Patent Abstract:
A compact coin delivery device includes a rotary disk with indented concave portions for receiving a coin from a hopper or a coin storage bowl. A movable member in the concave portion can have controlled movement for ejecting the coin at a desired location. An endless conveyer member with pins can receive the coin and transport it in an L-shaped path. The coins can be released to individual chutes for separating coins of different dimensions and denominations, both on a path away from the coin delivery device and on a return path to the coin delivery device. Solenoid activated members can assist in displacing certain coins from the conveyor path, including into a separate retention or storage box.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a compact coin delivery device which delivers coins of a plurality of denominations and having different diameters, one by one for delivery to a coin processing apparatus which can sort coins having different diameters one by one for transfer to a conveyer of the coins. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   It is to be noted that the term “coin” used in the present specification includes a monetary coin, a token, a medal and the like, and further includes circular and polygonal shapes. 
   Japanese Laid Open Application No. 8-171666 discloses hooking coins by pins fixed to an upper surface of a rotary disk to sort the coins one by one, and transferring the coins to a conveyer for a subsequent process. 
   Japanese Utility Model Application No. 57-50776 includes receiving coins, one by one, in fan-shaped concave portions opening on an upper surface side and peripheral surface side of a rotary disk, and transferring the coins to a conveyer for a subsequent process. 
   In the prior art, coins of predetermined denominations are separated at a reject coin branching section and at an overflow branching section in the process of being conveyed by a conveyer belt, and then the coins are dropped through select-by-denomination holes for separation by denomination as shown in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2600066 
   The sorting of the hooked coins is regulated only by the space between the pins. 
   Thus, when a difference between the diameters of a maximum diameter coin and a minimum diameter coin is great, the maximum diameter is 28.5 mm of a two-pound coin and the minimum diameter is 18 mm of a five-pence coin, for example, in the case of English currency a problem can occur. 
   Since the pin space is set considering enough room for different coin accommodation, two minimum diameter coins can slip between a pair of pins, which can cause a problem in that they are not sorted one by one. If the coin is received in a fan-shaped concave portion, two minimum diameter coins do not enter the concave portion. However, gravity is utilized for the transfer to the conveyer for the subsequent process, so that the position of a coin dispensing slot cannot be freely set, leading to a problem of limitation in layout. 
   In the prior art described above, all the coins are separated into reject coins, overflow coins or denominated coins before being passed through the select-by-denomination holes by the conveyer belt. Specifically, the select-by-denomination holes are arranged in the order of the increasing diameters of the coins along a conveyer path of the coins. The width (orthogonal to the direction in which the coin proceeds) of the select-by-denomination hole is formed slightly larger than the diameter of a target coin. Therefore, the coins are dropped by their own weight through the corresponding select-by-denomination holes and are thus separated. 
   In recent years, to increase the speed of separating the coins, the speed of conveying the coins has been significantly increased, which can cause a problem in that they are not separated by a predetermined denomination That is, inertia force by the high-speed movement of the coins has caused a problem because the coin cannot drop in the selection hole having a conventional length (length in the direction in which the coin proceeds), and drops in the next selection hole in rare cases. 
   Thus, the prior art in a highly competitive field is still seeking to resolve the above problems in a compact and economical design. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a coin delivery device which, even when coins of a plurality of denominations having a large difference in diameter are mixed, can sort the coins one by one for delivery. 
   A second object of the present invention is to provide a coin delivery device in which a dispensing position of a coin can be freely set. 
   A third object of the present invention is to provide a compact coin delivery device. 
   A coin delivery device for a coin processing apparatus holds coins in sorting concave portions arranged in an upper surface of a rotary disk to sort the coins one by one, and then transfers the coins to a coin conveyer, a moving member is provided which can variably form the concave portion and is movable in a diametrical direction of the rotary disk, and wherein the moving member is moved in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk to assist the discharge when the coin is transferred to the coin conveyer. 
   In this configuration, the coins are received in the concave portions and thus sorted one by one. That is, only one coin can be positioned in the concave portion, so that two minimum diameter size coins are not held together in the sorting concave portion. 
   When the concave portion moves to a position for transfer to the coin conveyer, the moving member forming a concave portion moves in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk. This movement causes the coin held in the concave portion to actively move in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk, so that the coin can be transferred to the coin conveyer at its moving portion. 
   In other words, there is an advantage that the dispensing position is not limited since the dispensing position of the coin can be controlled by the moving position of the moving member. 
   The coin delivery device of the coin processing apparatus can be characterized in that the concave portion of the rotary disk is fan-shaped so as to be free on an upper surface side of the rotary disk and to be open on a peripheral surface side of the rotary disk, and has a coin pushing portion at one part thereof, and in that the moving member is positioned at a side of the pushing portion when the coin is received, and moved to the peripheral surface opening side when the coin is transferred. 
   In this configuration, since the concave portion is open on the upper side and peripheral surface side of the rotary disk, the coins in a retention bowl at which the disk is positioned are stirred by the rotation of the rotary disk, such that one coin is received in the concave portion. In other words, the fan-shaped concave portion is sectioned by its edge and a retention ring so as not to hold two minimum diameter coins. 
   Furthermore, the coin is moved by the concave coin pushing portion. The moving member then moves toward the peripheral surface opening side at a predetermined position, and pushes out the coin from the lateral side to the peripheral surface opening side. The pushed-out coin is received by the coin conveyer, and conveyed to a subsequent process. 
   As the pushing portion to push the coin is formed in the rotary disk, it can be made of a material having a desired durability. 
   Furthermore, the moving member pushes the coin from the lateral side and thus no great force is required, thereby allowing a size reduction. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the coin delivery device can be reduced in size. 
   The coin delivery device of the coin processing apparatus wherein the moving member is arc-shaped and attached to the rotary disk so as to be able to pivot on one end, and a moved member attached to the moving member is inserted in a groove cam located under the rotary disk. In this configuration, because the moving member is arc-shaped, its concave portion accepts a circular peripheral edge of the coin. The moving member and the moved member move together with the rotary disk, and the moved member is guided by the fixed groove cam, thus providing an advantage that no extra driver is needed. 
   Furthermore, by properly setting the shape of the groove cam, the moving member can be moved at a predetermined position in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk, so that the coin retained in the concave portion can be delivered at the predetermined position. Therefore, the coin delivery device can be reduced in size and is inexpensive. 
   A coin delivery device can include a rotary disk whose axis line is inclined at a predetermined angle; a sorting concave portion whose upper side and peripheral surface side are open in an upward surface of the rotary disk and in which at least one minimum diameter coin is positioned and two minimum diameter coins are unacceptable; a moving member which is attached to the concave portion of the rotary disk in a manner to be able to pivot and which is movable between a receiving position to form the sorting concave portion and a moving position where the moving member is moved to the opening side; a moved member attached to the moving member; and a groove cam disposed under the rotary disk and receiving the moved member. 
   In this configuration, the moving member is located at the receiving position except when the coin is dispensed, so that the coins are received in the sorting concave portions and held one by one. That is, at least one minimum diameter coin can be only positioned in the concave portion, and therefore, two minimum diameter coins are not positioned together. 
   When the coin is dispensed, the moving member moves to the moving position, and the coin held in the concave portion is thus moved by the moving member in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk This movement causes the coin held in the concave portion to actively move toward the peripheral surface of the rotary disk, so that the coin can be delivered from the rotary disk at the predetermined portion. In other words, there is an advantage that the dispensing position is not limited since the dispensing position of the coin can be controlled by the position of the moving member. 
   The coin delivery device can be characterized in that the moving member can be attached to a pivot shaft located closer to a peripheral edge side of the rotary disk than the moved member. In this configuration, since a pivot shaft of the moving member is attached to the pivot shaft located closer to the peripheral edge side of the rotary disk than the moved member, the moved member is positioned in the groove cam after the rotary disk has been rotated. 
   In other words, the pivot shaft moves prior to the moved member, and the moved member is moved by the groove cam at such a position as to trail the pivot shaft. Therefore, a great force is not applied to the moved member, and there is thus an advantage that the coin delivery device can be reduced in size and can be made inexpensively. 
   A coin delivery device which holds coins in sorting concave portions arranged in an upper surface of a rotary disk where at least one minimum diameter coin can only be positioned, so as to sort the coins one by one, and then transfers the coins to a coin conveyer, the coin delivery device including: the rotary disk whose axis line is inclined at a predetermined angle; the sorting concave portion whose upper side and peripheral surface side are open in an upward surface of the rotary disk and in which at least one minimum diameter coin is positioned and two minimum diameter coins are unacceptable; a moving member which is attached in a manner to be able to pivot to form the concave portion of the rotary disk and which is movable between a receiving position located at a side portion of the sorting concave portion and a moving position where the moving member is moved to the opening side; a moved member attached to the moving member; and a groove cam disposed under the rotary disk and receiving the moved member, wherein the moving member is moved in a peripheral surface direction when the coin is transferred to the coin conveyer. 
   A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a small coin processing apparatus capable of separating coins by denomination even when the speed of conveying the coins is increased. 
   To attain this object, a coin processing apparatus sorts coins of a plurality of denominations one by one by the delivery device, and then transfers the coins to a conveyer, and separates the coins by denomination in a coin separating section disposed on a conveyer path of the conveyer, characterized in that a guide device is provided to guide the coin which has reached a lowermost portion of the conveyer path to the delivery device. 
   In this configuration, the coins are transferred to the conveyer after being sorted one by one by the delivery device. 
   The coins conveyed by the conveyer are generally separated in the coin separating section disposed on the conveyer path of the conveyer, and accumulated by denomination. 
   However, for example, when a maximum diameter coin is not separated in a predetermined separating portion, the maximum diameter coin is not separated in other separating portions, and reaches the lowermost portion of the conveyer path, and is then guided by the guide device to be returned to the delivery device. 
   Thus, the unseparated coins are transferred again to the conveyer, and separated on the conveyer path. When the coin is not separated, the coin is circulated between the delivery device and the conveyer until it is separated. Therefore, the coins can be separated in the predetermined denomination selecting section without extending the separating section, so that the apparatus is not increased in size and the separating rate is increased. 
   The coin processing apparatus can have a conveyer path with a first separating section extending linearly substantially in a horizontal direction from the delivery device; and a second separating section extending successively from the first separating section in an opposite direction above the first separating section, and wherein the conveyer path has a toppled U shape as a whole, and wherein a lowermost portion of the second separating section is disposed above the delivery device. 
   In this configuration, the first separating section and the second separating section are arranged one above the other, so that the separating sections are arranged in a two-story form. Thus, the depth is about half of a conventional depth, providing an advantage in that a size reduction is allowed. 
   The coin processing apparatus wherein the delivery device of the coin includes a concave portion which is formed in an inclined rotary disk and whose upper surface and peripheral surface are open; and a moving member which is usually held at a receiving position to form the concave portion and which, at a predetermined position of the rotary disk, moves in a diametrical direction of the rotary disk, and wherein the conveyer includes pins provided in an endless proceed member; and a guide which guides the coin moved by the endless proceed member. 
   In this configuration, the coins entered the concave portions of the rotary disk and sorted one by one are moved at a predetermined position in a circumferential direction of the rotary disk by the moving member, and pushed out to a movement path of the pins of the conveyer. 
   The pushed-out coins are hooked by the pins provided in the endless proceed member, and conveyed along the guide. Thus, the coin is forced to move on the movement path of the pins, which ensures that the coin is transferred to the conveyer. In the process of this conveyance, the coins are separated by denomination in the first separating section or the second separating section. This ensures that the coins are separated by denomination. 
   A coin processing apparatus which sorts coins of a plurality of denominations one by one by a delivery device to deliver the coins, and then transfers the coins to a conveyer, and separates the coins by denomination in a coin separating section disposed on a conveyer path of the conveyer, characterized in that the conveyer path has a first separating section extending linearly substantially in a horizontal direction from the delivery device; and a second separating section extending successively from the first separating section in an opposite direction above the first separating section, and in that the conveyer path has a toppled U shape as a whole, and in that a lowermost portion of the second separating section is disposed above the delivery device, and wherein a guide device is provided to guide the coin which has reached a lowermost portion of the conveyer path to the delivery device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a coin delivery device in an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a conveyer of the coin delivery device in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the coin delivery device in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view along the line A-A in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view to explain the operation in the embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of a coin processing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic front view of a coin delivery device in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a conveyer of the coin processing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view along the line A-A in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial plan view of a drop assist device in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the drop assist device in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view of the pin and socket chain, 
       FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of a separating portion; 
       FIG. 14  is a cross sectional schematic view of the timing sensor; and 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic of the controller unit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention which set forth the best modes contemplated to carry out the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention. 
   The present embodiment concerns a coin processing apparatus which as shown can separate coins of eight denominations in English currency: 2 pounds (average diameter 28.5 mm (similarly in the following), 1 pound (22.5 mm), 50 pence (27.3 mm), 20 pence (21.4 mm), 10 pence (24.5 mm), 5 pence (17.9 mm), 2 pence (26 mm) and 1 penny (20.3 mm). 
   However, the present invention can also be used for coins of other countries. 
   In  FIG. 1 , a coin processing apparatus  100  includes a coin delivery device  102 , a coin conveyer  104  and a coin screening device  106 . That is, the coin delivery device  102  sorts and delivers coins  110  one by one to transfer them to the coin conveyer  104 , and the coin screening device  106  separates the coins by denomination while they are being conveyed on a predetermined path by the coin conveyer  104 . 
   First, the coin delivery device  102  will be described referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The coin delivery device  102  has a function to sort mixed coins of a plurality of denominations one by one for delivery. The coin delivery device  102  includes a rotary disk  112 , a concave portion  114  formed between protruding portions  122 , a moving member  116  to move the coin  110 , and a driver  117  for the moving member. 
   A rotary disk  112  has a function to stir a large number of coins and to receive the coins  110  in concave portions  138  described later, one by one for sorting. The rotary disk  112  has a shape of a circular plate, is disposed such that its rotation axis line  118  is inclined at a predetermined angle, and has an upward surface  120 . 
   It has six radially extending protruding portions  122  in the upward surface  120 , and a push-out disk  126  is fixed in which the concave portions  114  are formed between the protruding portions  122 . A slightly concave coin pushing portion  128  is formed on a front surface of the protruding portion  122  in a rotation direction of the rotary disk  112 . A concave moving member receiving portion  130  is formed in a rear surface, in the rotation direction, of the protruding portions  122 , where the arc-shaped moving member  116  is disposed. The rotary disk  112  and the push-out disk  126  can be integrally molded by a sintered metal or a resin having antifriction properties. 
   Next, the moving member  116  will be described. 
   The moving member  116  has a function to move, at a predetermined position, the coin  110  held in the sorting concave portion  138  in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  112 . The moving member  116  forms a perimeter portion of the indentation and a contact surface for the coin. The moving member  116  can have an alternative configuration as long as this function is satisfied. 
