Coin Sorting Machine

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to coin sorting machines.

2. General Description of the Prior Art

The denominational sorting of coins is a substantial chore for handlers of coins, particularly banks and vending machine companies. In view of the tremendous volume of coins which are sorted, it is quite obvious that for a machine to adequately meet their needs, the machine must be capable of high-speed operation. Further, it must be tolerant to a variation of coin thicknesses and be relatively jam-proof. With respect to speed, sorting speeds of known devices are in the range of 1,500 to 2,500, and at this time the applicants have been advised that much higher speeds, ideally in the range of 6,000 to 8,000, are much needed.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and improved coin sorting machine which does provide substantially higher speeds of sorting, and yet is relatively jam-free and reliable.

In accordance with the invention, and with reference to a sorter of the general configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,906,276 wherein one of the present applicants is a co-inventor, it is to be noted that a coin is sorted by lifting the inner edge, enabling it to be hurled centrifugally over a peripheral limit at a discrete peripheral location and thus be sorted. With this sorter, sorting speeds in the range of 1,500 to 2,500 have been achieved. In accordance with the present invention, instead of raising the inner edge of a coin to enable it to be "sorted out", means are provided to do the opposite--depressing the inner edge into a flexible mat and thereby causing the outer edge to raise, allowing the coin to be hurled outward over the edge of the machine without having to tumble, as is the case where the inner edge is raised. As a result, with the applicants' device, successful sorting speeds in the range of 7,500 to 8,000 have been achieved.

FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the basic portion of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of FIG. 2 taken along 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view generally illustrating the bottom portion of a coin guide plate.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the rotating disc employed by the invention and the relationship to it of guides held by the guide plate shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the structure shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the rotating disc and the relationship of it to a modification of the guide system shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the coin sorter shown therein includes mounting base 10, upon which upright supports 12, 14, and 16 are attached. An arcuate plate or flange 18, which supports hopper 20 and effects guidance on coins to be sorted, is supported by these supports through arm 23 in the case of supports 12 and 14. Flange 18 includes a round tapered opening 22, to which is secured vertically positioned hopper 20 (FIG. 1). The lower or bottom surface 24 of flange 18 is tapered downward (from outside to inside) at an angle of approximately 4.degree. to conform with the like taper on circular disc 26. This taper is provided to more perfectly hold coins down on the surface of the disc when they reach the edge. The upper surface 27 of disc 26 is formed of a resilient rubber pad 30 of 0.2 to 0.6 inch in thickness and a resilience of 6 to 10 durometers. A round or tapered knob 29 is positioned in the center of disc 26 concentric with hopper 20 in order to prevent a coin from remaining in the center of the disc. Disc 26 is rotably supported, by means not shown, in hub 31, in turn supported by base 10, and disc 26 is driven by motor 33 through pulley 35 and belt 37. Disc 26 rotates clockwisde as shown by the arrow with a general spacing of approximately 0.80 to 1.25 inches from the relatively flat surface portion 24 of the lower surface of flange 18. As a particular feature of this invention, lower surface 24 of flange 18 includes coin guides or routers which are configured to facilitate a non-doubled, single file flow of coins from the central region 40 (just under hopper 20) of disc 26 outward to the outer peripheral region against rim 41 of disc 26. Actually, they are thus guided or routed to a sorting station or region 42 where the coins are engaged, one at a time, by coin depressing cams A-D (FIG. 2) and sorted in a manner to be described.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 4 and 5, FIG. 4 illustrates the bottom side of flange 18, showing essentially four guides, 43, 44, 45, and 46, attached to the underside. FIG. 5 illustrates positioning of the guides alone positioned just above disc 26 and the movement of coins with respect to them. The leading edge region 48 of entrance guide 44, extending from point 52 to a line 54, is tapered on the underside to enable a coin, such as coin 56, which is initially against circular guide 43, to be captured under this guide and pass through to a coin alignment region 60 where most of the coins form a single file against rim 41. Coins which strike guide 44 at a point further around (clockwise) than a point 61 opposite line 54 see the full depth of guide 44 which extends down to within approximately 0.005 to 0.01 inch of the surface of pad 30 of disc 26, and they are directed back into the center region of disc 26 as illustrated in the case of coin 62.

