CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/822,330 filed Aug. 14, 2006.
BACKGROUND The present invention is directed to a coin bin, and more specifically, to a coin bin for use in an automated coin collection machine.
Coin collecting machines, such as coin redemption machines, automated teller machines (ATMs), vending machines, gaming machines, and toll booth machines, include coin storage devices or bins for collecting the coins inserted into the machines. To allow for efficient use of the machine, bins are designed to capture a significant number of coins. For example, bins can be constructed to store the average number of coins used during a single shift or during an entire day. At the end of each shift or day of operation, the coin bin is typically removed from the coin collecting machine to allow the coins to be processed or deposited into an account.
To increase efficiency and limit costs, it is desirable for the coin bin to be handled by a single person, even someone not skilled in moving coins. The coin bins, however, can be extremely heavy, particularly when full. Full bins can, in fact, weigh hundreds of pounds, and are therefore difficult to handle based merely on their weight. Complicating this issue, also due to the weight, the bins pick up speed quickly and easily when on a ramped or sloped surface. The bins, moreover, are typically located in hard-to-access areas inside of the coin collecting machine, and can be difficult to access and retrieve. The coins, moreover, are typically piled in a single location in the bin, and therefore may cause instability when the bin is moved. Therefore, maneuvering the bins into and out of a coin collecting machine can be difficult.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a coin bin that is easy to maneuver, that can be steered over a wide angle, and that is easy to brake or stop in a safe and automatic manner. The bin, moreover, must be easy to store within a confined area. It is also desirable to provide multiple bins within the storage area, to distribute the weight of the coins, and therefore to be able to arrange the bins in tandem or other configurations. The present invention addresses these issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a bin for collecting coins. The bin includes a housing for receiving coins, a wheel assembly coupled to the housing, and a handle, detachably coupled to the wheel assembly. A braking element is coupled to the wheel assembly, and is moveable via the handle against the weight load of the bin bearing downward between a first position in which the braking element contacts a surface in the wheel assembly to prevent rotation of the wheel and a second position in which the braking element is separated from the wheel. The wheel assembly can be coupled to the housing through a rotational bearing to allow for a range of steering angles.
In another aspect of the invention, a coin collecting machine is provided including a cabinet having an upper and a lower portion. A coin sorting mechanism is provided in the upper portion of the cabinet, and a coin collecting bin is movably provided in the lower portion of the cabinet, positioned beneath the coin sorting mechanism. The coin bin includes a plurality of wheels, a detachable handle and a braking system for contacting a brake shoe to at least one of the wheels when the handle is in a first position and for releasing the brake to allow the bin to be moved when the handle is in a second position. The coin collecting machine can also include a handle storage device in the cabinet for storing the handle when the handle is detached. The coin collecting bin can include a lid having a plurality of ports for receiving coins, and the coin counting mechanism can include a motor-driven funnel that is selectively moveable between the plurality of ports to deliver coins to any one of the plurality of ports.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a coin collecting machine is provided including a cabinet having an upper and a lower portion, and a coin sorting mechanism provided in the upper portion of the cabinet. The coin sorting mechanism includes output funnels for directing counted and sorted coins to a coin collecting bin, movably provided in a lower portion of the cabinet. The coin bin includes a plurality of ports for receiving coins, and a motorized drive positions the output of the coin sorting mechanism to selectively distribute the coins among the various ports to distribute the coins evenly in the bin.
The output of the coins from the coin sorting mechanism can be directed by a funnel. A second funnel can also be included for directing coins from the coin sorting mechanism to the funnel.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment does not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention and reference is made therefore, to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin bin constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a close-up cutaway view of the front swiveling wheel assembly of coin bin of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the swiveling wheel assembly of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the coin bin FIG. 1 illustrating the rotational angle of the swiveling wheel assembly;
FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of the swiveling wheel assembly of FIG. 2 taken along line 5-5 and showing the brake deactivated;
FIG. 6 is the view of FIG. 5 showing the brake in an activated position;
FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of a braking system showing the brake in a deactivated position;
FIG. 8 is the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing the braking system in the activated position;
FIG. 9 is a second alternate embodiment of a braking system showing the brake in a deactivated position;
FIG. 10 is the embodiment of FIG. 9 showing the braking system in the activated position;
FIG. 11 is corner perspective view of coin and collecting machine that can be used with the coin bin of FIG. 1;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the coin collecting machine of FIG. 11 with a door open to illustrate the coin bin;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the coin collecting machine illustrating tandem coin bins stored in a lower compartment;
FIG. 14 is a cutaway side view of the cabinet of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a cutaway view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 and illustrating a handle storage;
FIG. 16 is a bottom view of coin bins stored in tandem within the coin collecting machine;
FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a coin bin constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention and of a motor-drive funnel assembly for filling the coin bin; and
FIG. 18 is a side view of the coin bin and motor-driven funnel assembly of FIG. 17.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a coin bin as inserted into a coin collecting machine.
