Abstract:
A coin dispensing apparatus is provided that has features to easily adjust the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk and to adapt to the thickness of the coins. The coin dispensing apparatus includes a disk ( 102 ) which separates coins one by one. A coin base ( 104 ) supports the coins which are moved by the disk. A body ( 100 ) includes the base and a step section ( 149 ) which provides different distances to the base to adapt to the thickness of the coins. A rotating shaft member ( 160 ) is selectively attached to the step section and can be adjusted to the body. The rotating shaft member for rotating the disk is selectively attached at the step section in stages. Therefore the distance between the disk and the base is adjusted to adapt the thickness of coin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japan Application No. 2004-017702 filed Jan. 26, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus with which many coins (coins, tokens, medals, discs, etc.), are dispensed one by one.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Some coin dispensing apparatuses are known In prior art. For example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Number 11-96426 and 11-86066 which were in the name of the assignee of the present application.  
         [0004]     In Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-96426, the coin dispensing apparatus is adaptable to the coin thickness. The apparatus includes a base plate on which the coin slides, a disk which dispenses the coins one by one, a rotating shaft which rotates the disk, a lifter where the rotating shaft penetrates rotatably and can move towards and away from the base plate, an operating body which adjusts the disk position to the base plate and a stopper which is attached to rotating out of the shaft which prevents the rotating shaft to move.  
         [0005]     In the prior art, when a thinner coin is used, the operating body is not operated, instead of it, a saw tooth is moved. Therefore the saw tooth has engaged with the operating body. In other words, the lifter doesn&#39;t protrude from the base plate. The distance between the base plate and the disk is small. Therefore the distance is adapted to the thinnest coin. Inversely, when the thickness is at the thickest extent, the operating body is operated. Therefore the handle of operating body is pivoted, then it is fixed at a predetermined position. As a result, the lifter protrudes from the base plate.  
         [0006]     Therefore the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk increases, and it adapts to the thickness of the coin. In other words, the slanting surface of the saw tooth of the lifter which is stopped in the rotation is moved by the slanting surface of the saw tooth of the operating body. As a result, the lifter protrudes from the base plate.  
         [0007]     On the other hand, the apparatus which is disclosed on Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-86066 is a smaller coin dispensing apparatus and includes a rotating disk for dispensing the coins one by one, a rotating shaft for rotating the rotating disk, a planetary gear train where the center axis is located on the center axis of the rotating shaft, a rotating shaft of a motor where the center axis is located on the center axis of the planetary gear train. Also, it includes a spacer for adjusting the position of the disk to the thickness of the coin.  
         [0008]     In the apparatus, for adjusting the thickness of the coin, a spacer is added around the rotating shaft, and the gear section of the rotating shaft is inserted into the penetrating hole of the base plate. The gear section is inserted into the cylinder section of a carrying plate of the planetary gear train. When the thickness of the coin is thin, the spacer is removed, and the gear section of the rotating shaft is inserted into the cylinder section which passes through the penetrating hole of the base plate.  
         [0009]     Therefore this apparatus can be adapted to the thickness of the coin by the spacer in as the same as the Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-96426 which adjusts the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk.  
         [0010]     Also, the known apparatus include a stopper which has contact with the conical section of the rotating shaft and which prevents the removing of the rotating shaft.  
         [0011]     In Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-86066 (FIGS. 3 and 4, paragraphs 10 and 11), when the distance is adjusted to the thickness of the coin, the spacer is changed to another spacer. Therefore the changing of the spacer is troublesome.  
         [0012]     In Japanese Laid Open Patent 11-96426 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, paragraphs 15 and 16), the operating body and the stopper are removed from the positions. The operation is too troublesome. Also, the stopper has contact with the conical section and prevents the removing of the rotating shaft. In other words, the conical section includes a predetermined angle for preventing the removal of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft needs a predetermined strength. In other words, the rotating shaft needs a predetermined diameter. Therefore the length of the conical section is limited. In other words, the adjusting range of the rotating disk is limited by the diameter of the rotating shaft and the angle of the conical section.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The first object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus in which it is easy to adjust the distance between the base plate and the rotating disk and to adapt it to the thickness of the coins.  
         [0014]     The second object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus which is not limited by the adjusting range.  
         [0015]     The third object of the invention is to provide a coin dispensing apparatus which can adjust the position in stages while seeing the disk.  
         [0016]     For solution of this problem, this present invention is structured as follows. A coin dispensing apparatus comprises a disk which separates coins one by one, a base which holds the coins which are moved by the disk, a body which includes the base and a step section which has the different distance to the base to adapt to the thickness of the coins. A rotating shaft member is selectively attached to the step section and can be adjusted to the body.  
