Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to coin queuing devices for receiving coins of the same or mixed denominations and delivering those coins to a fixed feed station in single file, in a single layer, and with one edge of all the coins positioned at a common reference location. Coin queuing devices of this type are used for feeding coins to coin sorters, coin wrappers and the like. This invention also relates to power rail sorters, which can be used with the coin queuing device. Summary Of The Invention

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved coin queuing device for delivering a single file of single-layered coins to a fixed coin feed station with one edge of all the coins aligned with each other.

It is another object of this invention to provide such an improved coin queuing device which delivers the coins with their lower surfaces lying in a common plane, and with the coins moving in a controlled stable mariner. A further object of this invention is to provide such an improved coin queuing device which is capable of delivering coins at a high feed rate.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved power rail sorter which is both fast and accurate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Brief Description Of The Drawings

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a coin sorter embodying the present invention, with portions thereof broken away to show the internal structure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the coin-queuing portion of the coin sorter of FIG. 1, taken from the top surface of the rotating pad looking upwardly, with various coins superimposed thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 5-5 in FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 6-6 in FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation; FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 7-7 in FIG. 2, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 8 is the same plan view shown in FIG. 2, with a different arrangement of coins superimposed thereon;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 9-9 in FIG. 8 in showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 10-10 in FIG. 8, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 11-11 in FIG. 8, showing the coins in full elevation; FIG. 12 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 12-12 in FIG. 8, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 13-13 in FIG. 8, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 14 is the same plan view shown in FIG. 2, with a different arrangement of coins superimposed thereon;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 15-15 in FIG. 14, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 16-16 in FIG. 14, showing the coins in full elevation; FIG. 17 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 17-17 in FIG. 14, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 18-18 in FIG. 14, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 19-19 in FIG. 14, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 20 is the same plan view shown in FIG. 2, with a different arrangement of coins superimposed thereon;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 21-22 in FIG. 20, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 22-22 in FIG. 20, showing the coins in full elevation; FIG. 23 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 23-23 in FIG. 20, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 24-24 in FIG. 20, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 25-25 in FIG. 20, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the coin sorter of FIG. 1; FIG. 27 is an enlarged top plan view of the coin-sorting portion of the device shown in FIG. 27. with various coins superimposed thereon;

FIG. 28 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 27, with the addition of a drive belt;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 29-29 in FIG. 27, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIGS. 30a and 30b are enlarged sections taken generally along line 30-30 in FIG. 27, showing the coins in full elevation; FIG. 31 is a plan view of a modified coin-sorting mechanism;

FIG. 32 is a plan view of another modified coin-sorting mechanism; FIG. 33 is a plan view of still another modified coin-sorting mechanism; FIG. 34 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 34-34 in FIG. 33, showing the coins in full elevation; FIG. 35 is an enlarged section taken generally along line 35-35 in FIG. 33, showing the coins in full elevation;

FIG. 36 is an enlarged section of a modified drive belt; FIG. 37 is an enlarged section of another modified drive belt; FIG. 38 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of the queuing device feeding a disc-type coin sorter;

FIG. 39 is an enlarged section taken generally along the line 39-39 in FIG. 38; and

FIG. 40 is an enlarged section taken generally along the line 40-40 in FIG. 38. Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by die appended claims. Turning now to the drawings and referring first to FIG. 1, a hollow cylinder

10 receives coins of mixed denominations and feeds them onto the top surface of a rotatable disc 11 mounted for rotation on the output shaft (not shown) of an electric motor 12. The disc 1 1 comprises a resilient pad 13, preferably made of a resilient rubber or polymeric material, bonded to the top surface of a solid metal plate 14. As the disc 11 is rotated, the coins deposited on the top surface thereof tend to slide outwardly over the surface of the pad 13 due to centrifugal force. As the coins move outwardly, they engage either the inside wall of the cylinder 10 or a queuing head 15 mounted over a peripheral portion of the disc 11 from about the 8 o'clock position to about the 1 o'clock position (see FIG. 2). The queuing head 15 delivers a single layer of coins in a single file to a sorting rail 16 which sorts the coins by size. A drive belt 17, driven by an electric motor 18, drives the coins along the sorting rail 16.

