Abstract:
The present invention provides a guiding device for dispensing discs from a storage hopper and includes a disc guiding unit attached to the storage hopper to extend operatively for conveying discs in a first mode of operation and also attached relative to the storage hopper to extend in a second non-operative mode of operation wherein jammed coins can be removed and a disc dispensing apparatus can be provided in a compact configuration for transportation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is directed to a guiding device for selectively dispensing discs, and more particularly, to a guiding unit that can be movable relative to a storage hopper to provide a compact configuration and facilitate removal of jammed discs. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Various forms of disc guiding units or coin elevators that can align a disc and permit discs to be selectively dispensed one by one from a hopper are known such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,275. In this disclosure, the disc guiding unit can be modified to accommodate monetary coins of different dimensions. 
   Another example of the prior art can be found in the Japanese Utility Model 6-3668 which discloses a detachable disc guiding unit for resolving problems of coins that may be jammed in the disc guiding unit. When coin jamming occurs in the disc guiding unit, a dispensing side unit is detached from the hopper side guiding unit to enable the coins to be removed. A problem can occur, however, in that removing a disc guiding unit can be subject to damage and deformation. Additionally, the detaching and attaching of a disc guiding unit can be tedious and labor intensive. 
   Thus, the prior art is still seeking solutions to an efficient and economical disc guiding unit that facilities the removal of jammed coins, tokens or medallions. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A purpose of the present invention is to facilitate the removal of jammed coins while preventing any deformation and damage to a disc guiding unit where it is also desirable to provide a design that facilitates the introduction and removal of a hopper from a gaming machine, particularly when the opening or entrance is relatively small. 
   Another purpose of the present invention is to prevent dispensing of the disc when a dispensing side guiding unit is detached. 
   The present invention includes a disc guiding unit that can be attached to a hopper capable of dispensing discs in a selective one-by-one manner. The guiding unit includes a hopper side guiding unit and a dispensing side guiding unit. The disc guiding unit can be detachably mounted and also can be mounted so that the dispensing side guiding unit can pivot on a shaft located besides the guiding unit. If discs jam within the disc guiding unit, the dispensing side guiding unit can be pivoted on the shaft and thereby moved away from the hopper side guiding unit. As a result, the end faces of the guiding passageways are opened and discs that are jammed therein can then be removed from either the dispensing side guiding unit or the hopper side guiding unit. 
   Since the dispensing side guiding unit is movably mounted to the hopper, the opportunity of it to be damaged and detached is thereby limited. 
   Also, when the dispensing side guiding unit is pivoted, the height of the hopper with the guiding unit is relatively compact. Therefore, the entrance into a gaming machine through a small opening can be readily achieved. Subsequently, the dispensing side guiding unit can be pivoted on the shaft and then fixed at the hopper side guiding unit. 
   A buffering unit can be further utilized to limit the pivoting speed of the guiding unit, thereby reducing the possibility of damage. A fixing unit can also be provided to fix the dispensing side guiding unit. 
   The guiding device of the present invention includes a disc guiding unit attached to a storage hopper that can extend operatively away from the storage hopper for conveying discs in a first mode of operation for dispensing and further is attached to the storage hopper member to extend in a second non-operative mode of operation at a different alignment with the storage hopper. A pivotal connection member can enable the disc guiding unit to pivot relative to the storage hopper while a fixing unit can hold a disc guiding unit in an operative disc conveying mode. 
   The buffering unit can include a spring member that can provide an increasing amount of force to inhibit the relative rotation of the disc guiding unit as it moves from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. 
   The present invention can be implemented in a coin dispensing unit such as a gaming machine. A coin operator unit is operatively attached to a storage hopper that stores bulk coins. A rotating selector member can selectively remove coins from the hopper to a dispensing location. The coin elevator can be pivotally mounted to provide a storage position that is traverse to the operative coin dispensing direction in the first mode of operation. 
   Finally, the coin selector unit mounted within a coin storage hopper can be provided as a separate operative component with a pivotally attached coin elevator and a handle to permit a user to easily mount the component in a coin dispensing apparatus. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hopper of a first embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the hopper of the first embodiment deleting the bowl. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the hopper deleted of the bowl of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged left-hand side view of the separating section of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a part cross-section view of the holding device of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view side of the hopper when the dispensing guiding unit is pivoted in the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the hopper with the guiding unit of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the hopper which deleted the bowl and includes the guiding unit of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a rear view of the hopper with the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged left hand side view of the separating section of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 11  is a rear view side of the hopper when the dispensing guiding unit is pivoted in the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-section view along A-A line in  FIG. 4  of the fixing unit in the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 13  is a circuit diagram of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the hopper with the guiding unit of the third embodiment. 
