High-capacity apparatus for ejecting disk bodies

Abstract: It is disclosed a large-volume-shaped apparatus for ejecting disk bodies, comprising first tank means (41) which is formed in a tubular form, the central axis line of which is inclined, and provided with an outlet (43) for the disk bodies is formed in the lower edge opening thereof, means (46, 47) for ejecting disk bodies which is provided substantially upright within the first tank means and rotatable, means (52) for conveying disk bodies which is formed a big ring form and provided rotatably on the upper edge opening of said first tank means, and second tank means (56) which is formed in a tubular form and provided to communicate to said means for conveying said disk bodies.

Description: This invention relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. Especially, this invention relates to an ejecting apparatus for forcibly sending out disk bodies one by one which are thrown into loose loading conditions in a huge amount. This invention concretely relates to a large-volume ejecting apparatus which can forcibly and one by one send out disk bodies, such as coins with disk forms which are money or medals with disk forms which are used for games and so on, which are thrown into loose loading conditions. This invention more concretely relates to a disk body ejecting apparatus which is suitable for the game apparatus which uses a great amount of medals or coins or tokens. In the past, a coin ejecting apparatus has become known which is equipped with a tank for receiving a stack of coins in loose loading conditions and a coin sending disk which is set approximately upright in this tank and is rotatable. This coin ejecting apparatus is used in various ways for sending out coins by picking up coins one by one from the inside of said tank with said coin sending disk. In this type of coin ejecting apparatus, one which can eject coins at high speed continuously is disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application 2-152852 (corresponding to United States Patent 5,122,094). A perspective view of the coin sending-out apparatus which is elucidated in this publication is shown in Fig. 4 and a side section view therof is shown in Fig. 5. Using Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the operation of said coin dispensing apparatus is summarily explained here. First, by means of an electric motor (illustration omitted), a coin sending disk 2 with a deep plate form is rotated in the clockwise direction in a big tubular tank 1 about a center rotating axis 12 (referring to Fig. 4). By the rotating of this disk 2, the coins in the tank 1, i.e. the coins in the drum-shaped disk 2 receive agitating effects by the projections 6 which are formed inside of the surrounding wall 4 of the disk 2. As a result, the coins in the disk 2 go into coin receiving holes 5 which are opened circumferentially in the bottom of disk 2. The coins which went into the receiving holes 5 go through the receiving holes 5 and are slidably held on the surface of big square support plate 11. After this, each coin is sent out via a coin outlet 23 (refer to Fig. 4 left) by means of coin sending nails (illustration omitted) formed on the reverse side of disk 2, a guiding plate 15 formed on the surface of support plate 11, and a surrounding wall 22 being a portion of the tank 1. In other words, the coin which is pushed and moved by the sending nail (illustration omitted) is guided by the surrounding wall 22 of tank 1 and the guiding plate 15. Then, finally, said coin is guided by a fixed guide roller (illustration omitted) and a movable guide roller 26 and pumped out from the coin outlet 23. However, there was a problem that the payout of disk bodies ends immediately, because the tank has a comparatively small capacity at high speed, in the above-mentioned disk body ejecting apparatus which can pay out coins of disk bodies continuously at high speed. Especially, where there is a game apparatus using a great amount of coins, there was a problem that a coin shortage occurs and damages the attraction of game playing. An apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 0 501 607 A1. It is an object of the invention to provide a disk body ejecting apparatus for disk bodies such as coins improving the receiving capacity for disk bodies to be paid out and reducing the costs and the space requirements of the apparatus. This object is achieved by a high-capacity apparatus for ejecting disk bodies according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention result from the dependent claims. Peferably, in the disk body ejecting apparatus central axis line of said second tank means is offset downwardly with respect to the central axis line of said first tank means. Preferably, said conveying means is equipped with means for holding the