Device for paying off coins from at least a pair of coin collecting tubes

A device for paying off coins from two adjacent coin collecting tubes. A rotor is located below the tubes, the rotational axis of the rotor extending substantially in parallel to an axis of the tubes. An electric motor drives the rotor to rotate the rotor in either direction of rotation about the rotational axis. A pin-like ejecting element is mounted on the rotor for ejecting a lowest coin in the coin collecting tubes, the element having an idle position which does not engage the lowest coin when the rotor is rotated by the motor and having an ejecting position which engages the lowest coin when the rotor is rotated by the motor. The element is biased in the ejecting position and has a member, the rotor having a first neutral position in which the element is in its ejecting position for discharging the lowest coin and having a second neutral position in which the element is in its idle position. A motor control controls the electric motor to rotate the rotor between the first and second neutral positions. A stationary control supported adjacent the rotor selectively engages the member of the element, the stationary control including a ramp-like portion for engaging the member of the element such that, as the rotor is rotated in either direction from the second neutral position to the first neutral position, the ramp-like portion engages the member of the element to move the element to its idle position.

The present invention relates to a device for paying off coins from at 
least a pair of coin collecting tubes. 
In coin-operated devices equipped with coin changers the coins to be 
returned as exchange money are collected in individual coin collecting 
tubes each accommodating coins of a certain denomination. A paying-off 
device removes the coins located at the lowermost end of the tubes in 
accordance with a pay-out command. Prior art devices use electromagnets or 
electric motors for performing this function to remove a lowermost coin 
each by means of an appropriate ejecting element to transfer the coin to a 
return track, for example. 
German patent application P 38 10 074 discloses a pair of coin tubes which 
is associated to a pay-off unit comprising an electric motor operating a 
pair of ejecting elements each being associated to a coin using a 
free-wheel device. In response to the particular direction of rotation of 
the electric motor one of the ejecting elements associated to the coin 
tubes will be operated. The expenditure required for the gear means 
between the electric motor and ejecting elements is relatively high and 
needs space which is not always available in coin-operated devices. 
German patent application P 42 14 366 discloses a coin vendor comprising a 
pair of coin collecting tubes to which a drive motor is associated which 
can be reversed in its direction of rotation and which motor drives 
through a gear means an individual cam displacing a lower coin each 
through an outlet slot of coin collecting tube, wherein the rotational 
motion of the cam is controlled depending on the direction of rotation 
such that the cam in performing a 360.degree. turn displaces a coin from a 
first tube, while passing below the second tube. The single ejecting 
element or, respectively, the cam is defined by a spring biased pin which 
is biased into a release position and which is lifted by a control track 
to be moved into an ejecting position. 
The known device requires for performing an ejecting operation that the 
electric motor rotates the cam about an angle of 360.degree. each time, 
although a substantially smaller angular turn is required for performing a 
pay-off operation. When returning exchange money, it is generally desired 
that the individual coins will be returned as fast as possible. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device 
for paying-off coins from a pair of coin collecting tubes which ensures a 
fast rate of returning the coins. 
The object referred to is solved by the features of the invention. 
According to the present invention the rotor is provided with a pair of 
diametrically opposed ejecting elements which are adjustable in height to 
occupy a release position and an ejecting position. The electric motor is 
operated by the control means such that the rotor performs a 180.degree. 
turn each when the electric motor is actuated. Accordingly, a pair of 
neutral positions is defined for the ejecting elements, which positions 
are about substantially centrally located, i.e. each having approximately 
the same distance from both coin tubes. Conventional means are provided to 
stop the ejecting elements in the neutral position each, for example using 
a positioning control, or a photoelectric barrier switching off the motor 
when reaching the neutral position or any other means. 
While performing the 180.degree. turn just referred to an ejecting element 
passes below a collecting tube each, wherein the one ejecting element only 
operates to displace a coin, whereas the other ejecting element is in its 
release position. The stationary control means operating the ejecting 
elements are thus defined such that a first ejecting element when being 
rotated in either direction from one of its neutral positions will be in 
the ejecting position or will be moved into the ejecting position, whereas 
the second ejecting element occupying the other neutral position will be 
moved in either direction of rotation into the release position. 
