EP1158468A2

EP1158468A2 - Device for sorting coins into a plurality of output channels, particularly for payment machines and the like

Info

Publication number: EP1158468A2
Application number: EP01109463A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Ventura
Original assignee: Vesiel SpA
Current assignee: VESIEL S.P.A.
Priority date: 2000-05-03
Filing date: 2001-04-24
Publication date: 2001-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-24
Also published as: ES2293943T3; EP1158468B1; DE60130516T2; ITMI20000963A0; DE60130516D1; IT1317449B1; EP1158468A3; ITMI20000963A1

Abstract

A device for sorting coins into a plurality of different output channels, comprising at least one payment receptacle (2) which is adapted to sort, when actuated, the coins into a collection container or toward diverter means (4) adapted to divert the coins toward guiding means (5) for guiding the coins toward a plurality of different output channels, the device further comprising a single electromechanical actuator which is adapted to act simultaneously on the diverter means (4) and on the guiding means (5) in order to make the guiding means (5) pass from an inactive position into an active position, in which they form a passage path for the coins, the diverter means (4) being actuated simultaneously in order to make the coins pass toward the guiding means (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for sorting coins into a plurality of output channels, particularly for payment machines and the like.
It is known that in the field of payment systems there are machines which, in addition to validating a coin, need to send it into a specific tube or container in order to dispense it at a later time.
The coin is usually sorted by means of a combination of mechanical gates operated by a plurality of electromechanical actuators (electromagnets and electric motors).
The use of a large number of electromechanical actuators entails, in addition to considerable constructive complication, a high likelihood of malfunctions combined with a high cost.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for sorting coins into a plurality of different output channels which uses a single electromechanical actuator.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for sorting coins into a plurality of different output channels which is provided with means for detecting the position of a coin along the path of such coin, so as to determine the activation or deactivation of the electromechanical device for sorting the coin into one of the plurality of output channels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for sorting coins into a plurality of different output channels which is highly reliable, relatively easy to manufacture and at competitive costs.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for sorting coins into a plurality of different output channels, comprising at least one payment receptacle which is adapted to sort, when actuated, the coins into a collection container or toward diverter means adapted to divert said coins toward guiding means for guiding said coins toward a plurality of different output channels, characterized in that it comprises a single electromechanical actuator which is adapted to act simultaneously on said diverter means and on said guiding means in order to make said guiding means pass from an inactive position to an active position, in which they form a passage path for said coins, said diverter means being actuated simultaneously in order to make said coins pass toward said guiding means.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of the device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of the device according to the invention, showing a coin at the payment receptacle;
Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the device according to the invention, illustrating the path followed by the coin for guiding into a first output channel;
Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, of the guiding of a coin into a second output channel;
Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figures 3 and 4, of the guiding of a coin into a third output channel;
Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figures 3 to 5, of the guiding of a coin into a fourth output channel;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of one side of the device according to the present invention in the inactive condition;
Figure 8 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 7, of the device according to the present invention in an active configuration;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, taken from the opposite side with respect to the one shown in Figures 7 and 8, with the device in the inactive condition; and
Figure 10 is a view, similar to Figure 9, with the device in the active condition.
With reference to the figures, and initially with reference to Figure 1, the device for sorting coins according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a payment receptacle 2 which, when activated, allows a coin 3 to pass into a container (not shown), which constitutes the strongbox of the payment machine in which the device according to the invention is accommodated, or toward diverter means 4 which are adapted to divert the coins 3 toward guiding means 5, which are conveniently arranged at an angle to the base plane of the machine in which the device according to the invention is accommodated.
The payment receptacle 2 is conveniently provided with first sensor means 6 and with an electromagnet 7 which actuates the payment receptacle 2.
The return of the payment receptacle 2 into the inactive condition is ensured by a spring which is not shown in the figures.
The guiding means 5 are in turn provided with an electromagnet 8 which is adapted to activate simultaneously the diverter means 4 and the guiding means 5.
The guiding means 5 are provided with a lever 9 which acts on the diverter means 4 when the guiding means 5 are activated by the electromagnet 8.
Second sensor means 10 are provided in order to deactivate the guiding means 5 for coins which enter a tube or channel designated by T3. Likewise, third sensor means 11 are provided in order to deactivate the guiding means 5 for coins which enter the tube designated by T2.
Fourth sensor means 12 are arranged at the fourth channel T4, fifth sensor means 13 are arranged at the third channel T3, sixth sensor means 14 are arranged at the second channel T2, and finally seventh sensor means 15 are arranged at the first channel T1.
The sensor means 12-15 are adapted to detect whether the coins 3 have entered the respective channels or tubes, designated by T4, T3, T2 and T1.
In this case there are four output channels, but their number can of course be varied at will.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, with the guiding means 5 shown in the inactive condition.
