Patent Publication Number: US-6983635-B2

Title: Coin press

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention generally relates to coin presses and more particularly to a coin press to press an image into a coin. 
   The coin pressing business is 110 years old. An operator who desires a particular image inserts a coin, usually a penny, and a required currency into a coin feed mechanism. The required currency is retained in the coin press for later retrieval by an owner of the coin press. The coin is pressed between an anvil and a die. An image on the die is pressed onto one side of the coin, and the coin is generally reshaped into an oblong shape. If the coin is not centered on the image during pressing, the coin may be misshapen or the image incomplete. 
   Furthermore, the die and the anvil should be parallel and pressed against each other to press the coin. In removing and replacing the die and the anvil for maintenance or to change the image, the die and the anvil need to be realigned, and pressure between the die and the anvil adjusted. The process of removing, replacing, and realigning the die and the anvil to be parallel can be time consuming and inaccurate. 
   Therefore, there is a need to have a novel coin press to press an image onto a coin to overcome deficiencies encountered in prior coin presses. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention solves these needs and other problems in the field of coin pressing by providing, in a preferred form, a coin press to press a coin, such as a penny, into a shape and a design desired by an operator. The coin is pressed between a die and an anvil that abuts the die. The die and the anvil counter-rotate with respect to each other to nip and press the coin. An external surface of the die has an image which is pressed onto the coin. The coin press has a timing device with a body and a coin slot extending through the body. The coin slot has a top opening and a bottom opening, and the coin passes gravitationally through the coin slot. A width of the coin slot corresponds to a diameter of the coin. A depth of the coin slot corresponds to a thickness of the coin. The timing device also has a gate traversing the coin slot. The gate is rotatable about a gate axis parallel to the width of the coin slot. The gate rotates between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the gate obstructs the coin slot and constrains the coin. In the open position, the gate defines a gap, which allows the coin to pass by the gate and through the coin slot. A trip lever extends from the gate. The trip lever, when activated, rotates the gate about the axis to the open position. A timing ring rotates with one of the die or the anvil and includes at least one lobe to periodically activate the trip lever. The at least one lobe times activation of the trip lever to correspond with rotation of the die and the anvil. The trip lever rotates the gate to gravitationally drop the coin between the anvil and the image on the die. Timing of dropping of the coin facilitates nipping of an edge of the coin between the die and the anvil to center the coin on the image on the die. The nipped coin is pulled in by rotation of the die and the anvil and pressed between the anvil and the image on the die. 
   In other aspects of the present invention, a coin press is provided to press a coin, such as a penny, into a shape and a design desired by an operator. The coin is pressed between a die and an anvil that abuts the die. The die and the anvil counter-rotate with respect to each other to nip and press the coin. An external surface of the die has an image which is pressed onto the coin. The die has a first die bearing and a second die bearing. Similarly, the anvil has a first anvil bearing and a second anvil bearing. The coin press has a frame including a first framework and a second framework parallel and spaced from each other. The first framework has a slot that has a shape and a size to slideably receive and hold the first die bearing and the first anvil bearing. The second framework has another slot parallel to the slot in the first framework. The other slot in the second framework has a shape and a size to slideably receive and hold the second die bearing and the second anvil bearing. The anvil is mounted to the first and second frameworks by sliding the first anvil bearing into the slot of the first framework and the second anvil bearing into the other slot of the second framework. Similarly, the die is mounted adjacent the anvil by sliding the first die bearing into the slot of the first framework and the second die bearing into the other slot of the second framework. The slot and the other slot hold the anvil to the frame and allow the anvil to rotate about an anvil axis while otherwise being held stationary to the frame. Likewise, the slot and the other slot hold the die parallel the anvil and allow the die to rotate about a die axis while otherwise being held stationary to the frame. A first adjuster contacts and presses one of the first die bearing and the first anvil bearing toward the other of the first die bearing and the first anvil bearing. A second adjuster contacts and presses a respective one of the second die bearing and the second anvil bearing toward the other of the second die bearing and the second anvil bearing. Pressure from the first and second adjusters pushes the die and the anvil toward each other and holds the die and the anvil parallel and adjacent each other. The first and second adjusters allow adjustment of pressure between the die and the anvil for pressing the coin. The die and the anvil are removably and replaceably slid into the slot and the other slot of the frame for ease of assembly and maintenance of the coin press as well as ease of replacement of the image on the die. The die and the anvil are realigned by slideable mounting of the first and second die bearings and the first and second anvil bearings in the frame. 
   It is thus an objective of the present invention to provide a novel coin press. 
