IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO COIN DISPENSING APPARATUS

Description

[0001] This invention relates to coin dispensing apparatus and is concerned with the kind in which a mechanism at the base of a stack of coins withdraws or pushes out the coins one by one edgewise in a generally horizontal direction from the base of the stack, the latter indexing down under its own weight as the coins are removed into a delivery path.

[0002] Although reference is made throughout this specification to coins, it will be understood that the same principles apply to tokens.

[0003] Such apparatus is to be found in practically all amusement or gaming machines, particularly those known as fruit machines, which give a pay-out when a player achieves some objective.

[0004] Normally, the coins are delivered to an open pocket on the front of the machine cabinet, and to travel from the dispensing mechanism to that pocket they usually slide down a chute immediately after release from the mechanism. This arrangement means that the pocket is low down, for example just below normal waist height so that the player does not have to stoop to any extent to extract his winnings. The dispensing mechanism itself has to be clear of the reels of a fruit machine and their motors, and so it is generally set quite high up towards the rear of the cabinet. This is an advantage in that servicing the dispensing mechanism and filling it with coins to prime the machine, which is normally done through a rear entry door, is quite easy. However, if the mechanism is high up, the height of the stack of coins must be limited.

[0005] Nowadays, nearly all amusement and gaming machines are microprocessor controlled and the entire apparatus within the cabinet has shrunk to a substantial degree as compared with the old style electro-mechanical machines. However, the cabinets have remained substantially the same size, and so there is a considerable amount of free space within them. Therefore, there are no longer the constraints on positioning coin handling devices as there were at one time. A dispensing apparatus comprising a mechanism for withdrawing or pushing out coins one by one edgewise from the base of a stack of coins in a generally horizontal direction from the base of the stack is known from DE-A-3106298.

[0006] It is the aim of this invention to provide a more versatile coin delivery system.

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided coin dispensing apparatus comprising mechanism for withdrawing or pushing out coins one by one edgwise from the base of a stack of coins in a generally horizontal direction from the base of the stack, the latter indexing down under its own weight as the coins are removed into a delivery path, characterised in that the delivery path includes a track for guiding a continuous array of edge-to-edge coins, each coin being pushed by the adjacent upstream coin as the mechanism is operated.

[0008] The track may be level, it may undulate, or it may simply lead upwards, at least over part of its length. At the delivery end of the track, the coins may be arranged to topple over and fall down a chute, one by one. Thus, the coins can be pushed up to the height of the initial stack and beyond, which means that the apparatus can be set lower down in a gaming or amusement machine than was previously customary, but still deliver coins to a pocket at the conventional height.

[0009] The guide track may be of channel section with upwardly directed flanges to confine coins supported by the web of the section. Alternatively the guide track may comprise opposed channel sections open towards each other to receive edge portions of the coins. The fit will be free enough to ensure that the coins will not jam at the tightest part of the curve. With this arrangement, the radius of any upward curve can be rather less than with an open guide channel, and the coins can even be taken back towards the stack in a partly inverted state. Conveniently, the opposed channel sections are separated so that the middle portions of coins span a gap. This will make freeing any jam easier.

[0010] The guide track may be twisted or bent so that the centres of the coins do not remain in the same vertical plane. For example, the stack mechanism may push the coins out in a direction parallel to the face of the machine, and as it climbs the track may turn towards that face. In another arrangement the track may snake sideways in an S-bend. This may be done by making the track as an initially straight member of a material allowing it to be twisted or bent to the required configuration.

[0011] Downstream of the track the delivery path may include a coin accumulation chamber visible behind a window, there being means for releasing the coins in said chamber all at once to a manual collection pocket below.

[0012] With this arrangement, when there is a win, the pay out drops coin by coin into the chamber so that the player can see his win amassing. Then, when the full amount is there, the bottom of the chamber is released, the coins fall through, and the player can collect.

[0013] This arrangement is made particularly easy to achieve using the upward coin track, for the window must be above the collection pocket, which means that the coins must be delivered to an even higher point than usual.