In this case, between the two walls designated by the reference numerals 18 and 19 there is a space which allows a coin 3 to pass, and such coin does not encounter a definite path to follow, since the guiding means 5 are fully extracted. The above description is better understandable with reference to Figure 9, which illustrates the guiding means 5 in the inactive condition. Figure 10 instead illustrates the guiding means 5 in the active position, in which it forms a path for the coins which places the coins at the chosen output channel.
The condition in which the payment electromagnet 7 is activated and the corresponding payment receptacle 2 conveys the coin 3 into the payment channel is described with reference to the above-cited figures and initially to Figure 2. When the coin has passed beyond the first sensor means 6, the payment electromagnet 7 is deactivated.
Figure 3 instead illustrates the condition in which the payment electromagnet 7 and the electromagnet 8 of the diverter means 4 are activated simultaneously. In this case, the payment receptacle 2 guides the coins 3 toward the payment channel, but the diverter means 4, which have been activated by the guiding means 5, sort the coins into the guiding means. The payment receptacle 2 is deactivated when the coin 3 has passed the first sensor means 6 and the coins are guided toward the channel or tube T1 by the guiding means 5, which remain activated until the corresponding sensor means 15 confirm that the coin has passed into the corresponding channel or tube T1.
Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram for coins 3 which enter the tube T2.
In this case, the payment electromagnet 7 and the electromagnet 8 of the diverter are activated simultaneously while the payment receptacle 2 conveys the coins 3 toward the payment channel, but the diverter means 4 activated by the guiding means 5 sort the coins into the separator (guiding means 5).
The payment electromagnet 7 is then deactivated when the coin has passed the first sensor means 6. The electromagnet 8 is deactivated when the coin 3 affects the sensor means 11. The coin falls automatically into the tube T2 because the guiding means 5, by returning to the inactive position, have left a gap between the walls 18 and 19, as shown in Figure 7.
The sensor means 14 confirm that the coin has passed.
Figure 5 illustrates a case which is similar to the one described above, in which the coin 3 falls automatically in the tube T3 and the sensor means 13 detect that it has passed.
Finally, Figure 6 illustrates the case in which the coin 3 falls automatically into the tube T4, with an operation which is fully similar to the ones described above, and the sensor means 12 detect that the coin 3 has passed into the tube or channel T4.
Substantially, when the guiding means 5 are activated, the coins cannot fall into the corresponding tubes or channels, except for the channel T1.
The expression "guiding means 5 activated" is used to refer to the case in which the guiding means are inserted between the two walls 18 and 19 so as to form a path for the passage of the coin.
When the coin 3 affects the sensor means 11, thus indicating that the output channel T2 has been reached, the electromagnet 8 is deactivated, the guiding means 5 return into the inactive position and the coin 3 is forced to fall into the output containers T2.
A similar situation occurs for the output channel T3, with the difference that in this case the sensor means 10 are the ones affected by the passage of the coin 3.
The device according to the invention thus allows, by means of a single electromechanical activator, constituted by the electromagnet 8 which acts on the lever 9 and simultaneously on the guiding means 5, to sort the coins to the various output channels.
In this manner, therefore, apart from the presence of the payment electromagnet 7, conventionally used in similar devices, by using only the single electromechanical actuator constituted by the electromagnet 8 and by the lever 9 it is possible to make the device automatically sort the coins into the intended output channels T1-T4.
Accordingly, the device according to the invention has the advantage of reducing the number of electromechanical actuators used as well as the number of mechanical gates required to sort the coins.
In practice it has been observed that the device according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows a considerable mechanical simplification of a payment machine.
The device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2000A000963, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A device for sorting coins into a plurality of different output channels, comprising at least one payment receptacle which is adapted to sort, when actuated, the coins into a collection container or toward diverter means adapted to divert said coins toward guiding means for guiding said coins toward a plurality of different output channels, characterized in that it comprises a single electromechanical actuator which is adapted to act simultaneously on said diverter means and on said guiding means in order to make said guiding means pass from an inactive position into an active position, in which they form a passage path for said coins, said diverter means being actuated simultaneously in order to make said coins pass toward said guiding means.
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said single electromechanical actuator comprises an electromagnet which is adapted to interact with a lever which is adapted to activate said diverter means.
The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said guiding means are constituted by an inclined plane which is adapted to perform a translational motion through a slot formed in one of a pair of vertical walls between which said coins slide, the translational motion of said inclined plane occurring, in the active condition, within said slot, in order to position said inclined plane between said walls and form a path for the passage of said coins.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said output channels is provided with a sensor for determining whether a coin has passed.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said payment receptacle is provided with a sensor.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guiding means are provided with sensors adapted to deactivate said guiding means in order to pass from an active position into an inactive position so as to allow said coins to fall into the respective underlying output channels.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guiding means are arranged below said payment receptacle and said diverter means.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said payment receptacle is provided with an electromagnet for its activation/deactivation.