       FIG. 15  is a rear view of the hopper with the guiding unit of the third embodiment detached the bowl. 
       FIG. 16  is a front view of the hopper with the guiding unit which is laid down which is the third embodiment. 
       FIG. 17  is an enlarged front view of the automatic fixing unit of the third embodiment. 
       FIG. 18  is a rear perspective view of the hopper with the guiding unit which is laid down which is in the third embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention. 
   The terminology “disc” herein is broad enough to include token, medallions, monetary coins, and other objects of value which are to be stored in bulk and dispensed selectively. 
   Hopper  10  includes base  11 , hopper base  12  which is fixed at base  11  at approximately 60 degrees, rotating disk plate or selector unit  13  for the selection of a disc D at the obverse side of hopper base  12  and coin storage bowl  14  which stores discs D as shown in  FIG. 1 . Bowl  14  is shaped like a rectangular box to store more discs in a predetermined space. For example, hopper  10  is known by the U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,433 which is incorporated herein by reference although other configurations of hoppers can be used. 
   A disc guiding unit  15  is fixed on hopper base  11 , and discs D are let off by the rotating disk plate  13 , one by one, to be aligned in the disc guiding unit  15 , and are dispensed by count sensor  16 , one by one, at dispensing section at one end. Disc guiding unit or coin elevator unit  15  includes a hopper side guiding unit  17  which is fixed at the hopper base  12  and a dispensing side guiding unit  18 . In this embodiment, the disc guiding unit is made up of two equal parts; however, it can be made up of more parts. 
   Hopper side guiding unit  17  includes a hopper side base plate  19  which is rectangular in shape and is fixed at base  12 . A pair of rectangular spacers  21 , 22 , which are slightly thicker than the thickness of a disc D, a pair of upper side holding plate  23 , 24  which have contact with spacers  21 , 22 . 
   The distance between a pair of spacers  21 , 22  is slightly larger than the diameter of disc D and can be set for a particular size such as a monetary coin. The distance between holding plate  23 , 24  is smaller than the distance between spacers  21 , 22 . The holding plate  23  and the spacer  21  are fixed at a hopper side base plate  19  by screws  25 , 26  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Spacer  21  and holding plate  23  are held on base  19  by springs  27 , 28  which are located between the holding plate  23  and the heads of the screws, which are combined integrally, see  FIG. 4 . Also, holding plate  24  and spacer  22  are fixed at base  19  by screws  31 , 32 . Spacer  22  and supporter  24  are also pushed on base  19  by springs  33 , 34  which are located between supporter  24  and the heads of screws, which are also combined integrally. 
   Groove  35  has a U-shape cross-section and extends longitudinally so that it is located at the middle of hopper side base plate  19  and can transport discs. Hopper side guiding unit  17  slants approximately at a 60-degree angle to the fixed section of hopper base plate  12 . The upper end is a hopper side combining section  36  and is perpendicular. The lower section of hopper side base plate  19  is fixed at the upper section of supporting boss  20  by bolts (not shown). The lower section of supporting boss  20  is fixed at base plate  11  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Supporting boss  20  provides supporting structure to hopper side guiding unit  17 . Hopper side combining section  36  has a hopper side concave section  37  for receiving a dispensing side base plate  41 , see  FIG. 4 . The upper section of base plate  19  is crank-like in shape. The concave section  37  is structured between the base plate  19  and the hopper side spacers  21 , 22 . The upper section of base plate  19  slants towards the outside and provides structure for hopper side guide  38 . Hopper side guiding passageway  39  is enclosed by base plate  19 , spacers  21 , 22  and holding plates  23 , 24  and is rectangular across its cross-section and extends perpendicular. 
   Next, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is explained. Dispensing side guiding unit  18  includes a dispensing side base plate  41  which is rectangular, a pair of spacers  42 , 43  which are slightly thicker than the thickness of the disc D and rectangular-shaped like an elongated plate, and a pair of dispensing side holding plates  44 , 45  which have contact with spacers  42 , 43 . The distance between spacers  42  and  43  is the same as the distance between spacers  21  and  22 . The distance between holding plates  44  and  45  is the same as the distance between holding plates  23  and  24  so that a disc is provided a constant size passageway. 
