Foreign object removal system for a coin processing device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coin processing system, comprising:
- a coin input area for receiving coins from a user, the coins being mixed with at least one foreign object; and
a coin processing module for receiving and counting the coins from said coin input area, said coin processing module includinga rotatable disk having an upper surface,a sort head having a plurality of coin sorting channels, said sort head being located such that it forms a gap with said upper surface rotatable disk, the coins entering the coin sorting channels through said gap,a coin hopper for receiving the coins from said coin input area, said coin hopper being defined by said rotatable disk on its bottom surface and by a peripheral wall surrounding a central area of said sort head, said coin sorting channels being formed outside said peripheral wall, anda foreign object removal system being located at least partially within said coin hopper for removing said foreign object located in said central area within said peripheral wall of said coin hopper, said foreign object being removed from said coin hopper only after all the coins have been removed from said central area within said peripheral wall, said foreign object being elevated above said rotatable disk and removed from within said coin hopper along a path directing said foreign object from said upper surface of said rotatable disk to a rejection outlet that is located above said gap formed between said sort head and said rotatable disk.
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Abstract
A coin processing system includes a coin input area for receiving coins from a user, and a coin processing module for receiving and counting the coins from the coin input area. The coin processing module includes a coin hopper, a coin processing area, and a foreign object removal system. The coin hopper receives the coins from the coin input area. The coin processing area receives and counts the coins from the coin hopper. The foreign object removal system is located at least partially within the coin hopper, and removes a foreign object from the coin hopper subsequent to receiving the foreign object from the coin input area.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A coin processing system, comprising:
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a coin input area for receiving coins from a user, the coins being mixed with at least one foreign object; and a coin processing module for receiving and counting the coins from said coin input area, said coin processing module including a rotatable disk having an upper surface, a sort head having a plurality of coin sorting channels, said sort head being located such that it forms a gap with said upper surface rotatable disk, the coins entering the coin sorting channels through said gap, a coin hopper for receiving the coins from said coin input area, said coin hopper being defined by said rotatable disk on its bottom surface and by a peripheral wall surrounding a central area of said sort head, said coin sorting channels being formed outside said peripheral wall, and a foreign object removal system being located at least partially within said coin hopper for removing said foreign object located in said central area within said peripheral wall of said coin hopper, said foreign object being removed from said coin hopper only after all the coins have been removed from said central area within said peripheral wall, said foreign object being elevated above said rotatable disk and removed from within said coin hopper along a path directing said foreign object from said upper surface of said rotatable disk to a rejection outlet that is located above said gap formed between said sort head and said rotatable disk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A coin processing system, comprising:
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a coin input area for receiving a plurality of coins from a user, the coins being mixed with one or more foreign objects; a rotatable disk including a resilient upper surface in the form of a pad for imparting motion to the plurality of coins in said coin hopper, said pad forming a bottom surface of said coin hopper; a sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced slightly from said resilient upper surface of said disk via a gap, said lower surface of said sorting head forming a plurality of channels for sorting and discharging coins of different denominations; a coin hopper for receiving said plurality of coins from said coin input area, said coin hopper being defined on its bottom by said rotatable disk and around its periphery by a peripheral wall located in a central portion of said sorting head, said plurality of channels extending from said peripheral wall in a direction away from said central portion; and a debris removal system for removing at least one of said one or more foreign objects directly from an area within said peripheral wall of said coin hopper only after all the coins have been separated within said area from said one or more foreign objects, at least one of said one or more foreign objects being elevated above said disk to be removed via a hopper exit that is located in said peripheral wall of said coin hopper and above said gap formed between said lower surface of said sorting head and said resilient upper surface of said disk. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for removing foreign objects in a coin processing system, the method comprising:
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providing a mix of at least one foreign object and a plurality of coins in a coin input area of a coin processing system; receiving the coins and said foreign object from said coin input area in a coin hopper of a coin processing module, said coin hopper being defined on its bottom by a rotatable disk and around its periphery by a peripheral wall surrounding a central portion of a sorting head, said sorting head being spaced slightly from said rotatable disk via a gap through which coins exit said coin hopper to enter a plurality of channels formed on a lower surface of said sorting head, said plurality of channels being for sorting and discharging coins of different denominations and extending from said peripheral wall in an outward direction away from said central portion of said sorting head counting the coins from said coin hopper in a coin processing area of said coin processing module, the coin processing area including said plurality of channels of said sorting head; removing said foreign object directly from said central portion surrounded by said peripheral wall of said coin hopper subsequent to receiving said foreign object from said coin input area and subsequent to said counting of said coins in said coin processing area; and elevating said foreign object to exit from said central portion surrounded by said peripheral wall of said coin hopper along a path that begins on an upper surface of said rotatable disk and continues above said gap formed between said sorting head and said rotatable disk. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for removing debris in a coin processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving a mix of debris and a plurality of coins in a coin hopper of a coin processing module, said plurality of coins being received from a coin input area of a coin processing system; imparting motion to the coins in said coin hopper using a rotatable disk of said coin processing module, said rotatable disk defining a bottom surface of said coin hopper; sorting the coins according to coin denomination using a plurality of channels formed on an underside surface of a sorting head, said sorting head being separated by a gap from said rotatable disk, said plurality of coins entering said plurality of channels through said gap; separating said debris from said plurality of coins, said debris being leftover within an area defined by a peripheral wall of said coin hopper, said peripheral wall being in a central portion of said sorting head and defining generally a starting point of said plurality of channels as they extend outwards from said peripheral wall in a direction away from a center of said sorting head; and after sorting all the coins, removing debris leftover on said rotatable disk via an exit of said coin hopper that is located above said gap formed between said sorting head and said rotatable disk. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification