Abstract:
An improved coin hopper that can be provided as original equipment or as a conversion member for a coin dispensing apparatus is provided. The coin hopper includes a housing member having a cavity for storing coins when mounted in a coin dispensing apparatus and a movable member operatively connected to the cavity of the housing member for increasing and decreasing the storage volume available for coins in the housing member. One or more movable members can exist about a storage bowl. An actuator unit can be activated by a detector unit responsive to the number of coins in the bowl to move the auxiliary movable members into a coin release position. Alternatively, a spring-biased actuator unit can be used for automatically moving the movable member for storing and releasing coins.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention is directed to coin dispensing devices which can selectively dispense coins that have been stored in bulk such as in a vending machine, a coin exchanging machine or a gaming machine, and more especially, to a coin storage member which can selectively increase the available storage volume of the storage member within the traditional space confines of coin storage members.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Various forms of coin dispensing apparatus have been known for a considerable period of time. This industry has had a number of different engineers and technicians attempting to improve the apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing coins, tokens, metals, medallions, etc. As utilized in the present specification, the term “coin” is used generically not only as a monetary member, but to also include other objects representative of value. Generally, the coins are stored in bulk and are selectively dispensed, depending upon the particular vending machine in which the coin dispenser is installed. For example, coin dispensers can be utilized in arcade machines, gaming machines, currency exchange machines, various types of kiosks, and bus and subway token dispensers.  
           [0005]    Examples of coin dispensing devices and coin hoppers can be seen in Japanese Laid-open Utility Patent Model No. 6-43767, U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,033, U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,749, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,495. Thus, it has been known to utilize storage hoppers that can have one or more concentric or offset chambers for moving coins between one chamber and another. There have been also auxiliary storage units located adjacent or under a storing bowl that can transmit separately stored coins to a primary storage bowl when the number of coins decrease within the primary storage bowl. A lifting unit can transport the separately stored coins to the primary storing bowl, as seen in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2002-117428. Thus, the prior art has attempted to provide various configurations for increasing the storage capacity for coins while the industry has also been demanding relatively compact coin dispensers without sacrificing storage capacity. Frequently the coin bowls or hoppers can have their axes tilted to the horizontal support surface and the exterior space surrounding the coin hopper is not utilized. Attempts to provide additional or auxiliary storing bowls or hoppers many times require a gravity feed. The auxiliary bowl frequently is located at a higher position than the primary storing bowl so that the overall height of the storage hopper is increased in size. Alternatively, the arrangements that provide the coins stored beneath or adjacent the primary storing bowl require motor activated devices to lift or move the coins so that they can be deposited in the primary storage hopper and to be accessible to a coin storage selector unit.  
           [0006]    There is still a need in this art to optimize the storage capacity of a coin dispensing apparatus in an economical and an efficient manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides an improved coin dispensing apparatus having a storage member that can provide auxiliary stored coins to a coin selection unit for selectively dispensing coins in a primary storage member or hopper. A movable member is operatively connected to the storage member for selectively increasing the coin storage volume of the storage member when, for example, extended or moved in a first direction to receive coins for storage. The movable member can be moved in a second direction to release the stored coins to the coin selector unit.  
           [0008]    The storage member or hopper can be provided as original equipment in a coin dispensing apparatus or can be provided as a retrofit replacement part of a storage hopper for a coin installation dispensing apparatus that is already in use. The storing bowl or hopper has a cavity for storing coins when mounted in a dispensing apparatus and a movable wall section member is operatively connected to the storing bowl for increasing and decreasing the storage volume. The movable member can be provided in different configurations, including a wedge-shape pocket or bucket member that can rotate in or out of the primary storage hopper and an elastically deformable portion of a side wall of the hopper. An actuator unit can selectively control the position of the bucket member in response to monitoring the volume level of coins located above the coin selector unit. Alternatively, a perimeter wall portion of the primary storage hopper can be flexible and can be expanded or contracted to increase or decrease an auxiliary storage space. Generally in the expanded storage volume, the coins will not be fed by gravity to the coin selector unit. When the auxiliary storage space is contracted, however, the coins are then released for a gravity feed to the coin selector unit. A plurality of movable wall sections can be provided so that the optimum use of previous dead space adjacent the primary storage bowl can be utilized.  
