GB2298072A

GB2298072A - Distribution apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2298072A
Application number: GB9502929A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Allen Marchini; Robert Alan Holmes
Original assignee: Starpoint Electrics Ltd
Current assignee: Starpoint Electrics Ltd
Priority date: 1995-02-15
Filing date: 1995-02-15
Publication date: 1996-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-15
Also published as: GB9502929D0; GB2298072B

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for distributing or sorting articles, e.g. coins, comprises receiving means (12) which is pivotable in a controlled manner relative to delivering means (14) which is stationary, the receiving means (12) being shaped as a funnel with an open, comparatively large upper end which is always located below an inlet and with an open, comparatively small lower end (20) which is selectively locatable above different outlets (26b) at the bottom of an arcuate trough (30) presented by the delivering means (14).

Description

Distribution Apparatus The present invention relates generally to distribution apparatus and is more especially but not exclusively concerned with apparatus suitable for distributing coins or tokens in a gaming machine sometimes referred to as a fruit machine or an amusement machine.

When the machine is played, a user typically inserts a number of coins and/or tokens sequentially into a slot leading to payin apparatus, which may effect various sorting and validation functions.

When the machine registers a win, a user is typically awarded a prize consisting of a number of coins and/or tokens delivered sequentially into a chute leading from payout apparatus, which may be of the kind disclosed in our co-pending patent application PCT/GB 95/00115.

A specific application of the present invention is to provide an effective interface between the payin apparatus and the payout apparatus but other more general applications are possible in which the payin apparatus and the payout apparatus are either omitted or replaced.

According to the present invention, distribution apparatus comprises receiving means for use in communicating with an inlet, the receiving means being movably mounted for use in communicating with a selected one of a plurality of outlets.

Preferably, the receiving means is rotatable or at least pivotable relatively to delivering means which is static.

The receiving means may be shaped as a funnel with an open, comparatively large upper end which is always located below the inlet and with an open, comparatively small lower end which is selectively locatable above different ones of the outlets.

The movement of the receiving means between said different ones of the outlets may be controlled by an electric stepper motor or other drive means controlled by for example a central computer which may also be linked by electronic circuitry to the payin apparatus and/or the payout apparatus.

There may be more than one inlet, for example there may be two inlets with one inlet being dedicated to 20p coins and the other inlet being dedicated to çl coins, or indeed there may be more than. two inlets with similar dedications.

In such a situation, if duplication of the receiving means is to be avoided, the delivering means may be such as to ensure that a selected one of the outlets is always associated with a predetermined one of the inlets.

The delivering means may be shaped as an annular trough with a lower end presenting a plurality of openings which are located above respective ones of the plurality of outlets.

As previously indicated, the payin apparatus may include sorting and validation means for causing at least some of the inserted coins and/or tokens to be fed to the inlet or inlets above the receiving means, and the payout apparatus may include a plurality of supply means constituting the outlets below the delivering means from which said at least some of the inserted coins and/or tokens are to be delivered.

Typically, coins and/or tokens drop through the distribution apparatus under the influence of gravity.

Distribution apparatus, according to the present invention, will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the distribution apparatus; and Figure 2 is a partial section taken along the line X-X of Figure 1.

The accompanying drawings show distribution apparatus 10 comprising receiving means 12 which is movable in a controlled manner relatively to delivering means 14 which is stationary.

The receiving means 12 is integrally formed of a plastics material to include a funnel 16 and a sleeve 18.

The funnel 16 tapers down to a circular exit 20. The sleeve 18, which may be of non-circular cross-section, is intended to fit with a complementary drive shaft 22 driven by a motor 24. The motor 24 is itself driven by a central computer (not shown) to cause the funnel 16 to move in an arc about the drive shaft 22.

The delivering means 14 is again integrally formed of a plastics material to include a total of 6 circular openings, one of the openings 26a being separated by barriers 28 from the other five openings 26b which are located at the lower end of a trough 30. Each of the openings 26a, 26b is defined by a tube 32 which is intended to fit with a respective one of the six supply tubes disclosed in our co-pending patent application PCT/GB 95/00115.

The opening 26a is intended to receive a particular denomination of coin or token, such as a 20p, whereas the openings 26b are intended to receive a different denomination of coin or token, such as a 1.

The opening 26a is always located below an associated inlet presented by payin apparatus and part of the receiving means 12 above the drive shaft 22 is always located below another associated inlet of the payin apparatus.

The payin apparatus may be of a construction such that some of the inserted coins and/or tokens are rejected, others are fed to a cash box and yet others are fed to slots constituting the inlets located respectively above the opening 26a and the receiving means 12.

The payout apparatus may be of a construction such that, when one of its supply means fed by one of the openings 26b is full, the motor 24 is driven by the computer to move the receiving means 12 so that its exit 20 is in alignment with a different one of the openings 26b, to allow filling of a different supply means in the payout apparatus.

Claims

1. Distribution apparatus comprising receiving means for use in communicating with an inlet, the receiving means being movably mounted for use in communicating with a selected one of a plurality of outlets.

2. Distribution apparatus according to claim 1, in which the receiving means is shaped as a funnel with an open, comparatively large upper end which is always located below the inlet and with an open, comparatively small lower end which is selectively locatable above different ones of the outlets.

3. Distribution apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which movement of the receiving means between different ones of the outlets is controlled by drive means linked by electronic circuitry to pay in apparatus and/or payout apparatus.

4. Distribution apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the receiving means is rotatable or at least pivotable relatively to delivering means which is static.

5. Distribution apparatus according to claim 4, in which the delivering means is shaped as an annular or at least arcuate trough with a lower end presenting a plurality of openings which are located above respective ones of the plurality of outlets.

6. Distribution apparatus according to claim 5, in which one of the openings in the delivering means is always associated with an additional inlet separate from the inlet associated with the receiving means.

7. Distribution apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.