[0014] For a better understanding of the invention, some embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of coin dispensing apparatus,

Figure 2 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an alternative section, to an enlarged scale, on the line II-II of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 shows diagrammatic plan views of various track configurations.

[0015] The apparatus has a coin dispenser 1 in which an upright tube 2 contains a stack of coins 3. At the bottom of the stack there is a mechanism 4 which when activated pushes the coins one by one from the bottom of the stack edgewise in a horizontal direction into a guide track 5. As each coin is removed, the stack indexes down under its own weight.

[0016] The track 5 curves upwardly, and its form is best seen in Figure 2. It comprises two opposed rail-like members 6 arranged in mirror image fashion. Each has a ledge 7 to support a respective edge portion of the coin 3, and each has an overhanging portion 8 to form a groove 9 to trap the edge of the coin. Thus, as the dispenser 1 delivers coins they form a train which is shunted up the curved track 5, each coin pushing the next one by its edge. At the top of the track 5 the coins topple over one by one into a chute 10. To prevent unauthorized extraction of coins, there will be an anti-tip device at this point so that if the machine in which the apparatus is installed is pulled over forwards or even inverted, coins lying waiting in the track 5 will not escape.

[0017] An alternative track 11 is shown in Figure 3, this being of shallow U-section with the coins resting on the web 12 and being confined between the flanges 13. This will generally be preferred where there is no slope or where it is not too steep and the curves are not too sharp.

[0018] The chute 10 leads to a chamber 14 which is closed on one side by a transparent window 15 situated on the front of the machine cabinet in easy view of the player. The chamber 14 has a trap door 16 at the bottom which can be operated by a device 17 on the completion of a pay out, allowing coins accumulated in the chamber 14 to fall into a pocket 18 to which the player has manual access.

[0019] Thus, when there is a win, the train of coins in the track 5 is indexed forwards and upwardly as the mechanism 4 is operated, and the appointed number of coins fall into the chamber 14 where the player can see his win accumulating. When all the coins are there, the device 17 is operated and the coins fall into the pocket 18 in a sudden cascade.

[0020] Figure 4 shows that the track from the foot of the coin tube 2 need not remain in the same vertical plane. It can deviate, and in Figure 4(a) the track 19 turns the coin path through 90° in the horizontal sense as it climbs to the delivery point. In Figure 4(b) the track 20 'snakes' to one side. These configurations can easily be achieved by using a slightly flexible channel section of plastics material, manufactured straight but distortable to forms with easy curves.

[0021] The examples described all have tracks which lead upwards over at least part of their length. But a level track, or one which undulates, may also be useful for conveying coins from a dispenser to a remote collection point without appreciable loss of height. These alternatives may also twist or bend to one side or the other.

Claims

1. Coin dispensing apparatus comprising mechanism (4) for withdrawing or pushing out coins one by one edgewise from the base of a stack of coins (3) in a generally horizontal direction from the base of the stack, the latter indexing down under its own weight as the coins are removed into a delivery path, characterised in that the delivery path includes a track (5,11,19,20) for guiding a continuous array of edge-to-edge coins, each coin being pushed by the adjacent upstream coin as the mechanism (4) is operated.

2. Apparatus as claimed in CLaim 1, characterised in that the track (5,11,19,20) guides the coins (3) in an upward direction over at least part of its length.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide track (11) is of channel section with upwardly directed flanges (13) to confine coins (3) supported by the web (12) of the section.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide track (5) comprises opposed channel sections (6) open towards each other to receive opposite edge portions of the coins (3).

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the channel sections (6) are separated so that the middle portions of the coins (3) span a gap.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the guide track (11,20) has a twist or bend therein so that the centres of the coins do not remain in the same vertical plane.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the track (19,20) is made as an initially straight member of a material allowing it to be twisted or bent to the required configuration.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the delivery path includes a coin accumulation chamber (14) visible behind a window (15), there being means (16) for releasing the coins (3) in said chamber all at once to a manual collection pocket (18) below.

