GB2378800A

GB2378800A - Coin hopper disk assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2378800A
Application number: GB0214421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroshi Abe; Tomokazu Nomura
Original assignee: Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
Current assignee: Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-06
Filing date: 2002-06-21
Publication date: 2003-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2022-06-21
Also published as: GB0214421D0; JP4122414B2; GB2378800B; JP2003020127A

Abstract

A disk assembly (4) for rotatably mounting below a coin hopper bowl (7, Fig 1 and 2) comprises a resin disk (40) having at least one through hole (4a-4c) for receiving coins. At least one pushing member (42) located adjacent the through hole (4a-4c) to engage a coin as the disk rotates. The pushing member (42) includes at least one arm (42a-42c) made of a relatively hard material, the arm extending radially outwardly from the centre of the resin disk. The arm can be of metal, resin or a carbon fibre composite. The pushing member is secured to the coin disc 40 by screws 45a-c allowing easy removal and replacement or coin size adjustment. The assembly also includes an adjusting disc 43 and drive shaft 44.

Description

DISK ASSEMBLY The invention relates to a disk assembly for rotatably mounting below a coin hopper.

In this specification, the term"coin"includes not only currency coins but other similarly shaped items such as disks, medals and tokens.

A known coin hopper assembly is described in JP-A-6- 187533 and this includes a rotatably mounted disk having a number of through holes for receiving coins and made of a resin material. In order to increase the life of the resin disk, a thin, annular metal guide is provided around the outer circumference of the disk, the guide having a number of guide parts, one associated with each through hole, extending radially inwardly to engage a coin in the adjacent through hole.

This known device suffers from a number of problems.

For example, the metal guide can detach from the resin disk after a period of time. In addition, after significant use, the relatively narrow ribs of the disk between adjacent through holes can break.

In accordance with the present invention, a disk assembly for rotatably mounting below a coin hopper bowl comprises a resin disk having at least one through hole for receiving coins, and at least one pushing member located adjacent the through hole to engage a coin as the disk rotates, wherein the pushing member includes an arm made of a relatively hard material, the arm extending radially outwardly from the centre of the resin disk.

By providing this new form of pushing member, the life of the resin disk is prolonged as is the life of the pushing member, typically a metal guide, and this helps to ensure that the pushing member does not separate from the resin disk while the intermediate ribs of the resin disk do not break. The pushing member increases the strength or reinforces the resin disk.

Preferably, the pushing member arm is bent along its length to engage a corresponding shoulder on the underside of the resin disk. In this arrangement, the Young's modulus of the pushing member is increased and thus the strength of the resin disk is improved. Thus if the storage of coins is increased, the flexure of the resin disk is reduced.

Conveniently, the pushing member is detachably mounted to the resin disk. Thus, when the resin disk wears or breaks, it is only necessary to change the resin disk.

In some cases, through holes of a single size are provided but preferably the assembly further comprises a hole size adjustment member secured to the underside of the resin disk and adjustable to vary a lateral dimension of the through hole.

The hole size adjustment member is conveniently fastened to the pushing member, typically by a fastening means since the pushing member is made from a relatively hard material. Thus, the adjustment member does not come away from the pushing arm and/or the fastening means does not break.

Conveniently, the adjustment member is located in a socket defined by the pushing member, typically coaxial with the axis of rotation of the resin disk which allows through hole size to be simply and easily adjusted.

An example of a coin hopper assembly according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the assembly; Figure 2 is a partial cross-section through the assembly; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the rotating disk assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan of the rotating disk assembly; Figure 5 is a bottom plan of the rotating disk assembly;

Figure 6 is an exploded, perspective view of the rotating disk assembly; and, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pushing member.

The coin hopper assembly 1 shown in the drawings comprises a bowl 7 which receives disks or coins (d) a lower section 7a of the bowl 7 being fixed to a base 3. A rotating disk assembly 4 is rotatably mounted on an upper surface of the base 3 which, as can be seen in Figure 1, is mounted at an angle to the horizontal on a frame 2. The disk assembly 4 rotates in the direction of an arrow (c) under the control of an electric motor 5 which is fixed to the underside of the plate 3 by a fixing 6.

As the disk assembly 4 rotates, disks or coins (d) in the bowl 7 are agitated and pass through through holes 4a- 4c provided in the disk assembly and are supported by the surface of the base 3 and are slid in the direction (c).

When each coin reaches pins 8a, 8b, the coins will stop and further rotation of the disk assembly 4 will cause the coins or disks (d) to be pushed laterally outwardly and then to be dispensed from an exit 11, the coins being pushed past a roller 9 fixed to the base 3 and a roller 10 which is movable against spring action with respect to the base 3.

