coin sorter mechanism

8/19/2019 Coin Sorter Mechanism

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U n i t e d S t a t e s P a t e n t 1 1 9 1

R e i s

[ 5 4 ] COIN

SORTING

AND

COUNTING

MACHINES

[ 7 6 ]

I n v e n t o r :

K a t h a r i n a Maria R e i s ,

B u c h e n a u e r s t r . 1 9 , B r u c h s a l / B a d e n ,

G e r m a n y

[ 2 2 ]

F i l e d :

J u l y 2 6 ,

1 9 7 1

[ 2 1 ] A p p l .

N o . : 1 6 5 , 9 3 4

[ 5 2 ] us. c 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133/3 1 ) ,

1 3 3 / 8

R

[511

1 1 1 1 . C 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

607d

3/06.

[58]

F i e l d

o f Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/87, 104; 1 3 3 / 1 ,

1 3 3 / 3 ,

8

[ 5 6 ]

R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d

UNITED

STATES PATENTS

2,881,775

4 / 1 9 5 9

Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 3 / 3 R

3 163 169 12/1964

Ran.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 133/3

2 , 1 0 9 , 6 5 8 3 / 1 9 3 8 Z i e r i c k . . . . 2 0 9 / 8 7

X

2 , 6 3 5 , 7 3 0 4 / 1 9 5 3 Seckula... . . . . . 1 3 3 / 8 X

2 ,669 , 9 9 7 2 / 1 9 5 4

Qui r k

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133/8 R

[ 1 1 ]

3,771,538

[ 4 5 1

N o v .

1 3 , ’ 1 9 7 3

P r i m a r y Examiner-Robert

B .

R e e v e s

A s s i s t a n t

Examiner-Thomas E . Kocovsky

Attorney-Richard Low e t

a 1 .

[ 5 7 ]

ABSTRACT

A p p a r a t u s f o r

s o r t i n g

c o i n s o f d i f f e r e n t s i z e s , c o m p r i s

i n g

means

f o r

d e l i v e r i n g a s u p p l y o f c o i n s o f d i f f e r e n t

s i z e s , c e n t r i f u g a l s e p a r a t i n g means f o r a r r a n g i n g s a i d

d i f f e r e n t l y

s i z e d

c o i n s

i n

s i n g l e

f i l e , a

c i r c u l a r s o r t i ng

c h a m b e r , h a v i n g a p l u r a l i t y o f s u c c e s s i v e l y

s i z e d

h o l e s

c o r r e s p o n d i n g

t o

t h e

s i z e s

o f t h e

c o i l s t o

be s e p a r a t e d

and means f o r mo v i ng c o i n s d e l i v e r e d t h er e t o

u n i d i

r e c t i o n a l l y over

s a i d h o l e s ,

a t r a n s f e r channel connect

i n g

s a i d c e n t r i f u g a l s e p a r a t i n g means

a n d

s a i d s o r t i n g

chamber f o r

c o n v e y i n g

s a i d d i f f e r e n t l y s i z e d c o i n s ,

t h e

d i f f e r e n t l y s i z e d

c o i n s b e i n g

d e l i v e r e d f r o m s a i d s e p a

r a t i n g means i n s i n g l e f i l e a n d s u c c e s s i v e l y

s o r t e d

b y

b e i n g d e p o s i t e d i n t h e i r

a s s o c i a t e d h o l e s

i n s a i d cham~

b e r .

1 2

C l a i m s , 3

D r a w i n g

F i g u r e s



3 , 7 7 1 , 5 3 8

a t e n t e d

N o v .

1 3 , 1 9 7 3

3 Sheets-Sheet

L



3,771,538

a t e n t e d N o v .

1 3 , 1 9 7 3

3 Sheets-Sheet 2



3 , 7 7 1 , 5 3 8

a t e n t e d

N o v . ’

1 3 , 1 9 7 3

3

Sheets-Sheet 5



3 , 7 7 1 , 5 3 8

1

COIN

SORTING AND

COUNTING MACHINES

BACKGROUND O F

INVENTION

The i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o c o i n s o r t i n g

and

c o u n t i n g

machines which s e p a r a t e s and

c o u n t s

c o i n s and s i m i l a r

d i s k s h a p e d o b j e c t s ,

h a v i n g

t h e same

v a l u e a c c o r d i n g

t o

t h e i r

diameter,

from

a

mass

of

d i f f e r e n t

c o i n s or

o b

j e c t s .

