Coin Sorter and Packager

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a device for sorting and packaging coins of different denominations and, more particularly, to such a device which can detect, redirect and/or hold excess coins that would otherwise overfill the coin packages.

2. Description of the Background

Coin sorting devices are useful for quickly and easily sorting and packaging coins of different denominations. Typically, conventional devices receive one or more coins of different denominations and direct coins of the same denomination into a respective coin package, usually a coin wrapper, which is made of plastic or paper.

Such conventional devices operate by causing coins to be moved along a predetermined path which has multiple sorting slots; one for each type of coin to be sorted. In operation, each coin drops through a respectively sized sorting slot into a coin wrapper which can be held in a receiving tube. One example of such a conventional device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,496, to Perkitny. In the bank discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,496, the coins roll along a predetermined path on their edges and the sorting slots are arranged such that the coins fall through the slots positioned primarily in the outer side wall of the path. U.S. Design Pat. No. 347,929 to Perkitny shows a similar design.

Another conventional device is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,250 to Mehelich. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,250, the coins slide along a predetermined path on their faces and fall through apertures primarily positioned along the bottom of the path.

One disadvantage of such conventional sorting banks is that, if more than a certain number of coins of a particular denomination are inserted into the device to be sorted, these extra coins extend the coin stack over the top of the coin wrapper. Such a coin stack is depicted in FIG. 1.

As seen in this FIG. 1, coins C are stacked horizontally in coin wrapper 1 placed within receiving tube 3. Receiving tube 3 has coin platform 3a, for raising the stack of coins above the bottom edge of the coin wrapper 1. Optimally, coins are stacked only as high as point "A" so that when the coin wrapper 1 containing the stacked coins is removed from receiving tube 3 the coins drop to a rolled-over-portion 4 at the bottom of coin wrapper 1 and leave a folding section empty at the top of coin wrapper 1 substantially equal to the height of the coin platform 3a. This empty folding section then may be folded down to enclose the coins within the coin wrapper 1.

However, when coins C stacked in a coin wrapper 1 extend above point "A" removal of the coin wrapper 1 from the receiving tube 3 causes the excess coins to fill the folding section of the coin wrapper preventing fold-over of the folding section. Further, since coin wrappers are expected to hold a specific number of coins, for example, 50 pennies, the excess coins cause a non-standard number of coins to be stacked in the coin wrapper.

Moreover, the excess coins also tend to drop off the horizontal coin stack in random directions, and scatter all about the device, requiring the user to pick up the scattered coins.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for accurately sorting and packaging coins of different denominations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sorting and packaging coins of different denominations having means for containing excess coins that overflow from the coin packages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sorting and packaging coins of different denominations having a wedge positioned at the bottom of each respective coin stack for causing excess coins to be accurately and reliably directed to a chosen location.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sorting and packaging coins into coin wrappers which does not require that one end of each coin wrapper be folded or formed with a lip before the coins are inserted.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention a device for stacking coins is provided, having at least one coin stacking well and a wedge positioned at the bottom of the coin stacking well.

The device may further have a coin wrapper, the coin wrapper being inserted into a coin stacking well with one end of the coin wrapper surrounding the wedge. In addition, the wedge may have a platform section and an angle section. The angle section may be at an angle of about 35 degrees with respect to the platform section.

The device may further comprise a coin wrapper holder, one end of the coin wrapper holder being placed around the wedge. The coin wrapper holder may also have a ledge at one end. Further, the coin wrapper holder can have at least one slot extending through the ledge along a portion of the coin wrapper holder. Each coin wrapper holder can hold a coin wrapper.

According to another aspect of the present invention a device for sorting coins and packaging the sorted coins in coin wrappers is provided, which has means for receiving the coins; guide means for guiding the coins from the means for receiving along a predetermined path; the guide means having a bottom surface and an outer guide wall; a plurality of apertures in the bottom surface substantially coinciding with the predetermined path, each of the apertures becoming progressively larger in one direction; a plurality of coin stacking wells for receiving the coin wrappers and the coins; a plurality of coin chutes for directing coins from a respective aperture to a respective coin stacking well; and a plurality of wedges, a respective wedge positioned at the bottom of each coin stacking well. Also, the means for receiving can be a funnel-shaped input chute.

The device may also have a coin movement means, which can be a rotating disk, for moving the coins from the means for receiving to the guide means. The rotating disk may be rotated by an electric motor. In addition, the device may have an overflow chamber for receiving coins falling away from the coin wrappers when the coin wrappers become filled with coins. The angled section of the wedge, which may be at an angle of about 35 degrees with respect to the platform section, may be oriented to direct the excess coins into the overflow chamber.

