Abstract:
A diverting device for directing discs exiting from a guiding passageway of a disc dispensing mechanism includes a contactor member that is axially movable along an exit opening of the guiding passageway and a diverter member that can be selectively inserted into the exit opening off of the center line of the guiding passageway for varying the direction of the exiting discs. The diverter member can be selectively inserted into the passageway in a direction perpendicular to a plane containing the center line by an activator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for dispensing discs such as coins or medals from a storage hopper of a coin dispensing mechanism and more particularly to a device to control the direction of a dispensed disc. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   An apparatus for dispensing discs from a disc passageway having an outlet wherein discs are arranged in an edge-to-edge manner for storage and dispensing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,732. A closure member such as rotatable spherical member, can close the outlet and is capable of selectively applying force to the face of a disc in the region of the outlet to dispense the disc through a guide assembly. The disc can be selectively diverted to one or the other side of the passageway. Problems can occur in that a disc can become wedged between an opening lower edge and a detecting member as the disc is pushed downwards by the detecting member. Thus, a disc that has jammed can be pushed through a diverting passageway with the subsequent disc, and the passageway can be obstructed by the pair of discs. 
   Other examples of the prior art can be found in the laid open Japanese Patent Application 8-293051 where the position of a guiding roller can be changed manually to be operative on either the left or right of a center line of the passageway. 
   There is still a desire in the prior art to provide an automatic dispensing of a disc which can be selectively dispensed to either side of a coin passageway. Preferably such a device should be relatively compact and inexpensive. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A disc diverting device includes a disc guiding passageway which guides and aligns the disc along a center line of the passageway. A contactor member is located at an exit of the passageway and is offset from the center line to contact and direct a disc in a first-preferred direction. A diverter unit is also located to be operatively and selectively inserted into the passageway across from the contactor member. When the diverter is inserted into the passageway, the diverter unit causes a disc to contact the contactor member and to displace it and to be dispensed in a second preferred direction. 
   Thus, discs are guided to an exit aperture along a disc guiding passageway so that the contact with contactor member that is offset to one side of the center line of the passageway will cause the disc to be diverted in a first direction when an actuator unit is not activated to place a diverter member in the passageway. When the actuator is activated to place the diverter unit in the passageway, the diverter unit blocks the first passageway and forces the disc to displace the contactor member and to be disbursed in a second direction. This arrangement helps eliminate the jamming of discs and avoids the dispensing of double coins while maintaining a compact configuration. 
   The guiding passageway can include a base plate and a pair of guiding plates which are affixed to the base plate and are positioned a predetermined distance away from and parallel with the base plate. A supporting plate is located at the side of the guiding plates opposite the base plate. The disc exit aperture is provided at the upper section of the guiding plate. If discs are in the form of coins of a different denomination and size, the thickness of the guiding plate and the relative displacement between the guiding plates can be changed to accommodate an adjustment to a new disc diameter or monetary coin size. The contactor member can include a roller which is rotatable on a supporting shaft. The supporting shaft has a biasing device which can push or pull the ends of the supporting shaft in a preferred direction. The contactor member can provide a rolling contact to the disc to facilitate a smooth dispensing at a relatively low friction. If the biasing or urging force is equally applied to both ends of the supporting shaft, the supporting shaft can be moved approximately parallel to facilitate the dispensing of the disc. 
   The position of the contactor member can differ from one guiding plate to another to accommodate different sized discs. The contactor member which can be in the form of a roller is relatively supported on a supporting shaft which can be slidable in an elongated hole located at a base plate along an extension of the guiding passageway. Springs can be hooked to either side of the supporting shaft to spring bias the contactor member to a predetermined position. 
   The diverting member can be attached to a rotating lever that can move in a perpendicular direction to an axis or extending line of the guiding passageway. The lever unit can include a first lever which is located parallel to the guiding passageway and a second lever which extends perpendicularly to the guiding passageway. The second lever is connected to the upper section of the first lever and has an inverted L-shape so that it pivots on a shaft located apart from the first lever. An actuator can be linked to the second lever. The first lever can pivot about a shaft towards the guiding passageway and is stopped by a stopper and held in that position. 
