"EQUIPMENT FOR COLLECTING, COUNTING, CLASSIFYING AND DISPENSING COINS"

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an equipment for collecting, counting, classifying and dispensing coins.

The invention has more specifically, as object, an equipment for collecting, counting and classifying coins according to the introductory portions of the principal claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several types of equipments for collecting and deposit of coins are known. Such equipments have a collecting seat for the coins deposited by the user and a classifying and distributing device, which selects the coins and distributes them in a series of deposit containers according to their respective values. The classifying device generally provides a disk or rotating basket with peripheral openings of different dimensions. A need, felt by the users relates to the possibility to have an equipment for collecting, classifying and counting coins, simple, reliable, relatively noiseless and of a limited cost, and that can be used in a contained space.

Equipments for collecting, counting and dispensing coins are present in several equipments of self-service distribution of good and services. Such equipments are besides complex, of high dimensions and noisy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to accomplish an equipment for collecting, counting, classifying and dispensing coins, exemplarily but not exclusively of the European area, relatively simple, noiseless and of contained cost which can be used in a limited space, for instance dedicated to the cash box.

Such object is defined by an equipment for collecting and classifying coins, comprising a collecting seat for undiversified coins, a classifying and distributing device to divide and to distribute the coins received on the basis of the denominations and a series of containers for storing the coins on the basis of the denominations. The classifying device includes a moving member to prepare in sequence the coins toward a distribution path. The moving member includes a surface section of support

for the coins, divergent downward and rotatable in the use with respect to the distribution path. The collecting seat is delimited by a lower edge wall, adjacent to a lower portion of the surface section which is interrupted by the output so as to define a slit of length of a few greater of the coins of greater diameter but of height such that to prevent the passage of overlapped coins of smaller thickness. The collected coins are urged by the action of the surface section toward the lower portion and along the wall of the collecting seat to emerge serially through the slit.

According to another characteristic, the equipment for collecting and classifying coins, comprises a classifying device which defines a distribution path for the coins with a series of calibrating openings and having a distributing device to move the coins along the distribution path. The calibrating openings are arranged above the containers and have dimensions increasing along the distribution path, beginning from an initial section. The collecting seat includes an output for the coins, of access to the initial section of the distribution path, while the classifying and distributing device substantially includes a guide body with a substantially frusto-conical surface, divergent downward and of support for the coins, in which the distribution path is obtained with the respective calibrating openings. The distributing member is rotatable, in the use, with respect to the distribution path and in which the coins edges are maintained adjacent to an area of greater section of the guide body, in the movement of the coins along the distribution path and up to the calibrating openings.

According to a further characteristic, the equipment includes a classifying and distributing device which defines a distribution path for the coins with a series of calibrating openings, increasing along the distribution path and of access to the containers. The classifying and distributing device includes a surface body guide inclined with respect to the horizontal, of support for the coins, in which the distribution path is obtained. The distributing device includes a contrast element, adjacent to a lower section of the distribution path and provided for the movement with respect to said path, to cooperate with the coins edges supported on the guide body and to move the coins with rolling by portion of the contrast element on the body guide, along the distribution path and up to the calibrating openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following description given purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: Fig. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of an equipment for collecting, counting, classifying and dispensing coins according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view, partially exploded, of some component ones of the equipment of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a view in section of the equipment of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 represents a plan view of some details of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 shows schematically another plan view of some components of the equipment of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view, in enlarged scale, of details of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a schematic view, partially exploded, of some details of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is another view, perspective, of some details of the equipment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of an operative variant of the equipment according to the invention;

Fig 10 is a schematic perspective view of another variant of the equipment according to the invention; Fig 11 represents a schematic view, partially exploded, of some components of the equipment of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a partially exploded view of other components of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 represents in a perspective view and in enlarged scale, some details of components represented in Fig. 11 ; and Fig. 14 is a schematic and magnified view of some details of Fig 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ENBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures 1 to 8, it is represented with 21 an equipment for collecting, counting, classifying and dispensing coins 22 according to the invention.

