EP2930700A1 - Device for dispensing coins - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing coins, comprising a rotationally driven turntable, a coin container arranged above the turntable, through which coins can be fed to an upper side of the turntable, and a coin outlet, wherein a wiper device is provided which at least one above and at a distance from the top of the turntable and arranged with the turntable co-rotating elastic wiper arm comprises.

Description

The invention relates to a device for dispensing coins, comprising a rotationally driven turntable, a coin container arranged above the turntable, through which coins can be fed to an upper side of the turntable, and a coin outlet.

Such so-called hopper or Münzauszahleinheiten usually have a base plate on which a rotationally driven by means of a drive motor hub is located. About a coin inlet coins are placed on the top of the turntable, which are then taken by the rotation of the hub and conveyed to a Münzauslass. Above the turntable is a coin container, are stored in the coins to be paid, for example, to a customer. From the container, the coins reach the top of the turntable. The turntable can be arranged with its axis of rotation obliquely to the vertical direction. The turntable then takes from the coin container on the top of the turntable reaching coins with to the Münzauslass. In the area of Münzauslasses often a so-called Auswerfmesser is arranged, which promotes coins from the top of the turntable to the adjoining in the region of a lateral recess to the outer edge of the turntable coin outlet. The Münzauslass also often includes, for example, a spring-biased ejection device, which is deflected by a subsidized into the Münzauslass coin against its spring bias and accelerates the coin, in the course of their subsequent return to the rest position, in the direction of an outlet. From the outlet section, for example, the coins pass to a customer for delivery.

The operation of such hoppers can lead to malfunction or at least problems with critical coins. This includes the jamming of individual coins or the formation of coin accumulations in the coin container in the area of transfer to the top of the turntable. The coins are then not taken properly or completely by the turntable and thus fed to the Münzauslass. It is crucial that all coins, including the so-called last coin, are fed to the coin outlet. It may also come to unwanted roll formations reaching the turntable coins, as well as cavity or bridge formations. The above problems occur singly or in combination with each other, both in the processing of similar coins and in the processing of different coins.

It has already been proposed to provide laterally projecting pins or the like in the area of rotation of the turntable in order to dissolve coin accumulations. However, it has been found that such an arrangement can not always reliably eliminate the problems explained above, in particular coin accumulations. In addition, it may come in jamming inadmissible high forces and thus damage to the pin or other components. In order to reduce the forces occurring, a pin would have to project in the direction of rotation inclined in the rotational range of the turntable. In such a case, however, the operation of the hopper is naturally only possible in one direction of rotation.

Based on the explained prior art, the present invention seeks to provide a device of the type mentioned above, which safely avoids the malfunction explained above without risk of damage to components of the device and the greatest possible flexibility in terms of operation.

The invention achieves the object by the subject matter of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims and the description.

For a device of the type mentioned, the invention solves the problem in that a wiper device is provided which comprises at least one above and spaced from the top of the turntable and rotating with the turntable elastic wiper arm.

As already explained, the device may be a so-called coin hopper or a coin payout unit. As also explained at the beginning, the device has a turntable, for example, rotatably mounted on a base plate. The turntable is driven in rotation by a suitable drive, for example an electric drive motor. The drive of the turntable, for example an electric drive motor, may be part of the device according to the invention. From the coin container arranged above the turntable coins are fed in a transfer area of the upper side of the turntable. The coins are taken from this transfer area by the rotational movement of the hub and promoted in this way to a Münzauslass. In the region of the Münzauslasses, as also explained above, for example, a pivotally mounted Auswerfeinrichtung be provided, which is deflected by the coins conveyed in the Münzauslass coins against a spring bias from its rest position and the coins in their subsequent return movement in their rest position in the direction of an outlet or similar accelerates. For example, the coins can be paid out to a customer via the outlet section. Adjacent to the coin outlet may be disposed above the turntable hub a fixed ejector blade under which the turntable rotates. The The ejector promotes coins from the turntable into the coin outlet. In this case, the Auswerfmesser is particularly designed such that it promotes only one coin in the Münzauslass and possibly promotes on this coin stacked more coins on a ramp of Auswerfmessers away in the transfer area of the coming out of the coin container coins.