           [0009]    Separate actuator units or motors can be used to drive the movable wall member or, alternatively, a principal motor for driving the coin selector unit can also be utilized, for example, through a one-way clutch and a gear transmission assembly for controlling movement of a movable wall member when driven to rotate in an opposite direction from its normal operation in driving the coin selector unit. A detector unit can monitor the amount of stored coins and activate the actuator units. Alternatively a spring driven movable wall member can be used. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of plane A shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the movable storage member of the first embodiment;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a controlling circuit for the first embodiment;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a driving system diagram for a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the plane B-B of FIG. 6;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a schematic embodiment for disclosing the advantages of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view for purposes of explaining the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention which set forth the best modes contemplated to carry out the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, a coin hopper having a storing bowl for storing coins in bulk includes a movable wall section. The hopper  10  includes a lower frame  12  mounted on a horizontal base  14 . A rotatable coin selector disk  16  can selectively release individual coins from the hopper  10 . The storing bowl  20  can have an approximately cylindrical configuration, whereas, shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular configuration with rounded corners can comprise the upper section  44  with an opening rim  46 . An aperture  50  is provided at the bottom of the lower inner section  48  to provide as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 a cone-shaped configuration that slants with the same orientation as the base plate  24 . The lower frame  12  is boxlike in shape with an upper surface  22  that slants approximately at 30 degrees to the surface  22 . The base plate  24  is rectangular and is fixed across the upper surface  22 . The lower section of the storing bowl  20  is fixed on the base plate  24 . A concave circular form opening  26  is located at the center of the base plate  24  and has a flat bottom surface  28  to accommodate the rotating coin selector disk  16 .  
         [0022]    The rotating coin selector disk  16  is located within the concave opening  26  and has a cone-shaped projection  30  which is located at its center with a plurality of opening holes for receiving coins or disks located at an equal distance from the projection  30 . The projection  30  slants downward for directing coins to be received in individual through-holes. Thus, the upper section or upper surface of the rotating coin selector disk  16  having a plurality of through-holes  32  is an inverted cone-shaped structure for directing the disk into the holes. As shown in FIG. 2, the output shaft  42  of a reducer gear system  40  is inserted into a shaft hole  30  of the projection cover  30  of the rotating coin selector disk  16 . An electric motor  18  can rotate and drive the rotating coin selector disk  16  through reducer gear system  40 .  
         [0023]    A friction transmitting unit or clutch member (not shown) is located between the output shaft  42  and the rotating coin selector disk  16 . The rotating coin selector disk  16  is driven through the friction transmitting unit by the outputting shaft  42 .  
         [0024]    The reducer gear system  40  is fixed on the reverse side of the base plate  24  by an attachment structure (not shown). Electric motor  18  is operatively connected to the reducer gear assembly  40  to thereby be able to drive the rotating coin selector disk  16 , if the rotating coin selector disk  16  becomes jammed, the friction transmitting unit can release at a predetermined force to prevent the electric motor from burning out by releasing a transmitting force.  
         [0025]    Referring to the coin storing bowl  20 , the lower end of the storing bowl  20  is fixed on the upper surface of the base plate  24 . In this situation, the outlet opening  50  is located over the rotating coin selector disk  16 . Therefore, rotating coin selector disk  16  is located at the lower section of the storing bowl in or below the exit opening  50 .  
         [0026]    Storing bowl  20  includes an upper perpendicular wall section  52  which extends downward from opening  46 , and a middle wall section  54  which extends downward towards the rotating coin selector disk  16 . Middle wall section  54  slants so that the coins on the middle wall section will slide down towards rotating disk holes  32  by gravity. Perpendicular wall  52  and middle wall  54  form a fixed wall enclosure extending from base plate  24  and cannot move.  
         [0027]    A moving wall section  60  can be located at the middle wall  54  or alternatively at the perimeter wall section which is a fixed wall section around the rotating coin selector disk  16 . As shown in FIG. 3, moving wall section  60  can be formed as a bucket-like wedge-shape member  62 . The bucket member  62  includes a bottom wall  64 , parallel side walls  66 ,  68  which are located at the left and right side of the bottom wall  64  and a periphery arc-shaped wall  69  which is located between the side walls  66  and  68 . The arc preferably has its radius coincident with the shaft  72 .  
         [0028]    Bucket member  62  is mounted to pivot on a shaft  72  which is located at the base of side walls  66 ,  68  and in the preferred first embodiment is located at middle wall section  54 .  
         [0029]    Bucket member  62  is pivotally fitted in a rectangular attaching opening  74  in middle wall section  54 . Periphery wall  69  is arc-shaped with a radius center at shaft  72 . Bucket member  62  can be selectively moved by an actuator unit to a coin storing position  74  which is a solid line in FIG. 2 and a coin release section  76  which is the dotted line in FIG. 2.  
         [0030]    Therefore, at the storing position  74 , the moving wall section  60  is in a situation where coins  36  contacting the moving wall section  60  do not slide towards the rotating coin selector disk  16 . In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, the moving wall section  60  slants parallel to the rotating coin selector disk  16 . It is desirable that the moving wall section  60  slants more than the tilt of the rotating coin selector disk  16  to further increase the storage capacity and to occupy a greater portion of the exterior adjacent space that is not otherwise used.  
