Abstract:
A validator for coins including a coin entry ( 11 ) though which a coin ( 12 ) can pass to enter the validator, coin exit ( 4, 5 ) through which the coin can pass as it leaves the validator, and at least one coin rail ( 1 ) upon which the coin ( 12 ) rolls upon entry into the validator until just prior to exiting the validator, the coin ( 12 ) remaining in continuous contact (as defined herein) with the at least one coin rail ( 1 ) as it passes through the validator.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to improvements in coin validators and related coin handling equipment and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to improvements in the coin path within a coin validator. The invention also provides an improved gate at or adjacent the end of the coin path.  
         DEFINITIONS  
         [0002]    Throughout the specification, reference to a coin or coins is to be taken as including reference to a token or slug or other similar device, which is or may be given an actual or nominated value.  
           [0003]    Throughout this specification reference to “continuous contact” of a coin with a rail is not to be limited to absolute terms. Non-continuous but substantially continuous contact including control of the coin as it moves from one control surface to another, is encompassed by the term “continuous contact”.  
         BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In any coin operated apparatus the space envelope for the coin validator, and the relative position of coin entry, coin accept and coin reject slots are all defined by an industry standard.  
           [0005]    Two general layout options are available. The first is an approximately “S” shape where a coin passes through the validator in a path which approximates the letter “S”. It is guided through the detect area on a coin rail. This layout allows the validation of any diameter coin (for example, in the range of 16 to 34 millimeters) without changing the validator&#39;s physical configuration. That is, any given coin feed stream can consist of a variety of coin diameters such that the validator is a multi-coin validator.  
           [0006]    A typical operation of an S-path validator is described in our Australian Patent Application AU-B81826/91.  
           [0007]    The second option is a “drop through” arrangement where a valid coin drops through a detect field directly to the accept slot. Because detect fields are generally not uniform across the full slot width, it is necessary to place coin guides, slightly wider than the maximum coin diameter, within the slots so that the coin passes through the same part of the field each time. This therefore requires a particular slot width for any given coin. These devices are therefore generally single coin validators.  
           [0008]    Coin feed rates in most applications are only up to a maximum of 2 to 3 coins per second. This means that the validator need only handle one coin at a time.  
           [0009]    However, in the gaming industry, feed rates are controlled by the player and can be up to 15 coins per second, depending on diameter. This means that there can be up to 5 or 6 coins in the validator at any one time. The coin path must be able to serialise these coins so they do not bounce, or overlap each other. This is a difficult problem as fast moving coins striking the various surfaces of an S-path can have random and extreme variations in transitions from one surface to the next.  
           [0010]    Coin bounce is also a problem for accurate discrimination. If a coin is bouncing as it enters the detect field, its relative position in the field with respect to the trigger point will vary and, as the field may not be uniform, so will its signature vary. This may lead to the false rejection of coins which are actually valid. It could also lead to acceptance of coins which are in fact invalid.  
           [0011]    Random coin bounce can also cause speed variations which in turn can cause coins to often catch up to one another. If two coins have a combined thickness less than the width of the coin path, they can overlap each other. Valid coins overlapping at the detect field will cause those overlapping, valid coins to be rejected.  
           [0012]    Coins overlapping after validation as they pass towards the coin accept slot will only be registered as a single coin by the credit recordal mechanism within the validator thus causing a loss of credit, otherwise known as coin steal.  
           [0013]    Furthermore, coins overlapping anywhere within the coin path have the potential to cause a coin jam with resultant machine down time, and labour costs to come and clear the machine.  
           [0014]    With present validators a coin contacting a reject gate may impart relatively high forces to the gate. Such forces are applied to the solenoid in full or in part such that relatively strong return springs and relatively strong solenoids are required.  
           [0015]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multi-coin validator.  
           [0016]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a validator for coins which addresses the problem of coin bounce and, in consequence, coin overlaps and coin jams for coins of varying size and feed rates.  
           [0017]    A further object is to provide a gate for a coin validator where the force of a coin contacting the gate is at an angle of approximately 90° or more to the plane of the longitudinal axis of the solenoid and/or return spring.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0018]    With the above and other objects in mind, the present invention provides a validator for coins (as defined herein) including a coin entry though which a coin can pass to enter the validator, at least one coin exit through which the coin can pass as it leaves the validator, and at least one coin rail upon which the coin rolls upon entry into the validator until just prior to exiting the validator, the coin remaining in continuous contact (as defined herein) with the at least one coin rail as it passes through the validator.  
           [0019]    The coin rail may be a continuous rail or may have a number of portions. Preferably, if a number of portions, there may be a first portion, a transfer portion, and an exit portion.  