   A method of diverting coins from a coin dispensing mechanism includes forcing a series of sequential coins along a coin guiding passageway to contact a contactor member to dispense the coin in a first direction. A diverter member can be selectively inserted at a position off a center line of the guiding passageway to contact and direct the coin in a second direction. The coin moves the contactor member as it exits in the second direction. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The object and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set with particularity in the independent 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 of a hopper, coin selecter and guiding passageway of the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of coin exit diverting device; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the deflector unit of the driving device; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial elevated view of components of the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a right-hand side view of the deflecting unit and urging device; 
       FIG. 6  is an explanatory partial view of the diverter device positioned in an extending passageway; 
       FIG. 7  is an explanatory partial view with the diverter device retracted on the extending passageway; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the defector device of a second embodiment; 
       FIG. 9  is a right side of the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 10  is a rear elevational view of the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines X—X of  FIG. 8  with the diverter located in the guiding passageway; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a detecting device; 
       FIG. 13  is an explanatory partial view of the diverter device positioned in an extending passageway; and 
       FIG. 14  is an explanatory partial view with the diverter device retracted from the extending passageway. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description is provided to enable a 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. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a disc deflecting device of a compact configuration that can be altered to accommodate different dimensioned disc or different sized monetary coins. 
   In  FIG. 1 , a hopper  1  includes a supporting frame  2 , a bowl  3  (phantom lines) which is cylindrical like in shape and can store discs D, and a selecting rotating disk  4  for releasing a disc D from the hopper. 
   As an example, a hopper  1  is known in Japanese publication of unexamined patent application number 6-150102 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,732. The terms “discs” and “coins” can be used interchangeably and can, for example, be a monetary coin, token, medal, etc. Escalator  5  extends upwards and is fixed at frame  2  to provide a travel path for the discs. The escalator  5  includes a base  5 A which is rectangular, a pair of spacers (not shown) which are slightly thicker than the thickness of the disc D and which are shaped like elongated plates and a pair of supporting plates  5 B and  5 C which also have contact with the spacers. 
   The distance of a pair of spacers is slightly larger than the diameter of disc D. The distance between supporting plates  5 B and  5 C is smaller than the distance between spacers. The supporting plates  5 B,  5 C and the spacers are fixed at base  5 A by screws  6 . Escalator guiding passageway  7  is enclosed by base  5 A, the spacers and supporting plates  5 B,  5 C. A cross-section view of the passageway  7  is rectangular and extends vertically upward to move discs from the hopper to a desired dispensing exit position in the host machine, such as a vending machine. 
   A diverting device  10  is attached at the upper section of escalator  5  to contact and provide a directional discharge for the discs. The diverting device  10  includes a guiding passageway  20 , deflector unit  30 , an urging device  60 , first exit  80 , second exit  81  and a disc detecting device  90  as shown in FIG.  2 . 
   First, guiding passageway  20  is now explained. As shown in  FIG. 2 , base plate  21  is rectangular and the lower section has a moderate crank like shape and extends perpendicular to the plane of the rectangular area. A pair of spacers  22 A,  22 B are located at the front side (the left side in  FIG. 2 ) of the base plate  21 , and they are also parallel (as shown in FIG.  4 ). The spacers  22 A and  22 B act as the guiding plates for transporting discs. 
   The spacers  22 A,  22 B are also rectangular like in shape, and their upper sections slant downward to the outside and their distance is slightly larger than the diameter of a predetermined disc D. When a different diameter of disc D is used, the base plate  21  is changed and the distance between the spacers  22 A,  22 B is also changed to adapt to the new diameter. 
   Screws  24 A penetrate into rectangle holding plate  23  and spacer  22 A, and screw into the base plate  21 . Screws  24 B penetrate into rectangle holding plate  23  and spacer  22 B, and screw into the base plate  21 ; therefore they are all connected together. 
   The guiding passageway  20  is enclosed by base plate  21 , spacers  22 A,  22 B and holding plate  23 . The guiding passageway  20  is rectangular in a cross-section view and extends perpendicular to the axis of movement of the discs. The width and thickness of the guiding passageway  20  are slightly larger than the diameter of disc D. A viewing hole  23 A, on the guiding passageway  20 , extends perpendicular and is located at the middle of the holding plate  23  to enable a technician to see the discs. When the diverting device  10  is operatively fixed at the top of the escalator  5 , the spacers  22 A,  22 B are located on an extending line of the spacers (not shown). Therefore the guiding passageway  20  is located at the extending line of the escalator guiding passageway  7 . As a result the discs D are pushed upwards from the escalator guiding passageway  7  to the guiding passageway  20 . 
