99.985% reliability

BRECO^® timing belts in coin counters and coin deposit units

Who checks and counts more than 3,000 coins a minute? When in 2008 Euroland has 15 member states and the Euro coins come with 15 different country-specific backsides, who will be able to recognise all these with a 99.985 % certainty and identify and sort all currently known counterfeits? It is unimaginable to perform this work manually, however, for the coin counter Nummus 6531 manufactured by Reis Eurosystems GmbH, Bruchsal/Baden, this is a job like any other. The RCDS III method developed by Reis for the precise identification of coins and sorting of foreign coins or counterfeits represents the constructive quintessence of developments so far realised by the coin processing specialist. The company was established in 1924 and launched the first German automatic coin deposit system on the market in 1994.


An indispensable component of coin transport in the sensor system, i.e. coin identification and, if necessary, sorting out, is a BRECO polyurethane timing belt 250 XL 025 (635 mm long / 6.35 mm wide) produced in an imperial dimension and coming with an orange coloured Linatrile coating.

The requirements of the polyurethane timing belt power transmission technology necessary for coin processing systems of Reis Eurosystems GmbH also presented a new challenge to Mulco–Europe EWIV member Hilger u. Kern, Mannheim. Reis Eurosystems was accompanied since the development phase of these coin deposit units and other coin processing systems manufactured by the company. Customer consultant Dipl.-Eng. (FH) René Preßler: „Due to the fact that we are part of the process as early as the pre-stage of design, we are in a position to elaborate the optimum drive solution together with the customer already in the test phase. This considerably shortens the development phase as well as the later introduction phase of the machines“.

The coated BRECO polyurethane timing belt passes the coins beneath the sensor head.

„We have carried out extensive test series with various coatings, knowing that for our high-precision system high abrasion resistance and lowest possible particle development are decisive factors“, explains Bernd Petri, Technical Director of Reis GmbH. He explained the function of the coin deposit unit Nummus 6531 by way of the so-called coin identification sensor board, the heart of the machine. The coins to be checked and counted are inspected for foreign bodies in an upstream cleaning unit, then separated to prevent malfunctions. Once the cleaning unit is passed, the coins are supplied to the spinner plate, following which they are transported by the orange coated polyurethane timing belt along a forced guidance to the area of the sensor head. By the software controlled comparison of the signals identifying three frequencies (alloy, diameter, thickness) the sensor head is capable of reliably detecting and deciding whether or not the coins passing at ultra-high speed meet the set values and tolerances. Non-complying coins are identified, separated by a magnet and rejected into a separate box.

The question, if any other drive and transport solution than the polyurethane timing belt used, would be an alternative for Reis Eurosystems GmbH, is vehemently denied by Bernd Petri: „No other transport medium meets our very high requirements in such a complex manner as the timing belt, which we use in all our coin processing systems. Especially the current Linatrile coating solution does not leave any wishes unfulfilled“.

Linatrile, a vulcanizate based on the material nitrile, was found to be the best solution following extensive testing with other coating materials. Not only the high abrasion resistance, but also the 55 Shore A hardness of the timing belt meet the high requirements during coin transport extremely well, as far as precision and accuracy are concerned. The extremely high resistance of the material to soiling and dust almost fully excludes a possible error potential caused by these influences. For this reason, Reis machines can do entirely without optical systems subject to fast soiling. An operating life of 3 up to 4 times longer compared to previous solutions could be achieved with the Linatrile coating according to customer consultant Preßler.

The increasing requirements with regard to coin circulation and coin processing in the notably extended European Union are a high and attractive challenge for the specialist of coin processing machines established in 1924, according to Managing Director Bernd Petri. „The number and quality of counterfeits are constantly growing. Known technologies are frequently no longer capable of reliably sort out foreign bodies and foreign coins. Since 2004, the Japanese company Glory Ltd., with more than 5,500 employees, one of the world wide leading companies in the field of automatic coin processing, is the sole shareholder of Reis Eurosystems GmbH. Currently, Reis Eurosystems is the only manufacturer who is in a position to identify and reliably sort out the 2 Euro foreign coins of class S24 “New”.

The coin identification system RCDS-III is certified by the Bundesbank. This in turn means that currently counterfeits are in circulation, such as the above mentioned class S 24 “New”, which cannot be differentiated from the original coins with the naked eye.

Although these are the results of sophisticated know-how and innovative solutions, for Reis Eurosystems daily customer-oriented service is of prime importance. Company-own service teams care for and maintain the coin processing systems, the smooth function of which is extremely important in banks, money transport companies and companies accumulating large amounts of bank notes and coins, for instance in local traffic or goods distribution by means of coin fed vending machines. „We even go as far as replacing the transport timing belt at the time of each routine inspection“, stresses Bernd Petri. This is said to be safer than an unexpected machine stoppage or measuring deviations caused by belt wear.

Assembly line at Reis Eurosystems.

„We want to assist the customer as far as possible in handling cash“, underlines Managing Director Petri and refers to the entire product range of his company, encompassing simple coin counters through to complex bank systems, certainly known to almost everyone from the bank, allowing to withdraw, pay in or count money following the insertion of a bank card. Banks appreciate the cost-saving rationalisation effects and customers benefit of the 24-hour service of the automatic machines.

All bank note and coin processing systems from Reis Eurosystems have one thing in common: the orange coated BRECO polyurethane timing belt.

Hanover, November 2007
Mulco-Europe EWIV