WO1999050795A1

WO1999050795A1 - Coin dispensing

Info

Publication number: WO1999050795A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000805
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karen Aurelius
Original assignee: Mars, Incorporated
Priority date: 1998-03-27
Filing date: 1999-03-17
Publication date: 1999-10-07
Also published as: GB2335775B; GB2335775A; GB9806667D0; AU2944199A

Abstract

A coin dispensing mechanism for dispensing coins from a circular cluster of coin tubes (14), comprising a driver ring (22) and a coaxial selector disc (24), the surfaces of the two rings being in the same plane, the two rings being movable into a position where the apertures in each are aligned to receive a coin, and to move the coin to a dispense aperture (32).

Description

COIN DISPENSING

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing coins, and to a coin

store incorporating such apparatus.

One use for a coin store of this type is in change giving apparatus, in

which coins are accepted and change is dispensed. The uses for such

apparatus include vending machines, pay phones, ticket machines and so on.

Coin stores include hoppers, in which a number of coins are stored for

payout, and coin tubes, in each of which a single (different) denomination of

coins is stored for use.

One example of a dispensing mechanism for use with a hopper is

shown in US 4997405. This mechanism comprises a pair of plates rotated at

different speeds, each plate having a circular aperture. When the apertures are

aligned beneath the hopper, a coin can pass through both and is dispensed.

In coin changers such as the Cashflow Model 560, available from

Mars Electronics International, Eskdale Road, Winnersh Triangle,

Wokingham, Berkshire, UK, each coin tube is provided with a separate

dispense member (a rotated sweep arm), actuated by a motor. Since the

dispense members (and motors) occupy considerable space, coin tubes must

be positioned in a line next to each other, which reduces the number of coin

tubes which can be provided within the change mechanism. Examples of alternative coin dispensing mechanisms for coin tubes are

shown in US5595535 and US5330384.

In one aspect, the invention provides a coin dispensing mechanism

which is relatively compact and economical in its use of components. In this

aspect, the present invention provides a coin dispensing mechanism for

dispensing from a coin tube, comprising first and second movable members,

each having an aperture, each being alignable with a coin tube, the apertures

being alignable with each other, the first and second members being movable

into a position in which the apertures are not aligned, the first and second

members having an upper surface for coin support, and the upper surfaces

being substantially co-planar.

Accordingly, a common dispense member may dispense from plural

tubes, the second movable member co-operating with the first to enable the

mechanism to pass from one tube under another without jamming.

Provision of a compact dispensing mechanism of this type enables the

coin tubes to be compactly aligned, for example to be radially disposed in a

circular arrangement. Accordingly, in another aspect, the present invention

provides a coin store unit comprising at least three coin tubes arranged around

the periphery of a circle, and a common dispenser mechanism comprising at

least one rotary element , rotatable into alignment with any of the tubes, for

dispensing coins from any of said tubes to one or more outlets. Embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a conventional vending machine (not to scale)

including a coin store according to the prior art;

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical components of the

dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a control unit

according to the first embodiment;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a coin store unit comprising a coin

store and a dispenser mechanism according to the first embodiment;

Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 4 but with the removal of the coin

store;

Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 but with the removal of the drive

ring;

Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 6 but with the removal of the selector

disc;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of the

components of Figures 4 to 7;

Figures 9a to 9f are partial perspective views, with the upper portions

of the coin tubes removed, showing the relative positions of the selector disc

and drive ring during operation of the first embodiment; Figure 10 is a schematic partial cross-section illustrating the spacings

of the components to accommodate coin thicknesses;

Figure 11 is a schematic partial cross-section illustrating the

corresponding spacings in a fourth embodiment to accommodate multiple

coin denominations of substantially different thicknesses; and

Figure 12 is a partial sectional perspective view of the fourth

embodiment.

Vending Machine

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional vending machine comprises a

machine body 1 comprising a vending control circuit 2, an article store 3,

which stores the articles to be sold by the vending machine, 4, which

dispenses a selected article from the article store 3 and supplies it to an article

outlet opening 5.

