EP3506219B1 - Device and method for separating and forced movement of disc-shaped articles, especially coins - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for singling out and forcibly conveying disc-shaped objects, in particular coins, according to the preamble of claims 1 and 13, respectively. Devices for singling out and forcing coins are from the documents U.S. 3,698,537 A and U.S. 5,181,881 A known. The ones from the U.S. 3,698,537 A Known device has an inclined guide plate and an axis running at right angles to the plane of the guide plate in one direction of rotation, which can be driven and is arranged parallel to the guide plate. The drive plate has continuous receiving holes, the receiving holes dipping into a collecting container filled with coins when the drive plate is rotated, receiving coins and the driving plate pushing the coins along the guide plate to a removal surface of the guide plate. The lead-away surface inclines away from the drive plate and forms a transfer area. As a result, the coins leave the receiving holes in the area of the removal surface on the side of the drive disc facing away from the collecting container and are guided into the transfer area. When the drive plate is rotated, the coins are jerkily accelerated and pushed on by means of pins attached to the drive plate and protruding from the rear of the drive plate onto a horizontal transfer rail in the direction of a linear conveyor. Then the Coins transported for further processing by means of carrier elements arranged on a conveyor chain of the conveyor.

In such a device, the coins leaving the receiving holes are accelerated jerkily by the pins. This leads to a wobbling and uneven movement of the coins when they roll on the transfer rail. As a result, the coins can fall off the transfer rail and block parts of the device, possibly damaging them.

In addition, rolling leads to heavy wear in the area of the transfer rail.

The processing speed of the device is therefore limited.

Furthermore, two circular grooves are formed in the guide surface for the movement path of the drive pins attached to the drive plate. Small coins can penetrate transversely into these grooves and be conveyed in this position. However, this leads to blockages of the drive disc when the coins reach the removal surface. As a result, small coins cannot be reliably picked up with this construction.

Since the drive pins are long and thin due to the overall design, there is a risk that the drive pins break off after a few blockages or come loose from the thin drive disk.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device and a method for separating and forcibly conveying disc-shaped objects, in particular of coins to make available, with a higher processing speed is achieved with smooth running.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 13. Preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a device for separating and forcibly conveying disk-shaped objects, in particular coins. The device comprises a separating device with a guide element having a guide surface lying in an inclined plane, the lower region of which delimits a collecting container and in the upper region of which a removal surface connects to the guide surface.

The guide element is preferably designed in one piece. It can be made of wear-resistant metal, preferably nickel-plated steel, or wear-resistant plastic, preferably polyoxymethylene (also known in the technical field as POM), in order to reduce the wear and tear caused by the objects.

The guide element can, however, also be configured in several pieces in order to enable worn parts to be replaced easily and to reduce maintenance costs. For example, the guide element can comprise a guide base to which a guide plate forming the guide surface is exchangeably attached. In this case, the guide plate can be made of hardened or nickel-plated steel and the guide base can be made of polyoxymethylene or aluminum.

The guide element can also include a guide plate which forms the guide surface and connects to the guide base.

The guide surface and the removal surface can be formed on two mutually adjoining parts in order to enable worn parts to be easily replaced and to reduce maintenance costs.

However, it is possible to form the guide surface and the removal surface on a common, one-piece part.

A drive disk is arranged parallel to the guide surface and can be driven in one direction of rotation about a drive axis running at right angles to the plane. To avoid friction, there is a gap between the drive plate and the guide surface. The width of the gap, however, is narrower than the thinnest object to be processed, which consequently cannot become trapped between the drive disk and the guide element. The gap is preferably 0.1 to 0.3 mm.

A shaft to which the drive plate is attached and which is in drive connection with a drive motor, preferably with an electric motor, runs concentrically to the drive axis.

The drive plate has a ring of receiving holes which are designed as passages through the drive plate. The receiving holes are preferably uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction over a circle running around the drive axis and are of the same design, preferably circular. The drive plate preferably has between 12 and 30 receiving holes. The speed of rotation of the drive disk is preferably 10 to 100 revolutions per minute in normal operation.

The guide surface has an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical preferably of 40 ° to 20 °, an angle of inclination of 30 ° being particularly preferred in order to simultaneously minimize the friction of the objects on the guide surface and to reliably accommodate the objects in the receiving holes and their To ensure isolation.

The removal surface extends, viewed in a removal direction, at an increasing distance from the drive disk. The boundary between the guide surface, which is preferably flat, and the guide surface defines a first boundary line. This arrangement leads to the fact that an object begins to leave its receiving hole on the side of the drive disk facing away from the collecting container when its receiving hole has crossed the first boundary line.

