EP2846313B1 - Coin separation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin separating device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating a coin separating device according to the preamble of claim 14.

Such a coin separating device comprises a conveying device for conveying coins from an input container in a conveying direction along a conveying path and a checking device arranged on the conveying path for checking a coin conveyed along the conveying path.

For example, from the US 7,147,552 B2 or WO 2012/089 353 A1 known coin separating device of this type, a conveyor device in the form of a two-strand conveyor belt is provided which forms a conveyor path along which coins are conveyed from an input container in an upward direction against the effect of gravity. Carriers are arranged on the conveyor belt, which take coins from the input container and convey them along the conveyor line. Various devices are provided distributed along the conveying path, which are intended to ensure that only a single coin is conveyed to each carrier. Depending on an examination of the coins, i.e. depending on a respective test result, the coins are in a Coin collecting device conveyed, objects not recognized as coins being sorted out and returned to a user.

Such coin separating devices are used to separate coins from other objects. A coin separating device can be followed by a sorting device which sorts coins separated by the coin separating device and guides them in sorted form into collecting containers.

The ones from the US 7,147,552 B2 and WO 2012/089 353 A1 Known separation devices each work according to the so-called vertical separation principle. In the vertical separation principle, coins are conveyed out of an input container, moved along a conveying path in an upward direction and fed to a coin collecting device as a function of coin recognition. Such coin separating devices are generally insensitive to foreign bodies and can have a high level of detection accuracy. By suitably designing the conveyor line, only coins should be transported along the conveyor line, if possible, while other objects or false coins remain in the input container. Depending on a check, checked coins and objects are then conveyed or sorted out from the conveyor line into a coin collecting device for further processing of the coins. In the case of the US 7,147,552 B2 known coin separating device, an electromagnetic ejector is provided for this purpose, for example, for conveying a checked coin from the conveying path into a coin collecting device.

The US 2007 / 0062783A1 discloses a coin processing system in which a coin is conveyed over a driven turntable and over it arrives at an active slide in the form of a curved plate. The coin being transported is checked. A proper coin is accepted by the slide. However, if the check shows that the coin is to be rejected, a gap between the slide and the turntable is enlarged so that the coin falls onto a central disc. The middle disc then conveys the coin to be rejected to a coin dispensing unit. A correct coin, however, does not end up on the middle disc but is transported to a collecting unit via a double turntable arrangement.

The EP 0 940 777 A1 describes a coin discriminating unit in which a conveyor belt conveys coins along an inclined conveyor path. Depending on a coin being checked, a movably arranged rotating drum is positioned in such a way that the coin selectively takes one of two possible transport routes.

With one of the EP 2 525 329 A1 known coin separating system, coins are transported by a conveyor device and, depending on a result of an authenticity check, either a sorting unit or a receptacle for suspected counterfeit coins are fed via a folding element. A coin can be transferred between two conveyor belts when the folding element is unfolded. When the folding element is not unfolded, however, the coins fall into the receptacle.

The object on which the present invention is based is to propose a coin separating device and a method for operating a coin separating device in which the coins can be transported from the conveying path into the coin collecting device in a simple, reliable and inexpensive manner.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a coin separating device with the features of independent claim 1. Features of advantageous developments of the coin separating device according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The coin separating device according to the invention comprises, in addition to the usual conveying device and the coin collecting device, a coin bridge device arranged between these components, which is designed to receive the test result signal of the test device and, depending on the test result signal, optionally to accept a conveyed coin from the conveying device by means of a movably arranged slide and via the To feed the chute to the coin collecting device or, alternatively, not to take over an object conveyed by the conveying device, so that the conveyed object arrives from the conveying device to a return means of the coin separating direction and not into the coin collecting device. The chute is designed in such a way that the coin taken over by the conveying device by means of the chute is fed along the chute to the coin collecting device, essentially driven solely by gravity.

The test device provides the test result signal as a function of the test of the coin. For example, the test device recognizes in the course of the test that the conveyed object is a coin that is to get into the coin collecting device. In addition, a check for authenticity and / or foreign currency and / or denomination of the coin can take place. For the control of the coin bridge device, however, it is initially only essential that the test result signal indicates whether or not the conveyed object should get into the coin collecting device.