FIG. 20 is a corner perspective view of the coin bin of FIG. 19.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of two of the coin bins of FIG. 19 aligned in tandem.
FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the tandem coin bins of FIG. 21.
FIG. 23 is an exploded view of the coin bin of FIG. 19 and the removable handle.
FIG. 24 is a cutaway side view of the coin bin of FIG. 19, illustrating the position of the handle in the braking position.
FIG. 25 is a cutaway side view of the coin bin of FIG. 19, illustrating the position of the handle in the moving position.
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a wheel assembly of the coin bin of FIG. 19.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the bottom of the bin of FIG. 19.
FIG. 28 is a cutaway view of the bin of FIG. 27 illustrating the locking assembly for locking the lid of the bin to the front side wall.
FIG. 29 is the cutaway view of FIG. 28, illustrating a hasp in a rotated position to receive a lock.
FIG. 30 is the cutaway view of FIG. 28, illustrating a padlock received on the hasp.
FIG. 31 is a side cutaway view through the center of the bin of FIG. 19, illustrating the internal door.
FIG. 32 is a side cutaway view through the center of the bin of FIG. 19, illustrating the sliding of a door to allow access to a coin access opening in the front of the bin.
FIG. 33 is a cutaway perspective view illustrating the floor of the bin of FIG. 19.
FIG. 34 is a top view of the bin of FIG. 19.
FIG. 35 is a partial perspective view of the lid in an open position, with the apertures open.
FIG. 36 is a cutaway side view of the lid illustrating a spring loaded plunger received in an aperture for locking the lid.
FIG. 37 is a partial perspective view of the bin of FIG. 19 with the lid in an open position and with the apertures closed.
FIG. 38 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a coin collecting machine with the upper portion of the cabinet removed, and illustrating a fill tray assembly.
FIG. 39 is an exploded view of the fill tray assembly of FIG. 38.
FIG. 40 is a front view of the machine of FIG. 38, with no coin bin received in the lower compartment.
FIG. 41 is a cutaway view taken along line 41-41 of FIG. 40.
FIG. 42 is a front view of the machine of FIG. 38, with coin bins received in the lower compartment, and with the fill tray in an open position.
FIG. 43 is a cutaway view taken along line 43-43 of FIG. 42.
FIG. 44 is a cutaway side view of the machine of FIG. 42.
FIG. 45 is a rear view of an alternate embodiment of a coin collecting machine constructed in accordance with the present invention having a rear access door.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the Figures, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a coin bin 22 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown. The coin bin 22 comprises a housing 21 having an opening (not shown) for receiving coins, and which can be constructed from steel, a rotationally molded plastic, or other materials that are sufficiently strong for retaining the coins. The bin 22 is coupled to two sets of wheels, a swiveling wheel assembly 24 provided at the front end of the bin 22, and a pair of rear wheels 26 provided at the back end of the bin 22. A handle 28 is detachably connected to the front end of the bin 22, and more specifically to the swiveling wheel assembly 24, as described more fully below. A lower portion 58 of each side of the housing 21 is sloped inward, toward a center of the housing 21, to allow the wheels 24 and 26 to be retained substantially beneath the footprint of the housing 21 to maximize coin storage while minimizing the footprint of the coin bin 22, also as discussed more fully below.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the swiveling wheel assembly 24 includes right and left wheels 38 and 40, respectively, which are coupled to opposing ends of an axle 42 through a hub 51 and 53, respectively. The hubs 51 and 53 are of a smaller diameter than but rotate with the wheels 38 and 40, and may be constructed as a portion of the wheels 38 and 40. Referring still to FIG. 2, the swiveling wheel assembly 24 further comprises first and second brake mounting members 50, that are coupled to brake shoes 52 positioned above hubs 51 and 53. A braking lever 48 is coupled between each wheel 38 and 40 and the corresponding brake mount 50, and is selectively actuated by the position of the handle 28 to activate the brake shoes 52 as described below. Referring now also to FIG. 3, the swiveling wheel assembly 24, and specifically the brake mount members 50, are coupled to the housing 21 through a rotational bearing 46, which can include, as shown here, first and second plates having a plurality of ball bearings therebetween. Although the brake mount members 50 are shown and described as separate elements, the brake mount portions 50 could also be formed as part of the lower plate of the rotational bearing 46.
