Abstract:
A coin selector assembly includes a frame member having an upper entrance opening for receiving a coin and a plurality of coin ejection openings. A passageway extends through the frame member from the upper entrance opening to a plurality of ejection openings. The entrance passageway has an arcuation entrance portion to contact a peripheral surface of a coin and to change its direction through the frame member. A replaceable roller unit can assist in sorting the coins. The frame member has a vertical height approximating a horizontal length to facilitate a vertical mounting in a coin operated machine.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to a coin selector assembly that can be mounted in coin operated machines, such as vending machines, arcade game machines, casino game machines, and the like that receive coins and, more particularly, to a compact simplified coin selector mechanism that can be adjusted for different size coins. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Vending machines, arcade games, and other devices that are operated by the insertion of one or more coins generally mount a coin slot that is connected to a mechanical or electromechanical coin selector mechanism to determine the genuineness of the coin and to count the coins that are inserted into the machine. The term “coin”can refer to monetary coins usually of a disk-shaped configuration and also to other disk-shaped medallions, tokens, etc., which can be used in games, entry turnstiles, vending machines, and the like. For example, a coin selector mechanism is frequently used in Pachinko and other games, such as a pinball-style slot machine. Various types of selector mechanisms have been developed in this industry, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,981. Another example of prior art can be found in the Japanese Utility Model Application No. 23240/1992. 
     Reference can be made to FIG. 7 which shows diagrammatically a selector mechanism for coins of Laid-Open Japanese Utility Model Application No. 25963/1994. FIG.  7 (A) represent a diagrammatic perspective view of a coin selector from an upper left hand perspective view. FIG.  7 (B) represents a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a portion of the coin selector. The coin selector has a main body frame  4  of an elongated configuration. Installation tabs or wings  19  or  18  are formed at each end of the main body frame for appropriate connection within the body of a coin receiving machine. When installed, the main body frame  4  is positioned in an inclined horizontal manner and is held in a fixed position in the interior of the game machine. Thus, the direction of the length and the direction of the width are inclined relative to a horizontal plane to thereby permit a desired orientation of the coin as it passes through the coin selecting mechanism downstream from the entrance slot  1 . The frame is elongated in the horizontal direction. 
     As the coin enters the coin sorting device, it passes through a sorting passageway which is capable of separating various coins into an acceptable and a non-acceptable category. A rectangular window  9  is opened along the passageway at a central lower part of the main body frame  4 . A coin guide flange  10  of a thin elongated rectangular configuration is fixed on the upper edge of the window  9 . As shown in FIGS.  7 (A) and  7 (B), a small bent board arm  11  is rotatably installed about a pivot point  8  that is positioned above the coin guide  10 . As a result of this pivotal mounting, the lower half of the board arm  11  can be inserted into and out of the window  9  for the purpose of ejecting a coin. An extended door member  5  is also installed rotatably at the pivot position  8  in the upper part of the main body frame and can be spring-biased by a spring, not shown. Both the door board  5  and the board arm  11  can be integrately rotatable about the pivot  8  and against the spring force. As a result, the board arm  11  will be moved only by moving the door board  5 . 
     The top portion of the main body frame  4  and the door board  5  is bent to form the coin entrance  1 . Downstream from the rectangular window  9  is a cover board  7  that can support a cylindrically shaped solenoid  16 . Mounted on the solenoid  16  is a lid plate  5  having a bent L-shape which is pivotable about the portions  14  at the upper portion. By action of the solenoid  16 , a coin fall hole  12  of a long and slender shape can be opened and shut. On the right hand side of FIG.  7 (A) is a lid  13  which composes a portion of the cover board  17 . A coin exit of a long and slender configuration is formed between this lid  13  and the main body frame  4 . 
     When a coin is inserted into the entrance  1 , it will roll on the rail  7  positioned at the lower edge of the main body frame  4 . If the coin A, as shown schematically in FIG.  7 (B), is genuine, the rolling of a coin will continue along the rail  7 , as it is guided by the coin guide  10  and the door board  5 . If the coin rolling down the rail  7  is not genuine and the diameter of the coin is smaller than regulation size, the coin will come off of the coin guide  10  or the door board  5  and will fall before it reaches the coin exit  2 . 
