EP0052043A1 - Coin-ejecting retaining and accepting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A coin-ejecting retaining and accepting mechanism of the type comprising : - a slide (3) formed with two ceeks (5-6) and a descending runway (4) inclined by an acute angle (alpha) to the horizontal (H), the cheeks (5-6) of the slide (3) in turn being inclined by an acute angle (beta) to a vertical plane (V) so that the coins (2) retained in the slide (3) rest against one (5) of said cheeks, and - a means (9) for releasing the said coins (2) retained in the slide (3) and forming part of a services or products distributing machine also having means for controlling the releasing means (9), characterised in that a slot (8) is formed in the other cheek (6) of the slide (3) and the releasing means (9) is adapted to actuate, in response to said control means, a retractable stoss (10) which is extended in the inoperative position so as to retain the coins (2) contained in the slide and which is so disposed that by passing from the retracted position to the extended position it can eject the coins (2) through the slot (8) in order to accept them.

Description

The present invention relates to an accumulator-collector device for ejecting coins, forming part of a device for distributing products or services. It applies in particular to the accumulation and collection of coins in public telephones.

We know that such dispensing devices allow users to introduce different types of coins in variable numbers, at their convenience. The inserted coins are stored and then cashed at characteristic times and those which have not been used are returned.

• - un premier modèle comporte une glissière verticale dans laquelle des pièces de monnaie d'un même type sont introduites. La glissière a une largeur et une épaisseur légèrement supérieures à celles des pièces. Celles-ci sont alors empilées tangentiellement l'une sur l'autre. La pièce du bas est arrêtée par une butée faisant partie de l'équipage mobile d'un électro- aimant. Cet équipage mobile a la forme d'un étrier dont la partie supérieure constitue une butée pour la pièce située immédiatement au-dessus de la pièce inférieure. Quand l'électro-aimant est excité, la butée supérieure bloque la pile de pièces au-dessus de la première et la butée inférieure s'escamote en libérant la première pièce. On a donc un dispositif à échappement. Quand l'électro-aimant n'est plus sous tension, la butée inférieure ressort, la butée supérieure rentre et toute la pile de pièces descend d'un pas. Ce dispositif permet donc un encaissement pièce par pièce. Lorsqu'on veut encaisser plusieurs pièces, il faut commander l'électro-aimant autant de fois qu'il y a de pièces à encaisser ;
• - un deuxième modèle comporte une glissière dans laquelle des pièces de monnaie d'un même type sont introduites. Cette glissière est inclinée d'un angle de trente degrés environ sur l'horizontale. Les pièces sont empilées comme dans le cas précédent après avoir roulé au fond de la glissière. La première pièce est arrêtée par une butée transversale commandée par un électro-aimant et agissant sur la pièce aux deux tiers de son diamètre environ. Immédiatement après cette butée, un détecteur de passage des pièces constitué par une barrière photo-électrique permet de compter les pièces qui passent. Quand l'électro-aimant est excité, toute la colonne de pièces descend et défile devant le détecteur. Celui-ci, par l'intermédiaire d'une unité logique de traitement, donne un ordre de mise hors tension de l'électro-aimant quand le nombre de pièces requises a été compté. La butée de l'électro-aimant bloque alors de nouveau les pièces situées en amont.

Several models of such accumulator-collector devices are already known:

• - a first model comprises a vertical slide in which coins of the same type are introduced. The slide has a width and a thickness slightly greater than those of the parts. These are then stacked tangentially on top of each other. The lower part is stopped by a stop forming part of the moving assembly of an electromagnet. This movable assembly has the shape of a stirrup, the upper part of which constitutes a stop for the part situated immediately above the lower part. When the electromagnet is energized, the upper stop blocks the stack of parts above the first and the lower stop retracts, releasing the first part. We therefore have an exhaust system. When the electromagnet is no longer energized, the lower stop comes out, the upper stop comes back and the whole stack of parts goes down one step. This device therefore allows collection piece by piece. When you want to collect several coins, you have to order the electromagnet as many times that there are coins to collect;
• - a second model includes a slide into which coins of the same type are inserted. This slide is inclined at an angle of about thirty degrees to the horizontal. The pieces are stacked as in the previous case after having rolled at the bottom of the slide. The first part is stopped by a transverse stop controlled by an electromagnet and acting on the part at two thirds of its diameter approximately. Immediately after this stop, a parts passage detector constituted by a photoelectric barrier makes it possible to count the parts which pass. When the electromagnet is energized, the entire column of parts descends and scrolls past the detector. This, via a logic processing unit, gives an order to switch off the electromagnet when the number of parts required has been counted. The stop of the electromagnet then blocks the parts located upstream again.

