Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
  • G07D9/00—Counting coins; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • G07D9/008—Feeding coins from bulk

Definitions

• the present invention concerns improvements relating to coin dispensing, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to a coin dispensing hopper incorporating an improved dispensing mechanism for dispensing coins.
• coin is used in its broadest sense throughout this specification and encompasses not only monetary coins but also tokens, medals and other similar discoid bodies.
• a key function of coin dispensing hoppers (which are simply referred to as hoppers hereafter) is to extract single coins from a bulk of coins they retain within them, for example to dispense the coins from vending, gaming or change-giving machines.
• the prior art shows a variety of approaches to providing this coin extraction functionality. Many hoppers rely on a rotating, planar coin disk which, with the help of centrifugal forces, dispenses coins disposed on the coin disk from an outlet situated near the periphery of the coin disk. Examples of such prior art structures are discussed in greater detail below.
• An alternative approach involves the provision of a base plate and a rotating coin disk comprising several coin apertures, hi such hopper structures, coins are generally held within the coin apertures of the coin disk, forced against a barrier by the movement of the coin disk and subsequently dispensed through peripheral openings in the coin disk.
• An example of a hopper that utilises a coin disk comprising coin apertures is described in UK Patent Application GB 2352862.
• vending machines comprising a universal hopper generally include means of identifying and sorting as appropriate the different kinds of coins dispensed from the hopper.
• the internal mechanisms of a universal hopper must be configured to dispense individually, quickly and reliably coins having a variety of diameters, thicknesses, and sometimes even shapes (not all coins are strictly discoid - they may, for example, also be hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal).
• One of the biggest challenges that must be overcome is the specific requirement for coins to be dispensed individually which arises, for example, because most coin sorting and identifying mechanisms, i.e. the mechanisms generally located immediately downstream of a universal hopper, only work reliably when supplied with a stream of individual (single) coins.
• a key problem that is well documented in the prior art is that where a hopper's internal coin extraction mechanism is set up to extract coins of a comparatively greater thickness it is possible for two coins of a comparatively lower thickness to stack on top of each other to be dispensed in combination (i.e. not individually, as required) because they mimic the shape of a single thicker coin.
• the double coin problem A great deal of prior art attempts to deal with the problem of stacks of two or more thinner coins mimicking a thicker coin in universal hoppers (hereinafter referred to as "the double coin problem").
• the double coin problem generally forces a compromise having to be struck between (i) the variety of coins that can be processed in a given hopper and (ii) the mechanical complexity, and hence associated cost and reliability, of the internal parts of the hopper.
• European Patent Publication EP 0017610 describes a device for separating single coins from a bulk of coins comprising thick coins of a large diameter and thin coins of a small diameter.
• the device is of the rotatable planar disk type discussed above.
• a first spring biased coin stripping arm is mounted above the coin disk at a height which allows the thick coins to pass underneath the first arm (when the coins are supported in a horizontal position on the coin disk) but prevents the passage stacks of two or more thick coins or the combination of a thick coin and a thin coin.
• the apparatus of EP 0017610 comprises a second coin stripping arm mounted above the coin disk, downstream of the first stripping arm.
• the second coin stripping arm is formed by two spring-biased arm parts having shapes that are specifically adapted to recognise the diameter of approaching coins: the second coin arm is caused to lift and allow the passage of thick, large diameter coins but not of stacks of small diameter coins.
• the apparatus of EP 0017610 is capable of preventing the passage of stacks of thin coins on to its exit conveyer belt based on the assumption that thin coins have a smaller diameter than thick coins.
• EP 0017610 only offers a very limited solution to the double coin problem.
• the device of EP 0017610 must be configured precisely to correspond to the dimensions of the coins that are to be processed. Configuration applies not only to the respective heights of the first and second stripping arms but also to the specific length and shape of the various parts of the second stripping arm.
• the solution of EP 0017610 is only applicable where thinner coins indeed have a smaller diameter than thicker coins, which is not given in many monetary systems around the world.
• EP 0017610 does support a limited amount of variation in coin dimensions, it does not completely fulfil needs in this respect. Nevertheless, what little flexibility EP 0017610 offers in terms of coin dimensions comes at a heavy price in the context of complexity of design.
