Method and apparatus for conditioning coins prior to discrimination

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 rotate said container about an axis of said container and agitate said first plurality of coins.

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 cleaner which includes at least a first container, said cleaner having cleaner openings, which include at least a first opening, larger than said maximum coin diameter, for admitting a first plurality of said mass of items, a plurality of second openings in said cleaner, smaller than said first opening for permitting exit of dirt from said cleaner without having first passed through a cleaner 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, wherein said cleaner does not discriminate between said various diameters of said desired coins, and a third opening, larger than said maximum coin diameter, for allowing said first plurality of said mass of items to exit the cleaner;
• a driver, coupled to said container, so as to move said container and agitate at least some of said first plurality of said mass of items;
• wherein, following agitating said first plurality of said mass of items, all of said plurality of desired coins admitted to said cleaner through said first opening as a part of said first plurality of said mass of items exits said cleaner through said third opening, and wherein said plurality of desired coins is conveyed from said container to a coin discriminator for discriminating said desired coins of various diameters;
• 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 about said longitudinal axis;
• 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;
• at least a first dimple protruding inwardly from said interior surface of said container.

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, defining a container interior space, and having at least a first means for admitting a first plurality of said mass of items and a plurality of second openings, smaller than said first means, for permitting exit of dirt and items having a diameter less than said minimum coin diameter 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;
• 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;
• and
• means for conveying at least some of said first plurality of coins from said container to said coin discriminator for discriminate said coins of various diameters;
• means for preventing face-to-face contact between an entire face of one of said plurality of coins and an interior surface of said container, wherein said means for preventing comprises protrusions, extending inwardly from the interior surface of said container.

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 of a smaller diameter than any of said plurality of desired coins to prevent passage therethrough of any of said plurality of desired coins;
• 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;
• rotating said first container about said first axis;
• and
• conveying at least some of said first plurality of coins from said first container to a coin discriminator for discriminating between particular denominations of desired coins;
• effecting removal of said plurality of coins from said container, after at least some dirt has passed through at least some of said plurality of holes during said step of rotating;
• and
• providing at least a first vane adjacent an interior surface of said container, to assist in said step of effecting removal of said plurality of coins.

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, larger than said maximum coin diameter, 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, wherein said container does not discriminate between said various diameters of said desired coins;
• a driver, coupled to said container, so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of said mass of items;
• wherein, following agitating said first plurality of said mass of items, said plurality of desired coins is conveyed from said container to said coin discriminator for discriminating said desired coins of various diameters;
• a trough defining an upper surface, sized to accept said plurality of coins, and having a first entry edge and a second, opposed, exit edge, defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction having a component from said en edge toward said exit edge;
• said upper surface having a curvature in at least a first direction, over the entirety of said upper surface, said curvature sufficient to avoid surface-tension adhesion between said surface and any of said plurality of coins;
• and
• at least a first pin protruding from said upper surface.

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, larger than said maximum coin diameter, 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, wherein said container does not discriminate between said various diameters of said desired coins;
• and
• a driver, coupled to said container, so as to move said container and agitate said first plurality of said mass of items;
• wherein, following agitating said first plurality of said mass of items, said plurality of desired coins is convened from said container to said coin discriminator for discriminating said desired coins of various diameters, wherein said container has an interior surface and the interior surface of said container includes substantially flat walls, and wherein said container includes four walls to define a quadrilateral interior cross section.

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 all of the coins received through at least a first opening in said coin conditioner said coin conditioner having a plurality of holes to permit exit of non-coin materials, said plurality of holes having a size small enough to prevent passage therethrough of any of said coins;
• 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.