Money discriminating apparatus

Claim 2

A money discriminating apparatus comprising: a bill transporting path defined between a pair of spaced, but opposed wall surfaces, said bill transporting path having at its one end an inlet and at the other end an outlet; a coin transporting path defined by a groove formed in at least one of said pair of wall surfaces, said groove having a width slightly larger than a diameter of one having a maximum diameter, of coins to be transported, and a depth slightly larger than a thickness of one having maximum thickness, of the coins to be transported, said coin transporting path having an inlet and an outlet which open respectively to the inlet and the outlet of said bill transporting path, said coin transporting path being provided substantially within a space in which said bill transporting path is provided; transporting means for transporting a bill from the inlet to the outlet of said bill transporting path along the same and for transporting a coin from the inlet to the outlet of said coin transporting path along the same; bill discriminating means arranged in association with said bill transporting path, for automatically discriminating the authenticity and kind of the bill in course of being transported by said transporting means along said bill transporting path; and coin discriminating means arranged in association with said coin transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of the coin in course of being transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path.

Claim 3

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transporting means transports, at a constant speed, the bill along said bill transporting path, and the coin along said coin transporting path.

Claim 4

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said transporting means comprises transporting belt means having a running surface, and mating surface means arranged in facing relation to said running surface of said transporting belt means, and drive means for driving said transporting belt means to run the same, the arrangement being such that when said transporting belt means is driven by said drive means, the running surface of said transporting belt means cooperates with said mating surface means to transport the coin while clamping the coin between the running surface of said transporting belt means and said mating surface means.

Claim 5

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said mating surface means is formed by second transporting belt means having a running surface confronted with the running surface of the first-mentioned transporting belt means.

Claim 6

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said groove defining said coin transporting path has a pair of side surfaces, one of said pair of side surfaces being formed into a guide surface, said guide surface having a straight reference guide surface section and an inclined guide surface section which is connected to an upstream end of said straight reference guide surface section remote from the outlet of said coin transporting path and which is inclined with respect to said straight reference guide surface section, said coin discriminating means being determined in position with respect to said straight reference guide surface section, the arrangement being such that the coin transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path is abutted against said inclined guide surface section, is guided by said inclined guide surface section to said straight reference guide surface section, and moves along said straight reference guide surface section.

Claim 7

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the other of said pair of side surfaces of said groove is formed into a second guide surface, said second guide surface having a straight guide surface section located between the inlet of said coin transporting path and said inclined guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface, said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface extending in parallel relation to said straight reference guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface, wherein in a plane perpendicular to said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface, a straight distance between a point where said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface is intersected with said plane and a point where an extension line of said straight reference guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface is intersected with said plane is at most equal to a diameter of a smallest one of coins to be transported.

Claim 8

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said second guide surface has an inclined guide surface section which is connected to a downstream end of said straight guide section of said second guide surface remote from the inlet of said coin transporting path and which is inclined with respect to said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface, said inclined guide surface section of said second guide surface being similar in figure to said inclined guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface, said inclined guide surface section of said second guide surface extending in facing relation to said inclined guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface.

Claim 9

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the respective inclined guide surface sections of the first-mentioned guide surface and said second guide surface extends in an arcuate form.

Claim 10

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the respective inclined guide surface sections of the first-mentioned guide surface and said second guide surface extends straight.

Claim 11

A money discriminating apparatus comprising: a bill transporting path defined between a pair of spaced, but opposed wall surfaces, said bill transporting path having at its one end an inlet and at the other end an outlet; a coin transporting path defined by a groove formed in at least one of said pair of wall surfaces, said groove having a width slightly larger than a diameter of one having a maximum diameter, of coins to be transported, and a depth slightly larger than a thickness of one having a maximum thickness, of the coins to be transported, said coin transporting path having an inlet and an outlet which open respectively to the inlet and the outlet of said bill transporting path; transporting means for transporting a bill from the inlet to the outlet of said bill transporting path along the same and for transporting a coin from the inlet to the outlet of said coin transporting path along the same; bill discriminating means arranged in association with said bill transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of the bill in course of being transported by said transporting means along said bill transporting path; and coin discriminating means arranged in association with said coin transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of the coin in course of being transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path; and wherein said transporting means transports, at a constant speed, the bill along said transporting path and the coin along said coin transporting path; said transporting means transporting belt means having a running surface, and mating surface means arranged in facing relation to said running surface of said transporting belt means, and drive means for driving said transporting belt means to run the same, the arrangement being such that when said transporting belt means is driven by said drive means, the running surface of said transporting belt means cooperates with said mating surface means to transport the coin while clamping the coin between the running surface of said transporting belt means and said mating surface means; said mating surface means is formed by second transporting belt means having a running surface confronted with the running surface of the first-mentioned transporting belt means; and the first-mentioned transporting belt means comprises a pair of transporting belts extending in parallel relation to each other, one of said pair of transporting belts being arranged along a portion of said bill transporting path except for said coin transporting path, the other transporting belt being arranged along said coin transporting path, and wherein said second transporting belt means comprises a pair of transporting belts arranged in facing relation respectively to said pair of transporting belts of the first-mentioned belt means.

Claim 12

A money discriminating apparatus comprising: a bill transporting path defined between a pair of spaced, but opposed wall surfaces, said bill transporting path having at its one end an inlet and at the other end an outlet; a coin transporting path defined by a groove formed in at least one of said pair of wall surfaces, said groove having a width slightly larger than a diameter of one having a maximum diameter, of coins to be transported, and a depth slightly larger than a thickness of one having a maximum thickness, of the coins to be transported, said coin transporting path having an inlet and an outlet which open respectively to the inlet and the outlet of said bill transporting path; transporting means for transporting a bill from the inlet to the outlet of said bill transporting path along the same and for transporting a coin from the inlet to the outlet of said coin transporting path along the same; bill discriminating means arranged in association with said bill transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of the bill in course of being transported by said transporting means along said bill transporting path; and coin discriminating means arranged in association with said coin transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of the coin in course of being transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path; and wherein said transporting means transports, at a constant speed, the bill along said transporting path and the coin along said coin transporting path; said transporting means transporting belt means having a running surface, and mating surface means arranged in facing relation to said running surface of said transporting belt means, and drive means for driving said transporting belt means to run the same, the arrangement being such that when said transporting belt means is driven by said drive means, the running surface of said transporting belt means cooperates with said mating surface means to transport the coin while clamping the coin between the running surface of said transporting belt means and said mating surface means; said mating surface means is formed by second transporting belt means having a running surface confronted with the running surface of the first-mentioned transporting belt means; and the first-mentioned transporting belt means comprises a pair of transporting belts extending in parallel relation to each other, one of said pair of transporting belts being arranged along a portion of said bill transporting path except for said coin transporting path, the other transporting belt being arranged along said coin transporting path, and wherein said second transporting belt means comprises a pair of transporting belts arranged in facing relation respectively to said pair of transporting belts of the first-mentioned belt means.

Claim 13

A money discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin transporting path defined by a groove formed in at least one of a pair of spaced, but opposed wall surfaces, said groove having a width slightly larger than a diameter of one having a maximum diameter, of coins to be transported, and a depth slightly larger than a thickness of one having a maximum thickness, of the coins to be transported, said coin transporting path having an inlet and an outlet; transporting means for transporting a coin at a constant speed from the inlet to the outlet of said coin transporting path along the same; and coin discriminating means arranged in association with said coin transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of a coin in course of being transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path, wherein said transporting means comprises transporting belt means having a running surface, and mating surface means arranged in facing relation to said running surface of said transporting belt means, and drive means for driving said transporting belt means to run the same, the arrangement being such that when said transporting belt means is driven by said drive means, the running surface of said transporting belt means cooperates with said mating surface means to transport the coin while clamping the coin between the running surface of said transporting belt means and said mating surface means; and wherein said mating surface means is formed by second transporting belt means having a running surface confronted with the running surface of the first-mentioned transporting belt means.

Claim 14

A money discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin transporting path defined by a groove formed in at least one of a pair of spaced, but opposed wall surfaces, said groove having a width slightly larger than a diameter of one having a maximum diameter, of coins to be transported, and a depth slightly larger than a thickness of one having a maximum thickness, of the coins to be transported, said coin transporting path having an inlet and an outlet; transporting means for transporting a coin at a constant speed from the inlet to the outlet of said coin transporting path along the same; and coin discriminating means arranged in association with said coin transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of a coin in course of being transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path, wherein said transporting means comprises transporting belt means having a running surface, and mating surface means arranged in facing relation to said running surface of said transporting belt means, and drive means for driving said transporting belt means to run the same, the arrangement being such that when said transporting belt means is driven by said drive means, the running surface of said transporting belt means cooperates with said mating surface means to transport the coin while clamping the coin between the running surface of said transporting belt means and said mating surface means; and wherein said mating surface means is formed by second transporting belt means having a running surface confronted with the running surface of the first-mentioned transporting belt means.

