Patent Publication Number: US-6220954-B1

Title: Multidenominational coin output hopper

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a coin handling machine and method and, in particular, to a device and method for a coin output hopper which accommodates any of a number of differently-sized coin denominations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Although coin handling devices are used for a number of purposes (including gaming devices, vending machines, coin counting devices and the like), coin handling in the gaming industry can generally be considered as relating to either or both of coin input (or acceptance) procedures and coin output (or payout) procedures. In a number of industries, including the gaming industry, coin output typically involves outputting coins of a single denomination from a hopper of coins containing a plurality of such single-denomination coins. In some cases, where output of two or more denominations is required, it may be necessary to provide two or more output hoppers, each of which contains a single denomination of coins. In any case, it is generally desired to provide a device for outputting a single denomination of coin which is as low-cost as possible (in terms of design, construction, maintenance, repair and operation) while having sufficient accuracy and reliability to avoid errors, down time and to minimize maintenance time and/or replacement parts. 
     Because it is, in general, difficult and expensive to design and construct devices for handling multiple denominations or sizes of coins, and because as noted above, gaming output hoppers typically handle only a single coin denomination, it is believed that most or all previous coin output hoppers, particularly in the gaming industry, are designed to handle only a single denomination of coin. Thus, typically, a coin output hopper designed to output, for example, “silver” dollar coins, would be physically distinct from a device for outputting, for example, quarters. 
     Even though the physical distinction between devices for handling different denominations may consist only in different dimensions of various components (i.e. devices for different denominations may operate on substantially the same theory), the design philosophy of using physically distinct devices for different denominations has led to relatively high costs associated with converting machines from one denomination to another denomination. For example, owing to factors such as changes in gaming preferences or popularity of various games, or owing to changes in typical coin population mixes (e.g. near international borders), it may, from time to time, be desirable to convert a gaming machine from one which outputs one denomination to a machine which outputs a different denomination. In the past, this has required replacing all of, or components of, the coin output hopper in such machines. It is believed that, in the past, the relatively high cost associated with denomination-conversion of machines was simply accepted and, as a result, it is believed little or no attention has been paid to design of multi-denominational output hoppers, particularly for gaming devices. 
     Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a coin output hopper which could reduce or eliminate costs associated with changing a gaming device or other coin handling machine from outputting one denomination to outputting another denomination, including the costs, in previous devices of replacing coin output hoppers or components thereof, costs of maintaining a relatively large inventory of coin output hoppers or components thereof, the cost of training personnel to perform such changes and the costs of training personnel to perform maintenance on a variety of different denomination output hoppers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a recognition of problems in prior output hopper machines methods and approaches, including those noted above. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, one or more coin-moving pins or pushers are positioned, with respect to a coin track or path so that, regardless of the size of the coin within the pocket (within a predefined range of sizes), the pin or pins contacting the coin at any given time during the transition of the coin onto a coin knife, is sufficiently close to a line passing through the center of the coin (and parallel to the knife edge) that force components parallel to the knife edge are sufficiently high (compared to orthogonal components) that any coin within the predefined size range will be transported along the knife edge with reduced or eliminated risk of coin jamming. 
     In addition to pin placement, a number of other features of the invention contribute to the ability to accommodate a range of coin sizes. Preferably, a stationary backplate is configured to substantially constantly follow or comply with a rotating pin wheel, regardless of any pin wheel misalignments or departures from planarity. A coin guide, intended to position or retain coins in a desired location within the coin path or track is shaped to achieve this function over a range of coin sizes, e.g. by configuring the guide such that larger-diameter coins are engaged near the leading edge of the guide while smaller-diameter coins are engaged closer to the trailing edge of the guide. Preferably the coin guide is also configured to reduce or eliminate entry (or attempted entry) of secondary and tertiary coins in the pocket. 
     A coin deflector is shaped to eject secondary or tertiary coins adjacent to the pocket entry hole, maintain coins properly situated in the pocket after or as they leave the influence of the coin guide and accelerate coins as they leave the hopper. 
