Abstract:
A coin dispensing apparatus for automatically directing coins from a coin escalator includes a coin dispensing unit such as a non-metallic roller that is rotatable about a bearing shaft which can be aligned to minimize forces that can shorten the life of a coin dispensing assembly. A guide unit can operatively move the coin dispensing unit at an acute angle to a centerline of a guiding passageway coin exit. A resilient unit can operatively bias the coin dispensing unit to an initial position for contacting coins attempting to exit a coin exit while permitting movement along a guide length with a major biasing force exerted toward the exiting coin to reduce wear on the guide unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing a large number of coins at a high rate, and more particularly, to an improvement in extending the operative life and efficiency of the components used for dispensing the coins.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A large number of different forms of coin dispensing apparatus are utilized and have been proposed in the prior art. Such coin dispensing apparatus can be inserted within various devices such as gambling machines, ticket dispensers, coin changers, etc. The terminology “coin” as used in this specification includes not only monetary coins, but medallions, tokens and other objects which can be stored in bulk and selectively dispensed.  
         [0005]     Frequently coins are stored in a bulk condition and a coin selector can segregate individual coins, for example, by a rotating disc that can remove coins from a hopper and deliver them to a coin escalator that extends perpendicularly upward from the hopper. The coins are dispensed and are controlled in a one-by-one manner from a coin outlet at the upper end of the coin escalator.  
         [0006]     An example of such a structure can be found in the Laid-Open Japanese Patent Application No. 08-293051.  
         [0007]     The coins that are moved along the coin escalator are pushed by the subsequent coins until they reach a coin exit position. The prior art has positioned a dispensing body generally to move parallel to the centerline of the coin guiding passageway through the escalator. The dispensing body can be resiliently urged to contact the uppermost coin as it exits from the coin exit of the guiding passageway. Use of such a device, for example, in a gambling machine such as a slot machine can have a large number of coins released relative to any jackpot. As such, the dispensing body is repetitively moved with each individual coin exiting the coin exit. The dispensing body is biased by a force such as a spring force which counters the impact force of the coin. This dispensing body frequently is limited in its travel by a stopper.  
         [0008]     The expected life of such devices is frequently over one million coins dispensed. Under these conditions, the dispensing body will be subject to numerous impacts and contacts with stoppers. Additionally, the dispensing body when aligned parallel to the centerline will displaced by a greater amount of movement relative to the size or diameter of the dispensed coin.  
         [0009]     With the dispensing body moving parallel to the centerline of the guiding passageway of the coin escalator, the spring force must be large enough to accommodate this displacement and any stoppers that are utilized or guiding walls for the dispensing body must be robust enough to withstand resulting impacts of the dispensing body over the life of the system. In such an arrangement, the dispensing body can receive wear and tear as a result of components of spring force and coin forces distributed through the dispensing body on the structure. Additionally, the resulting forces create resistance to movement which can interfere with a smooth operation in the dispensing of the coins.  
         [0010]     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a coin selector unit  10  can include a support frame  12  which can mount a cylindrical hopper or bowl  16  for storing coins. A first rotating disc  18  can be mounting in a slanting manner at the bottom of the bowl  16  to selectively remove coins from the bowl. A second rotating disc  20  can space the coins and deliver them to the coin guiding unit  22  or coin escalator as seen in  FIG. 9 . In operation the coins in the hopper can fall through the holes  24  in the rotating disc  18  and be supported on a planer surface of the base  26  so that they can be moved by pins or pushing ribs (not shown). These coins are guided in a peripheral direction of the rotating disc  18  by a guide  28  which can separate the coins for delivery to the second rotating disc  20 . The second rotating disc  20  includes  5  arms or projections  30  at equal intervals in a star like configuration. The rotating disc  20  will rotate in synchronous with the first rotating disc  18  in an opposite direction of rotation. The projections  30  will receive the coins from the first rotating disc  18  and move them along an arched guiding surface  32 .  