   It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide such a novel coin press that provides a timing device with a gate that is rotatable to an open position and activated by a timing ring that rotates with one of the die or the anvil to gravitationally drop a coin at a precise point in time so that the coin is nipped and pressed between an anvil and an image on a die. 
   It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide such a novel coin press that provides removable and replaceable mounting of the die and the anvil with accurate and repeatable realignment of the die and the anvil for ease of assembly and maintenance. 
   The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a coin press according to the preferred teachings of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the coin press of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded perspective view of the timing device of the coin press of  FIG. 1  according to the preferred teachings of the present invention. 
   

   All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. 
   Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “surface,” “end,” “first,” “second,” “axis,” “length,” “width,” “depth,” “open,” “closed,” “top,” “bottom,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the illustrative embodiment. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A coin press, constructed according to the preferred teachings of the present invention, is shown in the drawings and generally designated  10 . In the most preferred form, the coin press  10  is utilized to press a coin, such as a penny, into a shape and a design desired by an operator. The coin is pressed between a die  20  and an anvil  22  that abuts the die  20 . The die  20  and the anvil  22  counter-rotate with respect to each other to nip and press the coin. In the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, the die  20  and the anvil  22  are cylindrical. An image is received on an external surface of the die  20 , and in the preferred form, the die  20  receives four images spaced equally around a circumference of the die  20  to allow the operator to select one of four different designs for pressing onto the coin. 
   The die  20  has a first die bearing  24  and a second die bearing  26  in the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention. Similarly, in the preferred form, the anvil  22  has a first anvil bearing  28  and a second anvil bearing  30 . In the preferred form, the coin press  10  has a frame  40  including a first framework  42  and a second framework  44 . The first and second frameworks  42  and  44  are parallel and spaced from each other. The first framework  42  has a slot  46  having a shape and a size to slideably receive and hold the first die bearing  24  and the first anvil bearing  28 . The second framework  44  has another slot  48  parallel to the slot  46  in the first framework  42 . The other slot  48  has a shape and a size to slideably receive and hold the second die bearing  26  and the second anvil bearing  30 . The anvil  22  is mounted to the first and second frameworks  42  and  44  by sliding the first anvil bearing  28  into the slot  46  of the first framework  42  and the second anvil bearing  30  into the other slot  48  of the second framework  44 . Similarly, the die  20  is mounted adjacent the anvil  28  by sliding the first die bearing  24  into the slot  46  of the first framework  42  and the second die bearing  26  into the other slot  48  of the second framework  44 . When mounted in the slot  46  and the other slot  48 , respectively, the first anvil bearing  28  cooperates with the second anvil bearing  30  to hold the anvil  22  to the frame  40  and allow the anvil  22  to rotate about an anvil axis while otherwise being held stationary to the frame  40 . Likewise, the first die bearing  24  and the second die bearing  26 , when held in the slot  46  and the other slot  48 , respectively, cooperate to hold the die  20  parallel to the anvil  22  and allow the die  20  to rotate about a die axis while otherwise being held stationary to the frame  40 . 
   In the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, the frame  40  also includes an end plate  60  that is removably and replaceably mounted to the first and second frameworks  42  and  44 . The end plate  60 , in the most preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, is rectangular and is mounted perpendicular the first and second frameworks  42  and  44  and adjacent the slot  46  and the other slot  48 . The end plate  60  in the most preferred form is mounted to the first and second frameworks  42  and  44  by fasteners, such as bolts. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the end plate  60  could be of a different size and shape and/or the fasteners could be latches or the like, according to the teachings of the present invention. 
