Abstract:
A coin dispensing device is provided that prevents a returning of a first coin to prevent a clink noise. The coin dispensing device has a rotating disk that dispenses coins to a guiding unit one by one. The dispensed coins are guided upwards by the guiding unit in a line. A coin return preventing unit prevents the first coin going backward which is located adjacent to the rotating disk. The first coin dispensed by the rotating disk is prevented from moving backwards.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japan Application No. 2003-381829 filed Nov. 11, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This present invention is related to a coin dispensing device in which a reverse movement of aligned coins is prevented. More particularly, the present invention is related to a backwards motion prevention unit for preventing coins which have been dispensed by the rotating disk and fall down, from running into the rotating disk and making noise such as a clunk. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a coin dispensing device where the returning movement of the dispensed coins which are dispensed by the rotating disk is held at a position so as not to make noise. In this specification, “coin” includes coins, tokens, discs, etc. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A first prior art reference (Japanese Patent number 2514877—FIGS. 1–3, Pages 2–5) is known wherein the coins are dispensed to an escalator (a guiding unit) slantwise by the rotating arms one by one. The coins are also guided perpendicularly, and they are dispensed from the top of the escalator. In this prior art, tapered rollers are located immediately downstream of the rotating disk, because the coins are guided smoothly from the slanting section to the perpendicular section. As explained in the detailed explanation, coins are piled in a coin storing unit  10  in a predetermined quantity and in dominations. The coin storing unit  10  is attached to a charge dispensing apparatus. 
   A second prior art reference (Japanese Examed Utility Model number 4-45090—FIGS. 1–4, Pages 1–2) is known wherein a holding unit which includes a ball and a slanting surface is attached to a perpendicular guiding unit. 
   In the device of Japanese Patent number 2514877, the diameter section of the dispensed coin (a first coin) which was dispensed by the rotating disk can not pass between the first tapered roller and another tapered roller. Then the first coin is moved by the next dispensed coin, as a result, the coin can pass between the first tapered roller and another tapered roller. Therefore the first coin slides down by gravity, because the first coin is located at the slanting section and the next dispensed coin is dispensed intermittently. The coin that slid down runs to the next coin or the rotating disk. Therefore it makes a “clink” noise. In an operating machine where this device is situated, a user may be disturbed by the noise. 
   The problem is explained referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  (Prior Art) in detail. In  FIG. 6 , the coin dispensing unit  10  (“hopper”) includes frame  12  and bowl  16  which is cylindrical and is fixed at the frame  12  and stores coins  14 . The unit  10  also has a first rotating disk  18  and a second rotating disk  20  (see  FIG. 7 ) which are located at the bottom section of the bowl  16  and dispense coins  14  and guiding unit  22  for the coins. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the fallen coins go into through holes  24  of rotating disk  18  and are supported on base  26  and are moved by a pusher (not shown) which is located under the surface of the rotating disk  18 . The coins are guided to the round direction of rotating disk  18  by guides  28  which protrude into the coin&#39;s moving course. 
   Second rotating disk  20  includes five projections  30  in the same interval and is star like in shape and rotates synchronously in the opposite direction to first rotating disk  18 . The second rotating disk  20  has a function where the coins which are dispensed by first rotating disk  18  one by one are received and the received coins are moved along to the arc guiding surface  32 . Also the structure and the function of first rotating disk  18  and second rotating disk  20  are the same as the structure and function disclosed in Japanese Patent number 2514877. 
   Gate unit  34  is located at the exit position to the second rotating disk  20 . Gate unit  34  includes roller  40  which is tapered downwards and rotatable on a shaft  38 . Shaft  38  is inserted into guiding groove  36  which extends at a right angle to the moving direction of the coins and is slidable and is urged to reduce the width of coin passageway  46  by spring  44  which is hooked between it self and fixed pin  42 . Shaft  38  usually is stopped by the end of guiding groove  36  and has a distance to guiding surface  32  which is smaller than the diameter of the coin. 
   When the coin passes, the roller  40  is moved along guiding groove  36  by the coin. Afterwards the diameter section of the coin passes between guiding surface  32  and roller  40 , roller  40  is moved towards guiding surface  32 , then roller  40  is stopped at the above-mentioned position. Therefore the coin passes at gate unit  34 , afterwards they slide down by gravity. The coin cannot return to the side of second rotating disk  20 , because the distance between roller  40  and guiding surface  32  is smaller than the diameter of the coin. 
   However, roller  40  is located away from the second rotating disk  20  to prevent hitting the second rotating disk  20 . Therefore, coin  14  is moved out by the end of projection  30 , and the diameter section of the coin can not pass between roller  40  and guiding surface  32  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In other words, the first coin  14  which is dispensed by second rotating disk  20  cannot pass gate unit  34 . 
   Therefore, the first coin  14  is moved by the second coin which is moved intermittently by projection  30 , and first coin  14  passes through gate unit  34 . Therefore, the first coin  14  which can not pass the gate unit  34  slides down by the slant of the base  26 , and runs into the next coin  14 . If there is not a next coin  14 , the previous coin  14  runs into the next projection  30 , thereby causing a “clink” by the collision. 
   When there isn&#39;t a gate unit  34 , the moved coin  14  which was moved by the projection slides down, and runs into next coin  14  or projection  30 . Therefore the “clink” occurs as above-mentioned. In this situation, as the coins build up at the first coin return to second rotating disk  20 , then the coin runs into next coin  14  or into projection  30 . Therefore, the “clink” is larger. Also, the passed coins  14  of gate unit  34  are guided by curved guiding section  48  and straight section  50  which extends perpendicular, and are dispensed by dispensing unit  52  at the top. 
   Japanese Examed Utility Model number 4-45090 discloses a holding unit which includes a ball and a slanting surface that is attached. The ball falls by gravity, and is moved towards the side plate by the slanting surface. The coin is held by the ball. If the coin passageway slants, the ball cannot be held quickly. Therefore, the time to hold of the coin takes longer. In other words, Japanese Examed Utility Model number 4-45090 is valid in a perpendicular use. The perpendicular is from 80 degrees to 110 degrees. 
   In Japanese Examed Utility Model number 4-45090 the disclosed coin dispensing device has a rotating disk for dispensing the coins slants, for example the rotating disk slants at 60 degrees for dispensing stability. Therefore the first coin which is moved by the rotating disk slants at 60 degrees. When Japanese Examed Utility Model number 4-45090 is located at the first coin in  FIG. 7 , the first coin isn&#39;t caught quickly. As a result, the “clink” will occur. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One aspect of this present invention is to prevent the returning of the first coin, and prevent the result of the clink noise. 
   To solve this problem, this present invention provides a coin dispensing device in which coins are dispensed to a guiding unit by a rotating disk one by one. The dispensed coins are guided upwards by said guiding unit in a line. The device includes a preventing unit to prevent the first coin going backward. The preventing unit is located adjacent to a rotating disk. The first coin which was dispensed by said rotating disk is prevented from moving backwards. 
   In this structure, the coins are dispensed to the guiding unit one by one by the rotating disk. In the guiding unit, the coins are aligned, and have rim to rim contact. The coin in the front position is moved by the coin in the rear, and is guided upwards, afterwards the coin is dispensed. Then the first coin which is dispensed by the rotating disk is held by the preventing unit, and is prevented from returning to the rotating disk. In other words, the coin which is dispensed by the rotating disk can not go in reverse. Accordingly, the coin does not run into the next coin or the rotating disk. Therefore the “clink” does not occur. 
   The preventing unit that prevents the first coin from going backwards may be a roller. With this structure, when the coins move to reverse, the first coin is stopped by the preventing unit which has contact with the first coin, because the roller cannot rotate. On the one hand, when the first coin passes the peripheral surface of the roller, the first coin can pass by applying a small force. Accordingly, the resistance of the rotating disk is slightly increased. Therefore the reverse movement of the first coin is prevented from the “clink” effect. 