         [0011]     A coin gate unit  34  includes a roller member that can move along a guiding groove  36  to selectively permit the passage of the coins and prevent the coins from interfering with the second rotating disc  20 . A spring  44  can bias the coin against the guiding surface  32 . The coin  14  that can pass through the gate unit will be subsequently guided by the curved guiding section  48  shown in  FIG. 8  as the lower part of the coin guiding unit  22 . The straight guiding section  50  extends perpendicularly upward to permit the coins  14  to rise to the dispensing section  52 . The dispensing section  52  is at the top of the coin escalator and can be seen in a detailed manner in  FIG. 10  where a pair of guide holes are parallely spaced on either side of a centerline of the coin escalator. A housing or guiding section  52  includes a base  54  and a pair of spacer plates  56  and  58  which can be fixed on the base  54 . The thickness of the spacers are slightly thicker than the coins  14  to be dispensed. The spacers  56  and  58  are laterally spaced to be slightly larger than the diameter of the coin  14 . A guide member  16  (shown in dotted lines) is located over the base  54  and opposite the respective spacers  56  and  58 . The resulting opening forms the coin guiding passageway  64  in a rectangular cross sectional configuration.  
         [0012]     Coins  14  are guided along a straight line by the guiding passageway  62  to arrive at the dispensing section  52 . Elongated guiding holes  66  and  68  are capable of supporting a coin dispensing body  70  which will control the exiting of the coins  14 . A counting sensor unit (not shown) in  FIG. 10  can detect the movement of the dispensing body  70  and can be located at the dispensing section  52 .  
         [0013]     The respective parallel guiding elongated holes  66  and  68  are located on either side of an extension line of the guiding point passageway  62 . Thus, guiding elongated hole  66  is located along a left centerline LC relative to the middle centerline CL which is an extension of the axis of the coin guiding passageway. A guiding edge  74  of the spacer is equidistant from the centerline relative to the left centerline LC.  
         [0014]     A second guiding elongated hole  68  is located along the right centerline RC which is on the opposite side and symmetrical with respect to the left centerline LC. The respective guiding hole  66  and  68  are connected with a connecting link groove  71 .  
         [0015]     The dispensing body  70  can be a roller  78  attached to a shaft  76  that is slidable along either of the guiding elongated holes  66  or  68  depending on which direction the coins are to be dispensed. The shaft  76  is urged toward the guiding passageway  62  by an urging means such as a spring.  
         [0016]     When coin  14  is dispensed, coin  14  pushes roller  78  against the urging force of urging means. At this time, roller  78  is positioned off to the side of centerline CL of the guiding passageway  62 . Therefore, shaft  76  is pushed towards the side surface of the first elongated hole  66  by a component F 2  of force F 1  which is received from coin  14 . The pushing force F 2  is bigger, when the shaft  76  is moved further away from guiding passageway  62  as shown by the dotted line. When center CC of coin  14  moves over the line L which connects between the edge section of spacer  58  and the point of contact between roller  78  and coin  14 , coin  14  is dispensed by the urging force of the urging means.  
         [0017]     Roller  78  has shaft  76  stopped by the end of first guiding elongated hole  66  when it returns to the initial position, afterwards roller  78  stops the next coin  14 . Therefore, roller  78  can control the dispensing of coins. When the coin dispensing device is used in a gaming machine, coin  14  is continuously dispensed at a predetermined quantity at relatively high speed. As a result, the total dispensing quantity over an expected service life is over 1 million coins. Therefore, shaft  76  will run to the end of the first elongated hole  66  frequently. As a result, the end of the first elongated hole  66  can suffer a permanent set in fatigue, in other words, a projection can be created which projects towards the side. Therefore, the movement of dispensing body  70  becomes un-smooth and the dispensing of the coins isn&#39;t desirable.  
         [0018]     For preventing a permanent deformation set, it may be possible to install a hard material at the end of guiding elongated hole  66 , however this can be expensive. Also, the large sliding resistance which occurs between shaft  76  and a side surface of the first elongated hole  66  can disturb the smooth movement of dispensing body  70 . Therefore, the dispensing of coins becomes undesirable.  