According to the invention, a wiper device is provided with at least one elastic wiper arm. The elastic wiper arm is located above and slightly spaced from the top of the turntable. Upon rotation of the turntable hub, the at least one elastic wiper arm is also rotated. The at least one elastic wiper arm dissolves, in the manner of a stirrer, coin accumulations on the upper side of the turntable, in particular in the transfer area of the coins coming out of the coin container. In particular, it also resolves roll formations of coins standing on its edge and places these coins on its sides. When the at least one elastic wiper arm is rotated by the coin volume located on the upper side of the rotary disk, the at least one elastic wiper arm is elastically deformed. Also, individual coins that have remained lying, for example, in the area of an ejector knife or in the transfer area of the coin container, are further promoted by the at least one flexible wiper arm and thus also reach the Münzauslass.

According to the invention, it is thus ensured that the so-called last coin is also supplied from the turntable to the coin outlet. The elasticity of the at least one wiper arm represents an alternative possibility of the wiper arm, so that lumps of coins can be reliably resolved without a rotation of the at least one elastic wiper arm and thus the turntable would be too stiff, as for example in a rigid Stirrer would be the case. The co-rotation of the at least one elastic wiper arm with the turntable ensures that coins not conveyed by the turntable are again supplied to the conveyor by the turntable and thus guided to the coin outlet. Only through the combination of an elastic wiper arm with the co-rotating with the turntable all possible malfunctions explained above are avoided safely and without risk of damage to components of the device.

The hub may be circular or circular. Accordingly, it has a center or inner edge. It also has an outer edge. The at least one elastic wiper arm extends at least in sections between a center or an inner edge and an outer edge of the turntable. In particular, the at least one elastic wiper arm can extend substantially completely between the center or the inner edge and the outer edge of the turntable.

Furthermore, the at least one elastic wiper arm can extend in the radial direction to the turntable. The at least one elastic wiper arm may extend in sections or completely radially to the turntable. It may also extend in sections or completely at an angle to the radial direction. Also, the at least one elastic wiper arm may have a curved course.

The at least one elastic wiper arm may for example consist of a plastic or a rubber material. The use of metal components may be undesirable in this context. By using a plastic or a rubber material, the required elasticity can be provided in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner. When Plastics are for example elastomers in question, especially thermoplastic elastomers. But there are also other plastics possible. It is conceivable, for example polyurethane, especially a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The at least one elastic wiper arm may have a Shore hardness between 70 and 95, for example about 90. The wiper arm or the wiper arms of the wiper device may, for example, have a width of 2 to 9 mm and a height of 2 to 9 mm. Furthermore, the width may be less than the height. For example, the width may be 2 to 4 mm, in particular 3 mm, and the height 5 to 7 mm, in particular 6 mm. These dimensions are of course dependent on the individual application and among other things also on the material used of the wiper arm and the wiper arms and its elasticity.

According to a further embodiment, a bearing section of the wiper device can be mounted on an axle section of the turntable driven by a rotary drive and the at least one elastic wiper arm can be connected at one end to the bearing section. The axle section is connected, for example, to an electric drive motor which rotates the axle section and thus the turntable. Upon rotation of the turntable, the at least one elastic wiper arm is then rotated via the axle section and the bearing section. According to a particularly practical embodiment of the bearing portion of the wiper device may have a bore into which the axle portion of the turntable is inserted. The axle section is then seated in the bore of the bearing section, which may in particular be a throughbore, so that the bearing section is annular. At the axle portion may be provided a groove into which the annular bearing portion is inserted. The entire wiper device may be formed in one piece. The one or more wiper arms can thus be integrally connected to the bearing section. The storage section then connects the ends of the wiper arms together. But it is also possible that the bearing portion is formed separately from the wiper arms.