Claim 15

A money discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin transporting path defined by a groove formed in at least one of a pair of spaced, but opposed wall surfaces, said groove having a width slightly larger than a diameter of one having a maximum diameter, of coins to be transported, and a depth slightly larger than a thickness of one having a maximum thickness, of the coins to be transported, said coin transporting path having an inlet and an outlet; transporting means for transporting a coin at a constant speed from the inlet to the outlet of said coin transporting path along the same; and coin discriminating means arranged in association with said coin transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of a coin in course of being transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path, wherein said transporting means comprises transporting belt means having a running surface, and mating surface means arranged in facing relation to said running surface of said transporting belt means, and drive means for driving said transporting belt means to run the same, the arrangement being such that when said transporting belt means is driven by said drive means, the running surface of said transporting belt means cooperates with said mating surface means to transport the coin while clamping the coin between the running surface of said transporting belt means and said mating surface means; and wherein said groove defining said coin transporting path has a pair of side surfaces, one said pair of side surfaces being formed into a guide surface, said guide surface having a straight reference guide surface section and an inclined guide surface section which is connected to an upstream end of said straight reference guide surface section remote from the outlet of said coin transporting path and which is inclined with respect to said straight reference guide surface section, said coin discriminating means being determined in position with respect to straight reference guide surface section, the arrangement being such that the coin transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path is abutting against said inclined guide surface section, is guided by said inclined guide surface section to said straight reference guide surface section, and moves along said straight reference guide surface section.

Claim 16

A money discriminating apparatus comprising: a coin transporting path defined by a groove formed in at least one of a pair of spaced, but opposed wall surfaces, said groove having a width slightly larger than a diameter of one having a maximum diameter, of coins to be transported, and a depth slightly larger than a thickness of one having a maximum thickness, of the coins to be transported, said coin transporting path having an inlet and an outlet; transporting means for transporting a coin at a constant speed from the inlet to the outlet of said coin transporting path along the same; and coin discriminating means arranged in association with said coin transporting path, for discriminating authenticity and kind of a coin in course of being transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path, wherein said transporting means comprises transporting belt means having a running surface, and mating surface means arranged in facing relation to said running surface of said transporting belt means, and drive means for driving said transporting belt means to run the same, the arrangement being such that when said transporting belt means is driven by said drive means, the running surface of said transporting belt means cooperates with said mating surface means to transport the coin while clamping the coin between the running surface of said transporting belt means and said mating surface means; and wherein said groove defining said coin transporting path has a pair of side surfaces, one said pair of side surfaces being formed into a guide surface, said guide surface having a straight reference guide surface section and an inclined guide surface section which is connected to an upstream end of said straight reference guide surface section remote from the outlet of said coin transporting path and which is inclined with respect to said straight reference guide surface section, said coin discriminating means being determined in position with respect to straight reference guide surface section, the arrangement being such that the coin transported by said transporting means along said coin transporting path is abutting against said inclined guide surface section, is guided by said inclined guide surface section to said straight reference guide surface section, and moves along said straight reference guide surface section.

Claim 17

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the other of said pair of side surfaces of said groove is formed into a second guide surface, said second guide surface having a straight guide surface section located between the inlet of said coin transporting path and said inclined guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface, said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface extending in parallel relation to said straight reference guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface, wherein in a plane perpendicular to said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface, a straight distance between a point where said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface is intersected with said plane and a point where an extension line of said straight reference guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface is intersected with said plane is at most equal to a diameter of a smallest one of coins to be transported.

Claim 18

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said second guide surface has an inclined guide surface section which is connected to a downstream end of said straight guide surface has an said second guide surface remote from the inlet of said coin transporting path and which is inclined with respect to said straight guide surface section of said second guide surface, said inclined guide surface section of said second guide surface being similar in figure to said inclined guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface, said inclined guide surface section of said second guide surface extending in facing relation to said inclined guide surface section of the first-mentioned guide surface.

Claim 19

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein each of the respective inclined guide surface sections of the first-mentioned guide surface and said second guide surface extends in an arcuate form.

Claim 20

A money discriminating apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein each of the respective inclined guide surface sections of the first-mentioned guide surface and said second guide surface extends straight.