Coin dispensing apparatus

A coin dispensing apparatus is provided that has features to easily adjust the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk and to adapt to the thickness of the coins. The coin dispensing apparatus includes a disk (102) which separates coins one by one. A coin base (104) supports the coins which are moved by the disk. A body (100) includes the base and a step section (149) which provides different distances to the base to adapt to the thickness of the coins. A rotating shaft member (160) is selectively attached to the step section and can be adjusted to the body. The rotating shaft member for rotating the disk is selectively attached at the step section in stages. Therefore the distance between the disk and the base is adjusted to adapt the thickness of coin.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japan Application No. 2004-017702 filed Jan. 26, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus with which many coins (coins, tokens, medals, discs, etc.), are dispensed one by one.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some coin dispensing apparatuses are known In prior art. For example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Number 11-96426 and 11-86066 which were in the name of the assignee of the present application.

In Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-96426, the coin dispensing apparatus is adaptable to the coin thickness. The apparatus includes a base plate on which the coin slides, a disk which dispenses the coins one by one, a rotating shaft which rotates the disk, a lifter where the rotating shaft penetrates rotatably and can move towards and away from the base plate, an operating body which adjusts the disk position to the base plate and a stopper which is attached to rotating out of the shaft which prevents the rotating shaft to move.

In the prior art, when a thinner coin is used, the operating body is not operated, instead of it, a saw tooth is moved. Therefore the saw tooth has engaged with the operating body. In other words, the lifter doesn't protrude from the base plate. The distance between the base plate and the disk is small. Therefore the distance is adapted to the thinnest coin. Inversely, when the thickness is at the thickest extent, the operating body is operated. Therefore the handle of operating body is pivoted, then it is fixed at a predetermined position. As a result, the lifter protrudes from the base plate.

Therefore the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk increases, and it adapts to the thickness of the coin. In other words, the slanting surface of the saw tooth of the lifter which is stopped in the rotation is moved by the slanting surface of the saw tooth of the operating body. As a result, the lifter protrudes from the base plate.

On the other hand, the apparatus which is disclosed on Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-86066 is a smaller coin dispensing apparatus and includes a rotating disk for dispensing the coins one by one, a rotating shaft for rotating the rotating disk, a planetary gear train where the center axis is located on the center axis of the rotating shaft, a rotating shaft of a motor where the center axis is located on the center axis of the planetary gear train. Also, it includes a spacer for adjusting the position of the disk to the thickness of the coin.

In the apparatus, for adjusting the thickness of the coin, a spacer is added around the rotating shaft, and the gear section of the rotating shaft is inserted into the penetrating hole of the base plate. The gear section is inserted into the cylinder section of a carrying plate of the planetary gear train. When the thickness of the coin is thin, the spacer is removed, and the gear section of the rotating shaft is inserted into the cylinder section which passes through the penetrating hole of the base plate.

Therefore this apparatus can be adapted to the thickness of the coin by the spacer in as the same as the Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-96426 which adjusts the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk.

Also, the known apparatus include a stopper which has contact with the conical section of the rotating shaft and which prevents the removing of the rotating shaft.

In Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-86066 (FIGS. 3 and 4, paragraphs 10 and 11), when the distance is adjusted to the thickness of the coin, the spacer is changed to another spacer. Therefore the changing of the spacer is troublesome.

In Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-96426 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, paragraphs 15 and 16), the operating body and the stopper are removed from the positions. The operation is too troublesome. Also, the stopper has contact with the conical section and prevents the removing of the rotating shaft. In other words, the conical section includes a predetermined angle for preventing the removal of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft needs a predetermined strength. In other words, the rotating shaft needs a predetermined diameter. Therefore the length of the conical section is limited. In other words, the adjusting range of the rotating disk is limited by the diameter of the rotating shaft and the angle of the conical section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus in which it is easy to adjust the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk and to adapt it to the thickness of the coins.

The second object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus which is not limited by the adjusting range.

The third object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus which can adjust the position in stages while seeing the disk.

For solution of this problem, this present invention is structured as follows. A coin dispensing apparatus comprises a disk which separates coins one by one, a base which holds the coins which are moved by the disk, a body which includes the base and a step section which has the different distance to the base to adapt to the thickness of the coins. A rotating shaft member is selectively attached to the step section and can be adjusted to the body.

The step section includes plural steps which are located around an inserting hole where the rotating shaft member is inserted into the hole. With this invention, the distance between the disk and the coin base is adjusted in stages to adapt to the thickness of the coin by the step section which is made up by plural portions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the step section is made as a spiral stair case. With this, the rotating shaft member is attached at a predetermined step section only rotating the rotating shaft member.

