EP1465122A2 - Money changer - Google Patents

Abstract

The tube (10) may be made of transparent plastics material and contains a stack of coins (11). An electric lamp e.g. a LED (16) and an optical receiver (18) determine whether the stack has reached a given height. A beam of light (38) from the lamp passes through holes (20,24,28) in a switching plate (14), a wall (12) and the side of the tube. The light is reflected by a prism (36) on the far side of the tube. The return beam (40) passes across the tube, through a hole or window (30) in the side of the tube and through a hole (26) in the wall and (22) in the switching plate to the optical receiver.

Description

The invention relates to a changer after the grip of Claim 1.

Vending machines accept coins in addition to a coin validator to check the Authenticity of the inserted coins usually a money changer that the Thrown in price of the desired goods or service Amount repaid in change. For this purpose, the changer points Coin storage from which the change is paid out. The most frequent The type of coin storage are so-called coin tubes, in which the coins are columnar be stacked. Such known money changers have three or four Coin tubes for the change coins.

It is possible to fill the level in by inserting and dispensing coins the coin tubes to monitor the actual number of coins in the coin tubes often does not correspond to the counted number. It is therefore also known on Arrange the top and bottom of the coin tube level sensors, the one Give a signal when the coin column exceeds an upper amount or one falls below the lower amount. When the tube is filled, the coins directed directly into the cash register. When falling below a predetermined lower Level, the acceptance of coins is blocked or the customer is shown that a change of money is not possible.

Various sensors have become known for checking the fill level in coin tubes determine. A so-called light barrier is often used, which is a light element and has a photosensitive receiving element. From U.S. 4,413,718 it is known to arrange the two elements one above the other on one side of a coin tube and to place a prism on the opposite side of the coin tube, which reflects the light beam back to the receiving element. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the lines to the elements on the same side of the Coin tube can be fed. The big one is nevertheless a disadvantage Assembly work for the production of the changer with the coin tubes and the assigned light barriers. The effort naturally increases with the Number of light barriers. It can e.g. B. be desired, a level measurement between. the ends of a coin tube. In this case, three Light barriers can be provided per coin tube.

The invention has for its object to a money changer for money devices create that is particularly easy to manufacture and assemble and one minimal manufacturing effort required with sufficient accuracy of light barriers for level measurement in the coin tubes.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

As usual, a housing is provided in the changer according to the invention. This housing is usually designed to accommodate the coin validator and the parts for the changer, including the coin tubes. In the invention a wall section is provided in the housing parallel to the row of tubes a circuit board is arranged on the side opposite the coin tubes is, which contains the control circuit for the money changer and the light and Receiving elements of the light barriers. The light elements and reception elements are arranged so that they go through holes in the board to the respective coin tube are directed. The wall section points according to the arrangement of the light and Receiving elements through openings. The wall section therefore looks like a mask or screen so that a light beam only in the area of the passage opening emerges, which crosses the coin tube and is thrown back by the prism, again via a passage opening for the purpose of reception with the aid of the Receiving element.

The arrangement of the light barriers is extremely simple. Formation of the board According to the SMD technology, the light and Receiving elements on the board. This can be done easily against the be placed with the through-openings provided wall section.

The wall section forming a mask also has the advantage that it is possible is to cover desired pairs of holes by simple measures, if in the level area a level measurement should not be carried out.

It is known to manufacture the coin tubes from plastic material. Particularly advantageous is when, as in the invention, the coin tubes from a translucent Material exist and the prisms in one piece with the respective coin tube are shaped. While required in the prior art, the prisms are separate manufacture and then attach it to the coin tubes in a suitable manner, the prisms are formed in one piece with the coin tubes. This will make the Installation effort significantly reduced.

Entry and exit surface sections for the light beam on the coin tubes can According to one embodiment of the invention be formed by windows in which the Wall thickness of the coin tube is less. This will result in losses due to the repeated passage of the light steel through the material of the coin tube small held. In the area of the windows, recesses can be provided on the inside to be damaged by scratching or the like to prevent the coins.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the transmission for light is larger in the area of the windows than in other areas of the coin tubes. The Windows can consist of one crystal-clear section, while the rest Sections of the coin tubes are more matt. This has the advantage that reflection effects and stray light can be suppressed. The clarity of the windows can be tested are generated in the injection mold.

To the effect of stray lights, which can also be light that from the light element is directed directly to the receiving element, the design of the Invention before that the entry and exit surface sections or the windows the outside of the coin tubes at least partially by a raised frame are surrounded by what enters and exits the coin tubes Light is prevented from spreading disturbingly across the beam axis. In In this case, the risk that light from the light element directly to Receiving element arrives without crossing the coin tube.

