Abstract:
A coin dispensing apparatus is provided with a coin hopper for storing coins and a coin dispenser operatively connected to the coin hopper for selectively dispensing coins from the coin hopper. An auxiliary bowl assembly for storing coins includes a coin transporter unit for removing coins from the auxiliary bowl assembly and transporting the coins to the coin hopper. The coin hopper can deliver overflow coins to the auxiliary bowl assembly. The coin transporter unit can comprise a plurality of block members pivotally connected to form an endless loop member for transporting coins and flexibly mounted within the auxiliary bowl assembly. A position adjusting device permits a removable sliding of the auxiliary bowl assembly to an operative position adjacent to the coin hopper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention is directed to a coin dispensing device, and more particularly to an addition of an auxiliary bowl assembly that can be removably attached for storing and transporting coins from and to a main coin hopper.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Coin dispensing apparatuses are frequently utilized in a large number of gaming machines, automatic ticket dispensers, change devices, etc. It has been known to provide auxiliary storage for a coin hopper with coins, that overflow from the main coin hopper, being deposited into an auxiliary storage unit and dependent on the amount of coins stored in the main coin hopper utilizing a coin transporting device to return coins to the main coin hopper. Generally, the overflow of coins are stored in an auxiliary storage unit which is located below the main coin hopper so that coins will overflow, as shown for example in the Japanese Laid Open Publication No. HEI07-595.  
           [0005]    When there is a high volume of coin exchange, for example in gaming machines, it can be labor intensive to remove coins and recharge not only the main coin hopper, but also an auxiliary storage unit that is operatively connected with the main coin hopper. If the coins are exhausted, the gaming machine becomes inoperative. Thus, for example, in a casino or other gaming establishment, service personnel must frequently monitor the status of coins in the gaming machines.  
           [0006]    Thus, there is a demand to increase the efficiency of the operation of a coin dispensing apparatus, such as a gaming machine, wherein a large volume of coins are both received and discharged during operation.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a coin dispensing apparatus that can be installed, for example in a gaming machine or other coin related device. A coin hopper is provided for storing coins and a coin dispenser is operatively connected to the coin hopper for selectively dispensing coins from the coin hopper during the operation of the vending or gaming machine. An auxiliary bowl assembly is operatively positioned adjacent the coin hopper for receiving overflowing coins from the coin hopper and for returning or transporting coins back to the coin hopper. A position-adjusting device for removably mounting the auxiliary bowl assembly is provided to enable the service personnel to empty coins and, if necessary, readily replace one auxiliary bowl assembly with another auxiliary bowl assembly that can be appropriately charged with a supply of coins. Thus, the housing of the vending machine or gaming machine can be accessed and an auxiliary bowl assembly can be mounted, for example on a channel and rail to permit an aligned sliding movement of the auxiliary bowl assembly to and from an operative position adjacent the coin hopper. The auxiliary bowl assembly can include an appropriate coupling for receiving a motive force to drive a coin transport device to lift coins from the bottom of the auxiliary bowl assembly for transport to the coin hopper. The auxiliary bowl assembly can include a guiding groove to receive an appropriate guide pin from a coin transporter unit having a plurality of crawler block members pivotally connected to form an endless loop member for transporting the coins. One side of each crawler block member can have indentations, such as teeth, that can be appropriately driven, while the other side can have a coin engaging surface. The block members can be formed of a molded plastic, and can be at least partially supported by a flexible support member mounted within the auxiliary bowl assembly for supporting the endless loop member. An exit chute can be provided at the upper portion of the auxiliary bowl assembly, which can match with a complementary aperture on a sidewall of the coin hopper for accepting coins from the exit chute.  
