EP0780818A1 - Coin dispensing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit has a massive frontal frame (3) and a housing (4) with a coin chute (5) whose mouth is visible through a preferably replaceable plastic window (9). The customer can insert a hand into an underlying aperture (10) to displace a slider (11). This forms part of a metallic swinger with a pan (20) having a preferably concave base and sidewalls tapering towards its pivot axis (17). The swinger is biased by a torsion spring on this axis towards a bar (7) under the window. When a fingertip pushes the slider backwards and upwards, coins in the pan are tipped into the open palm.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a coin dispensing unit with a coin catcher, which collects coins to be dispensed - for their withdrawal by a user.

The invention further relates to a machine with such a coin dispensing unit and preferably an additional card dispensing unit.

State of the art

Ticket machines are usually equipped with change machines nowadays, so that the user is not forced to insert small change exactly at the price of the ticket. Change machines not only offer greater convenience for the user, they also shorten the operating time (no picking out the change from the wallet). This is particularly important for high-traffic machines such. B. in subway stations.

With today's usual dispensing units, the change is issued in a collecting tray from which the user can then take it. Today's collecting trays are cumbersome to empty. The user sometimes has to reach into the bowl twice to be sure that he has withdrawn all of the change. This extends the operating time unnecessarily.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing unit of the type mentioned at the outset which allows the change to be withdrawn as quickly and safely as possible.

The solution according to the invention is characterized by an emptying mechanism for the coin catcher, which can be actuated by the user with the palm open upwards and the coins collected in the coin catcher drop downward into the palm of the user.

The essence of the invention is therefore that the user does not have to reach into the shell from above, but rather that the change is given directly into the hand (opened upwards). The emptying mechanism is activated by a simple movement of the hand that also accepts the change.

The emptying mechanism preferably has a slide which can be actuated with a fingertip of the hand which is opened upwards. In this way, there is not only minimal contact with the emptying mechanism, but also the largest possible free palm for catching the coin. Contactless actuation of the emptying mechanism is also conceivable (e.g. with the aid of light barriers, infrared sensors or the like). However, this has the disadvantage that the user does not know exactly when he triggered the emptying mechanism and as a result can be surprised by the falling coins. Minimizing contact with the coin dispensing unit is beneficial to users' sense of hygiene.

The slider is e.g. B. essentially movable or displaceable in the horizontal direction. That is, the coins are released by pushing in or pulling out a slide. However, a mechanism that is triggered by lifting the hand is also conceivable. Variants are sought which can be made understandable to the inexperienced machine user with minimal instructions (preferably pictorial).

A constructively and operationally simple embodiment is distinguished by a slide which forms a surface which projects downward from the coin catcher and can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis (and is thus characterized by can move a hand movement in the horizontal direction). A particularly robust embodiment results from the fact that the emptying mechanism is essentially formed by a pendulum element which has a base part serving as a coin catcher, on the underside of which a downwardly projecting plate is attached as a slide, and which is suspended in an oscillating manner on two side walls. It is preferably a one-piece metal or plastic molded part.

The coin catcher, in particular the preferred pendulum element, can be arranged directly at the end of a coin channel, such that the coin channel is closed to the outside when the emptying mechanism is in the rest position ("coin catching position"). The side walls mentioned serve as hangers of the pendulum element and are preferably located on the outside of the side walls of the coin channel. The bottom part of the coin catcher serves as a collecting tray and is arranged below the bottom of the coin channel. When the slide is actuated, the bottom part is moved backwards under the bottom of the channel and opens an outlet opening.

In order to ensure that unauthorized persons cannot manipulate the dispensing unit or the change unit (located further up in the machine), a lock can be arranged in the coin channel, which forms a lock device with the emptying mechanism (e.g. the pendulum element). In this sense, the lock is open when the emptying mechanism is closed and vice versa. Emptying mechanism and lock are preferably mechanically coupled.

The output unit preferably has a rigidly installed viewing window, which gives the user an insight into the Coin catcher there. A lighting device can also be installed behind the viewing window, which flashes when change is issued. The change to be withdrawn is shown to the user through the viewing window.