           [0020]    The present invention also provides a validator for coins (as defined herein) including a coin entry through which a coin can pass to enter the validator, at least one coin exit through which the coin can pass as it leaves the validator, and at least one coin rail upon which the coin rolls upon entry into the validator until just prior to exiting the validator, the coin rail having two adjacent surfaces at an included angle of less than 180° to define therebetween a surface intersection line. The surface intersection line causes the coin to rotate thereabout to control the movement of the coin through the validator.  
           [0021]    Preferably, the coin rail includes a first side wall extending generally upwardly from a base, the first side wall having an upper portion extending upwardly from a lower portion at the included angle relative thereto.  
           [0022]    Advantageously, the base has a first portion extending outwardly from and generally perpendicular to the lower portion of the first side wall. The base may also have a second portion extending outwardly and upwardly from the first portion; and a third portion extending further outwardly and further upwardly from the second portion.  
           [0023]    There may be provided a second side wall spaced from and generally parallel to the upper portion of the first side wall, and which may be opposite and aligned with the upper portion of the first side wall. The second side wall may extend downwardly below the surface intersection line.  
           [0024]    Preferably, the lower portion of the first side wall is of a lesser height than the diameter of a coin to pass therealong.  
           [0025]    The coin rail has a second portion which may have a second base and a further side wall generally spaced from but adjacent to the second base and an outlet end of an intermediate wall respectively.  
           [0026]    Advantageously, there is provided a release plate having an inner surface contactable by a coin; the release plate preferably being aligned with the first portion of the coin rail. The release plate may extend downwardly beyond the surface intersection line.  
           [0027]    The present invention also provides a gate for a coin validator, including a solenoid, a mechanism operated by the solenoid to move the gate between a first position to allow a coin to pass, and a second position to deflect the coin, the mechanism being locked when in the second position.  
           [0028]    The mechanism may include a yoke fitted to the outer end of a plunger of the solenoid. The plunger may be biased to an outer position. Preferably, the yoke has at least one pin extending outwardly therefrom, the pin being located in a somewhat “S” shaped slot in a side of the gate. The gate may have a first end with a projection which, when in the second position, extends into a coin path to act upon the coin, and a second end about which the gate can pivot such that, upon the solenoid being operated, the yoke can move to enable the pins to move along the path prescribed by the slot in the side of the gate. The movement of the pins forces the gate to pivot about the second end to remove the first end from the coin path, thus placing the gate in the first position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0029]    In order that the invention may be fully understood, there shall now be described preferred constructions of varying embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrated drawings in which:  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 is in an illustration of a typical S-path system operating prior to the creation of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a validator incorporating the principle features of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section along the lines and in the direction of arrows A-A of FIG. 2;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the lines of and in the direction of arrows B-B of FIG. 2;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 is a schematic view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing the movement of coins through the validator;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows DD of FIG. 2 when in the first position;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 a  is cross sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows C-C of FIG. 2 when in the first position;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 b  is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 a  but in the second position; and  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gate of FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b.   
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0039]    To refer firstly to FIG. 1, which shows the device described in our Australian Patent Application AU-B81826/91, a coin enters the coin accept slot under gravity where it strikes the coin rail  32 . The coin rolls down the coin rail  32 , and into the detect field  40 . The detect field  40  is triggered when the leading edge of the coin interrupts an optical beam  46  which is arranged to cross the coin part  26 . Coin validation takes place at this instance.  
         [0040]    In the case of an invalid coin, the reject gate  44  remains closed and the coin is directed towards the coin reject slot  24 . No credit is given. In the case of a valid coin, the reject gate  44  opens allowing the coin to pass towards the coin accept slot  22 . Another optical beam  94  across the coin accept slot  24  indicates when the coin leaves the validator and initiates the appropriate credit output.  
         [0041]    To now refer to FIG. 2, which shows the principle features of the present invention, and where a coin enters at entry  11 . The coin, at this time designated  12  and shown in relief throughout the figure, lands on a rail generally designated as  1  and rolls smoothly down rail  1  to the detect field  2 . It remains in continuous contact with the rail  1  until it enters the coin transfer mechanism generally designated as  13 . Here, the coin  12  transfers from rail  1  to the exit rail  3  and out the appropriate exit. This can be the accept path  4 , or the reject path  5 .  
         [0042]    In this way the coin  12  is in continuous contact with the coin rail from the time of entry and contact with the first coin rail  1 , through the transfer mechanism  13  and onto rail  3 . It is only when it reaches either the reject path  5  or the accept path  4  at the very end of the validator that the coin ceases to contact a rail or be controlled by the various surfaces.  
