Coin Collecting Machine and Coin Bin

Abstract

A coin collecting machine and coin bin are disclosed. The coin bin includes a brake system that can be selectively applied by a detachable handle. A plurality of ports can be provided in the lid of the coin bin for distributing coins evenly through the bin, and the apertures can be selectively opened to receive coins and prevent access to the coins. The bin further includes a floor that includes sloped surfaces. The coin collecting machine includes a motorized funnel system for funneling coins to each of the ports in the bin for even distribution.

1 . A bin for collecting coins, comprising:
 a housing for receiving coins;   a wheel assembly coupled to the housing and including at least one wheel;   a handle, detachably coupled to the housing; and   a braking element coupled to the handle, the handle moving the braking element between a braked position in which the braking element contacts a surface in the wheel assembly to limit the motion of the wheel and a brake release position in which the braking element is separated from the surface in the wheel assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The coin bin as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises a pin and the handle includes an opening sized and dimensioned to be selectively received on the pin. 
   
   
       3 . The coin bin as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wheel assembly includes a slot for receiving an axle, and movement of the handle between the braked position and the brake release position causes the axle to move in the slot. 
   
   
       4 . The coin bin as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the slot includes a substantially vertical portion and a diagonal portion. 
   
   
       5 . The coin bin as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises a pin, and the handle is rotationally coupled to the wheel assembly through the pin. 
   
   
       6 . The coin bin as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a linkage coupling the pin to the axle, wherein rotation of the handle about the pin causes the axle to move in the slot. 
   
   
       7 . The coin bin as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the braking element comprises a surface of the wheel assembly that contacts a wheel. 
   
   
       8 . A bin for collecting coins, comprising:
 a housing for receiving coins;   a coin access opening formed in a side of the housing; and   a wedge-shaped door selectively positioned adjacent the coin access opening for opening and closing the coin access opening.   
   
   
       9 . The bin for collecting coins as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the wedge shaped door includes a substantially vertical surface positioned adjacent the side of the housing including the coin access opening and a sloped surface on the side of the door opposite the substantially vertical surface. 
   
   
       10 . The bin for collecting coins as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a handle extending from an upper surface of the door. 
   
   
       11 . The bin for collecting coins as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises a right angle bend. 
   
   
       12 . The bin for collecting coins as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a floor including a channel that is sloped in the direction of the coin access opening, and the width of the door is substantially equivalent to the width of the channel. 
   
   
       13 . The bin for collecting coins as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the floor of the housing further comprises at least one plane that is sloped toward the channel. 
   
   
       14 . The bin for collecting coins as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a front, a back, and opposing side walls, the coin opening access is formed in the front wall, the channel is substantially centered between the opposing side walls and is sloped toward the coin access opening from the back wall to the front wall, and a planar floor surface slopes from each side wall toward the channel. 
   
   
       15 . A bin for collecting coins, comprising:
 a housing;   a lid coupled to the housing and including a plurality of coin apertures for receiving coins and distributing the coins in the housing; and   a wheel assembly coupled to the housing for moving the bin.   
   
   
       16 . The bin as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a lid for selectively closing the plurality of coin apertures. 
   
   
       17 . The bin as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the lid is a sliding plate that is selectively slid over the coin apertures. 
   
   
       18 . The bin as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a latch for latching the sliding plate in position. 
   
   
       19 . The bin as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the latch is a spring loaded plunger that is received in a mating latching aperture. 
   
   
       20 . The bin as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising an access aperture in the lid, wherein the sliding plate is accessible through the access aperture to allow the coin apertures to be selectively closed when the lid is shut onto the bin. 
   
   
       21 . The bin as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a handle, detachably coupled to the housing; and   a braking element coupled to the handle, the handle selectively moving the braking element between a braked position in which the braking element prevents the bin from moving and a brake release position   
   
   
       22 . A bin for collecting coins, comprising:
 a housing for receiving coins;   a wheel assembly coupled to the housing and including at least one wheel;   a handle, detachably coupled to the housing; and   a brake shoe coupled to the handle, the handle moving the brake shoe between a braked position in which the brake shoe contacts a surface in the wheel assembly and a brake release position in which the brake is separated from the surface in the wheel assembly.   
   
   
       23 . The bin for collecting coins as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the wheel assembly is coupled to the housing through a rotational bearing. 
   
   
       24 . The bin for collecting coins as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising a lever coupled between the brake shoe and the wheel assembly. 
   
   
       25 . The bin for collecting coins as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the handle is coupled to and end of the lever coupled to the brake shoe. 
   
   
       26 . A coin collecting machine, comprising:
 a cabinet including an upper and a lower portion;   a coin sorting mechanism provided in the upper portion of the cabinet;   a coin collecting bin movably provided in a lower portion of the cabinet and positioned beneath the coin sorting mechanism to receive coins, the coin bin including a plurality of wheels, a detachable handle and a braking system for braking 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.   
   
   
       27 . The coin collecting machine as defined in  claim 26 , further comprising a handle storage device provided in the cabinet for storing the handle from the coin collecting bin when the handle is detached. 
   
   
       28 . The coin collecting machine as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the coin collecting bin includes a lid having a plurality of apertures for receiving coins, and the coin counting mechanism further comprises a motor-driven funnel that is selectively moveable between the plurality of ports to deliver coins to any one of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       29 . A coin collecting machine, comprising:
 a cabinet including an upper and a lower portion;   a coin sorting mechanism provided in the upper portion of the cabinet including an output for directing sorted coins from the coin sorting mechanism;   a coin collecting bin movably provided in a lower portion of the cabinet and positioned beneath the coin sorting mechanism to receive coins, the coin bin including a plurality of ports for receiving coins;   a motorized drive for positioning the output of the coin sorter, wherein the coins sorted by the output of the coin sorter is positionable adjacent each of the ports in the coin bin for distributing the coins evenly in the bin.   
   
   
       30 . The coin collecting machine of  claim 29 , wherein the output comprises a funnel. 
   
   
       31 . The coin collecting machine of  claim 29 , wherein the motorized drive is coupled to the funnel to reposition the funnel adjacent the ports. 
   
   
       32 . The coin collecting machine of  claim 29 , further comprising a second funnel for directing coins from the coin sorting mechanism to the funnel. 
   
   
       33 . The coin collecting machine of  claim 29 , wherein the coin bin includes at least one wheel, a handle and a braking system including a brake element, the handle being pivotally coupled to the brake element to cause the braking element to move onto the at least one wheel in a first position, and to cause the braking element to separate from the at least one wheel in a second position. 
   
   
       34 . The coin collecting machine of  claim 29 , wherein the handle is detachable from the coin bin, and the coin collecting machine includes a handle storage element for storing the handle. 
   
   
       35 . The coin collecting machine of  claim 29 , further comprising a sensor for sensing the position of the coin bin in the coin collecting machine. 
   
   
       36 . The coin collecting machine of  claim 35 , wherein the sensor comprises a pivotable lever actuating a switch. 
   
   
       37 . The coin collecting machine as recited in  claim 36 , further comprising a controller receiving a signal from the switch to verify the position of the bin. 
   
   
       38 . The coin collecting machine as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising a pivotable tubular spout element sized and dimensioned to be received in a coin aperture in a coin bin receivable in the machine, the tubular spout element extending into the coin bin to lock the coin bin to the coin collecting machine.