EP2908294B1 - Coin-sorting device with overflow catchment device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a coin sorting device for processing coins according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating such a coin sorting device.

Such a coin sorting device comprises an input device into which coins can be input for sorting. The coin sorting device further comprises a sorting device for sorting coins input via the input device, a plurality of receiving containers for storing sorted coins and an overflow collecting device for receiving coins after an overflow of at least one receiving container. In this case, coins can be removed from the overflow collecting device for re-input into the input device and re-input into the input device in a re-input process. A counting device is designed for counting coins entered into the input device and coins entering the overflow collecting device.

With such a coin sorting device, coins can be sorted and returned in a sorted manner for further use. About the Input device, the coins are input into the coin sorting device, sorted by means of the sorting device and, depending on their denomination, conveyed into different receptacles. For example, one-euro coins get into a receptacle intended for one-euro coins, two-euro coins get into a receptacle intended for two-euro coins, etc. The coins can then be sorted in a suitable manner, for example packed in coin rolls, to be issued again.

If a receptacle is full, this receptacle may overflow if further coins are to be added to this receptacle. Such additional coins get into the overflow collecting device, which receives those coins which can no longer be received due to an overflow on the individual receiving containers.

In this context, under an overflow, a maximum fill level has been reached on a receptacle, beyond which the receptacle cannot be filled, so that further coins cannot be put into the receptacle.

With one of the EP 2 525 330 A1 known coin sorting device, coins are entered via an input unit and separated using a separating centrifuge. A conveyor unit is arranged upstream of the singling centrifuge. Downstream of the singling centrifuge there are several receptacles for storing coins, into which coins are fed via a sorting unit.

With one of the U.S. 7,147,552 known coin sorting device, a conveyor device in the form of a two-strand conveyor belt is provided for separating coins, which conveyor belt forms a conveyor path along which coins are conveyed from an input container in an upward direction. Depending on a recognition, coins are conveyed into a coin collecting device, objects not recognized as coins being sorted out and returned to a user.

the EP 2 680 236 A1 describes a coin sorting device in which coins can be entered via an input device and directed to receiving containers via sorting devices. A sorting device is provided for overflow coins, which can no longer be received in an assigned receptacle, and collecting coins, which are coins that are to be collected but no receptacle is assigned to lead to an overflow collecting device. The overflow collecting device can be removed from the device, and coins can be fed back into the device from the overflow collecting device via the input device.

In a coin sorting device of this type, coins that have been conveyed into the overflow collecting device can be removed from the overflow collecting device again and can again be input into the coin sorting device via the input device. If the receptacles have been emptied in the meantime, the new input process can sort and convey the coins into the respectively assigned receptacles.

The overflow collecting device conventionally consists, as a rule, of a collecting container into which coins fall in the event of an overflow of a receiving container. The collecting container can be accessed, for example, via a drawer, so that coins can be removed from the overflow collecting device and fed back to the sorting device.

The basic problem here is that unauthorized removal of coins from the overflow collecting device must be prevented in order to prevent coins from being stolen. If it is possible to access the coins contained in the collecting container without any control and, in particular, it cannot be checked whether and to what extent coins are removed from the collecting container, unauthorized removal of coins from the overflow collecting device may not be avoided.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coin sorting device and a method for operating a coin sorting device with which security is increased in a simple, inexpensive manner, in particular in that unauthorized removal of coins from the overflow collecting device is not easily possible.

This object is achieved by an object with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, a checking device is additionally provided which is designed to check whether, in the event of a re-entry process, the number of coins re-entered into the input device corresponds to the number of coins removed from the overflow collecting device.

In particular, it can be provided that for a re-entry process the coins in the overflow collecting device can only be removed from the overflow collecting device in their entirety and otherwise, e.g. if a user removes only part of the coins in the overflow collecting device, a warning or alarm is generated.