If the test result signal indicates that the conveyed object is a coin to be collected, the coin bridge device takes over the conveyed coin from the conveying device and feeds it to the coin collecting device via the chute. The coin thus slides along the slide towards the coin collecting device. If, on the other hand, the test result is indicative that the conveyed object is not to be collected in the coin collecting device, the coin bridge device does not take over the conveyed object from the conveying device, but rather ensures that the conveyed object arrives from the conveying device to the return means of the coin separating device, for example i.e. in a foreign coin channel so that the item can be returned. The transported object that should not get into the coin collecting device can be, for example, a counterfeit coin, a foreign coin, another coin-like object or a coin that should not get into the coin collecting device for whatever reason, for example because the coin collecting device is partially overfilled, defective or the like.

Due to the movably arranged slide, which is in the form of a slide rail, for example, the conveyed coin can be fed to the coin collecting device in a simple and energy-saving manner. No complex throwing or accelerating devices or the like are necessary, but rather the coin taken over by the slide can slide along the slide towards the coin collecting device, driven essentially solely by gravity. There is no additional energy required to move the chute to the conveying device in order to transport the conveyed coin from the conveying device to the coin collecting device. Although the inventive Coin singling device has a compact design and operates in an energy-saving manner, it is essentially insensitive to foreign bodies.

When the coin separating device is arranged and used as intended, the conveying direction is directed against a direction of gravity with at least one direction vector component. The coin separating device thus works according to the vertical separating principle, in that coins are conveyed from the input container in an upward direction along the conveying path. The conveying direction does not have to be exactly vertical against the direction of gravity (i.e. opposite to the direction in which the force of gravity acts), but advantageously points at an angle to the direction of gravity in such a way that a direction vector component of the direction of conveyance is directed against the direction of gravity.

The coin separating device according to the invention is therefore characterized by a low energy consumption and a simple, low-maintenance and reliable structure.

Further embodiments of the coin separating device according to the invention are described below. The additional features of these further embodiments can be combined with one another to form further embodiment variants, unless they are expressly described as being alternatives to one another.

The conveying path has a first end and a second end, the input container preferably being arranged at the first end and the coin bridge device being designed to dock at the second end of the conveying path for taking over the conveyed coin by means of the slide. In the present case, the term “docking” should be understood to mean that the coin bridge device approaches the second end of the conveying path by means of the chute in such a way that a coin conveyed by the conveying device can reach the chute. For this it is not necessarily necessary for the chute or another element of the coin bridge device to contact the conveying device directly. Rather, a small gap can also remain between the conveyor line and the slide. This constellation is also included in the present case by the term “docking”.

If, however, a conveyed object does not get into the coin collecting device, then the coin bridge device is preferably designed to move to a corresponding one Test result signal to distance the chute from the second end of the conveyor device, i.e. to remove it, so that a distance is created between the chute and the second end of the conveyor path, which is dimensioned such that the object conveyed by the conveyor device to the return means of the coin separation direction and not on the slide. For example, the conveyed object falls into a foreign coin channel.

In a preferred embodiment, the chute of the coin bridge device has a pick-off piece and a throw-off piece, the pick-off piece being designed for coupling to the second end of the conveyor section and the throw-off piece being designed for transferring the coin from the chute to the coin collecting device. The tap ensures that the conveyed coin can get from the conveying device onto the chute, preferably in such a way that the coin is not turned over.

For example, the second end of the conveying path comprises a wheel-shaped deflecting element. In this variant, the tapping piece of the chute preferably comprises an end face which is arranged parallel to a fictitious tangent of the wheel-shaped deflecting element. As a result, the chute can be moved very close to the second end of the conveying line for the purpose of taking over the conveyed coin, without hindering the operation of the conveying line, in particular without making direct contact with the conveying line with the tapping piece.

After the conveyed coin has been taken over by means of the chute's tapping piece, the coin slides along the chute to the coin collecting device due to the force of gravity acting on it. The coin arrives at the coin collecting device via the drop piece of the chute. The discharge piece of the chute is formed, for example, by a rounded or angled edge, which ensures that the coin reaches the coin collecting device in a targeted manner.

The coin bridge device preferably has a drive which is coupled to the chute via a coupling member and is designed to move the chute to take over the conveyed coin to the conveying device, depending on the test result signal, so that the conveyed coin arrives on the chute and over it can slide to the coin collecting device, or to distance the chute from the conveying device, so that the object conveyed by the conveying device arrives at the return means. The drive is, for example, a stepper motor.