As the disc 11 is rotated (in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2), coins adjacent the cylinder 10 are carried into engagement with the entry end 20 of the queuing head 15. Coins can be rotated beneadi the queuing head by entering a channel 21 having converging inner and outer walls 22 and 23. The inner wall 22 spirals outwardly (relative to the center of the disc 13) to about die 12 o'clock position, and then continues along a straight tangential line which crosses the periphery of the disc 11 at about the 11 o'clock position. The outer wall 23 has a constant radius from about 8 o'clock to about 9 o'clock, men spirals inwardly from 9 o'clock to about 11 o'clock to form a channel with converging walls in that region of

the queuing head. Beyond the 11 o'clock position, the outer wall 23 parallels the inner wall 22, thereby forming a channel of constant widtii.

The lowermost surface 24 of the queuing head 15 is preferably spaced from the top surface of the pad 13 by only a few thousandths of an inch, so that coins cannot escape from the channel 21 by passing beneath the outer wall 22, and so ti at coins cannot enter the channel 21 from the inner periphery 25 of the head 15.

The lowermost surface 24 of the queuing head 15 forms a land 26 along the entire inner edge of the head. The upstream end of the land 26 forms a ramp 27 which presses any coin brought into engagement therewith downwardly into the resilient pad 13, which causes the engaged coin to be recirculated. More specifically, coins which are pressed down into the pad 13 by the ramp 27, such as the coin Cl in FIG. 2, are carried along a path of constant radius beneath the land 26, while die inner edge of the head 15 spirals outwardly from the center of the disc 11. Eventually, therefore, the coin is rotated clear of the inner edge of die head 15 and is dien free to move outwardly against the cylinder 11 and to be recirculated to the entry end 20 of the head 15.

The channel 21 causes all coins which enter the channel, regardless of different thicknesses and/or diameters, to exit the channel with a common edge (die inner edges of all coins in FIGS. 1-26) aligned at die same position so that the opposite (outer) edges of the coins can be used for sorting. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the tangential portion of die inner wall 22 at the exit end of the queuing head 15 forms the final gaging wall for the inner edges of die coins as the coins exit the queuing head.

A major portion of the inwardly spiraling portion of the wall 23 is tapered, as at 23a, to enable the outer portions of the coins to pass under that wall as the channel 21 converges to a widdi that is smaller than the diameters of die respective coins. The region 28 immediately outboard of die wall 23 presses the portions of all coins extending outwardly beyond the wall 23 down into the resilient pad 13, diereby tilting the inner edges of die coins upwardly into firm engagement with the gaging wall 22. The channel 21 strips apart stacked or shingled coins, as illustrated in FIGS.

8-13. The combined thickness of a pair of stacked or shingled coins of any denomination is great enough to cause the lower coin in that pair to be pressed into

the resilient pad 13 (see FIG. 9). Consequently, that pair of coins will be rotated concentrically with the disc, as illustrated by the coin pairs C2 and C3 in FIG. 8. Because the inner wall 22 spirals outwardly, the upper coin C _u will eventually engage the upper vertical portion of the inner wall 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the lower coin C- will pass beneath me wall 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 10-13. As shown in FIG. 8, the latter coin C _j will be recirculated back to die entry region of the sorting head and will later re-enter the channel 21.

When coins enter the channel 21 in staggered relationship, as illustrated in FIGS. 14-19, the spacing between any pair of successive coins gradually decreases due to the decreasing width of the channel as such coins are advanced along the channel by the rotating disc. Consequently, coins which are staggered at the inlet end of the channel 21 are gradually brought into single file by the time they reach the point where the distance between die walls 22 and 23 is reduced to the diameter of the smallest coin. This alignment of the coins into a single file is achieved progressively along the length of the channel, so that the coins move smoothly and continuously through the channel at high throughput rates.

Small, thick coins which have not moved out against the cylinder 11 may still enter the channel 21 , as illustrated by die coins shown in broken lines in FIG. 20, and follow die path illustrated in FIGS. 21-25. These coins have a diameter small enough to enable them to enter die channel 21, even though their outer edges are spaced inwardly from the cylinder 11. The thickness of these coins is greater than the distance between the channel ceiling and me resilient pad, as a result of which the coins are pressed into the resilient pad (see FIG. 22). Consequently, iese coins move concentrically with the disc until ti ey engage one of the walls 22 or 23 "(see FIGS. 22 and 23). If d e engaged wall is the outer wall 23, the coins are guided by that wall until they engage die inner wall 22. Thus the small, thick coins always exit the channel 21 with the inner edges of the coins on the gaging wall 22, regardless of where those coins initially enter the channel.