C o n v e n t i o n a l

c o i n c o u n t i n g

a n d

s o r t i n g m a c h i n e s d e

l i v e r

t h e c o i n s

t o be p r o c e s s e d from

a s t o r a g e

hopper

or container o n i n c l i n e d or h o r i z o n t a l r a i l s arran ged

i n

f r o n t o f

a n

o b l i q u e f r o n t p l a t e . A s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e r a i l

a r e

e l e c t r i c a l o r mechanical scanners

a n d

r e j e c t o r s .

A p e r t u r e s a r e a l s o p r o v i d e d which m a y b e a d j u s t e d a c

cording t o

t h e

diameters o f t h e c o i n s t o be

s o r t e d

s o

t h a t

t h e scanned

c o i n s

m a y be s e l e c t e d

and d e l i v e r e d

i n t o c o l l e c t i n g

r e c e p t a c l e s a n d

a l s o c o u n t e d .

The

c a

p a c i t y a n d

r e l i a b i l i t y o f

s u c h d e v i c e s d e p e n d s e s s e n

t i a l l y

on

t h e s p e e d

a t

which

c o i n s a r e

withdrawn

from

t h e s t o r a g e c o n t a i n e r ,

a r r a n g e d

i n

i n d i v i d u a l

r o w s and

t h e r e a f t e r b r o u g h t

b y way o f t h e

c o n v e y i n g

r a i l

to

t h e

area of

the scanners.

I n c r e a s e d

c a p a c i t y

h a s

been

o b t a i n e d

f o r

s u c h

d e

v i c e s b y

a r r a n g i n g

t h e c o i n s i n a s i n g l e ? l e .

On

s u c h a t

t e m p t

h a s

b e en - t o p r o v i d e

a

r o t a t i n g

d i s k a b o v e w h i c h

a

s l o t i s

formed f o r t h e e n t r y o f t h e c o i n s

from

t h e hop

25

per, one t a

time.

From the disk

the

coins

are

individu-

.

a l l y

f e d t o

a f e e d i n g c h a n n e l o r r a i l

b y t h e c e n t r i f u g a l

r o t a t i o n o f t h e d i s k .

I n

t h e c h a n n e l t h e

c o i n s ,

a r r a n g e d

i n s i n g l e ? l e , a r e e n g a g e d b y d r i v e n f e e d r o l l e r s . The

c o i n s e n t e r t h e

f e e d i n g c h a n n e l i n

t h e

? a t c o n d i t i o n

a n d a r e s e i z e d

b y

t h e

f e e d r o l l e r s

w h i c h i m p e l

them

toward t h e c o i n d i s c h a r g e . Each o f t h e c o i n s ,

a s

i t ’ s i m

p e l l e d

b y

t h e f e e d i n g r o l l e r a c t u a t e s t h e c o u n t i n g

w h e e l

o f

t h e

c o u n t e r r e g i s t e r i n g

t h e

t o t a l number o f

c o i n s

p a s s i n g

t h r o u g h

t h e

f e e d i n g c h a n n e l ,

t h e

f e e d

r o l l e r

a n d

count i n g

wheel.

A

o d i f i c a t i o n

o f

h i s

c o u n t i n g

m a c h i n e p r o v i d e s t h e

machine

w i t h a n

a r e a s o r t i ng p o s i t io n

w h e r e i n

t h e c o i n s

a r e d e l i v e r e d t o

a

r o t a t i n g c o n t a i n e r

i n

t h e b o t t o m

o f

which

i s p r o v i d e d

a

p a s s a g e

whose

magni tude can

be

c o n t r o l l e d

and whose w i d t h

m a y b e

a d j u s t e d t o t h e di

ameter o f a g i v e n t y p e o f c o i n t o be s u p p l i e d . I n t h i s

machine

r s t

t h e c o i n s h a v i n g

t h e s m a l l e s t d i a m e t e r a r e

s o r t e d , t h e

p a s s a g e

i s

e n l a r g e d

f o r t h e

n e x t

s i z e . T h i s i s

r e p e a t e d

u n t i l

g r a d u a l l y

a l l

t h e c o i n s a r e

s o r t e d .

Be

c a u s e

o f

t h e

m a n y

s u c c e s s i v e

s t e p s i n v o l v e d in t h e

op

e r a t i o n o f t h i s

m a c h i n e , i t s

c a p a c i t y i s

g r e a t l y

r e d u c e d .

