Abstract:
The present invention provides a coin dispensing apparatus for storing and dispensing coins through a dispensing slot that can be selectively controlled to prevent unauthorized access. A dispensing device dispenses coins through a coin passageway connected to a dispensing slot. A motor can activate the dispensing device to transport coins to the coin passageway which are in turn counted by a counting sensor unit. A control unit can provide signals for coordinating the operation of the motor and the activation of a shutting device for controlling access to the dispensing slot. A shutter can be spring biased and connected to a solenoid for automatically opening and closing the dispensing slot to prohibit intrusion of an exterior object into the coin passageway.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus to protect against external interference, and more particularly, to a coin hopper apparatus with a shutter mechanism that can be automatically employed.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Various forms of coin hopper apparatuses have been utilized in vending machines, gaming machines, ticket vending machines, change dispensing machines, etc. The constant problem that has occurred is to safeguard the operation of the machine so that they can not be interfered with by a third party intruder. For example, in the gaming industry, dispensing apparatuses are frequently utilized at remote locations out of the sight of superintending employees, and attempts have been made to interfere with the operation of the machine and to cause the coin dispensing apparatus to properly dispense extra coins.  
           [0005]    As shown in FIG. 6, a coin dispensing machine, such as a video game machine or a slot machine in a gaming environment, contains a coin hopper  101 , a coin entry slot  103 , and a discharge exit  104 . The coin entry slot  103  can receive a coin D of the appropriate size or denomination. Attempts have been made to gain access to the coin stored in the coin hopper  101  by improperly interfering with the internal mechanisms by inserting objects into the interior of the gaming machine  100  through the discharge exit  102 . An example of a coin dispensing machine can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,433, U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,170, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,919, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,655.  
           [0006]    A problem has occurred in that an external object, such as a semi-rigid wire, can be inserted into the gaming machine from the discharge exit  102  to contact the dispensing slot of the hopper  101 . If the wire is capable of reaching and moving a guiding roller, a sensor will detect the movement of an oscillating lever. When the game is then subsequently played, the control device of the gaming machine will distinguish only one signal, and as a result, the signal will be continued and not differentiated with a second signal, so that coins will be continually dispensed.  
           [0007]    The prior art accordingly is seeking solutions to prevent the theft of coins from a coin hopper, and further to prevent damaging of internal mechanisms in a gaming machine.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention addresses unauthorized intrusions into a coin dispensing apparatus with a relatively economical and compact structure which can be integrated into the manufacturing of a coin dispensing apparatus, or added as an improvement feature to coin dispensing apparatuses that are already in operation. The present invention can prohibit the intrusion of an object that can interfere with the coin passageway. When the coin dispensing apparatus of the present invention has completed its cycle of operation, the dispensing slot can be closed by a shutting device, and when the coin dispensing apparatus is to again be activated, the shutting device can then be removed. As can be appreciated, when coins are actually being dispensed from the coin hopper, an object cannot be inserted into the dispensing slot, because the discs that are being dispensed can become jammed.  
           [0009]    The present invention can provide a coin dispensing apparatus that can both store and dispense coins through a dispensing slot. A dispensing device for dispensing coins through a coin passageway connected to the dispensing slot can be activated by a motor, while a counting sensor unit can be operatively connected to the coin passageway for counting the passage of coins. A shutting device can be operatively connected to the dispensing slot for opening and closing the dispensing slot to prohibit intrusion of an exterior object into the coin passageway. A control unit can provide appropriate enabling signals to coordinate the operation of the motor, the counting sensor unit, and the shutting device. The shutting device can include a closing member that can be movably mounted relative to the coin passageway through appropriately guiding alignment members to permit a selective blocking of the coin passageway. A biasing member can bias the closing member to block the coin passageway, and a drive member can be operatively connected to the closing member for moving the closing member relative to the coin passageway. The driving member can be a solenoid or other motive member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a shutting device of the first embodiment;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device of the first embodiment;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a prior art disclosure of a gaming machine;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a coin dispensing apparatus; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a diagram to explain an operation of a coin dispensing apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    The present invention provides an improvement in coin hoppers or coin dispensing apparatuses to address the problems of theft by individuals interfering with the normal operation of the coin hopper. The terminology “coin” is used generically as understood in this field and does not only represent monetary coins of different denominations, but also medallions, game pieces, tokens, and other objects that can be stored in bulk, generally of a cylindrical configuration and released by a dispensing apparatus.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an example of a coin hopper, which can be modified with the present invention, is explained. Side frames  111  can be vertically fixed to a base  110 , which can be installed within the gaming machine. A hopper supporting base plate  112  of a rectangular configuration can be fixed to the frame  111  to extend upward at a 60° angle. A motor  113  can be fixed on the reverse side of the hopper base  112  to drive a rotating coin dispensing member  114  through a reduction gear assembly (not shown). The rotation coin disc  114  can be located on the top surface of the hopper base  112  within a coin bowl  115  that is fixed to the hopper base  112 . The coin bowl  115  can comprise an upper cylinder section  115   a  and a lower bucket section  115   b,  which is contained within the cylindrical section  115   a.  The bucket section  115   b  has an upper entry opening  116  for receiving bulk coins.  