   The moving member  116  is attached, in a manner to be able to pivot, to a pivot shaft  134  protruding at the moving member receiving portion  130  on a peripheral edge side of the rotary disk  112 . This moving member  116  is preferably made of a metal or a resin in view of antifriction properties and mechanical strength. 
   The concave portion  114  and an internal edge  136  of the moving member  116  constitute the fan-shaped sorting concave portion  138 . The concave portion  138  is a flat ditch opening on an upper surface and peripheral surface sides. The depth of the concave portion  138 , in other words, the thickness of the push-out disk  126  is formed to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin among those of eight denominations described above. 
   It is intended that two coins are not to be held on top of the other. Furthermore, the concave portion  138  is fan-shaped or arc-shaped at it&#39;s radially inward most position and the distance between an internal surface  140  of a retention ring  140  described later and a deepest portion of the concave portion  138  is twice or less than the diameter of a minimum diameter coin, such that two minimum diameter coins are not held side by side in the concave portion  138 . 
   This is because the length in the circumferential and diametrical direction of the concave portion  138  is less than twice the minimum diameter coin. When the moving member  116  is positioned in the receiving portion  130 , it is positioned at a receiving position RP. The rotary disk  112  is disposed at the bottom of the cylindrical retention ring  140  to retain the coin. 
   An opening  142  is provided at a portion of the retention ring  140  for transfer to the conveyer  104  so that the coin  110  can pass through. A retention bowl  144  is further attached to the retention ring  140 , and a retention portion  146  is provided opposite to the rotary disk  112 . Therefore, the coin  110  thrown in this retention portion  146  is guided toward the rotary disk  112 . 
   Next, the driver  117  of the moving member  116  will be described. The driver  117  has a function to move, at a predetermined position, the moving member  116  from the receiving position RP to a moving position MP. Therefore, the configuration of the driver  117  can be changed to configurations other than that in the embodiment as long as this function is satisfied. The driver  117  includes a moved member  154  and a cam  157  to form an activator unit. 
   An arc-shaped through-hole or eject cam path  148  is formed around the pivot shaft  134  in the rotary disk  112 , through which a pin or follower  150  fixed at the midpoint of the moving member  116  is penetrated A roller  152  is rotably attached to a lower end of the pin  150 . This roller  152  is the moved member  154 . 
   Next, the cam  157  will be described. The moved member or follower  154  is movably inserted in an endless groove cam  158  formed in an upper surface of an inward flange  156  formed in a ring shape from the inner peripheral surface toward the center of the retention ring  140 . 
   The endless groove cam  158 , includes a concentric circular receiving groove  160  around a rotation center of the rotary disk  112 ; a moving groove  162  which has a larger diameter than that of the receiving groove  160  and which holds the moving member  116  at the moving position MP; a coin deliver process groove  164  in the process of moving from the receiving groove  160  to the moving groove  162 ; and a return process groove  166  returning from the moving groove  162  to the receiving groove  160  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Therefore, when the moved member  154  is positioned in the receiving groove  160 , the moving member  116  is held in the receiving portion  130 , and is at the receiving position RP. Thus, the moving member  116  forms the fan-shaped sorting concave portion  138  together with the concave portion  114 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sorting concave portion  138  is such that a bottom B (in the embodiment, the tip of the moving member  116 ) closest to a rotation shaft  180  is located slightly farther away from the internal surface of the retention ring  140  than the diameter of a maximum diameter coin  110 L. 
   Furthermore, this distance is less than double the diameter of a minimum diameter coin  110 S. Therefore, two minimum diameter coins  110 S are not received side by side in the sorting concave portion  138 , in other words, between the retention ring  140  and the bottom B, in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  112 . 
   Furthermore, the sorting concave portion  138  is fan-shaped, so that two minimum diameter coins  110  are not received side by side in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk  112 . When the moved member  154  is positioned in the deliver process groove  164 , the moving member  116  is caused to pivot clockwise on the pivot shaft  134 . 
   Then, when the moved member  154  is positioned in the moving groove  162 , the moving member  116  moves to the moving position MP. Subsequently, the moved member  154  is positioned at the return process groove  166 , and the moving member  116  is thus rotated counterclockwise on the pivot shaft  134  and returned to the receiving position RP. Thus, the cam  157  is not limited to the groove cam  158 , but when the groove cam  158  is used, an auxiliary device is not needed to move the moved member  154  along the cam  157 , thereby providing advantages such as structural simplification, possible size reduction and low costs. 
   The coin conveyer  104  has a function to receive the coins  110  delivered one by one from the coin delivery device  102 , and convey them to a predetermined coin processing apparatus, such as the coin screening device. The coin conveyer  104  includes an endless proceed member  163 , and pins  164  attached at predetermined intervals to the endless proceed member  163 . 
   The endless proceed member  163  is a flexible loop member, and can be a chain  166  having a predetermined length in the embodiment. However, the endless proceed member  163  can be changed to a belt. The endless proceed member  163  is guided by a plurality of sprockets, and circulates on an L-shaped loop path. 
   That is, the path of the endless proceed member  163  comes closest to the top of the rotary disk  112  at the lowest sprocket  168  portion, and then goes upward at a steep angle, and thus proceeds in a first screening portion  170  which is a gentle upward slope. Next, it proceeds substantially vertically, and then proceeds in a second screening portion  172  which is located above the first screening portion  170  and which is a gentle upward slope, and thus returns to the sprocket  168  portion. 
   The pins  164  are fixed at predetermined intervals to a side surface of the endless proceed member  162  so as to hook the coins  110 , one by one, delivered from the coin delivery device  102 . Therefore, the sprocket  168  rotates in conjunction with the rotary disk  112 . That is, a gear  174  to which the sprocket  168  is fixed engages with a gear  176  disposed under the rotary disk  112 . In other words, the gear  176  is rotatably attached to a shaft  180  fixed to a base  178 , and the rotary disk  112  is fixed to the gear  176 . See  FIG. 2 . The gear  174  engages with a gear  182  on its side, and the gear  182  is driven by an unshown electric motor at a predetermined velocity. 
   Therefore, the rotary disk  112  and the sprocket  168  rotate and move at a predetermined velocity ratio. In other words, the sorting concave portion  138  moves in a corresponding manner to the pins  164 . It is to be noted that a notch  181  is formed at an outer peripheral edge of the protruding portion  122  of the rotary disk  112  so that the transfer from the moving member  116  to the pin  164  is smoothly performed, and the pin  164  can enter the notch  181 . 
   The first plate-shaped coin guide  182  is disposed along the endless proceed member  163  in the vicinity of the sprocket  168 , and a second coin guide  184  is disposed along the first screening portion  170 , and a third coin guide  186  is disposed along the second screening portion  172 . Thus, the coin  110  hooked by the pin  164  is moved to a predetermined position by the endless proceed member  163  while being guided by these coin guides  182 ,  184 ,  186 . 
   Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described by referring to  FIG. 5 . When the coin  110  is thrown into the retention portion  146 , it is moved to the rotary disk  112  side due to the inclination of the bowl  144 , and contacts the rotary disk  112  and the push-out disk  126 . The rotary disk  112  is automatically rotated by detecting the throwing of the coin, or is constantly rotating. 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , the rotation of the rotary disk  112  causes the coins  110  to be stirred by the protruding portion  122  and to enter the sorting concave portions  138 . At positions other than the position in the vicinity of the coin conveyer  104 , the moving member  116  is positioned in the receiving portion  130 , and is thus at the receiving position RP. In other words, the concave portion  138  is fan-shaped 
   Therefore, only one coin  110  is held in the sorting concave portion  138  defined by the pushing portion  128  of the protruding portion  122  and by the arc-shaped surface of the moving member  116 . That is, the outer periphery of the coin  110  is guided by the retention ring  140 , so that only one maximum diameter coin  110  is held in the concave portion  138  which is formed slightly more deeply than the diameter of the maximum diameter coin  110 L. 
   Furthermore, as its depth is less than double the diameter of the minimum diameter coin  110 , two minimum diameter coins  110 S cannot enter in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  112 . Moreover, the concave portion  138  is fan-shaped, so that two minimum diameter coins  110  cannot be arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk  112 . Therefore, only one minimum diameter coin  110 S is held in the sorting concave portions  138 . The rotation of the rotary disk  112  causes the coin  110  held in the concave portion  138  to move to the conveyer  104  side. In other words, the coin  110  is moved upward. 
   At this point, the coin  110  is pushed and moved by the pushing portion  128 , and almost no force is applied to the moving member  116 . When the moving member  116  has moved near the coin conveyer  104 , the moved member  154  moves the deliver process member  164 , so that the moved member  154  is moved in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  112 . 
   Thus, the moving member  116  is caused to pivot clockwise on the pivot shaft  134 . Therefore, the moving member  116  pushes the coin  110  positioned in the receiving concave portion  138  from the lateral side in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  112 , thereby pushing out the coin  110  from the receiving concave portion  138 . 
   Then, when the moved member  154  is positioned in the moving groove  162 , the moving member  116  moves to the moving position MP, so that the coin  110  passes through the opening  142  and is pushed out to the moving path of the pin  164 . Immediately after being pushed out, the coin  110  is pushed by the pin  164 , and guided by the first coin guide  182 , the second coin guide  184 , the third coin guide  186  and the like, thus being conveyed to the subsequent process. 
   The present invention can be used for a coin delivery device which moves, at a predetermined position, a coin to a predetermined position. Therefore, it has been used to transfer the coin to a coin conveyer in the embodiment described above, but the present invention can also be employed for the coin delivery device to dispense the coins one by one at a predetermined position, a so-called coin hopper. 
     FIG. 6  is another example of a coin processing apparatus  100  with which a customer can make a self-service payment at a supermarket. The coin processing apparatus  100  roughly includes a coin slot  102 , a coin selector  104 , a coin delivery device  106 , a coin conveyer  108 , a coin separating section (device)  110 , a coin retention section  112 , a dispensed coin conveying section  114 , a dispensed coin allotting section  116 , an overflow coin safe  118  and a coin dispensing section  120 . 
   The coin slot  102  has a function to receive coins thrown in by the customer. The coin slot  102  in the embodiment is formed into a longitudinally long rectangular slit to receive the coins one by one. However, the coin slot  102  may be changed to a bowl-shaped receiving container, so that the coins in bulk are received, and then divided one by one by a known division device, and thus thrown in the coin selector  104  described later. 
   The coin selector  104  is disposed under the coin slot  102 , and has a function to judge the truth and denomination of a coin C received from the coin slot  102  and divides a false coin from a true coin. In the coin selector  104  of the embodiment, a false coin FC is returned to the bowl-shaped coin dispensing section  120  by way of an unshown chute. A true coin TC is guided into a retention bowl  122  of the coin delivery device  106  by the unshown chute. 
   Therefore, the coin selector  104  can adopt one of an electric method in which a plurality of oscillation coils is used to detect the material, diameter and thickness of the coin to compare them with reference values, an image method in which a pattern on the surface of the coin is taken in as an image by a CCD camera or the like to compare it with a reference value, or a sound wave method in which a shock is given to the coin to compare sound waves emitted from the coin with a reference value. 
   The coin delivery device  106  has a function to sort the mixed coins of a plurality of denominations one by one for delivery. Therefore, the coin delivery device  106  can be changed to other devices having a similar function The coin delivery device  106  in the embodiment includes a rotary disk  124 , a concave portion  128  formed between protruding portions  126 , a moving member  130  to move the coin, and a driver  132  for the moving member  130 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   The rotary disk  124  has a function to stir a large number of coins and to receive the coins in sorting concave portions  134  described later one by one for sorting. The rotary disk  124  has a shape of a circular plate, has its rotation axis  136  inclined at about 30 degrees, and includes an upward surface  138 . It has six radially extending protruding portions  126  in the upward surface  138 , and a push-out disk  140  is fixed in which the concave portions  128  are formed between the protruding portions  126 . 
   A slightly concave coin pushing portion  142  is formed on a front surface of the protruding portion  126  in a rotation direction of the rotary disk  124 . A concave moving member receiving portion  144  is formed in a rear surface, in the rotation direction, of the protruding portions  126 , where the arc-shaped moving member  130  is disposed. The rotary disk  124  and the push-out disk  140  can be integrally molded by a sintered metal or a resin having antifriction properties. 
   The moving member  130  has a function to move, at a predetermined position, the coin C held in the sorting concave portion  134  in a diametrical direction of the rotary disk  124 . Therefore, the moving member  130  can have an alternative configuration as long as this function is satisfied. The moving member  130  is attached, in a manner to be able to pivot, to a pivot shaft  146  protruding at the moving member receiving portion  144  on a peripheral edge side of the rotary disk  124 . This moving member  130  is preferably made of a metal or a resin in view of antifriction properties and mechanical strength. 
   The concave portion  128  and an internal edge  131  of the moving member  130  constitute the fan-shaped sorting concave portion  134 . The concave portion  134  is a flat ditch opening on an upper surface and peripheral surface sides. 
   The depth of the concave portion  134 , in other words, the thickness of the push-out disk  140  is formed to be slightly smaller than a thickness of 1.5 mm of the thinnest one-penny coin among those of eight denominations described above. This is intended so that two coins are not held on top of the other. 
   Furthermore, the concave portion  134  is fan-shaped and the distance between an internal surface of a retention ring  148  and a deepest portion of the concave portion  134  is twice or less than a minimum diameter of 17.9 mm of a 5-pence coin, such that two 5-pence coins are not held side by side in the concave portion  134 . This is because the length in the circumferential and diametrical direction of the concave portion  134  is less than twice the diameter of the 5-pence coin. 
   When the moving member  130  is positioned in the receiving portion  144 , the moving member  130  is positioned at a receiving position RP. The rotary disk  124  is disposed at the bottom of the cylindrical retention ring  148  to retain the coin. 
   An opening  150  is provided at a portion of the retention ring  148  for transfer to the conveyer  108  so that the coin C can pass through. A retention bowl  122  is further attached to the retention ring  148 , and a retention section  152  is provided opposite to the rotary disk  124 . Therefore, the coin C thrown in this retention section  152  is guided toward the rotary disk  124 . 
   Next, the driver  132  of the moving member  130  will be described. 
   The driver  132  has a function to move, at a predetermined position, the moving member  130  from the receiving position RP to a moving position MP. Therefore, the configuration of the driver  132  can be changed to configurations other than that in the embodiment as long as this function is satisfied. The driver  132  includes a moved member  154  and a cam  156 . 
   First, the moved member  154  will be described. 
   An arc-shaped through-hole  158  is formed around the pivot shaft  146  in the rotary disk  124 , through which a pin  160  fixed at the midpoint of the moving member  130  is penetrated. A roller  162  is rotatably attached to a lower end of the pin  160 . This roller  162  is the moved member  154 . 