The o b j e c t o f

t h e

p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s t o p r o v i d e a

c o i n

s o r t i n g and

c o u n t i n g d e v i c e

w h i c h

overcomes

t h e

p r o b l e m s

o f

t h e

known

d e v i c e s and

w h i c h

p r o v i d e s

a n

i m p r o v e d

m a c h i n e

h a v i n g

i n c r e a s e d c a p a c i t y . I t i s a n

o t h e r o b j e c t t o p r o v i d e a

c o i n

s o r t i n g and c o u n t i n g d e

v i c e u t i l i z i n g c e n t r i f u g a l c o i n

t h r o w i n g

d i s k s l i b e r a t e d

f r o m t h e p r o b l e m s i n c i d e n t w i t h t h e p r i o r

known

d e

vices.

SUMMARY

OF

INVENTION

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e

p r e s e n t

i n v e n t i o n a p p a r a t u s f o r

30

45

50

60

s o r t i n g and c o u n t i n g c o i n s and s i m i l a r d i s k l i k e o b j e c t s

i s p r o v i d e d

c o m p r i s i n g

a s t o r a g e h o p p e r

open

a t

b o t

tom b e l o w which

a

c e n tr i f u g a l l y r o t a t i n g f e e d d i s k i s

a r r a n g e d . The d i s k i s o f g r e a t e r d i a m e t e r t h a n

t h e

hop

p e r w h i c h

i s

p r o v i d e d w i t h a s h a l l o w o p e n i n g

i n

i t s w a l l

b y which

t h e c o i n s a r e c a r r i e d

t o

t h e

p e r i p h e r y o f

t h e

d i s k one a t

a

t i m e .

A w a l l

i s

a r r a n g e d

about t h e

d i s k

p r o v i d in g a c i r c u l a r

p a s s a g e

d e f i n e d b y t h i s

o u t e r

w a l l

65

2

a n d

t h e w a l l

o f

t h e

h o p p e r

f o r c o n v e y i n g

t h e

c o i n s i n

s i n g l e

? l e . T h i s

c i r c u l a r

p a s s a g e

t a n g e n t i a l l y

communi

c a t e s w i t h a t r a n s f e r channel which in t u r n t a n g e n t i a l l y

communicates i t h a c i r c u l a r s o r t i ng chamber h a v i n g

a s t a t i o n a r y

f l o o r

i n

which s formed

a p l u r a l i t y of s u c

c e s s i v e l y s i z e d s o r t i ng

h o l e s

f o r

d i s c h a r g e o f

t h e

c o i n s .

A o t a t i n g d i s k

i s

a r r a n g e d a b o v e t h e s t a t i o n a r y ? o o r

and

i s

p r o v i d e d

w i t h means

f o r e n g a g i n g t h e c o i n s

which

a r e

d e l i v e r e d i n s in g l e ? l e , and f o r

g u i d i n g

t h e

c o i n s

i n t o

t h e s u c c e s s i v e h o l e s . D i s c h a r g e t u b e s a r e

connected w i t h t h e s u c c e s s i v e h o l e s f o r d e l i v e r i n g t h e

c o i n s

t o

b a g s o r

o t h e r

r e c e p t a c l e s . Mechanical r photo

e l e c t r i c

counting means

a r e

a s s o c i a t e d w i t h each tube

s o t h a t t h e coins can be counted a s they a r e d e l i v e r e d

t o

each

b a g .

The r o t a t i n g s o r t i n g

d i s k

i s s p a c e d

a b o v e t h e

? o o r o f

t h e

s o r t i n g

chamber

b y a

d i s t a n c e s u b s t a n t i a l l y l i t t l e

m o r e than t h e t h i c k e s t

c o i n t o

be

s o r t e d .

The d i s k i s

mounted

s o

a s t o

be

a d j u s t a b l e

f o r

v a r y i n g t h i c k n e s s e s

o f c o i n s .

P r e f e r a b l y

t h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e s o r t i n g d i s k

i s

p r o v i d e d w i t h a

c i r c u l a r

r u b b e r

o r p l a s t i c r i n g l o c a t e d

o v e r

t h e s o r t i n g o p e n i n g s . The r i n g i s p r e f e r a b l y s o f t o r

foamy

t o r e s i l i e n t l y engage

t h e

c o i n s and f o r c e them t o

m o v e

o v e r

t h e h o l e s a t t h e v e l o c i t y

o f

t h e s h o r t i n g d i s k .

