Coin recycling device

[0001] The present invention relates to the recycling of coins, and more particularly to a device for sorting mixed denomination coins and for dispensing sorted denomination coins in denomination order.

[0002] Recycling of coins is typically done in retail operations where a batch of mixed denomination coins is sorted for subsequent use. A cashier at the beginning of a shift, requires a cash till drawer to be filled with coins. The cash till drawer is typically arranged in coin denomination order. During the cashier's shifts, the cashier may require additional change to add to the till drawer. Coin change cups are utilized for receiving coins to be added to a cash till drawer.

[0003] In a coin sorter, coins are typically sorted from a mixed denomination batch of coins based upon the size of the coin in the following order: dime, cent, nickel, quarter dollar, dollar and half dollar. Since cash till drawers are typically organized in coin denomination order, the need has arisen for a coin recycling device for reorganizing sorted denomination coins by coin value rather than size, and for dispensing ordered denomination coins directly into the compartments of a cash till drawer or present them in an order that can easily be moved from the coin recycling device to a cash till drawer.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, a coin recycling device for receiving a batch of mixed denomination coins, for sorting the mixed denomination coins into a plurality of sorted denomination coins and for dispensing the sorted denomination coins in coin denomination order is provided. The device includes a housing having a coin input area for receiving the batch of mixed denomination coins. A coin sorter is disposed in the housing for receiving and sorting the batch of mixed denomination coins. A first manifold includes a plurality of coin paths for receiving the sorted denomination coins from the coin sorter. A plurality of coin hoppers store the sorted denomination coins which are received from the first manifold. Each of the coin hoppers store one sorted denomination coin and is operable to dispense coins stored therein. A second manifold receives coins from the coin hoppers and directs the coins in coin denomination order for subsequent dispensing from the housing into a coin receiver having a plurality of coin storage locations. The coin storage locations receive coins via the second manifold, such that the coins from the hopper are dispensed to the coin storage locations in coin denomination order. The coin receiver may comprise compartments of a cash till drawer or coin change cups.

[0017] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present coin recycling device is illustrated, and is generally identified by the numeral 20. Coin recycling device 20 receives a batch of mixed denomination coins, sorts the mixed denomination coin batch into a plurality of sorted denomination coins and further dispenses the sorted denomination coins in coin denomination order to a coin received such as, for example, coin change cups as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a cash till drawer as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0018] Coin recycling device 20 includes a housing 22 including a coin input area 24 for receiving a batch of mixed denomination coins. Coin input area 24 is disposed adjacent to a coin sorter 26 which receives and sorts the batch of mixed denomination coins into a plurality of sorted denomination coins based on the size of each coin in the batch of mixed denomination coins. Sorter 26 is comprised, for example, sorters described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,395; 6,196,913; 6,983,836; and 7,244,175.

[0019] Coins are dispensed from coin sorter 26 by coin denomination based upon the size of the coin. Coins are dispensed from coin sorter 26 to a first manifold, generally identified by the numeral 28. First manifold 28 includes a plurality of coin paths 30, each path 30 receiving sorted denomination coins from the coin sorter 26. Paths 30 include multiple paths 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f, 30g and 30h, more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Paths 30a-30h each correspond to one denomination of coins with path 30a receiving coins of the smallest diameter, a dime, and path 30h receiving coins of the largest diameter, a half dollar.

[0020] Disposed adjacent to manifold 30 is a plurality of coin hoppers 32, with one coin hopper positioned to receive coins from each of coin paths 30a-30h. Coin hoppers 32 include hoppers 32a-32h. Each coin hopper 32 stores one sorted denomination coin and is operable to dispense coins stored therein.

[0021] When desired, coins stored within coin hoppers 32 are dispensed to a second manifold 34. Second manifold 34 includes a plurality of coin paths 36, and more particularly paths 36a-36h, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each coin path 36 receives stored denomination coins from one of coin hoppers 32 and directs the stored and sorted denomination coins from hoppers 32 in coin denomination order, that is, cent, nickel, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and dollar.

[0022] Second manifold 34 dispenses coins in coin denomination order into a coin receiver such as, for example, coin change cups 38 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or, alternatively to a cash till drawer 40, illustrated in FIG. 2. Coin change cups 38 include individual coin change cups 38a-38h which communicate and receive coins from a corresponding one of coin paths 36a-36h of second manifold 34, such that coins are dispensed and received in cups 38a-38h in coin denomination order. Similarly, cash till drawer 40 includes a plurality of coins storage locations 42a-42h each communicate with and receive coins from coin paths 36a-36h of second manifold 34, such that coins from hoppers 32 are dispensed to compartments 42a-42h of cash till drawer 40 in coin denomination order.

[0023] Movement of coins through manifolds 30 and 34, and coin hoppers 32 may be accomplished, for example, by gravity, or kinetic energy or a combination of both.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 7, an additional embodiment of the present coin recycling device is illustrated, and is generally then defined by the numeral 50. Coin recycling device 50 includes a coin sorter 26, first manifold 30, coin hoppers 32 and a second manifold 34 as previously described with respect to coin recycling device 20; however, coin recycling device 50 sorts five coin denominations whereas coin recycling device 20 includes the capability of sorted coins having eight denominations.

[0025] Coin recycling device 50 is capable of dispensing sorted coins in coin denomination order into coin change cups 52, 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d and 52e; or alternatively into a cash till drawer 54 having coin compartments 56, 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d and 56e which receive coins in coin denomination order from second manifold 34. Cash till drawer 54 also includes compartments 58 for receiving paper currency.

[0026] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, coin recycling device 50 includes a third manifold 60 including a plurality of coin paths 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d and 60e. Coin paths 60a-60e communicate with coin paths 36a-36e of second manifold 34 to allow coins 62 (FIG. 10) to flow from coin hoppers 32 into coin change cups 52 when cash till drawer 54 is removed from coin recycling device 50. With cash till drawer 54 removed from coin recycling device 50, a direct path for coins exists from hoppers 32 to coin change cups 52 via second manifold 34 and third manifold 60.

[0027] Referring to now to FIGS. 7, 9 and 11, cash till drawer 54 is inserted into coin recycling device 50 which causes manifold 60 to pivot, in a clockwise manner, such that compartments 56 align directly with coin paths 36 of manifold 34. Coins 62 are dispensed directly into compartments 56 of cash till drawer 54. Cash till drawer 54 blocks coins 62 from flowing into manifold 60, thereby preventing coins 62 from entering coin change cups 52.

[0028] Coin recycling device 50 may include, for example, a sensor to insure that cash till drawer 54 is properly inserted into coin recycling device 50 so that compartments 56 align with coin paths 36.