Coin handling – Deliverer – Delivery of a single coin
Patent
1992-07-15
1994-10-18
Bartuska, F. J.
Coin handling
Deliverer
Delivery of a single coin
221 75, 453 49, G07D 100
Patent
active
053563336
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to coin stores, and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with coin escrows, which are stores used, e.g. in payphones, for temporarily retaining coins before dispensing them so that they can either be retained in a cash box or refunded to a user.
It is desirable in such arrangements to enable selection of the coins to be refunded to the user, so that the amount of change given to the user after a transaction (e.g. after a phone call) can be maximised. It would also be desirable to allow selected coins to be delivered to a cash box during the transaction if the store becomes filled, so as to permit the insertion of further coins.
It would be possible to use an arrangement such as that shown in GB-A-2201823, wherein there is a structure storing the coins in respective compartments. The structure can move the compartments successively past an openable exit region so that the coins could be selectively dispensed as desired. However, this arrangement is wasteful of space, because additional space is needed to allow for the lateral movement of the structure.
A more compact storage arrangement is shown in GB-A-2135094, in which coins can be stored in successive turns of a spring. Coins are dispensed to a cash box by turning the spring so that the coins move stepwise to a sorter where the coins are allowed to leave the spring at different positions, depending on their diameter. At the other end of the spring is an exit path from which coins can be delivered to a return channel. However, this arrangement allows little control over the sequence in which coins are sent to the cash box, this sequence being dependent mainly on the order in which the coins are received by the spring and the respective coin diameters.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved storage device which is compact and has low power consumption, and which is arranged to enable the dispensing of coins in a selectable sequence different from that in which they were received by the store.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin store in which a group of coins of different denominations can be reciprocated with respect to first and second exit points at each of which a coin of any of said denominations can be taken away from the group and delivered to a cash retention means, whereby the sequence in which coins are delivered to the cash retention means can be controlled by selectively moving the coin group in one direction to dispense a coin from the first exit point, and the opposite direction to dispense a coin from the second exit point. By selecting the exit point from which to take a coin, the order in which the coins are dispensed can be controlled so that the dispensing sequence differs from the entry sequence. The dispensed coins from both exits are preferably routed to a coin retention means, e.g. one or more cash boxes. Preferably the coins are stored face-to-face for compactness, and preferably individually to facilitate the addition or removal of a coin from the group.
The invention is particularly advantageous when applied to a storage arrangement of the type in which coins can be reciprocated as a group without requiring bodily translational movement of the storage structure (e.g. the type shown in GB-A-2135094). In this way there is provided the advantage of a compact structure combined with a greater ability to control the dispensing sequence. Preferably, therefore, a coin store of the invention comprises a helical structure for receiving coins of a plurality of denominations and storing them between successive helical turns so that they can be moved, by rotation of the structure, relative to two exit points at which a coin of any of said denominations can be added to or taken away from the store.
Particular benefits are obtained if the exits are located at opposite ends of a region in which the coins are stored, and wherein there is a coin entry point located at or near one of these ends. Such an arrangem
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Bointon Richard G.
Comfort John J.
Bartuska F. J.
Mars Inc.
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