The device according to the invention does not need a higher expenditure in 
structure, space and controlling operation as compared with the 
conventional coin changing device, but provides for a returning rate which 
is twice as high. 
According to a further aspect of the invention the rotor comprises a single 
ejecting element, which is supported by the rotor to be movable between a 
release position and an ejecting position and which is operated by a 
control means to occupy the position required. The electric motor driving 
the rotor is operated in an oscillating fashion such that it first 
performs a substantial 180.degree. turn followed by a further 180.degree. 
turn which is directed reverse. When the neutral position of the ejecting 
element is located on the side of the tubes where the outlet aperture for 
removing the coins is located, the ejecting element must first pass below 
the respective tube in its release position, in order to subsequently 
displace the coin when performing the reverse turn. The same applies for 
the second tube of a pair of tubes. 
According to an embodiment of the present invention the rotor is defined by 
a disk and the ejecting elements include a pin supported in a bore of the 
disk, the follower means being fixed to an end of said pin through a pivot 
arm. The follower arm cooperates with stationary concentrically located 
annular grooves each having a bottom located at a different level, wherein 
deflecting means are provided at either side of the neutral positions for 
guiding the follower means into one of said both annular grooves when the 
ejecting elements are moved from the neutral position. The pivot arm makes 
it possible to pivot the follower means to enter the respective other 
control groove each. According to a further embodiment of the invention, 
the outer boundary of the inner control groove or, respectively, the inner 
boundary of the outer control groove include resilient portions located 
close to the control sections for defining a passage for the follower 
means such that the follower means each is automatically deflected towards 
the control groove which is associated to the direction of rotation. 
Accordingly, the follower means is prevented from entering the wrong 
control groove when performing the reverse direction of rotation. 
The ejecting element pushes a lowermost coin each out of the coin tube onto 
a coin track from where it is transferred, for example, to a return 
channel. The walls of the coin tubes must include a recess which is 
oriented towards the coin track to allow the exits of the coins. According 
to an aspect of the invention, a locking pin is movably supported parallel 
to the rotational axis of the rotor below the ejecting recess of the tubes 
to be moved between a locking position preventing the ejection of a coin 
and a release position. The locking element may include a follower means 
alike cooperating with control grooves located on the side of the rotor 
facing it. 
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the ejecting 
elements are defined by ejecting pins which are supported in the rotor to 
be adjustable in height and which are biased by a spring into the release 
or ejecting position, and wherein the ejecting pins include a flange 
cooperating with the stationary control means. Again, when making the 
ejecting elements this way, one must provide appropriate control means to 
move the pins into the release or ejecting position while the rotor 
performs the 180.degree. turn. According to an embodiment of the 
invention, the control means include resilient, ramp-like portions located 
on either side of a first neutral position, which resilient portions 
deflect the pins through the flanges thereof into the release position 
when being moved from the neutral position and which resilient portions 
are temporarily displaced by the flange when a pin is moved into a neutral 
position. 
Furthermore, the ejecting element can be pivotally supported about an axis 
perpendicular with respect to the rotor axis to be received in a recess of 
the rotor (release position). The tiltable ejecting element is 
appropriately biased by a spring either towards the neutral position or 
towards the ejecting position, whereas the tilting towards either position 
is provided by an appropriate control track or the like. Furthermore, it 
might be possible to provide a locking in the biased position such that 
the ejecting element is automatically tilted towards the other position 
when releasing the locking. Then the control means must be provided only 
at the ends of the 180.degree. turn. Finally, any control means can be 
eliminated when in passing below a coin tube in a reverse direction of the 
ejecting direction, the rejecting element is deflected and moves from the 
reverse direction into the ejecting position to remove a coin. 
The ejecting element pushes a lowermost coin each out of the coin tube 
towards a coin track to be transferred therefrom to a return channel for 
example. The wall of the coin tubes must include a recess oriented towards 
the coin track for providing the exit of the coins.

