GB2135096A - Coin storage assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin storage assembly has several containers (6) each for storing a stack (10) of coins. A sensor (52) is located at the top of a container (6) near an entry (42) which is so designed that coins can only pass through the entry (42) if they are travelling edge-first. When the container (6) is nearly full, the next coin to arrive is supported on the top of the stack (10) in a predetermined position in the entry, so that it is reliably detected by the sensor (52).

Description

1 GB 2 135 096 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Coin storage assembly This invention relates to a coin storage assembly comprising one or more coin storage containers. The invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to containers incorporating mechanisms for dispensing coins therefrom.

Such containers are often used in coin handling apparatus such as is found in vending machines, change-giving machines, etc. Coins inserted in the machines are directed to one or more containers. There is a separate container for each coin denomi- nation which is to be stored and the coins are stored in a stack in each container. The use of such containers enables the machine to dispense coins in a change-giving operation. Also, storing different denomination coins in different containers make it easier to count the coins when the containers are emptied, and avoids the need for manual separation of the different denominations if such separation is desired.

Once the container is full, coins which are normal- ly directed to the container are instead delivered to a cashbox. In order to determine whether the container is full, it is conventional to provide a sensor which provides a signal when the stack of coins in the container exceeds a predetermined level. The sensor is positioned at that level so that as the level is reached by the stack the sensor provides a detection signal.

Inductive sensors have been used for this purpose, because they are inexpensive. However, one difficul- ty with this arrangement is that in some cases a coin entering the container or storage tube may come to rest in an upright orientation on the stack, instead of a horizontal orientation, especially if the container is nearlyfull and the coin does not fall far enough to build up a substantial velocity. This could result in the upright coin being spaced from the sensor by a distance which exceeds the range of the sensor.

Although the fact that the coin is positioned in an upright orientation might not itself cause problems because the coin would probably eventually settle in the correct orientation as the level of the stack decreases, due for example to the vibration caused by dispensing the coins, the fact that the coin has not been sensed would mean that any subsequently- inserted coins of the same denomination would be delivered to the container and this could cause jamming before the coins have had the opportunity to settle down to the correct positions in the container.

There are forms of optical sensor which could be used in place of the inductive sensor and which would detect a coin in the upright orientation. However, these are less simple to mount to the container, particularly because one or more light paths through the container are needed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin storage assembly comprising a container for storing in a stack coins delivered to the container, means so positioned and arranged that when the stack exceeds a predetermined level said means and the top of the stack will co-operate to cause the next coin delivered to adopt a predetermined position, and a sensor positioned to detect a coin which is in said predetermined position.

The invention thereby enables very reliable sensing of the coin stack reaching a full level, because the next coin then arriving is made to occupy a predetermined position and the sensor is arranged to detect a coin when in that predetermined position.

In a particular construction to be described in detail, said means comprises an entry of the container through which only coins for the container travelling edge-first can pass, and the sensor being positioned to detect a coin resting on the top of the stack and located in said entry.

The sensor is preferably positioned in proximity to the face of a coin located in the entry to the container.

The above arrangement ensures that a coin in the entry will be detected, so that if the level of the stack of coins is such that a coin remains in the entry, then a control device can detect this using the sensor and can arrange for further coins to be directed elsewhere.

The sensor is preferably inductive, but the advantages of increased reliability of sensing would also be achieved if other forms of sensor, such as optical, were used.

Known coin storage assemblies which incorporate several coin containers may have a single gate which determines whether coins are delivered to a common cashbox, or are instead delivered to a separating arrangement from which the different denomintions of coins are delivered to their respective coin containers. However, in some cases it is desirable to separate the coins first, and to provide a separate gate for each of the coin containers to control whether a coin of a particular denomination is to be delivered to the container or is instead to be delivered to a secondary passage leading to a cashbox. This latter arrangement is particularly useful if some or all of the denominations of coins have individual cashboxes for storing coins in excess of those which can be stored in the respective coin container.

There may also be other reasons for wishing to perform the gating operation afterthe coins have been separated. For example, if the separation takes a fairly long time, e.g. because many coins have to be separated, and the gating is carried out before separation, the control circuit may detect that a container is not full and direct a coin to the container. However, if another such coin was in the separator at the time of detection, the container will then receive two coins, and may be overfilled.

