Description

This invention concerns a device for the management of tokens, and refers to devices for selecting and ordering tokens of various types in containers, in an automated fashion.

Devices are known for selecting and ordering coins and tokens, installed in product vending machines, that have the function of receiving coins and of delivering them to the user.

These devices operate on the basis of measurements of the geometrical or physical characteristics of the coins or tokens, using magnetic or optical sensors.

One of these devices is represented in European patent EP2463829, which describes a system equipped with rotating elements necessary to collect coins from a container anchored to a support frame and a set of housings for the coins, with position sensors and magnetic sensors connected to a computer, which are needed to identify the coin, and with a set of components for channelling the coin towards an exit slot necessary for delivery, which takes place in a single exit container.

The trouble with this system lies in the impossibility of being able to order the coins and tokens in different containers, and in having a control system excessively bound to the angular position of the rotating elements. Another system for recognizing and ordering tokens is represented in patent US2003/0019716, which describes a system that, using appropriately slotted, superimposed rotating elements can, thanks to the presence of appropriate sensors to measure the size and shape of certain rotating elements, carry the tokens under the pressure of a component in correspondence with the right container.

Said device has the problem of not being suitable for installation in vending machines since its function is strongly linked to the position of the container for the tokens, which must by necessity be located on the main rotatable plate, which is thus highly bulky in the case of tokens of a size much larger than a coin.

The purpose of this invention is to introduce an enhancement to the state of the art, in order to eliminate the aforementioned problems.

This invention will be better described with the aid of drawings that represent only one of the possible realizations:

- figure 1 is an axonometric view of the device assembled in accordance with an initial realization;

- figure 2 is an axonometric view of the token sorting component;

- figure 3 is an axonometric view of the support element;

- figure 4 is an axonometric view of the token selection element;

- figure 5 is an axonometric view of the trapping means for tokens; figure 6 is an axonometric view of the anchoring base of the token collector;

- figure 7 is an axonometric view of the token collector;

- figure 8 is an axonometric view of the device assembled in accordance with a second realization.

With reference to the drawings and in accordance with an initial possible realization, a device for selecting and ordering tokens is indicated by the number 1.

This device consists of a support element 2 onto which, on the upper portion, by means of an anchoring base 21, are anchored a token collector 3, a trapping means for tokens 7 constrained to the support 2 in correspondence with a rotation fulcrum 19 arranged in such a way as to achieve a rotatable connection. The trapping means for tokens 7 is positioned beneath anchoring base 21 of the collector 3 and has a plurality of housings 8 suitable for receiving the tokens originating from the collector 3 through the opening 33 of anchoring base 21 under the force of gravity, and for trapping the tokens, requiring them to rotate within them.

The trapping means for tokens 7 is conceived to be controlled in rotation by an actuator 10 anchored to the housing 31 of the support element

2.

Beneath the trapping means for tokens 7 is a selection element 14 constrained in correspondence with rotation fulcrum 19, having an opening 40 placed at the same distance as the through openings 24 of the support element 2 with respect to the rotation fulcrum 20 of the support element 2 in such a way that during the rotation of selection element 14, the opening 40 can be positioned concentric to the through openings 24 of the support element 2. Beneath the through openings 24, and concentric to them, are the channels 18 belonging to a sorting component 15 conceived to channel the tokens towards the corresponding token separation containers 30.

The selection element 14 is controlled in rotation by a second actuator 50 anchored to the housing 32 of the support element 2.

A sensor, suitable for recognizing the tokens, placed in the housing 60 of the anchoring base 21, in a position useful for intercepting the tokens constrained to turn within the housings 8, is connected to a control unit not indicated in the drawings, which receives the incoming signal originating from the sensor based on the colour or shape or the signal originating from the token, and the control unit controls the actuator 50 in such a way as to rotate the selection element 14 until the opening 40 is superimposed concentric to one of the through openings 24 in such a way that the token present in the housing 8 falls, crossing the opening 40 and the through openings 24 under the force of gravity, in the corresponding channel 18 of the sorting component 15, ending up in the token separation container 30 chosen by the control unit for that type of token.

A system for selecting and ordering tokens is thus achieved, based on the rotation of simple and easily producible elements.

A second realization is that shown in figure 8, in which the trapping means for tokens 7 is constrained to slide on the support element. The trapping means for tokens 7 is positioned beneath the collector 3 and is equipped with a housing 8 suitable for trapping the tokens originating from the collector 3 under the force of gravity, and for trapping a token, requiring it to translate within it. The trapping means for tokens 7 is conceived to be controlled in translation by an actuator 10.

Beneath the trapping means for tokens 7 is a selection element 14 constrained to slide, and equipped with an opening 40 suitable for intercepting and being positioned concentric to the through openings 24 of the support element 2 in such a way that, during the translation of the selection element 14, the opening 40 may be positioned concentric to the through openings 24 of the support element 2.

Beneath the through openings 24, and concentric to them, are the token separation containers 30. The selection element 14 is controlled in translation by a second actuator 50.

A sensor placed in the housing 60 of anchoring base 21, in a position useful for intercepting the tokens constrained to translate within the housing 8, is connected to a control unit not indicated in the drawings, which receives the incoming signal originating from the sensor based on the colour or shape or the signal originating from the token, and the control unit controls the actuator 50 in such a way as to rotate the selection element 14 until the opening 40 is superimposed concentric to one of the through openings 24 in such a way that the token present in the housing 8 falls, crossing the opening 40 and the through openings 24 under the force of gravity in the corresponding token separation container 30 chosen by the control unit for that type of token.

A system for selecting and ordering tokens is thus achieved, based on the translation of simple and easily producible elements.