The test device is used to check whether the number of re-entered coins corresponds to the number of coins removed from the overflow collecting device. If the checking device determines that all of the coins removed from the overflow collecting device are also re-entered into the input device, then it is ensured that all of the coins removed have also been fed back to the coin sorting device and that no coins have been stolen. It is thus ensured in a verifiable manner that all the removed coins are completely re-entered into the input device, so that unnoticed theft of coins is at least made more difficult, if not impossible. If the checking device determines that the number of coins re-entered into the input device does not correspond to the number of coins removed from the overflow collecting device, this indicates an (unauthorized) theft of coins, which is registered and displayed accordingly and a user logged on to the coin sorting device can be assigned.

The counting device is used to count the coins arriving in the coin sorting device. The counting device is advantageously designed to detect and register the stocks in the coin sorting device at any point in time, so that the number of coins in the different receiving containers and in the overflow collecting device is known at all times.

The counting device has a suitable sensor system for detecting the coins. The counting device and the checking device can be integrated into one another in the form of electronics, for example, and can optionally be part of a control device for controlling the coin sorting device.

The overflow catcher has a first container and a second container which can be used (alternately) to catch coins.

The second container can be arranged in or on the first container, the overflow collecting device being designed in such a way that, when the second container is arranged in or on the first container, coins are at least one after an overflow Receiving container are collected in the second container and the second container with coins collected therein can be removed from the first container.

The overflow collecting device is designed so that when the second container is not arranged in or on the first container, coins are collected in the first container after at least one receiving container has overflowed.

If the second container is located together with the first container in the overflow collecting device, coins are conveyed into the second container in the event of an overflow of at least one receiving container. The coins that can no longer be received in the receiving containers assigned to them are thus caught in the second container. If the coins collected in the second container are to be re-entered into the coin sorting device in the input device, the second container can be removed from the overflow collecting device in order to manually fill the coins from the second container into the input device.

The fact that the coins that have entered the overflow collecting device can all be removed by removing a container from the overflow collecting device and then re-entered into the input device, ensures that the coins that have entered the overflow collecting device are only removed in their entirety and then completely returned to the coin sorting device in a verifiable manner have to. This makes it possible to check whether the removed coins have also been completely reinserted, and in this way counteracts the theft of coins from the possibly unprotected overflow collecting device.

The coins that get into the overflow catcher are counted so that it is always known which number of which coins is in the overflow catcher. When the second container is removed and the coins are re-entered into the coin sorting device, the re-entered coins are then counted again. If the number of coins re-entered differs from the previously determined number of coins that were in the second container, this indicates that coins have been stolen, which is immediately registered and displayed in a suitable manner.

In particular against the background that a user usually has to identify and authorize himself on the coin sorting device before using it, for example in order to access the To access the overflow collecting device, it is possible in this way to assign a potential theft process to a user, so that it can easily be determined during which use process by which user coins stolen should a theft process occur.

In a specific embodiment, the overflow collecting device can have a drawer which can be moved along a pull-out direction relative to a housing of the coin sorting device and in or on which the first container and / or the second container can be arranged. In a normal operating position, the drawer is pushed into the housing of the coin sorting device, and at least one of the containers is located on the drawer. To remove the second container, for example, the drawer can be opened so that the second container can be accessed and removed from the drawer.

Because two containers are provided, it can be ensured that all coins located in the second container can always be re-entered via the input device. Should the input device be too small in terms of its capacity to accommodate all the coins in the second container in one input process, the coins can gradually be input from the second container into the input device, with coins possibly being sorted and processed in the coin sorting device can be collected in the first container, which can also be removed from the drawer.

The first container and the second container can preferably be stackable one inside the other. For example, the second container can be inserted into the first container so that the second container can be arranged inside the first container in the drawer.

In this context, it is also conceivable and possible that further containers, for example a third container, are present, which in turn can be arranged in or on the first container. Such a third container can be advantageous in order to ensure, when the second container is removed, that two containers are still arranged in the drawer. The first container can therefore always be in the drawer remain, while the second and the third container can alternately be inserted into the first container or removed from the first container.

The containers can, for example, have a general box shape and, for this purpose, be box-shaped with side walls and a bottom. Coins can thus be collected in the containers, with those coins which during or after sorting can no longer be accommodated in the respective associated collecting containers, falling into one of the containers of the overflow collecting device and thus being collected there.

• Münzen in eine Eingabeeinrichtung zum Sortieren eingegeben werden,
• eine Sortiervorrichtung die eingegebenen Münzen sortiert,
• sortierte Münzen in eine Mehrzahl von Aufnahmebehältern befördert werden und
• eine Überlaufauffangeinrichtung Münzen nach einem Überlauf zumindest eines

The object is also achieved by a method for operating a coin sorting device for processing coins according to claim 7, in which

• Coins are fed into an input device for sorting,
• a sorting device sorts the inserted coins,
• sorted coins are conveyed into a plurality of receptacles and
• an overflow catcher, coins after at least one overflow

Receiving container receives, wherein a counting device in the input device counts coins and entering the overflow collecting device coins and coins for re-input into the input device from the overflow collecting device and can be re-entered in a re-input process in the input device. It is provided that a checking device checks whether, in the event of a re-entry process, the number of coins re-entered into the input device corresponds to the number of coins removed from the overflow collecting device.

With regard to advantages and advantageous embodiments, reference should be made to what has been said above for the coin sorting device, which is applied analogously to the method.

The overflow collecting device has a first container and a second container which can be arranged in or on the first container, the overflow collecting device collecting coins in the second container after an overflow of at least one receiving container and the second container when the second container is arranged in or on the first container can be removed from the first container with coins caught therein.

If the second container is not arranged in or on the first container, coins are caught in the first container after at least one receiving container has overflowed.

A re-entry process for re-entering coins from the overflow collecting device into the input device of the coin sorting device can then proceed as follows:
First of all, it can be provided that a user has to authorize himself to the coin sorting device. For this purpose, the coin sorting device can, for example, have a suitable reading device, for example for reading in an identification card or other identification code, so that after a successful authorization process, the identity of the user and his authorization to use and operate the coin sorting device is determined.

After successful authorization, a drawer in or on which the first container and the second container are arranged can then be released for opening so that a user can access the overflow collecting device and the coins stored therein.

In order to feed the coins back to the coin sorting device for sorting again, the user removes the second container with the coins arranged therein, the number of coins in the second container being known and stored in the system.

The user then enters the coins contained in the second container into the input device and thus in turn feeds them to the coin sorting device. The input process does not necessarily have to be done in one go. It is also conceivable and possible that, depending on the capacity of the input device, the user first pours some of the coins in the second container into the input device and then, after processing the coins, fills further coins from the second container into the input device.

If there is an overflow at one or more receptacles, so that sorted coins cannot be inserted into the assigned receptacle, they in turn end up in the overflow collecting device, but this time in the first receptacle in the drawer (because the second receptacle has been removed has been). The coins are thus caught in the first container, the counting device counting the total number of coins entered - that is, the sorted coins fed into the receiving containers and also the coins arriving in the overflow collecting device.

The number of coins reinserted is then compared with the stored number of coins that were in the second container. If there is a discrepancy, this is registered and can indicate that coins have been stolen from the second container, which can be clearly assigned to the user operating the coin sorting device. If there is no discrepancy - i.e. if the number of coins reinserted corresponds to the number of coins previously issued in the second container - it is ensured that all coins have been returned to the coin sorting device, i.e. that no coins have been stolen.

The coin sorting device advantageously has a sensor system which is designed to detect whether the drawer is open and at least one container is located in the drawer. In this way it can be ensured, for example, that a re-entry process can only be started when the drawer is (again) closed and at least one container is in the drawer.

The drawer can also have an actuator which only enables the drawer to be opened if a user is logged on to the coin sorting device and is authorized, and which otherwise locks the drawer and thus prevents opening. If a user is authorized, he can for example use a suitable input command on a command input device to open the drawer by actuating the actuator so that he can access the overflow collecting device and the coins stored therein.