The equipment 21 includes a collecting seat 23, for undiversified coins, a moving and serializating device 24, a classifying and distributing device 26, a plurality of deposit containers 27, extracting and dispensing devices 28, a port or output area 29 and an electronic processing unit 31. In synthesis, the collecting seat 23 is predisposed for receiving the undiversified coins 22 and the device 24 comprises a moving member 32 to move the collected coins and address them, one after the other, toward the classifying and distributing device 26. The device 26 defines in turn a distribution path 33 with a plurality of calibrating openings 34 directed toward the deposit containers 27 and for dividing the coins on the basis of the denomination. The extracting and dispensing devices 28 extract the coins from the containers 27 and distribute them through a collector 36 toward the port or output area 29 on control of the unity 31 , to the arrangement of the customer.

The equipment 21 has a desk top configuration of limited sectional dimensions, having an upper group 37, an intermediate group 38 and a base 39. The group 37 includes a coverage 41 with the collecting seat 23, the moving and serializating device 24 and the classifying and distributing device 26. The intermediate group 38 includes a body 42, the containers 27 and the extracting and dispensing devices 28. The base 39 contains the collector 36, the electronic unit 31 and the output port 29. The general height of the equipment depends on height of the containers 27, which determines their deposit capability.

Specifically, the equipment 21 has a shape, which, in a plan view, is included in a substantially squared area. The coverage 41 (Figg. 1 and 2) defines a portion of the collecting seat 23 and, in detail, a cylindrical opening 43 (Figg. 1 , 2 and 3) and a wall 44. The wall 44 has a lower edge 46 above of the moving member 32 of the moving and serializating device 24, which also constitutes the bottom of the seat 23.

The body 42 insists on a support plate 47 arranged at the above of the containers 27 and includes, in a conventionally front portion, a control panel with a display 48 and a keyboard 49. On a rear portion of the body is hinged the coverage 41 , which is lockable on the body 42 and is easily un-lockable to access to the moving member 32 of the moving and serializating device 24.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the moving member 32 has an inverted cup section 51 , with substantially frusto-conical surface divergent downward. The section 51 constitutes the bottom of the collecting seat 23; it is rotatable in the use

with respect to the wall 44 and its lower portion is adjacent to the lower edge 46. The seat 23 includes, on its turn, an output 52, formed as an interruption of the edge 46 such as to define a slit 53 with respect to the section 51 , of length of a few greater of the greater diameter coins, but of height such to prevent the passage of overlapped coins of smaller thickness.

The coins collected on the bottom of the seat 23 are so urged toward the wall 44 for gravity and, mainly, for the rotating action of the inverted cup section 51. The coins are moved toward the lower portion of the section 51 and along the wall 44 to emerge serially through the slit 53. The inverted cup section 51 is arranged above the plate 47 and is connected in the rotation with a transmission shaft of a low speed motor 54. The low speed motor 54 is mounted aside on the plate 47 opposite with respect to the section 51 in a suspended way on the base 39. As a non limitative example, the inverted cup section surface of the section 51 has a generating which, in the use, is inclined of 20°í40° with respect to the horizontal.

The slit 53 has an inside surface conveniently inclined downward, from which the coins 22 can fall on an initial portion 57 of the distribution path 33 in the classifying and distributing device 26. The length of the slit 53 is of a few greater of diameter of the coin of larger diameter and the slit allows, accordingly, the passage of a single coin of greater dimensions, but preventing the passage of possible overlapped coins of smaller denominations. Moreover, the slit is associated to limiting walls 56, also obtained in the coverage 41 downstream of the slit 53, to guide the serialized coins, in an optimized way, toward the initial section 57.

Conveniently, on the surface of the section 51 are present a series of projections to facilitate the moving of the coins. In detail, the projections include yielding jumpers 58, formed by shaped threads of steel, operational on the coins in engagement with the slit 53, and avoiding blocks and jams of the coins adjacent to the slit.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the classifying and distributing device 26 includes a guide body with substantially frusto-conical surface 59, divergent downward and of support for the coins, and a distributing member 61. The distribution path 33 with the calibrating openings 34 is obtained in the guide body 59; the distributing member 61 is rotatable, in the use, with respect to the distribution path, while the coins edges are maintained adjacent to an area of greater section of the

guide body 59, in the movement of the coins along the distribution path and up to the calibrating openings 34.

