Multi-Stage Coin Dispensing Layout to Prevent Passage Jamming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coin receiving and dispensing devices experience coin jamming during simultaneous collection operations due to coins falling on a common transport surface, leading to inefficiencies and accumulation.

Innovation Solution

A coin receiving and dispensing device that discriminates coins by denomination, transports them linearly, and guides them through inclined plates and transport belts to prevent jamming, using a configuration with multiple stages and a drop prevention mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If coins are collected simultaneously from multiple storing and dispensing devices, then collection efficiency is improved, but coin jamming occurs due to coins falling on a common transport surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollection efficiencyVSAvoidcoin transport reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The common transport surface is divided into multiple separate transport surfaces, with each storing and dispensing device having its own dedicated transport surface. This segmentation prevents coins from multiple devices from contacting and jamming each other while maintaining simultaneous collection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each transport surface is independently configured with appropriate friction characteristics and surface properties tailored to the specific coin types handled by each storing and dispensing device, optimizing local transport performance while preventing jamming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a high friction coefficient transport belt is used to smoothly transport coins, then coin transport reliability is improved, but coins are flipped up greatly by belt elasticity causing time delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoin transport reliabilityVSAvoidcoin transport time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The friction coefficient and elasticity parameters of the transport belt are optimized to achieve sufficient grip for reliable coin transport while minimizing excessive elasticity that causes coin flipping and time delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The transport belt surface is designed with appropriate curvature and contour features that guide coins smoothly without causing them to flip upward, reducing transport time while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Quantity of substance

If multiple accommodating and dispensing portions are arranged on multiple vertical stages, then device capacity is improved, but coin jamming occurs when coins fall on a level bottom transport portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoin storage capacityVSAvoidcoin transport reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transport surface is changed from a horizontal level bottom to an inclined surface, utilizing the vertical dimension to guide coins downward by gravity. This prevents coin accumulation and jamming while maintaining multi-stage vertical arrangement for high capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 device ensures smooth coin collection without significant jamming, allowing for efficient dispensing and storage of coins by minimizing coin contact and using inclined surfaces to guide coins away from potential jamming points.

Implementation Method 1

an inclined plate which constitutes at least a bottom surface of the dispensing passage and which is inclined downward toward the dispensing port side and through which the coins that have fallen from the feeding port slide down

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a upward transport belt inclined forwardly upward toward a subsequent process side... a protrusion that is protrusively provided on the upward transport belt and that revolves the drop preventing body while pushing the drop preventing body toward the longitudinal downstream side of the upward transport belt by movement toward a coin lifting direction of the upward transport belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3859693B1Coin receiving and dispensing device
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 ASAHI SEIKO CO LTD
  • EP3859693B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3859693B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3859693B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to prevent coin jamming (clogging) in a dispensing passage even when coins are dispensed at the same time to the same dispensing passage from a plurality of coin dispensing devices arrayed in up-down and front-back directions. Denominational dispensing and storing devices are arranged on three stages, and a plurality of denominational dispensing and storing devices are arranged on each stage. At least a dispensing passage is provided for each stage, the dispensing passages are stacked in an up-down direction, and a bottom plate of the dispensing passage is inclined downward toward a dispensing port side. A dispensing transport belt arranged and inclined upward toward the dispensing port side is arranged below a lower end of each bottom plate. A coin fed from each of the denominational dispensing and storing devices first falls onto an inclined plate from the dispensing passage, slips down, and then falls on the dispensing transport belt. The coin that has fallen on the dispensing transport belt is transported to the dispensing port by the dispensing transport belt moving toward the dispensing port side.