SE1650942A1

SE1650942A1 - Arrangement and method for facilitating output of coins froma coin storage

Info

Publication number: SE1650942A1
Application number: SE1650942A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Sjöström Anders; Ola Ingvarsson Per; Ekholm Tobias
Original assignee: Scan Coin Ab
Priority date: 2016-06-30
Filing date: 2016-06-30
Publication date: 2017-12-31
Also published as: WO2018004420A1

Abstract

There is provided a coin handling machine, a control method, and an arrangement for facilitating output of coins from a coin storage of a coin handling machine. The arrangement comprises a coin storage (2) for storing and dispensing coin (6); a vibration generator (8) arranged to cause the coin storage (2) to vibrate such as to break bridge formations (7) of coins in the coin storage (2), and a control unit (9) arranged to intermittently activate the vibration generator (8) to cause the coin storage (2) to vibrate.

Description

ARRANGEIVIENT AND |\/IETHOD FOR FACILITATINGOUTPUT OF COINS FROIVI A COIN STORAGE Technical field The present invention relates to the field coin handling machines. lnparticular, it relates to an arrangement and a method for facilitating output ofcoins from a coin storage of a coin handling machine.

BackgroundCoin handling machines usually comprise coin storages for storing and dispensing of coins. Coins are typically received at the top of the coin storageand dispensed at the bottom of the coin storage. A problem which may occurin coin storages is that the coins are not optimally packed. Rather, the coinsmay build formations in the coin storage, e.g., in the form of bridges betweenthe walls of the coin storage. This is particularly the case for large coinstorages.

Formation of coins, and in particular bridge formations, in a coinstorage may result in that no coins reach the opening at the bottom of thecoin storage through which coins are dispensed. lnstead the coins may forma bridge between the walls of the coin storage above the opening. As a result,the dispensing of coins from the coin storage will not work properly. There isthus a need for improvements.

Summary of the inventionln view of the above, it is thus an object of the present invention tomitigate the effects of bridge formations of coins in a coin storage, andfacilitate output of coins from a coin storage of a coin handling machine.According to a first aspect of the invention, the above object isachieved by an arrangement for facilitating output of coins from a coin storageof a coin handling machine. The arrangement comprises:a coin storage for storing and dispensing coins; a vibration generator arranged to cause the coin storage to vibratesuch as to break bridge formations of coins in the coin storage; and a control unit arranged to intermittently activate the vibration generatorto cause the coin storage to vibrate.

The arrangement thus comprises a vibration generator which, whenactivated, causes the coin storage to vibrate. When the coin storage isvibrated, formation of coins, such as bridge formations of coins, are broken. lnthis way, any coin formation preventing coins from reaching the opening atthe bottom of the coin storage through which coins are dispensed areremoved. Hence, the output of coins from the coin storage is facilitated.

As the coin storage is caused to vibrate, the coins will be packeddenser towards the bottom of the coin storage. Due to the dense packing ofcoins, the dispensing of coins may be slacker. This may cause wear of theparts of the coin storage, resulting in that parts of the coin storage have to bereplaced more often. However, this problem may be reduced by activating thevibration generator intermittently. ln other words, the vibration generator isactivated in periods and not all the time.

The control unit may generally be configured to activate the vibrationgenerator if there is a prevailing risk of bridge formations in the coin storage.There are different factors which may indicate that a risk of bridge formationsof coins is prevailing.

One factor which indicates that a risk of bridge formations is prevailing,is the number of coins in the coin storage. lf there are few coins in the coinstorage, there is little or no risk of bridge formations of coins. However, as thenumber of coins in the coin storage increases, the risk of bridge formation ofcoins increases, and as the number of coins passes a certain threshold, itmay become necessary to activate the vibration generator. Therefore, thecontrol unit may be arranged to activate the vibration generator if the numberof coins in the coin storage exceeds a pre-set threshold.

The arrangement may keep track of the number of coins in the coinstorage by detecting the number of coins that enters the coin storage, and thenumber of coins that are dispensed from the coin storage.