     By providing a coin hopper which economically, reliably and accurately, accommodates a range of coin sizes, the present invention reduces or eliminates the need for replacing coin hoppers (or components thereof) when converting a machine from which outputs a first denomination to one which outputs a second denomination. Preferably, accommodation of a range of coin sizes is achieved without the need for adjustment or modification of the device with its attendant costs of down time and personnel training. Even in cases where the multi-denominational hopper does not span the entire size range of coins in a coin population, the present invention may, for example, allow manufacturers and/or casinos to reduce coin hopper inventory from the number needed to provide a separate hopper for each denomination to, e.g., two or three different hoppers with ranges which, together, cover the coin size range in a given coin population. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of coin output hopper according to previous devices; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 assembled; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus similar to that of FIG. 1 but with a coin escalator; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a coin output hopper with a spring-mounted backplate; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a output hopper, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a holey wheel, backplate, knife, deflector and coin guide of the embodiment of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 depicts an assembled coin hopper similar to that depicted in FIG. 2 illustrating stacked coins; 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B are front elevational and side elevational views of a shelf wheel of the type depicted in FIG. 7; 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B are front elevational and side elevational views of a conical shelf wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a coin hopper employing the shelf wheel of FIGS. 9A and 9B; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the coin hopper for FIG. 10 depicting interactions of coins with the shelf wheel; 
     FIG. 12 depicts large and small coin paths according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13A is an elevation view of a coin deflector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13B is a bottom view, partly cut away, of the deflector of FIG. 13A; 
     FIGS. 13C, D, and E are cross-sectional views taken along lines  13 C— 13 C,  13 D— 13 D and  13 E— 13 E, respectively. 
     FIGS. 14A and 14B are elevational and top views of a coin knife according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 15A and 15B are rear and front elevational views of a pinwheel, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional view taken along line  15 C— 15 C of FIG. 15B; 
     FIG. 16A is a front elevational view of a backplate, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along line  16 B— 16 B of FIG. 16A; 
     FIGS. 17A and 17B are top plan and elevational views of a coin guide according to an embodiment of the present invention, and 
     FIG. 18 depicts a spring for a deflector and a pivot for the deflector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     To assist in understanding the present invention, certain features of previous devices will first be described. According to one previous device depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a coin output hopper was configured to provide a bowl  102  having an opening (not shown) adjacent a portion of concentrically rotatable pin wheel  104  and shelf wheel  106 . In the depicted configuration, coins in the bowl  102  exited the opening at the bottom of the bowl (not shown) and were constrained to an annular track defined by the edge of the pin wheel and central disk-like projection or shelf wheel positioned on the pin wheel. 
     In a circumferential direction, the coins were contacted and pushed by pairs of projecting pins of the pin wheel (see FIG. 2) to define, in cooperation with the annular track, a plurality of coin pockets. As noted above, the proper operation of this device required that all coins in the bowl should be of the same size and should be sized so as to substantially fit within the pocket, with relatively little play. In this way, as the rotating pin wheel and shelf wheel transported the coins, e.g. in a counterclockwise direction  110 , the coins in the pockets eventually contacted the edge of knife  112  causing the coins to travel along the edge of the knife to be ejected from the hopper to the side. 
     The pin wheel  104  and shelf wheel  106  are coupled by spacer wheel  122   a ,  122   b  to a main housing  124  which, in turn, is coupled to a chassis  127  so as to hold the pin wheel and shelf wheel at an angle, such as about 60 degrees from horizontal, as depicted in FIG.  2 . The apparatus of FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG. 1 except that a lower and upper escalator  126 ,  128  are positioned adjacent to the knife  112  and configured such that ejected coins are elevated by the escalator  126 ,  128  for delivery, e.g., to a conveniently-located coin tray (not shown). 
     The embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 are specific to a particular coin size, i.e. a particular coin diameter and thickness, in the sense that other coin denominations placed in the bowl  102  would typically cause jams, ejection failures and/or unacceptably frequent miscounts downstream. Accordingly, in previous devices, machines accommodating different coin denominations had different physical characteristics such as the diameter and thickness of the shelf wheel  106 , thickness of knife edge  112 , height, circumferential and radial spacing of the pins  109  and the like. 
     Another previous coin handling device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,571. In this device, coins, rather than being supported on only one coin face, are positioned between two parallel discs, contacting the two coin faces, respectively: a circumferentially grooved stationary backplate and a rotating disc. In this device, the rotating disc contains coin holes through which coin pass to the inter-disc space. Coin pushers project from the back surface of the disc. According to the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,571, coins of different thickness may be handled with the same machine by adjusting the axial position of the backplate with respect to the disc. 
     FIG. 4 depicts an apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is able to accommodate a range of coin sizes. Features which contribute to achieving such accommodation of the range of sizes are the placement of the pins or pushers protruding from the back side of the pin wheel  404 , the spring suspension of the backplate  430 , the configuration of the coin retainer  432  and the configuration of the knife, all of which are described more thoroughly below. In the following, the term “pins” includes both the elongated structures depicted (sometimes called “pushers”) and cylindrical or peg-like structures. 