     Conversely, if the coin rolling along the rail  7  is not genuine and has a diameter which is unduly large, the coin will be stopped by, for example, by a plate  110  which is mounted on the coin guide  10 . In this case, if the door board  5  is moved against the resistance of the spring (not shown), the board arm  11  will also be moved and will contact the coin that is stopped by the plate  101  so that it will fall down and be ejected. 
     A coin selector assembly of this type, however, requires a fairly large mounting space in the horizontal direction of the game or vending machine. This increases the necessary installation space, especially since the entire coin selector has to be arranged to be inclined for the installation. As can be expected, when the machine is altered to accept a different size coin, the coin selector assembly also must be changed and accordingly it creates a problem in field maintenance and service of installed machines. 
     The prior art is accordingly still looking for improvements in coin selector devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a coin selector assembly having a frame member with an upper entrance opening for receiving a coin. A passageway extends through the frame member from the upper entrance opening and communicates with ejection openings for both delivering authentic coins and removing non-genuine coins. The passageway has an initial arcuation entrance portion to direct the coin from a vertical drop to an inclined horizontal direction to contact the sorting portion of the passageway. 
     Mounted in the passageway is a roller unit that can limit the size of coins traveling through the passageway. The roller unit can be positively driven to accelerate the coin and can further stop a coin for permitting ejection of oversized coins. The roller unit can be replaced by a service technician to alter the size of the coins to be selected by the coin selector assembly. The roller unit can comprise a first and second roller member or alternatively a unitary roller member with an appropriate groove to present an inverted V cross-section at the upper part of the passageway. The roller unit can further be spring biased in a traverse direction to that of the axis of the passageway to dampen vibration of fed coins. 
     The outside envelope of the coin selector assembly frame member is designed for vertical mounting within a coin receiving machine. The frame member has a vertical height of approximately the dimension of a horizontal length and facilitates the removal and servicing of the coin selector assembly, including changing the dimension of the roller unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which arc 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 of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial diagrammatic perspective view of the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial view of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 2 with a portion of the components removed; 
     FIG.  7 (A) is a perspective view of a prior art embodiment; 
     FIG.  7 (B) is a partial cross-sectional view of the prior art; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view from a lower side of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment with component parts removed; 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along the lines A—A shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9; and 
     FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     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. 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 compact coin selector assembly that can be easily installed and adjusted for different size coins. 
     The coin selector of the present invention was developed for the purpose of providing a more compact size to a coin selector assembly and to enable it to be installed in an appropriate coin-operated machine so that the frame of the coin selector is orientated in a vertical direction rather than in an inclined horizontal position. The present invention was further developed for the purpose of enabling a field technician or service man to easily change the desired diameter size of a coin to be selected. Finally, the present invention was designed to provide a positive movement of a coin in a coin selector device and to improve its functionality. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the arrow above the open mouth of the coin selector of the present invention indicates the direction in which a coin is usually inserted. As can be determined, when the coin is dropped or thrown into the entrance mouth  21 , it will be shortly turned, by an arcuation entrance portion, at an acute angle which is guided by a circular arc passageway  22  through approximately one quarter of a circle before it is delivered to a sorting portion of the passageway  22 . The circular arc portion of the passageway  22  is formed upon an upward peripheral surface of a somewhat thick board member  23  having a curved configuration. This curved board  23  is fixed to the main frame body  25 . 
     The view in FIG. 6 discloses the coin selector without a cover plate or cover door  31  that extends across the curved board  23 . The cover door  31 , as seen in FIG. 5, can be formed of a generally pentagonal resin molded part and has an L-shaped metal plate  31 M. This door  31  is swingably mounted on the main body frame  25  by means of a pivot  32  along its center top portion. The pivot axis is disclosed in the dotted line shown in FIG.  5 . 
     A somewhat large C-shaped window or aperture  27  is open near the top of the main body frame  25 , as can be seen in FIG. 6. A crescent-shaped swing plate  26  is provided along the edge of the window or aperture  27  near the arcuate passageway  22  and it is pivoted about an axis or a shaft along the axis  28  via a generally Y-shaped arm plate  29 , as shown in FIG.  4 . The function of the swing plate  26  and the arm plate  29  are to help remove a stuck coin from the passageway  22 , as will be subsequently disclosed herein. 
