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(11) | EP 1 628 266 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Entertainment machine coin sorter |
| (57) An entertainment machine coin sorter having, to the side of the inlet, a shutter
with a ramp which, according to the position thereof, leads the coins according to
how they have been previously sorted towards a single outlet track or towards an area
where three coin outlets are arranged, this area having two shutters operated by means
of the corresponding coils which, according to the position thereof, will guide the
coins towards one of the three arranged outlets according to their sorting. When the
shutter with the ramp is in its rest position, the ramp is withdrawn and it does not
intercept the direct vertical drop of the coin, guidance of the coins towards the
outlet being established when said shutter is in its rest position, whereas when it
is in its operative position the coins are intercepted by the ramp and they have access
to the diverting area where the three accepted coin sorting outlets are arranged.
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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention refers to an entertainment machine coin sorter, and more specifically for those machines which are coin-operated to provide a product or to give prizes, etc., a sorter having the particularity that it has a coin inlet slot and four possible outlets for other types of coins, according to their value.
[0002] The object of the invention is to provide a structurally simple coin sorter with reliable functionality and several outlets that logically determine the sorting of the coins introduced through the single inlet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are numerous types of coin sorters applied in coin-operated machines, and in that sense Spanish patents of invention P 8700623, P 8900161 and utility model P 9202299, can be cited. All these documents disclose coin sorters with a common inlet and several outlets, having shutters that swing by means of sets of connecting rods and operated by means of electromagnetic devices such as coils, electromagnets, etc.
[0004] These documents, and specifically patent of invention 8700623, disclose a casing in which the passages are arranged such that this casing swings in order to be able to establish certain positions and thus sort the coins, requiring remarkable complexity since the entire casing must move and more importantly, a high manufacturing cost as well as the fact that the sorter assembly is subject to possible breakdown and/or malfunction.
[0005] In the also mentioned patent of invention 8900161, eight outlet tracks and a common inlet track are arranged such that the constitution is based on four passages corresponding to as many sorters and suitable swinging means, and they enable obtaining four other complementary passages and thus obtaining eight sorting tracks. This device or sorter is complex by virtue of the means that must be assembled in order to obtain the eight sorting tracks.
[0006] Finally, and although simpler than in the previous case, the sorter in utility model 920299 also includes complicated elements for carrying out the swinging of the shutters, giving rise to the coins being projected towards one or another sorting track or chute.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Considering the drawbacks and problems with the devices discussed in the previous section, the proposed sorter is structured such that its constructive simplicity is evident as well as functional.
[0008] More specifically, the sorter of the invention, formed from a casing with a common coin inlet, has the particularity of including a first swinging shutter which, according to its position, leads the coin towards a single direct vertical outlet or diverts the coins towards areas where two other shutters swing in order to divert the coins towards three different outlets, according to the position of these two previously mentioned shutters, such that said three shutters are operated in all cases by means of their corresponding electromagnetic coils.
[0009] The first shutter defines a ramp at the bottom portion which, according to its position and as was just described, leads the coins to a first direct vertical outlet, or the coins are diverted towards the area where, according to the position of the other two shutters which in this case are straight, they may have access to any of the three shutters arranged as the result of the positioning of said two straight shutters in one manner or another.
[0010] In this case, the straight shutters swing solely and exclusively through the corresponding confiecting rods linked to the actuation coils, whereas the shutter with the ramp can also be operated through a coil.
[0011] When a specific coin out of the four possible coins admitted passes, this ramp shutter is located in the rest position and as a result has swung towards the interior of the panel holding it and functioning as its support on the rotation or pivot shafts, such that the ramp is thereby withdrawn and allows the coin to freely pass towards the first straight and vertical outlet; in contrast, when the coin that passes through is one of the three remaining possible coins admitted, the coil is actuated, making the shutter swing and, as a result, the ramp shifts and prevents the vertical passage of the coin, and it leads it laterally towards the area where the two shutters act, which will place the coin in one of the three outlet positions, according to the type of coin in question.
[0012] In another main or first shutter embodiment variant, a side opening parallel to the previously discussed ramp is arranged, therefore when the shutter is in the rest position, the coins are diverted by means of the ramp towards the sorting area of the subsequent three outlets, whereas when the shutter is in the operative position, it swings and the ramp shifts and is withdrawn such that it does not prevent the coins from directly accessing the first straight vertical access, indicating that if coins of a certain value are introduced in this case, the corresponding coil is actuated, the shutter swings and the coin is led to the first vertical outlet, whereas if the coin is of one of the other three remaining values, then the corresponding coil remains at rest and, with it, the shutter leads the accepted coins towards the subsequent sorting area by means of the ramp.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] To complement the description being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof is attached as an integral part of said description, in which the following is shown with an illustrative and non-limiting nature:
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the coin sorter object of the invention, with the common top inlet, the four outlets arranged at the bottom and the outlet arranged in the front.
Figure 2 shows a top perspective view of the coin sorter object of the invention without its top cover in order to see the swinging shutters and the coin inlet, as well as the straight shutter actuation coils.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view such as that shown in the previous figure, seeing in this case a sectioned side portion so as to see the inlet shutter in the inoperative position.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the shutter including the sorter represented in the two previous figures.
Figure 5 shows an embodiment alternative for the shutter shown in the previous figure.
Figure 6 shows top plan and front elevational views of the sorter represented in Figure 1 with the shutters and ramp arranged so as to guide the coins through the front outlet.
Figure 7 shows top and bottom plan views of the sorter represented in Figure 1 with the shutters and ramp arranged so as to guide the coins through the bottom right outlet (5).
Figure 8 shows top and bottom plan views of the sorter represented in Figure 1 with the shutters and ramp arranged so as to guide the coins through the bottom left outlet (4).