The removal direction runs in the same direction and preferably at least approximately tangential to the direction of rotation in the area where the objects each leave their receiving hole on the side of the drive disk facing away from the collecting container.

The device further comprises a rail which has a transfer section and a processing section. The transfer section extends in the removal direction to the processing section, which preferably begins with the area of the rail in which it runs at least approximately horizontally. The The top of the rail forms a rolling surface for the objects that have left or have left the receiving holes.

Arranged at least approximately flush with the removal surface is a preferably flat support surface, which extends parallel to the guide surface along the rail into the processing section. The boundary between the lead-away surface and the support surface defines a second boundary line.

The first boundary line, viewed in the direction of rotation, preferably runs upstream and at least approximately parallel to a beam emanating from the drive axis which intersects the lead-away surface. The jet preferably intersects the lead-away surface, viewed in the circumferential direction of the drive disk, centrally between the first and the second boundary line. The second boundary line, viewed in the direction of rotation, preferably runs downstream of the jet and at least approximately parallel to it. With this arrangement it has been found experimentally that large or small as well as heavy or light objects each leave their receiving hole with little swaying and reach the transfer section in approximately the same time to rest with the impact organs.

However, it is also possible for the first boundary line to run at least approximately radially to the drive axis. In this case, the first boundary line runs in particular at least approximately along the line of intersection of the guide surface with a vertical plane in which the drive axis lies. With this arrangement, an object begins to leave its receiving hole when it has reached its at least approximately uppermost position when turning.

The removal surface and the support surface support the objects laterally on the rolling surface. The edge of the rolling surface facing away from the removal surface in the region of the transfer section lies at least approximately in the plane defined by the guide surface and the width of the rolling surface in the region of the removal surface increases continuously in the removal direction. This arrangement ensures that the objects cannot fall between the driving disk and the guide element when they leave the driving disk.

The rolling surface preferably spreads to a width which is greater than the thickness of the thickest object to be processed. This ensures that the thickest object can roll out of the receiving holes.

The front surface of the rail facing away from the removal surface preferably lies at least approximately in the plane of the guide surface.

As seen in the removal direction, the rail extends upstream preferably at least approximately as far as the guide surface.

The guide element preferably has a recess for receiving the end region of the transfer section facing the guide element, wherein the end region of the transfer section can be designed with a constant thickness and is arranged in the recess in such a way that the edge facing away from the removal surface of the Rolling surface lies in the plane defined by the guide surface.

It is also conceivable to design the end area of the transfer section with an initially small, continuously increasing thickness viewed in the removal direction and to attach it to the removal surface in such a way that the edge of the rolling surface facing away from the removal surface lies in the plane defined by the guide surface.

The device further comprises a conveying device with a pulling element which is provided with pushing elements, a section of their movement path running in the transfer section.

The drive plate is intended to pick up objects in receiving holes when rotating in the collecting container in a known manner, to separate them, and to convey the picked up objects along the guide surface to the removal surface, where the objects roll onto the roll-off surface in the removal direction.

The receiving holes have a beveled edge on the side of the drive disk facing the collecting container, at least in their edge region, which follows in the direction of rotation. The beveled edge is limited by an inner and an outer edge.

The width of the gap between the driving disk and the guide surface together with the thickness of the driving disk at the inner edge is preferably less than or equal to the thinnest object to be processed. This ensures that only one object remains in a receiving hole when the drive disk is rotated and cannot get caught between the drive plate and the guide element.

The pushing organs come into contact with the objects in the transfer section and push them into the processing section for further processing in the removal direction.

The distance between the shock elements and the rolling surface, measured at right angles to the rolling surface, is preferably smaller than the smallest diameter, particularly preferably smaller than half the smallest diameter, of the objects to be processed.

According to the invention, the transfer section has a depression whose rising part of the rolling surface leads to the processing section and which slows the objects rolling on the rising part. When rolling on the rolling surface, the speed of the objects decreases in the ascending part, so that they roll less and are calmed down. This reduces the risk of the objects falling off the rolling surface. As a result, the articles are conveyed to the processing section more reliably.

As seen in the direction of removal, the depression has a sloping part with a slope and then the ascending part with a slope.

The rolling surface preferably runs in the area of the removal surface concentrically to the drive axis and, viewed in the radial direction, at least approximately along the path of movement of the radially inner edge of the receiving holes. In this arrangement, the rolling surface extends in such a way that a smooth transition of the Objects takes place from the receiving holes to the rolling surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the rolling surface forming the depression has several sections with different directions of curvature. In a first section of the rolling surface in the area of the removal surface, the rolling surface can run at least approximately concentrically to the drive axis and, viewed in the radial direction, preferably along the movement path of the radially inner edge of the receiving holes. In this arrangement, the rolling surface extends in such a way that there is a stepless transition of the objects from the receiving holes to the rolling surface. In a second section of the rolling surface, which is preferably continuously adjoining the first section, the rolling surface runs concavely to the drive axis. In a third section of the rolling surface, preferably continuously adjoining the second section, the rolling surface can run in a straight line with an at least approximately constant slope. In a fourth section continuously following the third section, the rolling surface can run convex to the drive axis and the processing section, which preferably runs horizontally, can connect to the fourth section.

