GB2077967A - Coin counting device - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved coin counting device comprises at least one sensor (A,B) for sensing passing coins (2) and a stopper (10) for stopping the coin flow arranged in a coin passage (4) through which the coins flow in a row. The sensor or sensors (A,B) is or are arranged upstream of the stopper (10) to realize a more reliable operation, and positioned within an area which is covered by the first coin (2c) of the coin row stopped by the stopper (10) to avoid risk of accidental energization of the sensor(s) (A,B). The sensor(s) (A,B) generate(s) a signal indicating passage of a certain coin (2) when it is exposed. This signal is stored in a memory element and is not passed to a counter until another signal is generated to indicate that the sensor(s) (A,B) is or are again covered by the next coin (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coin counting device This invention relates to coin counting devices.

When handled in a coin counting or wrapping machine, coins are conventionally arrranged in a row and passed through a coin passage where they are counted. When the number of counted coins reaches a predetermined value, the coin flow is stopped for a while until an instruction to start the next cycle counting operation is given.

In a known counting device having a stopper for stopping the coin flow, every passing coin is counted by a counter comprising, for example, a contact switch or photosensor, and the coin flow is stopped by pushing the stopper into the coin passage to block the flowing coin row when the added number of counted coins reaches the predetermined number. There is known a counting device having a single sensor to conduct an addition operation and also a counting device having two sensors to conduct addition and subtraction operations.

However, in the known counting device of this type, the sensor for conducting the addition operation is arranged downstream of the stopper and the stopper is actuated immediately after the last coin is sensed by the sensor. The stopper is actuated rapidly so as not to allow past an excess coin.

Nevertheless, the coin adjacent to the last counted coin is frequently squeezed past the stopper before the stopper takes up its obstructing position.

Another disadvantage of the known device is that the moving stopper bumps violently against the next coin, thus disturbing the smooth handling operation with consequent risk of jamming or disorder.

The invention provides a coin counting device comprising a coin passage, at least one counting sensor disposed in the coin passage to sense coins passing therealong, and a stopper for stopping the flow of a row of the coins after a pre-set number of coins is sensed by said sensor, said sensor being arranged upstream of said stopper and positioned in an area which is covered by the first coin of the coin row stopped by said stopper.

An embodiment of the present invention and a modification thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view schematically showing the main portion of a device embodying the invention; Figures 2(a) to 2(c) are diagrammatical representations showing the operations of the sensors and the stopper of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagram showing a control circuit for controlling the operation of the counting device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a timing chart showing the waveforms of the pulses generated in the control circuit of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a diagram showing a control circuit for controlling the operation of a counting device similar to that of Figure 1 but having only one sensor; and Figure 6 is a timing chart showing the waveforms of the pulses generated in the control circuit of Figure 5.

Firstly referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 1 designates a rotary disc to which coins 2 are supplied. While being carried by the rotary disc 1, the coins 2 are arranged in good order and then guided by a guide member 3 to be introduced into a coin passage 4, forming a row. The coin passage 4 includes a fixed rail 5 and a movable rail 7. The movable rail 7 is moved by rotating a cam 6 to adjust the width of the passage 4 to handle a desired coin species. Coins 2 are passed through the passage 4 under the action of a conveyor belt 8 to a chute 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, two sensors A and B are disposed in the coin passage 4 so that the coins passing over the sensors A and B are counted both by addition and subtraction operations. A light emitting element, not shown, such as an LED is disposed opposite to the sensors A and B so as to direct light to the sensors A and B. These sensors A and B are arranged within a relatively small marginal area b which is co-extensive with the area formed by the peripheries of the adjacent coins 2a and 2b and the longitudinal edge of the fixed rail 5 when the coin species of smallest diameter is handled by the device. The counting operation of the coin 2a is initiated when both of the sensors A and B are sequentially exposed, and terminated when both sensors A and B are sequentially covered by the subsequent coin 2b.Although not shown, in the device having a single sensor only for generating adding signals, the sensor is similarly arranged in a relatively small marginal area.

A stopper 10 is positioned downstream of the sensors A and B such that the sensors A and B are covered or shielded by the coin 2c stopped by the stopper 10 (see Figure 2 (c)).

The stopper 10 of the illustrated embodiment comprises a cylindrical pin having a head with a generally semi-circular cut-out portion 10'. The stopper 10 can be rotated to take a position shown in Figures 1 and 2(a) with the approximately diametric edge of the cut-out portion 10' being in line with the longitudinal edge of the fixed rail 5 and with the top face of the cut-out portion 10' being flush with the surface of the coin passage 4 for allowing coins to pass therethrough. Upon receipt of a signal to stop the coin flow, the stopper 10 is rotated to take a position shown in Figure 2(c) to block the coin 2c and the succeeding coin row.

Now referring to Figure 2(a), the sensors A and B disposed in the area b are exposed and then covered by each coin passing thereoverto count the number of coins fed to the chute 9. When the last coin 2a of a certain group passes across the sensors A and B, as shown in Figure 2(b), a signal is generated to indicate that the predetermined number of coins has been sensed by the sensors and the signal is passed to associated counting means. In response to the signal, the stopper 10 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow by a rotary solenoid or other suitable means, and angularly displaced by about 90 to stop the next coin 2c at the position shown in Figure 2(c).The coin 2c stopped by the stopper 10 covers the sensors A and B so that the sensors are maintained under the unexposed condition until the next cycle counting operation is started.

An example of a control circuit for receiving the signals from the sensors A and B for controlling the flow of coins is shown in Figure 3. The control circuit shown in Figure 3 will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in Figure 4. When the sensor A comprising, for example, a phototransistor is first blocked from a light from the LED by an oncoming leading coin, the phototransistor A is turned off to make the input voltage of an amplifier AMP1 a low ("L") level or state. The amplifier AMP1 puts out an "L" level, which is inverted to a high ("H") level or state by an inverter INVi. When the sensor A is then exposed to a light from the LED again, the phototransistor A is turned on to make the input voltage of the amplifier AMP1 an "H" level.The "H" level is then inverted to an "L" level by the inverter INV1. The sensor is intermittently blocked from and exposed to a light from the LED by subsequent coins in a similar manner, and therefore a pulse train A' as shown in Figure 4 appears at the output of the inverter INV1, that is, at a junction "X".

In a similar manner, the sensor B is blocked from light from the LED by each coin before the sensor A is exposed to light, and exposed to light after the sensor A is exposed to light Consequently, a pulse train B' which is identical to the pulse train A' in waveform, but delayed in a certain time from the pulse train A', as shown in Figure 4, appears at an output of an inverter INV3, that is, at a junction "Y".

The "H" signal at the junction "X" which is generated by the rise edge of a first pulse of the pulse train A' is put in a NAND gate NAND1 at one input thereof, the other input of which is connected to a 0 output of a flip-flop FF2 through an inverter 1NV6. In an initial state, since the flip-flop FF2 is in a reset state, the Q output of the flip-flop FF2 is at an "L" level, and therefore an "H" level is fed to the other input of the NAND gate NAND1 through the inverter INV6. Consequently, the flip-flop FF1 is set to make its 0 output take an "H" level.

The 0 output of the flip-flop FF1 is connected through an inverter INV5 to one input of a NAND gate NAND2 which in turn is connected to an S input of the flip-flop FF2. Since the Q output of the flip-flop FF1 is at an "H" level, one input of the NAND gate NAND2 is at an "L" level, and therefore regardless of the level at the other input of the NAND gate NAND2, the flip-flop FF2 is maintained in a reset state.

Although the reset of each flip-flop (FF1, FF2) is made through inverters INV2 and INV4 and a NAND gate NAND3when both pulses of the pulse trains A' and B' are not present, as far as each pulse of the pulse train A' precedes each pulse of the pulse train B', the flip-flop FF1 is set every time when each pulse of the pulse train A' is generated at the junction "X" and the flip-flop FF2 is maintained in a reset state. In other words, the flip-flops FF1 and FF2 can memorize the direction of flow of coins. In the forward flow of the coins toward the chute, the flip-flop FF1 is set or made active and the flip-flop FF2 is maintained reset or inactive, and in the backward flow of the coins, vice versa.

The 0 input of the flip-flop FF1 is connected to a three-input NAND gate NAND4 at one input thereof, a second input of which is connected to the output of the NAND gate NAND3 through an inverter INV7, and a third input of which is connected to the junction "Y" through a delay element D4 comprising, for example, an integrator.Since the 0 output of the flip-flop, that is, the first input of the NAND gate NAND 4, is in an "H" state, the second input is maintained to be in an "H" state when both pulses of the pulse trains A' and B' are not present, and the third input is maintained to be in an "H" state for a certain short period after each pulse of the pulse train B' falls at its trailing edge, due to a time delay by the delay element D4, the output of the NAND gate NAND4 is made to be in a "L" state in the above-mentioned short period after each pulse of the pulse train B' falls. This "L" state is inverted by an inverter INV8 and is put in a counter, not shown, as an up count signal. Therefore, every time a coin passes across the sensors A and B in the forward direction, one up count signal is generated and the counter, not shown, is counted up.

If one or more coins are moved in the backward direction for some reason, for example, for repair of machine trouble, a down (DN) count signal is generated in a similar manner and the counter is counted down.

When a predetermined number of coins has passed across the sensors A and B, and therefore is counted by the counter, CE (count end) signal is generated to actuate the stopper 10.

In Figures 5 and 6, there are shown a circuit and a diagram of waveforms for a similar counting device but which has only one sensor.

In a similar manner to the above, a pulse train C', as shown in Figure 6, appears at a junction "Z" when the sensor C detects the passage of the coins. Each pulse of the pulse train C' is inverted by an inverter INV10 and supplied to an inverter INV11 and a NAND gate NAND6 at one input thereof. The signal which is supplied to the inverter INV11 is delayed by delay element D6 and then supplied to the NAND gate NAND6 at the other input thereof. Consequently, the NAND gate NAND6 puts out a short minus pulse after the trailing edge of each pulse. The short minus pulse is then inverted by an inverter INV12 thereby generating an up count signal.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, with the above counting devices embodying the present invention the passing coins are counted more reliably.

The foregoing description and the drawings are merely illustrative of the principle of the present invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

Claims (4)

1. A coin counting device comprising a coin passage, at least one counting sensor disposed in the coin passage to sense coins passing therealong, and a stopper for stopping the flow of a row of the coins after a pre-set number of coins is sensed by said sensor, said sensor being arranged upstream of said stopper and positioned in an area which is covered by the first coin of the coin row stopped by said stopper.

2. A coin counting device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a plurality of the sensors is provided and at least one of the sensors is positioned within the said area which is covered by the first coin of the coin row stopped by the stopper.

3. A coin counting device as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising a counter having means for storing a memory of a passing coin when said sensor is exposed and for generating an adding signal after the sensor is covered by the next coin.

4. A coin counting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.