DK201700676A1 - A mechanism and a method for detecting and detaining invalid coins and a coin processing apparatus comprising such a mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A mechanism for detecting invalid coins (8) from valid coins and detaining the invalid coins is disclosed, comprising a coin receiving unit (2), a coin sensor (5) and a coin separator, wherein the mechanism is arranged to pick coins (7) from the coin receiving unit and let them pass the coin sensor one by one, wherein the coin sensor is arranged to determine for each passing coin, whether the coin is an invalid coin or a valid coin belonging to a currency system, with which the coin processing apparatus is arranged to be used, and wherein the coin separator is arranged to separate the invalid coins from the valid coins, so that the coins determined to be invalid are returned to the coin receivingunit, whereas the coins determined to be valid can proceed for further processing. Furthermore, coin processing apparatus comprising such a mechanism and a method for performing such a detecting and detaining operation are disclosed.

Description

A MECHANISM AND A METHOD FOR DETECTING AND DETAINING INVALID COINS AND A COIN PROCESSING APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a mechanism and a method for detecting and detaining invalid coins and to a coin processing apparatus, such as a self-service deposit machine or another automatic coin counter, comprising such a mechanism.

Background of the invention

In most known coin processing apparatuses coins are fed into a coin receiving unit or coin bowl and transferred by a conveyer or rotary disk to a coin sensor, which determines the denomination of the individual coins and counts them, after which they can be sorted according to type or value. The coin sensor also determines whether the coins are valid and rejects coins, which may be counterfeit or belong to a different currency.

In some legal jurisdictions, it is a statutory requirement that counterfeit coins are not only physically separated from the valid coins but also are detained by the bank to prevent any counterfeit coins from being returned to customers. Coin processing apparatus known in the art are typically not able to detain the coins determined to be invalid.

Brief description of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism, which overcomes the above-mentioned problems related to coin processing apparatus known within the art.

The present invention relates to a mechanism for detecting invalid coins and detaining invalid coins in a coin processing apparatus, which mechanism comprises a coin receiving unit, a coin sensor and a coin separator, wherein the mechanism is arranged to pick coins from the coin receiving unit and let them pass the coin sensor one by one, wherein the coin sensor is arranged to determine for each passing coin, whether the coin is an invalid coin or a valid coin belonging to a currency system, with which the coin processing apparatus is arranged to be used, and, potentially, also to determine the denomination of the coin if it is determined to be valid, and wherein the coin separator is arranged to separate coins, which have been determined to be invalid, from the coins, which have been determined to be valid, so that the coins determined to be invalid are returned to the coin receiving unit, whereas the coins determined to be valid can proceed for further processing.

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Being configured like this, the mechanism ensures that invalid coins are separated from the valid coins and that only valid coins proceed for further processing.

In an embodiment of the invention, the invalid coins are returned to the coin receiving unit via a chute leading from the coin separator down into the coin receiving unit.

The use of a chute is a simple and reliable way of ensuring that invalid coins end up in the coin receiving unit again.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mechanism is arranged to stop the processing operation when it is determined either that the coin receiving unit contains no more coins or that only rejected coins are left within the coin receiving unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, the coin processing will stop when no coins have passed the coin sensor for a predetermined length of time.

The fact that no coins have passed the coin sensor for a certain amount of time is a reliable indicator that the coin receiving unit contains no more coins.

In an embodiment of the invention, the coin processing will stop when only invalid coins have passed the coin sensor a predetermined number of times.

The fact that only invalid coins pass the coin sensor is a reliable indicator that no valid coins are left within the coin receiving unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, the coin receiving unit comprises a sensor for determining the number of coins within the coin receiving unit. The coin processing will stop if either the number of coins within the coin receiving unit has stopped decreasing for a certain predefined length of time or the coin receiving unit is determined not to contain any more coins.

If the number of coins within the coin receiving unit has stopped decreasing or the coin receiving unit is determined not to contain any more coins, it is another reliable indicator that no valid coins are left within the coin receiving unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, a mechanism is arranged to empty the coin receiving unit and detain any coins determined to be invalid when the coin processing has stopped.

DK 2017 00676 A1

An automatic emptying of the coin receiving unit after the end of the coin processing has at least two functions:

Primarily, any invalid coins are removed from the coin receiving unit and detained, and the coin processing apparatus is ready to receive a new amount of coins for the next coin processing operation.

Secondarily, the coin receiving unit is cleaned as all contents within the receiving unit will be removed by the emptying process.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mechanism further comprises means for moving or opening the coin receiving unit from its operational condition, i.e. the condition of the coin receiving unit during the coin processing operation, in such a way that any contents of the coin receiving unit is emptied from the coin receiving unit into another container, typically arranged below the coin receiving unit, and for returning the coin receiving unit back to its operational condition again.

Moving the coin receiving unit away from the remaining parts of the mechanism or opening the coin receiving unit, for instance at the bottom thereof, is a simple way of emptying the coin receiving unit, because all contents thereof will simply fall downwards out of the coin receiving unit, for instance into another container placed there below.

In an aspect of the invention, it relates to a coin processing apparatus, such as a selfservice deposit machine or another automatic coin counter, comprising a mechanism as described above.

In an aspect of the invention, it relates to a method for detecting invalid coins from valid coins and detaining the invalid coins in a coin processing apparatus, which method comprises the following steps:

- picking coins from a coin receiving unit

- letting the coins pass a coin sensor one by one

- determining for each passing coin, whether the coin is an invalid coin or a valid coin belonging to a currency system, with which the coin processing apparatus is arranged to be used

DK 2017 00676 A1

- separating the coins, which have been determined to be invalid, from the coins, which have been determined to be valid

- returning the coins, which have been determined to be invalid to the coin receiving unit

In an embodiment of the invention, the four steps are repeated until it is determined either that the coin receiving unit contains no more coins or that only coins determined to be invalid are left within the coin receiving unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step of emptying the coin receiving unit of any content therein after the determination of either that the coin receiving unit contains no more coins or that only coins determined to be invalid are left within the coin receiving unit.

Drawings

In the following, a few exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in further detail with reference to the drawings, of which

Fig. 1 is a perspective drawing of a coin processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, which is in processing operation, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective drawing of the same coin processing apparatus in cleaning/emptying mode.

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Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 is a perspective drawing of a coin processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, which is in coin processing operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, a coin receiving unit 2, a rotatable disc 3 and a coin track 4 with a coin sensor 5 are arranged on the inclining front side of the coin counter 1.

The coin disc 3 is arranged substantially parallel to the front side of the coin processing apparatus 1 in an inclined orientation, with its lowermost part inside the coin receiving unit 2 for lifting coins 7 from the coin receiving unit 2 onto an inclined coin track 4 by rotating the coin disc10. The inclination of the coin track 4 causes the coins 7 thereon to roll towards and pass the coin sensor 5, which determines for each passing coin 7, whether the coin is an invalid coin 8 or a valid coin belonging to a currency system, with which the coin counter 1 is arranged to be used. Preferably, the coin sensor 5 also determines the type and value of the valid coins, so that they can be counted and sorted.

The mechanism further comprises a coin separator (not shown), which is arranged to push any invalid coins 8 down a chute 6 and back into the coin receiving unit 2, whereas the valid coins are allowed to continue along the coin track 4 for further processing.

Thus, as valid coins pass the coin sensor 5 they will gradually leave the mechanism, whereas any invalid coins 8 keep returning to the coin receiving unit 2, from where they will keep being picked up and pass the coin sensor 5 until no coins or only invalid coins are left within the coin receiving unit 2 and the mechanism.

This mechanism also solved the problem that even valid coins 7 may be determined by the coin sensor 5 to be invalid if they pass the coin sensor 5 in an odd way causing the detected data of the passing coin 7 to fall outside the predetermined tolerance limits. In coin counters known in the art, such coins 7 would simply be discarded and would have to be manually entered into the coin counter again whereas, in the present mechanism, such coins 7 will be returned to the coin receiving unit 2 and are automatically picked up to pass the coin sensor 5 again. The risk that the same valid coin 7 will be determined by the coin sensor 5 to be invalid several times is negligible.

Fig. 1 further shows how the coin receiving unit 2 can be mounted on a guide 9 along which it can be moved away from the coin disc 3 and the other remaining parts of the mechanism either in a substantially horizontal direction or by being rotated slightly upwards.

