GB2231993A - Coin feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Coin feeding apparatus comprising a control member 3 which is movable between a position which allows entry (Figure 4B) and one which prevents entry (Figure 4D). Entry is prevented if the immediately preceding coin has not passed a predetermined distance along its path, by the control member urging the immediately preceding coin 23 against a wall 22 of the apparatus. A gauge member 4 may be provided downstream of the entrance, the gauge member being nearly movable such that an aperture (21, Fig 3A) in the member 4 becomes positioned such that a blocked preceding coin is released. The control member is a rocker arm which is biased to the preventing entry position because of the heavy head end 6, adjustment means 8 being provided for fine position of the preventing entry position. The gauge member 4 is preferably U shaped, one leg (9, Fig 1) of the member 4 closing the input slot 2 when the aperture allows release of the preceding coin. <IMAGE>

Description

Coin Feeding Apparatus The invention relates to coin feeding apparatus and in particular coin input mechanisms for coin operated token dispensers and vending machines.

Coin operated token dispensers are used to purchase various services and are used by utilities such as Electricity Boards and Gas Boards. Coins are inserted into the dispenser which issues tokens enabling the purchaser to obtain services or products to the value of the tokens purchased. The use of counterfeit coins is a major problem which results in loss of revenue to the board concerned. A further problem is jamming of the mechanism either by attempts at fraudulent mis-use or legitimate mis-use, for example, the condition known as "coin streaming" which simply means feeding legitimate coins faster than the machine can accept them. A particularly serious problem of fraudulent mis-use is the simulation of genuine currency, for example, two coins attached to each other may simulate a coin of a higher denomination than the sum of the two coins.

Consequently, where this is possible the insertion of hybrid coin can purchase services worth more than the value of the coins with consequent loss to the service board concerned. The genuine coin may be slightly less in diameter than the hybrid coin and gauging this difference is a possible solution. Thus the input slot could be made to very tight tolerances which would prevent the passage of the larger coin. However, this merely alerts the would be fraudulent user who can defeat the system by forming small local flats on the coin or by enlarging the input slot. Moreover, tighter manufacturing tolerances results in hicher engineering costs.

Apparatus for preventing "coin streaming" is disclosed in British Patent No 319,035. This patent describes a rocking arm which spaces the coins by stopping succeeding coins after they have been fed into the apparatus and when they are within a predetermined distance of a preceding coin. However, this apparatus is not capable of positively holding a coin in the apparatus.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, coin feeding apparatus comprises an entrance through which coins are fed individually; a control member downstream of the entrance and movable between a first position in which it prevents coins being fed through the entrance and a second position in which a coin may be fed through the entrance, such that if an immediately preceding coin which has been fed through the entrance is less than a predetermined distance downstream of the entrance the member is prevented from moving to the second position by the member urging the immediately preceding coin against a wall of the apparatus.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method of feeding coins comprises individually feeding coins through an entrance of a coin feeding apparatus and preventing a coin being fed through the entrance if an immediately preceding coin which has been fed through the entrance is less than a predetermined distance downstream of the entrance by urging the immediately preceding coin against a wall of the apparatus.

By having a control member to block the entrance and which can not be mcved to insert a coin when a preceding coin is less than a predetermined distance away from the coin entrance by urging the coin against a wall of the apparatus avoids the problem of "coin streaming". This also enables a transaction to be terminated if a coin does not pass the control member.

Typically, the control member urges the immediately preceding coin against a floor of a coin chute feeding the coin from the entrance, and preferably the coin is urged by the control member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of feed of the coin by the action of a user attempting to insert a subsequent coin.

Preferably, the apparatus also comprises a gauge member downstream of the entrance which prevents fraudulent coins being fed through the apparatus.

Typically, a fraudulent coin stopped by the gauge member may be released by a mechanism which also blocks the entrance with a shutter.

In the preferred embodiment the gauge member defines an aperture and is downstream of both the entrance and the pivotable member and the gauge member is linearly movable to release a fraudulent coin by moving the aperture into the path of the fraudulent coin.

Typically, a fraudulent coin is released by the operation of a release button mounted externally on the apparatus by a user.

In the preferred embodiment the shutter is connected te the gauge member so that linear movement of the gauge member to release a fraudulent coin automatically and simultaneously closes the shutter to block the entrance.

In the preferred embodiment the control member is biased towards the first position. Typically, the control member is mounted for pivotal movement, the centre of gravity of the pivotable member being such that the pivotable member is biased into the first position.

In the preferred embodiment adjustment means is provided for fine adJustment of the first position of the control member.

In the preferred embodiment, the pivotable member comprises two arms and is pivoted so that in the first position one arm blocks the entrance and is prevented from moving to the second position by an immediately preceding coin which prevents movement of the second arm.

Typically, the coin feeding apparatus forms a coin input mechanism for a token dispensing machine.

An example of coin feeding apparatus according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with the shutter in a closed position; Figure 2 is a diagram showing the shutter and the gauge; Figures 3A and 3B show the shutter and the gauge in a closed and open position, respectively; and, Figures 4A to 4E illustrate the operation of the apparatus.

Figure 1 shows a coin input mechanism 1 for a token dispensing machine. The coin input mechanism comprises a coin input slot 2 (see Figure 4C), a rocker arm 3 and a gate 4. The rocker arm 3 is pivotable on an axle 5 which is mounted in a coin chute 10. The gate 4 forms one leg of a "U" shaped member 12, the other leg forming a shutter 9 which may be used to close the input slot 2.

The portion of the member 12 forming the gauging gate 4 moves in a slot 13 formed in the coin chute 10 and a suitable mechanism (not shown) is provided to linearly move the member 12 in the directions shown by the arrow 20. The member 12 is shown in more detail in Figure 2 where it can be seen that the leg of the member 12 which forms the shutter 9 is shorter than the other leg which forms the gate 4. The gate 4 defines an aperture 21 and a gauge section 24.

