WO2001006463A2

WO2001006463A2 - Hopper for processing pieces such as currency coins

Info

Publication number: WO2001006463A2
Application number: PCT/FR2000/002071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guy Mausy
Original assignee: Snef Cote D'azur S.A.
Priority date: 1999-07-21
Filing date: 2000-07-19
Publication date: 2001-01-25
Also published as: WO2001006463A3; FR2796628A1; AU6577500A; MC200008A1; FR2796628B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a hopper (1) for processing pieces (17) such as currency coins comprising an intake part (2) for coins from a payment terminal and an evacuating part (3) transmitting the coins to a pneumatic conveyor installation after treatment by means of a rotating recessed plate. The invention is characterised in that the hopper (1) comprises sealing means between the intake part (2) and the evacuation part (3). The invention is useful for transporting cash and particularly for transporting currency coins.

Description

"Hopper for processing coins such as coins"

The present invention relates to a hopper for processing coins such as coins.

This hopper can be used in various fields and mainly in the field of transport of funds by pneumatic way in particular for the transport of coins.

Such cash transport facilities are particularly advantageous at road toll stations or for the transfer of coins into casino slot machines. The invention may however find other applications outside the transport of coins, and other types of coins, in the broadest sense of the term, may come within the scope of application of the invention. Currently known devices for pneumatic conveying of metal parts.

This conveyance is most often carried out between collection terminals and a secure room receiving the coins. Document NO 93/18487 presents a device in which the coins corresponding to a payment, thrown into a hopper, fall on a honeycomb disc and are each housed in one of the cells. If two parts are superimposed in a cell, the upper part is deflected to the outside by a notch then lifted by the inclined bottom of this notch to be finally ejected from the cell. The pieces are then, depending on the result of a detection, oriented towards one or the other of two compartments of an annular display which surrounds the separation disc. At the end of each payment, the annular display rotates a fraction of a turn to bring the two compartments into a presentation position, while two empty compartments appear to receive the next payment, and the pieces corresponding to the previous payment arrive at a position of transmission, for example to collection boxes. The mobile part of the display unit is driven by its radially outer edge. The central part comprising the separating disc and its drive motor can tilt down to eject foreign bodies. In the event of a questionable item, or if the movable part of the display unit is being rotated, the part is returned to the detector instead of going to the display unit.

This document does not provide for a sealing system in the hopper. Thus, if it is desired to carry out pneumatic conveying of the parts downstream of the hopper, an additional element is necessary to open and close the pneumatic path.

Indeed, the pneumatic conveying path cannot be left perpetually open, given that this would greatly harm the suction force produced inside the pneumatic conveying installation.

The use of an additional element to ensure the seal allowing the closing or opening at will of the pneumatic track is heavy and expensive.

We also know the document WO 96/38823 which presents a pneumatic conveyor for small metal parts. The pneumatic conveyor is characterized by the fact that: several collection terminals are connected on the same main line; each collection terminal is equipped with an introduction device with watertight opening and closing each time parts pass through the main line; one or more main lines are connected to each means acting as a separator (air / rooms); each line is a tube, the diameter of which is defined as a function of the diameter of the pieces to be conveyed pneumatically, so as to make the position in the tube of a coin which is momentarily stationary unstable to promote its oscillated. The invention applies in particular to the conveyance of coins for collection terminals such as slot machines, motorway tolls.

The device described in this document applies particularly to pneumatic conveying. However, it requires an additional valve comprising a sleeve capable of closing or opening the pneumatic path.

This system requires management of the opening and closing of the valve. Furthermore, it may present the risks of blockage or poor sealing in the closed position, in particular by fatigue of the flexible sleeve.

Consequently, all of the hopper systems allowing pneumatic conveying are not entirely satisfactory.

Sealing them requires costly additional elements, the operation of which is not without drawbacks over time.

The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of current devices.

One of the first objects of the invention is to ensure within the hopper a seal between the part connected to the collection terminal and the part connected to the pneumatic conveying installation itself. The invention also provides various improvements to the operation of the hoppers.

In this context, it has the advantage of having means for detecting the presence of parts avoiding continuous operation of the rotary element within the hopper. The invention comprises, on this subject, specific detection means ensuring a significant improvement in the detection of the presence of a part.

Another object of the invention is to avoid shocks of parts when they fall into the hopper on a moving member.

The hopper has to do this a neutral impact zone ensuring the damping of the parts before their passage at the level of the rotating part.

