Patent GB-1341332-A (GB)
Title: Coin processing apparatus with jam detection system
IPC: B65G43/02
Filed: 1972-04-18
Abstract: 1341332 Coin sorting and counting ABBOTT COIN COUNTER CO Inc 18 April 1972 [13 March 1972] 17877/72 Heading G4X Coin sorting and counting apparatus wherein coins are fed to a shoot 18 by a driven turntable 14 includes means 38 for sensing coins in transit along the shoot and circuit means connected to the sensing means for detecting a coin jam in the shoot and de-energizing the drive of the turntable in the event of a jam. General arrangement.-Coins are picked up from a scoop 12 by pins 16 on the turntable from which they are stripped by acceptor 17 and directed to the shoot 18. After passing through sensing means 38 the coins are deflected by pins 22, 24 26 or 28 into a respective bin 30, 32, 34 or 36 according to their diameters. Determining coin denomination.-The sensor means 38 comprises a light source 40 and an array of photosensitive sensors 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64, Fig. 2, which are selectively obscured by a coin in transit according to its position and diameter. The sensors 62, 64 constitute a coin position sensor and when both devices are obscured the coin is deemed to be in the correct position for evaluation of its denomination from diameter information provided by sensors 56, 58 and 60, which constitute a diameter sensor. Logic circuitry 68, Fig. 4, produces a signal on one of lines 72, 74, 76 or 78 according to whether all, two, one or none of the sensors 56, 58 and 60 are obscured, and if such a signal corresponds with a signal on line 82 indicating that the coin is correctly positioned, a signal is produced from logic circuitry (80) (Fig. 5, not shown) on one of lines (84), (86), (88) or (90) respectively indicating the passage of 25c., 5c., 1c. and 10c. coins. Detecting coin jams.-Obscuration of photosensitive sensor 62 produces a signal on line 206 which through gates 210, 216 in circuit 202 reduces the potential on line 220 and permits discharge of capacitor 222 through resistance 228. When the potential on line 230 falls below a certain level gate 232 applies a high potential to the base of transistor 236, rendering it conductive and hence energizing relay 238 to break the circuit to the turntable motor 246. The time taken for capacitor 222 to discharge to the critical level is chosen as several times the normal period required for a coin to pass by device 62. The charging time is arranged to be only a fraction of the normal transit time. To increase the reliability of jam detection a second detection circuit 202 may be associated with one of the other sensors in the array, with the outputs of the two circuits 202 being connected through an OR gate to the transistor 236. Counting and batching coins.-Each of the output lines of the denomination detector circuit (80) is connected to a respective counter (Fig. 5a, not shown). If it is required, say, to bag groups of fifty coins of the respective denominations the counters are set to give an output on lines (268), (270), (272) or (274) when fifty coins of the corresponding denomination have been counted, these lines being connected through an OR gate 276 and amplifier 280 to the bases of transistors 236, Fig. 4, and (282), and a counter output thus effects de-energization of the drive motor and energization of a relay 286 which moves a pin 288, Fig. 2, into the coin shoot to trap any coins in transit. An indicator lamp (294) is illuminated and on manual operation of a switch 306 the counter is reset.