   The roller structure may include a backstop unit which only rotates in one direction. With this structure, the first coin goes or is urged toward the dispensing direction. In this structure, the roller cannot rotate in a rotating direction which is the reverse direction, due to the backstop. Accordingly, the roller can not rotate in the reverse direction of the coins. 
   The roller may be guided by a guiding section in, wherein the roller approaches to a guiding surface and the rotating disk. In this structure, the roller is guided by the slanting elongate hole, wherein the roller approaches the guiding surface and the rotating disk. In other words, when the coin moves to the reverse direction, the roller moves near to the rotating disk, because the roller is drawn by the coin. The roller which is guided by the slanting elongate hole moves near the guiding surface. Accordingly, the pushing force which pushes the coin to the guiding surface increases. Therefore the holding force between the roller and the guiding surface increases, and the coin is held. The reverse movement of the coin is prevented, and the clink is prevented. 
   The roller may be urged towards said rotating disk. In this structure, the roller is always urged towards the rotating disk. The roller is always urged towards the guiding surface by the slanting elongate hole, and pushes positively to the first coin to the guiding surface. Accordingly, the coin cannot be moved into the reverse position by the roller. As a result, the “clink” does not occur. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a coin dispensing device is provided in which coins are dispensed to a guiding unit by a rotating disk one by one. The dispensed coins are guided upwards by the guiding unit in a line. The device includes a roller which is located adjacent to the rotating disk and has contact with the first coin which is dispensed by the rotating disk. The roller is attached to a shaft through a one-way clutch which allows the coin to go to the moving direction and does not allow it to go in the opposite direction. The shaft is guided by a slanting elongate hole which approaches the guiding surface and the rotating disk and is urged towards said rotating disk. 
   With this structure, the last coin which is dispensed by the rotating disk is pushed to the guiding surface by the roller. Also, the roller is supported on the shaft through a one-way-clutch. The one way clutch can rotate in the moving direction of the coin and cannot rotate in the opposite direction. Accordingly, when the coins are reversed, the roller is in a static situation. Also, the shaft can slide into the slanting elongate hole and is urged towards the rotating disk. When the roller moves towards the rotating disk, the shaft is guided by the slanting elongate hole and moves towards the guiding surface. Therefore the holding force which is between the roller and the rotating disk increases, and the first coin cannot to in the reverse. As a result, the “clink” effect does not occur. 
   A coin dispensing device provides a dispensing of the coins to a guiding unit by a rotating disk one by one. The dispensed coins are guided upwards by the guiding unit in a line. The roller is located adjacent to the rotating disk and has contact with the first coin which is dispensed by said rotating disk. The roller is attached to a shaft through a one-way clutch which allows the coin to go to the moving direction and does not allow it in the opposite direction. The shaft is guided by a slanting elongate hole which approaches the guiding surface and the rotating disk and is urged towards the rotating disk. 
   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 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the coin dispensing device with a preventing unit of a preferred embodiment according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plane view of the coin dispensing device with the preventing unit of the preferred embodiment according to the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken at line 3–3 in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a view for explaining the one-way clutch of the preferred embodiment according to the invention; 
       FIG. 4B  is another view for explaining the one-way clutch of the preferred embodiment according to the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a view for explaining the operation of the preferred embodiment according to the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a known device; and 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of a prior art device. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the parts are designated by numbers that are the same as in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and the different and additional structures are explained using additional reference numbers. In  FIG. 1 , a preventing unit  100  is provided to return a first coin. The preventing unit  100  is fixed on a guiding plate  102  which defines the upper section of a coin passageway  46 . The preventing unit  100  has a function in which when a first coin  14  is dispensed from the second rotating disk  20 , the coin cannot return to the side of the second rotating disk  20 . 
   The preventing unit  100  includes a roller  110  which can rotate on shaft  108 . The roller  110  is located near a guide surface  104  of a base  26 . The distance between a peripheral surface  106  of the roller  110  and the guiding surface  104  is smaller than the thickness of coin  14  or is zero. In other words, the peripheral surface  106  and guiding surface  104  are in contact. The lower section of roller  110  passes through an opening  103  of the guiding plate  102  and is located at the coin passageway  46  and beside second rotating disk  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , both ends of the shaft  108  are supported by bearing plates  112 ,  114  which are fixed at the guiding plate  102 . The shaft  108  is fixed at bearing plates  112 ,  114 , however it is desirable to change the distance between the guiding surface  104  to as discussed below. 
