Device for separating coins with a rotating driver disc

Abstract

The described device for separating coins comprises a rotatable base disc (32), a delimiting element (34) and a driver disc (36). A circular ring-shaped sorting track (12) is arranged eccentrically relative to the base disc (32). The driver disc (36) and a circularly arranged conveying element (14) interact in a transfer region (38) such that the lowest layer of coins among a quantity of coins conveyed by the driver disc (36) are pushed underneath the conveying element (14), clamped thereat and conveyed further.

Claims

1. A device for separating coins, comprising: a circular sorting track (12); an elastic conveying element (14) for conveying the coins along the circular sorting track (12); a base disc (32) arranged eccentrically relative to the circular sorting track (12) and rotatable about an axis inward of the elastic conveying element (14); a driver disc (36) arranged concentrically on the base disc (32) and rotatable about the axis of the base disc (32); a delimiting element (34) upward of the base disc (32) and cooperating with the base disc (32) for delimiting a receiving area with an open top for receiving a quantity of coins to be separated; a transfer region (38) in an area of the delimiting element (34) adjacent the base disc (32) and between the driver disc (36) and the elastic conveying element (14), the transfer region (38) having an opening for passage of the coins and for feeding the coins to the elastic conveying element (14), so that the conveying element (14) feeds separated coins along the circular sorting track (12) to sorting devices (18 to 30), and wherein the driver disc (36) and the conveying element (14) interact in the transfer region (38) such that the coins of a lowest layer of a quantity of coins conveyed by the driver disc (36) are pushed underneath the conveying element (14) and are clamped thereat.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the driver disc (36) is rigidly connected to the base disc (32).

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the driver disc (36) has a height that is smaller than the smallest thickness of the coins (52) to be processed.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a transport speed (v3) of the conveying element (14) is higher than a transport speed (v2) of the coins that are transported by the lateral surface of the driver disc (36).

5. The device of claim 1, wherein a center of the base disc (32) is arranged within the circular track of the sorting track (12) such that the base disc (32) and the conveying element (14) overlap in the transfer region (38).

6. The device of claim 1, wherein along the circular track of the sorting track (12), as viewed in transport direction of the individual coins, a coin checking device (42), a curve ejector (44), a rejecting ejector (46) and a plurality of sorting ejectors (18 to 30) are arranged.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the conveying element (14) is arranged with respect to a lateral surface of the driver disc (36) such that coins having a diameter range between 14 and 33 mm can be clamped underneath the elastic conveying element (14).

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the transfer region (38) is substantially wedge-shaped so that a distance between an outer circumference of the driver disc (36) and the elastic conveying element gradually decreases in a rotating direction of the base disc (32) to a minimum distance (A) that is shorter than the diameter of the smallest coin to be separated by the device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the driver disc (36) has a friction coating, in particular a rubber coating, on its lateral surface.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device does not comprise any stationary coin separator (41).

11. The device of claim 9, wherein a distance (A) between the lateral surface of the driver disc (36) and the conveying element (14) is shorter than the diameter of the smallest coin to be separated by the device.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the conveying element (14) comprises a ring-shaped elastic clamping ring (60) and a holding ring (62) made of a rigid material and connected to the clamping ring.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the ring-shaped elastic clamping ring (60) is made of polyurethane or of a rubber material.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the sorting track (12) has an inner track boundary (48) extending concentrically relative to the conveying element (14), and that the separated coins are transportable along the inner track boundary (48) by the conveying element (14).

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the sorting track (12) has an outer track boundary (16) extending concentrically relative to the conveying element (14), and the separated coins (52) are transportable along the outer track boundary (16) by the conveying element (14).

16. The device of claim 14, wherein, as viewed in a transport direction of the separated coins, an orientation device (40) is arranged after the transfer region (38) and orients the separated coins such that they are conveyed along the inner track boundary (48) or along the outer track boundary (16) by the conveying element (14).

17. The device of claim 1, wherein an outer circumference of the driver disc (36) faces an inner circumference the elastic conveying element (14) with a distance therebetween gradually decreasing farther into the transfer region (38) in a rotating direction of the base disc (32).

