Abstract:
A system for handling coins employs a front end coin acceptor and validator that feeds a sorter mechanism. The sorter mechanism utilizes a substantially horizontal track module to load coins by denomination into an arrangement of bins. The coins are ejected by means of a solenoid onto the track module that provides a path according to the denomination of the coin into the proper bin.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Pat. No. 60/705,052, filed Aug. 2, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention is related to systems for dispensing coins that use bin type storage for coin inventory. More specifically it relates to a system adapted to accept, validate, sort, and dispense coins.  
         [0004]     2. Brief Description of Related Developments  
         [0005]     Coin dispensers generally employ a canister for holding a supply of coins in various denominations. The coins are held in stacks within tubular receptacles constructed in the canisters. Each stack is made up of a different denomination of coin having different diameters. Filling the canisters is done manually in advance of the deployment of the dispenser and is periodically replenished as the coins are depleted. Since the tubular receptacles are designed for the physical shape of the coin, configurations of this type lack flexibility for accommodating different sets of coins. This has led to the use of bin style storage that employs an array of bins for storing coins in bulk. The coins are distributed by denomination, i.e. a bin for each denomination of coin used. Bin style storage is not restricted by the physical characteristics of the coin. Such coin storage systems facilitate storing, loading and unloading of coins in a coin handling system.  
         [0006]     Many coin dispensers are employed in point of sale machines, such as vending machines, into which coins are inserted by a customer to obtain a product. Columnar type dispensers, although reliable and accurate, are limited in the recycling of the customer inserted coins into the dispenser, thus requiring separate storage and accounting.  
         [0007]     Vending machines and other machines that accept coin payments and dispense change require a front end coin acceptor to validate the coin as legal tender and identify the denomination. The information provided by the acceptor can be used to sort and account for the inventory of coins in the machine. Acceptor systems of this type are manufactured by companies such as Mars Electronics Inc., National Rejectors Inc., CoinCo and others. The acceptor units are generally adapted to particular sorting mechanisms.  
         [0008]     Prior art sorting mechanisms generally are passive systems that rely primarily on gravity to distribute the coin by denomination. The sorting is generally accomplished by rolling or transporting the coins over a series of openings in a rail or plate on which the openings are arranged by size from the smallest to the largest. The coins progress on the rail or plate until the coin falls through its proper hole. Such systems are again reliant on the physical size of the coin and require different designs depending on the coin set in the particular market place. In addition, these mechanisms are somewhat large and require a certain height through which gravity can exercise control.  
         [0009]     A more active type of sorter may be adapted for use with an acceptor unit front end. After a coin is accepted and identified a series of gates are triggered to define a vertical path for the coin to drop to its respective bin. Although less reliant on coin shape, these system still use gravity and require a considerable amount of space, particularly height in which to operate.  
         [0010]     It is a purpose of the embodiments described in this application to provide a reliable system for recycling coins in a combined system of coin handling that provides acceptance/validation, sorting and dispensing. This is accomplished by adapting the output of an acceptor unit to at least partially control a sorting mechanism that distributes accepted coins by denomination into a bin type storage system for dispensing. It is another purpose of the embodiments of this application to generate data in digital form for reliably accounting for coins passing through the coin handling system. It is another purpose of the embodiments of this application to construct a sorter mechanism that combines high reliability, active sorting with an overall sorter mechanism package having drastically reduced height, while providing the ability to deliver sorted coins to widely separated end points, namely the bins or hoppers of the coin storage system.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In a first embodiment of the invention, a system for handling coins employs a front end coin acceptor and validator that feeds a sorter mechanism. The sorter mechanism utilizes a substantially horizontal assembly of tracks to load coins by denomination into an arrangement of bins. The coins are ejected, from a coin holder or pocket, by means of a solenoid, onto a selected track of an array of horizontal tracks, each of which provides a path, according to the denomination of the coin, into the proper bin. The coin pocket and striking solenoid are mounted for movement with respect to the horizontal tracks in response to identification of the denomination by the acceptor unit. A rack and pinion drive aligns the coin pocket with the opening of the proper track and the coin is forcibly ejected by a solenoid to travel down the track, to the assigned bin.  
