Coin Conveyor Segmented Belt for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coin conveyor systems in coin processing machines face issues such as premature wear and high costs due to friction and complexity, with existing solutions like toroidal belts and inclined pulleys being inefficient and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A coin conveyor system comprising a channel with distinct segments for reception, transportation, alignment, separation, and delivery, utilizing a longitudinally movable endless belt and conical rollers to collect, lift, and separate coins, ensuring minimal separation and efficient sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If toroidal belts with circular section are used to drag coins through inclined belts, then coin transportation is achieved, but the device becomes complex and the belts suffer premature wear and tear due to elevated friction
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor channel is divided into multiple segments (first reception segment, second transportation segment, third separation segment, fourth delivery segment), each with specific functions. This segmentation allows optimization of each segment independently, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability through specialized design in each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using inclined belts to drag coins upward, the invention uses a downward inclination in the first reception segment to guide coins naturally, then lifts them vertically in the second segment. This inversion of the traditional inclined drag approach reduces friction and wear on the conveyor belts.
2Speed
If inclined pulleys are used to change trajectory of coins, then coin transport path is achieved, but the device becomes quite complex and expensive to make
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses curved trajectories achieved through the channel geometry itself rather than multiple inclined pulleys. The second transportation segment provides a vertical lift path, and the third separation segment uses a curved downward trajectory, achieving efficient coin transport through shaped channels rather than complex pulley systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the trajectory-changing function from the pulley system and integrates it directly into the channel structure. The channel walls and segments themselves guide the coins through the required paths, eliminating the need for separate inclined pulleys and reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If belts with dragging pivots are used to secure coin transportation, then coin transport reliability is improved, but synchronization with coin dispenser is required increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The first reception segment is designed with a downward inclination that allows coins to enter and be captured automatically by the belt through gravity and friction alone, without requiring synchronized actuation with the coin dispenser. The belt simply needs to be moving to capture coins that are fed into the channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the conveyor belt, allowing it to run continuously at a steady speed without requiring precise synchronization cycles. The downward inclination and belt friction work together to naturally capture and transport coins at variable feed rates from the dispenser.
4Reliability
If custom-built belts are used for coin dragging, then coin transportation is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt serves multiple functions: it acts as the dragging surface in the first reception segment, as the lifting surface in the second transportation segment, and as the separation surface in the third segment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for custom-built specialized belts for each function, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining transport performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively transports and separates coins with reduced wear and lower costs, ensuring efficient sorting and dispensing by minimizing friction and complexity, while maintaining coin alignment and separation for accurate sorting.
Implementation Method 1
The two conical rollers cause the transversal inclination of the belt, such that it converges with the fixed wall towards the inside of the channel
Implementation Method 2
The transportation of coins in coin processing machines is usually carried out through the action of belts that, through friction or through protrusions provided for said purpose, drag the coins through the established course
Implementation Method 3
the channel is defined by the lateral surface of a freely rotating cylindrical roller, by a longitudinally movable wall that is supported on the lateral surface of said cylindrical roller along an arch of approximately 90°
Data Source
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AI summary
Coin conveyor for coin processing machines, with a channel having: a first coin (16) reception segment (1), defined by a longitudinally movable wall (5) and by an opposite fixed wall (10), both converging towards each other towards the inside of said channel; a second coin transportation and alignment segment (2), defined by a longitudinally movable wall (5), by an opposite fixed wall (10) and by an also fixed bottom (12); a third coin separation segment (3), defined by the lateral surface of a freely rotating cylindrical roller (14), by a longitudinally movable wall (5), by an opposite fixed wall (10) supported on the lateral surface of said cylindrical roller along the length of an arch of approximately 90°, and by a fixed bottom (12); and a fourth coin delivery segment (4), defined by a longitudinally movable wall (5) and by an also fixed bottom (12). The longitudinally movable wall (5) of all segments is constituted by a single endless belt being mounted on pulleys (6-6').