Detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement

Abstract

A detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement is disclosed to include a coin acceptor having a coin acceptor module for verifying the authenticity of each inserted coin and a track assembly for the mounting of the rail unit of a coin sorting mechanism to sort coins inserted into the coin acceptor. The track assembly has a positioning space, two sliding grooves at two sides of the positioning space, and a retaining notch at the front side of the positioning space between the sliding grooves. The rail unit of coin sorting mechanism has a locating block protruded from the top, two rails protruded from the locating block at two sides and respectively coupled to the sliding grooves of the coin acceptor, a hook plate protruded from the locating block and hooked on the retaining notch of the track assembly.

1 . A detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement comprising a coin acceptor, said coin acceptor having a face panel, said face panel having a coin slot, a coin acceptor module mounted on a back side of said face panel, said coin acceptor module having a coin outlet at a bottom side thereof and a coin passage connected between said coin slot and said coin outlet, and a coin sorting mechanism detachably fastened to said coin acceptor and adapted to sort coins received from said coin outlet, wherein: 
 said coin acceptor comprises a track assembly for securing said coin sorting mechanism, said track assembly comprising a positioning space, two sliding grooves arranged in parallel at two sides of said positioning space, and a retaining notch at a front side of said positioning space between said sliding grooves;    said coin sorting mechanism is detachably fastenable to the track assembly of said coin acceptor, having a coin inlet on a top side thereof for receiving coins from said coin outlet of said coin acceptor, and a rail unit for fastening to the track assembly of said coin acceptor, said rail unit having a locating block protruded from a top wall thereof at one side of said coin inlet, two rails formed integral with said locating block at two sides and respectively coupled to said sliding grooves of said coin acceptor, and a hook plate protruded from said locating block and suspending between said two rails and hooked on the retaining notch of said track assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said coin acceptor further comprises a coin-return assembly connected to said coin passage of said coin acceptor module.  
   
   
       3 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said retaining notch is curved inwards toward the inside of said positioning space.  
   
   
       4 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said unit has two crevices defined between said rails and two opposite lateral sides of said hook plate.  
   
   
       5 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said coin sorting mechanism further has a top wall portion disposed at one side of said coin inlet above the elevation of said rail unit, and a beveled guide edge disposed at one side of said top wall portion and sloping downwards toward said coin inlet.  
   
   
       6 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said track assembly has a stop block disposed at an outer side relative to one of said sliding grooves; said coin sorting mechanism has a locating plate disposed near one side of said rail unit for stopping against said stop block of said track assembly, and a mounting hole cut through said locating plate for fastening to said track assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said track assembly has a locating notch on at one side of said stop block for accommodating said locating plate of said coin sorting mechanism.  
   
   
       8 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said track assembly has a mounting hole formed on said stop block for fastening to the mounting hole of said locating plate of said coin sorting mechanism with a fastening member.  
   
   
       9 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said coin sorting mechanism has a first coin distribution passage extending from said coin inlet, and a second coin distribution passage extending from a part of said first coin distribution passage.  
   
   
       10 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first coin distribution passage extends from said coin inlet to a bottom side of said coin sorting mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said second coin distribution passage extends from a part of said first coin distribution passage to one lateral side of said coin sorting mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said coin sorting mechanism comprises sensor module disposed at one side of said first coin distribution passage and adapted to detect the size of each coin entering from said coin inlet into said first coin distribution passage, an actuator controllable by said sensor module to block said first coin distribution passage.  
   
   
       13 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said actuator comprising a baffle suspending in between said first coin distribution passage and said second coin distribution passage and controllable by said sensor module to move between a first position to block said first coin distribution passage and to open said second coin distribution passage for enabling each coin entering said coin inlet to go into said second coin distribution passage, and a second position to open said first coin distribution passage and to block said second coin distribution passage for enabling each coin entering said coin inlet to pass through said first coin distribution passage.  
   
   
       14 . The detachable coin sorting mechanism and coin acceptor arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said actuator is an electromagnetic valve.