           [0008]    Thus, overflow coins from the coin hopper can be appropriately stored in the auxiliary bowl member and can be recovered from the auxiliary bowl member by a self-contained transport device within the auxiliary bowl member. Accordingly, the auxiliary bowl assembly can be easily mounted within, for example a gaming machine and coins can be easily recovered from the auxiliary bowl member. The auxiliary bowl assembly can be mounted adjacent to the base of the coin hopper to permit a sliding movement as the auxiliary bowl assembly is moved to an operative position within the gaming machine. As can be appreciated, the auxiliary bowl assembly, when removed from the gaming machine, can be easily inverted so that the coins can be removed from the auxiliary bowl assembly.  
           [0009]    The coin transporting device can be formed of a plurality of pivotally mounted crawler blocks that can be easily molded and assembled to be relatively inexpensive.  
           [0010]    The coin transporter device can carry coins on the inner surface of the crawler blocks and thereby permit overflow coins to be introduced into the auxiliary bowl assembly on a periphery, thereby falling by gravity to the lowest point of the coin transporter device. Thus, the coins do not interfere with the upper movement of the transported coins back to the coin hopper during an overflow. The overflow coins are directed by a channel or chute so that the coins are smoothly introduced into the auxiliary bowl assembly, while minimizing the wear on the coin transporting device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a front elevational schematic of a gaming machine which can accommodate the coin dispensing apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coin dispensing apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a exploded perspective view of the coin dispensing apparatus;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coin dispensing apparatus with the cover member of the auxiliary bowl assembly removed;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the auxiliary bowl member with the cover removed;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the portion of the coin transporting endless loop member;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line x-x of FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line y-y of FIG. 5;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view with the auxiliary bowl member removed; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a gaming machine  1  that can incorporate the coin dispensing apparatus  6  of the present invention is disclosed. A coin  2 , which for purposes of the present invention, can be a medallion, monetary coin, token, etc. as known in the field, can be deposited within a slot and then during its travel it will pass through a selector  3  to determine if it is a genuine token or coin. A genuine coin is then guided, as known in the art, to the storing bowl  5  of a coin hopper  6  through a chute  4  as shown in FIG. 2. During the playing of the gaming machine  1 , if a player wins a game, then a predetermined number of coins are dispensed to the tray  7  from a dispensing slot  8 . As shown in FIG. 7, the storing bowl can include a coin dispenser operatively connected to the coin hopper  6  for selectively dispensing the coins to pay off the winning pre-determined number of coins.  
         [0023]    A supporting board, as shown in FIG. 7, is fixed to a frame  11  and  12  which are triangular and fixed at the ends of a plane board  13 . The supporting board  10  is rectangular and is slanted at a 60 degree angle from the plane board  13  for supporting the coin dispenser  9 .  
         [0024]    The coin dispenser  9  includes a rotating disc  14  of a cylindrical configuration with a base that includes the bottom board  15  and flange  16  which is located at the rim of the bottom board  15 . A number of apertures or holes  17 , such as eight, are located at the bottom board  15  at equally spaced distances. The rotating disc  14  is connected to a shaft  18  which is in turn connected to a reduction gear assembly that is fixed on the rear of the supporting board  10 . An electric first motor  20  is capable of driving the reducing gear assembly to appropriately rotate the rotating disc  14 .  
         [0025]    When the rotating disc  14  rotates, coins  2  that contact the rotating disc  14  can pass through the holes  17 . When this occurs, the coins are supported on a supporting board  10  and are moved by the reverse face of the rotating disc  14 .  
         [0026]    The coins  2  can contact a control pin (not shown) on the supporting board  10  and can subsequently be dispensed from the dispensing slot  21  at a predetermined position. These features are known in the prior art and the coins are counted up to the predetermined number as they are being dispensed.  
