Coin hopper with large coin capability

• US 20060011418A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Limited (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Limited (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Bell, Malcolm Reginald Hallas
• Granted Patent: US 7,294,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 186/61
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk

Abstract

A coin dispensing apparatus dispenses coins by squeezing them substantially chordally between first and second elements. The second element is carried on the underside of a disc-like portion of a rotor which rotates about or with a central shaft. The disc-like portion has an opening, allowing coins to move axially therethrough from a supply side to a position aligned with the second element. The opening has a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the radius of the rotor.

Claims

1. A coin dispensing apparatus which dispenses coins by squeezing them substantially chordally between first and second elements, comprising a rotor which rotates with or about central shaft means and comprises:

a disc-like portion carrying said second element on its underside and an opening, allowing coins to move axially therethrough from a supply side to a position aligned with said second element, the opening having a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the radius of the rotor, and

a locating portion received in a recess,

wherein the recess is provided by the hole in the middle of a discrete annular member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first element is a projection from the top of the annular member.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the annular member is resiliently mounted for restricted circumferential movement.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening breaks the circumference of the disc-like portion.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first element is a projection from the top of the annular member, the annular member is resiliently mounted for restricted circumferential movement and the locating portion extends partially across said opening such that locating portion is spaced axially from the underside of the disc-like portion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the opening breaks the circumference of the disc-like portion.

7. A coin dispensing apparatus including:

a surface;

an annular member on said surface and having a hole;

a coin exit;

a first ejector element;

a shaft means;

a rotor which rotates with or about the shaft means and comprises;

a disc-like portion carrying a second ejector element on its underside and an opening, allowing coins to move axially therethrough from a supply side to a position aligned with said second ejector element, the opening having a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the radius of the rotor, and

a locating portion received in said hole in the annular member;

wherein the first and second ejector elements being arranged to squeeze a coin along a chord thereof so as to eject it through the coin exit during rotation of the rotor.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first ejector element is a projection from the top of the annular member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the annular member is resiliently mounted for restricted circumferential movement.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the opening breaks the circumference of the disc-like portion.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first ejector element is a projection from the top of the annular member, the annular member is resiliently mounted for restricted circumferential movement and the locating portion extends partially across said opening such that locating portion is spaced axially from the underside of the disc-like portion.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the opening breaks the circumference of the disc-like portion.

13. A large coin adaptation kit for adapting a coin dispensing apparatus which dispenses relatively small coins by squeezing them substantially chordally between first and second elements, the second element being carried on the underside of a disc-like portion of a rotor which rotates with or about central shaft means, wherein the rotor is mounted in a hollow and the disc-like portion has an opening, allowing said relatively small coins to move axially therethrough from a supply side to a position aligned with the second element, the kit including:

a spacer for placement in said hollow to create a recess through which the rotor'"'"'s axis of rotation extends; and

a replacement rotor having a locating portion configured to be received in said recess and an opening, allowing relatively large coins to move axially therethrough, having a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the radius of the replacement rotor.

14. A kit according to claims 13, wherein the opening breaks the circumference of the disc-like portion.

15. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the spacer has a projection to provide a replacement first element for large coins.

16. A kit according to claim 15, wherein the spacer includes means for coupling it to the small coin first element of the apparatus being adapted.

17. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the locating portion extends partially across said opening such that locating portion is spaced axially from the underside of the disc-like portion.

18. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the spacer has a projection to provide a replacement first element for large coins, the spacer includes means for coupling it to the small coin first element of the apparatus being adapted and the locating portion extends partially across said opening such that locating portion is spaced axially from the underside of the disc-like portion.

19. A kit according to claim 13, including means for providing a wider coin exit path, in which a coin being dispensed moves edgeways, to said apparatus.