IE39987B1 - Hopper payout mechanisms for various coin denominations - Google Patents

Description

39987 The subject invention relates to hopper payout mechanisms, and more particularly those which are commonly used to deliver a preselected number of coins to a delivery chute. Primarily these units are employed in devices actuated for 5 a game of chance.

United States Patent 3,285,380 is illustrative of the prior art. As disclosed therein, the mechanism has a coin hopper, a rotary disc called a pin wheel and a delivery chute. A positive drive is provided at the centre of the pin 10 wheel through a journal or bearing which provides the only support for the pin wheel. Because the coins in the hopper eccentrically load the pin wheel, the maintaining of precise dimensional accuracies at the periphery of the pin wheel is precluded, the eccentric thrust causing bearing wear, - 2 - 39987 wobble and run-out leading to jamming of the pin wheel at the top or bottom thereof. Accordingly it Is an object of the present invention to provide an improved support for the pin wheel.

In its broadest aspect the invention provide* a hopper payout mechanism having an inclined rotatable disc generally known as the pin wheel,a hopper for feeding coins to the lower region of the dipc for engagement with circularly-arranged coin-support and coin-spacing means on the face of the disc operative to seat the coins for transport serially to an upper level where they are directed by exit guide means for discharge from the disc, wherein the disc is supported for rotation in the inclined plane solely by anti-friction bearings comprising rollers engaging its periphery at at least three points. In a preferred arrangement two of these points are on the lower periphery of the disc,the bearings thereat resisting any eccentric thrust due to coins massing in the hopper and a bearing at an upper point steadies the pin wheel especially at the counting and coin exit zone where jamming has proved troublesome. This arrangement has proved particularly effective when the mechanism is handling large heavy coins.

In the preferred embodiment though the pin wheel is supported at its periphery to precisely position it a central drive mechanism is employed. A coin gutter at the bottom of the hopper widens progressively at a steadily increasing helical configuration to thereby relieve the tendency of coins of various diameters and thickness to shingle at the bottom of the gutter and the lower portion of the hopper. A coin wiper is positioned immediately - s. 39987 ahead of a counter to ensure that only a single coin is nested between two adjacent pins on the pin wheel, prior to engaging a pivotally adjustable knife. To avoid overloading or spilling the hopper, the latter is, pivotally supported 5 to a frame and yieldably adjustable so that it can be preselectedly set to bypass coins when a given quantity, determined empirically by weight, of coins are present within the hopper. Other features of this embodiment are described in Patent Specification No. . 10 In view of the foregoing, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a hopper payout mechanism in which because of the suspension and mounting of the rotating parts, precise dimensional accuracies can be maintained. 15 Hereinafter the invention is further described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the illustrative hopper payout mechanism; 20 Fig. 2 is a front elevation to an enlarged scale of the hopper payout mechanism with the hopper removed to show the principal rotating and orienting elements; Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken view of the counting and i • pick-off portion of the hopper payout mechanism shown in Fig. 2; 25 Fig. 4 is a transverse broken sectioned view of the roller suspension of the pin wheel taken at section line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged partially broken view of the drive mechanism illustrating the relationship between the motor 30 gear box, drive pin, and pin wheel. - 4 - 39987 With reference particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the hopper payout mechanism 10 for various coin denominations includes a scoop-shaped hopper 11, the same being mounted to a wheel housing 25 which, in turn, is supported on side 5 brackets 24, the latter being secured to frame 26 which in cludes base rails 29 for sliding the hopper mechanism 10 in and out of gaming machines for which it is intended to gather and pay out coins. Interiorly of the hopper 11, is a rotatable pin wheel 12. The pin wheel 12 has a plurality 10 of pins 21 located along its periphery to engage for counting and discharge, individual coins. The coins are supported between the pins 21 (not shown in Figure 1) and removable ledge plate or shelf wheel 14. An agitator 15, illustrated as a three-legged member, having arcuate peripheral surfaces, 15 is positioned centrally on the shelf wheel 14 to agitate the coins within the hopper 11 and permit the same to become aligned in a gutter 32 of the hopper 11. The shelf wheel 14 is exchangeable with others having diameters suitable to support the desired diameter of coin to assure engagement 20 with coin counting means.

