GB2031633A - Coin rejection device for incorporation in a vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin rejection device comprising a coin chute presenting a plurality of successive inclined ramps (4B', 4A'', 4B'') which must be traversed by an inserted coin before passing to a coin freed mechanism of a vending machine. Coin rejection devices of various types are positioned adjacent the respective ramps. Biassing means such as springs (6, 14) is arranged to deflect coins outwardly through corresponding recesses (3A, 3D). A permanent magnet (13) is arranged to attract ferromagnetic discs through such opening, and, an arrangement provided by a deflection cam (10) and an abutment plate (8) serves to deflect outwardly only those coins falling within a given range falling between minimum and maximum diameters. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coin rejecting device for incorporation in a vending machine This invention relates to a coin rejection device for incorporation in a vending machine, and more especially to a mechanical coin rejection device which selects and rejects coins in accordance with their physical size, shape, weight or other physical characteristics.

Mechanically coin released vending machines, for example of the type used for vending cigarettes, generally incorporate a vending drawer for dispensing the articles, such as cartons of cigarettes, to be sold, release of the drawer to enable access to contents being dependent upon release of a latch mechanism by deposited coins. The latch mechanism is normally mounted upon the rear of the drawer, the latch machanism incorporating a coin trap so constructed that when coins are received therein, initial forward opening movement of the drawer causes direct engagement of the coins with the latch mechanism to release the drawer. The latch mechanism incorporates a cam device so constructed that release of the latch mechanism only occurs when the coins present in the coin trap are of the correct size and/or thickness.

With the increasing monetary value of articles such as cartons of cigarettes, the coin released mechanisms are required both to operate reliably with coins or combinations of coins of increased value, and also to beat increasingly sophisticated attempts to fraudulently actuate the mechanism. For this reason it has been proposed to incorporate coin rejection devices within a coin chute extending between a coin insertion slot and the coin trap of the coin released mechanism, so that fraudulently inserted coins are ejected from the coin chute before reaching the coin trap. However, the hitherto proposed coin ejection devices have not proved adequate to eliminate fraudulent actuation of the mechanisms.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved coin ejection device for vending machines of the above described type.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a coin rejection device for a coin freed vending machine, comprising a coin chute presenting an inclined ramp down which coins can roll towards the coin freed mechanism, said chute incorporating a lateral opening adjacent said ramp, through which coins to be rejected may be laterally deflected out of the coin chute, a cam device located vertically above said ramp in such a manner that coins larger than a predetermined minimum diameter engage said cam with their upper edge whilst rolling upon said ramp and are laterally deflected towards said opening, and there being provided, arranged laterally outwardly of said opening, an abutment plate for retaining within said coin chute coins of a diameter exceeding a predetermined maximum diameter greater than the said minimum diameter, wherby the rejection device rejects only those coins having diameters lying between said minimum and maximum diameters.