         [0019]     In a coin let-off unit, the diameter of coin is changed sometimes. By this, the quantity of the coin which is located at the passageway between the second rotating disk  20  and the dispensing body  70  is also changeable. Therefore, coin dispensing body  70  will have to change its position continuously and may be un-detectable by the sensor. In detail, the length of the straight guiding section  50  is adjusted. As a result, the adjustment can be troublesome. Accordingly, there is a need in this field to improve the performance and endurance of coin dispensing components.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     A first purpose of this invention is to reduce the urging force on the coin dispensing body. A second purpose of this invention is to reduce any fluctuations of the coin urging forces. In other words, the initial velocity is averaged based on the average dispensing force of the coins. A third purpose of this invention is to reduce the energy to dispense the coins. A fourth purpose of this invention is to remove any requirement to adjust the length of the coin guiding unit.  
         [0021]     As a solution of these problems, the present invention is structured as follows. A coin dispensing apparatus has a coin let off unit which lets off coins one by one to a guiding passageway by a rotating disk, the let-off coins are guided in a line by the guiding passageway. A dispensing body, which is located at the coin outlet of the guiding passageway and optionally on one side of a centerline of coin guiding passageway, is urged towards the guiding passageway by an elastic body and dispenses coins one by one. The dispensing body is movable along an axis which crosses a coin passage centerline at an acute angle and is positioned away from the centerline.  
         [0022]     In this structure, the coins are dispensed to the guiding unit one by one by the let-off unit. In the guiding unit, the coins have contact with a peripheral wall and are aligned, and the rear coins push the front coins. The coins are guided upwards, afterwards the coins are dispensed by the coin dispensing body. In this process, the coin dispensing body is moved along the axis line which is away from the centerline with the guiding passageway by the let-off coins. Accordingly, the distance between the fulcrum of the spring and the dispensing body is drastically shorter than the prior art devices which are moved parallel to the centerline. Therefore, any change in the spring force is smaller. As a result, the urging force on the dispensing body can be set at a smaller and a narrower range. In other words, the stopping section doesn&#39;t change shape by wear and tear because the urging force is smaller. Therefore, the movement of the dispensing body can be smooth. As a result, the coins are dispensed smoothly. Also, the components of the guiding section of the dispensing body are smaller than the prior art which is moved parallel to the centerline. Therefore, the dispensing body can move smoothly.  
         [0023]     The dispensing body is a roller which is rotatable about a shaft. The shaft is slidable in an elongated guide hole which is located along the axis. In this structure, the dispensing body includes a roller which is supported and is rotatable on a shaft which can move in the elongated hole. Accordingly, the roller has a rolling contact with the coins and the moving friction resistance is smaller. As a result, the coin&#39;s dispensing can be smooth.  
         [0024]     An end of the elongated hole at a side of the guiding passageway is located on the centerline which is located between the centerline and a side defining member. In this structure, the end section of the elongated hole of the side of the guiding passageway is located on the centerline of the guiding passageway and the guiding passageway defining member. As a result and despite the changing of a coin&#39;s diameter, the changing of the dispensing direction can be kept smaller. In other words, different size coins can still be dispensed in a predetermined direction.  
         [0025]     The roller is made from resin and is lightweight. Accordingly, the force impact is smaller, because the inertia of the dispensing body is smaller. Therefore, a harder material need not be used and permanent deformation is prevented.  
         [0026]     The roller is cylinder like in shape with a base narrower at the top and thicker in the middle. In this structure, the strength of the roller bottom section is larger and the strength of the end side is smaller than the bottom section. In other words, the end of the roller is easy to deform towards the end. Therefore, when the roller receives a pushing force from the coins, the roller is tapered. Accordingly, the coins receive a force towards the side from the roller because of the taper. When the force&#39;s direction is towards the base plate, the coins are pushed by the base plate and are moved. Therefore, the moving posture of the coins is steadied and the coins are dispensed with stability.  