Provided within the vending machine body 1 is a coin change giving

mechanism 10 comprising a coin inlet 11 accepting a coin, a coin path

carrying the coin past coin validator electronics 12, and a selector mechanism

13 directing the coin to one of a plurality of coin tubes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d

making up a coin store 14.

In use, the user inserts coins into the vending machine and the coin

mechanism recognises the coins and directs them to the appropriate tubes. On

selection of an article for vending, the vending control circuit 2 determines the

appropriate amount of change to be dispensed, and signals this to the coin mechanism processor 16, which then actuates the coin dispensing mechanism

15 to dispense the appropriate coins from the coin store 14 to the coin return

outlet 6.

First Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the vending machine is substantially as

described above, as are the validation components 11. Accordingly, these

components will not be described further.

Referring now to Figure 2, the present invention comprises a motor 18

and a position sensor circuit 19, connected to the coin control processor 16.

Associated with the motor 18 is a motor drive circuit (not shown) of

conventional form.

Referring to Figure 4, the coin store 14 of the present embodiments

comprises a circular cluster of four coin tubes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d. Beneath the

coin tubes is the dispense mechanism 15, to which is connected a gearbox 17

driven by the motor 18 (not shown).

Coin store 14 is secured to the dispenser 15 by four radially spaced

mounting arms 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, received in corresponding mounting slots

40a, 40b, 40c, 40d provided on the dispenser mechanism 15.

Referring now to Figure 5, in which the coin store 14 has been

removed, the dispenser mechanism 15 comprises a driven ring 22, with a

toothed edge which engages with the teeth of the gearbox 17, and a selector

disc 24 disposed within, and coplanar with, the drive ring 22. Drive ring 22 carries a peg 36 projecting radially inward, which engages with the slot 38 in

the selector disc 24.

Referring to Figure 6, the selector disc 24 overlies an inner coin

support surface 26b separated from coin support surface 26a by a slot 34

within which the selector disc 24 is arranged to run. The inner and outer coin

support surfaces 26a, 26b are solid with a plate 25 which carries tube

assembly mounting slots 40a - 40d and a pair of pillars 45a, 45b (not shown in

Figure 6 - see Figure 9) arranged to mount the gearbox 17 and motor 18.

Provided within the drive ring 22 is an aperture 28, comprising a circle

having a diameter corresponding to that of the largest coin to be dispensed

from the store 14. A pair of diametrically opposite, similarly sized apertures

32a, 32b are provided in the support surface 26.

The selector disc 24 is partially interrupted by an aperture 30, which

conforms to the drive ring aperture and the support surface apertures 32.

The selector disc 24 has an L - shaped cross section. The outer part

rides around the outer wall of the inner coin support surface 26b and the lower

edge bears upon the plate 25. The upper surface of the selector disc 24 is

arranged to lie at the same level as the upper surface of the drive ring aperture

28, so that when the selector disc obstructs the drive ring aperture 28, the two

present a continuous plate to support the coin. The outer part rides around the

outer wall of the outer coin support surface 26a and the lower edge bears upon

the plate 25. The radial extent of the slot 38 corresponds to the radial extent of the

aperture 30 in the selector disc 24. Thus, there is some play rotationally

between the selector disc and the drive ring, such that the selector disc can

rotate to a position where the apertures 30 and 28 are aligned to receive a coin,

and to a position in which the apertures are not aligned, with the selector disc

24 obstructing the aperture 28 in the drive ring 22.

The depth of the support surfaces (which lie at the same level) below

the upper surfaces of the selector disc 24 and drive ring 22 are related to the

depth of the coin to be dispensed and are thinner than the thickness of a coin

to be dispensed. Thus, once the coin has dropped into the apertures 28, 30 it

will lie flush with, or proud of, the selector disc 24 and the drive ring 22 and

be supported on the coin support surfaces 26a, 26b.

