Conveying money items

Abstract

An apparatus for conveying money items, which is configured to singulate money items during conveyance, sense characteristics of money items during conveyance and eject money items from a conveyor.

Claims

1. A money item conveying system comprising: a money item conveyor configured to convey a money item; and at least one money item sensor located adjacent the money item conveyor and configured to sense at least one characteristic of the money item as the money item is conveyed; wherein the money item conveyor is configured to direct the money item at least partially out of a conveying plane of the money item conveyor and into a sensing plane of the at least one money item sensor as the money item passes the at least one money item sensor in a sensing region of a conveyor path.

2. The money item conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one money item sensor is located at least one of above or below the money item as the money item passes through the sensing region of the conveyor path.

3. The money item conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one money item sensor is configured to detect at least one of physical or electromagnetic properties of the money item.

4. The money item conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the money item conveyor follows a looped path.

5. The money item conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the money item comprises a coin or substantially circular token.

6. The money item conveying system according to claim 1, further comprising a guide located adjacent the money item conveyor against where the money item is conveyed past the at least one money item sensor.

7. The money item conveying system according to claim 6, wherein the money item conveyor comprises a conveying surface that is configured to direct an edge of the money item against the guide.

8. The money item conveying system according to claim 6, wherein the guide comprises a bottom of a guide groove arranged to receive an edge of the money item such that the edge of the money item runs along the bottom of the guide groove as the money item is conveyed past the at least one money item sensor.

9. The money item conveying system according to claim 6, wherein the guide is on a same side of the money item conveyor as the at least one money item sensor.

10. The money item conveying system according to claim 6, wherein a region between the guide and the money item conveyor where the money item is directed is out of the conveying plane of the money item conveyor and in the sensing plane of the at least one money item sensor.

11. The money item conveying system according to claim 6, wherein a distance between the money item conveyor and the guide is greater in the sensing region of the conveyor path than in other regions of the conveyor path.

12. The money item conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing region is located in a region of the conveyor path where the money item is conveyed with a first face of the money item against a fixed surface.

13. The money item conveying system according to claim 12, wherein the sensing region is located in a substantially horizontal region of the conveyor path in which the money item is conveyed with the first face against an approximately horizontal fixed surface.

14. The money item conveying system according to claim 12, wherein the sensing region is also located in a region of the conveyor path in which the money item is conveyed with a second face of the money item against a fixed surface.

15. The money item conveying system according to claim 14, wherein the sensing region is located in a substantially upwardly travelling region of the conveyor path where the money item is conveyed with the second face against a substantially vertical surface.

16. A method for conveying a money item, the method comprising: conveying the money item; sensing at least one characteristic of the money item as the money item is conveyed; and directing the money item at least partially out of a conveying plane of a conveyor and into a sensing plane of an adjacent sensor as the money item passes the adjacent sensor in a sensing region of a conveyor path.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the money item is conveyed past the adjacent sensor on the conveyor adjacent a guide.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: directing an edge of the money item against the adjacent guide.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the guide comprises a bottom of a guide groove arranged to receive an edge of the money item such that the edge of the money item runs along the bottom of the guide groove as the money item is conveyed past the adjacent sensor.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the guide is on a same side of the conveyor as the adjacent sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) For the purposes of example only, embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art money item track, on which two small diameter money items are being conveyed without being singulated;

(3) FIG. 2 is an illustration of a conveying member for conveying and singulating money items of different currencies and denominations;

(4) FIG. 3 is an illustration of two endless loop conveyors in a money item conveying system, wherein the shorter of the conveyors is located inside the longer of the conveyors;

(5) FIG. 4 is another illustration of two endless loop conveyors in a money item conveying system, indicating the conveying direction of the conveyors and the locations of money item exits for each conveyor;

(6) FIG. 5 is an illustration of a conveying system in which two conveyors are located adjacent to money item feeding hoppers;

(7) FIG. 6 is an illustration of two money item feeding containers which are dedicated to separate money item conveyors in a money item conveying system;

(8) FIG. 7 is a plan view of the conveying surface of a money item conveying member, including outlines of large and small diameter world coins on the member;

(9) FIG. 8 is an illustration of a primary money item in a money item support section of a conveying member and a surplus money item being released from a money item release section of the conveying member;

(10) FIG. 9 is an illustration of two money items on a money item conveying member, shortly before a surplus one of the money items is caused to be released from the conveying member to singulate the items;

(11) FIG. 10 is an illustration of a primary money item being caused to move into a guide groove by a money item support section of a conveying member and a surplus money item being caused to move into a money item release section of the member;

(12) FIG. 11 is an illustration of a primary money item in a money item support section of a conveying member and a surplus money item in a money item release section of the conveying member;

(13) FIG. 12 is an illustration of an agitator section which directs surplus money items into a money item release section of a conveying member;

(14) FIG. 13 is an illustration of a conveying member moving from an escalating region of the conveyor path to a bridge region of the conveyor path;

(15) FIGS. 14 and 15 are illustrations of situations which are prevented by the invention, in which two money items lie face-to-face on a conveying member;

(16) FIG. 16 is an illustration of a money item being conveyed through a money item sensing region on a bridge of the conveyor path;

(17) FIG. 17 is an illustration of a money item which has been directed laterally out of the plane of a conveyor and into a money item sensing groove so that characteristics of the money item can be sensed by sensors which are out of the plane of the conveyor;

(18) FIG. 18 is an illustration of money item sensors which are located adjacent the paths of two money item conveyors in bridge regions of the conveyors;

(19) FIG. 19 is an illustration of a money item falling from a money item conveying surface of a conveying member onto a money item ejecting surface of a neighbouring conveying member and, upon striking the ejecting surface, being diverted off the conveyor;