The c o i n s a r e caused t o m o v e c i r c u l a r l y a n d

abut

a g a i n s t t h e w a l l

o f t h e s o r t i n g chamber on

a

r i m

which

projects

inwardly.

The i n d i v i d u a l s o r t i n g

h o l e s

o r o p e n i n g s

a d j o i n

e a c h

o t h e r and i n c r e a s e s u c c e s s i v e l y

i n w i d t h from

t h e s m a l l

e s t , a d j a c e n t t h e t r a n s f e r c h a n n e l , t o t h e

l a r g e s t

a t a c i r

c u l a r d i s t a n c e t h e r e f r o m .

P r e f e r a b l y ,

t h e

f e e d d i s k

and t h e s o r t i n g d i s k s a r e r o

t a t e d

i n

o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n

and

t h e

t r a n s f e r

c h a n n e l

m o v es

o b l i q u e l y f ro m o n e t o t h e o t h e r . This i s not e s

s e n t i a l

and t h e d i s k s

may, however, be

r o t a t e d

in

t h e

same d i r e c t i o n s o l o n g a s t h e

t r a n s f e r

channel

i s

a l s o

a r r a n g e d t o

b e

t a n g e n t i a l

t o t h e

d i r e c t i o n

o f

r o t a t i o n

o f

each

o f t h e d i s k s .

The

a p p a r a t u s o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t io n h a s a

d e c i d e d

a d v a n t a g e o f

t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l

d e v i c e s in t h a t t h e ca

p a c i t y

a n d

s p e e d

o f

o r t i n g

a n d c o u n t i n g

s i n c r e a s e d

b y

a

m u l t i p l e

o r m o r e

f t h a t p r e v i o u s l y o b t a i n ed .

T h i s

ad

v a n t a g e i s b a s e d

upon

t h e f a c t

t h a t

t h e s i n g l e

f i l i n g

o f

t h e

c o i n s o c c u r s

i n one p a r t

o f

t h e

a p p a r a t u s w h i l e

t h e

s o r t i n g o c c u r s i n

a n o t h e r

p a r t . F u r t h e r ,

s e p a r a t e

d i s k s

a r e

p r o v i d e d

f o r

e a c h

o f t h e f e e d

and

s o r t i n g

f u n c t i o n s

s o t h a t t h e o r d e r i n g o r

s i n g l e

? l e e f f e c t o f t h e

c e n t r i f u

g a l

f o r c e a n d t h e

f o r c e d g u i d in g o f

t h e c o i n s a r e

f u l l y

u t i l i z e d ‘ .

F u l l d e t a i l s o f t h e p r e s e n t

i n v e n t i o n

i n c l u d in g v a r i o u s

o b j e c t s a n d a d v a n t a g e s w i l l b e more f u l l y d e s c r i b e d

h e r e i n a f t e r w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e accompanyi ng dra w

i n g s .

BRIEF

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

I n t h e d r a w i n g s :

F I G . 1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e w o f

am achine embodying

the present invention,

F I G . 2

shows t h e machine

o f

F I G . 1 in t o p

p l a n v i e w

p a r t i a l l y

s e c t i o n e d ,

a n d

FIG.

3 s a n e l e v a t i o n a l

s e c t i o n

o f t h e machine

taken

f r o m

the

r e a r .

DESCRIPTION OF

THE

INVENTION

A s seen i n FIG.

1 , t h e machine

compri ses a

frame o r

c h a s s i s

l ,

on

one p a r t o f which s l o c a t e d t h e

s i n g l e

? l e

f e e mechanism 1 and on t h e

o t h e r

t h e

s o r t i n g m ech a



3 , 7 7 1 , 5 3 8

3

nism

1 0 .

Both

m ech a n is ms a r e driven b y a common

d r i v e

moto r 20 through t r a n s m i s s i o n mea ns 21 a n d 2 2 ,

which, i n

t h e p r e f e r r e d

form,

a r e

connected

t o

t h e o p

p o s i t e l y

r o t a t i n g

ends of

t h e m o t o r d r i v e s h a f t .

