Abstract:
A disk dispensing apparatus has an ejector unit that can be reversibly mounted at the end of a guide path so that tokens or disks can be both adjusted for different sizes while permitting the discharge of the disks in opposite directions. The guide path is also adjustable to accommodate different sized disks with a base member extending above support plates that define a transmit opening for the disk. The base member has an aperture that is operatively interfaced with a flipping roller that can propel disks at a discharge position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a disk dispensing apparatus which dispenses disks laterally from a distal end of a guiding path after aligning and guiding the disks on the guiding path in a state in which outer peripheral edges of the disks are brought in contact with each other. In particular, the present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus capable of changing a dispensing direction of a disk easily with an adjustable ejector unit. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Incidentally, the term “disk” used in this text embraces a coin which is a currency, a medal for a game machine, a token money such as a token, and things of like kind. 
   There has been a configuration where coins in a hopper are fed out, one by one, by a rotary disk, and then the coins are aligned and guided upward by an escalator apparatus extending vertically upward. The coins are ejected or flipped out laterally from a guiding path due to a returning force of a restricting roller in an ejecting unit provided at an exit end of the guiding path. The ejecting unit includes the restricting roller, a lever, and a spring. In the dispensing apparatus, an oscillating movement of the lever is detected by a sensor to obtain a signal of a coin dispensed. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,081. 
   Similarly, in a coin sending apparatus which ejects a coin sent by a coin feeding apparatus and guided upward on a guiding path of an escalator apparatus from a distal end thereof, there has been known a dispensing apparatus where an ejection mechanism is configured with a roller which is biased resiliently and guided linearly. In this conventional apparatus, a dispensing direction of a coin can be changed by disposing a position of the roller on the right or the left to be shifted with respect to the guiding path. Reference can be made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,503. 
   In a case of changing a coin exit from a left-facing to, for example, right-facing orientation, such members as a pivoting lever, a roller, and a movement hole of the roller of an ejecting unit which is positioned at an exit of a guiding path and biased to one side of the guiding path must be replaced with alternative members having shapes and structures suitable for the right-facing exit. This is because there can be a problem in that a length of the guiding path must be changed to a length corresponding to a diameter of a coin. 
   On the other hand, a roller which is a dispensing member at a dispensation time of a coin receives a reactive force from the coin, so that a shaft supporting the roller is brought in pressure contact with a guiding groove face. Due to repetition of this pressure contact, a recessed portion is formed on the pressure-contacting portion. For this reason, a problem could occur so that smooth dispensation cannot be continued due to the shaft caught in the recessed portion. 
   Accordingly, there is a demand to provide an easily adjusted and compact ejection unit that can accommodate different size disks and be adjusted to alter the dispensing direction of the disks. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and a first object thereof is to provide a disk dispensing apparatus which can continue with a smooth dispensation of disks from a guiding path. 
   A second object thereof is to provide a disk dispensing apparatus which can change a dispensing direction of a disk by using an ejector unit that can accommodate different ejector directions and different size disks. 
   The present invention is a disk dispensing apparatus which aligns and guides disks sent from a hopper, one by one on a guide path, and dispenses the disks laterally from a distal end of the guide path, including at least a guide member disposed at a distal end portion of the guide path. The guide member has a guiding face which guides a disk laterally, a disk ejecting unit disposed at an exit of the guiding path, and a dispensation detecting sensor for detecting a disk ejected or flipped out by the ejecting unit, wherein mounting portions of the guide member, the ejecting unit, and the dispensation detecting sensor can be provided on the right and left of an extension portion of the guide path. 
   Due to this configuration, it is possible to change a disk dispensing direction such that a left side and a right side thereof are reversed, for example, changing its structure from a rightward dispensation to leftward dispensation. Since the extension portion of the guide path has mounting portions on its right and left sides, a dispensing apparatus whose exit direction is different can be formed easily by changing positions of the guide member, an ejector mechanism, and the dispensation detecting sensor. 
   Since configurations regarding both right and left directions can be achieved by using the same guiding member, the same ejector mechanism, and the like, parts can be shared, which is economical. Also a fixing part, such as a screw fixing these parts can be shared, and a lesser number of parts are required. Finally, since there is not much of a difference in an assembling method between a right and left side, assembling can be performed easily. 
