EP0351295B1 - Coin-handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a housing possessing a front face provided with an admission slot for coins and with a coin return receptacle. A conveyor, situated in a shaft communicating by gravity with the return receptacle, transports the coins from the admission slot to a processing module. The conveyor possesses two notched belts interacting with each other to ensure the transportation of the coins with one belt extending below the interacting surfaces of the two belts.

Description

The invention relates to the processing of coins.

It relates in particular to automatic ticket vending machines, for example transport tickets, although the invention is not limited to this application.

It should be noted here that the term "coins" applies to any discoid object likely to have an exchange value. This of course relates to real coins but can apply for example to tokens or the like.

The purpose of such a distributor is to issue a ticket after receipt of a sum of money greater than or equal to the value of the ticket. In the event that the difference between this sum and the value of the security is not zero, there is a return of documents corresponding to the amount of this difference.

A dispenser of this type has a front face, provided with a coin inlet slot and with a coin and / or title return receptacle. It includes inside a processing module connected to the intake slot, suitable for receiving by gravity the coins introduced into it, to recognize them, and possibly to deliver coins in the return receptacle if the extra n has not been done.

Among the known processing modules, two types can be distinguished. Those of a first type have a part recognition unit which determines their characteristics using sensors in front of which the parts pass during their fall by gravity from their entry into the module. The presence of these different sensors therefore imposes a minimum height of the recognition assembly. Following this is arranged a parts storage assembly, the lower part of which constitutes the output of the processing module. Such a module is for example marketed by the American company MARS ELECTRONICS under the reference MS514S.

The modules of the first type therefore have a relatively large height (typically of the order of 700 mm for the MS514S module).

The second type of treatment modules recognize the parts, by other means than falling by gravity. Indeed, each part is transported by trolley then immobilized and the determination of its characteristics is then carried out in this position. These modules therefore generally have a reduced bulk but are, on the other hand, much more complex and more fragile.

The size of these various processing modules largely determines that of the distributor. However, to widen the range of people likely to use automatic dispensers, the height of the coin inlet slot relative to the ground must not exceed a certain value, typically of the order of 1.30 m. Likewise, the minimum height of the rendering receptacle relative to the ground is typically of the order of 700 mm.

Compliance with these constraints does not currently allow the use of a treatment module of the first type because the intake slot must necessarily be located above the entrance to the module, while the return receptacle must be located under its outlet.

The known solutions for moving coins (USA-4,214,654; DE-A-2,263,973) are not satisfactory, since they are mechanically complex and bulky, and / or that they are applicable limited to parts with special characteristics.

The main object of the invention is therefore to provide a solution to this problem.

An object of the invention is to allow the use of such dispensers, comprising in particular a processing module of the first type, while respecting the constraints of the heights of the intake slot and of the return receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to regulate the flow of admission of the coins into the processing module whatever the speed of introduction of the coins into the slot by the user.

Another object of the invention is to allow the admission of the pieces one by one into the processing module even if several pieces are introduced simultaneously into the intake slot.

The invention also aims to evacuate to the return receptacle any object introduced into the slot, different from a part, and capable of preventing its proper functioning.

• un convoyeur équipé d'au moins une première courroie,
• un couloir d'admission de pièces par gravité, possédant une entrée d'admission en regard de la fente d'admission, et aboutissant à un flanc, caractérisé en ce que la cheminée communique par gravité avec le réceptacle de restitution;

en ce que la première courroie (300) est crantée sur au moins une première face (300-E), ladite première courroie possédant une partie débordante (300-D) au bas du convoyeur ;
en ce que le flanc (32) avoisine la face crantée (300-E) de la partie débordante (300-D) de la première courroie (300),
et en ce que les moyens d'acheminement (3) comprennent:

• des moyens d'écartement (33) pour écarter périodiquement dudit flanc (32) la partie débordante (300-D) de la première courroie et,
• des moyens de transfert (34), situés en haut du convoyeur (30) et propres à transférer les pièces du convoyeur vers l'entrée du module de traitement (2).