The hopper presented here also makes it possible to improve disassembly.

Indeed, it sometimes appears necessary to dismantle the hopper, in particular for cleaning it.

In this case, the current hoppers require disassembly, most often using tools. On the contrary, the invention allows rapid disassembly by simply unlocking a hook.

The invention also makes it possible to avoid certain untimely blockages by the evacuation of solid foreign bodies. It also ensures the evacuation of liquids which can be introduced inadvertently or maliciously within the hopper.

Other objects and advantages will appear during the description which follows which is however given only for information.

The present invention relates to a hopper for processing coins such as coins, comprising a part for admitting coins from a collection terminal and an ejection part transmitting the coins to a pneumatic conveying installation after their treatment by the through a honeycomb rotary plate, characterized in that it comprises sealing means between the intake part and the ejection part.

The hopper according to the invention may be presented in the embodiments set out below: the sealing means comprise a lower plate, located in the ejection part, on which the rotary plate is applied; the sealing means further comprise an upper plate which is applied to the rotary plate; the lower plate comprises at least one orifice for the passage of the parts towards the conveyor installation the upper plate comprises at least one lumen for the passage of the parts on the rotary plate; - the contact surface of the lower plate with the rotary table is polished to optimize its surface condition and promote sealing; the bottom plate has a hard coating ply with a polished face to make the surface of contact with the turntable and remove any wear on the lower plate; the turntable is pressed against the lower plate by the vacuum generated by the conveying installation in the ejection part, in order to promote sealing; the space between the upper plate and the lower plate is only a few tenths of a millimeter greater than the thickness of the plate in order to promote sealing by laminating the air leakage (for example 2 to 10 tenths of a millimeter ). the lower and upper plates, and the turntable are oriented in an inclined plane so that the parts are applied to the lower edge of the light; the lower edge receives a coin presence sensor; the parts presence sensor comprises two strips placed on either side of the low point of the lower edge of the light, said strips each having a boss for bringing the piece to the central position in order to ensure electrical contact between the strips ; the upper plate includes an impact zone allowing the damping of the fall of the parts without impact on a moving element; the intake part comprises: a funnel for guiding the parts capable of being fixed in the lower part of the collection terminal, a bowl for accumulating the parts secured to the rest of the hopper, means for assembling the funnel and the bowl allowing easy disassembly of the hopper; the assembly means consist of a latching device on the rear part of the bowl and the funnel, and a locking hook on the front part; - It comprises a hole for evacuating foreign bodies, the hole being located at the level of the lower edge of the light and angularly offset from the low point in the direction of rotation of the rotary table; it includes a liquid discharge hole located at the low point of the light; the orifice and the light do not communicate and are diametrically opposed in order to increase the seal.

The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood. FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view capable of presenting the various constituent elements of the hopper according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the hopper in a particular embodiment. FIG. 3 is a top view of the hopper in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.

Figure 4 is a view of the hopper in a plane corresponding to that of the turntable.

As previously indicated, the hopper 1 presented here can be applied in the field of slot machines or at toll stations for the transport of funds by pneumatic means.

In this context, the hopper 1 will be placed in an intermediate position between a collection terminal and an installation 4 for pneumatic conveying.

It is at the collection terminal that the coins 17 are introduced by the user.

The pneumatic conveying installation 4 is partially illustrated in FIG. 1. There is indeed a pipe 26 for recovering parts.

Such pipes 26 will for example be fixed to the downstream part of the hopper 1 by means of collars 25. The installation 4 allows, by suction, the transport of the parts 17 from the hopper 1 to the protected room where the parts will be stored. .

In general, the hopper 1 ensures the treatment of the pieces 17. By treatment is meant different operations necessary following the grouped or at least irregular introduction of pieces 17 within the hopper 1 via the terminal d 'collection.

The treatment may in particular consist in the individual evacuation of the pieces 17 arriving in a disorderly manner in the hopper 1.

The treatment also consists of sorting between the pieces 17 and any other objects to be removed.

The processing can also consist of counting the pieces.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hopper 1 essentially comprises an intake part 2 and an ejection part 3.

The intake part 2 is located substantially downstream of the collection terminal.

It receives the parts 17 within the hopper 1 as also shown in FIG. 2.

The ejection part 3 is located upstream of the pneumatic conveying installation 4. It is the output of the hopper 1.

Part 3 ejects the parts 17 after their treatment.