         [0017]     The step section includes plural steps which are located around an inserting hole where the rotating shaft member is inserted into the hole. With this invention, the distance between the disk and the coin base is adjusted in stages to adapt to the thickness of the coin by the step section which is made up by plural portions.  
         [0018]     According to an embodiment of the invention, the step section is made as a spiral stair case. With this, the rotating shaft member is attached at a predetermined step section only rotating the rotating shaft member.  
         [0019]     The rotating shaft member includes a rotating section for rotating the disk. A pedestal section holds the rotating section rotatably. A cross bar member is detachable relative to the rotating section and functions as a transmitting member attached to the pedestal section. The rotating section of the rotating shaft member is attached at the pedestal section, and is rotatably driven by the cross bar member. Therefore the disk keeps the distance to adapt to the thickness of the coin.  
         [0020]     The transmitting member is a disk rotating gear for rotating of the disk from the transmitting gears. The disk rotating gear is attached to the rotating shaft member in the same axis, and includes an inserting hole which is rotatable around the axis, and the inserting hole includes a longitudinal groove where the cross bar member can be moved up and down along the axis. The cross bar member can move up and down in the longitudinal groove of the inserting hole of the transmitting gears. The disk is rotated by the rotating shaft member. The rotating shaft member can move up and down in the transmitting gears. Therefore the disk is adjusted to adapt to the thickness of the coin.  
         [0021]     In this structure which is claimed in claim  1 , the distance between the coin base and the disk can be adjusted by the rotating shaft member. In other words, the intervening member is not used. Therefore the parts of this invention is reduced as compared to the prior art devices. Also, the distance between the coin base and the disk can be adjusted easily to adapt to the thickness of the coin, because the rotating shaft member is selectively attached at the step section.  
         [0022]     The distance between the disk and the coin base can be adjusted in stages to adapt to the thickness of the coin while seeing the step section. The adjusting is with plural steps. Therefore the range of adjustment of the disk is not limited as it is with the prior art devices.  
         [0023]     The attaching step for the rotating shaft member can be selected simply by rotation. Therefore the distance between the coin base and the disk can be adjusted easily.  
         [0024]     The rotating shaft member is attached firmly. Therefore the distance between coin base and the disk is not increased. As a result, the coins are dispensed in a stable manner every time. Also the rotating shaft member is easily assembled into the device, because the cross bar member can be detached.  
         [0025]     The rotating shaft member is moved up and down by the disk rotating gears, and the rotating section is rotated, however the disk rotating gears are not moved. Therefore the height of the apparatus is lower and the apparatus is compact overall.  
         [0026]     According to the invention, the coin dispensing apparatus comprises a disk which separates coins one by one, a coin base which holds the coins which are moved by the disk, and a body that includes the base and a step section which differs from the distance to the base to adapt to the thickness of the coins. A rotating shaft member is selectively attached to the step section and can be adjusted to the body. The rotating shaft member for rotating the disk is selectively attached at the step section in stages. Therefore the distance between the disk and the base is adjusted to adapt to the thickness of the coin.  
         [0027]     The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the coin dispensing apparatus of an embodiment according to the invention, shown without the hopper;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view looking upwards, showing the coin dispensing apparatus of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is an explanatory view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the coin rotating gears and the rotating shaft member of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the rotating shaft member shown in  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the step section at  FIG. 2  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0036]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , coin dispensing apparatus  50  includes a disk  102  which is located below a hopper  101  and dispenses coins one by one. A base section  120  with base  104  guides the coins which are moved by the disk  102 . A driving source section  140  with step section  149  is adjustable to adapt the apparatus for the position to suit the coin thickness. A rotating shaft member  160  is provided for rotating the disk  102 .  
         [0037]     In  FIG. 3 , reference number  101   a  is a rod which is made from an elastomer. The rod  101   a  holds the coin at through holes  102   a - 102   e , when the disk  102  rotates. Reference number  101   b  is assigned to a disk attaching section  163 . The reference number  163   b  designates a screw for fixing the disk in position. The reference number  165  is a cross bar member, the reference number  170  is a cylinder, the reference number  172  is a lid member and the reference number  180  is a rotating shaft supporting member.  