   Next, the cam  156  will be described. The moved member  154  is movably inserted in a groove cam  166  formed in an upper surface of an inward flange  164  formed in a ring shape from the inner peripheral surface toward the center of the retention ring  148 . 
   In the groove cam  166 , there are formed a circular receiving groove  168  around a rotation center of the rotary disk  124 ; a movement groove  170  which has a larger diameter than that of the receiving groove  168  and which holds the moving member  130  at the moving position MP; a deliver process groove  172  in the process of moving from the receiving groove  168  to the movement groove  170 ; and a return process groove  174  returning from the movement groove  170  to the receiving groove  168 . 
   Therefore, when the moved member  154  is positioned in the receiving groove  168 , the moving member  130  is held in the receiving portion  144 , and is at the receiving position RP. The moving member  130  forms the fan-shaped sorting concave portion  134  together with the concave portion  128 . The sorting concave portion  134  is such that a bottom (in the embodiment, the tip of the moving member  130 ) closest to a rotation shaft  136  is located slightly farther away from the internal surface of the retention ring  148  than the diameter of the maximum diameter coin. Furthermore, this distance is less than double the diameter of the minimum diameter coin. 
   Therefore, two minimum diameter coins are not received side by side in the sorting concave portion  136 , in other words, between the retention ring  148  and the bottom, in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  124 . 
   Furthermore, the sorting concave portion  134  is fan-shaped, so that two minimum diameter coins are not received side by side in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk  130 . When the moved member  154  is positioned in the deliver process groove  172 , the moving member  130  is caused to pivot clockwise on the pivot shaft  146 . Then, when the moved member  154  is positioned in the movement groove  170 , the moving member  130  moves to the moving position MP. 
   Subsequently, the moved member  154  is positioned at the return process groove  174 , and the moving member  130  is thus rotated counterclockwise on the pivot shaft  146  and returned to the receiving position RP. 
   Thus, the cam  156  is not limited to the groove cam  166 , but when the groove cam  166  is used, an auxiliary device is not needed to move the moved member  154  along the cam  156 , thereby providing advantages such as structural simplification, possible size reduction and low costs. 
   Next, the coin conveyer  108  will be described. The coin conveyer  108  has a function to receive the coins C delivered one by one from the coin delivery device  106 , and convey them to a predetermined coin processing apparatus, such as the coin separating section  110 . The coin conveyer  108  includes an endless proceed member  176 , pins  180  attached at predetermined intervals to the endless proceed member  176 , and a guide plate  194  to guide the coin C while causing it to lean thereon. 
   The endless proceed member  176  is a flexible loop member, and is a chain  182  having a predetermined length in the present embodiment as shown in  FIG. 12 . However, the endless proceed member  176  can be changed to a belt. The chain  182  is guided by a plurality of unshown sprockets, and circulates on an L-shaped loop path. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the path of the chain  182  comes closest to the top of the rotary disk  124  at a lowest sprocket  184  portion adjacent to the rotary disk  124 , and then goes upward at a steep angle, and thus proceeds in a first separating section  186  which is a gentle upward slope. Next, it proceeds substantially vertically, and then proceeds in a second separating section  188  which is located above the first separating section  186  and which is a gentle upward slope, and thus descends substantially vertically to return to the sprocket  184  portion. 
   The pins  180  are fixed at predetermined intervals to a side surface of the endless proceed member  182  so as to hook the coins C, one by one, delivered from the coin delivery device  106 . 
   Therefore, the sprocket  184  rotates in conjunction with the rotary disk  124 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , a gear  186  to which the sprocket  184  is fixed engages with a gear  188  disposed under the rotary disk  124 . In other words, the gear  188  is rotatably attached to the shaft  136  fixed to a base  190 , and the rotary disk  124  is fixed to the gear  188 . The gear  188  engages with a gear  186  on its side, and the gear  188  is driven by an unshown electric motor at a predetermined velocity. Therefore, the rotary disk  124  and the sprocket  184  rotate and move at a predetermined velocity ratio. In other words, the sorting concave portion  134  moves in a corresponding manner to the pins  180 . 
   It is to be noted that a notch  194  is formed at an outer peripheral edge of the protruding portion  126  of the rotary disk  124  so that the transfer from the moving member  130  to the pin  180  is smoothly performed, and the pin  180  can enter the notch  194 . 
   The guide plate  194  is an L-shaped plate which is inclined similarly to the rotary disk  124  of the coin delivery device  106 . A movement groove  196  is formed in a loop shape in the guide plate  194  for the pins  180  fixed to the chain  182  to move. 
   In other words, the endless proceed member  176  is disposed on a rear surface side of the guide plate  194 . 
   The shape of the movement groove  196  will be described starting from the sprocket  184  portion adjacent to the coin delivery device  106  with reference to  FIG. 8 . The movement groove  196  includes a first movement groove  196 A sharply rising obliquely, a second movement groove  196 B rising at an angle of about 45 degrees, a third movement groove  196 C which is a slightly upward slope, a fourth movement groove  196 D extending vertically, a fifth movement groove  196 E which is located above the third movement groove  196 C and which is a slightly upward slope toward the first movement groove  196 A side, a sixth movement groove  196 F extending substantially in a horizontal direction, and a seventh movement groove  196 G vertically extending downward to the sprocket  184 , and the movement groove  196  assumes a horizontally-oriented L shape as a whole. 
   A plate-shaped coin guide is disposed on an upward surface  198  side of the guide plate  194 , and guides the peripheral surface of the coin C moved by the endless proceed member  176 . That is, a first coin guide  200 A is disposed relative to a lower side of the first movement groove  196 A; a second coin guide  200 B is disposed relative to a lower side of the second movement groove  196 B; a third coin guide  200 C is disposed relative to a lower side of the third movement groove  196 C; a fourth coin guide  200 D is disposed relative to both right and left sides of the fourth movement groove  196 D; and a fifth coin guide  200 E is disposed relative to a lower side of the fifth movement groove  196 E. 
   The plate thickness of the first coin guide  200 A, the second coin guide  200 B and the fourth coin guide  200 D is set slightly larger than the thickest coin. Specifically, it is set slightly larger than the thickness of the thickest 2-pound coin. 
   In this way, the coin C pushed by the pins  180  does not drop from these coin guides. 
   The plate thickness of the third coin guide  200 C and the fifth coin guide  200 E is set slightly larger than the thinnest coin. Specifically, it is set slightly larger than the thickness of the thinnest 1-penny coin. In this way, the moved coin C easily drops from the coin guide  200 C,  200 E. Therefore, the coins C sorted and delivered one by one from the coin delivery device  106  are hooked by the pins  180  to move on a conveyer path  202 . 
   In particular, the coin C is conveyed and moved sequentially on a first conveyer path  202 A under the guidance of the first coin guide  200 A, a second conveyer path  202 B under the guidance of the second coin guide  200 B, a third conveyer path  202 C under the guidance of the third coin guide  200 C, a fourth conveyer path  202 D under the guidance of the fourth coin guide  200 D, and a fifth conveyer path  202 E under the guidance of the fifth coin guide  200 E. 
   A denomination sensor  204  is disposed on the second conveyer path  202 B. The denomination sensor  204  has a function to differentiate the 2-pound coin from the 20-pence coin in the present embodiment, and for example, a judgment is made by identifying the diameter and material from data sensed by a plurality of oscillation coils. 
   Next, a guide device  206  of the present invention will be described. 
