Electronically-controlled rotary coin change dispenser

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6685551
  • Patent Number
    6,685,551
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, November 27, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 3, 2004
    20 years ago
  • CPC
  • US Classifications
    Field of Search
    • US
    • 453 1
    • 453 2
    • 453 12
    • 453 16
    • 453 29
    • 453 30
    • 453 32
    • 453 33
    • 453 34
    • 453 37
    • 453 40
    • 453 49
    • 453 50
    • 453 53
    • 453 54
    • 453 57
    • 453 62
  • International Classifications
    • G07D102
    • Term Extension
      92
Abstract
A coin dispenser (20) has a base (25) for supporting an integrally formed coin magazine (23) with coin channels (24) rotating along a coin path (49). A coin ejector (80) is located at a single coin ejection location and proximate to said coin path (49) to eject coins from the bottom of the coin channels (24) into a change cup (28). Electronic sensors (45, 46) are provided for anticipating the approach of the coin channels to the coin ejector (80) and to a low coin sensing station (50). An electronic control (90) is responsive to position signals from the position monitors (45, 46) for coordinating operation of the coin ejector (80) and the low coin sensor (51). A coin exit sensor (48) is positioned in a coin exit channel (27) just before the change cup (28) to send a signal to the electronic control (90) to confirm the ejection of each coin.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to coin dispensers, and in particular to coin dispensers of the type for dispensing change. Such coin change dispensers are found, for example, at cashier checkout locations and ticket booths and many other places.




Perhaps the best known type of coin change dispenser has a vertical configuration in which a plurality of upstanding coin holding tubes are aligned in a row. Examples of such coin change dispensers are shown, for example, in Walton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,833 and Duplessy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,709.




Such dispensers are assembled from a large number of small, machined, mechanical parts, especially the parts of the coin ejector mechanisms. A coin dispenser having nine coin tubes would typically provide nine coin ejector mechanisms and each of these would include many small parts.




Coin change dispensers having a more circular configuration have been disclosed in the patent literature, but are not known to have received widespread commercial acceptance. Gauselmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,609 proposed a stationary housing in which a plurality of coin tubes are arranged in a circle or oval. To eject coins from each tube, a coin ejector mechanism moves in a circular or oval path.




Heywood, U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,895 mounts a plurality of vertical coin tubes, arranged in a circle, on a rotatable base. As the base rotates, the coin tubes become aligned with an individual coin ejecting mechanism. The coin ejecting mechanism has a toothed ring that drives two ejector pins that are disposed 180° apart. One of the ejector pins is lifted for ejection of a coin by a camming arrangement. This arrangement appears to be disadvantageous for dispensing coins from different coin tubes due to the apparent slow response time for ejection of each denomination.




Adams et al., U.S. Pat. Appl. No. No. 09/785,229, filed Feb. 16, 2001, disclosed the concept of a rotary coin change dispenser with a rotating coin magazine and a single ejector positioned at a single non-movable location around a circular coin path produced by rotation of the coin magazine.




There is a need for improvement in the construction of a rotary coin dispenser to provide a relatively small number of parts, and therefore, a lower manufacturing cost, and to provide modern electronic control for coin dispensing and low coin sensing operations.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention provides a novel coin magazine assembly and a number of control features for a rotary coin changer. The invention provides a look-ahead electronic sensor for sensing the approach of a coin channel from which a coin is to be ejected. The invention further provides a look-ahead electronic sensor for sensing the approach of a coin channel to be tested for a low coin condition. The invention further provides an electronic home position sensor for synchronizing operations of a rotating coin magazine. And, the invention provides an electronic exit sensor for sensing ejection of the coins into a dispensing cup to verify that coins have actually been ejected as desired.




The invention further provides position markers for monitoring the angular position of the rotating coin magazine relative to a coin ejector and a low coin detector.




A general object of the invention is to improve the control of coin dispensing by applying modern electronic processors and sensors.




Another object of the invention is to provide an integral coin magazine in which coins are easily loaded, securely held and easily dispensed.




Another object of the invention is provide a minimum number of molded parts in a coin magazine assembly, thereby reducing costs when the dispenser is manufactured in significant volume.




One advantage of the invention is that it is easily adaptable to different national coin sets and to different change capacities, such as $0.99 and $4.99. One coin dispenser could be used with different magazines, including magazines with coins from different countries. The control of the machine with different magazines is accomplished through programmable electronic control.




The coin dispenser of the invention can be used in many applications. For example, the coin dispenser can be used to dispense change at the checkout counter of a grocery store or a convenience store, or at the cashier of a restaurant. The coin dispenser can be provided as part of a system that provides change in exchange for paper currency, or it can be provided in tandem with a currency dispenser, for example, as part of an ATM. It also could be part of a point-of-sale terminal.