Referring again to FIG. 2, a handle mount 36, sized and dimensioned to receive a tubular end of the handle 28, protrudes from the axle 42 and includes a locking projection 44 sized and dimensioned to mate with an aperture 34 provided in the handle 28, for detachably connecting the handle 28 to the swiveling wheel assembly 24. As shown here, the connection between the handle 28 and the handle mount 36 is a twist-to-lock type of connector, although various other coupling devices could be used to connect the handle 28 to the axle 42, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.
Referring now also to FIG. 4, when attached, the handle 28 can be used to rotate the swiveling wheel assembly 24 around rotational bearing 46. The angle of rotation can be selected by providing stops in the rotational bearing 46 at a selected angle, or a ninety degree swing can be provided by allowing the handle 28 to swing between contact points on opposing sides of the housing 21, as shown. In alternate embodiments, the wheels 38 and 40 could also be locked rather than provided in a swiveling configuration.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a first embodiment of a braking system for braking the coin bin 22 is shown. As described above, the braking system includes a brake shoe 52, that is coupled adjacent a bottom surface of the brake mount member 50, and is positioned above the hub 51 adjacent the wheel 38. The brake shoe 52 can be, as shown here, arced at a radius selected to mate to the outer surface of the hub 51, and is preferably constructed of steel, although various other materials will be apparent to those of skill in the art. A brake link or lever 48 is coupled between the axle 42 and a pivot point 47 provided in a portion of the brake mount member 50 that extends behind the hub 51, such that the axle 42 and pivot point 47 are substantially horizontally aligned when the coin bin 22 is in a rest position, as shown in FIG. 6. Referring now to FIG. 5, to release the brake 25, the handle 28 is pulled down, the brake lever 48 rotates about axle 42, causing the brake mount member 50 to pivot about the pivot point 47, forcing a separation between the hub 51 and the brake shoe 52. The separation deactivates the brake system, allowing the wheels 38 and 40 to rotate, and the coin bin 22 to be moved. Referring again to FIG. 6, when the handle 28 is instead released or forced upward, gravity forces the brake link 48 to pivot about the pivot point 47, forcing the brake shoe 52 down onto the hub 51, preventing the wheel 38 from rotating, and preventing movement of the coin bin 22.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a second embodiment of a brake system is shown. Here, the brake mount 50 includes a portion 54 that extends downward in front of the hub 51, and the brake lever 48 is coupled at one end through a pivot point 49 to downwardly extending portion 54, and at the opposing end to the axle 42. The handle 28 is also coupled about the pivot point 49, rather than about the axle as described above. Here, when the handle 28 is pulled down, as shown in FIG. 8, the brake link 48 is substantially parallel to the ground, and the axle 42 and pivot point 49 are substantially aligned. In this position, the brake shoe 52 rests against the hub 51, braking the coin bin 22. Referring now to FIG. 7, to release the brake, the handle 28 is lifted, forcing the brake link 48 to rotate about the axle 42 and pivoting the brake mount member 50 upward, forcing the brake shoe 52 out of contact with the hub 51, and deactivating the brake system, allowing the coin bin 22 to be moved.
Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, another embodiment of a braking system for use in the present invention is shown. Here, the brake lever 48 is coupled to pivot point 47 at one end and to the axle 42 at the opposing end, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The hub 5 1, however, is octagonal in shape as opposed to round, and the brake shoe 52 includes substantially flat portions 61 and 63 coupled together with an arcuate portion 65. When the handle is raised as shown in Fig,. 10, the flat portions 61 and 63 rest on mating flat portions of the octagonal hub, thereby limiting motion of the wheel 38 and the coin bin 22.
Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, a coin counting machine 10 configured to be used with the coin bin 22 of the present invention is shown. The coin counting machine 10 is provided in a cabinet 11, that includes a lower compartment 20 for receiving the coin bin 22, and an upper compartment 13 for storing internal circuitry and mechanisms (FIGS. 17, 18) for counting coins. A door 12 of the cabinet includes a display terminal 18, user input devices 16 and a coin deposit chute 14. When coins are inserted into the chute 14, the coins are counted by the internal circuitry, and are captured in the coin bin 22 stored in the lower portion 20 of the cabinet 11.
Referring now also to FIGS. 13 and 14, the lower compartment 20 can be sized and dimensioned to receive first and second coin bins 22 and 23, which are stored in tandem, with the handles 28 detached from the handle mount 36 (FIG. 2). Referring still to FIG. 12, in the compartment 20, the swiveling wheel assembly 24 and rear wheels 26 are each located beneath a lower portion 58 of the housing 21 to retain the wheels 24 and 26 substantially within a footprint of the top 60 of the housing 21. The coin bins 22 and 23 therefore can nest together to make the best use of space within the coin collecting machine 10. When nested together as shown in FIG. 16, the swiveling wheel assembly 24 of each bin 22 and 23 can therefore be entirely contained within the footprint of the bin, and is inherently protected. Because the handles 28 are detached, the coin bins 22 and 23 can be stored within a relatively small area in the machine 10. Although the swiveling wheel assembly 24 is shown here stored completely under the footprint of the housing 21, in some applications the swiveling wheel assembly 24 may also extend beyond a front edge of the housing 21.
Referring still to FIG. 14, and also to FIG. 15, the lower compartment 20 of the cabinet 11 is separated from the upper compartment 13 by a planar member 30. A generally V-shaped handle storage element 32 is coupled to a bottom of the planar member 30, and is sized and dimensioned to receive and store the handles 28 when detached from the coin bins 22 and 23. Although shown here coupled beneath the planar member 30, handle storage could also be provided elsewhere in the cabinet 11, as, for example, along a side panel or in other locations.
Referring now to FIG. 17, an alternate embodiment of coin bins 22 and 23 for use with a motorized funnel assembly 63 is shown. Here the coin bins 22 and 23 each include a cover 71 and 73, respectively, each including a plurality of ports for receiving coins. As shown, bin 22 includes two ports 68 and 70, while bin 23 includes ports 72 and 74. The number of ports provided in each bin 22 and 23, however, can be varied. Referring still to FIG. 17, the lids 71 and 73 are each selectively locked to the housing 21 of the bins 22 and 23 through a key lock 76, to prevent unauthorized access to the coins contained in the bins 22 and 23. Although shown here as opening toward a front of the bin, it will be apparent that the lid and key lock 76 can be positioned so that the bin opens from the back, adjacent the rear wheels 26. The lid can also be configured to open to the sides of the bin 22. Additionally, coin exit areas could be provided through the sides of the bin 22 as well as through the top of the bin 22.
Referring still to FIG. 17, the motorized funnel assembly 63 including a coin sorter 60 coupled to coin chute 14 (FIG. 11), an upper funnel 62, a lower funnel 66, and a motor drive assembly 64 are provided to sort the coins input into the coin collecting machine 10 and to direct the coins into the ports 68, 70, 72, and 74. Coins inserted into the coin chute 14 are sorted by the coin sorter 60, which is retained in the upper compartment 13 of the cabinet 11, and are directed through the upper funnel 62 and to the lower funnel 66. The output of the lower funnel 66 is selectively positioned over one of the ports 68, 70, 72, and 74 by the motor drive assembly 64, as controlled by electronic circuitry provided in the upper compartment 13 of the cabinet 11. The electronic circuitry (not shown) determines how many coins have been deposited in each port 68, 70, 72, and 74 by monitoring the number and types of coins that are deposited into the coin sorter 60 while the lower funnel 66 is positioned over a specific port 68, 70, 72 or 74. Based on these calculations, the approximate size of a pile of coins or “slump” located in a particular location can be determined for each port 68, 70, 72, and 74, and the motor drive assembly 64 can be activated to reposition the lower funnel 66 to assure even distribution of the coins.