   The ejecting unit can be positioned on the front and back sides of the extension portion of the guiding path. In the present invention, the operational direction of the ejecting unit can be reversed by having the disposition of the ejecting unit switched between the front side and the back side in the extension portion of the guiding path, so that the disk can be flipped out or ejected in a desired direction. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     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. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a disk dispensing apparatus mounted on a disk sending unit. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective front view of the disk dispensing apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the disk dispensing apparatus having a configuration where a disk is dispensed from a right-facing exit path. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the disk dispensing apparatus in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective front view of the disk dispensing apparatus having a configuration where a disk is dispensed from a left-facing exit path. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the disk dispensing apparatus having a configuration where a disk is dispensed from a right-facing exit path. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the disk dispensing apparatus in  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   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. 
   Hereinafter, a disk sending apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. 
   In these figures, a hopper  1  which is a disk sending apparatus has a frame  2 . A cylindrical bowl  4  is fixed on the frame  2  and retains or stores disks  3 . A rotary disk  5  rotates in a bottom portion of the bowl  4  for selectively sending out the disk  3 . 
   In the hopper  1 , a guiding apparatus  6 A which aligns and guides disks  3 , sent out by the rotary disk  5 , is connected to the frame  2  so as to extend upward. A guide path  6 , occupying a space for one disk, is formed inside the guide apparatus  6 A. The guide path  6  has a vertically elongated rectangular base  7 , a pair of long and thin plate-like spacers  8   a  and  8   b  which are slightly thicker than the disk  3 , and a pair of support plates  9  and  9  for the spacers  8   a  and  8   b . These elements collectively provide the escalator guide path. 
   A distance between the pair of spacers  8   a  and  8   b  is slightly larger than a diameter of the disk  3 . Screws  11  penetrating the support plates  9  and  9  and the spacers  8   a  and  8   b  are screwed into the base  7  to integrate them together. The guide path  6  is a space extending vertically and having a rectangular shape in cross section surrounded by the base  7 , the spacers  8   a  and  8   b , and the support plates  9  and  9 . 
   A width of the guiding path  6  can be adjusted according to a specific diameter of the disk  3  by moving the right spacer  8   b  having a horizontally elongated hole (not shown) for width adjustment laterally to change a distance between the right opener  8   b  and the left spacer  8   a  and fixing the same on the base  7 . Accordingly, different size tokens or coins can be accommodated. 
   An exit path  12 R which dispenses disks  3  laterally from the guide path  6  is formed at an upper end of the guiding path  6 . The exit path  12 A is formed using the following components. For convenience of explanation, a configuration of a rightward coin dispensing with respect to the guide path  6  will be first explained. 
   The components are an L-shaped guide spacer  14  removably disposed at an upper end portion of the left spacer  8   a  so as to be connected to a distal end of the guiding path  6 , on which a guide edge  13  curved to the right spacer  8   b  is formed. See  FIGS. 2 to 4 . A rightward dispensation guide  15  is disposed adjacent to the outside of the right spacer  8   b , and forms a rolling end of the rightward exit path  12 R. A guide cover  16  is put on the support plates  9  and  9  and the rightward dispensation guide  15  and mounted and fixed on the base  7 . A base extension portion  7 D, is a distal end of the base on which the guide spacer  14 , the rightward dispensation guide  15 , and the guide cover  16  are mounted and fixed, namely, it extends further beyond the guiding path  6  to be a base plate of the exit path  12 R. Incidentally, the guide spacer  14  is sandwiched and fixed between the guide cover  16  and the base  7  when the guide cover  16  is mounted. 
   A mounting portion  21  is provided on the left side of the base extension portion  7 D, and mounting portions  21  and  32  are provided on the right side opposite to the mounting portion  21 . Through holes  22 ,  22 ,  31 , and  31  for screws  24  and  24  for screwing a disk ejecting unit  35  (described later) are formed in the respective mounting portions  21  and  32 , respectively. The guide spacer  14  and the guide cover  16  are superimposed on each other and put on the mounting portion  21  on the left side. 
   The ejecting unit  35  is disposed so as to abut on a front face of the guide cover  16  on the left. The screws  24  and  24  are caused to penetrate the guide spacer  14  and the guide cover  16  from behind the base  7 , and the screws  24  and  24  are screwed into a frame  37  of the ejecting unit  35 . Thereby, the ejecting unit  35  uses the guide cover  16  as a plate to be mounted and fixed on the base  7 . 
   Simultaneously with fixation of the ejecting unit  35 , the guide spacer  14  and the guide cover  17  are integrally fastened and fixed on the base  7 . Through holes  22 ,  22 ,  33 ,  33 ,  34 , and  34  penetrated by the screws  24  and  24  are provided in the base, guide spacer  14 , and the guide cover  16 , respectively. Screw holes  45  and  45  into which the screws  24  and  24  are screwed are formed in the frame  37  of the ejecting unit  35 . 
   Incidentally, when a disk is dispensed leftward, the guide spacer  14  is reversed and mounted on the mounting portion  32  on the right side. A guide cover  16 M (see  FIG. 5  and the like) which is another member to be exchanged with the guide cover  16  is mounted. 
   The guide cover  16  is put on distal end portions of the respective support plates  9  and  9  and the spacers  8   a  and  8   b  at its lower end portion. The guide cover  16  is screwed on the base  7  by screws  90  and  90  penetrating the support plates  9  and  9  and the spacers  8   a  and  8   b . In the guide cover, one through hole  91  of the through holes is inserted by the screws  90  and  90  is a circular hole, but the other through hole  92  on the right is a horizontally-elongated hole. This is because, when width adjustment is performed by moving the right spacer  8   b  with respect to the left spacer  8   a  so as to be capable of using disks having different diameters, the screw  90  can be inserted and screwed according to the position of the right spacer  8   b.    
   Since the distal end portions of the support plates  9  and  9  on which a lower end portion of the guide cover  16  is placed are different in level from the spacers  8   a  and  8   b , the lower end portion is formed into a stepped portion shape  16   p  so as to conform with the shape of the mounting portion, and so that the guide cover  16  can be firmly fixed on the support plates  9  and  9  and the spacers  8   a  and  8   b . By screwing screws  68  and  68  into a bracket  63  holding a dispensation detecting sensor  36  (described later), an upper end portion of the guide cover  16  and an upper end portion of the guide spacer  14  are integrally fastened and fixed on the base  7 . 
   In the base  7 , the guide spacer  14 , and the guide cover  16 , horizontally-elongated holes  73 ,  75 , and  76  are formed on portions inserted with the screws  68  and  68 , respectively. A mounting portion of the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is adjustable within a range of these elongated holes  73 ,  75 , and  76  so as to be capable of using disks having different diameters. Finally, the rightward dispensation guide  15  is mounted and fixed on the base  7  by a screw  25 . Thereby, the guide spacer  14 , the guide cover  16 , and the rightward dispensation guide  15  are integrally mounted on the base  7 . 
   The rightward exit path  12 R is a space extending rightward and having a rectangular shape in section surrounded by the base  7 , the guide spacer  14 , and the guide cover  16 , and the rightward dispensation guide  15 . There is a dispensing opening at a forward end of the exit path  12 R. 
   A leading disk  3  entering the exit path  12 R from the guide path  6  is guided rightward on the exit path  12 R by the rightward guide edge  13  of the guide spacer  14 . When the guide spacer  14  is mounted on the right side of the base  7 , the guide edge  13  of the guide spacer  14  faces left and guides the disk  3  leftward. 
   The ejecting unit  35  for ejecting or flipping out the disk  3  in a rightward direction and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  for detecting the disk  3  dispensed are mounted on the exit path  12 R having the above-described structure. The ejecting unit  35  will be first explained. The ejecting unit  35  is disposed at an exit  6 E of the guide path  6  while being relatively lopsided with respect to a center line of the guide path  6 , and the ejecting unit  35  has a flipping roller  38  as a dispensing member biased so as to approach the guide path  6 . 
   More specifically, the ejecting unit  35  is composed of an approximately-L-shape frame  37  for mounting a part, the afore-mentioned flipping roller  38  which resiliently comes in contact with an outer periphery of the disk  3  pushed up on the guide path  6  to enter the exit path  12 , a pivoting lever  39  attached with the flipping roller rotatably at a distal end of a shaft thereof, a helical spring  40  biasing the pivoting lever  39  to the side of the guide path  6  such that the flipping roller  38  fronts the exit  12 E, and a stopper  101  for the flipping roller  38  to receive and hold the pivoting lever  39  at a static position fronting the exit  6 E of the guide path  6 . 
   Incidentally, the stopper  101  is bent horizontally to form a right angle with the frame  37 , and a cushioning member  102  such as a rubber member is disposed on an upper face of the stopper  101 . The helical spring  40  is wound around a pivoting shaft  39   p  of the pivoting lever  39 , one end of the helical spring  40  is caught in a groove hole of a catching metal part  104  bent horizontally so as to form a right angle with the frame  37 , and the other end thereof is caught in a catching hole in the pivoting lever  39 , thereby the helical spring  40  biases the pivoting lever  39  constantly in a direction of the guide path  6  (clockwise direction). 