Thus, for example, the rejection device may be arranged to pass coins of a predetermined minimum diameter equal to and less than that of, for example, a ten penny piece, and coins of a predetermined maximum diameter equal to or greater than that of a fifty penny piece, coins of any intermediate diameter being rejected. Coins of a diameter exceeding that of a fifty penny piece, may be excluded from the machine by corresponding dimensioning of the initial insertion slot. Coins of a size below that of a ten penny piece may be rejected from the machine by a further coin rejection device arranged to precede or follow the rejection device initially defined.Such a further rejection device may, for example, comprise a lateral opening of said coin chute dimensioned to permit the outward deflection therefrom of coins below the size of a ten penny piece, a deflection spring being arranged to cooperate with said opening to urge such coins laterally outwardly therethrough.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, coins below a predetermined thickness may be ejected from the coin chute by the provision in a sloping ramp upon which the coins can roll of a vertical slot having a predetermined maximum lateral width less than that of the minimum thickness of coin to be retained within the chute, for example a ten penny piece, whereby all coins below this thickness are allowed to drop through the vertical slot and are thus rejected from the coin chute.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, lightweight coins or coins of a magnetic material, such as plastics or steel discs or coins of light alloy may be rejected through a lateral opening of the coin chute by means of a deflection spring or a magnet, the arrangement being such that in the case of the deflection spring the force is insufficient to deflect correctly inserted coins.With appropriate adjustment of the strength of the deflection spring and/or the slope of the inclined ramp of the coin chute, such a deflection spring may also be sufficient to eject from the machine coins which incorporate an applied rim of non-metallic material with the intention of increasing their diameter to one acceptable by the machine, in view of the fact that such an applied rim tends to slow the rate at which a coin rolls down the ramp to an extent that it may be effectively deflected by the spring.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the coin chute may incorporate, in the path of movement of a coin adjacent a lateral opening of the coin chute an impact surface upon which the coins impinge prior to dropping into a further section of the coin chute, the arrangement being such that coins with an applied resilient rim, such as an elastic band, rebound from said impact surface to an extent which allows them to be deflected through the lateral opening.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the coin chute may incorporate, between a coin rejection opening and a coin trap of the coin release mechanism a coin accumulating section which can receive a predetermined maximum number of correctly inserted coins, the arrangement being such that upon the insertion of any further coins beyond the predetermined maximum, they become rejected through said lateral opening. Thus, the mechanism is prevented from jamming due to the insertion of an excessive number of coins.

Conveniently, a coin rejection device in accordance with the invention may comprise a coin chute having a plurality of intercommunicating sloping ramps arraged vertically above one another such that an inserted coin follows a zig-zag downward path towards the coin trap, any one or more of the inclined ramps of said coin chute incorporating any one of the above mentioned coin rejection devices.

Advantageously, the device incorporates a plurality of said rejection devices, each of a pluraity of sloping ramps forming respective runs of the coin chute incorporating at least one such rejection device.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure l is a rear elevation of a coin rejection device in accordance with the invention, for incorporation in a vending machine, and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified coin rejection device in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a vending machine, of which part only is shown for clarity incorporates a vertical partition 1, at the rear of which is provided a vertical coin chute defined by a deflector plate 2, a backing plate 3 and two opposing spacer plates 4A and 4B respectively. The arrangement is such that the vertical partition 1 and the backing plate 3 are spaced apart from one aother by the spacer plates 4A and 4B in order to define a vertically extending coin chute, the spacer plates 4A and 4B being shaped as shown in broken lines so that the coin chute comprises a succession of sloping ramps 4A', 4B', 4A", 4B" upon which a coin inserted into said chute can roll consecutively, dropping vertically from one ramp to the next between the respective spacer plates 4A and 4B.

The partition 1 encloses at the rear columns for receiving articles such as cigarette cartons to be dispensed from the machine, and said columns are separated from one another in the lateral direction by vertical partitions, not shown, each of which incorporates a coin chute 5 through which an inserted coin may pass from the front to the rear of the machine in known manner. The arrangement is such that a coin passing through the chute 5 is deflected through 90 about a vertical axis by the deflector plate 2 and then passes through the coin chute previously referred to before dropping, in the direction of the arrow X, into a coin trap of a coin freed mechanism of known type not further referred to.

Each run 4B', 4A" and 4B" of the coin chute incorporates at least one coin rejection device which will now be described in further detail. It is assumed by way of example that the coin freed mechanism into which coins are to be conducted is intended to be operated by a combination of ten penny and fifty penny pieces, and that all other coins are to be rejected. However, it will be appreciated that such a device may be constructed to operate with other denominations of coins, as desired.

Upon insertion of a coin into the coin chute via the entry chute 5 and the deflector plate 2 it drops onto the first run 4A' of the chute and is deflected laterally and downwardly along the ramp presented thereby untii it drops vertically onto the second run 48'. The back plate 3 incorporates an opening 3A which is of rectangular shape and follows the angle of the sloping ramp 4B'. The maximum dimension of the opening 3A in a direction perpendicular to the ramp 4B' is just slightly less than that of a ten penny coin.

