bracket 60 and lncludes a lower portion 62B which ~aper~ outw~rdly.
A clamping ring 64 having a diameter which i ~llghtly larger than th~ diameter o~ the cylindrical ~ection 62A o~
the chute 62 ~ 8 slidably di~posed on the chute. Accordingly, a coin bag can be releasably fastened to the chute 62 by po~itioning the bag over the chute ~nd ~liding the clamping ring down until it fits tightly over th~ outwardly tapered s2ction of the chut~ 62. Relea~ing the co~n bag merely reguires the cla~pl~g ring to be pushed up and away ~rom the taperin~ section into th~ cylindrical ~ection o~ the chute 62. The clamping-ring i~ preferably made o~ steel and a plurality of magnat 65 are dispo~ed on the underside of ~upport bracke~ 60. Aa th~ ring i~ slld onto he cylindrical ~ction 6~A, it i6 pulled upwardly ~nd become~ attached to the magnets. As a result, the releasing operation i~
racilitated and the ring is ~ecurely retained during the time needed to replace the coin bag.
According to a feature of this invention, ~witching means are provided within the switching module 10 for monitoring the arcuate di3placement o~ the channel member 20 and providing an indication as to whether or not the coin outlet section of the channel member i~ regi~ter~d with the desired coin output slots. A~ 6hown in FIG. 2, li~it switches 66, 68 are disposed about the coin output slot~ 17 and 18, respectively, and ar~ each adapted to be activated on contact with the coin outlet section of the channel member - ~ , , ~ .:
. : . :., , , . , . : , .:: . . ., : : :.- . . ......... . . .
' ' . , : :~'. ' t, ' , ., ':, , ' ' ' '.,`, ' ............... ' .' '. - : ' " ., ' , . : , .,, ~ ., l R
when the section is aligned with ~he corre~ponding coin outlet ~lot. ~he switche~ are pr~ferably of the ~'nor~ally-closed~ type and become "open" when the outer periphary o~
the coin outlet abut~ contact member~ 67 provided on ~he switches, The relative po~ltioning o~ each switch about the corresponding coin outlet slot ~s ~uch that thQ contact members 67 comQ into abutment wlth the ~witching msmber only when there i8 exact alignmsnt between the outlet s~ction o~
the channel member and the coin output 810t with which the switch iB a~BoCiated .
The clamping-ring arrangement3 58 aro al80 provided with a similar switching By8tem ~or aach coin bag. For instance, limit switches 70 and 72, also o~ the ~normally-closed" type, are disposed underneath the bracket 60 corresponding to each of the coin output ~lota 17 and 18, re~pactively. The limit switch 70 i~ adapted to ba activatad when the corr~sponding clamp-ring 64 i~ ~lid into contact with the magnQt~ provided on the support bracket 60; this normally occurs when a previously clamped full coin bag i8 released or when an empty coin bag i~ load~d onto the coin exit chute. A similar mechani6m i8 provided for coin bag B. Th~ limit 8W~ tche~ 70, 72 may be replaced with magnetic reed switches which are activated when the clamping-ring~ 64 af ~ect the magnetic ~ield generated by the magnets 65.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there iB shown an upper level block diagram o~ an illustrative microproce~sor-based control system for controlling the operation of a coin sorter apparatus particularly 6uited to incorporating therein the . ~ ~ ~ , . ,: ; .
.. ;,, .. -, - . . . .
. ~ , . .. .
. : . . ; i :
. ~. . - ~............ .
~.; ~ - . . .
.- . . . .
7 ~ 9 bag swi~ching ~ystem of thl~ ~nvention. The control ~y~tem 80 include~ a central proce~or unit ~CPU) board ~or houslng at least one CPU for monitoring and regulating the variou~
parameters involved in the coin ~orting/counting operation.
