GB2127000A - Article dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing mechanism for articles stored in a stack, more especially a coin pay-out mechanism, wherein a pay-out tube (20) for containing a stack of coins has a sinuous path between a top inlet (16) and a bottom exit (18) so that, while the coins are able to drop freely to replace one another as a bottom coin in the stack is dispensed, part of the weight of at least some of the coins is taken by the wall of the pay-out tube, so that the dispensing device (22, 24, 26, 28) at the bottom is subject to a reduced opposing force. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in dispensing mechanisms This invention relates to a mechanism for dispensing articles from the bottom of a stack thereof, and more especially but not exclusively to a coin pay-out mechanism for coin operated apparatus.

Conventionally, a coin pay-out mechanism has a tubular, vertical pay-out tube in which coins are accumulated in a stack, and a solenoid operable slide at the bottom of the tube for dispensing coins, usually one at a time, from the bottom of the stack.

In this conventional mechanism, the slide must be reliably operative under the full weight of the stack of coins, which rest substantially squarely on top of one another. For operating the slide, it has therefore been the usual practice to employ a powerful solenoid, usually a.c. energised.

The requirement for a powerful solenoid makes the pay-out mechanism relatively bulky. However, present day coin operated apparatus is in general increasingly compact, and reducing space becomes available to accommodate the pay-out mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing mechanism, for example a coin pay-out tube mechanism, which can be made less bulky, more especially due to the requirement for a less powerful dispensing drive, than existing mechanisms.

According to a general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for dispensing articles from the bottom of a stack thereof, wherein the articles are stacked in a walled column which follows a sinuous path such that in use articles in the stack are able to drop under gravity to replace one another in sequence as at least the bottom article is dispensed whilst the weight of at least some of the articles in the stack is in part taken by the wall of the column.

According to a more specific aspect of the invention, there is provided a coin pay-out mechanism for coin operated apparatus, said mechanism including a pay-out tube and a device operative at the lower end of the column in use for dispensing at least the bottom coin of a stack thereof in the tube, wherein the axis of the tube follows a sinuous path such that at least some coins in the stack rest partly on one another and partly on the wall of the tube.

Preferably, the axis of the column follows a smoothly curving wavy path, preferably a path lying in a plane.

In a practical example, the wavy path of the axis, in relation to the overall height of the tube, is such that a coin stack filling the tube tends to be self-balancing.

The mechanism is preferably embodied as a housing in which the pay-out tube bulges from one side of the housing to the other and then back to the first side. This housing may be in the form of a moulded structure in which the pay-out tube is integrally incorporated. A preferred housing is moulded with a compartment, on the said other side beneath the pay-out tube bulge, receiving the dispensing device. This preferred housing, together with the pay-out tube and compartment therein, may be moulded in two parts, separable in a plane containing the wavy axis of the pay-out tube, to enable insertion of the dispensing device into said compartment.

A practical dispensing device comprises a spring return solenoid, a slide reciprocable across the bottom of the pay-out tube, and a linkage connecting the solenoid with the slide. The solenoid is preferably d.c. operated, for maximum power with a given bulk.

The moulded housing preferably assumes the form of a modular box around the pay-out tube and dispensing device, which box is closed except for a coin entry aperture at the top and a coin exit aperture at the bottom.' A practical example of pay-out mechanism in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows one part of a housing moulded in two similar parts which separate at a vertical plane, together with the components of a dispensing device which is assembled within the housing.

In the drawing, the reference 10 generally denotes a housing. Said housing 10 is moulded of plastics material in two similar parts, of which only one part is shown. It will thus be understood that, when the two parts of the housing 10 are assembled together, the complete assembly includes an integrally moulded coin pay-out tube 12 and a compartment 14.

The pay-out tube 12 has an axis which follows a smoothly curved, wavy path, between a coin entrance aperture 1 6 in the top wall of the housing 10 and a bottom adjacent a coin exit aperture 1 8 in the bottom wall of the housing. The top and bottom of the pay-out tube 12 are generally aligned in the vertical direction, being disposed on one side of the housing 10, and between the top and bottom the pay-out tube bulges to the other side of the housing, as indicated at 20, the sinuous path of the pay-out tube axis being contained in a plane. This plane, in the embodiment illustrated, is the central dividing plane at which the two parts of the housing 10 separate from one another.