According to a further embodiment, it can be provided that the axle section of the turntable is inserted into the bore of the bearing section of the wiper device in such a manner that rotation of the turntable up to a limit torque prevents rotation of the axle section in the bore and if the limit torque is exceeded Rotation of the axle section in the hole is possible. Thus, an interference fit between the axle section and the bore is provided, which allows a slippage of the axle section in the bore from a defined limit torque. Similar to a slip clutch so the rotationally fixed connection between the bearing section and the axle section is removed from a defined limit torque and the hub can continue to rotate without the at least elastic wiper arm is rotated. By suitable design of the fit between the axle portion, in particular its diameter, and the bore in the bearing portion of the wiper device, the limit torque and thus the friction occurring during operation and mixing of the coins can be adjusted in a suitable manner. If there are large accumulations of coins on the turntable or in the coin container, the wiper device slips on the axle section, since high torques occur in such a case. If, on the other hand, only a few coins are on the turntable, the at least one elastic wiper arm rotates with the turntable and, in the manner explained above, releases roller or bridge formations as well as coin jams or conveys all coins to the coin outlet. The decoupling of the rotation of the rotary disk and the wiper device, which is permitted particularly in the case of coin containers filled with coins, both the drive motor and the wiper device, in particular the one or more Wiper arms, protected against damage. The limit torque is advantageously set so that slipping of the axle section in the bore of the bearing section only takes place when the elasticity of the wiper arms is no longer sufficient for the dissolution of the respective coin accumulations. This can be determined as part of a calibration of the device.

According to a further embodiment, an enlarged cross section end portion is formed at the free end of the at least one elastic wiper arm. Such a final thickening hooks into coin collections as the at least one elastic wiper arm rotates, much like a wiper arm curved at the end, thus resulting in improved disintegration of the coin collections. The at least one elastic wiper arm (and thus also any thickening provided at the free end) may be formed symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal axis. It is then in a particularly advantageous manner, an operation of the device in both directions of rotation of the turntable possible without the wiper device must be changed.

The wiper device may have at least two elastic wiper arms arranged above and spaced from the upper side of the rotary disk. This is particularly advantageous for a good mixing of the coins and resolution of coin collections. The wiper arms then stir like a propeller through the coin volume. If two or even more than two wiper arms are provided, all of these wiper arms can be configured as exemplified in this application for the at least one elastic wiper arm. Thus, in particular all wiper arms of the wiper device can be designed identically. Furthermore, the at least two elastic wiper arms can be offset by 180 ° in the direction of rotation of the turntable hub. The wiper arms are thus in relation to the center of the turntable arranged opposite each other. This results in a particularly uniform operation.

According to a further embodiment may be formed on the upper side of the turntable with the turntable mitdrehende driving pins, which take the coins supplied from the coin container on the top of the turntable with a rotation of the turntable. The driving pins protrude from the top of the turntable. If a Auswerfmesser is provided, the driving pins can be retracted for example via a slotted guide before reaching the Auswerfmessers so that they no longer protrude above the top of the hub and a collision with the Auswerfmesser is avoided.

Furthermore, it is possible for pockets to be provided on the upper side of the turntable, the pockets being designed to move coins located on the turntable to the driving pins, wherein the pockets have a different angular spacing from one another in the direction of rotation of the turntable than the at least two elastic ones wiper arms. Such bags can influence, for example, on their edge upstanding coins so that they lay with their sides on the turntable. The pockets in the treads push coins so that they are taken from the drive pins of the turntable. Sometimes it happens that coins always slip exactly between two adjacent in the direction of rotation of the turntable pockets and thus not properly promoted. The at least one elastic wiper arm further promotes such coins. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the angular pitch of the wiper arms (for example, 180 ° to each other) is different than the angular pitch of the pockets to each other. By this seen in the direction of rotation of the hub different angular distances between the wiper arms on the one hand and between the pockets on the other hand ensures that even located between adjacent pockets coins are taken from the wiper arms.

