High-capacity apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies

Abstract: This invention was developed provide an apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies with a greatly improved receiving capacity for circular plate bodies such as coins to be paid out, which can dispence all of circular plate bodies without leaving some behind. The invention is a high-capacity apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies, comprising first tank means (41) which is in the form of tube having openings at its upper and lower ends and being provided inclined, an outlet (43) for the circular plate bodies (C), ejecting means (46) for ejecting a circular plate body which is rotatable end provided slantingly within the first tank means, second tank means (56) which is in a large tubular form and arranged to substantially communicate with the upper opening of the first tank means, and conveying means (52) for conveying the circular plate bodies from the second tank means (56) to the first tank means (41) which has the form of a big ring and is provides rotatably at the upper opening of the first tank means, wherein that a groove (61) is formed along the inside of the lower opening of second tank means (56).

Description: This invention relates to a high-capacity apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies according to the preamble of claim 1. Especially, this invention relates to an ejecting apparatus for forcibly sending out circular plate bodies one by one which are thrown in at loose loading conditions in a huge amount. This invention concretely relates to a large-volume-type ejecting apparatus which can forcibly and one by one send out circular plate bodies, such as coins with circular plate forms which are money or medals with circular plate forms which are used for games and so on, which are thrown in at loose loading conditions. This invention more concretely relates to an apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies which is suitable for game machines which uses a great amount of medals or coins or tokens. In the past, many kinds of apparatus for ejecting coins which are circular plate bodies are well-known. For example, there is an apparatus for forcibly sending out coins one by one, by rotating a coin sending disk within a pipe-shaped tank for receiving a stack of coins in loose loading conditions. In concrete, the disk for sending coins which is set approximately upright in this tank is rotated to send out coins which are picked up one by one from the inside of said tank. This type of apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies is disclosed in the gazette of Japanese Patent Publication 6-44305 or Application 2-152852 or United States Patent Number 5.122.094 corresponding thereto. A perspective view of the coin sending-out apparatus which is disclosed in this publication is shown in Fig. 5 and a side section view thereof is shown in Fig. 6. Using Figs. 5 and 6, the operation of said coin sending-out apparatus is summarily explained here. First, by means of an electric motor (not shown), a coin sending disk 2 with a deep plate form is rotated in the clockwise direction in a big pan form tank 1 about a center rotating axis 12. By the rotating of this disk 2, the coins in the drum-shaped disk 2 receive the agitating effects by the projections 6 which are formed inside of the surrounding wall 4 of the disk 2. As a result, the coin in the disk 2 goes into holes 5 for receiving coins which are opened in the bottom of disk 2 circumferentially. 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, the sliding coin is forcibly sent out through a coin outlet 23 which is shown in Fig. 5 left. Namely, the coin is guided to the outlet 23 and sent out, by means of coin sending nails (not shown) formed on the lower surface of disk 2, a guiding plate 15 formed on the surface of support plate 11, and a flange of surrounding wall 22 for attaching the tank 1. In other words, the coin which is moved by the sending nail is guided by the flange surrounding wall 22 of tank 1 and the guiding plate 15. Then, finally, said coin is guided by a fixed guide roller (not shown) and a movable guide roller 26, and pumped out from the coin outlet 23. However, in the above-mentioned apparatus for ejecting a circular plate body, there was a problem that the payout operation of coins was at high speed and ended immediately, because the tank has a small capacity. Especially, in a case of a game apparatus using a great amount of tokens, there was a problem that a coin shortage occurred and damaged the attractive game on the way of game playing. EP-A-0,501,607 discloses a high-capacity apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising first tank means which is in the form of a tube having openings at its upper and lower ends and being provided inclined, an outlet for the circular plate bodies formed below the first tank means, ejecting means for ejecting a circular plate body which is rotatable and provided slantingly at the lower end of the first tank means, second tank means which is in a large tubular form and arranged to substantially communicate with the upper opening of the first tank means, and conveying means for conveying the circular plate bodies from the second tank means to the first tank means. The conveying means of EP '607, however, has the form of fingers and rotates together with the second tank means. In the apparatus of EP '607 coins or tokens fall into a gutter formed at the lower opening of the first tank means, from which they are picked up by the ejecting means. EP-A-0/834,842, which is relevant under Article 54(3) EPC only, discloses an apparatus similar to that of claim 1, but lacking the groove along the inside of the lower opening of the second tank means. It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies having a receiving capacity for circular plate bodies such as coins to be paid out, which is greatly improved, which can dispense all of circular plate bodies without leaving some behind. This object is achieved by a large-volume-type or high-capacity apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. This