The invention therefore relates to a device for processing coins or the like, comprising a housing having a front face provided with a coin inlet slot and a coin return receptacle, said housing comprising in its inside a parts processing module, means for conveying parts from the inlet slot to the input of the processing module and means for returning parts connecting the output of the processing module to the return receptacle, the routing means comprising, in a chimney:

• a conveyor equipped with at least a first belt,
• a corridor for the admission of parts by gravity, having an intake entrance facing the intake slot, and leading to a sidewall, characterized in that the chimney communicates by gravity with the return receptacle;

in that the first belt (300) is notched on at least one first face (300-E), said first belt having an overhanging part (300-D) at the bottom of the conveyor;
in that the sidewall (32) borders the notched face (300-E) of the projecting part (300-D) of the first belt (300),
and in that the routing means (3) comprise:

• spacing means (33) for periodically separating from said flank (32) the projecting part (300-D) of the first belt and,
• transfer means (34), located at the top of the conveyor (30) and suitable for transferring the parts of the conveyor to the inlet of the processing module (2).

The spacing means are advantageously suitable for alternately moving the projecting part of the belt between a first position in which the notched face is flush with the sidewall, and a second position, spaced from the first position, the excursion of this spacing being at least substantially equal to the maximum thickness of the parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the first belt is driven by motor means and the spacing means comprise an eccentric roller located opposite said flank and driven by the first belt.

The conveyor advantageously comprises a second notched belt on at least one of its faces, and whose notches mesh with those of the first belt.

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématique d'un mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de face illustrant une partie du dispositif de la figure 1, notamment les moyens d'entrée ;
• la figure 3 est une représentation schématique du trajet des différentes courroies du dispositif ;
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle schématique selon la direction A de la figure 2 ;
• les figures 5 et 6 illustrent deux positions de la partie débordante de la première courroie du convoyeur et,
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique partielle selon la direction C de la figure 2.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below and the attached drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a front view illustrating a part of the device of Figure 1, in particular the input means;
• Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the path of the various belts of the device;
• Figure 4 is a partial schematic view in direction A of Figure 2;
• FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two positions of the projecting part of the first conveyor belt and,
• FIG. 7 is a partial schematic view in the direction C of FIG. 2.

The drawings essentially contain elements of a certain nature and form an integral part of the description. As such, they can not only serve to better understand the detailed description below but also contribute, if necessary, to the definition of the invention.

The processing device, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a housing B having a front face FA provided with a slot for admission of the parts 1, and a parts return receptacle RES. Inside the housing B, a wall PA is located opposite and at a distance from the front face FA and defines therewith a chimney CH communicating by gravity with the receptacle RES.

The width of the intake slot is slightly greater than the maximum thickness of the parts introduced; this width is typically 4mm here.

On the other side of the wall PA is arranged a parts processing module 2. This module can for example be the one sold by the American company MARS CORPORATION under the reference MS514S. Such a module is capable of accepting six types of coins, of recycling four of them, and consists, essentially, in its upper part of a set 20 for recognizing the coins introduced at its entry 2E, extended in its lower part by a set of storage and recycling of these parts 21.

This assembly 21 essentially comprises four tubes for storing and recycling parts 210 to 213, as well as a channel for the parts accepted but not recycled, communicating at their base with the output 2S of the processing module. The rejected parts, consisting of invalid parts, are evacuated directly into the CH chimney by a conduit not shown in this figure.

Parts return means 4 are located between the outlet 2S of the processing module and the restitution receptacle RES. They comprise, arranged opposite and at a distance from the outlets of the four recycling tubes of the treatment module, a conveyor belt 40 suitable for being set in motion by control means 42 in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the direction. longitudinal of the tubes. This conveyor belt 40 opens on one side into the chimney CH, and on the other side into a collection receptacle 7, or box. In the vicinity of the end opening into the body 7, is disposed a plate 41, movable in translation in a direction perpendicular to that of the movement of the conveyor belt 40. This plate 41 can then take a first position in which it is flush with the band conveyor 40 and a second position in which it is located at a chosen distance from this conveyor belt. The choice of this distance will be explained below.