     As seen in FIG. 4, an activator plate  24  can open or close the door  31  that is formed in the long end portion of the arm plate  29 . This activator plate penetrates through the main body frame  25 . The elongated arm  51  is formed outwardly in the center of the top edge of the main body frame  25  and is fixed at its distal end portion to a projecting shaft  52 . The arm  51  is bent downward from its distal end portion. This projecting shaft  52  projects towards the door  31  and has a roller unit  53  that is rotatably fitted across the projecting shaft  52  via a spacer, not shown. The roller unit  53 , as seen in FIG. 3, has a groove formed along its entire periphery adjacent its basal end portion. The groove  55  assists the roller unit  53  in sliding along the projecting shaft  52 . The roller unit  53  also has a groove  56  formed along the entire periphery of the distal end portion, and this groove  56  guides the upper edge of an inserted rolling coin. One of the side faces of the groove  56  is appropriately inclined. Thus, the groove  46  in the roller unit  53  has a generally V-shaped cross-section. When a coin is inserted, in FIG. 3, in the opening mouth  21 , it will descend downward and will be turned to come into contact with the groove  56  that is aligned in the passageway  22 . A coin having a larger non-complying dimension will be stopped by interference with the height of the groove  56  positioned in the passageway  22 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, an urging member  33  is pivotably mounted to penetrate the door  31  and to exert a force against a passing coin so that it is biased towards the main body frame  25 . A small spring  36 , shown in FIG. 5, is provided between the door  31  and the urging member  33 . The door  31  further includes a stopper  37  of an inverted L-shape that is suspended from the pivot  35 , shown by the axis line on the left hand side of FIG.  5 . The lower end portion of the stopper  37  can prevent further movement of a coin from falling down the arcuate passageway  22 . Referring to FIG. 6, the stopper  37  is shown blocking the end of the passageway between the arcuate board member  22  and the swing plate  26 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a small rectangular member, as shown in the top left side portion of FIG. 4, represent a partial view of the solenoid  61  that is mounted within the arm  51 . A plunger, not shown, is connected to the solenoid  61  and has a small prolat link (not shown) that in turn is pivoted to an L-shape link (not shown). By reference to FIG. 3, the L-shaped link has a long spring element  63  that is pivoted about a post  62 . A relatively long rod  65  is fixed to the underside of the distal end portion of the spring element  63 . The tip of the rod  65  is slidably inserted into a groove  56  in the roller  53 . 
     As a result of this arrangement, when the solenoid  61  is turned on, the spring element  63  can pivot about  62 . This pivotal movement causes the rod  65  to move and causes further the roller unit  53  to approach the door  31 , as indicated by the two-headed arrow in FIG.  3 . Thus, the coin guiding groove  56  and the roller  53  unit are then placed into correspondence with the arcuate passageway  22 . When the roller unit  53  approaches the door  31 , it pushes the projecting part  39  of the stopper  37 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The projecting part or bump  39  is adjacent the projecting shaft  52 . As a result of this pushing movement of the roller unit  53 , the lower end portion of the stopper  37  is retracted and the coin falling down the arcuate passageway  22  will continue to roll down the arcuate passageway  22  adjacent to the fixed rail  71  in the main body frame  25 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, three counting sensors S are provided near the fixed rail  61 . As a result of the passage of the coin along the rail  71 , these sensors S can detect the movement of the coin. The sensors S can be any of a conventional configuration, including magnetic and optical sensors. It is preferred that at least three sensors S be utilized to ensure a tamper-proof operation of a coin selector. 