The coin channel leads the coins issued by the change unit into the coin catcher and generally has a steep slope (between 0 ° and 45 ° to the vertical). In order to ensure that in a non-vertical coin channel all coins are dispensed at once when the emptying mechanism is actuated, the bottom of the coin channel is separated from the bottom of the coin catcher by a shoulder. This prevents the coins from jamming in the coin channel.

In addition to the change, the machine will usually also issue a card (ticket, parking ticket or the like). In principle, the card can be placed in the coin catcher along with the change. However, it is better if the cards are issued via an independent card issuing unit. This is e.g. B. required when issuing machine-readable tickets to avoid damage.

A preferred card dispensing unit is characterized by an inclined dispensing surface and a bracket element for catching the card. An actuating mechanism releases the bracket element and the dispensing surface from the catch position when the dispensing surface is pressed manually, so that the card can be removed.

Further advantageous embodiments and combinations of features result from the following detailed description and the entirety of the claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer kombinierten Münz- und Kartenausgabeeinheit;

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung der Münzausgabeeinheit gemäss Fig. 1 im vertikalen Schnitt;

Fig. 3

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung des als Entleerungsmechanismus dienenden Pendelelements;

The drawings used to explain the exemplary embodiments show:

Fig. 1

A schematic perspective view of a combined coin and card dispensing unit;

Fig. 2

a representation of the coin dispenser according to Figure 1 in vertical section.

Fig. 3

is a schematic perspective view of the pendulum element serving as an emptying mechanism;

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

1 shows an output unit for an automatic machine (for example a ticket machine) with a coin dispensing unit 1 and a card dispensing unit 2, which are arranged directly next to one another at the same height. The dispensing unit has a solid front frame 3 and a housing 4. The front frame 3 can be provided with suitable flanges or tabs (not shown) for mounting the dispensing unit in the machine. The housing 4 houses the actuating mechanisms of the coin and card dispensing unit 1 and 2 respectively. It is pulled obliquely backwards and upwards and has a coin channel 5 and a card ejection channel 6. The coin dispensing unit 1 connects the coin channel 5 to a coin ejection channel (not shown) of a change device. The coin channel 5 has a z. B. rectangular input cross-section, but in the present example does not take up all of the coin dispensing unit half of the combined dispensing unit. The card ejection channel 6 connects directly to a corresponding (not shown) output channel of a card processing or storage device. The cross section of the card ejection channel 6 is quite wide so that the cards can be issued in any position without the risk of a jam.

Next, the coin dispenser 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The half of the front frame 3 due to the coin dispensing unit 1 is horizontally divided into an upper and a lower area. In the upper area there is a window 9 which is flanked by two metal walls 8.1, 8.2. The window 9 gives a clear view of the change (not shown). The window 9 is z. B. made of plastic and is preferably interchangeable by removing a rod 7 (which delimits the upper region of the coin dispensing unit 1 from the lower region). It goes without saying that measures have been taken to ensure that only authorized maintenance personnel can remove the rod 7 (e.g. if the machine or its front cover is opened with the appropriate safety keys).

An opening 10 is provided in the lower area, into which a user can reach (by hand, in a manner yet to be explained). In the opening 10 there is a plate-shaped slide, slightly offset to the rear 11. This can be moved or swiveled to withdraw the change. In the present example, an upper half 11.1 of the slider 11 is vertical in the rest position and a lower half 11.2 (eg at a 45 ° angle) is inclined obliquely to the rear. (The meaning of this configuration is explained further below.) The slide 11 fills the cross section of the opening 10. This prevents unauthorized persons from having access to the emptying mechanism located behind it. The base 12 below the slide 11 is adapted to the envelope curve of the movement in the range of movement of the slide 11 (the base 12 is curved or cylindrically curved, for example, in the case of a pivoting movement). It can be pulled up slightly at its front end to serve as an emergency drip tray for coins accidentally falling.