         [0027]     A sensor unit is located at the coin passageway and directly detects coins in the passageway. In this structure, the coins are dispensed by the roller and are afterward detected by the sensor. The output of the sensor is counted based on the actual dispensed coins. Therefore, the sensor doesn&#39;t record erroneous positions of the coins in the coin guiding passageway. As a result, the sensor doesn&#39;t make a mistake with the count.  
         [0028]     In this structure, when the width of the coin guiding passageway is adjusted for a large coin, the pushed up direction of the dispensing body goes upwards. Therefore, the component of pushing force to the elongated side surface becomes smaller. As a result, the movement of the dispensing body is smooth. Inversely, when the dispensing body is fitted to the smallest coin in the prior art, the component of the pushing force become larger with an increase in the diameter and the moving resistance of the dispensing body became larger. As a result, the coins aren&#39;t dispensed smoothly. However in the present invention, the moving resistance becomes smaller. As a result, the movement of the dispensing body becomes smooth. Also, when the dispensing body is located at the second elongated hole, the effect is the same as the first elongated hole.  
         [0029]     The roller which is the dispensing body is selectively located at either a first elongated hole or the second elongated hole. When the roller is located at the first elongated hole, it is pushed upwards by the coins and the shaft is guided towards a direction which is away from the centerline by the elongated hole. Also, the change in the spring force is smaller. Therefore, the shock of the shaft by hitting a stopper is smaller. As a result, permanent deformation of the stopper is prevented. Also, the shaft moves away from the centerline. Therefore, the force component which pushes to the side surface of the first elongated hole is smaller, in other words, the roller moves smoothly. Accordingly, the dispensing of the coins can be smooth. Also, the stopper isn&#39;t required to use a harder material for preventing the permanent deformation. As a result, it is inexpensive. Also, the first elongated hole and the second elongated hole are connected and the shaft can be moved into either the first elongated hole or the second elongated hole. Therefore, the coins are selectively dispensed towards either the right or the left by only one dispensing body.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]     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.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the coin dispensing apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the coin dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a left side view of the embodiment.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view along A-A line in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a schematic explanatory view of the embodiment.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a schematic explanatory view of the embodiment.  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is another explanatory view of the embodiment.  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a coin dispenser.  
         [0039]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a prior art coin selector.  
         [0040]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory view of a prior art dispensing apparatus.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]     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.  
         [0042]     In this embodiment, the components which are the same as the above-mentioned prior art are attached with the same reference number, also the different components are explained. Spacer  56  is fixed at base  54  and spacer  58  can be adjusted at the fixed position in parallel to spacer  56  for adapting to the different diameters of coin  14 . In other words, spacer  58  can be adjusted in the range of elongated hole  100 . The elongated or oblong holes are traverse to the axis of the directions of the coins. Also, spacers  56  and  58  are the side defining members  59  of the coin guiding passageway  62 . First elongated hole  102  and second elongated hole  104  are located in base  52  which is located on an extending section of outlet  63  of guiding passageway  62  which is enclosed by base  54 , defining members  59  and upper guide plate  60 .  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , first elongated guiding hole  102  is located along a first axis line  106  which is straight and slants away from the guiding passageway  62  and centerline CL, positioned in the middle of guiding passageway  62 , corresponds to the position of the center part of the maximum diameter coin  14 . First elongated hole  102  has a guide function wherein the after-mentioned coin dispensing unit or body  118  is guided obliquely relative to the centerline CL.  
         [0044]     First axis  106  is inclined at approximately 20 degrees to the centerline CL. The end section of the first elongated hole  102  on the side of guiding passageway  62  is semicircular. The center of the semicircle is located on centerline LC (for convenience “a left centerline”) which is located at the middle between centerline CL and guiding edge  74  of spacer  56 . In other words, first elongated hole  102  is located off of centerline CL and it slants at an acute angle. Also, the semicircle section can act as a stopper  110  to after-mentioned shaft  116 .  
