Device for sorting coins

Abstract

A device (10) for sorting coins (31) has at least first and second receiving containers (20) for receiving coins (31) and a separating unit (14). Further, a transport unit (18) for transporting coins (31) to the receiving containers (20) is provided and has a first transport section (52) arranged between the separating unit (16) and the first transport container (20). The transport unit (18) also has a second transport section (54) between the first receiving container (20) and the second receiving container (20). A first sensor (62) for detecting coins (31) is arranged in the first transport section (52) and a second sensor (64) for detecting coins (31) is arranged in the second transport section (54). A control unit (24) determines the number of coins (31) fed to the first receiving container (20) dependent on the information obtained from the first sensor (62) and from the second sensor (64).

Claims

1. A device for sorting coins, comprising: a separating unit (14) for separating the coins (31), a checking unit (16) for determining denominations of the separated coins (31), a first and at least a second receiving container (20) for receiving the coins (31) that have passed the checking unit, a transport unit (18) for transporting the coins (31) from the separating unit (14) to the first receiving container (20) arranged downstream of the separating unit (14) and the second receiving container (20) arranged downstream of the first receiving container (20), wherein the transport unit (18) has a first transport section (52) between the separating unit (14) and the first transport container (20) and along which both the coins to be fed to the first receiving container (20) and to the second receiving container (20) are transported, and a second transport section (54) between the first transport container (20) and the second transport container (20) and along which only the coins not fed to the first transport container (20) are transported, a first sensor (62) in the first transport section (52) for detecting coins (31) transported along the first transport section (52), a second sensor (64) in the second transport section (54) for detecting coins (31) transported along the second transport section (54), and a control unit (24) that determines on the basis of the denominations determined by the checking unit (16) for each receiving container (20) a target value of the coins (31) to be fed thereto, and that, dependent on the information obtained from the first sensor (62) and from the second sensor (64), determines the number of coins (31) fed to the first receiving container (20) and that then compares for each of the receiving containers (20), the number of fed coins (31) determined by the sensors (62 to 70) to the corresponding target value.

2. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the control unit (24) determines the number of coins (31) transported along the first transport section (52) as detected by the first sensor (62), the control unit (24) determines the number of coins transported along the second transport section (54) as detected by the second sensor (64), and the control unit (24) determines the number the coins fed to the first receiving container (20) by subtracting the number of coins transported along the second transport section (54) from the number of coins (31) transported along the first transport section (52).

3. The device (10) of claim 1, further comprising at least a third receiving container (20) for receiving coins (31), the transport section (52 to 60) of the transport unit (18) has one of the sensors (62 to 70) between all of the successively arranged receiving containers for detecting coins (31).

4. The device (10) of claim 3, wherein the control unit (24) determines the number of coins (31) fed to one of the receiving containers (20) by subtracting the number of coins (31) determined by the sensor (62 to 70) arranged immediately after the respective receiving container (20) from the number of coins (31) determined by the sensor (62 to 70) arranged immediately before the respective receiving container (20).

5. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the control unit (24) defines as the number of coins (31) fed to the last receiving container (20), as viewed in transport direction (P1) of the coins (31), the number of coins (31) being determined by the sensor (70) arranged immediately before the last receiving container (20).

6. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors (62 to 70) for detecting coins (31) comprises at least one of a light barrier, an ultrasound sensor, a capacitive sensor and an inductive sensor.

7. A device (10) for sorting coins, comprising: a first and at least a second receiving container (20) for receiving the coins (31), a separating unit (14) for separating the coins (31), and a transport unit (18) for transporting the coins (31) from the separating unit (14) to the first receiving container (20) arranged downstream of the separating unit (14) and the second receiving container (20) arranged downstream of the first receiving container (20), wherein the transport unit (18) has a first transport section (52) between the separating unit (14) and the first transport container (20) and along which both the coins to be fed to the first receiving container (20) and to the second receiving container (20) are transported, and a second transport section (54) between the first transport container (20) and the second transport container (20) and along which only the coins not fed to the first transport container (20) are transported, a first sensor (62) in the first transport section (52) for detecting coins (31) transported along the first transport section (52), a second sensor (64) in the second transport section (54) for detecting coins (31) transported along the second transport section (54), a control unit (24) that, dependent on the information obtained from the first sensor (62) and from the second sensor (64), determines the number of coins (31) fed to the first receiving container (20), and an output unit for outputting information, and that the control unit (24), when it has determined an incorrect feeding of at least one coin (31) to a receiving container (20), controls the output unit to output an information thereon to an operator.

