Coin handling – Supply level detector – Electric
Patent
1996-02-07
1998-02-17
Bartuska, F. J.
Coin handling
Supply level detector
Electric
4147968, G07D 904
Patent
active
057186251
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a coin store. More particularly, this invention relates to a coin store for use in coin operated machinery, of the type in which the last coin to enter the snore is the first to be dispensed therefrom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In some types of coin operated machinery (for example, gaming machines) it is desired not only to accept coins but also to dispense coins. In a well known type of coin mechanism for gaming machines, coins are received at a coin entry slot; passed through a coin acceptor mechanism to validate the coins; and, if accepted, are deposited into the top of a change tube storing a stack of coins. When it is desired to dispense coins (for example, because of a win) the lowermost coin is dispensed from the bottom of the tube into a coin exit in a pay-out tray, the stack of coins drops, and the next coin (if required) is dispensed.
A first problem with this arrangement is that the height of the tube, and hence the number of coins which the tube can store, is limited by the acceptable distance between the coin entry slot and the pay-out tray; for ergonomic reasons, the pay-out tray cannot be placed too low or the coin entry slot too high. A second problem is that, on dispensing a coin the force required to dispense a coin from the bottom of the tube can be relatively high, due to the weight of the coins above i: in the tube. Finally, it is possible to defraud the gaming machine by inserting counterfeit coins into the entry slot so that they are deposited into the top of the change tube, and receiving genuine coins in return from the bottom of the change tube.
In WO-A-91/07734 and DE-A-3937471, a coin storage device is proposed in which coins are deposited into the top of the stack which is lowered to receive the coins. To pay out coins, the stack is raised and the top most coin is dispensed. A somewhat similar arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,089, in which the stack is in an inclined orientation.
In WO-A-91/07734, a reversible motor is arranged to raise or lower the stack of coins in the coin store, in response to control signals from a microprocessor. Sensors are provided in the coin inlet channel and in the coin dispensing channel, leading respectively to and from the store, so that when a coin approaches the store the microprocessor can cause the motor to drive the stack of coins downward to receive the new coin. When it is desired to dispense a coin, the microprocessor causes the motor to raise the stack of coins. In a first arrangement, the motor is also geared to a coin dispensing device, which is therefore driven at the same time to push the uppermost coin off the stack towards the coin exit. In a second arrangement, a microswitch sensor is provided above the coin slack, so that when the coin stack is driven upwards the microswitch is actuated, causing the uppermost coin to be dispensed.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,089, a control device controls a reversible motor to raise or lower the coin stack in the coin store. A control device operates in a first mode when coins are being stacked within the coin store, in which mode the control device responds to an inductive sensor at the top of the stack to lower the stack until there is no signal from the sensor (i.e. when the uppermost coin lies below the sensor). The control device operates in a second mode when it is desired to dispense coins, in which mode the motor is operated to raise a coin stack until the uppermost coin rises above the top of the coin store; since the coin stack is inclined, the coin falls through an exit channel towards the coin exit. A sensor disposed in the exit channel counts the coins, and, when the desired number of coins have passed the sensor, the control device halts upward movement of the coin stack.
Both of these arrangements are potentially inaccurate; in WO-A-91/07734, since the coin stack is being raised whilst the dispensing mechanism operates, variations in coin speed or loss of synchronism between the coin stack motor and the dispenser could
REFERENCES:
patent: 4403900 (1983-09-01), Thomas
patent: 4687089 (1987-08-01), Wuethrich
patent: 5017085 (1991-05-01), Ishikawa
patent: 5022890 (1991-06-01), Rapp
patent: 5067928 (1991-11-01), Harris
Bartuska F. J.
Mars Incorporated
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