   The roller  110  may advantageously be made from an urethane rubber or EPDM etc., because the holding force becomes larger. The roller  110  can be operated at a large friction rate, for example, it can be made from another material and the peripheral surface is processed to a satin finished surface. When the distance between peripheral  106  of roller  110  and guiding surface  104  is smaller than the thickness of coin  14 , the return of coin  14  is prevented. When the coin returns in an opposite direction to the moving direction, the coin  14  must go into the space between the peripheral surface  106  of roller  110  and guiding surface  104  or coin  14  is pushed to guiding surface  104 . Therefore, the movement of coin  14  is stopped. In other words, the coin  14  is not acted on by gravity to make it go into the space between peripheral surface  106  and the guiding surface  104  or the force is smaller than the holding force between peripheral surface  106  and the guiding surface  104 . 
   However, for the roller  110 , it is desirable for preventing the return of the coin to make the roller  110  as follows. The roller  110  is attached to shaft  108  through backstop unit  115 . This is for example a one-way clutch  116  which can rotate in the moving direction of coin  14  and can&#39;t rotate in the opposite direction. In this structure, when the coin  14  goes into the space between the roller  10  and guiding surface  104 , the roller  110  can not reverse. In this structure, when coin  14  falls down between peripheral surface  106  and guiding surface  104 , the roller  110  can not reverse its direction. Therefore the coin  14  cannot return. 
   For example, the one-way clutch  116  includes an outer-race  120 , an inner-race  122 , a ball  124  as a lock, a spring  126  which is an urging means for the ball  124  and a retainer  128  as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The inner-race  122  is attached to the shaft  108  and cannot rotate. Also the shaft  108  is attached to the bearing plates  112 , 114  and is not rotatable. For example, a pair of parallel plane sections are located at shaft  108 . The parallel plane sections are inserted into slanting elongate hole  142  and are slideable. 
   A holding groove  130  is U-shaped and is located at the inner-surface of outer-race  120  which is ring-shaped and is located outside. Holding groove  130  includes an opening wall  132  and a locking wall  134 . The opening wall  132  is spaced away from the peripheral surface of the inner-race  122  by the diameter of ball  124 . A locking wall  134  has a slant like approach to the inner-race continuing to the opening wall  132 . 
   The ball  124  is located in the holding groove  130 . The spring  126  is located between the retainer  128  and the ball  124 . The ball  124  is urged to lock wall  134  by spring  126 . The roller  110  is cylinder-shaped and is fitted to outer-race  120 . The roller  110  is rotated in the counter clockwise direction by coin  14  which is moved by projection  30  of the second rotating disk  20  through one-way clutch  116  as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4B , the outer-race  120  of the one-way clutch  116  is rotated in the same direction. Accordingly, the ball  124  is away from the lock wall  134 , the inward bias of the ball  124  is released. In other words, the ball  124  and outer-race  120  are not unified. Therefore, the roller  110  is rotated together with the movement of the coin  14 . The coin  14  passes through the space between peripheral  106  and guiding surface  104  and does not receive large resistance. 
   When the coin  14  returns, the roller  110  is rotated in the clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 4A . The outer-race  120  of the one-way clutch  116  is rotated in the clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 4A . Accordingly, ball  124  which is in contact with the lock wall  134  by spring  126  is rotated in the same as direction. Also, the ball  124  goes into the space between the lock wall  134  and the outer-race  120 . Therefore, the outer-race  120  and the inner-race  122  are rotated. 
   However, the roller  110  does not rotate, because inner-race  122  is not rotatable on the shaft  108  and the shaft  108  is not rotatable on the bearing plates  112 ,  114 . Therefore, the coin  14  can not go into the space between roller  110  and guiding surface  104  or the coin  14  can not fall down the space between roller  110  and guiding surface  104 , because roller  110  does not rotate. 