         [0038]     The disk  102  is made from a sintered metal of iron system and it includes through holes  102   a - 102   e  and a projecting section which is unified. Through holes  102   a - 102   e  are used to store the coins and are located at the surface of the disk  102  and separate the coins one by one. The dispensing section  102   f  is a projection for guiding the coins to the through holes  102   a - 102   e  and is located at the center of the disk. The reference number  102   g  is a projection to agitate coins. The reference number  102   h  designates coin pushing sections which are located at the lower edges of through holes  102   a - 102   e.    
         [0039]     A disk attaching base  120  makes up a base stand  103  which is rectangular and is made from ABS resin. The disk base  104 , an opening  105  for a motor  121  and attaching holes  106   a - 106   d  for a hopper (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) are located at the upper surface of the base stand  103 . Contacting pieces  107   a - 107   f  extend downwards, and are located at the lower edges of the long sides of base stand  103 .  
         [0040]     A dispensing roller  108  is provided for dispensing coins. An opening  108   a  is provided for the dispensing roller. Coin stoppers  110   a ,  110   b  guide the coins which are moved by disk  102  towards dispensing roller  108  which is adjacent to dispensing roller  108  and opening  109   a ,  109   b . This is provided for the sensors which detect the dispensed coin, and counts and are located on the upper surface of the base stand  103 .  
         [0041]     A driving source section  140  is a chassis  141  which is rectangular and is made from ABS resin and has a size generally of the same as disk attaching base  120  and is fitted to disk attaching base  120 . The motor  121  is connected to the gear transmitting member  142  which is a power transmitting member. The disk rotating gear  143  is attached to the rotating shaft member  160  and the sensors  144   a ,  144   b  that are located in the chassis  141 .  
         [0042]     Engaging holes  145   a - 145   f  are located at chassis  141  and are in contact with contacting pieces  107   a - 107   f . The connectors  146 , the joint sections  147   a ,  147   b  for the outside unit and attaching hole  148  of rotating shaftmember  160  at the attaching section of disk rotating gear  143  are located at the short side of the apparatus.  
         [0043]     The attaching hole  148  passes through the reverse of chassis  141  and is circular. A plurality of stairs  149 A- 149 D of step section  149  are located around the penetrating section in a circle. In other words, the stairs  149 A- 149 D enclose attaching hole  148  and they are located radially. To provide marks is desirable because they appear to be the same thickness of the coins and are located at the stairs  149 A- 149 D. A pedestal section  161  of rotating shaft member  160  is fitted to one of the stairs  149 A- 149 D.  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the step section  149  includes plural grooves  150   a - 150   h  which extend radially and are semi-circular at the end and have bases. The grooves  150   a - 150   h  are located on the straight line which passes through the center symmetrically, and it is made up in a spiral stair case structure  149 A,  149 B,  149 C and  149 D.  
         [0045]     The grooves  150   a - 150   h  are enclosed by walls which project from the base. Screw holes  151  are located at the bases of the grooves  150   a - 150   h.    
         [0046]     The grooves  150   a - 150   h  define the structure of step section  149 . The position of rotating shaft member  160  is adjusted by step section  149  to adapt to the thickness of the coins; for example 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 m and 3.5 mm. The rotating shaft member  160  adjusts the distance between the disk  102  and the disk base  104 . The disk  102  is changed to the desired height by the plural step sections  149   a - 149 D. The depths of grooves  149   a - 149 D are deep step by step corresponding to the four thickness of the coins. In other words, grooves on a diagonal line are located at the same distance which is between disk base  104  and the base of the groove. Therefore when the rotating shaft member  160  is attached at one step section of step sections  149 A- 149 D, the height position of disk  102  is adapted to a predetermined thickness.  
         [0047]     Also, the step section  149  is not limited to four kinds of coins. The step section  149  can be increased or decreased. Furthermore, the stairs  149 A- 149 D of section  149  can be structured as a spiral stair case.  
         [0048]     Coin dispensing apparatus  50  for the coins is explained below. The rotating shaft member  160  is located below driving source  140  as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0049]     The rotating shaft member  160  includes pedestal section  161  which is made from polyacetal and rotating section  162  which is made from stainless steel as shown in  FIG. 7  too. The rotating section  162  includes disk attaching section  163  and penetrating hole  164 . The disk attaching section  163  is located at the top of rotating section  162  and the diameter is smaller than the rotating section  162  and is notched at a section. The penetrating hole  164  crosses to the rotating axis of rotating section  162  at a right angle. The cross bar member  165  is inserted into penetrating hole  164  and is detachable.  
         [0050]     The Pedestal section  161  includes projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b  and circle section  167  which connects between the bases of projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b . The bottom of projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b  is flat and is fitted into step section  149  of chassis  141 .  
