Resilient pad for disc-type coin processing device

• US 20060148394A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Blake, John R., Wendell, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,427,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 453/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/128 Rotary devices

Abstract

A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine is provided with a first portion with a property having a first value and a second portion with the property having a second value, wherein the first value of the property is different than the second value of the property. The property may include, for example, stiffness or coefficient of friction.

Claims

1. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine comprising:

a first portion of the resilient pad comprising a property having a first value;

a second portion of the resilient pad comprising said property, said property of said second portion having a second value,

wherein the first value of said property is different than the second value of said property.

2. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said property comprises stiffness.

3. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said property comprises a first coefficient of friction.

4. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 2,

wherein said first portion of the resilient pad comprises at least one of a disc, a disc sector, an arcuate portion, a curvilinear portion, a straight portion, a spiral, and a first annulus, and

wherein said second portion of the resilient pad comprises at least one a disc, a disc sector, an arcuate portion, a curvilinear portion, a straight portion, a spiral, and a second annulus.

5. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 2,

wherein said first portion of the resilient pad comprises at least one of a disc, a disc sector, an arcuate portion, a curvilinear portion, a straight portion, a spiral, and a first annulus, and

wherein said second portion of the resilient pad comprises at least one a disc, a disc sector, an arcuate portion, a curvilinear portion, a straight portion, a spiral, and a second annulus.

6. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 4,

wherein said first portion of the resilient pad comprises a central portion of the resilient pad, and

wherein said second portion of the resilient pad comprises an outer peripheral portion of the resilient pad.

7. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 6,

wherein at least one of said first portion comprises a rubber, an elastomer, and a sponge rubber.

8. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 7, further comprising a protective layer disposed over,said resilient pad.

9. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 8,

wherein said protective layer comprises at least one of a wear-resistant fabric, a wear-resistant elastomer, and a wear-resistant polymer.

10. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 9,

wherein said protective layer comprises a first portion and a second portion having a property with different values.

11. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 10,

wherein said property of said protective layer comprises one of a stiffness and a coefficient of friction.

12. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 11,

wherein said protective layer second portion comprises an outer peripheral portion of the protective layer, and

wherein said protective layer second portion has a higher stiffness than protective layer first portion.

13. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 11,

wherein said protective layer first portion and protective layer second portion have different coefficients of friction,

wherein the protective layer second portion comprises an outer peripheral portion of the protective layer, and

wherein the protective layer second portion has a higher coefficient of friction than that of the protective layer first portion.

14. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 2,

wherein the resilient pad includes a third portion comprising said property, said property of said third portion having a third value, and

wherein the third value of said property is different than said first value of said property and said second value of said property.

15. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 3,

wherein the resilient pad includes a third portion comprising said property, said property of said third portion having a third value, and

wherein the third value of said property is different than said first value of said property and said second value of said property.

16. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine comprising:

a first portion having a first thickness;

a second portion having a second thickness different than the first thickness,

wherein the first portion and the second portion each comprise at least one of a rubber, an elastomer, and a polymer.

17. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 16,

wherein the first portion comprises a central portion of the resilient pad, and

wherein the second portion comprises an outer peripheral portion of the resilient pad.

18. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 16,

wherein said first portion comprises a first annulus, and

wherein said second portion comprises a second annulus.

19. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 17,

wherein said second portion varies in thickness over at least a portion of said outer peripheral portion.

20. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 19,

wherein said variation in thickness is substantially linear with increasing radius.

21. A resilient pad for a disc-type coin processing machine according to claim 20,

wherein said variation in thickness is non-linear with increasing radius.

22. A coin processing machine for processing a plurality of coins of mixed denominations, comprising:

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from a rotatable disc, the lower surface of the stationary sorting head forming a queuing channel and a coin exit station, the queuing channel having an interior wall against which the coins abut, the queuing channel having a first segment for receiving coins and aligning the coins along the interior wall and a second segment for moving the coins to an outer periphery of the sorting head such that a portion of each coin extends beyond the outer periphery; and

a rotatable disc for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the rotatable disc including a resilient pad having a plurality of portions having at least one property having different values comprising a first portion having a first stiffness and a second portion having a second stiffness different from the first stiffness, the second portion having a second stiffness being configured to provide a higher gripping force on coins disposed between the second portion of the resilient pad and the lower surface of the stationary sorting head than between the first portion of the resilient pad and the lower surface of the stationary sorting head.

23. The coin processing machine of claim 22, wherein said first portion of said resilient pad comprises a central portion of said resilient pad and said second portion of said resilient pad comprises an outer peripheral portion of said resilient pad.

24. The coin processing machine of claim 22, further comprising:

an optical sensor disposed outside the periphery of the sorting head for obtaining information from the portion of each coin extending beyond the periphery of the sorting head.

