Patent Description:
A money item handling system, such as a vending, gaming or other automated payment system, can include a pay-in module into which money items such as coins are first received when they enter the system. The pay-in module may be tasked with validating the money items to ensure that only acceptable money items are allowed to proceed further into the system.

A pay-in module of this type may sometimes receive money items in bulk. This makes validation of individual money items difficult unless the money items are first singulated. This problem can be exacerbated further when the money items received by the pay-in module are of different denominations and/or are from different world currencies.

European patent application publication no. <CIT> presents a device for distributing coins according to denomination. <CIT> presents a coin hopper and dispenser. United States patent application publication no. <CIT> presents coin mechanism and validator improvements. International (PCT) patent application publication no. <CIT> presents a coin mechanism. United States Patent no. <CIT> presents a fare collection system including a fare box having a coin singulating and counting device. United States Patent no. <CIT> presents a miniaturized coin hopper device.

For the purposes of example only, embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying figures in which:.

A money item singulator <NUM> and a money item validator <NUM> for a money item handling system are illustrated in <FIG>. As will be described in detail below, a function of the singulator <NUM> is to separate money items so that each may be individually presented to the validator <NUM>. A function of the validator <NUM> is to detect whether singulated money items are acceptable so that the money items can be directed into appropriate regions of the money item handling system. For example, money items which are determined as being genuine currency may be directed further into the money item handling system whereas money items which are determined as being non-genuine may be returned to the exterior of the system via a reject chute.

The singulator <NUM> and validator <NUM> may be comprised within a bulk-entry pay-in module <NUM>, the exterior of which is illustrated in <FIG>. As can be seen from these figures, the exterior of the pay-in module <NUM> is provided by an external housing <NUM> which protects internal components of the pay-in module <NUM> such as the singulator <NUM> and the validator <NUM>. The pay-in module <NUM> may form part of a larger money item handling system and may serve as the first point of entry for money items inserted into such a system. The pay-in module <NUM> may therefore receive all money items that are input to the money item handling system by users.

As described below, the pay-in module <NUM> is configured to feed received money items initially to the singulator <NUM> to be singulated.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the singulator <NUM> comprises a rotatable element <NUM> which is configured to rotate around an axis of rotation in the housing <NUM> to cause money items to be singulated. The rotatable singulator element <NUM> may be a substantially planar element, such as the rotatable plate shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and comprises at least one money item conveying region <NUM> for conveying money items around the axis of rotation. As will be described below, the conveying region <NUM> acts to singulate the money items as they are conveyed by the rotatable element <NUM>. The axis of rotation may, for example, comprise a driveable axle <NUM> rotatable by a motor about axis X, which is fixed to the rotatable singulator element <NUM> so that rotation of the axle <NUM> causes a corresponding rotation of the rotatable singulator element <NUM>. The axle <NUM> may by fixed to the centre of the rotatable singulator element <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, rotation of the axle <NUM> may be driven by a drive unit <NUM>, such as an electric motor, which may be comprised within the housing <NUM> of the pay-in module <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the rotatable element <NUM> may comprise a plurality of money item conveying regions <NUM> located around the outside of the rotatable element <NUM>. The conveying regions <NUM> each comprise an indentation which is large enough to accommodate a money item in the outer periphery of the rotatable element <NUM>. The rotatable element <NUM> may therefore appear to have a plurality of cut-away regions or notches around its circumference. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the rotatable element <NUM> may comprise an approximately circular plate with a plurality of conveying regions <NUM> provided as indentations in the otherwise circumferential peripheral surface 5a of the plate. The indented nature of the conveying regions <NUM> means that the radius of the rotatable element <NUM> is smaller in the conveying regions <NUM> than it is in other regions of the element <NUM>.

In this example, the element <NUM> is configured to rotate clockwise in the direction of arrow Y and each conveying region <NUM> is bounded by a leading edge <NUM> and a trailing edge <NUM>. In between these edges <NUM>, <NUM> is the area in which a money item may reside during conveyance. The leading edge <NUM> is labelled in this way because it is the edge which 'leads' during rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, the leading edge <NUM> and trailing edge <NUM> of each conveying region <NUM> may angle towards each other from the outer circumference 5a of the conveying element <NUM> so that they meet at the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>. The trailing edge <NUM> may extend in an approximately straight line between its innermost and outermost points, whereas the leading edge <NUM> may extend in an approximate arc between its innermost and outermost points. The shape of the arc may be such that the rate at which the conveying region <NUM> widens from its innermost point is initially high but reduces towards the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM>.

Each conveying region <NUM> comprises a money item conveying surface <NUM> and a money item singulating surface <NUM> which may together support a money item in a stable position within the indentation of the conveying region <NUM>. In this stable position, an edge of a money item located at the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM> is simultaneously supported by both the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM> so that the money item can be conveyed around the axis of rotation <NUM>. The conveying surface <NUM> of each conveying region <NUM> is configured to exert a driving force on an edge of a money item located against the conveying surface <NUM> during rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>. This force drives the money item around the axis of rotation. In exerting the driving force, the conveying surface <NUM> may propel the money item upwards against gravity. This is evident from <FIG>.

The conveying surface <NUM> is provided on the trailing edge <NUM> of the conveying region <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM> is provided on the leading edge <NUM> of the conveying region <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The rotatable element <NUM> includes different sizes of recess <NUM> for different size ranges of money items. In the example shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, two different sizes of recess 7a and 7b are shown for larger and smaller ranges of money items respectively.

