EP2720201A1 - Device for separating coins with a rotating carrier plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has a rotatable base disk (32) and a limiting element (34) that are provided for limiting an upwardly opened retaining area for retaining coins to be separated. An opening for passage of the coins and supplying the coins to an elastic conveyor element (14) is formed in the limiting element. The conveyor element supplies the coins to sorting ejection units (18, 30). A drive plate (36) is arranged on the disk, where the plate and the conveyor element act together in a transfer area (38) such that the coins conveyed by the plate are pushed and trapped under the conveyor element.

Description

The invention relates to a device for separating coins, with a rotatable base disk and a delimiting element, wherein the base disk and the delimiting element delimit an upwardly open receiving area for receiving a quantity of coins to be singled coins, and wherein in the limiting element in a transfer area an opening for Passage of coins and for supplying to an elastic conveying element is present, the isolated coins along a circular sorting path sorters feeds.

Means for handling coins usually have an input tray into which the coins to be handled can be entered in the form of an unsorted amount of coins. This entered amount of coins is fed to a coin storage container in the form of a receiving area defined by limiting elements, from which the coins are further processed. In order that the entered coins can be checked for authenticity with the aid of corresponding sensors and a subsequent sorting can be carried out, it is necessary that the entered coins be singulated, ie that the coins, when they are fed to a sensor unit and / or a sorting unit, do not lie one above the other and are not arranged side by side on a transport path.

In order to achieve such a separation, coin-operated centrifuges are frequently used, in which the coins of the quantity of coins received in the coin storage container are arranged on a rotating disk. By acting on the coins centrifugal force when turning the disc they are transported to the outside. In the boundary element for the coin supply at least one opening is provided, which is designed such that it passes only one coin at a time, whereby the separation of the coins takes place.

The problem with such known coin centrifuges is that the separation takes place only unreliably, so that it can easily happen that several coins are transported simultaneously through the opening and thus a necessary for further processing minimum distance between the coins is not guaranteed safe. Furthermore, the opening in the limiting element can easily be blocked by coins which tilt it, so that a coin jam is created which can only be eliminated with a manual intervention.

Furthermore, it is problematic that the coin centrifuges must each be adapted to the coin set to be handled by the size of the opening is adjusted accordingly to the coin set. The opening (s) must be designed so that, while the largest coin to be handled can pass through it, two of the smallest to-use coins can not pass through the opening simultaneously. It must also be ensured that the thickest coin can pass through the opening, but not two superimposed coins. A device for separating coins is from the DE 195 43 216 A1 known. This device comprises a feeder disc which cooperates with a coin take-off disc and performs coin singulation in conjunction with a coin gap. The coins to be separated are fed to a circular sorting path on which the coins are slidably moved lying flat by an annularly moving brush device along the sorting path. The sorting path contains coin through holes for sorting the coins to be separated.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for separating coins, with the help of a large coin spectrum reliable separation of coins from an entered amount of coins is made possible.

This object is achieved by a device for separating coins with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, rotatable base disk and limiting elements cooperate in such a way that they delimit an open receiving area for receiving a quantity of coins of the coins to be separated. In the limiting element, there is an opening for passing coins and for feeding to an elastic conveying element in a transfer area. This conveying element conveys individual coins along an annular sorting path to different sorting devices to. The sorting track is arranged eccentrically to the base disk. Due to this eccentricity, in which the base disk and annular sorting path are arranged within a circular cross-sectional construction, a compact small design for the entire device is achieved.

On the base plate, a drive plate is arranged concentrically to the base plate, wherein the drive plate and the conveyor element in the transfer area cooperate so that subsidized by the drive plate coins of the lowermost layer of the amount of coins are pushed under the conveyor element and clamped there. The conveyor element moves concentrically to the annular sorting path, so that due to the eccentricity of the base plate, drive plate and circular sorting path or extending along the sorter conveyor element results in a wedge-shaped geometry, wherein one side of the wedge through the conveyor element and the other side of the wedge by the transport direction of the funded by the drive plate coin is formed.

