EP0865005B1 - Apparatus for processing mixtures of coins and foreign matter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing foreign body contaminants of coin mixtures according to the preamble of claim 1.

Devices of this type have long been known (see DE 29 02 716 B2 ) and they have proven and enforced on the whole. In view of the shifting coin handling from the financial institution in the narrower sense to the customer, problems of a completely new and very special nature arise. While the financial institution can generally be assumed that the processed and processed coins are sorted, this can not be the case with "upstream" coin handling be presupposed.

From the EP 03 55 061 A2 A coin sorting and counting device is already known in which the coins are entered into a coin tray and cleaned before being fed to the coin sorting station.

From the WO 95/30215 An arrangement according to the preamble of independent claim 1 is known in which coin money can be counted and sorted by a customer. Next, a Münzensortier- and Münzenzählmaschine is known from the DE OS 20 61 321 ,

Moreover, from the EP 0 355 061 A a Münzensortier- and Münzenzählmaschine known.

However, it happens again and again that "coins" are entered into a device for counting and / or sorting, just not just coins (with possibly foreign / false coins) include, but that they "interspersed" with all sorts of foreign bodies and foreign substances are. Starting with sand and earth, over buttons and staples / paper clips, to stones and screws and nuts or the like - "Münzschüttungen" contain many large and small foreign objects and it is readily understandable that these foreign bodies can interfere with the proper counting and / or sorting operation very sensitive. To make matters worse, it happens that a customer turns off his drink on the machine and out of carelessness "emptied" in the following referred to as a coin bowl hopper.

The object underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a device of the generic type, are taken in terms of the aforementioned problem precautions to dissipate foreign bodies and foreign substances, and optionally liquids in a certain way.

This object is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

With other than in the main claim used words, the essence of the present invention is not to get the coins directly into the coin plate, but to give them first on a conveyor line, which is suitable to separate disturbing foreign bodies and foreign matter and thus to ensure that the counting and sorting process is not disturbed.

Particular embodiments and further embodiments of the device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine Schemadarstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Verarbeitung von Münzen in zwei Ansichten, und zwar einmal in Seitenansicht und einmal - teilweise geschnitten - in Aufsicht entsprechend der Schnittlinie A-A aus der Seitenansicht;

Fig. 2

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Vorrichtung zur Verarbeitung von Münzen in zwei Ansichten, wobei die die Münzen vom Schrägförderband zum Münzenteller fördernde Rutsche anders gestaltet ist (vergleiche insbesondere die Detaildarstellung nach den Schnittlinien I-I, II-II, III-III).

The details are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. This shows in

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a device for processing coins in two views, once in side view and once - partially cut - in plan view according to the section line AA from the side view;

Fig. 2

a second embodiment of the apparatus for processing coins in two views, wherein the coins promoting the coins from the inclined conveyor belt to the Münzeller chute is designed differently (see in particular the detailed representation of the section lines II, II-II, III-III).

In Fig. 1, the schematic diagram of the device is shown, the basic structure elements a coin tray (hopper for the coins) 1 and a rotating horizontal coin plate 2 are. According to the relevant state of the art, the coin mixture to be counted and / or sorted with all that is present on foreign bodies and foreign matter below is poured into the coin tray 1 (see arrow a) and supplied from here to the coin tray 2. In the coin plate 2, the coins 3 are then rotated (see arrow b). The coin plate 2 in this case has a circumferential collar or guide ring 20, on the one hand has an approximately tangentially oriented recess through which the coins 3 are discharged and discharged one after the other and at a distance to a likewise tangentially adjacent control or guide track 4 due to their centrifugal force , Along the control path or guide path 4, the supplied coins 3 are identified and / or counted and optionally sorted. If there are still foreign or counterfeit coins should be recognized, so in the prior art, sufficient solutions are known how these foreign / counterfeit coins are separated.