In the vicinity of the end of the conveyor belt opening into the chimney, is arranged, extending from the wall PA of the housing, a skirt 43 bordering the conveyor belt 40.

The device also includes two bowls 5 and 6 ("HOPPER") containing a reserve of coins and possibly intended to make change in addition to the various tubes of the processing module. These two bowls 5 and 6 communicate by gravity through a channel 56 with the conveyor belt 40. These bowls can be used for those sold by the English company COIN CONTROLS Limited under the reference MKII.

In the chimney CH, are arranged routing means 3 between the inlet slot 1 and the inlet 2E of the treatment module 2. These routing means comprise a conveyor 30 and transfer means 34 suitable for transferring the parts at the outlet of the conveyor towards the entry 2E of the processing module.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the routing means 3 located in the chimney CH of the housing. Sure the wall PA of this chimney, are fixed a plurality of rollers 305, 306, 33, 308, 309, 314 around which circulates a first flat belt 300, notched on its two faces. This first belt 300 partially meshes with a second belt 302 notched on its external face, and circulating around the roller 309 and the rollers 307 and 315. The cooperation of the notches of these two belts defines a conveyor 30 of which a more detailed representation is illustrated in figure 3.

The roller 305 is a drive roller driving the notches 301-I of the second face, or internal face, 300-I of the first belt 300. The first face, or external face, 300-E of the first belt 300 meshes by means of the notches 301-E with the notches 303-E of the external face 302-E of the second belt 302, approximately between the rollers 308 and 314. The internal face 302-I of the second belt 302 is not not notched and runs around the rollers 307, 309 and 315 being driven by the first belt 300. It should be noted here that the roller 309 disposed inside the path of the second belt could be located on the other side of the conveyor.

The path of this conveyor 30 therefore essentially comprises two straight lines 30-1 and 30-2 forming, at the level of the roller 309, an angle a0 substantially equal to 3 °.

The first belt 300 has a part 300-D extending beyond the bottom of the conveyor 30 and circulating around an eccentric roller 33. In order to compensate for the variable path of the first belt due to the eccentric roller, the roller 306 is a tension roller cooperating with the external face 300-E of this first belt.

At the top of the conveyor, there is the trace of entry 342 an access duct to the processing module 2 which will be detailed below.

At the projecting part 300-D of the first belt, between the roller 307 and the eccentric roller 33 is, shown in dotted lines, the trace of the outlet end 311 of an inlet passage for the parts P, that l 'We will now describe with particular reference to Figure 4.

This coin inlet corridor 31 has an inlet inlet 310 located opposite the slot 1. It is delimited at the bottom by a sloping bottom 313 connecting the inlet inlet 310 to the outlet end 311. The corridor 31 is delimited laterally on the one hand by an edge 312 and on the other hand by a sidewall 32 extending substantially perpendicularly in the chimney CH between the front face FA and the wall PA. The width of this corridor is the same as that of the intake slot.

The sidewall 32 borders the projecting part 300-D of the first belt 300, the latter being disposed between the wall PA and the outlet end 311 of the inlet corridor. A recess 323 is formed in the sidewall 32 in the vicinity of the roller 307 in order to allow the passage of the first belt not shown in this figure.

The sidewall 32 is mounted on an assembly 321, pivotally movable, under elastic return (not shown in this figure) towards the projecting part 300-D of the belt 300, around a shaft 322 fixed perpendicular to the wall PA of the housing .

Since the projecting part 300-D of the first belt is mounted on the eccentric roller 33 located opposite sidewall 32, it is capable of moving between a first position illustrated in FIG. 5 and a second position illustrated in FIG. 6. In these two figures, the dimensions of certain elements have been deliberately exaggerated, as have the ratios of these dimensions between them.