In further operation, the first container and the second container can then always be used alternately. If coins are re-entered from the second container, coins that have overflowed are caught in the first container arranged in the drawer. If, on the other hand, coins are re-entered from the first container, coins that have overflowed are caught in the second container, which is arranged in the drawer instead of the first container. The first container and the second container can thus always alternate with them arranged coins are removed, the respective other container then placed in the drawer and the drawer closed again for a new re-entry process.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht einer Münzsortiereinrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht der Münzsortiereinrichtung mit darin angeordneten Funktionskomponenten;

Fig. 3

eine schematische, ausschnittsweise Ansicht der Münzsortiereinrichtung, darstellend eine Schublade mit darin angeordneten Behältern einer Überlaufauffangeinrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wiedereingabevorgangs von in der Überlaufauffangeinrichtung aufgefangenen Münzen in eine Eingabeeinrichtung der Münzsortiereinrichtung;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wiedereingabevorgangs unter Verwendung eines weiteren, dritten Behälters; und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Ansicht eines Behälters der Überlaufauffangeinrichtung.

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

Fig. 1

a view of a coin sorting device;

Fig. 2

a schematic view of the coin sorting device with functional components arranged therein;

Fig. 3

a schematic, partial view of the coin sorting device, showing a drawer with containers of an overflow collecting device arranged therein;

Fig. 4

a schematic view of a re-input process of coins caught in the overflow collecting device into an input device of the coin sorting device;

Fig. 5

a schematic view of a re-entry process using a further, third container; and

Fig. 6

a schematic view of a container of the overflow collecting device.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective overview view of a coin sorting device 1 which has a housing 100 in which different functional components of the coin sorting device 1 are arranged.

The coin sorting device 1 has an input device 10 in the form of a compartment which can be closed by a flap, through which a user can input coins into the coin sorting device 1 and thus feed them to the sorting device. The coin sorting device 1 also has a command input and display device 13, which can be configured, for example, as a touch-sensitive screen and via which commands can be entered by a user on the one hand and instructions and possible inputs or the like can be displayed on the other hand, and a reader 14 in the form of a card reader , about which a user himself identify and thereby authorize by using a suitable identification card. A receipt issuing device 15 is designed to print and issue a suitable receipt after an input process in order to confirm the number of coins entered and their amount to the user and to indicate the correctness of the input process. Coins or other objects, for example coins in a foreign currency or coin-like objects, can be returned to a user via a return compartment 16. Sorted coins can be dispensed via an output compartment 17, the output compartment 17, for example, comprising a drawer into which sorted coins can be filled into different compartments, so that a set of sorted coins can be obtained by removing the drawer, for example for use at a till . A drawer 18 can, for example, have a container in the form of a transport container into which coins can be conveyed, for example for transport. And a drawer 19 is part of an overflow collecting device 2, which will be described below.

Functional components of the coin sorting device 1 are shown schematically in FIG Fig. 2 illustrated. Downstream of the input device 10 is a sorting device 11 which is designed to sort the inserted coins M. The sorting device 11 can, for example, be designed as a coin singling device in which coins M are singled out, checked and fed to a collecting device with different receptacles 12 in which the coins M can be stored and kept sorted depending on their denomination. An orderly output of sorted coins M, for example in the form of packed coin rolls, can take place from the receptacles 12 via the output compartment 17.

Each receptacle 12 has a maximum capacity, beyond which the receptacle 12 cannot hold any coins M. If a receptacle 12 is filled to the maximum and therefore cannot hold any further coins M, this receptacle 12 will overflow. Coins M, which can no longer be received in an assigned receiving container 12, are fed to an overflow collecting device 2, where they are caught and collected.

The overflow collecting device 2 has two containers 20, 21 which are arranged on the drawer 19, nested one inside the other. A second container 21 is inserted into a first container 20 and thus received by the latter, so that the containers 20, 21 can be arranged on the drawer 19 in a nested manner. At the Drawer 19, suitable fixing means can be provided, by means of which the first, outer container 20 can be fixed in a detachable manner on the drawer 19, so that the containers 20, 21, when they are inserted into the drawer 19, are attached to the drawer 19 in a defined manner Drawer 19 are held.

In a normal operating state, the containers 20, 21 are on the drawer 19, the drawer 19 being pushed into the housing 100 of the coin sorting device 1. The containers 20, 21 are thus enclosed by the housing 100 and are in a position in which coins M, if a receiving container 12 overflows, are passed into the inner, second container 21 and collected there, as shown schematically in FIG Fig. 2 is shown.