The dispensing apertures 32a, 32b are positioned so as not to be

aligned with any of the coin tubes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d. Thus, it is not possible

for a coin to drop straight out of one of the tubes 14 to the dispense apertures,

regardless of the position of the selector disc 24 and drive ring 22.

Referring to Figure 9, the operation of this embodiment will now be

described.

In the initial or "home" position of Figure 9a, the drive ring 22 is

positioned so as to be out of alignment with coin tubes 14, but aligned with

one of the apertures 32. The selector disc 24 is out of alignment with the drive 8 ring 22, because of the play of the peg 36 in the slot 38. In this position, coins

are resting on the surfaces of the drive ring and the selector disc.

When it is desired to dispense a coin from the tube 14a, the drive ring

is driven clockwise. The peg 36 is at the leftmost end of the slot 38, and

therefore engages with the end of the slot, so that the selector disc 24 is also

driven clockwise and remains out of alignment with the drive ring 22.

The drive ring 22 continues to be driven until it has passed 90 degrees

past the selected coin tube (tube 14a). In this position, as shown in Figure 9b,

the selector disc 24 has been driven into alignment with coin tube 14a,

although the drive ring 22 is not in alignment with the coin tube 14a.

Next, referring to Figure 9c, the direction of travel of the drive ring 22

is reversed and it is driven anti- clockwise by 90 degrees. The pin 36 now

travels within the slot 38 in the selector disc 24, so that the selector disc 24

does not move with the drive ring but instead remains in its rotational position

of Figure 9b under the weight of the coins in the coin tubes 14. The drive ring

22 is therefore brought into alignment with the coin tube 14a as shown in

Figure 9c, so that the two apertures 28 and 30 are aligned beneath the coin

tubes, allowing the coin to drop from the coin tube onto the support surfaces

26a, 26b beneath the selector disc and drive ring.

Drive ring 22 continues to be driven in the same direction. The right

hand edge (in Figure 9c) of the selector disc 24 and the drive ring 32 engages

the coin, and so the selector disc 24 is also driven by the drive ring 22 due to the pin 36 reaching the end of the slot 38. Thus, the aligned apertures,

including the coin beneath them, continue to rotate anti clockwise until the

aperture 32a is reached, through which the coin falls to be dispensed. Because

the aperture 32a is not aligned with any coin tube 14, no further coins can fall.

Ideally, in this embodiment, the depth of the support surface 26 below

the top surface of the selector disc 24 and drive ring 22 would be exactly the

thickness of a coin, and the tubes 14 would descend to the level of the upper

surfaces of the selector disc and drive ring. However, since coin thicknesses

of coins of the same denomination vary in practice, some tolerance must be

provided.

Referring to Figure 10, the depth of the support surface 26 (set by the

thickness of the selector and drive rings) below the top surface of the selector

disc 24 and drive ring 22 therefore is equal or less than the minimum

thickness (Tmin) of a coin to be stored in the store, so that average or thick

coins will stand somewhat proud of the surface.

The spacing between the support surface 26 and the bottom of the

tubes 14 exceeds the maximum thickness (Tmax) of the coins to be stored, so

that no coin can, whilst sitting on the support surface, also lie within the tube

14 and jam the mechanism.

It must also be less than twice the minimum thickness Tmin, so that a

coin falling onto the support surface 26 cannot be followed out of the tube 14

by another. 10 Also, the spacing from the upper surface of the drive and selector rings

22, 24 to the bottom of the tube 14 must be less than the minimum coin

thickness (Tmin), to prevent coins falling out beneath the tubes 14 onto the

rings.

Finally, the spacing between the selector disc and drive ring, and the

support surface, must be narrower than the minimum coin thickness Tmin, so

that no coin can be trapped and jam between the two.

The upper surfaces of the selector disc 24 and drive ring 22 must be

coplanar to within substantially less than the thickness of the thinnest coin to

be stored if jams are to be avoided.

