COIN LIFT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coin lift for transporting coins and/or coin-like objects. The proposed coin lift has an endless conveyor loop for transporting coins and/or coin-like objects from a first position to a second position higher than the first position, wherein the conveyor loop extends in an ascending direction in a first section and in a descending direction in a second section. Due to a common arrangement of the first and second sections in a housing portion exchangeably arranged between two further housing portions, the coin lift has a compact design and is easily adaptable in its overall height and thus in the height difference which the coins and/or coin-like objects can overcome. At the same time, a reliable transport of the coins and/or coin-like objects is ensured, in particular also with a vertically ascending course of the conveyor loop in the first section, by the arrangement of a press-on element for pressing the coins and/or coin-like objects transported by the conveyor loop onto the conveyor loop.

Claims

1. A coin lift for transporting coins and/or coin-like objects, the coin lift comprising: an endless conveyor loop for transporting coins and/or coin-like objects from a first position to a second position higher than the first position, wherein the conveyor loop extends in an ascending direction in a first section and in a descending direction in a second section, a drive for selectively driving said conveyor loop in a rotary motion, and a press-on element for pressing the coins and/or coin-like objects transported by the conveyor loop onto the conveyor loop.

2. The coin lift according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor loop in the first section extends in a vertically ascending direction and in the second section extends in a vertically descending direction.

3. The coin lift according to claim 1, wherein the press-on element extends substantially along the first section of the conveyor loop.

4. The coin lift according to claim 1, wherein the press-on element along the conveyor loop can assume different distances from the conveyor loop in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor loop.

5. The coin lift according to claim 1, wherein the coin lift further comprises a device for dissipating an electrostatic charge of the coins and/or coin-like objects.

6. The coin lift according to claim 1, wherein the coin lift further comprises a housing comprising a replaceable first housing portion in which the first section and the second section of the conveyor loop extend substantially side by side.

7. The coin lift according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor loop is formed from a plurality of articulated segments which are separably connected to one another.

8. The coin lift according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor loop extends in a third section from the descending direction of the second section to the ascending direction of the first section and in a fourth section from the ascending direction of the first section to the descending direction of the second section.

9. The coin lift according to claims 6 and 8, wherein the housing further comprises a second housing portion and a third housing portion, wherein the third section of the conveyor loop extends in the second housing portion and the fourth section of the conveyor loop extends in the third housing portion.

10. The coin lift according to claim 9, wherein the first housing portion separably connects the second housing portion with the third housing portion.

11. The coin lift according to claim 8, wherein the conveyor loop in the third section or the fourth section is driven by the drive.

12. The coin lift according to claim 7, wherein the conveyor loop comprises lips through which a groove extends along the conveyor loop, and that a crest or web of the press-on element is insertable into the groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below using preferred example embodiments and associated drawings. The drawings show:

[0025] FIG. 1: a perspective view of an example embodiment of the coin lift according to the invention,

[0026] FIG. 2: a side view of the example embodiment according to FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 3a: a front view of the example embodiment according to FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 3b: a side view of the section plane A-A through the example embodiment according to FIG. 3a,

[0029] FIG. 4a: a front view of another example embodiment of a coin lift according to the invention,

[0030] FIG. 4b: a side view of the section plane A-A through the example embodiment according to FIG. 4a,

[0031] FIG. 5: a perspective view of the example embodiment according to FIG. 1, with one half depicted without the housing, and

[0032] FIG. 6: a perspective view of an enlarged section of an example embodiment of a coin lift according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In the figures, identical reference signs designate identical or equivalent elements or parts of a coin lift according to the invention.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred example embodiment of a coin lift according to the invention. A side view of the example embodiment according to FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2, and a front view in FIG. 3a. FIG. 3b shows a side view of the section plane A-A, the position of which is represented in the front view according to FIG. 3a.

[0035] Another preferred example embodiment of a coin lift according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, where the middle portion of housing 2 of coin lift 1 is not shown. Similar to FIGS. 3a and 3b, FIG. 4b shows a side view of the section plane A-A, the position of which is shown by the front view according to FIG. 4a. With the exception of one outlet channel 25, the example embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b corresponds to that of FIGS. 1, 2, 3a and 3b.

