Coin handling – Deliverer – Delivery of a distinct number of plural coins from a single...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-05
2003-07-29
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3652)
Coin handling
Deliverer
Delivery of a distinct number of plural coins from a single...
C453S057000, C194S200000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06599180
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing coins or tokens such as a coin hopper dispensing apparatus that can store coins or tokens in bulk and more particularly to a coin monitoring sensor unit that can monitor unauthorized and abnormal operation of the coin hopper.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known to use coin hoppers particularly in game machines
50
as shown in
FIG. 4. A
coin hopper
51
is mounted within the housing of the game machine and can dispense coins to a disposition opening or tray
52
. A coin input aperture
53
is conveniently located next to the console of the game machine
50
.
The coin hopper can be of the configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,433 and can be explained with reference to the prior art
FIG. 5. A
lower support base
61
can be mounted in a level position within a secure game housing to horizontally support a vertical hopper base
62
at an angle of about 60 degrees to the lower support base
61
. The hopper base
62
is approximately circular and supports a coin retention compass bowl
68
for receiving bulk coins or medallions. As understood, a coin, as used in the present specification, can include besides monetary coins or currency, medallions, tokens, and other discs.
A motor
63
can be mounted on the back surface side of the hopper base
62
and can be connected to a speed reducing transmission assembly which in turn rotates a rotating disc member
64
. The outer peripheral or margin portion of the rotating disc
64
has a stepped or leveled difference
65
to form a coin carrying plane
66
. A plurality of section check pins
67
can be fixed at regular intervals about the coin carrying plane
66
and spaced to accommodate a particular size coin. The coin retention compass bowl
68
surrounds the circumference of the rotating disc
64
, and at the top portion of the disc
64
is a reception knife member having an entrance tip in the form of a triangle. The base of the reception knife
69
is fixed to the hopper base
62
. The tip of the reception knife
69
is positioned close to the leveled difference
65
to assist in separating the coins picked up by the rotating disc
64
. The coin counter unit
70
has a fixation shaft
71
which pivotally supports a lever
72
and a roller
73
. A coin counting sensor (not shown) can detect the movement of the lever
72
. The fixation shaft
71
is fixed to the hopper base
62
and the lever
72
is movably mounted on the fixation shaft
71
. The roller
73
is positioned at the tip of the lever
72
. The lever
72
can be biased by a spring (not shown) is a counter-clockwise rotational direction. A coin passageway
75
is formed between the hopper base
62
and a guide board member
74
and communicates with the upper surface of the knife
69
. At the end of the coin passageway
75
, a coin exit slot
76
is provided.
When an operator activates the game machine
50
, shown in
FIG. 4
by inserting a coin in the coin reception aperture
53
, a game is commenced. The inserted coin is guided by a duct (not shown) so that it is positioned within the coin retention compass bowl
78
of the coin hopper
51
. A control circuit in the game machine
50
, for operating the play of the game, can generate a disposition signal for the dispensing of coins when appropriate during the playing of the game machine. When this occurs, the motor
63
starts rotating to cause the rotating disc
64
to rotate in a counter-clockwise rotational direction through the coin retention compass bowl
68
. The coins are stirred and selected in the coin carrying plane
66
when they contact the section checkpins
67
. The peripheral edge of the coin is supported by the leveled difference
65
. The coin is elevated as the rotating disc
64
rotates so that the coin eventually reaches the reception knife
69
. As the rotating disc continues to rotate, this coin is supported on the upper surface of the reception knife
69
, while it is pushed by the rotating disc. The coin is forced into the coin passage
75
by the section checkpin
67
. As it passes into the coin passageway
75
, it pushes up the roller
73
and causes the lever
72
to rotate in a clockwise direction. The movement of the lever
72
is detected by a count sensor (not shown). The count sensor thereby emits a count indicating the disposition of one coin. A control circuit in the game machine
50
can compare the count signals to the set number of coins that are to be discharged. When the count number reaches this comparison value, the control circuit will output a stop signal to the motor
63
. By this operation, the appropriate number of coins are discharged through the coin passageway
75
so that they can be paid to the user at the coin exit
76
. The coins are then discharged to the tray
52
.
When the motor
63
is activated to dispense coins, the coin counter unit
70
can be monitored so that if a coin is not sensed within a predetermined time period, a warning signal is activated. Additionally, if the coin counter unit
70
provides a constant output for a predetermined time period, a warning signal is also activated. It is possible for a coin to pass the roller
73
, and due to a blockage in the coin passageway
75
, be ejected back into the coin hopper
51
without indicating a warning signal.
Problems have occurred in that attempts have been made to illegally obtain coins from the game machine by blocking the tray
52
, thereby causing the coin exit
76
to be closed and forcing the coins to back up within the coin passageway
75
. As a result, when the coins block the passageway
75
, the motor
63
will detect a jam because it becomes overloaded and may automatically stop. The player can then hide the number of coins that have been already paid before the exit was jammed and can claim to the attendant that he was improperly prevented from being paid the actual number of coins that he was entitled to because of the jam. The attendant, upon inspecting the game machine, will be aware of the number of coins that were to be discharged based upon the play of the game, and will also be aware that the machine jammed, thereby being encouraged to pay the player an unjustified number of coins.
The prior art is still seeking an economical manner in which to prevent this fraudulent operation of the game machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an anti-theft coin monitoring sensor unit that can be installed in a coin dispensing apparatus that sequentially dispenses coins through a coin passageway to a discharge location, for example in a gaming machine. A coin sensor unit is operatively mounted to monitor the movement of coins along the coin passageway and to provide a representative output signal of this movement of the coins. A photo sensor or a proximity sensor can measure the relative movement of the coin along the coin passageway and produce a corresponding output signal. An integration circuit can take the output signal from the coin sensor and format the output signal. A comparator circuit can receive the output signal for comparing the output signal with a predetermined threshold value. A control circuit can activate an alarm signal when the output signal is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The alarm signal indicates an abnormal condition in the coin dispensing apparatus such as the jamming of coins in the coin passageway. When the coins are held stationary in front of the coin sensor, the output signal continues to build in value until it passes the threshold value to thereby activate the alarm signal.
A microprocessor system can be utilized wherein a coin sensor produces an analog output signal which is converted to a digital value. The digital value can then be compared, for example with a set count value to set forth a predetermined threshold value. When the predetermined threshold value is reached, the microprocessor can activate appropriate audible and visible alarms and can control the activation of a motor whic
Asahi Seiko USA Inc.
Lillis Eileen D.
LandOfFree
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