Located around the recesses <NUM> are one or more money item release surfaces <NUM> which, unlike the conveying and singulating surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, do not support money items in the conveying region <NUM> and encourage unwanted money items received in the recesses to be ejected to assist in the process of singulation, whereby each recess <NUM> contains a single money item.

The recesses 7a and 7b have conveying surfaces 11a and 11b that are configured to encourage money items of suitable size ranges to be stably received in the recesses. Considering the larger recess 7a, the conveying region 11a comprises an upstanding portion of the trailing edge <NUM> that is generally triangular in shape which is disposed radially inwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the rotary element <NUM> with money item release surfaces 13a, 13b being disposed on the trailing edge conveying element <NUM> between outer circumferential surface and the upstanding portion 11a so that money items of a diameter less than a given diameter passes over said release surface to be ejected from the recess 7a during a first stage of the rotation path of the conveying element described in more detail below. Also release surfaces 13c, 13d assist in guiding unwanted coins from the recess 7a.

Thus, smaller sized money items will tend not to be resident in the larger recesses 7a but will be received in the smaller recesses 7b. The conveying surface 11b in the recess 7b comprises a continuous surface that extends to release surfaces 13e, 13f which assist in the singulation process.

In the embodiments of the singulator <NUM>, the conveying region <NUM> comprises a continuous release surface <NUM> which extends between the inner end of the conveying surface <NUM> and the outer end of the singulating surface <NUM>. This is illustrated in <FIG>, from which it can be seen that the continuous release surface <NUM> may extend around an approximately right-angled corner between the leading edge <NUM> and the trailing edge <NUM> at the innermost point of the conveying region <NUM>. However, discontinuous release surfaces <NUM> can also be used.

The money item release surfaces <NUM> are shaped to cause money items to slide out of the conveying regions <NUM> to aid singulation. Unless they are otherwise supported, for example by contact with the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM>, money items whose edges contact the release surfaces <NUM> slide over the top of the release surfaces <NUM> and therefore out of the conveying region <NUM> during rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>. This is described in more detail below.

In contrast to the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM>, which may comprise upright faces for abutting the edges of money items to support them in the conveying regions <NUM>, the one or more release surfaces <NUM> may comprise chamfered surfaces which slope away from the interior of the conveying regions <NUM> to allow money items in the conveying regions <NUM> to slide over them. For example, the angle of the slope of each release surface <NUM> may be constant, or may vary over the length of the surface <NUM>. For example, in an alternative to the arrangement shown in <FIG> and <FIG> the slope of the release surface <NUM> which is located between the outer end of the singulating surface <NUM> and the outermost point of the leading edge <NUM> may become steeper as it extends towards the outermost point of the leading edge <NUM>, so at a point approximately halfway along the leading edge <NUM>, the release surface <NUM> ends as the slope of the release surface <NUM> becomes a vertical abutment for the remainder of the length of the leading edge <NUM>.

In addition to the sloping nature of the release surfaces <NUM>, money items may be encouraged to leave the conveying regions <NUM> by short, substantially flat, lifting projections <NUM> which extend from the bases of the release surfaces <NUM>. Such flat projections <NUM> may be configured to slide under the main faces of money items in the conveying regions <NUM> to ensure that money items which contact the release surface <NUM> slide onto the release surfaces <NUM> and out of the conveying region <NUM>. The projections <NUM> may, for example, extend from the bases of the release surfaces <NUM> at substantially the same sloping angle as the release surfaces <NUM> so that they engage a recessed track in an underlying static support surface <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>. The engagement between the projections <NUM> and the recessed track in the static support face <NUM> ensures that there is no possibility of an edge of the release surface <NUM> abutting a money item to support the money item in the inner part of the conveying region <NUM>. The engagement between the projection <NUM> and the recessed track may also help to guide the rotary element <NUM> as it rotates around the axis of rotation. An example of projections <NUM> of this type are illustrated in <FIG>. As can be seen, the illustrated projection <NUM> extends from the base of the release surface <NUM> located between the inner end of the conveying surface <NUM> and the point at which the trailing edge <NUM> meets the leading edge <NUM> in the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>.

The singulator <NUM> also comprises a static element <NUM> which is located adjacent to the rotatable element <NUM>. The static element <NUM> provides support to the main faces of money items as they are conveyed in the conveying regions <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG> and referred to above, the static element <NUM> may comprise a planar support face <NUM> against which the main faces of money items rest during conveyance by the rotatable element <NUM>. The planar support face <NUM> is located directly adjacent and parallel to the rotatable element <NUM>, so that it is parallel to the main faces of money items in the conveying regions <NUM>. As best illustrated in <FIG>, rather than being vertical, both the support face <NUM> and the rotatable element <NUM> adjacent to it may slope backwards from a money item collecting region <NUM> located at the bottom of the singulator <NUM>. The angle of the support face <NUM> and the rotatable element <NUM> relative to vertical may be between fifteen and fifty-five degrees. For example, the support face <NUM> and the rotatable element <NUM> may slope backwards from vertical at an angle of between thirty and forty degrees.