The prisms on the opposite side of the coin tubes can at least partially surrounded by a raised frame on the outside which the spread of stray light and the access of disturbing extraneous light to the Prism is limited.

Preferably, the frames of the windows border on the facing side of the Foreign section on, or rest on this to develop their advantageous effect.

It is known to manufacture the coin tubes from two half-cylinder parts and then connect with each other, for example by a rest or Snap connection. According to one embodiment of the invention is a cassette arrangement provided by coin tubes, the cassette arrangement two shell parts each of which has the half cylinders of the coin tubes. The Shell parts can be connected by a snap and snap connection be, preferably with a screw connection to the shell parts to connect with each other.

To give the cassette assembly a hold and the assembly in the housing of the To facilitate money changer, a cover is provided according to the invention, which is U-shaped in cross section and on one side, namely the front of the cassette arrangement abuts and with the leg sections engages around the sides. With With the help of the cover, the unit can be hooked into the slots in the housing be, locking portions of the cover with locking openings of the housing cooperate to the described cartridge units in the housing releasably set.

According to a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the light and Receiving elements are operated in pulse mode. Such an operation has however become known from EP 088947 A2. Due to the pulsed operation energy is saved. In addition, by query only during operating hours Interfering light influences minimized. As a result, the optical sensors have a high Operational safety.

Fig. 1

zeigt schematisch einen Schnitt durch einen Teil eines Geldwechslers nach Erfindung.

Fig. 1a

zeigt vergrößert einen Abschnitt der Tube nach Fig. 1 im Bereich der Fenster.

Fig. 2

zeigt die Vorderansicht eines Teils eines Gehäuses für einen Geldwechsler.

Fig. 3

zeigt die Seitenansicht des Gehäuses nach Fig. 2.

Fig. 4

zeigt eine Kassettenanordnung von Münztuben zur Anbringung im Gehäuse nach Fig. 2 oder 3.

Fig. 5

zeigt die Vorderansicht der Anordnung nach Fig. 4.

Fig. 6

zeigt die Innenseite der hinteren Schalenhälfte der Münztuben der Anordnung nach Fig. 4

Fig. 7

zeigt die Seitenansicht der Schale nach Fig. 6.

Fig. 8

zeigt die Außenseite der Schale nach Fig. 6 und 7.

Fig. 9

zeigt die Draufsicht auf die Schale nach Fig. 8.

Fig. 10

zeigt die Außenseite der vorderen Schale der Anordnung nach Fig. 4.

Fig. 11

zeigt die Seitenansicht der Schale nach Fig. 10.

Fig. 12

zeigt die Innenseite der Schale nach Fig. 10 und 11.

Fig. 13

zeigt die Draufsicht auf die Schale nach Fig. 12.

Fig. 14

zeigt die Innenseite einer Abdeckung.

Fig. 15

zeigt die Seitenansicht der Abdeckung nach Fig. 14.

Fig. 16

zeigt die Draufsicht auf die Abdeckung nach Fig. 14.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1

shows schematically a section through part of a changer according to the invention.

Fig. 1a

shows enlarged a portion of the tube of FIG. 1 in the area of the window.

Fig. 2

shows the front view of part of a housing for a changer.

Fig. 3

shows the side view of the housing of FIG. 2nd

Fig. 4

shows a cassette arrangement of coin tubes for attachment in the housing of FIG. 2 or 3rd

Fig. 5

shows the front view of the arrangement of FIG .. 4

Fig. 6

shows the inside of the rear shell half of the coin tubes of the arrangement of FIG. 4th

Fig. 7

shows the side view of the shell of FIG .. 6

Fig. 8

shows the outside of the shell according to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9

shows the top view of the shell of FIG .. 8

Fig. 10

shows the outside of the front shell of the arrangement of FIG. 4th

Fig. 11

shows the side view of the shell of FIG. 10th

Fig. 12

shows the inside of the shell according to FIGS. 10 and 11.

Fig. 13

shows the top view of the shell of FIG. 12th

Fig. 14

shows the inside of a cover.

Fig. 15

shows the side view of the cover of FIG. 14th

Fig. 16

shows the top view of the cover of FIG. 14th

A cylindrical coin tube is indicated at 10 in FIG. Located in the tube 10 a coin column 11. The tube 10 consists of a transparent plastic material. The coin tube adjoins a wall section 12 on the left side, the part of a housing not shown in FIG. 1 for a money changer forms. The housing is generally U-shaped in cross-section and takes on the top Area a coin validator on and in the lower area the changer, the Storage of the coins is done in a series of coin tubes, which follows below is still received. On the opposite side of the coin tube 10 Wall section 12 is a circuit board 14 is arranged on which (not shown) the electronic components for operating a money changer are arranged. In addition, it can be seen that a light element 16, approximately in shape, on the circuit board 14 an LED and light-sensitive receiving element 18 are arranged. The Components are attached using SMD technology, the "line of sight" of the optical components directed through openings 20, 22 to the coin tube 10 out. The wall section 12 is also provided with openings 24, 26 which lead to the openings 20, 22 are aligned.

