Coin minting equipment

Abstract

A coin processing device (1) comprises: a coin storage (2), the coin storage (2) comprising a coin output orifice (3); a coin output pipe (4), the coin output pipe (4) being connected to and adjacent to the coin output orifice (3); a coin separation mechanism (5), the coin separation mechanism (5) being arranged between the coin output orifice (3) and the coin output pipe (4), the coin separation mechanism (5) comprising at least one gate component (9, 9A, 9B), the at least one gate component (9, 9A, 9B) comprising a pair of opposite elastically biased support rods (10, 10A, 10B); wherein at least one of the pair of opposite elastically biased support rods (10, 10A, 10B) is configured to reciprocate within the magnetic field of a proximal inductor (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to improvements to coin handling equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mechanism for determining the thickness of an individual coin within a conventional coin handling equipment. Background Art

[0002] A key function of many coin-handling devices is to identify and authenticate the denomination of coins received by the device. Traditional coin identification techniques involve analyzing various coin characteristics. For example, some techniques examine the electromagnetic or acoustic response of coins. These techniques can be enhanced by measuring the coin's dimensions (for example, determining its diameter).

[0003] In order to physically verify coins, some conventional minting equipment must include a mechanism for isolating and removing individual coins from the bulk supply of coins received by the minting equipment. An example of a method and apparatus for "singularizing" coins is discussed and described in EP 1,842,168. An adaptation of the method and apparatus of EP 1,842,168 is disclosed in GB 2,527,507.

[0004] In the aforementioned prior art, coins are separated by at least one peeling gate member. The gate member is spring-biased to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the direction of coin travel. This allows the coins to be individually separated before passing through an active sensor device for authentication.

[0005] A problem with prior art coin handling equipment is that the "singulation" and "authentication" operations are handled by separate devices. The present invention seeks to solve this problem. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a coin processing device is provided. The coin processing device includes: a coin depositor including a coin output orifice; a coin output conduit communicating with and adjacent to the coin output orifice; and a coin separation mechanism disposed between the coin output orifice and the coin output conduit, the coin separation mechanism including at least one gate component including a pair of opposing resiliently biased support rods; wherein at least one of the pair of opposing resiliently biased support rods is configured to reciprocate within a magnetic field of a proximal inductor, the inductor being connected to a control unit configured to receive a sensing signal, and the control unit being pre-calibrated to convert the received sensing signal into a value indicative of the thickness of a coin.

[0007] Preferably, the coin separation mechanism includes: a first gate component, the first gate component includes a pair of opposite elastically biased support rods; and a second gate component, the second gate component includes a pair of opposite elastically biased support rods, and the second gate component is arranged to be adjacent to the first gate component; wherein at least one support rod of the first gate component and the second gate component is configured to reciprocate within the magnetic field of the inductor.

[0008] Preferably, the inductor is one coil connected to the control unit or a pair of adjacent coils connected to the control unit.

[0009] Advantageously, the control unit includes a coin thickness analyzer configured to receive a coil sensing signal, the coil sensing signal being proportional to the displacement of the gate member, and the coin thickness analyzer being calibrated to determine the thickness of the coin interacting with the gate member based on the coil sensing signal. The coil sensing signal is proportional to the thickness of the coin interacting with the gate member.

[0010] Preferably, the coil constrains respective support rods of both the first and second gate components.

[0011] Alternatively, a pair of adjacent coils constrains respective support rods of both the first gate component and the second gate component. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which

[0013] In the picture:

[0014] Figure 1 Coin processing equipment is shown;

[0015] Figure 2 A perspective view showing a coin sorting mechanism of a coin processing device;

[0016] Figure 3 A partial plan view showing the coin sorting mechanism;

[0017] Figure 4 A detailed view showing the coin separation mechanism of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 5 Show Figure 4 An exploded view of the coin separation mechanism;

[0019] Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the coin separation mechanism of the present invention; and

[0020] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view showing a coin separation mechanism according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG, a coin handling apparatus 1 includes a coin depositor 2 for receiving and storing coins 8. The coin depositor 2 includes a coin sorting mechanism 7 located in a base region of the coin depositor 2.

[0022] The coin sorting mechanism 7 includes a coin separating mechanism 5 located near the coin output port 3. The coin output port 3 is in communication with the coin output conduit 4.

[0023] The mint sorting mechanism 7 is fully described in EP 1,842,168 and is independently driven by an electric motor 6.

[0024] Figure 2 The mint sorting mechanism 7 is illustrated in greater detail. The mint sorting mechanism 7 comprises a spaced mint rotor 20 configured to transport mint from the mint deposit 2 to the mint output orifice 3 via the mint separating mechanism 5.

[0025] Figure 3 A plan view of the coin sorting mechanism 7 is shown with the coin rotor 20 removed. In the embodiment shown, the coin separating mechanism 5 comprises an outer gate member 9A and an inner gate member 9B. Each gate member is biased by a spring to reciprocate in a vertical direction (see EP 1,842,168).