     For clarity, the coin bowl is not depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. The coin bowl can, in general, have a configuration similar to that of the bowl depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     In the device depicted in FIG. 4, the chassis  427  defines a first surface  450  at an angle  452  of about 60 degrees to the horizontal  454 . A housing  424  is mounted to the chassis parallel to the surface  450  with the shaft  462  of a motor protruding through opening  466  of the housing. A backplate  430 , having substantially circular grooves  444   a ,  444   b , is mounted above the housing  424 , substantially parallel thereto and such that the circular grooves  444   a ,  444   b  are substantially concentric with the axis of the motor shaft  462 . The backplate  430  is mounted so as to substantially prevent rotation about the axis  463  but to permit a degree of tilting, in any direction, with respect to the plane of the hopper housing  424 , against the urging of suspension springs  468   a,b,c,d.    
     In the depicted embodiment, the rim  472  of the backplate  430  projects outwardly axially a distance above the coin contact plane  474  of the backplate, to contact the rim of the back surface  476  of a pin wheel  404 . A disk-shaped or annular projection extending rearwardly from the rear surface of the pin wheel defines, in co-operation with the rim  472 , an annular coin track. The height of the rim  472  defines the spacing between the coin contact plane  474  of the backplate and the back surface of the pin wheel. The backplate  430  contains a first cutout  478  for accommodating a coin retainer  432 , a window  482  for accommodating a coin deflector  436  and recess  484  for accommodating a coin knife  412 . The pin wheel  404  is coaxially coupled to the motor shaft  462  to rotate, e.g., in a counterclockwise direction  446 . In addition to access/mounting holes, the disc of the pin wheel contains a plurality, such as twelve, preferably evenly-spaced circular coin holes  442  near its perimeter. The coin holes  442  have a diameter large enough to allow passage therethrough of the largest-diameter coin to be handled by the device. If desired, the disk of the pinwheel (e.g. as depicted in FIG. 15C) may be formed separately from the cylindrical collar  443 . A shelf wheel or region  406  assists in directing coins from the bowl to the holes  442 , for passage therethrough. 
     In general, the apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5 operates by allowing entry of a coin through a coin hole  442  so that it is retained in the space between the back surface of the pin wheel disc and the front surface of the backplate  430 . Accordingly, spacing between the front surface of the backplate  430  and the back surface of the pin wheel  404  is at least such as to accommodate the thickest coin in the predetermined range of coin sizes to be handled by the device of FIGS. 4 through 5. 
     Once a coin is positioned between pin wheel  404  and backplate  430 , pins protruding from the back surface of the rotating pin wheel  404  and riding within grooves  444   a ,  444   b  formed in the backplate, contact the edge of a coin and push the coins along a generally circular path in a counterclockwise direction  446  so that the coin eventually contacts, in order, the coin retainer  432 , deflector  436  and knife  412 . 
     Because the springs  468  urge the rim of the non-rotating backplate  472  against the rim of the rotating pin wheel  404 , the backplate  430  is free to tilt, with respect to the plane of the housing  424  so as to be constantly substantially parallel to the back surface of the rotating pin wheel  404 , even though the pin wheel  404  may be misaligned (such that its back surface is not perpendicular to the motor axis  463 ) or is warped or otherwise non-planar. This feature is important in accommodating a range of coin sizes in a cost-effective manner since, as coin sizes, particularly coin thicknesses are smaller, the tolerance for departures from parallelism of the backplate coin surface  474  and pin wheel back surface  488  becomes smaller. Put another way, in the absence of the spring-suspended or otherwise compliant backplate of the present device, a device which could accommodate both thick coins (such as a quarter or half dollar), and thin coins (such a dime) would have to be manufactured and constructed to such close tolerances (to avoid cracks or openings between the backplate and the pin wheel into which thin coins could become jammed) that the cost of such a high-tolerance device would be highly undesirable. 
     To understand how the placement of pins is configured to accommodate a range of coin sizes, it is useful to understand the path of various sizes of coins as they move out of the coin hopper. FIG. 12 is a schematic depiction of a backplate  430  showing, in phantom lines, successive positions of a small coin  1202   a,b,c,d  and successive positions of a large coin  1204   a,b,c,d.  After the coin has passed through the pin wheel hole  442  and is engaged by pins of the pin wheel, the pins initially force the coins, as the pin wheel rotates, along a substantially circular path. Thus, for a first portion of its travel, the small coin  1202   a  moves in a fashion such that the path followed by its center point  1206  is initially substantially circular. When the edge of the coin contacts the knife edge  412 , the coin thereafter moves in a linear fashion along the knife edge so that the subsequent path of the center of the small coin  1206  is linear. similarly, the center of the larger coin  1204  also follows a path  1208  which is initially circular and, later, linear. In contrast, the paths of the pins which contact the coins are always circular. Accordingly, during the first portion of coin travel, before the coins begin linear movement, a pin will contact a coin at a radial distance (with respect to rotation axis  463 ) which will remain substantially constant with respect to the center point of the coin. However, after the coin begins its linear movement along the knife edge  412 , the pin will assume a position which is successively more radially inward with respect to the center of the coin as the coin moves along the knife edge. Put another way, the knife edge will force the coin to move transversely (although not strictly radially) outward with respect to the constant-radius movement of the pins. 