The

s i n g l e

? l i n g

f e e d mechanism 1 ’ c o m p r i s e s a cen

t r i f u g a l d i s k 7 which

r o t a t e s i n t h e

d i r e c t i o n

o f t h e

arrow 4 . A i r c u l a r boundary r i n g 23

i s

secured t o t h e

c h a s s i s

1 and e n c i r c l e s t h e

r o t a t i n g

f e e d d i s k 7

t o de?ne

a c i r c u l a r

passage 5 . A

y l i n d r i c a l o p e n

s t o r a g e con

t a i n e r 3 , h a v i n g

a

d i a m e t e r l e s s t h a n t h e

d i s k 7

i s a l s o

m o u n t e d

by s u i t a b l e

brackets t o the

c h a s s i s

s o a s t o

be

c o n c e n t r i c a l l y

a r r a n g e d

a b o v e t h e . d i s k 7 . A ? a r i n g

hopper

1 6

i s ? t

o v e r

t h e upper end o f t h e s y l i n d e r

3 .

The

c o n t a i n e r c y l i n d e r

3

s

adapted t o

r e c e i v e

a

mix

t u r e of coins of d i f f e r e n t

s i z e which

a r e t o

be

counted.

The

l o w e r e d g e

o f

t h e c y l i n d e r 3 i s s p a c e d f r o m t h e d i s k

7 o n l y s u f ? c i e n t t o

p e r m i t

t h e d i s k

t o r o t a t e . The l o w e r

edge o f t h e c y l i n d e r

i s ,

however, c u t o u t o r notched

t o

form

a

s l o t

6

o f

l i m i t e d

s i z e

i n

i t s

w a l l

which

c o n s t i t u t e s

a n opening

communicating

w i t h b o t h

t h e

i n t e r i o r o f

t h e

c y l i n d e r and t h e

c i r c u l a r

p a s s a g e

5 .

Because t h e f e e d

d i s k 7

forms t h e common bottom

o f

t h e c y l i n d e r

3

and

t h e c i r c u l a r p a s s a g e 5 c o i n s m a y b e c o n t i n u o u s l y d r i v e n

o r c e n t r i f u g a l l y thrown from t h e c o n t a i n e r

3

i n t o t h e

p a s s a g e

5 t h r o u g h

t h e a p e r t u r e 6 ,

when t h e d i s k

i s r o

t a t e d .

Because

o f t h e

l i m i t e d

s i z e

o f t h e a p e r t u r e

6 , t h e

c o i n s a r e

m o v e d

i n t o t h e c i r c u l a r

p a s s a g e

5

in

s i n g l e

f i l e

where t h e y a r e

c a r r i e d in in t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t .

A p r i n g

o r r e s i l i e n t tongue

24

e x t e n d s

w i t h i n

t h e

c y l i n d e r con

t a i n e r

3

a d j a c e n t t h e s l o t 6 and

r e s t s

on t h e c o i n s w i t h i n

t h e c o n t a i n e r t o c o n t r o l t h e i r f e e d

e x i t i n g

i n t o t h e p a s

s a g e 5 .

The

t o n g u e

2 4

e x t en d s o u t w a r d l y

o f t h e c y l i n

d e r

w a l l and

s

p r o v i d e d

w i t h

a n a d j u s t m e n t

mechanism

t o r e g u l a t e

i t s

o p e r a t i o n dependent on t h e s p e e d ,

c a

p a c i t y , number o f

c o i n s and

o t h e r

f a c t o r s .

F r o m

t h e a n n u l a r p a s s a g e 5 t h e s i n g l e ? l e c o i n s

13

p a s s

i n t o

a

t a n g e n t i a l t r a n s f e r c h a n n e l

8

bounded by

l a t e r a l w a l l s 9

and

’ . The t r a n s f e r channel 8

t e r m i n a t e s

i n

t h e s o r t i n g mecha n ism

10 which i t

a l s o

e n t e r s

i n a

t a n g e n t i a l d i r e c t i o n .

The

o r t i n g m e c h a n i s m c o m p r i s e s

a ?xed s o r t i n g f l o o r 1 1 o f c i r c u l a r s h a p e . Arranged

about

t h e o u t e r

circumference

o f t h e

s o r t i n g f l o o r

1 1

i s a

s o r t i n g s t r e t c h

1 0

formed o f a s u c c e s s i o n

o f o p e n

i n g s o r h o l e s 1 2 . A o t a r y

s o r t i n g d i s k

1 4 i s a r r a n g e d

abo ve

t h e

f l o o r 11 a n d i s

of t h e sa me diam ete r

a s

t h e

f l o o r

11

s o a s t o

extend over

t h e

s o r t i n g s t r e t c h 1 0 .