Within a recess in the surface of the partition 1 is arranged a leaf spring 6 of which an extremity 6A projects outwardly beyond the surface of the partition 1, so that it projects into the path of coins rolling on the ramp 48'. Therefore, any coin which has a diameter less than that of a ten penny piece is deflected laterally by the extremity 6A of the spring and is ejected through the opening 3A to the rear of the vending machine. In known manner the machine incorporates a coin rejection chute which delivers to the front of the machine any coins dropping downwardly beyond the back of the plate 3. Coins which pass the opening 3A, that is to say ten penny pieces, fifty penny pieces and any fraudulentiy inserted coins of intermediate diameters then pass beyond the ramp 4B' and drop vertically onto the next ramp 4A'.It is assumed that no coins of a diameter greater than a fifty penny piece can be inserted into the machine, due to corresponding sizing of the initial entry slot.

Below the ramp 4A", the plate 4A and the backing plate 3 are cut away to define a recess 7 which is open towards the rear of the plate 3, and is bounded by an inclined surface 38 provided by a chamfer on the edge of the plate 3. The plate 4A incorporates in the region extending between the ramp 4A" and the opening 7, a recess 4C which is open towards the partition 1 and therefore defines together with the latter a vertical slot extending from the ramp 4A" to the opening 7. The vertical slot defined by the recess 4C has a width just slightly smaller than that of a ten penny piece, so that all coins of a lesser thickness pass through the slot into the opening 7 and are then deflected to the rear of the plate 3 and thus to the coin rejection chute. Coins of greater thickness roll upon the ramp 4A", and continue through the coin chute.

Adjacent the ramp 4A" a further opening 3C is provided in the plate 3, the opening having a height, perpendicular to the ramp 4A" which is at least equal to that of a fifty penny piece. Extending generally parallel to the ramp 4A", and spaced vertically there above is a bridge peice 8 which is spaced rearwardly from the plate 3 by means of spacers 9. The position of the bridge piece 8 is such that the distance of its lower edge from the ramp 4A" corresponds to slightly less than the diameter of a fifty penny piece, whereby a fifty penny piece resting upon the ramp 4A" and deflected outwardly through the opening 3C is caught and retained by the lower edge of the bridge piece 8. Vertically above the ramp 4A" is also provided a cam member 10 having a flange 10A extending parallel to the ramp 4A" and perpendicular to the partition 1.The flange 10A has an initial oblique leading edge 10', arranged to engage and outwardly deflect the upper edges of coins rolling upon the ramp 4A". The position of the flange 10A in relation to the ramps 4A" is such that ten penny coins can pass between the flange 1 OA and the ramp 4A" without deflection, whereas coins of all greater diameters are outwardly deflected. The arrangement is therefore such that ten penny pieces rolling on the ramp 4A" can pass the deflection cam 10 without being laterally outwardly deflected, and thence can drop between the plates 4A and 4B onto the next run 4B". Coins of any greater diameter are outwardly deflected by the cam 10 but coins of the diameter of a fifty penny piece are engaged and retained by the bridge piece 8.Any coins of intermediate diameter are however outwardly deflected through the opening 3C and drop to the rear of the plate 3 and thence to the coin rejection chute. A stop element 11 having an oblique deflection surface 1 1A is arranged on the outside of the plate 3 in the region of the trailing lower edge of the opening 3C, and serves the double purpose of outwardly deflecting from the opening 3C coins to be rejected, whilst retaining therein coins that are either not deflected or are held by the bridge piece 8. As shown the position of the stop element 11 may be adjusted by means of a screw 12 to enable initial setting adjustment of the rejection device.