Thus, itwould be desirable to have a separate gate for each container. This, however, would result in a substantial increase in costs, most of which would be attributable to the price of the gates' actuators.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a coin handling apparatus comprising a plurality of supply passages each for supplying coins to a respective first passage or a respective secondary Oassage, each supply passage having a gate so that coins from the supply passage enter the first or 2 GB 2 135 096 A 2 the secondary passage depending upon whether the gate is in a first or a second position, wherein the gates have a common actuator.

This aspect of the invention is particularly useful for a coin storage assembly, in which the first passages lead to respective containers. However, this aspect of the invention also has uses in other areas.

By virtue of this aspect of the invention, the expense of providing a separate actuator for each gate is avoided. Under normal circumstances this results in no disadvantage, because coins are hand led one at a time and therefore the gates can be controlled as desired for each coin. However, if two coins are to be handled in quick succession, each requiring a different positioning of the gates by the common actuator, there may be insuffieient time for the actuator to shift the gates to the required position for the second coin.

In a preferred embodiment, this situation is dealt with by arranging for the control, in such circumst ances, to give priority to the coin to be directed to a secondary passage. This might result in one or other container filling more slowly than it would other wise, because occasionally a coin intended for that container will instead be delivered to the respective secondary passage, but this is of no practical disadvantage.

In the preferred embodiment, if a coin destined for a container is followed quickly by a coin destined for a secondary passage, then the gates are shifted toward the position for delivering coins to the secondary passage in sufficient time to ensure that the second coin is in fact delivered correctly.

By the time the first coin reaches the gate, the gate could be fully shifted to the position at which coins are delivered to the secondary passage, or could be in an intermediate position. The destination of the first coin may therefore be indeterminate, but be cause it was originally intended for the container, and as mentioned above there will be no disadvan tage in delivering it to the secondary passage, this does not matter.

If a coin destined for a secondary passage is followed quickly by a coin destined for the container, 110 then the gate is controlled in such a manner that it is ensured that the first coin enters the secondary passage. The gate could either then be left in that position so that the second coin goes into its secondary passage or it could immediately be shifted to the other position. In the latter case, the gate might be in an intermediate position by the time the second coin reaches it, so that the second coin might go either to the container or to the secondary passage, but again this is not of any practical 120 disadvantage.

It is conceivable, in such an arrangement, that because a gate may be in an intermediate position when a coin arrives, the coin might becomejammed, or might come to rest nearthe gate without entering eitherthe container orthe secondary passage.

This potential problem may be mitigated by using a still further aspect of the invention,which is particularly useful in apparatus of the type described above, but is also of value in other circumstances.

In accordance with this further aspect of the invention, there is provided a coin handling apparatus comprising a supply passage, and a gate so arranged that coins from the supply passage are delivered to a first passage or a secondary passage depending upon whether the gate is in a first or a second position, wherein the gate is movable between said first and second positions about a pivot axis which is upstream of a coin deflecting surface of the gate. The first passages preferably lead to respective containers.

Any coin which becomes jammed or comes to rest adjacent the gate will be allowed or caused to enter either the secondary passage for the container when the gate is next shifted, as will be explained in more detail below.

Preferably, the common actuator is arranged so that the gates are all in the position inWhich they allow coins to enterthe secondary passage when the actuator is de-energized.

Ail the containers may be provided with a gate operated by the common actuator, or alternatively there may be a group of the containers associated with the gates operated bythe common actuator, and one or more other containers having gates operated by one or more other actuators.

An arrangement embodying the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:, Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a coin storage assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation showing part of a container of the storage assembly of Figure 11; Figure 3 is a partial view of another container of the assembly; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the interior of the upper end of the container; and Figure 5 is a sectional view of a dispensing mechanism of the container.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the coin storage assembly 2 of the present embodiment is positioned beneath a coin separator (not shown). The separator receives from a validator coins which have been tested and found to be genuine, and separates the different denominations of coins in order to deliver them via respective supply passages 4 to the coin storage assembly.

The assembly of the present embodiment cornprises a plurality of, and in this particular case four, storage units 6. Each unit 6 has a storage space 8 for storing a stack 10 of coins received from a supply passage 4, a secondary passage 12 which can also receive coins from the supply passage 4, and an additional passage 14.

The stacked coins in the storage space 8 can be dispensed one at a time by a dispensing mechanism generally indicated at 16.

Coins from a supply passage 4 are normally delivered to the storage space 8, but if the storage space is full they are instead delivered to the secondary passage 12, which leads to a cashbox. In the present embodiment, the secondary passages 12 lead to separate cashboxes. A gate 18 determines whether the coins from a supply passage 4 go to the storage space 8 or the secondary passage 12.

