Coin Separating and Detecting Device with Horizontal Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coin separating and detecting devices face challenges in maintaining a low height while ensuring accurate detection, as they often require frequent maintenance and have dimensions that increase in the transport direction, leading to issues with vibration and sensor accuracy, especially when using belts that need tension adjustment.

Innovation Solution

The coin separating and detecting device is designed with a separating and feeding rotating body and a detecting rotating body inclined and aligned laterally, featuring a separating concave portion and a detecting portion introduction guide with an arc-shaped design to minimize vibrations, allowing coins to fall onto a reception area that suppresses spring-up and ensures accurate detection by a sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If coins are transported by a rotating body diagonally upwards along a linear guide, then physical properties can be detected by a sensor, but the device height increases in the vertical direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoin detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice height
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a vertical/diagonal coin transport path to a horizontal transport path. The coin separating and feeding device moves coins horizontally along a guide rail, and the denomination identification device is positioned horizontally adjacent rather than vertically above, thereby reducing device height while maintaining detection capability

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the coin separating and feeding function with the denomination identification function in a horizontally integrated arrangement. The separating and feeding rotating body and the identification rotating body share a common horizontal transport path, merging multiple functions into a compact horizontal configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If a belt is used for linear movement of coins, then transport can be achieved, but tension adjustment and frequent inspection maintenance are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoin transport capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the belt-driven mechanical transport system with a rotating body mechanism. The separating and feeding rotating body and identification rotating body use rotational motion to advance coins along guide rails, eliminating the need for belts, tensioners, and associated maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating bodies automatically advance coins through their rotational motion without requiring external tension adjustment mechanisms. The system self-regulates coin transport through the mechanical interaction between the rotating bodies and the guide rails

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Length of stationary object

If coins are moved in a horizontal state through a long distance, then the device height can be reduced, but the device dimension in the transport direction becomes larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice heightVSAvoidtransport direction dimension
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dynamic rotating bodies instead of static linear guides. The separating and feeding rotating body and identification rotating body create a compact circular/oval transport path that reduces the linear transport distance while maintaining horizontal coin movement, thereby reducing both device height and transport direction dimension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Length of stationary object

If the separating and feeding rotating body and detecting rotating body are aligned laterally in parallel, then device height is reduced, but coin vibration may affect detection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice heightVSAvoidcoin detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coin reception area with vibration suppression functionality before coins enter the detection zone. The reception area cushions coins upon arrival from the separating rotating body, minimizing vibrations before detection occurs, thereby maintaining detection accuracy in the compact horizontal configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This configuration reduces the device's height, minimizes vibrations, and enables accurate detection of coins by a sensor, allowing for more reliable and long-interval maintenance, while maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

the detecting portion introduction guide is formed with an arc shape in order to minimize vibrations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the coins that have been separated are fed to a coin detecting device from a coin separating and feeding device configured to push out the coins that have been separated from the separating concave portion by a moving body which is movable in the radial direction of the separating and feeding rotating body, and the coin detecting device includes a detecting rotating body that moves the coins that have been fed along a detecting portion introduction guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3686851B1Coin separating and detecting device
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 ASAHI SEIKO CO LTD
  • EP3686851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3686851B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3686851B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

[Problem] The object of the present invention is to provide a coin separating and detecting device having decreased height and enabling accurate detection by a sensor. [solution] A coin separating and feeding device 122 and a coin detecting device 124 are disposed in parallel in the horizontal direction. The coins C fed from the coin separating and feeding device 122 fall downwards into the coin handling concave portion 184 of the detecting rotating body 174 of the coin detecting device 124 and are held in the coin reception 184r. Since the reception peripheral edge side portion 184rp of the coin reception 184r is oriented to the rotational center side, the coins are delivered to the arc portion 142a which is centered to the rotational center if the peripheral edge side end 184re is inclined about 45°. The coins C roll on the arc portion 142a roll and reach a static state at the temporary retaining portion 142L formed in the lowest position. Having reached a static state, the coins C are pushed forward by the coin pushing portion 184p of the detecting rotating body 174. Even if the coins C vibrate, the vibrations are resolved in the step in which the coins C roll on the arc portion 142a while being suppressed by the reception peripheral edge side portion 184rp or by that the coins C reach a static state at the temporary retaining portion 142L, so that physical information can accurately be acquired at the sensor portion.