To avoid loss of suction within the pneumatic conveying installation 4, it is necessary to block the departure routes of the parts when no part is to be transported.

Indeed, keeping all the starting areas of the installation permanently open would amount to a significant loss of power at the suction level.

Consequently, it is necessary to provide an opening of the installation 4 when parts are to be ejected and a closing of the installation 4 when no part is to be ejected. To do this, according to the invention, the hopper comprises sealing means between the intake part 2 and the ejection part 3.

In this way, no loss of aspiration occurs at the level of the pipe 26 of the installation 4 due to a setting at ambient pressure at the level of the collection terminal or of the hopper 1.

The hopper according to the invention further comprises a honeycomb rotary table 5 appearing in particular in FIG. 1.

The turntable participates in the processing of parts. The cells 7 which it comprises allow the introduction of the parts 17 and their individual transfer to the ejection part 3.

During this transfer, a counting can also be carried out by means of a detector shown in reference 27 in FIG. 1.

The rotary plate 5 is placed in an intermediate position between the intake part 2 and the ejection part 3.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the rotary plate 5 participates in the formation of the sealing means.

To do this, the rotary plate 5 is applied to a lower plate 6 located in the ejection part 3.

The exploded view of FIG. 1 perfectly shows this application on the lower plate 6. The contacting of the plate 5 and the lower plate 6 allows the creation of a sealing barrier between the intake part 2 and the ejection part 3.

According to an embodiment also illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower plate 6 comprises one or more orifices 9 allowing the parts 17 to be evacuated towards the installation 4 for pneumatic conveying.

FIG. 1 illustrates an orifice 9 consisting of a passageway towards the installation 4 by means of a connector 31. By the cooperation of the rotary plate 5 and the lower plate 6, a seal is produced between the part of inlet 2 and ejection part 3.

An air passage remains however possible when a cell 7 of the rotary plate 5 is located opposite the orifice 9.

However, this configuration is special and only occurs at certain moments in the rotation of the turntable.

In addition, a complete parts conveying device generally comprises several hoppers each connected to a collection terminal and to the pneumatic conveying installation 4.

In this context, most of the hoppers 1 will generally be in the sealing position, which ensures normal operation of the general device.

The hopper 1 presented here therefore ensures, whatever its configuration, a good quality result as regards the tightness of the pneumatic conveying installation 4.

In fact, the suction losses are either zero or too small to call into question the efficiency of the suction power.

In a particular embodiment, the sealing means further comprise an upper plate 8 which is applied to the rotary plate 5. The exploded view of FIG. 1 also presents this possibility.

The rotary plate 5 is framed there between the lower plate 6 and the upper plate 8. Sealing is only better achieved. The air leakage is limited by the reduced clearance between the plate and the lower and upper plates.

Preferably, the upper plate includes a lumen 10 allowing the passage of the parts 17 on the rotary plate 5.

The light 10 may be in different forms and in particular in that illustrated in FIG. 4.

In a particular embodiment, the contact surface of the lower plate 6 with the rotary plate 5 undergoes polishing in order to optimize its surface condition.

In this way, the application of the turntable 5 on the lower plate 6 will be carried out according to a better contact ensuring a greater seal.

In another embodiment, the lower plate 6 is made up in two parts and comprises a covering ply 11 producing the polished and hard contact surface with the rotary plate 5.

The presence of a covering ply 11 is illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be noted that the combination of a rotary plate 5 with a lower plate 6 and possibly an upper plate 7 is particularly advantageous.

Indeed, these elements allow on the one hand the processing of parts 17, in particular their individual sorting. On the other hand, they provide sealing within the hopper 1.

In addition, taking into account the suction current existing in the pneumatic conveying installation 4, the rotary plate 5 is constantly pressed against the lower plate 6. In this way, effective and regular contact of the turntable 5 on the lower plague 6 is achieved.

In a particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower 6 and upper 8 plates as well as the rotary plate 5 are oriented along an inclined plane.

This inclination is represented by the inclination direction 29 in FIG. 2.

By means of the inclination, the parts 17 passing through the light 10 will be applied to the lower edge 12 of this light.

This positioning of the parts 17 is illustrated in the figure.