The rotating shaft member includes a rotating section for rotating the disk. A pedestal section holds the rotating section rotatably. A cross bar member is detachable relative to the rotating section and functions as a transmitting member attached to the pedestal section. The rotating section of the rotating shaft member is attached at the pedestal section, and is rotatably driven by the cross bar member. Therefore the disk keeps the distance to adapt to the thickness of the coin.

The transmitting member is a disk rotating gear for rotating of the disk from the transmitting gears. The disk rotating gear is attached to the rotating shaft member in the same axis, and includes an inserting hole which is rotatable around the axis, and the inserting hole includes a longitudinal groove where the cross bar member can be moved up and down along the axis. The cross bar member can move up and down in the longitudinal groove of the inserting hole of the transmitting gears. The disk is rotated by the rotating shaft member. The rotating shaft member can move up and down in the transmitting gears. Therefore the disk is adjusted to adapt to the thickness of the coin.

In this structure which is claimed in claim1, the distance between the coin base and the disk can be adjusted by the rotating shaft member. In other words, the intervening member is not used. Therefore the parts of this invention is reduced as compared to the prior art devices. Also, the distance between the coin base and the disk can be adjusted easily to adapt to the thickness of the coin, because the rotating shaft member is selectively attached at the step section.

The distance between the disk and the coin base can be adjusted in stages to adapt to the thickness of the coin while seeing the step section. The adjusting is with plural steps. Therefore the range of adjustment of the disk is not limited as it is with the prior art devices.

The attaching step for the rotating shaft member can be selected simply by rotation. Therefore the distance between the coin base and the disk can be adjusted easily.

The rotating shaft member is attached firmly. Therefore the distance between coin base and the disk is not increased. As a result, the coins are dispensed in a stable manner every time. Also the rotating shaft member is easily assembled into the device, because the cross bar member can be detached.

The rotating shaft member is moved up and down by the disk rotating gears, and the rotating section is rotated, however the disk rotating gears are not moved. Therefore the height of the apparatus is lower and the apparatus is compact overall.

According to the invention, the coin dispensing apparatus comprises a disk which separates coins one by one, a coin base which holds the coins which are moved by the disk, and a body that includes the base and a step section which differs from the distance to the base to adapt to the thickness of the coins. A rotating shaft member is selectively attached to the step section and can be adjusted to the body. The rotating shaft member for rotating the disk is selectively attached at the step section in stages. Therefore the distance between the disk and the base is adjusted to adapt to the thickness of the coin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown inFIGS. 1-4, coin dispensing apparatus50includes a disk102which is located below a hopper101and dispenses coins one by one. A base section120with base104guides the coins which are moved by the disk102. A driving source section140with step section149is adjustable to adapt the apparatus for the position to suit the coin thickness. A rotating shaft member160is provided for rotating the disk102.

InFIG. 3, reference number101ais a rod which is made from an elastomer. The rod101aholds the coin at through holes102a-102e, when the disk102rotates. Reference number101bis assigned to a disk attaching section163. The reference number163bdesignates a screw for fixing the disk in position. The reference number165is a cross bar member, the reference number170is a cylinder, the reference number172is a lid member and the reference number180is a rotating shaft supporting member.

The disk102is made from a sintered metal of iron system and it includes through holes102a-102eand a projecting section which is unified. Through holes102a-102eare used to store the coins and are located at the surface of the disk102and separate the coins one by one. The dispensing section102fis a projection for guiding the coins to the through holes102a-102eand is located at the center of the disk. The reference number102gis a projection to agitate coins. The reference number102hdesignates coin pushing sections which are located at the lower edges of through holes102a-102e.

A disk attaching base120makes up a base stand103which is rectangular and is made from ABS resin. The disk base104, an opening105for a motor121and attaching holes106a-106dfor a hopper (not shown inFIG. 1) are located at the upper surface of the base stand103. Contacting pieces107a-107fextend downwards, and are located at the lower edges of the long sides of base stand103.

A dispensing roller108is provided for dispensing coins. An opening108ais provided for the dispensing roller. Coin stoppers110a,110bguide the coins which are moved by disk102towards dispensing roller108which is adjacent to dispensing roller108and opening109a,109b. This is provided for the sensors which detect the dispensed coin, and counts and are located on the upper surface of the base stand103.

A driving source section140is a chassis141which is rectangular and is made from ABS resin and has a size generally of the same as disk attaching base120and is fitted to disk attaching base120. The motor121is connected to the gear transmitting member142which is a power transmitting member. The disk rotating gear143is attached to the rotating shaft member160and the sensors144a,144bthat are located in the chassis141.