The axis of rotation of the hub can according to a further embodiment obliquely to the vertical direction, for example at an angle between 20 ° and 70 °, more preferably between 30 ° and 60 °. As a rule, the transfer area of the coins coming from the coin container onto the upper side of the turntable is then in the region of the turntable which has reached the lowest point during operation of the device.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in einer Schnittansicht,

Fig. 2

einen Teil der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

den in Fig. 2 gezeigten Teil in einer Seitenansicht, und

Fig. 4

die Wischereinrichtung der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 2 in einer Draufsicht.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to figures. They show schematically:

Fig. 1

a device according to the invention in a sectional view,

Fig. 2

a part of the device Fig. 1 in a plan view,

Fig. 3

the in Fig. 2 shown part in a side view, and

Fig. 4

the wiper device of the device Fig. 2 in a top view.

Unless otherwise indicated, like reference characters designate like items throughout the figures. The in the FIGS. 1 to 3 The device for dispensing coins forms a so-called coin hopper and has a base plate 10 on which a turntable 12 driven in rotation by means of a drive (not shown in detail), for example an electric drive motor, is arranged. In the present case, the turntable is in Fig. 2 turned counterclockwise. In the example shown, the turntable 12 is circular and has an annular top 14. In the reference numeral 15, a coin container is shown, from the coins in a transfer area 17 on the top of the turntable 12 pass. For this purpose, the coin container 15 has a Münzzuführtrichter 19. In the example shown four fasteners 16 may be connected to the base plate 10, a coin dispensing device not shown on the bottom. As in particular in FIG. 1 As can be seen, the axis of rotation of the turntable shown at reference numeral 19 extends at an angle α obliquely to the vertical direction shown at reference numeral 21. From the top 14 of the turntable 12 coins are fed to a Münzauslass 18. Adjacent to the Münzauslass 18 a fixed Auswerfmesser 20 is disposed above the hub, under which the hub rotates through. The Auswerfmesser 20 singles coins by means of a crescent-shaped stopper 22 and the hub 12 conveys the individual coins below the Auswerfmessers 20 to the Münzauslass 18. The stopper 22 is formed such that only one coin at a time reaches the Münzauslass 18. Any further coins stacked on this coin are conveyed over a ramp-like section 24 of the ejection blade 20 over the ejector blade 20 and back to the transfer region 17 of the coin container 15.

In the area of Münzauslasses 18 is also located about a pivot axis 26 pivotally mounted ejector 28 which by means of a spring 30 in the in Fig. 2 shown rest position is biased. When a coin is fed to the coin outlet 18 and the ejector 28 by the ejector 20, the ejector 28 is pivoted about the pivot axis 26 against the spring bias of the spring 30, presently in FIG Fig. 2 clockwise. Once the coin has reached the free end of the ejector 28, the ejector 28 is pivoted by the spring 30 back to its rest position, the coin one not closer is fed accelerating shown outlet. From the outlet section, the coins can be fed to an exit for storing or paying out the coins to a customer.

The hub 12 has a central frusto-conical portion 32 with a central shaft portion 34. Formed on the shaft portion 34 is an annular groove 36 in which, in the example shown, a pierced annular bearing portion 38 of a wiper device is held. The wiper device comprises in the illustrated example two elastic wiper arms 40, 42. Visible are the elastic wiper arms 40, 42 above the top 14 of the turntable 12 and spaced therefrom. By choosing a suitable distance, the dissolution of coin collections can be specifically influenced. The elastic wiper arms 40, 42 are each integrally connected at one end to the bearing portion 38 and have at its other, free end a thickened in cross-section end portion 44, 46. The structure of the wiper device is good in the enlarged view of Fig. 4 to recognize. There is also the bore 48 of the bearing portion 38 can be seen. Such as in Fig. 2 can be seen extending the elastic wiper arms 40, 42 in their rest position in the radial direction to the hub 12 and in each case in sections between the center 50 of the hub 12 and the outer edge 52 of the hub 12th

In the illustrated example, the wiper device is formed completely in one piece and consists of a plastic, for example a thermoplastic polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 90. The central bearing portion 38 sits with its through hole 48 press-fit in the groove 36 on the axle portion 34, such that the Wiper device and with it the elastic wiper arms 40, 42 upon rotation of the turntable 12 until reaching a Limit torque to be turned. If this limit torque is exceeded, the axle section 34 slips through in the throughbore 48 of the wiper device, so that the turntable 12 rotates without the wiper device. During operation, the elastic wiper arms 40, 42, possibly with elastic deformation of the wiper arms 40, 42, release any coin accumulations, coin jams, etc. on the upper side 14 of the turntable 12, in particular in the transfer area 17 of the coin container 15. They stir, as it were, in the coin volume located on the turntable 12. In this way it is ensured that unwanted coin accumulations are resolved and each coin located on the turntable 12 is conveyed to the coin outlet 18.