The coin tube 10 has "windows" at 28 and 30. They are in one piece with the Coin tube 10 planform and z. B. (not shown) a little lower Wall thickness than the tube 10 in the remaining area. It is also possible in the field of Windows 28, 30 to make the material clearer than in the rest of the coin tube 10. The windows 28, 30 are of a raised frame 32 or 34 at least partially surrounded, the frame, which is not shown in Fig. 1, on the Wall section 12 can rest. They serve to prevent larger amounts to scattered light that emerges from the opening 24 in the direction of the tube 10 for Side is steered. In addition, the frame 34 prevents the light element 16 light coming directly into the opening 26 and to the light element 18 arrives. On the one opposite the elements 16, 18 arranged one above the other A prism 36 is formed in one piece with the coin tube 10. The prism serves to deflect the light beam 38 coming from the light element 16 downwards and back to the receiving element 18. The reflected beam is labeled 40. The arrangement of a prism for a light barrier is as already described above became known per se. The prism is on the outside of a raised one Surround frame 42, which also has the task of preventing stray light from entering to limit the prism.

As can be seen from FIG. 1 a, the windows 28, 30 are on the inside of the tube 10 provided with recesses 29, 31, which prevent scratching by coins.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the above-mentioned housing is indicated at 44. It is in Cross-section U-shaped, being perpendicular to the sides of the wall section 12 protruding sidewall portions 46, 48 are formed. It can be seen from Fig. 2 that four columns with four pairs of holes 24, 26 are provided. Each column corresponds a coin tube, which is arranged in front of the perforated columns (not shown). The Upper pairs of holes 24, 26 are used to determine the upper fill level of the coin tube. The lower ones are used to determine the lower fill level. The middle serve to determine medium levels. One pair of holes each is a light barrier arrangement assigned as described in Fig. 1.

The side wall sections 46, 48 have receiving slots, one of which is at 50 is shown. The slots 50 are to the free edge of the wall sections 46, 48 open. Above the receiving slots 50 is a rectangular opening 52 in the Wall sections 46, 48 formed. The slots and opening will be shown below still received.

4 shows a series of four coin tubes 54 to 60 in perspective. The cassette-shaped arrangement of the coin tubes 54 to 60 is of an U-shaped section Surround cover 62. The lower ends of the coin tubes are 54 to 60 provided with payment arrangements, but did not go into further detail shall be. They are state of the art.

The side that can be seen in FIG. 4 is the rear side of the arrangement, which faces the inside of the housing 44 has. One recognizes the frames 32, 34 of the windows 28, 30 that are closed the openings 24, 26 of the housing 44 are aligned when the in Fig. 4 and 5th shown unit is installed in the housing of FIGS. 2 and 3. This will however, still discussed below.

The coin tubes 54 to 60 are formed from two shells, which together form the cylindrical Coin tubes result. In Fig. 4 the shell facing towards the inside is closed detect. This shell is shown in Fig. 6 from the inside and in Fig. 8 from the outside. she is designated 66. The configuration of the shell 66 results from the overall view the fig. 6 to 8. One recognizes the rectangular windows 28, 30 in Fig. 6 and in Fig. 8, the frame 32, 34. In Fig. 9 you can see the partial cylinder 68, the partial cylinders the second bowl form the coin tubes 54 to 60. The shell 66 has on opposite edges at 68 or 70 cones protruding outwards are aligned with the pegs of the second shell and lie against one another in order to lock corresponding recesses in the cover 62. 4 are recesses represented at 72.

In Figs. 10 to 13, 76 denotes the second shell, which the others Partial cylinder 78 forms. A row of four can be seen for each partial cylinder 78 Prisms 36, which are surrounded by a raised frame 42. The bowl 76 has pins 80, 82 on the side edges, those with pins 68, 70 of the shell 66 cooperate.

In Figs. 14 through 16 is another illustration of cover 62 (FIG. 4) detect. FIG. 14 shows the inside, FIG. 15 the side view and FIG. 16 the Top view of the cover 62. It can be seen from FIG. 16 that the cover 62 is U-shaped in section with a web wall section 90 and leg wall sections 92, 94. In the upper area of the cover 62 are angular Formed sections 96, 98 which are articulated in the region of the side wall sections 92, 94 are (see FIG. 15) and have a nose 100 in the region of the wall section 90. The angular sections 96, 98 have a hole 102 through which a finger can reach through to pull the nose 100 inwards.

A pin 104 is formed on the outside of each of the wall sections 92, 94. In the Wall sections 92, 94 are also formed locking openings 106.