Engaging holes145a-145fare located at chassis141and are in contact with contacting pieces107a-107f. The connectors146, the joint sections147a,147bfor the outside unit and attaching hole148of rotating shaftmember160at the attaching section of disk rotating gear143are located at the short side of the apparatus.

The attaching hole148passes through the reverse of chassis141and is circular. A plurality of stairs149A-149D of step section149are located around the penetrating section in a circle. In other words, the stairs149A-149D enclose attaching hole148and they are located radially. To provide marks is desirable because they appear to be the same thickness of the coins and are located at the stairs149A-149D. A pedestal section161of rotating shaft member160is fitted to one of the stairs149A-149D.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, the step section149includes plural grooves150a-150hwhich extend radially and are semi-circular at the end and have bases. The grooves150a-150hare located on the straight line which passes through the center symmetrically, and it is made up in a spiral stair case structure149A,149B,149C and149D.

The grooves150a-150hare enclosed by walls which project from the base. Screw holes151are located at the bases of the grooves150a-150h.

The grooves150a-150hdefine the structure of step section149. The position of rotating shaft member160is adjusted by step section149to adapt to the thickness of the coins; for example 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 m and 3.5 mm. The rotating shaft member160adjusts the distance between the disk102and the disk base104. The disk102is changed to the desired height by the plural step sections149a-149D. The depths of grooves149a-149D are deep step by step corresponding to the four thickness of the coins. In other words, grooves on a diagonal line are located at the same distance which is between disk base104and the base of the groove. Therefore when the rotating shaft member160is attached at one step section of step sections149A-149D, the height position of disk102is adapted to a predetermined thickness.

Also, the step section149is not limited to four kinds of coins. The step section149can be increased or decreased. Furthermore, the stairs149A-149D of section149can be structured as a spiral stair case.

Coin dispensing apparatus50for the coins is explained below. The rotating shaft member160is located below driving source140as shown inFIG. 4.

The rotating shaft member160includes pedestal section161which is made from polyacetal and rotating section162which is made from stainless steel as shown inFIG. 7too. The rotating section162includes disk attaching section163and penetrating hole164. The disk attaching section163is located at the top of rotating section162and the diameter is smaller than the rotating section162and is notched at a section. The penetrating hole164crosses to the rotating axis of rotating section162at a right angle. The cross bar member165is inserted into penetrating hole164and is detachable.

The Pedestal section161includes projecting pieces166a,166band circle section167which connects between the bases of projecting pieces166a,166b. The bottom of projecting pieces166a,166bis flat and is fitted into step section149of chassis141.

The projecting pieces166a,166bare located at a point of symmetry to the center of rotating section162and extend to the diameter direction, and the ends are semi-circle like in shape. Also, projecting pieces166a,166bcan be established as only one.

Screw holes169for screws168are located at each of the projecting pieces166a,166b. The screws168are screwed into one of screw holes151at grooves150a-150h. Therefore, pedestal section161is fixed at the step section149of chassis141. The pedestal section161is not moved upwards, despite the received pushing force from rotating shaft member160which is moved by disk102.

Un-rotating surface163ais notched at a section of disk attaching section163and screw hole163care located at disk attaching section163. Un-rotating surface163ais fitted to a section of disk102, and screw163bis screwed into the screw hole163c. As a result, disk102is fixed at rotating shaft member160.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 7, the pedestal section161includes a cylinder section170where the cylinder section170is smaller than the circular section167and stands upwards and is unified. Metal balls162aare enclosed in the cylinder section170. Three stopping members171are located at cylinder section170and have elasticity and extend upwards from circular section167. A lid member172is located around rotating section162and is hooked by stopping members171and holds the metal balls162ain the cylinder section170.

The ring groove162bwhich is fitted at a part of the metal balls162ais located at the base of rotating section162. Also, the outer surface of the rotating section162, which is located above the ring groove162bis supported by the supporting member180. The supporting member180includes attaching hole148which is located on a co-axial line to the center axis of the attaching hole148for the rotating shaft member160at driving source140, and is fixed at the bottom of driving source140.

Protrusion173is located between circular section167and projecting pieces166a,166band has contacting surface172awhich has contact with the counter boring section which is located at the circle protruding section (not shown) of attaching hole148which is located at the reverse side of driving source section140. In other words, when protruding pieces166a,166bof pedestal section161receive the force, which is towards thrust a direction, from the moving disk102, the protrusion173reinforces with the fixed section of the protruding sections166a,166b.

Also the disk rotating gear143is located between the disk attaching base120and driving source section140as shown inFIG. 4. The disk rotating gear143is a gear within gears142which is a power transmission member and is geared to transmitting gears155a,155b, and it rotates the disk102through the rotating shaft member160.