In operation the pin wheel 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction. The coins pass first from the hopper 11 into the gutter 32. Because the pin wheel 12 and related elements are positioned in an 25 inclined plane the coins are gravitationally urged into the gutter 32. The coins are then agitated by means of the agitator 15, and are engaged by the pins on the outer portion of the pin wheel 12. Coins can, of course, overlap one another on the periphery of the pin wheel until, as shown in 30 Fig. 2, they approach the two o'clock position. At this point, wiper 16 engages any overlapping coins and wipes them - 5 - 39987 back into the hopper 11. Those coins which pass beyond the top of the shelf wheel 14 are then engaged by knife 18. The knife 18 includes a ledge forming a track defined by a coin engaging point 34 adjacent to the shelf wheel 5 at its forwardmost portion and a bypass 66 as its rearmost end, which bypass defines a passage enabling the pins 21 to pass under the knife 18. As illustrated in Fig. 2, a coin is immediately atop the point 34 of the knife 18. The coin then proceeds across the knife 18 until it engages 10 yieldable counter 22. If the counter 22 is preset to pass five coins, after it has counted five coins it will turn off the drive mechanism for the hopper payout and the last coin is accelerated by the yieldable action of the counter 22 into coin discharge chute 50. The latter is 15 made up of a coin deflector 19 the interior portion of which has a bevelled nose portion to engage and deflect the coin centrally. A cover plate 20, which is the outlet cover, overlies the coin deflector 19. The cover plate 20 is shown in Fig. 1, whereas the coin deflector 19 which is 20 immediately behind the cover plate 20 is shown in Fig. 2.

The coins then pass freely outwardly.

It will be appreciated that the knife 18 is secured at its pivot 38, and adjustably positionable after release of securing mechanism 39, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, 25 when varying diameter shelf wheels 14 and agitators 15 are positioned on the pin wheel 12 to accommodate differing size coins, the knife 18 is again moved around the pivot 38, so that the point 34 will remain substantially tangential to the periphery of the shelf uftiti 14.

The bypass 66 is oriented slightly above the chute of the exit assembly. This assists in accelerating the travel of the coin within the chute after passing the counting mech- - 6 - 39987 anism 22 thereby reducing the tendency for coins to jam in this region (see particularly the upper left hand portion of Figs. 2 and 3).

In order to ensure dimensional stability for the pin 5 wheel 12 and its associated moving members, a knife edge 31 is formed at the periphery of the pin wheel 12, j and is engaged by at least three rollers 30, each having a corresponding knife edge groove 46, as shown in greater detail in Figs. 3 and 4. In this construction, implemented 10 by adjusting screw 48 as shown in Fig. 4 or a yieldable adjusting mechanism (not shown), fine tuning of the support of the pin wheel 12 by means of the roller 30 is possible.

Each of the rollers 30 is preferably secured to a bearing mount 28 on the wheel housing 25. Roller or ball 15 bearings provide for friction reduced rotation, and yet because of the adjusting screws 48 or their equivalent yield-able members, permit a precise positioning of the pin wheel 12. It will be particularly appreciated in connection with Figs. 2 and 3 that precision of positioning between 20 the upper roller 30 and the counter 32 is essential, since at this point the coin is transferred from the pin wheel 12 onto the point 34 and thence to knife 18 into the coin chute assembly 50.

An important aspect is in the construction of the 25 hopper 11, and more particularly, the gutter 32. As shown in Fig 1, it will be seen that the gutter 32 as well as a bevelled gutter relief portion (not shown) has a progressively opening helical proportioning as the coins travel around the gutter 32 and are picked up by the pins 21 on the pin 30 wheel 12. Because the pin wheel 12 is mounted with precision by means of the rollers 30, a similar precision can be developed in the helical relief of the gutter 32 and its bevelled - 7 - 39987 gutter relief portion so that as coins may be shingled at the bottom of the hopper 11, as the pins 21 and agitator 15 stir the collection of coins within the hopper 11, shingling and jamming which may take place is relieved as the helix of 5 the gutter 32 and the bevelled relief portion progressively widens throughout the throat portion of the hopper 11.

In order to proportion the total number of coins within the hopper 11 to match the amounts of pay, as well as to avoid over-loading of the hopper 11 which would lO cause jamming, the hopper 11 and its associated structure including the housing 25 are pivotally secured to the frame by means of pivots (not shown) located at the upper portion of the side brackets 24. At the lower portion of the wheel housing 25 a spring is provided secured to 15 a spring bracket on the frame. The spring bears in compression against the lower portion of the wheel housing 25, and by means of a spring preloading screw, the compressive load on the spring may be varied. Thus, when a sufficient weight of coins occurs, the weight of the coins within 20 the hopper 11 will overcome the loading of the spring,and the frame 25 with its associated loaded hopper 11 will pivot around the pivots 55. This pivotal action actuates a switch (not shown) which in turn actuates a bypass (not shown) to divert coins from the host device away from 25 the hopper 11 directly to a permanent coin chute provided in the host.

