GB2053576A

GB2053576A - Magnet holder

Info

Publication number: GB2053576A
Application number: GB8019888A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: COIN CONTROLS; Coin Controls Ltd
Current assignee: COIN CONTROLS; Crane Payment Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 1979-06-19
Filing date: 1980-06-18
Publication date: 1981-02-04

Abstract

A permanent magnet arrangement comprising a housing (4) divided into two compartments (8a, 8b), each compartment having a closed or partially closed base region (6) and an open top, each compartment containing a magnet (5a, 5b), the north pole of one magnet (5b) being adjacent said base region (6) and the south pole of the other magnet (5a) being adjacent the base region (6), the compartments being closed or substantially closed at their top by a bridging piece (11) which retains the magnets in the compartments and at the same time magnetically bridges the south and north poles of the magnets adjacent the top of the compartments. The arrangement can be used in place of a U-shaped magnet acting to slow down coins in a vending machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Magnet holder and assembly method therefor This invention relates to a method of assembling a magnet holder for a coin receiving mechanism and to a magnet holder assembled in accordance therewith.

In coin receiving mechanisms, for instance such as are used in automatic vending equipment or amusement machines, a magnet is normally provided past which a coin insered in the mechanism must pass during its passage therethrough. The purpose of the magnet is to slow down the progress of a non-ferrous coin through the mechanism and thereby ensure that it travels slowly enough for it to actuate the machanism properly. In the past, a one-piece Ushaped cast magnet has been used but the price of such magnets, particularly those containing cobalt, has risen so dramatically in recent years due mainly to the ever increasing cost of raw materials that it has become desirable to find a cheaper yet equally effective alternative.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a permanent magnet arrangement comprising a housing divided into two compartments, each compartment having a closed or partially closed base region and an open top, each compartment containing a magnet, the north pole of one magnet being adjacent said base region and the south pole of the other magnet being adjacent the base region, the compartments being closed or substantially closed at their top by a bridging piece which retains the magnets in the compartments and at the same time magnetically bridges the south and north poles of the magnets adjacent the top of the compartments.

Preferably, each magnet is made from a ceramic material sold under the Trade Mark "FERROBA 3".

Conveniently the bridging piece is a mild steel plate, the compartments being separated by a partition integral with the housing provided with an upstanding pin which extends through or into a hole or recess in the bridging piece and which serves for positionally locating the bridging piece.

Preferably the pin is peened over to retain the bridging piece on the housing.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling a magnet holder for a coin receiving mechanism comprising the steps of providing a method of assembling a magnet holder for a coin receiving mechanism, comprising providing a housing structure having two separate compartments each with a substantially closed bottom and an open top, placing a permanent magnet into each compartment, one magnet with its north pole uppermost and one with its south pole uppermost, and closing or substantially closing the compartments by securing a bridging piece to the housing, the bridging piece forming a magnetic bridge between said north and south poles.

A preferred magnet holder of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a magnet holderfora coin mechanism; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the holder of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the holder of Figure 1 viewed in the direction of arrow A; and Figure 4 is a cross-section through the housing for the magnets shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a magnet holder for a coin mechanism comprising a supporting frame 1 which preferably is a high pressure diecasting of a zinc based alloy but other suitable materials could be used. This frame is provided with two hinge pins 2, 3 integrally formed therewith for receiving a hinge pin (not shown) by means of which the frame may be pivotally attached to the rest of the coin mechanism (not shown). The frame 1 may be any convenient shape to suit the mechanism to which it is to be fitted, The illustrated holder also includes a housing 4 which receives and locates therein two separate magnet parts 5a and 5b.

Preferably each magnet part is made of a ceramic material such as that marketed under the Trade Name "FERROBA 3" but other materials could be used.

As can be seen more clearly from Figure 4, the magnet housing 4 is provided with an integral floor 6 but this could be a separate part if desired suitably attached to the housing. Desirably, the floor 6 covers the whole of the bottom of the housing 4 but this is not essential as it may have apertures therein.

The housing 4 also includes a central wail 7 dividing it into two separate compartments 8a, 8b which receive the magnet halves 5a, 5b therein.

The wall 7 is provided at its upper end with an upstanding pin 9 thereon which fits into a hole 10 in a mild steel cover or bridging piece 11 thereby locating the bridging. piece on the housing 4. The free end of the pin 9 is then peened over to retain the bridging piece on the housing 4 as is best shown in Figure 4.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the construction of the magnet housing must be such that the central wall 7 is able to keep the two magnet halves 5a and 5b apart from each other during assembly until such time as the bridging piece or cover 11 is placed thereon to provide the magnetic bridge therebetween. In some circumstances, it may be possible to use a separate central wall 7 which acts as a distance piece to keep the magnet halves -apart until the bridging piece 11 can be fixed thereto.

With the illustrated arrangement, it has been found that a magnet is provided which is not only more powerful than the previously used one piece horseshoe magnets but it can be produced at onethird the cost.

Instead of using the bridging piece 11 as the cover for the magnet holder, the magnet halves 5a and 5b can be recessed into their compartments 8a, 8b so that when the bridging piece is mounted thereon, it lies flush with the upper edge of the housing. A removable cover, for instance of a plastics material, may then be snap-fitted thereon.

Claims

1. A permanent magnet arrangement comprising a housing divided into two compartments, each compartment having a closed or partially closed base region and an open top, each compartment containing a magnet, the north pole of one magnet being adjacent said base region and the south pole of the other magnet being adjacent the base region, the compartments being closed or substantially closed at their top by a bridging piece which retains the magnets in the compartments and at the same time magnetically bridges the south and north poles of the magnets adjacent the top of the compartments.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridging piece is a mild steel plate.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the compartments are separated by a partition integral with the housing.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the partition has an upstanding pin, which extends through or into a hole or recess in the bridging piece and which serves for positionally locating the bridging piece.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pin is peened over so as to retain the bridging piece on the housing.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing is formed integrally with a supporting frame.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing and supporting frame are diecast from a zinc based alloy.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, and forming part of a coin receiving mechanism.

9. A method of assembling a magnet holder for a coin receiving mechanism, comprising providing a housing structure having two separate compartments each with a substantially closed bottom and an open top, placing a permanent magnet into each compartment, one magnet with its north pole uppermost and one with its south pole uppermost, and closing or substantially closing the compartments by securing a bridging piece to the housing, the bridging piece forming a magnetic bridge between said north and south poles.

10. A permanent magnet arrangement constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.