To remove coins from the overflow collecting device 2, the drawer 19 can be pulled out in a pull-out direction A (see Fig. 3 ) can be pulled out of the housing 100 of the coin sorting device 1 so that the containers 20, 21 arranged on the drawer 19 can be accessed. In particular, the second container 21 arranged in the first container 20, as a whole with the coins M arranged therein, can be removed in order to again pour the coins M into the input device 10 and thus feed them again to the coin sorting device 1, as shown schematically in FIG Fig. 4 is shown.

How out Fig. 2 As can be seen, the coin sorting device 1 has as a further functional component a counting device 3 which serves to count coins M entered into the coin sorting device 1, to record the stocks of the receptacles 12 and also to detect those coins M that get into the overflow collecting device 2 and count. The counting device 3 thus ensures that the coins M stored in the receptacle 12 and the number of coins M in the overflow collecting device 2 are known at all times.

If a user N, as in Fig. 4 illustrated, the second container 21 with coins M arranged therein from the first container 20 of the overflow collecting device 2, the number of coins M located in the second container 21 is known. If the user N re-enters the coins M stored in the second container 21 into the input device 10, the number of coins M inserted is again counted and checked by a checking device (4) with the known number of coins M previously located in the second container 21 compared so that it is checked whether all coins from the second container 21 are also re-entered into the input device 10 of the coin sorting device 1.

If this does not happen, this can indicate the theft of coins M from the second container 21, which can be registered and displayed accordingly by the checking device 4.

Access to the drawer 19 with the containers 20, 21 located therein generally requires a user N to identify and authorize himself in advance at the coin sorting device 1 and, for example, to insert a suitable identification card into the reader 14. Only then can the drawer 19 be unlocked by entering a suitable command on the command input and display device 13, for example, and thus access to the overflow collecting device 2 can be made possible.

The user N, who removes the second container 21 for the purpose of re-entering it into the coin sorting device 1, is thus known to the coin sorting device 1. If the checking device 4 detects an irregularity during a re-entry process, for example because the number of coins re-entered differs from the known number of coins M previously contained in the second container 21, this can be registered and clearly assigned to the user N. A user N cannot therefore steal coins M from the overflow collecting device 2 undetected. Access to the overflow collecting device 2 is only possible for a user N if he has authorized himself in the system. If, when comparing the re-entered coins M with the known number of previously stored coins M, an irregularity occurs, this can easily be assigned to the respective user N.

The fact that the second container 21 can be removed from the first container 20 with all of the coins M stored therein and thus all of the coins M located in the second container 21 can be poured into the input device 10 makes it possible to determine the number of coins entered Compare coins M with the number of coins M previously stored in the second container 21. When the coins M are inserted into the input device 10 and the drawer 19 is closed again, the processing of the coins M can begin immediately, the re-inserted coins M being sorted and the respective ones Receiving containers 12 are fed and coins are collected in the first container 20 of the overflow collecting device 2 in the event of an overflow.

The first container 20 can also be removed from the drawer 19, so that the first container 20 can be removed and coins M can be re-entered into the coin sorting device 1 when it is re-entered. The first container 20 and the second container 21 can thus be used alternately for entering and collecting the coins M during further operation.

It is also possible and conceivable to provide three containers 20, 21, 22, the third container 22 being located in the first container 20 when coins M are re-inserted via the second container 21. In this case, the second container 21 and the third container 22 can be used alternately and are each inserted into the first container 20 in an operating state for collecting coins M.

The containers 20-22 generally have a box shape, as shown schematically in FIG Fig. 6 is shown. Each container 20-22 can have two handles 200 so that the container 20-22 can be easily grasped and removed from the drawer 19.

List of reference symbols

1

Coin sorting device

10

Input device

100

casing

11th

Sorting device

12th

Receiving container

13th

Command input and display device

14th

Reader

15th

Receipt issuing device

16

Return compartment

17th

Output tray

18, 19

drawer

2

Overflow collecting device

20th

First container

200

Handle

21

Second container

22nd

Third container

3

Counting device

4th

Test facility

A.

Extension direction

M.

