Coin Receive Track With Recirculating Arms for Jam-Resistant Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional coin receive units are inefficient, prone to jamming, and require multiple validation attempts, leading to slow and costly operations, especially when handling mixed coins and different denominations.
Innovation Solution
A coin receive unit with an elongate track and transport arms that isolate and sort coins by continuously circulating them, allowing for multiple validation attempts without user intervention, using a combination of transport arms, a coin processing unit, and singulation mechanisms to divert excess coins back to the feed unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If coins are mixed and accumulated after validation, then the coin receive unit can handle various denominations, but multiple coins of various denominations circulate causing disagreements between sensors and reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coin handling process into separate functional zones: validation zone, isolation zone, and sorting zone. Coins are validated, then isolated individually on the inclined track, and finally sorted by denomination. This segmentation prevents mixing of coins throughout the system, ensuring sensor agreement while maintaining the ability to handle various denominations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If coins are split into separate coin hoppers for storage, then coins of different denominations are organized, but the unit becomes large and expensive and is slow and costly to configure for different currencies
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined track with transport arms serves multiple functions: it validates coins, isolates them individually, transports them, and sorts them by denomination. This single multi-functional structure replaces the need for multiple separate coin hoppers and complex mechanical sorting mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different currencies through software configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a dynamic inclined track where transport arms can be adjusted to change the angle and speed of coin transport. This dynamic adjustment allows the same hardware to be optimized for different coin types and denominations without physical reconfiguration, making the system adaptable to various currencies while maintaining a compact design.
3Reliability
If traditional coin receive units reject coins not successfully validated in initial attempt, then validation reliability is maintained, but users must re-input coins for subsequent attempts making the unit slow for large quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined track enables continuous circulation of coins through the validation and sorting process. Coins that fail initial validation are automatically recirculated on the track for re-validation without requiring user intervention. This continuous action maintains validation reliability while dramatically increasing processing speed for large quantities of coins.
4Adaptability or versatility
If thin rotating disk pickup wheel or moving track is used for sorting coins, then coins can be sorted by denomination, but the unit becomes slow and complex to configure and is prone to jamming with metal debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sorting mechanisms (rotating disks, moving tracks) with a simplified inclined track system using gravity and controlled transport arms. Coins are transported along the inclined track and diverted to different collection points based on validation results. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity, eliminates jamming issues with metal debris, while maintaining full sorting capability.
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 unit efficiently and reliably sorts and processes large quantities of coins quickly, reducing mixing and configuration complexity while minimizing space, enhancing reliability and ease of integration with downstream systems.
Implementation Method 1
an inclined track including an elongate upper portion and an elongate lower portion connected by first and second curved portions to form a continuous coin transport path along the track
Data Source
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AI summary
A coin receive unit (100, 200) is provided for collecting and sorting coins comprising: an inclined track (120, 220), one or more transport arms (130, 230), an input zone, and a coin processing unit. The inclined track (120, 220) includes an elongate upper portion (120b, 220b) and an elongate lower portion (120a, 220a) connected by first and second curved portions to form a continuous coin transport path. Each transport arm (130, 230) is positioned orthogonally across the inclined track (120, 220) and configured to move around the track (120, 220). The input zone is configured to feed coins to a coin collection location along the transport path, and the coin processing unit, located along the transport path, is for analysing and sorting the coins. The transport arms (130, 230) are configured to transport coins received from the coin collection location around a portion of the coin transport path towards the coin processing unit and divert excess coins being transported by each transport arm (130, 230) away from the transport path and towards the coin collection location. Therefore, each transport arm is (130, 230) configured to provide no more than one coin to the coin processing unit during each circulation of the inclined track (120, 220).