   Next, the deflector unit  30  includes a diverter  31  and a position changing device  40  for the diverter  31 . Diverter  31  can be a diverting pin  33  which is cylindrical and can slide in a guiding hole  32  which is located at base plate  21  as shown in  FIG. 3. A  large diameter section is located at the middle of the diverting pin  33  and forms a stopper  34  to limit movement of the diverting pin  33 . 
   The diverting pin  33  is located on an extending passageway  20 E which is located on the guiding passageway  20  and is further located at one side of a center line CL of the guiding passageway  20  and extending passageway  20 E. Accordingly the diverting pin  33  is located at the left of the center line CL. The distance between the diverting pin  33  and the first end  22 C of the spacer  22 A is slightly smaller than the diameter of disc D. Therefore a disc D cannot pass between the diverting pin  33  and first end  22 C. The position of the diverting pin  33  can be changed to the center line CL and spacers  22 A,  22 B. Therefore the diameter of guiding hole  32  can be formed larger, and the position of position changing device  40  can also be changed on the base plate  21 . 
   The distance between diverting pin  33  and second end  22 D of the spacer  22 B is larger than the diameter of the disc D. The distance should be slightly larger than the diameter of the disc. The diverting pin  33  has a function of diverting the discs D traveling from the extending passageway  20 E. The diverting pin  33  could be changed to a roller to reduce the moving resistance to the discs D. Also, the diverting pin  33  can be made up of a plate. 
   When the diverting pin  33  isn&#39;t a roller, it can be made out of stainless-steel, ceramic, resin with beaded-glass, etc. The diverting pin  33  is moved by an actuator unit. Therefore it can be made from a lightweight material (for example resin) for a quick response. 
   Next, the position changing device  40  of the diverting pin  33  is explained by referring to  FIG. 3. A  solenoid  42  is fixed at a bracket  41  which is in turn adjustably fixed to the reverse side of the base plate  21 . An armature  43  is moved, to provide a protrusion of the pin  33 , by a spring  45  which is located between the solenoid  42  and a spring retainer  44 . 
   Pin  46  is fixed at the end of the armature  43  and is inserted into an elongated hole  48 A which is located at the end of a first lever  48  which is borne on shaft  47  which is fixed at a bracket  41 . Pin  49  is fixed at another end of the lever  48  and is inserted into an elongated hole  50 A of a second lever  50 . The second lever  50  is borne on a second shaft  51  which is fixed on the bracket  41 . Pin  52  which is fixed at the end of the second lever  50  and pin  53  which is fixed at the end of the diverting pin  33  are linked by rod  54 . 
   When solenoid  42  isn&#39;t excited, the diverting pin  33  protrudes into the extending passageway  20 E and stopper  34  is stopped by the base plate  21  and is kept in a stopped position. Therefore the diverting pin  33  is selectively located at the extending passageway  20 E by solenoid  42 . 
   First photo-electrical sensor  55 A and a second photo-electrical sensor  55 B are fixed at bracket  41  and are located at a predetermined distance. When the diverting pin  33  is located in the extending passageway  20 E, the first photo-electrical sensor  55 A detects the operating piece  56  of the end of the lever  48 . When the diverting pin  33  isn&#39;t located at the extending passageway  20 E, the second photo-electrical sensor  55 B detects the operating piece  56 . 
   The position changing device  40  can be selectively located on or out of the extending passageway  20 E. Accordingly the position changing device  40  isn&#39;t limited to the present embodiment. For example, when the solenoid  42  is excited, the diverting pin  33  can be located on the extending passageway  20 E. 
   Next, the urging device  60  is explained by reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The urging device  60  includes a contactor member  61  which can contact with a disc D and a biasing device  70  which can bias the contactor member  61  towards the guiding passageway  20 . The contactor member  61  is a moving roller  63  which is rotatably supported on a movable shaft  62 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the moving roller  63  has a cylindrical section  63 A and a tapered section  63 B. The moving shaft  62  penetrates into a through hole  63 C on the moving roller  63  and has a larger diameter section  62 A in the middle portion. The width of the cylindrical section  63 A is the same as the spacers  22 A and  22 B and is located over the spacers. The diameter of the tapered section  63 B becomes gradually larger as it moves away from the cylindrical section  63 A. Accordingly, the discs D which may be displaced from the cylindrical section  63 A are guided to the cylindrical section  63 A by the tapered section  63 B. The moving shaft  62  penetrates elongated hole  64  from the reverse to the front of base plate  21  and can move along elongated hole  64  by a guiding snap ring  65 A which is hooked to shaft  62  and the large diameter section  62 A. 
   The moving shaft  62  penetrates the through hole  63 C of the moving roller  63  and is prevented from dropping out from hole  63  by snap ring  65 B which is hooked to shaft  62 . Elongated hole  64  is in the extending passageway  20 E and is located at one side of the center line CL and opposite the diverting pin  33  and is further parallel to the center line CL. 
   When the elongated hole  64  is positioned parallel to the center line, the moving roller  63  (the moving shaft) can be smoothly moved to the left or right. As a result, the disc D is dispensed smoothly. 
   When a disc D can be dispensed from either the first exit  80  or the second exit  81 , the elongated hole  64  can be slanted or orthogonally to the center line CL. Usually the moving shaft  62  is stopped by the lower edge of the elongated hole  64 , and the moving roller  63  is kept at a predetermined distance from the first end  22 C and the second end  22 D of the exit. This distance is smaller than the diameter of disc D. 
   But when the moving roller  63  is pushed by disc D, the moving roller  63  moves to at least the diameter of a coin D. Therefore discs D can pass through between the moving roller  63  and the edges of the exit. The stopper of the moving roller  62  can be changed to an exclusive use stopper which can be located adjustably on base plate  21 . 
   First exit  80  is located between the first edge  22 C and moving roller  63 . Second exit  81  is located between second edge  22 D and moving roller  63 . The contactor member  61  could be changed to a fixed shaft or a plate. When the contactor member  61  is roller  63 , the discs D are smoothly dispensed because the resistance of friction to the discs D is smaller. 
   Next biasing device  70  is explained by reference to  FIGS. 2 and 5 . Pin  66  is fixed on the center line of the elongated hole  64  at the holding plate  23 . First spring  71 A is hooked between pin  66  and the end of the moving shaft  62 . Second pin  74  is fixed at second bracket  73  which is adjustable fixed towards the transversal direction at the reverse side of the base plate  21  by screws  72 A,  72 B. 
   The second pin  74  is located on the center line of the elongated hole  64  and on the axis of pin  66 . Second spring  71 B is hooked between the second pin  74  and the moving shaft  62 . First spring  71 A and the second spring  71 B are located symmetrically to the center line of spacer  22 B and the cylinder section  63 A. 
   The first spring  71 A and the second spring  71 B have the same spring forces. Accordingly the moving shaft  62  can move parallel. When the moving shaft  62  moves parallel, the moving shaft  62  moves smoothly. 
   Therefore the coins are dispensed smoothly and equally. The biasing device  70  has a function that the contactor member  61  resiliently moves towards the guiding passageway  20 . Accordingly the biasing device  70  can be changed to a rubber member or a gas cylinder type, etc. 
   Next detecting device  90  of the disc D is explained. Third photo-electrical sensor  92 A (a reflection type detector) is fixed at the reverse side of the base plate  21  by contact with a spacer  91 A and screws  93 A and  93 B. Openings  94 A and  94 B are located on the base plate  21  and on the spacer  91 A for projection. 
   Fourth photo-electrical sensor  92 B (a reflection type detector) is fixed at the base plate  21  by contact with spacer  91 B and screws  93 C and  93 D. Openings  94 C and  94 D are located at base plate  21  and spacer  91 B for projection. The opening  94 A is located at the side of the pathway of disc D which passes through the first exit  80 . The opening  94 C is located at the side of the pathway of disc D which passes through the second exit  81 . 
   The holding plate  23  isn&#39;t located in front of the openings  94 A and  94 C, but is positioned below them. Therefore the third sensor  92 A and the fourth sensor  92 B aren&#39;t given false readings by a reflection from the holding plate  23 . Also, the detecting device  90  could be changed to a transmission sensor. In this case, a projector and a receiver would be located opposite in a face-to-face manner with the passageway of the discs D. Also the detecting device  90  can be changed to non-photo-electrical type and the detecting device  90  can detect the moving of the moving shaft  62  or the moving roller  63 . In such a case there could only be one detecting device  90 . 