The CPU accepts signal~ ~rom variou~ interlock ~witches corrsspondlng to the coin bags a~sociated with the differQnt coin denominations which the coin sorter apparatu~ i8 capable of recognizing. These switches typically provide an indication of the position o~ the clampin~-ring or like mechani~m which is used to ~ecure coln bag~ to corr~sponding coin exit chutes and provid~ a signal to the CPU indicating whether or not the a~60ciatQd coin bag i~ in a secured or relea ed ~tate. The CPU i3 programmed to halt tha coin~
sorting operation wh~n the ~ignal ~rom any o~ the interlock switch~s indicates that the corre~ponding bag i~ in a released po~it~on in order to ~void coin ~pillago.
The CPU is linked to an input/output (I/0) unit 84 and a serial interface unit 86 through a data bus 88, an addres~
bu~ 90, and a control bu~ 92. The I/0 unit 84, the CPU 82, and the serial interface unit 86 are all supplied with power through power line 94 ~ed by a power supply unit 96. ~he power supply unit 96 al~o ssrveq, through appropriate transformer means 98, as the source of power for a mother board 99 which houses additional con~rol compon~nts nece~sary for regulating the operation o~ the coin sorter ~pparatus.
Such component~ may, for example, include relays lO0, 102, respectively, for controlling the operation of the motor 104 ~or imparting rotary motion to the sorting channel, and the -2 ~ 7 ~ '3 2() associated fan 106 for regulating the internal temperature of the machine.
The mother boar~ 1~ also linked to th~ solenoids 107 used ~or various machine operations and a circuit breaker 108 for providing surge protection. The I/0 unlt provide~ the interface between the CPU 82 and the external world and may be linked to a ramote di~play unit 110. The I/0 unit iB
usually linked to a di~play unit 112 ~or provlding a visual ~ndication o~ variou~ machine parameter~, an as~ociated lo keyboard 114 for acc~pting u~er command~, and a speaker unit 116 for providing audible alarms. The I/0 unit 84 i~ al80 linked to the plurality of coin sensors 117 associated with the sensing mschanisms for each o~ the coin denominat~on~
recognized by the ~orting apparatus. These sen~ors typically correspond to ~ensing mechanism~ for dimes (D), penni~s (P), nickels (N), quarters (Q), half-dollars (H), and dollars ($~.
~he interlock ~witch signal~ Ped to the CPU typically also include signals from bag switches corrs~ponding to coin bag~ for pennies (P), nickele ~N), dlmes (D), quartQrs (Q), half-dollars (H), dollar~ (~). During operation, the CPU i8 programmed in ~uch a way that the sorting/counting process is activated only when all the interlock Qwitch signals indicate that the corresponding clamping-rings are in the "secured"
position. Sorting and counting are initiated concurrsntly and each sorted coin is directed to the coin exit chute ~or the corresponding denomination, where it is sensed and counted. The CPU is also programmed to display the individual cou~t for each coin denomination and possibly for : . . ~ .; - , -, . , . - . ~ . :
. . . .
.
2. 2~7~
providing count totals ~or a batch of coins, ~or aoin ~ub-batches, date-wise coin total~, etc.
The bag swltching ~ystem, according to the present invention, can conveniently be lncorporat~d into a CPU-ba~ed control ~y tem of the above type. Thi3 i9 accomplished by connecting the output signals from the limit switche~ -provided within the swi~ching modu~e 10 for the s~lected coln denomination and also providing aignals from the corresponding clamping-ring limit switchee to the C~U. The CPU 82 can then use the~e signal~ to regulate the sorting/counting operation in accordance with the ~elective establishment of coin channel~ to direct counted coins to desired ones of the plurality of coin bag~ a~sociated with the switching module.
FIG. 6 illustrate~ ~ ~ehematle representation o~ how the lim1t switche~ in the prererred two-bag ombodiment Or the switching module (described abovo with respect to FIGS. 1-4) are affected by the po~ition o~ the ehannel member lever 48.