   Dispensing side spacers  42 , 43  are sandwiched between holding plates  44 , 45  and base plate  41  because of screws  46  screwed into base plate  41 . The dispensing side guiding passageway  47  is enclosed by base plate  41 , spacers  42 , 43  and holding plates  44 , 45 . Stay  48  is located under base plate  41 , is located beside guiding passageway  39  and extends downwards rather than towards spacers  42 , 43 . 
   Dispensing side holding plates  44 , 45  also extend downward the same as base plate  41 . Dispensing side concave portion  49  is structured between base plate  41  and holding plates  44 , 45 . The lower sections of holding plates  44 , 45  and base plate  41  structure dispensing side combining section  51 . Hopper side spacers  21 , 22  can be inserted into dispensing side concave portion  49 . The lower sections of holding plates  44 , 45  slant towards the outside which makes up dispensing side guide  50 . 
   A separating section  52  is structured by a dispensing side combining section  51  and hopper side combining section  36  as seen in  FIG. 2 . Bearing  54  is a cylinder and is fixed at attaching section  53  which extends towards a side from supporting body  20 . The attaching section  53  is located beside guiding passageway  39  and is lower than separating section  52 . The lower section of attaching section  53  is at an approximate right angle which makes up the first stopper  57  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Attaching section  53  can be made up of the extending section of base  19 . Shaft  56  is fixed at stay  48  of base plate  41  and can pivot on a bearing  54  which has a predetermined length. The length of shaft  54  is longer than the diameter of shaft  56 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
   Therefore, the axis line of shaft  56  crosses a hypothetical plane which includes a disc guiding passageway  58  (hopper side guiding passageway  39  and dispensing side guiding passageway  47 ) at a right angle. In other words, dispensing side guiding passageway  47  can pivot in a plane which includes the upper section of hopper side guiding passageway  39 . When dispensing side guiding unit  18  pivots at a predetermined angle and is approximately upright, first stopper  57  has contact with stay  48 , see  FIG. 2 . 
   Therefore, guiding unit  15  can be separable to cross at a right angle at combining section  52  which is located in the middle longitudinal. Lower section  59  of dispensing side base plate  41  is inserted into hopper side concave  37 . Hopper side spacers  21 , 22  are inserted into dispensing side concave  49 . Butterfly bolts  69 , 70  penetrate dispensing side holding plates  44 , 45 , hopper side spacers  21 , 22  and lower section  59  of dispensing side base plate  41 , and screw into hopper side base plate  19 . Fixing unit  80  is a pair of butterfly bolts  69 , 70 . Therefore, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is fixed at the upper section of hopper side guiding unit  17 . 
   As a result, hopper side guiding unit  39  and dispensing side guiding unit  47  are combined together in the vertical longitudinal direction and make up a disc guiding passageway or coin elevator  58  which extends perpendicular. In other words, dispensing side base plate  41  is located on an extending line of hopper side base plate  19 , dispensing side spacer  42  is located on the extending line of hopper side spacer  21 , dispensing side spacer  43  is located on the extending line of hopper side spacer  22 , dispensing side holding plate  44  is located on the extending line of hopper side holding plate  23 , and dispensing side holding plate  45  is located on the extending line of hopper side holding plate  24 . 
   Next, a speed buffering unit  60  is explained in  FIG. 6 . Buffering unit  60  has a function to reduce or control the pivoting speed of dispensing side guiding unit  18 . In other words, when the dispensing side guiding unit  18  is stopped, any shock impact is buffered. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , buffering unit  60  includes a spring  61  and a guide  62 . Spring  61  is a leaf spring; in this embodiment, however, it can be changed to either a bar spring, a coil spring or other spring type. Fixed bearing  63  at the upper section of spring  61  can pivot on pin  64  which is fixed at the rear of dispensing side base plate  41 . When bearing  63  is fixed at pin  64 , the buffering effect increases. 
   Next, guide  62  is explained. Guide  62  has a function of permitting elastic deformation because the deformation of spring  61  is limited. Guide  62  includes rectangular guiding hole  66  which is located at guiding board  65  which can bend to a level position at supporting boss  20  and guiding bar  67  which is level and is located under guiding board  65  and is fixed at supporting boss  20 . The lower section of spring  61  penetrates guiding hole  66  and is located at the side of shaft  56  than guiding bar  67 . The lower end of spring  61  is U-shaped and forms stopper or hook  68 . 