If the test result signal indicates that the conveyed coin is to reach the coin collecting device, the drive moves the chute to the second end of the conveying path, so that the coin comes from the conveying path onto the chute, slides down along it and arrives at the coin collecting device. If, on the other hand, the test result signal indicates that the conveyed object should not get into the coin collecting device, the drive moves the chute away from the second end of the conveying path so that the conveyed object (such as a foreign coin or counterfeit coin) does not get onto the chute, but instead from the conveyor line to the return means, for example to a sloping foreign coin channel. By removing the chute from the conveyor, a gap is created between the second end of the conveyor line and the tap of the chute, which is dimensioned so that the object does not get onto the chute but falls through the gap into the foreign coin channel, for example.

The coupling member preferably has a recess into which a protruding element of the slide engages for coupling the slide to the drive. The protruding member is arranged so that it does not hinder the sliding movement of the coin. The protruding element and the recess therefore form a joint which translates the movement of the drive into a movement of the slide. For example, the joint translates a rotational movement of the drive into a transverse movement of the slide.

It is further preferred that the chute is directed in the direction of gravity with at least one direction vector component when the coin separating device is arranged and used as intended. For this purpose, the slide comprises, for example, a slide surface that is essentially flat and arranged on a slope. The sliding surface preferably has a material that has a low coefficient of friction compared to a coin material such as copper, steel, Nordic gold, nickel, brass, copper-nickel or corresponding alloys. The chute therefore preferably leads from the second end of the conveying path down to an entrance of the coin collecting device. An angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal is between 5 ° and 40 °, for example. Depending on the application, a flatter or steeper angle of inclination for the slide can also be selected.

In addition to the slide surface, the slide preferably has at least one side band which is designed to hold a coin sliding along the slide surface in the path and to prevent it from leaving the coin bridge device to the side of the slide surface and missing an entrance of the coin collecting device. As a result, the coin separating device is less susceptible to vibrations.

In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor device has a conveyor belt with two synchronously moved conveyor strands extending parallel to one another along the conveying direction. The conveying lines can each be realized by a revolving conveyor belt, the conveying lines being moved synchronously and thus jointly conveying coins out of the input container. For this purpose, at least one driver is arranged on each conveyor line, with one driver of one conveyor line and one driver of the other conveyor line forming a driver pair for taking one coin each time.

The coin collecting device serves to catch and collect the coins supplied by means of the coin bridge device. The coin collecting device can advantageously have a sorting device for sorting the coins fed to the coin collecting device, which is designed in particular to guide each coin into a coin collecting container assigned to the coin type, for example depending on the respective denomination. The coin type can, for example, already be recognized by the checking device of the conveying device, so that the coin type of the coin is already determined when it is fed to the coin collecting device by means of the coin bridge device. Depending on the type of coin, the coin is then processed further and fed to a coin collecting container assigned to it, so that, for example, a one-euro coin ends up in a collecting container for one-euro coins.

The sorting device can, for example, have an adjustable sorting funnel which receives the coin to be sorted at an inlet and can be moved with an outlet to an inlet of a collecting container assigned to the coin type of the coin to be sorted, so that the coin is fed to the assigned collecting container by means of the sorting funnel becomes.

In addition, the coin collecting device can be a control device, for example in the form of a simple light barrier or in the form of a more complex checking device to recognize a coin including its coin type. The control device is (at least) designed to detect the presence of a coin in the coin collecting device in order to verify, for example, that a coin checked by the checking device of the conveying device and conveyed through the coin bridge device to the coin collecting device has actually entered the coin collecting device . If the control device determines, for example, that no coin is detected within a predetermined period of time, although a coin should have got into the coin collecting device after the test by the test device of the conveyor device and after transport by the coin bridge device, this indicates that on the part of the conveyor device there is a malfunction, for example because the coin transfer device has failed and the coin that has been checked positively has therefore not reached the coin collecting device. In this case the coin is not booked. Rather, it is registered for further processing that the coin has not reached the coin collecting device.

Because the control device is arranged at a predetermined location, for example on a channel of the coin collecting device, the control device of the coin collecting device can also determine when the coin fed to the coin collecting device has reached the location of the control device. A downstream sorting device can thus also be controlled as a function of a detection signal from the control device, for example by triggering an adjustment movement of the sorting device for feeding the coin to an assigned collecting container as a function of a detection signal from the control device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a method for operating a coin separating device according to independent patent claim 14.