The sidewall 32 is shown very schematically mounted to pivot under elastic return 326 about the axis 322. The first position of the projecting part 300-D is obtained when the large diameter of the eccentric roller 33 faces the sidewall 32. In this case , the notched external face 301-E of this first belt is flush with the sidewall 32 so as to close the outlet end 311 of the inlet passage. It should be noted here that the outcrop of the belt is obtained, on the one hand, by the position of the eccentric roller and, also, by the elastic return of the sidewall 32.

In its second position, obtained when the small diameter of the eccentric roller 33 faces the flank 32, the notched external face of the belt 300 is spaced from the flank 32, and the outlet end 311 is largely released. The angular movement of the sidewall 32 is limited by a stop 325. This is shown schematically in FIGS. 5 and 6 and in no way prejudges the production of this stop.

The two positions of the projecting part 300-D are obtained by the choice of the position of the eccentric roller vis-à-vis the flank but also by the choice of the thickness of the first belt. The excursion of the spacing of the projecting part is chosen to be at least substantially equal to the maximum thickness of the parts introduced, preferably slightly greater. Similarly the thickness of the first belt obviously depends on the position of the point of attachment of the eccentric roller, and is generally chosen at least substantially equal to the maximum thickness of the parts, preferably equal. We choose here as an example a thickness of about 4mm. The choice of this thickness also makes it possible to avoid, when the belt is in its first position, that a thin piece infiltrates the wrong side of this belt, that is to say between the belt. and the eccentric roller.

The routing means 3 also comprise a safety member 35 (FIG. 2) comprising an electromagnet 350 coming into contact with the end of the movable assembly 321 opposite the side 32 with respect to the axis 322. This electro -magnet 350 is software controlled and is able to separate the sidewall 32 with respect to the projecting part 300-D of the belt in a direction tending to move this part away from the first notched face 300-E, and therefore from the eccentric roller 33 .

Reference is now made to FIG. 7 to describe in a more detailed manner the transfer means 34. At the level of the roller 314, the first and second belts separate substantially opposite the entry 342 of the access duct 344. This the latter has a bottom 345 with a slight slope in order to admit the pieces by gravity to the inlet 2E of the processing module 2. There is also provided a knurled wheel 341 secured to the wall PA of the case by means of an inclined arm 343 movable in rotation by gravity around an axis 343 ′ parallel to the wall PA. This wheel comes into contact by gravity with the side of the belt 302 just above the roller 314 and thus allows the introduction of a part of any diameter in the access duct 344.

We will now describe in detail the operation of the device.

The drive roller 305 drives the first belt 300 along its path. This rotates the eccentric roller 33 which has the effect of alternately moving the projecting part 300-D of this first belt between its first position in which it is flush with the sidewall 32 and its second position spaced from the first. The conveyor is therefore set in motion by the cooperation of the notches of the two belts 300 and 302. It should be noted here that, despite the eccentric roller 33, the gear of the two belts is carried out without problem. The speed of the “driving” belt 300 is constant on its ascending path, at the level of the conveyor, but is not on its descending path and the tensioning roller 306 then catches up with the slack in this belt. Some coins can be very thick, it is important that the belts are very slightly tensioned so as not to have too strong pressures at the level of the rollers.

When a part P is introduced into the inlet slot 1, it rolls by gravity on the bottom 313 of the passage 31 and ends on the sidewall 32 opposite the projecting part 300-D of the driving belt. This is obviously only possible when the outlet end 311 is released. The part P is then on the one hand blocked against the wall PA of the housing and snapped up by the notches of the external face 301E of the belt 300, when the latter on the other hand the movement of the eccentric roller returns to its first position.

It is therefore noted that the end 311 of the inlet corridor is alternately cleared and closed, thereby regulating the flow of admission of the parts whatever the speed. introduction of parts into the inlet slot by the user.

