EP0957457A1 - Sorting device for coin apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The sorting mechanism has an entry point Ä104Ü for different denomination coins and the base has outlets Ä70Ü at different points to four different collectors. Within the unit are a pair of pivot mounted flaps Ä26,32Ü and these can be operated dependent upon coin identification to select any one of four states and so directs coins into the appropriate channel.

Description

The invention relates to a sorting device for coin devices according to the Claim 1.

One category of sorting devices for coin operated machines works with sorting flaps. A flap assembly consisting of a plurality of individual ones Axis pivotable flap is arranged below an acceptance gate. The Flaps can be actuated by electromagnets. Located below the flaps there are several coin stacking tubes into which the coins are sorted. By it is a sensible arrangement and operation of the individual sorting flaps possible to put the coins into individual coin stacking tubes according to their value sort, for example in four individual tubes. This way you can total five coins are accepted by a machine if a fifth coin is directed straight to the cash register.

Sorting devices working with sorting flaps have the advantage that they do not have to be adapted to individual coin values and usually also work regardless of the size of the coin. Hence the order in of which the coin stacking tubes are arranged, arbitrarily selectable. Examples of such Sorting devices working with sorting flaps can be found in US Pat. No. 3,916,922. DE 37 18 979 or EP 0 622 763.

A disadvantage of the known sorting devices is that they are usually relatively high and also build big in depth. The installation space in the machine for such However, coin operated devices are limited.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a sorting device for coin devices to create that builds particularly small.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The sorting device according to the invention serves four coin tubes, which are below the Sorting device are arranged. The coin tubes are almost in line arranged what is due to the structure of the sorting device according to the invention is possible. This is explained in more detail below.

The sorting device according to the invention only requires four sorting flaps in order to sort the coins coming from the coin validator into the four coin tubes. Two Sorting flaps are arranged one below the other. There are two more sorting flaps arranged side by side next to the stacking of the first two sorting flaps. The sorting flaps can be swiveled around an axis in a housing stored, the first two sorting flaps preferably by approximately horizontal axis are pivoted, while the third and fourth sorting flap are pivotally mounted about an approximately vertical axis. The Sorting flaps are moved between two positions by electromagnets. In in each of the positions they rest on a housing stop. Im deactivated State of the electromagnets are all sorting flaps in the resting or Starting position. The first and second sorting flaps form a kind of slide in this for guiding the coin to a shaft leading to the till. The first Sorting flap, which is located immediately below the acceptance gate, is open assigned a career section to the rear (if subsequently from front and Back, then this means only one way of looking at one Side into the housing, namely on the wall part on which the sorting flaps are pivotally mounted with the wall part in front removed. Is therefore, when the first sorting flap is actuated, one coming from the acceptance gate falls Coin the slightly sloping section of the track and roll towards the third Sorting flap.

Third and fourth sorting flaps are provided with track sections, which are preferred are aligned with each other. A coin on the track section behind the first sorting flap rolls onto the track section of the third sorting flap or on the fourth sorting flap if the third and fourth sorting flaps are not actuated by the associated magnet. In this way, one Coin deflected furthest to the side from the acceptance switch to one Coin tube, which is laterally offset from the fourth sorting flap.

If the fourth sorting flap is in the described run of a coin by the actuated the associated magnet, the coin arrives in a shaft section which lies behind the fourth sorting flap and is formed together with a housing wall is. It is limited by a housing stop in the direction of the coin. The Coin is therefore stopped by the stop and falls down by one pointing shaft into the third coin tube.

The third sorting flap is already in the described run of the coin When pressed, the coin enters a shaft on the back of the third Sorting flap is formed together with a wall section. The wall section is limited in the direction of the coin by a housing stop, so that the incoming coin is stopped and through a downward-facing shaft falls into the second coin stacking tube.

If the second sorting flap is actuated by the assigned magnet, it slips the coin along the ramp-like first sorting flap and gets into one Shaft between the second sorting flap and the housing wall section to pass through a Opening or drop a shaft down into the first coin tube.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuation of the second and third sorting flap by a single electromagnet. The two Flaps are mechanically coupled such that an actuation of the third Sorting flap always the second sorting flap also pivoted. From the above Description of the course of the coins depending on the flap actuation shows that the double actuation of the flaps does not interfere with the sorting. In this way it is The effort for the sorting device is drastically reduced.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first, two, third and / or fourth sorting flap are provided with at least one opening for a light barrier. With the help of the light barrier, it can be determined whether there is any in the A coin is located in the area of the sorting flap. In this way, a sorting can be electronically monitored. Besides, it is possible to generate reset signals for the deactivation of the magnets as soon as a coin went through. This allows the sorting frequency to be increased.