Other objects and advantages of the invention, besides those discussed above, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the description of the preferred embodiments which follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which illustrate examples of the invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a coin dispenser according to one embodiment of the invention with a cover broken away;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a base assembly of the coin dispenser of

FIG. 1

with the coin magazine removed;





FIG. 3

is a vertical section view of the coin dispenser of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a top plan view of the base assembly of

FIG. 2

with parts in section;





FIGS. 5



a


-


5




c


are top, bottom and detail views of the coin magazine assembly seen in

FIG. 1

;





FIGS. 6



a


and


6




b


are top and bottom plan views of a magazine base included in the assembly of

FIGS. 5



a


-


5




c;







FIG. 7

is a detail sectional view of the apparatus of

FIG. 1

showing a drive mechanism for the coin dispenser;





FIG. 7



a


is an exploded view of the drive mechanism of

FIG. 7

;





FIGS. 8



a


and


8




b


are detail sectional views of an ejector mechanism that is part of the embodiment of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 9

is a block diagram of the electronic control circuit in the embodiment of

FIGS. 1 and 2

;





FIG. 10

is a flow chart of the operation of coin change dispenser of

FIGS. 1 and 2

;





FIG. 11

is an exploded view of the magazine assembly of

FIGS. 5



a


and


5




b;







FIGS. 12



a


and


12




b


are further detail views of the magazine assembly of

FIGS. 5



a


and


5




b;







FIGS. 12



c


and


12




d


are detail perspective and section views of a detent mechanism located near the bottom of the coin magazine; and





FIG. 13

is a timing diagram illustrating the operation of the embodiment of

FIG. 1

with a test magazine.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




A preferred embodiment of a coin change dispenser


10


according to the present invention is illustrated in

FIGS. 1-13

. As shown in

FIG. 1

, the coin dispenser


20


includes an outer, generally cylindrical cover


21


that covers a generally cylindrical coin magazine assembly


22


(FIG.


11


). The cover


21


can be opaque or transparent or can include a transparent part. The cover


11


can be locked to the base


25


to prevent access to the interior of the coin dispenser


10


(FIG.


11


).




The coin magazine assembly


22


includes a magazine


23


formed with a plurality of upstanding coin channels


24


, in this example, numbering twelve. As seen in

FIG. 1

, the coin channels


24


are empty, to allow a view of the underlying structure, however, in use, these channels


24


would hold stacks of coins, each channel


24


being dedicated to a corresponding denomination. It may be also be advantageous to have more than one stack of coins for certain denominations, such as dimes for example, in making $.99 change for one U.S. dollar.




The coin magazine assembly


22


is mounted on a base


25


for rotation in a counterclockwise direction. As it rotates to move the coins along a circular coin path, a single coin ejector


80


is repeatedly operated to eject coins from the bottom of the coin channels


24


into dispensing channel


27


and then into a cup


28


. Both the dispensing channel


27


and the cup are formed in the base


25


, which is an integrally molded component. As an alternative, the cup


28


can be provided as a separate piece and mounted to the base


25


or other types of coin chutes or ramps can be used to transfer coins to a receptacle or device.





FIG. 2

shows the base


25


with the coin magazine assembly


22


removed. The base


25


includes a cylindrical post


29


, which supports an annular bearing


30


on which the magazine assembly


22


is supported for rotation, as seen in more detail in FIG.


3


. As further seen in

FIG. 7

, inside the post


29


, a motor


31


is mounted on a supporting plate


26


. A first gear


32


is mounted on the motor output shaft


33


for driving a second gear


34


. The second gear


34


projects through an opening


35


in a sidewall


36


of the post


29


to engage and drive a ring gear


67


seen in FIG.


11


. The second gear


34


is movable against a bias force provided by a spring


41


seen in

FIG. 7

, so that the gears


34


can mesh with the ring gear


67


during installation of the magazine assembly


22


. The motor


31


is also coupled to drive gear


32


through a single-direction bearing (not seen in FIG.


7


), which allows manual rotation of the magazine assembly


22


during installation and loading of the coins into the magazine


23


.




Referring to

FIG. 7



a


, the drive mechanism assembly is disassembled. The motor


31


is mounted on the mounting plate


26


, and an ejector housing


89


is mounted to an underneath side of the mounting plate


26


. Drive gear


32


, tolerance slip ring


37


, roller clutch


38


and retainer


39


(

FIG. 7



a


) are mounted to a depending end portion of the motor output shaft


31




a


(seen in FIG.


7


). The tolerance slip ring


37


is a ring-shaped member with corrugations or ripples, and it fits over the roller clutch


38


and inside a cavity in the drive gear


32


. A retainer


39


is inserted into a center cavity in the roller clutch


38


, and a set screw (not shown) is inserted in a flange of the retainer


39


and screwed down against the motor output shaft to hold the retainer


39


on the motor output shaft


31




a


, which mounts the other parts


32


,


37


and


38


on the motor output shaft


31




a.






In operation, the roller clutch


38


allows rotation in only one direction, which is the counterclockwise direction of rotation for the magazine assembly


22


. This allows the coin magazine to be rotated during loading operations. The tolerance slip ring


37


allows slippage of the gear


32


in relation to the motor output shaft


31




a


when rotation of the gear is opposed by a strong counter-torque, which may occur in coin jam condition. This feature supplements the yielding of the ejection pin


81


in a coin jam condition.




Referring back to

FIG. 2

, other details of the base


25


are shown. Two circular grooves


42


,


43


are formed in a pedestal portion


44


of the base


25


and encircle the post


29


. Two position sensors


45


,


46


for sensing the angular or rotational position of the magazine


23


are disposed in the inside groove


43


. Each position sensor


45


,


46


has a U-shaped housing with an optical emitter in one leg and an optical detector in the other leg. These position sensors


45


,


46


will detect the passage of marker tabs


65


(

FIG. 4

) located on the bottom of the magazine assembly


22


(FIG.


11


). The marker tabs


65


ride in the inner groove


43


. A circular ridge


68


located on the bottom of the magazine assembly


22


(

FIG. 11

) rides in the outer groove


42


(FIG.


4


). Also seen in phantom in

FIG. 2

is a coin exit sensor


48


positioned in the dispensing channel


27


just before the entrance to the change cup


28


. This sensor


48


sends a signal upon confirming the ejection of a coin by the coin ejector


80


. Also seen is a home position housing


50


in which a signal emitter


51




a


of a home position/low coin sensor


51


is positioned as seen in FIG.


4


. As further seen in

FIG. 4

, the detector


51




b


of this sensor


51


is located in the hollow central portion of the post


29


and a window is provided in the magazine cylinder


23


a window is provided in the post


29


to allow a signal to pass between the signal emitter


51




a


and the signal detector


51




b


along a line-of-sight


53


. As used herein, the term “window” can be an opening or a signal-transmissive portion that allows a home or low coin signal to pass through.




As seen best in

FIG. 11

, the coin magazine assembly


22


includes a ring-shaped coin magazine


23


and a ring-shaped magazine base member


60


, which are integrally molded components made of a high durability plastic material or metal. The coin magazine


23


is generally cylindrical in shape and forms a plurality of longitudinally extending coin-holding channels


24


around its periphery, with coin exit openings


24




b


through its outer surface. As seen best in

FIG. 4

, each channel


24


has a sidewall


24




a


seen in a C-shape in cross section with an opening


24




b


in the channel sidewall


24




a


facing to the outside of the magazine


23


. The diameter of each channel


24


varies according to the denomination of coins it will hold. Each channel


24


is formed along a transverse axis


54


of symmetry that is oriented at an angle θ with respect to a radius


55


from the center of the magazine


23


, such that the channel openings


24




b


face in a rearward-looking direction in relation to the counterclockwise direction of rotation of the magazine


23


. In a preferred embodiment, the angle θ is thirty-two degrees. This angle reduces the likelihood that coins will be ejected inadvertently due to centrifugal force. It also reduces the force of ejection in comparison with an ejection in the radial direction.




The coin magazine


23


is formed with channels having a taper of not greater than 0.2 degrees, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, zero taper ribs


24




f


(

FIG. 1

) running up inner sidewall surfaces


24




a


of the channels


24


for securely holding the coins, with the ribs


24




f


terminating a spaced distance from a top opening of the channels


24


to provide a slightly angled funnel


24




g


(

FIGS. 1 and 11

) to allow for easier loading of coins. Normally, in molding a part such as the magazine


23


, the walls


24




a


of the channels


24


would be provided with some taper for molding purposes. That has been minimized in this construction.




The magazine base member


60


is seen in detail in

FIGS. 6



a


and


6




b.


The magazine base member


60


has a central opening


66


and a ring gear


67


is formed around this opening


66


. On the bottom of the base member


60


seen in

FIG. 6



b


are integrally molded, opaque marker tabs


65


corresponding to the respective channels


24


. These tabs


65


are of slightly differing length according to the diameter of their corresponding channel


24


. The tabs


65


are displaced by an angle in advance of their corresponding channels


24


so as to be sensed by the position sensors


45


,


46


in advance of the channel


24


reaching either the coin ejector


80


or the home/low coin sensing station


50


(

FIGS. 2

,


4


). The position sensor


45


that cooperates with coin ejector


80


is positioned eighteen degrees in advance of the ejector


80


(

FIGS. 2

,


4


). The position sensor


46


that cooperates with the low coin sensor is positioned ten degrees in advance of the home station


50


, which houses part of the low coin sensor


51




a,




51




b.


This means that the marker tab


65


for the first channel is angularly displaced from the first channel approximately ten degrees so as not to encounter the sensors


45


,


46


before the first channel is opposite either the beginning of the ejector


80


or opposite the low coin sensor


51




a




51




b.






The base member


60


also includes square posts


64


(

FIG. 6



a


) that project upward from a top of the member


60


to be received in the slots


24




c


in the channel sidewalls


24




a


to be described. As seen in

FIGS. 1 and 11

, when the magazine base


60


is assembled to the magazine


23


, the square posts


64


fit into the slots


24




c


in the magazine


23


to locate the magazine base member


60


at the proper rotational position in relation to the magazine


23


. Bolts


70


(

FIG. 11

) are inserted through six holes


69


in the magazine base


60


into bosses


23




b


formed in the magazine


23


and seen from the top in FIG.


4


.




The magazine base member


60


forms partial floors


61


for each channel


24


which are separated by barrier projections


62


. When assembled with the magazine


23


(

FIG. 5



a


), this member


60


forms an arcuate slot


63


for each channel


24


for receiving a pin


81


(

FIG. 12



a


) of a coin ejector


80


. The slots


63


are formed along a circular coin path


49


(

FIG. 4

) followed by the stacks of coins as the magazine


23


is rotated.




As seen in

FIGS. 5



a,




5




b


and


11


, the magazine also forms partial floors


24




d


in each channel


24


for supporting a lower end of a stack of coins. As seen in

FIGS. 12



a


and


12




b


, these partial floors


24




d


further define the slots


63


in each channel for receiving the pin


81


of the coin ejector


80


. The partial floors


24




d


,


61


must be large enough to prevent the coins from falling through the slots


63


even when a single coin is located in channel


24


. The relationship between the size of the floor


24




d


,


61


and variously sized coins is illustrated in

FIGS. 5



c


and


12




a.






As seen in

FIGS. 1 and 11

, the magazine


23


also forms the upright slots


24




c


that are located a short distance above the floors


24




d


in the bottom of each channel


24


. These slots


24




c


receive the posts


64


of the base member


60


, but have an open portion above that which forms a window


24




e


(

FIG. 1

) for marking a low level of coins. A signal is transmitted through such a window


24




e


when the channel


24


is opposite the home station emitter


51




a


. If the signal (logic “1”) is detected by the home station detector


51




b


when a channel


24


has its window


24




e


aligned between the home station emitter


51




a


and the home station detector


51




b


, it means that the coin level is low, because it means the signal path is unobstructed by coins in the channel


24


. The use of one sensor


51




a


,


51




b


for both low coin and home position functions allows verification of the circuitry during each dispense cycle.




Referring to

FIG. 3

, a coin ejector


80


is supported on a plate


26


with the motor


31


inside the post portion


29


of the machine base


25


. The coin ejector


80


includes a pull-type solenoid


82


that is attached to the plate


26


, which is mounted in the base


25


. When the solenoid


82


is electrically energized, it moves a plunger


83


upwards and compresses a return spring


84


. The ejector


80


has an arm


85


mounted on the plunger


83


for movement with the plunger


83


. A sleeve


86


is mounted on the arm


85


for rotation and has a projection


86




a


at a free end that mounts the ejector pin


81


. The sleeve


86


is biased to its position by a torsion spring


87


, so that if the pin


81


encounters a force of the type encountered when a coin is jammed, the sleeve


86


will rotate against the torsion spring


87


and allow the pin


81


to yield, thereby preventing damage to the ejector


80


.




The manner in which a coin is ejected from a channel


24


is illustrated diagrammatically in

FIGS. 5



c


,


12




a


and


12




b


. As seen in

FIG. 5



c


, a coin


47


at the bottom of coin channel


24


rests on the partial floor


24




d


, which is part of the magazine


23


and the floor


61


on the base member


60


on the inner side of the slot


63


. When the ejector


80


is to eject a coin


47


, it is inserted upward into the ejection slot


63


for that channel


24


as seen in

FIG. 12



a


. As the magazine


23


is rotated, the pin


81


moves down the slot


63


pushing the coin off of the partial floors


24




d


,


61


and onto land


61




a


formed on the base member


60


and finally out of the channel


24


through the opening


24




b.






The bottom of the magazine


23


is spaced above land


61




a


(

FIG. 12



a


) by the thickness of one coin to form an exit slot from the bottom of coin channel


24


. In the way, a thickness gage is provided. This allows only the lowermost coin in each channel


24


to be pushed out of the coin channel


24


and over land


61




a


by the ejector pin


81


as seen in

FIG. 12



b.






The ejector


80


is a single mechanism located at a single location along the circular coin path


49


. As seen from another view in

FIGS. 8



a


and


8




b


, when the channel


24


containing a coin


47


that is to be dispensed reaches the position of the ejector


80


, the actuation of the solenoid


82


will cause the pin


81


to move vertically upward through slot


63


(

FIG. 8



b


) such that it will contact the edge surface of the lowermost coin


47


in that receptacle


24


. The pin


81


engages the coin at a point approximately midway between the opposite portions of the sidewall


24




c


of the channel


24


. This will push the coin out of the channel


24


, through the dispensing channel


27


and into the change cup


28


. The solenoid


82


is then de-energized and the force provided by the return spring


84


will move the pin


81


vertically downward to its starting position seen in

FIG. 8



a


. If the pin


81


does not fully retract, the pin


81


will be urged downward by a bottom surface of the magazine


23


. The pin


81


will not engage the lowermost coin in a next channel unless the solenoid


82


is energized again. The coin ejection pin


81


moves linearly in a direction substantially parallel to the (vertical) rotation axis of the magazine


23


between an extended position and a retracted position.




