Article dispensing – Dispenser delivering to stationary article support for... – With article elevation to raised support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-06
2001-09-04
Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Dispenser delivering to stationary article support for...
With article elevation to raised support
C221S289000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283324
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in the apparatus for the storage and dispensing of wrapped rolls of coins.
Current coin dispensing machines are normally of the hopper storage type which require the coins to be stored in bulk. This creates problems for an operator loading the hopper because of the considerable weight of the coins involved and the physical effort required to load the hopper.
Existing hopper delivery systems require coins or coin rolls to be loaded into the top of the hopper. The coin rolls are then delivered at the bottom of the hopper. This has a disadvantage in that the coin rolls are not delivered at a convenient height to the operator. It is generally impractical to mount the coin dispensing apparatus at a higher level due to the considerable weight of the coins involved and the need to lift the coins up to the higher level when loading the hopper.
Applicants' co-pending application, Ser. No. 09/084,159, filed May 23, 1998, “Coin Dispensing Apparatus”, and incorporated herein by reference, is aimed at overcoming the above described problem and disadvantage with existing hopper delivery systems. The present invention provides a further improvement over the prior art, especially with respect to the coin roll magazines in applicants' co-pending application.
Experience has shown that plastic wrapped coin rolls create a high friction load on the drive mechanism of applicant' coin roll dispensing machines. The resulting pressure on the coin rolls can lead to damage to the plastic wrap, especially when being dispensed, as well as requiring increased power to operate the machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention incorporates by reference the coin dispensing apparatus of applicants' co-pending application specified above. Briefly, applicants are providing a coin dispensing apparatus under microprocessor control comprising a lifting conveyor with a plurality of hods incrementally driven by the lifting conveyor, an optional transporting conveyor having a plurality of hods incrementally driven by the transporting conveyor, the hods of each conveyor combining with each other and at least one magazine the outlet of which interfaces with the hods of the lifting conveyor to transfer rolls of coins stored in the or each magazine to the said hods and thereafter to transfer them to either to the hods of the transporting conveyor for delivery to a dispensing outlet or directly to a dispensing outlet.
Preferably, the conveyors are both driven by a single electric motor. Alternatively, each conveyor may be driven by a separate electric motor.
In a prior construction the magazine or magazines have an automatically operated chock at their outlet end to release the flow of rolls of coins from the or each magazine, when placed in the apparatus and is automatically closed before the or each magazine is removed from the apparatus. The chock can conveniently be operated from a releasable locking mechanism at the rear of the magazine. The magazine may include a constant force spring connected with a slidable packing plate at the rear of the magazine to apply pressure to the rolls of coins in the magazine to urge them towards the magazine outlet.
In a preferred construction the coin changer dispenser has a housing divided into two parts, a lower armour plated secure safe for the coin dispensing apparatus and an upper part for housing a computer controlled means for accepting and delivering bank notes and delivering the coin rolls.
Applicants' co-pending coin dispensing apparatus has been modified in this application as follows. A lever is provided at each magazine level. The lever controls the flow of the coin rolls into hods, incrementally, driven by the transporting conveyor. This lever is geometrically arranged to automatically interrelate with: (i) the coin roll about to be fed from a magazine into an empty hod position, (ii) the coin roll waiting to be fed from the magazine immediately above and adjacent to this position, and (iii) the coin rolls being transported in the hod between adjacent magazine levels.
Each lever is held in the above described controlling position by successive coin rolls in each magazine until that magazine becomes empty of coin rolls. When this state occurs, the lever drops freely from gravity to allow the magazine immediately adjacent and above to begin to feed coin rolls when the next empty hod position becomes available.
Another feature of the present invention is the insertion of each coin roll magazine through the side of the dispenser and the use of a detachable clip retainer to hold the coin rolls in the magazine while the magazine is being transported to the dispenser.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4483459 (1984-11-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 6098841 (2000-08-01), Katakai
Haynes Derek
Jenkins Stuart M.
McGonagle John P.
Noland Kenneth W.
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