ES2390726A1 - Unitary coin dispenser and unitary coin dispensing method used by said dispenser. - Google Patents

Abstract

Unitary coin dispenser having an extraction disc (4) of the coins comprising holes for the transportation of the coins arranged according to a circular path. The holes are delimited by two radial retractable lateral partitions (15), each one of them separating two adjacent holes, which push and extract the coin (6) from the hole, and by two retractable limiting parts (7), one at each side of the hole, forming the external part of said holes, configuring each one of the holes with a substantially circular shape. The present invention further consists of a method comprising a coin (6) collection stage with the retractable lateral partitions (15) and the retractable limiting parts (7) remaining in the extracted position, and a coin outlet stage with the limiting parts (7) and the retractable lateral partitions (15) being retracted according to a determined sequence so as to allow the extraction of said coin (6).

Description

UNITARY COIN DISPENSER AND DISPENSING METHOD

UNIT OF COINS USED BY SAID DISPENSER

5

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coin dispenser, designed to be

used to unitarily deliver coins in applications such as machines

automatic vending, recreational, parking charges, etc.

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The dispenser of the invention is of the type that comprises a warehouse of

coins and a unit coin extractor.

More specifically, the dispenser of the invention is of the type whose extractor is

made up of a disc that incorporates cavities in which the coins will be housed,

prior to its extraction.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Coin dispensers used as cash dispensers are already known.

coins in change machines, arcades, vending machines, etc.

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Document EP0957456B1 describes a coin return mechanism

based on a rotating disk in which the coins are transported to the exit,

thanks to the action of retractable pallets that define cavities in which

they house the coins. This type of device is suitable for mining coins

different but with the limitation that the cavities must have a size

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enough to accommodate the largest diameter coin and that at the same time they cannot be accommodated

two small diameter coins. This limitation makes this vendor of

coins may need to be modified depending on the range of coins of highest and lowest

desired diameter, being impossible in some cases the compatibility of coins

of extreme diameters.

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As for document EP00959437B1, it describes a coin dispenser,

also based on a rotating disk, but in which the cavities are circular.

This device performs better in the range of coin diameters,

but it has limitations regarding the thickness of the coins, so that if the

coins that are too thin could be removed two at a time or cause jams in

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the case of thick coins.

In the mechanism of document US05295900 it is used for the extraction of the

coins a disk of the type described in the previous documents, on which

incorporate retractable pivots that define the cavity for housing the

coins. The mobility of the pivots is ensured by guides located in the part

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post-disc. The device described in this document has the same

limitations on the range of diameters of the coins you can mine with

a specific disk, thus requiring a specific disk for each one

of the ranges of sizes of the coins to be extracted.

Finally, document ES2199083A 1 refers to a dispenser device for

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coins in which for the definition of the transport cavities of the coins,

retractable partitions are used, which are hidden in the area near the exit thanks to

a peripheral projection that drives said partitions towards the lower part of the disk. To the

As mentioned above, this device has the problems of

reduced range of coin diameters.

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A dispensing device that achieves a delivery was therefore desirable.

Efficient coin unit avoiding the inconveniences existing in the previous ones

state-of-the-art systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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The present invention solves the problems existing in the state of the art

by means of a coin dispenser, of the type initially exposed, achieving

work reliably with a wide range of coins, both in diameter and in

thickness. Furthermore, the coin dispenser of the invention is of construction

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simple and robust, which also facilitates its use in applications that

require low cost and high reliability, as is the case, for example, of machines of

supply of parking tickets, vending machines, arcade machines

or chance, etc.

In the coin dispenser object of the present invention, the coin extractor

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coins is made up of a rotating disk driven by a motor-reducer.

The cavities that will house the coins and coins are formed on the extractor disk.

will transport from the bottom, where they are stored, to the top, in the

that there is an extractor trigger and a ramp that defines the exit of the coins.

The extractor disk is located inside a hopper that acts as a coin store

and in a position slightly inclined towards the back, to favor the

stability of the transported coins.

