1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for sorting coins, comprising a first and at least a second receiving container for receiving coins. Further, the device has a separating unit for separating coins and a transport unit for transporting coins from the separating unit to the first receiving container arranged downstream of the separating unit and the second receiving container arranged downstream of the first receiving container, the transport unit having a first transport section and a second transport section. The first transport section is arranged between the separating unit and the first receiving container so that along the first transport section both the coins to be fed to the first receiving container and to the second receiving container are transported. The second transport section is arranged between the first and the second transport container so that along the second transport section only the coins which have not been fed to the first receiving container are transported.
2. Description of the Related Art
In devices for the input and/or output of coins the coins input as an unsorted quantity of coins are distributed to a plurality of receiving containers, so-called coin hoppers, after they have been separated, their authenticity has been checked and their denomination has been determined. In particular, a type-specific storage of the coins is carried out, i.e. that for each denomination at least one receiving container is provided.
For this, in particular a sorting path is provided which comprises a support surface on which the coins rest during transport and in which several holes having an increasing size in the transport direction of the coins are arranged. One coin receiving container each is arranged under each of these holes, so that the coins are distributed to the individual receiving containers dependent on their size. Due to the high processing speed and the different condition of the coins it may, however, happen that a coin is inadvertently fed to an incorrect receiving container. This is particularly critical when the coins are again disbursed since, when an incorrect coin is received in a coin hopper, thus the incorrect amount of money would be disbursed.
Therefore, devices are known in which for determining the correct feeding of the individual coins to the individual receiving containers light barriers for detecting the coins are arranged in the entry area of the receiving containers or in the area between the hole and the receiving container, i.e. in any case in the area in which the coins are in free fall. Such devices are known, for example, from documents DE 20 2006 007 932 U1 and DE 29 807 688 U1. What is problematic here is that in the case of coins which are in free fall it may easily happen that due to the rotation of the coins and the close sequence of successively fed coins, the light beam of the light barrier is continuously interrupted in the case of two successively fed coins so that the two coins are perceived as only one coin by the light barrier. It may also happen that in the case of an unfortunate rotation and position a coin does not interrupt the light beam at all. Both results in incorrect determinations of the number of coins fed to the corresponding receiving container. Further, it may happen that the light beam of the light barrier is permanently interrupted when the receiving container has a filling level that is so high that the received coins are stacked up to the area of the light barrier.
It is the object of the invention to specify a device for sorting coins, in which a monitoring of the orderly feeding of the coins to the individual receiving containers is reliably possible in an easy manner.
According to the invention, a first sensor for detecting coins transported along the first transport section is arranged in the first transport section. Likewise, a second sensor for detecting coins transported along the second transport section is arranged in the second transport section. A control unit determines the number of coins fed to the first receiving container dependent on the information obtained from the first sensor and from the second sensor. During the transport along the first transport section and the second transport section the coins have a predetermined orientation and do not rotate either. In particular, the coins rest on a support surface along which they move. By providing the sensors in these transport sections of the transport unit it is guaranteed that the individual coins can be detected reliably so that the number of coins transported along the first transport section and the number of coins transported along the second transport section can be determined reliably. Accordingly, on the basis of these two values the coins fed to the first receiving container can be calculated with high accuracy.
Further, by arranging the sensors in the transport sections and thus outside the receiving containers it is guaranteed that it will not happen that in the case of a high filling level of the receiving container (so-called turret formation) at least one coin is permanently arranged in the detection area of the sensor and thus prevents a detection of further fed coins.
The terms upstream and downstream refer to the transport direction of the coins along the transport path within which they are transported in the device.