The money item collecting region <NUM> is located adjacent to the lowest point of the rotatable element <NUM> and is the region of the singulator <NUM> into which money items are directed when they are first inserted into the pay-in module <NUM>. If money items are inserted into the pay-in module <NUM> in bulk, they may pool in the money item collecting region <NUM> directly in front of the lowest part of the rotatable element <NUM>. The support face <NUM> is located directly behind the rotatable element <NUM> so that the main faces of money items collected from the collecting region <NUM> and accommodated in the indented conveying regions <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM> lie against the sloping support face <NUM> due to gravity. The conveying surfaces 11a, 11b may be higher than the singulating surface <NUM> to encourage the money items to enter the recesses <NUM>.

The static element <NUM> also provides support to the edges of money items as they are conveyed in the conveying regions <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, the static element <NUM> may comprise a peripheral guide wall <NUM> which is approximately perpendicular to the planar support face <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> is adjacent to, and concentric with, the peripheral edge 5a of the rotatable element <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> curves around the peripheral edge of the rotatable element <NUM> so that it surrounds, or partially surrounds, the rotatable element <NUM>. The wall <NUM> may be approximately circular or may, for example, be an arc of a circle. In either case, the curve of the wall <NUM> is centred on the same axis of rotation as the rotatable element <NUM> and the radius of the wall <NUM> is only slightly larger than the largest radius of the rotatable element <NUM>. This means that the edges of money items located in the outermost part of each conveying region <NUM> are in contact with the wall <NUM> as they are conveyed by the conveying surface <NUM> around the axis of rotation. The contact between the edges of the money items and the wall <NUM> guides the money items along the path of the wall <NUM> as the money items are conveyed by the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM>.

The static guide wall <NUM> and each of the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM> may, therefore, support a respective money item in a stable location relative to the rotatable element <NUM> during rotation of the element <NUM> around the axis of rotation of axel <NUM>. In contrast to the stable location provided by the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM> for money items in the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>, the stable location provided by the combination of the conveying surface <NUM> and the guide wall <NUM> is for money items in the outermost part of the money item conveying region <NUM>.

At the base of the money item collecting region <NUM> there may be provided a debris release aperture <NUM> through which small items of debris which have been inserted into the pay-in module <NUM> with the money items may be released. An example of the release aperture <NUM> is best illustrated in <FIG>. The debris release aperture <NUM> may, for example, be connected to a debris exit chute or similar channel which directs items of debris out the pay-in module <NUM> after they have fallen through the release aperture <NUM> under gravity. The elimination of debris from the singulator <NUM> is aided by the provision of a guide channel <NUM> around the outside of the rotatable element <NUM>. The guide channel <NUM> may be provided in the form of a small gap between the outer edge of the rotatable element <NUM> and the guide wall <NUM> of the static element <NUM>. The guide channel <NUM> allows items of debris to fall to the base of the money item collecting region <NUM> without being continuously disturbed by rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>. The width of the gap may be less than the radius of the smallest diameter money item to be singulated in the singulator <NUM>. If the money items are world coins, an example gap width may, for example, be less than <NUM>, such as between <NUM> and <NUM>, because the smallest world coin presently has a diameter of approximately <NUM>.

As is evident from the discussion above, the singulator <NUM> provides two different stable locations in which money items can be stably conveyed in a conveying region <NUM> of the rotatable singulator element <NUM>. A first of the stable locations is for a money item in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> and is provided by simultaneous contact of the conveying surface <NUM> and the static guide wall <NUM> with the edge of the money item. The second of the stable locations is for a money item in the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>, closer to the axis of rotation, and is provided by simultaneous contact of the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM> with the edge of the money item. As will be explained below, due to the effects of gravity on money items in the conveying region <NUM> whilst they are being conveyed around the axis of rotation, these two locations may not be stable over the whole rotation path of the conveying region <NUM> and may occur at different points on the rotation path to each other. It may be the case that the two locations are not stable at the same time and that, in a particular region of the rotation path, the first location transitions from stable to unstable whilst the second location transitions from unstable to stable. Alternatively, there may be a region of the rotation path in which both locations are stable.

The effect of the stable locations on the singulation of money items by the singulator <NUM> is best described below in the context of a step by step operation of the singulator <NUM>. As will be evident from the explanation below, the shape of the conveying regions <NUM>, together with that of the static element <NUM>, is such that only one money item can be accommodated in each conveying region <NUM> by the point at which the conveying region <NUM> reaches a particular point on its rotation path around the axis of rotation.

As previously described, money items inserted into the pay-in module <NUM> are directed into the money item collecting region <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>. The money items may be fed into the collecting region <NUM> by any suitable means, such as via a slot in the upper part of the pay-in module <NUM>. In order to save power and mechanical wear, the pay-in module <NUM> may be configured to activate the singulator <NUM> only when it is detected that money items have been inserted. Otherwise, the rotatable element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM> may lie idle. Referring to <FIG>, a first singulation step S1 may be for the singulator <NUM> to be activated in response to a money item detector <NUM>, which may be located in the money item entry path of the bulk entry pay-in module <NUM>, detecting that one or more money items has been inserted. Activation of the singulator <NUM> may comprise activation of the driveable axle <NUM> described above so that the rotatable singulator element <NUM> begins to rotate. The speed of rotation may be fixed and predetermined. In the example described below but without limitation, the direction of rotation is clockwise in the direction of arrow Y.

A second singulation step S2 comprises the conveying surface <NUM> of a conveying region <NUM> moving through the money item collecting region <NUM> and contacting the edge of at least one money item located there. The moving conveying surface <NUM> exerts a force against the edges of the money items to convey them forwards in a clockwise direction. Gravity ensures that the collected money items naturally locate in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> against the guide wall <NUM> of the static element <NUM>.

In order to aid this money item 'pick-up' step S2, the conveying surface <NUM> of each conveying region <NUM> may have a height which is greater than the thickness of the money items to be conveyed. If the money items are coins, an example height is between approximately <NUM> and <NUM>. This increases the probability of the conveying surface <NUM> successfully engaging the edge of one or more money items to convey them forwards when the conveying surface <NUM> first contacts the edges of the money items. This is especially advantageous when there are a relatively large number of money items pooled in the collecting region <NUM>, as in this case the conveying surface <NUM> may experience higher resistance to its movement and a degree of turbulence may be caused in the pool of money items.

In a third singulating step S3, the collected money items are driven forwards around the axis of rotation. Initially, at least one of the money items is located in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> in the first stable location described above. This is because the money item is forced outwards against the static wall <NUM> as it is conveyed by the conveying surface <NUM>. The centrifugal force on the money item, caused by the rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>, helps to retain the money item in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> as the conveying surface <NUM> moves through the first stage of its rotation path. This may, for example, comprise at least the first ninety degrees of rotation around the axle <NUM> from the money item collecting region <NUM>.

In addition to the centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>, a money item in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> may be forced outwards against the guide wall <NUM> by a combination of gravity and the angle of the conveying surface <NUM>. This further acts to retain the money item against the wall <NUM> in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM>.

The centrifugal and gravitational forces acting on money items in the conveying region <NUM> mean that no other part of the conveying region <NUM> offers a more stable location for money items during the first stage of the rotation path. Thus, during this first stage, the remaining part of the conveying region is an unstable location for money items, with the release surfaces <NUM> and projections <NUM> encouraging money items not in the stable location to slide out of the conveying region <NUM>. This assists in preventing money items from becoming lodged side-by-side in the conveying region <NUM>.

In addition to forcing money items to the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM>, the centrifugal and gravitational forces acting during the first stage of the rotation path also cause any items of debris which were collected from the money item collecting region <NUM> to be forced towards the guide wall <NUM> beyond the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM>. The items of debris are generally much smaller than the money items and therefore, unlike the money items, fall into the gap <NUM> between the outermost edge of the rotatable conveying element <NUM> and the guide wall <NUM>. From here, the items of debris slide along the wall <NUM> under gravity back to the money item collecting region <NUM>, where they may fall through the debris release aperture <NUM>.

In a fourth singulation step S4, rotation of the rotatable element <NUM> causes the most stable part of the conveying region <NUM> to change location by migrating across the conveying surface <NUM> to the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>. This corresponds to the second of the stable locations described above, in which a money item is supported by the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM>. The migration of the most stable money item position to the innermost region of the conveying region <NUM> is caused by the decreasing ability of the conveying surface <NUM> to support money items in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> against gravity as the conveying region <NUM> moves around the axis of rotation. Once the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM> is lower than the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM>, there is a tendency for money items in the outermost part to fall inwards to the innermost part. A money item may, for example, roll down the conveying surface <NUM> from the first stable location to the second stable location. The tendency for money items to adopt a location in the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM> increases as the difference in height between the outermost and innermost parts of the conveying region <NUM> increases during rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>. Eventually, the centrifugal force is insufficient to prevent the gravitational force on money items in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> from causing the money items to fall inwards.

The migration of the most stable money item location to the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM> plays a part in the singulation process because it causes money items in the conveying region <NUM> to be disrupted; all of the money items fall inwards unless they are somehow otherwise supported. The shape of the conveying region <NUM>, together with the singulating support <NUM>, ensures that only a single money item can be supported against gravity in the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>, as described below.

As explained previously, in the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>, where the leading edge <NUM> meets the trailing edge <NUM>, a money item can be stably supported by simultaneous contact with the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM>. In contrast to the conveying surface <NUM>, which may have a height which is significantly greater than the thickness of the money items in order to aid 'pick-up' in the collecting region <NUM>, the singulating surface <NUM> has a height which is approximately equal to or less than the thickness of the thinnest money item to be singulated in the singulator <NUM>. If the money items are coins, an example height is less than <NUM>, such as between approximately <NUM> and <NUM>. The height of the singulating surface <NUM> is insufficient to simultaneously support the edges of two money items lying in face to face contact in the innermost part of the conveying region <NUM>, meaning that the upper money item slides over the top of the lower money item and out of the conveying region <NUM> altogether.

Money items which leave the conveying regions <NUM> in this manner may fall back into the money item collecting region <NUM> at the bottom of the rotatable element <NUM>, from where they may be collected by the conveying surface <NUM> of another conveying region <NUM>.

An example of a scenario in which a surplus money item may be released from a conveying region <NUM> during the fourth step S4 of the singulation operation is described below. The scenario is described in relation to two money items that have been collected by a conveying region <NUM> during its passage through the collecting region <NUM>. The money items may be different in size to each other, or may be of equal size. If the money items fall into an edge to edge configuration, one of the money items will be forced out of the conveying region <NUM> over one of the release surfaces <NUM>. Alternatively, one of the money items will be forced onto the top of the other so that the money items lie face to face.