In Fig. 2 In addition, it can be seen that a plurality of driving pins 54, 56 arranged along two circles of different diameters are located on the upper side 14 of the turntable 12. The driving pins 54, 56 protrude beyond the top 14 of the turntable 12 and are retracted by means of a slotted guide in the region of the Auswerfmessers 20, so that there is no collision with the Auswerfmesser 20. They take in operation on the top 14 of the turntable 12 located coins. In addition, in Fig. 2 it can be seen that a plurality of pockets 58, 60 are likewise formed on the upper side 14 of the rotary disk 12. The pockets 58, 60 promote coins in the region of the driving pins 54, 56. The pockets 58, 60 to each other under a viewed in the direction of rotation of the hub 12 different angular distance arranged as the elastic wiper arms 40, 42, the present spaced 180 ° to each other are.

Claims (16)

A coin dispensing apparatus comprising a rotatably driven turntable (12), a coin container disposed above the turntable through which coins can be fed to an upper side (14) of the turntable (12), and a coin outlet (18), characterized in that Wiper device is provided which comprises at least one above and spaced from the top (14) of the turntable (12) and with the turntable (12) co-rotating elastic wiper arm (40, 42). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one elastic wiper arm (40, 42) extends at least in sections between a center (50) or an inner edge and an outer edge (52) of the turntable (12). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one elastic wiper arm (40, 42) extends in the radial direction to the hub (12). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one elastic wiper arm (40, 42) consists of a plastic or a rubber material. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bearing portion (38) of the wiper device is mounted on an axis portion (34) of the turntable (12) driven by a rotary drive, and that the at least one elastic wiper arm (40, 42) with a End is connected to the bearing portion (38). Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the bearing portion (38) of the wiper device has a bore (48) into which the axle portion (34) of the turntable (12) is inserted. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the axle portion (34) of the turntable (12) is pressed into the bore (48) of the bearing portion (38) of the wiper device inserted such that upon rotation of the turntable (12) up to a limit torque no rotation of the axle section (34) in the bore (48) is possible and when the limit torque is exceeded, a rotation of the axle section (34) in the bore (48) is possible. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at the free end of the at least one elastic wiper arm (40, 42) an enlarged in cross-section end portion (44, 46) is formed. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one elastic wiper arm (40, 42) is formed symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal axis. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper device has at least two elastic wiper arms (40, 42) arranged above and spaced from the upper side (14) of the turntable (12). Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least two elastic wiper arms (40, 42) in the direction of rotation of the hub (12) are arranged offset by 180 ° to each other. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the upper side (14) of the turntable (12) driving pins (54, 56) are formed, which from the coin container on the upper side of the turntable (12) supplied coins during rotation of the turntable (12). Apparatus according to claim 12 and any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that on the upper side (14) of the turntable (12) further pockets (58, 60) are provided, wherein the pockets (58, 60) are formed on to move the turntable (12) coins radially on the turntable (12) to the driving pins (54, 56), wherein the pockets (58, 60) in the direction of rotation of the turntable (12) have a different angular distance from each other than the at least two elastic Wiper arms (40, 42). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacent to the Münzauslass (18) above the turntable (12) a fixed Auswerfmesser (20) is arranged, under which the turntable (12) rotates through, wherein the Auswerfmesser (20) isolated Promotes coins from the turntable (12) in the Münzauslass (18). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the hub runs obliquely to the vertical direction. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an outlet section adjoins the coin outlet (18) connects, through which the turntable (12) funded coins are fed to an output.

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