The openings 34 are arranged above the containers 27 and have dimensions, which increase along the path 33, beginning from the initial section 57. In detail, the path 33 extends underneath the inverted cup section 51 in a band included between a lower section 62 of greater diameter and an upper section 63 of smaller diameter and in which the width of the band is of few greater of the diameter of the highest coin. In correspondence of the lower section 62, a contrast surface 64 for the coins 22 is provided. As an example, the guide body 59 has a frusto-conical surface with a generating line which, in the use, is inclined of 20°í40°, preferably of 24°, with respect to the horizontal, substantially equal to the inclination of the inverted cup section 51.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, the distributing member 61 includes a rotating ring member 66 which defines, to the inside, the contrast surface 64. The ring member 66 is of plastic material, for example, with high friction and is mounted by means of bearings 67 engaged in a guide groove 68 supported by the plate 47. It ensures to the unit a particularly noiseless rotation. The ring member 66 has an external cylindrical surface 69 with groove and receives the motion by a motor 71 through a motor pinion 72 and a transmission belt, for example an "O-ring" 73. The motor 71 is mounted on the plate 47 in a peripheral position opposite and higher with respect to the port or output area 29.

In detail, the contrast surface 64 is frusto-conical, with a generating line, for instance perpendicular to the generating of the guide body 59. It extends upward to a greater level of the thickness of the biggest coins and has, at the base, a short step of frusto-conical surface with the same inclination of the guide body 59, adjacent and of few underneath its lower edge. The ring member 66 and the distribution path 33 are accessible with the opening of the coverage 41 for controls and maintenance. The surface 64 is such to ensure adherence on the edges of the coins 22 greater than the adherence between the face of the coins and the guide body 59.

In detail, with the activation of the device 21 and the put in rotation of the motors 54 and 71 , and therefore of the section 51 and of the ring member 66, the coins 22 are moved in the seat 23, preparing themselves in casual way along the wall 44, up to when they don't find the slit 53 and the output 52. From this point the coins, one after another slip in the underlying guide body 59, in correspondence of the initial section

57, up to meet one after the other the contrast surface 64 of the ring member 66 in movement.

The action of the rotating body 66 and the shape of the contrast surface 64, are such that the coins 22 supported on the guide body 59 are moved with rolling up to the meeting of the calibrating openings 34 compatible with their diameter and the corresponding denomination. The movement is orderly, while the creeping between coin and the frusto-conical surface, combined to the rolling of the same coin are particularly noiseless. The peripheral velocity of the coin along the guide body 59 will be substantially the half of the peripheral velocity of the ring member 66. A variant 81 of the equipment of the invention, (Fig. 9) provides a moving and serializating device with an inverted cup section 82 and a collecting seat with a wall 83 direct downward and an output slit 84, obtained in a covering not shown. These components are similar to the correspondent components of the moving and serializating device 24 of Fig.1 , but in which the wall 83 has a smaller diameter of that of the wall 44 and the inverted cup section 82 extends itself in the lower part underneath the wall 83.

In this variant 81 , the distribution path 86 is similar to the path 33 and is formed in a body guide 87 similar to the body guide 59. The contrast surface, represented with 88 adjacent to the lower portion of greater diameter of the guide body 87 is fixed and is obtained in the covering.

The moving member, herein represented with 87, includes the portion of the inverted cup section 82 which extends itself up to the upper portion of smaller diameter of the section 87 and a plurality of radial spokes 89 which extend up to the contrast surface 88, crossing the distribution path 86. The spokes 89 drag the coins 22 along the path 86, and the distribution occurs through the calibrating openings 34. In the variant 81 , elements of separation, not shown in the drawings, are arranged in correspondence of the initial section 57 of the distribution path, at a given distance from the frusto- conical surface of the guide body 87 for the separation of the overlapped coins. Such elements can be flexible, constituted, for instance by respective brushes and operate during the movement of the coins. The spokes 89 drag the coins 22 in the transport along the distribution path 86 and the distribution takes place through the series of calibrating openings 34.

In the variant 81 , elements of separation, not shown in the drawings, are arranged in correspondence of the initial section 57 of the distribution path 86, at a predetermined distance from the frusto-conical surface of the guide body 87, for the separation of overlapped coins. Such elements can be flexible, constituted, for instance by respective brushes and operate during the movement of the coins.

In the equipment 21 or 81 , the deposit containers 27 for storing the coins on confusion are of the hopper type. The containers 27 are substantially cylindrical and are included, in a plan view (Figg. 2 and 4), in a quadrangular area. The guide body 59 or 87 and the collecting seat 23 are arranged, in a plan view, symmetrically inside the quadrangular area and in which the axis of rotation of the guide body 59 is in a central area between the containers 27.