         [0043]    To refer now to FIG. 3, where the coin rail  1  is shown in detail, the rail mechanism consists of a number of static surfaces arranged in such a way to convert some of the kinetic energy of the falling coin  12  impacting upon the rail  1  to rotary motion in two planes thereby eliminating rebound or bounce from the rail.  
         [0044]    The leading edge of an incoming coin strikes surface generally designated as R of the rail  1 . The rail  1  also has three portions—a first portion  15  extending perpendicular to and outwardly from a lower portion  16  of a first side wall generally designated as  17 ; a second portion  18  extending outwardly and upwardly from first portion  15 ; and a third portion  19  extending further outwardly and further upwardly from the second portion  18 . The bottom left-hand edge  34  of the coin  12  therefore slides down the rail surface R, along the third portion  19  and, if of appropriate size, into contact with the second portion  18 . The lower portion  16  of side wall  17  has a surface A and the lower edge of coin  12  locates between surface A and the upper surface of second portion  18 , or third portion  19 . The motion of the coin  12  sliding down the rail surface R causes the coin to pivot about the line  36  of intersection of surfaces A and B and to rotate about its axis XX until the upper edge of the coin  12  contacts the outer surface D of second side wall  20 . The included angle between surfaces A and B is less than 180° to cause the line  36 . It is preferred that side wall  20  is formed by the access door of the validator.  
         [0045]    The side wall  17  has an upper portion  21  which has a surface B. Upper portion  21  and second side wall  20  are generally parallel and spaced apart. It is also preferred that the second side wall  20  be aligned with the upper portion  21 . The coin  12  therefore has, in general, three points of contact—where it contacts the surface D of second side wall  20 , the surface R of second portion  18  or third portion  19  or rail  1 , and the intersection line  36  of the surfaces A, B of lower portion  16  and upper portion  21  of side wall  17 .  
         [0046]    As shown in FIG. 2, as the rail  1  is on an angle, the impact point of the coin on the rail  1  is to the left of the coin axis YY, causing it to rotate about this axis. The combined rotation of the coin  12  about the axes XX (FIG. 3) and YY (FIG. 2) absorbs some of the kinetic energy created during the fall of the coin leaving the coin to roll down the rail.  
         [0047]    Due to the nature of the construction of the rail  1 , there is always provided a clearance  14  between the lower right edge of the coin, and surface A. This will tend to prevent the coin  12  bouncing as the edge at each side of the coin  12  cannot contact the two surfaces at the same time. Furthermore, the angled nature of rail  1  makes it difficult for coins to overlap as the angles are such that the leading edge of a trailing coin would contact the trailing edge of a leading coin, and remain in that relative position.  
         [0048]    In FIGS. 2 and 4, there is shown the transfer mechanism generally designated as  13 . The mechanism consists of a number of static surfaces arranged in such a way to transfer the coin control from the entry rail  1  to the exit rail  3  and cause the coin to change direction by approximately 90° without bounce, loss of speed, or loss of control.  
         [0049]    The control surfaces are provided on the chassis of the validator, and release plate  6  the edge of which is defined by the broken lines. The operation of the control surfaces is the same as those at the entry of the coin into the validator.  
         [0050]    As the coin  12  rolls down the entry rail  1 , the leading edge leaves the detect area  2  and passes under the release plate  6  contacting the inner surface P of release plate  6 . The release plate surface P is arranged to form a converging wedge  38 , with surface F of side wall  22 , the surface F being on a lower portion  23  of side wall  22 . Side wall  22  has an upper portion  56  which has a surface C. Surface C is inclined to surface F so as to provide a turning clearance for the coin with the included angle between surfaces C and F being less than 180°. Release plate  6  is generally aligned with rail  3 .  
         [0051]    As the leading edge of coin  12  slides under plate  6  into the wedge formed by surfaces P and F, it is rotated about line  58  being the intersection of surfaces C and F, and thus about its axis XX, into a plane roughly parallel with a surface (not shown) but generally designated by E. This action releases the coin  12  from being in contact with the surface S of the rail  31  which is the rail  1 , but of a different profile. In this region the rail  31  tapers in its width to a reduced width to assist the transfer function. This then transfers the lower edge  25  of coin  12  to surface E, which at this time is the exit rail  3 .  
         [0052]    Naturally, the height of upper portion  24  and release plate  6  is intended to allow for coins  12  of varying diameter. It is preferred that the release plate  6  extends downwardly beyond the region where lower portion  23  joins with upper portion  24 . It is further to be noted that a clearance  60  is provided between upper edge  27  of coin  12  and surface C.  