The movement of the member 12 in relation to the input slot 2 and the coin chute 10 is illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 3A shows the member 12 in a closed position in which the shutter 9 of the member 12 closes the input slot 2 (shown in phantom) and the aperture 21 in the gate 4 coincides with the coin chute 10 to give a clearance height h2 between the bottom 22 of the coin chute 10 and the gate 4. This position corresponds to the position of the member 12 as illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3B illustrates the position of the shutter 9 and the gate 4 when the member 12 is in the open position. In this position the shutter 9 does not cover the input slot 2 and the gauge section 24 of the gate 4 coincides with the coin chute 10, so that there is a gauging height h1 between the bottom of the coin chute 10 and the gate 4.This height h1 corresponds to the diameter of a valid coin.

In use, a coin 1' is inserted into the input slot 2 of the input mechanism 1, as shown in Figure 4A. The edge of the coin 11 presses against a head end 6 of the rocker arm 3 and pivots the rocker arm 3 about the pivot ale 5, as shown in Figure 4B. This causes a tail end 7 of the rocker arm 3 to move downwards as the head end 6 moves upwards. The head end 6 of the rocker arm 3 is heavier than the tail end 7 so that the head end 6 is biased by the forces of gravity to a down position where it constricts the input slot 2 as shown in Figure 4A.

The "down position" of the head end 6 of the rocker arm 3 can be set to a predetermined height by adjusting an adjustable stop 8 which limits the upward movement of the tail end 7 of the rocker arm 3.

After the coin has displaced the head end 6 upwards the coin enters the coin chute 10 and rolls towards the gate 4, as shown in Figure 4C. If the coin 11 is a valid coin then it is able to move between the floor 22 of the coin chute iO and the gauge section 24 of the gate 4 and the coin 11 drops into a coin validator for further testIng. When this occurs the rocker arm 3 returns to its initial position as shown in Figure 4A.

However, if a coin 23 with a diameter larger than a valid coin 11 is inserted into the input slot 2, then the coin 23 is stopped by the gauge section 24 of the gate 4, as shown in Figure 4D. When the coin 23 is stopped by the gate 4 the tail end 7 of the rocker arm 3 is prevented from moving downwards by the coin 23. Hence, the head end 6 of the rocker arm 3 can not be displaced upwards. Hence, a second coin 25 can not be inserted into the mechanism, as the head end 6 of the rocker arm 3 blocks the input slot 2.

This situation can only be corrected by a user abandoning attempts to enter another coin and pressing a control button (not shown) to terminate the transaction.

In response to this, the mechanism (not shown) moves the member 12 from the open position (see Figure 3B) to the closed position (see Figure 3A), as shown in Figure 4E.

Hence, the shutter 9 closes the input slot 2 and the aperture 21 of the gate 4 moves into the slot 13 enabling the invalid coin to be released into the coin validator where it is ejected back to the user. As the input slot 2 is now closed by the shutter 9 no further coins can be inserted until a new transaction is initiated.

The apparatus and mechanism also overcomes the problems of coin streaming" of correctl sized coins as a second coin can not be inserted through the input slot 2 until the first coin has passed the tail end 7 of the rocker arm 3 and the gauging section of the gate 4. This is because the head end 6 of the rocker arm 3 is prevented from being displaced upwards by a second coin as long as the tail end 7 is pressing the previous coin against the floor section 22 of the coìn chute 10.

Therefore, the jamming of legitimate coins in the coin chute 1C or the ccin validatcr due to "streaming" is prevented.

It should be noted that the dimensions of the rocker arm 3 are such that when the tail end 7 of the rocker arm 3 presses the coin against the floor section 22 the reaction force produced is normal to the floor section 22.

Claims (13)

1. Coin feeding apparatus comprising an entrance through which coins are fed individually; a control member downstream of the entrance and movable between a first position in which it prevents coins being fed through the entrance and a second position in which a coin may be fed through the entrance, such that if an immediately preceding coin which has been fed through the entrance is less than a predetermined distance downstream of the entrance the member is prevented from moving to the second position by the member urging the immediately preceding coin against a wall of the apparatus.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a gauge member downstream of the entrance which prevents fraudulent coins being fed through the apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a mechanism by which a fraudulent coin stopped by the gauge member may be released which also blocks the entrance with a shutter.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claims in which the gauge member defines an aperture and is downstream of both the entrance and the pivotable member and is linearly movable to release a fraudulent coin by moving the aperture into the path of the fraudulent coin.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control member is biased towards the first position.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control member is mounted for pivotal movement, the centre of gravity of the pivotable member being such that the pivotable member is biased into the first position.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which adjustment means are provided for fine adjustment of the first position of the control member.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the pivotable member comprises two arms and is pivoted so that in the first position one arn! blocks the entrance and is prevented frc'r Iscvinrj to tie second position by an immediately preceding coin which prevents movement of the second arm.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the coin feeding apparatus forms a coin input mechanism for a token dispensing machine.

10. A method of feeding coins comprising individually feeding coins through an entrance of a coin feeding apparatus and preventing a coin being fed through the entrance if an immediately preceding coin which has been fed through the entrance is less than a predetermined distance downstream of the entrance by urging the immediately preceding coin against a wall of the apparatus.

11. A method according to claim 10 in which the control member urges the immediately preceding coin against a floor of a coin chute feeding the coin from the entrance.

12. A method according to claim 10 in which the coin is urged by the control member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of feed of the coin by the action of a user attempting to insert a subsequent coin.

13. A method according te any preceding claim in which a fraudulent coin is released by the operation by the user of a release button is mounted externally on the apparatus.