   In the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, a first adjuster  62  and a second adjuster  64  are provided. In the most preferred form, the first and second adjusters  62  and  64  are a first threaded bolt and a second threaded bolt that are threadably mounted through the end plate  60 . The first and second adjusters  62  and  64  in the preferred form, are parallel each other and are aligned with the slot  46  and the other slot  48 , respectively, when the end plate  60  is mounted to the first and second frameworks  42  and  44 . The first adjuster  62  contacts and presses one of the first die bearing  24  and the first anvil bearing  28  toward the other of the first die bearing  24  and the first anvil bearing  28 . The second adjuster  64  contacts and presses a respective one of the second die bearing  26  and the second anvil bearing  30  toward the other of the second die bearing  26  and the second anvil bearing  30 . Pressure from the first and second adjusters  62  and  64  push the die  20  and the anvil  22  toward each other and hold the die  20  and the anvil  22  parallel and adjacent each other. The first and second adjusters  62  and  64  allow adjustment of pressure between the die  20  and the anvil  22  for pressing the coin. According to the teachings of the present invention, the first adjuster  62  and the second adjuster  64  could have different mountings or orientations or could be formed by clamps or the like, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
   Removably and replaceably sliding the die  20  and the anvil  22  into the slot  46  and the other slot  48  of the frame  40  allows ease of assembly and maintenance of the coin press  10  as well as ease of replacement of the image on the die  20 . The die  20  and the anvil  22  are realigned by slideable mounting of the first and second die bearings  24  and  26  and the first and second anvil bearings  28  and  30  into the frame  40 . As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the die  20  could be mounted into the slot  46  and the other slot  48  either before or after mounting of the anvil  22  according to the teachings of the present invention. Likewise, the anvil  22  could be supplied with another image corresponding to the image of the die  20  to press into a second side of the coin without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
   In the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, the coin press  10  has a timing device  80  mounted intermediate the first and second frameworks  42  and  44  by receipt of its opposite ends in notches formed in the top edges of frameworks  42  and  44 . The timing device  80  has a body  82  and a coin slot  84  extending through the body  82 . The coin slot  84  has a top opening  85  and a bottom opening  86  and the coin passes gravitationally through the coin slot  84 . A width of the coin slot  84  corresponds to a diameter of the coin. A depth of the coin slot  84  corresponds to a thickness of the coin. The body  82  of the timing device  80 , in the most preferred form, is made of metal, such as aluminum, and is formed by a first section  87  and a second section  88 . The first section  87  has a notched portion  89  extending from the top opening  85  to the bottom opening  86 . The notched portion  89  is shaped to receive the second section  88 . The coin slot  84  has rectangular cross sections and is intermediate the first and second sections  87  and  88 . The second section  88  mounts within the notched portion  89  and defines an internal wall  90  of the coin slot  84 . A channel  91  is defined in the notched portion  89 , and the channel  91  defines three walls of the coin slot  84 . The timing device  80  is mounted to the frame  40  so that the bottom opening  86  of the coin slot  84  is above and proximate the abutment of the die  20  and the anvil  22 . The body  82  of the timing device  80  narrows in width and depth toward the bottom opening  86  of the coin slot  84  to facilitate locating the bottom opening  86  proximate and between the die  20  and the anvil  22 . The proximity of the bottom opening  86  to the die  20  and the anvil  22  facilitates dropping of the coin between the die  20  and the anvil  22 . 
   The timing device  80  also has a gate  92  traversing the coin slot  84 . The gate  92  is rotatable about a gate axis parallel to the width of the coin slot  84  and in the preferred form is formed of metal, such as aluminum. The gate  92  rotates about the gate axis between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the gate  92  obstructs the coin slot  84  and constrains the coin. In the open position, the gate  92  defines a gap which allows the coin to pass by the gate  92  and through the coin slot  84 . 
   In the most preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, the gate  92  in the timing device  80  has a shaft  94  intermediate a first end  96  and a second end  98 . A notch  100  extending from an external surface of the shaft  94  inwards to the gate axis defines the gap in the gate  92  of the most preferred form. The notch  100  has a length parallel to and at least as long as the width of the coin slot  84 , and the notch  100  defines a generally semi-cylindrical shape of the shaft  94 . In the most preferred form, the gate axis is coplanar with the internal wall  90  of the coin slot  84 , and the gate  92  is clear of the coin slot  84  when rotated to the open position. The second end  98  of the gate  92 , in the most preferred form, has a flange  110  external the body  82  of the timing device  80 . The flange  110  has an external circumference and an indentation  112  on the external circumference. The indentation  112  defines and is intermediate a first stop  114  and a second stop  116 . The timing device  80 , in the most preferred form, has a peg  118  extending external the body  82  of the timing device  80  and adjacent the indentation  112  such that rotation of the gate  92  is limited to an arc between the first stop  114  and the second stop  116 . In other words, rotation of the gate  92  in a first direction toward the open position is limited by the first stop  114  abutting the peg  118 . Likewise, rotation of the gate  92  opposite the first direction is limited by the second stop  116  abutting the peg  118 . 
   In the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, the gate  92  is biased and, in the most preferred form, the gate  92  is biased toward the closed position. A spring  120 , in the most preferred form, is connected to the first end  96  of the gate  92  to bias the gate  92  toward the closed position. 
   A trip lever  122  for the gate  92  is provided in the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention and extends radially from the first end  96  of the gate  92 . The trip lever  122  is exterior the body  82  of the timing device  80  and in the preferred form, is formed of metal, such as aluminum. When activated, the trip lever  122  in the preferred form rotates the gate  92  to the open position. Alternately, the gate  92  could be biased toward the open position and could be moved by activation of the trip lever  122  to the closed position without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In the most preferred form, the spring  120  has a first end attached to the trip lever  122  radially from the gate axis and a second end attached to the body  82 . 