         [0031]    At the coin release position  76 , moving wall section  60  slants downward towards the rotating coin selector disk  16  and coins  36  on the moving wall section  60  can slide towards the rotating coin selector disk  16 .  
         [0032]    Next, an actuator unit  70  which can move moving wall section  60 , as shown in FIG. 2, is described. In this embodiment, actuator  70  is a screw jack unit  71 . Stationary section  72  includes a worm gear and a worm wheel and pivots on shaft  75  which is fixed at the upper surface of base  14 . Electrical motor  73  with a reducer unit is fixed at stationary section  72  and drives the worm gear (not shown).  
         [0033]    Moving section  77  is inserted into stationary section  72  and can move into or out of the stationary section  72  depending on the rotating direction of the worm wheel (not shown). The end of moving section  77  can pivot on shaft  79  which is fixed at moving wall section  60 . When screw jack  71  is shortened, moving wall section  60  is located at a coin storing position  74 . When screw jack  74  is lengthened, moving wall  60  is located at a coin releasing position  74 .  
         [0034]    Actuator unit  70  can be an air-cylinder, an oil-cylinder, a linear motor, etc., or even a compression spring unit In other words, actuator  70  has a function that can selectively move moving wall section  60  to a coin storing position  74  or a coin release section  76 . When the coins stored in storing bowl  20  become a predetermined amount, actuator  70  is automatically operated. In other words, when the coins  36  on above rotating coin selector disk  16  are not detected by a coin amount detecting unit  80 , actuator  70  is operated to release the stored coins in the bucket member  62 . Coin amount detecting unit  80  includes a first electrode  82  and a second electrode  84  which are positioned in middle wall surface  54  at a predetermined distance above the outlet  50  of storing bowl  20 .  
         [0035]    When the amount of coins above the rotating coin selector disk  16  is reduced to a predetermined amount, the current flow across the contacting coins in the storing bowl  20  between the first electrode  82  and second electrode  84  is broken. Therefore, a refilling signal  86  is outputted by a refilling direction circuit  88  connected to the electrodes as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0036]    Refilling direction circuit  88  opens and shuts a switching circuit  92  which is located between a power source  90  and the electric motor  73 . When switching circuit  92  receives the coin refilling signal  86 , power source  90  and electric motor  73  are connected. Therefore, electric motor  73  rotates in a predetermined direction, and screw jack  71  is extended. As a result, moving wall section  60  is moved to a coin releasing position  76 .  
         [0037]    When moving wall section  60  moves to the coin releasing position  76 , it is detected by a sensor (not shown) and switching circuit  92  becomes “OFF” and electric motor  73  stops. Coin amount detecting unit  80  can be changed to a photoelectric sensor, optical sensor or other form of sensor. Also, before the initial operation, electric motor  73  is rotated in the counter direction by a manual switch  94 . Therefore, screw jack  71  is retracted, and moving wall section  60  is returned to the coin storing position  74 .  
         [0038]    When moving wall section  60  returns to the coin storing position  74 , a sensor (not shown) detects it, and switching circuit  92  becomes “OFF”, and electric motor  73  stops. Manual switching  94  can be changed to a second coin amount detecting sensor. Therefore, when the coins above rotating coin selector disk  16  reach a predetermined amount, motor  73  is rotated in a counter direction, and moving wall section  60  is automatically returned to the coin storing position  74 .  
         [0039]    The operation of the first embodiment of the invention is explained. First, manual switch  94  is pushed, and moving wall section  60  is kept in a coin storing position  74 . Before the operation starts, coin storing bowl  20  is filled by coins  36  through the opening  46 . Therefore, coins  36  are also stored in the auxiliary volume  96  of bucket  62 .  
         [0040]    If used in a casino, when a customer wins a game, a predetermined amount of coins are dispensed one by one from a throwing coin exit  98  by the rotating coin selector disk  16 . When the coins  36  are above a predetermined amount of coins in the hopper  10 , an electric current can flow through the coins between the first electrode  82  and the second electrode  84 , and refilling direction circuit  88  does not output a refilling signal. Therefore, moving wall section  60  is kept in a coin storing position  74 .  
         [0041]    When the coins  36  reach the predetermined amount, the current does not flow between first electrode  82  and second electrode  84 , and refilling detecting circuit  88  outputs a refill signal  86  as shown in FIG. 4. Switching circuit  92  becomes “ON” by refilling signal  86 , and motor  73  is rotated. Therefore, screw jack  71  becomes lengthened, and moving wall section  60  is moved to a coin release position  76 . At the same time, coins  36  which are stored in volume  96  do not have contact with the fixed wall section. Therefore, the coins are not nipped between the moving wall section  60  and the fixed wall section. As a result, bucket member  62  is not stopped or interfered with.  