Another factor which indicates that a risk of bridge formations isprevailing is the rate at which coins are dispensed from the coin storage whenthe coin storage is in a state where it dispenses coins. lf there are bridgeformations in the coin storage, the rate at which coins are dispensed from thecoin storage will typically decrease. This is due to the fact that the bridgeformations prevent coins from being dispensed from the coin storage.Therefore, the control unit may further be arranged to activate the vibrationgenerator if a number of dispensed coins per time unit is below a pre-setthreshold.

Another factor which indicates that a risk of bridge formations isprevailing is the physical level of coins in the coin storage in comparison tothe number of coins in the coin storage. The physical level of coins in the coinstorage should correlate with the number of coins in the coin storage. Forexample there may be a linear relationship between the physical level ofcoins and the number of coins in the coin storage. lf there are bridgeformations of coins in the coin storage, the physical level of coins in the coinstorage will typically be higher than expected in relation to the number ofcoins in the coin storage. The expected physical level may for instance begiven by the linear relationship between the physical level of coins and thenumber of coins in the coin storage. Therefore, the arrangement may furthercomprise a level sensor for sensing the physical level of coins in the coinstorage, wherein the control unit is configured to activate the vibrationgenerator if the physical level of coins does not match with the number ofcoins in the coin storage.

By the physical level of coins matching with the number of coins in thecoin storage is meant that the physical level of coins in the coin storagecomplies with an established relationship between the physical level of coinsin the coin storage and the number of coins in the coin storage.

As explained above, the control unit may be configured to activate thevibration generator intermittently. ln particular, the control unit may beconfigured to activate the vibration generator intermittently if the control unithas determined that there is a prevailing risk of bridge formations of coins inthe coin storage. According to embodiments, the control unit may further be arranged to activate the vibration generator during periods when coins aredispensed from the coin storage. ln this way, the vibration generator is onlyactivated during periods when bridge formations may cause a problem withthe dispensing of coins.

According to embodiments, the control unit may thus be configured toactivate the vibration generator if there is a prevailing risk of bridge formationsin the coin storage (as indicated by the factors discussed above) at the sametime as coins are dispensed from the coin storage.

This synchronization between coin dispensing and vibration of the coinstorage may be achieved in different ways. ln some embodiments, the control unit may further be arranged tocontrol the dispensing of coins from the coin storage. ln such embodiments,the control unit may be arranged to synchronize the control of the dispensingof coins and the activation of the vibration generator, such that the vibrationgenerator is activated during periods when coins are dispensed from the coinstorage. ln other embodiments, there may be a separate control unit forcontrolling the dispensing of coins from the coin storage. ln suchembodiments, the control unit associated with the vibration generator mayreceive a signal from the separate control unit associated with coindispensing indicating that coins are dispensed. Upon receipt of such signal,the control unit associated with the vibration generator may activate thevibration generator.

As explained above, there is a risk that the coins in the coin storageare packed too dense if the vibration generator is activated during longperiods of time, thereby causing unnecessary wear of the parts of the coinstorage during dispensing. ln order to further reduce this risk the control unitmay be arranged to activate the vibration generator intermittently duringperiods when coins are dispensed from the coin storage. ln other words, thevibration generator is only activated in periods during coin dispensing.

Alternatively, or additionally, the control unit may further be arranged toactivate the vibration generator to cause the coin storage to vibrate with anamplitude that varies during periods when coins are dispensed from the coin storage. This will also reduce the problem with dense packing of the coins inthe coin storage.

As further discussed above, bridge formation of coins in the coinstorage may cause problems with respect to dispensing of coins. Forinstance, one may arrive at the situation where no coins are dispensed fromthe coin storage, although the coin storage is supposed to dispense coins.The control unit may therefore be arranged to stop the dispensing of coinsfrom the coin storage, activate the vibration generator, and re-start thedispensing of coins from the coin storage, upon determination that no coinsare dispensed from the coin storage although the coin storage is instructed todispense coins. ln this way, the control unit may thus discover that a problemwith respect to coin dispensing has occurred, and, in response thereto, takeaction to stop the coin dispensing, activate the vibration generator for a whilein order to break bridge formations, and then resume the coin dispensing.