FIG. 4 also presents the use of a sensor 14 for the presence of parts 17. The sensor 14 makes it possible to trigger the rotation of the rotary plate only when the presence of parts is detected.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor 14 comprises two lamellae constituted, for example, in an identical manner and positioned symmetrically around the low point 13 of the low edge 12 of the light 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the strips 15a,

15b comprises a boss 16a, 16b, making it possible to bring and maintain the part 17 between the two lamellae in order to ensure sufficient contact between the part 17 and each of the lamellae 15a, 15b.

In this way, when the parts 17 are made of an electrically conductive material, an electrical contact is made and allows the presence of parts to be detected.

Given the possible rotation of the turntable 5, the presence detection could be disturbed without the use of the bosses 16a, 16b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary plate 5 is driven by a motorization 28.

A current type motorization can be used. To avoid any workpiece impact 17 on the turntable 5, the invention also provides an impact zone 18 as shown in Figures 3 and.

This impact zone 18 is positioned on the upper plate 8 which is not in rotation.

In this way, the fall of the parts 17 from the collection terminal is damped without causing a shock to a moving element.

After amortization, the parts arrive at low speed on the rotary plate 5 by passing through the light 10.

The circuit followed by the parts 17 is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 by successive positions of the part 17.

To improve the possibilities of disassembly and reassembly of the hopper 1, the latter comprises in a particular embodiment a funnel 19 and a bowl 20.

The funnel 19 and the bowl 20 are located in the intake part 2.

The funnel 19 allows the parts 17 to be guided. It can be fixed in the lower part of the collection terminal.

As shown in Figure 1, common fastening means 30 such as screws can be used for this purpose.

The funnel 19 thus fixed can receive the rest of the constituent elements of the hopper 1. The assembly is carried out with the bowl 20 secured to the rest of the hopper 1 by means of assembly means.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the assembly means may consist of a snap-fastening device 21 located on the rear part of the bowl 20 and of the funnel 19 thus guiding with a locking hook 22 present on the front part.

In this way, the simple unlocking of the hook 22 makes it possible, by tilting the bowl 20, to separate the bowl 20 and the funnel 19. In another embodiment, the hopper 1 includes a discharge hole 23 for foreign bodies.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hole 23 is located at the periphery of the lumen 10 at the level of the bottom edge 12. The hole 23 is angularly offset with respect to the low point 13 so as to combine the effect of the centrifugal force and of gravity.

Indeed, the foreign bodies will tend by the rotation of the plate 5 to rise slightly. During this ascent along the lower edge 12, the evacuation may be carried out.

Preferably, the angular offset between the low point 13 and the discharge hole 23 will be between 0 ° and 90 °. Preferably, the evacuation hole 23 will be made through the lower 6 and upper 8 plates.

In another embodiment, the hopper 1 comprises a liquid discharge hole 24.

This hole 24 will allow the evacuation of liquids introduced maliciously or inadvertently through the collection terminal.

As illustrated, the liquid discharge hole 24 may be located at the low point 13 of the light 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hole 24 surrounds the low point 13 and is situated substantially at the level of the part presence sensor 14.

An example of implementation of the hopper 1 according to the invention is described below.

The user, at the collection terminal, introduces one or more pieces 17 which are admitted into the hopper 1 through its intake part 2.

The funnel 19 guides the parts 17. These fall into the bowl 20 ensuring their accumulation if they are numerous. In addition, the funnel 19 allows the pieces 17 to be oriented towards an impact zone 18 ensuring the damping of the pieces 17.

Once damped, the fall of the pieces 17 continues by passing through the lumen 10. At this level, the pieces 17 come into contact with the lower edge 12 of the lumen 10 and the rotary plate 5.

By the effect of gravity, the pieces 17 are oriented towards the low point 13 of the wafer 12. At this moment, the presence of a piece 17 is detected by the presence sensor 1.

The rotation of the turntable is then triggered. The part 17 is recovered in a cell 7 of the rotary plate 5. During its rotation, the part 17 can be counted by means of a detector 27.

After a certain displacement, the part 17 arrives opposite the orifice 9 of the lower plate 6.

At this level there is a suction generated within the pneumatic conveying installation 4.

The part 17 is collected in the pipe 26 and transmitted to the desired destination.

During all these stages, the cooperation of the rotary plate 5 and of the lower plate 6 and possibly of the upper plate 8 ensures sealing of the hopper 1.

The suction maintained in installation 4 does not suffer any loss of power.

If foreign objects are introduced into the hopper 1, they can be evacuated either through the liquid evacuation hole 24 if it is liquids, or through the evacuation hole 23 if it is bodies solid aliens.

