Patent ID: 6983635
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: B44B

Abstract:
1. A coin press comprising, in combination: a frame including a first framework and a second framework spaced and parallel the first framework; a die having a first die bearing and a second die bearing, with the die adapted to receive an image on an external surface of the die; an anvil having a first anvil bearing and a second anvil bearing; a slot in the first framework, with the slot having a shape and a size to slideably receive and hold the first die bearing and the first anvil bearing, with the first die bearing and the first anvil bearing being removable and replaceable in the slot; another slot in the second framework, with the other slot being parallel the slot of the first framework and having a shape and a size to slideably receive and hold the second die bearing and the second anvil bearing, with the second die bearing and the second anvil bearing being removable and replaceable in the other slot, with the first die bearing and the first anvil bearing when held in the slot cooperating with the second die bearing and the second anvil bearing when held in the other slot to hold the die and the anvil to the frame, with the die when held to the frame being rotatable about a die axis and otherwise held stationary relative to the frame, with the anvil when held to the frame being rotatable about an anvil axis parallel the die axis, with the anvil otherwise held stationary relative to the frame, with the die and the anvil being in abutting counter-rotation to each other when held to the frame; a timing device including a body and a coin slot extending through the body, with the coin slot having a top opening and a bottom opening, with the coin slot adapted to allow the coin to pass gravitationally through the coin slot, with the coin slot having a width corresponding to a diameter of the coin and a depth corresponding to a thickness of the coin; a gate in the timing device and rotatable about a gate axis between an open position and a closed position, with the gate axis being parallel to the width of the coin slot, with the gate in the closed position obstructing the coin slot to constrain the coin in the coin slot, with the gate in the open position defining a gap that allows the coin to pass by the gate and through the coin slot when the gate is rotated to the open position; a trip lever extending from the gate exterior the body of the timing device, with the trip lever when activated rotating the gate to time release of the coin from the coin slot, with the die and the anvil located below and proximate the bottom opening of the coin slot, with the die and the anvil cooperating to nip the coin between the die and the anvil when the coin is released from the coin slot; and a timing ring defining at least one lobe, with the timing ring rotatable with one of the die and the anvil, with rotation of the timing ring causing the at least one lobe to periodically activate the trip lever of the timing device to rotate the gate, with timing of activation of the trip lever synchronized with rotation of the die and the anvil to release and gravitationally drop the coin, with the coin being released at a precise point in time to facilitate nipping of an edge of the coin between the anvil and the die and to center the coin on the image on the die, with the nipped coin being pulled in and pressed between the die and the anvil by rotation of the die and the anvil, with the coin being pressed into the shape and the design defined by the image on the die, with the coin after pressing gravitationally released by further rotation of the die and the anvil.