By the drive plate and the conveying element, a distance A is defined, which indicates the distance from the lateral surface of the drive plate to the conveying element. In a preferred embodiment, this distance A between the drive plate is smaller than the diameter of the smallest coin to be separated by the device. In this case, A may also assume a negative value, ie an overlap between the drive plate and the conveying element may be present. More preferably, this distance A is greater than zero and less than the diameter of the smallest through the device to be separated coin. Surprisingly, it has been found that a very efficient and error-free separation takes place within this range and that it is possible to dispense with a stationary coin separator described below. The term "greater than zero" should be understood that the drive plate is located just so far away from the conveyor element, that a contact between the drive plate and conveyor element no longer occurs.

The coin quantity is conveyed by the rotating base disk in the direction of the transfer area, whereby the coins can lie one above the other in several layers. The drive disc promotes on its lateral surface only coins of the lowermost layer in the direction transfer area, in which due to said wedge-shaped geometry coin and conveying element approximate so that the subsidized by the drive plate coin is pushed under the conveyor element and clamped there. By means of this clamping effect, the conveying element then conveys the separated coin further along the circular sorting path. Due to the elasticity of the conveyor element both thin and thick coins can be clamped in a wide range of thickness and further promoted. Coins of a higher position than the lowermost layer are not necessarily conveyed by the driver disk in the direction of the transfer area or conveying element, but continue to rotate with the rotatable base disk within the delimiting element until they reach the lowest position on the base disk and then from the jacket surface of the driver disk to promoted to the conveyor element and clamped there. In this way, a reliable separation of coins in a wide universal Applicability for a wide range of coins.

The drive plate is in particular rigidly connected to the base plate so that it has the same rotational speed as the base plate. As a result, a simple construction of the device is achieved. However, it is also conceivable that the drive plate is driven separately and has a higher rotational speed than the base plate, whereby further technical advantages are achieved, such as. a more efficient separation with a relatively slow rotating base disk.

In particular, the driving disc has a height smaller than the smallest thickness of the coins to be processed. In this way, it is ensured that only the bottom layer of the amount of coins pushed in the direction of conveying element and there are pinched individual coins. Thus, a double transport superimposed coins is avoided.

In a preferred embodiment, the drive plate on its lateral surface has a friction coating, in particular a rubber coating or a sand grain. Alternatively, the lateral surface may have a roughened structure or a perforation. By increasing the coefficient of friction coins of the lowest layer are reliably promoted and there is no backwater of coins in the bottom layer in the transfer area.

A not necessarily necessary but advantageous option is to arrange a stationary Münzabscheider in the transfer area. Preferably, the stationary Münzabscheider finds use when the distance A from the lateral surface of the drive plate to the conveying element is greater than the diameter of the smallest to be separated by the device coin. However, as described above, the distance A is smaller than the diameter of the smallest coin to be singled by the device, it is advantageously possible to dispense with a stationary coin separator. A preferred embodiment of the present invention therefore relates to a device for separating coins without a stationary Münzabscheider. A more preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a coin separating apparatus without a fixed coin separator, wherein the distance A is smaller than the diameter of the smallest coin to be singulated by the apparatus, more preferably wherein the distance A is greater than zero and less than that Diameter of the smallest to be separated by the device coin. If a stationary coin separator is used, it is preferred, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the driver disk, to be arranged at the end of the transfer area. For example, as a coin separator, a deflection element can be provided, which reliably feeds coins of the lowermost layer to the conveying element. The height of the deflector should be slightly less than the smallest thickness of the coins to be processed. Such a stationary Münzabscheider improves the efficiency of the separation.

The device is in particular designed so that the transport speed of the conveying element is greater than the transport speed of the coins passing through the lateral surface the drive plate are transported. In this way, the elastic conveying element promotes the isolated and trapped coins faster from the transfer area away as they are conveyed through the drive plate. As a result, the separation is safe and on the sorting track there are sufficient distances between the isolated coins.

In one embodiment, the conveying element comprises an annular, elastic clamping ring and a retaining ring of rigid material connected to this clamping ring, e.g. Plastic or metal. For example, the clamping ring made of rubber or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polyurethane (PU). These materials are well suited to apply sufficient clamping force to the singulated coins to convey them away from the base disk and to transport them along the sorting path.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which explains the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings with reference to exemplary embodiments.

