EP1887531B1 - Disc guiding apparatus - Google Patents

Disc guiding apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1887531B1
EP1887531B1 EP20070112374 EP07112374A EP1887531B1 EP 1887531 B1 EP1887531 B1 EP 1887531B1 EP 20070112374 EP20070112374 EP 20070112374 EP 07112374 A EP07112374 A EP 07112374A EP 1887531 B1 EP1887531 B1 EP 1887531B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
path
disc
guide
base plate
sorting
Prior art date
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Application number
EP20070112374
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1887531A3 (en
EP1887531A2 (en
Inventor
Hiroshi Abe
Minoru Enomoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
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Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
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Publication date
Application filed by Asahi Seiko Co Ltd filed Critical Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
Publication of EP1887531A2 publication Critical patent/EP1887531A2/en
Publication of EP1887531A3 publication Critical patent/EP1887531A3/en
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Publication of EP1887531B1 publication Critical patent/EP1887531B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D1/00—Coin dispensers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improvement in a disc guiding apparatus that guides discs in line while circumferences thereof are in contact with each other, and selectively sorts discs to left and right of a guide path.
  • disc used herein implies coins which are currency, substitutive money such as medals for game machines and tokens, and the like.
  • an apparatus that comprises a guide path means that guides discs in line, an opening/closing means that pushes out disc disposed in an upper opening of the path means, a sorting path into which disc pushed out through the opening enters, a sorting means that sorts disc from the sorting path into either one of two paths, and a disc sensing means made up of a driven member disposed at the position where it comes into contact with a disc flipped into the sorting path through the opening and a sensor that senses the driven member.
  • a disc is pushed up through the path means to reach the opening. This disc is shifted from the path means to the sorting path by being pushed by the opening/closing means at the opening.
  • a disc is pushed in the thickness direction of the disc, namely the face direction by the opening/closing means in an upper opening of the guide path, and moved from the guide path to the sorting path.
  • the disc is pushed up through the guide path, and then the entire disc comes into general coincidence with the opening, the disc is moved as described above. Then the sensor is actuated by the disc.
  • the conventional art advantageously increases the allowable range of stopping position of disc.
  • the conventional apparatus of the type that a disc is sorted and discharged by being pushed out in the face direction of disc may lead to erroneous operation of the sensor as described above, and may raise the problem that discharge control of disc is not appropriately conducted.
  • a known apparatus for dispensing discs according to the precharacterizing portion of claim 1 is disclosed in US-A-5931732 .
  • Other known systems are described in US 2002/0193062A , US 2003/0148728A and EP-A-1603084 .
  • the present invention was devised in consideration of the above points.
  • a disc guiding apparatus comprises:
  • the present invention provides a disc guiding apparatus capable of accurately sensing a disc dispensed from a guide path and discharging the disc after smooth sorting. Also, it provides a disc guiding apparatus that achieves sorting with simple structure and mechanism by sorting a disc after discharging the disc in its circumferential direction, and enables the apparatus to be made compact.
  • the path is shifted by bending the guide path near the outlet to cause the base plate to deflect to either end.
  • the space created by the shift of path can be secured on the base plate in opposite side of the guide path. Therefore, by using this space, it is possible to form the discharge path serving as a relay path relaying between the guide path and the point where the disc is discharged outside, in parallel with the sorting path into which a disc is discharged from the discharge path. Since the discharge path and the sorting path can be disposed within the width of the base plate, it is possible to provide an escalator having small entire width, and to realize compactification.
  • the discharge path may be provided with the disc sensing means, and the introduction opening is disposed downstream of the sensing means, while an introduction guide for guiding a disc into the introduction opening is further provided.
  • sensing of disc is conducted by the disc sensing device by sensing a discharged disc, it is unnecessary to adjust the length of the guide path even when disc size is changed.
  • a disc enters the sorting path through the introduction opening by its own weight in the course of dropping, and opening/closing means for pushing out a disc as is conventionally provided to the opening is not provided on the lateral face of the path. Further, since there is no disc sensing means that strokes in the direction of thickness of the path, the apparatus can be made thin. Further, since there is an introduction guide that guides a disc into the induction opening in the discharge path, it is possible to naturally guide a disc into the sorting path from the guide path only with a simple means. Also smooth dispensing of disc is realized.