The structure of the disk assembly 4 will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 7.

The disk assembly 4 includes a resin disk 40 which may be made of polyacetal resin which includes glass fibre although other known resins could be used. The advantage of a resin is it is resistant to wear but can be easily formed into disk shapes by the injection moulding process.

When resin and glass fibre are formed together, the disk 40 increases in mechanical strength and wear resistance.

The disk 40 has a central projection 40a which is conically shaped and has an axially extending shaft hole 40b through its centre. The shaft hole 40b is D-like in shape so that it can fit into the upper section of a driven shaft 44.

Three through holes 4a-4c are located around the central projection 40a, the holes being substantially equally circumferentially spaced. Each through hole has substantially the same design and thus the through hole 4c only will be explained in more detail. The through hole 4c includes a circular hole 40c located on the rear or underneath side of the resin disk 40 while a substantially oval shaped hole 40d is provided on the upper surface of the resin disk 40. The front edge of the hole 40c and the front edge of the oval hole 40d are substantially flush with each other and define a vertical front edge 40e. The rear edge of the though hole 40c slants upwardly as shown at 40f from the hole 40c to the edge of the hole 40d. This slanting surface 40f assists disks or coins (d) to slide into the hole 40c from an upright position.

A set of radially outwardly extending grooves 40j, 40k and 401 are located on the back wall underneath respective ribs 40g, 40h, 40i extending between the through holes 4a-4c.

A receiving hole or socket 40m is located at the centre of the underside of the resin disk 40 and receives a shaft block 41.

The shaft block 41 (Figure 6) is ring like in shape and made of sheet metal. The ring has a set of three projections 41a, 41b, 41c located on its rim and substantially equally circumferentially spaced. A bearing hole 41d is located at the centre of the shaft 41 and is Dlike in shape and fits into the upper section of the driven shaft 44. If the shaft block 41 is made by a press, it is inexpensive.

The shaft block 41 is inserted into the receiving hole 40m of the resin disk 40. The disk 40 is rotated by the shaft block 41 via projections 41a-41c and as a result the overload does not add to the shaft block 41 and resin disk 40.

The disk assembly 4 also includes a pushing member or pushing disk 42 (Figures 6 and 7). The pushing disk 42 has three pushing arms 42b, 42c, 42d integrally formed from a

metal with a central ring or hub 42a and thus are like spokes of a wheel. The arms are equally circumferentially spaced. Since each arm 42b-42d is the same, the arm 42d will be explained in more detail.

The pushing arm 42d is a sector which becomes slightly wider towards the circumference. A rear section 42e (with respect to the direction of rotation of the disk assembly 4) of the pushing arm 42d is parallel to the resin disk 40 and is substantially planar. A middle section 42f is integrally formed with the rear section 42e and extends substantially at right angles to the plane of the rear section 42e, generally in the thickness direction of the disk 40. An edge section 42g is integrally formed with the middle section 42f and extends at right angles to the middle section so as to be generally parallel to the resin disk 40 so that a pushing arm 42d is bent around a shoulder formed on the underside of the resin disk 40.

The edge section 42g has three forks 42h, 42i, 42j and the leading edges of these forks make up a disk pushing section 42k.

As can be seen in Figure 5, edge 42ht of fork 42h has an arcuate shape which runs along the edge of the hole 40c. The edge of the fork 42i has an arcuate section 42ia which runs along the edge of the hole 40c and a first pushing section 41ib makes an acute angle with rotating direction of the resin disk 40.

The edge of fork 42j has a second pushing section 42ja which is straight and makes an acute angle with the rotating direction of the resin disk 40 which is smaller than the first pushing section 42ib. The arcuate shape of the sections 42ib and 42ja are desirable for a flower shaped disk d.

The disk pushing section 42k may be shaped in accordance with the disclosure in JP-A-2000-340420.

The pushing disk 42 is fixed to the resin disk 40 by a fastening device comprising screws 45a, 45b, 45c. These

screws are received in corresponding screw holes 40n, 40o, 40p in grooves 40j, 40k, 40l respectively.

When the pushing disk 42 is fixed to the resin disk 40, a rear surface 42m overlaps the edge of the hole 40c (Figure 4). Edge section 42g is located near the edge of the hole 40c and below the slanting surface 40f. Each middle section 42f comes face to face with a corresponding one of the ribs 40g, 40h, 40i, the middle section 42f supporting those ribs. This structure has a significant advantage because the middle section 42f has a large Young's modulus extending in the thickness direction.

The shaft block 41 is supported in the receiving hole 40f while the driven shaft 44 is received in a hole 42p of the pushing disk 42.

If the pushing disk 42 is made by press working it is inexpensive. The pushing disk 42 can be made by centring or casting.

