GB2142613A

GB2142613A - Improvements in coin dispensing devices

Info

Publication number: GB2142613A
Application number: GB08412946A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glenn Harold Boudville
Original assignee: Ainsworth Nominees Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ainsworth Nominees Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1983-05-24
Filing date: 1984-05-21
Publication date: 1985-01-23
Also published as: GB8412946D0; FR2546647A1; JPH0648507B2; NL185107B; ES8503151A1; FR2546647B1; NL8401640A; JPS605390A; GB2142613B; ES532721A0; DE3419269C2; AU2854184A; ZA843823B; AU556594B2; NL185107C; DE3419269A1

Abstract

A bowl (10) for a disc type coin dispensing apparatus has at least one transverse resiliently mounted baffle (12 or 13), made of a resilient material thereby permitting local resilient deformation of the baffle (12 or 13) which greatly enhances the prevention of coin jams in the bowl (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in coin dispensing devices The present invention relates to coin dispensing devices of the disc type. Such devices are used for dispensing coins in a variety of coin handling machines and in particular in poker machines (also known as slot machines or fruit machines) and in the trade in such machines these devices are known as hoppers.

Coin dispensing devices of the disc type consist of a disc driven by an electric motor and arranged to rotate in the bottom of an inclined bowl. Circumferentially spaced on the surface of the disc are small pegs arranged to entrain a coin lying flat against the face of the disc between a pair of adjacent pegs and carry the coins around to a tangentially arranged runner along which the coins are caused to leave the device. Concentric with the coin driving disc is a smaller disc called a spigot which is arranged to lie against the surface of the disc and which is of a thickness equal to or slightly less than the thickness of a coin with which the dispensing device is intended to operate. By reason of the limited thickness of the spigot the disc will pick up one layer of coins only allowing any second layer to fall back into the bowl.The disc is fed by a mass of coins lying in the bowl and urged by gravity towards the disc.

Such a coin dispensing device is referred to hereinafter as a coin dispensing device of the kind set forth.

Attached to the hopper is a large capacity storage bowl having a sloping bottom along which coins are urged by gravity towards the hopper. The control of coins in the area of the hopper presents difficulties in that unless the flow of coins to the working area is controlled jambs inevitably occur.

To control the flow of coins to the hopper it is the usual practice to provide baffles across the bowl, one or more baffles being used according to the size of the bowl. A space is left between the lower edge of each baffle and the bottom of the bowl to allow the passage of coins under the baffle, while holding back the coins higher up. The space between the lower edge of the baffle and the bottom of the bowl requires careful choice in orderto ensure that coins are held back but are not completely blocked from movement by an unfavourable random configuration of coins when coins downstream of the baffle have moved away from it. The spacing between the lower edge of the baffle and the bowl is normally determined empirically and depends to some extent on the size of the coins being dispensed.

In order to make baffles more effective it has been proposed to mount them movably. This allows the space between the lower edge of the baffle and the bowl to be smaller, as the movement of the baffle tends to break up any bridge of coins.

It has now been found that the effect of a baffle can be greatly enhanced by not only mounting each baffle so as to be movable but by making the baffle of a resilient material such as sheet nylon. In an experimental machine baffles were made from GP polystyrene sheet 1.56 mm thick. The sheet had a flexural modulus of 380 at 730F and hardness of Rockwell M70 This material was found to work effectively with the coins of all current sizes.

The present invention thus consists in a bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus, having extending across it one or more baffles to control the movement of coins along the bowl, the lower edge of each baffle being spaced from the bottom of the bowl, characterised in that each baffle is mounted at its upper edge by means permitting a limited degree of resilient movement of the baffle as a whole and in that the baffle itself is made of a resilient material permitting local resilient deformation of the baffle.

In order that the invention may be better understood a preferred form thereof is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a coin storage bowl affixed to the hopper of a coin dispensing apparatus.

The bowl 10 is of conventional construction of sheet metal or plastic and is arranged so that the slope of the bottom is downward at an angle of the order of 30 to the horizontal so that coins in the bowl are urged by gravity towards the hopper 11 of the coin dispenser.

Extending across the bowl 10 are two baffles 12 and 13 of similar construction. Each baffle is supported by an angle member 14 extending across the bowl and fixed at each end to it. In the angle member 14 and the baffle are large diameter holes through which pins 15 pass. Each pin 15 has a large head which rests against the baffle to hold it in position and is surrounded by a coil spring 16 which is held in position by a cir clip 17. The coil spring 16 are maintained in compression thus inhibiting rocking motion of the baffle.

Each of the baffles 12 and 13 is made of a flexibly resilient material such as sheet polystyrene or nylon and has its lower edge spaced from the bowl at a distance appropriate to the particular type of coin which is being dispensed from the dispenser. The present invention thus consists in a bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus, having extending across it one or more baffles to control the movement of coins along the bowl, the lower edge of each baffle being spaced from the bottom of the bowl, characterised in that each baffle is mounted at its upper edge by means permitting a limited degree of resilient movement of the baffle as a whole and in that the baffle itself is made of a resilient material permitting local resilient deformation of the baffle.

Extensive experimental work has shown that by making the baffles from resilient material, coins pushing upstream do not have to flex the whole baffle, which is carrying the weight of a mass of coins. Instead pressure at one point can flex the baffle locally and compress the coins on the other side sufficiently to relieve a jamb.

