UNITARY COIN DISPENSER AND UNITARY COIN DISPENSING METHOD USED BY SAID DISPENSER.

Abstract

 Unitary coin dispenser having an extraction disc (4) of the coins comprising holes for the transportation of the coins arranged according to a circular path. The holes are delimited by two radial retractable lateral partitions (15), each one of them separating two adjacent holes, which push and extract the coin (6) from the hole, and by two retractable limiting parts (7), one at each side of the hole, forming the external part of said holes, configuring each one of the holes with a substantially circular shape.
The present invention further consists of a method comprising a coin (6) collection stage with the retractable lateral partitions (15) and the retractable limiting parts (7) remaining in the extracted position, and a coin outlet stage with the limiting parts (7) and the retractable lateral partitions (15) being retracted according to a determined sequence so as to allow the extraction of said coin (6).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention refers to a coin dispenser, conceived to be used as a unitary coin provider in applications such as automatic vending machines, recreational machines, parking lot collection booths, etc.

[0002] The dispenser of the invention is of the type comprising a coin storage unit and a unitary coin extractor. More specifically, the dispenser of the invention is of the type whose extractor is constituted by a disc featuring holes where the coins are housed, prior to their extraction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Coin dispensers used as coin returners in change machines, recreational machines, vending machines, etc. are already known.

[0004] Patent document EP0957456B1 describes a coin return mechanism based on a rotating disc in which the coins are transported to the outlet, thanks to retractable blades that define holes where the coins are housed. This type of device is appropriate to extract different coins but it has the disadvantage that the holes must be large enough to house the coin with the largest diameter but without allowing two coins with smaller diameter to be housed together therein. This limitation produces the need for this coin dispenser to be modified depending on the range of coins with the largest and smallest diameter desired, being sometimes impossible to attain the compatibility of the coins with these two extreme diameters.

[0005] As regards EP00959437B1, it describes a coin dispenser which is also based on a rotating disc, but in this dispenser the holes are circular. This device has a better behaviour as regards the range of coin diameters but it has some limitation as regards coin thickness, so that if the coins are too thin two of them could be extracted or there may be an obstruction if the coins are thick.

[0006] In the mechanism described in US05295900 a disc of the type described in the aforementioned documents is used for the extraction of coins, in which retractable pivoting members are included defining the holes to house the coins. The mobility of the pivoting members is guaranteed through guides located on the rear part of the disc. The device described in this document has the same limitations as regards the range of diameters of the coins that can be extracted with a particular disc, thus, a specific disc is necessary for each size range of the coins to be extracted.

[0007] Finally, ES2199083A1 refers to a coin dispensing device in which retractable partitions are used to define the coin transporting holes, said partitions being hidden in the area next to the outlet thanks to a peripheral flange that pushes said partitions to the lower part of the disc. In the same way as it was indicated above, this device has the problems of a reduced range of coin diameters.

[0008] Therefore, it was desirable to provide a dispensing device that attained an efficient unitary delivery of coins avoiding the inconveniences existing in the aforementioned systems of the state of the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention solves the existing problems of the state of the art through a coin dispenser, of the type initially presented, attaining a reliable operation with a wide range of coins, both in diameter and thickness. Also, the coin dispenser of the invention has a simple and solid construction, which also facilitates its use in the applications requiring low cost and high reliability, such as for example parking lot collection booths, vending machines, recreational machines or slot machines, etc.

[0010] In the coin dispenser object of the present invention the coin extractor is constituted by a rotating disc activated by a gear reduction motor. On the extraction disc there are holes which will house the coins and transport them from the lower part, where they are housed, to the upper part, where there is an extraction trigger and a ramp defining the outlet of the coins. The extraction disc is located inside the hopper which functions as coin storage unit and in a position that is slightly leaning towards the rear part, to favour the stability of the transported coins.

