Coin handling – Deliverer – Delivery of a single coin
Patent
1996-06-13
1998-02-10
Bartuska, F. J.
Coin handling
Deliverer
Delivery of a single coin
453 18, 194344, G07D 100
Patent
active
057162662
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coin dispenser.
In some known types of coin dispensers, coins are stored in a number of storage tubes and are dispensed onto a surface from which they are laterally shifted to a dispensing area. For example, the dispensing area is typically restricted to a small allocated area, so that coins from at least some of the storage tubes, after being dropped onto the surface, need to be transported along the surface to the dispensing area.
However, as is well known, a coin dropped on a surface often performs a circular rolling motion before coming to rest. In many cases, it is not possible reliably to transport the coin along the surface until it has come to rest. Thus, a considerable delay must be introduced between the time of release of the coin and the start of the transport process along the surface, which slows the operation of the coin dispenser.
It is therefore desirable to bring a coin rapidly to rest after it is dropped upon a surface, so that the coin may be swiftly and reliably dispensed.
One known solution is to select the material of the surface such that the energy of impact of the coin is rapidly absorbed; however, this requires substantial modification of existing dispensers, and the use of such materials may be undesirable for other reasons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a coin dispenser in which a coin is released onto a surface in such a way that it may execute a rolling motion in a circular path, including a projection positioned on the surface such that the coin contacts the projection while it is rolling and is thereby brought to rest.
The projection may be an elongate strip, either attached to or integrally formed with the surface. Advantageously, the strip is arranged so that the coin comes to rest with one end raised and resting stably on the strip, while the other end rests with its corner on the surface. The dispenser may further comprise a dispensing area into which the coin is dispensed, and means for transferring the coin from the surface to the dispensing area. Thus, the dispensing area may be reduced, since its size and position is not governed by the location of the storage tubes. The transferring means may comprise an arm arranged to push the coin along the surface towards the dispensing area. The arm may be arranged to pivot or to slide along the surface.
The dispenser may include a coin storage container positioned above the surface, and means for releasing one or more coins from the coin storage container and dropping them onto the surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of a coin mechanism of a known type;
FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of FIG. 1 in greater detail;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coin in rolling motion;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section as in FIG. 2 when an arm is actuated;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one embodiment of a coin dispenser according to the present invention; and
FIGS. 6a) to 6c) show, in schematic plan view, alternative embodiments of the raised portion according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A known coin mechanism 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Coins enter the mechanism through a slot 2 and are validated in a validation area 4. On the basis of the validation, the coins are sorted by a sorter 6 and passed down one of a number of channels 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d according to their denomination. Rejected coins are ejected through a reject path (not shown). The coins are stored in vertical storage tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, each containing coins of a respective denomination. Each storage tube 12 includes a coin release mechanism (not shown) for releasing coins so that they may be dispensed. Typically, the coins are not dropped directly out of the storage tubes 12 but are first slid horizontally out of the storage tubes 12, in a direction perpendicular t
REFERENCES:
patent: 1266099 (1918-05-01), Brandt
patent: 2006433 (1935-07-01), Bierstedt et al.
patent: 4250905 (1981-02-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 4410077 (1983-10-01), Okolischan
patent: 4926998 (1990-05-01), Finegan
Bartuska F. J.
Mars Incorporated
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