EP1020818A1 - Coin returning device for coin actuated machines - Google Patents

Abstract

Coin dispenser for coin-operated machines, comprising a coin collecting hopperprovided with a rotary extraction disc (1) which includes means (3) for carrying coinsindividually, and an arm (6) which deflects coins (13) towards an outlet, where anextraction trip (7) is placed. In addition, the dispenser includes means for detecting thedenomination or value of coins (4, 4a) carried by the extraction disc (2) before theyleave the hopper, as well as a deflection mechanism which determines if each coin exitsor not depending on whether its value agrees with that of the coin to be returned in eachcase.

Description

• The present invention relates to a coin dispenser for coin-operated machines,such as game machines and/or vending machines.
• More specifically, the dispenser of the invention is of the type including a coinreceiving hopper provided with a rotary extractor disc, provided on the surface facingthe coins with means for individually carrying the coins along the rotation of the disc,with an arm intercepting this path at a certain point which deflects the coins towards anoutlet opening where an extraction trip is placed, as well as means for counting anddetecting the coins as they pass.
• Dispensers of the above type are described for example in Spanish UtilityModel no. 258.464 and in Patents EP 0266021, EP 0345868, US 5295900 and UK2227868. In all of these the dispenser is designed for coins of a single value so that themachine will need as many dispensers as different coins it can admit, with differentdispensers activated depending on the amount to be returned.
• The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentionedproblems by a dispenser which can admit two or more coins of different values andwhich is provided with means of discriminating the coins which must be supplied ineach payment operation in order to complete the exact amount to be returned.
• With this construction the number of dispensers which must be installed insidea game or vending machine is reduced, with the resulting saving in cost as well as inspace and weight.
• With this object, according to the invention the dispenser includes means ofdetecting the denomination or exact value of the coins carried by the extractor discbefore these coins reach the outlet opening. The dispenser also includes a deflectionmechanism which will allow or prevent exit for each coin depending on whether itagrees with the amount to be returned in each event or not.
• Preferably the means of detecting the denomination or value of the coins carried by the disc will be located new the dispenser outlet opening so that the value of thecoin immediately next to the outlet mouth is identified.
• In this way the different coins carried by the disc will be identifiedconsecutively as they reach the location of the detection means.
• These means can rely on the size of the coins, by measuring the angle crossedby the extractor disc between two positions, an initial fixed one which detects passingof pre-established points or positions of the extractor disc and another final positionwhich corresponds to one next to the outlet position, the latter being detected by a tripwhich controls coin outlet.
• The dispenser of the invention can work with n different coins, which musthave been previously validated upon passing a coin selector, so that the dispenser candiscriminate the coins carried by the extractor disc to decide whether or not to activatea deflection mechanism which controls the outlet, allowing the coin to exit if its valueagrees with the amount to return at that time, or otherwise deflecting the coin towardsthe hopper of the dispenser.
• The different coins contained in the dispenser hopper will reach themeasurement or discrimination area randomly.
• The size or diameter of the coins can also be found using other systems, such asby measuring the maximum angular displacement of the coin extraction trip.
• Identification of the coins can also be achieved based on their alloy, such as byan electromagnetic sensor placed near the outlet opening between a reference positionand the extraction trip.
• Another coin identification system could be based on measuring their thicknessby a capacitance or electromagnetic sensor, placed for example near the outlet opening.
• At the outlet, alter the extraction trip, the dispenser shall be provided with atrapdoor for deflecting the coins. This trapdoor will be activated when the coin whichpasses must not be returned. In this case the coin is returned to the dispenser hopper. If the trapdoor is not activated the coin will be returned to the exterior.
• The dispenser may include in the coin outlet area an optical sensor for detectingand counting the coins returned which will correspond to those delivered by thedispenser.
• Whatever the measurement devices used to identify the coins, they will beplaced near the outlet opening between a position of origin and said opening. Theposition of origin of the disc can be determined by an optical sensor in combinationwith a slotted disc related to shaft of the coin carrying disc. There will be as manypositions of origin as coin carrying positions for the disc.
• Measurement of the angle crossed by the disc for a precise measurement of coindiameter can be achieved by a pulse generator mounted on one of the reduction stagesbetween the motor and the disc shaft. It will preferably be mounted on the motor shaftso that the best possible resolution is obtained.
• As mentioned before discrimination or identification of coins can rely onmeasuring their diameter, thickness, alloy, weight or any other representative valuedifferentiating the coins.
• Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in view of the description made with reference to the accompanying drawings,which show an example of a non-limiting embodiment.
• In the drawings:
• Figure 1 is a front elevation of the rotary extractor disc of a coin dispenserhopper, constructed according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a partial cross section of the hopper outlet taken along the II-II lineof figure 1, with a coin in the outlet position.
• Figure 3 is a section similar to that of figure 2 with a coin in the position ofreturning to the hopper.
• Figure 4 is a view similar to figure 1 showing a coin in a position immediately infront of the outlet opening.
• Figure 5 shows the driving motor for the rotary disc of figures 1 and 4.
• Figure 1 shows rotary extractor disc with a traditional construction, which canfor example define the inclined floor of the coin receiving hopper of a dispenser. Thisdisc includes a crown 1 and a central cone 2, on the surface of which the coins slide tobe directed towards the crown. Crown 1 is crossed by radialretractable pallets 3, eachof which can carry a coin 4-4a in the direction of turn of the disc.
• The dispenser hopper is provided with an outlet opening 5 in its wall which islocated between anarm 6 and anextraction trip 7.Arm 6 is attached to the surface ofcrown 1 and shows a face 8 against which coins 4-4a collide so that they are directedtowardsoutlet 5, through which they leave pushed byblades 3 causingtrip 7 to swivelafter each exit. Blades 4 are retracted from the surface of crown 1 as they pass beneatharm 6.
• The construction described corresponds to that of a traditional dispenser.
• According to a first characteristic of the invention, the dispenser is providedwith means of detecting the value of coins 4-4a carried by crown or disc 1 before theyreach outlet opening 5. These means may rely on measuring the diameter of the coins,which can be achieved by for example measuring the angle crossed by disc 1 betweentwo positions, an initial fixed position, labelled as 9, which detects the passing ofelements or predefined positions of the extractor disc 1, such aspallets 3, and anotherfinal position which can for example correspond to the moment when the coin reachesthe outlet opening 5 and swivelling oftrip 7 begins.
• Initial position 9 can be determined for example by a fixed optical sensor whichdetects passing ofpallets 3 or of slots in the same positions.
• Disc 1 can be driven by amotor 16 which as shown in figure 5 may include inone of the reduction stages, preferably in the motor shaft, animpulse generator 17 combined with areader 18, with which the angle travelled by rotary disc 1 can bemeasured, this system also permitting the precise measurement of the diameter of thecoins carried bytrapdoors 3. This impulse counting will be performed during turning ofdisc 1 between an initial position 9 and a final position which may correspond to whentrip 7 begins to swivel, due to the analysed coin beginning to exit, and which may bedetected by asensor 20, figure 1.
• The value of the diameter of coins 4-4a can also be found by measuring themaximum angular displacement ofswivelling trip 7, such as by asensor 15, caused bythe coin passing, as shown in figure 4.
• Means of detection of the coin value can also be based on the alloy used in thecoin, by electromagnetic sensors placed between the initial reference position 9 andextraction trip 7, and also by the coin thickness by a capacitance or electromagneticsensor placed in this same area.
• According to another characteristic of the invention,outlet 5 of the dispenser isprovided with adeflection mechanism 10 which will determine the path to be taken bythe coin, either towards the outlet to be collected by the user as indicated by arrow 11in figures 1 and 4, or returning to the inside of the hopper as shown byarrow 12 infigure 4.
• Mechanism 10 may consist of a trapdoor or pusher, figures 2 and 3, which mayadopt a retracted inactive position labelled as 10' in figure 2 or an active or pushingposition, figure 3. In the former position, shown in figure 2,coin 13 will be directedtowards the opening to be collected, while in the position shown in figure 3coin 13 ispushed towards the inside of the hopper to be recovered.
• The dispenser will also include asensor 14 which will check the exit ofcoin 13towards collection chute 11.
• The swivel angle of theextractor trip 7 can be measured by an angular ordisplacement sensor 15.
• With the described construction, the dispenser hopper can include "m" different types of coins which arrive randomly at the measurement area beginning with detector9 at the initial position. Since the detection means are placed immediately in front ofoutlet opening 5 when the coin reaches the position labelled as 18 in figure 4,mechanism 10 will have already received instructions on whether to allow the coin tocontinue to outlet 11 or to deflect it towards return orrecovery 12, depending onwhether the value of this coin agrees with the amount to be returned at the time.
• In short, the dispenser of the invention will be capable of discriminating thetypes of coins in its interior, before it is expelled out, and depending on the valuedetected it will either allow the coin to exit to be collected, or return it inside to thehopper.