         [0027]    As shown in FIGS. 2, 3,  4 , and  7 , the storing bowl  5  includes a base bowl  22  adjacent the coin dispenser  9  and an upper larger bowl  23 . The base bowl  22  is cylinder-like in shape and is fixed at the supporting board  10  and encloses the rotating disc  14 . The upper bowl  23  is rectangular and cylinder-like in shape and is fixed at its upper opening portion  24  to the base bowl  22 . The base bowl  22  is cylindrical in configuration with a base that includes base  25  and opening  24  on the upper sidewall to enclose the rotating disc  14  by the base  25 . Base  25  is further supported on the supporting board  10  so that the bottom surface  26  of the base bowl  22  is slanted parallel to the rotational axis line of the rotating disc  14 . The degree of slant is enough to permit coins  2  to slide to the side of the rotating disc  14  on the bottom surface  26  by gravity.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 7, a bottom electrode  27  can act as a coin amount sensor  28  as to be further disclosed with regards to FIG. 10. The coin sensor  28  is fixed at the bottom surface  26  near the rotating disc  14 . A complementary upper electrode  29  is similar to the bottom electrode  27  and is fixed on an upper portion of the sidewall of base bowl  22 .  
         [0029]    When a sufficient number of coins are stored in the base bowl  22 , the height of the coins will permit an electrical current to flow between the electrodes  27  and  29  to provide an indication of the number of coins currently within the base bowl  22 .  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 4, a coin transporter unit  30  can be activated in an auxiliary bowl assembly  43  when the current flow is interrupted between the bottom electrode  27  and the upper electrode  29 .  
         [0031]    The upper bowl  23  includes a first slanting surface  31  which is located above the rotating disc  14 , a second slanting surface  32  and a third slanting surface  33 . The bowl  23  is funnel-like in shape with its upper opening having a rectangular configuration. Coins can be deposited within this coin entry opening  34 .  
         [0032]    The lower section of the upper bowl  23  has an exit opening  35  which is also rectangular-like in shape. The lower section of the upper bowl  23  is inserted into the opening  24  of the lower base bowl  22  and is fixed.  
         [0033]    An overflow opening  36  is located at the upper wall of the upper bowl  23  and faces towards the rotating disc  14  (as shown in FIG. 2). This arrangement provides an overflow chute  27  fixed at the sidewall of upper bowl  23 . The chute  37  has a u-shaped like configuration and is inclined sufficiently to permit coins to slide down the bottom board  38  between the sidewalls  39  and  40 . The bottom board  38  slants towards the overflow exit  36  to permit coins to be introduced into the auxiliary bowl assembly  43 . The upper end of this chute  37  is located adjacent the top of the bowl  23  (as shown in FIG. 8) thereby providing an opening  42  so that a coin  2  can pass through the opening as it moves along the chute  41 .  
         [0034]    Referring to FIG. 7, the auxiliary bowl assembly  43  includes a first auxiliary storing section or cavity  44 , a second auxiliary storing section  45 , and a coin recycling device  46 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, the auxiliary bowl assembly  43  has a rectangular box-like shape and includes a housing  47  (shown in FIG. 7), a first cover  48 , and a second cover  49 .  
         [0035]    Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and  7 , the housing  47  includes a bulkhead  50  located at the center of the housing  47 . The bulkhead  50  has a first depressed portion  51 , which is located at the side of the storing bowl  5 , and a second depressed portion  52 , which is located at the opposite side of hopper  6 .  
         [0036]    The first depressed portion  51  is framed in by first guiding slant  53 , second guiding slant  54 , third guiding slant  55 , and the first vertical plane  56 . The first guiding slant  53  is straight and is located below the overflowing exit  36  (as shown in FIG. 3).  
         [0037]    A second depressed portion  52  is located across from the first guiding slant  53 , the third guiding slant  55  is continued below the lower section of the first guiding slant  53 , and the lower section of the second guiding slant  54 . The first vertical plane  56  extends to the top section of the first guiding slant  53 .  
         [0038]    The configuration of the first guiding slant  53 , second guiding slant  54 , and third guiding slant  55 , together makes a v-like shape. The third guiding slant  55  is located at the lower section of through hole  57  in bulkhead  50 .  
         [0039]    As shown in FIG. 5, the lower edge of the through hole  61  is curved and it continues upward to match the guiding groove  76 . The upper edge of the through hole  61 , in other words, the lower section  59  of the bulkhead  50 , is level and straight. The third slant  55  permits coins to roll downward by gravity towards to the storing bowl  5  and the rotating belt or endless loop member  60 .  