  • the guide path may be made up of a rectangular base plate, a support plate disposed opposite to the base plate, having generally the same shape with the base plate, and a pair of spacers disposed between the base plate and the support plate while keeping a clearance corresponding to passing width of the a disc therebetween, and the discharge path is defined between the base plate and the support plate, as a space having a rectangular section and running in parallel with the guide path, and in end parts of the pair of spacers facing to each other, oblique guides are provided for forming a deflection path deflected from a straight path of the guide path at a certain angle.
  • the introduction opening is provided by forming opening in the base plate constituting a part of the discharge path, and the introduction guide is provided by bending a part of the support plate obliquely downward toward the introduction opening.
  • the introduction guide may be readily and directly provided on the plate by bending process of a predetermined part of the support plate.
  • the introduction guide is an oblique plate oriented obliquely downward toward the introduction opening, a disc is guided to the introduction opening and smoothly enters the sorting path during dropping through the support path.
  • the introduction guide projects into the discharge path, it will not interfere with the travel of the disc because the lower end of the introduction opening is situated slightly higher at the most downstream position of the path.
  • a hopper 1 has a frame 2, a cylindrical bowl 3 secured to the frame 2 for retaining discs d and a rotary disc (not shown) rotating in a bottom part of the bowl 3 for discharging discs d.
  • the hopper 1 is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 6-150102 .
  • An escalator 5 extending upward is secured to the frame 2.
  • the escalator 5 includes a vertically extending rectangular base 5a, a pair of elongated horizontal spacers having a thickness which is slightly larger than that of disc d (not shown), and a pair of support plates 5b, 5c abutted to the spacers.
  • the interval between the pair of spacers is slightly larger than diameter of disc d.
  • the interval between the support plates 5b, 5c is smaller than the interval between the spacers.
  • the sorting device 10 has a function of dispensing each disc d conveyed under guidance of the escalator guide path 7 while sorting it selectively right or left.
  • the sorting device 10 includes a guide path 20, an outlet 30 through which the disc is discharged, a disc discharging means 40, a discharge path 60, an introduction opening 70, a sorting path 80, a first path 90, a second path 110, a path selecting device 120 and a disc sensing means 130.
  • the guide path 20 will be explained.
  • the guide path 20 has a function of guiding each disc d conveyed under guidance of the escalator guide path 7 into a predetermined direction.
  • a rectangular base plate 21 having a crank-shaped bottom part is disposed substantially perpendicularly.
  • two spacers 22, 23 having different lengths are disposed in parallel with each other in the vertical direction (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 7 ).
  • a guide spacer 24 which is a third spacer is disposed on the extended line of the shorter spacer 23.
  • the longer spacer 22 has a vertically extending rectangular shape including a straight guide part 22a, an oblique guide shape 22b which diagonally bends at a certain angle of inclination, and a straight guide part 22c which is parallel with the straight guide part 22a but shorter than the same.
  • a rolling guide part 22e which is curved such that disc d discharged laterally through the outlet 30 in an end part of the guide path 20 (described later) can easily roll downward toward the discharge path 60 as will be described later.
  • the shorter spacer 23 has a vertically extending rectangular shape including a straight guide part 23a, and an oblique guide part 23b formed in an end part of the straight guide.
  • the oblique guide part 23b of the spacer 23 is formed at the same angle with that of the inclined guide part 22b of the spacer 22.
  • the straight guide part 23a of the spacer 23 and the straight guide part 22a of the spacer 22 have substantially the same length.
  • the shorter spacer 23 is disposed along one of lateral end edges (left lateral edge) 21L of the base plate 21.
  • the longer spacer 22 is disposed so that the interval with respect to the shorter spacer 23 is slightly larger than diameter of disc d.
  • a deflection path part 20b is formed in which disc d having traveled straight in the guide path 20 is guided while being curved leftward in Fig. 3 by a deflection guide 22b of the spacer 22 and a guide edge 23b of the spacer 23, when it reaches near the outlet 30 of the guide path 20.
  • the straight guide part 22a of the spacer 22 and the straight guide part 23a of the spacer 23 oppose each other to form an inlet path part 20a.
  • the straight guide part 22c of the spacer 22 and a path guide cover piece 27k which is bent in the L-shape of a support plate 27 as will be described later (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 11 ) oppose each other to form an outlet path part 20c having short length.
  • an obliquely upward guide edge 24b is formed inside a bottom part of the guide spacer 24, inside a bottom part of the guide spacer 24, an obliquely upward guide edge 24b is formed.