   When dispensing side guiding unit  18  pivots on shaft  56 , the lower section of spring  61  is kept perpendicular by guiding hole  66  and guiding bar  67 . Therefore, dispensing side guiding unit  18  receives a force directed in a clockwise direction by spring  61  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Accordingly, when the pivoting of dispensing side guiding unit  18  increases about the shaft  56 , the spring force increases too. In other words, the pivoting speed is reduced and, as a result, the shock of dispensing side guiding unit  18  is buffered. Stopper  68  is stopped or captured by guiding bar  67 ; therefore, the sliding of spring  61  in guide  62  is stopped. Finally, the shock of dispensing side guiding unit  18  is buffered by the movement of spring  61  and is stopped by the first stopper  57 . Guide  62  can be changed to a guiding hole which extends perpendicular. In such an embodiment, the functions of guiding hole  66  and guiding bar  67  are unified. 
   When dispensing side guiding unit  18  pivots on shaft  56  and is positioned in a horizontal level position, counting sensor  16  is located at the inside rather than the side end of bowl  14  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, when the device is moved or mishandled, the sensor is further protected by the presence of the bowl  14 . 
   A disc holding unit  71  is fixed at the lower section of dispensing side guiding unit  18 . Holding unit  71  includes guiding section  73  and stopper  74 . Guiding section  73  is located beside dispensing side guiding passageway  47  and in the middle of stay  72  and has a half egg-like shape. Stopper  74  is located at guiding section  73  and is, for example, a ball  75 . 
   Stay  72  is fixed at holding plates  44 , 45  by screws  76  which screw into base plate  41 . The extending line of slanting surface  77  inside the guiding section  73  crosses to dispensing side guiding passageway  47  at an acute angle. 
   When holding unit  71  is located at a lower position in the embodiment, the extending line of slanting surface  77  crosses the hopper side guiding passageway  39  at an acute angle. In other words, the distance between slanting surface  77  and dispensing side guiding passageway  47  is narrower than at the lower section. Accordingly, when ball  75  is dropped by gravity, it moves toward dispensing side guiding passageway  47  by the slanting surface  77 . 
   Therefore, a disc D can be pushed to dispensing side base plate  41  by ball  75 , and it is kept at that position. 
   Ball  75  is made of iron and has an appropriate surface plating. Stopper  74  can be changed to an alternate unit which has the same function of holding a disc. Also stopper  74  could be changed to a wedge shape member. 
   When holding unit  71  is structured by a stopper  74  which utilizes gravity and a slanting surface  77 , it is less expensive because it doesn&#39;t use a driving unit. Releasing unit  78  is located at the lower section of slanting surface  77 . In this embodiment, releasing unit  78  is an opening  79 . Opening  79  can be made up from a circle (shown in embodiment), rectangle, oval, slot or etc. 
   In other words, a bar-type tool such as a screwdriver can be inserted in opening  79 , and ball  75  is moved by the tool. Releasing unit  78  has a function of releasing the disc held by the holding unit  71 . 
   When ball  75  contacts the disc, it is located above rather than the lower edge of opening  79 . Therefore, when ball  75  is moved towards the side of counting sensor  16  by a screw driver which is inserted at opening  79 , disc D is released. Holding unit  71  can be changed to another unit which has the same the function of holding a disc D in dispensing side passageway  47 . 
   Counting sensor  16  of dispensing side guiding unit  18  includes projecting unit  81  and sensor  82 . Projecting unit  81  is known as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,377 which is incorporated by reference herein. When projecting unit  81  pivots, it faces sensor  82 . Therefore, sensor  82  outputs a counting signal as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Next, the operation of the first embodiment is explained. When rotating disc  13  rotates, it lets off discs D to guiding passageway  39  of hopper side guiding unit  17  one by one. In other words, discs D are aligned in hopper side guiding passageway  39  and have contact with each peripheral. Discs D are pushed by a new disc D which is let off from the rotating disk  13 , and they reach dispensing side guiding passageway  47 . The top disc D in the dispensing side guiding passageway  47  is dispensed by projecting unit  81 . The movement of projecting unit  81  is detected by sensor  82 , afterwards the sensor  82  outputs a signal for counting the dispensed discs D. 
   Next, the separation between dispensing side guiding unit  18  and hopper side guiding unit  17  is explained. First, butterfly bolts  69 , 70  are released and are taken away from dispensing side guiding unit  18 . Next, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is moved from a vertical perpendicular position as shown in  FIG. 3  to a horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 6  in a counterclockwise direction. 