In this embodiment, for each coin dispensing operation, the drive ring

is driven clockwise to get to the desired coin tube 14, and then returned anti

clockwise to align the drive ring 22 and then to bring the coin within the

apertures to the dispense aperture position. Although in the operation

described above, the selected coin tube 14a was adjacent to a dispense

aperture 32, it will be understood that the invention operates correctly even

where the drive ring 22 and selector disc 24 are rotating underneath one or

more further coin tubes before reaching the dispense apertures 32, since the

coin lying within the apertures blocks the entry of further coins from further

coin tubes into the aligned apertures prior to reaching the dispense aperture

32. 11 Referring to Figure 3, the process performed by the coin validator

control circuit 16 will now be discussed. In a step 102 a signal is received

from the vending machine control unit 2, indicating the price of the goods

dispensed.

In a step 104 the processor unit 16 calculates the coins to be dispensed

to make up the correct change, using a change algorithm as described in our

earlier patents GB2269258 or GB2284090. In a step 106, the control unit

reads the position sensed by the position sensor 19, to detect the position of

the drive ring 22.

In a step 108, a first of said coins is selected for dispensing. In a step

110, the control unit 16 energises the motor 18 to drive the drive ring 22

clockwise, to a position 90 degrees beyond the coin tube corresponding to the

denomination selected for dispensing.

In a step 112, the control unit 16 rotates the motor 18 anti clockwise

to dispense a coin through the dispense outlet.

In a step 114, the control unit 16 determines whether the coin was the

last coin to be dispensed, and if so, halts the change giving operation. If not,

in a step 116, the control unit 16 resumes at step 106.

The motor 18 rotates at a constant speed, so that the amount of rotation

is controlled by controlling the time of operation of the motor 18 and its

direction of rotation. 12 The position sensor 19 may be an optical sensor, which detects the

occurrence of predetermined features (holes) on the drive ring 22 and

generates a corresponding pulse for detection by the control circuit 16. By

detecting the direction of rotation and counting the pulses, the control circuit

16 is aware of the drive ring 22 at any time.

Second Embodiment

In the above described embodiment, the direction of rotation to select

a coin is always clockwise. However, in this embodiment, the processor 16 is

arranged to select the order of coins in step 116 such that, where possible,

selection of coins may be made in the anti clockwise direction.

If, having dispensed a coin in the position shown in Figure 9b, the next

coin to be dispensed lies in the coin tube 14 b which lies immediately beyond

the dispense aperture 32, the processor may control the motor 18 to continue

rotating anti clockwise until the apertures in the drive ring 22 and a selector

disc 24 are aligned with the bottom of the coin tube 14b.

Thus, the processor 16 attempts to locate a sequence of coins which

will lie on immediately opposite sides of the dispense apertures 32, so that it

is not always necessary to reverse the direction of travel of the motor during

each dispense operation. This reduces the time required for each dispense

operation and therefore increases the payout speed. 13 Third Embodiment

In the third embodiment, all four tubes carry the same denomination of

coins. The cluster of coin tubes therefore acts as a hopper. In this case,

dispensing may proceed continuously anti clockwise.

Fourth Embodiment

In the above described embodiments, no difficulties are encountered

where the coins in the different tubes have substantially similar thicknesses.

However, where the thicknesses of coins in different tubes do differ

substantially, difficulties may arise because where a thin coin has been

selected and lies within the aligned apertures in the drive ring and selector

disc, it will lie some way below the surface of the disc and ring 22, 24 (since

the depth of the aperture is set by the support surface 26 and hence by the

thickest possible coin), and so it would be possible for a second coin from the

same tube to fall into the apertures and block the mechanism. Further, when

the rings are driven under another coin tube, it would be possible for the lower

most part of the coin from that tube to enter into the selector aperture and jam

the mechanism.

In this embodiment, this difficulty is overcome by providing that the

coin support surface has different thicknesses underlying the different coin

tubes. The depth of the coin support surface 26 below the surfaces of the

selector disc 24 and drive ring 22 corresponds to the thickness of the coin

stored in the tube 14 which overlies that portion of the surface; thus, the 14 support surface underlying a tube full of thin coins is higher than the support

surface underlying a tube full of thick coins.