AB shown in FIG. 6 the limit ~witchee corresponding to coln bag A, i.e., limit ~witeh 66 for eoin output slot 17 and the limit switeh 70 for the clamping-ring for bag A are shown as corresponding to position A of the lever. The limit ~witches eorresponding to bag B, i.e., the limit ~witch 68 for the coin output ~lot 18 and the limit switch 72 for the clamping- ~:` .~.
ring of bag B are repra3ented a~ corr~ponding to po~ition B
of the lever.
The output signal from each of the four limit ~witehas 66, 68, 70 and 72 is eonnected to the CPU board 82 aecording ''.:
: ::. ~ . ~ . - . . . . . . ................................... ..
: ~ : . . : :, , - -: . . .: . .
22 2~1371~
to the illustr~tiva arrangement ~hown in FI~. ~. S~nce the switches are of the ~normally-clos~d~ typ~, limit switch 66 i5 activatsd or ope~ed wh~n the channel memb~r lever 1~ at its first extrems po~ition, i.~., po~ition A. When the lever iS switched to its other ex~re~e position, i.e., position B, the limit swltch 68 i~ activatQd or opened. ~mit ~witche~ -70 and 72 re~ain closed when the clamping-ring is ln it~
secured position and are opened when th~ ring i~ moved up into the relea~e position. The ~ignals gznerated by the lo limit switches of FIG. 6 are processed by the CPU board and used as a basis ~or regulating the counting operatlon, particularly the display of count data, on the basi~ of preprogrammed in6truction6.
According to a prePerred arrangemen~, thQ coin count for bag A i8 displayed when the channel mQm~sr lever 48 1~ ~ound to be in position A, i.e., limit ~witch 66 ror bag A i~ ~ound to be open and limlt ~witch 68 ~or bag B i8 found to be closed. If the lever i~ found to be at po~ition B, i.e., if limit switch 68 for bag B i6 round to be open and llmit switch 66 for bag A i8 found to b~ clo~ed, the coin count ~or bag B i5 displayed. However, i~ the lever i8 not found to be at either position A or B, i.e., both the limit 6witches 66 and 68 are found to be closed, the sum o~ the coln count5 ~or ~ -bag A and bag B i8 displayQd. Of cour~e, the C~U is programmed to halt the ~orting apparatus i~ the limit ~wltch corresponding to a selected coin bag i5 found to be open.
Referring now to FIG. 7, ~here i8 shown a flow chart 120 illustrating the seguence of operation~ involved in utilizing . . ~ .
. , . , ~ . , . . - . .: :
~ ~ - ~ - : : ; .
2~ ~31371~
the bag ~witching system o~ this inv~n~ion ~n conjunction with sorting apparatu~ Or the type controlled by the microproces~or-ba6ed sy~tem dl~cussed above with r~spact to FIG. 5. The sequsnce of operation8 i~ initiated at 3tep 122 when the operator ~Qlects a part~ular bag, ~ay bag A, ~or thQ 6torage of counted coins o~ th~ particular denomination for which the bag switching mech~nis~ i8 being u~d. In effect, the machine operator mov~s the channel me~ber lever to the position corresponding to the desired coin bag, i.e., po6ition A. At th~ next 6tep, i.~., ~tep 124, the operator use~ t~e keyboard as~ociated with the di~play unit (~ee FIG.
5) to set the coin coun~ limit rOr the selected bag.
Sub3equently, at step 126, the oporator initiate~ the counting o~ aoin~, again through the keyboard.
The machine continue~ ~ortiny and counting coins and keeps track Or every coin exiting th~ ~orting chann~l which has been identified immediately thereafter as being a coin of the selected denomination. When the predefined count limit has been reached (ctep 128) ~ha CPU causes the machine to su6pend its operation, and stores the coin count gener~ted up to that point. It should be noted that ~uspension Or eorting stops further in-feeding o~ coins into the sorting channel.
However, there are, almost always, at least a few coin~ which are already inside the sorting channel at the time the ~ignal to suspend ~orting is generated. Conventionally, ~uch coins proceed through the sorting operation and are directed to the corre~ponding coin bag. Accordingly, each time the sorting operation is ~uspended, there i5 a distinct po~sibility that .. , - - . . , : : .:
.. , . . . ~ : .. ,. ~ . . .. . . . . . . .
- . . -. - . .: . . . , .
,. ~.:: : ' ~ ~ ' ,; - ; :
2~L371~
the coin bag ror whlch tho count limit has b~en r~achs~ m~y contain mor~ coln~ th~n th~ op~rator-d~fin~d ll~lt.
According to a re~tur~ oP thi3 lnv~ntion, the counting operation is controlled by t~ CPU in uch ~ way that any colns t~t arQ proc~ed by the ~orting ch~n~ r ~hQ
signal to su~pend ~orting op~ratlon 1~ gon~rate~ ~r~ counted and addad to the total ~or the corr~ponding coln bag.
~owever, tho CPU i~ program~Qd ~o di~ y th- xaat numbar of coin~ th~ have axceeded tho pr~d~in~d count llmit, th~reby providing the op-rator with ~n lndicatlon o~ how m~ny coln~
ne~d to bo oxtracted ~ro~ ~h- filled bag in ord-r to achlev~
the exact prQde~insd count.
R~turning now to th~ ~low ¢h~rt o~ FIG. 7, at ~t~p 130, the operator ~21ect~ th~ other b~g, i.e., b~g B, ~or ~toraga o~ coin~ by approprlatoly ~hl~lng th~ po~itlon Or th~
channel memb~r lov~r. At ~top 132, th~ o~o~ator ~oa~tiv~t~
the sorting/counting oper~tion and th~ ~toraga o~ coin~ i~
directed to coin bag ~.
Subssquently, after ~tep 134, tha oporator proce~d~ wlth removing th~ ~illQd coin bag A and r~placing it with an empty one. The op~rator al~Q ha~ an opportunlty to r~mov~ the exce~ number Or coin~, a~ lndicated by the count di~play ~or bag A, ~rom bag A and ~ransrQrrlng th~ OXCQ~O coin~ lnto bag B. This maintainB the in~agrity of coin oount in both the -bag~ ~ince the count for bag B hag, at thi~ point, alr~ady been credited with the exoe~e number o~ coln~. Th~ nbove-described sequenç0 o~ operatlons i8 relterated e~¢h tlme a coin bag i5 found to be full.
,,. .~. . ~ ......... . : - . -, :
- , . . ., . - : :;
. . , . . - ,,: . - .- . ;, , . : . , ~, .. . . : .
. ;-- : . . . . ... ~ . .. :: : .
It will b~ app~r~nt ~rom tho ~oregolnq that tha pre~ent invention provid~s a ~l~pl~ bag ~witchlng ~y~to~ which i4 easily incorporat~d into convontional coln ~ortlng apparatu~.
The ~witching ~odul~ provld~ an~ ~or ~iclontly snd s~lQctlvqly divortlng ¢oina ~rom ~ d coln ~g to an empty one whlle con~umlng vory littl4 tlmo and le~va~ the operator wlth ~ur~ioient tlme to r~plac- ~illod coin bag~.
It will, o~ courss, b~ obvlou~ that th~ rotatlonal dl~plAcement o~ th- ahann-l m-mbær ~or 6-l~ctlvo sstabliahment o~ coin channol~ may also ~ handl~d ~utomatlcally through dlroct ~l-ctrlcal moana or und~r tha control of tha microproces~or ~y~tem.
.. . . :. :... ... . .... -. . ... . . ..
- . . .
. . - . . . - .
.. , .: . . - . . .. .
: ... : -:: . . ::, : ~ .
- . - . . .
.: . - . - .
. . .