It is also possible to do without the third section, so that the above-mentioned fourth section follows on from the above-mentioned second section. It is also possible to form an at least approximately straight intermediate section with an at least approximately constant gradient between the first and the second section, the intermediate section being the first section and the second section follows the intermediate section.

The profile of the rising part of the depression is determined by the radius of curvature of the curved sections and the length of the straight section. The length of the rising part is calculated or predetermined depending on the desired slowing down of the objects.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the movement path of the impact organs runs in the region of the depression, in particular in the above-mentioned second section.

The movement path of the impact elements preferably crosses the rolling surface at least approximately in the deepest point of the depression and the movement path then runs along an at least approximately circular arc-shaped section in the direction of the processing section.

The path of movement of the shock elements preferably crosses the rolling surface at least approximately at right angles to the rolling surface.

When leaving the drive disc, the objects roll on the rolling surface. When rolling on the part of the rolling surface that has the slope, there is a slight acceleration. The speed of the objects increases depending on the size and mass. The speed of rotation of the shock elements is between 0% to 20%, preferably 0% to 10%, particularly preferably 10%, higher than the speed of rotation of the drive plate.

The distance between two impact organs is selected such that one impact organ is assigned to each object leaving its receiving hole.

The shock organs follow the objects in the rising part of the depression and come into contact with the objects, preferably in the upper half of the rising part, where the objects are slowed down. Then they continuously accelerate the objects in an at least approximately circular arc-shaped section of their movement path in the removal direction. Thus, a jerky contact between the objects and the respective impact organs is almost completely avoided, which leads to a reduction of the rolling and to a calming of the objects.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the rail has a passage for the thrust organs. The rail is preferably designed in several parts and the passage is arranged between two parts of the rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the thrust members move along the circular arc-shaped section in the same direction of rotation as the drive disk. In this arrangement, a shock element comes into contact with an object in the direction from bottom to top with respect to the rolling surface. In this way, an object standing in the area of the passage in the path of a shock element is pushed by the shock element from bottom to top with respect to the rolling surface. The movement of the organ is consequently not impaired and not blocked.

In a preferred embodiment, the depression runs partially behind the drive plate. However, it is also possible for the entire depression to be arranged behind the drive disk. With this arrangement the items are on the rolling surface between the drive plate and the removal surface as well as the support surface at least up to the point at which the impact organs push the objects out of the depression. As a result, it is avoided that an object can fall off the rolling surface up to this point.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the movement of the pushing members is synchronized with the rotation of the drive plate in such a way that a pushing member comes into contact with an object located in the area of the rising part. Such synchronization can be ensured in a known manner by mechanically coupling the pulling element to the drive motor of the drive plate.

Alternatively, the synchronization can advantageously be implemented electronically via a control device. The drive disk and the pulling element are driven independently of one another by a first or second stepper motor electrically connected to the control device. The first and the second stepper motor each have an encoder disk for determining the position and speed of the drive disk or the pulling element. A first sensor is assigned to the drive disk for determining the position of the receiving holes and a second sensor is assigned to the pulling element for determining the position of the pushing elements. The first and the second sensor interact with the respective encoder disk. The first and second sensors are also electrically connected to the control device. The output signals of the first and second sensors are compared to control the first and second stepper motors adapt the control device in such a way that the movement of the thrust members is synchronized with the rotation of the drive plate. This electronic synchronization eliminates the need for a technician to set the mechanical coupling of the pulling element with the drive motor of the drive plate.

The synchronization ensures that a pulling element hits a single object at a time, so that the subsequent processing can take place for isolated objects. The distance between two successive impact elements is preferably greater than the diameter of the largest object to be processed.

In particular, it is possible with the control device to adapt the phase shift of the synchronous running of the conveyor device with the separating device or the drive plate, in particular as a function of the processing speed.