In the coin dispenser of the invention, each of the cavities for the

The accommodation of the coins is defined by four retractable pieces, being two

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different types and shared two by two between adjoining cavities. The first type is

radially, it is a retractable lateral septum, and laterally separates two cavities

contiguous. The second type is a retractable copycat piece comprising three

protrusions consisting of circular sectors, two towards the peripheral part of the disk and

one towards its center, oriented towards the interior of the cavity, in such a way that together

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With the lateral partitions, the cavity adopts a substantially circular shape and

The diameter of the coin with the largest diameter allowed, this diameter being the

cavity smaller than the sum of the diameters of two coins of the smallest diameter

permitted. The two retractable side partitions that separate two adjoining cavities,

are used to push and extract the coin from the cavity, when it is reached

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by rotating the disc the starting position. The copycat! Pieces, along with the

Radial partitions form the coin housing cavity in such a way that

two coins with a diameter greater than the largest coin cannot be accommodated

allowed diameter. In this way it is possible to increase the range of coins that

they can be dispensed with the same extractor disk. The four pieces cited, is

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In other words, the two imitating pieces and the two retractable side partitions will be in

extracted position, that is to say towards the hopper containing the coins, during the phase

of their collection and transport to the exit, while they will be retracted into a

determined order during the coin extraction phase.

Another object of the present invention is a method of unit dispensing of

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coins, which uses the dispensing device described above, and in which

each of the cavities performs a stage of collecting the coin in the warehouse

in which the retractable side partitions and the retractable mimics!

remain in the extracted position, and a stage of exit of the coin to the chute of

exit, in which the imitating pieces and the partitions are sequentially retracted

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retractable sides, to allow the passage of said coin to the exit ramp.

According to different embodiments of the unit dispensing method, there are different

possible sequences in which the imitating pieces and the side partitions are

they retract to allow the coin to pass onto the exit ramp.

In one of them, in the coin exit stage, first the projections of the

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the imitating pieces, and subsequently the lateral partitions are retracted.

According to another alternative, in the coin exit stage, first the

lateral partition and the projections of the imitators! closest to the ramp of

exit and later the lateral partition and the projections of the most imitating pieces!

far from the ramp.

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In general, the lateral partitions and the projections of the imitating pieces can be

retract at the coin exit stage in any sequence.

Specifically, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, during the extraction of

the coin will retract the nearest retractable copy piece first!

at the exit, in a second phase the imitator that is furthest from the

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exit, meanwhile the two radial pieces or partitions will continue to lead to the

coin to the withdrawal position. In the third phase, the radial septum will be retracted

next to the exit and in the fourth phase, the current currency will be expelled abroad and

subsequently, the radial septum that has led the coin to the

Exit.

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The actuation of moving parts, partitions and imitating parts can be done

individually by any known system, for example partitions can

be retracted by actuation of a flange or cam and the mimics!

they can do this by means of guides engraved on the casing or disc holder.

The described arrangement achieves that in the coin collection area, that is, the

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bottom of the hopper, it is not possible to accommodate two coins whose sum of

diameters is greater than that of the maximum admissible size coin. Sequence

described above for the retraction of! mimics and partitions, achieves a

unitary and reliable transport and extraction of coins. On the other hand, as for the

thickness, there are no limitations or possible overlaps of two fine coins, since

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that this problem does not exist in devices of this type. This is achieved

appropriately sizing the area of support of the coin against the inner part

of the disc and especially the part that defines the ramp or exit path and the

trigger that produces the expulsion to the outside of the coin.

These characteristics make the dispenser object of the invention of

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application for coin operation within a wide range of sizes

and therefore very appropriate in applications where it is important to work with

all the currencies of different countries without having the need to adapt the

mechanisms to certain ranges of coin sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following, to facilitate understanding of the invention, by way of illustration but not

Limiting, an embodiment of the invention will be described that refers to a series

of figures.

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Figure 1 represents a view of the unit coin dispenser object of the

present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the coin dispenser in which it can be seen

the coin extractor disk.

Figure 3 represents a known coin dispenser from the state of the

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technique.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the fundamental elements that make up the disk

coin extractor of the dispenser object of the invention.

Figure 5A is a front view of a particular embodiment of an extractor disk of

coins mounted on the extractor and Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view

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according to the ce plane.

Figure 6 is a portion of the disk in which a particular embodiment of

a complete cavity with a coin housed inside, and partially the two

cavities adjoining it.

Figure 7 is equivalent to Figure 6, in which the coin has been removed to see

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the base of the cavity.

Figure 8 represents in detail the retractable imitating pieces and the partitions

retractable sides that delimit each of the cavities of an embodiment

particular of the extractor disk.

Figure 9 shows the imitating parts of the particular embodiment of Figure 8.

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Figure 10 is a side view of one of the imitating pieces of Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 shows a possible solution so that the radial septum can be

retracted, and then return to its extracted position.

