GB2238153A

GB2238153A - Coin dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2238153A
Application number: GB9021555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Patrick Kelly
Original assignee: PULSAR MANUFACTURING Ltd
Current assignee: PULSAR MANUFACTURING Ltd
Priority date: 1989-10-04
Filing date: 1990-10-04
Publication date: 1991-05-22
Also published as: GB9021555D0; GB8922314D0

Abstract

A coin dispenser comprises a plastics body 1 and a coin dispensing slide 9 which is movable by a reciprocable pole piece 5 between first and second positions to control dispensing of coins, constraining means being provided on the body to prevent movement of the slide other than in the direction of sliding. The preferred slide has an aperture 21 with a continuous boundary for passage therethrough of the coin to be dispensed and which provides a coin contacting edge 33 and the constraining means (preferably shoulders 11 embracing opposite edges of the slide) extends both forwardly and backwardly of edge 33 relative to the sliding direction in both the first and second positions of the slide. The slide 9 slides between a top surface of the body and an undersurface of a mating part 7 which has provision for receiving a coin stack tube (45, Figure 2). The slide 9 preferably has a thickness less or equal to the thickness of the coin, the pant 7 being recessed to receive the portion of the coin which is not received within the aperture 21 in the slide, (27, Figure 2). The body has a coil 3 secured in it, the coil having the pole piece 5 associated therewith. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Coin Dispenser DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a coin dispenser.

A known coin dispenser for use as a payout in such as a s;ot machine, comprises a shaped metal plate to which is secured a coil with a reciprocable pole piece carrying a coin dispensing slide, and a cap receiving a tube delivering coins to the dispenser.

Difficuities in accurately shaping the metal plate to have parts at 90 degrees has the effect of throwing the slide out of alignment with resulting misfeeding of coins or Jamming of the slide. Furthermore, the combinat-on of a metal plate and plastic slide can create a static problem which can affect associated electronics.

The present invention aims to provide an advantageous construction of coin dispenser and which avoids the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a coin dispenser comprising a body, a coin dispensing member movable slidably between a first position, where a coin is captured from a delivery position, and a second position to displace the captured coin sideways to an outlet, and wherein constraining means is provided to prevent movement of the coin dispensing member other than in the direction of sliding.

The constraining means may comprise spaced guide surfaces and/or channel means between which the member is slidable. By arranging for the constraint to be provided over a substantial distance in the direction of sliding either by continuous or spaced apart (in the direction of sliding) guide surfaces or channel means, rather than just over a short distance - say at one location, particularly effective constraint can be achieved. Conveniently, the opposite edges of the coin dispensing member may be received in a respective elongate channel. A particularly advantageous construction arises from having the body provide constraint to one side of the coin dispensing member (say the underside for a horizontal slide) and to have a part or parts mating with the body which provides constraint to the other side.More particularly opposite edges of the coin dispensing member are disposed between parallel shoulders of the bod. Said mating part is adapted for keyed engagement with the bod and is apertured to allow for passage 0 coins to their delivery position. More particularly the part has provision for connection thereto of a coin delivery stack (typically a tubular member) which connection is preferably by way of a snap-fitting connection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the coin dispensing member is a substantially flat apertured member of a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of coin to be dispensed and wherein the aperture is dimensioned to allow passage therethrough of the coin being dispensed. The provision of a continuous boundary to said aperture is useful in achieving the desired constraint of the dispensing member. The aperture provides a coin contacting edge (preferably arcuate) and the constraining means extends both forwardly and backwardly of that edge (relative to the sliding direction) in both the first and second positions of the coin dispensing member.

The mating part preferably has laterally spaced surfaces which extend in the dIrectIon of sliding from forwardly of the aforesaid coin contacting edge to act in constraining the coin dispensing member and is relieved between those spaced surfaces by an amount which (relative to the position of the facing side of the body supporting the coin dispensing member) allows passage therepast of the coin being dispensed.

Accordingly, for a specific coin dispensing application the aperturing to the mating part will be tailored to suit, as with the aforementioned distance. The width of tne aperture in the coin dispensing member is likewise tailored to suit. The lengtn of the aperture in the sliding direction is preferably constant.

The actuation of the coin dispensing member is controlled by a coil which is secured with respect to the body and which has a reciprocable pole piece with which the coin dispensing member is movable by virtue of a keyea connection. By constructing the body from an injection moulaed plastics tne coil can be positioned accurately and this makes possible accurate alignment of tne coin dispensing member. Indeed the accuracy is improved to such an extent that by itself it proviaes an improvement over the prior art, as well as being more economic to produce. Provision of the aforementioned constraint further improves the product.

According to another aspect of the invention then tnere is provided a coin dispenser comprising a body, a coil secured with respect to the body and having a reciprocable pole piece, a coin dispensing member movable slidaDly with the pole piece between a first position, where a coin is captured from a deliver position, and a second position to displace the captured coin sideways to an outlet, and wherein the body is constructed as a plastics moulding.

The plastics moulding presents the coin dispensing member accurately and a particularly advantageous construction results when one or more of the aforementioned features are incorporated.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of coin dispensing apparatus according to the present invention with mating part separate; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the coin dispensing member in a first position; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view as per Figure 2 but with the coin dispensing member in a second position; Figure 4 is an underneath view of the mating part, and Figure 5 is an end view of the mating part.

