US3771637A - Coin separator - Google Patents

Coin separator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3771637A
US3771637A US00138988A US3771637DA US3771637A US 3771637 A US3771637 A US 3771637A US 00138988 A US00138988 A US 00138988A US 3771637D A US3771637D A US 3771637DA US 3771637 A US3771637 A US 3771637A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
coin
track
tracks
coins
separator
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US00138988A
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English (en)
Inventor
A Lautzenhiser
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Mars Inc
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Mars Inc
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F1/00—Coin inlet arrangements; Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
    • G07F1/04—Coin chutes
    • G07F1/048—Coin chutes with means for damping coin motion

Definitions

  • a third surfaee 1,141,866 6/1915 Christian 194/99 X may be employed to receive coins leaving the laterally ,2 12/1935 Wadsworth 194/101 adjacent surfaces and change their direction of move- 2,052,611 9/1936 DuGrenier 194/103 mem, 2,097,497 11/1937 Mills 194/97 R 2,816,639 12/1957 Miller 133/1 R X 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDauv 1 3 ma 3. 771. 637 SHEET 10? 2 1
  • the coin separator of this invention spacially separates such overlapping coins before the coins reach the primary operative part of the coin handling device, such as the coin examination system in a coin selector, and feeds the coins in single file and sufficiently spaced so that the coin examination system can properly operate upon each coin individually.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the coin separator of FIG. 1 illustrating the coin spacing member in its second position.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view of a coin separator formed in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic elevational view of a coin separator formed in accordance with a third embodiment of vides a meander path which absorbs much of the coins kinetic energy so that the coins may be brought to rest easily at the appropriate position in the device.
  • this invention in one form provides a combined coin separator and energy absorber.
  • a pair of laterally adjacent coin conveying surfaces or tracks are located below a coin entrance slot and are aligned with the entrance slot or other coin guide means such that coins inserted in the coin handling device drop downwardly toward the coin conveying tracks. If the coins overlap, one coin lands on one of the tracks while the other coin lands on the other track.
  • the profile of the tracks are different and designed to cause the overlapping coins to roll downwardly along the tracks and drop onto a third track located below the first and second tracks at different longitudinal positions along the third track effecting spacial separation of the coins.
  • the third track conveys the coins toward the primary operative portion of the coin handling device.
  • a coin spacing member having a conveying surface and an abutment is mounted adjacent to the exit end of the third track.
  • the spacing member moves and places the abutment adjacent the exit end of the third track and prevents the next coin from rolling off the third track until after the first coin leaves the spacing member at which time the spacing member returns to its initial position to receive the next coin.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a coin separator formed in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention and illustrating a coin spacing member in its normal position.
  • the third embodiment being a slight modification of the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of a coin separator formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a coin separator 10 formed in accordance with the first embodiment of this invention.
  • the coin separator 10 in addition to spacially separating coins also absorbs energy from falling coins. It is intended for use in many different types of coin utilizing devices such as vending machines, coin classifiers, change makers or any other type of device which is operated by or operates on coins. Because the device with which the coin separator is used does not form a part of this invention, it is not illustrated or described herein.
  • the device with which the coin separator is used includes a coin inlet or entrance slot 12 into which one or more coins are inserted.
  • the width of the entrance slot 12 is slightly greater than the thickness of the thickest coin intended to be accepted by the device. With some coin sets this width can be greater than twice the width of the thinner coins thus making possible the simultaneous insertion of overlapping or facially adjacent'coins in the system. This facially adjacent relationship could also occur if two or more coins are inserted in rapid succession into the slot 12 since the coins velocities might vary during their passage through the device causing one coin to catch up to the other.
  • a third coin conveying member or abutment 30 is mounted immediately below the entrance slot 12.
  • the abutment 30 does not serve to separate coins but merely slows them and guides them to the beginning of the coin conveying member 14.
  • a coin conveying member 14 formed with a pair of longitudinal surfaces or tracks I6, 18.
  • the tracks I6, 18 are located with respect to each other such that a projection of the tracks l6, 18 on a plane 17 perpendicular to the plane of facially adjacent coins which are supported by the tracks are contiguous at least at one end of the tracks and, preferably, throughout the length of the tracks. This arrangement of the tracks is referred to herein as laterally adjacent tracks.
  • the coin conveying member 14 is mounted on one wall 19 of the device and extends across to an opposite wall 20 spaced from the first wall 19 thereby defining a coin passageway 2l.'The member 14 is sloped downwardly in the desired direction of coin travel so that coins landing thereon roll downwardly on the surface of the member 14.
  • the tracks have, different profiles.
  • One of the tracks, namely track 18, is provided with 'a slot 24 vertically therethrough.
  • the coin that is supported by the track 16 rolls off the lower end 25 of the member 14 while the coin 23 that is supported by the track 18 falls through the slot 24.
  • the slot 24 being spaced from the end 25 of the member 14 spacially separates the coins 22, 23 as they drop downwardly from the member 14, the degree of separation depending upon the spacing of the slot 24 from the end 25 of the member 14.
  • Another coin conveying surface or track 26 is mounted on the walls 19, 20 of the device below the coin conveying member 14 in such a position that coins rolling off the member 14 and falling through the slot 24 land on the track 26.
  • the rack 26 preferably is formed as a cantilevered leaf spring made from a resilient material.
  • the track 26 is sloped downwardly in a direction different from the direction in which the member 14 is sloped so that the direction of coin travel is changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the direction of coin travel is reversed, the coins going from right to left on member 14 and from left to right on track 26. By reversing the direction of coin travel the space occupied by the coin separator is minimized.
  • coin separation is augmented because the coin 23 falling through the slot 24 leaves the member 14 earlier in time than the coin 22 rolling off the end 25 of the member 14. If the lower track 26 was sloped in the same direction as the member 14, the coin 23 would land on the track 26 and roll in the same direction down the track 26 as is the coin 22 rolling on member 14. By reversing the direction of the track 26 and depending upon the degree of slope of the track 26, the coins 22 and 23 reach the track 26 at such times as would at least maintain and possibly increase the spacial separation provided by the slot 24. Additional separation is effected by the cantilever mounting of the track 26 which is accomplished by supporting the track at its exit end 27.
  • the coin conveying member 14 effectively separates two overlapping or facially adjacent coins. However, the situation may also arise where two coins do not overlap but instead arrive sequentially in such close proximity to one another that their edges are almost in contact. There is a need to spacially separate adjacent coins to enable the device through which the coins pass to function effectively.
  • a mechanism for accomplishing such separation is a spacer such as an escapement 36 pivotally mounted between the walls l9, 20 by means of a pin 38.
  • the escapement 36 is formed with a coin conveying surface 40 and a coin retarding abutment 42.
  • the escapement is eccentrically mounted so that the conveying surface 40 normally is aligned with the upper surface of the track 26. This is accomplished by placing the greater weight on the side of the escapement closer to the track 26 and by providing a stop 44 at an appropriate position to terminate rotation of the escapement 36 when the conveying surface 40 is in its proper location.
  • the torque exerted by the mass of the coin causes the escapement 36 to rotate about the pin causing the abutment 42 to rise and prevent the succeeding coin from rolling across the conveying surface 40 (see FIG. 3).
  • the distance between the pin 38 and the end 27 of the track 26 must be no greater than the radius of the smallest coin which is acceptable to the system to insure that no more than one coin can roll across the conveying surface 40 at any given instant.
  • the unbalance of the escapement causes the escapement to rotate back to its normal position (FIG. 1) by enabling the next succeeding coin to roll onto the conveying surface 40.
  • the time duration during which the escapement returns from its second position wherein it blocks movement of coins from the track 26 to its normal position wherein it accepts coins the minimal spacing between adjacent coins can be controlled.
  • Various ways can be employed to control the return time of escapement. While counterbalancing springs, friction pads and other retarding means can be utilized, a preferred system now will be described.
  • the escapement 36 is formed with a pendulous mass 45 having two sections, an upper section 46 and a lower section 47.
  • the upper section 46 includes the coin conveying surface 40 and the coin retarding abutment 42.
  • An arcuate or sector shaped aperture 48 is provided in the lower section 47 and a triangular limit stop 44 is mounted on the wall 19 within the aperture 48.
  • the stop 44 is located with respect to the pin 38 such that the escapement movement is limited between predetermined extremes, namely the normal position shown in FIG. 1 and the second position shown in FIG. 3.
  • the limit stop 44 also serves as an escapement speed control because it provides a barrier around which air trapped in the aperture 48 must escape as the escapement rotates.
  • the limit stop increases the time for the escapement to return to its initial position after it is rotated by a coin because the escapements gravity induced movement is retarded by flow resistance to the escaping air.
  • the clearance between the stop 44 and the escapement 36 and between the stop and the walls 19, 20 define the size of the passages through which the air can flow and, therefore, the degree to which the return movement of the escapement is retarded and so the minimum spacing between adjacent coins.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 there is illustrated a coin separator 50 formed in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention.
  • the coin separator 50 utilizes a plurality of bumpers or pins 52 which slow down and guide coins admitted to the device through the coin entrance slot 12.
  • the coins are directed toward a'pair of coin conveying tracks 54, 56 which are laterally adjacent to one another.
  • the tracks 54, 56 have different profiles including being sloped downwardly at different angles to the horizontal.
  • track 54 has a shallower slope than track 56 and preferably is longer than track 56.
  • a cantilevered resilient track 58 is located below tracks 54 and 56 and aligned therewith so that coins rolling off the tracks 54, 56 fall onto track 58.
  • track 58 is sloped downwardly in a direction opposite to the slope of the tracks 54, 56 in order to reverse the direction of travel of the coins after they leave the higher tracks and fall onto the lower track. Because of the profiles of the tracks 54, 56 a coin 23 which commences rolling on track 56 simultaneously with a coin 22 rolling on track 54 will arrive on track 58 at a position close to the exit end of track 58 and will be spacially separated from the coin 22 rolling on track 54 thereby accomplishing the spacial separation of overlapping coins in addition to slowing the coins.
  • the length and slope of the tracks 54, 56 can be modified considerably to provide the desired separation of coins.
  • one such modification eliminates track 56 thereby allowing one of'a pair of overlapping coins to drop directly onto a track 58 near the lower end thereof while the other coin rolls on track 54 and is directed towardthe higher end of track 58.
  • the separator 70 includes an abutment 72, a pair of coin conveying surfaces 74, 76 and a coin conveying track 78.
  • the abutment 72 and coin conveying track 78 are basically the same as those described earlier with respect to the first and second embodiments and the major change involved in this fourth embodiment is the configuration of the coin conveying surfaces 74, 76.
  • one of the coin conveying surfaces 74 is formed with an undulating configuration in order to retard the movement of a coin rolling there along.
  • the other coin conveying surface 76 is smooth so as not to retard to the same degree as surface 74 the movement of a coin therealong.
  • the slope of the two surfaces 74, 76 is the same and, therefore, coins which overlap will be spacially separated because the coin rolling on surface 74 will roll slower than the. coin rolling on surface 76 and will leave the surface 74 after the coin leaves surface 76.
  • greater separation can be obtained by mounting the undulating surface 74 with a shallower slope than the smooth surface 76.
  • a coin utilizing device including a coin spacing means which permit a coin to continue through the separator while delaying a subsequent coin, said spacing means comprising a member having a coin conveying surface and an abutment, said member being mounted for rotational movement between (a) a first position whereinthe coi'n'conveying surface is aligned with a track such that a coin rolling'off said track rolls onto the coin conveying surface and (b) a second position wherein the abutment is aligned with said track to prevent a coin from rolling off said track, the spacing means including means to bias said member toward the first position, said member having an arcuate aperture transversely therethrough and a fixed baffle within the aperture such that as the member returns from the second position to the first position, air in the space defined by the aperture is displaced about the baffle, the rate of air displacement controlling the velocity of rotation of said member.
  • the coin utilizing device of claim 1 further including:
  • a coin separator for spacially separating facially adjacent coins comprising first and second win conveying tracks mounted between the walls, projections of said tracks on a plane perpendicular to the plane of facially adjacent coins on said tracks being contiguous for at least a portion of their length, the profiles of the first and second track being different, and being adapted to permit a coin to roll thereon and off one end thereof,
  • a third coin conveying track below and vertically aligned with at least said one end of the first and second tracks such that coins rolling off the first and second tracks land on the third track, said third track being the track with wich the coin conveying surface of the coin spacing member aligns in the first position.
  • a coin separator including coin spacing means which permits one coin to roll off a track while delaying a subsequent coin from rolling off said track, said coin spacing means comprising a member having a coin conveying surface and an abutment, said member being mounted adjacent an end of the track and adapted for movement between (a) a first position wherein the coin conveying surface is aligned with said track such that a coin rolling off the end of the track rolls onto said coin conveying surface and (b) a second position wherein the abutment is aligned with said track to prevent a coin from rolling off the track, means to bias the coin spacing means toward the first position, said member further including an aperture elongated in the direction of movement of the member, and a baffle mounted within said aperture such that the member moves relative to the baffle causing air within the aperture to be displaced about said baffle to effect retardation of the return of the member from the second to the first position.
  • a coin separator for spacially separating facially adjacent coins comprising first and second coin conveying tracks which are adjacent at an upper portion, the first said track having sufficient width to support only one of two facially adjacent coins, the profiles of the first and second tracks being different and each being adapted to permit a coin to roll thereon and off the lower end thereof, and a third coin conveying track below and vertically aligned with the ends of the first and second tracks, the third track being flexible and having one fixed and one end free to form a cantilever, similar coins rolling off said first and second tracks landing on said third track at different positions with respect to the fixed end such that one coin is retarded by energy absorption by the free end of the flexible third track.
  • a coin separator as defined in claim 5 including spacing means which permits one coin to roll off the lower surface while delaying an adjacent second coin from rolling off the lower surface.
  • Coiumn line 22 "rack" should read --track-.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Testing Of Coins (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
US00138988A 1971-04-30 1971-04-30 Coin separator Expired - Lifetime US3771637A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13898871A 1971-04-30 1971-04-30

Publications (1)

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US3771637A true US3771637A (en) 1973-11-13

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ID=22484613

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00138988A Expired - Lifetime US3771637A (en) 1971-04-30 1971-04-30 Coin separator

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US (1) US3771637A (enExample)
AU (1) AU4175172A (enExample)
BE (1) BE782759A (enExample)
CH (1) CH549844A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2221182A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2134668A1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1366829A (enExample)
IT (1) IT955177B (enExample)
LU (1) LU65268A1 (enExample)
NL (1) NL7205626A (enExample)
ZA (1) ZA722832B (enExample)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0520597A3 (en) * 1991-06-27 1993-04-28 Tamura Electric Works, Ltd. Coin storage structure
US20040079616A1 (en) * 1997-07-11 2004-04-29 Castleberry Billy J. Snack dispenser
WO2018047455A1 (ja) * 2016-09-06 2018-03-15 株式会社バンダイ 投入物品選別装置、投入物品検出装置及び収容物取出装置
JP2018092660A (ja) * 2018-02-28 2018-06-14 株式会社バンダイ 投入物品選別装置、投入物品検出装置及び収容物取出装置
JP2021061032A (ja) * 2020-12-25 2021-04-15 株式会社バンダイ 投入物品検出装置及び収容物取出装置

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2367324A1 (fr) * 1976-10-06 1978-05-05 Frerot Maxime Dispositif anti-fraude pour appareils fonctionnant par introduction de jetons ou de pieces de monnaie

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE45929C (de) * E. MÖLLER, in Firma: MÖLLER & BREITSCHEID in Köln a. Rh Zerstreuer für Münzensortirapparate
US634506A (en) * 1897-12-06 1899-10-10 Frank Septimus Devonteaux Scott Apparatus for assorting and counting coins.
US1141866A (en) * 1911-09-09 1915-06-01 Wilcke Armstrong Company Telephone pay-station.
DE523068C (de) * 1928-06-06 1931-04-18 Fritz Eller Selbstverkaeufer
US2026262A (en) * 1932-10-10 1935-12-31 Selector Corp Check selecting apparatus
US2052611A (en) * 1935-11-05 1936-09-01 Blanche E Bouchard Coin-controlled apparatus
US2097497A (en) * 1936-06-16 1937-11-02 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Coin chute for coin collectors
US2816639A (en) * 1957-12-17 miller
US3197009A (en) * 1961-10-19 1965-07-27 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Coin separators

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE45929C (de) * E. MÖLLER, in Firma: MÖLLER & BREITSCHEID in Köln a. Rh Zerstreuer für Münzensortirapparate
US2816639A (en) * 1957-12-17 miller
US634506A (en) * 1897-12-06 1899-10-10 Frank Septimus Devonteaux Scott Apparatus for assorting and counting coins.
US1141866A (en) * 1911-09-09 1915-06-01 Wilcke Armstrong Company Telephone pay-station.
DE523068C (de) * 1928-06-06 1931-04-18 Fritz Eller Selbstverkaeufer
US2026262A (en) * 1932-10-10 1935-12-31 Selector Corp Check selecting apparatus
US2052611A (en) * 1935-11-05 1936-09-01 Blanche E Bouchard Coin-controlled apparatus
US2097497A (en) * 1936-06-16 1937-11-02 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Coin chute for coin collectors
US3197009A (en) * 1961-10-19 1965-07-27 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Coin separators

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0520597A3 (en) * 1991-06-27 1993-04-28 Tamura Electric Works, Ltd. Coin storage structure
US20040079616A1 (en) * 1997-07-11 2004-04-29 Castleberry Billy J. Snack dispenser
WO2018047455A1 (ja) * 2016-09-06 2018-03-15 株式会社バンダイ 投入物品選別装置、投入物品検出装置及び収容物取出装置
JP2018041187A (ja) * 2016-09-06 2018-03-15 株式会社バンダイ 投入物品選別装置、投入物品検出装置及び収容物取出装置
JP2018092660A (ja) * 2018-02-28 2018-06-14 株式会社バンダイ 投入物品選別装置、投入物品検出装置及び収容物取出装置
JP2021061032A (ja) * 2020-12-25 2021-04-15 株式会社バンダイ 投入物品検出装置及び収容物取出装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1366829A (en) 1974-09-11
NL7205626A (enExample) 1972-11-01
AU4175172A (en) 1973-11-08
LU65268A1 (enExample) 1972-07-14
CH549844A (de) 1974-05-31
IT955177B (it) 1973-09-29
FR2134668A1 (enExample) 1972-12-08
BE782759A (fr) 1972-08-16
ZA722832B (en) 1973-02-28
DE2221182A1 (de) 1972-12-07

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