In detail, the equipment 21 or 81 includes eight containers 27-1 , 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 27- 5, 27-6, 27-7 and 27-8, for example but not exclusively, for the European system. The containers are arranged, in a plan view, according to the substantially square area with four containers: 27-1 , 27-3, 27-5 and 27-7 arranged at the angles and four containers: 27-2, 27-4, 27-6 and 27-8 arranged in intermediate positions.

Under each one opening 34 defined along the path 33 for the falling coins and in proximity of the upper edge of each hopper 27, an electronic sensor of passage is displaced which effects the calculation of the coins in input and transmits the data to the electronic processing unit 31 for elaboration and counting. The date will be send to the display 48 for the visualization by the user.

The containers 27 and the extracting and dispensing devices 28 are substantially of known type and are briefly described herein.

In an exemplary representation of the figures 4, 7 and 8, the devices for extraction and dispensing 28 include each one, on the bottom of the containers 27-1í36-8, a rotating shutter of three different typologies: respectively 91-1 or 91-2 or 91-3, an element of extraction 92 and an opening of output 93. The shutters 91-1 , 91-2 91-3 have identical structure, but are differently sized in dependence of predetermined groups of denomination of the coins to be extracted. In detail, each shutter 91 -1 , 91-2 91-3 includes a disk 94 arranged slidably on a fixed bottom 96 and connected in the rotation with a motor 97.

In detail, the eight containers 27-1í27-8 of the intermediate group 38 are arranged below the distribution path 33, 86 and, respectively, in correspondence of the

calibrating openings 34. The containers are arranged in seats of a support plate, not shown, provided of suitable containment vanes, according to a configuration which, in a clockwise order, provides the container 27-1 arranged in proximity of the left back angle of the base 39, followed by the container 27-2 and then by all the others close the one to the other.

The disk 94 of each container 27, is provided of four circular seats 98 to receive and individually hold back the coins in input, having the thickness of the stored coins and so as to make to slide, in the use, on the fixed bottom 96. A predetermined rotation of the disk 94, on control of the electronic processing unit 31 , causes the positioning of the held coin back in front of the opening 93 and the automatic expulsion of the coin on the collector 36 through the element of extraction 92.

The motors 97 of seven of the hoppers 27, in detail the containers 27-1 , 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 27,5 27-7 and 27-8 are mounted downward, under the bottoms 96 and directly operate on the disks 94. The container 27-6, arranged above the output port 29, does not to interfere with the passage area of the coins of the collector 36, while the motor is mounted upward and the motion for the disk 94 is transmitted through a pulley 99 and a belt 101.

The coins expelled from the various containers 27 simultaneously fall in the collector 36. The collector 36 is structurally put below the outputs of the hoppers and is inclined with respect to the base 39 in order to make to slip the disbursed coins from the hoppers toward the output port 29. In detail, the collector 36 has a Y shape. In the use, the container 27-1 introduces the disbursed coins in the underlying short side of the collector 36, the container 27-2 introduces in turn the disbursed coins in the portion of the collector median with respect to the two short arms and the container 27-3 on its turn disburses its content toward the short right side of the "Y" which represents the conveyer.

The containers 27-4 and 27-8 introduce their coins from opposite parts on the central long arm of the collector 36; finally the containers 27-5, 27-6 and 27-7 allow the coins to directly fall in the direction of the output port 29, thanks to two lateral notches and through a direct and central connection in the case of the hopper 27-6.

In the use, the electronic unit controls the single motors 97 and their respective extraction mechanisms. In detail, through digitation on the keyboard 49, the operator transmits the requests inherent to the typology and the quantity of coins to be

disbursed and on the basis of quantity available in the containers. The operator, through the display, can always know the residual quantity of coins, even for single denominations as well as to verify the correspondence between how much has been requested and how much indeed disbursed and made available to the level of the port or output area 29.