The rear wall sections, which form shaft sections with the sorting flaps, are preferably carried out so that they cause as little friction as possible. Preferably they are therefore shaped like a grid.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine Ansicht einer Sortiervorrichtung nach der Erfindung bei abgenommenem zweiten Wandteil.

Fig. 2

zeigt die Ansicht auf die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit aufgesetztem zweiten Wandteil.

Fig. 3

zeigt einen Schnitt durch die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 2 entlang der Linie 3-3.

Fig. 4

zeigt einen Schnitt durch die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 2 entlang der Linie 4-4.

Fig. 5

zeigt einen ähnlichen Schnitt wie Fig. 4, jedoch mit einer anderen Position der Sortierklappen.

Fig. 6

zeigt einen ähnlichen Schnitt wie Fig. 3, jedoch mit einer anderen Position der Sortierklappen.

Fig. 7

zeigt einen ähnlichen Schnitt wie Fig. 4, jedoch in einer Position der Sortierklappen nach Fig. 6.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1

shows a view of a sorting device according to the invention with the second wall part removed.

Fig. 2

shows the view of the device of FIG. 1 with attached second wall part.

Fig. 3

shows a section through the device of FIG. 2 along the line 3-3.

Fig. 4

shows a section through the device of FIG. 2 along the line 4-4.

Fig. 5

shows a similar section as FIG. 4, but with a different position of the sorting flaps.

Fig. 6

shows a similar section as FIG. 3, but with a different position of the sorting flaps.

Fig. 7

shows a section similar to FIG. 4, but in a position of the sorting flaps according to FIG. 6.

hinten", d.h. in die Zeichenebene hinein, geneigten Position. Wird hingegen der Annahmemagnet 18 betätigt, schwenkt die Annahmeweiche 12 nach vorn". Dadurch wird eine von oben eintretende Münze nach vom in den Bereich der Sortierklappen gelenkt. In a one-piece molded plastic wall part 10 of a housing for a sorting device, an acceptance switch 12 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 14 lying here in the plane of the drawing. A coin enters from above in the direction of arrow 16. The switch is actuated by an electromagnet 18, which acts by means of an arm 20 on a lateral pin 22 of the acceptance switch. In the deactivated position of the magnet 18, the upper part of the acceptance switch 12 is in a behind

rear ", ie into the inclined position into the drawing plane. On the other hand, if the acceptance magnet 18 is actuated, the acceptance switch 12 pivots front ". This directs a coin entering from above into the area of the sorting flaps.

On a separate section 24, which is connected to the wall 10 in a suitable manner are, a first sorting flap 26 is pivotable about a horizontal axis 28 stored. It has a side pin 30 for pivoting operation a magnet. A second sorting flap 32 is horizontal about an axis 34 pivoted. It has a lateral pin 36.

A third sorting flap 38 can be pivoted about an approximately vertical axis 40 mounted on the wall part 10. The third sorting flap 38 is located next to the Stacking of the sorting flaps 26, 32. A fourth sorting flap 42 is can be pivoted about an approximately vertical axis 44 next to the third flap 38 stored. The axes 40, 44 are approximately parallel. The flaps 38, 42 have Actuator pins 46 and 48 for electromagnets.

2 shows the second wall part 50, which is on the first wall part 10 is put on. The tie rods of the three electromagnets 52, 54, 56 can be seen Operation of the sorting flaps. The magnet 52 actuates the pin via an arm 58 30 of the first sorting flap 26. The magnet 54 actuates the third via an arm 60 Sorting flap 38. This is the second via a fork 62 with the pin 36 Sorting flap 32 coupled so that actuation of the third sorting flap 38 always also leads to an actuation of the second sorting flap 32. The third Magnet 56 actuates fourth sorting flap 42 via arm 48 via pin 48.

In the area of arrows 70 to 76 in FIG. 1 are located below the sorting device Coin tubes, not shown, into which coins are directed onto a Manner, which will be described further below.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, is located behind the first sorting flap 26 and below this a track section 80. Between the second Sorting flap 32 and a wall section 82, a shaft 84 is formed through which a coin can step in the direction of arrow 70. Below the second sorting flap 32 a ramp-like sliding surface 86 is arranged in the direction of a shaft 88 which leads directly to the checkout, while the coin in the direction of arrow 70 leads to a first one Coin tube arrives.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 7, there is behind the third sorting flap 38 a shaft 90 through a wall section 92 and one in the running direction front stop 94 is formed. The shaft 90 leads to a coin tube in Direction arrow 72 according to FIG. 1. Behind the fourth sorting flap is a shaft 96 formed with the help of a wall section 98 and a front in the direction of travel Stop 100. In Figures 3 and 7, the fourth sorting flap 42 is in the starting position shown with the magnet 56 deactivated, so that the shaft 96 is largely closed.