         [0051]     The projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b  are located at a point of symmetry to the center of rotating section  162  and extend to the diameter direction, and the ends are semi-circle like in shape. Also, projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b  can be established as only one.  
         [0052]     Screw holes  169  for screws  168  are located at each of the projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b . The screws  168  are screwed into one of screw holes  151  at grooves  150   a - 150   h . Therefore, pedestal section  161  is fixed at the step section  149  of chassis  141 . The pedestal section  161  is not moved upwards, despite the received pushing force from rotating shaft member  160  which is moved by disk  102 .  
         [0053]     Un-rotating surface  163   a  is notched at a section of disk attaching section  163  and screw hole  163   c  are located at disk attaching section  163 . Un-rotating surface  163   a  is fitted to a section of disk  102 , and screw  163   b  is screwed into the screw hole  163   c . As a result, disk  102  is fixed at rotating shaft member  160 .  
         [0054]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the pedestal section  161  includes a cylinder section  170  where the cylinder section  170  is smaller than the circular section  167  and stands upwards and is unified. Metal balls  162   a  are enclosed in the cylinder section  170 . Three stopping members  171  are located at cylinder section  170  and have elasticity and extend upwards from circular section  167 . A lid member  172  is located around rotating section  162  and is hooked by stopping members  171  and holds the metal balls  162   a  in the cylinder section  170 .  
         [0055]     The ring groove  162   b  which is fitted at a part of the metal balls  162   a  is located at the base of rotating section  162 . Also, the outer surface of the rotating section  162 , which is located above the ring groove  162   b  is supported by the supporting member  180 . The supporting member  180  includes attaching hole  148  which is located on a co-axial line to the center axis of the attaching hole  148  for the rotating shaft member  160  at driving source  140 , and is fixed at the bottom of driving source  140 .  
         [0056]     Protrusion  173  is located between circular section  167  and projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b  and has contacting surface  172   a  which has contact with the counter boring section which is located at the circle protruding section (not shown) of attaching hole  148  which is located at the reverse side of driving source section  140 . In other words, when protruding pieces  166   a ,  166   b  of pedestal section  161  receive the force, which is towards thrust a direction, from the moving disk  102 , the protrusion  173  reinforces with the fixed section of the protruding sections  166   a ,  166   b.    
         [0057]     Also the disk rotating gear  143  is located between the disk attaching base  120  and driving source section  140  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The disk rotating gear  143  is a gear within gears  142  which is a power transmission member and is geared to transmitting gears  155   a ,  155   b , and it rotates the disk  102  through the rotating shaft member  160 .  
         [0058]     The disk rotating gear  143  is made from for example polyacetal and includes rib sections  143   c  which are located between boss  143   a  and rim  143   b  as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0059]     An inserting hole  143   d  which received the rotating shaft member  160  and is detachable, is located at the boss section  143   a . The perpendicularity extending groove  143   e  is located on a crossing line to the axis line of boss section  143   a  and extends along inserting hole  143   d . The cross bar member  165  at the rotating shaft member  160  is fitted into the groove  143   e  and is detachable.  
         [0060]     In above-mentioned coin dispensing apparatus, firstly the rotating shaft member  160  which is detached from the cross bar member  165 , is inserted into the attaching hole  148  from the bottom of driving source section  140  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this process, the projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b  of the pedestal section  161  are fitted into the grooves  150   a - 150   h  to adapt to the thickness of the coin at the stairs  149 A- 149 D. Afterwards, the pedestal section  161  is fixed to the grooves  150   a - 150   h  by the screws  168 .  
         [0061]     Next, the cross bar member  165  is inserted into the rotating shaft member  160  which protrudes from the attaching hole  148  and is unified with the driving source  140 . Afterwards, the rotating gear  143  is fitted to the rotating shaft member  160 . In this process, the disk rotating gear  143  is geared to the transmitting gear  155   b , and the cross bar member  165  of the rotating shaft member  160  is inserted into the perpendicular grooves  143   e  of the disk rotating gear  143 , and it is established in the driving source section  140 .  
         [0062]     Also, the disk attaching base  120  is fitted into the driving source section  140  while the positions of the motor  121 , rotating shaft member  160  and sensors  109   a ,  109   b  can be seen by the operator. In this process, contacting pieces  107   a - 107   f  of the disk attaching base  120  are fitted into the contacting holes  145   a - 145   f  of the driving source  140 . As a result, the disk attaching section  120  is attached to the driving source  140 .  