If two or more money items proceed around the first stage of the rotation path lying face to face, or partially face to face, the money items are singulated as the conveying region <NUM> moves into the second stage of the rotation path. In the second stage of the rotation path, as the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> becomes higher than the innermost part, the money items are caused to move under gravity towards the inner part of the conveying region <NUM>.

At this point, there are several singulation scenarios that can occur. A first of these scenarios is that the edge of one of the money items, most likely the money item that was initially closest to the planar support face <NUM> of the static element <NUM>, contacts the singulating surface <NUM> and adopts the second stable location described above. The other of the money items slides out of the conveying region <NUM>, either over the top of the singulating surface <NUM> or over one of the release surfaces <NUM> on either side of the singulating surface <NUM>.

A second scenario is that the money item which is the first to contact the singulating surface <NUM> is too small for it to adopt the second stable location and therefore slides out of the conveying region <NUM> via the release surface <NUM> between the singulating surface <NUM> and the conveying surface <NUM>. This might occur because the diameter of the money item is too small for it to simultaneously contact both the singulating surface <NUM> and the conveying surface <NUM>. If this happens, the other money item might adopt the second stable location if its diameter is large enough.

As will be understood, the release surface <NUM> between the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM> acts to release all money items whose diameters are not large enough to be retained in the first stable location. This might occur equally in both of the first and second stages of the rotation path.

Another possibility is for surplus money items to be forced over one of the release surfaces <NUM> by contact with the guide wall <NUM>. For example, if a money item is too large to fit within the available space of the conveying region <NUM>, either because it is already occupied by another money item or because the money item has a diameter which is larger than can be accommodated by the area between the leading and trailing edges <NUM>, <NUM> of the conveying region <NUM>, contact with the guide wall <NUM> may force the opposite side of the money item up onto one of the release surfaces <NUM>. This will cause the money item to slide over the release surface <NUM> during the second stage of the rotation path. As best illustrated in <FIG>, in order to accommodate and singulate all sizes of money items, such as all world coins or all coins within a particular currency, the plurality of conveying regions <NUM> in the rotatable element <NUM> may be different in size. For example, <FIG> illustrates a rotatable element <NUM> in which two different sizes and shapes of conveying region <NUM> are provided. In these different conveying regions, the distance between the innermost end of the conveying surface <NUM> and the innermost end of the singulating surface <NUM> is different in order to account for money items with different diameters.

The invention involves a singulating region <NUM> of the peripheral guide wall <NUM>. In general, the height of the guide wall <NUM> may be approximately <NUM> to <NUM> so as to provide a reliable abutting surface for money items in the conveying regions <NUM>. However, in a singulating region <NUM> of the guide wall <NUM>, the height of the wall <NUM> ramps downwardly so as to be significantly reduced and is not high enough to abut two money items lying face to face in a conveying region <NUM>. An example height of the singulating region <NUM> of the guide wall <NUM> may be approximately equal to or less than the thickness of the thinnest money item to be singulated in the singulator <NUM>. If the money items are coins, an example height is less than <NUM>, such as between approximately <NUM> and <NUM>. It will be appreciated that, as the height of the singulating region <NUM> of the wall <NUM> is insufficient to simultaneously support the edges of two money items lying in face to face contact, the gravitational and/or centrifugal forces on the upper of the two money items will cause the upper money item to slide over the top of the lower money item and out of the conveying region <NUM> altogether. The guide wall <NUM> ramps upwardly from the singulating region <NUM> in upwardly ramped region <NUM> to a raised portion <NUM> provided with upstanding pegs 40a, 40b that may be provided to assist in the singulation process by toppling an overlying money item back into the interior of the module <NUM>. It will be appreciated that this singulation occurs towards the end of the first stage of the rotation path of the conveying element <NUM>.

In a fifth singulation step S5, rotation of the rotatable element <NUM> may cause the conveying region <NUM> to pass beneath an optional money item peeler <NUM>. The peeler <NUM> is configured to ensure that any money items which are not lying flat against the planar support surface <NUM> inside the conveying regions <NUM> are directed back into the collecting region <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the peeler <NUM> may, for example, comprise a static arm which extends over the radius of the rotatable element <NUM> at a fixed point in the second stage of the rotation path. A lower surface of the peeler <NUM> runs adjacent and parallel to the front surface of the rotatable element <NUM> on the opposite side of the rotatable element <NUM> to the planar support face <NUM>. The distance between the surface of the peeler <NUM> and the front of the rotatable element <NUM> is less than the thickness of the thinnest money item to be singulated. An example distance is less than <NUM>, such as less than <NUM>. This means that if any part of a money item is above the top of the leading or trailing edges <NUM>, <NUM> it will strike the peeler <NUM>. Contact with the peeler <NUM> will either knock the money item out of the conveying region <NUM>, or knock the money item into the second stable location inside the conveying region <NUM>. Although not illustrated in <FIG>, the peeler <NUM> may be fixed at either end to the static element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>.

In a sixth singulation step S6, the single remaining money item in the conveying region <NUM>, which is supported by the conveying surface <NUM> and the singulating surface <NUM> in the second stable location, is conveyed to an exit region <NUM>. The exit region <NUM> may comprise an aperture in the support face <NUM> of the static element <NUM> through which the singulated money item exits the singulator <NUM>. The aperture provides a transfer path to the validator <NUM> and may, for example, comprise a slot which leads to the validator <NUM>.