Thin coins are not pressed into the resilient pad in the converging portion of the channel region between the inner and middle walls 22 and 23, and thus such coins move outwardly until they engage the wall 23. The coins follow that wall until the inner edges of the coins come into engagement wid the inner wall 22, which

gradually forces the outer portions of the coins under the tapered wall 23, as illustrated by coin C4 (FIG. 2). It can be seen that the effect will be the same for a thin coin of any diameter.

At about the 12 o'clock position, as viewed in FIG. 2, die walls 22 and 23 both extend along lines which are tangents to the arcs defining die respective walls just before the 12 o'clock position. These tangential walls guide die coins off die disc 11 to die desired coin-receiving device such as a coin-sorting or coin-wrapping mechanism. To ensure stability of the coins as they leave the rotating disc 11, me depd of d e channel between the walls 22 and 23 is reduced at 30 so diat the tangential portion of that channel (beyond die 12 o'clock position) is shallower than the thickness of the thinnest coin. Consequently, the coins of all denominations are pressed firmly into the resilient pad 13 as the coins leave the disc.

The sorting rail 16 and the drive belt 17 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 26-30. The sorting rail 16 comprises an elongated plate 50 which forms a series of coin exit channels 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 which function to discharge coins of different denominations at different locations along the length of the plate 50. The top surface of the plate 50 receives and supports the coins as they are discharged from the disc 11. Because die coins are pressed into the resilient surface of the disc 11 , the top surface of the plate 50 is positioned below the lowest coin-engaging surface of the head 15, at the exit end d ereof, by about die thickness of die thickest coin. If desired, the entry end of die plate 50 may be tapered slightly to facilitate the transfer of coins from the disc 11 to the sorting rail 16.

The coins are advanced along d e plate 50 by a drive belt 17 which presses the coins down against the plate. As can be seen in FIG. 26, the exit end of die head 15 is cut out to allow the belt 17 to engage die upper surfaces of the coins even before they leave the disc 11. The aligned edges of die coins follow a gaging wall 58 which is a continuation of the wall 22 in die queuing head 15 and is interrupted only by die exit channels 51-56. The side walls of the exit channels 51-56 intersect the gaging wall 58 at oblique angles so that d e driving force of the belt 17 on die upper surfaces of ie coins drives the coins outwardly through ieir respective exit channels 51-56. The drive belt 17 has a resilient outer surface 59 which is positioned close enough to d e top surface of the plate 50 to press all the coins firmly against the

plate. This capturing of the coins between the belt 17 and the plate 50 holds die coins precisely in the same relative positions established by die queuing device, with die aligned edges of die coins riding along the gaging wall 58. Consequently, the positions of the opposite edges (d e upper edges as viewed in FIG. 26) of the coins are uniquely determined by d e respective diameters of the coins, so that each denomination of coin will be intercepted by a different exit channel. The resilient surface of the belt 17 ensures that each coin is pressed down into its respective exit channel, and diat each coin is exited from die plate 50 by the driving force of the bel 17 urging the coin against the longer (forward) side wall of its exit channel. The inlet ends of successive exit channels 51-56 are located progressively farther away from the line of the gaging wall 58, thereby receiving and ejecting coins in order of increasing diameter. In die particular embodiment illustrated, d e six channels 51-56 are positioned and dimensioned to successively eject die six U. S. coins in order of increasing size, namely, dimes (channel 51), pennies (channel 52), nickels (channel 53), quarters (channel 54), dollars (channel 55), and half dollars (channel 56). The inlet ends of die exit channels 51-56 are positioned so d at only one particular denomination can enter each channel; the coins of all odier denominations reaching a given exit channel extend laterally beyond the inlet end of that particular channel so that d ose coins cannot enter the channel and, therefore, continue on to the next exit channel.