   The guide device  206  has a function to guide the coin C which has reached a terminal end of the fifth conveyer path  202 E, in other words, a lowermost portion  208  of the conveyer path  202 , to the coin delivery device  106 . 
   In the embodiment, there is provided a cylindrical chute  210 , see  FIG. 9 , to guide the coin C from the lowermost portion  208  of the fifth conveyer path  202 E located above the coin delivery device  106  to the retention bowl  122  of the coin delivery device  106  as shown on  FIG. 8 . That is, the coin C slips down by its own weight in the chute  210 , and drops in the retention section  152  of the coin delivery device  106 . 
   Therefore, the coins C which have not been separated by the coin separating device  110  are returned to the coin delivery device  106  from the fifth conveyer path  202 E by way of the chute  210 , and transferred again from the coin delivery device  106  to the conveyer  108 . As a result, they are separated in the separating portions of the predetermined denominations or continue circulation. 
   The coin separating device  110  has a function to separate by denomination the coins conveyed along the conveyer path  202  by the coin conveyer  108 . The first separating section  186  is provided along the third conveyer path  202 C. That is, in the first separating section  186 , a 2-pound separating portion  212 , a 20-pence separating portion  214 , a 5-pence separating portion  216  and a 1-penny separating portion  218  are sequentially arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side in a traveling direction of the endless proceed member  176 . 
   The 2-pound separating portion  212  shown in  FIG. 13  comprises a triangular warped plate  222  which is projected by a solenoid  220  at a predetermined time on the third conveyer path  202 C between the third coin guide  200 C and the movement path of the pins  180 . 
   After detecting the 2-pound coin by the denomination sensor  204 , the solenoid  220  is excited for a predetermined time period when a predetermined number of pulse signals are received, for example, one pulse signal is output from a timing sensor  224  which detects each of the pins  180  as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
   As the excitation of the solenoid  220  shown in  FIG. 6  causes the warped plate  222  to project on the third conveyer path  202 C, the 2-pound coin moving on the third conveyer path  202 C is moved so that its tip moves away from the guide plate  194  due to the inclined surface of the warped plate  222 , thereby dropping downward off from the third coin guide  200 C. The dropped 2-pound coin is guided to a retention bowl of a 2-pound coin hopper P 2  described later under the guidance of an unshown chute. The 20-pence selecting portion  214  comprises a solenoid  228  and a warped plate  230  similarly to the 2-pound separating portion  212 . After detecting the 20-pence coin by the denomination sensor  204 , the solenoid  228  is excited for a predetermined time when two pulse signals are output from the timing sensor  224 . 
   A control unit  231  such as a microprocessor microcontroller can coordinate the respective activation of the solenoids  220  and  228  based on the receipt of timing signals from the timing sensor  224  as shown in  FIG. 15 . The control unit  231  can also control the coin selector  104  when it judges a false coin is determined. 
   As the excitation of the solenoid  228  causes the warped plate  230  to project on the third conveyer path  202 C, the 20-pence coin moving on the conveyer path  202 C is moved so that its tip moves away from the guide plate  194  due to the inclined surface of the warped plate  230 , thereby dropping downward off from the third coin guide  200 C. 
   The dropped 2-pence coin is guided to a retention bowl of a 2-pence coin hopper  2   p  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. The reason that the 2-pound coins are first separated is that the 2-pound coins are bimetal coins and are thus most easily separated. 
   Furthermore, the reason that the 20-pence coins are separated second is that they have a small difference in diameter from the 1-pound coins, so that there is a fear of erroneous separation considering the tolerance of the diameter of the coins when the separation is mechanically performed on the basis of the diametrical difference, and that the 20-pence coins are electrically separated more easily than the 1-pound coins. 
   However, the positions of the 2-pound separating portion  212  and the 20-pence separating portion  214  can be interchanged. Furthermore, the 2-pound separating portion  212  and the 20-pence separating portion  214  can be changed to a mechanical method of separating by the diametrical difference, similarly to the separating portions described above. In this case, the separating portions are arranged in the order of the increasing diameters of the coins. 
   It is to be noted that the timing sensor  224 , shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  14  and  15  is a sensor to detect the pins  180  attached to the endless proceed member  176 , and has a function to output a pulse signal whenever it detects the passage of the pin  180 . Therefore, it can be changed to other devices having a similar function. 
   When the pins  180  are metallic, a proximity sensor can be used for the timing sensor  224 , and when the pins  180  are made of a metal or a resin, a photoelectric sensor can be used. 
   Next, the 5-pence separating portion  216  will be described. In the 5-pence separating portion  216 , a 5-pence separating opening  234  is configured by a 5-pence edge  232  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly farther away than the diameter of the 5-pence coin in parallel with the third coin guide  200 C. 
   Since the 5-pence coin which has the smallest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 5-pence edge  232 , its upper end collapses into the 5-pence separating opening  234  to deviate its lower end peripheral surface from the third coin guide  200 C, thereby being guided to a 5-pence coin hopper  5   p  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. At this time, because the 5-pence coin is light, it may not easily drop from the third coin guide  200 C. That is, when the 5-pence coin is not guided to the 5-pence edge  232  as shown in  FIG. 6 , its lower surface pivots clockwise on an edge  194 E of the guide plate  194 . 
   In order to drop the coin from the third coin guide  200 C without dropping it in the 5-pence separating opening  234 , it is necessary for the lower peripheral surface of the coin C to deviate from the third coin guide  200 C when the coin slightly collapses into the opening  234 . In other words, the pivot point of the coin C, that is, the edge  194 E needs to be away from the coin guide  200 C at a predetermined distance or more. If this distance is long, the coin does not easily collapse due to small moment by its own weight, with the result that the 5-pence coins are not separated in the 5-pence separating portion  216 . To prevent this, in the present embodiment, a drop assist member  235  is disposed between the movement path of the pins  180  and the 5-pence edge  232 . 
   The drop assist member  235  is triangular as shown in  FIG. 10 , and is disposed so that its inclined surface  235 S extends in a proceeding direction of the endless proceed member  176  and comes closer to a rear surface of the third conveyer path  202 C as it approaches the downstream. 
   In accordance with this configuration, even when the distance of the edge  194 E from the third guide rail  200 C is shortened and the moment by the weight of coin C itself is increased, the lower surface of the upper end of the coin C is supported by the inclined surface  235 S of the drop assist member  235  at a predetermined amount of pivoting without dropping from the opening  202 C. 
   Furthermore, the 5-pence coin supported by the inclined surface  235 S is pushed by the pins  180 , so that its front portion in the traveling direction is turned on the third coin guide  200 C to get away from the guide plate  194 . Thus, the central lower surface of the 5-pence coin deviates from the third coin guide  200 C, so that it drops from the third coin guide  200 C. 
   Next, the 1-penny separating portion  218  will be described. In the 1-penny separating portion  218 , a 1-penny separating opening  238  is configured by a 1-penny edge  236  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly farther away than the diameter of the 1-penny coin in parallel with the third coin guide  200 C. Furthermore, a drop assist member  237  has the same shape as and is positioned in the similar manner to the drop assist member  235 . 
   Since the 1-penny coin which has the second smallest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 1-penny edge  236 , its upper end collapses into the 1-penny separating opening  238  and deviates from the third coin guide  200 C with the support of the drop assist member  237 , thereby being guided to a 1-penny coin hopper  1   p  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   Next, the second separating section  188  will be described. From the upstream side in a conveying direction of the coin conveyer  108 , there are sequentially arranged a 1-pound separating portion  240 , a 10-pence separating portion  242 , a 2-pence separating portion  244  and a 50-pence separating portion  246 . 