disk body in the surface thereof. Preferably said conveying means is equipped with a gear. Preferably, in the disk body ejecting apparatus a sensor means for detecting the weight of said first tank means is provided. Embodiments of the invention are explained below, referring to the attached drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a summarized side view which shows one embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a section end view of the front of the embodiment of Fig. 1 seen from the diagonal top, Fig. 3 is a side view which shows a portion of the embodiment of Fig. 1, Fig. 4, 5 are views of a prior art apparatus, and Fig. 6 is a front view which shows a portion of another embodiment in accordance with this invention. A reference numeral 31 which is shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1 is a big rectangular base plate and this base plate 31 is levelly installed within a game machine which uses medals, coins, tokens and so on. A frame 32 with a triangle form which is shown in Fig. 1 is formed by a pair of similar, spaced apart plates in an upright position, one end of each plate being fixed on either side of the base plate 31, respectively. A rectangular fixation plate 33 which is shown in Fig. 1 is inclined to the vertical and is fixed to the frame 32 on either side. In case of Fig. 1, the acute angle of the base plate 31 and the fixation plate 33 is about 60 degrees. Further, in the both edge parts at the upper edge of fixation plate 33, hinges 34, 34 are formed, respectively. 35 on the fixation plate 33 is a rectangular movable plate, and the both edges at the upper edge of this movable plate 35 are pivoted respectively by the hinges 34, 34 so that the movable plate 35 becomes rotatable. At the lower portion of fixation plate 33 is a coil-shaped spring 36 and this spring 36 is provided between the lower edge of both end parts of fixation plate 33 and the lower edge of both end parts of movable plate 35, being slidable without loosing. Concretely, a blind hole is formed beforehand in the surface of the fixation plate 33 which faces the movable plate 35, and the spring 36 is slidably inserted into the hole and projects therefrom. Therefore, when the movable plate 35 becomes light weight, the movable plate 35 can be slightly rotated upwardly about the hinge 34 under the operation of spring 36. A thing with the small box form which is on the lower portion in the underside of fixation plate 33 is a switch 37 such as a limit switch and, this switch 37 is turned on or off by the approaching or leaving of movable plate 35. 41 which is shown on the movable plate 35 is a short tubular tank. At the first tank 41, a flange 42 which protrudes outside is formed at the opening edge of the lower portion. Through this first flange 42, the tank 41 is fixed on the movable plate 35 by means of bolt-nuts or welding and so on. Further, an outlet 43 for the disk body is formed at a part of flange 42. A second flange 44 which protrudes outside is formed at the upper opening edge on the tank 41. The lower portion of this flange 44 is mainly formed for the outside as shown by Fig. 2. 46 in the tank 41 is a disk with deep plate form and, this disk 46 is rotated by an electric motor 39, a deceleration apparatus which is omitted in the illustration, and a rotating axis 38. In addition, as clear from the drawing, the rotating axis 38 is on the central axis line of the disk 46 and the first tank 41. In case of the illustration, the acute angle of this rotating axis 38 and the base plate 31 is about 30 degrees. Also, 47 in the drawing is a pierced hole and a plurality of pierced holes 47 are opened at regular intervals around the circumference of disk 46, and the said pierced hole is a means for piling and storing disk bodies. 51 on the second flange 44 is a small gear and, as shown in Fig.2, these three gears 51 for three-point support are circumferentially provided at regular intervals and moreover rotatably. 52 on these gears 51 is a big ring. This ring 52 is a means for conveying disk bodies as described later. In the underside of this ring, a big gear 53 is formed and this gear 53 meshes with the three gears 51. Also, in the surface of ring 52, as shown at Fig.2, a large number of approximately U -shaped recesses 54 are formed circumferentially and at equal intervals. 55 (referring to Fig. 1) which is shown in the lower portion of second flange 44 is an electric motor, and this electric motor 55 is a means for rotating the ring 52 through gears 51, 53. 