Method and apparatus for conditioning coins prior to discrimination

In a coin discriminating device, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of items, including a plurality of desired coins of various diameters, prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, wherein none of said desired coins is smaller than a predetermined smallest desired coin, to define a minimum coin diameter, and none of said desired coins is larger than a predetermined largest desired coin, to define a maximum coin diameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a container having at least a first opening for admitting a first plurality of said mass of items and a plurality of second openings, smaller than said first opening, for permitting exit of dirt from said container without having first passed through a container opening smaller than said maximum coin diameter, each of said second openings being smaller than said minimum diameter to prevent passage of any of said plurality of desired coins through any of said plurality of second openings;
• a driver, coupled to said container, so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of said mass of items;
• wherein said container includes a third opening, larger than said second opening, permitting coins to exit said container;
• a first endpiece coupled to said container adjacent said first opening and defining a coin entry opening, wherein said first endpiece is manually removable from said container, without the use of tools;
• and
• a second endpiece coupled to said container adjacent said third opening and defining a coin exit opening, wherein said second endpiece is manually removable from said container, without the use of tools.

In a coin discriminator, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of coins prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, comprising:

• a container having at least a first opening for admitting a first plurality of said mass of coins and a second opening, smaller than said first opening, for permitting exit of dirt from said container;
• a third opening permitting coins to exit said container;
• a first endpiece coupled to said container adjacent said first opening and defining a coin entry opening;
• a second endpiece coupled to said container adjacent said third opening and defining a coin exit opening;
• said first endpiece having a resilient tab and slot system, configured differently from a corresponding tab and slot system employed with said second endpiece and third opening, to prevent coupling said first endpiece adjacent said third opening;
• and
• a driver;
• coupled to said container so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of coins.

In a coin discriminating device, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of coins prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, comprising;

• a frame;
• a container having at least a first opening for admitting a first plurality of said mass of coins and a second opening, smaller than said first opening, for permitting exit of dirt from said container;
• a driver coupled to said container to rotate said container about at least a first axis so as to agitate said first plurality of coins;
• wherein said container is coupled to said frame via first and second bearings displaced from each other along said first axis, wherein said first and second bearings may be moved from an operating position to a position to facilitate removal of said container;
• and
• means for normally urging said one of said first and second bearings toward said operating position.

In a coin discriminating device, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of items, including a plurality of desired coins of various diameters, prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, wherein none of said desired coins is smaller than a predetermined smallest desired coin, to define a minimum coin diameter, and none of said desired coins is larger than a predetermined largest desired coin, to define a maximum coin diameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a container having at least a first opening for admitting a first plurality of said mass of items and a plurality of second openings, smaller than said first opening, for permitting exit of dirt from said container without having first passed through a container opening smaller than said maximum coin diameter, each of said second openings being smaller than said minimum diameter to prevent passage of any of said plurality of desired coins through any of said plurality of second openings;
• a driver, coupled to said container, so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of said mass of items;
• and
• at least a first vane protruding inwardly from an interior surface of said container and at least a second vane protruding inwardly from an interior surface of said container.

In a coin discriminating device, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of coins prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, comprising:

• a container having a longitudinal axis and having at least a first opening for admitting a first plurality of said mass of coins and a second opening, smaller than said first opening, for permitting exit of dirt from said container;
• and
• a driver, coupled to said container so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of coins;
• at least a first vane protruding inwardly from an interior surface of said container and said first vane including at least first and second segments, defining a first node therebetween, wherein at least a first portion of said first segment is laterally displaced in a first direction from a second portion of said first segment and wherein at least a part of said second segment is laterally displaced from said second portion of said first segment in a direction opposite to said first direction.

In a coin discriminating device, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of items, including a plurality of desired coins of various diameters, prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, wherein none of said desired coins is smaller than a predetermined smallest desired coin, to define a minimum coin diameter, and none of said desired coins is larger than a predetermined largest desired coin, to define a maximum coin diameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a container having at least a first opening for admitting a first plurality of said mass of items and a plurality of second openings, smaller than said first opening, for permitting exit of dirt from said container without having first passed through a container opening smaller than said maximum coin diameter, each of said second openings being smaller than said minimum diameter to prevent passage of any of said plurality of desired coins through any of said plurality of second openings;
• and
• a driver, coupled to said container, so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of said mass of items;
• wherein said container has an interior surface and the interior surface of said container includes four substantially flat walls to define a quadrilateral interior cross-section.