[0011] In the coin dispenser of the invention, each one of the holes for the housing of the coins is defined by four retractable parts, which are of two different parts and shared in pairs by adjacent holes. The first type is radial, it is a retractable lateral partition, and laterally divides two adjacent holes. The second type is a retractable limiting part comprising three consistent flanges consisting of circular sectors, two towards the peripheral part of the disc and one towards its centre, oriented towards the inside of the hole, so that together with the lateral partitions, the hole adopts a circular shape and with the diameter of the coin with the maximum diameter, this diameter of the hole being smaller than the sum of the diameters of two coins with the minimum diameter allowed. The two retractable lateral partitions separating two adjacent holes are used to push and extract the coin of the hole, when the outlet position is reached through the rotation of the disc. The limiting parts, together with the radial partitions, form the hole for the housing of the coins so that it is not possible to house two coins with a greater diameter than the coin with the maximum diameter allowed. In this way, it is possible to increase the range of coins that can be dispensed with the same extraction disc. The aforementioned four parts, that is, the two limiting parts and the two retractable lateral partitions will be in an extracted position, that is, towards the coin holding hopper, during its collection and transporting towards the outlet phase, while they will be retracted in a particular order during the coin extraction phase.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is a unitary coin dispensing method, which uses the coin dispensing device described above, and in which each one of the holes completes a coin collection stage in the storage unit in which the retractable lateral partitions and the retractable limiting parts stay in an extracted position, and a stage in which the coin exits the outlet ramp, in which the limiting parts and the retractable lateral partitions are sequentially retracted, to allow the passage of said coin to the outlet ramp.

[0013] According to different embodiments of the unitary dispensing method, there exist different possible sequences in which the limiting parts and the lateral partitions are retracted to allow the passage of the coin to the outlet ramp.

[0014] In one of them, in the coin outlet stage, the flanges of the limiting parts are retracted first and the lateral partitions are retracted later.

[0015] According to another alternative, in the coin outlet stage, the lateral partition and the flanges of the limiting parts closest to the outlet ramp are retracted first, and the lateral partition and the flanges of the limiting parts furthest from the ramp are retracted later.

[0016] In general, the lateral partitions and the flanges of the limiting parts can retract in the coin outlet stage following any sequence.

[0017] Specifically, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, during the coin extraction the retractable limiting part closest to the outlet will be retracted first, in the second phase the limiting element furthest to the outlet will be retracted, while the two radial parts or partitions will continue guiding the coin to the extraction position. In the third phase, the radial partition closest to the outlet will be retracted and in the fourth phase, the coin will be expelled to the outside and the radial partition that has guided the coin to the outlet will be later retracted.

[0018] The activation of the mobile parts, partitions and limiting parts can be performed individually through any system known, for example, the partitions can be retracted through the activation of a tab or cam and the limiting parts can be retracted through guides marked on the disc casing or support.

[0019] The arrangement described enables that in the coin collection area, that is, in the lower part of the hopper, it is not possible to house two coins, the sum of the diameters of which is higher than that of the coin with the maximum size allowed. The sequence described above for the retraction of the limiting parts and partitions allows a unitary and reliable transport and extraction of coins. On the other hand as regards the thickness, there are no limits or possible superposition of two thin coins, since this problem does not exist in devices of this type. This is attained through the appropriate dimensioning of the support area of the coin against the inner part of the disc and especially the part defining the ramp or path and the trigger producing the coin ejection to the outside.

[0020] These characteristics turn the dispenser object of the invention into a device that can be used with coins with a wide range of sizes and therefore very appropriate in applications in which it is important to work with coins of different countries without having to adapt the mechanisms to certain coin size ranges.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The following is a description of a series of drawings which will help understand the invention better relating to an embodiment of said invention which is presented as a non-limiting example thereof.

Figure 1 shows a view of the unitary coin dispenser object of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the coin dispenser where the coin extraction disc can be seen.

Figure 3 represents a coin dispenser which is already known in the state of the art.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the essential elements constituting the coin extraction disc of the dispenser object of the invention.

Figure 5A is a front view of a particular embodiment of a coin extraction disc mounted on the extractor and figure 5B is a cross sectional view according to the plane CC.

Figure 6 is a portion of the disc in which it can be seen a particular embodiment of the complete hole with a coin housed therein, and partially the two holes adjacent thereto.

Figure 7 is equivalent to figure 6, without the coin in order to see the base of the hole.

Figure 8 is a detailed view of the retractable limiting parts and the retractable lateral partitions that delimit each one of the holes of a particular embodiment of the extraction disc.

Figure 9 shows the limiting parts of the particular embodiment of figure 8.