         [0040]    A coin transporter unit or coin recycling device  46  includes the upper delivery device  62  for delivering coins through an aperture  71  to the coin hopper and the transporting device  30 . Referring to FIGS.  3 - 5  and  7 , the delivery device  62  is located at the upper section of a first depressed portion  51 . The delivery device includes a chute  63  which is rectangular in cross section. The delivery device crosses the first depressed portion  51  and second depressed portion  52 . A bottom surface  64  slants from the second depressed portion  52  to the first depressed portion  51  so that coins that are dropped on the bottom  64  slide off by gravity.  
         [0041]    The upper section of the side of the first depressed portion  51  is closed by a guide  65  which is triangular in cross section. Any coin that enters is guided smoothly to the first passage  66  or the second passage  67  by the guide  65  because guide  65  is triangular in shape. Therefore, the first passage  66  is made up of the area between the chute  63  and the first vertical wall  56  and the second passage  67  is made up between the chute  63  and the second guiding slant  54 . A first cover  48  is fixed adjacent to first depressed portion  51  and is fixed at the housing  47  by screws and covers the first passage  66  and the second passage  67 .  
         [0042]    A first auxiliary storing section  44  is considered to be the area which is framed in by the first guiding slant  53 , the second guiding slant  54 , and the third guiding slant  55 . The opening  69  (as shown in FIG. 8) is located at the first cover  48  to be adjacent or opposite to the overflow opening  36 . A rectangular opening  70  is formed in a section of the first cover  48  opposite to the opening of the chute member  63 . Opening  71  (as shown in FIG. 2), is formed in a section of the bowl  23  opposite to the opening  70 .  
         [0043]    The upper transporting device is located adjacent the second depressed portion  52  and includes a rotating belt  60 , a driver  72  for engaging the rotating belt  60 , and a supporting device  73 . The rotating belt  60  has a crawler configuration and a portion of the belt is shown in FIG. 6. The crawler device  75  includes the crawler  74  which is made up of a plurality of individual pivoting blocks.  
         [0044]    The individual crawler or blocks can be molded from an injection molded plastic and can be pivotally connected together. As shown in FIG. 6, four rack teeth  83  are positioned on the center of the outer surface of a crawler block  92 . A first support member  84  and a second support member  85  protrude from both side surfaces of the crawler block  92 . Also, a first depressed section  86  and a second depressed section  87  are provided on both sides of the rack teeth  83 . A first contacting bar  87  having a round shaft is located in the first depressed section  86 , which is between the end of the first supporter  84  and the end of the rack teeth  83 . A second contacting bar  89  is also a round shaft and is located in the second depressed section  84 . The first connector  94  and second connector  96  protrude from both side surfaces of the crawler block  92 . The first connecting groove  93  is u-shaped and is opened outwards and is made up of the end of the first connector  94 . Also, the second connector groove  95  is u-shaped and is opened outward and made up of the end of the second connector  96 .  
         [0045]    A first guide pin  96  protrudes from the first supporter  84  and extends on the line of the first connecting bar  97 . A second guide pin  98  protrudes from the second supporter  85  and is also located on an extended line of the second connecting bar  89 . As shown in FIG. 5, a ledge or projection member  99  protrudes inside of the crawler  74  from the lower section of the crawler block  92 . The length of the projection  99  is smaller than the thickness of a coin and it crosses through the line of rack teeth  83  and is the same width as the crawler block  92 .  
         [0046]    The upper surface of projection  99  is a structure for providing a coin mounting surface  100  at the first slanting section  79 . As a result, only one coin is mounted on the projection  99  at the first slanting section  79 .  
         [0047]    Crawler  74 , which makes up the endless loop member, can be made up of a number of crawler blocks  99  which are chained or linked together to have a predetermined length. The first connecting bar  97  is inserted into the first connecting groove  93  and the second connecting bar  89  is inserted into the second connecting groove  95 .  