Ansprüche

1. Münzenausgabegerät, umfassend einen Mechanismus (4) zu randweisem Entnehmen oder Ausstoßen von Münzen nacheinander von der Basis eines Münzenstapels (3) in von der Basis des Stapels aus allgemein waagerechter Richtung, wobei der besagte Stapel infolge seines Eigengewichts in Abwärtsrichtung vorgerückt wird, indem die Münzen in eine Ausgabebahn entfernt werden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Ausgabebahn eine Schiene (5, 11, 19, 20) zum Führen einer kontinuierlichen Reihe von randweise aneinander anschließenden Münzen umfaßt, wobei jede Münze bei Betätigung des Mechanismus (4) durch die anschließende danach befindliche Münze vorgeschoben wird.

2. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schiene (5, 11, 19, 20) die Münzen (3) über mindestens einen Teil ihrer Länge in einer nach oben gehenden Richtung führt.

3. Gerät nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Führungsschiene (11) einen U-Profil-Querschnitt mit sich nach oben erstreckenden Flanschen (13) besitzt, um durch den Steg (12) des Profils abgestützte Münzen (3) in Schranken zu halten.

4. Gerät nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Führungschiene (5) entgegengesetzte U-Profile (6) umfaßt, die zwecks Aufnahme entgegengesetzter Randteile der Münzen (3) aufeinander zu offen sind.

5. Gerät nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die U-Profile (6) getrennt sind, so daß die Mittelteile der Münzen (3) eine Lücke überbrücken.

6. Gerät nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Führungsbahn (11, 20) eine Verwindung bzw. Biegung enthält, so daß die Mittelpunkte der Münzen nicht in der gleichen senkrechten Ebene verbleiben.

7. Gerät nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schiene (19, 20) als eine anfänglich gerade Einheit aus einem Werkstoff gefertigt wird, der es gestattet, sie in die gewünschte Form zu verwinden bzw. zu biegen.

8. Gerät nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Ausgabebahn eine hinter einem Fenster (15) sichtbare Münzensammelkammer (14) umfaßt, wobei Mittel (16) zur gleichzeitigen Ausgabe der in der besagten Kammer enthaltenen Münzen (3) in eine darunter befindliche Tasche (18) für manuelle Aufnahme vorgesehen ist.

Revendications

1. Appareil distributeur de pièces de monnaie comprenant un mécanisme (4) pour sortir en les retirant ou en les poussant de chant des pièces de monnaie une par une de la base d'une pile de pièces (3) dans une direction généralement horizontale à partir de la base de la pile, cette dernière s'indexant vers le bas sous son propre poids au fur et à mesure que les pièces sont enlevées et placées dans un chemin de distribution, caractérisé en ce que le chemin de distribution comprend une piste (5,11,19,20) pour guider une rangée de pièces bord à bord, chaque pièce étant poussée par la pièce située immédiatement derrière elle au fur et à mesure que le mécanisme (4) est actionné.

2. Appareil selon Revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la piste (5,11,19,20) guide les pièces (3) dans une direction de bas en haut sur au moins une partie de sa longueur.

3. Appareil selon Revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la piste de guidage (11) a une section profilée en U ayant des bords relevés (13) pour maintenir les pièces (3) supportées par l'âme (12) du profilé.

4. Appareil selon Revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la piste de guidage (5) comporte des profilés en U opposés (6) ouverts l'un vers l'autre pour recevoir la partie du bord opposé des pièces (3).

5. Appareil selon Revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que les profilés en U (6) sont séparés de telle sorte que les parties centrales des pièces (3) comblent un espace.

6. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce que la piste de guidage (11,20) comporte une torsion ou une courbure de telle sorte que les centres des pièces ne restent pas dans le même plan vertical.

7. Appareil selon Revendication 6 caractérisé en ce que la piste (19,20) est constituée d'un élément de matériau initialement droit lui permettant d'être tordue ou courbée suivant la configuration requise.

8. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le chemin de distribution comporte une chambre d'accumulation des pièces (14) visible derrière une fenêtre (15), un moyen (16) étant prévu pour libérer simultanément toutes les pièces (3) contenues dans ladite chambre dans une poche de récupération (18) située en-dessous.

Drawing