Referring now to FIGS. 19-20, another embodiment of a coin bin 122 is shown as received in a coin counting or collecting machine 10. The housing 121 of the coin bin 122 includes four side walls 112, 114, 116, and 118, including a front side 112 and back side 116, and an open top that is selectively enclosed by a hinged lid 125. The lid 125 includes a rectangular planar section 126, hinged to the back side 116 of the housing 121, and an L-shaped lip 127 that, when the lid 125 is closed, rests on the top edge of the front side 112 of the housing 121, opposite the hinge. The L-shaped lip 127 includes a vertical section 130, and a horizontal section 132. The housing 121 is preferably constructed of a rotationally molded plastic material, which is durable, impact resistant, light weight, sound deadening, and inexpensive. The front side 112 can include a metal plate 143, that is substantially centered between the adjacent side walls 114 and 118. The metal plate 143 can provide a mounting location for a locking mechanism, as discussed more thoroughly below.
Referring now also to FIG. 32, where a cutaway view through the center of the bin 122 is shown, the rotational spin molding of the housing 121 results in outer and inner walls 182 and 184, respectively, with an open space between the walls 182 and 184 the space can be filled with sound deadening filler materials such as polyurethane to limit the noise as coins are deposited into the bin. The filler materials can be provided throughout the housing 121, but to limit the weight of the bin 122 while providing reduced noise, the filler material can also be provided in selected areas of the bin, and particularly in the floor of the housing 121. Referring again also to FIG. 20, a raised ridge 186 is formed around the circumference of the housing 121, which acts essentially as a bumper for the bin 122, particularly when bins 122 and 123 are arranged in tandem as described below.
Referring now also to FIGS. 27-30, a ridge 134 extends from a center portion of the horizontal section 132, and a rotatable hasp 136 extends vertically from a bottom surface of the ridge 134. The hasp 136 is positioned to be received in an aperture 138 formed in a mating ridge 140 extending perpendicularly from the metal plate 143 in the front side 112 of the housing 121. Referring first to FIG. 28, the hasp 136 is initially oriented such that the longest dimension is parallel to the front wall 112 of the bin 122, and is inserted through the aperture 138. As shown in FIG. 29, the hasp 136 is subsequently rotated ninety degrees to latch the ridge 140 to the ridge 134. A locking device, such as a padlock 145 is received on the hasp 136 to lock the lid 125 to the front side 112 of the housing 121, as shown in FIG. 30. Although a rotatable hasp is shown and described here, a stationary hasp may also be used.
Referring now also to FIGS. 31 and 32, a coin access opening 142 is provided in the front side 112 of the housing 121, in the metal plate 143, and adjacent the floor 120 of the bin 122. The coin access opening 142 is selectively closed by a wedge-shaped door 144 that is mounted inside the housing 121, and is adapted to be moved vertically over the coin access opening 142 to selectively open and close the opening 142. The wedge-shaped door 144 is substantially vertical along a front surface 153 facing the front wall 112 of the bin 122. The back surface 155 of the door 144 is angled, sloping downward from the upper edge toward the front surface 153, meeting the front surface 153 at the bottom edge of the door 144.
Referring still to FIGS. 31 and 32, the door 144 is provided with a door handle 146 including a right angle bend 148 extending horizontally from a top edge, providing a grip for a user moving the door 144 up and down. When the hinged lid 125 is closed, a strip of foam 150 provided under the horizontal section 132 of the L-shaped lip 127 is positioned adjacent the right angle bend 148.
When the hinged lid 125 is open, a user can grasp the door handle 146 at the right angle bend 148, and pull the door 144 vertically upward to provide access to the coin access opening 142 and to any coins in the bin. When the lid 125 is closed, however, a user cannot access the door handle 146 inside. The door 144 is, rather, maintained in a closed position by gravity. The door 144, moreover, is prevented from being moved vertically by the position of the lid 125, which prevents upward movement. As the door 144 cannot be opened, access to the coins inside of the bin 122 is prevented.