         [0048]    The predetermined length of crawler  74  will be determined on the number of crawler blocks  92  that are required for the particular size of auxiliary bowl member. The rack teeth  84  form a rack  86  on the outer surface to permit the driving of the endless loop member. The guiding pins  96  are inserted into a first guiding groove  76 , while the second guiding pins  98  are inserted into a second guiding groove  77 . The second cover  49  is fixed at the housing  47  by screws. The second auxiliary storing space  45  is made of up of the first guiding plate  59 , the undersurface of the crawler  74 , and second cover  79 . This storing space faces the coin through hole  56 . The first guiding groove  76  extends around the bulkhead  50  and the second guiding groove  77  extends around the second cover  49 .  
         [0049]    Referring to FIG. 5, the first guiding groove  76  is oval and is made up of the bulkhead  59  of the second depressed section  52 . The first guiding groove  76  includes the upper curved section  78 , lower curved section  58 , which has a smaller curvature, the first slanted section  79  that connects with the curved sections, and a second slanted section  80 . The upper section of the curved section  78  is located above the chute member  63 . The lower section of the curved section  58  is located below the lower end of the third slanted plane.  
         [0050]    The first guiding board  81  is located in the first guiding groove  76  and separates any inadvertently lodged coins  2  on the crawler which it moves downward.  
         [0051]    Referring to FIG. 7, the second guiding groove  77  is made up of the inside face of the second cover  49  opposite to the first guiding groove  76  and is of the same shape as the first guiding groove  76 . Thus, when the second cover  49  is fixed to the housing  47  by screws or other fasteners, the crawler member  74  is captured between the cover members and is designed to receive coins on the inner radial surface so that the projection  99  can lift the coins  2  as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0052]    The endless loop member or crawler  74  is driven by a driving device  72  (as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and  8 ). The driving device  72  is fixed at the bottom of housing  47  and includes a second motor  102 , a reducing gear  103 , and a driving gear  104 . The driving shaft  105  of the reducer  103  is located in the second depressed section  52  and passes through the bulkhead  50  of housing  47 . Driving gear  104  is fixed on the driving shaft  105  and is engaged with the rack  46  of the crawler  74 . A counterclockwise rotation of the driving gear  104  causes the crawler  74  to move in a counterclockwise direction.  
         [0053]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a supporting structure for the crawler and coin interface is disclosed. The supporting device  73  includes a supporting board  106  which is located near the left inside surface of the upper curve  78  and has a D-shaped configuration. The supporting device has elastic properties. The D guide  107  extends from the bulkhead  50  towards the upper curve  76 . The first supporting groove  108  is made up of the second guide  109  which is located along a second vertical wall  110  of the D guide  107  and extends upward. A second supporting groove  111  is made up between the lower section of D guide  110  and second guide  109 .  
         [0054]    Third supporting groove  112  is made up by third guide  113  which is located along the lower edge of D guide  107  and is level. First end  114  extends in the vertical direction at the upper section of supporting board  106  and is inserted in first supporting groove  108 . Second end  115  extends in the vertical direction at the lower section of supporting board  107  and is inserted in second supporting groove  111 . Middle section  116  continues to second end  115  and is located at third supporting groove  112 . In normal operation, first end  114  of supporting board  106  has contact with second guide  109  and second end  115  has contact with second vertical wall  110  of D guide  107  and middle section  116  has contact with third guide  113  and the projection has contact with the inner surface of crawler  74 . The upper end of supporting board  106  is located near chute  63 . Supporting board  114  prevents the coins dropping from crawler  74  before the coins are transferred to chute  63 .  
