GB1565119A

GB1565119A - Combined coin sorting and distributing devices

Info

Publication number: GB1565119A
Application number: GB4160577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-10-06
Filing date: 1977-10-06
Publication date: 1980-04-16
Also published as: DE2645004B2; DE2645004A1; CH626736A5; JPS5345597A; DE2645004C3

Abstract

In the coin-sorting unit, the inserted coins (11) of various types run on a sorting rail (10) through sorting sections, in each of which coins (11) of the same type are transferred by a deflector (15, 16, 17) into a coin shaft (12, 13, 14). Each sorting section has a plurality of deflectors (15, 16, 17) and coin shafts (12, 13, 14), assigned to these, for coins of the same type, as well as a deflector control which, depending on the filling state of one or more coin shafts in each sorting section, controls the deflectors automatically from an effective position into an ineffective position, and vice versa. In the coin-dispensing unit, each coin shaft (12, 13, 14) is assigned a counter (21) for counting the coins (11) ejected from a coin shaft. This counter is designed as a differential counter and is assigned at least to each of the multiply provided coin shafts (12, 13, 14) for coins (11) of the same type, in order to balance the number of coins fed to the respective coin shaft (12, 13, 14) and extracted by ejection. The deflector control controls the deflectors (15, 16, 17) in dependence on the count of the differential counter. Because the counters are connected to a computer, the total amount of coins can be determined at any time. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COMBINED COIN SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING DEVICES (71) I, HERBERT KARL ZSCHAECK, of Wehlingweg 4, 6940 Weinheim, Germany, a German Citizen, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pra that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described, in and by the following statement: This invention relates to combined coin sorting and distributing devices.

From German Patent No. 1 424 996, it is known to automatically switch deflection means associated with coin boxes for the same coin type according to the degree of filling of the coin boxes. For this purpose a double contact is disposed at the top of the coin box concerned, its sensor sensing the pile of coins in the coin box so as to close a control circuit when the coin box is full and electromagnetically switch the associated deflection means into its inactive position.

This known sensing device signals when the relative coin box is full. However, it gives no information concerning the instantaneous degree of filling of the coin boxes during operation of the coin sorting and distributing device. The possibility of having an idea of the degree of filling of the coin boxes at any required point in time, is however, of particular value where, because of a temporary shortage of coins, one has to work with only half full coin boxes, or where the cashier needs to make a quick and effortless determination of the contents of all coin boxes at the end of the working time, in particular when a colleague takes over the working position. In the case of known coin sorting and distributing devices, such a determination is only possible by emptying all coin boxes and counting their contents by hand.Such a procedure blocks the cashier position for an unduly long time, and means that at the end of any working day the coins must be separately taken away, and new coins brought at the beginning of the next working day for filling the coin boxes.

According to the invention there is provided a combined coin sorting and distributing device comprising coin boxes, deflection means, and a sorting rail, the deflection means being arranged to feed coins selectively to the coin boxes from the sorting rail, a plurality of the coin boxes being provided for the same coin type, the deflection means of the said plurality of the coin boxes being arranged to be switched from an active position to an inactive position and vice versa according to the degree of filling of the coin boxes, each of the plurality of coin boxes for the same coin type being provided with means for counting the coins fed thereto and ejected therefrom and for determining the number of coins therein, and with means for controlling the switching of the respective deflection means when a preset number of coins is contained in the coin box.

With a preferred coin sorting and distributing device, not only is a given degree of filling of the coin boxes signalled, but all to-and-fro movements of coins are separately signalled for each coin box, so that the balance of this counting corresponds at any time to the degree of filling of the coin box concerned.

Each of the means for counting the coins fed to coin box may comprise a piezoelectric transducer, an electrical contact brush or a photoelectric transducer disposed over the respective coin box and at which an electrical pulse is produced or released by the coin fed to this coin box.

Each of the means for counting the coins fed to the coin box may be fixed to the corresponding deflection means so that, when the deflection means is switched into its inactive position, the counting means is moved to an inactive position.

The means for determining the number of coins in a coin box may comprise an electrical and/or electronic counting device associated with each coin box and having at least one set point adjustable at will, the determining means being arranged to emit a signal on attaining the set point for controlling the switching of its associated deflection means. Each counting device may have several independent set points, at least one corresponding to a full and another corresponding to a nearly empty coin box. A further set point could for example be set to the half filling of each coin box.It is then possible to operate the preferred coin sorting and distributing device in the case of a temporary shortage of coins in such a manner that the deflection means of the coin boxes associated with one and the same coin type are switched from the first to the second coin box when the first coin box is half full. Such set points on counting devices may be quickly varied at any time without problems, so that the device may be adapted to any new duty substantially without effort or additional expense.

The balances on the counting devices maybe feedable into a calculator which is arranged to multiply them by the value of the corresponding coin type and to add the results of all coin boxes into a grand total. It is then possible for the operator to know the total filled value of the coin distributing device at any time, this being particularly necessary at the termination of work.

To simplify this determination, the multiplication and subsequent addition processes may be initiated by a manually operated pushbutton and the grand total may be visibly indicated and/or printed on a record strip of a cash register connected to the device. In order for this determination to be repeatable at any other desired point in time, for example at the beginning of the next working day, a memory may be provided into which the grand total may be entered, and from which it may be retrieved at any time.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of part of a sorting rail of a preferred coin sorting device with deflection means and associated coin boxes for coins of the same type, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 1.

A coin 11 conveyed onto a sorting rail 10 by a coin conveying device (not shown) rolls downwards under the effect of gravity. The sorting rail 10 is slightly inclined to the vertical over the coin boxes of a coin sorting device. Of the entire row of coin boxes, three coin boxes 12, 13 and 14 are shown on the drawing, all these being for coins of the same type, for example for a ten penny piece.

Deflection means are disposed over the opening of each coin box in the form of a sheet metal strip extending transversely above the sorting rail 10, and by which the downward rolling coin 11 is tipped sidways from the sorting rail 10 into the underlying coin box provided for this precise coin type.

The deflection means are thus disposed at different heights above the sorting rail 10 to correspond to the diameter of those coins which they are required to tip. As the coin boxes 12 to 14 are provided for coins of the same type, the deflection means 15, 16 and 17 associated therewith are fixed at the same height above the sorting rail 10. Thus in this "active" position, all the ten penny pieces rolling down the sorting rail 10 are caused to tip into the coin box 12 by the deflection means 15. In contrast the coin boxes 13 and 14 cannot be filled.

In order to be able also to fill the coin boxes 13 and 14, the deflection means 15 and 16 are formed in such a manner that they may be lifted with the aid of an electric motor 18 into an "inactive" position (Figure 2). If the deflection means 15 is lifted by the associated electric motor 18 into the inactive position, the ten penny piece rolls past it unhindered on the sorting rail 10 to reach the deflection means 16, which is in its active position and directs the coin 11 into the coin box 13.On termination of this filling operation for the coin box 13, the deflection means 16 is also switched into its inactive position, so that the subsequent ten penny pieces now roll to the deflection means 17, and are led from there into the coin box 14, provided that the coin boxes 12 or 13 have not previously been emptied to such an extent that the associated deflection means 15 or 16 has been switched back into its active position. If all the three coin boxes 12 to 14 are full of ten penny pieces, the coin sorting device is automatically arrested, as is described in greater detail hereinafter.

Each of the deflection means 15 to 17 is switched by a respective electric motor 18 in the form of a stepping motor which acts by means of a cam disc 32 on the rear end of the deflection means, in the form of a sheet metal strip and rotatably pivoted about a pivot point 28, in such a manner that the front end of the deflection means is lifted when the stepping motor 18 and the cam disc 32 make a 280" rotation. The sheet metal strip is guided in its vertical movement by a guide peg 20 in the vicinity of its front end (Figure 1).

Other means operated by a control current for switching the deflection means may be used. In practice, electro-magnets have proved particularly useful for switching the deflection means.

Each coin 11 fed to a coin box is counted at the same time. A piezo-electric transducer is used for this purpose in the embodiment, in the form of a strip 21 disposed over the coin box in such a manner that it is slightly deflected, i.e. deformed, by the coin 11 rolling along the sorting rail 10. Because of the piezo-electric properties of the strip 21 electrical charges are produced by the deformation and are converted into a voltage pulse. The voltage pulse is fed to an electronic counting device, not shown in the drawing, associated with the coin box concerned and recorded thereon as a positive counting pulse.

Coins which are ejected at the lower end of the coin box by the coin distributing device are counted there in a conventional manner and the count is fed to the electronic counting device in the form of negative counting pulses. The counting device calculates the balance of the signals fed thereto.

Its content therefore indicates the stock of coins in the coin box associated with the counting device at any time.

A number of pre-programmable values are incorpoated into the counting device in the form of so-called set points.

A first set point is desirably set so that the counting device of each and every coin box, thus including those coin boxes which are not severally provided for the same coin type, emits a signal when the box concerned has been emptied down to approximately eight coins. This signal, which may be optical or acoustic, reminds the operator that the coin bos must be newly filled with the aid of the coin sorting device.

A second set point signals a residual coin stock of only three coins in the coin box concerned. The signal released by this second set point automatically arrests operation of the coin distributing device.

A third set point relates to nearly full coin boxes. In the case of those coin boxes which are provided only once for any given coin type, this third set point gives a signal for switching off the coin sorting device, so that no further coins are fed to the coin boxes except for the coins 11 positioned on the sorting rail 10. In the case of coin boxes which are severally provides for any given coin type, thus for example in the case of the coin boxes 12 to 14 for the ten penny pieces, the signal of this third set point causes the deflection means to switch, as has already been decribed heretofore.

A fourth set point may desirably be provided in each counting device to relate to the half filled state of the coin boxes. The signal of this fourth set point may then at choise take over the functions of the signal or signals of the third set point when the coin sorting and distributing device is required to operate at only half filling.

The signals emitted by the preprogrammed set points may be used in various ways for controlling the filling operations for the coin boxes. Thus for example, it may be desirable to use the signal of the second set point of a coin box provided severally for any given coin type to control the coin distributing device in such a manner that it alternatively ejects coins from one or more of the other coin boxes of the same coin type. In this manner, no refilling of an empty coin box is required if other coin boxes of the same coin type are filled to a sufficient extent.

The counting devices of all coin boxes are connected to a calculator in such a manner that, by operating a pushbutton, the contents of the counting devices are multiplied by the value of the coin type concerned, and the results of all coin boxes are added together to give a grand total. This grand total is indicated visually on the coin distributing device. It may however also additionally be printed on the record strip of a cash-register connected to the device. In order for the grand total to be retrievable at any time and as often as required, a memory is provided into which the grand total may be entered.

The means for counting the coins fed to a coin box, which in the particular embodiment, comprise the piezo- electric transducer 21, most evidently only count those coins which are actually fed to the associated coin box. This is attained by fixing the piezpelectric transducers 21 either to the deflection means 15, 16 and 17 associated therewith such that they are lifted when the deflection means are switched, so that a coin 11 which is rolling by can no longer make contact with the transducers, or by interrupting the electrical connection of the transducer when the deflection means associated therewith is switched, so that no further voltage pulses may be fed to the counting device. The former method is constructively simpler. The latter method may be used when the space available does not allow direct fixing of the transducers 21 to the deflection means.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A combined coin sorting and distributing device comprising coin boxes, deflection means, and a sorting rail, the deflection means being arranged to feed coins selectively to the coin boxes from the sorting rail, a plurality of the coin boxes being provided for the same coin type, the deflection means of the said plurality of the coin boxes being arranged to be switched from an active position to an inactive position and vice versa according to the degree of filling of the coin boxes, each of the plurality of coin boxes for the same coin type being provided with means for counting the coins fed thereto and ejected therefrom and for deter