   Then, the flipping roller  38  is exposed at the exit path  12  via an elongated hole for the flipping roller  42  formed on the base extension portion  7 D and an arc-shaped elongated hole for the flipping roller  43  formed on the guide cover  16 . 
   The ejecting unit  35  is mounted and fixed on the base  7  in a state in which the ejecting unit  35  is mounted on the front face of the guide cover  16  by screwing the screws  24  and  24  to penetrate the guide spacer  14  and the guide cover  16  which are superimposed on the base  7  from behind the base on the frame  37 . When the ejecting unit  35  is fixed, the guide cover  16  and the guide spacer  14  are sandwiched and fixed between the frame  37  of the ejecting unit  35  and the base  7  to be integrated with the base  7 . 
   Curved guide hole edges  45  and  46  conforming to each other are formed at left side edges of the respective elongated holes for the flipping roller  42  and  43  on the side of the guide cover and on the side of the base which the flipping roller fronts. The flipping roller  38  uses both the guide hole edges  45  and  46  of an aperture at a discharge position of the base plate  7  as guides to move inside the elongated holes  42  and  43 . 
   Incidentally, a curved guide hole edge  48  is formed at a right side edge of the elongated hole for the flipping roller  42  on the side of the base. This guide hole edge  48  takes a rightward dispensation aspect, and the guide hole edge  48  conforms with a curved right guide hole edge  51  formed at a right side edge of an elongated hole for the flipping roller  50  opened on the guide cover  16 M when the guide cover  16  is exchanged with another guide cover  16 M and the guide cover  16 M is mounted, as shown in  FIG. 6  and the like. 
   The dispensation detecting sensor  36  is disposed at a position just before the dispensing opening so as to extend across the exit path  12  R, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The dispensation detecting sensor  36  is provided with a channel-shaped resin outer case  60 , and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is an optical detecting sensor having such a structure that a light-emitting element such as an LED is incorporated in one of two columnar portions  61  and  61  of the outer case  60  and a light-receiving element is incorporated in the other columnar portion  61 , where disks dispensed are detected one by one by a detecting signal outputted by interrupting a light path when the disks  3  pass through the exit path  12 R positioned between the columnar portions  61  and  61 . 
   The dispensation detecting sensor  36  is first screwed on a sensor holder portion  63 H of the crank-shaped bracket  63  by screws  64  and  64 . The dispensation detecting sensor  36  has mounting tabs  60   p  and  60   p  on the right and left of an upper end portion of the outer case  60 . The screws  64  and  64  are screwed into screw holes  66  and  66  of the bracket  63  from through holes  65  and  65  of the mounting tabs  60   p  and  60   p  to mount the dispensation detecting sensor  36 . Thereafter, the screws  68  and  68  are caused to penetrate the horizontally-elongated holes  73 ,  75 , and  76  of the guide cover  16  and the guide spacer  14  from the front side of the base  7  are screwed into screw holes  70  and  70  of the bracket  63  to fix the bracket  63  on the base. Thereby, the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is mounted and fixed on the base  7 . 
   At this time, by engaging the dispensation sensor  36  with a notched portion  71  provided on an upper end portion of the base extension portion  7 D, the dispensation detecting sensor  36  can be jointed temporally. The dispensation detecting sensor  36  is jointed temporally through fitting of connecting portions of the bifurcated columnar portions  61  and  61  thereof. It is preferable that the notched portion  71  has a slightly-wider notch width such that the dispensation detecting sensor  36  can move laterally along the base  7  to a certain extent so that setting to a true position where the dispensation detecting sensor  36  performs detecting operation correctly can be adjusted. 
   A position of the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is adjustable within a range of an elongated hole  73  of the base extension portion  7 D positioned in an area on which the bracket  63  is put, and the respective elongated holes  75  and  76  of the guide spacer  14  and the guide cover  16 . The notched portion  71 , an elongated hole  73 , and the like constitute a mounting portion of the dispensation detecting sensor  36 . 
   In the base extension portion  7 D, a catching step portion  80  is formed at a position opposite to the notched portion  71 . The catching step portion  80  can temporally join the dispensation detecting sensor  36  which has been repositioned from the right side of the base  7  to the left side thereof when an exit path  12 L of leftward dispensation is adopted. The catching step portion  80 , the horizontally-elongated hole  73 , and the like constitute a mounting portion for leftward dispensation of the dispensation detecting sensor  36  at this time. 