The part P leaves the side 32 at the clearance 323 to be taken between the two belts 300 and 302 so as to be brought to the level of the roller 314 by the conveyor 30. The gripping and the transport of the part between the two belts are advantageously facilitated by the small angle a0 between the two straight lines of the path of the conveyor. Arriving at the top of it, the end of the notch cooperation frees the room. In the case where it is a small diameter part, it is driven by the conveyor by being pushed against the wall PA. At the top of the conveyor, it therefore naturally falls by gravity into the access duct 344. If it is, on the contrary, a piece of larger diameter, the fall of the latter in the duct 344 is helped by an impulse supplied by the wheel 341.

The routing means allow the pieces to be transported over a height of approximately 30 cm, which makes it possible to comply with the implantation constraints mentioned above.

The thickness of the inlet passage 31 optionally allows the introduction of two fine pieces, for example two pieces of 20 cts, joined to one another. It is therefore imperative to separate these two parts. The device achieves such a separation because when the two parts open out of the intake corridor, one is in direct contact with the sidewall, fixed, the other in direct contact with the toothed belt, mobile, and there is sliding from one room to another, which tends to peel them off.

In the event that a user introduces a foreign object into the admission slot, for example a folded ticket in four, the safety member 35 allows it to be evacuated in the chimney CH towards the RES rendering receptacle. In fact, the electromagnet 350 acts on the movable assembly by rotating the sidewall 32 opposite the eccentric to cause the object to fall into the chimney.

We will now describe the operation relating to the means for returning the parts 4. The structure of the processing module used induces an output of parts at the base thereof a very short instant after the introduction of parts at the inlet. However, it is not possible to automatically cash these coins in the cash register 7 because, as long as the customer has not received his ticket, he must be able to cancel the transaction and recover his coins. It is therefore necessary to provide a system which sequesters, during the time of the transaction, the parts lowered from the processing module before sending them to the box 7 or else to the return receptacle. A system of various channels and flaps would make it possible to perform such a function but would require an additional height of fall compared to that already necessary for the treatment module. This is not possible considering the constraints of the height of the slot and of the return receptacle set out above.

The use of the conveyor belt 40 makes it possible to solve this problem while keeping a minimum space requirement for the device. When the pieces fall to the bottom of the processing module, the control means 42 put the conveyor belt 40 in motion at low speed towards the plate 41, therefore towards the body 7. This has the effect of avoiding accumulation in heaps, pieces falling on the conveyor belt. The plate 41 being in its flush position it acts as a retaining member and the parts come to accumulate against it. When the transaction has come to an end, the control means raise the plate 41 a distance greater than the height of the heap formed, actuate the conveyor belt 40 and the coins fall into the box 7. In the next half-second, the currency likely to be returned to the customer in the event of overpayment falls on the conveyor belt and this is set in motion by the control means towards the chimney CH. The skirt 43 here has the function of preventing an untimely fall of parts into the chimney when they fall from the processing module onto the conveyor belt.

If the transaction does not go to completion, the conveyor belt 40 is set in motion towards the chimney CH making the pieces introduced.

• l'utilisation d'un galet excentré est particulièrement avantageuse pour réaliser le mouvement alterné de la courroie par rapport au flanc car la même source d'énergie est utilisée pour créer ce mouvement et pour entraîner la courroie motrice 300. On pourrait cependant envisager tout autre type de moyens d'écartement ;
• les moyens d'acheminement sont particulièrement avantageux dans le cas de l'utilisation d'un module de traitement du premier type. Cependant, on pourrait utiliser de tels moyens d'acheminement avec tout autre type de module de traitement quelle que soit sa hauteur. On a en effet notamment remarqué que l'agencement de la partie débordante de la courroie et du flanc permet le décollement de deux pièces introduites simultanément dans une fente d'admission ce qui préoccupait jusqu'alors les hommes de l'art.