Figure 10 is a lateral view of one of the limiting parts of figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 shows a possible solution so that the radial partition can be retracted, and later return to its extracted position.

Figure 12 shows a perspective and detailed view of the dispenser object of the present invention transporting a coin.

Figure 13 shows another perspective view of the dispenser of figure 12 in which the coin is in a first expansion phase according to a particular embodiment of the dispensing method.

Figure 14 represents the second extraction phase according to a particular embodiment of the dispensing method of figure 13.

Figure 15 represents the third extraction phase of the method shown in figures 13 and 14.

Figure 16 represents the fourth extraction phase of the method shown in figures 13, 14 and 15.

[0022] In these figures reference is made to the following set of elements:

1.

coin storage unit

2.

inlet mouth to the coin storage unit

3.

casing

4.

coin extraction disc

5.

coins with the minimum diameter allowed

6.

coins

7.

limiting parts

8.

first flange

9.

second flange

10.

third flange

11.

extraction trigger

12.

casing guide for the limiting parts of the extraction disc

13.

limiting part flange for the coupling in the guide

14.

coin outlet ramp

15.

retractable lateral partition

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The object of the present invention is a unitary coin dispenser, which as shown in figure 1, comprises a hopper or storage unit 1, into which coins are introduced through a mouth 2. The storage unit 1 is supported in a casing 3, in which the extraction disc 4 is also mounted, as it can be seen in figure 2. On the casing 3 other parts that are not shown are additionally mounted, such as the gear reduction motor, which produces the rotation of the extraction disc 4 during the collection and extraction of the coins, as well as the exit and coin level detectors, electronic control, etc., which do not represent the object of the present invention.

[0024] As it was explained before, in the state of the art there exist already known coin extraction devices, based on a disc, in which holes have been defined for the housing of coins, as represented in figure 3. These commonly used devices are valid for a relatively small coin size range, their operation being incorrect when coins of very different sizes coexist. This difference can be presented both during the operation with coins of different diameters and during the operation with only one type of coins of small diameter but using a disc designed for coins with a larger diameter. Thus, figure 3 represents the typical problem of the dispensers of the state of the art. Two coins 5 the sum of whose diameters is greater than the maximum coin diameter allowed can be housed in a superimposed manner. In this case the sum comes to an apparent 35mm diameter while in this example the maximum coin possible 6 is a coin with a 30mm diameter. In this example, the two coins 5 would be extracted, thus producing a failure in the return.

[0025] Figure 5A shows a similar example to the one described before, but in which the holes of the extraction disc 4 are defined by limiting parts 7, which according to a preferred embodiment have some retractable flanges 8, 9 and 10 with a circular sector, and the retractable lateral partitions 15. These holes have the same diameter as the coin 6 with the maximum allowed diameter, and smaller than the sum of diameters of two coins 5 with the minimum diameter allowed. These dimensions, as shown in the figure, prevent two coins with a diameter greater than the radius of the maximum coin from being housed in a cell. This figure shows two coins superimposed in diameter, but it must be remarked that this situation is unstable, since the coin on top is outside the hole and it would be either released and fall into the hopper or the extraction trigger 11 would have the same effect. Figure 5B shows the system of guides 12 used to attain the movement of the limiting parts 7 in a direction perpendicular to the extraction disc 4. In said guides 12 some flanges 13 of each one of the limiting parts 7 are fixed. In this way, it is guaranteed that the limiting parts 7 are in the extraction position in the part of the lower path of the disc 4 during the collection of coins 6 and they are retracted near the outlet ramp 14.

[0026] Figure 6 shows in greater detail how a coin 6 is housed in one of the holes of the disc 4 according to a particular embodiment of the limiting parts 7. The coin 6 is limited for each one of the sides through radial retractable lateral partitions 15 which also comply with the function of pushing the coin towards the outlet, as the disc 4 rotates. The coin 6 is limited by a first flange 8 and a second flange 9 of the limiting part 7 which is shared with the immediately previous hole and a third flange 10 of the limiting part 7 which is shared with the immediately following hole, as the extraction disc 4 advances. The coin 5 rests by its rear part on a flat circular surface 16 of the extraction disc 4, which can be seen more clearly in figure 7.