The advantages and advantageous configurations described above for the coin separating device, in particular as specified in the subclaims, also apply analogously to the method for operating the coin separating device. The method is preferably used to operate a coin separating device of the type described above.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Querschnittsansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Münzvereinzelungsvorrichtung mit einer Fördereinrichtung und einer Münzsammeleinrichtung; und

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Münzvereinzelungsvorrichtung .

The idea on which the invention is based is to be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of a coin separating device according to the invention with a conveying device and a coin collecting device; and

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a plan view of a coin separating device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 and 2 show exemplary embodiments of a coin singling device 1 which has a conveying device 2 for conveying coins M from an input container 40 along a conveying path 200 to a coin collecting device 3. The conveying path 200 has a first end 201 and a second end 202, the input container 40 being arranged at the first end 201. To transfer a conveyed coin M to the coin collecting device 3, a driven coin bridge device 5 is provided. The following is made with respect to both Figures 1 and 2 the operation and structure of the coin separating device 1 will be described in more detail.

The conveyor device 2 is designed as a conveyor belt with two synchronously driven conveyor strands 20A, 20B extending parallel to one another. Each conveyor line 20A, 20B is realized here by a circulating conveyor belt, the conveyor lines 20A, 20B being guided on identical deflection elements 21, 22 in the form of deflection rollers and driven in a synchronous manner for a movement in the same direction at the same speed. The conveyor lines 20A, 20B are, for example, endless belts.

The conveyor belt 20 formed by the conveyor lines 20A, 20B is used to convey coins M from the input container 40 in a conveying direction F along the conveying path 200. The conveying device 2 implements the so-called vertical separation principle in that the conveying direction F is directed with a direction vector component against the direction of gravity G (that is, the conveying direction F can be broken down into vector components, one of which is set up against the direction of gravity G). Coins M are thus conveyed out of the input container 40 along the conveying direction F obliquely upwards (that is, upwards) with respect to the direction of gravity G, with the Conveyor strands 20A, 20B driver pairs 23 are formed, which are each implemented by a first driver 23A arranged on one conveyor line 20A and a second driver 23B arranged on the other conveyor line 20B. Bolts, for example, come into consideration as drivers 23A and 23B. For reasons of clarity, not all are in the Fig. 1 and 2 provided with reference numerals, but only a selection for illustrative purposes, this selection having no further meaning.

To convey a coin M from the input container 40, a pair of drivers 23 is moved through the input container 40 and in this way grips a coin M which - as in FIG Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown - comes to rest on the conveyor strands 20A, 20B and is held between the drivers 23A, 23B of the driver pair 23. By moving the conveying lines 20A, 20B in the conveying direction F, the coin M is now moved along the conveying path 200 in the conveying direction F, the movement of the conveying lines 20A, 20B taking place continuously and thus successively picking up coins M from the input container 40 and moving along the conveyor line 200 are conveyed.

When a coin M is picked up from the input container 40, it can happen that several coins M come to rest on a pair of drivers 23, for example by two coins lying on top of each other or by a coin M pushing another coin M in front of it on a pair of drivers 23.

A ramp 24 is therefore initially arranged on the conveying path 200, followed by a drop device 25 in the conveying direction F, which is intended to ensure that only exactly one coin M is conveyed on each driver pair 23. If a coin M conveyed on a pair of drivers 23 reaches the ramp 24, it runs onto the ramp 24 and is thus (slightly) offset perpendicular to the conveying direction F on the pair of drivers 23 assigned to it. In this way, the coin M is lifted off the conveyor lines 20A, 20B, with the result that a second coin M arranged on the coin M slides off the drivers 23A, 23B of the driver pair 23 and thus falls off the conveyor belt 20.

After the ramp 24, the coin M arrives at the ejection device 25, which has an inductive sensor 250, for example, and an electromagnetic ejector 251, which is connected downstream in the conveying direction F, for example. If the (inductive) sensor 250 detects that a coin M is on pushes a further coin M in front of a pair of drivers 23, the ejector 251 is activated in a corresponding manner, and the further coin is ejected.

After the ramp 24 and the ejection device 25, it is thus ensured that only exactly one coin M is conveyed on a pair of drivers 23. The coin M then arrives at a checking device 26 arranged on the conveyor line 200, which is used to check a coin, in particular to detect whether the object being conveyed is a coin M to be further processed or another object, for example a foreign body (counterfeit coin ) or a coin that cannot be processed further because it is z. B. comes from another currency (foreign coin). Depending on the test, which can be carried out using a diameter detection, a weight detection and / or an optical pattern detection, for example, a test result signal is generated which is used to control a coin bridge device 5, as will be explained below.