   Next, the operation of the first embodiment is explained. First, the case where the diverting pin  33  is located in the extending passageway  20  is explained by referring to FIG.  6 . The solenoid  42  is unexcited, and armature  43  is biased outward by the spring  44 , so that the diverting pin  33  is located in the extending passageway  20 E. 
   In this situation, the rotating selector disc  4  rotates, and lets off disc D to the escalator guiding passageway  7  in a one-by-one manner. The discs D are aligned in this situation and have contact with each other in the escalator guiding passageway  7 . Discs D are pushed up by the introduction of new discs D, and reach the guiding passageway  20 . 
   The top disc D releases from the guiding passageway  20  into the extending passageway  20 E and has contact with the diverting pin  33 . Additionally, the left side of the disc D has initial contact with the diverting pin  33  because the diverting pin  33  is located on the left side away from the center line CL. Disc D is pushed further up. In this process, the disc D is pushed by force F 1  from the follow-on discs and receives an opposed force F 2  from the diverting pin  33 . 
   The first force F 1  has a vector which is located on approximately the center line CL. The opposed force F 2  has a vector which is crossed at the center line CL to a blunt angle because the diverting pin  33  is located away from the center line. Accordingly the resultant force F 3  from the first force F 1  and the opposed force F 2  has a vector which is towards the second exit  81 . Therefore disc D is guided to the second exit  81 . 
   The moving roller  63  is moved along the elongated hole  64  by contact with disc D because the distance between the second end  22 D and the moving roller  63  is smaller than the diameter of the disc D. When the diameter section of the disc D passes through between the second edge  22 D and the moving roller  63 , the moving roller  63  is pulled back towards the guiding passageway  20  by the spring, and the disc D is dispensed from the second exit  81 . 
   Afterwards, the fourth detecting device  92 B detects the disc D, and outputs a detecting signal. The detecting signal is used to count the discs D and/or to detect a possible dispensing mistake. The moving roller  63  can contact the disc D before contact with the diverting pin  33 . 
   Next, the case that the diverting pin  33  isn&#39;t located in the extending passageway  20 E is explained by referring to FIG.  7 . First, the right side of the disc D has contact with the moving roller  63 . Accordingly, disc D receives a first force F 1  which is located on the center line CL and an opposed force F 4  from the moving roller  63  by the after disc D. The resultant force F 5  between the first force F 1  and the second opposed force F 4  has a vector towards the first exit  80 . 
   Therefore disc D moves upwards and has contact with the first end  22 C, and pushes up the moving roller  63 . When the diameter section of the disc D passes through between the first end  22 C and the moving roller  63 , the disc D is energetically dispensed from the first exit  80  by the biasing device  70 . Immediately after the coin D is dispensed, the disc D is detected by the third detecting device  92 A. 
   In this embodiment, the distance between the first end  22 C and the moving roller  63  is larger than the distance between the second end  22 D and the moving roller  63 . Accordingly the moving amount of the moving roller  63  is smaller than the case where the disc passes through the second exit  81 . 
   As a result, the relative disc&#39;s speed between the case of dispensing from the first exit  80  and the case of dispensing from the second exit  81  will differ. Accordingly a possible mistake for the detecting device  90  is an issue. Therefore, the end section of the spacer  22 B is cut at mark  22 F as shown in FIG.  7 . As a result, the moving amount between a case to dispense from the first exit  80  and the case to dispense from the second exit  81  becomes the same. 
   Next, a second embodiment is explained (as shown in FIG.  8  through to FIG.  14 ). Diverting device  210  is attached at the top of escalator  5 . The diverting device  210  includes a guiding passageway  220 , a deflector unit  230 , an urging device  260 , a first exit  280 , a second exit  281  and a disc detecting device  290 . 
   First, guiding passageway  220  is explained. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , base plate  221  is rectangular in shape and the lower section is crank like in shape and extends perpendicular. A pair of spacers  222 A,  222 B are located at the front side (the left side in  FIG. 9 ) of base plate  221 , and they are parallel (as shown in FIG.  9 ). The spacers  222 A and  222 B are the guiding plates. 
   The spacers  222 A,  222 B are rectangular like in shape, and their upper sections slant downwards to the outside and their distance is slightly larger than the diameter of disc D. When a different diameter of disc D is used, the base plate  221  is changed and the distance between the spacers  222 A,  222 B is changed to adapt to the new diameter. 
