GB2241812A

GB2241812A - Coin store

Info

Publication number: GB2241812A
Application number: GB9102631A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Manuel Vasconcelos
Original assignee: Landis and Gyr Betriebs AG
Current assignee: Electrowatt Technology Innovation AG
Priority date: 1990-03-08
Filing date: 1991-02-07
Publication date: 1991-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-07
Also published as: DE4038924A1; FR2659467B1; GB2241812B; CH680955A5; FR2659467A1; GB9102631D0; DE4038924C2

Abstract

A coin store for use in automatic service units is equipped with a stationary circular coin magazine 1 and a rotatable cylindrical coin switch 2. A first inserted coin 4 is passed from a V-shaped obliquely downwardly extending insertion channel 7 into the open top of a first of a plurality of slots 3 which are disposed radially and at regular intervals over the coin magazine 1. Upon the insertion of a second coin 4, the coin switch 2 is rotated through one graduation in a first direction and the second coin 4 is passed into a second slot 3. A delivery slot (8, Figures 2-4) is offset one graduation in the second direction, a coin 4 rolling on an oblique surface 5 through the delivery slot and dropping onto a V-shaped delivery channel 6 which is part of the magazine. Such a coin store operates quickly since the moving mass is small. The store is preferably produced as two injection moulded parts. A delivery slot may be provided to align with each slot 3 (figure 4), each slot 3 having a slider (11, Figure 4) associated therewith, an electromagnet moving the slider to an open position and thus releasing the coin from the slot 3. The slots may accept coins of the same or different values, the coin store being fed for example with coins from 2 coin operated telephone and used as an interim store. <IMAGE>

Description

2:;->-Q X cl X -- COIN STORE 1 The invention relates to a coin store and

in particular to a store of the type comprising a horizontally disposed circular coin magazine having a series of radially disposed open-topped slots at predetermined intervals to receive vertically situated coins, a feed channel and a delivery channel.

A coin store of such type is known from DE-A-1 574 177. In the case of that coin store, a circular coin magazine is disposed to rotate about a vertical axis. A series of slots to receive vertically disposed coins of the same value are disposed on the top of the coin magazine radially and at regular intervals. The feed and delivery channels and a transfer channel are rigidly disposed. The coin magazine must be rotated by means of a motor into an appropriate position to receive or discharge coins. Electrically actuated sliders control the input and output of coins.

A further coin store is known from DE-A-3 917 551, which serves as a temporary money holder, for example for coin telephone apparatuses. Where this coin store is concerned, there is likewise rotatable about a vertical axis a circular coin magazine to receive upright coins of different values. A motor and an electrically actuated slide valve control the coin store.

The invention is based on the problem of providing a coin store which operates quickly, can be actuated with minimal energy expenditure and which can be constructed easily and thus inexpensively.

The present invention is characterised in that the coin magazine is fixed and in that a cylindrical coin switch is disposed at the centre of the coin magazine and provides the feed channel, the coin switch being rotatable so that a coin in the feed channel can be directed to a free slot in the coin magazine.

Two specific embodiments of the Invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a coin store, Figure 2 is a plan view of the coin store, Figure 3 is a detail of the coin store, and Figure 4 shows an alternative coin store.

In Figures 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes the fixed coin magazine and 2 denotes a rotatable coin switch. Radially and at regular distances over the top of the coin magazine 1, which is of circular construction and which is horizontally disposed, there are eighteen slots 3 to receive vertically disposed coins 4. The slots 3 are upwardly and laterally inwardly open and are at the bottom occluded by an obliquely inwardly directed surface 5. The upwardly directed opening of the slots 3 serves as an inlet for receiving a coin 4 and the inwardly directed aperture serves as an outlet. teneath the coin magazine 1 there is a fixed delivery channel 6 which is directed obliquely downwardly and which is of V-shaped cross-section. The coin switch is constructed as a cylindrical hollow body which is disposed coaxially in the centre of the coin store 1. On the upwardly directed end of the coin switch 2 there is a cross-sectionally V-shaped obliquely downwardly leading feed channel 7. Staggered by one graduation in an anticlockwise direction there is, on the periphery of the cylinder, a delivery slot 8. The coin switch 2 can be rotated by a motor (not shown) stepwise by one graduation forwardly (i.e. in an anticlockwise direction) or rearwardly (i.e. in a clockwise direction). The coin magazine 1 is intended to accommodate coins of a plurality of values.