   In the preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, a timing ring  130  is provided that rotates with one of the die  20  or the anvil  22 . At least one lobe  132  is defined on the timing ring  130  and extends radially from the timing ring  130  in the preferred form. The at least one lobe  132  periodically activates the trip lever  122  on the gate  92  as the timing ring  130  rotates. Timing of activation of the trip lever  122  by the at least one lobe  132  is synchronized with rotation of the die  20  and the anvil  22  to release and gravitationally drop the coin between the anvil  22  and the image on the die  20  at a precise point in time. 
   In the preferred form, the at least one lobe  132  and the images on the die  20  are placed at angles to a keyway for receiving a key extending from the shaft for the die  20 . The coin dropping at the precise point in time ensures that an edge of the coin is nipped between the anvil  22  and the die  20  to center the coin on the image on the die  20  to facilitate pressing of the coin between the anvil  22  and the image on the die  20 . In the most preferred form, the timing ring  130  has four lobes  132  spaced equally and extending radially from the timing ring  130 . In the most preferred form, the timing ring  130  is spaced from the trip lever  122  such that during rotation of the timing ring  130  only the four lobes  132  contact the trip lever, and in between the four lobes  132 , the trip lever  122  is not activated and the gate  92  remains in the closed position. The four lobes  132  contact and time activation of the trip lever  122  to open the gate  92  and gravitationally drop the coin between the anvil  22  and one of the four images on the die  20  to facilitate nipping and centering of the coin on one of the four images on the die  20  for pressing the coin. After pressing, the coin is gravitationally released by further rotation of the die  20  and the anvil  22 . 
   In the most preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, the gate  92  is biased to the closed position, and the at least one lobe  132  extends radially outward from the timing ring  130  and contacts the trip lever  122  to rotate the gate  92  to the open position. Alternately, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the gate  92  could be biased to the open position such that when the at least one lobe  132  contacts the trip lever  122 , the gate  92  is rotated to the closed position to restrain the coin. Upon further rotation of the timing ring  130 , the at least one lobe  132  in the alternate example, moves away from the trip lever  122  to allow the gate  92  to return to the open position and release the coin. 
   According to the teachings of the present invention, a crank handle  140  and a gear train  142 ,  143  and  144  are provided in the preferred form. The crank handle  140  is rotatable and can be manually turned by an operator, external the coin press  10 . A gear  141  is provided on the crank handle  140  in the preferred form and rotates with the crank handle  140 . The gear train  142 ,  143  and  144  mechanically links the gear  141  of the crank handle  140  to another gear  145  on one of the die  20  and the anvil  22  and provides gear reduction between the gear  141  and the other gear  145  to increase mechanical advantage while rotating the one of the die  20  and the anvil  22 . The one of the die  20  and the anvil  22  is geared to the other of the die  20  and the anvil  22  to counter-rotate the die  20  and the anvil  22 . Also, in the preferred form, a ratchet  150  is mounted to a block  152  proximate the crank handle  140 . In the most preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention, the block  152  is mounted to the end plate  60  of the frame  40 . The ratchet  150  engages the gear  141  of the crank handle  140  to limit rotation of the crank handle  140  to a single direction. 
   Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, although the coin press  10  according to the preferred teachings of the present invention has been shown as including several features in combination believed to produce synergistic results, such features can be utilized singly and in other combinations with other features according to the teachings of the present invention. For example, although according to the teachings of the present invention, the coin press  10  with the timing device  80  and with removability and replaceability of the die  20  and the anvil  22  in combination provides ease of assembly and operation with minimal downtime, the coin press  10  may be used with the timing device  80  but without the die  20  and the anvil  22  being slideably removable and replaceable in a manner of the preferred form shown. Similarly, the coin press  10  may be used with slideable removability and replaceability of the die  20  and the anvil  22  of the preferred form shown, but without the timing device  80  without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
   Likewise, although the timing device  80 , trip lever  122  and gate  92  in the preferred form are formed of metal, such as aluminum, which is advantageous for being strong and lightweight, the timing device  80 , trip lever  122  and gate  92  could be formed of another material, such as but not limited to plastic or the like, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
   Similarly, although in the preferred form a crank handle  140  is provided for manual turning by an operator, the die  20  and the anvil  22  could be rotated by other methods, such as, but not limited to, a motor or the like, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
   Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiment described herein is to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes, which come within the meaning, and ranges of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.