[0036] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 3b and 4b, the conveyor loop 3 consists of a plurality of segments 30, which are connected to each other in an articulated manner about axes aligned transversely to the course of the conveyor loop 3, i.e. perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIGS. 3b and 4b, and which form an endless loop. Advantageously, the segments 30 can be separated from each other, preferably at the axes connecting them in an articulated manner. This allows the length of the conveyor loop 3 to be adjusted by removing or inserting one or more segments 30, for example for different overall heights of the coin lift 1. Alternatively, the conveyor loop can also consist of a single piece, for example in the form of a conveyor belt. When transporting coins and/or coin-like objects, the conveyor loop 3 runs in a vertically ascending direction in a first section 31, reverses its direction in a fourth section 34 into a vertically descending direction in a second section 32, only to return then to the vertically ascending direction of the first section 31 in a third section 33. The course of the conveyor loop 3 in the third section 33 and the fourth section 34 is preferably selected in such a way that the first section 31 and the second section 32 of the conveyor loop 3 run as closely side by side as possible in order to keep the volume occupied by the coin lift 1 as small as possible. For this purpose, both the third section 33 and the fourth section 34 each have an approximately s-shaped course at their ends adjacent to the second section 32. The conveyor loop 3 comprises an inner side, i.e. a surface on which the coins and/or coin-like objects are transported, and an outer side facing the housing 2. The segments 30 have a laterally projecting guide pin 301 on each of their two longitudinal sides. By means of these guide pins 301, the segments 30, and thus the entire conveyor loop 3, are each guided in one groove of the two opposite side walls of housing 2.

[0037] The housing 2 of the coin lift 1 has a second housing portion 22 enclosing the third portion 33 of the conveyor loop 3, a third housing portion 23 enclosing the fourth portion 34 of the conveyor loop 3, and a first housing portion 21 not shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The first housing portion 21 connects the second housing portion 22 separably or inseparably with the third housing portion 23. In the case of a separable connection, the coin lift 1 has a modular design, which allows the height of the coin lift 1 to be subsequently adjusted by replacing the old first housing portion 21 with a correspondingly long new first housing portion 21 and adjusting the length of the conveyor loop 3. The first housing portion 21 is preferably designed in such a way that it encloses the first section 31 and the second section 32 of the conveyor loop 3 as closely as possible, so that the volume occupied by the coin lift 1 is as small as possible.

[0038] A drive 4 for optionally driving the conveyor loop 3 is arranged in or on the third housing portion 23. Preferably, the drive 4 has an electric motor and a gearbox 41. If the electric motor can be controlled as required, a gearbox can be omitted. The conveyor loop 3 is advantageously driven by a gear wheel driven directly or indirectly by the electric motor, whose teeth engage in corresponding teeth 303 of the conveyor loop 3. The teeth 303 of the conveyor loop 3 are advantageously arranged on the outer side of the conveyor loop 3, i.e. on the side facing the housing 2, and not on the inner side, which is intended for transporting the coins and/or coin-like objects. Alternatively, if the conveyor loop is formed by a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt is driven by a pulley. Since the drive 4 is completely arranged in or on the third housing portion 23 and is thus maximally limited to the fourth section 34 of the conveyor loop 3, the first section 31 and the second section 32 of the conveyor loop 3 run outside the drive 4 and are therefore easily accessible for an adjustment of the overall height of the coin lift 1, which also promotes the modular design of the coin lift 1.

[0039] During its rotation, the conveyor loop 3 transports coins and/or coin-like objects from a first position 71 to a second position 72, which is higher than the first position 71. The first position 71 is formed by a collecting tray into which the coins and/or coin-like objects fall and/or slide by gravity after the coins and/or coin-like objects have been inserted into the coin lift 1 through one of the inlet slots 24. The conveyor loop 3 forms the bottom of the collecting tray 71. The second position 72 is a place of the conveyor loop 3, which is located next to an access opening of an outlet channel 25, through which the coins and/or coin-like objects leave the coin lift 1. Usually, the coins and/or coin-like objects are delivered by one or more hoppers, which are arranged laterally next to the coin lift 1. In addition to the inlet slots 24 arranged at the bottom in the second housing portion 22 for this delivery of the coins and/or coin-like objects by a hopper, the coin lift 1 may also have inlet slots arranged further up in the region of the first housing portion 21 and/or the third housing portion 23. These can be used, for example, for the entry of counterfeits that have been identified as such by a money checking device. The counterfeits fall and/or slide down the housing 2 until they also come to rest in the collecting tray 71. If there are coins and/or coin-like objects in the collecting tray 71 and the conveyor loop 3 is performing its rotary motion, each of the segments 30 takes only a single coin or coin-like object when passing through the collecting tray 71. For this purpose, each segment 30 has a lip 302 on its surface which is arranged approximately transversely to the transport direction. The height of the lip 302 perpendicular to the surface of segment 30 is dimensioned such that it is less than the combined thickness of two thinnest coins and/or coin-like objects lying one on top of the other, so that an upper coin or an upper coin-like object slips from a lower coin or a lower coin-like object and thus a separation of the coins and/or coin-like objects occurs as soon as the segment 30 is moved in an ascending direction and the lip 302 serves as a support edge for the (lower) coin or the (lower) coin-like object. For this purpose, the third section 33 of the conveyor loop 3 after the collecting tray 71, i.e. in FIGS. 3b and 4b to the right of the collecting tray 71, has an area, in which the conveyor loop 3 moves obliquely upwards, preferably at an angle of about 65 to the horizontal. Alternatively, if the conveyor loop is formed by a conveyor belt, the conveyor loop takes the coins and/or coin-like objects with it by utilising the static friction occurring between the surface of the conveyor loop and the coins and/or coin-like objects. The coins and/or coin-like objects are then also separated in the obliquely rising area of the conveyor loop right after the collecting tray, since the static friction between two coins and/or coin-like objects lying on top of each other is lower than the static friction between the transport belt and a coin or coin-like object.