         [0020]    The coin dispensing device a can be further explained with reference to FIG. 8. The rotating disc  114  comprises a base board  114   a  and a surrounding wall member  114   b  which provide a cylinder-like configuration with the base. A plural number of holes  114   c  are of a dimension to pass through the disc d and are opened to the base board  114   a  with a similar radial spacing. A projection member  114   d  is located between each of the respective holes  114   c  and is slanted from a radial direction from the center of rotation of the rotating disc  114 . The height of the projections  114   d  are smaller than the thickness of the individual disc d.  
         [0021]    The coins, as they are lifted upward by the rotation of the rotating disc  114  provide a transporting area  122  which is formed on the upper surface  112   a  of the hopper base  112 . The bottom surface of the holes  114   c  and spacer  121  are slightly thicker than the thickness of the disc d and have a ring-like configuration. As the rotating disc  114  revolves, the individual discs would become parallel to the rotating disc and will pass through the holes  112   c  that are located at the transporting area  122 . These discs are then supported on the upper surface of the hopper base  112  and are moved by the projections  114   d.  A centrally located guiding board  123 , which is somewhat oval in shape, is fixed around a spacer  121  on the hopper base  112 . An exit guiding section  123   d  is located at the small end section of the oval guiding board  123  to direct coins to an exit  124  which has a configuration of a slit-like configuration or a slot and is formed at the cylindrical section  115   a  of the coin bowl adjacent the rotating disc  114 . A fixed guide roller  126  pivots on a thick shaft  125  at the side exit  124 .  
         [0022]    As the coins are selected and directed towards the exit  124 , a count sensor unit  127  is provided in the pathway of the coins to provide an appropriate count for the automatic dispensing of the coins. The count sensor unit  127  includes a movable guiding roller  128 , an oscillating lever  130  which pivots on a thick shaft  129 , and a sensor  136 . The movable guiding roller  128  rotates on the shaft  131  in the middle of the oscillating lever  130 . The shaft  131  is fixed at a bracket  132 , which is in turn, attached to the reverse side of the hopper base  112 .  
         [0023]    The oscillating lever  130  moves in a counter-clockwise direction as a result of the force of a spring  133 , which is hooked to the bracket  132 . The oscillating lever  130  will be stopped by a stopper  134  shown in dotted lines on the oscillating lever  130  and penetrates through an arc elongated hole  135 , which is formed on the hopper base  112 . The moving guiding roller  128  can rotate on the end of the shaft  131 .  
         [0024]    The sensor unit  136  can be of an optical, magnetic or other type of sensor which can detect the oscillating lever  130  at a predetermined position and output a count signal.  
         [0025]    As shown, the sensor unit  136  is fixed at the bracket  137 , which in turn is fixed at a mounting bracket  132 . A coin disk passageway  140  connects with a dispensing slot  144 , which is rectangular-like in shape, and can be formed by the respective spacer members  141  and  142 , which are both separately fixed on the hopper base  112  at the side of the exit  124 . The moving guiding roller  128  is located adjacent to disc passageway  140 .  
         [0026]    A disc d can be entered into the gaming machine  100  when a player inserts the disc d in the coin entry  103  to play a game. The disc will be guided by a duct (not shown) in FIG. 6 to the coin bowl  115 .  