   Screws  224 A penetrate into rectangle holding plate  223  and spacer  222 A, and screw into the base plate  221  to connect them. Screws  224 B also penetrate into rectangle holding plate  223  and spacer  222 B, and screw into the base plate  221 . 
   The guiding passageway  220  is enclosed by base plate  221 , spacers  222 A,  222 B and holding plate  223 . The guiding passageway  220  is rectangular from a cross-section view and extends perpendicular. The width and thickness of the guiding passageway  220  is slightly larger than the diameter of disc D. Hole  223 A for guiding passageway  220  extends perpendicular and is located at the middle of holding plate  223 . 
   A plate veers into a right angle to the base plate  221  of scope hole  223 A and forms a latch  266 . When the diverting device  210  is fixed at the top of the escalator  5 , the spacers  222 A,  222 B are located on an extending line of the spacers (not shown). Therefore the guiding passageway  220  is located at the extending line of escalator guiding passageway  7 . As a result discs D are pushed upwards from escalator guiding passageway  7  to escalator guiding passageway  220 . 
   The diverting device  230  includes a diverter  231  and a position changing device  240  of diverter  231 . The diverter  231  is cylindrical and can move into or can go out of the extending passageway  220 E from the base plate as shown in FIG.  9 . The diverter  231  includes a roller  235  which rotates on shaft  233  by a bushing (not shown). The extending section  236  is located at the base of the shaft  233  and forms a stopper  234 . 
   Roller  235  is located on the extending passageway  220 E which is located on the guiding passageway  220  and is located on the one side of the center line CL of guiding passageways  220  and  220 E. Accordingly the roller  235  is located at the right side of the center line CL. The distance between the roller  235  and the first end  222 C of the spacer  222 B is slightly smaller than the diameter of the disc D. Therefore a disc D cannot pass between the roller  235  and the first end  222 C. 
   The position of the diverter  231  can be changed to the center line CL between spacers  222 A,  222 B. Therefore hole  232  is formed larger, and the position of the position changing device  240  can be changed on the base plate  21  along the lateral direction. 
   The distance between the roller  235  and the second end  222 D of the spacer  222 A is larger than the diameter of the disc D. The distance should be slightly larger than the diameter of a coin. The diverter  231  has a function of diverting the discs D from the extending passageway  220 E. The diverter  231  could be changed to a shaft. Also, the diverter  231  can be made up of a plate number. 
   When the diverter  231  isn&#39;t a roller, it can be made of stainless-steel, ceramic, resin with beaded-glass, etc. The diverter  231  is further moved by an actuator. Therefore it can be made from a lightweight material (for example resin) for quick response. 
   Next, position changing device  240  of the diverter  231  is explained by referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . An actuator is fixed at bracket  241  which is fixedly adjustable to the reverse side of base plate  221 . The actuator is a solenoid  242 ; however, it could be changed to a fluid actuator or an electrical motor, etc. When a solenoid  242  is used, it is relatively inexpensive. Armature  243  is moved towards a protruding direction (in  FIG. 9  upwards) by spring  245  which is located between the solenoid  242  and a pin  244  which is fixed at armature  243 . The armature  243  is the actuator when excited by an electric field. 
   Pin  244  is fixed at the end of armature  243  and is inserted into an elongated hole  250 A which is located at the end of a second lever  250  which has an inverted L shape and is borne by shaft  247  which is fixed at bracket  241 . Lever  248  includes a first lever  249  which is approximately parallel to the guiding passageway  220  and second lever  250  which extends along the lateral direction from the upper section of the first lever  249 . The second lever is approximately at a right angle to the first lever  249 . Shaft  233  is fixed at the middle of the first lever  249  at a right angle. Accordingly diverter  231  is attached at the first lever  249  and extends at a right angle. 
   When solenoid  242  isn&#39;t excited, diverter  231  is positioned out of the extending passageway  220 E. Accordingly the pin  244  is pushed up by the spring  245 , and the lever  248  pivots in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore the first lever  249  is positioned away from the extending passageway  220 E, and the diverter  231  leaves the hole  232 . 
   When the solenoid  242  is excited, the armature  243  is drawn downwards. The lever  248  pivots in the clockwise direction, and the first lever  249  becomes parallel to the base plate  221  (the guiding passageway  220 ) as shown in FIG.  11 . The end of the extending section  236  is stopped by the rear of the base plate  221 . Accordingly the diverter  231  is selectively located at the extending passageway  220 E by the solenoid  242  and the spring  245 . 
   The position sensor  225  detects the position of the diverter  231  which is located in or outside of the extending passageway  220 E. The position sensor  225  includes a photo-electrical sensor  226  which is fixed at the lower section of the bracket  241  and an operating piece  227  which bends from the lower section opposite the guiding plate  221  in a right angle. 
   When diverter  231  is located in the extending passageway  220 E, the photo-electrical sensor  226  doesn&#39;t detect the operating piece  227  at the end of the first lever  249 . Accordingly the position of the diverter  231  is detected as located in the extending passageway  231 . When diverter  231  isn&#39;t located at the extending passageway  220 E, the photo-electrical sensor  226  detects the operating piece  227 . Therefore the position of the diverter  231  is detected as located out of the extending passageway  231 . 
   The position changing device  240  can be selectively located on or out of the extending passageway  220 E. Accordingly the position changing device  240  isn&#39;t limited to the present embodiment. For example, when the solenoid  242  isn&#39;t excited, diverter  231  could be located in the extending passageway  220 E. 
   Next, the urging device  260  is explained. The urging device  260  includes contactor  261  which has contact with disc D and biasing device  270  which biases the contactor  261  towards the guiding passageway  220 . The contactor  261  is a moving roller  263  which is rotatable and supported on a moving shaft  262 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , the moving roller  263  has a cylindrical section  263 A and a tapered section  263 B. The moving shaft  262  penetrates into the through hole of moving roller  263  and has a large diameter section  262 A at the middle portion. The width of cylindrical section  263 A is the same as spacers  222 A and  222 B and is located over the spacers. 
   The tapered section  263 B becomes gradually larger from the cylindrical section  263 A. Accordingly the discs D which are positioned away from the cylindrical section  263 A are guided to the cylindrical section  263 A by the tapered section  263 B. The moving shaft  262  penetrates elongated hole  264  from the reverse to the front of the base plate  221  and can move along the elongated hole  264  by guiding a snap ring (not shown) which is hooked to the moving shaft  262  and the large diameter section  262 A. 
   The moving shaft  262  penetrates the through hole of the moving roller  263  and is prevented from dropping out of the hole by a snap ring (not shown) which is hooked to the shaft  262 . The elongated hole  264  corresponds in position to the extending passageway  220 E and is located at one side of the center line CL and is opposite the diverter  231  and is further parallel to the center line CL. 
   When the elongated hole  264  is positioned parallel to the center line CL, the moving roller  263  (the moving shaft  262 ) can be smoothly moved to the left or to the right. As a result, disc D can be dispensed smoothly. When disc D can be dispensed from the first exit  280  and the second exit  281 , the elongated hole  264  can be located either on a slant or orthogonal to the center line CL. Usually the moving shaft  262  is stopped by the lower edge of the elongated hole  264 , and the moving roller  263  is kept at a predetermined distance from the first end  222 C and the second end  222 D. This distance is smaller than the diameter of disc D. 
   But when the moving roller  263  is pushed by disc D, the moving roller  263  moves at least the diameter of the coin D. Therefore the discs D pass between the moving roller  263  and the respective ends. The stopper of moving shaft  262  can be changed to be an exclusive use stopper which can be adjustable, located on base plate  221 . 
   First exit  280  is between the first end  222 C and the moving roller  263 . Second exit  281  is between the second end  222 D and the moving roller  263 . The contactor member  261  could be changed to a fixed shaft or a plate. When the contactor member  261  is the roller  263 , the discs D can be smoothly dispensed because the resistance of friction to the discs D is smaller. 
   Next biasing device  270  is explained. First spring  271 A is hooked between the first latch  266  and the end of the moving shaft  262 . Second latch  274  is extended towards the transversal direction at the reverse side of the base plate  221  and is located opposite first latch  266 . 
   The second latch  274  is located on the axis line of the first latch  266 . Second spring  271 B is hooked between the second latch  274  and the moving shaft  262 . The first spring  271 A and the second spring  271 B are located symmetrical to the guiding passageway  220  and the extending passageway  220 E. 