With increasing customer proximity, however, the "purity of type" of the coin mixtures to be processed becomes increasingly worse; all possible foreign substances and foreign bodies are tilted with the coin mixture in the coin tray 1 and it is not surprising that the disturbances increase.

With the coin processing device presented here, a coin mixture contaminated with all sorts of foreign bodies and foreign substances should ultimately be sorted and / or counted without this device itself failing again and again.

The principle solution is first to be seen in the fact that the coin mixture is not just transferred directly from the coin tray 1 to the coin plate 2, but that between the two functional units and the bowl Mänsenalen a so-called purge relationship as cleaning track is integrated.

• Das Schrägförderband 5 ist unterhalb der Münzschale 1 montiert und nimmt in ihrer Funktion als Einfülltrichter zunächst die gesamte Münzmischung auf. Das Förderband selbst ist so gesteuert, daß die der Münzschale 1 zugewandte Bandfläche vom tiefsten Punkt zum höheren Punkt fördert (vergleiche Pfeil c). Die Münzen werden so mehr oder weniger vereinzelt in Pfeilrichtung c zum oberen Punkt des Schrägförderbandes 5 transportiert; andererseits rutschen unregelmäßig geformte Fremdkörper und Fremdstoffe ihrer Eigengewichtskraft folgend zum tiefer gelegenen Ende des Schrägförderbandes 5 hin ab.
• Dem oberen Punkt des Schrägförderbandes 5, d.h. dessen Abgabeende, ist ein Abstreifer, insbesondere in Form einer Abstreifwalze 6 zugeordnet, deren Aufgabe es ist, keine dickeren Gegenstände beziehungsweise Fremdkörper durchzulassen, als es der dicksten Münze der bestimmungsgemäß zu verarbeitenden Münzfamilie entspricht. Der Abstreifer 6 liegt dem Schrägförderband 5 also in einem Abstand Δ gegenüber, der der Dicke der dicksten vorkommenden Münze entspricht. Auf diese Weise wird im allgemeinen auch bereits gewährleistet, daß nicht zum Beispiel zwei Münzen aufeinander liegend vom Abgabeende des Schrägförderbandes 5 abgezogen werden. Die Drehrichtung (vergleiche Pfeil d) der Abstreifwalze 6 ist dabei so, daß sie der Förderrichtung C des Schrägförderbandes 5 entgegengerichtet ist.
• Dem Abgabeende des Schrägförderbandes 5 ist eine abwärts geneigte Rutsche 7 zugeordnet, über die die Münzen 3 so wie sie nacheinander vom Schrägförderband 5 am Abstreifer 6 vorbei gefördert werden in den Münzenteller 2 rutschen. Die Rutsche 7 ist als Lochblech oder dergleichen ausgebildet, so daß am Abstreifer 6 vorbei geführte kleine Fremdkörper wie Sand oder dergleichen durch die Löcher fallen können (vergleiche Pfeil e) und nur Münzen 3 in den Münzenteller 2 gelangen.

In the basic structure, this cleaning / cleaning path consists of a slanted conveyor belt 5, a scraper 6 and a slide 7, which are arranged and assigned to one another as follows and are adapted to one another in synergistic working and operating mode:

• The inclined conveyor belt 5 is mounted below the coin tray 1 and takes in their function as a hopper first on the entire coin mixture. The Conveyor belt itself is controlled so that the coin tray 1 facing belt surface promotes from the lowest point to the higher point (see arrow c). The coins are transported more or less isolated in the direction of arrow c to the upper point of the inclined conveyor belt 5; On the other hand, irregularly shaped foreign bodies and foreign matter, following their own weight force, slip towards the lower end of the inclined conveyor belt 5.
• The upper point of the inclined conveyor belt 5, ie its discharge end, a scraper, in particular in the form of a stripping roller 6 assigned whose task is not to pass thicker objects or foreign bodies, as it corresponds to the thickest coin of the intended purpose to be processed coin family. The scraper 6 is the slanted conveyor 5 so at a distance .DELTA., Which corresponds to the thickness of the thickest coin occurring. In this way, it is already generally ensured that, for example, two coins are not lying one on the other from the discharge end of the inclined conveyor belt 5. The direction of rotation (see arrow d) of the stripping roller 6 is such that it is opposite to the conveying direction C of the inclined conveyor belt 5.
• The discharge end of the inclined conveyor belt 5 is assigned a downwardly inclined chute 7, over which the coins 3 as they are successively conveyed by the inclined conveyor belt 5 on the scraper 6 slip into the coin plate 2. The chute 7 is formed as a perforated plate or the like, so that the scraper 6 over passing small foreign matter such as sand or the like fall through the holes can (see arrow e) and only get coins 3 in the coin plate 2.

