US 6,099,401 AGranted

Coin sorting apparatus

AssigneeMag-Nif Incorporated

InventorJerzy Perkitny

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A coin sorting apparatus (A) includes a hopper (10) into which a plurality of coins are deposited. A push-button switch (30) is positioned adjacent the hopper (10) and is operable in a one-handed manner by an operator simultaneously with the action of depositing unsorted coins into the hopper. A coin separating mechanism dispenses coins from the hopper onto a ramp (20) upon which the coins roll downward and pass through one of a plurality of apertures (22a-d) formed through the ramp according to their diameter. Coins that pass through each aperture (22a-d) are deposited onto one of a plurality of coin chutes (40a-40d). A plurality of sorted coin wrappers (W) are positioned respectively adjacent lower edges of the chutes (40a-40d), respectively. Coins from each chute (40a-40d) are deposited directly into the appropriate one of the plurality of coin wrappers, without the need for any intermediate or additional sorted coin containers. A baffle (44) is positioned over the chutes (40a-40d) and forces the coins on each chute to slide on either their front or rear faces rather than roll or bounce. An overflow tray (80) extends from a forward region of the apparatus (A) and coins that pass over a filled wrapper drop into the tray (80). An overflow coin deflector (82) is provided to ensure that these overflow coins do not overshoot the tray (80).

Claims21

Dependent claims

A coin sorting apparatus comprising:

a hopper for receiving a plurality of unsorted coins;
a coin separating mechanism for dispensing coins from the hopper onto a ramp, said ramp including a plurality of spaced differently sized apertures formed therethrough such that each coin on the ramp passes through one of said differently sized apertures and is deposited onto one of a plurality of spaced coin chutes according to its diameter;
a baffle member extending over said plurality of coin chutes and defining a slot with each of said coin chutes such that coins conveyed on each chute pass respectively through each of said slots with sliding movement on one of a front coin face and a rear coin face;
a coin wrapper collar assembly for releasably securing an open upper end of each of a plurality of coin wrappers adjacent a respective one of said plurality of coin chutes;
a coin wrapper base assemble for supporting a lower end of each of said plurality of coin wrappers, said coin wrapper collar assembly and said coin wrapper base assembly together operatively supporting said plurality of coin wrappers to receive sorted coins directly from said plurality of coin chutes;
an open coin overflow tray protecting outwardly from said coin wrapper base assembly for receiving coins that fall downwardly after sliding over a top of a filled one of said sorted coin chutes;
and,
an overflow coin deflector surrounding a forward region of said collar assembly in a spaced relationship therewith and vertically spaced above the open overflow coin tray such that the collar assembly and the deflector together define an open overflow coin passage therebetween, whereby said deflector directs overflow coins downward through said overflow coin passage into said open overflow coin tray.

5 more elements

A coin sorting apparatus comprising:

a hopper for receiving a plurality of unsorted coins, said hopper including a funnel portion with an enlarged mouth;
an electro-mechanical coin separating mechanism for dispensing coins from the hopper onto a ramp, said ramp including a plurality of differently sized apertures formed therethrough such that coins from the ramp pass through one of said apertures and are deposited onto one of a plurality of coin chutes according to their diameter;
a collar assembly adapted for supporting a plurality of sorted coin wrappers respectively adjacent a lower edge of each of said plurality of coin chutes whereby coins of a particular denomination are conveyed by each chute from said ramp into an open upper end of said wrapper adjacent said lower edge of said chute;
a push-button switch positioned adjacent said enlarged mouth of said funnel portion of said hopper, said switch being operable and closable with an operator's hand simultaneously with the operation of loading coins into said hopper from said operator's hand to selectively energize said electro-mechanical coin separating mechanism.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.