In the present example, the base 12 is also a wall of the housing 4, which swings in an arc from the lower edge of the front frame 3 backwards and upwards to the inlet opening of the coin channel 5. The coin channel 5 is delimited by its own inserted floor 13, which from the lower edge 14 of the coin channel 5 - moving away from the floor 12 - with an inclination of z. B. 30 ° (to the horizontal) extends in the direction of the rod 7. The front end of the base 13 is spaced from the base 12 in such a way that the slide 11 can move back and forth between said base parts.

The bottom 13 ends at a distance from the rod 7, so that an opening 15 is formed through which the change (when the slide 11 is actuated) can be emptied downward. The front lower end of the base 13 is designed as a vertically downward end section 16.

The emptying mechanism is explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. It is essentially a pendulum element made of metal, which is arranged to pivot or pivot about an axis 17. The pendulum element consists essentially of a shell 20 which has molded on two opposite side walls 18.1, 18.2, and a slider 11 which z. B. is perpendicular to the shell 20 and also perpendicular to the side walls 18.1, 18.2. The side walls taper towards the top and have z. B. via holes 19.1, 19.2 for the pendulum suspension of the pendulum element. The side walls 18.1, 18.2 are parallel to one another at such a distance that they can be hung on the outside of the coin channel 5 (i.e. preferably comprising this on both sides).

The shell 20 is preferably curved in the shape of a circular arc or cylindrically with respect to the axis 17. It can be moved below the end section 16 with a small tolerance. The slider 11 already mentioned is z. B. molded in the middle of the underside of the shell 20 (parallel to the axis 17).

The pendulum element is z. B. by a torsion or spiral spring (in the axis 17) pressed forward against the rod 7. In this position, the opening 15 is closed by the shell 20. 2, the pendulum element is shown in the emptying position. The rear end of the shell 20 then lies against a stop lug 21 (which is formed at a corresponding point on the underside of the base 13). Its front end is completely retracted under the end section 16.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a lock is provided in the coin channel 5, which is coupled in terms of movement to the pendulum element. A flap 24 is pivotable mounted about an axis 25 on the top of the coin channel 5. In Fig. 2 the flap 24 is shown in the locked position. When the emptying mechanism is closed (ie when the pendulum element closes the opening 15), the flap 24 is folded up onto the ceiling of the coin channel 5. In the blocking position, it closes the entire cross-section of the coin channel 5 in order to prevent unauthorized persons from being able to manipulate through the opening 15 in the coin channel 5.

Movementally, the pendulum element and flap 24 are coupled as follows. On the outside of the coin channel 5 there is a short rotary arm 26 which is rigidly connected to the flap 24. The pivot arm 26 is thus also rotatable about the axis 25. A coupling arm 22 is connected at an articulation point 23 to the side wall 18.1 of the pendulum element. At a suitable distance from the articulation point 23, the coupling arm 22 has an elongated hole 27 into which a guide pin of the rotating arm 26 engages. At the end 28 of the coupling arm 22, a tension spring (not shown) is anchored, which engages the mentioned bolt of the rotating arm 26 and this to the rear, i. H. pulls away from hinge point 23.

The operation of the coin dispenser will be explained below.

Fig. 1 shows the coin dispenser with the emptying mechanism closed. It is assumed that the user has inserted a larger amount of money than is required to pay the ticket price. The change machine (not shown) will therefore drop the corresponding change via the coin delivery channel 5 into the coin delivery unit 1. Due to the steepness of the coin channel 5, all coins will fall into the shell 20 of the pendulum element (which closes the opening 15 in the idle state). The flap 24 is folded up when the emptying mechanism is closed and allows the coins to run freely. Because a shoulder (vertical end section 16) is formed between the end of the base 13 and the bowl 20, all the coins will collect in the bowl 20 and will not be backed up in the coin channel 5.