         [0055]    A position changing device  120  permits a change in position between the coin hopper  6  and the auxiliary bowl  43 . Therefore, auxiliary bowl  43  can slide relative to coin hopper  6 . Position changing device  120  includes first mounting device  121  (seen in FIG. 7). First guiding block  122  is located at the lower section of first cover  48  and extends towards a level position. Second guiding block  122  is located at the lower section of second cover  49  and also extends towards a level position. Stopper  123  (shown in FIG. 9) is positioned at the end of the second guiding block  124  and extends upward. First guiding block  122  and second guiding block  124  are located at both sides of the lower section of auxiliary bowl  43 . Holder  124  has a first holding channel  125  and a second holding channel  126  which can move sideways and are fixed on base  13  adjacent to coin hopper  6 . First guiding block  122  is inserted into the first holding channel  125  and a second guiding block  124  is inserted into the second guiding channel  126 . First guiding block  122  and second guiding block  124  can move sideways toward stopper  123 . In this situation, overflow opening  36  faces the opening  69  of first cover  48  and the end of chute  63  faces the opening  71  of bowl  23 .  
         [0056]    Second mounting device  128  is seen in FIG. 7. Third guiding block  129  is bent from the left end of base  13  and extends towards a level position. Fourth guiding block  130  is bent at a right angle on base  13  and is then extended level. First holding block  131  is crank-like in shape and is fixed on base  132  of a gaming machine. As a result, a third holding channel  133  is formed. Second holding block  134  is fixed on base  132  of a gaming machine. As a result, a fourth holding channel  135  is formed. Third guiding block  129  is inserted into third holding channel  133  and the fourth guiding block  130  is inserted into fourth holding channel  135 . Hopper  6  and the auxiliary bowl assembly  43  can slide into and out of gaming machine on base  13 .  
         [0057]    Control block circuit  140  for the second motor  102  is explained by referring to FIG. 10. Bottom electrode  27  and upper electrode  29  are connected to a distinguishing circuit  141 . If the current flows between bottom electrode  27  and upper electrode  29 , the distinguishing circuit  141  will output a normal signal. If a current is not recognized between bottom electrode  27  and upper electrode  29 , distinguishing circuit  141  outputs a defect signal. Motor driving circuit  142  will drive the second motor  102  as long as it receives a defect signal.  
         [0058]    Coins are entered into upper bowl  23  and base bowl  22  over the upper electrode  29 . Auxiliary bowl  43  is positioned adjacent the upper bowl  23  and can be used to store additional coins. In this situation, the coins are provided to first auxiliary bowl  43  through first passage  66  or second passage  67 . A coin  2 , which enters at coin slot  2  of gaming machine, is sent to upper bowl  23 .  
         [0059]    When the coins become greater than the necessary quantity of the pay out coins, coins  2  in upper bowl  23  will move into the overflow chute  37 . Coins  2  slide on bottom board  38  and pass through overflow opening  36  and opening  69  and drop on first guiding slanting surface  53  and arrive at the third slanting surface  55 . Coins  2  will slide down the third slanting surface  55  and arrive on a crawler  74 . As a result, coins  2  are stored in second storing section  45  on crawler  74 . Coins  2  continue to drop on to crawler  74 , and then are piled up higher than the lower edge  59  of coin passage  56 . However, coins  2  can not move towards the side of crawler  74  because of bulkhead  50 . As a result, coins  2  are stored in first storing section  44 . Therefore, coins  2  will not pile up over the lower end  59  and as a result, the weight of coins is limited on crawler  74 , and the moving friction is small. Coins  2  slide down first guiding slanting surface  53 . Therefore, the crawler does not receive damage by the coins dropping down, and as a result, the crawler has a long life.  
         [0060]    When a dispensing signal is outputted from gaming machine  1 , first motor  16  rotates and rotating disc  14  is rotated by reducer  19 . Coins  2  are agitated by the rotation of rotating disc  14  and change position. When coin  2  becomes parallel to rotating disc  14 , a coin  2  drops through holes  17 . Afterward, coin  2  is supported on supporting plate  10 , and is moved by a pushing tooth (not shown) on the reverse face of the rotating disc and is dispensed from dispensing slot  21  by a known propelling device. Coins  2  on bottom  26  slide downward and arrive on rotating disc  14  and are dispensed from dispensing slot  21 .  