(20) FIG. 20 is a plan view of the surface of a money item conveyor which comprises money item conveying surfaces and money item ejecting surfaces which converge towards the conveying surfaces;

(21) FIG. 21 is an illustration of a static money item ejecting member which engages with a moving money item conveyor and causes money items on the conveyor to pass through a conveyor exit;

(22) FIG. 22 is an illustration of longitudinal channels in a surface of a moving conveying member which engage with corresponding ridges in a surface of an ejecting member to eject money items off the conveying member; and

(23) FIG. 23 is a schematic illustration of a money item conveying system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(24) A money item conveying member 1 of a money item conveying system 2 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The conveying member 1 is configured to singulate a money item on the member 1 and to individually convey the singulated money item to a conveyor exit 3 of a money item conveyor 4. At the exit 3, the money item leaves the conveying member 1 and enters another part of the system 2, such as a payout region, a storage hopper or a cash box.

(25) The conveying member 1 may be one of a series of connected members 1 which together form the money item conveyor 4. For example, the conveying member 1 may comprise part of an endless loop conveyor 4 which is configured to convey money items from a money item source 5 to the conveyor's exit 3. An example of a system 2 comprising two such conveyors 4 is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, in which the conveyors 4 are configured to convey money items from the exits of money item sources 5 to money item payout regions 3. Movement of the conveyors 4 is caused by engagement with one or more controllable drive units 6, which cause the conveyors 4 to rotate around their looped paths. For example, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, teeth on the outwardly facing, circumferential surface of each conveyor 4 may engage with a drive wheel 6 located at the outside of the conveyor 4 so that movement of the drive wheel 6 causes corresponding movement of the conveyor 4.

(26) As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the two conveyors are of different lengths. The shorter of the conveyors 4 is located entirely within the internal region of the longer conveyor 4 so that the looped path of both conveyors 4 is in the same plane. The alignment of the shorter conveyor 4 in the plane of the longer conveyor 4, as clearly shown in FIG. 5, increases the money item conveying capacity and flexibility of the conveying system 2, without occupying any more volume than would be occupied by the longer conveyor 4 alone. As such, the system 2 is able to conform to the standard size envelope used by industry whilst also offering extra conveying capacity.

(27) The one or more conveyors 4 are located inside a housing 7 of the conveying system 2, along with other elements of the system 2 such as the money item sources 5. The height of the housing 7 is less than or equal to 284.5 mm+/1.0 mm and therefore has a maximum height of 285.5 mm. This ensures that the height of the housing 7, and all of the elements of the system 2 within it, including the conveyors 4, is such that the system 2 fits within the standard size envelope required by the industry. The money item sources 5 are discussed below in the context of money item hoppers 5, although it will be appreciated that other types of feeding source could be used.

(28) Although alternative configurations are possible, the number of hoppers 5, or other money item sources 5, may be equal to the number of conveyors 4 in the system 2 so that each hopper 5 is dedicated to feeding money items onto a single one of the conveyors 4. For example, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the illustrated system 2 comprises two hoppers 5 which respectively feed the two conveyors 4. The use of multiple dedicated hoppers 5 allows the system 2 to dispense different types of money item faster than would be the case with a single conveyor 4, single hopper 5 system, since different types of money item can be split between the hoppers 5 and thus dispensed immediately onto the associated conveyor 4 without the need to wait for the money items to be discriminated in a discriminator attached to the hopper.

(29) Alternatively, the hoppers 5 may both contain the same type of money item. This would enable that type of money item to be dispensed to the exits 3 at approximately double the speed than that which would be possible with a single conveyor, single hopper system.

(30) Referring to FIG. 5, the arrangement of the system elements in the housing 7 may be such that the one or more conveyors 4 are located immediately adjacent to a side face 7a of the housing 7. Furthermore, the principal plane of the path of the conveyor(s) 4 may be substantially parallel to the side face 7a of the housing 7 so that the distance between the conveyor(s) 4 and the side face 7a of the housing 7 is substantially equal at all regions of the conveyor path.

(31) The one or more hoppers 5 may also be located immediately adjacent the conveyors 4, on the opposite side of the conveyor(s) 4 to the aforementioned side face 7a of the housing 7, so that the conveyor(s) 4 are sandwiched between the side face 7a of the housing 7 and the hopper(s) 5. As schematically shown in FIG. 3, money items move onto the conveying members 1 from hopper exit(s) 5 located adjacent to the conveyor(s) 4 by sliding or otherwise moving over a longitudinal edge 8 of the conveyor 4 which is directly adjacent the hoppers 5. This edge 8 of the conveyor 4 is referred to in the description below as the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4.

(32) Referring to back to FIG. 3, the money item feeding hopper(s) 5 are configured to feed money items onto the conveying members 1 of the conveyors 4 in a receiving region 4a of the conveyor path. For example, as best shown in the cut-away drawing of FIG. 6, the source(s) 5 may be configured to feed money items onto the conveyor 4 under gravity via an exit chute 5a located adjacent the money item receiving edge 8 in a receiving region 4a of the conveyor path.

(33) In addition to the money item receiving region 4a, the path of each conveyor 4 also comprises an escalating region 4b and a bridge region 4c. As shown by the conveyance direction arrows in FIG. 4, the escalating region 4b immediately follows the receiving region 4a and comprises an upwardly extending section of the conveyor path in which money items on the conveying members 1 are lifted in an approximately vertical orientation into the bridge region 4c above. As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving region 4a of the conveyor path may be located at a point where the conveyor 4 begins to bend upwards from a substantially horizontal region at the bottom of the conveyor path into the escalating region 4b. The location of the receiving region 4a in an upwardly extending section of the conveyor path controls the flow of money items onto the conveyor 4 and so avoids the possibility of the receiving region 4a of the conveyor 4 being flooded with money items.