[0026] refer to Figure 4 The outer gate member 9A and the inner gate member 9B are positioned adjacent to each other, and each of the gate members 9A, 9B is an arc-shaped metal member. The outer gate member 9A includes a pair of support rods 10A ( Figure 4 Similarly, the inner gate member 9B includes a pair of support rods 10B. The support rods 10A, 10B are made of the same metal as the corresponding gate members and are individually resiliently biased (not shown).

[0027] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , each support rod 10A, 10B is positioned to reciprocate within a corresponding receiving conduit 18, 19 of the inductor housing 11.

[0028] The inductor housing 11 encloses an upper coil arrangement 12 and a lower coil arrangement 13. Although no coils are shown in the figures, the reader will appreciate that any suitable coil known in the art may be employed to perform the required induction task.

[0029] exist Figure 5In the exploded view of the first embodiment shown in FIG, the inductor housing 11 includes a pair of adjacent receiving conduits 18, 19, which are arranged to receive the outer gate support rod 10A and the inner gate support rod 10B respectively. In this embodiment, each gate component reciprocates independently in the corresponding receiving conduit.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown in FIG, the inductor housing 11 includes only a single support rod receiving conduit 21. Here, the coin separation mechanism 5 includes only a single gate member 9, or the separation mechanism includes two gate members, but only one of the gate pair is configured to reciprocate within the inductor housing 11.

[0031] Will refer to Figure 7 The operation of the coin separation mechanism of the present invention is described. Figure 7 Show Figure 6 operation of an alternative embodiment, but this is for simplicity only, and Figure 4 and Figure 5 The operations of the inner shutter member 9B and the outer shutter member 9A of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are identical due to the fact that the operations occur twice in succession.

[0032] The coins 17 leaving the coin sorting mechanism 7 encounter the coin separating mechanism 5. The gate member 9 is urged upwards against the spring force to allow the coins 17 to exit from the coin output aperture 3 and into the coin output conduit 4.

[0033] As the gate member 9 is urged upward, the interconnected support rods 10 are likewise urged upward within the receiving conduit 21. The movement of the support rods 10 induces an electric current in the upper coil arrangement 12 and the lower coil arrangement 13. This induced signal is transmitted to the control unit 15 via the electrical connection tabs 14 and the interconnecting electrical links 16.

[0034] Typically, the control unit 15 is housed within the coin handling apparatus 1 and may be incorporated into conventional authentication electronics or may be a separate unit in bidirectional communication with the internal authentication electronics. In any case, the control unit 15 includes electronic circuitry and components configured to analyze and interpret the sensing signals received from the electrical connection tabs 14.

[0035] The control unit 15 is pre-calibrated so that the received signal can be directly converted into a value indicative of the thickness of the coin 17. The conversion of the sensing signal pulses into calibrated values ​​may be performed by any suitable conventional method and will be fully understood by the skilled person.

[0036] In the first embodiment, the control unit 15 may receive a pair of sensing signals. Here, the control unit 15 may calculate the thickness value twice and compare them to determine the confidence level in the accuracy of the calculated value. Alternatively, the pair of received signals may be combined before any calculation of the thickness of the coin 17 is performed.

Claims

1. A coinage processing device, comprising: a coin depositor, the coin depositor including a coin output orifice; a coin output conduit, the coin output conduit being in communication with and adjacent to the coin output orifice; a mint separation mechanism disposed between the mint output orifice and the mint output conduit, the mint separation mechanism comprising at least one gate member including a pair of opposed resiliently biased support rods; It is characterized in that at least one of the pair of opposing elastically biased support rods is configured to reciprocate within the magnetic field of a proximal inductor, the inductor is connected to a control unit configured to receive an induction signal, and the control unit is pre-calibrated so that the received induction signal is converted into a value indicating the thickness of the coin.

2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the coin separation mechanism comprises: a first gate member comprising a pair of opposed resiliently biased support rods; as well as a second gate member comprising a pair of opposed resiliently biased support rods, the second gate member being positioned adjacent to the first gate member; At least one support rod of the first gate component and the second gate component is configured to reciprocate within the magnetic field of the inductor.

3. A coin processing device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the inductor is a coil.

4. A coin processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the inductor comprises a pair of adjacent coils connected to a control unit.

5. The coin processing device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit includes a coin thickness analyzer, and the coin thickness analyzer is configured to receive the sensing signal, and the sensing signal is proportional to the displacement of the gate component.

6. The coin processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the coin thickness analyzer is calibrated to determine the thickness of the coin interacting with the gate member based on the sensing signal.

7. The coin processing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sensing signal is proportional to the thickness of the coin interacting with the gate member.

8. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inductor is a coil, and the coil constrains the respective support rods of both the first gate member and the second gate member.

9. The coin processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inductor comprises a pair of adjacent coils connected to a control unit, and the pair of adjacent coils constrains corresponding support rods of both the first gate member and the second gate member.

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