As with the singulator <NUM> described above, the validator <NUM> comprises a rotatable element <NUM> and a static element <NUM>. The rotatable element <NUM> comprises a plurality of money item conveying surfaces <NUM> which are configured to convey singulated money items received from the singulator <NUM> past one or more money item sensors <NUM> to validate the money items. Referring to <FIG>, the money item conveying surfaces <NUM> may be provided on the trailing edges <NUM> of a plurality of money item conveying regions <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM>. For example, the rotatable element <NUM> may comprise a plurality of arms <NUM> which extend outwards from the centre of the rotatable element <NUM> to define the conveying regions <NUM>. The trailing edge <NUM> of each conveying region <NUM> corresponds to the longitudinal edge of an arm <NUM>. The opposite longitudinal edge of the arm <NUM> defines the leading edge <NUM> of the following conveying region <NUM>.

The arms <NUM> meet in the centre of the rotatable element <NUM>, which is fixed to the same driveable axis of rotation as the rotatable singulator element <NUM> described above. The rotatable element <NUM> of the validator <NUM> may therefore rotate synchronously with the rotatable element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>. Thus, the rotatable validator element <NUM> is configured to rotate about a validator axis and the singulator element <NUM> is configured to rotate about a singulator axis which is substantially aligned with the validator axis. The singulator axis and the validator axis may define a common axis of rotation X for the singulator and validator elements <NUM>, <NUM> as shown in the drawings, but they may not necessarily be aligned exactly to define a common axis. For example, the singulator axis may be inclined at up to <NUM>° to the validator axis and the singulator axis may be displaced laterally from the validator axis by up to <NUM>% of the largest radius of the rotatable validator element <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the rotatable validator element <NUM> of the validator <NUM> may be located on the opposite side of the planar support face <NUM> to the rotatable singulator element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>. It is not possible for money items to pass from the singulator <NUM> to the validator <NUM> other than through the aperture in the exit region <NUM> described above and shown in <FIG>. The two rotatable elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be parallel to one another, as can be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>, and rotate in the same direction.

The static element <NUM> of the validator <NUM> comprises a planar support face <NUM>, which is located behind the rotatable validator element <NUM>. This planar support face <NUM> is similar to that of the planar support face <NUM> of the singulator <NUM> in that it supports the main faces of money items as the money items are conveyed around the axis of rotation <NUM> by the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the rotatable validator element <NUM>. The planar surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of the singulator <NUM> and validator <NUM> may be parallel to one another.

The conveying surfaces <NUM> of the validator <NUM> may be aligned with the conveying regions <NUM> of the singulator <NUM> so that singulated money items which pass through the aperture in the exit region <NUM> in the planar support surface <NUM> of the singulator <NUM> are immediately collected and conveyed forwards by a conveying surface <NUM> of the validator <NUM>. Thus the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the validator and the conveying regions <NUM> of the singulator at least substantially overlie one another for at least the major part of the surface area that they sweep over on rotation of the element <NUM> and element <NUM>. The general configuration of the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the validator <NUM> is optimised for money item pick-up and conveyance. For example, the height of the conveying surfaces <NUM> may be several times that of the thickness of the money items intended to be conveyed, such as between approximately <NUM> and <NUM>. This is possible because the singulation of the money items has already been carried out separately in the singulator <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the arms <NUM> of the rotatable validator element <NUM> may each include a plurality of upstanding projections <NUM>. The upstanding projections <NUM> extend towards the planar support face <NUM> of the static element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM> and away from the planar support face <NUM> of the static element <NUM> of the validator <NUM>. The upstanding projections <NUM> ensure that money items in the conveying regions <NUM> of the rotatable validator element <NUM> cannot pass over the top of the arms <NUM> into an adjacent conveying region <NUM>. The spacing of the upstanding projections <NUM> is significantly less than the diameter of the smallest diameter money item to be validated, so that the money items cannot fit between, or around the outside of, the projections <NUM>.

The upstanding projections <NUM> on the arms <NUM> of the rotatable validator element <NUM> may engage with the underside of the static element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>. For example, the projections <NUM> may engage with a recessed track in the underside of the static element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>. This ensures that there is no possibility of money items moving between conveying regions <NUM> of the rotatable validator element <NUM> by passing over the tops of the projections <NUM>. The engagement may further serve to guide the rotation of the rotatable validator element <NUM>.

In addition to the planar support face <NUM>, the static element <NUM> of the validator <NUM> comprises a guide wall <NUM> for guiding the edges of money items around a conveyance path as they are conveyed by the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> is approximately perpendicular to the planar support face <NUM> and is adjacent to, and concentric with, the outermost edge of the rotatable element <NUM> at the ends of the arms <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> curves around the peripheral edge of the rotatable element <NUM> so that it surrounds, or partially surrounds, the rotatable element <NUM>. The wall <NUM> may be approximately circular or may, for example, be an arc of a circle. In either case, the curve of the wall <NUM> is centred on the same axis of rotation as the rotatable element <NUM> of the validator <NUM>.