(34) Although the escalating region 4b may be described as approximately vertical, it will be appreciated from a review of FIGS. 3 and 4 that the principal function of the escalating region 4b is to convey singulated money items upwards into the bridge region 4c and that it is not necessary for the escalating region 4b to be truly vertical for this to be achieved. For example, the conveying direction of the escalating region 4b may be off vertical by approximately 10 to 15, or more, so that a main face of each singulated money items 14 leans against the inwardly facing surface of the conveyor 4 as it is conveyed upwards.

(35) The bridge region 4c immediately follows the escalating region 4b and comprises an approximately horizontal section of the conveyor path in which characteristics of the money items are sensed as the money items are conveyed to the exit 3. This is described in more detail further below.

(36) Each of the plurality of conveying members 1 in the conveyor(s) 4 is connected to its neighbouring members 1 by hinges or otherwise flexible joints 9. For example, referring to FIG. 7, the leading and trailing edges 10, 11 of each conveying member 1 may be hinged to corresponding edges 10, 11 of the neighbouring conveying members 1 in order to allow the individual members 1 to move relative to one another and hence around bends in the looped path of the conveyor 4. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, intermediate support members is may be hinged between neighbouring conveying members 1 in order to increase the number of hinges per unit length of the conveyor 4 and thereby improve smooth passage of the members 1 around the bends in the conveyor path.

(37) Referring back to FIG. 2, each conveying member 1 comprises a money item support section 12 and a money item release section 13. Both sections 12, 13 are located on the inwardly facing surface of the conveying member 1 so that they are on the opposite side of the conveying member 1 to the drive teeth referred to above. The money item support section 12 is configured to support a single money item on the member 1 and to cause the money item to be conveyed with the member 1 to the conveyor exit 3. A money item accommodated in the support section 12 is referred to in the description below as a primary money item 14, since it is this money item 14 which is singulated and individually presented by the conveying member 1 at the exit 3.

(38) The money item release section 13 is configured to release one or more surplus money items 15 from the member 1 by causing the surplus money items 15 to fall or otherwise move off the member 1 before the member 1 reaches the exit 3 intended for the primary money item 14. It is the release of surplus money items 15 by the release section 13, to leave only a single money item on each conveying member 1, which allows the conveying system 2 to singulate primary money items 14 and individually deliver the items 14 to the exit 3.

(39) The money item release section 13 of the conveying member 1 is located adjacent the money item support section 12. Money items 15 which cannot be accommodated in the support section 12 are directed into the release section 13 and subsequently off the conveying member 1 to singulate the primary money item 14. The support and release sections 12, 13 may, for example, lie substantially side-by-side across the width of the conveying member 1, so that the sections 12, 13 span the member 1 in a direction which is approximately perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the conveyor 4.

(40) Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, the money item support section 12 may comprise a conveying support 12a, such as a ledge 12a, against which an edge of the primary money item 14 is located during conveyance. For example, in the case of a relatively thin money item such as a coin or circular token, the thin edge of the primary money item 14 may abut the support 12a during movement of the conveying member 1 so that the primary money item 14 is maintained in the support section 12 and is conveyed forwards with the member 1. The money item 14 is located forwards of a conveying surface of the support 12a, which faces forwards in the direction of movement of the conveying member 1. The conveying surface of the support 12a urges the primary money item 14 forwards in the direction of the conveyor 4 by exerting a driving force against the edge of the money item 14.

(41) The money item support section 12 of the conveying member 1 also comprises a guide support 12b, against which the main face of the primary money item 14 is located during conveyance. For example, in loop conveyors 4 such as those illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a main face of the primary money item 14 rests against the surface of the guide support 12b during conveyance of the item 14 in the receiving region 4a and escalating region 4b of the conveyor path. The surface of the guide support 12b is approximately parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor 4 and approximately perpendicular to the conveying surface of the conveying support 12a referred to above. This is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8, where it is shown that the surface of the support ledge 12a is approximately perpendicularly upstanding from the surface of the guide support 12b so that the primary money item 14 naturally locates at the junction between the surfaces 12a, 12b and is supported in this location during conveyance.

(42) The height of the conveying support 12a above the surface of the guide support 12b may be chosen so as to reliably abut and convey the primary money item 14 without also abutting and conveying one or more surplus money items 15. For example, the height of the conveying support 12a above the guide support 12b may be chosen so as to be high enough to abut the thin edge of a primary money item 14 resting against the guide support 12b but not high enough to also abut and convey surplus money items 15 which might be lying face to face on top of the primary money item 14. The lack of abutment with the conveying support 12a causes such surplus money items 15 to slide over the top of the conveying support 12a towards the trailing edge 11 of the conveying member 1 and subsequently off the conveyor 4. For example, in a looped conveyor 4, such surplus money items 15 slide off the conveying member 1 under gravity. The items 15 may land back in the receiving region 4a of the conveyor path, from where they may be collected by another conveying member 1.

(43) It will be appreciated that the height of the conveying support 12a should be selected in dependence of the thickness of the money items 14, 15 which are in circulation and which the conveyor 4 is intended to convey. The height of the conveying support 12a should be chosen so as to ensure that it reliably abuts and conveys all of the different money items which the conveyor 4 is intended to convey, without being sufficiently high to abut two of the thinnest money items lying face-to-face on the surface of the guide support 12b. The height of the conveying support 12a may, for example, be less than the thickness of the thinnest money item which the conveyor 4 is intended to convey. An example height is approximately 1.5 mm or less, such as approximately 1.4 mm or less, approximately 1.3 mm or less, or approximately 1.2 mm or less. The height may be greater than approximately 0.8 mm. It will be appreciated that other heights are also possible.