To clarify the function of the coin store, the premise adopted will be that of an empty coin magazine 1. The feed channel 7 is directed at a first slot 3. A first coin 4 which is for example issued by a coin testing device (not shown) drops onto the feed channel 7. In the feed channel 7, the coin 4 rolls downwardly and drops into the first slot 3. The coin 4 rolls inwardly on the oblique surface 5 where is comes up against the cylindrical side wall of the coin switch 2. Before a second coin 4 is supplied, the coin switch 2, driven by the motor, moves forwards by one step so that the feed channel 7 is directed at the next, second slot 3. The second coin 4 is therefore f ed to the second slot 3. Since the coin switch 2 is rotatable, whereas the coin testing arrangement is fixed, the coins 4 encounter the feed channel 2 from different angles. The coins 4, which strike the feed channel 7 transversely, are reliably rotated into the direction provided for the feed channel 7.

If it is intended to deliver a coin 4, then the motor rotates the coin switch 2 backwards by one graduation. The delivery slot 8 ; 1 i i. ' m - 3 releases a coin 4. This rolls on the oblique surface 5 outwards through the delivery slot 8 and drops onto the delivery channel 6. The delivery channel 6 conveys the coin 4 for example to an arrangement which feeds the coin 4 either to a cash box or to a delivery tray.

Since both the coin magazine 1 and also the delivery channel 6 are rigidly disposed, the coins 4 meet the delivery channel 6 at different angles. The coins 4 are directed by its V-shaped construction. Also coins 4 which strike the delivery channel 6 transversely are reliably rotated into the direction of the delivery channel 6.

The coin store is preceded by an arrangement which, when the coin magazine 1 is full (i.e. when seventeen coins 4 have been deposited in the coin magazine 1), prevents the feed of further coins 4 and passes these coins 4 for instance directly to the delivery tray.

If the coin magazine 1 is intended for coins of only one value, then it is possible to dispense with such a preceding arrangement. In this case, if an eighteenth coin 4 is supplied, then the coin switch 2 rotates one step further in the forwards direction so that the feed channel 7 points at the eighteenth slot 3. The delivery slot 8 which is offset by one graduation is opposite the first coin 4 which was placed into the apparatus. This coin drops through the delivery slot 8 onto the delivery channel 6. With a full coin magazine 1, therefore, a previously inserted coin 4 is delivered for every coin 4 which is inserted.

The coin store described may also be constructed with more or less than eighteen slots 3. The capacity to accommodate coins 4 will be increased or decreased accordingly.

Both the coin switch 2 and also the coin magazine 1 together with the delivery channel 6 are advantageously produced as integral injection-moulded synthetic plastics components.

Such a coin store is easily produced with only two injection moulded parts and is therefore favourably costed. By virtue of the fact that the coin switch 2 is moved and not the coin magazine 1, the mass and thus the moment of inertia are minimised. This is further assisted in that the coin switch 2 is made of synthetic plastics material and is constructed as a hollow body. The coin switch 2 can therefore be actuated with minimal exertion of energy. This is of i great significance when little energy is available, for example in the case of coin-operated telephones which are fed from the telephone loop. Despite the low energy requirement, the coin store reacts rapidly. It takes only a little time for the coin switch 2 to be moved through one graduation. Since only a few movable parts are present, it is functionally reliable and the maintenance costs are correspondingly low.