     Accordingly, several considerations are factors in determining pin placement for accommodating a range of coin sizes. Unless a pin which contacts a coin is positioned at a radius from the rotation axis  463  which is exactly equal to the radius of the coin center, the pin will exert a force on the coin which has a radial component as well as a tangential component. If the pin is radially inward of the coin center, there will be a radially outward force component. If the pin is radially outward of the coin center, there will be a radially inward component. If the radially inward component or radially outward component is too large, there is a potential for coin jamming, i.e. forcing the coin radially outward against the backplate rim  472  or radially inward in an undesirable fashion. Once the coin reaches the knife edge, a too-large radially inward force component can jam the coin into the edge of the central protrusion  1515  or into the edge of the knife blade and a too-large radially outward component can jam the coin into the rim  472  or can lift the coin off the knife blade. It has been found that, in the apparatus of the present invention, for a given coin size, and a given point along the coin path, there is a radius range from an outer radius greater than the radius of the coin center to an inner radius less than the radius of the coin center, such that placement of pins in such radius range will avoid too-large a radial component of force. 
     Unfortunately, the force analysis becomes more complex when there is an attempt to accommodate a range of coin diameters. First, the acceptable radial pin position must avoid too-large a radial component for any size coin in the desired coin range. As seen in FIG. 12, the coin center path for a larger coin is different from that for a smaller coin. Thus, it is possible that a pin position which would be acceptable for a larger coin (e.g. a pin position near the center line of the large coin  1208 ) would be radially too far outward to accommodate a smaller coin  1202  (i.e. would be so far radially outward from the path  1206  of the small coin center line point that the radially inward component of the force would jam the coin against the knife edge  412 .) Similarly, a pin position which might be acceptable for a small coin may produce a radially outward force component on a large coin that would be unacceptable. Preferably, the range of coin sizes which will be handled by the machine is selected so that there is at least some overlap among one acceptable pin positions for each coin in this coin size range. 
     Complicating the analysis even further is the fact, noted above, that the radial position of a pin with respect to the center of the coin changes as the coin moves along the linear path defined by knife edge  412 . Accordingly, it is possible that a pin position which results in a radial force within an acceptable range for a given coin, as the coin moves along the circular portion of the path, will produce a radial force on the coin which would be unacceptable as the coin moves along the linear portion of its path. 
     In some configurations, it is desired to provide a movement force to the coins along a substantial portion of the linear part of the coin path. However, since, as noted above the coin centers of linearly moving coins move radially outward with respect to circularly moving pins, a given pin eventually loses contact with the coin. One approach is to provide two or more pins associated with each coin position and situated such that as one pin moves to a position, with a respect to the coin center line, where it is no longer effective to produce the force of the desired magnitude and direction, another pin is, by then, in a position to contact the coin so as to provide the desired force. 
     In addition to the location, radially, of the centers of the pins, design of pin position, according to the present invention, also includes consideration of the length, height and width of the pins. Pin length (or placement) in the tangential or circumferential direction should be so as to prevent more than one coin entering a given coin pocket. This is because it is desired to push the coins out of the hopper one at a time in order to retain better control. Pin width and height should be large enough to withstand any jams without breaking and should be able to sustain operation over the anticipated life of the hopper without excessive wear. Too large a cross-section is believed to be detrimental in that, typically, a larger pin width or height requires an increase in the size of the groove of the backplate and the knife, and it is believed that larger grooves may impede movement of coins e.g. rolling of coins along the knife blade as the coin exits from the hopper. 
     The number of pins per coin pocket is related to how far down the coin path it is desired to actively push the coins using the coin pins. The distance over which active pushing is desired will be affected by how coins are treated as they exit the hopper, such as whether the device will be a side-eject hopper or will use an escalator similar to that depicted in FIG. 3 ( 128 ), which typically requires active pushing over a longer extent. 
     Additional pins may be provided adjacent a pocket for additional functions. For example, placing a pin below (radially inward of) the primary pin  1512   a  may assist by providing a sweeper function wherein the sweeper pin will push out any undersized coins or slugs that reached the hopper. If such undersized coins are not dealt with, the primary pin will be positioned relatively high (radially outward) with respect to the center of such undersized coin, thus providing an undesirably high radially inward component of force and potentially crushing or jamming the undersized coin or slug into the radially inward boundary of the coin path. 
     Extending this concept further, it can be seen that providing additional pins can also be useful in expanding the range of the hopper, although at the cost of additional pin grooves. Pins positioned below (radially inward of) the primary pin will allow the hopper to operate with smaller coins, while pins above the primary pin will allow larger coins to be used. 
     From the above, it is apparent that it is difficult to design pins which will not only provide the desired magnitude and direction of force over both the circular and linear portions of the coin path, but will do so for a range of coin sizes. FIG. 15A depicts pin configurations according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The particular dimensions chosen for an implementation of the present invention will depend in part on the size of the smallest and largest coins (i.e. the range of coin sizes or denominations) to be accommodated. FIGS. 13A-17B depict the components of a device which can accommodate coins in the size range between a U.S. five-cent piece (“nickel”) and a U.S. 25-cent piece (“quarter”). Table I provides some of the important dimensions for items shown in these figures. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Dimensions for FIGS. 13A-17B 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Part 
                 Item 
                 Dimension 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Deflector 
                 Height 1302 
                 .94 in (23.8 mm) 
               