• the device of EP 0017610 comprises a large number of small components and the structure of the second stripping arm in particular is complicated and sensitive. This in turn means that the device of EP 0017610 is expensive to manufacture and maintain and likely to be relatively vulnerable to faults and wear and tear.
• a second solution proposed by the prior art is disclosed in DE 333 0441.
• a planar coin disk structure configured for a two stage process of stripping to prevent the passage of coin stacks is envisaged.
• a first, rigid stripping arm performs an initial stripping function which is augmented by a second coin stripping arm downstream.
• the second coin stripping arm is formed as a row of balls which are resiliently mounted close above the coin disk. The balls are mounted at a height just greater than the thickness of the thinnest coins processed by the device and are deflected upwards by any passing single thick coins, in use, whilst stripping any stacks of coins that pass the first stripping arm.
• DE 333 0441 is more versatile than that of EP 0017610 in that it does not rely on the premise that thick coins have a larger diameter than thin coins. Nevertheless, it requires painstaking calibration of the first and second stripping arms to take into account the specific dimensions of the range of coins that is processed. The distance between the balls, for instance, is dependent on the diameter of the processed coins. It will be appreciated that the need for calibration in turn has an effect on the level of maintenance required; faults are more likely to occur, particularly since margins are fine and moving parts are involved. There is also potential for coins to get wedged under the non-biased first stripping arm.
• the row of balls acting as the second stripping arm in particular is expensive to manufacture and replace (as would be necessary if the diameter of processed coins were to vary).
• DE 333 0441 supports a greater variation in coin dimensions, it is possibly even harder to maintain, configure and manufacture, largely as a result of the row of balls.
• a further prior art system again having a planar coin plate structure is disclosed in US 4657035.
• a second stripping system comprising a narrow stripping arm and a conveyor belt is employed downstream of a first coin stripper.
• the narrow stripping arm diverts the lowermost coin in any stack towards the coin exit of the device whilst the conveyer belt acts to force any superposed coins away from the exit, thus stripping them away.
• the prior art does not disclose a truly satisfactory (i.e. simple, effective and reliable) solution to the double coin problem.
• Prior art devices are all either inflexible in their intake of coins or highly complex, or both.
• most prior art devices must be carefully configured to match the coins that they are to process, which in turn leads to high maintenance costs and greater fault vulnerability.
• the vast majority of prior art solutions for the double coin problem are only suitable for use in planar coin disk type hoppers.
• hoppers that rely on a coin disk with apertures cannot at present be equipped with a system that would allow them to function effectively as universal hoppers, which are required to dispense a wide variety of coins individually.
• the prior art solutions to the double coin problem require too much space in order to work effectively in combination with a hopper relying on a coin disk with coin apertures.
• the present invention broadly resides in a mechanism for separating single coins from a plurality of coins provided within a coin dispensing apparatus, the mechanism comprising: a housing defining a coin dispensing path, coin transport means for urging coins along the coin dispensing path; and first and second biased coin stripping members located adjacent each other and disposed successively in the coin dispensing path at an outlet of the coin dispensing mechanism, the members together comprising a double outlet gate with each member being movable independently of the other by each urged coin to effect, in use, alignment and stripping of coins being separated.
• outlet of the coin dispensing mechanism in this context refers to a point of the mechanism at which the single coins are separated from the plurality of coins.
• the mechanism according to the first aspect of the invention provides an effective and mechanically simple solution to the double coin problem. It can be applied to coins of any size or shape but is yet less mechanically complex than prior art solutions. Further, the mechanism according to the first aspect of the invention is very compact and may therefore be combined with a wide variety of hopper types.
• the coin transport means may optionally be arranged to urge coins along the coin dispensing path whilst the coins are in contact with the first and second stripping members.
• the coin transport means may, for example, urge the coins by actively pushing them at a position opposed to the leading face of the urged coins.
• the coin transport means may further comprise a rotatable disk containing one or more coin-retaining apertures, the disk being provided adjacent a coin source for filling the or each aperture; and a deflecting member arranged to divert, in use, coins located in the or each aperture along the coin dispensing path.