The disk rotating gear143is made from for example polyacetal and includes rib sections143cwhich are located between boss143aand rim143bas shown inFIG. 6.

An inserting hole143dwhich received the rotating shaft member160and is detachable, is located at the boss section143a. The perpendicularity extending groove143eis located on a crossing line to the axis line of boss section143aand extends along inserting hole143d. The cross bar member165at the rotating shaft member160is fitted into the groove143eand is detachable.

In above-mentioned coin dispensing apparatus, firstly the rotating shaft member160which is detached from the cross bar member165, is inserted into the attaching hole148from the bottom of driving source section140as shown inFIG. 4. In this process, the projecting pieces166a,166bof the pedestal section161are fitted into the grooves150a-150hto adapt to the thickness of the coin at the stairs149A-149D. Afterwards, the pedestal section161is fixed to the grooves150a-150hby the screws168.

Next, the cross bar member165is inserted into the rotating shaft member160which protrudes from the attaching hole148and is unified with the driving source140. Afterwards, the rotating gear143is fitted to the rotating shaft member160. In this process, the disk rotating gear143is geared to the transmitting gear155b, and the cross bar member165of the rotating shaft member160is inserted into the perpendicular grooves143eof the disk rotating gear143, and it is established in the driving source section140.

Also, the disk attaching base120is fitted into the driving source section140while the positions of the motor121, rotating shaft member160and sensors109a,109bcan be seen by the operator. In this process, contacting pieces107a-107fof the disk attaching base120are fitted into the contacting holes145a-145fof the driving source140. As a result, the disk attaching section120is attached to the driving source140.

Next, the disk attaching section163of the rotating shaft member160which protrudes on the base103of the disk attaching base103is fitted to the disk102. Afterwards, the disk102is fixed to the rotating shaft member160by the screw163b.

In the rotating shaft member160, the rotating section162and the pedestal section161are unified. The rotating shaft member160is attached to disk102and is attached to the body100. Therefore the parts of the apparatus decrease and the assembly process is easier.

In this coin dispensing apparatus, the disk102can be changed to another disk to adapt to the diameter of coin and the height position of disk102can be changed to another position to adapt to the thickness of the coin easily. In other words, when disk102is changed, screw163bis off from screw hole163cof the rotating shaft member160, afterwards the disk102is detached. Then another disk102which adapts to the difference diameter of the coin is attached at rotating shaft member160. When the height position of disk102is adjusted, in situation where disk102is attached to rotating shaft member160, pedestal section161of rotating shaft member160is off from the step section149of the driving source section140.

The pedestal section161is fitted into one of the grooves150a-150hto adapt to the thickness of driving source section140of the step section149. Afterwards, the pedestal section161is fixed by the screws168. Accordingly, the rotating shaft member160moves together with the pedestal section161. When the rotating shaft member160is fitted into the grooves150a-150h, the rotating shaft member160moves to adapt itself in the perpendicular groove143eof the disk rotating gear143through the cross bar member165.

When the rotating shaft member160moves up and down, the cross bar member165moves in the perpendicular groove143e, however the disk rotating gear143is not moved. Therefore the thickness of the apparatus body doesn't increase. A compact construction is provided.

Also, the disk102which is adapted to the diameter of the coin is attached at a rotating shaft member160which is fixed at step section149of the driving source section140by the screw163b. The hopper101is fitted into the hopper attaching holes106a-106dof the coin attaching base120. The disk102is rotated for dispensing the coins which are provided to the hopper101.

The disk102is rotated in the counter clockwise direction, then the coins on the disk base104are moved by disk102. The coins are guided to coin dispensing roller108by coin stoppers110a,110b, afterwards the coins are dispensed outside by dispensing roller108. In this process, the coin is detected by sensors109a,109band is counted.

When the coins are moved on the disk base104by the disk102, the disk102receives an upward force by the coins. Accordingly, the rotating shaft member160receives the force.

The rotating shaft member160is attached at pedestal section161. Therefore the rotating shaft member160is not moved in the thrust direction of the shaft by the force. Also, the disk102is not moved upwards, because the pedestal section161of the rotating shaft member160, is fixed at the apparatus body100.

The projecting pieces166a,166bof the pedestal section161are fitted into the grooves150a-150h. Therefore when rotating shaft member160rotates, the torque which is received from the disk102receives the forces from the side walls to grooves150a-150h.

Therefore screw168where the pedestal section161is attached at the step section149doesn't receive the torque based on the rotation of rotating shaft member160. As a result, the rotating shaft member160is fixed at the body100solidly. Also, the rotating shaft member doesn't come off from the body100. Therefore the coins are dispensed every time.