After passing through the checking device 26, a coin M arrives at an ejection device 27 which has ejectors 270, 271, 272 for selectively ejecting the coin M from the conveyor belt 20. Two of the ejectors 270, 271, 272 serve to eject coins M with extreme properties (e.g. extremely light or extremely heavy coins M or coins M with an unusual shape, e.g. angular coins). A third of the ejectors 270, 271, 272 serves to selectively eject a coin M if the coin M has been recognized and verified, but it has then been determined that the downstream coin collecting device 3 is not able to accept the coin M and further processing, for example because a container assigned to the coin M is full and can therefore no longer accept any more coins M.

Downstream of the ejection device 27 in the conveying direction F on the conveyor path 200 is a control device 28 which serves to check the correct ejection of a coin M - if this is to take place - at the ejection device 27. The control device 28 is designed, for example, as an inductive sensor that checks whether a metallic coin M, which should have been dropped by the drop device 27, has actually been dropped and for this purpose generates a signal inductively if the coin M should have passed.

After passing the devices 27 and 28, a coin M guided on a pair of drivers 23 should be fed to the coin collecting device 3 for further processing if it has not yet been dropped but has been recognized and verified by the checking device 26. For this purpose, the coin bridge device 5 is arranged between the conveying device 2 and the coin collecting device 3.

The coin bridge device 5 comprises a movably arranged slide 51 and a drive 53, for example in the form of a stepping motor, which is coupled to the slide 51 via a coupling member 52. The coin bridge device 5 is designed to dock at the second end 202 of the conveying path 200 by means of the chute 51 in order to take over the conveyed coin M.

The coin bridge device 5 receives the test result signal. Depending on the test result signal, the coin bridge device 5 optionally takes over a conveyed coin M by means of the movably arranged slide 51 from the conveying device 2 and feeds it to the coin collecting device 3. Alternatively, the coin bridge device 5 does not take over a conveyed object M 'from the conveying device 2. The conveyed object M' therefore arrives from the conveying device 2 to a return means 42 in the form of a foreign coin channel 42.

If the test result signal thus indicates that the conveyed object is a coin M to be collected, then the coin bridge device 5 takes over the conveyed coin M from the conveying device 2 and feeds it to the coin collecting device 5. If, on the other hand, the test result is indicative that the conveyed object is not to be collected in the coin collecting device 3, the coin bridge device 5 does not take over the conveyed object from the conveying device 2, but rather ensures that the conveyed object M 'from the conveying device 2 to the Return means 42 of the coin separating device 1 arrives, that is to say in the foreign coin channel.

The conveyed object M ', which should not get into the coin collecting device 3, can be, for example, a counterfeit coin, a foreign coin, another coin-like object or a coin which, for whatever reason, should not get into the coin collecting device 3 , for example, because the coin collecting device 3 is partially overfilled, defective or the like.

To take over the conveyed coin M, the drive 53 moves the chute 51 to the second end 202 of the conveying path 200, so that a tap 512 docks to the second end 202. For this purpose, the tap 512 of the chute 51 has an end face which is arranged parallel to a fictitious tangent of the deflecting roller 22. As a result, the chute 51 can be moved very close to the second end 202 of the conveying line 200 for the purpose of taking over the conveyed coin M without hindering the operation of the conveying line 200, in particular without making direct contact with the conveying line 200. The coin M then automatically slides onto the chute 51 due to the force of gravity and the course of the conveying path 200.

After the conveyed coin M has been picked up by means of the tap 512 of the chute 51, the coin M slips due to the force of gravity acting on it and due to the sloping arrangement of the chute 51 along the chute 51 towards the coin collecting device 3 into the coin collecting device 3. The throw-off piece 513 of the chute 51 is formed, for example, by a rounded or angled edge which ensures that the coin M reaches the coin collecting device 3 in a targeted manner.

If, on the other hand, the test result signal indicates that the conveyed object M 'should not get into the coin collecting device 3, the drive 53 moves the chute 51 away from the second end 202 of the conveying path 200, so that the conveyed object M' (such as a foreign coin or Counterfeit coin) does not get onto the chute 51, but falls from the conveyor path 200 in the direction of the return means 42, which in the embodiment according to FIG Fig. 1 is designed as a sloping foreign coin channel. For this purpose, the coin bridge device 5 forms a distance A between the second end 202 of the conveyor device 2 and the chute 51, which is dimensioned such that the conveyed object falls from the conveyor device 2 into the foreign coin channel 42 of the coin separating device 1 and not onto the chute 51.