With the electronic control it is also possible, in the event of a blockage, to move the drive plate and the pulling element back and forth independently of one another in order to release jammed objects. This is a further advantage compared to a mechanical coupling of the pulling element to the drive motor of the drive plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide element comprises an ejection passage in the region of the first boundary line, in which an ejector is arranged. The ejector is placed in such a way that it can eject both the smallest and the largest objects from the receiving holes. The ejector is electrically driven and controllable by means of the control device. In the case of an unsynchronized In the state of movement of the pusher elements with the rotation of the drive disk, the objects can be pushed out of the receiving holes by the ejector and thrown back into the collecting container.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the pulling element is guided around a deflection wheel in the area of the transfer section, the axis of which runs at least approximately at right angles to the plane of the guide surface. The axis of the deflection wheel is preferably arranged below the rising part of the depression and, viewed in the direction of removal, downstream of the lowest point of the depression.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the pulling element is designed as a conveyor chain on which the pushing elements are arranged. The conveyor chain enables reliable synchronization via the chain links, preferably via the interaction between the deflection wheel and the chain links. The deflection wheel is preferably designed as a chain wheel.

Other types of pulling members are also conceivable; a toothed belt can be suitable, for example.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the thrust members are designed as pins, which enables an inexpensive construction.

The pins are preferably designed as extensions of chain pins. Chain pins are pins for connecting the chain links of the conveyor chain. This arrangement represents a low-wear, inexpensive and simple construction.

The pins preferably run at least approximately at right angles to the plane of the guide surface. This arrangement ensures that the objects are reliably pushed in the removal direction. As a result, the objects remain on the roll-off surface and the risk is reduced that they will fall off the rail because of an impact acting obliquely to the rail.

In the processing section, for example, a test module, which is intended for testing the material of the objects, and subsequently modules, which separate the objects on the basis of their size, can be arranged.

Mutatis mutandis, the invention also relates to a method which is carried out with a device of the type described above. The advantages described above in connection with the device are achieved.

• Aufnahme von Gegenständen aus einem Sammelbehälter in Aufnahmelöcher einer drehend angetriebenen Mitnahmescheibe einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung, wobei die Vereinzelungsvorrichtung ein eine in einer schiefen Ebene liegende Führungsfläche aufweisendes Führungselement, dessen unterer Bereich den Sammelbehälter begrenzt und in dessen oberen Bereich eine Wegführfläche anschliesst, und die um eine rechtwinklig zur Ebene verlaufende Antriebsachse in einer Drehrichtung antreibbare, parallel zur Führungsfläche angeordnete Mitnahmescheibe, welche einen Kranz von als Durchlässe durch die Mitnahmescheibe ausgebildeten Aufnahmelöchern aufweist, umfasst, wobei die Wegführfläche sich, in einer Wegführrichtung gesehen, in zunehmendem Abstand von der Mitnahmescheibe erstreckt;
• Förderung der aufgenommenen Gegenstände entlang der Führungsfläche vereinzelt zur Wegführfläche;
• Abrollen der Gegenstände in Wegführrichtung auf einer Abrollfläche einer Schiene, welche einen Transferabschnitt und einen Verarbeitungsabschnitt aufweist, deren Oberseite die Abrollfläche für die Gegenstände bildet, wobei der der Wegführfläche abgewandte Rand der Abrollfläche im Bereich des Transferabschnitts wenigstens annähernd in der von der Führungsfläche definierten Ebene liegt und die Breite der Abrollfläche im Bereich der Wegführfläche, in Wegführrichtung gesehen, sich kontinuierlich zunehmend verbreitet; und
• Stossen der Gegenstände zur weiteren Verarbeitung in Wegführrichtung in den Verarbeitungsabschnitt, wobei Stossorgane eines mit Stossorganen versehenen Zugorgans einer Fördervorrichtung im Transferabschnitt an die Gegenstände in Anlage gelangen, und die Bewegungsbahn der Stossorgane durch den Transferabschnitt verläuft.

The method for separating and forcibly conveying disk-shaped objects, in particular coins, comprises the following steps:

• Receipt of objects from a collecting container in receiving holes of a rotatably driven drive disk of a separating device, the separating device having a guide element having a guide surface lying in an inclined plane, the lower area of which delimits the collecting container and in the upper area of which a removal surface connects, and which is at right angles to Drive shaft running in a plane, drivable in one direction of rotation, arranged parallel to the guide surface, driving disk which comprises a ring of receiving holes formed as passages through the drive disk, the removal surface extending, viewed in a removal direction, at an increasing distance from the drive disk;
• Conveying the picked up objects along the guide surface to the removal surface;
• Rolling of the objects in the removal direction on a rolling surface of a rail which has a transfer section and a processing section, the top of which forms the rolling surface for the objects, the edge of the rolling surface facing away from the removal surface in the area of the transfer section being at least approximately in the plane defined by the guide surface and the width of the roll-off surface in the area of the removal surface, viewed in the removal direction, is continuously increasing; and
• Pushing the objects for further processing in the removal direction into the processing section, pushing elements of a pulling element provided with pushing elements of a conveying device in the transfer section coming into contact with the objects, and the movement path of the pushing elements running through the transfer section.