   In this manner, such parts as the guide spacer  14 , the guide cover  16 , and the rightward dispensation guide  15  are integrated with the base  7  to form a path, and the ejecting unit  35  and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  are mounted on the path portion to form the exit path  12  for rightward dispensation. 
   A finished structure is shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , the ejecting unit  35  is disposed on the front side with respect to the base  7 , and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is mounted on the mounting portion on the back side with respect to the base  7 . 
   In this case, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the disk dispensing apparatus is configured such that the pivoting lever  39  and the dispensation detecting sensor  36 , which are components of the disk dispensing apparatus, are positioned to be separate from each other. Therefore, operation of the pivoting lever  39  which pivots in conjunction with the disk dispensation does not influence a detecting operation of the dispensation detecting sensor  36 . In other words, even such a standby state that the pivoting lever  39  is slightly pushed upward, as shown in  FIG. 4 , due to disk size changes so that a position of a leading disk on the guide path  6  changes is not out of relation to detection of the dispensation detecting sensor. Therefore, the disk dispensing apparatus, in which a length of the guide path is not required to be changed even when a disk size is changed, can be obtained. 
   The ejecting unit  35  is disposed such that a pivoting shaft  39   a  of the pivoting lever  39  is positioned on an extended line of the left spacer  8   a , and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is positioned on an extended line of the right spacer  8   b  so that both of the parts do not protrude from the extension portion of the base. By adopting such a structure for allowing setting of these parts in an area within a size (a width area in a lateral direction) of the guide path  6 , the whole of the disk dispensing apparatus can be made compact. 
   Incidentally, as the base extension portion  7 D at this time, an aspect which does not have a side portion  7   b  on which the rightward dispensation guide  15  is mounted, or an aspect which does not have a distal end portion for connection  7   c  for incorporating the dispensing apparatus into a casing for a game machine or the like is also adopted sufficiently. 
   Next, an assembly in a case of changing the exit path  12 R with the exit path  12 L for leftward dispensation will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 3  showing the rightward specification of the aforementioned embodiment. 
   In this case, the flipping mechanism  35 , the dispensation detecting sensor  36 , the guide spacer  14 , the bracket  63 , the plurality of screws  24 ,  64 ,  90 , and  91 , and the base  7  are also used for leftward dispensation. Incidentally, as for the base  7 , when a width of the guide path  6  is changed according to a change of a disk diameter, the base  7  may be exchanged with another one. In this embodiment, the base  7  is also shared. 
   When this assembly is adopted, the guide spacer  14 , the bracket  63 , and the ejecting unit  35  of the above-described shared parts, except for the base  7   a  and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  are caracoled to reverse the right and left sides or caracoled to reverse the upper and lower sides so that such a state as shown in  FIG. 6  is obtained from a state shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The guide spacer  14  is first caracoled to reverse the right and left sides, and positioned on the mounting portion  32  on the right side of the base  7  from the mounting portion  21  on the left side thereof where the guide spacer  14  is positioned for rightward dispensation. In this case, the guide spacer  14  is positioned symmetrically with respect to the center line of the guide path  6  when a dispensing direction is switched between the left and the right. Therefore, the guide edge  13  of the guide spacer  14  faces leftward, so that it becomes possible to guide the disk  3  leftward. Since the guide spacer  14  for rightward dispensation can be used as it is, the parts can be shared. 
   The guide cover  16 M which is another member having an elongated hole for the flipping roller  50  is positioned in front of the guide spacer  14  in a corresponding manner. The curved guide hole edge  51  conforming with the right guide hole edge  48  of an elongated hole for the flipping roller  42  on the side of the base is formed at the right side edge of an elongated hole for the flipping roller  50 . 
   The ejecting unit  35  is caracoled with respect to the base  7 . The ejecting unit  35  is positioned on the side of the mounting portion  32  on the right side of the back face of the base  7  in a corresponding manner, and the frame  37  thereof is put on the base  7 . 
   The two upper and lower screws  24  and  24  are caused to penetrate the guide spacer  14  and further the base  7  from the guide cover  16  to be screwed into the frame  37  of the ejecting unit  35 . Thereby, the ejecting unit  35  is mounted and fixed on the mounting portion  32  on the right side of the base  7 . The guide cover  16  and the guide spacer  14  are mounted and fixed integrally on the base  7 . 