FIG. 1 shows a base plate 10 including means for supporting the lower ends 
of coin storing and pay-off tubes 12, 14. FIG. 2 shows a section through 
the coin tube 12. A rotor 16 which is rotatably driven by an electromotor 
(not shown) about an axis 18 extending parallel with respect to the axes 
of the coin tubes 12, 14 includes a pair of release pins 20, 22. When the 
pins 20, 22 are rotated together with the rotor 16, they obviously move 
along a circular path approximately passing through the center of both 
tubes 12, 14. In the region of the tubes 12, 14 the base plate 10 is 
provided with arcuate slots 24, 26 such that the pins 20, 22 may displace 
a lowermost coin each from one of the tubes 12, 14 when the pins 20, 22 
project far enough. 
As shown, the removing pins 20, 22 each are positioned in a neutral or 
starting position, wherein the pin 20 is located in a first neutral 
position and the pin 22 is located in a second neutral position. The 
control unit (not shown) controls the electromotor (not shown) such that 
after a turn of 180.degree. the pins each will be stopped at the next 
following neutral position. 
In accordance with FIG. 2, the discharging pins 20, 22 include a 
discharging section 28, 30, respectively, a rotating flange 32, 34 as well 
as a guiding portion 36, 38 which are guided in bores 40, 42 of an axially 
annular flange 44 of the rotor disk 16. Springs 46, 48 are disposed in 
appropriate recesses of the flange 44 between the bores and the flanges 
32, 34 such that the ejecting pins 20, 22 are biased towards the ejecting 
position which is shown in FIG. 2. When the disk 16 is moved in FIG. 2 to 
the right, for example, the ejecting portion 28 enters the tube 12 through 
a slot 50 and engages the lowermost coin each of a column 52 of coins 
collected in the tube 12 to displace the lowermost coin through an 
ejecting slot 54 outwardly towards a return chamber 56 (FIG. 1) from which 
the coin is fed to a return channel. 
FIG. 2 further shows a guide element 60 located between the ejecting pins 
20, 22 including a ramp-like resilient portion 62 adjacent the pin 20. 
While performing the circular path referred to above, the flange 32 
engaging the rotor 16 and moving above the guide element 60 enters the 
ramp-like portion 62 which portion is displaced downwardly as indicated in 
dashed lines until reaching the position as defined by the ejecting pin 20 
in FIG. 2. A nearly identical guide element, stationarily arranged alike 
the guide element 60 is disposed on the track along which the ejecting 
pins 20, 22 move during the next 180.degree. turn. In other words, 
independent of the direction of the rotor 16, an ejecting pin which is 
located in the position of the ejecting pin 20 according to FIG. 1 will be 
brought into an idle position by deflecting the collar 32, 34 below the 
ramp-like portion 62 to be maintained below the guide element 60 until the 
pin reaches the opposite neutral position which is occupied by the 
ejecting pin 22 in FIG. 1. It should be understood that the guide element 
60 only cooperates with the flange 32, 34 thus extending below the flange 
at one side or being bipartite including an intermediate slot for passing 
the guide portion 36 or 38. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 show the ejecting position or, respectively, the idle 
position of the ejecting pin 22. One notes that in FIG. 3 the flange 32 is 
located above the guide element 60, but in FIG. 4 is located below the 
guide element 60. The guide element 60 is defined by bar-like projections 
extending from upstanding portions of the base plate 10. 
For guiding a coin from the right-hand tube 14 in FIG. 1 towards the return 
chamber 56, a sidewardly extending arcuate guide means 62a for the coins 
is provided. 
FIG. 5 shows a pair of coin tubes 12a, 14a and 12b, 14b mounted on a base 
plate 10a. Cooperating with the outer coin tubes 12a and 14b, a pair of 
arcuate sidewardly extending guide portions 62a and 62b are provided to 
feed the coins back to the returning space 56a. For the rest, the coin 
changing device is identical with the device shown and described in FIGS. 
1 through 4 for a pair of tubes. FIG. 5 shows how a coin 64 is ejected by 
means of an ejecting pin from the righthand outer coin tube 14b for being 
fed into the return space 56a. The arrangement shown offers the advantage 
that the coins from both outer tubes 12a, 14b may be transferred from a 
coin track at the center towards the return space 56a so that an inclined 
track is not required. 
FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show an alternative embodiment of the ejecting 
device above referred to. Again, coin tubes 70, 72 are appropriately 
mounted on a base plate 74. A pair of ejecting pins 78, 80 is supported on 
a disk-shaped rotor 76. The bearing support is shown in detail in FIG. 7. 