DK 2017 00676 A1

Fig. 2 shows the same coin counter 2 in a condition, wherein the coin processing operation has ended, and only invalid coins 8 are left within the system. The coin receiving unit 2 has been moved away from the coin disc 3 by a motion 12 as described above, leaving a gap between the coin receiving unit 2 and the coin disc 3, through which the invalid coins 8 and any dirt or other items within the coin receiving unit 2 can fall into another container (not shown) arranged under the coin receiving unit 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the chute 6 is fastened to and follows the coin receiving unit 2 in its motion away from the remaining part of the mechanism. In other embodiments, however, the chute 6 may be fastened to the coin track 4 or other parts of the mechanism and stay in the same position when the coin receiving unit 2 is moved.

Fig. 2 further illustrates how the rotation 11 of the coin disc 3 can be used to ensure that any invalid coins 8 thereupon 3 are forced to fall off and down through the gap into the 15 container below the coin receiving unit 2.

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List of reference numbers

1. Coin processing apparatus

2. Coin receiving unit

3. Coin Disc

4. Coin track

5. Coin sensor

6. Chute for invalid coins

7. Coin

8. Invalid coin

9. Guide for coin receiving unit

10. Clockwise direction of rotation of rotor

11. Anticlockwise direction of rotation of rotor

12. Motion of coin receiving unit

Claims (12)

1. Claims

   1. A mechanism for detecting invalid coins (8) from valid coins and detaining invalid coins in a coin processing apparatus (1), which mechanism comprises a coin receiving unit (2), a coin sensor (5) and a coin separator, wherein the mechanism is arranged to pick coins (7) from the coin receiving unit and let them pass the coin sensor one by one, wherein the coin sensor is arranged to determine for each passing coin, whether the coin is an invalid coin or a valid coin belonging to a currency system, with which the coin processing apparatus is arranged to be used, and, potentially, also to determine the type and value of the coin if it is determined to be valid, and wherein the coin separator is arranged to separate the coins, which have been determined to be invalid, from the coins, which have been determined to be valid, so that the coins determined to be invalid are returned to the coin receiving unit, whereas the coins determined to be valid can proceed for further processing.
2. 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the coins determined to be invalid are returned to the coin receiving unit via a chute (6) leading from the coin separator down into the coin receiving unit.
3. 3. The mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mechanism is arranged to stop the coin processing operation when it has been determined either that the coin receiving unit contains no more coins or that only coins determined to be invalid are left within the coin receiving unit.
4. 4. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a criterion for stopping the rejecting operation of the mechanism is the fact that no coins have passed the coin sensor for a predetermined length of time.
5. 5. The mechanism according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a criterion for stopping the coin processing operation of the mechanism is a certain number of consecutive coins passing the coin sensor, such as for instance five consecutive coins, being determined to be invalid.
6. 6. The mechanism according to any of claims 3-5, wherein the coin receiving unit comprises a sensor for determining the number of coins within the coin receiving unit and

   DK 2017 00676 A1 a criterion for stopping the coin processing operation of the mechanism is the fact that either the number of coins within the coin receiving unit has stopped decreasing for a certain predefined length of time, for instance 10 seconds, or the coin receiving unit is determined not to contain any more coins.
7. 7. The mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanism is arranged to empty the coin receiving unit and detain the coins determined to be invalid when the coin processing operation has stopped.
8. 8. The mechanism according to claim 7, further comprising means (9) for moving (12) or opening the coin receiving unit from its operational condition, i.e. the condition of the coin receiving unit during the coin processing operation, in such a way that any contents of the coin receiving unit is emptied from the coin receiving unit into another container, typically arranged below the coin receiving unit, and for returning the coin receiving unit back to its operational condition again.
9. 9. A coin processing apparatus (1), such as an automatic coin counter, comprising a mechanism according to any of the preceding claims.
10. 10. A method for detecting invalid coins (8) from valid coins and detaining the invalid coins in a coin processing apparatus (1), which method comprises the following steps:

    - picking coins (7) from a coin receiving unit (2)

    - letting the coins pass a coin sensor (5) one by one

    - determining for each passing coin, whether the coin is an invalid coin or a valid coin belonging to a currency system, with which the coin processing apparatus is arranged to be used

    - separating the coins, which have been determined to be invalid, from the coins, which have been determined to be valid

    - returning the coins, which have been determined to be invalid to the coin receiving unit.
11. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the four steps are repeated until it is determined either that the coin receiving unit contains no more coins or that only coins determined to be invalid are left within the coin receiving unit.

    DK 2017 00676 A1
12. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of emptying the coin receiving unit of any content therein after the determination of either that the coin receiving unit contains no more coins or that only coins determined to be invalid are left within the coin receiving unit.