Also, in some embodiments, the wedge can have an angle of about 35 degrees relative to the coin well bottom. Further, four of the apertures may be slightly larger than a penny, a dime, a nickel, and a quarter, respectively.

In addition, the bottom surface of the guide path may be inclined upward from the outer guide wall to the opposite edge of the guide means. Also, the guide means can have a spiral shape between the receiving means and the apertures.

Furthermore, this device may have a plurality of coin wrapper holders for holding the coin wrappers; each of the plurality of coin wrapper holders being adapted to be placed within a respective one of the coin stacking wells. In addition, a coin wrapper holder may have finger grooves formed on opposite sides of a bottom area to permit the folding over of a bottom end of a coin wrapper placed within the coin wrapper holder.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a horizontal coin stack created by a conventional coin sorter;

FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view of an embodiment of the coin sorter and packager device according to the instant invention and FIG. 2(b) is a top view of the device of FIG. 2(a);

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are cross-sectional views of the coin guide path of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b);

FIG. 4(a) is a cross-sectional view of the coin stack produced by the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) and FIG. 4(b) is a top view of the coin stack of FIG. 4(a);

FIG. 5(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the controlled coin runoff of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), FIG. 5(b) shows a detailed cross section of a coin, and FIG. 5(c) shows a detailed cross section of a conventional horizontal coin stack;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the coin stacks and coin storage compartment of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b); and

FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view of a coin wrapper holder according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG. 7(b) is a cross-sectional view of the coin wrapper holder of FIG. 7(a).

FIG. 2(a) shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the instant invention with top 202 and FIG. 2(b) shows the same embodiment with top 202 removed. In FIG. 2(a) the coin sorter and packager 201 includes an input port 203 disposed within a top 202 for receiving coins and a hopper 208 for holding received coins. The hopper 208 includes a disk 205 which is rotated by a motor (not shown) to move the received coins onto guide path 207. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 2(b), 3(a), and 3(b) guide path 207 is bounded on the outside circumference by outer guide wall 207a and includes bottom surface 207b, upon which coins slide on their faces. Aperture 209a in bottom surface 207b is sized to be larger than a dime but smaller than a penny, aperture 209b is sized to be larger than a penny but smaller than a nickel, aperture 209c is sized to be larger than a nickel but smaller than a quarter, and aperture 209d is sized to be larger than a quarter. Additional apertures (not shown) may be included. For example, one of the apertures can be sized to be larger than a half dollar coin and the other can be sized to be larger than a dollar coin. Alternatively, the apertures can be sized appropriately to sort coins of different countries or tokens. Preferably, while the minimum sizes of the apertures are as described above, apertures which are longer in length, that is, the direction along the guide path 207 in which coins slide, allow the coins to fall through more easily so long as the aperture height is kept slightly smaller than the next coin size.

Coin stacking wells 211a-211d are disposed beneath respective apertures 209a-209d. The coin stacking wells 211a-211d are adapted to receive coin wrapper holders 213a-213d which, in turn receive coin wrappers 215a-215d. Coin chutes 217a-217d, which correspond respectively with coin stacking wells 211a-211d and apertures 209a-209d are used to guide coins from the apertures into the wells; each well containing a coin wrapper holder and a coin wrapper, as discussed in more detail below. Also, as seen in FIG. 5(a), coin storage chamber 219 is disposed adjacent to coin stacking wells 211a-211d and is used to capture excess coins as described below.

The coin sorter and packager 201 includes switch actuator 221 for turning a motor on and off to rotate disk 205. This motor may be powered by one or more batteries (not shown) or by a power supply (not shown) connected to terminal 223. The power supply is preferably powered by standard household current when plugged into a regular electrical outlet. Alternatively, other power sources can be used which are powered by other means, for example, direct current.

In operation, the user turns on a switch by manipulating switch actuator 221 connected thereto, thus causing the motor to rotate the disk 205. As the disk 205 rotates, coins fed into input port 203 are lifted by disk sockets 204 from hopper 208 to an opening 206 where the coins are individually dropped onto guide path 207. Guide path 207 inclines from the outer wall 207a toward the opposite edge as shown in FIG. 3(a). In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), this incline is directed radially inward along the length of the spiral guide path 207. As seen in FIG. 3(b), when a dime reaches aperture 209a, which is the smallest aperture, that is, the aperture which is larger than a dime but smaller than a penny, the dime will slide into this aperture and fall through into coin chute 217a. Coin chute 217a will direct the dime into coin wrapper 215a which is held within coin wrapper holder 213a. The other coins being larger than a dime, will slide over aperture 209 and farther down the guide path 207 until they reach aperture 209b, which is larger than a penny but smaller than a nickel. Pennies reaching this aperture will fall through and into coin chute 217b. Coin chute 217b will direct the pennies into coin wrapper 215b within coin wrapper holder 213b. The remaining coins, that is, all coins other than dimes and pennies, will continue to slide along guide path 207 until they reach aperture 209c, which is larger than a nickel but smaller than a quarter. Any nickels crossing by this aperture will fall through the aperture and into coin chute 217c. Coin chute 217c will direct the nickels into coin wrapper 215c within coin wrapper holder 213c. Thereafter, all remaining coins, that is, all coins other than dimes, pennies, and nickels, will continue to slide along guide path 207 until they reach aperture 209d, which is larger than a quarter. Any quarters crossing over this aperture will fall through the aperture and into coin chute 217d. Coin chute 217d will direct the quarters into coin wrapper 215d within coin wrapper holder 213d.