The ejecting pin 78 is supported in a bore 82 of the rotor 76 to be 
longitudinally displaced. Below the bore 82 there is a space accommodating 
a flange 84 of the pin 78, a spring 86 being provided between the flange 
84 and the shoulder of the recess to bias the pin 78 downwardly into the 
idle position. The lower end of the pin 78 is provided with an arm 88 
eccentrically carrying a cam follower 90. The cam follower 90 selectively 
cooperates with concentrically arranged control grooves 92, 94 which are 
separated from each other by arcuate portions 96, 98 including resilient, 
outwardly or, respectively, inwardly extending portions 100, 102 and 104, 
106 at the ends thereof. In the position which is occupied by the ejecting 
pin 80, the portions 102, 106 extend inwardly so that the cam follower 90 
is displaced towards the outer groove 92 each disregarding the direction 
of rotation of the rotor 76. Vice versa, the cam follower of the ejecting 
pin 78 will be deflected from the position shown in FIG. 6 into the 
radially inward control groove 94 each disregarding the direction of 
rotation. The resilient portions 100 through 106 make it possible that the 
cam followers each may reach the neutral position. 
The control grooves 92, 94 are arranged in different levels. In the region 
of the neutral position shown, the levels for the ejecting pins 78, 80 are 
selected such that the pins 78, 80 are positioned in the ejecting position 
as shown in FIG. 7. When the ejecting pin 78 moves in either one of the 
directions of rotation, it will be lowered along ramp-like portions 108 or 
110 before reaching the tubes 70, 72 and then raised again along 
respective ramp-like portions 112, 114 when reaching the position of the 
ejecting pin 80 in FIG. 6. The outer groove 92, however, is provided with 
a continuous level which means that the ejecting pin 78 is always 
positioned in the ejecting position so that disregarding the direction of 
rotation of the rotor 76 a coin is removed from the respective coin tube 
70 or 72. The coin moves from the tube 72 towards a coin track 116 
including a stepped boundary as indicated at 118 and 120 to feed coins of 
different diameters. A spring element 122 shown in FIG. 7 is provided to 
maintain the coin in a position engaging the bottom of the coin track 116 
when feeding the coin along the track 116 towards the return space not 
shown in FIG. 6. 
The particular shape and bearing of the rotor 76 shown in FIG. 7 is not 
specified in detail. This can be observed from the illustration or may be 
implemented in a different manner. 
The illustration of FIG. 8 is substantially the same as what has been shown 
in FIG. 1 so that identical reference numerals are used. Additionally, the 
base plate of the device includes a pair of locking pins 130, 132 which 
are supported to be displaced in height. The pins are biased by spring 
means (not shown) into a lower position. When occupying an upper position, 
the pins block the coin outlet 54 of the coin tubes 12, 14 (see also FIG. 
2, but with the locking pin not shown). The locking pins thus prevent that 
a lowermost coin each inadvertently will be displaced from its associated 
coin tube. 
The locking pins 130, 132 are actuated by means of an outer control track 
134 and an inner control track 136 of the rotor disk 26. As shown the 
circular control tracks 134, 136 each include a pair of diametrically 
opposed control sections 138, 140 and 142, 144. When these control 
sections are located within the region of the locking pins 130, 132 the 
latter are lifted upwardly into the locking position. The remaining 
sections of the control tracks 134, 138, however, extend along a lowered 
level so that the locking pins will be lowered and thus cannot perform a 
locking function. The levels are indicated by .+-.0 and -2. 
It results from the above that during a coin changing process the locking 
pins 130, 132 of both coin tubes 12, 14 are in a release position. 