Adjacent the final ramp 4B" of the coin chute is arranged a further opening 3D in the plate 3 and in the region of this opening there are provided a magnet 13 on the outside of the plate 3 and a leaf spring 14within a groove 1A of the partition 1, the extremity 1 4A of the leaf spring projecting into the path of coins on the ramp 4B". Adjacent the trailing edge of the opening 3D is arranged on the outside of the plate 3 a deflector member 15 having on its surface facing the opening 3D a chamfered edge 15A for engaging and deflecting inwardly coins which tilt outwards through the opening 3D. The magnet 13 served to attach outwardly through the opening 3D any discs of magnetic material fraudulently inserted into the machine. The spring 14 serves to engage coins and to deflect them outwardly towards the opening 3D.The position and strength of the spring 14A, and also the position of the surface 15A of the deflector member 15 are carefully adjusted so that coins such as ten penny pieces and fifty penny pieces which are relatively heavy and relatively fast moving although slightly deflected outwardly are caught by the deflector member 1 5A and returned to the coin chute before dropping outwardly through the opening 3D. Any lighter or slower moving coins such as coins of light alloy or discs of plastics material are, however, deflected outwardly through the opening 3D.In addition coins of a weight equivalent to ten penny pieces, but which are slower moving, for example due to the fraudulent attachment thereto of a rim of material with the intention of increasing the diameter to that of a fifty penny piece, tend to be deflected outwardly through the opening 3D by the spring 14, because as a result of the resilient rim the friction between the rim of the coin and the coin chute is effective to slow its speed of descent.

A further effect of the arrangement shown is that due to the zig-zag path of the coins through the coin chute, at the end of each run down a sloping ramp the coins impinge upon the vertical surface presented by the plates 4A and 4B, and coins with an applied resilient rim, such as a rubber band, tend to rebound from this vertical surface. The spring 14 and the deflector member 15 are preferably so arranged that during rebound of such a coin, following impingement against the plate 4A after rolling down the ramp 4B", they are effective to eject the coin through the opening 3D.

After the coins have passed the ramp 4B" they drop vertically through the coin chute in the direction of the arrow X, towards the coin trap of the coin freed mechanism. In known devices, it is possible, if an excess of coins are inserted into the machine, for coins to accumulate within the coin chute to an extent that the mechanism of the machine becomes jammed. In the embodiment illustrated, however, the opening 3D in the plate 3 serves the additional purpose of allowing excess coins to be rejected from the machine should coins accumulate within the coin chute to the extent that an inserted coin rests within the chute at the level of the opening 3D. Such a coin would be returned through the coin rejection chute and thus give an indication to the user that excessive coins have been inserted.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, which provides for improved security against possible jamming of the mechanism by coins which have not effectively been rejected by the mechanism.

In the arrangement described above with reference to Figure 1, it has been found that in some cases coins having a diameter between that of the 10 penny piece and the 50 penny piece, for example coins having a fraudulently increased diameter, may be deflected outwardly by the cam member 10, and pass below the bridge piece 8, but become jammed between the edge of the bridge piece 8 and the ramp 4A", so that the coin neither drops between the plates 4A and 4B, nor is fully ejected through the opening 3C. In this case, the coin may form an obstruction to further coins inserted into the machine, and thus prevent either opening of the vending drawer or recovery of incorrectly inserted coins.

In order to provide for this condition, the machine shown in Figure 2, which otherwise identical with that in Figure 1 and has components indicated with like reference numerals, is modified as follows. The bridge piece 8, instead of being a fixed component of the machine, is pivoted to the backing plate 3 about a pivot 20. The right-hand end of the bridge piece 8 as viewed in the drawing is guided for pivotal movement on a pin 21 engaging in an arcuate slot 8A of the bridge piece 8. The rest position of the bridge piece 8 is determined by a fixed pin 22. An arm 8B of the plate 8 projects upwardly from the pivot 20 and has a turned-over end 8C which projects into a extension 3F of the opening 3A, so that it lies in the path of coins rolling on the ramp 4B'.