(44) As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the conveying support 12a extends transversely across the conveying member 1 from the longitudinal money item receiving edge 8 of the member 1. As with its height, the length of the conveying support 12a and the angle at which it extends from the money item receiving edge 8 are chosen so as to support and convey a single money item 14 only. In particular, the conveying support 12a does not extend across the conveying member 1 to a degree which would be sufficient to abut and support two money items 14, 15 in an edge to edge arrangement across the width of the member 1.

(45) The angle which the conveying support 12a makes with the money item receiving edge 8 may be non-perpendicular. More specifically, the conveying support 12a may extend from the money item receiving edge 8 in a direction which is both towards the opposite longitudinal edge 16 of the member 1 and also towards the leading edge 10 of the member 1. The conveying support 12a and the money item receiving edge 8 of the member 1 may therefore make an acute angle which faces towards the leading edge 10 of the member 1.

(46) The length and angle of the conveying support 12a may be selected in dependence of the diameter of money items 14, 15 which are currently in circulation and which are intended to be conveyed. For example, the tangent points of the different money items with the upstanding surface of the conveying support 12a, as measured when the items 14, 15 are lying face down in the support section 12 on the guide support 12b, may be used to determine an appropriate length and angle for the conveying support 12a. In particular, the conveying support 12a should include the tangent point of the largest diameter money item to be conveyed but exclude the tangent point of the second of a pair of the smallest diameter money items lying edge to edge along the line of the conveying support 12a. An example of this is shown in FIG. 7, in which it can be seen that the illustrated conveying support 12a includes the tangent point of a large diameter world coin but excludes the tangent point of the second of a pair of small diameter world coins lying edge to edge.

(47) An example range of values for the size of the forward-facing angle which the conveying support 12a makes with the money item receiving edge 8 is between approximately 5 and approximately 85, although other angle sizes of less than 90 could alternatively be used.

(48) Unlike the support section 12, the money item release section 13 is not configured to support money items on the conveying member 1 during conveyance. In particular, the release section 13 does not comprise a conveying support 12a of the type described above. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the conveying support 12a of the support section 12 stops short of the release section 13 in a central region of the conveying member 1 and so, unlike the support section 12, the release section 13 is not configured to exert a conveying force against the edges of money items during movement of the conveyor 4.

(49) The release section 13 instead comprises a money item release surface 13a which encourages money items 15 in the release section 13 to slide off the conveying member 1. In contrast to the conveying support 12a, the release surface 13a is not upstanding from the guide support 12b and so does not abut the edges of money items which are lying face-to-face with the conveying member 1. It instead allows the money items 15 to slide over the release surface 13a towards the member's trailing edge 11. An example of this is illustrated in FIG. 8, which shows how a surplus money item 15 may be ejected over the release surface 13a of the conveying member 1 as the conveying member 1 ascends the escalating region 4b of the conveyor path.

(50) The release surface 13a is located side-by-side with the conveying support 12a across the width of the conveying member 1. For example, as can be seen from FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the conveying support 12a and the release surface 13a may together traverse the entire width of the conveying member 1.

(51) As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the release surface 13a may be a chamfered surface of the member 1 which extends upwards and backwards from the surface of the guide support 12b towards the trailing edge 11 of the conveying member 1. The release surface 13a is non-perpendicular with the surface of the guide support 12b and may, for example, extend backwards at an acute angle of approximately 89 or less relative to the surface of the guide support 12b. An example angle is approximately 70. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion of the conveying member 1, behind the conveying support 12a and the release surface 13a, may comprise a substantially flush surface over which surplus money items 15 are released.

(52) Alternatively, the release surface 13a may be approximately parallel to the conveying direction of the conveying member 1. In particular, the plane of the release surface 13a may be approximately the same as the plane of the guide surface 12b of the adjacent money item support section 12 so that the two surfaces 13a, 12b are flush with one another.

(53) In instances where surplus money items 15 on the conveying members 1 do not naturally locate in the release sections 13, the items 15 are physically directed into the release sections 13 by the conveying system 2 in order to ensure that the primary money items 14 are singulated before they reach the exit 3. This process will now be described in relation to the escalating region 4b of the conveyor path. However, it will be appreciated that the process could alternatively take place elsewhere on the conveyor path.

(54) An example of part of the escalating region 4b of the conveyor 4 is illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12. As shown, in this region, the conveyor 4 follows the path of a static guide 17 which is located adjacent to the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4. The money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4 moves along the static guide 17 during money item transit. The static guide 17 supports primary money items 14 in the support sections 12 of the conveyor 4.

(55) In particular, as shown in the figures, the angled nature of the conveying support 12a causes a primary money item 14 in the support section 12 of a conveying member 1 to be urged against the static guide 17 as the conveyor 4 moves forward, thereby retaining the primary money item 14 in the support section 12. Surplus money items 15 are not in contact with the angled conveying support 12a and as such, unlike the primary items 14, they are not urged against the static guide 17.

(56) FIG. 9 illustrates a situation in which a conveying member 1 of the conveyor 4 has collected two small diameter money items 14, 15 in the money item receiving region 4a of the conveyor path. For the purposes of clarity in the illustration, the neighbouring conveying members 1 of the conveyor 4 have been omitted from the figure. As can be seen, a first of the money items 14 has naturally located itself in the support section 12 of the member 1 and has therefore become the primary money item 14.

