METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING COINS

Abstract: A method of sorting coins with regard to the diameter thereof wherein the lowermost coin (2) of a coin tack is discharged by means of a conveyor belt (4) which supports the coin stack engaging the lower side of the lowermost coin, are continuously fed to a channel (11) having fall-through openings (12), wherein coins of a predetermined diameter are supported at diametrically opposite marginal portions only. The coins are advanced along the channel by means of a second conveyor belt (8) engaging the top side of the coins and at the same time pressing the coins against one side wall of the channel, coins (2') of less diameter than the predetermined diameter being separated through the fallthrough opening. The invention also relates to an apparatus for working the method.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING COINS The present invention relates to method and apparatus for sorting coins. . More parti cul ar.y, the invention relates to a method in second sorting of coins in order to separate from a stack of predominantly coins of a predetermined diameter obtained by a first sorting of mixed co ns, occasional coins of less diameter than the predetermined diameter, the coins being discharged one at a time from the lower end of the stack in the transverse direction thereof along a channel having fall-through openings in the bottom for coins of less diameter than the predetermined di ame ter. When coins are being sorted the coins are often counted at the same time. Then, it is important that the counted coins have the correct value. A counting coin sorting machine must be reliable in operation and must have a high capacity. In order to obtain a high reliability in operation while maintaining a high capacity it is previously known to use double sorting of a mixed mass of coins. The first sorting generally is performed by a rotating disc lifting the coins to a sloping track, the coins then being allowed to roll down along the track. On the track, the coins are separated in dependence on different diameters by means of sorting knifes deviating the coins to the respective coin tubes thereof. In the second sort¬ ing, which is performed before counting, the diameter of the coins may be sensed once more but with a greater accuracy than in the first sorting. In the method referred to above,' there has been used earlier a reciprocat ng slide for the discharge of the coins from the lower end of the stack and displacement of the coins over the fall-through opening, the slide OMPI 'Λ WIPO having an oblique front edge to engage the coins with one side wall of the channel. By a second sorting performed in this way the capacity will be highly limited, however, due to the reciprocating movement of the slide. Some improvement of the capacity is achieved by using for the second sorting a rotating disc having recesses to receive therein coins the diameter of which shall be sensed. At the rotation of the disc a coin having a predetermined diameter will be able to rest on a narrow edge provided at part of the outer periphery in a space in which the disc is received. Coins of less diameter than the predeterm ned diameter then also will engage said narrow edge in the space because the coins are thrown outwards due to the centrifugal force at the rotation of the disc, but these smaller coins will get off a supporting portion at the central part of the disc, which means that they w ll fall down and will* be separated through a first opening provided at said narrow edge. After further rotation of the disc the narrow edge at the outer periphery ceases, which means that "accepted" coins of the predetermined diameter can be discharged through a second opening provided for this purpose, the coins being counted at the same time. How¬ ever, this arrangement for effecting a second sorting provides some drawbacks because the capacity is limited due to the fact that the coins must fall down into the recesses of the disc and then into either the first or the second opening. The purpose of the invention is to provide a substantially increased capacity as compared with that achieved with the prior art arrangements mentioned above, without impairing the accuracy in sensing the dimensions. o This is achieved according to the invention by the OMPI method referred to above, having obtained the characteristics of claim 1. The invention also relates to an apparatus for working this method. The apparatus is such as defined in claim 2. The invention will now be described with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in cross section, of an apparatus for sorting coins in accordance with the invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II - II in FIG. 1 , and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III - III in FIG. 2. In-- FIG. 1, there is shown a coin tube 1 in which coins 2 ' have been stacked after a first sorting, the coins 2 being fed into the tube in the direction of the arrow A " . At the lower end of the tube 1 a recess 3 is provided, and below the tube there is a conveyor formed by an endless belt 4 which is guided on two runners 6 and 7 one of which is driving. The