For the sake of completeness, it should be noted here that the larger foreign objects which have slid down on the inclined conveyor belt 5 and are separated out are initially stopped and collected by means of a (congestion) flap 8 arranged at the lower end of the inclined conveyor belt 5. At the end of processing the coin mixture is then - after the last coin 3 is tilted past the scraper 6 on the slide 7 - briefly reversed the direction of rotation of the inclined conveyor belt 5 (see arrow c '); at the same time the flap 8 is opened (see arrow f). The accumulated or accumulated coarse foreign bodies can then fall into a - not shown - collection container (see arrow g).

In principle, i. As a first approximation, it should be possible to assume that there is a sorted mixture of coins in the number plate 2, whereby foreign or counterfeit coins may possibly be contained. Unfortunately this is not the case in practice:

It turns out again and again that still get smaller foreign body in the coin plate 2 and that even larger flat, for example, elliptical parts on the scraper 6 over find the way into the coin plate 2.

In order to take these events into account, on the one hand in the lower region of the guide ring 20, a portion 21 is provided with smaller holes can escape through the small foreign body due to the centrifugal force (see arrow h). The said portion 21 is associated with a tray 9 which is removably mounted. With regard to the if necessary entrained larger foreign body is in a second portion 22 of the guide ring 20 pivotally (see arrow i) associated with a lock 10, the gap between the guide ring 20 and closes edgewise during the working cycle, and each of which is briefly opened after a counting / sorting a coin mixture , The coin plate 2 is briefly offset in the opposite direction of rotation (see arrow b '), so that these larger foreign body are discharged via the lock 10 to the outside in an associated container.

On the basis of the present device for counting and / or sorting coins a largely safe operation is guaranteed ... all foreign bodies are separated. In a further embodiment, it is also provided to arrange a suction device 11 in the lower region of the chute 7 or / and also in the region of the scraper 6 in order to also suction off dust and possibly paper or material networks. Moreover, it is also provided to provide 5 holes and / or cuts in the flap 8 at the lower edge region of the inclined conveyor belt, can be removed through the optionally in the conveying channel of the inclined conveyor belt 5 reaching liquid.

In Fig. 2 is seen from the basic structure forth the same device as that shown in FIG.

The difference from the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that the coins 3 from the inclined conveyor belt 5 to the coin plate 2 transferring chute 70 designed differently or constructed.

Like the chute 7 of FIG. 1, the chute 70 directly adjoins the inclined conveyor belt 5 and takes the guided past the stripping roller 6 over coins 3 and foreign matter or foreign matter.

In the region adjacent to the stripping roller 6, the chute 70 is designed analogously to the chute 7 according to FIG. 1 as a perforated plate 71.