Preferably, the control unit determines the number of coins transported along the first transport section by means of the first sensor and the number of coins transported along the second transport section by means of the second sensor. Further, the control unit determines the number of coins fed to the first receiving container in particular by subtracting the number of coins transported along the second transport section from the number of coins transported along the first transport section. Since the difference between the coins transported along the first transport section and the coins transported along the second transport section could only have been fed to the first transport container, the corresponding number can be determined reliably in this way.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least a third receiving container for receiving coins is provided. It is particularly advantageous when a plurality of further receiving containers for receiving coins is provided. In particular, the number of provided receiving containers corresponds to the number of different denominations of the currency set to be handled. In the case of EURO coins, thus in particular eight receiving containers are provided, the receiving containers being arranged one after the other with respect to the transport direction. In the transport section of the transport unit present between two successively arranged receiving containers, one sensor each for detecting coins is provided. The control unit then determines the number of coins fed to one of the receiving containers each time by subtracting the number determined in the transport section arranged after the receiving container from the number of coins determined in the transport section before the receiving container. Thus, the number of fed coins can be determined for each receiving container in an easy manner.
For the last receiving container, as viewed in transport direction, it is not necessary to provide a further sensor after this container so that the control unit assumes the number determined by the sensor arranged immediately before the last receiving container as the number of coins fed thereto. Both the first sensor and the second sensor preferably each comprise a light barrier, wherein by the interruption of the light barrier each time the transport of one coin along this transport section is detected. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, also the further sensors for detecting coins each comprise a light barrier. The use of light barriers has the advantage that the coins can be detected easily and reliably by means of them and the light barriers have low purchase costs. Alternatively, instead of light barriers also ultrasound sensors, capacitive sensors and/or inductive sensors can be used. It is likewise possible that different types of sensors are used in the various transport sections.
Further, a checking unit for determining the denomination of fed coins can be provided, wherein on the basis of the determined denominations the control unit defines for each receiving container a target value of coins to be fed thereto as planned. In particular, it is preset for each coin receiving container how many coins of which denomination are to be fed thereto. On the basis of this predetermined scheme, the control unit determines by the comparison of the corresponding number of coins of the individual denominations how many coins would have to be fed to the respective receiving container if the feeding takes place according to the preset distribution.
The checking unit in particular not only serves to determine the denomination but also to check the authenticity of the coins. Coins which are classified as being fake and/or other objects are in particular sorted out before the other coins are fed to the receiving containers by the transport unit.
The checking unit is in particular arranged upstream of the transport unit and downstream of the separating unit.
It is particularly advantageous when the control unit compares the number of the fed coins determined by means of the sensors, i.e. the actual number, to the corresponding target value for at least one of the receiving containers. It is particularly advantageous when the control unit makes a comparison of the actually fed number to the target value for each receiving container. By means of this comparison, the control unit can easily determine whether the distribution of the coins to the individual coin receiving containers has been carried out in accordance with the predetermined scheme or whether a coin has been fed to an incorrect receiving container.
The control unit can make a comparison between the target value and the actually fed number of coins after the feeding of each individual coin, after the feeding of a predetermined number of coins and/or after the feeding of all coins input into the device as an amount of coins. The comparison after the feeding of each individual coin has the advantage that the occurrence of an error can be recognized at once. The comparison after the feeding of a predetermined number of coins and/or all coins of a quantity of coins, on the other hand, offers the advantage that less comparisons are required. Since the disbursement of coins only takes place again when all coins of a quantity of coins input at the same time have been distributed to the receiving containers, there is no risk during the distribution of the coins that due to the incorrect feeding of a coin to an incorrect receiving container an incorrect amount could be disbursed.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit not only determines that at least one coin has been fed to an incorrect receiving container but specifically determines to which receiving container the incorrect coin has been fed. This can be done in that the control unit compares to which receiving containers too few and to which receiving containers too many coins are fed. When more coins are fed to a receiving container than coins of the corresponding denomination have been input, then at least one incorrect coin has to be contained in such a receiving container.
It is particularly advantageous when the control unit does not use those receiving containers in which at least one coin intended for this receiving container has been received for the output of coins via an output unit. For this, the control unit in particular replaces the denomination to be removed inadvertently from this receiving container by a corresponding number of coins of other denominations from other receiving containers.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is also possible that the control unit does not only not use those receiving containers for the later disbursement in which a non-assigned coin has been received but all receiving containers in which the actual value differs from the target value.
The transport unit is in particular designed such that it has a support surface on which the coins rest during the transport along the transport unit. In the support surface in particular several holes are provided, wherein under each hole one of the receiving containers is arranged. The holes differ in their size, the size of the holes increasing from hole to hole as viewed in transport direction so that the coins are distributed to the individual receiving containers corresponding to their size and thus corresponding to their denomination without elements which are to be controlled actively being necessary. Thus an easy, cost-efficient solution for an effective sorting is achieved.
The sensors are preferably arranged shortly before the holes so that the number of coins fed to the holes can be determined by them. Here, the distance is chosen such that the coins still rest on the support surface and are not yet falling into the hole when they are transported past the sensors.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, also actively controlled elements for sorting the coins to the respective receiving containers can be used instead of a support surface with holes.
Further, it is advantageous when the device has an output unit for the output of information, wherein the control unit, when it has determined the incorrect feeding of at least one coin to a receiving container, controls the output unit such that it outputs an information hereon to an operator. The output can, in particular, be accomplished via a display, a warning sound and/or a screen. Thus, an operator can easily remedy the incorrect sorting. Since, on the basis of this information, the operator in particular specifically knows to which of the receiving containers a coin has been fed incorrectly, the operator only has to manually correct this receiving container accordingly.
Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description which explains the invention in more detail on the basis of embodiments in connection with the enclosed Figures.
In
In
The transport unit 18 comprises a support surface 30 on which the coins 31 are transported in a transport direction P1 resting on their face or reverse. In doing so, the coins 31 bear with their edges against a guiding element 42 so that they have a predetermined orientation on the support surface 30.
In the support surface 30, five holes 32 to 40 are provided, and exactly one receiving container 20 is arranged under each hole. Thus, under the first hole 32 a first receiving container 20 is arranged, under the second hole 34 a second receiving container 20 is arranged, under the third hole 36 a third receiving container 20 is arranged, under the fourth hole 38 a fourth receiving container 20 is arranged and under the fifth hole 40 a fifth receiving container 20 is arranged. Here, the receiving containers 20 can be arranged such that coins which fall through the corresponding hole 32 to 40 directly fall into this receiving container 20. Alternatively, also further transport and/or deflecting elements can be provided via which the coins 31 are transported or deflected before they are fed to the actual receiving container 20.
The dimensions of the holes 32 to 40 increase in size, as viewed in transport direction P1, so that, as can be well seen in
The transport path along which the coins are transported with the aid of the transport unit 18 is divided into a first transport section 52, a second transport section 54, a third transport section 56, a fourth transport section 58 and a fifth transport section 60 by means of the holes 32 to 40, wherein the first transport section 52 is arranged between the checking unit 16 and the first hole 32, the second transport section 54 is arranged between the first hole 32 and the second hole 34, the third transport section 56 is arranged between the second hole 34 and the third hole 36, the fourth transport section 58 is arranged between the third hole 36 and the fourth hole 38, and the fifth transport section 60 is arranged between the fourth hole 38 and the fifth hole 40. Within each of these transport sections 52 to 60, one sensor each designed as a light barrier 62 to 70 is arranged, by means of which the coins 31 transported along the respective transport section 52 to 60 can be detected.
On the basis of the information obtained via the light barriers 62 to 70, i.e. the number of coins 31 transported along the respective transport sections 52 to 60, a control unit 24 of the device 10 can easily determine the coins 31 fallen into the respective hole 32 to 40 and thus the coins 31 fed to the respective receiving container 20.
For determining the coins 31 fed to the first receiving container 20, i.e. those coins 31 which have fallen from the transport path through the first hole 32, the control unit 21 subtracts from the number of coins 31 determined by means of the second light barrier 64 the number of coins 31 determined by means of the first light barrier 62 in the first transport section 52.
