[0001] This invention relates to the dispensing of coins, and within the term coin we include
also tokens. Coins are dispensed as prizes in gaming and amusement machines and also
as change in vending machines and change-giving machines.
[0002] Although it is known to dispense coins from a hopper in which they lie in a random
heap and from which they are picked up by a rotating inclined disc, the most widely
used way of paying out coins is from a stack tube. In a stack tube, which is usually
vertical, the coins are stacked one above the other with their major faces horizontal
and a horizontally reciprocating solenoid-operated payout slide pushes the coins singly,
or sometimes two or more at a time, from the bottom of the stack. The tube is replenished
from the top, usually by coins paid in to operate the machine, and when the tube is
full the surplus coins fall down an overflow channel to a cash box.
[0003] These stack tubes take up a significant amount of space in the machine. In particular
in the case of gaming and amusement machines such as those known colloquially as fruit
machines they take up valuable space in the very region which is needed for the reel
mechanism and the display, as it is undesirable for the payout hopper, from which
the player picks up his winnings, to be lower than necessary.
[0004] Another drawback of the known stack tubes is that the solenoid that actuates the
payslide has to be powerful to overcome the frictional resistance engendered by the
substantial pile of coins above.
[0005] The aim of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks and offer a payout system
which is light to operate and can conveniently be incorporated into a machine in the
minimum of space.
[0006] According to the invention the stack tube of coin-dispensing apparatus is so constructed
and arranged that the coins to be dispensed are stacked not flat, but on edge, one
above the other with their flat faces in the same, substantially vertical planes.
[0007] The coins may be dispensed, as in the known arrangement, from the bottom of the stack
by a horizontally reciprocating payout slide. Preferably the slide moves in a horizontal
or substantially horizontal direction parallel to the flat faces of the coins, although
it would be possible to arrange it to move parallel to the axis of the coin to be
dispensed, making for a very short stroke.
[0008] Although such an arrangement takes up a much greater height, for a given number of
coins, than the orthodox arrangement, it has the great advantage that it takes up
very little width in one direction and according to a further important feature of
the invention full advantage is taken of this by forming the stack tube within, or
substantially within, the thickness of the wall of the machine. Moreover the drawback
of increased height is of less importance in the case of the current U.K. one pound
coins, which have a lower ratio of diameter to thickness than most coins and which
furthermore do not have to be stored in large numbers to achieve a reasonable payout.
[0009] Conventional fruit machines have cabinets made of chipboard or plywood and grooves
are already machined on the inside faces of the side walls to receive shelves and
other items so there is very little increase in cost in machining vertical or inclined
grooves of the thickness of a pound coin. The stack tubes can be formed of the material
of the wall itself with no separate lining, and it is only necessary to close off
the inner face of the groove with a flat sheet, for example of plastics, preferably
transparent, in order to form the tube at negligible cost.
[0010] Coins enter the top end of the tube from a validator of a known kind and at the bottom
end of the tube there is a slide which displaces the bottom coin laterally to allow
it to drop into a payout hopper. As soon as the bottom coin has been displaced a small
amount, the weight of the stack above acts to help further displacement, and so the
solenoid can be of lighter construction than those used hitherto.
[0011] An example of a coin dispensing arrangement according to the invention is illustrated
by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a stack tube and payout slide;
Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.
[0012] A tube 1 is formed as a shallow groove 2 machined in the side wall 3 of an amusement
machine, closed by a flat transparent plastics strip 4 attached to the side wall 3.
The upper part of the tube 1 is inclined and is joined by an overflow channel 5, similarly
formed, into which coins are directed when the tube is full. The lower part of the
tube is vertical and terminates in a slide 6 displaceable horizontally relative to
a stationary guide 7 by a solenoid 8 against the action of a spring 9. It will be
seen that only a short travel is necessary, around half the diameter of a coin, in
order to align the bottom coin 10 with an ejection chute 11 leading to a payout hopper
(not shown).
[0013] A conventional coin validator handles successive coins on edge and so coins can pass
direct from the validator into the upper end of the tube 1 without having to turn
and lie flat as in conventional stack tubes. This gives an added security against
jamming or other problems.
[0014] It would be possible, within the scope of the invention, to have two, or even more,
columns of coins side-by-side in the tube with the coins in each column on edge one
above another and to dispense the coins two or more at a time. In such an arrangement
each coin in one of the columns preferably has a flat face in contact with the flat
face of an adjacent coin in an adjacent column.
1. Coin-dispensing apparatus for a gaming machine, an amusement machine, a vending
machine or a change-giving machine which apparatus comprises a stack tube (1) in which
coins are stacked one above another and a horizontally reciprocating payout slide
(6) which is arranged to push one or more of the coins from the bottom of the stack,
characterised in that the stack tube (1) is so constructed and arranged that the coins
are stacked on edge one above another with their flat faces in the same, substantially
vertical planes.
2. Coin-dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the stack
tube (1) is of such a form as to allow two or more columns of coins to be stacked
side-by-side with the coins in each column on edge one above another.
3. Coin-dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that
the payout slide (6) is movable in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction
parallel to the flat faces of the coins.
4. Coin-dispensing apparatus according to claim l or claim 2 characterised in that
the payout slide (6) is movable in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction
perpendicular to the flat faces of the coins.
5. Coin-dispensing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised
in that the payout slide (6) is operated by a solenoid (8).
6. A gaming, amusement, vending or change-giving machine which includes, within its
housing, coin-dispensing apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
7. A machine according to claim 6 characterised in that the stack tube (1) is formed
within or substantially within the thickness of a wall (3) of the machine housing.
8. A machine according to claim 7 characterised in that the stack tube (1) comprises
a vertical groove (2) and/or an inclined groove provided in the inner surface of a
wall (3) of the machine housing.
9. A machine according to claim 8 characterised in that a flat strip or sheet (4)
is attached to the wall (3) of the housing to close off the groove (2).