Claims (3)
1. In an apparatus for sorting and counting coins of different denominations, said apparatus including means for accepting coins of different denominations, means for processing the accepted coins through a sorting channel whereby coins of different denominations are directed to corresponding ones of different coin tubes leading to corresponding coin bags, and means for counting and displaying the number of coins of a particular denomination that have been directed to a corresponding coin bag, the improvement comprising:
coin extraction means including means for releasably supporting at least two coin bags each for at least one selected coin denomination, means for establishing a channel for the flow of coins between the coin tube for said selected coin denomination and a selected one of said coin bags, and means for displacing the previously established channel and establishing an alternate coin channel between said chute and a second selected coin bag.
coin extraction means including means for releasably supporting at least two coin bags each for at least one selected coin denomination, means for establishing a channel for the flow of coins between the coin tube for said selected coin denomination and a selected one of said coin bags, and means for displacing the previously established channel and establishing an alternate coin channel between said chute and a second selected coin bag.
2. The improved apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means for temporarily suspending the sorting of coins while retaining all count data prior to said suspension, said suspension means being responsive to a determination that the selected coin bag to which coins of a particular denomination are being directed is full or that a predetermined count limit has been reached for said bag.
3. The improved apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including means for resuming the suspended sorting operation and continuing with the counting of coins based on said retained count data, said resuming means being responsive to a determination that said channel displacing means has been activated to establish an alternate coin channel between said chute corresponding to said selected coin combination and a second selected coin bag.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US33445189A | 1989-04-06 | 1989-04-06 | |
| US334,451 | 1989-04-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2013719A1 true CA2013719A1 (en) | 1990-10-06 |
Family
ID=23307272
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2013719 Abandoned CA2013719A1 (en) | 1989-04-06 | 1990-04-03 | Bag switching system for coin sorting apparatus |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0391403A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH02293993A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU5295990A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2013719A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2298072B (en) * | 1995-02-15 | 1998-08-05 | Starpoint Electrics Ltd | Distribution apparatus |
| US6579165B2 (en) | 2001-02-28 | 2003-06-17 | Cummins-Allison Corp. | Coin bag support system |
| US8251198B2 (en) | 2004-07-22 | 2012-08-28 | Talaris Inc. | Self-service cash handling machine and method with configurable coin storage |
| AU2012201551B2 (en) * | 2004-07-22 | 2013-01-17 | Talaris Inc. | Self-service cash redemption machine and method |
| JP4978826B2 (en) * | 2005-11-02 | 2012-07-18 | レシップホールディングス株式会社 | Cash collection equipment |
| JPWO2008099478A1 (en) * | 2007-02-14 | 2010-05-27 | グローリー株式会社 | Coin temporary storage device and coin processor |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2123727A1 (en) * | 1971-05-13 | 1972-11-23 | Westermann, Werner F., Falls Church, Va. (V.St.A.) | Method and device for automatically separating and counting different coins |
| CH596616A5 (en) * | 1976-04-01 | 1978-03-15 | Systems & Technics Sa | |
| FR2397684A1 (en) * | 1977-07-13 | 1979-02-09 | Vandeputte Fils & Cie | Separation and counting of coins - is performed automatically by routing different value coins into different tracks in machine |
| US4383540A (en) * | 1981-05-04 | 1983-05-17 | Brandt, Inc. | Feeding mechanism for dual coin sorters operating in parallel |
| GB2137793B (en) * | 1983-02-08 | 1986-06-04 | Mars Inc | Coin handling apparatus |
| US4620559A (en) * | 1984-10-09 | 1986-11-04 | Childers Corporation | High-speed coin-sorting and counting apparatus |
-
1990
- 1990-04-03 CA CA 2013719 patent/CA2013719A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-04-05 EP EP19900106501 patent/EP0391403A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1990-04-05 AU AU52959/90A patent/AU5295990A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-04-06 JP JP2092001A patent/JPH02293993A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0391403A2 (en) | 1990-10-10 |
| AU5295990A (en) | 1990-10-11 |
| EP0391403A3 (en) | 1993-02-24 |
| JPH02293993A (en) | 1990-12-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |