WO2000023950A1

WO2000023950A1 - Device and method for separating foreign objects from coins

Info

Publication number: WO2000023950A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/001917
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jerry Frank
Original assignee: Scan Coin Industries Ab
Priority date: 1998-10-22
Filing date: 1999-10-22
Publication date: 2000-04-27
Also published as: SE9803610D0; AU1430000A; SE9803610L

Abstract

A device (10) separates foreign objects from a plurality of desired coins having a maximum coin diameter. The device has a rotary separator (20) with first and second plane members forming between them a passegeway, through which the coins but not the foreign objects are allowed to exit from the separator. The first plane member has at least one opening with a diameter, which essentially corresponds to the maximum coin diameter. The second plane member is homogeneous. The opening in the first plane member acts as an inlet to the passageway for the coins.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING FOREIGN OBJECTS FROM COINS

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a device for separating foreign objects from a plurality of desired coins having a maximum coin diameter, involving the use of a rotary separator with first and second plane members forming between them a passageway, through which the coins but not the foreign objects are allowed to exit from the separator.

Description of Prior Art

Coin counting and/or sorting machines are previously known. Common applications for such machines are bank foyers, transport companies, malls and large stores. A customer makes a deposit of a quantity of coins, which the machine identifies, counts and/or sorts and keeps in safe custody. At the end of the operation, the customer gets a receipt, or the deposited coins may be credited in some other way.

The machines often work in non-supervised environments and are not only used by trained personnel, but also by the public. Problems occur when users, intentionally or not, put not only coins in the machines, but also all kind of objects that fit in the inlet. Smaller objects often cause problems like reduced reliability and accuracy. Larger objects can damage the machines mechanically, thereby causing problems like reduced capacity, reliability and accuracy or, in the worst case, breakdowns with costly repairs as a consequence.

Today, coin counting/sorting machines can be provided with a device that separates coins from foreign objects. Such a device is disclosed in WO96/30877. This device is primarily designed for separating smaller foreign objects, such as dust, sand, paper clips, nuts, etc. In some situations larger foreign objects may be hard to separate from the coins by means of a device of this type.

A device for separating large and deformed coins from desired coins is disclosed in US-A-3 147 759. This device comprises a box-shaped rotary separator having at each long side a pair of plane members, which are arranged in parallel and inclose vicinity of each other, forming between them a narrow passageway, through which the desired coins may exit via openings in one of the plane members .

The main problem with this device is that foreign objects with a thin elongated shape can get stuck in the narrow passageway intended for desired coins, and the fact that the plane members are fixed and rigid further increases the risk of getting stuck for the foreign objects. Moreover, the emptying of large and deformed coins from the device, when all the desired coins have been separated, is done manually, whereby this additional moment of operation of the device makes the separation of desired coins more time-consuming, difficult and unpractical, which leads to higher operation cost.

Summary of the Invention The main object of the invention is to allow a coin counting/sorting machine to be operated with a higher reliability and lifespan and with reduced running, maintenance and repair costs.

This is achieved by a device according to the attached independent claims, which may be used as an initial step in a coin counting/sorting machine and separates large foreign objects from a quantity of desired coins, so that these foreign objects end up in one place and the desired coins are delivered for further processing within the coin counting/sorting machine. The device identifies and distinguishes large foreign objects from desired coins by checking the dimensions of all objects and coins. If a foreign object is larger than the largest desired coin, i e is larger than a predetermined coin diameter and/or thickness in at least one dimension, it will be separated from the desired coins and deposited in a certain place.

By providing a coin counting/sorting machine with a device and a method according to the invention, two main advantages are obtained. The first advantage is that foreign objects with a thin elongated shape are less likely to get stuck in the exit passageway for the desired coins. A second advantage is that an automatic emptying of separated foreign objects from the device reduces the operation time.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be described in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG 1 is a perspective external view of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention,

FIG 2 is a perspective and partly exploded view similar to FIG 1 showing the essential part of the preferred embodiment,

FIG 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing only the essential part from FIG 2,

FIG 4 is an exploded view of the part in FIG 3 , and FIGs 5 and 6 are schematic perspective and side views illustrating the operating principle of the device according to the preferred embodiment . Detailed Description of the Invention

The following problem analysis forms the basis of the present invention. To be able to separate foreign objects from desired coins in a coin counting/sorting machine, either all the coins or all the objects have to be identified. Large foreign objects are only defined by their dimensions, i e there is not enough room for them inside the volume of the largest desired coin accepted by the machine (for example a coin with a diameter of 35 mm and a thickness of 3.5 mm) . In all other respects, the objects can have the same shape and be made of the same material as coins. The difference in dimensions is the only characteristic that distinguishes a desired coin from a large foreign object. The problem ought to be solved by checking the dimensions of every object and every coin introduced into the machine. If anything fits inside the volume of the largest desired coin, it is a desired coin; otherwise it is a large foreign object. Throughout this document, the term "foreign objects" may also include coins that do not fit inside the volume of the largest desired coin, such as bent coins or coins of a foreign currency.