         [0061]    Coins  2  on first slanting surface  31 , second slanting surface, and third slanting surface  33  of increasing bowl  23  slide downward by gravity. When coins  2  are stored lower than the upper electrode  29 , the current does not flow between upper electrode  29  and bottom electrode  27 . As a result, a distinguishing circuit  141  detects this condition and second motor  102  is rotated by motor driving circuit  142 .  
         [0062]    Crawler  74  moves in a clockwise direction through the reducer  103 , outputting shaft  105 , driving gear  104  and rack  86  by the rotation of the second motor  102  (as shown in FIG. 5). When crawler  74  is moving, coin  2  has contact with a projection  99  on a crawler block  92  and is pushed up at first slanting section  79 . Coin  2  does not drop down at first slanting section  79 , because coin  2  is borne to crawler block  92 . When crawler  74  moves from first slanting section  79  to upper curved section  76 , coin  2  is further supported by supporting plate  106  before the coin  2  becomes in a vertical position. As a result, coin  2  is pressed to crawler block  92  by supporting plate  106  and does not drop downward. When coin  2  is nipped between crawler  92  and supporting plate  106 , middle section  109  of supporting plate  106  flexes and moves towards the right along third guide  113 . Middle section  109  is bent to push coin  2  to crawler  92 . When coin  2  is pushed upward, the distance between crawler  74  and supporting plate  106  becomes narrow. As a result, the coin  2  also is pressed to crawler  92  by supporting plate  106 . Supporting plate  106  continually supports coin  2 , because the upper end is bent downward in first supporting groove  108 . When coin  2  passes through supporting plate  106 , coin  2  is located over chute  63 . In this situation, coins  2  are not supported by supporting plate  106 . Therefore, coins  2  drop in chute  63  and slide downward and pass through opening  70  and  71  and arrives in upper bowl  23 . Second motor  102  rotates continuously until a current flows between upper electrode  29  and bottom electrode  27 .  
         [0063]    A coin redemption operation from hopper  6  and auxiliary bowl  43  is now explained. The front door of gaming machine  1  is opened. Base  13  is pulled out from the gaming machine along third supporting channel  133  and fourth supporting channel  135 . In this situation, coins  2  are taken out from upper bowl  23  and base bowl  22 . Next, auxiliary bowl  43  is pulled out from first mounting device  121  along first supporting channel  125  and second supporting channel  126  and is detached (as shown in FIG. 9). Next, auxiliary bowl  43  is inverted to drop coins  2  from first auxiliary section  44  and second auxiliary section  45 . Coins  2  are redeemed and afterward first guiding block  122  is inserted in first supporting channel  125  and second guiding block  124  is inserted in second supporting channel  126  and is moved as stopper  123  has contact with second supporting channel  126 . Next, base  13  is moved into gaming machine  1 , and afterwards, the front door is closed.  
         [0064]    Another example would have only auxiliary bowl  43  pulled out from gaming machine  1  and transporting device  30  is moved by second motor  102 . Coins  2 , which are dropped from opening  70 , can be redeemed.  
         [0065]    This present invention can be modified. For example, the upward transporting device  30  can be made by a shaft with a spiral. The shaft with a spiral can rotate around a shaft axis line. The coins would be held between the spiral member and be transported upward to the delivery device. Also, the upward transporting device  30  could be made by a rotating disc and a passage which is a cross section of a rectangle. The coins are dispensed into the passage by the rotating disc and are arrayed and are pushed upward. Auxiliary bowl  43  can be locked to a first mounting device  121  or base  13  by a locking device. Also, the base can be locked to gaming machine  1  by a locking device. The rotating disc can be made by a rotating disc with pins which are located at predetermined intervals and are fixed onto the rotating disc. The coin volume sensor can be an optical sensor which detects the quantity of coins in base bowl  22 .  
         [0066]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiments can be configured without department from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.