Compact automatic coin counter

Abstract

A compact automatic coin counter (1) is disclosed, comprising a coin bowl (3), a coin wheel (4), a coin track (8), a coin rail (14) and a coin sensor (9), wherein the coin wheel is inclined with its lowermost part within the coin bowl and is provided with one or more recesses (5) for collection of coins from the coin bowl, and wherein the coin wheel is further provided with a circular coin path (15) passing across the recesses and consisting of one or more grooves (6) deeper recessed in the axial direction than these recesses, and the coin rail is provided with one or more coin lifters (7), which extend into these grooves in such a way that the coin lifters lift the coins from the recesses in the coin wheel onto the coin track, where they individually roll past the coin sensor, which type each coin, after which the total value of the counted coins is calculated.

Claims

1. A compact automatic coin counter (1) comprising: a coin bowl (3), a coin wheel (4), a coin track (8), a coin rail (14), and a coin sensor (9), wherein the coin wheel (4) is arranged to rotate, and is inclined with its lowermost part within the coin bowl (3), wherein the coin wheel (4) is provided with one or more recesses (5) for collection of coins from the coin bowl (3) so that coins, which are caught in these recesses (5) when the recesses (5) pass through the coin bowl (3) at rotation of the coin wheel (4), follow the movement of the recesses (5) upwardly on the rotating coin wheel (4), wherein the coin wheel (4) is further provided with a circular coin path (15) passing across the recesses (5) for collection of coins and consisting of one or more grooves (6) deeper recessed in the axial direction than these recesses (5), and the coin rail (14) is provided with one or more coin lifters (7), which extend into these grooves (6) in such a way that the coin lifters (7) lift the coins from the recesses (5) in the coin wheel (4) onto the coin track (8), where they lean against the coin rail (14) and individually roll past the coin sensor (9), which determines the type of each coin, after which the total value of the counted coins is calculated, and wherein the coin path (15) is divided into two grooves (6) separated by an elevation (10) in the middle of the coin path (15) along at least the main part of its circular course on the coin wheel (4) and wherein two coin lifters (7) from the coin rail (14) extend into respective grooves (6) on respective sides of this elevation (10).

2. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the recesses (5) for collection of coins are circular in configuration.

3. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 2, wherein the diameter of the recesses (5) for collection of coins is between 2 cm and 7 cm, preferably between 3 cm and 5 cm.

4. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the recesses (5) for collection of coins is adapted so that each recess (5) can only transport a single coin up from the coin bowl (3) at a time.

5. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the recesses (5) for collection of coins are arranged along the outer periphery of the coin wheel (4).

6. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the coin path (15) is divided into two grooves (6) separated by an elevation (10) in the middle of the coin path (15) along at least the main part of its circular course on the coin wheel (4) and there are two coin lifters (7) from the coin rail (14) extending into respective grooves (6) on respective sides of this elevation (10).

7. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 6, wherein the elevation (10) is missing at one or more locations along the course of the coin path (15).

8. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 6, wherein the elevation (10) is provided with rounded edges (13).

9. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the coin wheel (4) is further provided with one or more through-going holes (12), which are so small that the coins cannot pass through them.

10. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the coin counter (1) is less than 10 kg, preferably less than 5 kg, most preferably less than 3 kg.

11. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the length of the coin counter (1) is less than 40 cm, preferably less than 25 cm.

12. The compact automatic coin counter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the height and width of the coin counter (1) are both less than 30 cm, preferably less than 20 cm.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, a few exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the drawings, of which

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an automatic coin counter according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged segment of FIG. 1, and

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of some of the most important technical parts of the coin counter shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, which is an enlarged section of FIG. 1, are schematic drawings of a compact automatic coin counter 1 according to the invention, whereas FIG. 3 is a drawing of the coin wheel 4, the coin track 8, the coin rail 14 and the coin sensor 9 of this coin counter 1.

(6) In the illustrated embodiment, the coin wheel 4, the coin track 8, the coin rail 14 and the coin sensor 9 are mounted on the inclined front side of a base/console 2, which contains a motor for rotation of the coin wheel 4, power supply for the coin sensor 9 and the necessary electronics for registration and calculation of the value of the coins passing the coin sensor 9.

(7) The base/console 2 has physical dimensions making it suitable for installation in other applications, in which coin counting is desired.

(8) A coin bowl 3 is mounted on the front of the base/console 2, and the coin wheel 4, which is arranged parallel to the front of the base/console 2 and, thus, inclined, extends with its lowermost part down into this coin bowl 3. A series of circular recesses 5 in the coin wheel 4 is arranged along its outer periphery for collection of coins from the coin bowl 3 when the recesses pass therethrough. The size and depth of these recesses 5 are adapted so that each recess 5 can only transport a single coin at a time.

(9) The coin wheel 4 is further provided with a coin path 15 in the form of a circular recess passing across the aforesaid recesses 5 and being deeper recessed in the axial direction than these. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the coin path 15 is divided into two grooves 6 separated by an elevation 10 whose edges are rounded 13 to reduce the risk of coins getting stuck within the coin bowl 3. Two coin lifters 7 from the coin rail 14 extend into respective grooves 6 on respective sides of this elevation 10 so that they seize the coins within the recesses 5 and lift them onto the coin track 8.

(10) In other embodiments of the invention, the coin path 15 may consist of a single groove 6 and there may be one or more coin lifters 7 from the coin rail 14 extending into this groove 6, but the illustrated solution with two grooves 6, each with its respective coin lifter 7, has proven to be more stable and reduces the risk of the coins “tilting” and falling back into the coin bowl 3 in connection with the transfer from the coin wheel 4 to the coin track 8.

(11) In addition, the use of an elevation 10 along the centre of the coin path 15 makes it possible to make so-called “coin drops” 11 in the form of “gaps” in the elevation 10, which can seize the edge of coins lying more or less perpendicular to the coin wheel 4 and tip these coins in a direction more parallel to the coin wheel 4 so that the coins can be received by the recesses 5 therein.

(12) Once the coins are lifted onto the coin track 8, they roll individually along it while they “lean” against the coin rail 14 and pass the coin sensor 9, which types each coin and signals the electronics inside the base/console 2 keeping track of the value of the counted coins.

(13) The figures further show how the coin wheel 4 may be provided with a number of through-going holes 12 for the passage of dirt and other matters.

(14) The illustrated embodiment of the invention does not comprise systems for sorting and collecting the coins as they leave the coin track 8, but other embodiments may contain such systems, in which the sorting takes place on the basis of data from the coin sensor 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(15) 1. Coin counter 2. Base/console 3. Coin bowl 4. Coin wheel 5. Recess for collection of coins 6. Groove in coin path 7. Coin lifter 8. Coin track 9. Coin sensor 10. Elevation centrally in coin path 11. Coin drop 12. Through-going hole for passage of dirt and other matters 13. Rounded edge of elevation 14. Coin rail 15. Coin path