18. The device of claim 17, wherein a minimum distance (A) between the outer circumferential surface of the driver disc (36) and the circular conveying element (14) is shorter than the diameter of the smallest coin to be separated by the device.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein a corner between an inner circumferential surface of the circular conveying element (14) and a lower surface of the circular conveying element (14) is chamfered to facilitate entry of the coins between the circular conveying element (14) and the sorting track (12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a device for separating coins, in which the coins are guided on a circular sorting track along its outer track boundary.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a similar arrangement as FIG. 1, wherein the guidance of the separated coins are conveyed along an inner track boundary of the sorting track.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional drawing of the base disc, the driver disc and the conveying element.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the conveying element.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment with an additional stationary coin separator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a device 10 for separating coins. These coins have been omitted for reasons of better clarity. The device 10 comprises a circular ring-shaped sorting track 12 which is delimited by an outer sorting track boundary 16. Along the sorting track 12, sorting ejectors 18 to 30 are arranged which contain openings through which the coins fall and which correspond to coins of increasing coin size in the clockwise direction of movement. The coins output by the sorting ejectors 18 to 30 can be counted by means of suitable devices.

(7) Along the sorting track 12 and concentrically relative thereto, an elastic conveying element 14 is arranged which serves to convey separated coins and transports these along the sorting track 12. The elastic conveying element 14 comprises at its underside a ring-shaped elastic clamping ring (not illustrated in FIG. 1) which is mounted on a holding ring made of a rigid material, such as plastic or metal. The separated coins to be conveyed are transported slidingly along the sorting track 12 by means of the clamping ring.

(8) An arrangement for feeding separated coins to the conveying element 14 comprises a rotatable base disc 32, a delimiting element 34 and a driver disc 36, wherein the base disc 32 and the delimiting element 34 delimit a receiving area, open to the top, for receiving a quantity of coins to be separated. In the delimiting element 34, an opening for the passage of coins and for the feeding to the elastic conveying element 14 is provided in a transfer region 38. Typically, the delimiting element 34 can be designed as a funnel which has a larger opening at the top as compared to the lower boundary. The delimiting element 34 can be oval or have any other shape.

(9) On the base disc 32, the driver disc 36 is arranged concentrically relative to the base disc 32. The driver disc 36 is rigidly connected to the base disc 32 and, with respect to the level of the base disc 32, has a height smaller than the smallest thickness of the coins to be processed. The driver disc 36 and the conveying element 14 interact in the transfer region 38 such that, given a clockwise rotation of the driver disc 36 and thus coins conveyed in same direction as the conveying element 14, coins of the lowest layer are pushed underneath the conveying element 14 and are clamped thereat.

(10) The sorting track 12 and thus the conveying element 14 rotating on a circular ring are arranged eccentrically relative to the base disc 32 and thus eccentrically relative to the driver disc 36. Due to this eccentric geometry, a wedge shape results in the transfer region 38, which wedge shape causes that coins of the lowest layer of the quantity of coins conveyed by the lateral surface of the driver disc 36 and given a clockwise rotation are inevitably moved outward in the direction of the conveying element and are thus pushed underneath the conveying element and are clamped thereat. By setting the eccentricity, the wedge shape can be varied and thus be adapted to the size range of the diameter of the coin range.

(11) The coins separated and clamped in this way, are further conveyed clockwise by the elastic conveying element 14 and reach an orientation device 40 which orients the separated coins such that they are conveyed along the outer track boundary 16 by the conveying element 14. On their conveying path, the coins reach a coin checking device 42, known per se, where they are checked for physical properties. Incorrect coins are fed by means of a deflecting device 44, such as a controllable deflector or an extendible pin, to a rejecting ejector 46, where the incorrect coins are sorted out. Correct coins are further conveyed on the sorting track 12 and successively reach the various sorting ejectors 18 to 30, where they are sorted in ascending order dependent on the coin diameter.

(12) Preferably, the driver disc 36 has a friction coating, such as a rubber coating, on its lateral surface. As a result, the transport of the coins of the lowest layer of the quantity of coins by means of the driver disc 36 becomes more efficient and a coin jam is prevented. Due to the rotation of the base disc 32, coins lying over the lowest layer run in a circulating manner within the receiving area into the circle.

(13) The transport speed of the conveying element 12 is higher than the transport speed of the coins which are fed in the transfer region and which are transported by means of the lateral surface of the driver disc 36. In this way, the separated coins are quickly transported out of the transfer region 38 so that along the sorting track 12 the coins are sufficiently spaced apart. Preferably, the speed relations are set such that the speed v1 at which the coins are moved due to the rotation of the base disc 32 is lower than the speed v2 at which the coins of the lowest layer are transported by means of the lateral surface of the driver disc 36 which in turn is lower than the transport speed v3 of the conveying element 14. Accordingly, the following applies to the speeds: v1<v2<v3.

(14) Optionally, in the transfer region 38 a stationary coin separator (see FIG. 5) can be formed, in particular in the form of a guide bar, the height of which is slightly smaller than the smallest thickness of the coins to be processed. In this way, it is guaranteed that coins of the lowest layer and no laterally overlapping coins are fed reliably to the conveying element 14, as a result whereof the reliable separation of the coins is further improved.

(15) FIG. 2 shows another embodiment wherein the same parts are identified with the same reference signs. In contrast to FIG. 1, the coins conveyed by the conveying element 14 along the sorting track 12 are oriented by the orientation device 40 such that they are transported along an inner track boundary 48 of the sorting track 12. The function described in connection with FIG. 1 remains the same.

(16) FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross-section of the base disc 32, the driver disc 36 and the conveying element 14 in the transfer region 38. The base disc 32 and the driver disc 36 are oriented concentrically relative to an axis 50 and commonly rotate at the same speed of rotation. The driver disc 36 has a height smaller than the smallest thickness of the coin 52 to be processed. Coins of the entire quantity of coins can have different thicknesses and can lie on top of each other as shown in the left-hand image part on the basis of the coins 54 and 56. Only the lowest layer of the quantity of coins is conveyed by the lateral surface of the driver disc 36 in the direction of the conveying element 14. In the illustrated example, the coin 52 still has a distance to the conveying element 14. Due to the wedge shape mentioned further above, upon a further transport, this coin is transported further in the direction of the conveying element 14 by the driver disc 36. This conveying element 14 has a bevel 58 or chamfer facing toward the driver disc 36, as a result whereof a pushing of the coin 52 underneath the conveying element is facilitated. After the coin 52 has been pushed underneath the conveying element 14, which rotates at a higher speed than the base disc 32, due to the clamping effect the coin 52 is quickly conveyed away from the base disc 32 and in the direction of the sorting track 12.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a side view of a portion of the conveying element 14. This conveying element 14 comprises an elastic clamping ring 60 and a holding ring 62 made of a rigid material, preferably plastic or metal, and connected to the clamping ring, e.g. by adhesive bonding. The clamping ring 60 is made of thermoplastic polyurethane or of a rubber material and has a plurality of lamellae 64 which can be bent in the longitudinal direction of the conveying element 14, as a result whereof, the clamping force acting on the coins is increased. The lamellae 64 can extend vertically to the longitudinal axis of the holding ring 62 or can be inclined thereto. Moreover, the lamellae 64 can have different angular positions with respect to the transport direction of the conveying element 14. By means of the lamellae 64, it is guaranteed that coins of different thicknesses are reliably conveyed, wherein by means of the elastic deformation of the lamellae 64 an efficient clamping effect is achieved.

(18) In a detail, FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment, similar to the one shown in FIG. 1, wherein a stationarily arranged coin separator 41 is provided which, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the driver disc 36, is preferably arranged at the end of the transfer region 38. This coin separator 41 can, for example, be designed as a separate deflecting element which directs coins fed by the lateral surface of the driver disc reliably to the conveying element 14 to be clamped thereat. This is particularly advantageous when the distance A between the lateral surface of the driver disc 36 and the conveying element 14 is greater than the diameter of the smallest coin to be separated by the device.

(19) The described device can be further developed in various ways. The driver disc 36 can be arranged such that it is rotatable independently of the base disc 32. The base disc and the driver disc can also be formed in one piece, the driver disc projecting above the level of the base disc by the described height.

(20) The eccentric arrangement of the base disc 32 and the driver disc 36 with respect to the circular arrangement of the conveying element 14 can be adjustable, as a result whereof the wedge geometry can be varied to be adapted to different sizes of the coins to be processed. By means of the shown device all international coins in the diameter range between 14.5 mm to 33 mm can be separated reliably. The speed of rotation for the base disc can be substantially lower than the one of conventional coin centrifuges which usually use rotation discs. The coins output by the sorting ejectors can directly be supplied to a cash register or a coin storage.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(21) 10 device for separating coins 12 sorting track 14 conveying element 16 outer sorting track boundary 18 to 30 sorting ejectors 32 base disc 34 delimiting element 36 driver disc 38 transfer region 40 orientation device 41 stationary coin separator 42 coin checking device 44 deflecting device A shortest distance between lateral surface of the driver disc and conveying element v1 speed of the coins due to the rotation of the base disc v2 speed of the coins of the lowest layer due to the rotation of the driver disc v3 transport speed of the conveying element 46 rejecting ejector 48 inner track boundary 50 axis 52, 54, 56 coins 58 bevel 60 clamping ring 62 holding ring 64 lamellae