   In this process, the lower section of spring  61  is guided by guiding hole  66  and guiding bar  67 . Therefore, the lower section is kept at the perpendicular situation, and spring  61  is transformed to an arc shape. The pivoting speed of dispensing side guiding unit  18  is reduced according to this deformation. In addition, the deformation of spring  61  increases because stopper  68  is stopped by the guiding bar  67 . As a result, the pivoting speed is reduced. Finally, stay  48  is stopped by first stopper  57 , and dispensing side guiding unit  18  is stopped. 
   When dispensing side guiding unit  18  is stopped by first stopper  57 , any shock will be reduced drastically because the pivoting speed is reduced. Accordingly, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is separated from hopper side guiding unit  17 . At the same time, discs D in dispensing side guiding passageway  47  fall down by gravity. Ball  75  of holding unit  71  also falls down by gravity and is moved toward dispensing side base plate  19  by the slanting surface  77 . 
   Therefore, disc D is pushed to dispensing side base plate  41  by ball  75  and is kept at that position. As a result, disc D cannot fall down from dispensing side passageway  47 . The discs D are stacked and are stopped by the last disc D which is held in dispensing passageway  47 . 
   The lower disc D is located under ball  75 , and falls down. The lower disc D is only one or two discs, because ball  75  is located at a lower section of dispensing side guiding passageway  47 . When the disc D falls down, the recycling work is easy, because there are only one or two discs. In this situation, the hopper can further be packaged and transported. Accordingly, the packaging height is lower, and, as a result, transporting efficiency is improved. 
   When discs D are to be taken away from dispensing side guiding unit  18 , a screwdriver is inserted through opening  79 , and ball  75  is pushed up. Therefore, ball  75  isn&#39;t pushed towards disc D or dispensing side base plate  41 . As a result, disc D can move in dispensing side guiding passageway  47 . In this situation, jammed discs D are moved and are taken away from dispensing side guiding passageway  47 . 
   The jammed discs D in hopper side guiding passageway  39  are removed as above mentioned, and afterwards dispensing side guiding unit  18  is connected with hopper side guiding unit  17  in the opposite steps of the above-mentioned procedure. In other words, dispensing side guiding unit  18  pivots on shaft  56  and is positioned in vertical alignment. 
   In this process, dispensing side base plate  41  and dispensing side holding plates  44 , 45  pivot in a plane which is parallel to the hopper side concave  37 . First, lower section  59  of dispensing side base  19  goes into hopper side concave  37 . Also, the upper section of hopper side spacer  22  goes into dispensing side concave  49 . 
   Next, the upper section of hopper side spacer  21  goes to dispensing side concave  49 . In this process, hopper side combining section  36  and dispensing side combining section  51  are combined in the lateral direction because shaft  56  is located beside guiding passageway  58 . Accordingly, lower section  59  is guided by hopper side concave  37 , and hopper side spacers  21 , 22  are guided by the dispensing side concave  49 . 
   When the pivoting plane is out of alignment, lower section  59  is guided by the slanting section of hopper side guide  38  and hopper side spacers  21 , 22  are guided by dispensing side guide  50  into dispensing side concave  49 . When hopper side guiding passageway  39  and dispensing side guiding passageway  47  are aligned, butterfly bolts  69 , 70  are screwed into hopper side base  19  and are combined. Therefore, hopper side guiding unit  17  and dispensing side guiding unit  18  are combined. 
   Also, when dispensing side guiding unit  18  pivots on shaft  56  to a level position, for example, the upper end of ball  75  is lower. When the entrance of gaming machine for the hopper is small, the present hopper can be taken in or out easily. 
   When the hopper is either in or out of the gaming machine, the dispensing side guiding unit  18  is removed as mentioned, and is fixed at hopper side guiding unit  17  by screws  69 , 70 . Thus, the assembly and disassembly of a gaming machine is made much easier. 
   Now the structure of the second embodiment is explained with  FIGS. 7 through 13 , and the same structures as the first embodiment are provided with the same reference numbers. 
   The supporting body  20  of the second embodiment is channel-like in shape at a cross-section, and the lower section can be fixed at base  11 ; however, it isn&#39;t necessary to fix it. Hopper side connecting section  36  has a tier  201 . The upper section of base  19  is bent horizontally and forms a guiding section  65  seen in  FIG. 10 , because of the strengthening and is made up of an after-mentioned guiding hole  66 . Dispensing side spacers  21 , 22  extend downwards the same as base  19 . The lower sections of spacers  21 , 22 , the lower section of base  19  and the lower section of holding plate  23 , 24  and base plate  19  structure dispensing side connecting section  49 . The lower sections of holding plates  44 , 45  slant towards the outside which makes up dispensing side guide  202 . 