(57) The presence of the primary money item 14 blocks the second of the money items 15 from entering the support section 12 and thus the second money item 15 is forced into another part of the conveying member 1. FIG. 9 illustrates a situation in which, instead of immediately falling into the release section 13 or sliding over the top of the primary money item 14 and off the trailing edge 11 of the conveying member 1, the second money item 15 has located in a position which is forward of the primary money item 14 and close to the leading edge 10 of the conveying member 1. In this position, the edge of the surplus money item 15 abuts the edge of the primary money item 14 located directly behind it in the support section 12. The surplus money item 15 may therefore be conveyed forwards along the static guide 17 without falling into the release section 13.

(58) In order to ensure that it is only the primary money item 14 which continues to be conveyed on the conveying member 1, and to prevent the surplus money item 15 from being undesirably conveyed to the exit 3, the static guide 17 comprises a surplus money item agitating region 18 which is configured to agitate movement of the surplus money item 15 into the release section 13 of the conveying member 1. In the agitating region 18, a section of the guide 17 extends away from the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4. This causes lateral movement of the primary money item 14, since its edge is being directed against the guide 17 by the conveying support 12a, and the result is that the surplus money item 15 is caused to move into the release section 13 of the conveying member 1.

(59) For example, the agitating region 18 of the static guide 17 may comprise a groove 19, in which the edge of the primary money item 14 is received during conveyance of the item 14 up the escalating region 4b of the conveyor 4. Unlike the surplus money item 15 which is resting on the edge of the primary item 14, the primary money item 14 is directed into the groove 19 by the angled conveying support 12a of the conveying member 1.

(60) As shown in FIG. 10, movement of the primary money item 14 into the groove 19 causes the primary money item 14 to move partially over the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveying member 1 and further away from the money item release section 13. In doing so, the primary money item 14 moves partially out of the plane of the conveyor 4. This movement of the primary item 14 causes a misalignment between the primary item 14 and the surplus item 15 forward of it, which in turn causes the surplus money item 15 to roll in the opposite direction to the primary item 14 and hence towards the money item release section 13.

(61) Referring to FIG. 11, without the primary money item 14 directly behind it to convey it forwards, the surplus money item 15 moves immediately into a side by side relationship with the primary money item 14 across the width of the conveying member 1. Since the conveying support 12a does not include the tangent point of the surplus item 15 in this location, the surplus item 15 proceeds into the release section 13 from where it is released from the conveyor 4 in the manner previously described in relation to FIG. 8. Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, the agitating region 18 may further comprise a section 20 of the guide 17 which extends back towards the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4. This section 20 may comprise a projection 20, such as a bump or otherwise uneven surface, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Alternatively, the section 20 may comprise an end region of the grove 19. An example of this is shown in FIG. 10. Although FIG. 10 does not illustrate it, the groove 19 may begin again marginally further along the conveyor path in order to once again receive the edge of the primary money item 14 and guide the primary money item 14 in a secured way towards the exit 3.

(62) The purpose of the agitating region 18 is to ensure that any surplus money item 15 which did not move into the release section 13 following the initial movement of the primary money item 14 into the groove 19 does not remain on the conveying member 1. The section 20 of the guide 17 which extends back towards the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4 interacts physically with the surplus money item 15 and directs the surplus item 15 away from the guide 17 and into the release section 13.

(63) For example, the section 20 of the guide 17 which extends back towards the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4 may comprise a region of the internal surface of the groove 19 in which the primary item 14 is located during conveyance of the primary item 14 up the escalating region 4b of the conveyor loop 4. The section 20 projects outwards from the otherwise smooth surface of the groove 19 and thus contacts the surplus money item 15 as it moves up the escalating region 4b. This contact causes sudden misalignment of the two money items 14, 15. As shown in FIG. 12, the surplus money item 15 moves past the centre line of the primary money item 14 behind it and onwards into the money item release section 13 as previously described in relation to FIGS. 8 and 11. Therefore, even in the event that a surplus money item 15 somehow initially slips into the groove 19 along with the primary money item 14, the agitating region 18 ensures that the surplus money item 15 is directed into the release section 13 before the conveying member 1 reaches the bridge region 4c of the conveyor path.

(64) It should be noted that, although the primary money item 14 also physically interacts with the section 20 of the guide 17 which extends back towards the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4 as it moves up the escalating section 4b, it is prevented from being directed into the release section 13 of the conveying member 1 by the angled nature of the conveying support 12a which continually urges the money item 14 against the static guide 17 and thus retains the money item 14 inside the groove 19.

(65) It should also be noted that the degree to which the guide 17 extends back towards the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4 should be chosen in order to ensure that the deviation which it causes to the money items 14, 15 is sufficient to direct all surplus money items 15 into the release section 13. Three different examples are shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. FIGS. 10 and 11 show examples in which the guide 17 extends fully back to the edge 8 of the conveyor 4, whilst FIG. 12 illustrates an example in which the guide 17 extends only approximately half of the distance back towards the edge 8 of the conveyor 4.

(66) As explained previously, the escalating region 4b of the conveyor 4 is followed by the bridge region 4c. The transition from the escalating region to the bridge region comprises a bend in the conveyor path, around which the primary money items 14 are conveyed and caused to re-orientate from a substantially vertical orientation in the escalating region 4b to a substantially horizontal orientation in the bridge region 4c. The transition is illustrated in FIG. 13, which shows how a bridge 21 located adjacent to the inwardly facing surface of the conveyor 4 supports the main face of a primary money item 14 against gravity as the main face of the item 14 falls forward and inwardly from the surface of the guide support 12b.