A device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGs 1 - 4. The device 10 comprises a rotary six-sided separator drum 20, wherein five of these six sides are double-walled, whereas the sixth side 80 is single-walled and can be opened, and a chassis 30 forming the exterior of the device 10. The separator drum 20 is located and supported by suitable means inside the chassis 30.

FIG 1 shows the exterior of the device 10 with its chassis 30, where the upper part of the drum 20 can be seen. The chassis 30 forms a stabile unit for protecting and surrounding the drum 20. The chassis 30 also forms a narrowing lower part 30' for collecting the separated objects and coins before further processing.

FIG 2 also shows the device 10 with its chassis 30 but with the drum 20 together with its adherent means disassembled from the chassis 30.

FIGs 3 and FIG 4 show the drum 20 with its adherent means in an enlarged scale. The drum 20 comprises a hexagonal member 40 (FIG 5) consisting of six sides; and two ends 21, 22 that holds the drum 20 together by means of three holding bars 23. Five sides of these six sides are double-walled and one is single-walled (labelled 80) . Each of the five double walls consists of a first plane member in the form of an inner wall 50 and a second plane member in the form of an outer wall 60. The inner wall 50 has openings 52 with a diameter slightly larger than 35 mm (the diameter of the largest desired coin is 35 mm) . The two ends 21, 22 have different functions; the ringrig end 21 works as an inlet for objects and coins as well as a combined bearing and driving pulley for rotating the drum 20. The discrig end 22 works only as a bearing for the drum 20 and to prevent the objects and coins from falling out. The three holding bars 23 hold all the different parts of the drum 20 together by means of holding screws 24. Each of the outer sides 60 is pivotally hinged at one longitudinal side 60' to the drum 20, and held in place towards the drum 20 at the other side 60" by means of a spring 25. The spring 25 is attached by means of an attaching screw 26 to the drum 20, so that the side 60" can not swivel freely around the hinged side 60' . FIG 5 shows only the hexagonal member 40 and is explained also with reference to FIG 6. The separation of foreign objects and desired coins is done in the drum 20 during its counter clock-wise rotation, as it first lets all the desired coins exit the drum 20 while keeping foreign objects within the drum 20. At the end of the process the drum 20 is emptied of objects through the sixth side 80, which works as an emptying door. The emptying door 80 is pivotally hinged at^' one longitudinal side 80' to the drum 20, and held shut against the drum 20 at the other side 80" by suitable means, such as magnets or the like, and not by springs.

The separation principle is explained with reference to only one of the double walls of the drum 20 for clarity reasons . Each of the double walls has two plane members 50, 60, that form almost parallel planes, where the respective inner plane member 50 has openings 52. The separation of objects and coins is done by the two substantially parallel plane members 50, 60 (see FIGs 5 - 6) . There is a distance of about 3.5 mm (the thickness of the largest desired coin is 3.5 mm) between the plane members 50, 60 at the hinged side 60', expanding up to about 4.5 mm at the other open side 60" of the double wall. Only desired coins can travel a path 70 from the surface of the inner plane member 50, through the openings 52, into a passageway 62 between the plane members 50 and 60, and out of the passageway at the open side 60". The path 70 is shown in FIG 5 (arrow 70) . The large foreign objects are, in at least one dimension, too big to be able to travel the same path 70. The coins and the objects are poured into the inlet of the coin counting/sorting machine and are guided into the rotary separator drum 20 by a hopper (not shown) . The coins slide into the openings 52 on the inner plane member 50 and lay down on the inside of the outer plane member 60. When the drum 20 rotates, the coins start to slide between the plane members 50, 60 and out through the opening 60", thereby falling down under the drum 20, as previously mentioned and indicated by an arrow 70 in FIG 5. When all the coins have left the drum 20, it is emptied of any foreign objects by reversing the drum 20, i e in a clock-wise rotation, so that a mechanism opens the emptying door 80, wherein the objects fall out of the drum 20. A flap under the drum 20 first guides all the coins in a first direction, and subsequently guides the objects in a second direction.

There are two mechanisms used when opening the emptying door 80 and helping out coins that accidentally may be stuck between the two plane members 50 and 60. The first mechanism when opening the door 80 by reversing the drum 20 is a locking device, which locks the door 80 during the separation between objects and coins but which allows the door 80 to be opened for emptying of objects from the drum 20. The second mechanism also used when reversing the drum 20 is a system of spring-loaded rockers (not shown) , that increase the angle of clearance between the plane members 50, 60, so that coins stuck between the plane members 50, 60 are let out. The rocker system also opens the emptying door 80, so that separated objects inside the drum 20 can be emptied after completed separation.

The rockers are attached to the inside of the chassis 30 of the device 10. Each of the rockers is pivotally mounted and is able to rotate around one of its ends. A spring is attached at the other end of each rocker. During the separation of coins and objects the drum 20 rotates counter clock-wise, wherein each end 60" of the outer plane members 60 of the drum 20 (see FIG 3 - 5) touches the rockers, so that the rockers yield due to their spring, whereby each end 60" move past without being actuated. The end 80" of the emptying door 80 follows principally the same procedure as the end 60" described above but with different timing. After the separation is complete, the objects have to be emptied from the drum 20. This is done by reversing the drum 20, whereby the end 60" of the outer plane member 60 move in opposite direction and touches the other side of the rockers. The other sides of the rockers do not yield but force each end 60" outwards and increase the distance between the plane members 50, 60 of the double walls, which ensure that coins stuck between the members 50 and 60 can slide out for further processing in the coin counting/sorting machine .

The emptying door 80 is held closed by magnets or the like and not by a spring. This means that when reversing the drum 20, the magnets etc unlock the door 80, and when the end 80" touches an adjacent, rocker, the door 80 is completely opened and the separated objects are emptied from the drum 20.

The motors for driving, the electrical equipment and the soft- and hardware necessary for controlling the device 10 are believed to be well within the skills of a man skilled in the art. Two 12 V electrical motors may be used, one for the driving of the drum 20 and one for the flap under the drum 20. With the help of two micro- switches, a computer program controls the device 10 according to a specified algorithm.

The present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, other embodiments than the one disclosed are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended independent patent claims.

Claims

1. A device (10) for separating foreign objects from a plurality of desired coins having a maximum coin dia- meter, the device comprising a rotary separator (20) with first and second plane members (50, 60) forming between them a passageway (62) , through which the coins but not the foreign objects are allowed to exit from the separator, characterized in that the first plane member (50) is provided with at least one opening (52) having a diameter, which essentially corresponds to the maximum coin diameter, whereas the second plane member (60) is homogeneous, wherein the at least one opening in the first plane member acts as an inlet to the passageway (62) for the coins.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second plane members (50, 60) are • arranged essentially parallel to each other at a distance, which essentially corresponds to a maximum thickness of the desired coins .

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second plane members (50, 60) is movably arranged with respect to the other plane member, so that the first and second plane members are kept essentially parallel to each other in a first direction of rotation of the separator (20), whereas the movable plane member may be urged to a non-parallel orientation with respect to the other plane member in a second direction of rotation of the separator.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the separator (20) comprises a plurality of pairs of first and second plane members (50, 60) , and wherein the pairs are interconnected so as to form respective double-walled sides of a container (40) .

5. A device according to claim 4,. wherein the container (40) has a polygonal cross-section.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the container (40) has a hexagonal cross-section.

7. A device according to any of claims 4-6, wherein one side of the container (40) comprises a pivotal plane member (80) , which may be swung open from the container.

8. A method of separating between foreign objects and desired coins having a maximum coin diameter, wherein the desired coins and any foreign objects are initially deposited inside a rotary container (20) , which has first and second plane members (50, 60) forming between them a passageway (62), through which the desired coins but not the foreign objects are allowed to exit from the container, characterized by the steps of arranging the first and second plane members (50,

60) as a double-walled side of the container (20) , so that the first plane member (50) faces the interior of the container and the second plane member (60) faces the exterior of the container; providing an opening (52) in the first plane member

(50) ; supplying the desired coins together with the foreign objects to the first plane member (50) by rotating the container; and receiving the desired coins at an outlet formed between the first and second plane members (50, 60) after having passed through the opening (52) and the passageway (62) .

9. A method according to claim 8, comprising the further steps of providing a pivotal door (80) in the container (20); rotating the container (20) in a first direction of rotation during the separation of the desired coins, keeping the door closed; once the desired coins have been separated, rotating the container (20) in a second direction of rotation, thereby opening the door (80) and emptying the foreign objects from the container.

10. A coin counting and/or sorting' machine, comprising a device according to any of claims 1-7.