               
                 Deflector 
                 Length 1304 
                 .886 in (22.5 mm) 
               
               
                 Deflector 
                 Thickness 1306 
                 .375 in (9.52 mm) 
               
               
                 Backplate, Knife 
                 Radius range of outer groove 1308a 
                 3.389-3.499 in (86- 
               
               
                 and Deflector 
                   
                 88.9 mm) 
               
               
                 Backplate, knife 
                 Radius Range of inner groove 1308b 
                 3.07-3.18 in (78-80.7 
               
               
                 and deflector 
                   
                 mm) 
               
               
                 Deflector 
                 Radius of upper edge 1310 
                 3.63 in (92.2 mm) 
               
               
                 Knife 
                 Length of top edge 1402 
                 2.07 in (52.7 mm) 
               
               
                 Knife 
                 Thickness 1404 
                 .26 in (6.7 mm) 
               
               
                 Knife 
                 Depth of grooves 1408a, 1408b 
                 .15 in (3.8 mm) 
               
               
                 Knife 
                 Angle of declination 1404 to a parallel to 9 
                 2.8 degrees 
               
               
                   
                 O&#39;Clock line 1406 
               
               
                 Knife 
                 Distance of leading edge 1412 from 12 
                 .4 in (10.4 mm) 
               
               
                   
                 O&#39;Clock line 1414 
               
               
                 Pinwheel and 
                 Diameter 1502 
                 7.435 in (188.85 mm) 
               
               
                 Backplate 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Angular spacing between coin holes 1504 
                 30 degrees 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Diameter of Coin holes 1506 
                 1.005 in (25.53 mm) 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Radial placement of Coin Hole centers 1507 
                 3.155 in (80.14 mm) 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Angular distance from coin hole center to 
                 11 degrees 
               
               
                   
                 outer pin leading edge 1508a 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Angular distance from coin hole center to 
                 14 degrees 
               
               
                   
                 inner pin leading edge 1508 b 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Height of pins 1510 
                 .12 in (3.05 mm) 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Radius range of inner pins 1512a 
                 3.08-3.17 in (78.24- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 80.52 mm) 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Radius range of outer pins 1512b 
                 3.4-3.9 in (86.3-88.6 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mm) 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 height of central protrusion above rim 1514 
                 .23 in (5.84 mm) 
               