(67) The bridge 21 overlaps the support sections 12 of the conveyor 4 and thereby ensures that as the primary money item 14 falls forwards away from the surface of the guide support 12b, the item 14 is prevented from falling off the conveying member 1. However, as can be seen from FIG. 13, the bridge 21 does not overlap the release sections 13 of the conveyor 4 and therefore ensures that any remaining surplus money items 15 in the release sections 13 now fall unsupported against gravity away from the conveyor 4 and back into the receiving region 4a.

(68) The situations illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, in which money items are conveyed face to face on a single conveying member 1 and thus not singulated, are avoided.

(69) Referring to FIG. 16, in the bridge region 4c of the conveyor 4, a main face of each primary money item 14 is conveyed along a substantially horizontal path of the bridge 21 by the conveying supports 12a. As explained above, the bridge 21 is located inside the circumferential path of the conveyor 4 and is therefore underneath the money items 14 in this section of the path. In contrast, the conveyor 4 is located above the bridge 21 and therefore may sandwich the money items 14 between it and the bridge 21. This is shown in FIG. 16, where is can be seen that the outwardly facing surface of the bridge 21 directly faces the guide supports 12b of the conveying members 1.

(70) During the transition from the escalating region 4b to the bridge region 4c, and subsequently when the primary money item 14 is on the bridge 21, the edge of the money item 14 continues to be conveyed along the static guide 17 by to the angled nature of the conveying support 12a. More specifically, the edge of the primary money item 14 remains inside the guide groove 19 referred to previously, so that the edge of the money item 14 is located in the guide groove 19 as the item 14 is conveyed along the bridge 21 by the conveying support 12a. The passage of the money item 14 from the escalating region 4b to the bridge region 4c is aided in its reliability by the location of the money item 14 inside the guide groove 19. This is particularly the case with the inner, shorter of the conveyors 4 because of the short radius of curvature of the bend between the escalating region 4b and the bridge region 4c. The passage of the money item 14 around the bend between the escalating region 4b and the bridge region 4c, and the associated transition from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, is smoothed by the guiding effect of the groove 19, which keeps the money item 14 stable during the change in orientation.

(71) It will be understood that this effect of the groove 19 is particularly applicable to the inner conveyor 4 because, in addition to being limited by its confinement within the limited height of the housing 7, which as previously discussed is small enough to fit within the standard size envelope specified by industry, the radius of curvature of the bend between the escalating region 4b and the bridge region 4c of the inner conveyor 4 is further limited by the confinement of the inner conveyor 4 within the outer conveyor 4.

(72) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an associated effect of the guide groove 19 is to ensure that the leading edges of money items 14 on the escalating region 4b of the conveyor 14 do not cause a jam by striking the end face of the bridge 21 as the money items 14 are conveyed into the bridge region 4c. This is because the guide groove 19 helps to maintain the main faces of the money items 14 substantially against the guide supports 12b in the escalating region 4b of the conveyor path.

(73) In the bridge region 4c of the conveyor 4, the money items 14 are at their most stable because of the way in which they lie face down on a substantially horizontal surface 21. This stability, together with the fact that all of the primary money items 14 have been singulated and the money items 14 are approaching the conveyor exit 3, contributes to the bridge region 4c being an appropriate location in the conveyor path to perform sensory checks on the money items 14.

(74) Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the money item conveying system 2 may comprise one or more money item sensors 22 which are located in one or more money item sensing regions of the conveyor path and are configured to sense characteristics of the primary money items 14 as the money items 14 are conveyed. A suitable location for a money items sensing region is in the bridge region 4c of the conveyor path, so that characteristics of the money items 14 are sensed as they are conveyed over the bridge 21. The sensors 22 may, for example, be configured to sense physical or electromagnetic characteristics of the money items 14, such as the items' dimensions, shape, conductivity, permeability, construction and other properties.

(75) The sensor(s) 22 may be located adjacent to the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveying members 1 in the bridge region 4c. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the sensor(s) 22 may be located directly above and/or below the guide groove 19 in which the money items 14 are conveyed along the bridge 21. In order to locate the money items 14 as close as possible to the sensor(s) 22 as the items 14 move over the bridge 21, the items 14 are moved substantially out of the plane of the conveyor 4 into a deep section of the guide groove 19. More specifically, the guide groove 19 may be deeper in the bridge region 4c of the conveyor 4 than it is in other areas of the conveyor path so that money items 14 move even further over the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveying members 1. For example, FIG. 17 illustrates a situation in which more than half of a money item 14 is over the item receiving edge 8 of a conveying member 1 as it is conveyed through the deep region of the guide groove 19. The location of the money items 14 in the deep region of the guide groove 19 is substantially out of line with the path of the conveyor 4, enabling the items 14 to pass directly under, over and/or between the sensors 22 and for the sensors 22 to view or otherwise sense characteristics of the money items 14 without obstruction from the conveyor 4.

(76) It will be appreciated that, whatever the thickness of the money item 14 which is being conveyed, the money item face which lies directly against the surface of the bridge 21 will always be in the same location. This means that the distance between the sensor(s) 22 and the face of the money item 14 which is directly against the surface of the bridge 21 will be constant regardless of the thickness of the money item 14. The sensors 22 can be positioned so as to reduce this distance to a minimum, or so as to obtain an otherwise optimum distance, such as approximately 0.5 mm, between the sensors 22 and the downwardly-facing face of the money item 14 in the bridge region 4c. This allows the sensors 22 to detect characteristics of different money items 14 reliably and consistently, without any variation in the measurement distances involved.

(77) However, it will also be appreciated that the distance between the surface of the bridge 21 and the upwardly-facing face of the money item 14 will vary for different money item thicknesses. This means that the distance between that upwardly-facing money item face, which is referred to below as the opposite face, and any fixed position sensors 22 in the bridge region 4c of the conveying system 2 will vary for different thicknesses of money item 14.

(78) In order to enhance the coin properties sensed over those in the bridge region 4c, the opposite face of the money item 14 may be sensed in a sensing region located in a different region of the conveyor path. More specifically, the money item system 2 may additionally, or alternatively, comprise one or more money item sensors 22 in a region of the conveyor path where the position of the opposite faces of the money items 14 can be accurately predicted regardless of the money item thickness. Referring back to FIG. 3, an example of this is in the escalating region 4b of the conveyor path, in which the opposite faces of the money items 14 lie against the surfaces of the guide supports 12b. The location of the opposite face is therefore consistent in this region 4b, regardless of the thickness of the money item 14 being sensed.

(79) As with the money item sensing section of the bridge region 4c described above, the money item sensing section in the escalating region 4b comprises a deep groove of the type described above in relation to FIGS. 16 to 18. The money items 14 are moved out of the plane of the conveyor 4, over the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor and towards the hoppers 5, so that characteristics of the money items 14 can be sensed without obstruction from the conveyor 4.

(80) Measurements made by the sensors 22 may be used, for example, to validate that the money item 14 which is being conveyed over the bridge 21 is of the type which is desired at the money item exit 3. The result of the validation operation may be used to determine the path which the money item 8 should take after being ejected from the conveyor 4. For example, money items 8 which are validated as being of the desired type may be channelled into a payout region of the conveying system 2, whereas money items 14 which are not of the desired type may be channelled back into an appropriate storage hopper 5 of other storage region.

(81) Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bridge region 4c of the conveyor path is followed by a money item ejection region 4d in which money items 14 are ejected from the conveying members 1 through the conveyor exit 3. In the money item ejection region 4d, the conveyor 4 conveys the money items 14 in a downward section of the conveyor path located approximately opposite the escalating region 4b. As with the escalating and bridge regions 4b, 4c described previously, the money items 14 may be guided in a groove 19 of the static guide 17 located adjacent the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveying members 1. The money items are ejected from the conveyor 4 over the money item receiving edge 8 into the exit 3, which may for example comprise an aperture 3 in the static guide 17.

(82) A perspective illustration of the ejection region 4d of the outer conveyor 4 is shown in FIG. 19. As can be seen, in this region 4d of the conveyor path, the money items 14 may fall under gravity against a money item ejecting surface 23 of the conveyor 4 which directs the money items 14 off the conveyor 4. More specifically, having previously been pushed through the escalating and bridge regions 4b, 4c of the conveyor path by the conveying supports 12a, the primary money items 14 lose contact with the conveying supports 12a in the ejection region 4d because the conveying supports 12a are located above them and do not support them against gravity.

(83) Referring to FIG. 20, the money item ejecting surface 23 is similar to the surface of the conveying support 12a in that it is an upstanding surface 23 which is approximately perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the conveyor 4. As with, the conveying support 12a, the ejecting surface 23 may form an approximately perpendicular junction with the surface of the guide support 12b of the support section 12 and may extend from the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4 at a non-perpendicular angle. The ejecting surface 23 may also have a similar height and length to the conveying support 12a. However, the angle of the ejecting surface 23 is approximately opposite to the angle of the conveying support 12a so that the ejecting surface 23 and the surface of the conveying support 12a converge towards one another from the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4. More specifically, instead of extending forwards from the money item receiving edge 8 in the direction of conveyance, the ejecting surface 23 extends backwards from the edge 8 in approximately the opposite direction.

(84) The angle of the ejecting surface 23 relative to the direction of movement of the conveyor 4, and hence the direction in which the money item 14 falls towards the ejecting surface 23, is such that contact between the edge of the falling money item 14 and the ejecting surface 23 directs the money item 14 towards the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4. The location in the conveyor path at which the money items 14 strike the ejecting surface 23 and are directed fully towards the money item receiving edge 8 corresponds to the location of the exit 3, so that the money items 14 pass through the exit 3 and off the conveyor 4.

(85) As shown in FIG. 3, the money item ejecting region 4d is located on the opposite side of the conveyor loop to the escalating region 4b. This is made possible by the bridge region 4c described above, which allows money items 14 on the conveyor 4 to be transported to the opposite side of the looped path. The location of the ejecting region 4d and the associated money item exit path 3 aids the overall packaging of the system 2 in the housing 7, for example by allowing the money item exits of the conveyors 2 to be more closely packed together.

(86) The location of the ejecting region 4d, and the bridge region 4c that facilitates it, is of particular help when accommodating all elements of a multiple conveyor system 2 within the standard industry size envelope discussed previously. One reason for this is that it allows money items on the conveyor(s) 4 to be ejected from the conveyor(s) 4 in a region of the conveyor path that is convenient for channeling the money items directly through the housing 7 to a payout area.

(87) In some systems 2, such as those that comprise a single conveyor 4, the money item ejecting region 4d could be located in the escalating region 4b of the conveyor path to allow money items to be ejected off the conveyor 4 once they had been discriminated or validated by sensors 22 located further down the escalating region 4b. This could be considered an advantageous arrangement for such systems 2 because the conveyor 4 would be required to convey the money items only up the relatively short and straight escalating region 4b, thereby avoiding the potential complications discussed above with regard to bends in the conveyor path.