         [0063]     Next, the disk attaching section  163  of the rotating shaft member  160  which protrudes on the base  103  of the disk attaching base  103  is fitted to the disk  102 . Afterwards, the disk  102  is fixed to the rotating shaft member  160  by the screw  163   b.    
         [0064]     In the rotating shaft member  160 , the rotating section  162  and the pedestal section  161  are unified. The rotating shaft member  160  is attached to disk  102  and is attached to the body  100 . Therefore the parts of the apparatus decrease and the assembly process is easier.  
         [0065]     In this coin dispensing apparatus, the disk  102  can be changed to another disk to adapt to the diameter of coin and the height position of disk  102  can be changed to another position to adapt to the thickness of the coin easily. In other words, when disk  102  is changed, screw  163   b  is off from screw hole  163   c  of the rotating shaft member  160 , afterwards the disk  102  is detached. Then another disk  102  which adapts to the difference diameter of the coin is attached at rotating shaft member  160 . When the height position of disk  102  is adjusted, in situation where disk  102  is attached to rotating shaft member  160 , pedestal section  161  of rotating shaft member  160  is off from the step section  149  of the driving source section  140 .  
         [0066]     The pedestal section  161  is fitted into one of the grooves  150   a - 150   h  to adapt to the thickness of driving source section  140  of the step section  149 . Afterwards, the pedestal section  161  is fixed by the screws  168 . Accordingly, the rotating shaft member  160  moves together with the pedestal section  161 . When the rotating shaft member  160  is fitted into the grooves  150   a - 150   h , the rotating shaft member  160  moves to adapt itself in the perpendicular groove  143   e  of the disk rotating gear  143  through the cross bar member  165 .  
         [0067]     When the rotating shaft member  160  moves up and down, the cross bar member  165  moves in the perpendicular groove  143   e , however the disk rotating gear  143  is not moved. Therefore the thickness of the apparatus body doesn&#39;t increase. A compact construction is provided.  
         [0068]     Also, the disk  102  which is adapted to the diameter of the coin is attached at a rotating shaft member  160  which is fixed at step section  149  of the driving source section  140  by the screw  163   b . The hopper  101  is fitted into the hopper attaching holes  106   a - 106   d  of the coin attaching base  120 . The disk  102  is rotated for dispensing the coins which are provided to the hopper  101 .  
         [0069]     The disk  102  is rotated in the counter clockwise direction, then the coins on the disk base  104  are moved by disk  102 . The coins are guided to coin dispensing roller  108  by coin stoppers  110   a ,  110   b , afterwards the coins are dispensed outside by dispensing roller  108 . In this process, the coin is detected by sensors  109   a ,  109   b  and is counted.  
         [0070]     When the coins are moved on the disk base  104  by the disk  102 , the disk  102  receives an upward force by the coins. Accordingly, the rotating shaft member  160  receives the force.  
         [0071]     The rotating shaft member  160  is attached at pedestal section  161 . Therefore the rotating shaft member  160  is not moved in the thrust direction of the shaft by the force. Also, the disk  102  is not moved upwards, because the pedestal section  161  of the rotating shaft member  160 , is fixed at the apparatus body  100 .  
         [0072]     The projecting pieces  166   a ,  166   b  of the pedestal section  161  are fitted into the grooves  150   a - 150   h . Therefore when rotating shaft member  160  rotates, the torque which is received from the disk  102  receives the forces from the side walls to grooves  150   a - 150   h.    
         [0073]     Therefore screw  168  where the pedestal section  161  is attached at the step section  149  doesn&#39;t receive the torque based on the rotation of rotating shaft member  160 . As a result, the rotating shaft member  160  is fixed at the body  100  solidly. Also, the rotating shaft member doesn&#39;t come off from the body  100 . Therefore the coins are dispensed every time.  
         [0074]     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.  
       APPENDIX  
       [0000]     Selected Reference Numbers  
         [0075]      50  coin dispensing apparatus  
         [0076]      100  apparatus body  
         [0077]      102  disk  
         [0078]      104  disk base  
         [0079]      120  disk attaching base  
         [0080]      121  motor which is driving source  
         [0081]      140  driving source section  
         [0082]      142  gears which is transmitting member  
         [0083]      143  disk rotating gear  
         [0084]      143   d  inserting hole of disk rotating gear  
         [0085]      143   e  perpendicular groove  
         [0086]      148  attaching hole of apparatus body  
         [0087]      149  step section  
         [0088]      160  rotating shaft member  
         [0089]      161  pedestal section  
         [0090]      162  rotating section  
         [0091]      165  cross bar member