The user will e.g. B. alerted to the change by a flashing light, which he can see through the window 9. He can now actuate the slider 11, pushing the hand opened upwards into the opening 10, touching the lower half 11.2 of the slider 11 with his fingertips and pushing the slider 11 backwards into the position shown in FIG. 2. The tray 20 is thus pushed back behind the end section 16, the coins being conveyed out of the tray 20 through the end section 16 and falling down into the open hand of the user. The sequence of movements is very simple and fast and gives the user all the change in one fell swoop. When he pulls his hand back, the slider 11 (and thus the pendulum element) will move forward again to the rest position. With the same hand, the user can also accept the card 38 issued by the machine at the same time via a card issuing unit 2.

The locking device works as follows: When the slide 11 is moved backwards, the coupling arm 22 takes the rotating arm 26 (via spring tension) with it. The flap 24 is rotated into the locked position. The lever ratios are chosen so that the flap 24 closes the coin channel 5 even at a small opening angle of the pendulum element. Because the flap 24 is blocked by the base 13, the bolt of the rotating arm 26 moves in the elongated hole 27 when the pendulum element is pushed further back forward (towards hinge point 23). The spring already mentioned between the end 28 and the bolt of the rotary arm 26 ensures in this transition phase that the flap 24 rests on the floor 13. When the slide 11 is moved completely backwards and abuts the stop lug 21, the bolt of the rotary arm 26 has also reached the front end of the elongated hole 27. As a result, the flap 24 can no longer be moved from the locked position. Manipulations in the rear area of the coin channel 5 can be made impossible in this way. Due to the rapid closing of the flap 24, it is also not possible, for. B. with half-open emptying mechanism to push manipulative objects into the coin channel 5.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the card issuing unit 2 essentially consists of two parts, namely an issuing surface 29 and a bracket element with two arms 30.1, 30.2. The arms 30.1, 30.2 are firmly anchored in the ceiling of the card ejection channel 6. They have a relatively large inclination of z. B. 45 ° or more (to the horizontal). At the front end 32.1, 32.2 they are bent downwards (e.g. almost at right angles). Their mutual distance is chosen so that a card 38 is reliably caught in any position. To remove it, the thumb can be placed on the card 38, the support surface 29 pressed slightly (against spring pressure) and the card 38 pulled out from under the arms 30.1, 30.2.

• Das beim Stand der Technik mühsame und zeitraubende Entnehmen von Fahrkarte und Restgeld ist optimiert.
• Wechselgeld und Fahrkarte können im wesentlichen in einem Arbeitsgang und mit einer Hand in kürzester Zeit entnommen werden.
• Das gesamte Restgeld ist vor der Entnahme sichtbar und kann beleuchtet werden.
• Durch den Sperrmechanismus ist es nicht möglich, den Münzkanal durch Fremdkörper manipulativ zu verschliessen.
• Der Münzenfänger ist wettergeschützt und verschmutzt nicht. Die Münzen müssen nicht aus einer (oft stark verschmutzten und zum Teil sogar nassen) Schale herausgegriffen werden, sondern werden in hygienisch ansprechender Weise in die Hand fallengelassen. Der Automat muss bei der Entnahme der Münzen und der Karte nur geringfügig berührt werden. Insbesondere durch geeignete Gestaltung (z. B. zurückgebogene untere Hälfte) des Schiebers kann sichergestellt werden, dass auch gepflegte Damen-Fingernägel nicht verletzt werden.
• Es ist ohne weiteres möglich, mehrere Fahrkarten gleichzeitig auszugeben bzw. zu entnehmen. Auch die Ausgabe von Abrechnungsbelegen und Statistiken zuhanden des Automateninhabers ist problemlos möglich.
• Durch die getrennte Ausgabe von Karte und Wechselgeld ist sichergestellt, dass die Karte nicht durch das herabfallende Hartgeld beschädigt werden kann.