Referring again to FIG. 20 and also to FIGS. 34-37, the lid 125 also includes two coin apertures 170 and 172 for receiving coins when the bin is positioned in a coin collecting machine 10, and for distributing the coins evenly in the bin 122, as described above. The coin apertures 170 and 172 are selectively opened and closed by a sliding panel 174 mounted under the lid 125. An elongate sliding element 175 including a depression 176 is coupled to one side of the sliding panel 174, and extends through a slot 177 in the lid 125. To slide the panel 174 to the closed position, in which the coin apertures 170 and 172 are covered by the sliding panel 174, a user inserts a finger into the depression 176 and pulls the sliding panel 174 until a spring loaded plunger 178 lands in a slotted hole (not shown). When the spring loaded plunger 178 is received in the hole, a user is prevented from sliding the panel 174 in the opposite direction to re-open the coin apertures. When the coin apertures 170 and 172 are closed and the lid 125 is locked, a user opens the coin apertures 170 and 172 by unlocking the lid 125, and manually releasing the spring loaded plunger 178 from the slotted hole 180. Access to the coins inside the bin, therefore, can be selectively allowed or denied.
Referring now to FIG. 33, the floor 120 inside of the bin 122 includes five separate planes: a central plane 152, right and left front side planes 154 and 156, respectively, and right and left back side planes, 158 and 160, respectively. The central plane 152 is centered in the bin 122, is of about the same width as the coin access opening 142 in the front side wall 112 of the bin 122, and has a flat bottom surface that slopes continuously from a high point, at the back 116 of the bin 122, toward the coin access opening 142 at the front side wall 112, providing a channel 161 for directing coins toward the opening 142.
The right and left rear side planes 158 and 160 slope downward toward the central plane 152 from the opposing sides 114 and 118 of the housing 121, again directing coins toward the channel 161. The right and left front side planes 154 and 156 slope downward from the front side 112 of the bin until the planes 154 and 156 meet the planes 158 and 160, respectively. The edges 162, 164, and 166 formed between the central plane 152, the right front side plane 154 and the left front side plane 156 and the front side wall 112 of the bin, respectively, are each substantially horizontal. The door 144 is of substantially the same width as the channel 161 and the coin access opening 142, and when the door 144 is removed from the bin 122, the slope of the back surface 155 of the wedge-shaped door promotes the movement of coins into the channel 161 and toward the coin access opening 142.
Referring now to FIGS. 21 and 22, the housing 121 is movable, and is mounted on a set of wheels 180 including a pair of front wheels 124 that are positioned adjacent the side walls 114 and 118, and a pair of back wheels 126, which are offset a distance from each of the side walls 114 and 118 to allow adjacent sets of front wheels 124 and back wheels 126 to align alongside one another when the bins are stored in tandem, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.
Referring now to FIGS. 26 and 33, the housing 121 is mounted on a wheel assembly 183 that includes right and left wheel mounting plates 147 and 149 on opposing sides of a center channel 151 bounded by right and left vertically-extending sides 145. The front sets of wheels 124, are coupled to the mounting plates 147 and 149, and a pair of pins 135 extend from the opposing sides 145 of the assembly 183 to receive a removable coupling device 131 coupled to a handle 128. Referring now also to FIGS. 19-20 and FIGS. 23-26, the removable coupling device 131 includes a center plate 127 and right and left side plates 129. Each of the side plates 129 includes a hook-shaped portion 133 that defines an opening 137 for receiving the pins 135. The removable coupling device 131 further includes a handle mounting plate 123 that is angled downward from a top edge of the center plate 127, and includes an aperture 119 sized and dimensioned to receive the handle 128. The removable coupling device 131 can be selectively installed onto the pins 135, as shown in FIG. 23, and stored inside of a coin collecting machine, as described above.
Referring still to FIG. 26, the sides 145 of the wheel assembly each include a slot 141 which, referring now also to FIG. 24, includes a lower portion that is angled on a diagonal. An axle 139 that connects the rear wheels 126 is received in the slots 141, and is further coupled to a linkage 137 that is rotatably coupled at a first end to the pin 135 for receiving the handle 128 and associated connector 131. Referring now to FIG. 24, when the handle 128 is rotated upward about the pin 135, the axle 139 is forced by the linkage 137 to move along the slot 141, causing the wheels 126 to contact the plates 147 and 149 of the wheel assembly 183, wherein the plates 147 and 149 act as braking elements, preventing the wheels 126 from rotating by the weight of the coins in the bin 122. To move the bin 122, the handle 128 is instead rotated downward, forcing the axle 139 to move along the slot 141 to the distal end of the slot 141, wherein the wheels 126 are offset a distance from the plates 147 and 149, and the braking element is removed such that the wheels 126 can rotate freely.