25. The coin processing machine of claim 22, further comprising:

a diverter disposed toward an end of the second segment, the diverter being moveable between a first position wherein coins remain along a coin path toward the coin exit station and a second position for diverting coins to a reject station, and

a controller for moving the diverter from the first position to the second position in response to the optical information obtained by the optical sensor indicating a coin should not proceed to the coin exit station.

26. The coin processing machine of claim 22, wherein the resilient pad first portion comprises an annulus.

27. The coin processing machine of claim 24, wherein the information from the optical sensor determines the authenticity of each coin.

28. The coin processing machine of claim 24, wherein the information from the optical sensor determines the denomination of each coin

29. The coin processing machine of claim 22, wherein the exit station includes a plurality of exit channels for sorting coins into particular denominations.

30. The coin processing machine of claim 22, wherein the sorting head includes a gauging channel for aligning coins along a common radius prior to the plurality of exit channels.

31. The coin processing machine of claim 22, wherein at least one of said central portion and said outer peripheral portion of the resilient pad comprises at least one of a rubber, a sponge rubber, and an elastomer.

32. A coin processing machine for processing a plurality of coins of mixed denominations, comprising:

a rotatable disc for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the rotatable disc including a resilient pad with a central portion and an outer peripheral portion, the outer peripheral portion comprising a first portion having a higher stiffness than the central portion;

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly away from the rotatable disc, the lower surface forming a coin path leading to a coin exit station at which coins are discharged, the coin path moving the coins toward an outer periphery such that a portion of each coin extends beyond the outer periphery, while engaging said first portion of said rotatable disc;

a sensor disposed outside the periphery of the sorting head for obtaining information from the portion of each coin extending beyond the periphery of the sorting head.

33. The coin processing machine of claim 32, further comprising a diverter disposed downstream of the sensor, the diverter being moveable between a first position allowing coins to remain on the coin path and a second position for diverting coins toward a reject station.

34. The coin processing machine of claim 33, further comprising a controller for moving the diverter from the first position to the second position in response to the information obtained by the sensor indicates a certain coin should not proceed to the coin exit station.

35. The coin processing machine of claim 32, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

36. The coin processing machine of claim 32, wherein the exit station includes a plurality of exit channels for sorting coins into particular denominations.

37. The coin processing machine of claim 36, wherein the sorting head includes a gauging channel for aligning coins along a common radius prior to the plurality of exit channels.

38. The coin processing machine of claim 32, wherein the information from the sensor determines at least one of the authenticity of each coin and the denomination of each coin.

39. A method of processing coins, comprising the steps of:

receiving the coins in a coin receiving region;

imparting motion to the coins with a rotatable disc comprising a resilient pad with a central portion and an outer peripheral portion, one or more portions of the outer peripheral portion having a higher stiffness than the central portion;

engaging the coins with a stationary sorting head during the step of imparting motion;

moving coins along a coin path within the stationary sorting head to a registering area adjacent a periphery of the sorting head,

gripping, in said registering area, at least a portion of each coin between the stationary sorting head and said one or more portions of the outer peripheral portion having a higher stiffness than the central portion.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

sensing a portion of each coin extending beyond said outside edge of the sorting head to determine a chord length of the coin

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

determining a denomination of each coin using the sensed chord length moving at least some of the coins to a coin exit station after optical sensing.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

determining an authenticity of each coin using information obtained from said sensing step.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

increasing the spacing between adjacent coins prior to the step of sensing.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein less than half a diameter of each of the coins is exposed.

45. A coin processing machine for processing a plurality of coins of mixed denominations, comprising:

a rotatable disc for imparting motion to the plurality of coins, the rotatable disc including a substantially rigid disc having a resilient pad disposed thereupon;

a stationary sorting head having a lower surface opposing and spaced apart from the rotatable disc, the lower surface of the sorting head comprising features forming a coin path for biasing coins to an outer periphery of the sorting head such that a portion of the coins extends beyond said outer periphery of the sorting head in at least a sensing area having a coin sensor;

wherein the stationary sorting head comprises a removable member disposed in the sensing area, the removable member having a coefficient of friction different than that of the surrounding portions of the stationary head lower surface.

46. A coin processing machine for processing a plurality of coins of mixed denominations according to claim 45, wherein said removable member comprises a coefficient of friction higher than that of the surrounding portions of the stationary head lower surface.

47. A coin processing machine for processing a plurality of coins of mixed denominations according to claim 45, wherein said removable member comprises a coefficient of friction that varies along a predetermined direction.

48. A coin processing machine for processing a plurality of coins of mixed denominations according to claim 46, wherein said removable member comprises at least one of a sintered metal and a sintered metal-ceramic, a woven material, a rubber, an elastomer, a sponge rubber, a molded material, a graphitic material, a resin-cured paper material, a polymeric material, and a metal having a roughened surface.