8. The device (10) of claim 7, further comprising at least a third receiving container (20) for receiving coins (31), the transport section (52 to 60) of the transport unit (18) has one of the sensors (62 to 70) between all of the successively arranged receiving containers for detecting coins (31).

9. The device (10) of claim 7, further comprising a checking unit (16) for determining denominations of fed coins (31), and the control unit (24) determines on the basis of the determined denominations for each receiving container (20) a target value of the coins (31) to be fed thereto as planned.

10. The device (10) of claim 9, wherein the control unit (24) compares for at least one receiving container (20), the number of fed coins (31) determined by means of the sensors (62 to 70) to the corresponding target value.

11. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the control unit (24) compares the number of fed coins (31) determined by the sensors (62 to 70) to the corresponding target value each time after the feeding of each coin (31), after the feeding of a predetermined number of coins (31) and/or after the feeding of all coins (31) fed to the device (10) as a quantity of coins.

12. The device (10) of claim 10, wherein the control unit (24) determines, dependent on the result of the comparison or the results of the comparisons, in which receiving container (20) at least one non-assigned coin (31) has been received.

13. The device (10) of claim 12, wherein the control unit (24) does not use receiving containers (20) in which at least one non-assigned coin (31) has been received for the output of coins (31) via an output unit (22).

14. The device (10) of claim 11, characterized in that the control unit (24) does not use receiving containers (20) in which the number of fed coins (31) determined by means of the sensors (62 to 70) deviates from the corresponding target value for the output of coins (31) via an output unit (22).

15. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the transport unit (18) has a support surface (30) on which the coins (31) rest during transport, holes (32 to 40) being provided in the support surface (30) one of the receiving containers (20) being arranged under each of the holes (32 to 40).

16. The device (10) of claim 1, further comprising an output unit for outputting information, and that the control unit (24), when it has determined an incorrect feeding of at least one coin (31) to a receiving container (20), controls the output unit to outputs an information thereon to an operator.

17. The device (10) of claim 8, wherein the control unit (24) determines the number of coins (31) fed to one of the receiving containers (20) by subtracting the number of coins (31) determined by the sensor (62 to 70) arranged immediately after the respective receiving container (20) from the number of coins (31) determined by the sensor (62 to 70) arranged immediately before the respective receiving container (20).

18. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the control unit (24) defines as the number of coins (31) fed to the last receiving container (20), as viewed in transport direction (P1) of the coins (31), the number of coins (31) being determined by the sensor (70) arranged immediately before the last receiving container (20).

19. The device (10) of claim 15, wherein the holes (32 to 40) increase in size from hole to hole as viewed in transport direction (P1).

Description

BRIEF OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a device for sorting coins.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a highly simplified side view of a detail of the device for handling coins.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a highly simplified illustration of a top view of the detail from FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a table of a sequence of fed coins and possible distributions to the individual receiving containers.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a table of the sensor values resulting in the individual cases according to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) In FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of a device 10 for sorting coins is illustrated. The device 10 is in particular a device for the input and/or the output of coins. The coins to be input are input via an input compartment 12 and are fed to a separating unit 14 for separating the input coins. The separating unit 14 is in particular designed in the form of a coin centrifuge in which the coins are transported individually through a hole in the wall of the coin centrifuge by centrifugal forces acting on them. The separated coins are checked for their authenticity by means of a checking unit 16. Coins classified as being fake and/or foreign objects are sorted out. For coins classified as authentic the denomination is determined. Subsequently, the coins are distributed to coin receiving containers by means of a transport unit 18, one of which is exemplarily identified with the reference sign 20. In the illustrated example, five receiving containers 20 are provided. To simplify matters, in FIG. 1, as in the following FIGS. 2 and 3, the transport unit 18 is linearly shown. However, the transport unit 18 can also have any other form. In particular, the transport unit 18 and thus also the receiving containers 20 can be arranged circularly around the coin centrifuge 14 so that a particularly compact design is achieved. The coins received in the receiving containers 20 can again be removed from these and output via an output unit 22.

(7) In FIG. 2, a highly simplified illustration of a detail of the device 10 according to FIG. 1 is illustrated, wherein only the checking unit 16 and the transport unit 18 are illustrated. In FIG. 3, a top view of this detail is shown.

(8) The transport unit 18 comprises a support surface 30 on which the coins 31 are transported in a transport direction P1 resting on their face or reverse. In doing so, the coins 31 bear with their edges against a guiding element 42 so that they have a predetermined orientation on the support surface 30.