         [0045]     The second elongated hole  104  is symmetrical located to the first elongated hole  102  with respect to an opposite side of the centerline CL. In other words, the second elongated hole  104  is located along a second axis line  112  which inclines at approximately 20 degrees to centerline CL, and it extends straight. The end section of second elongated hole  104  to the side of guiding passageway  62  is semicircular. The center of the semicircle is located on centerline RC (for convenience “a right centerline”) which is located at the middle between centerline CL and guiding edge  117  of spacer  58 . In other words, second elongated hole  104  is located opposite to the first elongated hole  102  relative to centerline CL and it also slants. Also, the semicircle section finctions as a stopper  115 . The effect is to provide a guide unit for positioning the coin dispensing unit  108  relative to the guiding passageway coin exit. The guide unit includes a U-shaped opening with respective legs of the U-shaped opening inclined toward each other whereby the coin dispensing unit can be operatively positioned in one of the respective legs to enable movement along an axis that forms an acute angle with the centerline.  
         [0046]     The end sections which are located opposite to guiding passageway  62  are connected by a linking connecting passageway  113  whose center interacts the centerline CL, first axis line  106  and second axis line  112  and is arc like in shape and has the same width as the elongated holes  102 ,  104 . By this, first elongated hole  102 , a second elongated hole  104  and connecting passageway  113  shape channel shape groove  146  to enable changing the position of dispensing body  108  easily.  
         [0047]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , shaft  116  is a cylindrical shaft and penetrates first elongated hole  102 . Roller  118  which is part of dispensing body  108  is rotatably supported on the middle of shaft  116 . Dispensing body  108  has a function of limiting the movement of coins  14 . The coins  14  can be dispensed by a smaller force. Therefore, dispensing body  108  can be alternatively changed to a non-rotatable fixed pin, however the roller is more desirable, because the friction resistance with the coins can be reduced. Roller  118  can be from resin and an integrally molded. A resin such as polyacetal is desirable, because it is durable and it resists abrasion.  
         [0048]     Roller  118  includes a bearing section  120  which is a cylinder bore with a bottom section  122  which is a disk that protrudes towards the outside from the end of bearing section  120 . An outer surface contacting section  124  which is also a cylinder, protrudes to surround the bearing section  120  from the middle of bottom section  122 . Bearing section  120  is fitted to shaft  116  and is positioned to the left and right end faces by snap rings  126 ,  128  which are hooked to shaft  116 , and rotatable on the shaft  116 . A low friction body  127  which is a ring is located between snap ring  126  and bottom section  122  and is desirable, because roller  118  can rotate more smoothly. Bearing section  120  of dispensing body  108 , where shaft  116  is assembled to roller  118 , penetrates into the first elongated hole  102 . The end face of contacting section  124  has contact with base  54 . Retainer  130  can be made from brass and is a ring fitted at bearing section  120  and is held at a predetermined position by snap ring  128 . In this component, dispensing body  108  can move in the longitudinal direction of first elongated hole  102 .  
         [0049]     First elastic body  136  which can be a spring is hooked between first anchor hook section  132  which is bent at a section of guide  60  and a first hooking groove  134 , which is located around an end portion of shaft  116 . Second elastic body  142  is hooked between second hook section  138  which is bent at a section of base  54  which faces opposite to the first hooking section and a second hooking groove  140  which is located around another end portion of shaft  116 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , first elastic body  136  and second elastic body  142  are the same type of springs and are mounted in parallel.  
         [0050]     Dispensing body  108  is moved parallel every time to enable the coins  14  to be dispensed smoothly. In this embodiment, first elastic body  136  and second elastic body  142  are springs, however such elastic bodies can be changed to rubber. In other words, the term elastic body is a generic name which has a function where the extending quantity of its length is in proportion to the resilience forces it produces. Also, when there is at least one elastic body and an appropriate mounting bracket it can also be moved parallel.  