         [0053]    The action of the coin  12  driving into the wedge  38  and the resultant rotation prevents bounce in a similar manner to the way in which bounce is prevented upon the coin entering the validator. The relative position of the surfaces ensures that the coin does not release from the rail  31  until the exit rail  3  assumes control over the coin. There is therefore continuous contact of the coin with a rail, and therefore control over the coin is maintained. At the entry into the validator, the coin  12  is controlled by surfaces A and B and restrained by surface D. At the transfer mechanism  13 , the operation of surfaces F, C is the same as A, B, except that there is no surface D to restrain the coin.  
         [0054]    In FIGS. 6, 6 a ,  6   b  and FIG. 7 there is shown in some detail the mechanism generally shown by the letter G of FIG. 2.  
         [0055]    The mechanism G includes a solenoid activated gate to which is attached a cam  52  having a profile surface J which protrudes across rail  3  in a position above the reject opening  5 .  
         [0056]    The leading edge of an invalid coin  12  rolling along the exit rail  3  strikes the reject cam surface J (FIG. 6 b ). This action rotates the coin about axis YY of the coin  12 , off the exit rail  3 , and directs its leading edge into the exit opening  5  between surfaces F and H, where it is transferred laterally to be clear of the exit rail  3  and can fall under its own weight. In this way there are no surfaces on which the coin can jam, and thus the coin rail  3  is clear for a following coin.  
         [0057]    This action has two definite advantages. Firstly, it transfers the coin  12  clear of a valid, following coin travelling along the exit rail  3  thereby rejecting the invalid coin without having to delay the valid coin until the rejected coin is clear of the exit rail  3 . A valid coin  55  can pass along exit rail  3  and to the accept passage way  64 , which is an opening between surfaces F and H. Coin rail  3  terminates above accept passageway  64 .  
         [0058]    The second advantage is because the surface  12  simply “kicks” the valid coin off the rail  3  into the void  5  between surfaces F and H (which forms the reject coin exit pathway  5 ), There is no possibility of coin jams if there is a sequence error between the gate timing and the coin.  
         [0059]    To refer to FIGS. 6, 6 a ,  6   b  and  7 , a yoke  41  with two opposed pins  42  at each side is fitted to the end of a plunger  30  in an open frame solenoid  66 , and is arranged to slide between two parallel surfaces  50 . The yoke pins  42  run in somewhat S-shaped slots  45  formed in each side  54  of the reject gate  68 , which is pivoted at one end at  51 , with the other end  47  having a cam  52  with surface J.  
         [0060]    In the reject position, whereby surface J of cam  52  protrudes over coin rail  3 , via an opening  62  in surface F of exit rail  3 , a return spring  48  extends the plunger  30  from the solenoid  66  such that the yoke pins  42  rest in flats  49  at the end of the slots  45  in the side walls  54  of the gate  68 . These flats  49  are at right angles to the force applied on the reject gate  68  by a coin. As the yoke  41  is only able to slide in a plane parallel to the axis of the solenoid  66 , any force applied to the reject gate  68  is at right angles to, and is therefore resisted by, the yoke pins  42  without any load being placed on the return spring  48  or solenoid  66 . Therefore, the gate G is locked in position. To unlock the gate G to accept a valid coin  55 , the solenoid  66  is activated. As the plunger  30  and yoke  41  retract, the yoke pins  42  leave the flat  49  and move into the inclined slots  45  in the sides  54  of reject gate  68 . Because the yoke  41  can only move parallel to the axis of solenoid  66 , the pins  42  lift the reject gate  68  to pivot about its end  51  which therefore rotates the gate  68  to clear surface J from the exit rail S.  
         [0061]    The power to release the lock and accept a valid coin  55  is very small and need only overcome the light return spring  48  and the internal friction of the mechanism. This means that a small, low-powered solenoid  66  can be used. Furthermore, as the impact of a coin on the surface J is resisted by the locking mechanism, and not the return spring  48  on the solenoid  66 , a weak return spring  48  can be used. If this were not the case, a much stronger return spring would be required to resist the coin load and therefore a much more powerful solenoid would be required to overcome that spring. As the force applied to the cam  52  is in a plane perpendicular to the slots  45  it cannot effect the location of the pins  42  in those slots  45 , particularly when they are in the flats  49 . If the force applied to the cam  52  is more than 90° to surface J, the force will assist the locating of the pins  42  in the flats  49  and thereby assist gate G remaining in the reject position. This provides a safety measure in that if there is a difficulty with a coin, it will be rejected, rather than be incorrectly accepted. Furthermore, in the event of a power failure, a coin will be rejected rather than accepted.  
         [0062]    Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred constructions of various embodiments incorporated in the principal features of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concern that many variations and modifications in details of design or construction may made without departing from the essential features of the presenting invention.  
         [0063]    It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.  
         [0064]    It will also be understood that the term “comprises” (or its grammatical variants) as used in this specification is equivalent to the term “includes” and should not be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.