         [0027]    When the player wins at the game, a control device (not shown) of the gaming machine can output a payout signal of a certain predetermined number of discs d. When the hopper  101  is activated to fulfill the payout signal, the motor  113  will rotate to pickup individual coins. The rotating disc  114  is rotated in a clockwise direction and discs in the coin bowl  115  are then agitated by the rotating disc  114 , and are positioned parallel for entrance into the various coin holes  114   c.  The coins are supported by the hopper base  112  and are pushed towards the arrow b by the projection  114   d.  When the disc d has contact with an exit guiding section  123   d,  it stops moving concentric with the center of rotation of the rotating disc  114  and is directed towards the exit  124 . The force exerted by the projection  114   d  on the disc c, when in contact with the fixed guiding roller  126 , causes the disc to contact the movable guiding roller  128  and to move it in a clockwise direction.  
         [0028]    When the center of the disc d is located over a line which connects between the center of the fixed guiding roller  126  and the center of the movable guiding roller  128 , the disc d is then expelled by the movable guiding roller  128  and is subsequently dispensed from the dispensing slot  144 . Guiding ducts (not shown) will direct a disc to the discharge exit  102  in the gaming machine.  
         [0029]    The oscillating bar  130  is moved in the clockwise direction by the movable guiding roller  128  and is detected by the sensor unit  136 . The sensor unit  136  outputs a signal indicating the dispensing of one coin. The control device of the gaming machine, which can be a microprocessor-based control unit, can count the signals and can control the dispensing operation until the count number reaches a predetermined number whereupon the motor  113  can be stopped by the control device, and as a result, the dispensing of coins are stopped.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 1, a coin hopper hp of the present invention can incorporate an automatic shutting device  1  which can be fixed at the hopper base  112  located near the dispensing slot  144 . The shutting device or closure member  1  includes a second dispensing slot  2 . The shutting device  1  can be retrofitted on existing coin dispensing apparatus or can be originally built into the coin dispensing apparatus as original equipment. As shown in FIG. 5, an alternative shutting device can be built near a dispensing slot  144 . In the description of the present invention, the particular form of the coin dispenser or coin hopper that has been described for example with regards to FIGS. 7 and 8, will use the same reference numbers.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 2, the shutting device  1  can comprise a shutter  10  of an elongated rectangular plate configuration having a pair of angled elongated slots or holes  13   a  and  13   b.  The shutter  10  can be guided by a first guide unit  11  and a second guide unit  12 . The respective guide units can be formed from bars or rails  11   a  and  11   b  and  12   a  and  12   b,  respectively. The shutter  10  is located between these bars and can be moved both up and down and to the left and right, as shown in FIG. 2, to either open or close the elongated dispensing slot  144 . Pins  14   a  and  14   b  are respectively journaled within the first elongated hole  13   a  and the second elongated hole  13   b.  These pins control the relative movement of the shutter  10  as they cam along the surfaces of their respective elongated holes. A motive device  18 , such as for example, a solenoid having a plunger or shaft  19 , is connected through a linking arm  16  by a pin  15  located on the upper section of the shutter  10 . Another pin  17  connects the upper section of the link  16  with the plunger core or shaft  19  to, for example, the solenoid  18 .  
         [0032]    As can be appreciated, other forms of motive power for providing movement to the shutter  10  could be utilized, such as a rack and pinion driven by a motor, etc.  
         [0033]    At the lower end of the shutter  10 , a spring  21  is utilized to bias the shutter  10  to close the elongated slot  144 . In FIG. 2, the solid lines indicate the shutter  10  at a closed position.  