The drive assembly 70 is shown in Fig. 5. There it will be seen that the drive assembly 70 preferably includes an electric motor 71, coupled with a motor brake 72 and 30 gear box. The gear box has a drive shaft 35 amd a drive - 8 - H90H7 pin 36. The drive pin 36, when the motor is operative and rotates the drive shaft 35, engages a pin wheel drive pad 75. Further tc be noted are the motor mounts 74 which are secured to the wheel housing 25, thereby additionally assuring 5 precise alignment of the drive mechanism, although tolerances can be permitted because of the crank pin type drive provided through the drive shaft 35 and the drive pin 36 against the drive pad 75. - 9 - 39987

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:,- ' i

1. A hopper payout mechanism having an inclined rotatable disc, a hopper for feeding coins to the lower region of the disc for engagement with circularly-arranged coin-support and coin-spacing means on the face of the disc operative to seat the coins for transport serially to an upper level where they are directed by exit guide means for discharge from the disc, wherein the disc is supported for rotation in the inclined plane solely by anti-friction bearingscomprising rollers engaging its periphery at at least .three points.

2. A mechanism according to Claim 1 wherein the antifriction means comprises three rollers having circumferential groove portions interengaging with the peripheral edge of the disc.

3. A mechanism according to Claim 2 wherein a roller is adjustable to permit the maintenance of the disc in a prescribed inclined plane.

4. A mechanism according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein two of the rollers lie below a horizontal diameter through the disc adjacent the hopper while the third roller is disposed at an uppermost level of the disc periphery such that two points of bearing support are provided for the disc in the lower regions thereof adjacent the bottom of said hopper whereby the disc is stabilized against wobble by all three rollers and resists the excessive pressure of coins against the lower region of said disc.

5. A mechanism according to any preceding claim wherein the circularly arranged coin support means comprises a circular ledge-plate removably affixed to the face of - 10 - 39987 the disc and providing a circular ledge concentric with the disc and upon which the edges of the coins rest for engagement with coin-sensing means, and said coin-spacing means comprises pins outstanding from the face of the disc in a circular array spaced about the circular ledge and spaced apart circularly a distance to receive therebetween a coin of the largest diameter intended to be transported, said ledge-plate being exchangeable with others having diameters suitable to support the desired diameter of coin to assure engagement with said coin-sensing means.

6. A mechanism according to any preceding claim wherein the hopper has an arcuately-extensive gutter at its margin confronting the lower region of the disc and said gutter widens outwardly away from the face of the disc in the direction of rotation thereof at a constant helix angle whereby to provide an increasing width in such direction and the region at which the coins begin to move out of the gutter and upwardly away from the hopper so as to relieve jamming tendencies in this region.

7. A mechanism according to claim 5 or claim 6 when appendant to claim 5 wherein said exit guide means comprises a guide structure defining a coin discharge track having one knife end formation fitting close to the periphery of said ledge plate to receive coins thereon, and having an opposite end region pivotable for adjustably positioning said one knife end formation close to ledge plates of different diameter according to the diameter of the ledge plate used and the denomination of coin to be transported. - 11 - 39987

8. A mechanism according to Claim 7 wherein the guide structure includes a pin passage disposed away from said knife end formation in the direction of movement of coins along said track or ramp toward the opposite end region 5 and located relative to the path of pin travel such that the pins push coins off the ledge plate a substantial distance / along said track or ramp and travel past said clearance t , portion downwardly away from the coin and track or ramp, whereby the coins are forcibly directed by the pins away from 10 support by the disc with less tendency to jam in this region.

9. A mechanism according to Claim 1 wherein said hopper is mounted for movement dependently upon the weight of coins therein and operates switch means dependently upon such movement for use in a control circuit responsive to the 15 relative amount of coins in the hopper.

10. A mechanism according to claim 5 a/jtf any claim appendant thereto wherein said ledge plate is provided with agitating means in the form of a member mounted concentric with said disc and having radial arms each bounded by an 20 arcuate surface.

11. A mechanism according to any preceding claim wherein said rotatable disc is driven by an electric motor having drive shaft means coupling centrally with said disc whereby the latter is free from rigid support and also rigid connection 25 to the motor means in said region.

12. A mechanism according to Claim 11 wherein the motor driving means is attached to a mounting frame means supporting said roller means and disc structure so as to be movable therewith. - 12 - 39987

13. A mechanism according to any of Claims 1 to 10 wherein said rotatable disc is rotated by electric motor means having drive shaft means coupled without positive attachment to a central region of the disc, such coupling comprising a radial drive projection on said drive shaft and said drive projection bears against a driven thrust pad projecting from the rear of said rotatable disc and lying in the path of rotation of said radial drive projection. Dated this the 7th day of October,1977 F. R. KELLY & CO. BY: EXECUTIVE. 27 Clyde Road,'Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS. - 13 -