  • the guide spacer 24 is positioned opposite to an end part 22f of the longer spacer 22 to define therebetween the outlet 30 through which disc d is discharged laterally from the end part of the guide path 20.
  • Disc d exiting the guide path 20 is guided to the outlet 30 by the guide edge 24b of the guide spacer 24.
  • a left side wall of path of the guide path 20 is missing in this distanced region.
  • This missing region is adapted to allow the path guide cover piece 27k of the support plate 27 to be fitted and positioned. That is, for fitting of the guide cover piece 25k, in a left lateral end edge of the base plate 21, an engagement step part 35 (see Fig. 11 ) is notched.
  • the path guide cover piece 27k of the support plate 27 is fitted into the engagement step part 36, and the missing region between the spacer 23 situated below and the guide spacer 24 situated above is complemented by the guide cover piece 27k to achieve vertical connection, so that the guide path 20 is formed without any missing in the lateral wall of the path.
  • the bending margin of the path guide cover piece 27k complementing the guide path 20 is larger than thickness of the guide path 20.
  • the base plate 21 is formed with the introduction opening 70 which further guides each disc d entering the discharge path 60 through the outlet 30 toward the sorting path 80 as will be described later from the discharge path 60.
  • the rectangular support plate 27 is abutted on the front face 21H of the base plate.
  • a rectangular support plate is abutted to sandwich the spacers 22, 23 and the guide spacer 24.
  • a screw penetrating through the support plate 27, the spacers 22, 23 and the guide spacer 24 (not shown) is screwed into the base plate 21 to integrate them.
  • the disc discharging means 40 is also fixed on the front side of the support plate 28 by means of the screw for fixing the guide spacer.
  • the guide path 20 extending vertically, having a rectangular section and a bend near the discharge port 30 is formed.
  • the guide path 20 has a width that is slightly larger than diameter of disc d, and a thickness that is slightly larger than thickness of disc d.
  • the guide path 20 thus formed has such a structure that it bends toward one side of the base plate 21 near the outlet 30, and the outlet 30 is shifted to either side (left side in Fig. 12 ) with respect to the inlet 31 of the guide path 20.
  • a space S (see Fig. 3 ) is created in the adjacent (right) part of the guide path 20.
  • Use of the space S secured on the base plate 21 allows provision of the discharge path 60 for disc d next to the guide path 20.
  • the disc discharging means 40 includes a restriction roller 41, an arcuate guide slot 42 which guides reciprocal movement of the restriction roller 41, a rotation lever 44 which rotatably supports the restriction roller 41 on an end shaft 43, an attachment bracket 45 for the rotation lever 44, and a stopper 46 of the rotation lever 44.
  • the guide slot 42 in which the restriction roller 41 is guided is formed in each of the base plate 21 and the support plate 27.
  • the rotation lever 44 is biased in the direction of facing with the outlet 30 by a helicoidal spring 48 provided on a stationary axis 47.
  • the lower end of the end part of the rotation lever 44 is in abutment with a stopper 46 which projects horizontally from the attachment bracket 45 and held horizontally as shown in Figs. 2 , 3 and 6 .
  • the top face of the stopper 46 is provided with a cushion member 49 (see Fig. 2 ).
  • disc d After traveling along the guide path 20, and reaching the outlet 30 after bent in S-shape at the deflection path part 20b, disc d comes into abutment with the restriction roller 41.
  • the restriction roller 41 is pushed up by disc d and travels along the guide slot 42.
  • the rotation lever 44 is pushed up and rotated so that it moves away from the outlet 30 against the elasticity of the helicoidal spring 48.
  • the rotation lever 44 rotates to return in the direction of the outlet 30 by means of the helicoidal spring 48.
  • disc d is flipped laterally from the outlet 30 by the restriction roller 41 provided in the tip end of the rotation lever 44, to enter the discharge path 60.
  • the elasticity of the helicoidal spring 48 is set so that disc d naturally drops into the discharge path 60 through the outlet 30 of the guide path 20. If the elasticity of the helicoidal spring 48 is so strong that it is flipped with such momentum that disc d hits onto the lateral wall of the discharge path 60, deterioration in durability of the apparatus or unsatisfactory sensing because of dancing of disc d in the discharge path 60 will be unfavorably caused.