56 which is shown in the right of Fig.1 is a second tank of big tubular form and a flange 57 is outwardly formed by the opening edge of the lower portion of this tank 56. This flange 57 is mounted to the second flange 44 through the three gears 51. Further, the illustration of the mounting of these flanges 44, 57, is omitted. However, of course bolts and nuts can be used for this purpose. Also, as clear from Fig. 1, the central axis line 59 of second tank 56 is situated at a lower level than the rotating axis 38 which is the central axis line of the first tank 41. In operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned constitution, firstly, a lot of disk bodies are thrown into the first tank 41 and the second tank 56 and are stored in the loose loading condition. When the disk 46 is rotated by the electric motor 39 in this condition, the disk 46 is rotated in the clockwise direction, for instance (refer to the arrow at the lower portion of Fig. 2). The disk bodies (illustration omitted) which are accordingly in loose loading conditions in the first tank 41 and the second tank 56 are piled into the pierced holes 47 of turning disk 46. The disk body which is situated on the lowest portion in said pierced hole is slidably moved on the movable plate 35 and, by means of the projection arm (illustration omitted), the disk bodies are forcibly sent out to the outlet 43 one by one. When explained in detail, by the rotation of disk 46 with a deep plate form, the disk bodies (illustration omitted) are agitated with the projections (illustration omitted) which are formed inside of the surrounding wall 48 of disk 46. As the result, the disk bodies in disk 46 fall into the pierced hole 47 in the bottom of disk 46. The disk body which went into the pierced hole 47 goes through the pierced hole 47 and is slidably held on the surface of big rectangular movable plate 35. After this, the disk body is ejected to the outlet 43 which is shown in Fig.1 by sending nails (illustration omitted) which are formed on the underside of disk 46, a guidance plate (illustration omitted) which is formed in the surface of movable plate 35 and the flange 42 for mounting the tank 41. As mentioned above, most of the disk bodies in the first tank 41 are ejected from the outlet 43. However, at the lower portion of second tank 56, the disk bodies stay behind. When the weight of the disk bodies in the first tank 41 becomes small, the load on movable plate 35 is reduced and the elasticity power in spring 36 acts. Accordingly, the switch 37 is turned on and the electrical motor 55 is driven and the ring 52 turns. When the ring 52 is turned counterclockwise like the arrow which is shown in the upper portion of Fig.2, the disk bodies (illustration omitted) which are in the lower portion of second tank 56 are fitted into a numerous number of recesses 54 to be held and are upwardly conveyed. The upwardly conveyed disk bodies fall down, as a result, against the centrifugal force caused by the rotating of ring 52 because of the self-weight of disk body C, as shown on Fig. 2. Falling disk bodies C go through the opening 50 of ring 52 and fall to the lower portion of first tank 41 (referring to the arrow of Fig. 3). As the result, a lot of disk bodies are stored up into the first tank 41 and the ejecting of the disk bodies which depends on the disk 46 is continued. Further, the electric motor 55 may be made to stop some time later, after the switch 37 is turned on. Also, when the disk bodies in the second tank 56 becomes scanty, a stop of motor 55 is permitted of course. Furthermore, the disk 41 is explained as a deep plate form. However, a disk with a thin disk form which is shown in the specifications of Japanese Patent Application 59-22825 (corresponding to United States Patent 4,589,433) and Japanese Patent Application 2-307192 (corresponding to United States Patent 5,181,881) may be used of course. In this case, a plurality of pins having each a circular axis form are planted at equal intervals on the limb part of the thin circular disk and these pins hitch to hold disk bodies and convey them. Also, it is good of course that a pin with a small strip of paper form or a square axis-shaped pin and so on may replace said circular axis-shaped pin. In addition, as for the embodiment, a large-sized ring 52 is illustrated and explained as having a plate form. However, it is of course permitted to make a ring 61 with a form like a shallow (soup) plate or saucer, as shown by the chain line of Fig. 3. Also, it is of course enough that the depth of the recess in ring 52 is equal to or more than one thickness of the disk body C. The size of opening 50, the inclination angle of ring 52 (the acute angle with the base plate 31 is about 60 degrees in case of the illustration) and the size of opening in the first tank (that is, the size of opening 40 in the disk 46 in case of the illustration) are decided, considering the direction of the fall of disk body C and so on. Also, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a lot of recesses 54 are formed in the surface of large-sized ring 52. However, as described with respect to disk 46, pins 