Referring now to FIG. 38, an alternative embodiment of a coin collecting machine 10 for use with the motorized coin funneling assembly 63 is shown. Here, the coin funneling assembly 63 directs coins to a fill tray 190, which includes tubular segments or spouts 192 and 194 for directing the coins into the apertures 170 and 172 in the bin 122, respectively. Referring now also to FIG. 39, the fill tray 190 includes a locking element 193 which, as shown here, can be a key lock, for locking the fill tray 190 to the planar member 30 separating the upper compartment 13 from the lower compartment 20 of the coin collecting machine 10. As shown here, the fill tray is constructed of two separate components 189 and 191, each including tubular elements 192 and 194. However, it will be apparent that the fill tray 190 could be constructed of a single component, or as a plurality of components.
Referring still to FIGS. 38 and 39, the fill tray 190 includes a sensing assembly 197 which is positioned along a side of the fill tray 190 to sense the position of a bin 122 or bins 122 and 123 in the machine 10. The sensing assembly 197 includes a plurality of pivoting indicator levers 195, equivalent in number to the number of bins expected to be received in the machine 10, and associated with switches 196, which are positioned to be activated by the pivoting indicator levers 195 when the levers 195 are rotated.
Referring now to FIGS. 40 and 41, when the coin collecting machine 10 is empty, the fill tray 190 can be moved to the closed position, but the lever 195 does not contact a bin 122 or 123, does not rotate, and does not activate the switch 196. Referring now to FIGS. 42 and 43, when the bins 122 and 123 are inserted into the lower compartment 20 of the coin collecting machine 10 with the apertures 170 and 172 open, the filler plate 190 is initially in an open position, rotated up, preventing contact with the bin, such that the levers 195 are not rotated to activate the switch 196. Referring now to FIG. 44, when the bins 122 and 123 are positioned in the machine 10, the filler plate 190 can be rotated down by the user, typically through the insertion of the key into the locking element 193, thereby causing the tubular elements 192 and 194 to be received through the associated apertures 170 and 172, such that the tubular elements 192 and 194 extend into the bin, physically locking the bins 122 and 123 to the coin collecting machine 10. As the tubular elements 192 and 194 are inserted into the apertures 170 and 172 the indicator levers 195 contact the lids 125 of the bins 122 and 123, pivot about pivot points 198, activating the associated switches 196. If the apertures 170 and 172 are not open, the filler plate 190 cannot be pushed down a sufficient distance to rotate the levers 195. A controller monitors the signals from the switches 196 and prevents the coin collecting machine 10 from operating until all of the switches 196 are activated, indicating that bins 122 and 123 are appropriately positioned in the coin collecting machine 10 with the apertures 170 and 172 open. Although the machine is described above as a tandem coin collecting machine 10 for receiving two bins 122 and 123, the machine could also be designed to receive a single bin 122.
Referring now to FIG. 45, access to the lower compartment 20 of the coin collecting machine 10 can be provided either from the front or from the rear of the coin collecting machine 10. When access is from the rear, as shown here, the bins 122 and 123 are inserted into and removed from the lower compartment 20 from the back of the machine 10. This arrangement is suitable, for example, when the coin collecting machine is to be positioned adjacent a wall, and access provided to the rear of the machine 10 through the wall. A door, not shown here, can be provided to selectively enclose the rear access to the machine 10.
It should be understood that the methods and apparatuses described above are only exemplary and do not limit the scope of the invention, and that various modifications could be made by those skilled in the art that would fall under the scope of the invention. For example, although two apertures for receiving coins are described above, it will be apparent that other numbers of apertures can also be used, and that the number of apertures can be selected to distribute the coins evenly in the bin. Furthermore, although a combination plastic and metal construction is described, it will be apparent that the bin can be constructed either entirely of plastic materials, entirely of metal materials, or of a combination of both. Additionally, although the coin bin is described above for use in a coin collecting machine, it will be apparent that the coin bin described herein can be used in many applications, including vending machines, retail and business coin counting machines, in banking applications, and in various other capacities. To apprise the public of the scope of this invention, the following claims are made:
