Coin handling – Deliverer – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-29
2001-08-14
Bartuska, F. J. (Department: 3652)
Coin handling
Deliverer
Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273809
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to coin dispensing apparatus and particularly, but not exclusively, to coin dispensing apparatus for use in vending machines.
In this specification the term coin will be used to include not only monetary units but also similar shaped items such as tokens.
Many vending machines receive coins for the payment of the items being vended from the machines, but must also be able to sort and dispense coins to provide change.
In known coin dispensing apparatus for use with vending machines, coins of different value are stacked in tubes, each tube being specific to one type of coin, so that when it is desired to dispense a coin having a particular value, the coin can simply be released from the bottom of the relevant stack of coins.
Dispensing of the coins from the bottom of the stacks is relatively straight forward, but there are difficulties in ensuring that the coins are accurately sorted and fed into the tops of the tubes and furthermore, if it becomes necessary to alter the coins with which a particular machine can deal, for example because of a change in pricing structure, then the entire coin dispensing unit, including all the tubes, has to be replaced.
We have now developed a more versatile and more readily adaptable coin dispensing apparatus which is particularly suitable for use in the limited space which is available in vending machines.
The invention provides coin dispensing apparatus comprising a reservoir for coins, and a rotor located to receive coins from the reservoir, the rotor having a lower storage portion shaped to receive a stack of coins, and an upper feed portion shaped to receive coins from the reservoir and direct them to the lower storage portion.
Because the rotor receives and feeds the coins to provide a stack of coins within the lower storage portion, ready for dispensing, the associated reservoir can be of a size to receive any type of coin. If it is necessary to adapt the apparatus to accept a different type of coin, it is only necessary to replace the rotor.
In practice there will normally be a plurality of rotors, each adapted to deal with a different type of coin, each rotor being associated with its own reservoir.
The reservoirs associated with the plurality of rotors may comprise a coin hopper with a plurality of internal walls dividing it into separate compartments.
Preferably each rotor is mounted in the lower part of a hopper.
The lower storage portion of the, or each, rotor may comprise a relatively short tubular portion having a diameter slightly larger than a coin with which the rotor is associated.
The upper feed portion of the, or each rotor, may comprise a frusto-conical portion.
Preferably the upper feed portion of the, or each, rotor has at least one projection thereon, to engage with coins within the reservoir and cause coins to move around with the rotor, increasing the tendency for the coins to slide down within the upper feed portion until they drop into the lower storage portion.
The upper feed portion may have two projecting ribs, arranged on opposite sides of the lower storage portion.
The lower storage portion of the, or each, rotor may be spaced from a lower bed member by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the coin, dispensing of a coin from the bottom of a stack being carried out by movement of a dispensing member movable between the rotor and the bed.
The dispensing member may be biased into a dispensing position, the dispensing member normally being held in a non dispensing position, against the action of the bias, by means of a catch.
There may be means operable to release the catch when it is desired to dispense a coin.
The means operable to release the catch may comprise a solenoid.
Means may be provided to reset the coin dispensing member into its non dispensing position, after a coin has been dispensed.
The means to reset the coin dispensing member may comprise a projection on a rotor.
The projection on the rotor may comprise a cam member.
The coin dispensing member may comprise a pivotally mounted lever.
The lever may have an arcuate portion to engage around the coin being dispensed.
The dispensing member, for example in the form of the lever having an arcuate portion, may also be used to dispense coins from conventional apparatus without necessarily using the novel rotor according to the invention.
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patent: 693047 (1902-02-01), Miller
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patent: 4392505 (1983-07-01), Maloney et al.
patent: 4413750 (1983-11-01), Marrone et al.
patent: 5064404 (1991-11-01), Champion
patent: 5098339 (1992-03-01), Dabrowski
patent: 5316517 (1994-05-01), Chiba et al.
patent: 0 211 512 (1987-02-01), None
patent: 0266021 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 2 401 469 (1979-03-01), None
Bell Mike
Spooner Brian John
Spooner Colin Richard
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Bartuska F. J.
Coin Controls Limited
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