The radius of the wall <NUM> is slightly larger than the largest radius of the rotatable element <NUM>, which means that the edges of money items located in the outermost parts of the conveying regions <NUM> are in contact with the wall <NUM> as they are conveyed by the conveying surfaces <NUM> around the axis of rotation. The contact between the edges of the money items and the wall <NUM> guides the money items along the path of the wall <NUM> as the money items are conveyed by the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the rotatable element <NUM>.

Adjacent to the lowest point of the rotatable validator element <NUM> there may be provided one or more debris release apertures <NUM> through which small items of debris which have found a way into the validator <NUM> may be released. This release apertures <NUM> may be similar to the corresponding aperture <NUM> in the singulator <NUM> described previously. The debris release apertures <NUM> may be connected to the same debris exit chute as the aperture <NUM> in the singulator <NUM> so that items of debris are directed out of the pay-in module <NUM> under gravity. As with the singulator <NUM>, the elimination of debris from the validator <NUM> is aided by the provision of a guide channel <NUM> around the outside of the rotatable validator element <NUM>. The guide channel <NUM> may be provided in the form of a small gap between the outer edge of the rotatable validator element <NUM> and the guide wall <NUM> of the static element <NUM>. The guide channel <NUM> allows items of debris to fall to the release apertures <NUM> without being continuously disturbed by rotation of the rotatable element <NUM>. The width of the gap may be less than the radius of the smallest diameter money item to be validated. If the money items are world coins, an example gap width may, for example, be less than <NUM>, such as between <NUM> and <NUM>, because the smallest world coin presently has a diameter of approximately <NUM>. As will be described in more detail below, the debris release aperture <NUM> of the validator <NUM> may be accompanied by a controllable gate <NUM>. The gate <NUM> may be opened to release debris through the aperture <NUM>.

In a similar manner to the corresponding surfaces of the singulator <NUM>, the guide wall <NUM> and the conveying surfaces <NUM> of the rotatable validator element <NUM> may support money items in stable locations relative to the rotatable element <NUM> during rotation of the element <NUM> around the axis of rotation. The stable locations provided by the combination of the conveying surface <NUM> of each conveying region <NUM> and the guide wall <NUM> retain the singulated money items against the guide wall <NUM> during the first stage of the rotation path, meaning that the position of the money items during the first stage of the rotation path is highly predictable and can thus be relied on for the purposes of performing sensory checks for validation.

The money item sensors <NUM> may be located at a fixed point on the rotation path of the rotatable validator element <NUM> so that the money items are conveyed past the sensors <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, one or more optical sensors 26A may be arranged to view the money items being conveyed in the conveying regions <NUM> from a location directly above the rotation path of the rotatable validator element <NUM>. The optical sensors 26A may therefore be located on the opposite side of the rotatable element <NUM> to the planar support face <NUM> of the static validator element <NUM>. The optical sensors 26A are configured to detect properties of the money items as they are conveyed past the sensors 26A against the guide wall <NUM>. The optical sensors 26A may, for example, be configured to detect the diameter of the money items so that the detected diameter can be checked against the stored diameters of genuine money items to enable the money items to be validated.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensors <NUM> may comprise one or more electromagnetic sensors 26B. If used in combination with the optical sensors 26A referred to above, the electromagnetic sensor(s) 26B may be located in a similar, but different, point on the rotation path to the optical sensors 26A. Both the optical and electromagnetic sensors <NUM> may be located in the first stage of the rotation path, in which the money items are driven along the guide wall <NUM> in the outermost part of the conveying regions <NUM>. The first stage of the rotation path may correspond approximately to the part of the rotation path in which the innermost end of the trailing edge <NUM> of each conveying region <NUM> is higher than the outermost end of the trailing edge <NUM>.

The electromagnetic sensor(s) 26B are configured to produce an electromagnetic field through which the money items pass as they are conveyed along the guide wall <NUM>. For example, the one or more electromagnetic sensors 26B may each comprise an oscillator, such as an electrical oscillator circuit, which oscillates at a frequency which is dependent on the characteristics of a money item sensing element of the sensor 26A. The money item sensing element has electrical characteristics which are temporarily varied by the electromagnetic effect of money items, such as coins, as the money items move along the guide wall <NUM> past the sensor(s) 26A. The exact nature of the variation is related to the properties of the money item. Any suitable oscillator circuit may be used. Examples include oscillator circuits in which the money item sensing element is an inductive element, such as in LC and RL oscillator circuits. The inductive element may comprise one or more inductive coils or other windings. Another example is an oscillator circuit in which the money item sensing element is a capacitive element, such as in RC oscillator circuits. The capacitive element may comprise one or more capacitors.

Signals from the sensors <NUM>, which are indicative of the detected characteristics of the singulated money items, are fed to a controller <NUM>, such as an electronic microcontroller, of the pay-in module <NUM> or wider money item handling system. The controller <NUM> may be configured to determine the authenticity and/or value of the singulated money items from the output signals. The controller <NUM> may, for example, be configured to analyse the signals, for example by comparing the signal characteristics to known money item characteristics stored in a memory <NUM> of the pay-in module <NUM>.

An example operation of the validator <NUM> is described below with reference to <FIG>. It will be appreciated that the steps described below in relation to the validator <NUM> may follow the singulating steps that have already been explained with respect to <FIG>.