Figur 1

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung zum Vereinzeln von Münzen, bei der die Münzen auf einer kreisförmigen Sortierbahn entlang deren äußeren Bahnbegrenzung geführt werden,

Figur 2

eine ähnliche Anordnung wie Figur 1, wobei die Führung der vereinzelten Münzen entlang einer inneren Bahnbegrenzung der Sortierbahn gefördert werden,

Figur 3

eine schematische Querschnittzeichnung durch Grundscheibe, Mitnehmerscheibe und Förderelement,

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht des Förderelements, und

Figur 5

eine weitere Ausführungsform mit zusätzlichem ortsfestem Münzabscheider.

Show it:

FIG. 1

schematically a plan view of a device for separating coins, in which the coins on a circular sorting path be guided along the outer boundary of the railway,

FIG. 2

a similar arrangement as FIG. 1 in which the guidance of the separated coins is conveyed along an inner track boundary of the sorting track,

FIG. 3

a schematic cross-sectional drawing through the base plate, drive plate and conveyor element,

FIG. 4

a side view of the conveying element, and

FIG. 5

a further embodiment with additional stationary Münzabscheider.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an apparatus 10 for separating coins. These coins have been omitted for clarity. The device 10 comprises an annular sorting path 12, which is delimited by an outer sorting path boundary 16. Along the sorting path 12 sorting outlets 18 to 30 are arranged, which contain Münzdurchfallöffnungen that correspond in the direction of movement in the clockwise direction coins of increasing coin size. The coins dispensed from the sorting outlets 18 to 30 can be counted by appropriate means.

Along the sorting path 12 and concentrically thereto an elastic conveying element 14 is arranged, which serves to convey isolated coins and transports them along the sorting path 12. The elastic conveyor element 14 comprises on its underside an annular elastic clamping ring (in FIG. 1 not shown), which is mounted on a retaining ring made of rigid material, such as plastic or metal. The individual coins to be conveyed are transported slidably along the sorting path 12 by the clamping ring.

An arrangement for feeding individual coins to the conveyor element 14 comprises a rotatable base plate 32, a delimiting element 34 and a driver plate 36, the base plate 32 and the delimiting element 34 defining an upwardly open receiving area for receiving a quantity of coins to be singled coins. In the limiting element 34, an opening for passage of coins and for feeding to the elastic conveying element 14 is present in a transfer area 38. Typically, the restriction member 34 may be configured as a funnel having a larger opening at the top than the lower boundary. The limiting element 34 may be oval or have any other shape.

On the base plate 32, the drive plate 36 is arranged concentrically to the base plate 32. The drive plate 36 is rigidly connected to the base plate 32 and has over the level of the base plate 32 a height smaller than the smallest thickness of the coins to be processed. The drive plate 36 and the conveyor element 14 cooperate in the transition region 38 so that upon rotation of the drive plate 36 in the clockwise direction and thus in the same direction as the conveyor element 14 promoted coins pushed the bottom layer under the conveyor element 14 and clamped there.

The sorting path 12 and thus also the rotating on a circular ring conveyor element 14 are eccentric to the base plate 32 and thus arranged eccentrically to the drive plate 36. Due to this eccentric geometry results in the transition region 38, a wedge shape, is caused by the fact that funded by the outer surface of the drive plate 36 coins the lowest layer of coin and clockwise rotation these coins are forced outwardly in the direction of the conveyor element 14 and so be pushed under the conveyor element and clamped there. By adjusting the eccentricity, the wedge shape can be varied and thus adapted to the size range of the diameter of the coin spectrum.

The thus isolated and pinched coins are further conveyed by the elastic conveyor element 14 in a clockwise direction and reach an alignment device 40, which aligns the separating coins so that they are conveyed along the outer web boundary 16 by the conveyor element 14. On their way the coins arrive at a known Münzprüfeinrichtung 42, where they are checked for physical properties. Faulty coins are fed through a deflector 44, such as a controllable baffle or retractable pin, to a reject ejector 46 where the faulty coins be sorted out. Correct coins are conveyed on the sorting web 12 and arrive successively at the various sorting outlets 18 to 30, where they are sorted in ascending order depending on the coin diameter.

