Coin handling – Deliverer – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-30
2001-04-24
Bartuska, F. J. (Department: 3652)
Coin handling
Deliverer
Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220954
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coin handling machine and method and, in particular, to a device and method for a coin output hopper which accommodates any of a number of differently-sized coin denominations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Although coin handling devices are used for a number of purposes (including gaming devices, vending machines, coin counting devices and the like), coin handling in the gaming industry can generally be considered as relating to either or both of coin input (or acceptance) procedures and coin output (or payout) procedures. In a number of industries, including the gaming industry, coin output typically involves outputting coins of a single denomination from a hopper of coins containing a plurality of such single-denomination coins. In some cases, where output of two or more denominations is required, it may be necessary to provide two or more output hoppers, each of which contains a single denomination of coins. In any case, it is generally desired to provide a device for outputting a single denomination of coin which is as low-cost as possible (in terms of design, construction, maintenance, repair and operation) while having sufficient accuracy and reliability to avoid errors, down time and to minimize maintenance time and/or replacement parts.
Because it is, in general, difficult and expensive to design and construct devices for handling multiple denominations or sizes of coins, and because as noted above, gaming output hoppers typically handle only a single coin denomination, it is believed that most or all previous coin output hoppers, particularly in the gaming industry, are designed to handle only a single denomination of coin. Thus, typically, a coin output hopper designed to output, for example, “silver” dollar coins, would be physically distinct from a device for outputting, for example, quarters.
Even though the physical distinction between devices for handling different denominations may consist only in different dimensions of various components (i.e. devices for different denominations may operate on substantially the same theory), the design philosophy of using physically distinct devices for different denominations has led to relatively high costs associated with converting machines from one denomination to another denomination. For example, owing to factors such as changes in gaming preferences or popularity of various games, or owing to changes in typical coin population mixes (e.g. near international borders), it may, from time to time, be desirable to convert a gaming machine from one which outputs one denomination to a machine which outputs a different denomination. In the past, this has required replacing all of, or components of, the coin output hopper in such machines. It is believed that, in the past, the relatively high cost associated with denomination-conversion of machines was simply accepted and, as a result, it is believed little or no attention has been paid to design of multi-denominational output hoppers, particularly for gaming devices.
Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a coin output hopper which could reduce or eliminate costs associated with changing a gaming device or other coin handling machine from outputting one denomination to outputting another denomination, including the costs, in previous devices of replacing coin output hoppers or components thereof, costs of maintaining a relatively large inventory of coin output hoppers or components thereof, the cost of training personnel to perform such changes and the costs of training personnel to perform maintenance on a variety of different denomination output hoppers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a recognition of problems in prior output hopper machines methods and approaches, including those noted above.
According to one aspect of the present invention, one or more coin-moving pins or pushers are positioned, with respect to a coin track or path so that, regardless of the size of the coin within the pocket (within a predefined range of sizes), the pin or pins contacting the coin at any given time during the transition of the coin onto a coin knife, is sufficiently close to a line passing through the center of the coin (and parallel to the knife edge) that force components parallel to the knife edge are sufficiently high (compared to orthogonal components) that any coin within the predefined size range will be transported along the knife edge with reduced or eliminated risk of coin jamming.
In addition to pin placement, a number of other features of the invention contribute to the ability to accommodate a range of coin sizes. Preferably, a stationary backplate is configured to substantially constantly follow or comply with a rotating pin wheel, regardless of any pin wheel misalignments or departures from planarity. A coin guide, intended to position or retain coins in a desired location within the coin path or track is shaped to achieve this function over a range of coin sizes, e.g. by configuring the guide such that larger-diameter coins are engaged near the leading edge of the guide while smaller-diameter coins are engaged closer to the trailing edge of the guide. Preferably the coin guide is also configured to reduce or eliminate entry (or attempted entry) of secondary and tertiary coins in the pocket.
A coin deflector is shaped to eject secondary or tertiary coins adjacent to the pocket entry hole, maintain coins properly situated in the pocket after or as they leave the influence of the coin guide and accelerate coins as they leave the hopper.
By providing a coin hopper which economically, reliably and accurately, accommodates a range of coin sizes, the present invention reduces or eliminates the need for replacing coin hoppers (or components thereof) when converting a machine from which outputs a first denomination to one which outputs a second denomination. Preferably, accommodation of a range of coin sizes is achieved without the need for adjustment or modification of the device with its attendant costs of down time and personnel training. Even in cases where the multi-denominational hopper does not span the entire size range of coins in a coin population, the present invention may, for example, allow manufacturers and/or casinos to reduce coin hopper inventory from the number needed to provide a separate hopper for each denomination to, e.g., two or three different hoppers with ranges which, together, cover the coin size range in a given coin population.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3698537 (1972-10-01), Black et al.
patent: 5167571 (1992-12-01), Waller
patent: 5711704 (1998-01-01), Hughes et al.
Beadell John Leagh
Nguyen Binh
Waller Daniel J.
Bartuska F. J.
Gerstman George H.
International Game Technology
Shaw Seyfarth
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