Claims (6)

1. Coin dispenser, comprising a coin collecting hopper, provided with a rotaryextraction disc (1, 2) which is provided in the surface facing the coins with means (3)of carrying the coins (4) individually, along the turning path of disc (1, 2), such pathbeing intercepted by an arm (6) which deflects the coins towards an outlet opening (5)where an extraction trip (7) is placed, as well as counting and detection means (14, 15)of passing of coins, characterised in that it includes means for detecting thedenomination or value of the coins carried by extractor disc (1, 2) before it leaves thehopper, and a deflection mechanism (10) which determines whether the coin (4) exitsor returns, depending on whether its value agrees with the amount to be returned ateach moment; these detection means being preferably located next to the outletopening.
2. Dispenser as in claim 1, characterised in that the means for detection of thedenomination or value of the coins identify the value of the coin at a locationimmediately in front of the outlet opening.
3. Dispenser as in claim 1, characterised in that the means for detecting thedenomination or value of the coins rely on at least one distinguishing characteristic ofthe coins which the machine may admit.
4. Dispenser as in claim 3, characterised in that the distinguishing characteristicof the coins used is their diameter, the means of detecting the denomination of the coinsconsisting of an impulse counter which provides the angle turned by the coin carryingdisc between an initial fixed position and a final position indicative of the start ofdisplacement of the extraction trip caused by the coin being analysed.
5. Dispenser as in claim 3, characterised in that the distinguishing characteristicof the coins used is their diameter, the means of detecting the denomination of the coinsconsisting of an angular or displacement sensor which determines the angle turned bythe extraction trip due to the passage of the coin being analysed.
6. Dispenser as in claim 1, characterised in that the deflection mechanismconsists of a trapdoor placed after the hopper outlet, which can move between an inactive position which allows the coin to pass towards the outlet, and an activeposition which deflects said coin towards a recovery path.

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