For example, the first exit channel 51 is intended to discharge only dimes, and dius the inlet end 51a of this channel is spaced away from the gaging wall 58 by a distance diat is only slightly greater than the diameter of a dime. Consequently, only dimes can enter the channel 51. Because one edge of all denominations of coins engages the gaging wall 58, all denominations odier than die dime extend beyond die inlet end 51a of the channel 51, thereby preventing all coins except d e dimes from entering mat particular channel.

Of the coins that reach channel 52, only the pennies are of small enough diameter to enter that exit channel. All other denominations extend beyond the inlet end of the channel 52 so diat they remain gripped between d e sorting rail and die resilient belt. Consequently, such coins are rotated past die channel 52 and continue on to the next exit channel.

Similarly, only nickels can enter the channel 53, only quarters can enter the channel 54, only dollars can enter the channel 55, and only half dollars can enter the channel 56.

In the particular embodiment of die sorting rail 16 shown in FIGS. 26-30, the exit channels 51-56 are narrower at die entry ends dian at the exit ends. The change in channel widdi occurs at the gaging wall 58. The narrowing of the channels at their entry ends provides a wider coin-support area between each pair of adjacent exit channels, which helps prevent undesired tilting of coins as they pass over successive exit channels. Undesired tilting of coins can result in missorting. As can be seen in FIGS. 28 and 30, die bottom wall of each of the exit channels 51-56 is tapered across d e widdi of the channel, so that the maximum depd is along die longer, forward side wall of d e channel. This tapering of the bottom wall causes die coins to tilt as diey are being exited dirough the channels 51-56, thereby ensuring engagement of each coin wim the forward side wall of its respective channel. This further ensures diat each coin will remain in me desired exit channel, avoiding missorting.

To permit exact bag stopping, it is preferred to count each sorted coin before it is exited from the sorting rail 16. For this reason, coin sensors 51 dirough 56 for d e six different coin denominations are located within die exit channels 51-56. Widi this arrangement, die sensing of the last coin in a desired number of coins of a prescribed denomination can be used to stop me drive belt 17 before die next coin of diat denomination is discharged from me sorting rail.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, die drive belt 17 preferably has a laminated construction. The inside surface of d e belt is made of a layer 17a of relatively hard material, forming a toomed surface for positive engagement with bodi a driven pulley 60a and an idler pulley 60b. The thick central layer 17b of the belt is made of a relatively soft, resilient material, such as a closed-cell foam polymer. The outer surface of the belt which engages the coins is formed by a tiiin layer 17c of a tough flexible polymer which can conform to the shapes of the coins (see FIG. 29) and yet wimstand die abrasive effect of coins sliding across die belt as mey are exited dirough die channels 51-56.

FIG. 31 illustrates a modified sorting rail 16' forming curved exit channels 51 '-56'. The curved configuration of the exit chaimels permits a more compact arrangement of the channels, which in turn permits the use of a shorter plate 50'. FIG. 32 illustrates another modified sorting rail 16" which replaces the exit channels widi a series of apertures 51 "-56" having successively greater widths. Each aperture is spaced slightly away from the gaging wall 58" so mat die coins are continuously supported along the gaging wall. When a coin edge farthest from the gaging wall 58" falls wimin one of die apertures 51 "-56", that coin is pressed into and dirough the aperture by the resilient belt 17". Only dimes can enter the first aperture 51", only pennies can enter die second aperture 52", and so on.

FIG. 33 illustrates a further modified sorting rail which sorts coins in order of decreasing diameter. Again, die aligned edges of die coins follow a common linear path, aldiough in this case the rail does not include a positive gaging wall. The coins traverse six successive exit channels, 61-66, but in diis case all the channels are the same, extending from one edge of the plate across the full widdi of the coin pam. Exiting of me coins is controlled by six successive ramps 71-76 which engage me non-aligned edge portions of progressively smaller coins to tilt the engaged coins into the exit channels 61-66. Any coins which are not engaged and tilted by any given ramp 71-76 simply ride over die corresponding exit channel. All the exit channels are narrower than d e diameter of the smallest coin, and ius none of the coins can enter any of the exit channels unless die coin is tilted into one of die channels.

The first ramp 71 is positioned to engage only die largest-diameter coin. As can be seen in FIG. 34, die outer portion of the coin rides up die ramp 71 to tilt the leading edge of die coin into die adjacent exit channel 61. The coin is maintained in this tilted position by a tapered shoulder 71a (see FIG. 35) which continues to die edge of the plate. All die smaller-diameter coins bypass die ramp 71 and continue on to e second ramp 72, which engages only die coins with die second largest diameter. These coins are tilted into me exit channel 62. The remaining coins bypass the ramp 72 and continue on to die ramps 73, 74, 75 and 76 which are positioned to engage progressively smaller coins, as illustrated in FIG. 33.

FIGS. 36 and 37 illustrate two alternative embodiments of the driving belt 17. In FIG. 36, the belt 17' has only two layers, omitting the abrasion-resistant outer

layer. In FIG. 37, the resilient foam is replaced widi a series of hollow transverse elastic ribs 80 which are molded as an integral part of the same material which forms the toodied inside surface of the belt. The desired resilience is provided by deformation of the elastic ribs 80 by die engaged coins, as shown in FIG. 37. As illustrated in FIG. 38, die queuing device may be used to feed a circular coin sorting device rather dian a straight sorting rail. Thus, in FIG. 38 die coins are sorted by passing the coins over a series of apertures formed around die periphery of a stationary sorting disc 90. The apertures 91a - 91h are of progressively increasing radial widdi so that the small coins are removed before die larger coins. The outboard edges of all the apertures 91a - 91h are spaced slightly away from a cylindrical wall 92 extending around the outer periphery of the disc 90 for guiding e outer edges of the coins as die coins are advanced over successive apertures. The disc surface between the wall 92 and die outer edges of die apertures 91a - 91h provides a continuous support for the outer portions of the coins. The inner portions of die coins are also supported by die disc 90 until each coin reaches its aperture, at which point die inner edge of die coin tilts downwardly and die coin drops dirough its aperture.

To advance the coins along die series of apertures 91a - 91h, die upper surfaces of die coins are engaged by a resilient rubber ring 93 attached to d e lower surface of a rotating disc 94 (FIGS. 39 and 40). The lower surface of the rubber ring 93 is spaced sufficiently close to the upper surface of the disc 90 diat die rubber ring presses the coins of all denominations, regardless of coin tiiickness, firmly down against me surface of the disc 90. Consequently, when a coin is positioned over d e particular aperture 91 through which that coin is to be discharged, d e resilient rubber ring presses the coin down dirough die aperture.

As can be seen in FIG. 38, die disc 94 which carries the rubber ring 93 overlaps die disc 11 which carries the coins under die queuing head 15. The queuing head 15 and die disc 90 are bodi cut away to allow for this overlap of the two discs. Because of the overlap, coins which are advanced along die channel 21 formed by the queuing head 15 are acmally engaged by die rubber ring 93 before the coins leave die disc 11. As each coin approaches die periphery of die disc 11, die outer portion of

the coin begins to project beneath the rubber ring 93. This projection starts earlier for large-diameter coins than for small-diameter coins.

Each coin is engaged simultaneously by both the resilient pad 13 on d e underside of die coin and die rubber ring 93 on me top side of die coin for a brief interval before the coin is acmally transferred from the disc 11 to die disc 90. As can be seen in FIG. 38, die coin-guiding inner edge of die channel 21 in die queuing head 15 begins to follow an extension of the inner surface 92a of the wall 92 at the exit end of the queuing head 15, so d at die inboard edges of die coins on d e disc 11 (which become die outboard edges of the coins when diey are transferred to die disc 90) are smoothly guided by die inner wall of the channel 21 and then d e inside surface of the wall 92 as d e coins are transferred from the disc 11 to die disc 90.

Before the coins in the channel 21 of the queuing head 15 reach die region of overlap between the two discs, d e coins engage a ramp 96 which presses the coins of all denominations even more firmly down into die resilient pad 13. The coins dien remain so pressed until diey leave die disc 11. This additional pressing of the coins into die pad 13 ensures diat d e coins remain captured during die transfer process, i.e., ensuring that the coins do not fly off the disc 11 by centrifugal force before they are transferred completely to die disc 90.

To facilitate the transfer of coins from the disc 11 to die disc 90, die outer edge portion of the top surface of the disc 90 is tapered at 95 (see FIG. 39). Thus, even diough the coins are pressed into die pad 13, die coins do not catch on die edge of the disc 90 during the coin transfer.