The depth of each channel


24


or the height of each floor


24




d


is determined based upon the thickness of the type of coin to be dispensed from the channel


24


. The depth can selected so that the upper surface of the lowermost coin in each channel


24


is located in a common plane. This approach may be modified however, for coin sets including very thick coins by providing that the coin ejection pin reaches upward a predetermined distance sufficient to eject the lowermost coin in each receptacle, without necessarily reaching the top of the thickest coin. In addition, by selecting an appropriate depth of a channel


24


and thickness of the exit slot from channel


24


, the pin


81


can be made to contact the two lowest coins in a receptacle so that two coins can be ejected simultaneously from one channel


24


.




Referring to

FIGS. 12



c


and


12




d


, a first variation of a coin detent


75


is shown. In

FIG. 12



c


, coins


47


rests on the floor surfaces


61


in the bottom of each channel


24


. A short length of urethane tube


75


is positioned in a niche in the bottom of the coin magazine


23


and projects into the coin channel above land


61




a


leading from the coin channel


24


. This forms a detent


75


in the coin exit slot for retaining the coin


47


and preventing it from exiting the coin channel


24


prior to ejection by the coin ejector


80


.




In

FIG. 11

, a second embodiment of coin detents


71


is shown. These are provided in the bottom of the coin channels


24


to hold the coins in place, for example, when a loaded magazine is transported from one location to another.




The detents


71


are provided by L-shaped spring members. As seen in

FIG. 11

, the magazine


23


forms slots


24




h


on outer surfaces of the channels


24


. The L-shaped detents


71


have an upright leg


71




a


that fits in a respective slot


24




h


, and each detent


71


also has a foot


71




b


that projects from a niche in the bottom of the coin magazine


23


into the coin exit slot from each coin channel


24


, to assist in holding the stack of coins in each coin channel


24


.





FIG. 9

shows the electronic controls for the dispenser


10


. A main processor and control circuit board


90


(

FIG. 9

) is mounted in the base


25


of the machine


10


seen in

FIGS. 1 and 2

and is connected to an RS-232 communication cable


91


. Also mounted in the base


25


is an auxiliary interface circuit board


92


, which is connected to an auxiliary interface cable


93


. The auxiliary interface circuit board


92


provides alternative and enhanced capabilities to the electronic system to increase the machine versatility. It is a plug-in “daughter board” to the main processor and control circuit board


90


. It can incorporate a flash memory for firmware program changes.




A power supply


94


(

FIG. 9

) is provided in a package similar to a battery-charging adapter for a notebook computer. The power supply


94


receives 120-volt AC power through a power cord


95


supplies 12-volt DC power to the main processor board through a cover interlock switch


96


. When the cover


21


is open, the interlock switch


96


is open to disconnect power to the coin dispenser


10


.




The main processor board


90


(

FIG. 9

) connects to the ejector solenoid


82


, to the motor


31


, to a “channel sync” position sensor


45


for synchronizing the position of a selected channel to the coin ejector


80


, a “low coin sync” position sensor


46


for synchronizing the position of a selected channel to the home position/low coin sensor


51


, which is also connected to the main processor board


90


, and to the coin exit sensor


48


.




Whenever AC input power is applied to the 12-volt DC power supply


94


or whenever the cover


21


is closed to lock the cover interlock switch


96


, twelve DC volts are supplied to the main processor board


90


. As a result the main processor executes an initialization routine to rotate the magazine


23


to the home position, stopping after a predetermined delay following detection of the home position and loading memory locations on the main processor board


90


with values representing magazine coin channels


24


with full stacks of coins. The delay is determined so as to ensure that the magazine


23


stops in a position that will allow it to be accelerated to the operational speed just prior to reaching the “home” position during an actual dispense cycle. This position is defined as the “pre-accelerate” position.




As seen in

FIG. 10

, which is a flow chart of the operation of the main processor on the main processor board


90


, after power-up, represented by start block


100


, the machine


10


receives a payment value to be dispensed through the RS-232 communication link


91


, as represented by process block


101


. The main processor then causes energization of the motor


31


to move to the magazine


23


to the home position, as represented by process block


102


. Then, as represented by decision block


103


, instructions are executed to test whether the home position window


23




a


on the magazine


23


is aligned with the home position sensor


51


. Once the home position is found, the channel counter register is reset as represented by process block


104


. Then, instructions represented by a decision block


105


are executed to determine if payment is to be made from the first channel aligned with the ejector


80


. If the answer is “YES,” as represented by the “YES” result, the ejection solenoid


82


is actuated and the processor waits to detect the end of the channel sync signal from the sensor


45


, as represented by process block


106


. As an optional feature, the processor may also wait for a signal from the coin exit sensor


48


to confirm the ejection of the coin. A check is then made as represented by decision block


107


to see if this is the last channel from which coins need to be dispensed to reach the requested amount of change.




In the event that the result of executing decision block


105


or block


107


is “NO,” then the main processor proceeds to execute program instructions represented by decision block


108


to test for low coins in one of the coin channels


24


, but not necessarily the same channel as was checked for payment. This is because several coin channels


24


must pass the ejector


80


(

FIG. 1

) before they reach the low coin sensor


51


at the home position station


50


. If the answer to the test in decision block


108


is “YES,” as represented by the “YES” result, the main processor proceeds to execute an instruction to set a low coin bit for that channel


24


as represented by process block


109


. The channel count is then incremented for each of the channel payment and low coin tests as represented by process block


110


. The processor proceeds then to check the next channel


24


for payment or ejection of a coin. After all channels have been tested for payment, as represented by the “YES” result from decision block


107


, the processor tests for completion of payment, as represented by decision block


111


, keeping in mind that one revolution of the magazine may not result in all of the requested payment being dispensed. If payment is not complete, the main processor returns to the home position to begin another payment revolution of the magazine assembly


23


. If payment is complete as represented by the “YES” result from decision block


111


, the motor


31


is de-energized, and the routine is completed as represented by process block


112


and end block


113


.





FIG. 13

shows a timing diagram for all coin channels


24


for a test magazine in an embodiment in which the low coin sensor


46


is placed fifty-eight degrees in advance of the home/low coin sensor


51




a


,


51




b


and ejector sensor


45


is positioned sixty-six degrees in advance of the ejector


80


. The marker tabs


65


are separated by an angle of fifty-eight to sixty-six degrees from their respective channels. The top graph represents logic high and low signals from the channel “sync” (coin eject) position sensor


45


. The middle graph represents logic high and low signals from the low coin sensor


51


. The lower graph represents logic high and low signals from the “low coin” position sensor


46


.




The timing diagram shows that the channel sync and home/low coin signals are at a “1” or logic high condition only from 359 degrees to 1 degree, and this defines the “home” position. When the home/low coin detector


51




b


receives a signal from the home/low coin emitter


51




a


, a logic high signal (“1”) is generated; if the signal path is blocked, a logic low (“0”) is detected. When either the channel sync sensor


45


or the low coin sync sensor detects a marker tab, a logic high (“1”) is generated. The coin ejector pin


81


is lifted during the time when the channel sync position sensor detects a “1” for that channel


24


.




In

FIG. 13

, a test magazine


23


with channels


24


for holding different types of coins including U.S., U.K. and German denominations was tested. The magazine


23


was empty, so low coin signals (“1”) are shown for all channels. Also the numbers at the corners of the logic pulses are the degrees of rotation of the magazine assembly


22


between the rising edge and trailing edge of each logic high signal relative to the home position window


23




a


on the magazine assembly. The #-designated numbers are the channel numbers. It can further be seen that although channel #


1


is tested first for payment, channel #


10


is tested first for a low coin condition. It can also be seen that the degrees of rotation for dispensing from channel #


1


are the difference between nine degrees and twenty-six degrees. During this angle of rotation, the ejector pin


81


rises into the slot


63


in channel #


1


as seen in

FIG. 12



a


and moves through the end of slot


63


, beyond the position in

FIG. 12



b


. While the ejector solenoid


82


is energized, the magazine drive motor


31


may have power interrupted or reduced, to reduce power requirements. The energy stored in the rotating magazine


23


will provide enough force to eject the coin. The over-running clutch in the drive gear


32


allows the magazine assembly


22


to free-wheel in the forward direction only. After the payment is complete the motor is stopped so as to position the magazine


23


in the pre-accelerate position.




The exit sensor


48


(

FIGS. 2 and 9

) provides feedback to the main processor


90


to verify that a coin to be ejected has actually been dispensed to the change cup


28


and has not jammed. If a jam occurs, an alternate channel may be selected to dispense the change or an equivalent value of coins. An error message can also be transmitted to the operator through the RS-232 communication link


91


.




The mix of coins contained in the magazine


23


is such that one complete rotation can provide up to 99 cents (or $4.99) in change. According to one preferred embodiment, the magazine assembly


22


is rotated at 30 RPM. If the change is dispensed in one revolution, this occurs in a time period of two seconds. Where necessary, the magazine


23


can be rotated through a second revolution to complete the dispensing of the requested amount of change. The magazine does not need to stop in order to complete a dispense cycle. If coins from multiple channels


24


in more than once revolution must be ejected to complete the payment of change, the motor


31


can be driven until payment is made and then index to the pre-accelerate position once again.




The dispenser


20


can be used with a variety of different magazines


23


containing different mixes of coins. For example, one magazine


23


could have coin channels with different sizes (diameters) to hold a mix of coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollar coins), while another magazine


23


could have coin channels with equal sizes (e.g., all holding quarters or tokens, which would be useful at an arcade).




Preferably the low coin sensor


51


is located at an appropriate height such that it will no longer sense coins in a coin channel


24


when there are a small number (e.g., 3-6) of coins remaining in the channel


24


. The dispenser


20


can then avoid selecting channels


24


having a low supply (for example, if one quarter channel is low, a different quarter channel is selected, or two dime channels and one nickel channel are selected). The dispenser


20


also preferably provides an audible or visual alarm indicating that the magazine


23


should be replaced. Since the magazine


23


moves the channels


24


past the low-coin detector


51


, it is only necessary to provide a single low coin sensor. However, as an additional feature, it is also possible to provide a second low coin detector located approximately halfway up the height of the magazine


23


in order to provide a signal indicating that a receptacle is about half-empty. If the magazine


23


is made from an opaque material, the magazine


23


will include the slots


24




c


in the channels


24


so that the low coin detector


51




b


can sense the coins. However, if the magazine


23


is made from a transparent plastic material, for example, it is not necessary to include slots


24




c


in the channels


24


.