   Shaft  204  is fixed between the side wall supporting body  20  which is channel-like in shape and extends horizontally. Also shaft  204  is located beside hopper side guiding passageway  39  and is under a combining section  51 . Therefore, the axis line of shaft  204  crosses a hypothetical flat surface which includes a disc face in guiding passageway  58  (hopper side guiding passageway  39  and dispensing side guiding passageway  47 ) at a right angle. In other words, dispensing side guiding passageway  47  can pivot in a plane which includes the upper section of hopper side guiding passageway  39 . 
   Bearing  208  is a rotatable cylinder and is fixed between the side walls at the lower section of lever  206  which is channel-like in shape. The lower section of lever  206  is located at the groove of supporting body  20  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Therefore, lever  206  can pivot in a plane which is parallel to a plane which includes guiding passageways  39  and  47  and guiding unit  15  can be separable to cross at a right angle at connecting section  52  which is located in the middle of the longitudinal axis. 
   Attaching section  210  is bent at a right angle at the right end of dispensing side base plate  41  and is fixed at the bottom  207  of the upper section of lever  206 . Operating section  212  is at an end of the side wall of lever  206  which is bent to a right angle to guiding passageway  58 . These structures are stronger and smaller because the supporting body  20 , and lever  206  is channel-like in shape. 
   Next fixing unit  80  for the dispensing side guiding unit  18  is explained. Fixing unit  80  is, for example, a one-touch fixing unit  214  for easier operation as seen in  FIG. 12 . One-touch fixing unit  214  includes cylinder  218 , slider  222 , spring  221  and stopper  226 . Cylinder  218  is pressed into a hole  216  which is located at the upper section of supporting body  20 . Slider  222  can slide within hole  220  of cylinder  218 . Slider  222  protrudes outside and is pushed by spring  221 . Stopper  226  stops movement of slider  222 . 
   Pin section  228  at the end of slider  222  has a chamfered edge at one end and is inserted into through hole  230  which is located at lever  206 . When pin section  228  penetrates into through hole  230 , dispensing side guiding unit  18  is located on an extending axis of hopper side guiding unit  17 . In other words, dispensing side guiding passageway  47  is located vertically on the extending line of hopper side guiding passageway  39 , and they together form the structure for disc guiding passageway  58 . 
   Stopper  226  can be held by an operator, and moved towards the right as shown in  FIG. 12 . Therefore, slider  222  moves out from through hole  230 . Lever  206 , in other words, dispensing side guiding unit  18  can pivot at shaft  204 . As a result, dispensing side guiding unit  18  can be moved to a horizontal position. When dispensing side guiding unit  18  is returned, stopper  226 , in other words, slider  222 , is moved towards the right, and the end of pin section  228  is pulled into cylinder  218 . Afterwards, dispensing side guiding unit  18  can be pivoted; then bottom wall  207  of lever  206  has contact with stopper  232  which has a L cross-section and extends from supporting body  20 . 
   In this situation, pin section  228  faces through hole  230 . Therefore, stopper  226  is released. Slider  222  is moved automatically to the left by spring  221 . Then pin section  228  proceeds into through a locking hole  230 , and dispensing side guiding unit  18  is again fixed. 
   In this situation, dispensing side base  19  is located on the extending line of hopper side base  19 , dispensing side spacer  42  is located on the extending line of hopper side spacer  21 , dispensing side spacer  43  is located on the extending line of hopper side spacer  22 , dispensing side supporter  44  is located on the extending line of hopper side supporter  23  and dispensing side supporter  45  is located on the extending line of hopper side supporter  24 . Accordingly, hopper side guiding passageway  39  is connected with dispensing side guiding passageway  47 , and they together make up guiding passageway  58  which can extend perpendicular. The upper section of spring  61  is fixed at stay  234  which penetrates towards the rear from base plate  41  at a right angle. Material with the elasticity of spring  61  can be chosen from iron, resin, FRP, or etc., however, steel is best, because it is cheaper and has a long life. 
   Next, controlling circuit  238  of electrical driving unit  236  of hopper  10  is explained in  FIG. 13 . Electrical driving unit  236  is an electrical motor  240  which drives the rotating disc in the hopper through a reducer unit  242 . Electrical motor  240  is connected in series with a micro switch  244 , a contactor  246  which is opened or closed by a controlling unit (not shown) of a gaming machine and a power source  248 . 