Figure 12 is a detailed perspective view of the dispenser object of the

present invention carrying a coin.

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Figure 13 is another perspective view of the dispenser of Figure 12 in which the

coin is in a first phase of extraction according to a particular embodiment of the

dispensing method.

Figure 14 represents the second extraction phase according to the particular embodiment

of the dispensing method of figure 13

Figure 15 represents the third extraction phase of the method shown in the Figures 13 and 14. Figure 16 represents the fourth extraction phase of the method shown in the Figures 13, 14 and 15. In these figures, reference is made to a set of elements that are:

1.

coin store

2.

entrance to the coin store

3.

Case

Four.

coin extractor disk

5.

coins of minimum diameter allowed

6.

coins

7.

copycat! pieces

8.

first highlight

9.

second highlight 1O. third highlight

eleven.

extractor trigger

12.

guide in the housing for the knock-out parts!

13.

protrusion of the imitating parts for the coupling in the guide

14.

coin exit ramp

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retractable side partition

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a unitary coin dispenser, which, as shown in figure 1, comprises a hopper or magazine 1, in which the coins are introduced through a mouth 2. The magazine 1 is supported in a casing 3, in which the extractor disk 4 is also mounted, as can be seen in figure 2. Other parts not shown are additionally mounted on the casing 3, such as the gear motor, which produces the rotation of the extractor disk 4 during the collection and extraction of the coins, as well as the coin exit and level detectors, electronic control etc., which do not represent the object of the present invention. As previously explained, in the state of the art there are known coin extractor devices, based on a disk, in which cavities have been defined for the accommodation of the coins, such as the one represented in figure 3.

These commonly used devices are valid for a size range of

relatively narrow coins, its operation being incorrect when it comes to

of coexistence of coins of very different sizes. This difference can be

present whether it is the operation with mixed coins of different

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diameter or when it comes to operation with only one type of coins.

small diameter but using a disc designed for larger coins

diameter. Thus, figure 3 represents the typical problem that occurs in

dispensers of the state of the art. Two 5 coins whose sum of diameters is

greater than the maximum allowable coin diameter can be overlapped.

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In this case they add up to an apparent diameter of 35 mm while in this example the

largest possible coin 6 is 30mm in diameter. In this example the two coins

5 would be extracted, causing the consequent failure in the return.

Figure 5A shows an example similar to the one previously described, but

in which the cavities of the extractor disk 4 are defined by the imitating pieces!

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7, which according to a preferred embodiment have retractable projections 8, 9 and 10 with

circular sector shape, and retractable side partitions 15. These cavities have

a diameter equal to that of the coin 6 with the maximum diameter allowed, and smaller than the

sum of diameters of two coins 5 of the minimum allowed diameter. Are

dimensions, as seen in the figure, avoid that two coins of diameter

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greater than the maximum coin radius can be accommodated in a cell. In this figure

two coins have been drawn overlapping in diameter, but it should be noted

that this situation is unstable, since the upper coin is out of the cavity and

Either it would detach and fall into the hopper or the extractor trigger 11 would achieve the

same effect. Figure 5B shows the guide system 12 used to

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to achieve the movement of the imitating pieces 7 in a direction perpendicular to the disk

extractor 4. Some projections 13 of each of the pieces fit into said guides 12

! copying 7. This ensures that the! copying pieces 7 are in the

extracted position in the part of the lower path of the disc 4 during the collection of the

coins 6 and retract in the vicinity of exit ramp 14.

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In figure 6 it can be seen in greater detail how a coin 6 is housed in a

of the cavities of the disk 4 according to a particular embodiment of the imitating pieces!

7. The coin 6 is limited by each of the sides by the partitions

15 radial retractable laterals that also fulfill the function of propelling the

coin towards the exit, as the disc 4 rotates. The coin 6 is limited by

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a first projection 8 and a second projection 9 of the copying piece 7 that is shared

with the immediately previous cavity and by a third projection 10 of the piece

! copycat 7 that is shared with the accommodation immediately after, according to the

advance of the extractor disk 4. The coin 6 rests on its back in a

circular flat surface 16 of the extractor disk 4, which can be seen more

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clearly in figure 7.

