GB2265244A - Coin operated article dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

In a coin operated article dispenser, a coin validation mechanism, Fig 3, comprises a pad 27 of high friction material within a coin chute 5 and a leaf spring 28 projecting into the coin chute 5 below the pad 27 to catch unwanted coins which have been retarded by the pad 27. Acceptable coins 21, Fig 2 of large enough diameter are caught in a slot 22 of a slider 9 so that when the slider is withdrawn by handle 8 it carries with it a drawer 11 which receives cigars 13 and change 15 in recesses 12, 14 respectively. When the slide is fully extended coin 21 drops through slot 24 into chamber 25. <IMAGE>

Description

A COIN OPERATED ARTICLE DISPENSER The present invention relates to a coin operated article dispenser in which the depositing of a coin in a slot in the dispenser releases the mechanism to allow a desired number of articles to be dispensed. If such a dispenser is to be used mounted on a wall, counter or bar to dispense cheap articles such as individual cigars, it is desirable to make the dispenser as simple and cheap as possible. In our co-pending application, PCT/GB 92/02367 a mechanism for releasing a dispensing drawer is disclosed.

The present invention solves the problem of how to provide a simple coin validation mechanism.

According to the present invention a coin operated article dispenser comprises a housing which contains a store of the articles, a coin chute for a designated denomination of coin, a dispensing means for dispensing a desired number of articles, a mechanism for releasing the dispensing means and which is activated by the designated denomination of coin, wherein a pad of material is fixed to the wall of the coin chute and presents a higher coefficient of friction to an object in the coin chute than the walls of the chute do, and wherein a resilient member projects partially into the chute below the pad to catch objects of lower mass than the designated denomination of coin which have been retarded by the pad.

This provides a simple mechanism which will prevent objects, having the same dimensions as the designated denominations of coin but having a lower mass from activating the releasing mechanism. Thus, for example, if the designated coin is a 50 pence piece, a 10 pence piece to which foil has been attached will not have sufficient mass to pass the resilient member.

Preferably the resilient member is a leaf spring.

The dimensions of the coin chute may be that there are just sufficient to allow the designated denomination of coin to pass therethrough. Therefore, a coin having a larger diameter or a larger thickness will be prevented from entering the slot.

Preferably, the mechanism for releasing the dispensing means includes a slot for trapping the designated denomination of coin which is sized so that a coin of smaller diameter will pass through the mechanism without releasing the dispensing means. Such a mechanism is disclosed in our co-pending PCT/GB 92/02367.

An example of cigar dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2 is a sectional side view; and, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the coin validation mechanism.

The dispenser has a housing 3 which may be mounted on a bar counter, for example by means of a clamp mechanism, so as to be capable of being supervised by a barman but operated by a customer. The housing has a coin insertion slot 4 leading to a coin chute 5, which incorporates a coin validation mechanism described below from which rejected coins are discharged through a slot 6. In the front of the housing 3 is window 7 through which there projects a handle 8 of a slider 9. The slider 9 rests on a fixed base plate 10 and supports a drawer 11 which is freely slidable on the slider 9. The drawer has in its upper face an elongate recess 12 to accommodate a single cigar 13 and a lateral row of recesses 14 to receive individual coins 15.

The housing incorporates a magazine 16 for a store 17 of cigars. The magazine is formed between a coin storage unit 18 and a front plate 19. The unit 18 incorporates a lateral array of tubular holders for stacks 20 of coins of different denominations, the individual holders being aligned with the recesses 14 in the drawer 11, when it is fully retracted. The plate 19 is guided at its vertical edges and is vertically slidable. When the drawer 11 is fully retracted, the plate drops onto the slider 9 in front of the drawer and prevents access to the drawer through the window 7.

In use the magazine 16 is loaded with a store 17 of individually wrapped cigars 13, either through a lid in the top of the housing 3 or after sliding forwards a shell consisting of at least the front, side and top walls of the housing. At the same time the tubular holders of the unit 18 are loaded with stacks of coins to be used as change.

In the inoperative position the slider 9 and drawer 11 are fully pushed into the housing as shown in Figure 1. At this time one coin from each of the holders in the unit 18 will have fallen into the corresponding recess 14 in the top of the drawer 11 and one of the cigars 13 will have fallen from the store 17 into the recess 12. In order to dispense the cigar, a coin of appropriate denomination 21 will be inserted through the slot 4 and will fall down the chute 5. If it is properly validated, it will then drop into a slot 22 in the slider 9. Although the slot 22 is longer than the diameter of the coin, the coin will not fall through the slot 22 because it will be prevented from doing so by engagement with the upper surface of, or the edge of a slit in, the base plate 10.However a coin with a diameter smaller than that of the appropriate denomination of coin will fall through the slot and be guided out through the reject coin slot 6. The coin will be positioned immediately behind the drawer 11, so that when the slider 9 is pulled forwards by its handle 8, the coin will engage the rear of the drawer and pull it forwards as well. At this time the inclined front edge 23 will engage the lower edge of and raise the sliding plate 19 so that the drawer can pass under the plate. When the slider and drawer have been pulled fully forwards, the recesses 12 and 14 will be exposed in front of the housing, so that the cigar and change may be removed by the user.

Of course, in the absence of the coin 21, pulling forwards of the slider 9 would not pull the drawer 11 out of the housing. Friction between the slider and drawer would be insufficient to do this owing to the retention of the drawer by the lower edge of the plate 19. As the slider and drawer reach their fully extended position, the coin 21 comes into alignment with a slot 24 in the base plate 10, the slot 24 being sufficiently large for the coin 21 then to fall through the slider and base plate into a collection chamber 25. This chamber may be emptied by the proprietor either through a door (not shown) or after removing the previously mentioned shell.

After dispensing, the slider 9 and drawer 11 are pushed back into the housing, whereupon the plate 19 drops down in front of the drawer ready for a new dispensing operation. The vertical reciprocation of the plate 19 will, frictionally, disturb the front cigars in the store 17, so that any tendency of their, for example, plastics film, wrappings to stick to one another, will be overcome, and a new cigar at the bottom of the store will fall into the recess 12.

The coin validation mechanism is shown in Fig. 3. The validation mechanism may be provided integrally with the housing. Although when the shell is provided, a separate back wall 26 fixed with respect to the release mechanism is used. The wall may comprises two plates fixed together face to face with the chute 5 being formed therebetween.

A pad 27 of high friction material, such as foam baize fabric or plastic material, is stuck to one wall of the coin chute 5 towards the coin insertion slot 4. A leaf spring 28 is embedded in, or stuck to a slot cut in the wall 26 and projects into the chute 5 below the pad 27.

In use, an object, having a similar diameter to the designated denomination of coin but which has a lower mass, will be retarded by the pad 27 to such an extent that it does not have sufficient momentum to deflect the leaf spring 28. It therefore becomes trapped in the chute and an attempt to obtain an article from the dispenser without the correct coin is thwarted. In contrast a coin of correct size and weight will negotiate the friction pad and have sufficient momentum to force its way past the leaf spring.

Claims (3)

1. A coin operated article dispenser comprising a housing which contains a store of the articles, a coin chute for a designated denomination of coin, a dispensing means for dispensing a desired number of articles, a mechanism for releasing the dispensing means and which is activated by the designated denomination of coin, wherein a pad of material is fixed to the wall of the coin chute and presents a higher coefficient of friction to an object in the coin chute than the walls of the chute do, and wherein a resilient member projects partially into the coin chute below the pad to catch objects of lower mass than the designated denomination of coin which have been retarded by the pad.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a leaf spring.

3. A coin operated article dispenser substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.