Coins

Claims (8)

1. Coin sorting device (1) for processing coins, comprising

   - an insertion device (10) into which coins (M) for sorting are insertable,

   - a sorting device (11) for sorting coins (M) inserted via the insertion device (10),

   - a plurality of receiving containers (12) for storing sorted coins (M),

   - an overflow collecting device (2) for receiving coins (M) after at least one receiving container (12) has overflowed, wherein coins (M) for reinserting into the insertion device (10) are removable from the overflow collecting device (2) and are reinsertable into the insertion device (10) in a reinserting operation, and

   - a counting device (3) for counting coins (M) inserted into the insertion device (10) and coins (M) passing into the overflow collecting device (2),

   characterized by
   a checking device (4) which is designed to check whether, in the event of a reinserting operation, the number of coins (M) reinserted into the insertion device (10) corresponds to the number of coins (M) removed from the overflow collecting device (2), wherein the checking device (4) is designed to produce an indication if it is determined during a reinserting operation that the number of coins (M) reinserted into the insertion device (10) does not correspond to the number of coins (M) removed from the overflow collecting device (2), wherein the overflow collecting device (2) has a first container (20) and a second container (21) for collecting coins (M), wherein the second container (21) is arrangeable in or on the first container (20), wherein the overflow collecting device (2) is designed in such a manner that, with a second container (21) arranged in or on the first container (20), after at least one receiving container (12) has overflowed, coins (M) are collected in the second container (21), and the second container (21) with coins collected therein is removable from the first container (20), wherein the overflow collecting device (2) is designed in such a manner that, with the second container (21) not arranged in or on the first container (20), after at least one receiving container (12) has overflowed, coins (M) are collected in the first container (21).
2. Coin sorting device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the overflow collecting device (2) has a drawer (19) which is movable relative to a housing (100) of the coin sorting device (1) along a pull-out direction (A) and in or on which the first container (20) and/or the second container (21) are arrangeable.
3. Coin sorting device (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the first and/or second container (20) is removable from the drawer (19).
4. Coin sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second container (21) is insertable in to the first container (20).
5. Coin sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow collecting device (2) has a third container (22) which is arrangeable in or on the first container (20) and/or the second container (21).
6. Coin sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the containers (20-22) have a box shape.
7. Method for operating a coin sorting device (1) for processing coins, in which

   - coins (M) are inserted into an insertion device (10) for sorting,

   - a sorting device (11) sorts the inserted coins (M),

   - sorted coins are conveyed into a plurality of receiving containers (12), and

   - an overflow collecting device (2) receives coins (M) after at least one receiving container (12) has overflowed,

   wherein a counting device (3) counts coins (M) inserted into the insertion device (10) and coins (M) passing into the overflow collecting device (2), and coins (M) for reinserting into the insertion device (10) are removable from the overflow collecting device (2) and are reinsertable into the insertion device (10) in a reinserting operation,

   characterized

   in that a checking device (4) checks whether, in the event of a reinserting operation, the number of coins (M) reinserted into the insertion device (10) corresponds to the number of coins (M) removed from the overflow collecting device (2), wherein the checking device (4) produces an indication if it is determined during a reinserting operation that the number of coins (M) reinserted into the insertion device (10) does not correspond to the number of coins (M) removed from the overflow collecting device (2), wherein the overflow collecting device (2) has a first container (20) and a second container (21) which is arrangeable in or on the first container (20), wherein, with a second container (21) arranged in or on the first container (20), after at least one receiving container (12) has overflowed, the overflow collecting device (2) collects coins (M) in the second container (21), and the second container (21) with coins collected therein can be removed from the first container (20), wherein, with a second container (21) not arranged in or on the first container (20), after at least one receiving container (12) has overflowed, coins (M) are collected in the first container (21).
8. Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that

   - a user (N) is authorized in relation to the coin sorting device (1),

   - after authorization has taken place, a drawer (19), in or on which the first container (20) and the second container (21) are arranged, is released for opening,

   - the user (N) removes the second container (21) with a first number of coins (M) arranged therein from the first container (20),

   - the user (N) inserts coins (M) contained in the second container (21) into the insertion device (10) in a reinserting operation,

   - after at least one receiving container (12) has overflowed, coins (M) are collected in the first container (21), and

   - the checking device (4) checks whether the number of coins (M) inserted in the insertion operation corresponds to the first number of coins (M).

Images