The invention is not limited to the module described above but embraces the variants covered by the claims, in particular the following:

• the use of an eccentric roller is particularly advantageous for carrying out the alternating movement of the belt with respect to the sidewall because the same source of energy is used to create this movement and to drive the driving belt 300. One could however envisage any other type of spacing means;
• the routing means are particularly advantageous in the case of the use of a processing module of the first type. However, one could use such routing means with any other type of processing module regardless of its height. It has in fact been noted in particular that the arrangement of the projecting part of the belt and of the side allows the separation of two parts introduced simultaneously into an intake slot what had hitherto preoccupied those skilled in the art.

Claims (14)

1. Device for handling coins or the like, comprising a housing (B) having a front face (FA) equipped with an admission slot (1) for the coins (P) and a receptacle for change (RES), said housing comprising, on its inside, a coin handling unit (2), means (3) for guiding coins from the admission slot (1) to the inlet of the handling unit (2), and means for returning coins (4) by connecting the outlet of the handling unit to the receptacle for change, the guide means (3) comprising, in a chute (CH):

   - a conveyor (30) equipped with at least one first belt (300),

   - a gravity-operated coin admission column (31), having an admission port (310) opposite the admission slot (1) and abutting a flank (32), characterised in that the chute (CH) communicates by gravity with the receptacle for change;

   in that the first belt (300) is notched on at least a first face (300-E), said first belt having a projecting portion (300-D) at the bottom of the conveyor;
   in that the flank (32) abuts the notched face (300-E) of the projecting part (300-D) of the first belt (300),
   and in that the conveying means (3) comprise:

   - separating means (33) for periodically separating from said flank (32) the projecting portion (300-D) of the first belt, and

   - transfer means (34) located at the top of the conveyor (30) and capable of transferring the coins from the conveyor to the inlet of the handling unit (2).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the admission slot is located below the inlet of the handling unit.
3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the separating means are intended to displace alternately the projecting portion (300-D) of the first belt (300) between a first position, in which the notched face (300-E) touches the flank (32) and a second position, at a distance from the first, this distance being at least substantially equal to the maximum thickness of the coins.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the thickness of the first belt (300) is at least substantially equal to the maximum thickness of the coins.
5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the first belt (300) is driven by motor means (305) and in that the spacing means comprise an eccentric wheel (33) located opposite the flank (32) and driven in rotation by the projecting portion (300-D) of the first belt.
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first belt is notched on both faces.
7. Device according to claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the motor means (305) cooperate with the second face (300-I) of the first belt.
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flank is mounted on a mount (321) movable by a pivot (322) with spring-loaded return (326) towards the projecting portion of the first belt, and in that the guide means comprise a stop (325) limiting the swivel angle of the flank (32) when the spacing of the projecting part of the first belt is at its maximum.
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide means comprise a safety element (35) for separating the flank (32) from the projecting portion (300-D) of the first belt in a direction opposite to the maximum direction of spacing of the projecting portion (300-D).
10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conveyor comprises a second belt (302), notched on at least one of its faces (302-E), the notches (303-E) of this second belt cooperating with the notches (301-E) of the first face (300-E) of the first belt (300).
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the trajectory of the conveyor (30) comprises a first straight line (30-1) extended by a second straight line (30-2) forming a selected angle with the first straight line.
12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transfer means comprise a gravity-operated access conduit (344) towards the inlet of the handling unit (2) disposed on one side of the conveyor (30) and a wheel (341) disposed on the other side of the conveyor and intended for pushing the coins into the access conduit if necessary.
13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the return means (4) comprise a conveyor belt (40) located opposite the outlet (2S) of the handling unit (2), opening on one side into the chute (CH) and on the other side into a collecting container (7), as well as control means (42) for this conveyor belt for setting it in motion consecutively in the direction of the chute or in the direction of the collecting container.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the return means comprise a coin retaining element (41) which is displaceable relative to the conveyor belt (40) between a first position, in which it touches the conveyor belt, and a second position which is raised relative to the first.

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