   When micro switch  244  is opened, motor  240  does not rotate. The dispensing side guiding unit detecting device is micro switch  244 ; however, it can be changed to another switch unit which can have the same function. Micro switch  244  is fixed at the side wall of supporting body  20 . Driven piece  250  of micro switch  244  is pushed by operating piece  212  and is located at the “ON” position. 
   When dispensing side guiding unit  18  is fixed by fixing unit  48 , driven piece  250  is pushed by operating piece  212 . Therefore, micro switch  244  becomes “ON”. When the driven piece  250  is not pushed, micro switch  244  is “OFF”. In other words, when dispensing side guiding unit  18  falls, micro switch  244  is “OFF” and controlling circuit  238  continues in the open situation; however, contactor  246  is closed. 
   Next, the operation of the second embodiment is explained. When dispensing side guiding unit  18  is located at the extending line of hopper side guiding unit  17  and is fixed by fixing unit  80 , driven piece  250  of micro switch  244  is pushed by operating piece  212 . Therefore, micro switch  244  is “ON”. When contactor  246  became “ON” by the gaming machine controlling unit, controlling circuit  238  becomes “ON”; therefore, motor  240  rotates. Rotating disc  13  rotates by motor  240 , and lets off a disc D into guiding passageway  39  of hopper side guiding unit  17 , one by one. In other words, discs D align in hopper side guiding passageway  39  and have contact with each other on their peripheral sides. 
   Discs D are pushed by an entering new disc D which is let off from rotating disk  13 , and they reach dispensing side guiding passageway  47 . The top disc D in dispensing side guiding passageway  47  is dispensed by projecting unit  81 . The movement of projecting unit  81  is detected by sensor  82 ; afterwards the sensor  82  outputs a signal for counting the dispensed discs D. 
   Next, the separating operation between dispensing side guiding unit  18  and hopper side guiding unit  17  is explained. First, stopper  226  is held and moved by an operator, and slider  222  is taken away from through hole  230 . Next, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is moved from the upright perpendicular position, as shown in  FIG. 9 , to the horizontal position shown in  FIG. 11  in a counterclockwise direction. 
   In this process, the lower section of spring  61  is guided by guiding hole  66  and guiding bar  67 . Therefore, the lower section is kept at the upright perpendicular situation, and spring  61  is bent or transformed to an arc shape. The pivoting speed of dispensing side guiding unit  18  is correspondingly reduced according to the amount of deformation. In addition, the deformation of spring  61  increases because stopper  68  is stopped by the guiding bar  67 . Also projection  254  has contact with the inside wall of supporting body  20  and stops. As a result, the pivoting speed is drastically reduced. 
   Accordingly, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is separated from hopper side guiding unit  17 . Also driven piece  250  is not pushed by operating piece  212 . Therefore, micro switch  244  becomes “OFF”, and the controlling circuit  238  is opened. In this situation, when contactor  246  becomes “ON”, motor  240  does not rotate. As a result, discs D are not dispensed. When dispensing side guiding unit  18  is separated, discs D in dispensing side guiding passageway  47  fall down by gravity; however, they don&#39;t fall down in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 
   When dispensing side guiding unit  18  is combined with hopper side guiding unit  17  by reversing the steps of the above-mentioned procedure, the dispensing side guiding unit  18  pivots on shaft  204  and to a perpendicular position. Therefore, dispensing side base  19  is located on the extending line of hopper side base  19 , dispensing side spacers  42 , 43  are located on each of the extending lines of hopper side spacers  21 , 22  and dispensing side supporters  44 , 45  are located on each of the extending lines of hopper side supporters  23 , 24 . 
   If the pivoting plane is out of alignment, slanting sections  202  are guided by hopper side spacers  21 , 22  and the positions becomes the above-mentioned situation. Next stopper  226  is held by an operator, and slider  22  is moved, and pin section  228  is pulled into cylinder  218 . Afterwards, lever  206  is pushed to stopper  232 . Also slider  222  becomes free, and pin section  228  goes into through hole  230  by the force of spring  221 . Therefore, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is fixed at hopper side guiding unit  17 . As a result, guiding unit  15  is structured. 
   When the hopper is either in or out of the gaming machine, the dispensing side guiding unit  18  is removed as mentioned, and is fixed at hopper side guiding unit  17  by a one-touch fixing unit  214 . 