belt 4 preferably is made of an elastomer material having great surface fric¬ tion. It is arranged to convey the lowermost coin of the stack to the right as seen in FIG. 1 by frictional engagement with the lower side of said coin, the fric¬ tional force between the conveyor belt 4 and the lower side of the lowermost coin being substantially greater than the frictional force between the top side of the lowermost coin and the lower side of the super¬ posed coin due to the fact that the conveyor belt 4 is made of an elastomer material . A stationary support 5 is provided under the conveyor belt 4 in order that the belt shall not be extended downwards under the load of the coin stack 2, which could result in two coins being OMPI V.'IPO discharged simultaneously through the recess 3. The recess 3 preferably is dimensioned such that a bent coin or a coin or a token having a thickness which is larger than the predetermined thickness, cannot pass through the recess, which means that the coin will slip against the conveyor belt 4. When this occurs, which can easily be indicated by an increased load on the motor driving the conveyor belt 4, the tube is lifted and the defective or too thick coin is removed. A second conveyor which joins the right hand end of the conveyor 4 also consists of a conveyor belt 8 and two runners 9 and 10 one of which is driving, for guiding the belt. The belt 8 is arranged to engage from above coins 2 which have been advanced by means of the conveyor belt 4, to convey the coins through a sort¬ ing channel 11. The conveyor belt 8 is angled in relation to the sorting channel 11 (see also FIG. 2) which has coin supporting marginal portions 11a and lib at a fall- -through opening 12. Due to the fact that the belt 8 is angled in relation to the sorting channel 11 the advanced coin 2 will be pressed against the side wall of the channel at the marginal portion lib, which means that a coin 2' the diameter of which is less than the diameter of "accepted" coins 2 having the predetermined diameter, to an extent which corresponds to the width of the marginal portion 11a, wil.l be separated through the fall-through opening 12 in the channel 11 as indicated by the arrow C. "Accepted" coins 2 of the predetermined diameter, however, will be advanced by the belt 8 and then can be carried on in a suitable way via counters (not shown) to be collected after counting in containers provided for such coins. If one side wall of the sorting channel 11 is adjustable as indicated by the double arrow D in FIG. 2, the apparatus can be used for counting coins having different dimensions. In FIG. 3, there is shown how an "accepted" coin 2 of the predetermined diameter is advanced in the channel 11 engaging the side wall of the channel at the marginal portion lib. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method in second sorting of coins (2) to separate from a stack of predominantly coins of a predetermined diameter obtained by a first sorting of mixed coins, occasional coins (2') of less diameter than the predetermined diameter, the coins being discharged one at a time from the lower end of the stack in the transverse direction thereof along a channel having fall-through openings (12) in the bottom for coins of less diameter than the predetermined diameter, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the dis¬ charge from the stack is effected by carrying along the lowermost coin in the stack by means of an endless conveyor belt (4) supporting the stack, and that the discharged coin is removed from the conveyor belt by means of an angled endless conveyor be! t (8) engagi ng the top s de of the coin, for forward ng the coin n a manner known per se through the channel in engagement with one side wall of the channel. 2- An apparatus for second sorting of coins to separate from a stack of predominantly coins (2) of a predetermined diameter, obtained by a first sorting of mixed coins, occasional coins (2') of less diameter than the predetermined diameter, comprising a coin tube (1) and a member (4) displaceable below the lower end of the tube for discharging the coins one at a time from the lower end of the stack in the transverse direction thereof, and a channel (11) having fall-through openings (12) in the bottom for coins of less diameter than the predetermined diameter, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by an endless conveyor belt (4) arranged below the coin tube (1) for supporting the stack and discharging the lowermost coin of the stack, and an endless conveyor belt (8) for engagement with the top side of the dis- charged coin and removal of the coin from the first- OMPI mentioned conveyor belt, the conveyor belt engaging the top side of the coin being angled in a manner known per se and extending through the channel (11) in order to press coins transported through the channel, against one side wall of the channel. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said one side wall of the channel (11) is adjustable in the transverse direction of the channel. OMPI WIPO

Inventors: LANDAEUS K, THYLANDER L
Applicants: LANDAEUS K, SCAN COIN AB, THYLANDER L
Application year: 1981
Main classification: G07D3
IPC codes: G07D3