In the two models described above, the electromagnet controlling the passage of the parts must have a certain power, in the first case because the mobile assembly is fairly heavy and the movement has a certain amplitude, in the second case, because the response time of the electromagnet must be very short to position the stop between two pieces of the descending battery. In addition, in the latter case, a rapid detector is required. The corresponding electrical power is relatively high compared to that necessary for the operation of the dispensing device. This poses a serious problem for the energy supply of public telephones for which connection to the public sector is not desired for reasons of economy and operational safety.

We can also cite a third model of coin accumulator-coin collector device which is the subject of French patent application n ° 77 05 288 and which consists of a slide with vertical cheeks, slightly inclined to the horizontal (20 at 30 degrees) and on which the pieces roll up to a transverse stop controlled by an electromagnet and which stops the first piece. Upstream of this stop are other electromagnets, in a number equal to the number of additional pieces to be stacked. The stops controlled by these electromagnets are normally cleared. A control device acts on these electromagnets according to a sequence and a choice corresponding to the number of parts to be returned then to be cashed, two electromagnets being operated at each operation, the evacuations of the parts always being carried out in burst and with a minimum energy consumption.

In the three models mentioned, the validation operations of the coins and the referral to the cash register allowing these coins to be cashed or to the bowl allowing them to be returned, are carried out by other bodies located respectively upstream and downstream of these models cited.

These models are therefore relatively complex and expensive since they have the drawback of requiring at least two electromagnets to carry out all of the restitution and collection operations (one of which is for the switching operation).

The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback.

• - une glissière formée de deux joues et d'un chemin de roulement descendant et incliné d'un angle aigu sur l'horizontale, les joues de la glissière étant elles-mêmes inclinées d'un angle aigu par rapport à un plan vertical, de telle façon que les pièces accumulées dans la glissière reposent contre l'une de ces joues, et
• - un organe de déstockage desdites pièces accumulées dans la glissière

et font partie d'un appareil distributeur de produits ou de services comprenant également des moyens de commande de l'organe de déstockage,
caractérisé en ce qu'une fenêtre est aménagée dans l'autre joue de la glissière et que l'organe de déstockage est prévu pour actionner, sur ordre desdits moyens de commande, une butée escamotable sortie au repos de façon à arrêter les pièces contenues dans la glissière et disposée de façon à pouvoir éjecter, par passage de la position escamotée à la position sortie, des pièces par la fenêtre en vue de les encaisser.It relates to an accumulator-collector device for ejecting coins, of the type which includes:

• - a slide formed by two cheeks and a descending raceway inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal, the cheeks of the slide being themselves inclined at an acute angle with respect to a vertical plane, such that the pieces accumulated in the slide rest against one of these cheeks, and
• - a device for destocking said parts accumulated in the slide

and form part of a device for distributing products or services also comprising means for controlling the destocking member,
characterized in that a window is arranged in the other cheek of the slide and that the destocking member is provided for actuating, on the order of said control means, a retractable stop output at rest so as to stop the parts contained in the slide and arranged so as to be able to eject, by passing from the retracted position to the extended position, parts through the window in order to collect them.

To collect the coins, the stop is retracted on the order of the control means and the coins roll. As soon as the first part arrives at the stop, the latter can be taken out on the order of the control means and can thus eject the part through the window from the retracted position to the extended position in order to send this part to the body of the dispenser. The next part then stops and the process can start again. After collection and for the possible return of parts, the stop is retracted and remains so that the parts to be returned roll up to the exit of the slide and reach a bowl for the return of parts.

Correct operation of the device according to the invention as described above requires that the control means be capable of delivering precise control pulses from the destocking member, which is the case if these control means include a microprocessor. Avoid using the latter if the device according to the invention further comprises at least one photoelectric barrier located downstream of the retractable stop to detect the passage of the parts and thus collect them correctly, as will be explained below. . A second light barrier can also be placed upstream of the retractable stop to detect the presence of parts in the slide, as will be seen later.

Preferably, the destocking member consists of an electromagnet with a plunger core acting as a retractable stop and sliding heels are arranged along the cheek against which the parts rest, in order to promote the sliding thereof.

The device according to the invention is therefore simpler than the devices of the prior art since it uses only one destocking member (preferably, an electromagnet), allowing, by means of a stop, both to stop the coins and to direct them to the cash register or to the return bowl of the dispensing device.