• Verlangsamung der auf der Abrollfläche rollenden Gegenstände im ansteigenden, zum Verarbeitungsabschnitt führenden Teil einer im Transferabschnitt ausgebildeten Senke, bevor die Stossorgane an die Gegenstände in Anlage gelangen.

According to the invention, the method comprises the step:

• Slowing down of the objects rolling on the rolling surface in the ascending, to Processing section leading part of a depression formed in the transfer section before the impact organs come into contact with the objects.

Preferably, during the deceleration, the impact organs come into contact with the objects from behind, viewed in the removal direction.

Further advantages and properties of the invention emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, which is explained with the aid of the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1

in perspektiver Ansicht einen Teil einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 unter Weglassung des Sammelbehälters;

Fig. 3

in perspektiver Ansicht den Transferabschnitt der Schiene in der Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1; und

Fig. 4

in perspektiver Ansicht die Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 unter Weglassung des Sammelbehälters und der Mitnahmescheibe.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of part of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a front view of the device according to Fig. 1 omitting the collecting container;

Fig. 3

in a perspective view the transfer section of the rail in the device according to FIG Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 4

in a perspective view the device according to Fig. 1 omitting the collecting container and the drive disk.

The device for separating and forcibly conveying disk-shaped objects 1, in particular coins, according to the method shown in FIG Fig. 1 The embodiment shown comprises a separating device 2 with a guide element 4 having a guide surface 3 lying in an inclined plane, the lower region of which has a The collecting container 6 is limited and a removal surface 8 adjoins the guide surface 3 in its upper region. The guide surface 3 has an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical, preferably of 40 ° to 20 °, in the exemplary embodiment shown, of 30 °. As a result of the perspective representation, this inclination cannot be seen in full. The guide element 4 comprises the guide surface 8 and the guide surface 3 in the present embodiment. The boundary between the guide surface 8 and the guide surface 3 defines a first boundary line 9. For the sake of clarity Fig. 1 only the lower area of the collecting container 6 is shown.

A drive disk 10 is arranged parallel to the guide surface 3 and can be driven in a direction of rotation D about a drive axis A running at right angles to the plane. In order to avoid friction, a gap 11 is preferably provided between the drive plate 10 and the guide surface 3.

The drive plate 10 is attached to a shaft 68 via a screw connection 12, as in connection with FIG Fig. 4 is explained in more detail.

The drive plate 10 has a ring of receiving holes 16 which are designed as passages through the drive plate 10. The receiving holes 16 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction over a circle running around the drive axis A and are of identical design.

The circular receiving holes 16 have a beveled edge 19 on the side of the drive disk 10 facing the collecting container 6, at least in their edge region 18, which is trailing as seen in the direction of rotation D on. The beveled edge 19 is delimited by an inner and an outer edge 19a and 19b, respectively.

The width of the gap 11 between the driving disk 10 and the guide surface 3 together with the thickness of the driving disk 10 at the inner edge 19a corresponds at least approximately to the thickness of the thinnest object to be processed.

The removal surface 8 extends, as seen in the removal direction W, at an increasing distance from the drive plate 10. The boundary between the removal surface 8 and the guide surface 3 defines the first boundary line 9. This arrangement results in an object 1 beginning in each case, its receiving hole 16 to leave on the side of the drive plate 10 facing away from the collecting container 6 when its receiving hole 16 has crossed the first boundary line 9.

The device further comprises a rail 20, which has a transfer section 22 and a processing section 24. The top of the rail 20 forms a rolling surface 26 for the objects 1. The transfer section 22 extends from an end region 30 facing the guide element 4 (in FIG Fig. 2 and 3 shown) the rail 20 in the removal direction W to the processing section 24, which begins with the region 32 of the rail 20 in which it runs at least approximately horizontally.

At least approximately flush with the removal surface 8, this is followed in the removal direction W by a support surface 36 which extends parallel to the guide surface 3 along the rail 20 into the processing section 24. The support surface 36 supports the one on the rolling surface 26 rolling objects 1 sideways. The boundary between the guide surface 8 and the support surface 36 defines a second boundary line 13. The arrangement of the first and second boundary lines 9 and 13 is in connection with FIG Fig. 2 explained in more detail.

The edge 38 of the rolling surface 26 facing away from the removal surface 8 in the area of the transfer section 22 lies at least approximately in the plane defined by the guide surface 3 and the width of the rolling surface 26 in the area of the removal surface 8 increases continuously in the removal direction W.

The rolling surface 26 spreads to a width which is greater than the thickness of the thickest object 1 to be processed. This ensures that the thickest object 1 can roll out of the receiving holes 16.

