Patent ID: 7059957
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: G07D,G07F

Abstract:
1. A coin hopper device adapted for use singularly or with other coin hopper devices stacked thereon, the coin hopper device comprising: a bottom support; a set of gears operatively supported in a position by said bottom support; a rotatable coin feeding disk on said bottom support, above said set of gears and in operative connection with one gear of said set of gears, said coin feeding disk cooperating with said bottom support to define a first discharge passage for discharge of coins to be ejected from the coin hopper device and a second discharge passage for discharge of coins to be retained in the coin hopper device, said second discharge passage being located on a side of said coin feeding disk that is opposite a location of said first discharge passage, said coin feeding disk feeding coins out said first discharge passage when said coin feeding disk is rotated in a first direction of rotation and said coin feeding disk feeding coins out said second discharge passage when said coin feeding disk is rotated in said second direction of rotation; a motor connected via a downwardly extending motor drive shaft to a gear of said set of gears, said motor extending upright away from said bottom support on a same side of said bottom support as said coin feeding disk and radially outwardly of said coin feeding disk and adjacent to said first discharge entrance with said motor driving said disk in rotation via said set of gears to rotate said disk in said first direction of rotation by operating said motor and to rotate said disk in said second direction of rotation by operating said motor; a receiving hopper connected to said bottom support at an upper side of said bottom support with said coin feeding disk in said receiving hopper, said disk having an upper coin receiving side receiving coins from said receiving hopper; a selector for determining a type of said coin as it is deposited in the coin hopper device; and an additional hopper unit stacked above said hopper unit, said additional hopper unit having another bottom support with a first discharge entrance for discharge of coins to be ejected from the coin hopper device and a second discharge entrance for discharge of coins to be retained in the coin hopper device another set of gears operatively supported in a position by said another bottom support another rotatable coin feeding disk on said another bottom support, above said another set of gears and in operative connection with one gear of said another set of gears, said another disk feeding coins to said first discharge entrance, when rotated in a first direction of rotation, and feeding coins to said second discharge entrance when rotated in a second direction of rotation, another motor with a downwardly directed motor drive shaft connected to another gear of said another set of gears, said another motor fixed in an upright position relative to said another bottom support adjacent to said first discharge entrance with said another motor driving said another disk in rotation via said another set of gears to rotate said another disk in said first direction of rotation by operating said another motor and rotating said another disk in said second direction of rotation by operating said another motor, and another receiving hopper connected to said another bottom support at an upper side.