• a motor arranged to drive the rotatable disk.
• the transport means may preferably comprise urging means on the rotatable disk, the urging means being arranged to cooperate with the deflecting member to urge a coin located in a coin-retaining aperture along the coin dispensing path by rotation of the disk.
• the urging means and the deflecting member may, for example, comprise complementary meshed formations enabling continuous relative rotational movement between the urging means and the deflecting member.
• the deflecting member may be arranged to contact only one coin at a time, in use, and/or to divert only one coin at a time, in use.
• the deflecting member may be spring biased and movable into a retracted position.
• the deflecting member may, for example, be pivotable about an elongate pin between a deflecting position and the retracted position.
• the first stripping member may be provided to block the coin dispensing path and comprise a first coin contacting surface that is arranged, in use, to translate an urging force of an urged coin into a displacement force that displaces the first stripping member out of the coin dispensing path.
• the first coin contacting surface may preferably be tapered and arranged, in use, to engage urged coins travelling along the coin dispensing path.
• the first stripping member may have an arcuate shape and the tapered first contacting surface may have a concave shape.
• the second stripping member may preferably be provided to block the coin dispensing path and comprise a second contacting surface that is arranged, in use, to translate an urging force of an urged coin into a displacement force that displaces the second stripping member out of the coin dispensing path.
• the second contacting surface may, for example and advantageously, be tapered and arranged, in use, to engage urged coins travelling along the coin dispensing path which have cleared the first stripping member.
• the second stripping member may have an arcuate shape and the tapered second contacting surface may have a concave shape.
• first and second stripping members may complement each other.
• first and second stripping members may each comprise respective first and second ends and may be held in place by spring biased support posts mounted at their respective first and second ends.
• the first and second stripping members may comprise a flexible material chosen from the group of: metals, polymers, and carbon fibre.
• the coin mechanism according to the first aspect of the invention may advantageously be incorporated in coin hoppers and vending machines.
• a coin dispensing mechanism for use in dispensing single coins from a plurality of coins provided within a coin dispensing apparatus, the mechanism comprising; a motor-driven rotatable disk containing a plurality of coin-retaining apertures; the disk being provided adjacent a coin source for filling the apertures; a coin outlet provided adjacent a side of the disk in operative co-operation with the plurality of apertures in use; an urging member arranged to divert a first single coin located in one of the plurality of apertures in a radial path to the coin outlet; and a resiliently biased displaceable door, closing the coin outlet until the door is engaged and opened by an edge of a coin being diverted; the coin then in use being urged past the door; whereby the urging member and the door are arranged to prevent a second or subsequent coin from passing the door simultaneously with the first coin.
• a coin dispensing apparatus for dispensing single coins from a plurality of coins, the apparatus comprising: a coin source; a motor driven rotatable disk containing a plurality of coin retaining apertures; means for feeding coins from the source into the plurality of apertures; a coin outlet provided adjacent a side of the disk in operative co-operation with the plurality of apertures in use; an urging member arranged to divert a first single coin located in one of the plurality of apertures in a radial path to the coin outlet; and a resiliently biased gating member, gating the coin outlet until the gating member is engaged and lifted by an edge of a coin being diverted; the coin then in use being urged past the gating member; whereby the urging member and the gating member are arranged to prevent a second or subsequent coin from passing the gating member simultaneously with the first coin.
• singulator is used herein to refer to the resiliently biased door or gating member mentioned above.
• means are provided to identify accurately different types of coins, and therefore their respective values, by their diameters so that a plurality of different types of coins can be additionally accrued to achieve a predetermined pay out total.
• Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a hopper comprising a coin dispensing mechanism, according to a first embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2 is an enlarged, partially open top view, without coins, of the coin dispensing mechanism of the hopper of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 a is a partial sectional view along an imaginary line X-X indicated in Figure 2;
• Figure 3b is the same view as Figure 3 a further including a vertical coin to illustrate coin jamming
• Figure 4 is a partial sectional view along an imaginary line A-A indicated in Figure 2;
• Figures 5a to 5f are a series of operational sectional views of the coin dispensing mechanism of Figure 2, including aligned coins;
• Figures 6a to 6c are a series of partial operational sectional views of the coin dispensing mechanism of Figure 2, including unaligned coins.