  • the sorting device 10 is secured by a screw (not shown) while an upper end part of the base 5a of the escalator 5 is inserted into a longitudinal space 8 formed between the base plate 21 and lower end parts of the spacers 22, 23 (see Fig. 10 ).
  • the spacers 22, 23 are situated on the extended line of spacer (not shown) of the escalator device 5. Therefore, the guide path 20 is situated on the extended line of the escalator path 7.
  • the discharge path 60 is a path through which disc d discharged through the outlet 30 by the disc discharging means 40 is dropped and guided. In the course of dropping, disc d enters the later-described introduction opening 70 provided downstream of the discharge path 60.
  • the discharge path 60 is disposed and formed in an upper right side region 21R of the base plate 21 (see Fig. 11 ). That is, as shown in Fig. 11 , the discharge path 60 is a space having a rectangular section shape, defined and formed by being surrounded by the base plate 21, an extended face 27m extending in the upper part and right side region of the support plate 27, the spacer 22, and a flange 21F which perpendicularly projects in the right side end of the base plate 21 so as to be opposite to the spacer 22.
  • the space, namely, the discharge path 60 extends vertically. Therefore, the discharge path 60 extends vertically while it is situated lateral adjacent to the guide path 20.
  • the extended face 27m of the support plate 27 is situated so that it covers most of the introduction opening 70.
  • the flange 21F of the base plate also functions as an attachment bracket for the disc sensor 131 as will be described later.
  • the lower end of the extended face 27m of the support plate 27 is provided with an introduction guide 29 facing with the introduction opening 70.
  • the introduction guide 29 is formed by bending a lower end part of the extended face 27m of the support plate 27 obliquely downwardly toward the base plate 21.
  • the introduction guide 29 can be formed integrally with the support plate 27 with such a simple technique like bending process.
  • the introduction guide 29 guides disc d from the discharge path 60 to the sorting path 80 situated parallel with and behind the discharge path 60 through the introduction opening 70. Since the introduction guide 29 has width which is somewhat smaller than the overall width of the introduction opening 70, and situated while it bends toward the introduction opening 70, it also serves as a bottom plate member for closing the lower end opening of the discharge path 60.
  • the introduction opening 70 is an opening that allows introduction of disc d having dropped to the discharge path 60 into the sorting path 80.
  • the introduction opening 70 is formed by largely cutting the upper and right side region 21R of the base plate 21 into a substantially rectangular shape.
  • the upper edge of the introduction opening 70 is formed into a downward oblique window edge 70d having a fitting notch 70c, and the disc sensing means 130 is mounted obliquely while its upper part is fitted within the window edge 70d, for example, as shown in Fig. 3 .
  • the width of the introduction opening 70 is larger than maximum diameter of disc d to be used. Height of the introduction opening 70 is preferably 1.5 times to two times diameter of disc d in the elongation direction of discharge path 60 so that disc d is introduced smoothly.
  • the introduction guide 29 is situated such that it closes the bottom end of the discharge path 60, while it extends through the introduction opening 70 to reach and project from the back side of the base plate 21, namely the sorting path 80. Therefore, disc d having dropped through the discharge path 60 slips down by the introduction guide 29, passes through the introduction opening 70, and is guided from the discharge path 60 into the sorting path 80 disposed behind.
  • the sorting path 80 is provided with a device for sorting disc d having entered from the discharge path 60 through the introduction opening 70 selectively into right and left.
  • a guide channel 81 in the shape of a channel is disposed in parallel in the thickness direction of the discharge path 60 on the back side 21I of the base plate 21.
  • the guide channel 81 is formed into a channel shape from the base plate 21, a bracket 21B formed by bending the left end part (in Fig.
  • the base plate 21 and the plate cover 88 can be assembled into a channel shape by bringing upper and lower two latch pieces 21x, 21x of inverse L shape formed in the bracket 21B of the base plate 21 as projections, into engagement just like hooks with upper and lower two engagement step parts 88y, 88y formed in the plate cover 88 side as notches.
  • the second bracket 85 is attached and secured to the base plate 21 by means of a screw (not shown) while its attachment flange 85f is brought into abutment with the base plate 21.
  • a stay 88t of the plate cover 88 is attached and secured to the second bracket 85 by means of a screw (not shown).
  • the sorting path 80 is a space having a rectangular cross section, defined and formed by the base plate 21, the bracket 21B of the base plate, the second bracket 85 and the plate cover 88.
  • the space, namely, the sorting path 80 extends vertically behind the back region 21P of the base plate 21 in parallel with the discharge path 60. Therefore, the discharge path 60 and the sorting path 80 are disposed in parallel in their thickness direction.
  • a cover part 88c which is formed by partial cutting up to obliquely project toward the sorting path 60. As shown in Fig. 14 , the cover part 88c extends obliquely downward toward the base plate 21 side to assume a hood.
  • the cover part 88c will hide an upper end part 122u of a path switching plate 122 by making it be situated under the cover part 88c when the later-described path switching plate 122 swings toward the plate cover 88 side and is stopped by the inner face of the plate cover 88. This prevents dropping disc d from getting caught. Therefore, disc d is advanced smoothly into a predetermined path.
  • a rectangular separate plate 73 is disposed between the base plate 21 and the plate cover 88, in which a right oblique first guide plate part 71 (see Figs. 9 and 12 ) and a left oblique second guide plate part 72 (see Fig. 9 ) are integrally formed on left and right faces of a perpendicular partition 73D. Integration is achieved by screwing a screw (not shown) penetrating through the left end part of the plate cover 88 and the separate plate 73 into the base plate 21.
  • a securing rib 74 is projected on upper end face in the right end side of the separate plate 73, and the securing rib 74 is brought into engagement with a retainer for projection 86 formed in a lower end part of the second bracket 85 ( Fig. 10 ).
  • the first guide plate part 71 has a diagonally right down first guide face 75 (shown by diagonally right down chain lines in Fig. 9 ), and is slightly thicker than disc d. Therefore, by the base plate 21 and the separate plate 73, the first path 90 having a first outlet 91 on the right end face in Fig. 9 is defined.
  • the first outlet 91 opens in the left end face when viewed from front side.
  • the second guide plate part 72 has opposite orientation to the first guide plate part 71, and has a diagonally left down second guide face 76 (shown by diagonally left down chain lines in Fig. 9 ), and is slightly thicker than disc d. Therefore, by the plate cover 88 and the separate plate 73, the second path 110 having a second outlet 111 on the left end face in Fig. 9 is defined.
  • the second outlet 111 opens in the right end face when viewed from front side. Therefore, the discharge path 60 and the first path 90 and the second path 110 also form path arrangement in which they are arranged in parallel in the thickness direction. As a result, it is possible to make thickness of the sorting device 20 as thin as possible.
  • Heights of the first path 90, the first outlet 91, the second path 110 and the second outlet 111 are set to be larger than maximum diameter of disc d to be used. Numbers of paths and outlets for disc d may be 3 or more. In such a case, the path selecting device 120 should be designed to allow sorting into that number of paths.
  • the path selecting device 120 has a function of selectively guiding disc d traveling along the sorting path 80 into the first path 90 or the second path 110.
  • the path selecting device 120 of example is a path switching device 121, and has a rectangular path switching plate 122 and a swing driver 125 thereof.
  • the path switching plate 122 is situated below the sorting path 80, and its lower end part is situated on the extended line of the separate plate 73.
  • one shaft 122a projecting from the lower end part of the path switching plate 122, and the other shaft 122b are swingably pivoted while they are inserted into a shaft hole 123 provided in a lower end part of the bracket 21B of the base plate 21, and into the shaft hole 126 provided in a lower end part of the second bracket 85, respectively.
  • an operative pin 127 for allowing the path switching plate 122 projecting at a slightly higher position from the shaft 122b to swing.
  • the operative pin 127 is freely fitted into a slot 128 provided in the second bracket 85.
  • the path switching plate 122 is formed into a convex shape in which width of an upper end part 122u is narrowed, and spans over the substantially full width of the sorting path 80.
  • the upper end part 122u of the path switching plate 122 is positioned below the cover part 88c when the path switching plate 122 pivots in the clockwise direction in Fig. 14 , and hindered under the cover part 88c, to prevent disc d from getting caught by the same. This is because in this position, the path switching plate 122 is elastically held by weak spring, so that even when the path switching plate 12 slightly moves, the upper end part 122u do not deviate from the shade of the cover part 88c and ensure the guidance to a predetermined path.
  • a crank 52 in the form of tear drop is rotatably supported by a shaft 51 projecting from the second bracket 85.
  • a shaft 52b fixed to an end part of the crank 52 one end part of an arm 53 is rotatably pivoted.