         [0051]     Both ends of first elongated hole  102  and the end of second elongated hole  104  are connected with connecting passageway  113  which has an arc shape. The ends of passageway  113  are located at the far ends which is away from guiding passageway  62 . Therefore, dispensing body  108  can be selectively located easily at either the first elongated guide hole  102  or the second elongated guide hole  104  through connecting passageway  113 . First attaching elongated hole  152  which is attached with a sensor  150  is located parallel to guiding passageway  62  above spacer  58 . Second attaching elongated hole  154  which is attached with a sensor  150  is located parallel to guiding passageway  62  above the spacer  56 .  
         [0052]     Sensor  150  has a finction of detecting when coins  14 , which were dispensed by dispensing body  108 , are detected. Sensor  150  is located at a position which doesn&#39;t receive any adverse effect relative to coin outlet  63 . In other words, sensor  150  is located at first coin passageway  166  which passes the dispensed coins  14 .  
         [0053]     Also, a non-contact type sensor for example; a photo-electric or an electric-magnetic sensor can be used for preventing damage such as wear and tear. In this embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , the sensor  150  is a photo-electric type which includes a body  153  of an inverted gate shape, a projecting section which is located at a side of the coin passageway and a receiving section which is located at the other section. The output of sensor  150  is used for counting the dispensed coins  14 .  
         [0054]     Next, an operation of this embodiment of the invention is explained. The dispensing body  108  is initially located in first elongated hole  102  as shown in  FIG. 5 . A coin  14 , which is guided by guiding passageway  62 , has contact with a contacting section  124  of roller  118  which is part of the dispensing body or unit  108 . Next, the coin  14  is moved towards the direction which is away from coin guiding passageway  62  against the combined urging force of both the first elastic body  136  and the second elastic body  142 .  
         [0055]     Shaft  116  (bearing section  120 ) is guided by the first elongated hole  102  along a straight line. In other words, shaft  116  is moved away from centerline CL, also it is moved away from guiding passageway  62 . When coin  14  has contact with contacting section  124 , it is pushed at contacting point P 1  by a force F 4 . The direction of force F 4  is located along the axis of the straight line L 1  which draws center CC of coin  14  and contacting point P 1 . Accordingly, the direction is approximately corresponding to the extending direction of first elongated hole  102 . Therefore, a component force which is towards the side wall of first elongated hole  102  and which is pushed by bearing section  120  is small and seldom occurs.  
         [0056]     Bearing section  120  pushes the outside edge  160  of first elongated hole  102  by a component of the urging force both from the first elastic body  136  and the second elastic body  142 . The crossing angle between the force directions both of the first elastic body  136  and the second elastic body  142  and centerline CL is small. Therefore, any force component which is directed towards the outside edge  160  is also small. In other words, when shaft  116  moves in first elongated hole  102 , the moving resistance is relatively small. Also, roller  118  has contact with the left side of coin  14  rather than the center CC. Therefore, coin  14  is held by edge section  162  of spacer  58  and roller  118 , and it is guided to the right.  
         [0057]     As shown by the dotted line in  FIG. 5 , immediately before coin  14  is dispensed by dispensing body  108 , dispensing body  108  receives force F 5  through a contacting point P 2 . Force F 5  is located along a straight line L 2  which forms a connection between edge  162  of spacer  58  and center CC of coin  14 , also the direction slants relative to the axis line  106  of the first elongated guiding hole  102 . Therefore, side wall  160  receives the force components which are from the urging forces both of the first elastic body  136  and second elastic body  142  and also the force F 5 . In other words, when dispensing body  108  goes along the guiding passageway  62 , the force component towards the outside edge  160  is bigger in proportion with the distance.  
         [0058]     In the prior art, the movement of the dispensing body isn&#39;t as smooth, because when coin  14  has contact with a dispensing body at first, the side wall receives a force component from the dispensing body. In the present invention, it seldom occurs that coin  14  has contact with dispensing body  108  with a large force. Therefore, the movement of dispensing body  108  is smooth. Also, dispensing body  108  moves along the extending direction and towards the side of coin  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Particularly, the moving distance towards the side is larger, because first elongated hole  102  slants relative to the centerline CL. Therefore, the extending quantity both of the first elastic body  136  and the second elastic body  142  is smaller than the cited prior art arrangement.  