   Therefore, the shaft  108  and the roller  110  are guided towards guiding surface  104  by a guiding section  140  with mutual approach being desirable, because the returning of coin  14  is further prevented. The guiding section  140  is provided by slanting elongate holes  142  which are located at the bearing plates  112 ,  114 . These slanting elongate holes  142  slant in the direction approaching the second rotating disk  20  and guiding surface  104 . 
   Therefore, when coin  14  reverses its direction, the roller  110  is pushed by coin  14 . The shaft  108  approaches the guiding surface  104  due to the slanting elongate holes  142 . Accordingly, the distance between peripheral surface  106  of the roller  110  and the guiding surface  104  is reduced, the coin  14  can not go into the space between the peripheral surface  106  and the guiding surface  104  or the coin  14  can not fall down the space between the peripheral surface  106  and the guiding surface  104 . Also, the degree of slant of the slanting elongate hole  142  is preferably small such that the coin  14  moves smoothly. The slant angle which is from 30 to 45 degrees, and is approximately 35 degrees to guiding surface  104  in the preferred embodiment to maintain a small or miniature size. 
   Also, when a guiding section  140  is provided, it is desirable to set an urging unit  144  for preventing the return of coin  14 . The distance between the roller  110  and the guiding surface  104  is always maintained at its smallest by urging unit  144 . When coin  14  returns, the distance between the roller  110  and the guiding surface  104  is zero or very narrow. Therefore, coin  14  can not go into the space or coin  14  can not fall down from the space. The urging unit  144  includes springs  150  which are hooked between the both ends of pin  148  which is fixed at the bearing plate  114  and the bracket  146  between both of the ends of the shaft  108  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   In this structure, the shaft  108  is urged towards the second rotating disk  20  by the spring  150 , and is urged towards guiding surface  104  by slanting elongate hole  142 . Accordingly, the roller  110  is in contact with the guiding surface  104 . When there is a stopper (not shown) for the shaft  108 , the space is smallest. Therefore when the coin  14  returns, the coin  14  can not go into the space or the coin  14  can not fall down. 
   Next, the operation of the preferred embodiment is explained referring to  FIG. 5 . The coin  14 , which is moved by projection  30  in a clockwise direction of the second rotating disk  20 , is guided by guiding surface  32  and is moved in coin passageway  46 . In this process, the coin  14  pushes the roller  110  up in a direction opposite the force of the spring  150 . 
   In this process, the shaft  108  is moved away from the guiding surface  104 , and the distance between the shaft  108  and the guiding surface  104  is increased. Also, the roller  110  can rotate in the counter clockwise direction by the one-way clutch  116  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the moving resistance to the coin  14  is smaller, and the coin  14  is moved by the second rotating disk  20 . The coin  14  which passes through the space between roller  110  and peripheral  106  is pushed up to the solid line shown in  FIGS. 5 and 3  by projection  30 . The roller  40  is slightly moved by the coin  14 . 
   Afterwards, the projection  30  is away from the lower section of the coin  14 . In this process, the coin  14  slides to the side of the second rotating disk  20  on the guiding surface  104  by gravity and the other coin&#39;s weight. However the coin  14  is stopped as above-mentioned. Therefore, the first coin  14  which is dispensed by the second rotating disk  20  is held by roller  110 . Next, the dispensed coin  14  pushes the first coin  14 . The first coin  14  passes through gate unit  34  and is moved to curved guiding unit  48 . Therefore, coin  14  which is dispensed by the second rotating disk  20  doesn&#39;t run into the second rotating disk  20 , and doesn&#39;t “clink”. 
   Also, the roller  110  can be changed to only a roller. However, the roller  110  can be combined with at least the backstop unit  115  or the guiding section  140 . Also, the guiding section  140  cannot be combined with the urging unit  144  (the guiding section  140  does not require the urging unit  144 ). The urging unit  144  can be changed to a weight, a magnet (include an electromagnet), etc. Also, this invention can be applied to a dispensing device without the second rotating disk  20 . The gate unit  34  can be removed. 
   While specific embodiments of the invention have 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.