U.S. patent application number 11/559898 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Wen-Fu Yang.
Application Number | 20070068768 11/559898 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36499264 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070068768 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Wen-Fu |
March 29, 2007 |
DETACHABLE COIN SORTING MECHANISM AND COIN ACCEPTOR ARRANGEMENT
Abstract
A detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement is disclosed to include a coin acceptor having a coin
acceptor module for verifying the authenticity of each inserted
coin and a track assembly for the mounting of the rail unit of a
coin sorting mechanism to sort coins inserted into the coin
acceptor. The track assembly has a positioning space, two sliding
grooves at two sides of the positioning space, and a retaining
notch at the front side of the positioning space between the
sliding grooves. The rail unit of coin sorting mechanism has a
locating block protruded from the top, two rails protruded from the
locating block at two sides and respectively coupled to the sliding
grooves of the coin acceptor, a hook plate protruded from the
locating block and hooked on the retaining notch of the track
assembly.
Inventors: |
Yang; Wen-Fu; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
2F-4. NO. 148, SEC. 4, CHUNG HSIAN EAST ROAD
TAIPEI
TW
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATION
B1., No. 24, Alley 38, Lane 91, Sec. 1, Nei-Hu Rd.
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
36499264 |
Appl. No.: |
11/559898 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10754850 |
Jan 9, 2004 |
7166845 |
|
|
11559898 |
Nov 15, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
194/334 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C30B 29/34 20130101;
G01T 1/2023 20130101; C30B 15/10 20130101; G21K 4/00 20130101; C09K
11/7774 20130101; C30B 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
194/334 |
International
Class: |
G07D 5/02 20060101
G07D005/02 |
Claims
1. A detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement comprising a coin acceptor, said coin acceptor having a
face panel, said face panel having a coin slot, a coin acceptor
module mounted on a back side of said face panel, said coin
acceptor module having a coin outlet at a bottom side thereof and a
coin passage connected between said coin slot and said coin outlet,
and a coin sorting mechanism detachably fastened to said coin
acceptor and adapted to sort coins received from said coin outlet,
wherein: said coin acceptor comprises a track assembly for securing
said coin sorting mechanism, said track assembly comprising a
positioning space, two sliding grooves arranged in parallel at two
sides of said positioning space, and a retaining notch at a front
side of said positioning space between said sliding grooves; said
coin sorting mechanism is detachably fastenable to the track
assembly of said coin acceptor, having a coin inlet on a top side
thereof for receiving coins from said coin outlet of said coin
acceptor, and a rail unit for fastening to the track assembly of
said coin acceptor, said rail unit having a locating block
protruded from a top wall thereof at one side of said coin inlet,
two rails formed integral with said locating block at two sides and
respectively coupled to said sliding grooves of said coin acceptor,
and a hook plate protruded from said locating block and suspending
between said two rails and hooked on the retaining notch of said
track assembly.
2. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coin acceptor
further comprises a coin-return assembly connected to said coin
passage of said coin acceptor module.
3. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining notch is
curved inwards toward the inside of said positioning space.
4. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit has two
crevices defined between said rails and two opposite lateral sides
of said hook plate.
5. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coin sorting
mechanism further has a top wall portion disposed at one side of
said coin inlet above the elevation of said rail unit, and a
beveled guide edge disposed at one side of said top wall portion
and sloping downwards toward said coin inlet.
6. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said track assembly has
a stop block disposed at an outer side relative to one of said
sliding grooves; said coin sorting mechanism has a locating plate
disposed near one side of said rail unit for stopping against said
stop block of said track assembly, and a mounting hole cut through
said locating plate for fastening to said track assembly.
7. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said track assembly has
a locating notch on at one side of said stop block for
accommodating said locating plate of said coin sorting
mechanism.
8. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said track assembly has
a mounting hole formed on said stop block for fastening to the
mounting hole of said locating plate of said coin sorting mechanism
with a fastening member.
9. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coin sorting
mechanism has a first coin distribution passage extending from said
coin inlet, and a second coin distribution passage extending from a
part of said first coin distribution passage.
10. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first coin
distribution passage extends from said coin inlet to a bottom side
of said coin sorting mechanism.
11. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second coin
distribution passage extends from a part of said first coin
distribution passage to one lateral side of said coin sorting
mechanism.
12. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said coin sorting
mechanism comprises sensor module disposed at one side of said
first coin distribution passage and adapted to detect the size of
each coin entering from said coin inlet into said first coin
distribution passage, an actuator controllable by said sensor
module to block said first coin distribution passage.
13. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said actuator comprising
a baffle suspending in between said first coin distribution passage
and said second coin distribution passage and controllable by said
sensor module to move between a first position to block said first
coin distribution passage and to open said second coin distribution
passage for enabling each coin entering said coin inlet to go into
said second coin distribution passage, and a second position to
open said first coin distribution passage and to block said second
coin distribution passage for enabling each coin entering said coin
inlet to pass through said first coin distribution passage.
14. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said actuator is an
electromagnetic valve.
Description
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of my patent
application, Ser. No. 10/754,580, filed on Jan. 12, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates coin acceptors and more
specifically, to a detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin
acceptor arrangement, which allows quick installation of a coin
sorting mechanism in a coin acceptor for sorting each inserted
coin.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Following fast development of modern technology, various
automatic vending machines (food or beverage vending machines,
ticket vending machines, coin exchanging machines are used
everywhere to sell different products or to provide different
services without serviceman. The use of automatic vending machines
creates new marketing routes for the suppliers, and gives
inconveniency to consumers. Further, an automatic vending machine
may be equipped with a coin sorting mechanism to sort coins.
[0006] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a conventional coin sorting mechanism for
use with a coin acceptor in an automatic vending machine. As
illustrated, the coin sorting mechanism A comprises a lifter A1,
and a link A11 movable by the lifter A1. The lifter A1 is
controlled to move the link A11 between a first position and a
second position for allowing the inserted coin B to go to a first
coin passage A2 or a second coin passage A3. This design of coin
sorting mechanism A is still not satisfactory in function because
of the following drawbacks:
[0007] 1. Because the first coin passage A2 and the second coin
passage A3 are respectively extended to the bottom side of the coin
sorting mechanism A, the coin sorting mechanism A must have a
certain dimension to accommodate the first coin passage A2 and the
second coin passage A3, i.e., the coin sorting mechanism A occupies
much installation space in the automatic vending machine.
[0008] 2. The multiple connection points between the lifter A1 and
the link A11 may wear quickly with use, causing vibration of the
link A11 relative to the lifter A1 and inaccurate functioning of
the coin sorting mechanism A.
[0009] 3. The coin sorting mechanism A is formed integral with the
coin acceptor (not shown). When the coin sorting mechanism A
failed, it must be removed with the coin acceptor from the
automatic vending machine for repair or replacement. Therefore, the
maintenance work of the coin sorting mechanism A is complicated,
requiring much labor and time.
[0010] 4. The coin sorting mechanism A is designed for sorting
coins issued in a particular country. Therefore, different coin
sorting mechanisms shall be prepared for sorting coins issued in
different countries. In consequence, the inventory cost will be
high.
[0011] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a coin sorting
mechanism that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to
provide a detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement, which allows quick installation of a coin sorting
mechanism in a coin acceptor to sort each inserted coin. It is
another object of the present invention to provide a detachable
coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement, which allows
selective installation of different coin sorting mechanism in a
coin acceptor to assort different coins. To achieve these and other
objects of the present invention, the detachable coin sorting
mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement comprises a coin acceptor,
and a coin sorting mechanism. The coin acceptor has a face panel,
which has a coin slot, and a coin acceptor module mounted on the
back side of the face panel. The coin acceptor module has a coin
outlet at the bottom side, and a coin passage connected between the
coin slot and the coin outlet. The coin acceptor further comprises
a track assembly. The track assembly comprises a positioning space,
two sliding grooves arranged in parallel at two sides of the
positioning space, and a retaining notch at the front side of the
positioning space between the sliding grooves. The coin sorting
mechanism is detachably fastened to the coin acceptor and adapted
to sort coins received from the coin acceptor. The coin sorting
mechanism has a coin inlet on the top side thereof for receiving
coins from the coin outlet of the coin acceptor, and a rail unit
for fastening to the track assembly of the coin acceptor. The rail
unit has a locating block protruded from the top at one side of the
coin inlet, two rails formed integral with the locating block at
two sides and respectively coupled to the sliding grooves of the
coin acceptor, and a hook plate protruded from the locating block
and suspending between the two rails and hooked on the retaining
notch of the track assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a coin sorting mechanism
for a detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor
arrangement according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the coin sorting mechanism
according to the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention showing
the relationship between the coin sorting mechanism and the coin
acceptor before installation.