1 3 GB 2 135 096 A 3 Each additional passage 14 receives coins from a respective separator passage 20. These coins may be of a denomination which the apparatus is not required to dispense, and the coins may be routed by the additional passages 14 to separate cash boxes, or a common cashbox. In the preferred embodiment, one of the additional passages 14 is used to route coins which have been rejected by a validator to an exit slot for retrieval by the user of the apparatus.

Each unit 6 is formed in two longitudinal halves.

Figure 2 shows the left-hand half of one of the units.

Each half is formed by injection moulding. If desired, the two halves could be formed in a single mould, with the halves linked together by a flexible hinge along the edge 22 so that the halves can be readily closed to form the storage unit 6 after ejection from the mould. The halves are fastened together by screws throu g h bosses 24.

The storage space 8 is formed between an outer wall part 26 and an inner wall part 28. The secondary passage 12 is formed between the inner wall part 28 and a further inner wall 30, and the additional passage 14 between the wall 30 and a rear wall 32.

The storage space 8 is cylindrical, and has a diameter which is slightly greaterthan that of the coins intended to be stacked in the space.

It is intended that the unit 6 be usable with coins of various diameters. However, for coins of substantial ly different diameters, other units 6, having different diameter storage spaces 8, would be used. Figure 3 shows part of another such unit 6 having a reduced diameter space 8 for smaller diameter coins. This can be achieved simply by changing an insert in the injection mould used to form the container units, so that the wall part 26 remains of the same thickness, but wall part 28 becomes thicker. This arrangement ensures that the left-most edges of the coins in the stack 10 (as seen in Figure 2) are always at substan tially the same position irrespective of the diameter of the coins; this simplifies the design of the dispensing mechanism.

The container unit 6 is secured in position at its top end by a screw through a hole 38 in a mounting structure 40, which has an inclined face engaging a similarly inclined face of a wall 41 of the separator.

At its bottom end, the container unit is located by a boss 34 and hook 35 engaging with mating portions of an enclosure case (not shown).

The coins from the supply passage 4 reach the storage space 8 via an entry 42. The entry 42 comprises a narrow space 44 between a wall 46 of the separator and a ledge 48 at the upper end of the inner wall 28. The shape and size of the space 44 are such that coins can pass through the space only if they are travelling edge-first.

When the stack 10 reaches a certain level (which will be different for coins of different diameters), as shown in Figure 2, the next coin 50 to be delivered through the entry 42 will come to rest on the top of the stack, with its upper edge supported on the]edge 48.

The coin 50 is supported in a generally upright, but inclined orientation with its centre of gravity located over the stack 10. An inwardly-inclined, flat upper 130 edge 54 of the outer wall 26 assists in guiding the coin 50 to this orientation. An inductive sensor 52 is mounted in the separator in such a position that it will be in proximity to the face of the coin 50. The sensor 52 is able to detect the presence of coin 50 which indicates that the storage space 8 is full, which detection is reliable because the position of the last coin to enter the storage space is predetermined by the configuration of the entry 42 in co-operation with the stack 10.

If a coin is now dispensed from the stack 10, so that the top of the stack moves down by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the dispensed coin, the upper edge of the coin 50 will no longer be supported by the ledge 48, and the coin will then fall directly face-down on the top of the stack.

Figure 4 schematically shows in more detail the interior configuration of the upper end of the storage space 8. The inclined portion 54 is joined to the inner sidewalls of the storage space 8 by curved portions 56. The portions 56 form parts of a surface or a notional cone having a downwardly-directed apex and an axis concentric with that of the storage space 8. Assuming that the stack 10 is at a fairly low level, the edges of a coin entering the storage space 8 will engage the curved surfaces 56, which will tend to flip the coin about a horizontal axis as indicated by the arrow A, so that the coin will tend not to be on edge when it lands on the stack 10.

Referring again to Figure 2, the inter-engaging surfaces of the mounting structure 40 and the support wall 41 are inclined so that they are substantially parallel to the coin 50. The purpose of this arrangement is to compensate for possible variations. in the length of the container unit 6, caused for example by different rates of shrinkage during the injection moulding of the container.