[0040] The area of the conveyor loop 3 for separating the coins and/or coin-like objects is followed by an area of the conveyor loop 3 in which a press-on element 5 for pressing the coins and/or coin-like objects transported by the conveyor loop 3 onto the conveyor loop 3 is arranged parallel to the conveyor loop 3. The press-on element 5 has a strip element 50 which, when viewed in the direction of rotation of the conveyor loop 3, extends from a partial section at the end of the third section 33 over the entire first section 31 to a partial section at the beginning of the fourth section 34. Preferably, the strip element 50 is slightly bendable in its longitudinal direction, i.e. has limited bendability and is otherwise substantially rigid, for example as a moulded part made of plastic. The strip element 50 shown in FIGS. 3b and 4b is movably mounted in the housing 2 of the coin lift 1 at four points which are arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the strip element 50. Of these four bearing points of the strip element 50, only two are visible in FIGS. 3b and 4b, namely those in the area of the first section 31 of the conveyor loop 3. While in the areas of the two ends of the strip element 50 there is one further bearing point each, which is not visible in FIGS. 3b and 4b. Each of these bearing points has a spring element 52 which identifies the bearing points of the first section 31 in FIGS. 3b and 4b. The spring elements 52 preferably consist of two elastic plastic parts 521 and 522 each, which are arranged opposite each other on both longitudinal sides of the strip element 50 and are supported in receptacles in the housing 2, so that the strip element 50 presses on the surface of the conveyor loop 3. The receptacles for the spring elements 52, like the entire first housing portion 21, are not shown in FIG. 4b. It is advantageous for the elastic plastic parts 521 and 522 of a strip element 50 made of plastic to be cast onto the strip element 50. Alternatively, other spring elements known from the state of the art such as coil springs made of metal can also be used. Furthermore, the number and/or position of the bearing points can also vary in order to allow for the press-on element 5 to be positionable with as much variability as possible along its longitudinal axis with respect to its vertical distance to the surface of the conveyor loop 3 by utilising a combination of slight bending of the strip element 50 in its longitudinal direction and different deflections at the individual bearing points. The strip element 50 is preferably designed having three parts with a middle part 501 and two end parts 502 and 503, wherein the middle part 501 corresponds in its length and arrangement to the first section 31 of the conveyor loop 3, so that the press-on element 5 can also be adapted to a changed overall height of the coin lift 1 by replacing the middle part 501. The middle component 501 and the two end parts 502 and 503 can, for example, each be joined by a detachable snap connection and/or plug connection. To facilitate the insertion of coins and/or coin-like objects between the press-on element 5 and the conveyor loop 3, the press-on element 5 or the end part 502 has a curved and/or rounded end 51.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the example embodiment according to FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 5 does not show the left half of the housing 2 of the coin lift 1. FIG. 5 shows in particular the gearbox 41 of the drive 4 as well as the connection 212 of the first housing portion 21 with the second housing portion 22 and the connection 213 of the first housing portion 21 with the third housing portion 23. The connections 212 and 213 preferably have snap connections and/or plug connections.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a partial section of the coin lift 1 according to FIG. 1 in the area of the first section 31 and the second section 32 of the conveyor loop 3 in an enlarged perspective view. FIG. 6 shows in particular how the coins 6 and/or coin-like objects 6 stand on the lips 302 and are pressed by the press-on element 5 against the respective segment 30 of the conveyor loop 3. FIG. 6 also clearly shows how the two spring elements 52 on the middle part 501 of the strip element 50 are structured, namely each consisting of two elastic plastic parts 521 and 522, which are each arranged on the two opposite longitudinal sides of the strip element 50. Thus each of the bearing points of the strip element 50 and consequently of the press-on element 5 has in each case a spring element 52 consisting of two elastic plastic parts 521 and 522, each of the elastic plastic parts 521 and 522 being arranged in a respective receptacle in the housing 2 and being supported in the receptacle, so that the spring elements 52 press the press-on element 5 against the surface of the conveyor loop 3.