         [0012]     In another aspect of the invention, a coin of known denomination is deposited into a coin pocket via the validating acceptor and its position is confirmed via the coin present sensor. Based on the denomination, solenoid-actuated selector gates are configured to guide the coin along a substantially horizontal path to any one of several possible end-points coincident with a bin of the proper denomination. Once the gates are set the coin is then fired down the rail to its end point by the coin striking solenoid.  
         [0013]     In another aspect of this invention an arrangement of hopper dispensers (bins) are assembled on a removable chassis wherein each bin is attached by a hinge that provides a horizontal pivot axis. This allows the hopper bins to tilt individually in order to facilitate unloading of the coins.  
         [0014]     In another aspect of this invention a control system is constructed to track the coins along the various paths, monitor the condition of the bins, and generate the data needed to provide accounting for the coins traversing the system.  
         [0015]     In another aspect of this invention a sorter is constructed having a default path which directs coins to a common bin for storage. Coins from the common bin are not recycled. They are not part of the dispensing inventory. System logic provides for active distribution of coins once accepted and identified as long as the sorting system is operative and the storage bins are available.  
         [0016]     Another aspect of the invention involves a control algorithm that utilizes the default path. After a coin is inserted by a customer, the acceptor checks to determine if it is valid currency and if it is identifies the denomination. If the coin is rejected, the acceptor guides it directly to the coin return, otherwise it is diverted to the sorter. The system checks to determine if the sorter is functional. If the sorter is out of order the coin is sent to a common bin regardless of denomination. If the sorter is operational, the denomination is checked to see if the dispenser supports the currency, if not then it is sent to the common bin, if it is, the hopper capacity is checked to determine if it can receive more coins. Again if the bin is full, then the coin is sent to the common bin, but if the bin is able to accept more coins, then the coin is directed to the appropriate bin for use as dispensing inventory. Although the above steps are described sequentially, the decisions can be made in any order or simultaneously within the sorter.  
         [0017]     It is another purpose of this invention to provide a rapid and convenient means for emptying or removing the coin inventory from the coin storage bins. The prior state of the art for removing coin inventory from bin-type dispensing mechanisms in both coin dispensers and coin recyclers is to mechanically run the coin out through the mechanism to the coin output cup one by one. This approach is tedious, inconvenient, stressful on the dispensing mechanism and time intensive. There are two primary reasons for emptying the coin inventory. The first is to perform a physical audit of the coin inventory, the second is in the event of a coin jam or failure internal to the dispensing mechanism to facilitate trouble-shooting and repair. In one embodiment a bin is constructed to receive and store coins. A support member, such as a plate or other structure, is constructed to support the bin. The bin is connected to the support member by a hinge. This allows the bin to pivot on the hinge and permits permit dumping of the bin contents while attached to the support member. This hinged construction can be applied to a single bin or multiple bins mounted on a chassis.  