Guide 45, which is wedge-shaped, captures coins, such as coins 68 and 70, which are against rim 41 of disc 26 and holds them in this radial position until they are engaged by guide 46 where they are captured by leading edge 72 of ramp 74 of guide 45. Ramp 74 tapers downward to depress the coins into pad 30, and thus enables them to continue in a stable position as they pass under guide 45 under the influence of an ascending ramp 73 to the trailing edge 86 of guide 45. The stabilizing effect is enhanced by the gradually tapered rise of ramp 73, causing the coins to remain in stationary engagement with the flexible surface or pad 30 of disc 26 as they emerge at sorting station 42. In the event that a coin is not positioned against rim 41 in alignment region 60, and thus inboard of the leading edge 78 of guide 45, a coin, such as coin 75, is directed back into the center region of disc 26 by virtue of the full height edge of guide 45 (beyond ramp 74) and the gap between guides 44 and 45. From point 80 guide 43 extends to point 52 to thus prevent any outward radial movement of coins in the center of disc 26 between these points. Thus, there is only a narrow passageway between point 52 and point 61 where a coin can actually exit, this thus substantially assuring that the coins are aligned in a single file once they reach rim 41, and, of course, as stated above, in the event that there is a doubling of coins beyond this exit, edge 78 will pick off the inside coin and return it to the center region of disc 26.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate form for the coin depressors. As shown in this figure, they would be rollers, one being illustrated by roller 80 supported by shaft 82 upon flange 18. They may either be free to rotate when engaged by a coin or driven by an enlarged inner diameter 84 of a roller from pad 30.

Operation of the device is simple, with motor 33 running and disc 26 turning, clockwise as shown, coins are simply poured into the top of hopper 20. By the rotation of disc 26, a bottom layer of coins is effected which rests on rubber or otherwise flexible pad 30. These coins forming the bottom layer are forced outward from the center of the disc by centrifugal force. In the region from approximately points 80a to 52 (FIG. 4) they are restrained from radial outward movement, and thus are moved, by disc 26 until they either pass under the leading edge region of guide 44 and pass to alignment region 60; or if they are inboard of the position shown for coin 56, they are directed by the inner edge of guide 44 back into the center region of disc 26 as shown in the case of coin 62. Coins which do pass into region 60, such as illustrated by coins 68 and 70, and being against rim 41, are successively engaged by the leading edge, downwardly extending ramp regions of guide 45 which presses the coin into pad 30, stabilizing them, and holding them against rim 41 until they emerge at end 86 of guide 45 which is essentially the entrance of sorting station 42. It will be noted from FIGS. 4 and 5 that guide 45 has a gradually rising reverse ramp at its trailing edge which allows the coins to gradually rise to a level on top of pad 30, and thus the tendency toward vertical vibration is prevented, enabling the coins to be in a flat resting state when they are contacted by one of the coin depressors. As stated above, in the event that there does occur a coin which rests on the inner side of one of the coins against rim 41, and thus it is not engaged by the tapered leading edge 72 of guide 45, that coin will be engaged by the full height edge 74 of guide 45, and would be redirected back into the center of disc 26 as may be deemed the case for coin 75.

The largest of the coins for which the sorter is adapted to sort, such as for example a quarter 90, would be engaged, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by coin depressor A and by virtue of the depression of inner edge 92, the outer edge 94 will be raised and quarters 90 and 95 would be hurled over the edge of rim 41 into tube 96, as illustrted in FIG. 3. Similarly, coin depressors B, C, and D would be positioned radially to engage the inner edge of nickels, pennies, and dimes, respectively, or any other circular members of decreasing diameter. Once the coins are sorted, they are routed via tube 96 to counting devices and after that would be bagged.

FIG. 7 illustrates a slightly different guide structure from that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown, coins are free to exit from the center of disc 26 through a gate region 100 between guides 102 and 104 to an alignment region 105 where they are stabilized by guide 46 and then pass on to sorting station 42. Coins which are inboard of this gate region strike the inner surface 106 of guide 104 and returned to the center region of disc 26. To further this process, guide 108 is employed, and it has an inner spiral surface 110. This guide may be made adjustable to move end 112 radially to vary the inward spiral of coins to achieve a desired flow rate from the center of disc 26 to alignment region 105.