• - la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un mode de réalisation particulier du dispositif accumulateur-encaisseur de pièces de monnaie à éjection selon l'invention ; et
• - la figure 2 est la coupe suivant AA de la figure 1. Sur les figures 1 et 2, le dispositif accumulateur-encaisseur de pièces de monnaie à éjection selon l'invention comporte, à son entrée E, une fente 1 d'introduction de pièces de monnaie 2 et, à la suite de cette fente l, une glissière 3 formée de deux joues 5 et 6 parallèles et d'un chemin de roulement 4 descendant et incliné d'un angle aigu a de l'ordre de 20 à 30° par rapport à un plan horizontal H. Les joues 5 et 6 de la glissière 3 sont elles-mêmes inclinées d'un angle aigu 0 (figure 2) de l'ordre de 5 à 7° par rapport à un plan vertical V, ce qui amène les pièces 2 à reposer contre l'une des joues, dite joue arrière 5, le long de laquelle sont disposés des talons de glissement 7 destinés à favoriser le glissement des pièces 2. Cette inclinaison d'un angle a permet donc de supprimer une partie de l'autre joue 6, dite joue avant, dans la partie basse de la glissière 3, pour y aménager une fenêtre 8.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a particular embodiment given by way of illustration and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 is a schematic view of a particular embodiment of the accumulator-coin collector device with ejection according to the invention; and
• - Figure 2 is the section along AA of Figure 1. In Figures 1 and 2, the accumulator-coin collector device with ejection according to the invention comprises, at its input E, a slot 1 for introducing coins 2 and, following this slot l, a slide 3 formed of two parallel cheeks 5 and 6 and of a rolling track 4 descending and inclined at an acute angle a of the order of 20 to 30 ° relative to a horizontal plane H. The cheeks 5 and 6 of the slide 3 are themselves inclined at an acute angle 0 (FIG. 2) of the order of 5 to 7 ° relative to a vertical plane V, which causes the pieces 2 to rest against one of the cheeks, called the rear cheek 5, along which are arranged sliding heels 7 intended to promote the sliding of the pieces 2. This inclination of an angle a therefore makes it possible to delete part of the other cheek 6, called the front cheek, in the lower part of the slide 3, to fit a window 8 there.

An electromagnet 9 (FIG. 2) with a plunger core 10 is mounted on the rear cheek 5 outside the slideway 3, on the part of this rear cheek 5 opposite the window 8. The plunger core 10 is oriented perpendicularly cheeks 5 and 6 and its front end can pass into an orifice 11 made in the rear cheek 5. This plunger core 10 constitutes a retractable stop for the parts 2. Two light barriers 12 and 13 are arranged upstream and downstream of the stop 10, in the vicinity thereof, for detecting the passage of parts 2.

The dispensing device, of which the device according to the invention forms part, further comprises control means of the type known in the prior art and not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The electromagnet 9 and the light barriers 12 and 13 are electrically connected to them. These control means control the electromagnet 9. They can also provide accounting (that is to say, for example in the case of a telephone set, the comparison of the bit rate resulting from charging pulses coming from the telephone exchange and credit represented by coins already cashed).

Furthermore, coins validation bodies (not shown in Figures 1 and 2) are incorporated into the dispensing device.

Finally, the lower part 15 of the slide 3 emerges from a partition 14 towards the outside of the dispensing device so that the pieces 2 to be returned to the users of said device fall into a restoring bowl (not shown), and the pieces 2 ejected, as explained below, through window 8, reach the body (not shown) of the device.

• Dans le cas d'un simple encaissement de pièces de monnaie 2, l'électro-aimant 9 est excité, c'est-à-dire mis sous tension sur ordre desdits moyens de contrôle, la butée 10 s'escamote et les pièces 2 roulent. Dès que la première barrière photoélectrique 12, située en aval de la butée 10, est occultée par la première des pièces 2, cette barrière envoie un signal indiquant son occultation aux moyens de contrôle ; sur ordre de ceux-ci l'électro-aimant 9 est alors désexcité, c'est-à-dire mis hors tension, et la butée 10 repasse de la position escamotée à la position sortie. Ce faisant, elle éjecte la première des pièces 2 par la fenêtre 8 et l'envoie ainsi dans la caisse de l'appareil distributeur. La seconde des pièces 2 vient alors en butée en occultant la seconde barrière photoélectrique 13 située en amont de la butée 10. Cette seconde barrière envoie alors un signal aux moyens de contrôle, indiquant qu'une autre pièce est présente dans la glissière et peut être encaissée. Après une légère attente, le processus d'encaissement peut recommencer et ainsi de suite, chaque fois que la seconde barrière photoélectrique 13 est occultée.