The vibration generator may be arranged such that at least a portion ofthe vibration generator is in abutment with a wall of the coin storage forcausing the coin storage to vibrate. For example, the vibration generator maybe mounted on a wall of the coin storage.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the above object isachieved by a coin handling machine comprising the arrangement accordingto the first aspect.

The second aspect may generally have the same features andadvantages as the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the above object isachieved by a control method for facilitating output of coins from a coinstorage from which coins are dispensable. The method comprises: determining whether a risk of bridge formations in the coin storage isprevailing; and if so intermittently activating a vibration generator, whereby the vibrationgenerator is arranged to cause the coin storage to vibrate such as to breakbridge formations of coins in the coin storage.

The determining whether a risk of bridge formations in the coin storageis prevailing may comprise: receiving information about a number of coins in the coin storage, comparing the number of coins in the coin storage to a pre-set threshold, and identifying that a risk of bridge formations in the coinstorage is prevailing if the number of coins in the coin storage exceeds thepre-set threshold.

The determining whether a risk of bridge formations in the coin storageis prevailing may comprise: receiving information about a number of coinsbeing dispensed per time unit, comparing the number of coins beingdispensed per time unit to a pre-set threshold, and identifying that a risk ofbridge formations in the coin storage is prevailing if the number of coins beingdispensed per time unit is below a pre-set threshold.

As a special case, the control unit may identify that a risk of bridgeformations in the coin storage is prevailing if no coins are dispensed from thecoin storage although the coin storage is instructed to dispense coins.

The determining whether a risk of bridge formations in the coin storageis prevailing may comprise: receiving information about the physical level ofcoins in the coin storage and information about a number of coins in the coinstorage, comparing the physical level of coins in the coin storage to theinformation about a number of coins in the coin storage, and identifying that arisk of bridge formations in the coin storage is prevailing if the physical level ofcoins does not match with the number of coins in the coin storage.

The control method may further comprise: monitoring whether or notcoins are dispensed from the coin storage, wherein the vibration generator isactivated during periods when coins are dispensed from the coin storage.

The control method may further comprise instructing the coin storageto dispense coins, wherein the step of activating the vibration generator issynchronized with the step of instructing the coin storage to dispense coins,such that the vibration generator is activated during periods when coins aredispensed from the storage.

The vibration generator may further be activated intermittently duringperiods when coins are dispensed from the storage.

The vibration generator may be activated to cause the coin storage tovibrate with an amplitude that varies during periods when coins are dispensedfrom the storage.

The step of intermittently activating a vibration generator may furthercomprise: stopping the dispensing of coins from the coin storage prior toactivating the vibration generator, activating the vibration generator for aperiod of time, and starting the dispensing of coins after the vibrationgenerator has been activated for a period of time.

The advantages of the first aspect apply to the third aspect mutatismutandis. lt is further noted that the invention relates to all possible combinationsof features unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where thesame reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coin handling machine comprising anarrangement for facilitating output of coins from a coins storage according toembodiments.

Fig. 2a is a perspective view of an arrangement for facilitating output ofcoins from a coin storage according to embodiments. The arrangement isshown in a state where a vibration generator is deactivated.

Fig. 2b shows the arrangement of Fig. 2a in a state when the vibrationgenerator is activated.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a control method for facilitating output of coinsfrom a coin storage according to embodiments.

Detailed description of embodiments The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. The systems and devices disclosed herein will bedescribed during operation.

Fig. 1 illustrates a coin handling machine 1 according to anembodiment. The illustrated coin handling machine 1 comprises several coinstorages 2. For example, the different coin storages 2 may be adapted tohold coins of different values and sizes. However, in other embodiments, thecoin handling machine 1 may comprise a single coin storage 2. The coinstorage 2 may store and dispense coin. For that reason the coin storage 2 issometimes referred to as a dispenser. As coins are entered in the coinhandling machine 1, e.g., via a coin inlet 3, the coin handling machine 1directs the coins to the relevant coin storages 2. The coins thus typically enterthe coin storage 2 from the top, and fall downwards in the coin storage 2under action of gravity. As the coins fall down and land in the coin storage 2they will typically not be optimally packed. For example, some coins maystand on edge. As a result, the coins may form formations in the coinstorage 2 as will be further illustrated and described in conjunction to Fig. 2a.

