Coin counter dejamming method and apparatus

• US 5,957,262 A
• Filed: 02/05/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coinstar, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Scherer, Scott, Molbak, Jens H., Gerrity, Dan, Finch, Aaron R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Application Number:
  US09/019,265
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 194/200, 194/201, 194/202, 194/203, 194/317, 194/318, 194/344, 194/347, 194/348, 194/349, 453/55
• US Class Current: 194/200
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/14 Apparatus driven under control of coin-sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/16 in combination with coin-counting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/046 with means for dealing with jamming, e.g. by bent wires

Abstract

An automatic response to a detected jam or other slowing or stoppage in a coin handler, such as a coin counter and/or sorter, is provided. Such automatic dejamming is particularly useful for unattended operation of coin handlers. Preferably the response is substantially flexible, such as by providing different responses depending on the type of jam and/or the history of jamming. In one embodiment, potential responses include initiating a wait period, providing mechanical energy (such as causing vibration by controllably activating transducers, preferably addressable transducers which perform a second function in the apparatus), and/or impact. When the coin handler uses a rail mechanism, reliable, reduced-jam operation is enhanced by a ribbed rail structure that reduces or minimized the amount of surface area in contact with the coin face, consistent with providing the support desired for assuring accurate counting. Preferably the ribs are relatively deep, and have a rounded profile.

Claims

1. In a coin handling apparatus for handling coins and providing normal coin flow along a coin path toward a coin discriminator, a dejamming method comprising:

controlling at least a first transducer during at least a first period of normal coin flow to permit said normal coin flow to occur in the absence of repeatedly activating said first transducer, wherein said first transducer does not vibrate as a result of repeated activation during said first period of normal coin flow;

detecting a jam in said coin handling apparatus;

automatically initiating a dejamming measure in response to said detecting a jam, said dejamming measure including repeatedly activating at least said first transducer to cause said transducer to vibrate to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin handling apparatus at least along said coin path; and

terminating said activating of said first transducer so as to terminate vibration of said transducer;

wherein said normal coin flow along said coin path is resumed during a second period of normal coin flow following said step of terminating said activating, and wherein said first transducer does not vibrate as a result of repeated activation during said second period of normal coin flow.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating the type of jam; and

automatically selecting at least one of a plurality of dejamming measures in response to said step of evaluating.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating results of previous dejamming measures; and

automatically determining whether to perform subsequent dejamming measures in response to said evaluating of results of previous dejamming measures.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a predetermined wait period.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of initiating a predetermined wait period includes suspending coin flow.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first transducer is also used for a purpose other than to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin path.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first transducer is not used for a purpose other than to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin path.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said repeatedly activating at least said first transducer is maintained for at least a first dejamming interval.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first dejamming interval is at least about 4 seconds.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 8 further comprising suspending coin flow during said first dejamming interval.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transducer is caused to vibrate at about 50 Hz.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising:

contacting an edge of said coins with a first region of said rail such that said coins are in a substantially non-horizontal attitude;

contacting a face of said coins with a plurality of ribs positioned at levels which are vertically above a level of said first region, said plurality of rib means having a substantially rounded cross-sectional profile.

13. In a coin handling apparatus, a dejamming method comprising:

detecting a jam in said coin handling apparatus;

evaluating the type of jam by selecting between at least first and second different types of jams;

automatically initiating a first dejamming measure when said type of jam is said first type;

automatically initiating a second dejamming measure, different from said first dejamming measure, when said type of jam is said second type.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first dejamming measure comprises instituting a predetermined wait period and said second dejamming measure comprises initiating vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first dejamming measure comprises instituting a wait period, followed by vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first dejamming measure comprises initiating vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus followed by instituting a wait period.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 13 wherein one of said first and second dejamming measures comprises a step selected from the group consisting of instituting a wait period, initiating vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus, suspension of coin flow and initiation of coin flow.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said coin handling apparatus includes means for storing information indicative of a history of dejamming events and wherein said step of evaluating comprises using said information.

19. Apparatus for use with a coin handler for handling coins, comprising:

a coin rail, said coin rail providing normal coin flow along a coin path toward a coin discriminator;

a first transducer;

a transducer controller, wherein said transducer controller, during at least a first period of normal coin flow, controls said first transducer to permit said normal coin flow to occur in the absence of repeatedly activating said first transducer, wherein said first transducer does not vibrate as a result of repeated activation during said first period of normal coin flow;

a coin jam detector, which outputs at least a first signal in response to detection of a coin jam;

said transducer controller initiating a dejamming measure in response to said first signal, said dejamming measure including repeatedly activating at least said first transducer to cause said first transducer to vibrate to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin handler at least along said coin path; and

said transducer controller terminating said activating of said first transducer so as to terminate vibration of said transducer;

wherein said normal coin flow along said coin path is resumed during a second period of normal coin flow following said transducer controller terminating said activating, and wherein said first transducer does not vibrate as a result of repeated activation during said second period of normal coin flow.

20. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

a first region of said coin rail for contacting an edge of said coins while said coins are in a substantially non-horizontal attitude;

a second region of said rail having a plurality of ribs positioned at levels vertically above a level of said first region, for supporting a face of said coins in a non-horizontal attitude, said plurality of ribs having a substantially rounded cross-sectional profile.

21. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one of said plurality of ribs contacts a face of a coin to define a contact ratio such that the length of the rail in contact with the face of the coin is less than about two thirds the diameter of the coin.

22. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said at least one of said plurality of ribs is substantially adjacent an edge of said coin.

23. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 20 wherein said second region of said rail comprises a non-metallic material.

24. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 20 wherein said second region of said rail comprises a plastic.

25. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 20 wherein said second region of said rail comprises a substantialiy moisture-beading material.

26. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said plurality of ribs have a depth greater than about 0.005 inches.

27. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one of said plurality of ribs has a longitudinal extent substantially less than that of another of said plurality of ribs.

28. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least a first of said plurality of ribs extends at least to said coin discriminator, and wherein at least a second of said plurality of ribs terminates substantially short of said coin discriminator.

29. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said transducer controller, in response to said first signal, evaluates the type of jam to provide a jam evaluation and automatically selects at least one of a plurality of dejamming measures in response to said jam evaluation.

30. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said transducer controller, in response to said first signal, evaluates the type of jam to provide a jam evaluation and automatically determines whether to perform subsequent dejamming measures in response to said evaluation.

31. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first transducer is also used for a purpose other than to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin path.

32. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first transducer is not used for a purpose other than to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin path.

33. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19 wherein said dejamming measure includes maintaining repeated activation at least said first transducer for at least a first dejamming interval.

34. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 33 wherein said first dejamming interval is at least about 32 seconds.

35. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19 wherein said transducer is caused to vibrate at about 50 Hz.

36. Apparatus for use with a coin handler for handling coins, comprising:

means for providing normal coin flow along a coin path toward a coin discriminator

means for controlling at least a first transducer during at least a first period of normal coin flow to permit said normal coin flow to occur in the absence of repeatedly activating said first transducer, wherein said first transducer does not vibrate as a result of repeated activation during said first period of normal coin flow;

means for detecting a jam in said coin handling apparatus;

means for automatically initiating a dejamming measure in response to said means for detecting a jam, said dejamming measure including repeatedly activating at least said first transducer to cause said transducer to vibrate to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin handling apparatus at least along said coin path; and

means for terminating said activating of said first transducer so as to terminate vibration of said transducer;

wherein said normal coin flow along said coin path is resumed during a second period of normal coin flow following use of said means for terminating said activating, and wherein said first transducer does not vibrate as a result of repeated activation during said second period of normal coin flow.

37. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36 further comprising:

means, in said rail for contacting an edge of said coins such that said coins are in a substantially non-horizontal attitude;

plurality of rib means, positioned at levels which are vertically above a level of said means for contacting, for supporting a face of said coins in a non-horizontal attitude, said plurality of rib means having a substantially rounded cross-sectional profile.

38. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36, further comprising:

means for evaluating the type of jam; and

means for automatically selecting at least one of a plurality of dejamming measures in response to said means for evaluating.

39. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36, further comprising:

means for evaluating results of previous dejamming measures; and

means for automatically determining whether to perform subsequent dejamming measures in response to said means for evaluating of results of previous dejamming measures.

40. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36, further comprising:

means for initiating a predetermined wait period.

41. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 40, wherein said means for initiating a predetermined wait period includes means for suspending coin flow.

42. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first transducer is also used for a purpose other than to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin path.

43. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first transducer is not used for a purpose other than to provide vibratory mechanical energy to said coin path.

44. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36 further comprising means for maintaining repeated activation at least said first transducer for at least a first dejamming interval.

45. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 44 wherein said first dejamming interval is at least about 33 seconds.

46. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 44 further comprising means for suspending coin flow during said first dejamming interval.

47. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36 wherein said transducer is caused to vibrate at about 50 Hz.

48. In a coin handler, apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a jam in said coin handler;

means for evaluating the type of jam by selecting between at least first and second different types of jams;

means for automatically initiating a first dejamming measure when said type of jam is said first type; and

means for automatically initiating a second dejamming measure, different from said first dejamming measure, when said type of jam is said second type.

49. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 48, wherein said means for initiating the first dejamming measure comprises means for instituting a predetermined wait period and said means for initiating the second dejamming measure comprises means for initiating vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus.

50. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 48, wherein said means for initiating the first dejamming measure comprises means for instituting a wait period, followed by vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus.

51. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 48, wherein said means for initiating the first dejamming measure comprises means for initiating vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus followed by instituting a wait period.

52. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 48 wherein one of said means for initiating said first dejamming measure and said means for initiating said second dejamming measures comprises an item selected from the group consisting of means for instituting a wait period, means for initiating vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus, means for suspending coin flow and means for initiation of coin flow.

53. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 48, wherein said coin handling apparatus includes means for storing information indicative of a history of dejamming events and wherein said means for evaluating comprises using said information.

54. In a coin handler, apparatus comprising:

a detector configured to detect a jam in said coin handler;

an electronic logic device which evaluates the type of jam by selecting between at least first and second different types of jams;

a control device which automatically initiates a first dejamming measure when said type of jam is said first type, and automatically initiates a second dejamming measure, different from said first dejamming measure, when said type of jam is said second type.

55. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 54, wherein said first dejamming measure comprises initiation of a predetermined wait period and said second dejamming measure comprises initiation of vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus.

56. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 54, wherein said first dejamming measure comprises initiating a wait period, followed by vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus.

57. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 54, wherein said first dejamming measure comprises initiation of vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus followed by institution of a wait period.

58. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 54 wherein one of said first and second dejamming measures includes an item selected from the group consisting of institution of a wait period, initiation of vibration of at least a first portion of said coin handling apparatus, suspension of coin flow and initiation of coin flow.

59. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 54, wherein said coin handling apparatus includes a memory which stores information indicative of a history of dejamming events and wherein said electronic logic device uses said information.