The front surface 40 of the rail 20 facing away from the removal surface 8 lies at least approximately in the plane of the guide surface 3.

The drive disk 10 is intended to receive objects 1 in receiving holes 16 in the collecting container 6 during rotation in order to separate them and to convey the received objects 1 along the guide surface 3 to the removal surface 8. The objects 1 leave their receiving holes 16 on the side of the drive disk 10 facing away from the collecting container 6 and roll onto the rolling surface 26 in a removal direction W.

The device further comprises a conveyor device 42 with a conveyor chain 44 acting as a pulling element, which is provided with pins 46 serving as impact organs, the trajectory of which runs through the transfer section 22.

In the transfer section 22, the pins 46 come into abutment on the periphery of the objects 1 and push them into the processing section 24 in the removal direction W for further processing.

According to the invention, the transfer section 22 has a depression 48 whose rising part 50 of the rolling surface 26 leads to the processing section 24 and which slows the objects 1 rolling on it. When rolling on the rolling surface 26, the speed of the objects 1 decreases in the rising part 50, so that they lurch less and are calmed down. This reduces the risk that the objects 1 will fall off the rolling surface 26. As a result, the articles 1 are conveyed to the processing section 24 more reliably.

The movement path of the pins 46 crosses the rolling surface 26 at least approximately at the lowest point of the depression 48 at least approximately at right angles to the rolling surface 26 and then runs along an at least approximately circular arc-shaped section 52 in the direction of the processing section 24.

The rail 20 is designed in two parts and, in the embodiment shown, has a passage 54 for the pins 46 between the two parts of the rail 20 at the lowest point of the depression 48.

The pins 46 move along the circular arc-shaped section 52 in the same direction of rotation D as the drive disk 10. Thus, a pin 46 arrives in each case an object 1 in the direction from bottom to top with respect to the rolling surface 26 in contact.

The depression 48 runs almost completely behind the drive disk 10. In this arrangement, the objects 1 are guided onto the rolling surface 26 between the drive disk 10 and the removal surface 8 and the support surface 36 at least to the point at which the pins 46 remove the objects 1 from the Bump 48 sink.

The movement of the pins 46 is synchronized with the rotation of the drive disk 10 in such a way that a pin 46 comes into contact with an object 1 located in the area of the rising part 50.

In Fig. 2 is a front view of the device according to Fig. 1 shown in the direction of the drive axis A running at right angles to the plane of the guide surface 3. The collecting container 6 is not shown for clarity of the illustration. The part of the transfer section 22 which runs behind the drive plate 10 is shown in FIG Fig. 2 Drawn in dashed lines.

The first boundary line 9, seen in the direction of rotation D, runs upstream and at least approximately parallel to a beam 14, shown in dashed lines, emanating from the drive axis A and intersecting the removal surface 8. The beam 14 intersects the removal surface 8, viewed in the circumferential direction of the drive disk 10, in the middle. The second boundary line 13 runs downstream, at least approximately parallel to the beam 14, as seen in the direction of rotation D.

The guide element 4 comprises one in the area of the first boundary line 9, measured in the radial direction, between the radially inner edge 34 and the radially outer edge 34a of the receiving holes formed ejection passage 74 in which an ejector 76 is arranged.

The conveyor device 42 comprises the conveyor chain 44, which is guided around a deflection wheel 56. The axis of the deflection wheel 56 runs at right angles to the plane of the guide surface 3, is arranged below the rising part 50 of the depression 48 and downstream of the lowest point of the depression 48.

In Fig. 3 In particular, the transfer section 22 of the rail 20 is shown in detail. The drive plate 10 is not shown for clarity of the illustration.

The rolling surface 26 forming the depression 48 has several sections with different directions of curvature. In a first section 26a in the area of the removal surface 8, the rolling surface 26 runs concentrically to the drive axis A and, seen in the radial direction, along the path of movement of the radially inner edge 34 of the receiving holes 16. In a second section 26b continuously adjoining the first section 26a the rolling surface 26 concave to the drive axis A. In a third section 26c continuously adjoining the second section 26b, the rolling surface 26 runs in a straight line with an at least approximately constant gradient. In a fourth section 26d continuously adjoining the third section 26c, the rolling surface 26 runs convexly to the drive axis A and the processing section 24 adjoins the fourth section 26d.

The guide plate 58 forming the guide surface 8 and the guide element 4 have a recess 60 for receiving the end region 30 of the transfer section 22 facing the guide element 4. The end region 30 of the transfer section 22 is designed with a constant thickness and is arranged in the recess 60 in such a way that the edge of the rolling surface 38 facing away from the removal surface 8 lies in the plane defined by the guide surface 3.

The conveyor chain 44 is provided with the pins 46, the path of which runs through the transfer section 22. The pins 46 are designed as extensions of chain pins 62, the chain pins 62 connecting the chain links 64 of the conveyor chain 44. In the embodiment shown, every fifth chain pin 62 is used as a pin 46. The pins 46 come into contact with the objects 1 in the transfer section 22 and push them into the processing section 24 in the removal direction W for further processing.

In the in Fig. 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the guide element 4 is designed in one piece in the form of an at least approximately circular disk, the axis of which coincides with the drive axis A. The guide element 4 is attached to a device frame 66 in an inclined plane.

The side of the guide element 4 facing away from the device frame 66 forms the guide surface 3. The guide element 4 has an inner radius R1 and an outer radius R3.

To receive the end region 30 of the rail 20 facing the guide element 4, the guide element 4 an annular recess 67 which runs in the circumferential direction and is at least approximately concentric to the drive axis A, the outer edge of which is denoted by R2 and lies between R1 and R3. The depth of the recess 67 corresponds to the thickness of the end region 30 of the rail 20, so that the surface of the end region 30 facing away from the guide element 4 is flush with the guide surface 3.

The ring width R3 - (minus) R2 of the guide element 4 is selected such that the receiving holes 16 move over the guide surface 3 when the drive plate 10 rotates.

In its upper region, the guide element 4 has a bevel starting from the guide surface 3 and running towards the device frame 66 in the removal direction W, which forms the removal surface 8 adjoining the guide surface 3. The support surface 36 adjoins the removal surface 8, as already explained in connection with the earlier figures.

Seen in the direction of rotation D, downstream of the second boundary line 13, the guide element 4 has a U-shaped recess 72 in which the deflecting wheel 56 is arranged and the conveyor chain 44 runs. This recess 72 enables the depression 48 to be arranged partially behind the drive plate 10.

The device frame 66 is penetrated by a freely rotatably mounted shaft 68, the axis of which coincides with the drive axis A. A receiving disk 70 fastened concentrically to the shaft 68 is attached to the driving disk 10 via a screw connection 12 attached in order to ensure the drive connection of the drive plate 10.

The shaft 68 is in drive connection with a first stepping motor 78a. The deflection wheel 56 is in drive connection with a second stepping motor 78b. A first sensor 80a is assigned to the drive plate 10 for determining the position of the receiving holes 16 and a second sensor 80b is assigned to the conveyor chain 44 for determining the position of the pins 46. The first and second sensors 80a and 80b as well as the first and second stepper motors 78a and 78b are connected to the control device 82.

The representation in the drawings is limited to those parts of the device that are absolutely necessary for understanding the embodiments in question. For example, the sorting and / or test stations for the separated objects arranged along the rail 20 are not shown.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus for separating and forced conveying of disc-shaped articles (1), in particular coins, comprising
   a separating apparatus (2) having a guide element (4) which has a guide surface (3) located in a slanting plane, delimits a collecting container (6) by way of its lower region and has a removal surface (8) adjoining the guide surface (3) in its upper region, a carry-along disc (10) which can be driven in a direction of rotation (D) about a drive axis (A) running at right angles to the plane, is arranged parallel to the guide surface (3) and has a ring of receiving holes (16), which are designed in the form of through-passages through the carry-along disc (10), wherein, as seen in a removal direction (W), the removal surface (8) becomes increasingly spaced apart from the carry-along disc (10),
   a rail (20) which has a transfer portion (22) and a processing portion (24) and which upper side forms a rolling surface (26) for the articles (1), wherein, in the region of the transfer portion (22), that periphery of the rolling surface (26) which is directed away from the removal surface (8) is located at least more or less in the plane defined by the guide surface (3) and, in the region of the removal surface (8), the width of the rolling surface (26) increases continuously in the removal direction (W),
   and a conveying apparatus (42) having a traction mechanism (44) which is provided with pushers (46), of which the movement path runs through the transfer portion (22),
   wherein the carry-along disc (10) is intended to receive articles (1) into receiving holes (16) as it rotates in the collecting container (6) and to convey the received articles (1) along the guide surface (3) separately to the removal surface (8), where the articles (1) roll onto the rolling surface (26) in the removal direction (W), the pushers (46) come into abutment with the articles (1) in the transfer portion (22) and push said articles in the removal direction (W) into the processing portion (24) for further processing,
   characterized in that
   the transfer portion (22) has a depression (48), of which the upwardly sloping part (50) of the rolling surface (26) leads to the processing portion (24) and slows down the articles (1) rolling on it.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movement path of the pushers (46) runs in the region of the depression (48), in particular in the region of the upwardly sloping part.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the movement path of the pushers (46) crosses over the rolling surface (26) at least more or less at the lowermost point of the depression (48) and then runs along an at least more or less circle-arc-shaped portion.
4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the region of the removal surface (8), the rolling surface (26) runs at least more or less concentrically in relation to the drive axis (A) and, as seen in the radial direction, at least more or less along the movement path of the radially inner periphery of the receiving holes (16), in order to allow for a stepless transfer of the articles (1) from the receiving holes (16) to the rolling surface (26).
5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rolling surface (26), which forms the depression (48), has a plurality of portions with different directions of curvature, wherein, in a first portion (26a), in the region of the removal surface (8), the rolling surface (26) runs at least more or less concentrically in relation to the drive axis (A) and, as seen in the radial direction, preferably at least more or less along the movement path of the radially inner periphery (34) of the receiving holes (16); in a second portion (26b), which follows the first portion (26a), the rolling surface (26) runs concavely in relation to the drive axis (A); in a third, rectilinear portion (26c), which adjoins the second portion (26b) preferably continuously, the rolling surface (26) has an at least more or less constant slope; and in a fourth portion (26d), which follows the third portion (26c) continuously, the rolling surface (26) runs convexly in relation to the drive axis (A), and the preferably rectilinear and preferably horizontally running processing portion (24) adjoins the fourth portion (26d).
6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rail (20) has a through-passage (54) for the pushers (46).
7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movement of the pushers (46) is synchronized with the rotation of the carry-along disc (10) such that a pusher (46) comes into abutment in each case with an article (1) located in the region of the upwardly sloping part (50).
8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the output signals from a first sensor (78a), which is assigned to the carry-along disc (10) for the purpose of determining the position of the receiving holes (16), and from a second sensor (78b), which is assigned to the traction mechanism (44) for the purpose of determining the position of the pushers (46), are compared in order for a first stepper motor (80a), which is assigned to the carry-along disc (10), and a second stepper motor (80b), which is assigned to the traction mechanism (44), to be activated such that the movement of the pushers (46) is synchronized with the rotation of the carry-along disc (10).
9. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in the region of the transfer portion (22), the traction mechanism (44) is guided around a deflection wheel (56), of which the axis runs at least more or less at right angles to the plane of the guide surface (3).
10. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the traction mechanism (44) is designed in the form of a continuous conveying chain (44), on which the pushers (46) are arranged.
11. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the pushers (46) are designed in the form of pins (46), preferably in the form of extensions of chain pins (62).
12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that the pins (46) run at least more or less at right angles to the plane of the guide surface (3).
13. Method for separating and forced conveying of disc-shaped articles (1), in particular coins, comprising the following steps:

    - articles (1) from a collecting container (6) are received into receiving holes (16) of a rotationally driven carry-along disc (10) of a separating apparatus (2), the separating apparatus (2) comprising a guide element (4) which has a guide surface (3) located in a slanting plane, delimits the collecting container (6) by way of its lower region and has a removal surface (8) adjoining the guide surface (3) in its upper region, and comprising the carry-along disc (10), which can be driven in a direction of rotation (D) about a drive axis (A) running at right angles to the plane, is arranged parallel to the guide surface (3) and has a ring of receiving holes (16), which are designed in the form of through-passages through the carry-along disc (10), wherein, as seen in a removal direction (W) the removal surface (8) becomes increasingly spaced apart from the carry-along disc (10) ;

    - the received articles (1) are conveyed along the guide surface (3) separately to the removal surface (8) ;

    - the articles (1) roll in the removal direction (W) on a rolling surface (26) of a rail (20) which has a transfer portion (22) and a processing portion (24), of which the upper side forms the rolling surface (26) for the articles (1), wherein, in the region of the transfer portion (22), that periphery of the rolling surface (26) which is directed away from the removal surface (8) is located at least more or less in the plane defined by the guide surface (3) and, in the region of the removal surface (8), the width of the rolling surface (26) increases continuously in the removal direction (W); and

    - the articles (1) are pushed in the removal direction (W) into the processing portion (24) for further processing, wherein pushers (46) of a traction mechanism (44) of a conveying apparatus (42), said traction mechanism being provided with pushers (46), come into abutment with the articles (1) in the transfer portion (22), and the movement path of the pushers (46) runs through the transfer portion (22);

    characterized in that the method comprises the following step:

    - in the upwardly sloping part of a depression (48) formed in the transfer portion (22), said upwardly sloping part leading to the processing portion (24), the articles (1) rolling on the rolling surface (26) are slowed down, before the pushers (46) come into abutment with the articles (1).
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that, during the slowing-down operation, the pushers (46) come into abutment with the articles (1) from the rear, as seen in the removal direction (W).

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