Thus, although in the rest condition the bridge piece 8 occupies the same position as in the case of Figure 1, each inserted coin rolling on the ramp 4B' hits the turned-over end 8C of the bridge piece 8 and thus pivots the bridge piece 8 in an anticlockwise direction about the pivot 20, before dropping onto the next ramp 4A". In the event that the coin rolling on the ramp 4A" should be deflected outwardly by the cam member 10 and become jammed between the lower edge of the bridge piece 8 and the ramp 4A", insertion of another coin in the machine will cause the bridge piece 8 to be pivoted anticlockwise, as described above, and will thus release the coin jammed between the bridge piece 8 and the ramp 4A". Any such coin will thus fall outwardly beyond the back plate 3 into the coin rejection chute of the machine, and will clear the path for the next inserted coin which drops onto the ramp 4A" as the bridge piece 8 returns clockwise, under the influence of gravity.

Claims (13)

1. Acoin rejection device for a coin freed vending machine, comprising a coin chute presenting an inclined ramp down which coins can roll towards the coin freed mechanism, said chute incorporating a lateral opening adjacent said ramp, through which coins to be rejected may be laterally deflected out of the coin chute, a cam device located vertically above said ramp in such a manner that coins largerthan a predetermined minimum diameter engage said cam with their upper edge whilst rolling upon said ramp and are laterally deflected towards said opening, and there being provided, arranged laterally outwardly of said opening, an abutment plate for retaining within said coin chute coins of a diameter exceeding a predetermined maximum diameter greater than the said minimum diameter, whereby the rejection device rejects only those coins having diameters lying between said minimum and maximum dia meters.

2. A coin rejection device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said coin chute incorporates, in an inclined ramp thereof, a vertical slot having a predetermined maximum lateral width less that that of the mini mum thickness of coin to be retained within the chute, whereby all coins below this thickness are allowed to drop through the vertical slot and are thus rejected from the coin chute.

3. A coin rejection device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is provided, adjacent said coin chute, a lateral opening through which coins may be deflected, and associated with said lateral opening there is provided means for biassing inserted coins laterally, whereby in accordance with the weight, speed of movement, or material of the coins such coins can either pass or be deflected through, said opening.

4. A coin rejection device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said biassing means comprises a deflection spring arranged within said coin chute.

5. A coin rejection device as claimed in Claim 3, or 4, wherein said biassing means comprises a psrmanent magnet arranged outside said coin chute, adjacent said opening.

6. A coin rejection device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said coin chute incorporates, in the path of movement of coin adjacent a lateral opening of the coin chute an impact surface upon which the coins impinge prior to dropping into a further section of the coin chute, the arrangement being such that coins with an applied resilient rim, such as an elastic band, rebound from said impact surface to an extent which aliows them to be deflected through the lateral opening.

7. A coin rejection device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said coin chute incorporates, between a coin rejection opening and a coin trap of the coin release mechanism a coin accumulating section which can receive a predetermined maximum number of correctly inserted coins, the arrangement being such that upon insertion of any further coins beyond the predetermined maximum, they become rejected through said lateral opening.

8. A coin rejection device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said coin chute has a plurality of intercommunicating sloping ramps arranged vertically above one another such that an inserted coin follows a zig-zag downward path towards the coin trap.

9. A coin rejection device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein at least two of said intercommunicating sloping ramps incorporate complementary coin rejection means.

10. A coin rejection device as claimed in ay one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein said abutment plate is pivoted and has an abutment means arranged to project into the path of an inserted coin at a point in front of said opening, with reference to the direction of insertion movement of the coin, the location and arrangement of said pivot and abutment means being such that upon insertion of each coin into said coin rejection device said abutment plate tends to be pivoted in a direction to release any previously inserted coin trapped thereby.

11. A coin rejection device substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A coin rejection device substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. The features as herein described, or their equivalents, in any novel section.