Figure 9 shows a sectional view corresponding to the A-A section line of Figure 6, allowing seeing the inlet shutter in the operative position, that is, swung due to the action of its associated coil, and in its rest position with the dashed lines, with the coin (3') dropping through the vertical outlet (3).
[0014] Finally, Figure 10 shows a sectional view corresponding to the B-B section line of Figure 6, showing the straight shutters in their rest position.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In view of the figures discussed and especially Figure 1, it can be observed how the coin sorter object of the invention is formed from a casing in which coin inlets (2) are arranged on the top portion, whereas the bottom portion includes four coin outlets corresponding to reference numbers (3), (4), (5) and (6), the guidance of four coins of different, values corresponding to reference numbers (3'), (4'), (5') and (6') through each of said outlets being provided.
[0016] On the other hand, provided to the side of the coin inlet (2) there is a swinging shutter (7) that is represented separately in Figure 4, this shutter (7) being provided with a bottom ramp (8), the free side of which has a vertical drop (9) such that the coins (3') introduced through the inlet, when said shutter (7) operated by means of an electric coil stays at rest, directly access the drop (9) which is the coin outlet (3) direction, indicating that when a certain coin (3') is introduced, the coil operating said shutter (7) stays inactive and the coin moves towards the drop (9), whereas when coins are inserted that are accepted by the coin sorter, such as coins (4'), (5') or (6'), then the sorter CPU sends the appropriate orders and the coil is actuated, operating the shutter (7), making it swing so that the coins enter the ramp (8) and access the area where they are to be diverted towards one of the outlets (4), (5) or (6), depending on the position occupied by the corresponding straight shutters (11) and (12), which are operated by respective coils (13) and (14), which coils are linked to corresponding connecting rods (15) and (16) through which the swinging of said shutters (11) and (12) is carried out.
[0017] According to these features, when a coin of features (4'), (5') or (6') has been introduced in the inlet (2) of the sorter, the shutter (7) swings because its corresponding coil has been actuated, making said coin be diverted towards the area where shutters (11) and (12) are located, such that depending on the size and features of the coin, either of the coi.ls (13) and (14) will be actuated, making either of the shutters (11) and (12) swing and allow, according to the position occupied due to the swinging thereof, the coins to be guided towards one of the outlets (4), (5), or (6), such that the coins (4') will have access to the outlet (4) when the shutter (11) is in the rest position and the shutter (12) swings downwardly, whereas the diverting of the coins (5') towards the outlet (5) will be carried out when the two shutters (11) and (12) are at rest. When shutter (12) is at rest and shutter (11) is swung forward, the coins (6') will be guided towards outlet (6).
[0018] In an embodiment variant shown in Figure 5, the swinging shutter provided to the side of the coin inlet (2) has a body (7') with its ramp (8') separate from the wall corresponding to the shutter (7'), defining an opening or window leading to the drop (9'); in the rest position the shutter (7') allows direct access of entering coins (4'), (5') or (6') and they slide through the ramp (8') towards the area where shutters (11) and (12) are located to achieve deviation of said coins towards any of the three outlets (4), (5) or (6), whereas when a coin of a certain value (3') is introduced, the corresponding coil acts on the shutter (7'), swinging it and making the ramp (8') shift, and the coin (3') does not encounter obstacles to the vertical drop (9), that is, towards the sorter outlet (3).
1. An entertainment machine coin sorter, being applicable in coin-operated machines,
the sorter including a general casing in which a single coin inlet (2) and several
outlets (3), (4), (5), (6) are arranged according to the operation of a series of
shutters, characterized in that provided to the side of the inlet (2) a shutter (7, 7') with a ramp (8, 8') has been
provided which, according to the position of said shutter (7, 7'), guides the coins
(3'), (4'), (5'), (6') according to how they have been previously sorted towards a
single outlet track (3) or towards an area where three coin outlets (4), (5), (6)
are arranged, having two shutters (11) and (12) in this area operated by means of
the corresponding coils (13) and (14) which, according to the position thereof, will
guide the coins (3'), (4'), (5'), (6') towards one of the three arranged outlets (4),
(5), (6) according to their sorting.
2. An entertainment machine coin sorter according to claim 1, characterized in that when the swinging shutter arranged to the side of the coin inlet (2) is in its rest
position, the ramp (8) is withdrawn and does not intercept the direct vertical drop
of the coin (3'), (4'), (5'), (6'), the guidance of the coins (3'), (4'), (5'), (6')
towards said outlet (3) being established in the rest position of the swinging shutter
(7), whereas in the operative position the coins (3'), (4'), (5'), (6') are intercepted
by the ramp (8) and they have access to the diverting area where the accepted coin
sorting outlets (4), (5), (6) are located.
3. An entertainment machine coin sorter according to the previous claims, characterized in that the shutters (11) and (12) establishing the diverting of the accepted coins (4'),
(5'), (6') towards one of the three sorting outlets (4), (5), (6) are straight, and
are linked to the corresponding actuation coils (13), (14) by means of respective
connecting rods (15, (16).
4. An entertainment machine coin sorter according to the previous claims, characterized in that the swinging shutter (7') provided at the coin inlet (2) has an opening or window
(9') between its corresponding ramp (8') and the shutter (7') itself allowing passage
of the coins (3'), (4'), (5'), (6') towards the first, direct and vertical outlet
(3) when said swinging shutter (7') is in the operative position due to the actuation
of said shutter by the corresponding coil, whereas when said shutter is in the rest
or inoperative position, the coins (3'), (4'), (5'), (6') are intercepted by the ramp
(8') so as to be diverted towards an area where the two sorting shutters (11), (12)
of the three coin outlets (4), (5), (6) are located.