Fig. 2a illustrates a coin storage 2 in more detail. The coin storage 2has a coin inlet 4, here in the form of an upwardly facing opening for receivingcoins 6. ln connection to the coin inlet there may be a coin counter forcounting the number of coins that enters the coin storage. The coin storage 2further comprises a coin outlet 5 for dispensing coins, here in the form of adownwardly facing opening at the bottom of the coin storage 2. ln connectionto the coin outlet 5, there may be a control unit which may control thedispensing of coins, i.e., start and stop the dispensing of coins. The controlunit may for example also keep track of the number of coins 6 that aredispensed from the coin storage 2, and the rate at which coins 6 aredispensed from the coin storage 2.

As explained above, the coins 6 may as they fall down and land in thecoin storage 2 build formations. As shown in the blown-up part of Fig. 2a, thecoins 6 have built a formation 7 which forms a bridge over the coin outlet 5.As a result, no coins 6 may be dispensed through the coin storage 2 via thecoin outlet 5.

To remedy this problem, the coin storage 2 is provided with a vibrationgenerator 8. The purpose of the vibration generator 8 is to cause the coinstorage 2 to vibrate. ln this way, any formations of coins in the coin storage 2 may be broken, as will be explained in more detail later on. Any type ofvibration generator 8 fulfilling this purpose may be used. For example, thevibration generator 8 may be a vibrator, i.e., a device which vibrates itself andcauses the coin storage 2 to vibrate due to the vibrator at least partly being incontact with the coin storage 2. According to another example, the vibrationgenerator 8 may be an impacting means, such as a hammer, which hitsagainst the coin storage 2, thereby causing it to vibrate. ln the illustrated example, the vibration generator 8 is arranged on oneof the walls of the coin storage 2. More generally, the vibration generator 8may be arranged such that a portion of the vibration generator is in contact,i.e., in abutment, with a wall of the coin storage 2. To this end, there are manypossible ways of arranging the vibration generator in relation to the coinstorage 2, some of which may give a better result than others. However, anyarrangement of the vibration generator 8 allowing it to cause the coin storage2 to vibrate may do.

The vibration generator 8 is further associated with a control unit 9 forcontrolling the vibration generator 8, i.e. to activate and deactivate thevibration generator 8. Here the control unit 9 is arranged next to the vibrationgenerator 8. However, this does not need to be the case. The control unit 9may be arranged somewhere else in the coin handling machine 1 as long asit may communicate with the vibration generator 8, e.g., by sending activationand deactivation signals to the vibration generator 8.

The control unit 9 may be separate from the control unit which controlsthe dispensing of coins 6 from the coin storage 2. Alternatively, it may be anintegral part of the control unit for controlling the dispensing of coins 6 fromthe coin storage 2. The control unit 9 may thus be arranged to control thedispensing of coins from the coin storage 2 in addition to controlling thevibration generator 8.

The control unit 9 may be implemented in software. For this purpose,the control unit may comprise a processing unit and a (non-transitory)computer-readable medium for storing computer code instructions adapted tocontrol the vibration generator 8, according to any method described herein,when executed by the processing unit.

When the control unit 9 activates the vibration generator 8, the coinstorage 2 is caused to vibrate. This is further illustrated in Fig. 2b. Uponvibrating the coin storage 2, formation of coins 6, and, in particular, bridgeformations 7 of coins 6 which prevent coins from being dispensed from thecoin storage 2 are broken. The bridge formed over the coin out|et 5 may inthis way be broken, and coins 6 may be dispensed from the coin storage 2 viathe coin out|et 5.

The coin storage 2, the vibration generator 8, and the control unit 9thus form an arrangement 10, in a coin handling machine 1, for facilitatingoutput of coins 6 from the coin storage 2. The operation of the arrangement10 will now be described with reference to Figs 2a, 2b and the flowchart ofFig. 3, which illustrates steps of a control method for facilitating output ofcoins 6 from a coin storage 2.

As described above, the coin storage 2 is provided with a vibrationgenerator 8 which is arranged to cause to coin storage 2 to vibrate. Uponvibrating the coin storage 2, formation of coins 6, and, in particular, bridgeformations 7 of coins 6 which prevent coins from being dispensed from thecoin storage 2 are broken. As a result of the vibration, the coins 6 will be putin order, and be more densely packed in the coin storage 2. Preferably,however, the vibration generator 8 is not activated all the time, but only whenthere is an increased risk of bridge formations 7. lf the vibration generator 8 isrun too often, there is a risk that the coins 6 become too densely packed,which in turn makes it more difficult to dispense coins. This may also increasewear of dispensing parts of the coin storage 2.

Therefore, in a first step, S02, the control unit 9, determines whether arisk of bridge formations 7 in the coin storage 2 is prevailing. ln order to do so,the control unit 9 may check whether one or more factors which are indicativeof bridge formations 7 are satisfied.

A first factor which may indicate that there is a risk of bridge formations7 in the coin storage 2 is the number of coins 6 in the coin storage 2. The riskof bridge formations 7 in the coin storage 2 typically increases as the numberof coins 6 in the coin storage 2 increases. As further disclosed above, thearrangement 10 may keep track of the number of coins in the coin storage 2 11 by counting the number of coins 6 entering the coin storage 2, and thenumber of coins 6 being dispensed from the coin storage 2. The control unit 9may thus, in step SO2a, receive information about a number of coins 6 in thecoin storage 2.

The control unit 9 may thereafter compare the number of coins 6 in thecoin storage to a threshold, step SO2b, and determine that there is a risk ofbridge formations if the number of coins 6 exceeds the threshold, step SO2c.The threshold is generally preset and its value may be set based on empiricalstudies.

A second factor which may indicate that there is a risk of bridgeformations 7 in the coin storage 2 is the number of coins 6 being dispensedper time unit. This presupposes of course that the coin storage 2 is in a statewhere it is supposed to dispense coins, e.g., as instructed by the control unitwhich controls the coin dispensing. As bridge formations 7 prevent coins 6from being dispensed, the rate at which coins 6 are dispensed decreases ifthere are bridge formations 7. The control unit 9 may therefore receive, instep SO2a, information regarding the rate at which coins 6 are dispensed fromthe coin storage, and compare, in step SO2b, the rate at which coins aredispensed from the coin storage 2. lf the rate is lower than a pre-set threshold(which is different from the threshold described in connection to the firstfactor), the control unit 9 may identify, in step SO2c, that there is a risk ofbridge formations in the coin storage 2. The threshold is generally preset andits value may be set based on empirical studies.

As a special case, the control unit 9 may identify that there is a risk ofbridge formations 7 if no coins at all are dispensed from the coin storage 2although the coin storage 2 was supposed to dispense coins 6.

A third factor which may indicate that there is a risk of bridgeformations 7 in the coin storage 2 is the physical level of coins in relation tothe number of coins 6 in the coin storage 2. There is typically a relationship,such as a linear relationship, between the number of coins 6 in the coinstorage 2 and the physical level of coins in the coin storage 2. The number ofcoins 6 and the physical level of coins 6 should hence correlate. 12 ln order to measure the physical level of coins 6 in the coin storage 2,the arrangement 10 may further comprise a level sensor 11 being arranged atthe coin storage 2. For example, the level sensor 11 may be arranged at oneof the inner walls of the coins storage 2 and measure the level of coinsaccording to any known technique. This may e.g. include sending out a signaltowards the coins, such as a light or an ultra sound signal, and measure thetime until the signal comes back at the level sensor 11. The control unit 9 maybe arranged to receive, in step SO2a, information about the physical level ofcoins 6 as measured by the level sensor 11. lf the control unit 9 finds that the physical level of coins does notmatch, in step SO2b, with the number of coins, e.g., that the physical level ofcoins is higher than what is predicted by the relationship between the physicallevel of coins and the number of coins, if may identify, in step SO2c, that thereis a risk of bridge formations in the coin storage 2.

Upon a positive determination in step S02, i.e. if the control unit 9 hasfound that there is a risk of bridge formations, the control unit 9 proceeds toactivate the vibration generator 8. However, the control unit 9 does typicallynot activate the vibration generator 8 all the time, but rather in periods, i.e.intermittently, in order to not pack the coins too densely.

According to an embodiment, the control unit 9 monitors, in stepSO4a1, whether or not coins are dispensed from the coin storage. Forexample, the control unit 9 may itself be arranged to control the dispensing ofcoins 6, thereby having knowledge of whether or not coins are dispensed.Alternatively, the control unit 9 may receive such information from a separatecontrol unit being arranged to control the dispensing of coins. The control unit9 may then activate, in step SO4a2, the vibration generator 8 during periodswhen coins 6 are dispensed from the coin storage 2. The control unit 9 mayfor example synchronize the sending of an activation signal/deactivationsignal to the vibration generator 8, with a signal for starting/stopping thedispensing of coins 6 from the coin storage 2. This applies in the case wherethe control unit 9 controls both the vibration generator 8 and the dispensing ofcoins, as well as in the case where the dispensing of coins is controlled by aseparate control unit. ln the latter case, the control unit 9 may receive signals 13 indicating whether coins are dispensed or not from the separate control unit,such that the activation of the vibration generator 8 may be synchronized withthe coin dispensing. ln order to further reduce the risk of packing the coins 6 too densely,the activation of the vibration generator 8 may be discontinuous duringperiods when coins are dispensed. The control unit 9 may thus activate (i.e.turn on) and deactivate (i.e. turn off) the vibration generator 8 a number oftimes during the coin dispensing, such that the vibration generator 8 only isactivated in periods during coin dispensing.

Alternatively, or additionally, the control unit 9 may control anamplitude of the vibrations of the coin storage 2 caused by the vibrationgenerator 8. ln particular, the control unit 9 may cause the amplitude of thevibrations to vary during periods when the vibration generator 8 is activated.

According other embodiments, the control unit 9 takes anotherapproach. Suppose that the coin storage 2 is in a state where it dispensescoins 6. Upon the control unit 9 determining, in step S02, that there is a risk ofbridge formations 7 in the coin storage 2 (e.g. since no coins are dispensedfrom the coin storage 2, or for any other reason described above), the controlunit which controls dispensing of coins (which may be the same or separatefrom the control unit 9) may stop, in step SO4b1, the dispensing of coins 6.When the coin dispensing has been stopped, the control unit 9 may activate,in step SO4b2, the vibration generator 8 for a period of time in order to breakany bridge formations 7. When the control unit 9 has deactivated the vibrationgenerator 8, the control unit for dispensing of coins may instruct the coinstorage 2 to resume, in step SO4b3, the coin dispensing. lt will be appreciated that a person skilled in the art can modify theabove-described embodiments in many ways and still use the advantages ofthe invention as shown in the embodiments above. Thus, the invention shouldnot be limited to the shown embodiments but should only be defined by theappended claims. Additionally, as the skilled person understands, the shownembodiments may be combined.

Claims

14 CLAIIVIS

1. An arrangement (10) for facilitating output of coins from a coin storage of acoin handling machine, comprising: a coin storage (2) for storing and dispensing coins; a vibration generator (8) arranged to cause the coin storage (2) tovibrate such as to break bridge formations of coins in the coin storage (2);and a control unit (9) arranged to intermittently activate the vibrationgenerator (8) to cause the coin storage (8) to vibrate.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the control unit (9) is arranged toactivate the vibration generator (8) if the number of coins in the coin storage(2) exceeds a pre-set threshold.

3. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controlunit (9) is arranged to activate the vibration generator (8) if a number ofdispensed coins per time unit is below a pre-set threshold.

4. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising alevel sensor (11) for sensing the physical level of coins in the coin storage (2),wherein the control unit (9) is configured to activate the vibration generator (8)if the physical level of coins does not match with the number of coins in thecoin storage (2).

5. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controlunit (9) is arranged to activate the vibration generator (8) during periods whencoins are dispensed from the coin storage (2).

6. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controlunit (9) is further arranged to control the dispensing of coins from the coinstorage (2), wherein the control unit (9) is arranged to synchronize the controlof the dispensing of coins and the activation of the vibration generator (8), such that the vibration generator (8) is activated during periods when coinsare dispensed from the coin storage (2).

7. The arrangement of any one of claims 5-6, wherein the control unit (9) isarranged to activate the vibration generator (8) intermittently during periodswhen coins are dispensed from the coin storage (2).

8. The arrangement of any one of claims 5-7, wherein the control unit (9) isfurther arranged to activate the vibration generator (8) to cause the coinstorage (2) to vibrate with an amplitude that varies during periods when coinsare dispensed from the coin storage (2).

9. The arrangement according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the controlunit is arranged to stop the dispensing of coins from the coin storage, activatethe vibration generator, and re-start the dispensing of coins from the coinstorage, upon determination that no coins are dispensed from the coinstorage although the coin storage is instructed to dispense coins.

10. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein thevibration generator (8) is arranged such that at least a portion of the vibrationgenerator (8) is in abutment with a wall of the coin storage (2) for causing thecoin storage to vibrate.

11. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein thevibration generator (8) is mounted on a wall of the coin storage (2).

12. A coin handling machine (1) comprising the arrangement (10) accordingto any one of claims 1-11.

13. A control method for facilitating output of coins from a coin storage fromwhich coins are dispensable, comprising: determining (S02) whether a risk of bridge formations in the coinstorage is prevailing; and if so 16 intermittently activating a vibration generator (S04), whereby thevibration generator is arranged to cause the coin storage to vibrate such as tobreak bridge formations of coins in the coin storage.

14. The control method of claim 13, wherein said determining comprises: receiving (SO2a) information about a number of coins in the coinstorage, comparing (SO2b) the number of coins in the coin storage to a pre-setthreshold, and identifying (SO2c) that a risk of bridge formations in the coin storage isprevailing if the number of coins in the coin storage exceeds the pre-setthreshold.

15. The control method of any one of c|aims 13-14, wherein said determiningcomprises: receiving (SO2a) information about a number of coins being dispensedper time unit, comparing (SO2b) the number of coins being dispensed per time unit toa pre-set threshold, and identifying (SO2c) that a risk of bridge formations in the coin storage isprevailing if the number of coins being dispensed per time unit is below a pre-set threshold.

16. The control method of claim 15, wherein said determining comprisesidentifying that a risk of bridge formations in the coin storage is prevailing if nocoins are dispensed from the coin storage although the coin storage isinstructed to dispense coins.

17. The control method according to any one of c|aims 13-16, wherein saiddetermining comprises: receiving (SO2a) information about the physical level of coins in thecoin storage and information about a number of coins in the coin storage, 17 comparing (SO2b) the physical level of coins in the coin storage to theinformation about a number of coins in the coin storage, identifying (SO2c) that a risk of bridge formations in the coin storage isprevailing if the physical level of coins does not match with the number ofcoins in the coin storage.

18. The control method of any one of claims 13-17, further comprising: monitoring (SO4a1) whether or not coins are dispensed from the coinstorage, wherein the vibration generator is activated (SO4a2) during periodswhen coins are dispensed from the coin storage.

19. The control method of any one of claims 13-18, further comprising:instructing the coin storage to dispense coins, wherein the step ofactivating the vibration generator is synchronized with the step of instructingthe coin storage to dispense coins, such that the vibration generator isactivated during periods when coins are dispensed from the storage.

20. The control method of any one of claims 18-19, wherein the vibrationgenerator is activated intermittently during periods when coins are dispensedfrom the storage.

21. The control method of any one of claims 18-20, wherein the vibrationgenerator is activated to cause the coin storage to vibrate with an amplitudethat varies during periods when coins are dispensed from the storage.

22. The control method according to any one of claims 13-17, wherein thestep of intermittently activating a vibration generator comprises: stopping (SO4b1) the dispensing of coins from the coin storage prior toactivating the vibration generator, activating (SO4b2) the vibration generator for a period of time, starting (So4b3) the dispensing of coins after the vibration generatorhas been activated for a period of time.