Preferably, the drive plate 36 has on its outer surface a friction coating, e.g. a gum. Thereby, the transport of the coins of the lowermost layer of the coin amount by the drive plate 36 becomes more efficient and a coin jam is avoided. Coins overlying the lowermost layer circulate within the receiving area as a result of the rotation of the base disk 32.

The transport speed of the conveying element 12 is greater than the transport speed of the coins supplied in the transition region, which are transported through the lateral surface of the driving disc 36. In this way, the singulated coins are quickly conveyed out of the transition region 38, so that along the sorting path 12, the coins are sufficiently spaced from each other. Preferably, the speed ratios are set so that the speed v1 at which the coins are moved as a result of the rotation of the base disk 32 is less than the speed v2 at which coins of the lowermost layer are transported through the outer surface of the driver disk 36, which in turn becomes smaller is as the transport speed v3 of the conveyor element 14. Accordingly, for the speeds: v1 <v2 <v3.

Optionally, in the transition region 38, a stationary Münzabscheider (see FIG. 5 ), in particular in the form of a guide bar whose height is slightly smaller than the smallest thickness of the coins to be processed. In this way it is ensured that the conveying element 14 reliably coins of the lowest layer and no laterally overlapping coins are fed, whereby the secure separation of the coins is further improved.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment, wherein like parts are designated the same. In contrast to FIG. 1 the coins conveyed by the conveyor element 14 along the sorting path 12 are aligned by the alignment device 40 in such a way that they are transported along an inner web boundary 48 of the sorting web 12. The related to FIG. 1 described function remains the same.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross section through the base plate 32, drive plate 36 and conveying element 14 in the transition region 38. Base plate 32 and drive plate 36 are aligned concentrically to an axis 50 and rotate together with the same rotational speed. The drive disc 36 has a height less than the smallest thickness of the coin to be processed 52. Coins of the total amount of coins can have different thicknesses and are superimposed, as shown in the left part of the image by means of the coins 54 and 56. Only the lowest layer of the coin quantity is conveyed through the lateral surface of the drive plate 36 in the direction of the conveying element 14. In the example shown, the coin 52 still has a distance from the conveyor element 14. Due to the wedge shape mentioned above, this coin 52 is further transported by the drive plate 36 in the direction of the conveying element 14 on further promotion. This conveyor element 14 has a chamfer 58 or chamfer pointing in the direction of the drive plate 36, thereby facilitating a pushing of the coin 52 under the conveyor element 14. After the coin 52 has been pushed under the conveying element 14, which rotates at a higher transport speed than the base disk 32, the coin 52 is quickly conveyed away from the base disk 32 and in the direction of the sorting web 12 due to the clamping action.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a portion of the conveyor element 14. This conveyor element 14 comprises an elastic clamping ring 60 and connected thereto, for example by gluing, retaining ring 62 made of rigid material, preferably plastic or metal. The clamping ring 60 is made of thermoplastic polyurethane or rubber material and has a plurality of fins 64, which can be bent in the longitudinal direction of the conveying element 14, whereby the clamping force acting on the coins is increased. The fins 64 may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retaining ring 62 or obliquely thereto. In addition, the slats 64 may have different angular positions with respect to the transport direction of the conveyor element 14. By means of the fins 64 it is ensured that coins of different thicknesses are reliably conveyed, whereby an elastic clamping effect is achieved by the elastic deformation of the fins 64.

FIG. 5 shows in a section of another embodiment, similar to that in FIG. 1 shown, wherein a stationarily arranged Münzabscheider 41 is provided, which is preferably arranged in the direction of rotation of the drive plate 36 at the end of the transition region 38. This Münzabscheider 41 may for example be formed as a separate guide element, the coins, which are supplied from the outer surface of the drive plate 36, safely to the conveyor element 14 passes to be clamped there. This is particularly advantageous if the distance A between the lateral surface of the drive plate 36 and the conveying element 14 is greater than the diameter of the smallest coin to be separated by the device.