Figure 11 illustrates one aspect of this embodiment of the invention. It

will be seen that the heights of the support surfaces vary, with the support

surface on one half of the mechanism being lower than that on the other half

of the mechanism. The support surface 26, which is passed over by the drive

ring as it rotates in the dispense operation anti clockwise towards the dispense

aperture 32b, is lower, to accommodate a thicker coins in the two overlying

coin tubes 14, whereas the support surface 27 is higher to accommodate

thinner coins in the two overlying coin tubes.

Thus the arrangement of Figure 11 is capable of providing two

denominations of coin, each in two coin tubes.

Figure 12 illustrates a further arrangement according to this

embodiment of the invention. In the arrangement of Figure 12, the height of

the coin support surfaces 261a,b; 262a,b; 263a,b; 264a,b differs under each of

the coin tubes 14a-14d so as to correspond to the depth of coins in each of the

coin tubes. Thus, four different denominations of coin can be provided, with

substantially different thicknesses.

In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the apparatus can

dispense either clockwise or anticlockwise. Each tube is dispensed to the

orifice 32a, 32b closest to the tube, so that it is unnecessary for a captive coin

to pass under any other coin tube to be dispensed. 15 Other Embodiments

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the foregoing

embodiments, but may be varied in many respects. For example, although it is

preferred to provide a circular cluster of coin tubes, it would equally be

possible to provide a similar dispensing mechanism for a linear array of coins,

and in which the drive and selector discs are replaced by linearly moving

plates. Accordingly, such arrangements are not excluded from the scope of the

invention.

It may be convenient to provide the coin support surfaces as insertable

(for example snap-fit) separate components, to allow customisation for

different coin thicknesses.

Although a linkage with play or lost motion between the drive ring and

selector disc is disclosed above, they could be separately driven, or connected

together in some other way.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the invention could be utilised

not only for coins but for other articles of value such as tokens, or possibly for

Claims

16 CLAIMS

1. A coin dispensing mechanism for dispensing from a coin tube,

comprising first and second movable members, each having an aperture, each

being alignable with a coin tube, the apertures being alignable with each

other, the first and second members being movable into a position in which

the apertures are not aligned, the first and second members having an upper

surface for coin support, and the upper surfaces being substantially co-planar.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, in which the first and

second movable members are alignable with a plurality of different coin

tubes.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, in which the plurality of

different coin tubes are radially arranged, and in which the first and second

members are arranged to rotate into alignment with each.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, in which the second

member comprises a ring driven at its periphery.

5. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, in which there

is provided an outlet aperture, displaced from the coin tube, and in which the 17 first and second members are movable into a position in which the apertures

are aligned with the outlet aperture.

6. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, in which the

first and second members are coupled together by a coupling permitting

sliding motion of a limited extent between the members, to permit them to

move between positions where their apertures are aligned and misaligned.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6, in which the coupling

comprises a peg provided on one of said members engaging with a slot

provided on the other.

8. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, comprising a

motor arranged to drive the mechanism so as to move the first and second

members in either first direction or a second, opposed, direction; and control

means for controlling the motor to move the mechanism in both said

directions sequentially during a single dispense operation.

9. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, further

comprising a support surface provided beneath the first and second members,

at a depth beneath the surface thereof which is related to the depth of a coin

to be dispensed. 18

10. A mechanism according to claim 9, when appended to claim 2,

in which said support surface is provided with a plurality of portions of

different depths, aligned with different said coin tubes, corresponding to the

depths of coins stored therein.

11. A mechanism according to any preceding claim, further

comprising at least one coin tube fastened to said mechanism to provide a

coin store unit.

12. A coin store unit comprising at least three coin tubes arranged

around the periphery of a circle, and a common dispenser mechanism

comprising at least one rotary element , rotatable into alignment with any of

the tubes, for dispensing coins from any of said tubes to one or more outlets.