               
                 Pinwheel 
                 Radius of central protrusion 1516 
                 5.3 in (134.8 mm) 
               
               
                 Backplate 
                 Height of rim above coin support surface 
                 .08 in (2 mm) 
               
               
                   
                 1602 
               
               
                 Backplate 
                 Depth of groove below coin support surface 
                 .08 in (2 mm) 
               
               
                   
                 1604 
               
               
                 Coin Guide 
                 length of shelf 1702 
                 1.6 in 
               
               
                 Coin Guide 
                 Depth of Shelf 1704 
                 .45 in (11.6 mm) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     FIG. 6 depicts the configuration and placement of the deflector  436  and the coin guide  432 . As the coin travels to an approximately 12 o&#39;clock position on the backplate, the coin guide  432  forces the coin into a position seated in a preferred location in the coin pocket (with the pocket being defined by the backplate coin contact surface  474  and pin wheel rear surface  488  in the axial direction, by the pin wheel disk protrusion  1515  and the backplate rim  478  in the radial direction and by pins  1512   a,b  in the circumferential direction). In one embodiment, the coin guide  432  acts to position the coin as far toward the axis of rotation as possible (i.e. adjacent the edge of the disk protrusion  1515 ). The coin guide  432  also serves to force the coin (circumferentially) against a coin contact pin. 
     The particular geometry of the coin guide depicted in FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrates the geometry of the coin guide contact surface which promotes its ability to engage coins of different diameters. Larger diameter coins are engaged near the leading edge  1712  of the guide ledge while smaller diameter coins are engaged closer to the trailing edge  1714  of the guide ledge. 
     In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the circumferential extent of the coin guide is greater than that of previous coin guides. As a result, when the coin guide is urged pivotally downward about pivoting axis  1716 , i.e., with the trailing edge  1714  moving generally toward the disk rotation axis  463  (e.g. by a spring, not shown), the trailing edge  1714  will be close to the rotation axis (compared as the trailing edge of previous devices, so as to engage smaller-diameter coins. 
     In addition to forcing or maintaining coins into the desired position within the coin pocket, the coin guide also serves to prevent secondary or tertiary coins from entering or partially entering the pocket, i.e. from becoming partially positioned in the space between the backplate and the disc, such as by partially blocking the region behind the coin hole. 
     After the coin has moved past the coin guide, the coin contacts the deflector  436 . The deflector  436  continues the function of the coin guide (i.e. continues to maintain the coin positioned in the desired location of the coin pocket after the coin has left the influence of the coin guide) and also performs other functions. The deflector is urged to pivot axially outward, e.g. by a spring (not shown) mounted at the rear of the deflector causing the peak of the deflector  1312  to at least partially project through each hole  442  of the pin wheel as the hole rotates over the deflector, ejecting from the hole any coins which may be located within the hole (regardless of whether they have partially passed through the hole). The geometry of the deflector and the force exerted by the spring mounted at the rear of the deflector also serve to accelerate the exit of subsequent coins. By providing active acceleration rather than relying solely on acceleration of gravity, the coins which exit have a substantially more uniform velocity than coins which exit only under the influence of gravity (where the unpredictable effects of friction may have a greater relative effect). Providing for substantially constant exit velocity of the coins avoids inconsistent pulse widths in downstream detectors which could cause miscounts. 
     The knife  412  is also configured (compared to previous knife designs) to accommodate a range of coin sizes. Compared with previous knife configurations, among other differences, the configuration of FIGS. 14A and 14B has grooves  1408   a,b  positioned to match pin placement which is used (in the depicted embodiment) to accomodate a range of coin sizes, as discussed above. 
     By configuring the device to accomodate a range of coin sizes, e.g. as shown in the illustrated embodiment, a number of savings become possible. For example, in prior designs (where coin output hoppers were configured for a single denomination), converting, e.g., a 5¢ slot machine to a 25¢ slot machine required, among other steps, removing the 5¢ output hopper and installing a 25¢ hopper. Using the present invention, such conversion can be accomplished by performing such steps as replacing a 5¢ coin acceptor with a 25¢ coin acceptor, replacing or modifying control or accounting software and replacing signage or graphics, but without changing the coin output hopper. 