• a coin dispensing hopper 2 comprising a housing 4, a coin store 6 for holding a bulk of coins, a coin dispensing mechanism 8 for separating and dispensing single coins from the bulk of coins, and a coin exit 10 from which the single coins are dispensed.
• the coin store 6 is defined by the housing 4 and is essentially bowl shaped. It comprises a number of side walls 5 and a lower surface 12 towards which the bulk of coins held by the coin store 6 is drawn by gravity if the hopper 2 is positioned in its intended orientation.
• the coin store 6 comprises a coin inlet 14 through which coins are provided.
• the coin dispensing mechanism 8 is located on the lower surface 12 of the coin store 6 in order to be able to take in and process any coins that are provided in the coin store 6. Since the coins naturally fall to the bottom of the hopper 2, the coin dispensing mechanism 8 is always supplied with any coins that may be present in the coin store 6, provided that the hopper 2 is positioned in its intended orientation.
• any coins provided in the coin store 6 enter the coin dispensing mechanism 8 via a circular coin disk 16 of the coin dispensing mechanism 8.
• Further key components of the coin dispensing mechanism 8 are, with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4: a base plate 18 that supports the coin disk 16 and other components; an annular, upstanding ridge structure 20 that surrounds the coin disk 16 but defines a coin passage 22 within the annular ridge structure for coins exiting the coin disk 16; a segmented diverting rib (diverter) 24 for deflecting coins, two singulators 26, 28 arranged within the coin passage 22 to prevent the dispensing of double coins, and a coin dispensing channel 30 which serves to lead single coins from the end of the coin passage 22 to the coin exit 10 of the hopper 2.
• a base plate 18 that supports the coin disk 16 and other components
• an annular, upstanding ridge structure 20 that surrounds the coin disk 16 but defines a coin passage 22 within the annular ridge structure for coins exiting the coin disk 16
• FIG. 2 and 4 A detailed view of the structure of the coin mechanism's coin disk 16 is provided in Figures 2 and 4.
• the coin disk 16 is supported above the base plate 18 (which in this embodiment is integral with the lower surface 12 of the coin store 6) and is operatively linked to a motor 32 via a central axis 34 extending through the base plate 18.
• the gap 36 between the coin disk 16 and the base plate 18 is marginally greater than the thickness of the thickest coin that is to be processed by the hopper 2.
• the coin disk 16 comprises an outer edge 38, a lower surface 40 facing towards the base plate 18, an upper surface 42 facing away from the base plate 18, and four equally spaced, circular apertures 44 having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the largest coins to be processed by the hopper 2.
• Each of the apertures 44 extends from the upper surface 42 through to the lower surface 40 of the disk 16 and thus, in the absence of coins, the base plate 18 is visible through the coin disk 16 via the apertures 44, in the view of Figure 2.
• the apertures 44 in the disk 16 are equally spaced, they give rise between them to four equally spaced bridges 46 where, on its upper surface 42, the coin disk 16 extends continuously from the central axis 34 to its outer edge 38.
• each of the transport ribs 48 comprises three gaps 49 and thus has a comb shape that is complementary with the segmented diverting rib (diverter) 24 which projects from the base plate 18 towards the coin disk 16 and is described further below.
• each transport rib is arranged to be at first, second and third radii from the central axis 34 so that they define first, second and third annular channels in the coin disk 16 surrounding the central axis 34 at the first, second and third radii.
• the base plate 18 supports not only the rotatable coin disk 16 but also a number of other components.
• it carries the annular ridge structure 20 that surrounds the coin disk 16, the segmented diverting rib (diverter) 24, and two singulators 26, 28.
• the annular ridge structure 20 enables coins to be held underneath the coin disk 16 during rotation of the disk 16.
• the ridge structure 20 counteracts the centrifugal forces experienced by coins as the coin disk 16 rotates and ensures that coins are only dispensed via a single outlet 22.
• a secondary function of the ridge structure 20 is that it houses the singulators 26, 28, which are described in detail below.