         [0018]     In another aspect of an embodiment of this application, multiple coin bins are mounted to a common chassis via a hinged plate that provides an axis of rotation, through which the coin bin can be tilted, to conveniently dump the contents for purposes of audit and repair. This aspect is significant in that it avoids the otherwise common practice of having to physically remove the coin bins to empty the contents for service access. By captivating or retaining the bins with a hinged attachment, the risks are avoided that are associated with; vulnerability of the bin mechanism to being dropped or otherwise subject to abuse when removed from the system. In this manner, the necessity to physically key each bin to it&#39;s proper location, and the cost and inherent reliability issues associated with providing an appropriate multi-pin connection associated with each individual bin are avoided. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The coin handling system of this application is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coin handling system constructed according to this application;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the coin storage and dispensing apparatus of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the coin storage and dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 2 , showing the dumping position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the front end of the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the front end of an alternate embodiment of the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a control system for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram showing the sequence of operation the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]     A coin handling system, for accepting, sorting, and dispensing coins incorporating features of the present invention is illustrated in the figures. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention may have many alternate forms. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 1  the coin handling system of this invention has a front end coin acceptor unit  1  which receives coins from a customer and determines whether or not the coin is legal tender and if it is, the coins denomination is identified. The acceptor unit  1  generates signals reflecting the denomination. The acceptor unit  1  has two mechanical output paths, one in which a rejected coin will be directed to the coin return slot  14  and a second in which the coin is inserted into a coin pocket  7 . Coin pocket  7  comprises a chamber that receives an accepted coin for firing outward by the action of a solenoid  6 . A sensor  15  detects the presence of a coin in the pocket to start a sequence of events prior to firing the coin.  
         [0029]     The coin pocket  7  provides the actuator for sorter unit  2  and is selectively aligned with a track of module  5  for transporting coins to a particular one of the bins  11 . The track module  5  of sorter unit  2  comprises a series of tracks constructed to direct fired coins from the coin pocket to the desired bin. The ejector head  4 , consisting of coin pocket  7  and striking solenoid  6 , is mounted for movement, in the direction of arrow  20  in  FIG. 4 . After each coin firing, the ejector head  4  is returned to alignment with the output of acceptor  2 . Track module  5  is mounted on chassis  16 .  
         [0030]     Movement of the ejector head  4  is provided by a rack and pinion drive  8 ,  9 . Rack  8  engages pinion gear  9  to provide movement of the ejector head  4  relative to the openings at the entrance to the track module  5 . Gear  9  is driven by a motor  10 , in response to the coin denomination signal of acceptor unit  1 . The bins  11  are arranged according to denomination and the coin pocket  7  is moved into alignment with the appropriate track of module  5  to receive a fired coin and direct it to the input opening  18  of the proper bin  11 . Each of the tracks  5  is associated with one of the openings  18  of a particular bin  11 . An additional bin (not shown), that may be positioned in the space between the dispensing hoppers, is identified as a common bin which is the default destination of coins of any denomination in the event of a malfunction of the system.  
         [0031]     Coin inventory storage and dispensing unit  3  is constructed having an individual or a series of bins  11  mounted on a chassis  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Each of the bins is mounted on a hinge  12  that allows pivotal movement of each bin, about an axis  17 , as shown in  FIG. 3  to facilitate removal of the coins. An input opening  18  provides access for coins distributed to a bin  11  by an associated track  5 . The storage and dispensing unit  3  on chassis  16  may be slidably mounted within a host device such as a self check-out machine (not shown). The chassis  16  is slid forward from the host device to expose the coin bins  11 . This facilitates dumping or removal of the coin inventory for purposes such as audit or repair and troubleshooting.  
         [0032]     The preferred embodiment of the front end of the coin handling system of this invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . The acceptor unit  1  feeds rejected coins to the coin return  14 . Validated coins are fed directly to coin pocket  7 . Coin pocket  7  consists of a chamber aligned with a striker solenoid  6 . When the solenoid  6  fires, it strikes the coin, forcibly ejecting the coin from the chamber of coin pocket  7  to the aligned track of module  5 . A sensor  15  detects the presence of a coin in the coin pocket chamber.  
         [0033]     As described above, the ejector head  4  is mounted for movement as shown by arrow  20  in  FIG. 4 . This movement serves to align the outlet  21  of coin pocket  7  with the input to one of the tracks  5 , according to denomination. A default location of coin pocket  7  aligns it with a track of module  5  that is adapted to direct the coin to a common bin. Movement of the ejector head  4  is driven by the operative cooperation of driven pinion gear  9  and rack  8 . Rack  8  is mounted on a slide  22  for movement and ejector head  4  moves with the rack  8 . Encoders  19  keep track of the position of the rack and generate signals that are fed back to a main controller for the sorter unit  2 . Rack or coin pocket position is correlated to coin denomination according to an algorithm that directs the processors  51  of controller  50 . The algorithm may be stored in memory  52 .  
