This invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus and has particular but not exclusive application to a hopper for dispensing coins in gaming and vending machines.
Hitherto, coin dispensing apparatus in the form of a hopper has been used to dispense coins in gaming machines to provide a prize and also to dispense coins in vending machines to provide change. An example is the Compact Hopper manufactured by Money Controls Limited. Reference is also directed to EP-A-0266021.
The hopper is typically fed with coins from a coin acceptor. A disc-like rotary member has a number of coin receptacles that receive the coins and a motor rotates the rotary member so as to move coins in the receptacles along an annular coin path so that they can be ejected successively from the receptacles through a coin outlet disposed to one side of the path. A spring loaded ejector device ejects coins from the receptacles to the coin outlet. The ejector device is positioned so that it is moved from a coin engaging position against the force of the spring to a discharge position by a coin as it moves along the annular path to be ejected from the coin outlet, so that as the coin comes aligned with the outlet, the force of the spring is released and the ejector device moves from a discharge position so as to eject the coin through the outlet and thence to the coin engaging position for the next approaching coin to be ejected.
An optical counting device has been used to count the coins as they are ejected from the outlet so that the correct payout or change can be dispensed. Hitherto, the counting device has comprised an optical emitter and detector at the coin outlet so that each dispensed coin breaks the optical path between the emitter and the detector to provide a coin count signal.
However, a problem with this conventional counting arrangement is that the optical emitter and detector are mounted on the exterior of the apparatus rendering them vulnerable to attack by fraudsters and vandals. For example, a fraudster may insert a knife blade or other similar instrument through the conventional payout opening of the vending or gaming machine and physically break off the optical counting device. As a result, there is a risk that the dispensing apparatus will erroneously dispense all of the coins in the hopper.
The present invention seeks to provide a coin dispensing apparatus with an improved counting arrangement which is less prone to fraudulent operation and vandalisation.
In a first aspect the invention provides coin dispensing apparatus comprising a coin source, a rotary member with a plurality of coin receptacles to receive coins from the coin source, a motor to rotate the rotary member so as to move coins in the receptacles along an annular coin path, a coin outlet disposed to one side of the coin path, and a movable ejector device to eject coins from the receptacles through the coin outlet, the ejector device being positioned so that it is moved to from a coin engaging position to a discharge position by a coin as it moves along the annular path to be ejected through the coin outlet, drive means operable to drive the ejector device from the discharge position to eject the coin through the outlet and thence to the coin engaging position for a next approaching coin to be ejected, and counting means responsive to movement of the ejector device to count coins ejected through the outlet.
Since the counting means is responsive to the movement of the ejector device, it can be housed within the body of the coin dispensing apparatus, thereby rendering the arrangement less accessible to fraudsters and vandals. More particularly, if a vandal jams the operation of the ejector device to confuse the counting means, no coins will be ejected and so the fraudster will be defeated.
The invention also provides a coin dispensing apparatus with an improved ejector device.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided coin dispensing apparatus comprising a coin source, a rotary member with a plurality of coin receptacles to receive coins from the coin source, a motor to rotate the rotary member so as to move coins in the receptacles along an annular coin path, a coin outlet disposed to one side of the coin path, and a movable ejector device to eject coins from the receptacles through the coin outlet, the ejector device being positioned so that it is moved to from a coin engaging position to a discharge position by a coin as it moves along the annular path to be ejected through the coin outlet, drive means operable to drive the ejector device from the discharge position to eject the coin through the outlet and thence to the coin engaging position for a next approaching coin to be ejected, the ejector device comprising first and second coin engaging members movable independently between said coin engaging position and said discharge position.
The invention also provides coin dispensing apparatus comprising a coin source, a rotary member with a plurality of coin receptacles to receive coins from the coin source, a motor to rotate the rotary member so as to move coins in the receptacles along an annular coin path, a coin outlet disposed to one side of the coin path, and a movable ejector device to eject coins from the receptacles through the coin outlet, the ejector device being positioned so that it is moved to from a coin engaging position to a discharge position by a coin as it moves along the annular path to be ejected through the coin outlet, drive means operable to drive the ejector device from the discharge position to eject the coin through the outlet and thence to the coin engaging position for a next approaching coin to be ejected, the ejector device comprising at least one slider member movable between the coin engaging position and the discharge position.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 7A-E illustrate successive stages in the ejection of a coin from the coin dispensing apparatus;
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the coin dispensing apparatus comprises a body member 1, a hopper 2, and a disc-like rotary member 3 mounted on the body member 1. The rotary member 3 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by an electric motor 4 mounted within the body member 1, through a reduction gear train 5. An example of the gear train 5 is described in more detail in EP-A-0266021.
In use, coins fall into the hopper 2, for example from a coin acceptor, so that the hopper acts as a coin source and feeds coins into circular apertures 6 in the rotary member 3. The coins slide on inclined side wall 7 of the body member 1 which has an annular upper surface 8 bounded by a circular side wall 9 around the circular edge of the rotary member 3. A coin outlet 10 is provided in the side wall 9.
A coin ejector device 11 in the form of a pivoted fork member has first and second coin engaging members 11a, 11b protruding through respective openings 12a, 12b in the inclined wall 7 of the body member.
The ejector device 11 is shown in more detail in
A tension spring 15 is mounted at one end 15a on lug 16 on the arm 13, and at the other end 15b on the body member 1 by a mounting (not shown).
The ejector device 11 can move from a coin engaging position shown in
In order to count coins, movement of the ejector device 11 between the coin engaging and coin dispensing positions is detected using an optical emitter and detector 17, 18 which may operate with any suitable optical wavelength including non-visible radiation such as infra-red or ultra-violet. In this example, an infra-red detector is used. The optical path 19 between the emitter and detector 17, 18 is interrupted by an arm 13′ on the ejector device 11. In the coin engaging position shown in
Operation of the device will now be described in more detail with reference to
Then, as shown in
Thus, the coin ejection process produces a back and forth rocking motion of the ejector member 11 which modulates the optical path 19 between the emitter and detector 17, 18 thereby producing a coin count signal each time the coin is ejected. Referring to
An advantage of the described counting system is that the optical detectors are mounted entirely within the body member 1 making it difficult for a fraudster to tamper with them. In the event that the fraudster attempts to tamper with the ejector member 11, this also most certainly with produce a disabling effect on the entire coin dispensing apparatus thereby defeating the object of the fraudster.
In the event of a coin jam, the coin may continue to rotate past the coin ejecting member, driving it further along the openings 12a, 12b so that the coin engaging members rotate downwardly below the surface 8 and allow the coin to pass around in a complete rotation and thereby avoid jamming of the apparatus.
Referring now to
Another embodiment of ejector member is shown in
Many modifications and variations of the described example fall within the scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.
As used herein, the term coin includes tokens and other coin-like items having an attributable monetary value.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0314323.7 | Jun 2003 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/GB04/02587 | 6/17/2004 | WO | 3/26/2007 |