Figures 10-14 represent another variant 111 of the equipment of the invention, having the same functional characteristics and of interface in the use with the equipment 21. In this variant, the components functionally identical to the ones of the equipment 21 maintain a same numeration. Likewise to the equipment 21 , the equipment 111 includes, in detail, a collecting seat 112 for undiversified coins, a moving and serializating device 24, the classifying and distributing device 26, the calibrating openings 34, the deposit containers 27 with extraction and dispensing mechanisms 28, the collector 36, the output area 29 and an electronic processing unit 113. According to another characteristic of the invention, the equipment 111 includes a validator 114 for the recognition of the coins of the monetary system of reference (for example of the Euro system). To the validator 114 is associated a rejection device 116 for the removal of non validated coins from the serializating path; and a reject port 117 for the temporary collecting of such coins. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and likewise to the equipment 21 , even the equipment 111 is of reduced dimensions and has a shape which, in a plan view, is included in a substantially squared area and can be divided in three functional groups: an upper group 118, an intermediate group 119 and a base 121 and in which the upper group 118 and the intermediate group 119 are hinged on the base 121 and are openable in a independent way and accessible in the use through a lock.

In the detail, the upper group 118 (Fig. 11) comprises a body 122 including walls 123 which delimit the collecting seat 112. The body 122 partially covers the reject port 117 and has a control panel 124, provided of display and keyboard and arranged in a front portion of the equipment. The intermediate group 119 (Figg. 11 , 13, 14) includes a moving and serializing coin device, similar to the device 24 of the equipment 21 , and the classifying and distributing device 26. The classifying and distributing device 26 includes the

distributing member 61 , with the rotating ring member 66, actuated by the motor 71 , not shown in the figures.

The device 26 has an inverted cup section 51 and a guide body with a substantially frusto-conical surface 59. In this variant 111 , the slit for the serialization of the coins, herein represented with 127, is delimited by the lower edge of a separating wall 128. The separating wall 128 has the shape of a cylindrical sector, and is fixed on the guide body 59. In the use, the separating wall 128 is lodged in a notch of the wall 123 and is arrange without solution of continuity with the same wall 123.

The separating wall 128 has a lug 129 adjacent to the calibrating opening 34 of greater diameter, indicatively to shape of cylindrical sector, which limits the coins path of moving.

As shown for the moving and serializating device 24, the device 26 constitutes, in its upper portion, the base of support for the coins deposited in the seat 112 and has small balls 131 , functionally similar to the yielding jumpers 58, adapted to improve the circulation of the coins.

The validator 114 (Figg. 11 and 13) is mounted on a plaque 132, mounted spaced away from the body guide 59, between the lug 129 and the calibrating opening 34 of smaller dimensions. The validator 114 is of known type and, otherwise, is adapted to discriminate the coins of the system of reference among coins or other pieces non belonging to the system.

The rejection device 116 (Fig. 13, 14) comprises an electromagnet 133 mounted under the guide body 59 and a rejecting lever 134. The rejecting lever 134 is connected through an arm 136 to the movable core of the electromagnet 133 and is guided by a slit 137 obtained in the guide body 59. The slit 137 is arranged between the plaque 132 of the validator 114 and the calibrating opening 34 of smaller dimensions.

The lug 129 of the separating wall 128 guides the coins coming from the slit 127 in such a way that they passes one to after another in front of the validator 114 below the plaque 132, for their recognition and the possible expulsion by means of the rejection device 116.

In particular, in the case in which a forgery coin or a generic item is recognized and not validated, the electronic processing unit 113 activates the electromagnet 133 in

synchronism with the passage of the not validated coin in front of the slit 137, causing the push trough of the coin toward the reject port 117 by the rejecting lever 134. However, in the case in which the coins are recognized as genuine by the validator 114, the coin will continue their circulation along the distribution path to meet the calibrating openings 34 compatible with their diameter. Thereafter, the coins will fall for finishing inside the relative deposit containers 27, in a way similar to how has bee already seen with reference to the equipment 21.

The base 121 (Fig. 12) includes the deposit containers 27, with the relative extracting and dispensing devices 28, the collector 36, the output area 29 and the electronic processing unit 113.

Likewise, an equipment according to the invention which has a classifying and distributing device with a frusto-conical body guide surface divergent downward can also operate with a moving member and/or a distributing member different from the above described embodiment. Finally, an equipment according to the invention which provides for the distribution of the coins a distributing member with a contrast element which moves the coins through rolling can also operate with a moving member and a guide body different from the described ones.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the embodiments and the details of construction of the equipment for collecting, counting, classifying and dispensing coins can be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated, by way of non limitative example, without by this departing from the scope of the present claimed invention.