   It is to be noted that although not shown in the drawing, the drop assist member is disposed in the opening of each of the above-described separating portions in the same way as described above. However, as these coins have relatively large diameters and are heavy, it is possible to choose not to dispose the drop assist member. 
   First, the 1-pound separating portion  240  shown in  FIG. 8  will be described. In the 1-pound separating portion  240 , a 1-pound separating opening  250  is configured by a 1-pound edge  248  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly farther away than the diameter of the 1-pound coin in parallel with the fifth coin guide  200 E. 
   Since the 1-pound coin which has the third smallest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 1-pound edge  248 , its upper end collapses into the 1-pound separating opening  250  to deviate from the fifth coin guide  200 E, thereby being guided to a 1-pound coin hopper P 1  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   In the 10-pence separating portion  242 , a 10-pence separating opening  254  is configured by a 10-pence edge  252  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly coin in parallel with the third coin guide  200 C. Furthermore, a drop assist member  237  has the same shape as and is positioned in the similar manner to the drop assist member  235 . 
   Since the 1-penny coin which has the second smallest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 1-penny edge  236 , its upper end collapses into the 1-penny separating opening  238  and deviates from the third coin guide  200 C with the support of the drop assist member  237 , thereby being guided to a 1-penny coin hopper  1   p  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   Next, the second separating section  188  will be described. From the upstream side in a conveying direction of the coin conveyer  108 , there are sequentially arranged a 1-pound separating portion  240 , a 10-pence separating portion  242 , a 2-pence separating portion  244  and a 50-pence separating portion  246 . 
   It is to be noted that although not shown in the drawing, the drop assist member is disposed in the opening of each of the above-described separating portions in the same way as described above. However, as these coins have relatively large diameters and are heavy, it is possible to choose not to dispose the drop assist member. 
   First, the 1-pound separating portion  240  shown in  FIG. 8  will be described. In the 1-pound separating portion  240 , a 1-pound separating opening  250  is configured by a 1-pound edge  248  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly farther away than the diameter of the 1-pound coin in parallel with the fifth coin guide  200 E. 
   Since the 1-pound coin which has the third smallest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 1-pound edge  248 , its upper end collapses into the 1-pound separating opening  250  to deviate from the fifth coin guide  200 E, thereby being guided to a 1-pound coin hopper P 1  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   In the 10-pence separating portion  242 , a 10-pence separating opening  254  is configured by a 10-pence edge  252  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly farther away than the diameter of the 10-pence coin in parallel with the fifth coin guide  200 E. Since the 10-pence coin which has the fourth smallest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 10-pence edge  252 , its upper end collapses into the 10-pence separating opening  254  to deviate from the fifth coin guide  200 E, thereby being guided to a 10-pence coin hopper  10   p  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   Next, the 2-pence separating portion  244  will be described. 
   In the 2-pence separating portion  244 , a 2-pence separating opening  258  is configured by a 2-pence edge  256  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly farther away than the diameter of the 2-pence coin in parallel with the fifth coin guide  200 E. Since the 2-pence coin which has the fifth smallest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 2-pence edge  256 , its upper end collapses into the 2-pence separating opening  258  to deviate from the fifth coin guide  200 E, thereby being guided to a 2-pence coin hopper  2   p  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   In the 50-pence separating portion  246 , a 50-pence separating opening  262  is configured by a 50-pence edge  260  located at a predetermined distance, that is, slightly farther away than the diameter of the 50-pence coin in parallel with the fifth coin guide  200 E. Since the 50-pence coin which has the largest diameter among the coins except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin is not supported by the 50-pence edge  260 , its upper end collapses into the 50-pence separating opening  262  to deviate from the fifth coin guide  200 E, thereby being guided to a 50-pence coin hopper  50   p  described later under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   Next, the coin retention section  112  will be described. 
   The coin retention section  112  has a function to retain the coins by denomination, and to dispense a specified number of coins of a predetermined denomination when given a dispense command from an unshown command device. Therefore, the coin retention section  112  can be changed to other devices having a similar function. In the present embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the coin retention section  112  includes the coin hoppers P 2  to  50   p  provided for the respective denominations. 
   The coin hoppers P 2  to  50   p  have a function to sort the coins retained in bulk in the retention bowls one by one to dispense to the dispensed coin conveying section  114 . The coin hoppers P 2 ,  20   p ,  5   p  and  1   p  are arranged in line to correspond to the first separating section  186 , and disposed above one side of the coin conveying section  114 . The coin hoppers  50 P,  2 P,  10 P and P 1  are arranged in line to correspond to the second separating section  188 , and disposed on the other side of the coin conveying section  114 . 
   The coin dispense conveying section  114  has a function to convey, in a predetermined direction, the coins dispensed from the coin hoppers P 2  to  50   p . In the present embodiment, the coin dispense conveying section  114  is a flat belt  264  disposed substantially horizontally between the coin hopper lines, and is driven in a predetermined direction by an unshown electric motor, and conveys the coins C dispensed from the hoppers to the coin allotting section  116 . 
   The coin allotting section  116  has a function to allot the coins C received from the coin dispense conveying section  114  to the overflow coin safe  118  or the coin dispensing section  120 . The coin allotting section  116  guides the accepted coin C to the overflow coin safe  118  only when the overflow coin is dispensed from any one of the coin hoppers P 2  to  50   p , and guides it to the coin dispensing section  120  in other cases. 
   The overflow coin safe  118  has a function to retain the coins C received from the dispensed coin allotting section  116 . A change replenish device  266  is disposed above the coin retention section  112 . The change replenish device  266  has a function to supply the coins thrown in bulk from an opening  268  to the retention bowl  122  of the coin delivery device  106 . In the present embodiment, it includes a flat belt  270  disposed substantially horizontally. 
   When a cover of a case is opened and a predetermined number of various coins are thrown from the opening  268 , the coins are stacked in bulk on the flat belt  270 . When the coins stacked in bulk are detected by an unshown sensor, the flat belt  270  moves them to the coin delivery device  106  side at a moderate velocity. 
   The coins C having reached an end of the flat belt  270  drop, and are guided to the retention section  152  of the coin delivery device  106  by the unshown chute. When the sensor disposed in the coin delivery device  106  detects a predetermined amount of coins C in the retention section  152 , the movement of the flat belt  270  is stopped, and the replenishment of the coins C for the change is stopped. When the sensor has detected that the retention section  152  is empty, the flat belt  270  is again moved, and the coins C are supplied to the retention section  152 . 
   If this operation is repeated and if the coins C on the flat belt  270  and the coins C in the retention section  152  run out, the denomination sensor  204  does not detect any coin for a predetermined time, so that a non-detection signal is used to indicate the completion of the replenishment of the change. 
   Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. 
   The coin C thrown in the coin slot  102  is judged whether it is true or false in the coin selector  104 . The true coin C drops into the retention section  152  of the coin delivery device  106 . When the unshown sensor detects the coin C in the retention section  152 , the unshown electric motor is rotated, and the sprocket  184  is rotated. Thus, the chain  182  is moved in a predetermined direction, in a counterclockwise direction in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , at a predetermined velocity. Furthermore, the rotary disk  124  is rotated clockwise synchronously with the chain  182  via the gears  186  and  188 . 