(9) In the support surface 30, five holes 32 to 40 are provided, and exactly one receiving container 20 is arranged under each hole. Thus, under the first hole 32 a first receiving container 20 is arranged, under the second hole 34 a second receiving container 20 is arranged, under the third hole 36 a third receiving container 20 is arranged, under the fourth hole 38 a fourth receiving container 20 is arranged and under the fifth hole 40 a fifth receiving container 20 is arranged. Here, the receiving containers 20 can be arranged such that coins which fall through the corresponding hole 32 to 40 directly fall into this receiving container 20. Alternatively, also further transport and/or deflecting elements can be provided via which the coins 31 are transported or deflected before they are fed to the actual receiving container 20.

(10) The dimensions of the holes 32 to 40 increase in size, as viewed in transport direction P1, so that, as can be well seen in FIG. 3 on the basis of the two coins 31 illustrated exemplarily, at first the smallest coins 31 are sorted out through the first hole 32, then the coins 13 next in size through the second hole 34 and so on. Thus, the coins 31 can be distributed to the individual receiving containers 20 based on their size and thus based on their denomination.

(11) The transport path along which the coins are transported with the aid of the transport unit 18 is divided into a first transport section 52, a second transport section 54, a third transport section 56, a fourth transport section 58 and a fifth transport section 60 by means of the holes 32 to 40, wherein the first transport section 52 is arranged between the checking unit 16 and the first hole 32, the second transport section 54 is arranged between the first hole 32 and the second hole 34, the third transport section 56 is arranged between the second hole 34 and the third hole 36, the fourth transport section 58 is arranged between the third hole 36 and the fourth hole 38, and the fifth transport section 60 is arranged between the fourth hole 38 and the fifth hole 40. Within each of these transport sections 52 to 60, one sensor each designed as a light barrier 62 to 70 is arranged, by means of which the coins 31 transported along the respective transport section 52 to 60 can be detected.

(12) On the basis of the information obtained via the light barriers 62 to 70, i.e. the number of coins 31 transported along the respective transport sections 52 to 60, a control unit 24 of the device 10 can easily determine the coins 31 fallen into the respective hole 32 to 40 and thus the coins 31 fed to the respective receiving container 20.

(13) For determining the coins 31 fed to the first receiving container 20, i.e. those coins 31 which have fallen from the transport path through the first hole 32, the control unit 21 subtracts from the number of coins 31 determined by means of the second light barrier 64 the number of coins 31 determined by means of the first light barrier 62 in the first transport section 52.

(14) The determination of the coins 31 fed to the individual holes 32 to 40 and thus to the receiving containers 20 by means of light barriers 62 to 70 arranged before the holes 32 to 40 along the transport path of the transport unit 18 has, as compared to light barriers arranged under the holes 32 to 40, the advantage that the coins 31 rest on the support surface 30 in a predetermined orientation and bear against the guiding element 32 during their detection via the light barrier 62 to 70.

(15) This has the advantage that each coin can be detected individually reliably. Since all coins 31 bear against the guiding element 32 with their edges, between two successively transported coins 31 a free gap is always present at least in the area directly adjacent to the guiding element 32 as all coins 31 have a circular shape. Since the light barriers 62 to 70 are orientated such that their light beam is arranged in this area, it is guaranteed that it will not happen that the light beam is continuously interrupted by two successively transported coins 31 and thus two coins 31 would be interpreted as only one coin 31.

(16) Thus, the coins 31 fed to the individual holes 32 to 40 and thus to the individual receiving containers 20 can be determined reliably and safely in an easy manner.

(17) In FIG. 4, a table of a sequence of fed coins is illustrated, wherein in the first line 71 the coins 31 successively fed to the transport unit 18 are listed with their respective denomination. In the assumed example, coins of five different denominations, namely the denominations A, B, C, D and E are fed, wherein, as planned, the coins of the denomination A are to be fed to the first receiving container 20 via the first hole 32, the coins of the denomination B are to be fed to the second receiving container 20 via the second hole 34, the coins of the denomination C are to be fed to the third receiving container 20 via the third hole 36, the coins of the denomination D are to be fed to the fourth receiving container 20 via the fourth hole 38 and the coins of the denomination E are to be fed to the fifth receiving container 20 via the fifth hole 40.