The d i s k

1 4 s m ou n t e d

o n

a c e n t r a l s h a f t connected t o

the transmission 21 so as

t o

r o t a t e i n the under surface

4 o p p o s i t e t o

t h a t

o f t h e f e e d d i s k 7 . A

e s i l i e n t

r u b b e r

r i n g o r o t h e r f u n c t i o n a l m a t e r i a l r i n g 1 5 i s s e c u r e d b y

g l u e o r

o t h e r

means t o t h e

u n d e r s u r f a c e

o f t h e s o r t i n g

d i s k 1 4 a l o n g

i t s

c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l e d g e . The c o i n s 1 3

and 1 3

e n t e r i n g t h e

s o r t i n g

mechanism

?nd

them

s e l v e s b e l o w t h e e l a s t i c

r i n g 1 5

b u t s u p p o r t e d

b y

t h e

?oor

1 1 .

The

c o i n s

a r e f o r c e d by t h e

r o t a t i o n

r i n g 15

about

t h e

circumference o f t h e ?oor 1 1 ,

over t h e

s o r t

i n g

s t r e t c h

1 0 ’

a n d i n t o

t h e p a r t i c u l a r

o p e n i n g 1 2 .

The

o p e n i n g s 1 2

a r e

s u c c e s s i v e l y a r r a n g e d

i n

i n c r e a s

i n g

s i z e f r o m t h e e n t r a n c e o f

t h e t r a n s f e r chamber

a l o n g

t h e

o u t e r

c i r c u m f e r e n c e

o f

t h e s o r t i n g

f l o o r

s o

t h a t t h e

c o i n s

a r e d e p o s i t e d i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e o p e n i n g

a c c o r d i n g t o s i z e , t h e s m a l l e s t ? r s t a n d t h e l a r g e s t l a s t .

A s

t h e c o i n s

run

over

t h e

s o r t i n g s t r e t c h t h e y

a r e

g u i d e d on

t h e i r

o u t e r e d g e s

by

a n abutment r i m

18

which

p r o j e c t s

from t h e

i n n e r s u r f a c e

o f

a v e r t i c a l

d i s

p o s e d

c i r c u l a r

w a l l 1 9

s e c u r e d

t o t h e c h a s i s and

e n c i r

c l i n g

t h e f l o o r

1 1

a n d r o t a t i n g s o r t i ng d i s k 1 4 .

When

5

25

35

4 5

55

60

65

4

t h e c o i n

u l t i m a t e l y

r e a c h e s

i t s

c o r r e s p o n d i n g o p e n i n g

12

( t h a t

i s one h a v i n g

a

width

corresponding

t o i t s

d i

ameter i t

i s

no

l o n g e r supported

by t h e f l o o r 1 1 and

t h e r e s i l i e n t r i n g 15 pushes t h e c o i n i n t o t h e

opening

1 2 .

The

c o i n f a l l s i n t o a

t u b e 1 7 a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h t h e

p a r t i c u l a r

o p e n i n g

1 2

i n t o a c o i n h o l d e r , bag o r o t h e r

c o n t a i n e r .

While

t h e

c o i n s f a l l i n

t h e t u b e

1 7 , t h e y m a y

be counted by

a

photo e l e c t r i c counter

25 o r

other

c o u n t i n g

m e c h a n i s m .

The

o r t i n g

o p e n i n g s

1 2 a r e

p r o v i d e d w i t h a d j u s t a b l e

s h u t t e r

m e ans

or

s i m i l a r

devices f o r varying t h e

width

of

h e

open ing

s o

t h a t

d i f f e r e n t l y s i z e d

c o i n s

m a y

be ac

commodated

w i t h o u t h a v i n g

t h e need f o r r e p l a c i n g t h e

e n t i r e s o r t i n g

f l o o r . The r o t a t i n g

s o r t i n g

d i s k 1 4 i s a l s o

m ou n t e d o n

t h e

transmission s h a f t s o t h a t

i t s h e i g h t

above

t h e ?o o r l

1 can be a d j u s t e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e

c o i n s

o f v a r y i ng t h i c k n e s s . T h i s

i s

a c c o m p l i s h e d b y

p r o

v i d i n g t h e end o f t h e s h a f t w i t h

a t h r e a d

and h a v i n g t h e

d i s k

14

s e c u r e d

t h e r e t o

by

a

p a i r

o f t h r e a d e d l o c k

b o l t s

o n o n

e a c h side ther eof.

