WO1982001779A1

WO1982001779A1 - Arrangement for coin-handling machines

Info

Publication number: WO1982001779A1
Application number: PCT/SE1981/000328
Authority: WO
Inventors: Coin Ab Scan
Original assignee: Svensson Lennart; Dahl Lars
Priority date: 1980-11-10
Filing date: 1981-11-10
Publication date: 1982-05-27
Also published as: GB2097980B; SE8204135D0; JPS57501702A; SE8204135L; BR8108863A; GB2097980A

Abstract

Arrangement for coin-handling machines of the type which comprises an upper coin-sorting path (2) and a lower coin-sorting unit (7) arranged underneath the path. The upper coin-sorting path (2) is connected with the lower coin-sorting unit by means of a number of coin tubes (4) having circular cross-sections. A characteristic of the invention is that a plurality of said coin tubes are curved, preferably double-curved, so that the lower ends of the coin tubes are displaced sideways with respect to the upper ends of the coin tubes. The invention permits high sorting capacity while the level of disturbing noise during sorting operations can be kept low. The invention also facilitates compact dimensions on the part of the machine whilst providing a high buffer capacity for sorted coins.

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR COIN-HANDLING MACHINES

The present invention relates to an arrangement for coin-handling machines of the type which comprises an upper coin-sorting path and a second coin-sorting unit arranged underneath the said path, whereby a number of coin tubes of circular cross section connect the first coin-sorting path with the second coin-sorting unit. Coin-sorting machines of the type mentioned above are already known, e.g. the machine designated SC 17003 previously marketed by us. Since such coin-handling machines are designed for use indoors on bank premises, shops etc it is desirable that as far as possible the machines should operate without generating any disturbing noise. Noise which can be regarded as disturbing can occur during coin-handling partly when the coins roll along the coin path, particularly when the coins meet the sorting knives which deflect them downwards into a coin tube, and secondly when the coin drops down into the coin tubes, which are essentially vertical. Furthermore, it is desirable that machines of this type be designed to have dimensions which are as small as possible whilst at the same time maintaining sorting capacity and sorting precision.

One object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction, which greatly reduces the occurrence of noise during coin-handling. Another object of the invention is to make possible a reduction in the size of the coin-handling machines, particularly as regards machine width, whilst at the same time preserving high coin-sorting capacity and high accuracy. A further object of the invention is to bring about an arrangement in which the coin tubes of the arrangement permit accumulation of a large number of coins.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by designing the arrangement in accordance with the distinctive features described in the appended patent claims.

A coin-conveying mechanism, employed inter alia in our coin-handling machine SC 17003, is described in Swedish patent publication number 375 173. By using the coin tubes which are designed in a special manner in accordance with the present invention, the dimensions of the coin-handling machine can be reduced, thanks to the fact that at least some of the tubes concerned can be arranged with a portion of their length located underneath the said coin-conveying mechanism.

By using the coin tubes designed in accordance with the present invention, the slope of the coin path can be reduced to about 20° as compared with a slope of 25° for the coin path in our coin-handling machine SC 17003. This means that the height of the machine can also be reduced. The reduction in the slope of the coin path which is made possible by using the tubes in accordance with the present invention also means that the speed of rolling of the coins along the coin path is reduced, which results in a reduction in the noise which is produced when the coins roll against the sorting knives. The invention will be described in the following in conjunction with an embodiment illustrated on the appended drawing, where the perspective diagram illustrates a coin-handling machine provided with coin tubes in accordance with the present invention.

The coin-handling machine shown in the diagram comprises an upper, sloping coin-sorting path 2 which is fed with coins from the coin hopper 1 arranged laterally with respect to the coin-sorting path 2 and at the upper end of the latter. The coin-sorting path 2 is provided with a number of sorting knives 3 which form sorting stages 21 - 28 for coins of different diameter intervals. A lower sorting unit 7 (shown schematically in the diagram by dashed lines) having a number of sorting stages 71 - 78 corresponding to the sorting stages 21 - 28 in the upper coin-sorting path 2 is provided at a distance underneath the upper sorting path 2. The lower sorting unit 7 is arranged to provide for final sorting and discharge one by one of the coins which have been sorted into certain diameter intervals in the upper sorting path 2. The lower sorting unit 7 employs rotating discs provided with recesses, not shown in the diagram, where coins having a diameter less than the approved diameter are sorted out and where the coins approved in the sorting unit are discharged sideways, so that they drop down through a discharge aperture into the receptor device for sorted coins. Hence the lower sorting unit 7 requires a certain lateral space for each sorting stage, which can easily be provided in accordance with the present invention by adjusting the spacing between the lower ends of adjacent coin tubes 4. The lower sorting unit 7 and the associated discharge apertures for sorted coins are, as shown in the diagram, covered by means of a hinged sound-damping cover 6.

The respective sorting stages 21 - 28 in the upper coin-sorting path 2 are connected with the corresponding sorting stages 71 - 78 in the lower sorting unit 7 by means of coin tubes 4 having circular cross sections. On the one hand the coin tubes 4 function as transport tubes for sorted coins from the upper coin-sorting path 2 to the lower sorting unit 7, and secondly as a buffer store of coins between the upper sorting path and the lower sorting unit. Level monitors 5, shown schema tically in the diagram, are also provided in the coin tubes to monitor the level of the buffer in each coin tube. In accordance with the invention the majority of the coin tubes 4 are double-curved, so that the lower ends of the tubes are displaced sideways with respect to the upper ends of the tubes. Only the coin tube which connects the two last sorting stages 28 and 78, respectively, in the coin-sorting path 2 and the lower sorting unit 7, respectively, is straight. The curvature of the remaining coin tubes 4 makes it possible to utilize the space below the coin hopper 1, which facilitates a reduction in machine width as compared with earlier known machines. The curvature of the coin tubes 4 also permits a reduction in the rate of fall of the coins through the tube, which in turn reduces the noise which occurs when dropping coins meet other coins stacked in the tube. The curvature of the tubes 4 also permits a longer tube length and, as a result, larger buffer capacity for the tubes.

Underneath the lower sorting and discharge unit 7 a number of coin boxes 8 are arranged, inserted inside a frame, to collect the finally-sorted coins. The frame with the boxes 8, which can be locked in the collection position illustrated in the diagram, can be moved towards the rear of the machine, thus releasing the discharge apertures for the finally-sorted coins and so permitting the attachment of alternative collection devices under the respective discharge aperture e.g. coin bags or tubing inserts. The latter can be inserted in the discharge apertures from the top after the cover 6 has been raised. Into the tubing inserts paper tubes can be introduced as they become filled with discharged coins.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Arrangement for coin-handling machines of the type which comprises an upper coin-sorting path (2) and a lower coin-sorting unit (7) arranged underneath said path, whereby a number of coin tubes (4) with circular cross section connect the upper coin-sorting path (2) with the lower coin-sorting unit (7), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a plurality of said coin tubes (4) are curved, preferably double-curved, so that the lower ends of the coin tubes are displaced sideways with respect to the upper ends of the coin tubes.

2. Arrangement as in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the coin tube (4) which connects the last sorting stage (28) in the upper coin-sorting path (2) with a corresponding last stage (78) in the second coin-sorting unit (7) extends in a straight line, whilst the remaining coin tubes are provided with the said curvature.

3. Arrangement as in claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spacing between two adjacent coin tubes (4) is greater at the lower ends of the tubes than the corresponding spacing at the upper ends of the tubes.

4. Arrangement as in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the degree of slope of the coin tubes (4) with respect to the vertical plane successively reduces with decreasing tube diameter.