The unit 6 is fixed at its bottom end, so that any variations in the length of the unit will result in slight variations in the height of the top of the unit. However, because of the inclination of the engaging surfaces between the mounting structure 40 and the support wall 41, any differences in the height of the upper end of th unit 6 will result in slight changes in the horizontal positioning of the upper end. The overall effect of this is to ensure that the separation between the sensor 52 and the face of the coin 50 is constant irrespective of minor variations in the length of the unit 6.

A similar effect could be achieved if only one of the inter-engaging surfaces of the mounting structure 40 and the support wall 41 were to be inclined parallel to the coin 50, rather than both of these surfaces.

As shown in Figure 1, the gates 18 of the four storage units 6 are all mechanically connected together, and indeed may be integrally formed. The gates all have a common actuator, which is a solenoid 60.

The gates are all pivoted about a common axis 62 located near the upper ends of the gates. When the solenoid 60 is de- energized, the gates 18 adopt the positions shown in phantom in Figure 2. In this position, the gates do not obstruct the travel of the coins'from the supply passages 4, which therefore all fall into the respective secondary passages 12.

4 GB 2 135 096 A 4 When the solenoid 60 is energized, the gates all move to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2.

Coins from the supply passages 4 are thus deflected by the gates 18 toward the entire 42 of the storage spaces 8.

The circuit for controlling the solenoid 60 operates as follows. The circuit receives signals from a validator to indicate the denominations of coins received thereby. Assuming that the coin is of a denomination which is stored in one of the storage units 6, the circuit checks the appropriate sensor 52 forthat unit to determine whether the storage space 8 of the unit is full. Assuming that the unit is full, the circuit ensures that the gates 18 are all in the position shown in phantom in Figure 2 before the coin arrives at the respective gate by de-energizing the solenoid if it is not already de-energized. The circuit also resets a timer, and is arranged so that the solenoid cannot be energized until at least a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, which amount is such as to ensure that the coin will have passed the gate 18 before the solenoid 60 can be energized.

If then a further coin is tested by the validator and found to be of a denomination stored in one of the units 6, and further assuming that the sensor 52 for that unit indicates that the storage space 8 is not yet full, then the circuit will determine that the solenoid should be energized in order to direct that coin to its storage space. However, if the preceding coin was directed to the secondary passage 12 within a predetermined amount of time prior to the arrival of the present coin, then the energization of the solenoid 60 is delayed until that predetermined amount of time has elapsed. Accordingly, the gates 18 might still be in the position shown in phantom in 100 Figure 2 by the time the present coin arrives at the gate, in which case the coin will be directed to the secondary passage 12 instead of to the storage space 8. This however, is not of any serious dis advantage.

The solenoid 60 is de-energized at a predeter mined amount of time afterthe detection of the coin which was destined for the storage space 8.

However, if a further coin is inserted into the validator, and it is determined that this should be delivered to a secondary passage 12, then the solenoid 60 is de-energized (as before) in sufficient time forthe gates to have moved to the position shown in phantom in Figure 2 before the arrival of this subsequent coin. This may result in premature de-energization of the solenoid 60, so tht in this case also the coin destined for the storage space 8 is delivered instead to the secondary passage 12.

Again, this is of no particular disadvantage, because it will occur only in the relatively rare instances in which coins destined for storage spaces 8 are followed very quickly by a coin intended for a secondary passage 12.

It will be appreciated from the above discussion that, by the time a coin originally intended for the storage space 8 arrives at the gate 18, the gate 18 could in fact be moving toward or away from the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. This could result in the coin being trapped between the gate 18 and the wall 28. However, because the gates 18 are pivoted about an axis which is upstream of the coin-deflecting surfaces of the gates 18, the subsequent de-energization of the solenoid 60 will free the trapped coin as the gate 18 moves back to the position shown in phantom in Figure 2.

If the gate 18 is moving away from the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2, the coin might come to rest on top of the edge 48 of the wall 28. However, the next time the solenoid 60 is energized, the gate 18 will knock the coin toward the storage space 8 (which is the originally-intended destination of the coin). Accordingly, the described arrangement provides a simple but effective way in which two or more gates can be operated by a common actuator without producing jamming or overfilling of coin storage spaces, but which nevertheless allows for the arrival of coins in rapid succession.