The compartment 14 is formed in the housing on the said other side thereof, in the space which exists beneath the bulge 20. This compartment 14 receives a coin dispensing device which, as illustrated, comprises a solenoid, preferably a d.c.

solenoid 22, a linkage 24, and a slide 26. Pivots for the linkage are indicated at 28. The device also includes a return spring (not shown).

The housing 10 assembled with the dispensing device therein forms a box of modular form, ready for mounting in the appropriate position in coin operated apparatus.

In use, coins to be paid out, for example as change or as winnings, are stacked, flat on top of one another, in the pay-out tube 1 2. However, unlike a conventional straight, vertical pay-out tube, at least some of the coins do not rest squarely on the coin below, but rest in overlapping relationship thereon so that a part of the weight of these coins is taken by the wall of the tube. In the embodiment shown, the parts of the tube wall where the coins partly rest thereon are indicated at 30 and 32. These parts 30, 32 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the tube wall, so as to minimise tilting forces on the housing 10; in other words, the coin stack is approximately selfbalancing.

When the solenoid 22 is actuated, the bottom coin in the stack is driven by the slide 26, which moves through a slot 34, to a position above the exit aperture 1 8. The stack is replenished at the entrance aperture 1 6.

Because part of the weight of some of the coins in the stack is taken by the wall of the pay-out tube, the slide 26 is supporting less weight than in a conventional mechanism having a straight, vertical pay-out tube. There therefore exists a reduced force opposing movement of the slide 26 so that, for a given number of stacked coins, a less powerful solenoid 22 can be employed. Practice has shown that a suitable small d.c. solenoid, which is nevertheless more powerful than an a.c.

solenoid of comparable bulk, together with its linkage drive, can readily be accommodated in the compartment 14. The overall bulk of the pay-out mechanism, as compared with a conventional mechanism of the same coin capacity, is thereby considerably reduced.

It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiment is by way of example only, and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A mechanism for dispensing articles from the bottom of a stack thereof, wherein the articles are stacked in a walled column which follows a sinuous path such that in use articles in the stack are able to drop under gravity to replace one another in sequence as at least the bottom article is dispensed whilst the weight of at least some of the articles in the stack is in part taken by the wall of the column.

2. A coin pay-out mechanism for coin operated apparatus, said mechanism including a pay-out tube and a device operative at the lower end of the column in use for dispensing at least the bottom coin of a stack thereof in the tube, wherein the axis of the tube follows a sinuous path such that at least some coins in the stack rest partly on one another and partly on the wall of the tube.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the axis of the column follows a smoothly curving wavy path.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the wavy path of the axis lies in a plane.

5. A mechanism according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the wavy path of the axis, in relation to the overall height of the tube, is such that a coin stack filling the tube tends to be self-balancing.

6. A mechanism according to any of claims 2 to 5, in the form of a housing in which the pay-out tube bulges from one side of the housing to the other and then back to the first side.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the housing is in the form of a moulded structure in which the pay-out tube is integrally incorporated.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the housing is moulded with a compartment, on the said other side beneath the pay-out tube bulge, receiving the dispensing device.

9. A mechanism according to claim 8 when appendant to claim 4, in which the housing, together with pay-out tube and compartment therein, are moulded in two parts, separable in a plane containing the wavy axis of the pay-out tube, to enable insertion of the dispensing device into said compartment.

10. A mechanism according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the dispensing device comprises a spring return solenoid, a slide reciprocable across the bottom of the pay-out tube, and a linkage connecting the solenoid with the slide.

1 A mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the solenoid is d.c. operated.

12. A mechanism according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the moulded housing forms a modular box around the pay-out tube and dispensing device, which box is closed except for a coin entry aperture at the top and a coin exit aperture at the bottom.

1 3. A coin pay-out mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.