Substantially, the pins are in a locking position only when the ejecting 
pins 20, 22 occupy its neutral position. As far as FIG. 10 shows, for 
components identical with FIG. 6, the same reference numerals are provided 
but adding a suffix c. A base plate 10c again supports the lower ends of 
coin storing and ejecting tubes 12c, 14c. A rotor 16c is supported in the 
base plate 10c to be rotated by an electromotor (not shown) about an axis 
18c which extends in parallel to the axes of the coin tubes 12c, 14c. The 
rotor which is illustrated transparent for purpose of illustration, 
carries a single ejecting element 78c. The arrangement of the ejecting 
element 78c is similar to that shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 3 or 4. It is thus 
not described in detail. The cam follower 90c (FIGS. 7, and 10) 
selectively cooperates with concentrically arranged control groove 
portions 92c, 94c which are formed in the base plate 10c. The control 
groove sections 92c, 94c extend about substantially 180.degree. on either 
side of the neutral position of the ejecting element 78 shown in FIG. 10 
up to a stop 19 which is displaced about substantially 180.degree. with 
respect to the neutral position. The control groove sections 94c define 
the inner sections and the control groove sections 92c the outer sections. 
The control groove sections 92c, 94c are separated from each other by 
arcuate portions 96c, 98c including resilient, outwardly or inwardly 
extending portions 100c, 102c, 104c, 106c at the ends thereof. At either 
side of the neutral position of the ejecting element 78c, the sections 
100c, 104c extend inwardly so that the cam follower 90 is deflected 
outwardly and is lowered via a ramp 101c onto a lower level (-2). In this 
direction the ejecting element 78c is such lowered to pass below a tube 
12c or 14c. Towards the end of the rotational motion the ejecting element 
returns again to the starting level (.+-.0), wherein the cam follower 90c 
is deflected along the portions 102c or 106c towards the inner groove 
sections 94c when being rotated reverse towards the neutral position. 
Accordingly, the ejecting element 78c occupies the ejecting position to 
thus eject a lowermost coin each from the respective tube 12c, 14c to be 
fed to a coin track 116c including a stepped boundary as shown in FIG. 7 
at 118 and 120 to guide coins of different diameters. A spring element 122 
shown in FIG. 7 provides for keeping the coin engaging the bottom of the 
track 116c when being fed along the track towards the returning space (not 
shown). 
The rotor 16c of this embodiment can be formed as the rotor shown in FIGS. 
3 and 4. 
FIG. 11 shows part of a rotor 16d in which the ejecting element 78c shown 
in FIG. 10 is replaced by an ejecting element 150 which is pivotally 
supported about an axis 152 perpendicular with respect to the axis of 
rotation of the rotor 16d. The ejecting element may be thus pivoted into a 
recess 154 of the rotor 16d to be placed below the surface of the rotor 
16d. In this position the rotor can pass below a coin tube. Preferably, 
the element 150 is biased to the ejecting position by a spring (not shown) 
engaging a shoulder of the recess. 
When the rotor is moved in the direction of the arrow 156, the ejecting 
element 150 strikes a lowermost coin in the tube, but effects no ejecting 
process as the coin must be ejected from the tube in a reverse direction. 
After the ejecting element has passed the tube, the ejecting element 150 
automatically returns to the ejecting position so that a coin may be 
ejected when the rotor disk 16c rotates in opposite direction. 
FIG. 12 shows a top view of a device similar to FIG. 1, but comprises an 
ejecting pin 20e which is shaped like the pin 20 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
Thus identical reference numerals are used throughout. Additionally, the 
base plate 10e is provided with a pair of locking pins 130e, 132e which 
are supported to be displaced in height. They are biased to occupy a lower 
position by a spring (not shown). With the pins in an upper position they 
block the coin outlet 54e (as shown in FIG. 2) of the tubes (FIG. 2 does 
not show the locking pin). The locking pins thus prevent that the 
lowermost coin each will be inadvertently moved out from the respective 
coin tube. 
The locking pins 130e, 132e will be actuated by means of an outer control 
path 134e and an inner control path 136e of the rotor disk 16e. The 
illustration shows that the circular control path 134e 136e each include a 
pair of diametrically opposed control sections 138e, 140e and 142e, 144e. 
When the control sections are located in the region of the locking pins 
130e, 132e, the latter are lifted in the locking position. Contrarily, the 
remaining sections of the control path 134e, 138e are on a lower level 
resulting in a lower position of the locking pins 130e, 132e which thus do 
not perform a blocking function. The levels are indicated by .+-.0 and -2. 
In accordance with the disclosure above referred to, the locking pins 130e, 
132e of both coin tubes 12e, 14e are in a release position during a 
pay-off operation. The locking pins are substantially in a locking 
position only when the pay-off pin 20e occupies its neutral position.