The operating mode of the device according to the invention is as follows:

• In the case of a simple cashing of coins 2, the electromagnet 9 is energized, that is to say energized on the order of said control means, the stop 10 retracts and the coins 2 roll. As soon as the first photoelectric barrier 12, located downstream of the stop 10, is obscured by the first of the parts 2, this barrier sends a signal indicating its occultation to the control means; on the order of these, the electromagnet 9 is then de-energized, that is to say de-energized, and the stop 10 returns from the retracted position to the extended position. In doing so, it ejects the first of the parts 2 through the window 8 and thus sends it into the box of the dispensing device. The second of the parts 2 then comes into abutment by obscuring the second photoelectric barrier that 13 located upstream of the stop 10. This second barrier then sends a signal to the control means, indicating that another part is present in the slide and can be cashed. After a slight wait, the collection process can start again and so on, each time the second photoelectric barrier 13 is obscured.

In the case of a return of all the coins 2 remaining in the slide 3, the electromagnet 9 is excited, the stop 10 retracts and the coins 2 roll towards the return bowl. When the first barrier 12 is no longer obscured, the electromagnet 9 is de-energized and the stop 10 returns to the extended position: the dispensing device is again ready to serve.

Finally, in the case of a collection of 2 coins followed by a return of a certain number of these coins, the collection process takes place in the manner indicated above for the coin (s) to be collected then the electromagnet 9 remains excited (in other words, the stop 10 remains retracted) to allow the coins 2 remaining in the slide 3 to roll until the output thereof towards the restoring bowl. When the first barrier 12 is no longer obscured, the electromagnet 9 is de-energized and the stop 10 returns to the extended position.

Of course, we can reverse the two outputs of the device according to the invention, that is to say the body and the return bowl, according to the possibilities of circulation of the parts in the device and according to what we want to benefit the speed of collection or the speed of restitution, the maximum rate of ejection being of the order of two pieces per second, or being able to carry out a rigorous control of collection. (In case of reversal of the body and the restoring bowl, the box would of course not be placed behind said partition 14, outside of the dispensing device, but inside of it).

The accumulator-collector device according to the invention can obviously accept coins of the same predetermined type. The dispensing device of which this device is a part can then comprise "in parallel" as many such devices as there are types of coins to be received.

The device which is the subject of the invention can also accumulate and collect coins of different types arriving in bulk on the slide, provided that the dimensions of this device are adapted (length and width of the coin insertion slot, width of the raceway, height of the cheeks of the slide, position of the retractable stop and dimensions of said window) to those of the various parts to be received. Furthermore, the dispensing apparatus of which the device according to the invention forms part must then further comprise means of identifying and accounting for these pieces of different types, placed before the cash register of the dispensing apparatus.

The force required to eject a moving part into the slide is low (less than 50 gf), which allows the use of a reduced-size electromagnet (occupying a volume of 2 to 3 cm ³ ).

The accumulator collecting device that is the subject of the invention is simple to produce and does not require any precise adjustment, all the active elements (stop, possible light barriers) operating in all or nothing. Its dimensions are small and it is very easy to assemble in a device for distributing products or services. Its simplicity makes it a device with good operating safety and inexpensive.

Claims (5)

1. A device for accumulating and collecting ejected coins, of the type which include: - a slide (3) formed of two cheeks (5 - 6) and a rolling track (4) descending and inclined at an acute angle (a) on the horizontal (H), the cheeks (5-6 ) of the slide (3) being themselves inclined at an acute angle ( ^p ) relative to a vertical plane (V), so that the parts (2) accumulated in the slide (3) rest against the one (5) of these cheeks, and - a destocking member (9) of said parts (2) accumulated in the slide (3)
and form part of a device for distributing products or services also comprising means for controlling the destocking member (9),
characterized in that a window (8) is arranged in the other cheek (6) of the slide (3) and that the destocking member (9) is provided for actuating, on the order of said control means, a stop retractable (10) output at rest so as to stop the parts (2) contained in the slide and arranged so as to be able to eject, by passing from the retracted position to the extended position, the parts (2) through the window (8) to collect them. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one photoelectric barrier (12) located downstream of the retractable stop (10) for detecting the passage of the parts (2). 3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the destocking member (9) consists of an electromagnet with a plunger core acting as a retractable stop (10). 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that sliding heels (7) are arranged along the cheek (5) against which the pieces rest (2), in order to promote the sliding of these. 5. Application of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to the accumulation and collection of coins of different types, said dispensing apparatus further comprising means for identifying and accounting for these coins of different types , placed before the body of this dispenser.

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