     Referring to the left side of FIG. 4, a second solenoid  72  is disclosed. The plunger of the solenoid  72  has a U-shaped movable rail  73  that is pivotably mounted on a shaft  79 . Thus, each upper end portion of the U-shaped movable rail  73  is pivoted to the main body frame  25  at  77 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a pair of inclined holes are open in the center of the movable rail  73  so that a shaft  79  can pass through them. The vertical side of the solenoid  72  mounted within its housing is also shown in FIG.  3 . The movable rail  73  also includes a stopper  75  formed on the rail  73  via an arm extension. When the solenoid  72  is in an off state, the movable rail  73  is located outside the main body frame  25 . The stopper  75 , however, is located inside the main body frame  25 . With the solenoid in the off state, a coin running down the fixed rail  71  is blocked by the stopper  75  and can drop into a safe storage container (not shown). If the solenoid  72  is activated, however, the movable rail  73  is located inside the main body frame  25  and the stopper  75  is located outside the main body frame  25 . With the solenoid  72  on, the coin will move down the movable rail  73  and will be subsequently guided by the main body frame  25  to drop, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, so that it can be accommodated in, for example, a coin hopper tank (not shown) that is in alignment with the exit passageway. 
     It is possible to adjust the coin passageway to accommodate various size coins. Referring to FIG. 5, a small steel ball  91  is rotatably mounted and is adapted to be capable of approaching the main body frame  25 . Briefly, the steel ball  91  serves to adjust the width of the arcuate passageway  22  in accordance with the desired thickness of the coin to be deposited in the slot  21 . Thus, as can be appreciated, a technician can adjust the width of the passageway. 
     In operation, both of the solenoids  61  and  72  are usually activated to be in an on state and therefore the groove  56  and the roller unit  53  correspond to the position of the arcuate passageway  22 . The movable rail  73  is located inside the main body frame  25 . Needless to say, the stopper piece  37  is located outside the door  31 , while the second stopper  75  is located outside the main body frame  25 . When a coin C is thrown into the open aperture or mouth  21  in this state, the coin C will be guided and turned along the arcuation entrance portion of the circular arc passageway  22 . When the coin C is genuine or when it is a desired or selected coin for operation of the machine, the circular arc passageway  22  will be passed with the lower edge of the coin C guided by the circular arc passageway  22  and the upper edge of the coin C guided by the groove  56  in the roller unit  53 . Therefore, the genuine coin or the coin of the appropriate denomination will smoothly pass through the circular arc passageway and will further be turned in a downward direction. Since the rotation of the roller unit  53  is free in this case, a genuine coin will pass smoothly and speedily. As can be appreciated, it is desirable that the spring force exerted by spring  36  has a relatively weak power. 
     As a modification, the roller unit  53  may be positively rotated by means of a small electric motor  40  shown in FIG.  14 . In this embodiment, it is necessary that the pivot  52  may be formed for free rotation. Additionally, when the roller unit  53  is positively rotated, it is possible to accelerate the speed of the coin C through contact with the roller. The roller Unit  53  can constitute a single roller member  42 . 
     If a counterfeit coin or a coin of the wrong denomination is thrown into the open mouth  21  of the coin selector and the diameter of the coin is small, the circular arc passageway will not pass such a coin. The lower edge of a small diameter coin will be guided by the circular arc passageway  22 , but the upper edge of the concerned coin will not be guided by the groove  56 . As a result, such a small diameter sized coin may be inclined as it falls down inside the door  31  and will be eventually removed from the passageway. It is possible when a small diameter coin is vibrating that the apparent diameter of the coin appears to be larger and to act like a genuine coin. The provision of the spring  36 , however, will act to absorb the vibration of such a small size coin. As a result, when the coin comes off from the groove  56  in the roller unit  53 , it will also be eliminated from the passageway  22 . 
     If a coin which is thrown into the open mouth  21  is not genuine or is of a larger size denomination than the desired coin, then the diameter of such a coin will be larger than the expected or calibrated size and such a coin will not pass through the circular arc passageway  22 . The lower edge of the coin will be guided along the circular arc passageway, but the upper edge of the coin will contact the roller unit  53 . Accordingly, when the diameter of the coin is larger than the expected size, the coin cannot be moved by being placed between the circular arc passageway  22  and the roller  53 . In this case, the arm plate  29  is opened and closed about the pivot  28  whereupon the large diameter coin will simply fall and be cancelled. The arm plate  29  will transmit the corresponding movement to the swing plate  26 , while at the same time the door  31  will be opened or closed via the activator  24 . 