         [0034]    If the solenoid  18  is excited, the shutter  10  can be pulled upward and to the right by engaging the pins  14   a  and  14   b  with the respective elongated slots  13   a  and  13   b.  The shutter  10  then moves away from the front of the dispensing slot  144 , as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, to assume an open position. Thus, this particular arrangement is set forth to close the slot  144  with the shutter  10  when the solenoid  18  is not activated. Therefore, when the coin dispensing apparatus has not been engaged or put into operation, the shutter  10  will block access to the elongated slot  144 . Since the shutter  10  is inserted in the gaming machine upstream from a coin discharge duct, any attempts to insert a foreign object, such as a wire, will be blocked by the shutter  10 .  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 3, a control unit  30  is disclosed in a schematic format. The control unit  30  can comprise a CPU  31 , such as a microprocessor, a ROM  32 , a RAM  34 , and various I/O devices connected to ports or pins for the CPU  31 . The CPU  31  can be operated by a program stored in the ROM  32  and can receive count signals c from a sensor  136 . The count sensor  136  can be monitoring the discharge of coins from the coin hopper in response to the operation of, for example, a gaming machine or any other programmed operation of the coin dispensing apparatus for dispensing a fixed number of coins. A dispensing signal p can activate the control device  31 , such as the depositing of a monetary coin into a vending machine to dispense change, the operation of a gaming program indicating a win for the user, or any other signal that will activate a dispensing of coins from a coin hopper. A stopping signal s can also be received from the gaming machine indicating, for example, the termination of the game activities.  
         [0036]    The flowchart of FIG. 4 discloses the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. When the hopper hp is inactive, that is, is not receiving any dispensing signal p from the control device of the game machine  100 , the shutter  10  can be located at the closed position shown by the continuous line in FIG. 2. Shutter  10  is pulled to that position by the force of the spring  21 . In this situation, if an illegal object is attempted to be inserted into the game machine through the discharge exit  102 , the object is blocked from being inserted into the dispensing slot  144  of the hopper  101  by the shutter  10 . As shown in step S 1 , a decision is made as to whether a signal p for dispensing coins has been received. If the decision is yes, the solenoid  18  is activated to an on state in step S 2 . The solenoid  18  will pull the shutter  10  up and towards the right as it is moved from the front of the dispensing slot  144  to open the slot. In step S 3 , a timer counts a predetermined time period to provide a delay before the motor  113  is activated in step S 4 . The motor  113  rotates the rotating disc  114  so the discs are pushed out from the dispensing passageway  124  one by one, to contact and move the guiding roller  128  so that they are capable of being counted. As a result, a disc d will pass through the dispensing slot  144  and be dispensed from the second dispensing slot  2 . The oscillating lever  130 , pivoted by the moving guiding roller  128 , will cause the sensor unit  136  to detect movement of the oscillating lever  130  and output counting signals c.  
         [0037]    The control device of the game machine will count the counting signal cp, which is output from the control device  30 . When the control device  30  counts a predetermined number, e.g., the jackpot number of coins, it can then output a stopping signal s.  
         [0038]    Step S 5  is a decisional step to determine if the stopping signal has been activated. If there is no stopping signal, the coins will continue to be dispensed until the stopping signal is sensed. At step S 6 , the motor  113  will be turned off after the stopping signal s has been recognized, and then subsequently at step S 7 , the solenoid  18  will be turned off and the shutter mechanism will be pulled down by the spring  21  towards the left to close the dispensing slot  144 .  
         [0039]    In a modified embodiment, the control device  30  of the hopper hp can further count to the count signal c and can then output a stopping signal s.  
         [0040]    A second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIG. 5 and utilizes a shutter  40  that has a set of projecting paws or teeth to provide a comb-like shape. The handle of the shutter  41  is rectangular in shape, movable, and is inserted into a fixed guide  42 .  
         [0041]    The core  45  of a solenoid  44  pivots on pin  43  at the end of the handle  41 . The core  45  will be pushed towards the right by the spring  47 , which is located between the retainer  46  and the solenoid  44 .  
         [0042]    When the solenoid  44  is not excited, the core  45  will be moved towards the right as a result of the force of the spring  47 . Retainer  48  on the core is stopped by the left side of the solenoid body  44 . As a result, the shutter  40  is located at a closed position and substantially closes the dispensing slot  144 .  
         [0043]    When the solenoid  44  is excited, the core  45  is pulled towards the left and the shutter  40  moves in the same direction. As a result, shutter  40  moves away from the front of the dispensing slot  144  and is located at the opening position.  
         [0044]    When the solenoid  44  is excited or unexcited by the control device  30 , it is capable of performing the operations set forth in the description of the first embodiment.  
         [0045]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiments can be configured without department from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.