If the hopper 1 is blocked despite these precautions, the hopper 1 can easily be opened by the through the opening of the hook 22 and the disengagement of the bowl 20 from the funnel 19 at the level of the latching device 21.

Several hoppers 1 may be used as shown to obtain a complete conveying installation, while avoiding any loss of suction at the level of the pneumatic conveying installation 4.

REFERENCES

1. Hopper

2. Inlet section 3. Ejection section

4. Pneumatic conveying installation

5. Turntable

6. Bottom plate

7. Cell 8. Upper plate

9. Port

10. Light

11. Coating tablecloth

12. Low edge 13. Low point

14. Sensor 15a, 15b. Slats 16a, 16b. Bosses 17. Part 18. Impact zone

19. Funnel

20. Bowl

21. Snap device

22. Locking hook 23. Foreign material discharge hole

24. Liquid drainage hole

25. Necklaces

26. Pipe

27. Detector 28. Motorization

29. Tilt direction

30. Means of attachment

31. Connection

Claims

1. Hopper (1) for processing coins (17) such as coins, comprising an inlet part (2) coins (17) from a collection terminal and an ejection part (3) transmitting the parts (7) to an installation

(4) for pneumatic conveying after their treatment by means of a rotary plate (5) honeycomb, characterized in that it comprises sealing means between the intake part (2) and the ejection part (3).

2. hopper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing means comprise a lower plate (6), located in the ejection part (3), on which is applied the rotary plate (5) .

3. hopper (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing means further comprise an upper plate (8) applying to the rotary plate (5).

4. hopper (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower plate (6) has at least one orifice

(9) for the passage of the parts (17) towards the conveying installation (4).

5. hopper (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper plate (8) comprises at least one lumen

(10) for the passage of the parts (17) on the turntable (5).

6. hopper (1) according to claim 2 in combination with any one of claims 1, 3 to 5, characterized in that that the contact surface of the lower plate (6) with the rotary plate (5) is polished to optimize its surface condition and promote sealing.

7. hopper (1) according to any one of claims 2, 4 and 6, characterized in that the lower plate (6) comprises a hard coating ply with a polished face (11) to produce the contact surface with the turntable (5) and remove any wear from the bottom plate (6).

8. hopper (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the rotary plate (5) is pressed against the lower plate (6) by the vacuum generated by the conveying installation (4) in the ejection part (3), to promote sealing.

9. Hopper according to any one of claims 2 to 7 characterized in that the space between the upper plate (8) and the lower plate (6) is only a few tenths of a millimeter greater than the thickness of the plate (5) to promote sealing by rolling the air leak.

10. hopper (1) according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the lower (6) and upper (8) plates and the rotary plate (5) are oriented in an inclined plane so that the parts are applied to the lower edge (12) of the light (10).

11. hopper (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the lower section (12) receives a sensor (14) for the presence of parts.

12. hopper (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that that the parts presence sensor (14) comprises two strips (15a, 15b) placed on either side of the low point (13) of the lower edge (12) of the light (10), said strips each having a boss (16a, 16b) for bringing the part (17) to the central position in order to ensure electrical contact between the strips (15a, 15b).

13. hopper (1) according to claim 3 in combination with any one of the other claims, characterized in that the upper plate (8) comprises an impact zone (18) allowing the damping of falling parts (17) without impact on a moving element.

14. hopper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the inlet part (2) comprises: a funnel (19) for guiding the parts (17) able to be fixed in part bottom of the collection terminal, a bowl (20) for accumulating parts secured to the rest of the hopper (1), - means for assembling the funnel (19) and the bowl (20) allowing disassembly easy hopper (1).

15. hopper (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the assembly means consist of a latching device (21) on the rear part of the bowl (20) and the funnel (19) , and a locking hook (22) on the front part.

16. hopper (1) according to claim 10 in combination with any one of the other claims, characterized in that it comprises a discharge hole (23) for foreign bodies, the hole (23) being located at the level of the bottom edge (12) of the light (10) and angularly offset from the bottom point (13) in the direction of rotation of the turntable (5).

17. hopper (1) according to claim 10 in combination with any one of the other claims, characterized in that it comprises a liquid discharge hole (24) located at the low point (13) of the light (10).

18. hopper (1) according to claims 4 and 5 in combination, characterized in that the orifice (9) and the light (10) do not communicate and are diametrically opposed in order to increase the seal.