The described device can be developed in many ways. Thus, the driver disc 36 may be arranged separately rotatable from the base disk 32. Base disk and drive plate may also be integrally formed, wherein the drive plate protrudes to the height described above the level of the base disk.

The eccentric arrangement of the base plate 32 or drive plate 36 with respect to the circular arrangement of the conveyor element 14 may be adjustable, whereby the wedge geometry can be varied to be adapted to different sizes of the coins to be processed. With the aid of the device shown, all international coins in the diameter range from 14.5 mm to 33 mm can be safely separated. The rotation speed for the base disk can be much smaller than that of conventional coin centrifuges, which are usually rotary disks use. The coins issued by the sorting outlets can be fed directly to a cash register or a coin store.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Device for separating coins

12

sort path

14

impeller

16

outer sorting belt boundary

18 to 30

Sortierauswürfe

32

base disc

34

limiting element

36

driver disc

38

Transfer area

40

alignment

41

stationary coin separator

42

coin acceptor

44

deflector

A

shortest distance between lateral surface of the drive plate and conveyor element

v1

Speed of coins due to rotation of the base disk

v2

Speed of the coins of the lowest position due to the rotation of the drive plate

v3

Transport speed of the conveying element

46

Rejection ejection

48

inner track boundary

50

axis

52, 54, 56

coins

58

bevel

60

clamping ring

62

retaining ring

64

slats

Claims (15)

Device for separating coins,
with a rotatable base disk (32) and a limiting element (34),
wherein the base disk (32) and the limiting element (34) delimit an upwardly open receiving area for receiving a coin quantity of coins to be separated,
in the delimiting element (34) in a transfer region (38) there is an opening for the passage of coins and for feeding to an elastic conveying element (14) which feeds individual coins along a circular sorting path (12) to sorting devices (18 to 30) the sorting web (12) is arranged eccentrically to the base disk (32),
a driver disk (36) is arranged concentrically to the base disk (32) on the base disk (32),
and wherein the driving disc (36) and the conveying element (14) in the transfer region (38) cooperate such that coins (52) of the lowermost layer of the quantity of coins conveyed by the driving disc (36) move below the Be pushed conveyor element (14) and clamped there. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the driver disc (36) is rigidly connected to the base disk (32). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive plate (36) has a height smaller than the smallest thickness of the coins to be processed (52). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driver disc (36) has on its lateral surface a friction coating, in particular a rubber coating. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device does not comprise a stationary coin separator (41). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance (A) from the lateral surface of the drive plate (36) to the conveying element (14) is smaller than the diameter of the smallest coin to be separated by the device. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport speed (v3) of the conveying element (14) is greater than the transport speed (v2) of the coins, which are transported through the lateral surface of the drive plate (36). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying element (14) comprises an annular, elastic clamping ring (60) and a retaining ring (62) of rigid material connected to this clamping ring. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting web (12) has an inner web boundary (48) extending concentrically with the conveying element (14), and that the separated coins can be transported along this inner web boundary (48) by the conveying element (14) are. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting track (12) has a concentrically to the conveyor element (14) extending outer boundary lines (16), and that the separated coins (52) along this outer boundary lines (16) (by the conveyor element 14) are transportable. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in transport direction of the isolated coins, after the transfer region (38) an alignment device (40) is arranged, which aligns the singled coins so that they are conveyed along the inner web boundary (48) or along the outer web boundary (16) by the conveying element (14) , Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center of the base disk (32) within the circular path of the sorting path (12) is arranged such that the base plate (32) and the conveying element (14) in the transition region (38) overlap. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that seen along the circular path of the sorting path (12) in the transport direction of the individual coins a Münzprüfvorrichtung (42), a Kurvenauswerfer (44), a reject ejection (46) and a plurality of Sortierauswürfen (18 bis 30) are arranged. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular, elastic clamping ring (60) made of polyurethane or rubber material. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying element (14) in With respect to the lateral surface of the drive plate (36) is arranged so that coins with a diameter range of 14 to 33 mm below the elastic conveying element (14) can be clamped.

Images