The operation of the sorting device shown is explained below. In the position of the operated acceptance switch 12 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 an incoming coin enters area 104 between acceptance switch 12 and second wall part 50. However, if the acceptance switch is not actuated, as in 7, a coin arrives in the rear area of the wall part 10 an unspecified career for steering the coin to one Return slot.

If the first sorting flaps 26, 32 are not actuated, as shown in FIG. 7, and the acceptance switch 12 is in the actuated position (not as in FIG. 7 shown, but in Figures 4 and 6), the coin slips on the conveyor side the sorting flaps 26, 32 down towards the shaft 88, from where they are immediately got into the cash register. On the other hand, the sorting flap 32 is actuated via the sorting flap 38, as explained above and as shown in FIG. 5, the coin slides down the sorting flap 26 and into the shaft 84, whereupon it reaches the left tube according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

If, on the other hand, the sorting flap 26 is actuated, as shown in FIG. 4, it arrives the coin onto the track section 80 behind the sorting flap 26 or below this and is laterally deflected in the direction of the sorting flaps 38, 42. This have raceway sections 106, 108 on the underside. From the career section 80 the coin reaches the track sections 106, 108, i.e. it rolls in Fig. 1 from left to right to the right section of wall part 10, where it then goes to can fall down in the direction of arrow 76 into the rightmost tube.

However, if the sorting flap 38 was actuated, as is shown, for example, in FIG. 3, the coin arrives in the shaft area 90 in which it hits the stop 94 hits and does not roll further, rather falls downwards, in the direction of the arrow 72, i.e. 1. However, the flap 38 remains in the middle of the tube on the left in FIG deactivated position, as shown in FIG. 6, the coin rolls on on the assigned career segment. However, if the fourth flap 42 is actuated, the shaft 76 is released with the stop 100, the coin runs against the Stop 100 and falls the shaft 96 downward in the direction of arrow 74 in FIG. 1, i.e. into the center of the coin tube on the right.

It should be added that the sorting flaps 26, 32, 38 and 42 the pivot axis is formed in each case with the help of bearing journals not designated. It is further noted that in FIG. 1 the first sorting flap 26 with two openings 110 is provided, which serves for the arrangement of a light barrier, which determines whether a coin has crossed the area of the sorting flap 26. It goes without saying that the other sorting flaps with similar openings and light barriers can be provided. The explained wall sections, the respective Flaps face each other and form shafts with the flaps lattice-like, as is also shown at 112 in FIG. 1. This will make the Reduced friction for the sliding coins.

Claims (7)

Sorting device for coin devices, which is arranged below a coin diverter and above four coin tubes, with the following features: a first and a second sorting flap (26, 32) pivotably mounted about an approximately parallel axis, which are arranged one above the other and which together in the rest position form a ramp-like surface on which the coins slide flatly to an acceptance shaft (88) a third sorting flap (32) which is arranged next to the first two sorting flaps (26, 32) and is pivotably mounted about a third axis running transversely to the first two axes and below which a second coin tube (72) is arranged a fourth sorting flap (42) arranged next to the third sorting flap (32), which is pivotably mounted about a fourth axis approximately parallel to the third axis and below which a third coin tube (74) is arranged a fourth coin tube (76) is arranged offset to the free side of the sorting flap (42), all coin tubes (70 to 76) being arranged approximately in a row A first track section (80) is arranged behind the first sorting flap The third and fourth sorting flaps (38, 42) each have a third and fourth track section (106, 108) on their front side, which are approximately aligned with one another for guiding a coin rolling thereon into the fourth coin tube (76), the first track section ( 80) directs a coin to the third and fourth career sections (106, 108) in the pivoted position, the second sorting flap (32) forms with a housing wall a first shaft aligned with the first coin tube (70) in the pivoted position, the third sorting flap (38) with a rear wall of the housing forms a second shaft (72) aligned with the second coin tube, which is laterally delimited by a housing stop (94) the fourth sorting flap (42) forms, in the pivoted position with a rear wall of the housing, a third shaft (96) which is aligned with the third coin tube (74) and is laterally delimited by a housing stop (100) Electromagnets for actuating the sorting flaps (26, 32, 38, 42). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a single one Electromagnet (54) second and third sorting flap (32, 38) actuated. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first, second, third or fourth sorting flap has at least one opening for a light barrier. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first and second axes (14, 34) run approximately horizontally. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that third and fourth axes (40, 44) are slightly inclined to the vertical. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that first to third rear wall are shaped like a grid. Device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the Electromagnets (52, 54, 56) are arranged in a common holder.

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