[0027] Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the limiting parts 7 and the retractable lateral partitions 15, clearly showing the flat surface 17 of the limiting parts 7, which shall rest against the rear part of the disc 4 in the extracted position of said retractable parts. Figure 9 shows in detail the design of the particular embodiment of the limiting parts 7, particularly the flanges 8, 9 and 10 that form the limits of each hole. In this figure, it is also seen a channel 18 for the housing of the retractable lateral partition 15. Figure 10 shows a lateral view of the retractable limiting part 7 showing the flange 13 sliding through the guide 12 on the casing 3.

[0028] Figure 11 shows a solution through a spring 19 so that the retractable partition 15 can retract through the interference with the outlet ramp 14 after the extraction of the coin and return to its resting position, that is, to the extracted position, during the collection of the coins.

[0029] Another object of the present invention is a unitary coin dispensing method that uses the dispenser described above. In this dispensing method, for each one of the holes there is a coin 6 collection stage in the storage unit, in which the lateral partitions 15 and the limiting parts 7 are in the extracted position, and a stage of the coin 6 passing to the outlet ramp 14, in which the limiting parts 7 and the retractable lateral partitions 15 are sequentially retracted, to allow the passage of said coin 6 to the outlet ramp 14. According to different embodiments, the lateral partitions and the flanges of the limiting parts can be retracted in the coin outlet stage following any sequence.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the stage of the coin 6 passing to the outlet ramp 14, in a first stage the first flange 8 and the second flange 9 of the limiting part 7 closest to the outlet ramp 14 are retracted, after which, the third flange 10 of the limiting part 7 furthest from the outlet ramp 14 is retracted, next, the retractable lateral partition 15 closest to the outlet ramp 14 is retracted, and finally the retractable lateral partition 15 furthest from the outlet ramp 14 is retracted.

[0031] The following is an explanation, with the help of the figures, of the coin 6 extraction sequence according to this preferred .embodiment of the method. Figure 12 shows a coin 6 located in a housing of the disc 4 in which the partitions 15 and the flanges 8, 9, 10 of the retractable limiting parts 7 are in an extracted position. Figure 13 shows the coin 6 in a position closest to the outlet, in which the limiting part 7 closest to the outlet ramp 14 has retracted, while the limiting part 7 furthest to the outlet ramp 14 and the radial partitions 15 remain extracted. Therefore, in this phase, as it can be seen in figure 13, the first flange 8 and the second flange 9 are retracted, while the third flange 10, together with the radial partitions 15 are extracted. In the following extraction phase, represented in figure 14, the disc 4 has advanced to the outlet and the coin 6 is now in its hole with the radial partitions 15 extracted while the limiting parts 7 are retracted. In this phase, the flanges 8, 9 and 10 are retracted. From this situation, the coin 6 will be guided to the outlet by the radial partitions 15 which will retract when they interfere with the outlet ramp 14. Thus, figure 15 shows how the partition 15 before the coin 6, or closest to the outlet ramp 14, has retracted, while the partition 1 after said coin 6, or furthest from the outlet ramp 14, remains extracted and pushes the coin 6 towards the outside through the ramp 14, producing the rotation of the extraction trigger 11, which is in charge of preventing the outlet of the coins 6 which are in a bad position in the hole, such as for example two superimposed coins, and pushing towards the exterior the coins 6 that have completed the upward part of the outlet ramp 14. The extraction trigger 11 can also be used to count the coins 6 that are expelled towards the outside, or to measure a characteristic such as the diameter thereof. Finally, figure 16 shows the ejection of the coin 6, in which the last retractable partition 15 has been hidden, which remained extracted in the previous phase and the coin 6 is directed to the outside of the dispenser pushed by the trigger 11.

[0032] According to other embodiments of the method of the invention, first, the lateral partition 15 closest to the outlet can be retracted, next the limiting parts 7, at the same time, or one next to the other, and finally the other lateral partition 15.

[0033] Particularly, in accordance with a sequence according to the preceding particular embodiment, in a first phase the retractable lateral partition 15 close to the outlet ramp 14 is retracted, in a second phase the first flange 8 and the second flange 9 of the limiting part 7 closest to the outlet ramp 14 are retracted, in a third phase the third flange 10 of the limiting part 7 furthest from the outlet ramp 14 is retracted, and in a fourth phase, the retractable lateral partition 15 furthest from the outlet ramp 14 is retracted.