The slide 70 is - unlike that of Fig. 1 - with the outlet end to the guide ring 20 of the coin holder 2, and extended to the portion 21 with the downstream tray 9 for smaller foreign body. In this end region, the chute 70 is designed so that several (here three) V-shaped grooves 72 arise. The distance between these grooves 72 is such that even the largest coin 3 of the coin mixture to be processed can fall through; the height of the grooves 72 is selected such that the coins and even the smallest coins on the groove 72 tilt over the groove 72 (see arrow k) and that the still entrained or slip off smaller foreign body slide and can get into the load 9 (see Arrow m). In order to avoid that any coins, especially those with a small diameter, slip through the channel 72 and fall into the tray 9, the grooves 72 are closed with bow members 73, which passes the small foreign body and the coins 3 intercepts, so that these in the Coin plates 2 fall. These structural conditions can be seen in particular in the sectional view II - coins 3 can not slip, but tilt off (see arrow k) and small flat objects such as paper clips slip through the arch members 73 by.

Between the entrance of the chute 70, which is formed as a perforated plate 71 and the end portion, which is determined by the grooves 72, this chute 70 may be designed such that the grooves 72 are connected to each other across the width of the chute 70; This can be seen from the sectional view II-II. The coins 3 slip here from the intermediate region 74 to the grooves 72 and can then tip over.

In said intermediate region 74, longitudinal slots 75 are then incorporated in the V-shaped boundary walls, which slots are narrower than corresponds to the diameter of the smallest coin to be processed. By the longitudinal slots 75 so smaller foreign objects can fall through while the coins 3 are guided safely (compare section line III-III).

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus for processing mixtures of coins contaminated with foreign bodies, with a downward inclined foreign body separating chute,
   characterised in
   that the apparatus comprises an inclined conveyor belt which is disposed upstream of the foreign body separating chute and with which a scraper is associated, wherein the inclined conveyor belt inclination is such that irregularly shaped foreign bodies and foreign matter, following the force of their own weight, slide down against the inclination, the scraper for separating coins is disposed at the top inclined conveyor belt delivery end, and the foreign body separating chute is likewise associated with the top delivery end of the inclined conveyor belt, wherein the foreign body separating chute is formed to separate foreign bodies passing the scraper from the flow of coins.
2. Apparatus according to the preceding Claim,
   characterised in
   that the scraper is formed as a scraper roller.
3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims,
   characterised in
   that the scraper lies opposite the inclined conveyor belt at a distance which corresponds to the thickness of the thickest coin present.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 1,
   characterised in
   that the chute is formed as a perforated plate through which smaller foreign bodies fall into a collecting container.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims,
   characterised in
   that the chute has in particular V-shaped channels, which are spaced apart, in the discharge region above the coin tray, which channels are on the one hand so low that the coins tip over the channel on account of the force of their own weight and on the other are so high that foreign bodies can slide down freely and fall into a collecting container.
6. Apparatus according to the preceding Claim,
   characterised in
   that the channels are lengthened and widened towards the scraper, and that longitudinal slots are worked in, which slots are narrower than the diameter of the smallest coin which is to be processed, so that at the most foreign bodies can fall through.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6,
   characterised in
   that the channels are closed at the end by way of an arcuate element which on the one hand catches the coins and on the other lets smaller foreign bodies through.
8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims,
   characterised in
   that a check flap is provided at the bottom end of the inclined conveyor belt, which check flap catches the larger foreign bodies which have slid down and can be opened at the end of a working cycle, so that the larger foreign bodies fall into a collecting container.
9. Apparatus according to the preceding Claim,
   characterised in
   that provided in the check flap are bores in the region adjacent to the inclined conveyor belt and/or incisions in the edge region to enable liquids to flow off.
10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims,
    characterised in
    that the side wall of the coin tray is perforated in a region lying before the coin exit, so that smaller foreign bodies are conveyed outwards into a drawer on account of the centrifugal force.
11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims,
    characterised in
    that a gate is integrated into the side wall of the coin tray after the coin exit, viewed in the direction of rotation, which gate is opened at the end of a working cycle and through which larger foreign bodies having remained in the coin tray are conveyed into a container by reversing the direction of rotation of the coin tray.
12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims,
    characterised in
    that a suction device is associated with the inclined conveyor belt in the region of the delivery end and/or in the second end region and/or in the chute.

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