Referring to the drawings, a coin dispenser comprises a plastics moulded body 1 in which is secured a coil 3 having a reciprocable pole piece 5 to which is coupled a coln dispensing member 9 for sliding movement in a guide way provided by surfaces of the body and a mating part 7. More particularly the member 9 is disposed between opposed parallel shoulders 11 of the body and is constrained to one side by a support surface 13 of the Dody bounding an aperture 15.

The other side is constrained by a guide surface 17 of the mating part.

The selective energisation of the coil generates movement of the pole piece and hence the coin dispensing member 9 between a first position shown in Figure 2 corresponding to its energised state and a secona position shown in Figure 3 corresponding to the deenergised state and it is urged into that position by a spring 19 disposed about tne pole piece.

Tne mating part 7 has an upstanding split sleeve 21 for receiving a tube 45 containing coins to De aispensed. The tube is tapered to the end with a hole or recess inset from its end in which location pegs 23 engage to locate the tube in position. This snap-fitting arrangement avoids the need for such as an aajustable metalic clip for clamping tne sleeve in place, which clip can interfere with coin level sensors. Twisting the tube through 90 degrees facilitates release.

The tuDe leacs to a aperture 25 in tne mating part which has a diameter to suit the size of coin oeing dispensed. Furthermore the mating part has a relieved part 27 within the guide surfaces and the depth of the relief, shown by arrows AA plus the thickness of the coin dispensing member, is at least equal to tne thickness of coin being dispensed. Usually greater, but less than two times greater to ensure that only one coin can be dispensed. The mating part is keyed to the body. The coin dispensing member is a flat member typically tninner than the thinnest coin to be dispensea - although it could be varied for the particular application and has an aperture 31 through whicn a coin being dispensed has to pass.The aperture provides a coin contacting eage 33 and its width across tne aperture is tailorea to suit the size of coins being aispensea.

Operation of the device will now be described further with particular reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Coins to be dispensed are shown stacked in tube and pass through aperture 25 so that the bottom coin rests on one side of the coin dispensing member 9 (see Figure 3). When a coin is to be dispensed the member is withdrawn (to the rignt in tne illustration) so that the coin contacting edge 33 moves to tne right ot the coin, tnereoy allowing Ine bottom coin to drop onto the surface 13 then to be contacted by the coin contacting edge as the member 9 moves to its second position.

Accordingly the coin is displaced to the left and drops into outlet aperture 5 whilst the next coin in the stack is restrained from moving to the left by contact with the side 25a of aperture 25 and falls onto the upper surface of the member 9 to be dispensed on the next operation.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the manufacture of a series of appropriately dimensionea mating parts ana coin dispensing members readily enables the coin dispenser to be tailored to disperse a particular coin manufacture of those parts in particular colours enables rapid selection and identification of tne correct combination of parts.

Thus the dispenser constitutes a self contained modular unit.

Claims

1. A coin dispenser comprising a body, a coin dispensing member movable slidably between a first position, where a coin is captured from a delivery position, and a second position to displace the captured coin sideways to an outlet, and wherein constraining means is provided to prevent movement of the coin dispensing member other than in the direction of sliding.

2. A coin dispenser as claimed In claim 1 in which the constraInIng means comprises spaced guide surfaces and/or channel means between which the member is slidable.

3. A coin dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the constraint is provided over a substantial distance in the direction of sliding either by continuous or spaced apart (in the dIrectIon of sliding) guide surfaces or channel means.

4. A coIn dispenser as claimed In any one of claims 1 to 3 In which the opposite edges of the coin dispensing member are received in a respective elongate channel.

5. A coin dispenser as claimed In any one of the preceding claims in which the body provides constraint one side of the ccin dispensing member and to have a part or parts mating with the body which provides constraint to the other side.

6. A coin dispenser as claimed in claim 5 in which the opposite edges of the coin dispensing member are disposed between parallel shoulders of the body.

7. A coin dispenser as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which one or more of the mating parts are adapted for keyed engagement with the body and is apertured to allow for passage of coins to their delivery position.

8. A coin dispenser as claimed In any one of claims 5, 6 or 7 in which one or more of the parts has provision for connection thereto of a coin delivery stack.

9. A coin dispenser as claimed In any one of the preceding clams in which the eoi dispensing member is a substantially flat apertured member of a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of coin to be dispensed and wherein the aperture is dimensioned to allow passage therethrough of the coin being dispensed.

10. A coin dispenser as claimed In claim 9 in which the aperture has a continuous boundary.

11. A coin dispenser as claimed in claim 9 or 10 in which the aperture provides a coin contacting edge and the constraining means extends both forwardly and backwardly of that edge relative to the sliding direction In both the fIrst and second positions of the coin dispensing member.

12. A coin dispenser as claimed in claim 11 when appendant to claim 5 in which the mating part has laterally spaced surfaces which extend in the direction of sliding from forwardly of the aforesaid coin contacting edge to act in constraining the coin dispensing member and is relieved between those spaced surfaces by an amount which (relative to the position of the facing side of the body supporting the coin dispensing member) allows passage therepast of the coin being dIspensed.

13. A coin dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim In which the body is constructed as a plastics InjectIon moulding.

14. A coin dispenser comprising a body, a coil secured with respect to the body and having reciprocable pole piece, a coin dispensing member movable slldably with the pole piece between a first position, where a coin is captured from a delivery position, and a second position to displace the captured coin sideways to an outlet, and wherein the body is constructed as a plastics moulding.

15. A coin dispenser constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.