The material of the pushing disk 42 can also be a resin which has a high mechanical strength and wear resistance, for example a carbon fibre composite.

The rotating disk assembly 4 also includes an adjusting disk 43 moulded from a resin such as polyacetal although other resins could be used.

The adjusting disk 43 has a ring section or hub 43a at its centre and three adjusting arms 43b, 43c, 43d extending laterally outwardly like the spokes of a wheel and being circumferentially equally spaced. Each arm has the same shape and thus the adjusting arm 43b will be explained in more detail.

The adjusting arm 43b is sector like in shape and has a width near its centre which is smaller than near its edge. A position adjusting device 43e is located at the end of each arm 43b-43d and includes three adjusting holes 46f, 46g, 46h which can be aligned with one or more of screw holes 42q, 42r. (Figure 7). The three adjusting holes 46f- 46h are located at the same radius. A curved surface 42i

is located on the front side of the arm 43b and has the same curvature as the hole 40c.

The position of the adjusting disk 43 can be changed to adjust the diameter of the hole 40c in accordance with the disks (d) to be processed. After the disk 43 has been correctly located, screws 46a, 46b, 46c are inserted in adjusting holes 46f-46h and are screwed into the appropriate screw holes 42q, 42r.

Inward looking guides 40r, 40s, 40t are located at the centre of the resin disk 40 and are formed on a circle concentric with the shaft hole 40b. Ring section 43a can pivot on inward facing guides 40r-40t. In other words, the bearing is made from inward facing guides 40r-40t.

The upper end of driven shaft 44 penetrates through holes 43j and 42p and shaft holes 41d and is received in shaft hole 40m.

The resin disk 40 is fixed to the driven shaft 44 by a screw 47 which is screwed into the end of the driven shaft 44. The star like shaped lower section of the driven shaft 44 is inserted through the hole of the driving shaft (not shown).

In operation, disks or coins (d) are provided in the bowl 7 and rest on the rotating disk assembly 4. The assembly 4 receives the disks (d) but is not bent by the weight of the coins because the resin disk 40 is supported by the pushing disk 42 which reinforces it. In particular, the thin ribs 40g-40i are supported by the middle sections 42f of the disk 42.

When the disk assembly 4 rotates, disks (d) in the bowl 7 are agitated and pass through the through holes 4a- 4c and rest on the base 3. The disks (d) on the base 3 are then pushed by the pushing section 42k so as to rotate with the disk assembly 4. Each disk (d) is stopped by the pins 8a, 8b and is pushed towards the periphery of the rotating disk assembly 4 by first pushing section 42ib and second pushing section 42ja. After a disk (d) has contacted the fixed roller 9, it is pushed further and engages roller 10

which is moved away against a spring allowing the disk (d) to pass through to the exit 11. When the maximum diameter of a disk (d) passes between the rollers 9,10, the disk (d) is flipped by the moving roller 10 and dispensed from the outlet 11. It will be understood that the action of pushing the disk out does not wear the resin disk 40 because the disk (d) is pushed by the pushing disk 42.

If the pushing disk 42 wears, it can be easily changed by loosening the screws 45a-45c, replacing the disk 42 with a new disk and refastening by fastening screws 45a-45c.

If the diameter of the disks (d) to be processed is changed for a larger size, screws 46a and 46c are loosened, the adjusting disk 43 is rotated until the correct size for the holes 40a-40c has been achieved and then the screws 45a-45c are fastened. When doing that adjustment, the ring section 43a is supported on guide surfaces 40r, 40s to allow easy adjustment.

In this embodiment, the slanting surface 40e located behind the rotating direction ensures that any upright disks (d) can move out from the holes 4a-4c.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A disk assembly for rotatably mounting below a coin hopper bowl, the assembly comprising a resin disk having at least one through hole for receiving coins, and at least one pushing member located adjacent the through hole to engage a coin as the disk rotates, wherein the pushing member includes an arm made of a relatively hard material, the arm extending radially outwardly from the centre of the resin disk.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pushing member arm is bent along its length to engage a corresponding shoulder on the underside of the resin disk.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pushing member arm is detachably mounted to the resin disk.
4. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a hole size adjustment member secured to the underside of the resin disk and adjustable to vary a lateral dimension of the through hole.
5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the hole size adjustment member is located in a socket defined by the pushing member.
6. An assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the hole size adjustment member is rotatable about an axis to adjust the lateral dimension of the through hole.
7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pushing member comprises two or more arms each extending radially outwardly from a hub.
8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the hub is positioned coaxial with the axis of rotation of the resin disk.
9. A disk assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A coin hopper assembly including a coin hopper bowl and a disk according to any of the preceding claims rotatably mounted below the coin hopper bowl.