Rotatable Wheel Deflector for Coin Feeder Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coin processing machines face inefficiencies in sorting and counting coins due to the inability to effectively handle overlapping or stacked coin arrangements, leading to jamming and incorrect identification by sensors, as traditional fixed deflectors are not adaptable to varying coin sizes and can cause coins to become stuck.
Innovation Solution
A coin feeder with a rotatable wheel deflector mechanism, where the wheel is mounted on a flexible plate that adjusts to deflect problematic coin pairs without jamming, allowing individual coins to pass while deflecting overlapping coins, reducing jamming and improving orderly presentation to the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed physical barrier is used to deflect overlapping coins, then coins in problematic arrangements can be deflected from the desired path, but the fixed barrier cannot adapt to varying coin sizes and causes coins to become stuck or jammed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed physical barrier with a rotatable wheel mounted on a flexible mounting plate. The wheel can rotate dynamically in response to coin impacts and the mounting plate can flex to accommodate different coin thicknesses. This dynamic system adapts to varying coin sizes while maintaining effective deflection of overlapping coins, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If a fixed barrier is positioned close to the hopper disc surface to deflect thin coin pairs, then deflection effectiveness improves, but thicker coins may be incorrectly deflected or jamming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by making the barrier height adjustable through the flexible mounting plate mechanism. The mounting plate can flex to change the vertical position of the wheel, allowing the system to adapt the barrier height parameter based on coin thickness. This enables precise deflection of thin coin pairs while allowing thicker coins to pass without incorrect deflection, maintaining both precision and productivity.
3Reliability
If multiple fixed deflectors are added to handle various coin arrangements, then deflection coverage improves, but device complexity and jamming risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single rotatable wheel deflector that can handle multiple coin arrangements through its rotational capability. The wheel can rotate to different positions to deflect coins in various problematic arrangements (doubled-up, overlapping, stacked) without requiring multiple separate fixed deflectors. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while maintaining comprehensive handling of different coin arrangements.
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 rotatable wheel deflector significantly reduces jamming and ensures coins are presented to the sensor in an orderly manner, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of coin sorting and counting processes.
Implementation Method 1
the mounting plate is flexible and thereby provides the urging towards the datum position
Implementation Method 2
The hopper disc has a vacuum mechanism so that coins received at its periphery are sucked onto its surface into face to face engagement
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a coin feeder for feeding coins to a coin sensor. The coin feeder comprises a hopper disc having a first surface and arranged to receive coins on the first surface, and to transport the coins along a first path towards the coin sensor. The coin feeder also comprises one or more coin deflectors to deflect coins received on the first surface from the first path if the coins are above a threshold thickness. At least one of the one or more coin deflectors comprises a rotatable member spaced from the first surface.