[0016] FIG. 4 is an elevational assembly view of the detachable
coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement according to
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional side view of the present
invention, showing the coin delivered through the first coin
distribution passage of the coin sorting mechanism.
[0018] FIG. 5A is a schematic sectional front view of the present
invention, showing the coin delivered through the first coin
distribution passage of the coin sorting mechanism.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional side view of the present
invention, showing the coin delivered through the second coin
distribution passage of the coin sorting mechanism.
[0020] FIG. 6A is a schematic sectional front view of the present
invention, showing the coin delivered through the second coin
distribution passage of the coin sorting mechanism.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a sectional side view showing the operation of the
prior art design (I).
[0022] FIG. 8 is a sectional side view showing the operation of the
prior art design (II).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1.about.4, a detachable coin sorting
mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement in accordance with the
present invention is shown comprised of a coin acceptor 1 and a
coin sorting mechanism 2.
[0024] The coin acceptor 1 comprises a face panel 11, a coin
acceptor module 12 mounted on the back side of the face panel 11,
and a track assembly 13 connected to the bottom side of the coin
acceptor module 12. The face panel 11 has a coin slot 111, and a
coin-return assembly 112. The coin acceptor module 12 defines
therein a coin passage 121, which has a front end in communication
with the coin slot 111 and the coin-return assembly 112, and a rear
end terminating in a coin outlet 122 at the bottom side of the coin
acceptor module 12. The track assembly 13 comprises a positioning
space 131, two sliding grooves 132 arranged in parallel at two
sides of the positioning space 131, a retaining notch 133 at the
front side of the positioning space 131 between the sliding grooves
132, a stop block 134 disposed at an outer side relative to one
sliding groove 132, a mounting hole 1341 formed on the stop block
134, and a locating notch 1342 formed on the stop block 134 near
the mounting hole 1341. The retaining notch 133 is curved inwards
toward the inside of the positioning space 131.
[0025] The coin sorting mechanism 2 is detachably fastened to the
track assembly 13 of the coin acceptor 1, having a coin inlet 20 on
the top side, a rail unit 21, which has a locating block 211
protruded from the top wall at one side of the coin inlet 20, two
rails 212 formed integral with the top wall of the locating block
211 at two sides, a hook plate 213 protruded from the top wall of
the locating block 211 and suspending between the two rails 212,
and two crevices 214 defined between the rails 212 and the two
opposite lateral sides of the hook plate 213, a top wall portion 23
disposed at one side of the coin inlet 20 above the elevation of
the rail unit 21, a beveled guide edge 22 disposed at one side of
the top wall portion 23 and sloping downwards toward the coin inlet
20, a locating plate 24 disposed near one side of the rail unit 21,
a mounting hole 241 cut through the locating plate 24, a first coin
distribution passage 25 extending from the coin inlet 20 to the
bottom side of the coin sorting mechanism 2, a second coin
distribution passage 26 extending from a part of the first coin
distribution passage 25 to one lateral side of the coin sorting
mechanism 2, a sensor module 27 disposed at one side of the first
coin distribution passage 25, and an actuator 28 disposed at the
other side of the first coin distribution passage 25 opposite to
the sensor module 27. The actuator 28 has a movable baffle 281
controllable to block/open the first coin distribution passage 25
or the second coin distribution passage 26. The actuator 28 can be
an electromagnetic valve controllable to move the movable baffle
281.