The determination of the coins 31 fed to the individual holes 32 to 40 and thus to the receiving containers 20 by means of light barriers 62 to 70 arranged before the holes 32 to 40 along the transport path of the transport unit 18 has, as compared to light barriers arranged under the holes 32 to 40, the advantage that the coins 31 rest on the support surface 30 in a predetermined orientation and bear against the guiding element 32 during their detection via the light barrier 62 to 70.
This has the advantage that each coin can be detected individually reliably. Since all coins 31 bear against the guiding element 32 with their edges, between two successively transported coins 31 a free gap is always present at least in the area directly adjacent to the guiding element 32 as all coins 31 have a circular shape. Since the light barriers 62 to 70 are orientated such that their light beam is arranged in this area, it is guaranteed that it will not happen that the light beam is continuously interrupted by two successively transported coins 31 and thus two coins 31 would be interpreted as only one coin 31.
Thus, the coins 31 fed to the individual holes 32 to 40 and thus to the individual receiving containers 20 can be determined reliably and safely in an easy manner.
In
In the second line 72, the target distribution of the coins to the individual holes 32 to 40 and thus to the corresponding receiving containers 20 is illustrated, the numbers indicated in line 72 corresponding to the reference signs of the corresponding holes 31 to 40. In the target distribution, thus all coins of the denomination A are transported through the first hole 32, all coins of the denomination B are transported through the second hole 34, all coins of the denomination C are transported through the third hole 36, all coins of the denomination D are transported through the fourth hole 38, and all coins of the denomination E are transported through the fifth hole 40. Thus, in the target distribution in accordance with line 72, fifteen coins are transported along the first transport section 52 so that fifteen coins are detected by the first sensor 62. Out of these fifteen coins, all coins of the denomination A, i.e. four coins, are transported through the first hole 32 so that along the second transport section 54 only eleven coins are still transported and detected by the second sensor 64 accordingly. Through the second hole 34 all coins of the denomination B fall, i.e. three coins, so that along the third transport section 56 only eight coins are still transported. Accordingly, the third sensor 66 detects only eight coins.
Since afterwards all coins of the denomination C, i.e. four coins, fall through the third hole 36, only four coins are still transported along the fourth transport section 58 and are detected by the fourth sensor 68, accordingly.
The two coins of the denomination D fall into the fourth hole 38 so that only the two remaining coins of the denomination E are transported along the fifth transport section 60 and are detected by the fifth sensor 70, i.e. by the light barrier 70.
In
In the third line 74 of the table according to
In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 24 blocks in such a case the third receiving container 20 with respect to a disbursement of coins 31 so that an incorrect denomination will not be paid out inadvertently. In addition, in particular also an error message can be output so that an operator knows in which receiving container 20 an error occurred, and the operator can correct this error accordingly.
In the fourth line of the table of
In line 78 of
In line 80 in
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, instead of light barriers 62 to 70 also other sensors, in particular other optical sensors, ultrasound sensors, capacitive sensors and/or inductive sensors can be used. Further, it is alternatively possible that less than five receiving containers 20 and correspondingly less than five holes 32 to 40 or more than five receiving containers 20 and correspondingly more than five holes 32 to 40, in particular eight receiving containers 20 are used.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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13154681 | Feb 2013 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2014/052430 | 2/7/2014 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2014/122262 | 8/14/2014 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3785386 | Kofsky | Jan 1974 | A |
7553224 | Choi | Jun 2009 | B2 |
20070218822 | Kim | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20150371474 | Neumann | Dec 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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37 24 994 | Feb 1988 | DE |
2 023 301 | Feb 2009 | EP |
Entry |
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English Translation of International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion—Aug. 11, 2015. |
International Search Report of May 16, 2014. |
European Search Report of Jul. 26, 2013. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150371474 A1 | Dec 2015 | US |