• the annular ridge structure 20 immediately surrounds the outer edge 38 of the coin disk 16 and projects to approximately the same height as the coin disk 16.
• the ridge structure 20 comprises inner and outer annular, concentric walls 50, 52 which project substantially perpendicularly from the base plate 18, and an upper wall 54 which is substantially parallel to the base plate 18 and connects the inner and outer walls 50, 52 at their upper ends, i.e. the ends facing away from the base plate 18.
• the three walls 50, 52, 54 of the ridge structure 20 define, within the ridge structure 20, an annular chamber 56 that is concentric with the coin disk 16.
• the inner wall 50 comprises a sole coin outlet gap 58 which allows the controlled passage, through the inner wall 50, of coins which are propelled radially outwards from the coin disk 16.
• a further corresponding outlet gap 60 is formed in the outer wall 52 of the ridge structure 20 so that a coin passage 22, leading radially outwards from the coin disk 16, across the chamber 56, is defined.
• the coin outlet gap 58 of the inner wall 50 is sized so as to allow the passage of coins resting in a fiat position on the base plate 18 through the coin passage 22.
• the size of the coin outlet gap 58 is defined by the size of a portion of the inner wall 50 of the ridge structure 20 which extends from the upper wall 54 of the ridge structure 20 towards the base plate 18.
• the lower edge 62 of this inner wall portion i.e. the edge facing the coin outlet gap 58, has a tapered edge to help avoid the problem of coins getting jammed between the inner wall 50, the coin disk 16 and the base plate 18 in use.
• the coin outlet gap 60 in the outer wall 52 has similar dimensions to the outlet gap 58 of the inner wall 50 but does not comprise tapered edges.
• the coin dispensing mechanism 8 comprises a spring-biased diverter 24 that actively diverts coins from the coin disk 16 into the coin passage 22.
• the spring-biased elongate diverter 24 comprises first, second and third plastic segments 64 which, in their biased position, are arranged to protrude from the base plate 18, underneath the coin disk 16 respectively along a line extending radially from the central axis 34 towards the coin passage 22.
• the segments 64 are arranged such that they deflect outwards, into the coin passage 22, coins which have fallen into the apertures 44 of the coin disk 16 and are being forced to slide along the base plate 18 in a circular motion by the action of the transport ribs 48 of the coin disk 16.
• the diverter 24 protrudes to a height that is lower than the thickness of the thinnest processed coin. As a result, only lowermost coins in a stack of coins held in an aperture 44 of the coin disk 16 are generally deflected into the passage 22 by the diverter 24.
• the diverter 24 and the transport ribs 48 are complementary: the first, second and third segments 64 of the diverter 24 project at positions corresponding to the first, second and third annular channels defined by the transport ribs 48. Equally, the gaps between the first second and third projecting segments 64 of the diverter 24 correspond to the raised sections of the transport ribs 48. In the absence of coins, the diverter 24 and the transport ribs 48 are therefore able to pass each other freely upon rotation of the coin disk 16. When coins are present, the transport ribs 48 and the diverter 24 combine to urge/propel them into the coin passage 22 in the ridge structure 20 as mentioned above.
• the segments 64 of the diverter 24 are joined together under the surface of the base plate 18 and are biased by a single spring 66 embedded within the base plate 18.
• the spring 66 acts to pivot the diverter into a protruding condition about an elongate pin but also allows it to pivot to a retracted position under the application of a sufficiently large force.
• the spring 66 is arranged to allow the entire diverter 24 to be pushed into a position where the diverter is flush with the surface of the base plate 18.
• Figure 3b illustrates how the spring bias of the diverter 24 avoids the problem of coin jams between the diverter 24 and the rotating coin disk 16, for instance because a coin 68 falls into a coin aperture 44 in a substantially vertical position, rather than in a flat position.
• the spring bias of the diverter 24 is selected such that, although the diverter 24 can be pushed into its retracted position to avoid jamming, it is also capable of diverting coins resting flatly on the base plate 18 without the risk of retraction. This functionality is facilitated by the fact that the forces involved in a coin jam are considerably higher than those needed for deflection. As discussed below, the spring bias of the diverter 24 is also selected to be greater than that of the spring biased singulators 26, 28.