71 (refer to Fig. 6) with circular axis-shaped forms respectively or small strip-shaped pins or square axis-shaped pins, etc. may be used of course. Moreover, replacing the combination of spring 36 and switch 37, a sensor (illustration omitted) such as a pressure sensitive element or a strain detection element etc. are of course permitted to be provided in the proper place on the surface of fixation plate 33. In this case, the movable plate 35 is removed and the part of the flange 42 of first tank 41 is directly contacted to one of these elements. Incidentally, of course a belt apparatus may be used instead of said gear apparatus 51, 53. Also, a combination of gear and belt may be used of course. As above mentioned, this invention adds a second tank to the first tank and also disposes a conveying means from the second tank to the first tank. Therefore, as for this invention, the disk bodies can be housed in the communicating first and second tanks in large quantities and the disk bodies which are left in the second tank, too, can be transferred to the first tank by the conveying means. Therefore, the major effect that all of a great amount of disk bodies can be used is achieved. Accordingly, for the game apparatus, for which huge quantities of medals are especially used, the big advantage that the attractiveness of the game is maintained without medal shortage occurring is obtained. Explanation of reference signs: C: disk body, 36: spring (constituting a sensor means), 37: switch (constituting a sensor means), 41: first tank (constituting a first tank means), 43: outlet (part of first tank means), 46: disk (constituting a means for ejecting disk bodies), 47: pierced hole (constituting a means for piling and storing disk bodies), 51: small gear, 52, 61: ring (constituting a means for conveying disk bodies), 53: large-sized gear, 54: recess hollow (constituting a means for conveying disk bodies, and also constituting a holding means of disk bodies), 56: second tank (constituting a second tank means), 57: flange (part of second tank means), and 59: central axis line of the second tank.

Claims: A high-capacity apparatus for ejecting disk bodies, comprising first tank means (41) for the disk bodies (C), which is in the form of a tube having openings at its upper and lower ends, the central axis line (38) of the tube being inclined, an outlet (43) for the disk bodies (C), ejecting means (46, 47) for ejecting the disk bodies (C) from the outlet which is rotatable and provided within the lower opening of the first tank means, second tank means (56) for the disk bodies (C) which is arranged to substantially communicate with the upper opening of the first tank means, and conveying means (52, 61) for conveying the disk bodies (C) from the second tank means to the first tank means, characterized in that the outlet (43) is formed in the lower opening of the first tank means, and in that the conveying means has the form of a large-sized, generally flat or saucer-shaped ring, provided rotatably between the upper opening of the first tank means (41) and the second tank means. The disk body ejecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that a central axis line (59) of said second tank means is offset downwardly with respect to the central axis line (38) of said first tank means. The disk body ejecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said conveying means (52, 61) is equipped with means (54) for holding the disk bodies (C) in the surface thereof. The disk body ejecting apparatus as set forth in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that said conveying means is equipped with a gear (53). The disk body ejecting apparatus as set forth in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a sensor means (36) for detecting the weight of said first tank means. The disk body ejecting apparatus as set forth in one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said holding means of the conveying means comprises recesses (54). The disk body ejecting apparatus as set forth in one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said holding means of the conveying means comprises pins (71). Disk body ejecting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ejecting means (46, 47) is provided substantially normal to the central axis line (38) of the first tank means (41) within the first tank means (41), and in that the second tank means is formed in a tubular form. Disk body ejecting apparatus according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the conveying means (52, 61) is rotated in response to a detection of a low weight of the first tank means by the sensor means (36).

Inventors: ABE HIROSHI, ABE, HIROSHI
Applicants: ASAHI SEIKO CO LTD, ASAHI SEIKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G07D9
IPC codes: G07D1, B65G47, G07D9