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. at the same time. A piezo-electric transducer is used for this purpose in the embodiment, in the form of a strip 21 disposed over the coin box in such a manner that it is slightly deflected, i.e. deformed, by the coin 11 rolling along the sorting rail 10. Because of the piezo-electric properties of the strip 21 electrical charges are produced by the deformation and are converted into a voltage pulse. The voltage pulse is fed to an electronic counting device, not shown in the drawing, associated with the coin box concerned and recorded thereon as a positive counting pulse. Coins which are ejected at the lower end of the coin box by the coin distributing device are counted there in a conventional manner and the count is fed to the electronic counting device in the form of negative counting pulses. The counting device calculates the balance of the signals fed thereto. Its content therefore indicates the stock of coins in the coin box associated with the counting device at any time. A number of pre-programmable values are incorpoated into the counting device in the form of so-called set points. A first set point is desirably set so that the counting device of each and every coin box, thus including those coin boxes which are not severally provided for the same coin type, emits a signal when the box concerned has been emptied down to approximately eight coins. This signal, which may be optical or acoustic, reminds the operator that the coin bos must be newly filled with the aid of the coin sorting device. A second set point signals a residual coin stock of only three coins in the coin box concerned. The signal released by this second set point automatically arrests operation of the coin distributing device. A third set point relates to nearly full coin boxes. In the case of those coin boxes which are provided only once for any given coin type, this third set point gives a signal for switching off the coin sorting device, so that no further coins are fed to the coin boxes except for the coins 11 positioned on the sorting rail 10. In the case of coin boxes which are severally provides for any given coin type, thus for example in the case of the coin boxes 12 to 14 for the ten penny pieces, the signal of this third set point causes the deflection means to switch, as has already been decribed heretofore. A fourth set point may desirably be provided in each counting device to relate to the half filled state of the coin boxes. The signal of this fourth set point may then at choise take over the functions of the signal or signals of the third set point when the coin sorting and distributing device is required to operate at only half filling. The signals emitted by the preprogrammed set points may be used in various ways for controlling the filling operations for the coin boxes. Thus for example, it may be desirable to use the signal of the second set point of a coin box provided severally for any given coin type to control the coin distributing device in such a manner that it alternatively ejects coins from one or more of the other coin boxes of the same coin type. In this manner, no refilling of an empty coin box is required if other coin boxes of the same coin type are filled to a sufficient extent. The counting devices of all coin boxes are connected to a calculator in such a manner that, by operating a pushbutton, the contents of the counting devices are multiplied by the value of the coin type concerned, and the results of all coin boxes are added together to give a grand total. This grand total is indicated visually on the coin distributing device. It may however also additionally be printed on the record strip of a cash-register connected to the device. In order for the grand total to be retrievable at any time and as often as required, a memory is provided into which the grand total may be entered. The means for counting the coins fed to a coin box, which in the particular embodiment, comprise the piezo- electric transducer 21, most evidently only count those coins which are actually fed to the associated coin box. This is attained by fixing the piezpelectric transducers 21 either to the deflection means 15, 16 and 17 associated therewith such that they are lifted when the deflection means are switched, so that a coin 11 which is rolling by can no longer make contact with the transducers, or by interrupting the electrical connection of the transducer when the deflection means associated therewith is switched, so that no further voltage pulses may be fed to the counting device. The former method is constructively simpler. The latter method may be used when the space available does not allow direct fixing of the transducers 21 to the deflection means. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A combined coin sorting and distributing device comprising coin boxes, deflection means, and a sorting rail, the deflection means being arranged to feed coins selectively to the coin boxes from the sorting rail, a plurality of the coin boxes being provided for the same coin type, the deflection means of the said plurality of the coin boxes being arranged to be switched from an active position to an inactive position and vice versa according to the degree of filling of the coin boxes, each of the plurality of coin boxes for the same coin type being provided with means for counting the coins fed thereto and ejected therefrom and for deter

mining the number of coins therein, and with means for controlling the switching of the respective deflection means when a preset number of coins is containet in the coin box.

2. A device as claimed in claiiii 1, in which each of the means for couninbr the coins fed to a coin box comprises I piezoelectric transducer which is disposed above the coin box and is arranged to be dellected by the coins fed to this coin box.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which each of the means for cotililing the coins fed to a coin box coml,iiscs an electrical contact bl-ush which is (disposed above the coin box and is arrangc(i to be contacted by the coins fed to this coin box so as to close an electrical circuit.

4. A device as claimed in claim l, in which each of the means for counting the coins fed to a coin box comprises a photoelectric transducer which is disposed above the coin box so that whether or not the light beam is temporarily interrupted depends, on whether or not the coin is fed to the coin box.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each of the means for counting the coins fed to a coin box is fixed to the corresponding deflection means, so that when the deflection means is switched into it inactive position, the counting means is moved to an inactive position.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the means for determining the number of coins in a coin box comprises an electrical and/or electronic counting device associated with each coin box and having at least one set point adjustable at will, the determing means being arranged to emit a signal on attaining the set point for controlling the switching of its associated deflection means.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which each counting device has a plurality of independent set points, at least one corresponding to a full and another corresponding to a nearly empty coin box.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which each counting device is arranged, upon achieving any one of the independently adjustable set points to produce signals for causing switching off of the coin sorting device and/or the coin distributing device, or in the case of several coin boxes for the same coin type. a switching over of the coin distribution from an empty coin box to another non-empty coin box.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8. in which there is further provided a calculator arranged to receive the contents of the counting devices and to multiply them by the value of the corresponding coin type and to add the results of all coin boxes into a grand total.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, in which there is provided a manually operated push button for initiiiillg the multiplication ;Intl subsequent ldditi()n processes of the calculator and means for displaying or printilig the grand total.

II. A device is claimed in claim 10, in which a memory is provided into which the grand total can be clltered and from which it can be retrieved it any time.

12. A combined coin sorting and distributing device substintially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accolllpanying drawings.