(18) In the second line 72, the target distribution of the coins to the individual holes 32 to 40 and thus to the corresponding receiving containers 20 is illustrated, the numbers indicated in line 72 corresponding to the reference signs of the corresponding holes 31 to 40. In the target distribution, thus all coins of the denomination A are transported through the first hole 32, all coins of the denomination B are transported through the second hole 34, all coins of the denomination C are transported through the third hole 36, all coins of the denomination D are transported through the fourth hole 38, and all coins of the denomination E are transported through the fifth hole 40. Thus, in the target distribution in accordance with line 72, fifteen coins are transported along the first transport section 52 so that fifteen coins are detected by the first sensor 62. Out of these fifteen coins, all coins of the denomination A, i.e. four coins, are transported through the first hole 32 so that along the second transport section 54 only eleven coins are still transported and detected by the second sensor 64 accordingly. Through the second hole 34 all coins of the denomination B fall, i.e. three coins, so that along the third transport section 56 only eight coins are still transported. Accordingly, the third sensor 66 detects only eight coins.

(19) Since afterwards all coins of the denomination C, i.e. four coins, fall through the third hole 36, only four coins are still transported along the fourth transport section 58 and are detected by the fourth sensor 68, accordingly.

(20) The two coins of the denomination D fall into the fourth hole 38 so that only the two remaining coins of the denomination E are transported along the fifth transport section 60 and are detected by the fifth sensor 70, i.e. by the light barrier 70.

(21) In FIG. 5, these corresponding values of the individual sensors 62 to 70 are entered into the column 82. In column 84, each time the difference between the respective values of the corresponding sensors 62 to 70 are indicated, i.e. those values which are also determined by the control unit 24 by means of the corresponding subtraction of the values of two adjacent sensors 62 to 70, and which corresponds to the number of coins fed to the hole 32 to 40 which is arranged between the two sensors 62 to 70.

(22) In the third line 74 of the table according to FIG. 4, a first error scenario is illustrated, in which the fifth coin is now only fed to the third hole 36 instead of the second hole 34. In column 86 in the table of FIG. 5, the sensor values are illustrated which result in the case of this corresponding first error scenario. The column 88 indicates the difference values between the values respectively determined by the sensors 62 to 70. In this first error scenario, the control unit 24 can easily determine by means of comparison between the now obtained actual values and the actual target values, as these are indicated in column 84, that a coin which actually should have been fed to the second receiving container 20 through the second hole 34 was incorrectly fed to the third receiving container 20 through the third hole 36.

(23) In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 24 blocks in such a case the third receiving container 20 with respect to a disbursement of coins 31 so that an incorrect denomination will not be paid out inadvertently. In addition, in particular also an error message can be output so that an operator knows in which receiving container 20 an error occurred, and the operator can correct this error accordingly.

(24) In the fourth line of the table of FIG. 4, a second error scenario is illustrated in which the fifth coin only falls into the fourth hole 38 instead of the second hole 34. As shown by the resulting actual values of the sensors 62 to 70 in column 90 of the table of FIG. 5 and the differences in column 92 calculated therefrom, the control unit 24 determines in this case that only two instead of three coins were fed to the second receiving container 20 and, in return, three instead of only two coins were fed to the fourth receiving container 20.

(25) In line 78 of FIG. 4, a further error scenario is illustrated, in which the sixth coin 31 falls through the second hole 34 instead of the first hole 32 and the eleventh coin falls through the third hole 36 instead of the second hole 34. In columns 94 and 96, the sensor readings resulting therefrom and the difference values derived therefrom are indicated.

(26) In line 80 in FIG. 4, a further error scenario is illustrated, in which the tenth coin falls through the second hole 34 instead of the first hole 32, and the twelfth coin falls through the fourth hole 38 instead of the third hole 36. As shown by the resulting actual values in columns 98 and 100 of the table according to FIG. 5, given this constellation there results a deviation of the actual stock from the target stock for each of the first, the second, the third and the fourth receiving container 20, wherein in particular the receipt of too many coins in the second receiving container and in the fourth receiving container is critical.

(27) In an alternative embodiment of the invention, instead of light barriers 62 to 70 also other sensors, in particular other optical sensors, ultrasound sensors, capacitive sensors and/or inductive sensors can be used. Further, it is alternatively possible that less than five receiving containers 20 and correspondingly less than five holes 32 to 40 or more than five receiving containers 20 and correspondingly more than five holes 32 to 40, in particular eight receiving containers 20 are used.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(28) 10 device 12 input compartment 14 separating unit 16 checking unit 18 transport unit 20 receiving container 22 output unit 24 control unit 30 support surface 32 to 40 hole 31 coin 42 guiding element 52 to 60 transport section 62 to 70 sensor 71 to 80 line 82 to 100 column P1 transport direction