In a coin discriminating device, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of coins prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, comprising:

• a container having at least a first opening for admitting a first plurality of said mass of coins and a second opening, smaller than said first opening, for permitting exit of dirt from said container
• a driver, coupled to said container so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of coins,
• an input tray for receiving said mass of coins prior to conveyance to said container, and
• at least a first signaling device for indicating that additional coins may be moved from said input tray along a path toward said container.

In a coin discriminating device, an apparatus for cleaning a mass of coins prior to conveyance to a coin discriminator, comprising:

• a container, defining a container interior space, and having at least a first means for admitting a first plurality of said mass of coins and at least one opening for permitting exit of dirt from said container;
• at least a first vane protruding inwardly from an interior surface of said container;
• and
• motive means, coupled to said container, for moving said container so as to cause at least some of said first plurality of coins to fall through a portion of said container interior space.

A method for cleaning a plurality of desired coins, comprising:

• providing a frame;
• providing at least a first container having a first entry opening sized and positioned to permit entry of any of said plurality of desired coins into said container, and a second exit opening, sized and positioned to permit exit of any of said plurality of desired coins from said container and further having a plurality of holes, all of said plurality of holes being sized to prevent passage therethrough of any of said plurality of desired coins said first container further having at least a first vane protruding inwardly from an interior surface of said first container;
• mounting said first container to said frame to permit rotation of said container about said first axis;
• introducing said plurality of coins into said first container;
• and
• rotating said first container about said first axis.

A coin discriminating device comprising:

• a first pivotable feed tray inclined in a first direction pivotable about a first pivot axis and configured to move coins therein over a ridge defined by said pivot axis;
• a coin conditioner configured to receive coins moved over said ridge and tumble said coins with respect to one another for dislodging non-coin materials and to permit exit of coins through at least a first opening in said coin conditioner;
• at least a first vane protruding inwardly from an interior surface of said coin conditioner;
• a hopper for receiving coins from said coin conditioner;
• a coin discriminator, including a plurality of sensors, for receiving coins from said hopper and discriminating at least a first coin denomination from a second coin denomination;
• and
• output means for providing output indicating a number of at least a first coin denomination.

A coin discriminating system, configured to receive a mass of coins, said mass of coins defining a smallest-diameter coin, the device comprising:

• a frame;
• an input tray, coupled to said frame, with a bottom surface perforated by a plurality of circular holes having a diameter less than that of the smallest-diameter coin, said input tray pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis defining a peak, from a first position inclined downward from said peak, to a second position wherein said bottom surface is raised, with respect to the position of said bottom surface when said input tray is in said first position;
• a first chute inclined downwardly in a direction away from said peak such that said peak is between said input tray and said first chute wherein coins moved over said peak flow down said first chute;
• a first long object trap comprising first and second pins projecting upwardly from the upper surface of said first chute;
• a second long object trap comprising a first ascending substantially vertical wall defining a free upper edge;
• a second descending substantially vertical wall defining a free lower edge, spaced from said first wall and a floor positioned to prevent passage, from said first chute to said second chute, of elongate rigid objects having at least a first length;
• a second chute inclined downwardly in substantially the same direction as said first chute is inclined, having a surface which is curved throughout to prevent adjacent coins from contacting said second chute surface at more than two points, said second chute defining an output region;
• a trommel, rotatably mounted with respect to said frame, and having an interior with an interior surface defining at least a first corner, said trommel having a plurality of circular holes having a diameter less than that of the smallest-diameter coin, said trommel having an input opening aligned with said output region of said second chute for receiving coins from said second chute into the interior of said trommel, said trommel having an output opening;
• a plurality of vanes positioned on said interior surface of said trommel and extending into said interior of said trommel wherein, upon rotation of said trommel, said coins are moved toward said output opening of said trommel;
• a driver, coupled to said trommel so as to rotate said trommel;
• a coin discriminator;
• a transport device configured to transport coins from said output opening to said coin discriminator.