The embodiment of the invention described above is given by way of example only as constituting the preferred form of the invention as defined broadly above.

1. A bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus, hav

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in coin dispensing devices The present invention relates to coin dispensing devices of the disc type. Such devices are used for dispensing coins in a variety of coin handling machines and in particular in poker machines (also known as slot machines or fruit machines) and in the trade in such machines these devices are known as hoppers. Coin dispensing devices of the disc type consist of a disc driven by an electric motor and arranged to rotate in the bottom of an inclined bowl. Circumferentially spaced on the surface of the disc are small pegs arranged to entrain a coin lying flat against the face of the disc between a pair of adjacent pegs and carry the coins around to a tangentially arranged runner along which the coins are caused to leave the device. Concentric with the coin driving disc is a smaller disc called a spigot which is arranged to lie against the surface of the disc and which is of a thickness equal to or slightly less than the thickness of a coin with which the dispensing device is intended to operate. By reason of the limited thickness of the spigot the disc will pick up one layer of coins only allowing any second layer to fall back into the bowl.The disc is fed by a mass of coins lying in the bowl and urged by gravity towards the disc. Such a coin dispensing device is referred to hereinafter as a coin dispensing device of the kind set forth. Attached to the hopper is a large capacity storage bowl having a sloping bottom along which coins are urged by gravity towards the hopper. The control of coins in the area of the hopper presents difficulties in that unless the flow of coins to the working area is controlled jambs inevitably occur. To control the flow of coins to the hopper it is the usual practice to provide baffles across the bowl, one or more baffles being used according to the size of the bowl. A space is left between the lower edge of each baffle and the bottom of the bowl to allow the passage of coins under the baffle, while holding back the coins higher up. The space between the lower edge of the baffle and the bottom of the bowl requires careful choice in orderto ensure that coins are held back but are not completely blocked from movement by an unfavourable random configuration of coins when coins downstream of the baffle have moved away from it. The spacing between the lower edge of the baffle and the bowl is normally determined empirically and depends to some extent on the size of the coins being dispensed. In order to make baffles more effective it has been proposed to mount them movably. This allows the space between the lower edge of the baffle and the bowl to be smaller, as the movement of the baffle tends to break up any bridge of coins. It has now been found that the effect of a baffle can be greatly enhanced by not only mounting each baffle so as to be movable but by making the baffle of a resilient material such as sheet nylon. In an experimental machine baffles were made from GP polystyrene sheet 1.56 mm thick. The sheet had a flexural modulus of 380 at 730F and hardness of Rockwell M70 This material was found to work effectively with the coins of all current sizes. The present invention thus consists in a bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus, having extending across it one or more baffles to control the movement of coins along the bowl, the lower edge of each baffle being spaced from the bottom of the bowl, characterised in that each baffle is mounted at its upper edge by means permitting a limited degree of resilient movement of the baffle as a whole and in that the baffle itself is made of a resilient material permitting local resilient deformation of the baffle. In order that the invention may be better understood a preferred form thereof is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a coin storage bowl affixed to the hopper of a coin dispensing apparatus. The bowl 10 is of conventional construction of sheet metal or plastic and is arranged so that the slope of the bottom is downward at an angle of the order of 30 to the horizontal so that coins in the bowl are urged by gravity towards the hopper 11 of the coin dispenser. Extending across the bowl 10 are two baffles 12 and 13 of similar construction. Each baffle is supported by an angle member 14 extending across the bowl and fixed at each end to it. In the angle member 14 and the baffle are large diameter holes through which pins 15 pass. Each pin 15 has a large head which rests against the baffle to hold it in position and is surrounded by a coil spring 16 which is held in position by a cir clip 17. The coil spring 16 are maintained in compression thus inhibiting rocking motion of the baffle. Each of the baffles 12 and 13 is made of a flexibly resilient material such as sheet polystyrene or nylon and has its lower edge spaced from the bowl at a distance appropriate to the particular type of coin which is being dispensed from the dispenser. The present invention thus consists in a bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus, having extending across it one or more baffles to control the movement of coins along the bowl, the lower edge of each baffle being spaced from the bottom of the bowl, characterised in that each baffle is mounted at its upper edge by means permitting a limited degree of resilient movement of the baffle as a whole and in that the baffle itself is made of a resilient material permitting local resilient deformation of the baffle. Extensive experimental work has shown that by making the baffles from resilient material, coins pushing upstream do not have to flex the whole baffle, which is carrying the weight of a mass of coins. Instead pressure at one point can flex the baffle locally and compress the coins on the other side sufficiently to relieve a jamb. The embodiment of the invention described above is given by way of example only as constituting the preferred form of the invention as defined broadly above. CLAIMS

1. A bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus, hav ing extending across it one or more baffles to control the movement of coins along the bowl, the lower edge of each baffle being spaced from the bottom of the bowl, characterised in that each baffle is mounted at its upper edge by means permitting a limited degree of resilient movement of the baffle as a whole and in that the baffle itself is made of a resilient material permitting local resilient deformation of the baffle.

2. A bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper edge of each baffle is mounted by means of a rigid member extending across the bowl to which the upper edge of the baffle is secured by means of pins passing through the baffle and coil springs permitting limited movement of the upper edge of the baffle under resilient control.

3. A bowl for a coin dispensing apparatus having extending across it one or more baffles to control the movement of coins along the bowl as substantially described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.