     In the above embodiment, the roller unit  53  has a groove  56  and a generally V-shaped cross-section. As seen from the arcuate passageway  22 , the groove  56  has a cross-section of an inverted V-shape. As an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the groove  56  can be further defined by a pair of separate rollers, see FIG.  12 . 
     Additionally, the groove  56  can be formed on other members, for instance, on a semi-circular plate. In the cross-sectional shape of the groove  56 , one slope will be accurately formed but it is, of course, possible to have two slopes formed. In the present embodiment, if it is necessary to change the size of a coin to be accepted by the coin selector, then a technician can simply replace the roller unit  53  with an appropriate size roller unit to meet the diameter of the coin to be sorted. Additionally, if the thickness of the coin to be sorted has to be changed, it is also possible to replace the roller unit  53 . 
     As described above, a selector of the coin turning type is usually operated with both solenoids  61  and  72  turned on. This is not necessarily the only manner in which the present invention can be implemented. For example, the coin selector can be operated with solenoid  61  turned on, but solenoid  72  turned off. For example, both solenoids  61  and  72  are first turned on and coin sorting is performed until the first storage container or safe (not shown) is completely filled with coins, then solenoid  72  can be turned off and the coin sorting can still be performed until a second safe or container (not shown) is then filled up with coins. 
     The solenoid  61  is normally turned on but it may be turned off if trouble occurs in a machine utilizing the coin selector of the present type. In such an abnormal situation, then every coin that is dropped into the slot or mouth  21  will be cancelled, even if it is genuine. In addition, the position of the solenoid  21  is brought closer to the roller unit  53  and the mechanism for activating the rod  65  is altered. Therefore, not only the solenoid  72  but also the main body frame  25 , arm  51 , and metal plate  31 M are removed. Although not shown, this design change can contribute to almost half of the overall size of the coin selector according to the embodiment that is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 herein. 
     The advantages of the present invention can be realized in that the size of the entire coin selector can be reduced with a simple construction. Further, the invention adopts a passageway of a circular arc shape and the size of the coins that can be selected by the coin selector can be changed easily only by changing rollers that are used as a coin guide. As can be appreciated, the coin selector of the present invention can be vertically installed and can be easily accessed by a service technician. The coin guide roller used in the present invention is adapted to be movable and this offers a significant advantage in the coin sorting that can be effected at an early stage in the admission of the coins. 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed and reference can be made to FIG. 8 where like reference elements are used with the same reference numbers. Again, this design of a coin selector is for a vertical mounting into an appropriate vending machine or game machine and the vertical height dimensions of the frame approximates the horizontal length dimensions. The coin is deposited through the mouth  21  and is turned at an arcuate angle along the circular passageway  22 . The board member  23  is sandwiched between the main body frame  25  and the door member  31 . The door member  31  is installed on the main body frame  25  by means of a pair of pivots  32  which are shown at the upper side portion of FIG.  9 . On the main body frame  25  is a window or aperture  27  that is positioned near the circular arc passageway  22 . A cover portion  28  is formed along its outside. An arm portion  51  is also formed along an outside that extends across approximately half of the upper portion of the main body frame  25 . The arm portion  51  is further bent downward with a pivot  52  fixed at the top part. As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the pivot shaft is directed toward the door  31 . 
     A roller unit  53  is rotatably mounted on the pivot shaft  52  and has a groove along a central portion. Additionally, on the pivot shaft  52  a roller member  55  is pivotally mounted and biased by a spring  57 . The roller member  55  has a tapered surface along one side which is opposite to a second roller  53   a  with the groove. Therefore, the rollers  53   a  and  55  provide a small groove  56  of a cross-sectional V-shape between them, as shown in FIG.  13 . The spring  57  is mounted on the pivot shaft  52  and is maintained in place by a plug  58  that is connected in the cylinder  59  of the door  31 . As shown in FIG. 13, the solenoid  61  is mounted within the elongated rectangular body arm  51 . A plunger of the solenoid  61  is connected to a small link member  62  with an oval shape that is pivotable. On the small link  61 , an operating piece  63  of a long substantially L-shape is pivoted. In addition, a rod member  65  is fixed to the operating piece  63  so that the rod  65  is inserted slidably in the groove of the roller  53 . 