   The structure of the third embodiment is hereinafter explained and the same reference numbers of embodiments 1 and 2 are used. The third embodiment doesn&#39;t include a buffering unit  60 . Support  300  is perpendicularly fixed at base  11 . A carrying handle  302  is gate-like in shape and is fixed at support  300  for hopper base  12 . The other end of the carrying handle  302  is fixed at supporting body  20  and it reinforces the supporting body  20 . Handling section  304  of carrying handle  302  is parallel to base  11  and is easy to grasp by an operator. In other words, when hopper  10  is in a gaming machine, the handling section  304  is level. 
   Fixing unit  80  of this embodiment is an automated fixing unit  306  which an operator doesn&#39;t have to operate. Next the automated fixing unit  306  is explained. Holding groove  310  slants downwards and is located at plate  308  which protrudes towards the side from the upper rear wall of supporting body  20 . 
   Pin  316  protrudes towards the rear from convex section  314  of rear wall  312  of lever  206  which can pivot on shaft  204  together with dispensing side guiding unit  18 . Pin  316  is cylinder-like in shape and can proceed into the holding groove  310 . Hooking unit  318  is located adjacent to plate  308  and is located at the side of the rear wall of supporting body  20 , and is pivotable on shaft  320  which penetrates from the rear wall of supporting body  20 . Hooking unit  318  has a concave section  322  at the lower edge. 
   When a part (the right side shown in  FIG. 15 ) of pin  316  has contact at the furthest area of wall  323  of holding groove  310 , it stops opposite of pin  316  (the left side shown in  FIG. 15 ). Therefore, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is stopped in pivoting in the counterclockwise direction to a vertical position as shown in  FIG. 15 . The lower surface rather than the hook  322  of hooking unit  318  is a slanting surface  324  which slants downwards towards hook  322 . The rear upper section of hooking unit  318  is bent approximately level and is rectangular and acts as a releasing section  326  for hooking unit  318 . 
   The middle section of hooking unit  318  is wound on shaft  320 , and an end is hooked at the lower surface of releasing section  326 , also the other end is hooked at stopper  328  which protrudes from supporting body  20 . Therefore, hooking unit  318  pivots in the counterclockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 15 . Also elongate hole  332  is arc-like in shape in the center where shaft  320  is shown in  FIG. 17 . Pin  334  penetrates from the side surface of hooking unit  318  and can be inserted into the arc elongate hole  332 . Therefore, hooking unit  318  is pivoted by spring  330 , also the pin  334  is stopped by a lower edge  336  of the arc elongate hole  332 . 
   When releasing lever section  326  in  FIG. 17  is pushed down, pin  334  is stopped by an upper edge  338  of arc elongate hole  332 . In this situation, hooking unit  318  doesn&#39;t hook pin  316 . Also, when dispensing side guiding unit  18  is moved as shown in  FIG. 16 , bottom wall  207  of lever  206  has contact with the upper surface of the middle section  304  of carrying handle  302  and is supported at that position. In this situation, screws can be screwed into the screw holes (not shown) of middle section  304  through elongate hole  340  of lever  206 . Therefore, the lever  206  is fixed at middle section  304 . As a result, dispensing side guiding unit  18  doesn&#39;t vibrate while being transported. 
   Next the operation of this third embodiment is explained. When dispensing side guiding unit  18  is moved from a folded position onto the extending line of hopper side guiding unit  17 , pin  316  has contact with slanting surface  324 . Therefore, pin  316  pushes up hooking unit  318  and pivots hooking unit  318  in the counterclockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 17 . When pin  316  has contact with the back wall  323  of arc elongate hole  310 , slanting surface  324  is unhooked from pin  316 . 
   Therefore, hooking unit  318  is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction by spring  330  as shown in  FIG. 15 , afterwards hook  322  hooks pin  316 . As a result, hook  322  stops the returning movement of the dispensing side guiding unit  18 . In other words, dispensing side guiding unit  18  is fixed. When the dispensing side guiding unit  18  is separated, releasing section  326  is pushed down; also hooking unit  318  is pivoted in the clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 15 . In this situation, the upper edge  338  of arc elongate hole stops pin  334 , Therefore, the over-pivoting of hooking unit  318  is prevented. 
   When pin  334  is stopped by upper edge wall  338 , hook  322  unhooks pin  316 . Therefore, dispensing side guiding unit  18  can pivot in the counterclockwise direction shown in  FIG. 16  and becomes placed in a horizontal position. In this third embodiment, dispensing side guiding unit is automatically fixed by automatically fixing unit  306  based on the returning movement. Also, when dispensing side guiding unit  18  is positioned in a horizontal position, releasing section  326  is pushed down to make the operation easier. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the amended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.