The

d i s k s

7

a n d 1 4 a r e i l l u s t r a t e d

a s

r o t a t i n g

i n

o p p o

s i t e d i r e c t i o n s . While

t h i s

i s p r e f e r r e d ,

t h e

d i s k s m a y

a l s o

be

a r r a n g e d t o

r o t a t e

in

t h e same d i r e c t i o n and t h e

t r a n s f e r

c h a n n e l

a r r a n g e d

t o e x t e n d

c h o r d a l l y

between

each d i s k

p r o v i d e d

t h a t

t h e

t r a n s f e r c h a n n e l r e m a i n s

t a n g e n t i a l t o t h e

d i r e c t i o n

o f m o v e m e n t o f t h e d i s k s .

The s o r t i n g s t r e t c h can

be

of course rea rra nged a s d e

s i r e d .

I t

w i l l

be

a p p r e c i a t e d

t h a t

n o t

o n l y

can

c o i n s be

counted and s o r t e d b u t a n y o t h e r d i s k s h a p e d o b j e c t

m a y b e

h a n d l e d b y

t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , a c c o r d i n g to

t h e i r

d i a m e t e r .

V a r i o u s modi?cations have been s u g

g e s t e d and

o t h e r s

w i l l

be o b v i o u s .

i t

i s i n t e n d e d t h e r e

f o r e t h a t t h e d is c l o s u r e i s i l l u s t r a t i v e o n l y o f t h e p r e s e n t

i n v e n t i o n .

W h a t s

claimed

i s :

1 . Apparatus f o r

s o r t i n g c o i n s

o f

d i f f e r e n t

s i z e s ,

c o m

p r i s i n g a frame, m e ans m ou n t e d

o n

s a i d frame f o r de

l i v e r i n g

a s u p p l y o f c o i n s o f

d i f f e r e n t

s i z e s ,

c e n t r i f u g a l

s e p a r a t i n g

means f o r a r r a n g i n g

s a i d d i f f e r e n t l y

s i z e d

c o i n s i n

s i n g l e ? l e ,

a c i r c u l a r s o r t i n g

c h a m b e r ,

h a v i n g

a p l u r a l i t y o f s u c c e s s i v e l y s i z e d h o l e s c o r r e s p o n d i n g

t o

t h e s i z e s o f t h e c o i n s t o be

s e p a r a t e d a n d

means

f o r

moving

c o i n s d e l i v e r e d t h e r e t o u n i d i r e c t i o n a l l y o v e r

s a i d ho l e s ,

a t r a n s f e r

channel

c o n n e c t i n g

s a i d

c e n t r i f u

g a l

s e p a r a t i n g

means and

s a i d

s o r t i n g

chamber

o r

con

v e y i n g s a i d

d i f f e r e n t l y s i z e d c o i n s , s a i d

c e n t r i f u g a l s e p

a r a t i n g m e a n s , s a i d c i r c u l a r s o r t i n g chamber and s a i d

t r a n s f e r c h a n n e l h a v i n g c o i n s u p p o r t means r r a n g e d

i n

a

common

l a n e t o d e l i v e r

t h e d i f f e r e n t l y

s i z e d c o i n s

from

s a i d s e p a r a t i n g means i n a cont inuous s i n g l e ? l e

s u c c e s s i v e l y s o r t i n g e a c h

b y

d e p o s i t i n g t h e m i n t h e i r

r e s p e c t i v e l y s i z e d h o l e s

i n

s a i d chamber.

2 . The

a p p a r a t u s

a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1

i n c l u d i n g

mea ns

f o r

v a r y i n g

t h e

width of

a i d openings t o a c c o m

m o d a t e d i f f e r e n t

s i z e c o i n s .