The in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 The examples shown, the chute 51 is arranged to be movable only in the sliding directions S. The sliding directions S point along a sloping straight line from the second end 202 of the conveying path 200 down to an input 300 of the coin collecting device 3 or along an ascending straight line from this input 300 up to the second end 202 of the conveying path 200. The drive 51 performs a rotational movement Drive directions S ', which are determined by the Coupling member 52 in transversal movements, that is, sliding directions S, of the slide 51 are converted. For this purpose, the coupling member 52 has a recess 521 into which a protruding element 511 of the chute 51 engages movably.

The drive 51 can be coupled to the slide 53 in various configurations. Two of these configurations are in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown schematically. In the Fig. 1 the protruding element 511 is arranged laterally. The protruding element 511 can also, as Fig. 2 shows, are arranged below the slide 51.

A conveyed object M '(for example a foreign coin, counterfeit coin or a coin that is not supposed to get into the coin collecting device 3) which is still on the conveyor belt 20 at the second end 202 of the conveyor line 200 and thus all devices 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 on the conveyor line 200 is conveyed beyond the second end 202 of the conveyor line 200, but falls through the gap created by the distance A between the second end 202 of the conveyor line 200 and the tap 512 of the chute 51 Foreign coin channel 42, which the object M '(see Fig. 1 ) transported back into a collecting container 41 of a return device 4 and can thus be returned to an operator.

The coin collecting device 3 catches a coin M transported by means of the coin bridge device 5 from the conveyor line 200 to the coin collecting device 3 at its entrance 300 and guides the coin M via the channel 30 to a sorting device 32 in the form of a sorting funnel pivotable about a pivot axis 320. Before the coin M arrives at the sorting device 32, it passes another control device 31, which is used to detect the coin M in order to verify that the coin M has indeed reached the coin collecting device 3. In addition, when the coin M passes the further control device 31 (which can be designed as a light barrier, for example), a position signal can be generated that can be used to trigger an adjustment movement of the sorting device 32 in order to sort the coin M into a coin collecting channel for suitable sorting 330-334 and a coin collecting channel 330-334 downstream of the coin collecting container 340-344.

Upon reaching the sorting device 32, the coin M arrives in a funnel-shaped inlet 321 of the sorting device 32 and becomes the assigned coin collecting channel 330-334 and above the assigned coin collecting container 340-344.

For example, a coin collecting container 340-344 can be assigned to each coin type. For example, a one-euro coin can be directed into a coin collecting container 340-344, in which one-euro coins are collected. The same applies to coins of other types of coins.

The idea on which the invention is based is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in completely different embodiments.

For example, the conveyor does not necessarily have to implement the vertical separation principle. For example, a conveying device for separating coins can also be provided, which has a conveying path that runs essentially horizontally.

The surface of the slide can be flat or curved, for example parabolic. It is essential that, viewed from the second end of the conveyor line, it runs downhill towards the entrance of the coin collecting device. The width of the chute can be selected as desired, as long as it is ensured that a coin that has been accepted slides reliably in the direction of the entrance to the coin collecting device.

When driving the coin bridge device, in addition to the stepper motor, other drive means can also be considered. For example, a magnetic means is conceivable that, upon receipt of a corresponding test result signal, attracts (or pushes) the bridge to the second end of the conveyor device, so that the coin conveyed by the conveyor device and to be collected can get onto the slide and from there into the coin collecting device got. If a conveyed object, such as a foreign or counterfeit coin, is not to be collected, the magnetic means is not actuated, so that due to the remaining gap between the chute and the second end of the conveying device, the conveyed object arrives at the return means of the coin separating device and not on the chute . In addition to the stepper motor, the magnetic means forms only one of several possibilities for realizing the functional principle of the coin bridge device explained above.