[0026] During assembly, the rail unit 21 of the coin sorting
mechanism 2 is installed in the track assembly 13 of the coin
acceptor 1 by inserting the two rails 212 of the rail unit 21 into
the sliding grooves 132 of the track assembly 13 to force the
locating block 211 of the rail unit 21 into the positioning space
131 of the track assembly 13. When inserting the two rails 212 of
the rail unit 21 into the sliding grooves 132 of the track assembly
13, the locating plate 24 is moved over the stop block 134, and
then the locating block 211 is forced into the positioning space
131 by means of the guidance of the beveled guide edge 22, and at
the same time the hook plate 213 is hooked on the retaining notch
133 and the locating plate 24 is forced into engagement with the
locating notch 1342 to aim the mounting hole 241 of the locating
plate 24 at the mounting hole 1341 of the stop block 134, and then
a fastening member, for example, a screw 29 is threaded into the
mounting hole 241 of the locating plate 24 and the mounting hole
1341 of the stop block 134 to affix the locating plate 24 to the
stop block 134. After installation, the coin outlet 122 of the coin
acceptor 1 is in communication with the coin inlet 20 of the coin
sorting mechanism 2.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5, 5A, 6 and 6A, when a coin 3 is
inserted into the coin slot 111 of the face panel 11 of the coin
acceptor 1, it goes through the coin passage 121 and coin outlet
122 of the coin acceptor module 12 to the coin inlet 20 of the coin
sorting mechanism 2 after having been verified by the coin acceptor
module 12 to be an authentic coin. When the inserted coin 3 entered
the coin inlet 20 of the coin sorting mechanism 2, it moves into
the first coin distribution passage 25, and at the same time the
sensor module 27 of the coin sorting mechanism 2 detects the size
of the inserted coin 3 and gives a corresponding detection signal
to the actuator 28.
[0028] Upon receipt of a signal from the sensor module 27, the
actuator 28 judges the inserted coin 3 to be delivered through the
first coin distribution passage 25 or the second coin distribution
passage 26. When the inserted coin 3 is judged to be delivered
through the second coin distribution passage 26, the actuator 28
moves the baffle 281 to block the first coin distribution passage
25 and simultaneously to open the second coin distribution passage
26, allowing the inserted coin 3 to go through the second coin
distribution passage 26. On the contrary, When the inserted coin 3
is judged to be delivered through the first coin distribution
passage 25, the actuator 28 moves the baffle 281 to block the
second coin distribution passage 26 and simultaneously to open the
first coin distribution passage 25, allowing the inserted coin 3 to
go through the first coin distribution passage 25.
[0029] As indicated above, the invention provides a detachable coin
sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement, which has the
following features:
[0030] 1. The track assembly 13 is provided at the bottom side of
the coin acceptor 1 for securing the rail unit 21 of the coin
sorting mechanism 2 so that the rails 212 of the rail unit 21 can
be inserted into the sliding grooves 132 of the track assembly 13
to force the locating block 211 of the rail unit 21 into the
positioning space 131 of the track assembly 13. When inserting the
two rails 212 of the rail unit 21 into the sliding grooves 132 of
the track assembly 13, the locating plate 24 is moved over the stop
block 134, and then the locating block 211 is forced into the
positioning space 131 by means of the guidance of the beveled guide
edge 22, and at the same time the locating plate 24 is forced into
engagement with the locating notch 1342 to aim the mounting hole
241 of the locating plate 24 at the mounting hole 1341 of the stop
block 134, for installation of a fastening member 29 to affix the
locating plate 24 to the stop block 134.
[0031] 2. If the coin sorting mechanism 2 is not necessary, it can
easily and quickly be detached from the coin acceptor 1 simply by
removing the fastening member 29 from the mounting hole 241 of the
locating plate 24 and the mounting hole 1341 of the stop block 134.
Further, different specifications of coin sorting mechanisms 2
having the same rail unit 21 may be selectively used with the coin
acceptor 1 in different countries for sorting different coins.
[0032] A prototype of detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin
acceptor arrangement has been constructed with the features of
FIGS. 1.about.6. The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin
acceptor arrangement functions smoothly to provide all of the
features disclosed earlier.
[0033] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *