WO1999030289A1 - Coin dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for exchange of coins of high denomination for coins of a smaller denomination includes a lockable chamber (6) housing a stack of cups (8) into which the coins are dispensed.

Description

COIN DISPENSER

The invention relates to a coin changer/dispenser and in particular to apparatus adapted to change a coin or note of a higher denomination into coins of a lower value, or to charge the cost to a charge card

There is a need at amusement arcades at the seaside or elsewhere to provide a supply of small denominational coins, e g 2p, used to play games on amusement machines Coin exchange machines for this purpose are known but they deposit a pile of such coins in an outlet such as a payout tray The user then has to pick them up often individually to put them in his pocket It has been realised that this is an inconvenience so a supply of paper cups is provided separately at the arcade The user removes a paper cup from the stack, to put his coins in The user will discard his cup at the end of play (often badly if he has lost his stake') and children will treat the cups as objects of abuse The use of loose cups is not a proper solution because of the litter it creates People who need a plastic cup, e g picnickers on the beach, will take the cups for drinking purposes All in all this is not a satisfactory solution for a professionally run amusement arcade

It is one object of this invention to provide apparatus in which these disadvantages are reduced or eliminated and other advantages are offered

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided apparatus for use in dispensing a predetermined number of coins, comprising reception means for receiving a note token or coin of high denominational value and/or a card slot for receiving a charge card, and

means for determining the value of the note, token, coin or charge card received and for calculating the number of small denominational coins to equivalent value to be dispensed according to the wish of the user,

means for dispensing a container to receive the small denominational coins from a closed chamber housing a supply of such containers, and

means for dispensing the small value coins into a container for presentation to a user

Apparatus of the invention is advantageous because it exchanges and dispenses coins or debits a charge card fast, the user does not need to pick up the coins and there is no need to remove a cup from a stack of loose cups which avoids stealing of cups by picnickers and accumulation of litter by children who may throw them about When a user of a conventional coin exchanger receives loose coins he tends to pick them up individually and count them, whereas when they are dispensed into a container in a predetermined position he seems to accept that the correct number has automatically been dispensed At certain times of the day several people want to change coins, and a crowd of such people typically youngsters, gathers around a conventional machine Because in apparatus of the invention the container is automatically delivered direct to the coin depositing section and into the container, the transaction is completed quickly, and many such transactions can be done in a short time period Once the user has his coins in the container he can use that to hold the coins as he plays on a machine The data suggests that he will play using all the coins in the container as stake money, whereas if they are dispensed as lose coins he will tend to put them in his pocket and use less as stake money and keep some in his pocket for other purposes

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of one embodiment of the invention,

Figures 2 and 3 show the embodiment of Figure 1 under different conditions,

Figure 4 is a front elevation partly in section of another embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the cup dispensing mechanism

The money exchange machine 1 is mounted on a plinth 2 On the front of the plinth is a lockable door 3 Inside this plinth which is the support for the change machine is the processor unit and power supply unit for the change machine, (not shown) There is also a storage space available for spare cups All are accessible via the front door 3

The machine has an entry slot 4 to receive coins and another 5 to receive notes In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 a card entry slot 12 is present to receive a charge card A display screen 13 is present above the card slot and a touch pad 14 is present below the card slot The mechanism for handling, reading and debiting a charge card need not be described as it is well known.

A verification device, not shown, is associated with each entry slot. A number of hoppers, not shown, are mounted in the machine, each containing coins of different denomination.

As shown in Figure 2 a chamber 6 is present inside the machine 1 and access to the chamber 6 is through a lockable door 7. The chamber may be integrally made with the rest of the machine or it may be a separate detachable unit.

The chamber holds one or more vertical stacks of cups 8, which are dispensed one at a time, by a dispenser 9 and the cups exit through a slot 10 and each sits at position 11 , e.g. a tray area ready to be filled with coins. The actuation of the cup dispensing mechanism is known, and one example is shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figure 5, the chamber 6 is a steel enclosure to carry the plastic cups. The cups 8 are loaded in vertical stacks 11 within frame F. The cups 8 are driven from left to right by plate 12 which is pulled along by belt 13, when motor 14 is energised. The cups 8 are driven to the right hand side, past gate 15, until they touch microswitch (not shown). In this position they are over dispenser body 16. On insertion of a coin, a cup 8 is dispensed, and coins of small denomination are fed into the cup 8 from hoppers (not shown). This can be repeated until the last cup in the vertical stack 11 over the dispenser is used. Then a microswitch 17 opens, and the motor 14 is energised to pull belt 13 along with plate 12. This forces the cups past gate 15, which closes when contact is made with the first microswitch. This allows only one stack 11 of cups 8 over dispenser 16 at any one time. In use, the operator fills the hoppers with the respective coins and the container 6, with plastic or paper cups, in this example the hoppers all hold the same type of coin, e g all 2ps The user places his money in slot 4, a cup automatically appears at position 11 and the hoppers are engaged and coins are immediately fed into the waiting cup He wastes no time collecting loose coins out of a payout tray, and the cups are held out of view and access, and are dispensed automatically, one being dispensed at any one time The apparatus is quick, say 1 coin vend every 5 or 6 seconds

Example 1

On insertion of a £1 coin, a cup appears in front of the user and 50 x 2p pieces are dispensed into the cup A 50p insertion would give 25 x 2p into a cup

Example 2

On insertion of a charge card into the card entry slot, the amount held on the card is read and displayed on the screen The user selects, by using the touch pad, the amount to be debited to the card When the user confirms his selection, a cup appears in front of him, and 2p pieces equivalent to the debited amount are dispensed into the cup, as described in relation to Example 1

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown For example all the hoppers may connect to a common outlet so that the cup can be placed in one position only, to receive coins from one or more hoppers, the cabinet may have attractive flashing lights and the like. Advertising matter may be printed on the cup, players may retain it as a lucky cup

Claims

Apparatus for use in dispensing a predetermined number of coins, comprising

reception means for receiving a note, token or coin of high denominational value, and/or a card slot for receiving a charge card,

means for determining the value of the note, token, coin or charge card received and for calculating the number of small denominational coins to equivalent value,

means for dispensing a container to receive the small denominational coins from a closed chamber housing a supply of such containers, and

means for dispensing the small value coins into a container for presentation to a user

Apparatus according to Claim 1 , wherein the chamber is an integral part of the apparatus

Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber is lockable