     Generally, in operation, the solenoid  61  is usually on. However, when the solenoid  61  is turned off, the rod  65  is rotated around the pivot at the center of the L-shape operating rod  63 . As a result, the point of the rod  65  will come apart from the roller  55 . In other words, the roller  53   a  can be separated from the roller  55 . Incidentally below the circular arc passageway  22 , a long a rail of a roller type  20  is set in free rotation. An alternative embodiment of such a coin selector can have a small groove  56  formed as a section of cross-section V-shape established by a pair of rollers. 
     When a coin is thrown into an open mouth  21  in this state, the coin C is guided and turned along a circular arc passageway, as can be seen in FIG. 4 in the phantom view. If the coin C is genuine or of the selected denomination, the circular arc passageway  22  will permit the coin to pass. In this movement, the lower edge of the coin C is guided by a circular arc passageway  22  and the upper edge of the coin C is guided by the small groove  56 . The upper edge of the coin C will enter into the V-shaped section between the rollers. When the coin C is true or when it is the selected coin, the coin will smoothly pass to its desired destination. Since the rotation of the pair of rollers are free, they will not provide any hindrance or obstacle for the passage of a genuine coin C. As can be appreciated, it is preferable that the spring force of spring  57  be relatively weak. 
     As an advantageous feature of the present invention, the rollers can be rotated by means of a small electric motor (not shown). In such a situation it is necessary that pivot  52  be formed to permit such free rotation. When the rollers are rotated, they can increase the pass-through speed of the coin C when it comes into contact with them. 
     If a coin that was thrown into the open mouth  21  of the coin selector is not genuine, or of the wrong monetary denomination, the diameter of such a thrown coin will be either smaller than the desired coin size or larger than the desired coin size. If the diameter of the thrown coin is smaller, then the lower edge of such a coin will be guided by the circular arc passageway  22 , but the upper edge of the coin will not be guided by the small groove  56  and will not effectively contact the pair of rollers  53   a  and  55 . If such a small diameter coin is thrown into the coin selector in such a manner that it vibrates, the vibration of such a coin could create a confusion that it is a true coin. For this reason, the spring  57  will help absorb such vibration. Thus, when the diameter of the coin is smaller than the desired size, the coin will come off from the pair of rollers  53   a  and  55  and will be rejected downward. 
     If the coin is of a diameter larger than the desired coin size, the lower edge of the coin will be guided along the circular arc passageway  22 , but the upper edge of the coin will be stopped by contact with the pair of rollers  53   a  and  55 . Under such circumstances, the door  31  will open and will close around the pivot center and the coin will then be discharged from the passageway  22 . When the solenoid  61  is operated, the roller  53   a  will be moved and a large diameter coin will fall downward. 
     As can be appreciated, the desirable shape of the groove  56  is an inverted V-shape to form the arch or upper limitation of the circular arc passageway  22 . Such a groove  56  could be formed as an alternative embodiment with one roller. As an additional modification, it is possible that the small groove  56  can be formed on another member, for example, a semi-circular plate. The sectional shape of the small groove  56  has one slope accurately in the present embodiment, but it is, of course, possible that two slopes can be formed. 
     As can be appreciated, when the coin selector is desired to be modified to change the diameter of the coin to be accepted, it is possible to do so by simply changing the roller  53   a  or  55 . 
     The size of the entire coin selector is reduced by adopting certain simplified constructions including the use of a passageway having a partial circular arc shape. The actual diameter size of acceptable coins can be altered in an easy manner by a technician by simply changing the rollers that are used in the coin guide. Additionally, the coin selector of the present invention can be vertically installed with an appropriate position in the vending machine or arcade machine and such a coin selector can be easily adopted to adjust for various diameter size coins. 
     In summary, the present invention in each of its embodiments has been specifically designed to reduce the entire size of the coin selector and to permit such a coin selector to be inserted vertically within the appropriate machine. The coin selector of the present invention is user friendly in that it is easy for a service technician to change the diameter size of the coins desired to be selected. A roller or a pair of roller can be freely mounted or motor driven to provide an inverted V-shape section to guide the upper edge of a coin as the roller or rollers extend traverse to the passageway. 
     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 appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.