[0034] According to another alternative sequence in a first phase, the retractable lateral partition 15 close to the outlet ramp 14 is retracted, after which the flanges 8, 9, 10 of the two limiting parts 7 are retracted, and finally, the retractable lateral partition 15 furthest from the outlet ramp 14 is retracted.

[0035] According to another sequence, in a first phase, the retractable lateral partition 15 close to the outlet ramp 14 is retracted, in a second phase, the third flange 10 of the limiting part 7 furthest from the outlet ramp 14 is retracted, in a third phase, the first 8 and second flange 9 of the limiting part 7 closest from the outlet ramp 14 are retracted, and in a fourth phase, the retractable lateral partition 15 furthest from the outlet ramp 14 is retracted.

[0036] Once the invention has been clearly described, it is remarked that the aforementioned particular embodiments can be modified in detail as long as the basic principle and essence of the invention are not altered.

Claims

1. Unitary coin dispenser, comprising- a casing (3) in which there are arranged

- a coin (6) storage unit (1),

- and an extraction disc (4) of the coins (6) from the storage unit (1) and a dispenser thereof in an outlet ramp (14) activated by a gear reduction motor, comprising holes for the coins (6) arranged according to a circular path,

said unitary coin dispenser being characterized in that

- each one of the holes is delimited by

- two radial retractable lateral partitions (15), each one of them separating two adjacent holes, which push and extract the coin (6) from the hole,

- and two retractable limiting parts (7), one at each side of the hole, forming the external part of said holes,

- and in that the lateral partitions (15) and limiting parts (7) configure each one of the holes with a substantially circular shape and with a diameter equal to that of the coin (6) with the maximum allowed diameter and smaller than the sum of the diameters of two coins (5) with the minimum allowed diameter,

and in that the lateral partitions (15) and limiting parts (7) of each hole maintain an extracted position during the collection and transport of the coin (6) and are retracted for the coin (6) extraction.

2. Unitary coin dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of the limiting parts (7) comprises a first flange (8), a second flange (9) and a third flange (10) with a circular sector.

3. Unitary coin dispenser according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the circular sectors of the three flanges (8, 9, 10) have a radius equal to that of the coin with the maximum allowed radius.

4. Unitary coin dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the limiting parts (7) are guided in their movement by a guide (12) arranged in the casing (3) supporting the extraction disc (4).

5. Unitary coin dispensing method, which uses the dispenser of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each one of the holes performs

- a coin (6) collection stage in the storage unit (1) in which the retractable lateral partitions (15) and the retractable limiting parts (7) remain in the extracted position,

- and a stage of the coin (6) passing to the outlet ramp (14), in which the limiting parts (7) and the retractable lateral partitions (15) are retracted; allowing the passage of said coin (6) to the outlet ramp (14).

6. Unitary coin dispensing method, according to claim 5, characterized in that in the stage of the coin (6) passing to the outlet ramp (14),

- in a first phase the limiting part (7) closest to the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- in a second phase the limiting part (7) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- in a third phase the retractable lateral partition (15) closest to the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- and in a fourth phase the retractable lateral partition (15) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) is retracted.

7. Unitary coin dispensing method, according to claim 5, characterized in that in the stage of the coin (6) passing to the outlet ramp (14),

- in a first phase the retractable lateral partition (15) closest to the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- in a second phase the limiting part (7) closest to the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- in a third phase the limiting part (7) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- and in a fourth phase the retractable lateral partition (15) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) is retracted.

8. Unitary coin dispensing method, according to claim 5, characterized in that

- in a first phase the retractable lateral partition (15) closest to the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- in a second phase the limiting part (7) closest to the outlet ramp (14) and the limiting part (7) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) are retracted,

- and in a third phase the retractable lateral partition (15) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) is retracted.

9. Unitary coin dispensing method, according to claim 5, characterized in that in the stage of the coin (6) passing to the outlet ramp (14),

- in a first phase the retractable lateral partition (15) closest to the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- in a second phase the limiting part (7) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- in a third phase the limiting part (7) closest to the outlet ramp (14) is retracted,

- and in a fourth phase the retractable lateral partition (15) furthest from the outlet ramp (14) is retracted.

Drawing