• the components of the coin dispensing mechanism 8 described thus far are capable of collecting coins from the coin store 6 and transporting them, via the coin disk 16, the coin passage 22 and the coin dispensing channel 30 to the coin exit 10 of the hopper 2.
• the hopper 2 of this embodiment has the additional functionality of being able to guarantee that coins are dispensed one at a time and not in stacks, as would occasionally occur without further components.
• the coin mechanism 8 of the hopper 2 comprises, with reference to Figures 2 and 4, as further components supported by the base plate 18, inner and outer resiliently biased gating members 26 and 28 (referred to as inner and outer singulators or coin stripping members herein).
• the inner and outer singulators 26, 28 are oblong and arcuate in shape and are mounted, with the help of spring-biased supporting posts 70, within the annular chamber 56, between the outlet gaps 58, 60 formed in the inner and outer walls 50, 52 of the ridge structure 20, perpendicularly to, i.e. across, the coin passage 22.
• Both singulators 26, 28 of the embodiment are formed of a flexible metal.
• the inner singulator 26 has a concave inner surface 72, a convex outer surface 74, upper and lower surfaces, and first and second ends.
• the first and second ends are biased towards to the base plate by supporting posts 70, which are biased by springs 75 embedded in the base plate 18.
• the force exerted by the springs 75 of the supporting posts 70 is less than that exerted by the spring 66 of the diverter 24; this is to prevent the diverter 24 from being deflected into its retracted position merely as a result of the resistance encountered due to the inner singulator 26.
• the lower surface of the inner singulator 26 is held immediately adjacent to the base plate 18, whilst the concave inner surface 72 faces the coin disk 16 such that the singulator 26 is concentric with the inner and outer walls 50, 52 of the ridge structure 20. Since the curvature of the inner singulator 26 corresponds to the curvature of the annular ridge structure 20, the sinner singulator 26 fits lengthways into the annular chamber 56.
• the inner singulator 26 In the absence of coins, the inner singulator 26 is biased to block the entire width of the coin passage 22. However, to assist the inner singulator 26 with its function of allowing single coins to pass, a lower portion of the inner singulator' s inner concave surface 72 is tapered in the direction of the base plate 18. The working of the inner singulator 26 to allow the passage of single coins is described in greater detail below.
• the outer singulator 28 has a similar structure to the inner singulator 26 and is mounted in analogous fashion adjacent to the inner singulator 26, i.e. also across the coin passage 22 and with the help of spring biased posts 70. However the outer singulator 28 is slightly longer and slightly less curved than the inner singulator 26, and is mounted further towards the outlet gate 60 of the outside wall 52 of the ridge structure 20. Due to the slight difference in curvature between the outer and the inner singulator, the inner singulator's convex outward facing surface 74 fits the adjacent concave inward facing surface 76 of the outer singulator. In other words, the inner and outer arcuate singulators 26, 28 are mounted so as to be adjacent and concentric.
• the outer singulator 28 is also biased to block the coin passage 22 defined by the inner and outer walls 50, 52 of the ridge structure 20.
• the outer singulator's inner concave surface 76 is tapered in the direction of the base plate 18 to allow for the passage of single coins as described in greater detail below.
• the coin dispensing channel 30 which is defined by the housing 4 of the hopper, guides coins to the coin exit 10 of the hopper, from where they are dispensed.
• the inner and outer singulators 26, 28 form a resiliently biased double gate 78 that controls the passage of coins through the coin passage 22 defined by the ridge structure 20.
• the singulator double gate 78 only allows the passage of single coins which are supported on the base plate 18 in a flat configuration. Any superposed coins are stripped off and forced to wait so as to pass through the double gate individually.
• the tapering of the inner surface 72 of the inner singulator 26 enables a single coin 80, which is supported in a flat position on the base plate 18 and is forced against the inner surface 72 by the action of the coin disk 16 and the diverter 24, to engage and lift the inner singulator 26 against the force of the biased supporting posts 70, thereby gaining passage past the first singulator 26.
• the single coin 80 is also able to lift the second singulator 28 due to the tapered inner surface 76 of the second singulator 28.
• the tapered inner surfaces 72, 76 of the inner and outer singulators 26, 28 both act to translate some of the lateral force with which the coin 80 is pushed in the direction of the singulators 26, 28 into a perpendicular force that counteracts the bias of their respective singulator 26, 28 and thus opens the way for the single coin 80 to pass.
• a key point of note is that even whilst a coin 80 passes the singulators 26, 28, it maintains a link to the lateral force exerted by the diverter 24 and the transport ribs 48 of the coin disk 16. Thus, the diverter 24 and the transport ribs 48 continue to urge the single coin 80 through the singulators 26, 28 even when it is already in contact with the singulators 26, 28.
• the single coin 80 does not rely solely on its own momentum to pass the singulators 26, 28: it is actively urged past the singulators by the coin disk 16 and the diverter 24.
• any number of subsequent single coins can pass the singulators 26, 28 in the manner described above. Furthermore, it follows from the above description of the diverter 24 and the coin disk 16 that, generally speaking, only a single coin 80 resting on the base plate 18 is actively urged towards the singulators 26, 28: the diverter 24 only protrudes above the base plate 18 by a height which is marginally lower than the thickness of the thinnest processed coin, and thus only engages the lowermost coin 80 in each aperture 44 of the coin disk 16. Nevertheless, the applicant has found that due to centrifugal forces and the friction between superposed coins 82 mere are instances where stacks of two or more coins 80, 82 are urged towards the singulators 26, 28.
• singulators 26, 28 In the absence of singulators 26, 28, such stacks of coins, 80, 82 would be as a whole. However, the singulators 26, 28 perform a compact and efficient stripping function that prevents the passage of stacks 80, 82 into the coin dispensing channel 30.
• the first singulator 26 allows the passage of the lowermost coin 80 of the stack in the manner described above.
• Superposed coins 82 however are not urged towards the singulator 16 with the same force as the lowermost coin because they are not in contact with the diverter 24, which only projects as high as the thickness of the lowermost coin. Therefore superposed coins 82 do not possess sufficient lateral force to displace the inner singulator 26 against its spring bias so as to allow them to pass simultaneously with the lowermost coin 80.
• the superposed coin 80 immediately above it can drop to the level of the base plate 18 and thus benefits from the force applied by the diverter 24, allowing it to force open the singulator 26 and pass into the dispensing channel individually.
• the spring bias and tapered inner surface 72 of the of the inner singulator 26 allow the inner singulator 26 to align the superposed coin 82 with the lowermost coin 80 as shown in Figure 6b. Once alignment has occurred, the superposed coin 82 no longer directly benefits from the force applied by the diverter 24 to the lowermost coin 80 and is hence incapable of forcing the outer singulator 28 to open.
• the double gate of singulators 78 in combination with the selective force exerted by the diverter 24 and the coin disk 16, ensures that multiple coins in unaligned stacks 80, 82 cannot progress into the dispensing channel 30 simultaneously under any circumstances.
• the structure of the coin disk may, for instance, vary, as may the structure of the diverter.
• the coin disk may have more or less than four apertures, potentially even only a single aperture. Indeed, it is not even essential to the working of the singulators to employ an apertured coin disk as described; any transport means capable of actively urging only a lowermost coin towards the singulators is suitable for putting the singulators to use.
• the described apertured disc represents a particularly effective way of achieving this.
• the specific components described in respect of the preferred embodiment may be used selectively, or in a variety of combinations depending on the intended function of the hopper.
• a hopper comprises a coin dispensing mechanism broadly similar to that described above but wherein only one singulator is used to prevent the dispensing of double coins.
• the problem of coin jamming is avoided by urging only aligned coins into the sole singulator. Unaligned stacks of coins are avoided, for example, by configuring the coin disk and the ridge structure appropriately, or by building in a separate aligning means.

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• 2006
  • 2006-01-25 WO PCT/GB2006/000249 patent/WO2006079803A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-01-25 EP EP06703384A patent/EP1842168B1/de active Active
  • 2006-01-25 AU AU2006208918A patent/AU2006208918B2/en not_active Ceased

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