In figure 8 the imitating pieces 7 and the side partitions can be seen in detail.

retractable 15, showing the flat surface 17 of the imitating pieces 7, which are

will rest against the back of disk 4 in the position extracted from said piece

retractable. Figure 9 shows in detail the design of the particular embodiment of the

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imitating pieces 7, especially the projections 8, 9 and 10 that make up the limits of

each cavity. This same figure also shows a channel 18 for the

housing of the retractable side partition 15. Figure 10 is a side view of the part

! retractable mimic 7 in which the projection 13 that slides along the guide 12 can be seen

etched on the casing 3.

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Figure 11 shows a solution by means of a spring 19 to achieve that the

retractable septum 15 has the potential to retract through interference with the

exit ramp 14 after the coin has been withdrawn and returned to its rest position,

that is to say to the one extracted, during the collection of the coins.

Another object of the present invention is a method of unit dispensing of

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coins using the dispenser described above. In this method of

dispensing, for each of the cavities there is a stage of collection of the

coin 6 in the warehouse, in which the side partitions 15 and the copying pieces! 7

are in the extracted position, and a stage of passage of the coin 6 to the exit ramp

14, in which the imitating pieces 7 and the partitions are sequentially retracted

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retractable sides 15, to allow the passage of said coin 6 to the exit ramp

14.

According to different embodiments, the side partitions and the projections of the pieces

! mimics can be retracted at the coin exit stage by following any

sequence.

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According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step of passing the

coin 6 to the exit ramp 14, in a first phase the first projection 8 is retracted and

the second projection 9 of the copying piece 7 closest to the exit ramp 14,

then the third projection 1 is retracted OR the part! mimic 7 furthest from the ramp of

outlet 14, then the retractable lateral partition 15 is retracted closest to the

exit ramp 14, and finally the retractable side partition 15 is retracted further from

exit ramp 14.

Next, with the help of the figures, the extraction sequence of a

coin 6 according to this preferred embodiment of the method. Figure 12 shows

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a coin 6 located in a housing of the disk 4 in which the partitions 15 and the

projections 8,9, 10 of the retractable imitating pieces 7 are in the extracted position. In the

Figure 13 shows coin 6 in a more advanced position towards the exit, in the

that the mimic piece 7 closest to the exit ramp 14 has retracted, while

that the copying piece 7 furthest from the exit ramp 14 and the radial partitions 15

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remain extracted. Therefore, in this phase, as can be seen in the

Figure 13, the first shoulder 8 and the second shoulder 9 are retracted, while the

third projection 10, together with radial partitions 15 are extracted. In the next

extraction phase, represented in figure 14, disk 4 has advanced towards the outlet

and the coin 6 is now in its cavity with the radial partitions 15

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removed while the imitating pieces 7 are retracted. In this phase,

bosses 8, 9 and 10 are retracted. From this situation coin 6 will be guided

until the exit by the radial partitions 15 that will retract as they interfere

with the exit ramp 14. Thus in figure 15 it can be seen how the previous partition 15

coin 6, or closer to exit ramp 14, has retracted, while the

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partition 15 after said coin 6, or further from the exit ramp 14, follows

drawn and propels coin 6 out through ramp 14 and

causing the rotation of the extractor trigger 11, which is in charge of preventing the exit of

6 coins incorrectly positioned in the cavity, such as two coins

superimposed, and to push out the 6 coins that have passed the

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upward of the exit chute 14. The extractor trigger 11 can also be

used for counting the 6 coins that are expelled outside, or for

measure a characteristic such as their diameter. Finally, in figure 16,

you can see the expulsion of coin 6, in which the last one has been hidden

retractable septum 15 that remained removed in the previous phase and the coin 6 is directed

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to the outside of the dispenser driven by the trigger 11.

According to other embodiments of the method of the invention, it can first be retracted

the lateral partition 15 closest to the outlet, then the imitating pieces 7, to

at the same time, or one after the other, and finally the other lateral partition 15.

In particular, according to a sequence according to the previous particular embodiment, in

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a first phase retracts the retractable lateral partition 15 close to the exit ramp

14, in a second phase the first projection 8 and the second projection 9 are retracted from the

copying piece 7 closest to the exit ramp 14, in a third phase it retracts

the third projection 10 of the imitating piece 7 furthest from the exit ramp 14, and in

a fourth phase retracts the retractable lateral partition 15 furthest from the ramp of

5

exit 14.

According

other alternate sequence on a first phase I know retracts the lateral septum

15 close to exit ramp 14, then simultaneously retracting the

projections 8,9, 10 of the two imitating pieces 7, and finally the lateral septum is retracted

retractable 15 furthest from exit ramp 14.