invention is explained below, referring to the attached drawings of embodiments of the invention, of which: Fig. 1 is a summarized side view which shows one embodiment according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a section end view of a subject portion which is seen from the diagonal top of the front in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view which shows the subject portion of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 ist a front view which shows a subject portion of another embodiment according to this invention. A symbol 31 which is shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1 is a big rectangular base plate, and this base plate 31 is horizontally installed within a game machine which uses coins, tokens and so on. A frame 32 with a triangle form which is shown in the left of Fig. 1 is formed by a pair of similar, spaced apart plates in an upright position, one end of either plate being fixed on either side of the base plate 31, respectively. A rectangular fixation plate 33 which is shown in the central portion of Fig. 1 is inclined and fixed on the frame 32 on either side. Further, in the both ends at the upper edge of fixation plate 33, hinges 34 and 34 are formed, respectively. A rectangular movable plate 35 is stacked on the fixation plate 33 and the both ends at the upper edge of this movable plate 35 are pivoted respectively by the hinges 34 and 34 so that the movable plate 35 becomes rotatable. A coil-shaped spring 36 is shown on the lower portion of fixation plate 33 and this spring 36 is provided between the both ends of the lower edge of fixation plate 33 and the both ends of the lower edge of movable plate 35, being slidable without loosing. Concretely, a hole with bottom (blind hole) is formed 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 upward about the hinge 34 under the action of spring 36. A thing with a small box form which is shown on the lower portion 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 upper portion of movable plate 35 is a short tubular tank. On 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. Further, an outlet 43 for the circular plate 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 (see Fig. 2). 46 within the tank 41 is a disk with deep plate form, and this disk 46 is rotated by an electric motor 39, a deceleration apparatus (not shown) 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. Also, 47 shown on Fig. 2 is a pierced hole, and a plurality of pierced holes 47 are opened in the circumference of disk 46 at regular intervals. These pierced holes pile and store circular plate bodies. A plurality of small gears 51 are provided on the upper portion of the second flange 44, these gears 51 for three-point support are circumferentially provided at regular intervals and moreover rotatably. A big ring 52 is provided on these gears 51, and on the underside of this ring, a big gear 53 is formed and engaged with three gears 51. Further, this big ring 52 is a means for conveying circular plate bodies C (see Fig. 2). Also, in the upper surface of ring 52, a large number of approximately U-shaped recesses 54 are formed circumferentially and at equal intervals (see Fig. 2). A symbol 55 which is shown in the lower portion of second flange 44 is an electric motor (see Fig. 1), and this electric motor 55 is a means for rotating the big ring 52 by means of the small gears 51 and large gear 53. 56 which is shown in the right of Fig. l is a second tank with big tubular form, and on the opening edge of the lower portion of this tank 56, a flange 57 is outwardly formed. Further, this flange 57 is mounted on the second flange 44 intervening the three gears 51 by means of bolts and nuts or clamps (not shown). Also, as clear from Fig. 1, the central axis line 59 of second tank 56 is offset below the rotating axis 38 as the central axis line of the first tank 41. Further, the whole wall of lower opening of second tank 56 is projected outwardly, and in the inside thereof, a groove 61 with ring form is formed (see Fig. 3). This groove 61 is used for conveying circular plate bodies into the first tank 41 without leaving any, when the number of circular plate bodies in the second tank 56 becomes small. In other words, making the circular plate bodies which slipped out from the inner bottom of second tank 56 fall into the groove 61, and filliping the circular plate bodies in the groove 61 by the standing pins 58, as the result, the circular plate bodies are received in the recesses 54. Therefore, it is desirable that the width W in the opening of groove 61, i.e. the distance between the surface of ring 52 and the inner bottom of second tank 56 is bigger than the radius of circular plate body C. In operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned constitution, firstly, a lot of circular plate bodies are thrown into the first tank 41 and the second tank 56 and are stored in loose loading conditions (not shown). When the disk 46 is rotated by the electric motor 47 in this condition, the disk 46 is rotated in the clockwise direction, for instance. Thus, the circular plate bodies which are in loose loading conditions in the first tank 41 are piled into the pierced holes 47 of turning disk 46. The circular plate body which is situated on the lowest portion in said pierced hole 47 is slidably moved on the upper surface of movable plate 35, and by means of the projection arm (not shown), the circular plate bodies are forcibly sent out one by one to the outlet 43. Further, in other words, by the rotation of disk 46 with a deep plate form, the circular plate bodies are agitated with the projections (not shown) which are formed inside of the surrounding wall 48 of disk 46. As the result, the circular plate bodies in the disk 46 are stored into the pierced holes 47 in the bottom of disk 46. The circular plate bodies which went into the pierced holes 47 go through the pierced holes 47 and are slidably held on the surface of big rectangular movable plate 35. The circular plate bodies are ejected to the outlet 43, by means of the sending nails (not shown) which are formed on the underside