   The flipping roller  38  is exposed in the exit path  12 L from an elongated hole for the flipping roller  42  positioned on the base extension portion  7 D and an elongated hole for the flipping roller  50  of the guide cover  16 M. In this manner, since the ejecting unit  35  for rightward dispensation can be used and mounted on the base  7 , the parts can be shared. 
   Incidentally, in the guide cover  16 M, by using an elongated groove hole  34   a  formed at the upper edge of an elongated hole for the flipping roller  50  and a horizontally-elongated hole  34   b  below an elongated hole for the flipping roller  50  as holes into which the screws  24  and  24  are inserted, the mounting position of the ejecting unit  35  can be adjusted within a range of these elongated holes  34   a  and  34   b  when the adjustment of the mounting position of the ejecting unit  35  is required according to an exchange of the base  7  so as to be capable of using disks having different diameters. In the guide cover  16 M, a lower edge portion of the guide cover  16  is screwed on the base  7  by the screws  90  and  90  penetrating the support plates  9  and  9  and the spacers  8   a  and  8   b.    
   The bracket  63 , to be mounted with the dispensation detecting sensor  36 , is caracoled vertically, and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is screwed and mounted on the sensor holder portion  63 H positioned on the left of the bracket  63  by the screws  64  and  64 . Since the screws  64  and  64  for rightward dispensation are used as is, the parts are shared. The dispensation detecting sensor  36  is caught on the catching step portion  80  on the left side of the base  7  to be positioned. 
   After positioning, the screws  68  and  68  are caused to pass through the respective elongated holes  76 ,  75 ,  73  of the guide cover  16 M, the guide spacer  14 , the base  7  to be screwed into the screw holes  70  and  70  of the bracket  63  put on the base  7 . Thereby, the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is repositioned from the right side to the left side of the base  7  to be mounted and fixed. Simultaneously, the upper end portions of the guide cover  16  and the guide space  14  are fastened and fixed integrally. Since the dispensation detecting sensor  36  for leftward dispensation can also be used for rightward dispensation as it is, it is economical. 
   In this manner, the exit path  12 L for leftward dispensation is finished. Even if the exit path  12 R is exchanged with the exit path  12 L for leftward dispensation, almost all parts for rightward dispensation can be shared. Therefore, a lesser number of parts are required, and the dispensing apparatus can be modified and formed inexpensively. Since assembling can be performed in an approximately similar manner in both rightward and leftward dispensations, the assembling work is easy. 
   Appearance of a finished structure is shown in  FIG. 5 , and such a structure is obtained that the ejecting unit  35  is disposed on the back side with respect to the base  7 , and the dispensation detecting sensor  36  is positioned on the left side with respect to the base  7 . 
   The operation of the dispensing apparatus having the above-described structure will be explained. Since the same dispensing method is adopted even if a dispensing direction is switched between the right direction and the left direction, the disk dispensing apparatus for rightward dispensation will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 . 
   The disks  3  are sent to the guide path  6  by driving the hopper  1  which is the sending apparatus, and these disks  3  move upward on the guide path  6  in a continuous manner to be discharged from the distal end of the guide path  6  to the exit path  12 R. 
   The disk  3  which has entered the exit path  12 R is guided while facing right on the guide edge  13  of the guide spacer  14 , and simultaneously the disk  3  comes in contact with the flipping roller  38  and pushes up the pivoting lever  39  of the ejecting unit  35 , and also pushes up the flipping roller  38  obliquely leftward in the elongated holes for the flipping roller  42  and  43  against resilient force of the spring  40  to move the flipping roller  38 . 
   After pushing up the pivoting lever  39  to the maximum when the greatest diameter portion of the disk  3  passes, the disk  3  is flipped out when the flipping roller pivots to return downward due to the resilient force of the spring  40 . The pivoting lever  39  which has pivoted to return hits on the stopper  101  at its lower end portion to be prevented from further pivoting, and the pivoting lever  39  is held at a standby position where the flipping roller  38  is caused to face the exit  6 E of the guide path  6 . 
   The disk  3  is dispensed from the rightward dispensing opening through the exit path  12 R due to its momentum. The disk  3  is detected by the dispensation detecting sensor  36  just after being flipped by the flipping roller  38 , and used for counting the total dispensed number. 
   After a predetermined number is counted, the sending apparatus is stopped. In the above manner, the disk  3  is dispensed rightward via the guide path  6  and the exit path  12 R. 
   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.