US2351197A - Coin sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

' June 13, 1944- J. N. FRANCIS 2,351,197

COIN SORTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 5 SheetS -Sheet i I III:

June 1944- J. N. FRANCIS 2,351,197

com SOR'IING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 13, 1944. J. N. FRANCIS 2,351,197

COIN SORTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1944- w J. N. FRANCIS ,351,

COIN SORTING MACHINE 7 d H ,Filed'Fub; 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M 7 M! g 42 W A l fay/$7 mail WW Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED "STATES PATENT [OFFICE COIN SORTING BIACHINE Joseph N. Francis, Woburn,

Mass, assignor to Sattley Company, Detroit, Mich., a, corporation of Michigan Application February 15, 1941, Serial No. 379,007

Claims.

This invention relates to machines for sorting coins so as to segregate all those of the same denomination and then to count the coins of each denomination so segregated.

' One object of the present invention is to sort the coins rapidly and with a small expenditure of 'power and wear on the coins.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which i 1 a Figure l is a perspective view of a sorting and counting machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the machine.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine, the front cover being removed and the machine parts being shown to a larger scale than in Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sections on section 1 lines 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 being also a detail section on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail sections on lines 6-6 and 1-1, respectively, of Figures 3 and 10.

Figures 8 and 9 are detail sections on lines 8+8 and 99, respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a detail section on Figure 6.

Figure 10a is a fragmentary perspective view showing certain of the coin-controlling parts.

Figure 11 is a diagram of some of the electrical actuating and control mechanism.

The machine as shown comprises a bed frame I having a steeply inclined wall portion 2 (say,

line I fil -ill of from the vertical) having a circular opening 3 therethrough. This opening is bridged by a spider 4 having a ring portion 5 secured as by screws 6 to the wall member 2 about the circumference of the opening 3, and extending from ure 10), upwardly about that side of the turnthis disk being substantially flush with the forward face of the wall 2. The turntable disk ID has secured to its forward face a hardened wear plate H provided around it periphery with a series of rounded notches [2 each of sufiicientsize to receive therein a coin of the largest diameter of those intended to be sorted by the machine.

The plate [I may be quite thin and in order to provide, coin-receiving depressions of sufficient depth to securely hold a single coin of any of the dimensions desired to be handled, there may be provided individually blocks I5 which may be secured to the wear plate H and if desired, also,

to the disk ID as by means of screws 16. There are thus provided a circular series of coin-receiving depressions about the periphery of the 'facingplate II which is of somewhat smaller diameter than the turntable l0. Outwardly of these depressions and spaced somewhat therefrom are a series of side partition elements 20 which at their inner ends are secured to the top face of the turntable ID as by screws 2|, the outer ends of these partitions 20, however, extending beyond the, periphery of the turntable l0 and overlying the stationary wall member 2 adjacent thereto. In order to hold the outer end portions of these partition members in proper spaced relation, they may have secured theretoa spacing ring 22 as "by the screws 23. These partition elements 20 are sufiiciently thick so as to provide between them passages within which the coins may pass in a single layer and these passages form discharge passages for the coin-receiving depressions in the turntable. They are, however, spaced from the outer edges of these depressions sufficiently to re- .ceive between them the lower end of a stationary blocking partition 25 which extends between the coin-receiving depressions and the discharge passages from a point closely adjacent to the lowest portion of the turntable as at 26 (see Figtable which is lifting during its rotation.

.As shown the turntable is intended to be rotated in clockwise direction as viewed from the front, as indicated by the arrow a in Figures 3 and 10, so that the partition member 25 extends this ring portion inwardly are supporting arms I 3 coming together in a hub portion through which is journaled a shaft 8. This shaft is secured to the central portion of a turntable disk 10 positioned within the opening 3, the front face of from the point 26 between the coin-receiving depressions of the turntable and the discharge passages up to beyond the highest portion of the turntable as at 21, as shown in Figure 3 and down. on the other side to the point 210. From the point 21 to the point 26 on the down moving side of the turntable there is another partition member 21! which may be integral with the member 25 and disposed inwardly of the coinreceiving depressions, being spaced from the face of the turntable adjacent to its ends sufficiently to clear the partition members l5 and being inclined inwardly and backwardly adjacent to the top face of the plate II sufficient to prevent the passage of coins between it and the plate H into the coin-receiving depressions. This partition and the partitionJZ-Tl are tationary and may be formed as a part of a cover member 28 which bridges over a portion of the forward face of the machine and is secured around its margin to the stationary portion 2 as by the screws29. To

its forward face may be secured a front hopper wall member 30 as by the screws 3|, The hopper formed by the wall member 30 and the turntable may receive a supply of coins which may be fed in from time to time as desired from a stationary loading platform 32 supported in any suitable way adjacent to the front of the machine and having a .-rim portion 33 cut away as at ,34 .to

permit thecoins to be moved'therefrom .intothe hopper. A theturntable rotates, thecoins therein may be pickedup in the coin-receiving depressionson 'thefileft'hand side of theaxis ofrostation of the turntable, being lifted from the mass, of coins and finally removed therefrom in .fiat conditionuntil they reach thepoint 21. From the point -21 they pass under and .to the .rightof the partition .23] and follow down behind it in fiat condition and .out of contact with the coins in the ,hopperinto the position where -.by gravity they may pass outbeyond the point 210 into the discharge passages formed. between the partition elements. 28, .thus leaving contact with the turntable but being impelled therearoundwhile in engagementwith the wall member 2 by theparti- .tion elements 20. These partition elements '20 are arranged. sumciently far apart to receive coins offthe largest diameter which theflmachine is to handle, and means are provided by- Whic the exit ends of the discharge passages may be blockedioff topredetermined extentssoas'to first permit the escape therefrom of small diameter .co'ins, should these happen to be in any of the discharge passages, these discharge openings be- .ing progressively increasedin size in accordance with successively increased diameters of coins of the difierent denominations, so that the coins of the several denominations are discharged from thedischarge passages at different angular posiltions therearound.

The .means .for restricting the discharge openings of the passages comprise baflle fingers 40 whichare-pivoted on enlarged diameter portions 4,! of the screws 2'! which hold the partition elements .20 attached to the turntable l0. Each Ifinger 4B is normally pressed toward its most restricted discharge position as by means of a coil spring M stirroundingthe pivot screw 2! beneath its head, :and a stop 43 projecting from the partitionelement 23 with which may be engaged arearwardextens'ion 44 of the finger 4!], limits the extentof this restriction to such a point that theidischarge opening for the discharge passage permits the passage betweenitand the next adjacentlelement. Zflof coins of the smallest diameter intended to he handled by the machine. Thus it may be sufficiently open to permit the dischargeof dimes, but is too restricted to permit .thedischargeof nickels, quarters, or any coin of a .larger diameter.

, The fingers 40 maybe moved successively to less therefrom of successively larger diameter coins.

This may be accomplished by means of arms 45 secured to the elements All and having at their outer ends end follower rolls E6 which may engage the outer face of an arcuate cam member 50 which may be secured as by screws 5| to the inner face of the stationary member 28 as shown best in Figures '7 and 10a. Thus at the lower portion of the turntable the obstructing fingers M will permit the passage of dimes from the discharge passage as far as is permitted by fixed abutment elements 55 and 56.

From aninspection of Figure 10, it will be noted that the element 56 is inclined away from the edge-of the turntable and leads a coin which is of sufiiciently small size to pass beyond the end of the finger 40 to be moved by the partition member 23 to the right thereof into engagement with a star counter wheel 59, the pressure of the finger back of the coin forcing the coin past and turning this counter wheel and into a discharge passage 69. This passage 69 extends through t e platemember 2 and leads through a suitable conduit 5| to a chute 62, at the lower end of which a bag or other suitable container for the coins at @Smay be secured.

Should a coin be positioned between a partition member 2% and its oppositely disposed restricting finger 4!] of suflicient diameter to be held within the discharge passage by this finger, it is moved by therotation of the turntable above a guide finger and above a second guide member 66. Theguiole finger 85 is pivotally mounted for small extent of rocking motion limited by the stop 650 on one side and the ends of the members Zil above, this upward rocking permitting the coins escaping beneath it to pass by the counter wheel 59. As the finger 48 moves upwardly, its cam roller 46 engages the periphery of the cam element 53 which is shaped to rock the finger 38 to a predetermined extent sufiicient to open the end of the discharge passage to a size sufficient for a coin of the next larger diameter to escape therefrom, so that should a coin of this next larger diameter happen to be in the discharge passage, it is then allowed to pass out therefrom along the guide 66 and beneath the guide finger 66 similar to the finger 55 and is propelledtherealong by the partition element 29 back of it past asecond star wheel 70 which it rotates one step. It is then dropped through the discharge opening I! from which a conduit 72 (see Figure 2) leads 'to the hopper 13 similar to the hopper 62 and to which a-container M may be temporarily secured for the reception of coins of the next larger diameter. If the coin in the discharge passage is too large to escape vtherefrom and engage the guide bar 66, it is carried around still further until the cam roller at on the obstructing finger engages a portion 76 of the cam 55 of larger diameter, whereupon the obstructing finger 4-0 is swung -to a-less obstructing position so as to allow a coin obstructing positions as they are moved up from their lowest positions to permit the discharge of the next larger diameter to escape-and engage a guide :bar 80 leading to a thirdstar counter wheel 8t and athird discharge opening 82. This discharge opening 82 communicates through a discharge conduit 83 with a third hopper B4 to which a receptacle 85 fcrreceiving the coins of the still larger diameter may be temporarily-secured. Above the opening 82 a guide finger 88 is positioned to guide the coins escaping from the discharge passagesinto the discharge opening 82 but as gravity component here is ineffective .to press it toward the discharge opening '82 it is yieldingly held in this position by a spring 85.

This counting mechanism is not per se claimed herein, but forms subject matterof a divisional application Serial No. 476,932, filed February 24, 1943. I

As shown but three coin discharge openings are provided, the machine thus being restricted to the sorting of coins of three denominations, but more or less might be included'if desired, to take care of coins of the particular denominations which it is desired to sort. For example, the machine shown may be employed to separate and count dimes, nickels, and quarters.

7 As is usual with coin counting mechanisms employing star wheelsfspring pressed pawls as at 90 maybe employed to engage in succession with the recesses of the star wheels to prevent overrunning or other faulty actuation thereof by the coins, and the rotation of each of these star wheels may be imparted through suitable gears and shafts to counters indicated generally at 95, 92 and 93. As shown these counters may be provided with a pair of indicator openings. the lower one being for indications of the number of coins passed and the upper ones being for indications of the dollar values of the coins so passed. Each of the dollar indication mechanisms may be connected together as by the shaft lib? and the sets of bevel gears Illl, 32, I03 and I04 with a shaft I05 by which when desired these dollar value counters may be returned to zero indication in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. As this mechanism forms a portion of the indicator mechanism which "per se forms no part of the present invention, it has not been illustrated herein.

As shown in Figure 2 the shaitl85 may be connected for power rotation through a train of gearing Iil'l and chain and sprocket drive I88 with a small motor IE3 which may be controlled through a suitable switch mechanism. This switch mechanism may be that shown in Figure l at I'II placed at any convenientpoint away from the machine and connected to the motor Hi9, by

which the operator can, whenever he desires, reset the dollar value mechanism back to zero.

the motor 509 automatically stopping when this has been done by the interruption of the contact Ill (Figure B) when permitted a cam I12 carried by a shaft Il3 driven by the motor i539. As many of the dials as it is desired to have readily accessible to the operator may be made visible througha cover member H5 (see Figure l), which. with the cover member 28 may be employed to complete closure of the forward face of the machine to the desired extent. The turntable is rotated by mechanism shown in Figure 2, the shaft 8 being provided with a worm wheel I25 with which meshesa worm i'2l on ashait I22. This shaft i222 maybe driven as by a motor I23 through a driving belt 524. l

In accordance with this 'nvention means are i provided for automatically stopping the machine when a predetermined number of coins of. a desired denominationhavebeen sorted out, counted and delivered. As shown this is done for the nickel counter Ill which is connected as shown in Figure 7 through bevel gears I25 with a counter I26 provided with a cam I2? (Figure 9) connected to be driven by one of the indicator disks of the counter. When the cam drop I28 rides out from a spring pressed follower i231, contact is made at I30 closing a circuit through a brake solenoid I3I (Figures 2 and 5) tightening a band brake I32 around a drum I33 on the worm shaft I22 and opening the circuit to the motor I23 at the contacts I34 and I35.

A spring I36 normally through leads I43 and I44, switch button I42,

leads I41 and I48, electro-magnet I49, lead I50, switch contacts I34 and I35 and lead I5I to line I40. Energization of the electro-magnet I49 closes the double pole switch having switch arms I52 and I53. Closing of the switch arm l52 closes a holding circuit for the electro-magnet I49 from line I4I through lead I55, switch arm. 552, lead I56, normally closed stop switch E51, lines Il' and I l-8 through electro-magnet I 38, lead E50,

switch contacts E34 and I35 and lead l'5l to the line I40, so that opening of the start switch but:- ton I42 is then inefiective to de-energize the electro-magnet Hi9. Opening of the stop switch I51 or opening of the switch contacts l34 and l35 would, however, be efiective to do this with the start switch button 42 open; Closinggof the switch arm I53 closes a circuit to line l 46, through lead I60, switch arm I53, lead lfil, motor I23, lead Hi2, switch arm I52 and lead from the line Idl This energizes the motor i255 and starts the operation of the machine. As soon as the cam I21 is turned by the counting of the coins to the desired number, it closes contact at I30 which connects lead I5I 'from the. line I40, through lead F33, switch contact l35, lead I64, electro-magnet I3I to lead I43 and line l ll. This applies the brake I32 to the pulley l3? and opens contacts ISQ and I35, which, as before noted, opens the holding circuit for the electro-magnet I49, allowing the switch arms I52 and I53 to'open and tie-energize the motor I23 so that the machine stops. Re-setting of the counter 126 thereafter opens the contact at I30 and'permits start ofanew cycleu v l. A machine of the class described comprising a turntable provided with coin-receiving depressions having open outer ends in circular series and of suflicient size to receive the largest coins to be sorted, wall members carried by said turntable and defining sides of passages leading from the open outer ends of said depressions and beyond the outer edge of said table, means for rotating said table, means separating said depressions from said passages for a portion of the circumference of the turntable, and extending inwardly of said depressions and preventing coins from entering thereinto at'another angular portion of said turntable where coins are free to moveifrom said depressions into said: passages, said passages each having an element adjustable to deterrninefthe size of the discharge from its respective passage and means for progressivelyenlarging the effective discharge apertures from said passages by adjustment of said elements in accordance with the dimensions of coins of selected denominations where discharge, of said'coins is desired.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a coin-receiving hopper, an inclined rotary disk forming one of the walls of said hopper, means for rotating said disk in one direction, said disk having a plurality of coin-receiving pockets having open outer ends arranged in circular series concentric to the axis of rotation of said disk, a stationary partition closing the open ends of said pockets where said pockets are moving upwardly, means positioned inwardly of said pockets and closing access of coins thereto from said hopper where said pockets are descending, a plurality of pairs of spaced partitions defining coin discharge passages for said pockets carried by said disk and spaced from said pockets sufficiently for said partition to extend therebetween, movable baffles co- 'a coin-receiving hopper, an inclined rotary disk forming one of the walls of said hopper, means for rotating said disk in one direction, said disk having a plurality of coin-receiving pockets arranged in circular series concentric to the axis of rotation of said disk and having open outer ends, a stationary partition closing the open ends of said pockets where said pockets are moving upwardly, means positioned inwardly of said pockets and closing access of coins thereto from said hopper where said pockets are descending, a plurality of pairs of spaced partitions defining coin discharge passages for said pockets carried by said disk and spaced from said pocket sufficiently for said partition to extend therebetween, movable baffles cooperating with one of each of said pairs of passage partitions to restrict each discharge passage, and means for retracting said baflles to progressively increased extents each corresponding to the diameter of a coin of one denomination, during a portion of the angular rotation of said disk to thereby permit discharge of coins of the corresponding denomination at a predetermined'angular position of each discharge p ge.

-4. A machine'of the class described comprising a coin-receiving hopper, an inclined rotary disk forming one of the Walls of said hopper, means for rotating said diskin one direction, said disk having a plurality of coin-receiving pockets arranged in "circular series-concentric to the axis of rotation ofsaid disk and having open ends, a stationary'partition closing the open ends of said pockets where-said pockets are moving upwardly, meanspositioned inwardly of said pockets and closing access of coins thereto from said hopper where said pockets are descending, a plurality'o f pairs of spaced partitions defining coin discharge passagesfor said pockets carried by said disk and spaced from said pockets sufliciently for said partition to extend therebetween, movable bailles cooperating withone ofeach of said pairs of pas- .sage partitions to restrict each discharge passage,

means for controlling the position of each baflle to progressively increase the size of discharge passage where said pockets are moving upwardly in'accordance with selected c'oin diameters to per- 'mitthe discharge ffrom'said passages of the corresponding diameter coins, a stationary wall member in substantially the same plane as said disk and having an aperture therethrough within J which said disk is positioned, and elements carried by said stationary wall member defining channels positioned to receive coins discharged from said passages past said baflles.

I 5. A machine of the class described comprising a coin-receiving hopper, an inclined rotary disk forming one of the walls of said hopper, means for rotating said disk in one direction, said disk having a, plurality of coin-receiving pockets arranged in circular series concentric to the axis of rotation of said disk and having open ends, a stationary partition closing the open ends of said pockets where said pockets are moving upwardly, means positioned inwardly of said pockets and closing access of coins thereto from said hopper where said pockets are descending, a plurality of pairs of spaced partitions defining coin discharge passages for said pockets carried by saiddisk and spaced from said pockets sufiiciently for said partition to extend therebetween, movable bailles cooperating with one of each of said pairs of 'passage partitions to restrict each discharge passage, means for moving each bafile to progressively less restrict said discharge passages where said pockets are moving upwardly in accordance with selected coin diameters to permit the discharge from said passages of the corresponding diameter coins, a stationary wall member in substantially the same plane as said disk and having an aperture therethrough within which said disk is positioned, and elements carried by said stationary Wall member defining channels positioned to receive coins discharged from said passages past said baiiles. V

6. A machine of the class described comprising a coin-receiving hopper, aninclinedrotary disk forming one of the walls of said hopper, means for rotating said disk in one direction, saiddisk having a plurality of coin-receiving pockets arranged in circular series concentric to the axis of rotation of said disk and having open ends, a stationary partition closing the open ends of said pockets where said pockets are moving upwardly, means positioned inwardly of said pockets and closing access of coins thereto from said hopper where said pockets are descending, a plurality of pairs of spaced partitions defining coin discharge passages for said pockets carried by said disk and spaced from said pockets sufiiciently for said partition to extend therebetween, movable bafiles cooperating with one of each of said pairs of passage partitions to restrict-each discharge passage, means ,for controlling the position of each baffle to progressively increase the sizes of said discharge passages Where said pockets are moving upwardly in accordance with selected coin diameters to permit the discharge from said passages of the corresponding diameter coins, a stationary wall member in substantially the same plane as said disk and having an aperture therethrough within which said disk is positioned, and

elements carried by said stationary wall member defining channels positioned to receive coins discharged from said passages past said baflles.

JOSEPH N. FRANCIS.

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