of disk 46, a guidance plate (not shown) 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 circular plate bodies in the first tank 41 are ejected from the outlet 43. However, at the lower portion of second tank 56, the circular plate bodies are left. When the circular plate bodies in the first tank 41 becomes little in the weight, the load of movable plate 35 is reduced and the elasticity power in spring 36 acts. As the result, the switch 37 is turned on, the electrical motor 55 is driven, and the ring 52 turns. When the ring 52 is turned counterclockwise for example, the circular plate bodies C (see Fig. 2) 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 circular plate bodies C fall downward, because of the self-weight of circular plate body C, against the centrifugal force by the rotation of ring 52 (see Fig. 2). Falling circular plate bodies C go through the opening 50 of ring 52 and fall to the lower portion of first tank 41, as shown at the arrow in Fig. 3. Thus, a lot of circular plate bodies are stored up into the first tank 41 and the ejecting of the circular plate bodies which depends on the disk 46 is continued. When the circular plate bodies in the first tank 56 become many, the movable plate 35 turns off the switch 37 by the weight thereof and the rotation of motor 55 is stopped. Of course, the electric motor 55 may be made to stop some time later, after the switch 37 is turned on. Also, the disk 41 is explained as a deep plate form. However, a disk with a thin disk form may be used of course, as described in the specification of United States Patent 4,589,433 or Japanese Application 59-22825 (Japanese Patent Publication 62-45586) corresponding thereto. In this case, a plurality of pins with circular axis form are planted at equal intervals on the limb part of the thin circular disk. These pins hitch to hold circular plate bodies and convey them. Also, it is good of course that a pin with small strip form or a square axis-shaped pin and so on may replace said circular axis-shaped pin. Further, it is of course enough that the depth of the recess in ring 52 is equal to or more than one thickness of the circular plate body C. In addition, the size of opening 50 of ring 52 and the size of opening in the first tank 41 (that is, the size of opening 40 in the disk 46) are decided, considering the inclined angle of ring 52 and the direction of the fall of circular plate 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 shown in Fig. 4, pins 71 with circular axis-shaped form or small strip-shaped pins or square axis-shaped pins, etc. may be used of course. In Fig. 2, the pins 58 are planted or positioned in the suitable peripheral portion of large ring ring 52. However, as shown in Fig. 4, step portions 72 formed as small recesses or projections may be used of course. In other words, circular plate bodies C are flicked or removed from the groove 61 by means of the step portions 72. At the result, the circular plate bodies C can be put among a plurality of pins 71 or in recesses 54. Moreover, replacing the combination of spring 36 and switch 37, a sensor such as a pressure sensitive element or a strain detective element, etc. (not shown) are of course permitted. In this case, for example, the movable plate 35 is removed, the pressure sensitive element is provided on the proper place on the surface of fixation plate 33, and the flange 42 of first tank 41 is directly contacted to the pressure sensitive element. In addition, a belt apparatus for the replacement of the small gear and large-sized gear is permitted to be used of course. Also, combining a gear apparatus and a belt apparatus is permitted to be used of course. As above mentioned, this invention adds the second tank to the first tank and also disposes the conveying means from the second tank to the first tank. Therefore, the circular plate bodies can be housed in the communicating first and second tanks in large quantities. Further, every circular plate body which is left at the slower portion of second tank can be transferred to the first tank by the conveying means. Therefore, this present invention gets a big effect that all of a great amount of disk bodies can be perfectly used. Accordingly, as for the game apparatus, for which large quantities of medals are especially used, this invention gets a big advantage that the attractiveness of the game is maintained without medal shortage occurring. Explanation of the symbols: C: circular plate body, First tank means --- 41: first tank, 44: flange, Means for ejecting a circular plate body --- 43: outlet, 46: disk, Means for conveying circular plate bodies --- 52: ring, 54: recess, Second tank means --- 56: second tank, 57: flange, and 61: groove.

Claims: A high-capacity apparatus for ejecting circular plate bodies, comprising first tank means (41) which is in the form of a tube having openings at its upper and lower ends and being provided inclined, an outlet (43) for the circular plate bodies (C) formed at the lower opening of the first tank means, ejecting means (46) for ejecting a circular plate body which is rotatable and provided slantingly within the first tank means, second tank means (56) which is at least partly in a large tubular form and arranged to substantially communicate with the upper opening of the first tank means, and conveying means (52) for conveying the circular plate bodies from the second tank means (56) to the first tank means (41), characterized in that the conveying means (52) has the form of a big ring and is provided rotatably at the upper opening of the first tank means, and in that a groove (61) is formed along the inside of the lower opening of the second tank means (56). The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying means is provided with means (54) for holding a circular plate body in the surface thereof. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying means (52) is provided with means (58, 72) for removing circular plate bodies from the groove (61).

Inventors: ABE HIROSHI, ABE, HIROSHI
Applicants: ASAHI SEIKO CO LTD, ASAHI SEIKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G07D9
IPC codes: G07D1, G07D9