In a first validating step V1, a singulated money item is received in a conveying region <NUM> of the validator <NUM>. The money item may have been singulated in the singulator <NUM> described above and may enter the validator <NUM> through the aperture in the exit region <NUM> of the planar support face <NUM> which divides the singulator <NUM> from the validator <NUM> in the bulk entry pay-in module <NUM>. The money item lies flat between the leading edge <NUM> and the trailing edge <NUM> of the conveying region <NUM>, with its main faces parallel to the planar support face <NUM> of the static element <NUM> of the validator <NUM>.

In a second validating step V2, the money item in the conveying region <NUM> may be conveyed around the axis of rotation by a driving force exerted by the conveying surface <NUM> against the edge of the money item. The rotation of the rotatable element <NUM> of the validator <NUM> may be driven by the same drive unit <NUM> that drives rotation of the rotatable element <NUM> of the singulator <NUM>. As the rotatable elements <NUM>, <NUM> of both the singulator <NUM> and the validator <NUM> are fixed to the same axis of rotation and rotate synchronously with each other, the rotation of the rotatable validator element <NUM> is triggered by the same stimulus that triggers rotation of the rotatable singulator element <NUM>.

In a third validating step V3, the money item is conveyed in a stable and predictable location in the outermost part of the conveying region <NUM> past the money item sensors <NUM> described above.

In a fourth validating step V4, the money item sensors <NUM> sense characteristics of the money item such as its size and material composition and generate output signals which are indicative of the sensed characteristics. The generated output signals are fed to the controller <NUM> for analysis.

In a fifth validating step V5, the controller <NUM> determines whether the output signals from the sensors <NUM> indicate that the money item is acceptable. As described previously, this may comprise comparing the money item characteristics indicated by the output signals with known money item characteristics stored in a memory <NUM> of the pay-in module <NUM>.

In a sixth validating step V6, having determined whether the money item is acceptable, the controller <NUM> is configured to cause an exit gate <NUM> of the pay-in module <NUM> to be placed into either an "accept" or "reject" state. The money item is conveyed to the exit gate <NUM> by the rotatable validator element <NUM> via an exit aperture in the planar support face <NUM> of the static element <NUM> of the validator <NUM>. A portion 31a of the support face <NUM> slopes downwardly to the exit aperture (not visible in <FIG>) When placed into the "accept" state, the exit gate <NUM> of the pay-in module <NUM> directs the money item further into the money item handling system. When placed in the "reject" state, the exit gate <NUM> directs the money item back to the user via a reject chute.

In addition to the money item validating steps V1-V6 described above, the validator <NUM> may be configured to carry out a debris elimination step V7 in which the gate <NUM> at the debris elimination aperture <NUM> is opened to allow items of debris that have accumulated at the bottom of the planar support face <NUM> to be released out of the validator <NUM> through the aperture <NUM>. The step V7 may be carried out either before or after the six steps V1-V6 described above and may be performed when the rotatable element <NUM> of the validator <NUM> is not rotating.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the external housing <NUM> of the pay-in module <NUM> may comprise a front cover <NUM> which can be opened to provide access to the interior of the module <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may, for example, be hinged to the rest of the housing <NUM> to facilitate easy opening and closing. The singulator <NUM> may be hinged to the housing <NUM> in a similar manner to the cover <NUM>. For example, <FIG> illustrates a situation in which both the cover <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the singulator <NUM> have been hinged forwards from their normal positions. This facilitates easy access to the validator <NUM>, which during singulation and validation operations is located on the opposite side of the singulator <NUM> to the cover <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. As described above, the relative arrangement of the singulator <NUM> and the validator <NUM> is such that money items which have been singulated by the singulator <NUM> can be passed directly to the validator <NUM> for validation.

The singulator <NUM> and validator <NUM> described above may be optimised for singulating and validating the coins of all world currencies. The diameters of these coins currently range between approximately <NUM> and <NUM>. The different sizes of conveying region <NUM> described above and illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> may aid with singulating all world coins using only a single rotatable singulating element <NUM>. The smaller of the two conveying regions <NUM> may be optimised for singulating world coins of smaller diameter and the larger of the two conveying regions may be optimised for singulating world coins with larger diameter.

It will be appreciated that although the money item singulator <NUM> and validator <NUM> have been described above as components of a bulk-entry money item pay-in module <NUM> for a money item handling system, the singulator <NUM> and validator <NUM> could alternatively be used in other components of a money item handling system. It will also be appreciated that it is not necessary to use the singulator <NUM> and validator <NUM> together and that, for example, the singulator <NUM> could be used to singulate money items for purposes other than validation.

Claim 1:
A money item singulator (<NUM>) comprising:
a rotatable money item conveying element (<NUM>) with a circumferential surface; and
a static peripheral guide wall (<NUM>);
the conveying element including:
at least one money item conveying region (<NUM>) comprising an indentation in the circumferential surface of the rotatable conveying element, the indentation including a money item conveying surface (<NUM>) and a money item singulating surface (<NUM>) configured to abut the edge of a money item in the conveying region, wherein:
during a first stage of a rotation path of the conveying element, a first stable region for a money item is provided in an outer part of the indentation in the conveying element by the conveying surface and the peripheral guide wall; and
during a second stage of the rotation path of the conveying element a second stable region for a money item is provided in an inner part of the conveying element by the singulating surface for a money item previously in the first stable region, wherein the second stable region in the inner part of the conveying element supports only a single money item;
wherein the peripheral guide wall has a region of reduced height to singulate money items during the first stage of the rotation path of the conveying element.