   In this way, the thrown coin C slips down to the rotary disk  124  side due to the inclined bottom of the retention bowl  122 , and contacts the rotary disk  124  and the push-out disk  140 . The rotation of the rotary disk  124  causes the coins C to be stirred by the protruding portion  126  and to enter the sorting concave portions  134 . 
   At positions other than the position in the vicinity of the coin conveyer  108 , the moving member  130  is positioned in the receiving portion  144 , and is thus at the receiving position RP. In other words, the concave portion  134  is fan-shaped. Therefore, only one coin C is held in the sorting concave portion  134  defined by the pushing portion  142  of the protruding portion  126  and by the arc-shaped edge  131  of the moving member  130 . That is, the outer periphery of the coin C is guided by the retention ring  148 , so that only one maximum diameter coin C is held in the concave portion  134  which is formed slightly more deeply than the diameter of the maximum diameter coin (2-pound coin). 
   Furthermore, as its depth is less than double the diameter of the minimum diameter coin (5-pence coin), two minimum diameter coins cannot enter in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  124 . Moreover, the concave portion  134  is fan-shaped, so that two minimum diameter 5-pence coins cannot be arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk  124 . Therefore, only one minimum diameter 5-pence coin is held in the sorting concave portions  134 . 
   The rotation of the rotary disk  124  causes the coin C held in the concave portion  134  to move to the coin conveyer  108  side. In other words, the coin C is moved upward. At this point, the coin C is pushed and moved by the pushing portion  142 , and almost no force is applied to the moving member  130 . 
   When the moving member  130  has moved near the coin conveyer  108 , the moved member  154  moves in the deliver process groove  172 , so that the moved member  154  is moved in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  124 . Thus, the moving member  130  is caused to pivot clockwise on the pivot shaft  146 . Therefore, the moving member  130  pushes the coin C positioned in the sorting concave portion  134  from the lateral side in the diametrical direction of the rotary disk  124 , thereby pushing out the coin C from the sorting concave portion  134 . 
   Then, when the moved member  154  is positioned in the movement groove  170 , the moving member  130  moves to the moving position MP, so that the coin C passes through the opening  150  and is pushed out to the movement path of the pin  180 . Immediately after being pushed out, the coin C is pushed by the pin  180 , and transferred under the guidance of the first coin guide  200 A, the second coin guide  200 B, the third coin guide  200 C, the fourth coin guide  200 D and the fifth coin guide  200 E. In other words, the coin C is conveyed sequentially on the first conveyer path  202 A, the second conveyer path  202 B, the third conveyer path  202 C, the fourth conveyer path  202 D, and the fifth conveyer path  202 E. 
   In the second conveyer path  202 B, the coin C is detected by the denomination sensor  204 , and the denomination is identified. If the coin C is judged to be a 2-pound coin, the solenoid  220  is excited for a predetermined time in accordance with the initial pulse signal from the timing sensor  224  after the judgment. 
   As this excitation causes the warped plate  222  to project on the third conveyer path  202 C, the 2-pound coin moving on the peripheral surface while being pushed by the pin  180  under the guidance of the second coin guide  232  is moved away from the guide plate  194  by the warped plate  222 . Thus, the 2-pound coin is deviated from the third coin guide  200 C and drops in the coin hopper P 2  under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   If the coin C is judged to be a 20-pense coin, the solenoid  228  is excited for a predetermined time in accordance with the output of two pulse signals from the timing sensor  224  after the judgment. As this excitation causes the warped plate  230  to project on the third conveyer path  202 C, the 20-pence coin is moved away from the guide plate  194  by the warped plate  230 . Thus, the 20-pence coin is deviated from the third coin guide  200 C and drops in the coin hopper  20   p  under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   Except for the 2-pound coin and the 20-pence coin, the solenoids  220  and  228  are not excited in accordance with the detection of the denomination sensor  204 , so that the conveyed coin C passes the 2-pound separating portion  212  and the 20-pence separating portion  214  and reaches the minimum diameter 5-pence separating portion  216 . 
   If the conveyed coin C is a 5-pense coin, its upper end is not guided by the edge  232  of the 5-pence separating opening  234 , so that the upper end of the coin C falls in the 5-pence separating opening  234 , and deviates from the third coin guide  200 C to drop in the coin hopper  2   p  under the guidance of the unshown chute, as described above. 
   In the case of the second smallest 1-penny coin, it passes the 5-pence separating portion  216  under the guidance of the edge  232  because its diameter is larger than the diameter of the 5-pence coin. However, in the 1-penny separating portion  218 , it deviates from the third coin guide  200 C in the same way as the 5-pence coin, and drops in the coin hopper  1   p  under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   In the case of the 1-pound coin, it passes the first selecting section  186  and the fourth conveyer path  202 D to reach the 1-pound separating portion  240 , and deviates from the fifth coin guide  200 E in the same way as the 5-pence coin, thereby dropping in the coin hopper P 1  under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   In the case of the 10-pence coin, it passes the first selecting section  186 , the fourth conveyer path  202 D and the 1-pound separating portion  240  to reach the 10-pence separating portion  242 , and deviates from the fifth coin guide  200 E in the same way as the 5-pence coin, thereby dropping in the coin hopper  10   p  under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   In the case of the 2-pence coin, it passes the first selecting section  186 , the fourth conveyer path  202 D, the 1-pound separating portion  240  and the 10-pence selecting portion  242  to reach the 2-pence selecting portion  244 , and deviates from the fifth coin guide  200 E in the same way as the 5-pence coin, thereby dropping in the coin hopper  2   p  under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   In the case of the 50-pence coin, it passes the first selecting section  186 , the fourth conveyer path  202 D, the 1-pound separating portion  240 , the 10-pence selecting portion  242  and the 2-pence selecting portion  244  to reach the 50-pence selecting portion  246 , and deviates from the fifth coin guide  200 E in the same way as the 5-pence coin, thereby dropping in the coin hopper  5   p  under the guidance of the unshown chute. 
   If the 2-pound coin is not identified by the sensor  204 , the 2-pound coin does not drop in the 20-pence selecting portion  214 , and does not drop in the 5-pence selecting portion  216 , the 1-penny selecting portion  218 , the 1-pound selecting portion  240 , the 10-pence selecting portion  242 , the 2-pence selecting portion  244  and the 50-pence selecting portion  246 , thus reaching the lowermost portion  208  of the conveyer path. In this case, the 2-pound coin drops in the retention section  152  of the coin delivery device  106  under the guidance of the guide device  206 . Thus, this 2-pound coin is transferred to the coin conveyer  108  by the coin delivery device  106 , detected again in the sensor  204 , and separated in the 2-pound separating portion  212 . 
   If it is not separated in the 2-pound separating portion  246  either the second time, it is further again transferred from the coin delivery device  106  to the coin conveyer  108 , and separation is attempted in the 2-pound separating portion  246 . If the thrown coin is a false coin, it is returned from the coin selector  104  to the coin dispensing section  120 . 
   Before the operation, to retain the change in the coin hoppers P 2  to  50   p , the coins in bulk are thrown from the opening  268  onto the flat belt  270 , so that the flat belt  270  proceeds as described above to supply the coin C to the retention section  152  of the coin delivery device  106 . In this way, the coins are received from the coin delivery device  106  to the coin conveyer  108  as described above, separated by denomination in the process of being conveyed in the first separating section  186  and the second separating section  188 , and retained in the coin hoppers. 
   The present invention can be used in a coin receiving device which receives coins of a plurality of denominations in bulk and sorts them one by one for separation by denomination in the process of conveyance on a conveyer path. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the amended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6