During assembly, the shells 66, 76 are held against one another, the lateral ones Projections 68, 70, 80, 82 lie against each other. Then the Arrangement inserted into the U-shaped extension 62, as shown in Fig. 4. The projections 68, 70, 80, 82 lying together snap into the openings 72 the cover 62 to hold the parts against each other. You can also use Can be attached to each other using a screw attachment. The Shell 66 three screw base 110 approximately in the longitudinal center, with corresponding Screw bases 112 of the shell 76 are aligned. With the help of a Screw which is guided through the base 110, 112 and into a base 114 of the Cover 62 is screwed in, the unit according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is sufficient Strength is maintained to the relatively high weight of the coins in the coin tubes 54 to catch up to 60.

4 is then inserted into the housing of FIGS. 2 and 3. For this purpose, the pins 104 engage the side wall sections 92, 94 the cover 62 in the receiving slot 50 of the side walls 46, 48 of the housing. In addition, the lugs 100 of the angular sections 96, 98 snap into the latching opening 52. In this way, the cassette is sufficiently secured in the housing, but can can be removed in a few simple steps. The release of the lugs 100 from the Locking openings 52 are made simply by actuating the angle sections 98, 96, by engaging the respective opening 102 with a finger in order to To pivot angular sections 98, 96.

Claims (14)

Money changer for money devices with a housing in which a plurality of tubes arranged in series for storing coins in columnar form are attached, the light barriers assigned to the tubes at least in the upper and lower region, each light barrier having a light element and a light-sensitive receiving element on the same side of the coin tube are arranged one above the other, while on the opposite side of the coin tube a prism is arranged, which reflects the received light back to the receiving element, and a control circuit for the changer, into which the output signals of the receiving elements are given, characterized in that the Housing (44) parallel to the row of coin tubes (54 to 60) has a wall section (12), on the opposite side of the wall section (12) a circuit board (14) for the control circuit is attached, which the light elements (16) and the receiving elements (18) carries the ü Are directed through holes (20, 22) in the circuit board (14) and in the wall section (12) to the respective coin tube (54 to 60). Money changer for money devices with a housing in which a plurality of tubes arranged in series for storing coins in columnar form are attached, the light barriers assigned to the tubes at least in the upper and lower region, each light barrier having a light element and a light-sensitive receiving element on the same side of the coin tube are arranged one above the other, while on the opposite side of the coin tube a prism is arranged which reflects the received light back to the receiving element, and a control circuit for the changer, into which the output signals of the receiving elements are given, characterized in that the Coin tubes (54 to 60) consist of a translucent material and the prisms (36) are formed in one piece with the respective coin tube. Money changer according to claim 2, characterized in that entry and exit surface sections for a light beam from a coin tube (54 to 60) are formed by windows (28 to 30) in which the wall thickness of the coin tubes (54 to 60) is smaller. Money changer according to claim 3, characterized in that the transmission for light in the area of the windows (28, 30) is significantly lower than in the other area of the coin tubes. Money changer according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the entry and exit surface sections or the windows (28, 30) on the outside of the coin tubes (54 to 60) are at least partially surrounded by a raised frame (32, 34), through which the light entering and leaving the coin tubes (54 to 60) is limited by a disturbing propagation transverse to the beam axis. Money changer according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the prisms (36) are at least partially surrounded on the outside of the coin tubes (54 to 60) by a raised frame (42) which prevents the spread of stray light and the access of disturbing External light limited to the prisms (36). Money changer according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the frames (32, 34) of the windows (28, 30) bear against the facing side of the wall section (12). Money changer according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a cassette-shaped arrangement of the coin tubes (54 to 60) has two shell parts (66, 76), each of which has the half cylinders (68, 78) of the coin tubes (54 to 60) , Money changer according to claim 8, characterized in that the cassette arrangement is enclosed by a cover (62) which is U-shaped in cross section and the cover (62) can be connected to the cassette arrangement by means of a snap connection to form a unit. Money changer according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover (62) is also made of transparent plastic. Currency changer according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the housing (44) on both sides of the wall section (12) has vertically projecting parallel spaced wall sections (46, 48), in each of which one to the free edge of the wall section (46, 48) is open receiving slot (50) is formed and the cover (62) on the outside in its leg wall sections (92, 94) have pin-shaped projections (104) which can be inserted into the receiving slot (50) when the unit in the housing ( 44) is used. Money changer according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (62) on the leg sections (92, 94) has a resilient section (96, 98) with a latching section (100) which is in a latching opening (52) of the side wall sections (46, 48) intervenes. Money changer according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the wall section (12) has integrally formed fixing means with which the circuit board (14) is fixed to the wall section (12). Money changer according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the light and receiving elements (16, 18) are operated in pulses.

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