         [0034]     In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , a single coin rail  108  is mounted in alignment with coin pocket  107 . Coin rail  108  extends outward horizontally to reach the input gratings  18  of bins  11 . A series of gates  105  are arranged to selectively deflect coins traveling on rail  108  to the proper grating  18  according to denomination. One of the gates  105  is deployed as a default to direct the coin to a common bin. The gates  105  are individually deployed into the path of the coins on rail  108  by solenoids  109 . Solenoids  109  may be actuated according to signals from controller  50  relating to denomination identified by acceptor unit  1 .  
         [0035]     A control system for directing the operation of the sorter unit  2  is shown in  FIG. 6 . A series of computer elements, such as processors, clock timers, memory, bus elements, etc. are mounted on a printed circuit board in operative association to provide the function of a main controller  50 . An algorithm may be stored in memory  52  to direct sorter operation processor  51 . Position drive processor  53  operates the track module drive motor  10  according to position data received from encoders  19  and correlated to denomination by a track module position algorithm. The track module position algorithm may be a look up table that relates position to denomination. The above mentioned computer elements may be implemented in a variety of ways, for example, by individual components or combined as an ASIC chip, etc. A series of sensors  54 - 58 , located throughout the sorter unit  2 , storage unit  3 , and dispenser  4 , provide data to controller  50  with respect to the travel of a coin and the condition of the system. Accounting data relating to overall coin inventory, including coins recycled, originally loaded, and those dispensed is recorded in non-volatile history memory and processor  59 .  
         [0036]     In operation as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , after a coin is inserted by a customer at step  200 , the acceptor checks to determine if it is valid currency ( 201 ) and if it is, the acceptor validates the coin and identifies the denomination. If the coin is rejected in step  201 , the acceptor releases the coin to the return  14  ( 202 ). Accepted coins are diverted to the sorter in step  203  and the presence of a coin in coin pocket  7  is sensed. In step  204 , the system checks to determine if the sorter is functional by querying sensors, such as sensors  56 - 58  relating to the status of system components or by querying coin status sensors, such as sensors  54 - 55 . If the sorter is out of order the coin may, nevertheless, be fired and sent by default to a common bin ( 205 ) regardless of denomination. This allows continued operation of the system, while the malfunction is reported and remedial action may be taken.  
         [0037]     If the sorter is operational, the denomination is checked in step  206  to see if the dispenser supports the currency, if not then it is sent to the common bin, if it is, the hopper capacity is checked in step  207  to determine if a bin can receive more coins. Again if the bin is full, then the coin is sent to the common bin, but if the bin is able to accept more coins, then the coin is directed to the appropriate bin for use as dispensing inventory in step  208 .  
         [0038]     The sorting step  208  involves the operation of the coin pocket  7  and striking solenoid  6 . The initial position of the rack  9  aligns the ejector head  4  with the acceptor output and the ejector head  4  is returned to this position after each sorting cycle to receive the next coin. After a coin is accepted, and sorting is initiated, the ejector head  4  is first aligned with a default track to, if required, direct the coin to the common bin. If the sorter unit is functional, then a drive signal is generated by processor  53  based on the denomination identified by acceptor unit  1 . The ejector head  4  is then moved to align with the proper track of the track module  5 . The striker solenoid  6  is then fired to eject the coin out of coin pocket  7  and on to the aligned track of module  5 . The force of the ejection is sufficient to carry the coin on the track to the destination bin.  
         [0039]     In this manner a complete coin handling system is assembled having a horizontally oriented active sorting operation, that is compact, efficient, and accurate, while providing data to completely account for the inventory of loaded and recycled coins.  
         [0040]     It should be understood that the above description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art with out departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.