Claims (14)

1. Coin separating apparatus (1) having

   - a conveying device (2) for conveying coins (M) along a conveying path (200) in a conveying direction (F) from an input container (40);

   - a checking device (26), arranged on the conveying path (200), for checking a coin (M) conveyed along the conveying path (200) and for providing a check result signal;

   - a coin collecting device (3) for collecting coins (M); and

   - a coin bridge device (5) arranged between the coin collecting device (3) and the conveying device (2), said coin bridge device (5) being configured to receive the check result signal and, depending on the check result signal, either to take over a conveyed coin (M) from the conveying device (2) by means of a movably arranged slide (51) and feed it to the coin collecting device (3) via the slide (51) or not to take over a conveyed object (M') from the conveying device (2), such that the conveyed object (M') passes from the conveying device (2) to a return means (42) of the coin separating device (1);

   wherein, when the coin separating apparatus (1) is arranged and used as intended, the conveying direction (F) is directed at least with a direction vector component counter to a direction of gravity (G), characterized in that
   the slide is configured such that the coin (M) taken over from the conveying device (2) by means of the slide (51) is fed to the coin collecting device (3) along the slide substantially only in a manner driven by gravity.
2. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the conveying path (200) has a first end (201) and a second end (202), wherein the input container (40) is arranged at the first end (201) and the coin bridge device (5) is configured to be docked to the second end (202) by means of the slide (51) in order to take over the conveyed coin (M).
3. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the slide (51) of the coin bridge device (5) has a pick-up part (512) and an ejector part (513), wherein the pick-up part (512) is designed to be coupled to the second end (202) of the conveying path (200) and the ejector part is designed to transfer the coin (M) from the slide to the coin collecting device (3) .
4. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coin bridge device (5) has a drive (53) which is coupled to the slide (51) via a coupling member (52) and is configured, depending on the check result signal, either to move the slide (51) to the conveying device (2) in order to take over the conveyed coin (M), such that the conveyed coin (M) passes onto the slide (51) and can slide via the latter to the coin collecting device (2), or to space the slide (51) apart from the conveying device (2), such that the object (M') conveyed by the conveying device (2) passes to the return means (42).
5. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the drive (51) comprises a stepping motor.
6. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the coupling member (52) has a cutout (521) in which a protruding element (511) of the slide (51) engages in order to couple the slide (51) to the drive (53).
7. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the coin separating apparatus (1) is arranged and used as intended, the slide (51) is directed at least with a direction vector component in the direction of gravity (G) .
8. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (51) comprises a slide surface that is configured in a substantially flat manner and is arranged in a steeply sloping manner.
9. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (51) has a side strip.
10. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device (2) has a conveyor belt with two synchronously moved conveyor lines (20A, 20B) that extend parallel to one another in the conveying direction (F), wherein at least one entrainment means (23A, 23B) is arranged on each conveyor line (20A, 20B) and one entrainment means (23A, 23B) of one conveying strand (20A, 20B) and one entrainment means (23A, 23B) of the other conveying strand (20A, 20B) form an entrainment pair (23) for entraining a coin (M).
11. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coin collecting device (3) has a sorting device (32) for sorting the coins (M) fed to the coin collecting device (3) .
12. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the sorting device (32) is configured to direct each coin (M), depending on a coin type, into a coin collecting container (340-344), associated with the coin type, of the coin collecting device (3).
13. Coin separating apparatus (1) according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the coin collecting device (3) has a monitoring device (31) which is configured to detect a coin (M) in the coin collecting device (3).
14. Method for operating a control separating apparatus (1), wherein the coin separating apparatus (1) has:

    - a conveying device (2) for conveying coins (M) along a conveying path (200) in a conveying direction (F) from an input container (40);

    - a checking device (26), arranged on the conveying path (200), for checking a coin (M) conveyed along the conveying path (200) and for providing a check result signal; and

    - a coin collecting device (3) for collecting coins (M), wherein

    the check result signal is received by a coin bridge device (5) arranged between the coin collecting device (3) and the conveying device (2), said coin bridge device (5), depending on the check result signal, either taking over a conveyed coin (M) from the conveying device (2) by means of a slide (51) and feeding it to the coin collecting device (3) or not taking over a conveyed object (M') from the conveying device (2), such that the conveyed object (M') passes from the conveying device (2) to a return means (42) of the coin separating device; wherein, when the coin separating apparatus (1) is arranged and used as intended, the conveying direction (F) is directed at least with a direction vector component counter to a direction of gravity (G),
    the method being characterized in that
    the slide is configured such that the coin (M) taken over from the conveying device (2) by means of the slide (51) is fed to the coin collecting device (3) along the slide substantially only in a manner driven by gravity.

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