It would be possible for the coin magazine 1 to be rotatable and for the coin switch 2 to be fixed. The disadvantage with such a solution lies in the fact that the moving mass and thus the moment of inertia are considerable. Furthermore. the mass is of different magnitudes according to whether the coin magazine 1 is empty or full.

Figure 4 shows a coin magazine 9 which is constructed in the same way as the coin magazine 1 (Figure 1). A coin switch 10 differs from the coin switch 2 in that there are the same number of delivery slots 8 as there are slots 3. At each slot 3, there is provided a slider 11 which occludes the inside of the slot 3. Associated with each slider 11 is an electromagnet (not shown) by which the slider 11 can be moved into an open position. The storage of coins 4 functions in the same way as described with reference to Figure 1. If it is desired to deliver a coin 4, the slider 11 is retracted by its associated electromagnet and thus releases the coin 4. The coin 4 rolls through the delivery slot 8 and drops down onto the delivery channel 6 (Figure l).

The bottom cylindrical part of the coin switch may be omitted, in which case the delivery slots 8 are unnecessary.

Where the arrangement shown in Figure 4 is concerned, it is possible to store as many coins 4 as desired and as there are slots 3. By virtue of the fact that all the sliders 11 can be actuated simultaneously or quickly one after another, it is possible for the coin magazine 1 to be emptied rapidly.

Such a coin store is particularly suitable for storing coins 4 of different values. The value of inserted coins 4 is ascertained by a coin testing apparatus. In a data store in the control arrangement which is downstream of the coin testing apparatus, both the value of the coin 4 and also the position of the slot 3 into which the coin 4 has been placed, is stored. Coins 4 will then be delivered according i i 1 1 1 to their values.

The coin stores described can be used as interim stores for automatic service layouts, for example coin-operated telephone appliances. Inserted coins 4 arrive and are stored in the coin magazine 2. According to the way the telephone conversation takes place, so the coins 4 are delivered to the delivery channel 6 whence a downstream arrangement feeds the coins 4 to a cash box. Upon completion of the telephone conversation, any remaining coins 4 are fed by the arrangement to a delivery tray from which they can be removed.

In this specification, the term "coin" is not restricted in meaning to coins of the realm, and includes tokens, etc.

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Claims

1 - A coin store comprising a horizontally disposed circular coin magazine having a series of radially disposed open-topped slots at predetermined intervals to receive vertically situated coins, a feed channel and a delivery channel, characterised in that the coin magazine is fixed and in that a cylindrical coin switch is disposed at the centre of the coin magazine and provides the feed channel, the coin switch being rotatable so that a coin in the feed channel can be directed to a free slot in the coin magazine.

2. A coin store according to claim 1, characterised in that the slots are laterally open towards the centre of the magazine and have an oblique inwardly-directed lower surface.

3. A coin store according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the feed channel is disposed on the upper end face of the coin switch, is of crosssectionally V-shaped construction and leads obliquely downwardly.

4. A coin store according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the delivery channel is rigidly disposed beneath the coin magazine, leads obliquely downwardly and has a V-shaped crosssection.

5. A coin store according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the slots are regularly spaced, in that the coin switch can, upon the input of coins, be rotated in a first direction and in that there is on the periphery of the coin switch a delivery slot which in the first direction is offset by one slot spacing with respect to the feed channel and in that, upon the delivery of coins, the coin switch can be rotated stepwisely in a second direction.

6. A coin store according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that there is, for each slot, a slider which occludes the inside of the slot and in that each slider can be moved into an open position by a respective electromagnet.

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7. A coin store according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the coin switch is a one-piece injection moulded part.

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8. A coin store according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the coin magazine, together with the delivery channel, is a onepiece injection moulded part.

9. A coin store substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

Published 3991 at The Patent Office. Concept House. Cardifr Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I PH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. ewmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 714L Printed by Muluplex techniques ltd. St Mary CrEky. Kent.