Any remaining coins, that is, all coins or tokens other than dimes, pennies, nickels, and quarters will continue to slide along guide path 207 until they reach the end of the guide path and fall into the coin storage chamber 219. As noted above, although not shown, apertures, chutes, coin stacking wells, coin wrapper holders, and coin wrappers designed to accept half dollar coins and dollar coins or any other size coin may be utilized to sort and package theses coins as well.

Turning now to FIG. 4(a), a more detailed drawing of a coin stack produced by the instant invention is shown. Throughout the remainder of this application a description is given of a single coin stacking well 211a, coin wrapper holder 213a, and coin wrapper 215a combination. Although only one such set of elements is described in detail, corresponding similar elements such as coin stacking well 211b, coin wrapper holder 213b, and coin wrapper 215b serve similar functions, are constructed in a similar manner, and operate in a similar fashion.

In any case, coin wrapper holder 213a is shown placed in coin stacking well 211a with coin wrapper 215a in place within the coin wrapper holder 213a. Coin wrapper support ledge 214a supports the bottom of coin wrapper 215a. Wedge 216a holds the received coins C at an angle .theta., whereby excess coins C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 dropped on the stack of coins C above point A will be consistently directed in one direction, as seen in FIG. 5(a). Angle .theta. may preferably be about 35 degrees. Further, as seen in FIG. 6, the excess coins preferably are directed by the orientation of the wedge 216a into the coin storage chamber 219.

Moreover, it is noted that the angled nature of the coin stack produced by the instant invention itself automatically provides a more accurate count of the coins within the coin wrapper than the count provided by a conventional horizontal coin stack. FIGS. 5(b) and 5(c) show, respectively, a detailed cross section of a coin C and a detailed cross section of a conventional horizontal coin stack. As seen in FIG. 5(b), a coin has a rim R, depression D adjacent the rim, and a thick center section T. Because of the shape, conventionally stacked coins rock or pivot relative to each other. By stacking the coins at an angle .theta., the instant invention provides that the coins will consistently and predictably be stacked such that the rim R of each coin will settle to the same side of the coin wrapper 215a-215d or coin wrapper holder 213a-213d within a corresponding depression D in the coin directly underneath. Such stacking consistency provides a highly accurate and repeatable coin count for a particular coin stack height.

In contrast, as seen in FIG. 5(c), as the coins are dropped on the conventional horizontal stack, the rim from each coin may settle into the depression of the coin directly underneath to a different side of the coin wrapper or coin wrapper holder. Thus, the height of a stack of a given number of such haphazardly arranged coins will not be consistent and predictable.

Referring now to FIG. 4(b), a top view of the coin stack of FIG. 4(b) is shown, without coins. Here it is seen that the wedge 216a as viewed from above may have a circular cross-section.

Referring to FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), which show, respectively, a perspective view of coin wrapper holder 213a and a cross-sectional view of coin wrapper holder 213a, it is seen that slots 218a.sub.1 and 218a.sub.2 (not shown) may be formed in opposite sides of the coin wrapper holder 213a to permit the user to crimp down the sides of the bottom edge of a coin wrapper placed within the holder or to remove the filled coin wrapper from the coin holder. Such crimping of the sides of the bottom edge of the coin wrapper placed within the holder is possible because the wedge 216a is disposed within the coin stacking well 211a, rather than in the coin wrapper holder 213a. Accordingly, when the coin holder 213a is lifted out of coin stacking well 211a the coin stack will be held in place by the support ledge 214a. The user can then fold over the top of the coin wrapper 215a, turn the coin wrapper holder 213a upside down so that the coins move to the folded end, crimp the coin wrapper 215a through slots 218a.sub.1 and 2l8a.sub.2 and push the coin wrapper 215a out of the coin wrapper holder 213a using the slots 218a.sub.1 and 218a.sub.2.

It must be noted that although the present invention is described by reference to particular embodiments, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is only limited by the appended claims. For example, the apertures of the instant invention may of course be sized to sort coins of denominations different from those discussed above.