Another advantage of the disclosed construction is that it is easily adaptable to different coin mixes (i.e., to different magazines


23


having different numbers and sizes of slots). One coin dispenser


20


could be used with different magazines


23


, including magazines with coins from different countries, simply by programming the coin dispenser


20


with data indicating the different types of coin mixes (including data on the coin denomination and the number of coins dispensed with one actuation of the coin ejector


80


—usually one or two coins at a time) contained in the different magazines.




This has been a description of preferred embodiments of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that modifications might be made while still coming within the scope and spirit of the present invention.




For example, although optical sensors are disclosed for the preferred embodiment, sonic sensors or proximity sensors might be substituted without departing from the scope of the broadest aspects of the invention. As another example, while the coin path is preferably circular, looped coin paths of non-circular shape might also be used.




And while tabs are used as the markers for position sensing of the magazine assembly, other types of markers can be used. Therefore, for the scope of the invention, reference is made to the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A coin dispenser comprising:a base; a coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels for receiving stacks of coins, said coin magazine being mounted for rotation on said base around an axis of rotation such that the coin channels move along a looped coin path; a coin ejector that is located at a single coin ejection location and proximate to said looped coin path, said ejector being operable in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for the coin magazine to move into and out of a selected coin channel to contact and eject a coin; a position monitor for monitoring angular movement of the coin magazine and the respective coin channels in relation to the coin ejector, wherein the position monitor is positioned in advance of the coin elector by an angular distance along the coin path to allow anticipation of the coin channel from which a coin is to be dispensed; and an electronic control responsive to position signals from the position monitor for coordinating operation of the coin ejector to coincide with arrival of a selected coin channel at the coin ejection location.
  • 2. The coin dispenser of claim 1, in which the looped coin path is circular.
  • 3. The coin dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:an exit for coins ejected as a result of operation of the coin ejector, said exit being disposed laterally outside of the looped coin path and extending laterally away from said coin magazine to a coin cup; and a coin exit sensor for signaling the electronic control to confirm the dispensing of an ejected coin.
  • 4. The coin dispenser of claim 1, wherein the position monitor is positioned along the coin path in advance of the coin ejector by an angular distance of approximately eighteen degrees along the coin path to allow anticipation of the coin channel from which a coin is to be dispensed.
  • 5. The coin dispenser of claim 1, wherein the position monitor further comprises markers mounted for movement with the coin magazine, said markers being located in positions corresponding to respective coin channels and an optical sensor associated with the coin ejector for detecting a marker corresponding to a selected coin channel from which a coin is to be dispensed.
  • 6. The coin dispenser of claim 5, wherein the markers are located beneath the coin magazine and the optical sensor is located on the base of the coin dispenser.
  • 7. The coin dispenser of claim 5, wherein the markers are tabs formed below the coin magazine and the optical encoder further comprises a light emitter and a light detector positioned on opposite sides of a groove in the base of the coin dispenser.
  • 8. A coin dispenser comprising:a base; a coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels for receiving stacks of coins, said coin magazine being mounted for rotation on said base such that the coin channels move along a looped coin path; a coin ejector that is located at a single coin ejection location and proximate to said looped coin path, said ejector being operable to extend into and out of a selected coin channel to contact and eject a coin; a position monitor for monitoring angular movement of the coin magazine and the respective coin channels in relation to the coin ejector; an electronic control responsive to position signals from the position monitor for coordinating operation of the coin ejector to coincide with arrival of a selected coin channel at the coin ejection location; and further comprising a low coin sensor and a second position monitor f or tracking angular movement of the coin magazine relative to the low coin sensor.
  • 9. The coin dispenser of claim 8, wherein the second position monitor for tracking angular movement of the coin magazine relative to the low coin sensor further comprises: markers mounted for movement with the coin magazine, and a second optical sensor for detecting a marker corresponding to a selected coin channel in relation to the low coin sensor.
  • 10. The coin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the second optical sensor is positioned in advance of the low coin sensor by an angular distance along the coin path to allow anticipation of the coin channel for which the low coin condition is to be checked.
  • 11. The coin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the second optical sensor is positioned along the coin path in advance of the low coin sensor by an angular distance of approximately ten degrees along the coin path to allow anticipation of the coin channel for which the low coin condition it to be checked.
  • 12. The coin dispenser of claim 8, wherein the coin magazine includes a home position portion which allows passage of signals from a low coin signal emitter to signal when the coin magazine home position portion is aligned with the low coin sensor.
  • 13. The coin dispenser of claim 8, wherein each of the coin channels in the coin magazine is formed with a portion having a height above a bottom of the coin magazine that designates a low coin level in the respective coin channel; and wherein said portion allows passage of signals from a low coin signal emitter when each respective channel having a low coin condition is positioned opposite the low coin sensor.