The dispenser mechanism 16 is shown in more detail in Figure 5. The unit 6 has a base plate 70 located underneath the stack 10 of coins and provided with an aperture 72 which is offset from the lower end of the storage space 8. A slide 74 can slide horizontally between the bottom of the stack 10 and the top of the base plate 70. The slide 74 has an aperture 76, and isbiased by a spring 78 to the left as seen in Figure 5 so that the aperture 76 overlies the aperture 72 in the base plate 70. To dispense a coin, a solenoid 79 is energized in order to move the slide 74 to the right so that the aperture 76 is underneath the stack 10 of coins. The lowermost coin in the stack enters the aperture 76, and projects slightly above the top of the aperture. The energy to the solenoid is released so that the slide shifts backtoward the left, bringing the coin in the aperture 76 over the aperture 72 so that the coin can fall through both apertures in order for it to be dispensed. The second-lowermost coin in the stack 10 is prevented from being moved by the slider by its engagement with the lower end of a designator member 80 which is held against the lower end of the wall 26 by the spring 78. The designator member 80 is selected from a range of members in accordance with the thickness of the coins to be dispensed.

Although the assembly referred to herein has been described as being used with coins, it is of course possible to use it for other items of similar shapes and sizes to coins, for example tokens such as are commonly used in amusement machines, and the term "coin" is intended to cover such items.

Claims (21)

1. A coin storage assembly comprising a container for storing in a stack coins delivered to the container, means so positioned and arranged that when the stack exceeds a predetermined level said means and the top of the stack will co-operate to cause the next coin delivered to adopt a predetermined position, and a sensor positioned to detect a coin which is in said predetermined position.

2. A coin storage assembly as claimed in claim 1, said means comprising an entry of the container through which only coins for the container travelling edge-first can pass, and the sensor being positioned to detect a coin resting on the top of the stack and C 2 1 t GB 2 135 096 A 5 located in side entry.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor is inductive.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sensor is positioned so that it is in proximity to the face of a coin in said entry.

5. An assembly as claimed in anyof claims 2to 4, wherein said entry is arranged to support the coin at an orientation substantially displaced from the hori- zontal.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the entry is arranged to support the coin with its centre of gravity located over the stack.

7. An assembly as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 6, wherein the entry has at least one surface which is curved in such a manner that the engagement of a coin entering the container with the surface tends to cause the coin to twist about a generally horizontal axis.

8. An assembly as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 7, wherein the container has a surface which engages the surface of a support to which the container is mounted, at least one of said engaging surfaces extending substantially parallel to a coin in said entry.

9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of said containers, each for receiving coins from a respective supply passage, and a plurality of gates each arranged to direct coins from a respective supply passage eitherto a respective container or to a respective secondary passages.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the gates have a common actuator.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, including a control for controlling said gates in such a manner that coins from a supply passage are directed to the container unless the sensor of the container indicates that the stack of coins therein has exceeded said predetermined level.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein appenderitto claim 10, wherein the control is operable to control said common actuator so as to give priority to coins destined for secondary pas- sage.

13. A coin storage assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A coin handling apparatus comprising a plurality of supply passages each for supplying coins to a respective first passage or a respective secondary passage, each supply passage having a gate so that coins from the supply passage enterthe first or the secondary passage depending upon whetherthe gate is in a first or a second position, wherein the gates have a common actuator.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, comprising a plurality of containers each for storing coins delivered to a respective first passage.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, including a plurality of sensors each for indicating when a number of coins in a respective container exceeds a predetermined amount, said common actuator being controlled so that coins of a particular denomi- nation are sent to a respective container until the sensor for that container indicates that said predetermined amount has been exceeded, following which the coins are directed to the respective secondary passage.

17. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 14 to 16, including a control circuit for operating said actuator, the control circuit being arranged to give priority to coins destined for secondary passages.

18. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 14 to 17, wherein the gates are all arranged so that coins enter the secondary passage when the common actuator is de-energized.

19. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 14 to 18, wherein the gates are all pivoted between their two positions about an axis which is upstream of the coin deflecting surfaces of the gates.

20. A coin handling apparatus comprising a supply passage, and a gate so arranged that coins from the supply passage are delivered to a first passage or a secondary passage depending upon whether the gate is in a first or a second position, wherein the gate is movable between said first and second positions about a pivot axis which is upstream of a coin deflecting surface of the gate.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, including control means for controlling an actuator of the gate in response to a variety of conditions, wherein the control means is operable under certain conditions to control the actuator in such a manner that the gate is in an intermediate position, between said first and second positions, upon arrival of a coin at the gate.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Croydon Printing Company Limited, Croydon, Surrey, 1984. Published byThe Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.