  • the operative pin 127 projecting laterally from above the shaft 122b of the path switching plate 122 is inserted into a shaft hole 53b provided in the other end part of the arm 53.
  • the path switching plate 122, the crank 52 and the arm 53 molded of resin such as nylon for the purpose of weight reduction. When the weight of these parts are reduced, faster movement of the path switching plate 122 is achieved.
  • a solenoid 100 is secured to the second bracket 85.
  • an operative plate 105 is connected and secured by a securing pin 106.
  • a connecting pin 102 for connection with the crank 52 is provided in a middle part of the operative plate 105.
  • a metal plate (described later) 56 in a substantially L shape is attached on one face side of the crank 52.
  • One end part of the metal plate 56 is provided with an attachment hole (not shown) into which the connecting pin 102 of the operative plate 105 is inserted. Therefore, the crank 52 is connected to the operative plate 105 via the connecting pin 102, and the crank 52 swings about the shaft 51 by linear reciprocal motion of the plunger 100.
  • the plunger 101 of the solenoid 100 is always pulled down by a compression spring 104 disposed between the pin 103 secured to a lower end part of the operative plate 105 and a flange 85f bent in the shape of L in a lower end part of the second bracket 85.
  • the solenoid 100 is selectively excited or demagnetized by a controller (not shown).
  • the solenoid 100 is demagnetized, the plunger 101 is at the lowermost position by the spring 104. Therefore the crank 52 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 8 about the shaft 51 via the connecting pin 102, and the arm 53 proceeds in the right direction in Fig. 8 .
  • the path switching plate 122 swings within the hole width of the slot 128 via the crank 52, the arm 53, and the operative pin 127, and is at the position shown by chain lines as shown in Fig. 10 . Therefore, when the path switching plate 122 is at this position shown by chain lines, the first path 90 is closed by the path switching plate 122, while the second path 110 is open. In this state, the upper end part 122u of the path switching plate 122 is positioned below the introduction guide 29 so that dropping disc d will not get caught.
  • the plunger 101 When the solenoid 100 is excited, the plunger 101 is pulled up, and the crank 52 is rotated in the clockwise direction about the shaft 51 via the connecting pin 102, and the arm 53 is returned in the left direction in Fig. 8 . Therefore, the path switching plate 122 swings in opposite direction within the hole width of the slot 128 via the crank 52, the arm 53, and the operative pin 127, and rotated in the clockwise direction from the position shown by chain lines in Fig. 10 . Therefore, by the path switching plate 122, the first path 90 is opened and the second path 110 is closed. At this time, the upper end part 122u of the path switching plate 122 is posited below the cover 88c to prevent dropping disc d from getting caught.
  • a position sensing device 280 for grasping the position of path switching plate 122 is provided.
  • the position sensing device 280 is a transmissive sensor 280S for sensing the position of the crank 52.
  • the crank 52 is sensed by the sensor. That is, as shown in Fig. 10 , on one face side of the crank 52, the metal plate 56 in a substantially inversed L shape is attached.
  • the metal plate 56 is in a substantially inversed L shape, and in Fig. 10 , an operative piece part 56b of the metal plate 56 is positioned within an upwardly open squared U-shape groove 280m of the sensor 280S to shield the optical axis and the operative piece part 56b is sensed.
  • the crank 52 pivots so that it will not be sensed by the sensor 280S. That is, the crank 52 rotates in the clockwise direction in Fig. 8 , and the operative piece part 56b of the crank 52 exits from the groove 280m of the sensor 280S to establish passage of light, and thus the operative piece part 56b is not sensed.
  • the position sensing device 280 is secured to a flange 88f formed by bending at right angle in a lower end part of the plate cover 88.
  • a transmissive photoelectric sensor 131 may be used as the sensing device.
  • the sensor 131 has a fork-like casing 131D as shown in Fig. 11 , and at end parts of fork casing parts 131a, 131b, a light emitter and a light receiver are provided.
  • the sensor 131 is obliquely disposed between the outlet 30 and the introduction opening 70 in the discharge path 60.
  • the light emitter and the light receiver are arranged while intervened by the discharge path 60.
  • the optical axis is blocked when disc d passes between the light emitter and the light receiver of the sensor 131.
  • disc d is sensed, and disc sensor signal is issued by the sensor 131.
  • the sensor 131 is attached and secured to a sensor attachment bracket 133 by means of a screw (not shown).
  • An L-shaped flange 133 is formed by bending integrally with the sensor attachment bracket 133f.
  • the base plate 21 is provided with the flange 21F at right angle. Therefore, the L-shaped flange 133f of the sensor attachment bracket 133 is brought into abutment with the flange 21F and secured by a screw (not shown).
  • the sensor 131 is attached and secured to the base plate 21, as shown in Figs. 2 , 3 and the like.
  • the sensor 131 may be implemented by a reflective photoelectric sensor, proximity sensor, micro switch or the like insofar as it can detect a disc.
  • Disc d is sequentially pushed up by disc d which is newly sent from the rotation disc 4, and reaches the guide path 20.
  • the disc d that pushes and elevates along the guide path 20 travels while being curved in the left direction by the deflection path part 20b as it comes near the outlet 30, and travels straight under guidance of the outlet path part 20c after exiting from the deflection path part 20b.
  • the uppermost disc d pushes up the restriction roller 41 to cause it rotate, to thereby make the rotation lever 44 rotate in counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6 .
  • Disc d having discharged into the discharge path 60 drops by its own weight, and passes through the fork parts of the sensor 131 where the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed during dropping, and blocks optical axis of the sensor at this time. Therefore, the sensor 131 outputs a sensor signal.
  • the sensor signal is counted by a controller (not shown).
  • Disc d having passed through the sensor 131 reaches the introduction opening 70, while it is guided to the sorting path 80 side by the introduction guide 29 inclined to the sorting path 80.
  • Disc d further drops by its own weight through the sorting path 80, and then guided to the second path 110 by the path switching plate 122.
  • Disc d having reached the second path 110 rolls on the second guide face 76 and then dispensed through the second outlet 111.
  • the solenoid 100 is excited by the controller (not shown), to make the path switching plate 122 rotate and move oppositely (in the clockwise direction) from the chain lines in Fig. 10 , and thereby closing the second path 110 and opening the first path 90.
  • disc d having entered the discharge path 60 from the guide path 20 is detected by the sensor 131 during dropping by its own weight. Accordingly, the sensor 131 outputs a sensor signal.
  • a control circuit executes control similarly as described above.
  • Disc d having passed through the sensor 131 is induced and guided to the sorting path 80 from the introduction opening 70 by the introduction guide 29. Then disc d drops by its own weight, and guided to the first path 90 by the path switching plate 122.
  • Disc d having reached the first path 90 rolls on the first guide face 75 and is dispensed through the first outlet 90.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
  • Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
  • Feeding And Guiding Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Automatic Disk Changers (AREA)
EP20070112374 2006-07-31 2007-07-12 Disc guiding apparatus Active EP1887531B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2006207764A JP5044836B2 (ja) 2006-07-31 2006-07-31 ディスク案内装置

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1887531A2 EP1887531A2 (en) 2008-02-13
EP1887531A3 EP1887531A3 (en) 2008-04-02
EP1887531B1 true EP1887531B1 (en) 2010-02-24

Family

ID=38562310

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20070112374 Active EP1887531B1 (en) 2006-07-31 2007-07-12 Disc guiding apparatus

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP1887531B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP5044836B2 (ja)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5983334B2 (ja) * 2012-11-13 2016-08-31 沖電気工業株式会社 位置調整装置及び紙葉類処理装置
JP5945786B2 (ja) * 2013-11-19 2016-07-05 旭精工株式会社 コイン搬送払出装置

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH03171280A (ja) * 1989-08-23 1991-07-24 Fuji Electric Co Ltd 硬貨選別装置
GB2313222B (en) * 1996-05-17 1999-08-04 Asahi Seiko Co Ltd Apparatus for dispensing disks
NL1020759C2 (nl) * 2001-06-15 2003-06-30 Asahi Seiko Co Ltd Geleidings-inrichting voor munten of andere schijfvormige voorwerpen.
GB2385456B (en) * 2002-01-17 2004-08-04 Asahi Seiko Co Ltd A diverting device of a disc
JP4644773B2 (ja) * 2004-06-02 2011-03-02 旭精工株式会社 ディスクの振分装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1887531A3 (en) 2008-04-02
JP2008033723A (ja) 2008-02-14
EP1887531A2 (en) 2008-02-13
JP5044836B2 (ja) 2012-10-10

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