     Another feature of the present invention addresses one of the problems which arise from the tendency of coins to fully or partially adhere or stick together, particularly in a face-to-face fashion, which can cause a coin sheeting effect as depicted in FIG.  7 . The prevalence of coin sheeting depends partially on the type or denomination of coin involved, certain coins being more prone to sheeting, e.g. owing to high friction surfaces (such as the U.S. nickel) and/or the particular embossing or printed patterns on the face of the coin such as the French franc. Sheeting of coins as depicted in FIG. 7 can lead to a number of types of problems including entry jams, particularly in the context of a device such as that depicted in FIG. 3, or other jams of coins against outer or inner rims, against knife edges and the like. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the incidence of sheeting is reduced or eliminated by providing a shelf wheel with a convex surface. As depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B, previous shelf wheels had an outer surface  802  that was substantially flat and planar. 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B depict one embodiment of a convex-surfaced shelf wheel with the outer surface of the shelf wheel  902  defining the frustum of a cone. In the depicted embodiment, the rim  904  of the shelf wheel defines a cylinder with a thickness  906  about equal to or slightly less than that of the thickest coin to be handled. 
     FIG. 10 depicts an implementation of the shelf wheel in an otherwise traditional coin hopper, such as that depicted in FIG.  1 . As seen in FIG. 11, coins which are positioned adjacent to the surface of the shelf wheel  902  will thus be discouraged from lying in parallel planes, to reduce or eliminate the incidence of sheeting. 
     In light of the above description, a number of advantages of the present invention can be seen. The present invention provides a coin output hopper/handler which can accommodate any of a plurality of coin sizes or denominations without requiring that the output hopper be adjusted, reconfigured or replaced when switching from one denomination to another denomination. In this way, when it is desired to convert, e.g. a slot machine or other gaming device from one denomination to another denomination (e.g. when it is desired to convert a nickel slot machine to a quarter slot machine) the conversion can be achieved without the need to replace, reconfigure or adjust the coin output hopper. In one embodiment, the reconfiguration can be achieved by changing or reconfiguring only the coin accepter, the software and the graphics indicating the denomination of the machine. 
     Preferably, the multi-denominational hopper of the present invention can be provided at relatively low cost such as without requiring extremely small (and expensive) manufacturing or fabrication tolerances. Preferably, the apparatus is configured to achieve or maintain a low jamming or other malfunction rate and to achieve high reliability and accuracy. The apparatus is configured to avoid excessive force in an undesired direction despite use with different sizes or diameters of coins. The present invention assists in positioning coins in desired pocket or other locations regardless of differing coin sizes. The present invention assists in ejecting coins from entry into undesired locations such as entry of secondary or tertiary coins into portions of the coin pocket and/or coin holes. The present invention provides compliance to coin discs regardless of minor misalignments or misshaping of the disc. The present invention assists in maintaining a more uniform exit velocity of coins to reduce or eliminate miscounts. According to one aspect, the present invention reduces or eliminates coin sheeting to, in turn, reduce or eliminate the occurrence of jams. 
     Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art after understanding the present disclosure. 
     A number of variations and modifications of the present invention can be used. Although the present invention has been described in the context of an output hopper for a gaming device, the present invention can be used in other contexts such as input devices, coin counting devices, vending machines and the like. Although the present invention has been defined in the context of handling coins, the invention could be used for handling other devices, including tokens, other regularly shaped objects such as buttons, washers and the like, irregularly shaped objects such as bolts, screws and the like. Although the present invention has been described as handling a single denomination at a time, (although capable handling different denominations at different times) the invention could also be used for handling two or more different sized objects such as two or more different coins, e.g. dimes and pennies. 
     A number of materials can be used in constructing the apparatus of the present invention. In one embodiment, the pin wheel is formed of about 10% glass-filled polycarbonate with silicon and teflon, such as that available from LMP under the trade designation DFL4536. In one embodiment, the back plate is formed of Noryl polyphenylene (PPL). The knife is preferably made of a hard or wear-resistant material such as steel. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is configured such that three different coin hoppers are sufficient to accommodate all U.S. coin sizes. In this embodiment, a first configuration accommodates coins from the size of a U.S. dime to the size of a nickel; a second configuration accommodates coins from the size of a nickel to the size of a quarter; and a third configuration accommodates coins from the size of a quarter to the size of a U.S. “silver” dollar. 
     Although the present invention has been described by way of a preferred embodiment and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications can also be used, the invention being defined by the following claims.