The invention, namely the embodiment shown in the figures, has a number of advantages:

• The tedious and time-consuming process of removing the ticket and remaining money in the prior art is optimized.
• Change and tickets can essentially be taken out in one step and with one hand in the shortest possible time.
• All remaining money is visible before the withdrawal and can be illuminated.
• Due to the locking mechanism, it is not possible to manipulatively close the coin channel by foreign objects.
• The coin catcher is protected from the weather and does not contaminate. The coins do not have to be taken out of a (often very dirty and sometimes even wet) bowl, but are dropped into the hand in a hygienically appealing way. The machine only needs to be touched slightly when the coins and card are removed. In particular, by means of a suitable design (e.g. bent back lower half) of the slider, it can be ensured that well-groomed women's fingernails are not injured.
• It is easily possible to issue or withdraw several tickets at the same time. It is also easy to issue accounting documents and statistics to the machine owner.
• The separate issuance of card and change ensures that the card cannot be damaged by the falling coins.

It is understood that the exemplary embodiments described in detail can be modified in a variety of ways. It is clear that the coin and card dispenser can be used independently. The coin dispenser can be designed with or without a coin channel lock. It may also make sense to secure the card ejection channel 6 with a locking mechanism. However, this is to be controlled separately (ie independently of the card issuing area 29).

The pendulum element is a particularly simple embodiment of the emptying mechanism. Foldable trays are also conceivable, which open downward about a horizontal axis when the emptying mechanism is actuated (e.g. without moving laterally). It could e.g. B. a plate rotatable about a horizontal central axis (as a coin catcher) is provided, which is rotated or pivoted into the vertical by actuating a lever and thereby ejects the coins.

Coin channel lock and emptying mechanism can e.g. B. can be combined as follows: The shell is formed by a defined inner surface of a rotatable horizontally mounted drum. The drum also has a first opening to the coin channel. In addition to the defined area, a second opening is provided in the drum (which can be brought to cover with a fixed dispensing opening). In the closed position, the defined surface of the drum closes the fixed dispensing opening for the coins. The first-mentioned opening of the drum, however, is aligned with the coin channel. The change can therefore fall into the drum through the first-mentioned opening and is collected there. When the drum is rotated, the first-mentioned opening is moved away from the aligned position with the coin channel, ie the coin channel is blocked. At the same time, the second opening is brought into alignment with the fixed coin dispensing opening. The change can fall out of the drum.

In the exemplary embodiments, the actuating mechanism is a slide 11 fixed to the pendulum element. It is also conceivable that the slide changes the position of the bowl for emptying via a simple lever mechanism, toothed racks, pinion mechanism or the like.

Of course, the invention can also be used for coin-like objects.

The card issuing unit can also be designed differently than described.

In summary, it should be noted that the invention has created an extremely simple and quick-to-use coin dispensing unit for highly frequented vending machines.

Claims (10)

Coin dispensing unit with a coin catcher, which collects coins to be dispensed - for their withdrawal by the user -, characterized by an emptying mechanism (11, 20), which can be actuated by the user with the palm open upwards and the coins collected in the coin catcher (20) downwards drops the user's palm. Coin dispensing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the emptying mechanism (11, 20) has a slide (11) which can be actuated with fingertips of the palm opened upwards. Coin dispenser, characterized in that the slide (11) can be moved essentially in the horizontal direction. Coin dispensing unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the slide (11) forms a surface which projects downward from the coin catcher and can be pivoted about a horizontal axis (17). Coin dispensing unit according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the emptying mechanism (11, 20) is essentially formed by a pendulum element which has a base part (20) serving as a coin catcher, and a downward portion on its underside projecting plate (11) is attached as a slide and which is suspended on two side walls (18.1, 18.2) in an oscillating manner. Coin dispensing unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coin catcher is arranged directly at the end of a coin channel (5) such that the coin channel (5) is closed to the outside when the emptying mechanism (11, 20) is in the rest position. Coin dispensing unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the emptying mechanism (11, 20) is coupled to a lock (24) arranged in the coin channel (5) in order to form a lock device. Coin dispensing unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a permanently installed viewing window (9) which allows a view of the coin catcher (20). Coin dispensing unit according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the coin channel (5) is separated by a shoulder (16) from a bottom part (20) of the coin catcher. Automatic machine with a coin dispenser (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and a separate card dispenser.

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