3 . A p p a r a t u s

f o r

s o r t i n g a n d c o u n t i n g c o i n s a n d t h e

l i k e comprising a

f r a m e ,

s a i d frame

s u p p o r t i n g

a s t o r

a g e hopper open a t t h e

b o t t o m ,

a c e n t r if u g a l l y r o t a t i n g

f e e d

d i s k

a r r a n g e d b e l o w

s a i d

h o p p e r ,

s a i d

d i s k

h a v i n g

a g r e a t e r

d i a m e t e r t h a n s a i d

h o p p e r ,

s a i d

h o p p e r

b e i n g

p r o v i d e d w i t h a

s h a l l o w

o p e n i n g in i t s w a l l

b y

which t h e

coins a r e c a r r i e d to t h e periphery of t h e

d i s k ,

a a l l s u r

r o u n d i n g s a i d

r o t a t i n g

f e e d d i s k

t o

c o n t a i n s a i d

c o i n s

in

s i n g l e ? l e

and

p r o v i d i n g a c i r c u l a r conveyor p a s s a g e

de?ned by

s a i d w a l l

and

s a i d hopper

f o r

s a i d c o i n s ,

a

t r a n s f e r

c h a n n e l

l e a d i n g t a n g e n t i a l l y f r o m s a i d c i r c u l a r



3 , 7 7 1 , 5 3 8

5

p a s s a g e t o a

s o r t i n g

chamber, a

c i r c u l a r s o r t i ng

cha m

b e r h a v i n g a s t a t i o n a r y ? o o r , a p l u r a l i t y o f

s u c c e s s i v e l y

s i z e d s o r t i n g h o l e s i n

s a i d

f l o o r f o r

d i s c h a r g e

o f t h e

c o i n s

t h er e t h r o u g h , a r o t a t i n g d i s k a r r a n g e d a b o v e

t h e

s t a t i o n a r y ? o o r

p r o v i d e d

w i t h means f o r

e n g a g i n g

t h e

c o i n s

a n d

f o r g u i d i n g t h e c o i n s s u c c e s s i v e l y i n t o

o n e

o f

s a i d h o l e s dependent on t h e i r s i z e s .

4 .

The

a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i ng t o c l a i m

3

w h e r e i n t h e

f e e d d i s k and t h e

s o r t i n g

d is k a r e r o t a t e d in o p p o s i t e

d i r e c t i o n s .

5 .

The

a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g

t o c l a i m 3 w h e r e i n

s a i d

s o r t i n g chamber

s p r o v i d e d

w i t h

a n

a n n u l a r

w a l l h a v

i n g an i n w a r d l y

d i r e c t e d

r i m

f o r

engaging

t h e

edges o f

s a i d c o i n s .

6 The a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g c l a i m 3 w h e r e i n s a i d s o r t

i n g

h o l e s a r e

a r r a n g e d

a b o u t

t h e o u t e r c i r c u m f e r e n c e

o f t h e

s t a t i o n a r y

f l o o r .

7 . The a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g

t o

c l a i m 6

w h e r e i n s a i d

o p e n i n g s

i n

t h e

s o r t i n g

?oor

i n c r e a s e

i n

w i d t h s u c c e s

20

25

30

35

40

4 5

50

5 5

65

6

s i v e l y

f r o m t h e

t r a n s f e r

c h a n n e l f r o m s m a l l e s t t o l a r g

e s t .

8 .

The a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m

3

i n c l u d i n g di

r e c t

m e a ns

f o r

leading s a i d coins

from

t h e h o l e s t o a

r e

c e p t a c l e .

9 . The

a p p a r a t u s

a c c o r d i n g

t o

c l a i m

8

i n c l u d i n g

c o u n t i n g means

l o c a t e d

i n a s s o c i a t i o n c o i n s

p a s s i n g

t h r o u g h e a c h .

1 0 .

The

a p p a r a t u s

a c c o r d i n g

t o c l a i m 3 w h e r e i n s a i d

s o r t i n g d i s k i s

p r o v i d e d w i t h

means f o r a d j u s t i n g

i t s

s p a c e from

s a i d ?oor t o

a

d i s t a n c e

s l i g h t l y

g r e a t e r

t h a n

t h e

t h i c k n e s s

o f t h e t h i c k e s t c o i n t o be

s o r t e d .

l

l .

The a p p a r a t u s a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 0 w h e r e i n s a i d

s o r t i n g d i s k i s

p r o v i d e d

w i t h means on t s l o w e r s u r f a c e

f o r

e n g a g i n g s a i d c o i n s h a v i n g a n a n nu l a r s h a p e and

b e i n g

a d a p t e d

t o m o v e

s a i d

c o i n s o v e r t h e s o r t i n g

f l o o r .

1 2 . The a p p a r a t u s

a c c o r d i n g

t o c l a i m 1 1 w h e r e i n s a i d

e n g a g i n g means

i s formed

o f e l a s t i c r e s i l i e n t m a t e r i a l .

coin sorter mechanism

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