         [0059]     In other words, in the prior art, dispensing body  108 , where first guiding elongated hole  66  and roller  78  appear by the dotted lines shown in  FIG. 5 , is moved to a position which is located at a position which is further from guiding passageway  62 . Accordingly, the elastic force both of first elastic body  136  and second elastic body  142  is smaller in the present invention, because the movement quantity of roller  118  is smaller in the present invention. In other words, any impact force where the bearing section  120  impacts into stopper  110  is small. Therefore, the permanent deformation of stopper  110  is prevented. Also, bearing section  120  can be made from resin, therefore it is harder than the metal of base  54 , and has elasticity.  
         [0060]     Therefore, the impact is reduced by such an elastic function, also the permanent deformation of stopper  110  is prevented. When the coin  14  is dispensed, the dispensing speed of the coin is slower, because the elastic force is smaller. Accordingly, the time where the coin  14  can be detected by the sensor  150  is increased. As a result, detecting mistakes of the coin  14  doesn&#39;t occur as frequently.  
         [0061]     When center CC of coin  14  passes line L 2  which is connected with contacting point P and edge  162 , coin  14  is dispensed to a first exit  164  at the right side by the elastic forces both of first elastic body  136  and second elastic body  142 . The dispensed coin  14  is dispensed to a predetermined apparatus and passes through first dispensing passageway  166 . When coin  14  passes through first dispensing passageway  166 , coin  14  crosses the optical axis between the projecting section and the receiving photo section which are first sensor  150 . Therefore, first sensor  150  outputs a detecting signal.  
         [0062]     In other words, dispensing body  108  and sensor  150  are located separately. When dispensing body  108  is returned by first elastic body  136  and second elastic body  142 , dispensing body  108  contacts coin  14 , however sensor  150  can detect the passing coin  14 . Therefore, the length of the coin passageway which is between second rotating disk  20  and dispensing body  108  doesn&#39;t need adjusting.  
         [0063]     Next, in another case where dispensing body  108  is located in the second elongated hole  104 , is explained by referring to  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, a maximum diameter coin  14  is dispensed. Coin  14  is dispensed in the same manner as the above-mentioned case at first elongated hole  102  in principle. In other words, coin  14  has contact with dispensing body  108  at contacting point P 3  which is located at the right rather than centerline CL shown in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, coin  14  is guided to the left, afterwards coin  14  is dispensed from second dispensing slot  168  and goes out through second passageway  170 . When coin  14  passes through second passageway  170 , it is detected by sensor  150 .  
         [0064]     Next, as an example where the position of spacer  58  is adjusted for a small coin  14  is explained by referring to  FIG. 7 . When a small coin  14  has contact with the dispensing body  108 , the contacting point P 4  is located at the side of center CC of coin  14 . Therefore, the extending quantity both of the first elastic body  136  and the second elastic body  142  is smaller. In other words, the resulting urging force applied to coin  14  is smaller, and the change of the urging force is smaller. Accordingly, the permanent deformation is prevented, because the coin is dispensed with a smaller elastic force.  
         [0065]     In other words, in the case where roller  118  is located on first right centerline RC  1  which is located between guiding edge  117  of spacer  58  and centerline CL to the minimum diameter (the dotted line shown in  FIG. 7 ) compared to another case where roller  118  is located on the second right centerline RC 2  which is located between guiding edge  117  of spacer  58  and centerline CL to the maximum diameter (the solid line shown in  FIG. 7 ), the position of dispensing body  108  is located near the guiding passageway  62  in the latter case. Therefore, the elastic force is made smaller and the change of the elastic force is smaller. Accordingly, the impact force where bearing section  120  runs into stopper  115  is smaller. As a result, permanent deformation is prevented and detecting mistake of coin  14  can be prevented.  
         [0066]     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.