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And according to yet another sequence, in a first phase the retractable lateral partition is retracted

15 next to the exit ramp 14, in a second phase the third projection 10 is retracted

of the imitating piece 7 furthest from the exit ramp 14, in a third phase the

retract the first protrusion 8 and the second protrusion 9 from the closest copying piece!

to the exit ramp 14, and in a fourth phase the retractable lateral partition 15 is retracted

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farthest from exit ramp 14.

Once the invention has been clearly described, it is noted that the embodiments

above-described particulars

are subject to detail modifications

provided they do not alter the fundamental principle and the essence of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Unitary coin dispenser, comprising -a housing (3) in which a magazine (1) of coins (6) are arranged, and an extractor disk (4) of the coins (6) from the store (1) and dispenser of these in an exit ramp (14) actuated by a motor-reducer, comprising cavities for the coins (6) arranged according to a trajectory circular, said unit coin dispenser characterized in that 1 Or each of the cavities is delimited by two radial retractable side partitions (15), each separating two contiguous cavities, which drive and extract the coin (6) from the cavity, and by two retractable imitating pieces (7), one on each side of the cavity, which make up the external part of said cavities, because the side partitions (15) and the imitating pieces (7) configure each of the cavities with a substantially circular shape and a diameter equal to that of the coin (6) with the maximum diameter allowed and less than the sum of the diameters of two coins (5) of the minimum diameter allowed, 20 and because the side partitions (15) and the imitating pieces (7) of each cavity maintain an extracted position during the collection and transport of the coin (6) and are retracted for the extraction of the coin (6). 2. Unitary coin dispenser, according to claim 1, characterized 25 because each of the imitating pieces (7) comprises a first projection (8), a second projection (9) and a third projection (10) in the shape of a circular sector. 3. Unitary coin dispenser, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the circular sectors of the three projections (8,9, 10) have a radius equal to that of the coin with the maximum allowed radius. Unitary coin dispenser, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the imitating pieces (7) are guided in their movement by a guide (12) arranged in the casing (3) that supports the extractor disk (4).

5. Unit coin dispensing method, using the coin dispenser

claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the cavities performs

a stage of collecting the coin (6) in the warehouse (1) in which the

retractable side partitions (15) and retractable! mimics (7) remain in

5

extracted position,

and a stage of passing the coin (6) to the exit ramp (14), in which the

retract the imitating pieces (7) and the retractable side partitions (15) allowing the

passage of said coin (6) to the exit ramp (14).

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6. Method of unit dispensing of coins, according to claim 5,

characterized in that in the stage of passage of the coin (6) to the exit ramp (14),

In a first phase, the copying piece (7) closest to the ramp is retracted.

outlet (14),

in a second phase, the copying piece (7) is retracted farthest from the

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outlet (14),

In a third phase, the retractable lateral partition (15) closest to the

exit ramp (14),

and in a fourth phase the retractable lateral septum (15) furthest from the

exit ramp (14).

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7. Method of unit dispensing of coins, according to claim 5,

characterized in that in the stage of passage of the coin (6) to the exit ramp (14),

in a first phase, the retractable lateral partition (15) near the ramp is retracted

outlet (14),

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in a second phase, the copying piece (7) closest to the ramp is retracted

outlet (14),

In a third phase, the imitating piece (7) furthest from the ramp is retracted.

outlet (14),

and in a fourth phase the retractable lateral septum (15) furthest from the

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exit ramp (14).

8.-Unitary coin dispensing method, according to claim 5,

characterized because

in a first phase, the retractable lateral partition (15) near the ramp is retracted

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outlet (14),

in a second phase, the copying piece (7) closest to the ramp is retracted

exit (14) and the imitating piece (7) furthest from the exit ramp (14),

and in a third phase, the retractable lateral partition (15) furthest from the

exit ramp (14).

5

9.

Method from dispensing unitary from coins, according the vindication 5,

characterized in that in the stage of passage of the coin (6) to the exit ramp (14),

in a first phase, the retractable lateral partition (15) near the ramp is retracted

outlet (14),

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In a second phase, the copying piece (7) furthest from the ramp is retracted

outlet (14),

In a third phase, the copying piece (7) closest to the ramp is retracted.

outlet (14),

and in a fourth phase the retractable lateral septum (15) furthest from the

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exit ramp (14).