(88) However, in the case of a system 2 that comprise two conveyors 4, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the arrangement of the conveyors 4 within the limited size of the housing 7 makes it inconvenient for money items to be ejected from the conveyors 4 in the escalating regions 4b. This is because the escalating regions 4b of the two conveyors 4 are relatively far apart, as shown in FIG. 3, and so money items can not be exited from the two conveyors 4 in the same place. Each conveyor 4 would likely require its own dedicated money item payout channel, which would in turn occupy more space within the limited size of the housing 7. This problem cannot be easily solved by arranging the escalating regions 4b of the conveyors 4 closer together because, as can be seen from FIG. 3, this would place further undesirable restrictions on the location and/or size of the money item inlet chute 5a for at least the outer conveyor 4.

(89) The bridge regions 4c address the problem by allowing money items to be conveyed from the escalating regions 4b to ejecting regions 4d on the opposite sides of the conveyor paths. As can be seen from FIG. 3, in this opposite region of the conveyor paths, the conveyors 4 can be located directly adjacent to one another, at the desired money item exit height, without the complications discussed above. By locating the money item ejecting regions 4d in this location, the money items are exited from the two conveyors 4 at substantially the same location and can from there be directed to a payout area via a shared channel through the housing 7.

(90) As shown in FIG. 20, the conveying supports 12a and ejecting surfaces 23 operate in pairs, on the moving conveyor 4, to eject money items 14 from the conveyor 4 through the exit 3. In each pair, the ejecting surface 23 is located forward of the conveying support 12a on the conveyor 4. For example, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the ejecting surface 23 and the conveying support 12a may be located on different conveying members 1 so that each primary money item 14 falls against the ejecting surface 23 of the next conveying member 1 in the endless loop as it leaves the conveyor 4. Alternatively, the ejecting surface 23 and the conveying support 12a may be located on the same conveying member 1.

(91) In another alternative configuration, the ejecting surface 23 is not part of the moving conveyor 4 but instead interacts with money items 14 on the moving conveyor 14 to direct them into the exit 3. For example, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the ejecting surface 23 may be located on a projection of the static guide 17 which extends across, and is adjacent to, the money item guide supports 12b of the conveying members 1 as the members 1 move past the location of the exit 3. The money items 14 on the conveying members 1 strike the surface 23 of the projection as previously described and are directed into the exit 3 by the angled nature of the ejecting surface 23. In order to ensure that a money item 14 does not slip through a gap between a conveying member 1 and the ejecting surface 23, the projection on which the ejecting surface 23 is located and the conveying members 1 may engage with one another as the members 1 pass the exit 3. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, the upstanding conveying support 12a of each conveying member 1 may comprise one or more longitudinal channels 24 which engage with corresponding longitudinal ridges 25 on which the ejecting surface 23 is located as the members 1 pass the exit 3.

(92) The ejecting surface 23 allows the money items 14 to be ejected over the same edge 8 of the conveyor 4 from which they were initially received. This is advantageous because it allows the money items 14 to be transported around the conveyor 4 on the money item receiving edge 8 side of the guide support 12b. There is no requirement for the money items 14 to be moved across the guide support 12b to the other edge 16 of the conveyor 4, meaning that there is space there for surplus money items 15 to be released as previously described. The ability to convey the money items 14 on the receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4 also allows the money items 14 to be moved into the plane of the sensors 22 located adjacent the money item receiving edge 8 of the conveyor 4, meaning that the money items 14 can be validated or otherwise checked as they move along the conveyor path.

(93) Referring to FIG. 23, the operation of the conveying system 2, including that of the conveyors 4, may be controlled by an electronic controller 26. The controller 26 comprises an electronic processor 27, such as a microprocessor 28, and a computer readable storage medium 28 which stores computer readable instructions in a computer program. The computer readable storage medium 28 may comprise, for example, one or more read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, Flash memories, magnetic or optical cards or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Additionally or alternatively, the computer readable storage medium 28 may comprise any type of storage disk, such as one or more floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs and/or magnetic-optical disks, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions which can be executed by the processor 27. The computer readable storage medium(s) 28 is coupled to the processor 27 and other elements of the controller architecture 26 via a computer system bus. The processor 27 is configured to implement the instructions under the control of the program to operate the system 2. For example, the controller 26 may be communicatively coupled to a power supply 29 of each of the elements of the system 2 so that the controller 26 can cause movement of the conveyor(s) 4 and operation of the other elements of the system 2 as required.

(94) For the avoidance of doubt, the controller 26 may include a single processor 27 or may comprise one or more architectures employing multiple processor designs 27 for increased computing capability. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that although the system 2 has been described as comprising two conveyors 4, the system 2 may alternatively comprise a single conveyor 4. The aspects of the conveyors 4 and the system 2 described above are equally applicable to one which comprises only a single conveyor 4. Equally, the aspects are also applicable to a conveying system 2 which comprises more than two conveyors 4.

(95) The sensors 22 have been described as being located on the money item source 5, e.g. hopper side of the conveyors 4, rather than being located on the opposite side near the side face 7a of the housing 7. However, an alternative is for the sensors 22 to be located on the opposite side of the conveyors 4 to the money item sources 5, with the money items 14 being guided through a sensing region which is out of the plane of the conveyors 4 on that opposite side.

(96) Additional elements of the system 2 which have not been described above include one or more money item acceptors 30, which receive money items from an external input 31 in the housing 7 and selectively feed the money items into the hopper(s) 5. The additional elements may also include one or more money item discriminators 32 attached to the hoppers 5, which are configured to discriminate between different money items in a hopper 5 and feed the required type of money item onto the conveyor 4. The use of a discriminator may be convenient if one or more of the hoppers 5 is to contain a plurality of different types of money item, such as different denominations of coin.