   The first spring  271 A and the second spring  271 B have the same spring forces. Accordingly the moving shaft  262  can move parallel to the elongated hole  264 . When the moving shaft  262  moves parallel, the moving shaft  262  can move smoothly. 
   Therefore the coins are dispensed smoothly and equally. The biasing device  270  has a function that the contactor  261  is resiliently biased towards the guiding passageway  220 . Accordingly the biasing device  270  can be changed to a rubber member or a gas cylinder type, etc. 
   Next detecting device  290  of the disc D is explained. Fifth photo-electrical sensor  292  (a transmission type) is fixed at the reverse side of the base plate  221  by screws  293 . Sensor head  292 A is located at the side of extending passageway  220 E and passes through notch  291  on base plate  221 . 
   The sensor head  292 A has a gate like shape as shown in  FIG. 12 , and the intermediate passageway  294  continues to the first exit  280 . Accordingly when the disc D passes through the passageway  294 , the axis of the light is interrupted by the disc D and passing of the disc D is detected. 
   Sixth photo-electrical sensor  295  (a transmission type detector) is fixed on the base plate  221  by screws  293 . Sensor head  295 A is located at the side of extending passageway  220 E and passes through notch  296  of base plate  221  and is located to the left side of extending passageway  220 E. The sensor head  295 A is also gate shaped, the same as the fifth photo-electrical sensor  292 , and the passageway  294  continues to the second exit  281 . Accordingly when disc D passes through the passageway  294 , the light axis is interrupted by the disc D and passing of the disc D is detected. 
   The detecting device  290  can be changed to a reflection type or to an non-photo-electrical sensor. Also, the detecting device  290  can detect the movement of the moving shaft  262  or the moving roller  263 . In this case the detecting device  290  need only be one unit. 
   Next, the operation of the second embodiment is explained. First, the case where the diverter  231  is located in the extending passageway  220 , is explained by referring to FIG.  13 . The solenoid  242  is unexcited, and armature  243  is pulled down, by the spring force so that diverter  231  is located in extending passageway  220 E (as shown in FIG.  11 ). 
   In this situation, the rotating disc  4  rotates, and releases the discs D to the guiding passageway  7  one by one. 
   The top disc D goes from the guiding passageway  220  into the extending passageway  220 E and has contact with diverter  231 . Additionally, the right side of the disc D has contact with the diverter  231  because the diverter  231  is located at the right side of the center line CL. 
   Disc D is pushed up further. In this process, disc D is pushed by a force  2 F 1  from a follow-on disc and receives an opposed force  2 F 2  from the diverter  231 . 
   The first force  2 F 1  has a vector which is located on approximately the center line CL. The opposed force  2 F 2  has a vector which is crossed to the center line CL at a blunt angle because the diverter  231  is located away from the center line CL. Accordingly the resultant force  2 F 3  between the first force  2 F 1  and the opposed force  2 F 2  produce a force vector towards the second exit  281 . Therefore the disc D is guided to the second exit  281 . 
   The moving roller  263  is moved along the elongated hole  264  by disc D because the distance between the second end  222 D and the moving roller  263  is smaller than the diameter of the disc D. 
   When the diameter section of the disc D passes between the second end  222 D and the moving roller  263 , the moving roller  263  is pulled towards the guiding passageway  220  by the biasing device  270 , and the disc D is dispensed from the second exit  281 . 
   Afterwards, the sixth detecting device  295  detects disc D, and outputs a detecting signal. The detecting signal is used for counting the number of discs D and/or to detect a dispensing mistake. The moving roller  263  can contact the disc D before it has contact with the diverter  231 . 
   Next, the case where the diverter  231  isn&#39;t located in the extending passageway  220 E, is explained by referring to FIG.  14 . First, the left side of disc D has contact with the moving roller  263 . Accordingly, disc D receives a first force  2 F 1  which is located on the center line CL and an opposed force  2 F 4  from the moving roller  263  by the after disc D. The resultant force  2 F 5  between the first force  2 F 1  and the second opposed force  2 F 4  has a vector towards the first exit  280 . 
   Therefore the disc D moves upwards and has contact with the first end  222 C, and pushes up the moving roller  263 . When the diameter section of disc D passes between the first edge  222 C and the moving roller  263 , the disc D is energetically dispensed from the first exit  280  by the biasing device  270 . Immediately after the coin D is dispensed, disc D is detected by the first detecting device  292 .