  • 14. A coin dispenser comprising:a coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels for said base such that said coin channels move along a looped coin path; a low coin sensor disposed at a low coin detection location along the coin path to detect an absence of coins in a selected coin channel at a predetermined height above a bottom support in the selected coin channel; a position monitor for monitoring angular movement of the coin magazine and the respective coin channels in relation to the low coin detection location; and an electronic control responsive to signals from the position monitor for coordinating operation of the low coin sensor to coincide with arrival of the selected coin channel at the low coin detection location.
  • 15. The coin dispenser of claim 14, wherein the position monitor for monitoring angular movement of the coin magazine relative to the low coin detection location further comprises: markers on the coin magazine, and an optical sensor for detecting a marker corresponding to a selected coin channel in relation to the low coin detection location.
  • 16. The coin dispenser of claim 15, wherein the optical sensor is positioned in advance of the low coin detection location by an angular distance along the coin path to allow anticipation of the coin channel for which the low coin condition is to be checked.
  • 17. The coin dispenser of claim 15, wherein the optical sensor is positioned along the coin path in advance of the low coin detection location by an angular distance between forty-five degrees and ninety degrees along the coin path to allow anticipation of the coin channel for which the low coin condition is to be checked.
  • 18. The coin dispenser of claim 14, wherein the coin magazine includes a home position portion which allows passage of signals from the low coin signal emitter to signal when the coin magazine home position portion is aligned with the low coin detector.
  • 19. A coin magazine assembly for a coin dispenser, said coin magazine assembly comprising:an annular, integrally formed magazine base having a driven portion formed around a central opening by which mechanical power is imparted to the coin magazine assembly; and an annular, integrally formed coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels disposed in a circle for receiving stacks of coins, and wherein said magazine is mounted on said magazine base, and wherein said magazine base includes at least a portion of surfaces supporting the coins in the channels prior to ejection and wherein said magazine base forms portions of slots for receiving an ejector member for ejecting said coins from respective channels.
  • 20. The coin magazine assembly of claim 19, wherein said surfaces supporting the coins in the channels further comprises partial floors integrally formed with the magazine and positioned in the respective channels for supporting the stacks of coins in the respective channels.
  • 21. The coin magazine assembly of claim 20, wherein the coin magazine base also forms partial floors positioned beneath the respective channels to support coins as they are ejected from the respective channels.
  • 22. The coin magazine assembly of claim 19, wherein said channels open in a direction that is disposed along an axis that is at an acute angle in relation to a radius of said coin magazine.
  • 23. The coin magazine assembly of claim 19, wherein said coin magazine is formed with channels having a taper of not greater than 0.2 degrees, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, zero taper ribs running up inner sidewall surfaces of the channels for securely holding the coins, with said ribs terminating a spaced distance from a top opening of the channels to allow for easier loading of coins.
  • 24. The coin magazine assembly of claim 23, wherein said coin magazine is formed with angled portions leading into said channels from a top end to allow easier reception of coins.
  • 25. The coin magazine assembly of claim 19, wherein the channels form slots on outer surfaces and further comprising L-shaped detents having an upright leg that fits in a respective slot, said detents also having a foot that projects into an exit from a coin channel to assist in holding the stack of coins in the channel.
  • 26. The coin magazine assembly of claim 19, further comprising at least one coin detent which is positioned in an exit slot from a bottom of a respective coin channel to retain the lowermost coin from exiting the respective coin channel prior to coin ejection.
  • 27. A coin dispenser comprising:a base; a coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels for receiving stacks of coins, said coin magazine being mounted for rotation on said base and being drivable through a ring gear; a motor disposed in said base and inside of said ring gear when the magazine is installed; and a gear drive coupling said motor to drive said ring gear to drive said coin magazine.
  • 28. The coin dispenser of claim 27, wherein said gear drive has at least one gear which is biased by a spring and yieldable in position for allowing easier meshing with said ring gear when said coin magazine is installed on said base.
  • 29. The coin dispenser of claim 27, wherein said motor has a motor output shaft, and wherein said gear drive has as least one gear that is mounted to a motor output shaft through a single-direction-of-rotation roller clutch to limit free rotation of the magazine to one rotational direction.
  • 30. The coin dispenser of claim 27, wherein said motor has a motor output shaft, and wherein said gear drive has at least one gear that is mounted to a motor output shaft through a torque-responsive slip ring which allows slippage of the gear drive in relation to the motor shaft in response to a predetermined torque being applied in a direction opposite a forward direction of rotation of the motor output shaft.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of Adams et al., U.S. patent appl. Ser. No. 09/785,229, filed Feb. 20, 2001, and entitled “Coin Dispenser.”

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3590833 Walton Jul 1971 A
3650085 Bav Mar 1972 A
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4798558 Bellis Jan 1989 A
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Number Date Country
2038064 Jul 1980 GB
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/785229 Feb 2001 US
Child 09/994415 US