         [0042]    Therefore, the stored coins  36  will slide on moving wall section  60  towards the rotating coin selector disk  16 , and are dispensed above the rotating coin selector disk  16 . Accordingly, the number of coins  36  are increased in the storing bowl  20 , and operator refilling work is reduced. Also, when a prior art coin hopper is converted, the old storing bowl is changed to the present invention&#39;s storing bowl  20  which includes moving wall section  60  and adds the actuator  70  and the controlling circuit. As a result, the retro-conversion can be inexpensive and easy to install.  
         [0043]    Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is explained as shown in FIG. 5. In the second embodiment, the previously described electrical motor  73  for screw jack  71  is not used, and screw jack  71  is extended by the drive electrical motor  18  for the rotating coin selector disk  16 .  
         [0044]    One-way clutch  102  is located on a power transmitting system between the outputting shaft of motor  18  and second reducer unit  100 . Second reducer unit  100  and the worm gear of screw jack  71  are operatively connected. When the output shaft of motor  18  rotates in a predetermined direction, the one-way clutch  102  releases and does not transmit any power. When the output shaft of motor  18  rotates in an opposite direction, the one-way clutch  102  engages and drives the worm gear of screw jack  71  through a second reducer unit  100 .  
         [0045]    Therefore, when the coin amount detecting unit  80  does not detect an electric current flow through conductive coins, the motor  18  automatically stops, and afterwards rotates in the counter direction. By this counter rotation, screw jack  71  is driven through the one-way clutch  102  and second reducer unit  100 . Therefore, moving wall section  60  is moved to a coin release position  76 . In this embodiment, as in a start position, moving wall section  60  is returned to a coin storing position  74  by motor  18  without use of the one-way clutch  102 . Also, if during the movement of the moving wall section  60 , a coin dispensing signal is received, the dispensing signal is stored and afterwards the coins are dispensed based on the stored dispensing signal.  
         [0046]    Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is explained by referring to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the third embodiment, rotating coin selector disk  16  is located in a horizontal position, and four separate moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are also located around the rotating coin selector disk  16 . As shown in FIG. 7, moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are configured in a bucket shape  128  as in the first embodiment although other configurations could be used. Buckets  128  are moved between coin storing positions and the coin releasing positions by actuators  130 . The operation is the same as in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment and third embodiment, the moving wall sections are located at the middle wall section  54 ; however, they can be located at a perpendicular section  52 .  
         [0047]    Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is explained by referring to FIG. 8. In this embodiment, moving wall section  40  has a concave shape, and at the coin release position, it is moved to a straight slanted position as shown in the depicted imaginary line. In this embodiment, moving wall section  140  is made up of an elastic material and can be located around the rotating coin selector disk  16 . Also, actuator unit  142  can be made up of an elastic expandable tube which has an annular ring shape and compressed air from a pump (not shown) can drive the moving wall section  140  to a coin release position. Release of the air pressure permits a return to a coin storage position. A concave support structure (not shown) can be mounted in the elastic tube to have a default coin support position.  
         [0048]    Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention is explained by referring to FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the actuator unit  130  in the third embodiment can be replaced with another actuator unit  146  which has a built-in spring  144 . Actuator  146  includes a rod  152  which is attached to a slidable piston  150  by the spring  144  in cylinder housing  148 . Bucket members  128  are lifted up by the rods  152 , and the respective moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are moved from the coin storing positions  74  to coin release positions  76 .  
         [0049]    Moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  can be moved between coin storing positions  74  and coin release positions  76  based on the weight of coins  36 . In other words, when the storing bowl  20  is full, many coins  36  are located above the moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 . Therefore, bucket members  128  pivot downward by the weight of the coins  36  whish is greater than the force of spring  144 , and move to coin storing positions  74  which is a solid line.  
         [0050]    When coins  36  in storing bowl  20  are reduced below a predetermined number to remove their weight above the bucket members, the bucket members  128  are pivoted upwards by the spring  144 . Therefore, moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  move to a coin release section  76 , and coins  36  in each bucket  128  are provided onto rotating coin selector disk  16 .  
         [0051]    Also, when moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are moved by only the spring  144 , the coins  36  are thrown outward into storing bowl  20 . A buffering unit (not shown) can be attached to rod  152  to limit its acceleration. Accordingly, moving wall sections  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are moved slowly and the coins are released in a controlled fashion.  
         [0052]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the amended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.