Coin accelerator for a coin-operated vending machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a coin accelerator for a coin-operated vending machine, comprising an electromechanical drive for conveying a coin into a coin-processing or coin-forwarding device which is located higher than the coin accelerator, the electromechanical drive having a coin-accelerating lever which is movably disposed in a coin channel delimited by two mutually spaced wall elements. A double flap which at least partially covers the coin channel is hinged to one of the wall elements and is a part of the wall element, the double flap comprising a main flap and a movable flap which is movable or slidable relative to the main flap via a double joint (6), the movable flap forming, in the idle state, a guide edge delimiting the coin channel.

Description

[0001] Coin accelerator for a coin-operated machine

[0002] The invention relates to a coin accelerator for a coin-operated vending machine. A coin accelerator serves to ensure accessibility for vending machines in accordance with legal standards and specifications. With the help of the coin accelerator, inserted coins are automatically accelerated upwards by spring force, allowing for small height differences between the coin insertion and the coin return. Such a coin accelerator is known from EP 2 336 983 A1 and is described in detail therein. It has been shown that it frequently happens that a coin becomes jammed, whether a bent coin is inserted or multiple coins are inserted.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for coins to be removable from the coin accelerator.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a coin accelerator from which coins can be removed easily and safely and without great effort.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim.

[0006] Advantageous further developments and improvements are possible due to the features specified in the subclaims.

[0007] According to the invention, a coin accelerator for a coin-operated machine is provided, which has an electromechanical drive for transporting a coin into a coin processing or coin forwarding device located higher relative to the coin accelerator. The electromechanical drive comprises a coin acceleration lever movably arranged in a coin channel, wherein the coin channel is delimited by two spaced-apart wall elements. A double flap is hinged to one of the wall elements, at least partially concealing the coin channel and simultaneously forming part of the wall element. This double flap has a main flap and a travel flap that can be moved or displaced relative to the main flap via a double joint.

[0008] This double flap makes it possible to open the main flap together with the sliding flap by pivoting them around a common hinge axis on the wall element. In a first step, the sliding flap can be moved or moved linearly relative to the main flap via a double joint. When the double flap is closed, the gimbal joint also serves to pull the flaps towards the respective wall element. In a second step, the main flap is pivoted using the sliding flap and the double flap is fully opened. In the first step, the sliding flap establishes a mechanical connection with the main flap and is opened accordingly.

[0009] In the first step, a guide edge, which is perpendicular or diagonal to the wall elements and, when at rest, borders the coin channel, is moved until it roughly coincides with the inward-facing plane of the main flap. This further simplifies the removal or sliding out of coins that might get caught on the guide edge.

[0010] Preferably, the double flap is operatively connected to a flap drive for opening and moving the flap, wherein the flap drive comprises a slide-like driver element and a geared motor. The driver element is driven via an eccentric and a slotted hole provided in the driver element. It is advantageous for the eccentric to be driven by the geared motor, which holds the double flap closed when not activated and opens it when activated.

[0011] To open the double flap, at least one light barrier can be arranged on or in the coin channel to detect whether a coin is stuck in the coin channel. This light barrier is connected to a control unit. The control unit initiates the opening of the double flap by sending appropriate signals to the flap drive. The control unit can be located in the coin validator or in the machine or other coin handling devices and supplies control signals to the gear motor.

[0012] The double flap or the travel flap can be moved manually using a handle element that can be operated from the outside in relation to the coin accelerator, which is part of the travel flap and is operatively connected to the driver element.

[0013] The invention is illustrated in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description.

[0014] Fig. 1 Various views of the coin accelerator according to the invention in the basic or rest position: a) from the rear b) from the side with cover, but indicated driver element c) in section according to the section line A - A of the view d) d) from the front of the flaps e) from the side without cover, partially cut f) perspective view from the front with visible handle element g) perspective view from the front with covered handle element.

[0015] Fig. 2 views corresponding to Fig. 1 of the coin accelerator according to the invention in the first step of opening the double flap,

[0016] Fig. 3 views corresponding to Fig.l of the coin accelerator according to the invention in the second step of opening the double flap,

[0017] Fig. 4 a perspective view from the side and enlarged sections A and B in the closed state,

[0018] Fig. 5 a perspective view from the side and an enlarged section A in the fully opened state.

[0019] The coin accelerator shown in Figures 1 to 5 has a coin channel 3 delimited by two wall elements 1, 2 (see Figures 4 and 5), which is best seen in Figure 4. In the coin channel 3, for example, a coin acceleration lever (not shown) according to EP 2 336 983 A1 is arranged, which can be actuated by means of a spring pretensioned by a motor drive and which, when triggered by an inserted coin, shoots the coin along a guide edge 10 into a higher coin processing device.

[0020] An axle 4 with a joint 5 and a double joint 6 is attached to the wall element 1, wherein a double flap 7 is connected to the joints 5 and 6, which closes an opening provided in the wall element 1. The double flap 7 has a main flap 8 (joint 5) and a displacement flap 9 (joint 6). The displacement flap 9 comprises several elements, a displacement element 12, a handle element 13 connected to the displacement element 12, and a cover element 14 (see in particular Figs. 1 to 3g). As can be seen from Fig. 4, the displacement element 12 is provided with a guide edge 10 which protrudes or projects towards the plane of the main flap 8 and the wall element 1 and delimits the coin channel 3. In Fig. 4, a coin 11 can be seen which is inserted in the coin channel 3 and rests on the guide edge 10 of the moving element 12.

[0021] To actuate the double flap 7, a slide-like driver element 15 is provided, which is connected to the movable flap 9 and which, when moved, opens the double flap 7 via the movable flap 9 and mechanical driver connections not further designated. The driver element 15 is provided with an elongated hole 16 into which an eccentric 17 engages, which is preferably moved by a motor 18 designed as a gear motor.

[0022] As can be seen more precisely in the enlargements of Figures 4 and 5, a light barrier 19 is provided which detects a coin inserted in the coin channel 3

[0023] 11 and sends a signal to a control unit (not shown), which in turn controls the motor 18 to open the double flap 7.

[0024] In Fig. 5, the coin accelerator is shown with the double flap 7 fully open, wherein it can be seen that the travel element 12 has been gimbal-moved relative to the main flap 8 via the double joint 6 in such a way that the guide edge 10 has been submerged or retracted and the travel element 12 lies approximately in a plane with the inside of the main flap 8 and the coin 11 is released.

[0025] The coin channel 3 can also be opened manually using the handle element 13 and the driver element 15.

[0026] In Figures 1 to 3 a) to g), the coin accelerator is shown in various opening states according to the basic position or rest position of the double flap 7, according to the first step of opening and according to the second step of opening. In the rest position, the guide edge 10 of the displacement element 12 or the displacement flap 9 forms a boundary and guide of the coin channel 3. In the first step, the displacement element

[0027] 12 is displaced or moved via the double joint 6 essentially parallel with respect to the wall elements 1, 2 of the coin channel 3 or the closed main flap 8, wherein the guide edge 10 is pulled out of the coin channel 3 and into the plane of the wall element 1 or the main flap 8, so that one or more jammed coins 11 are at least partially released. In the second step, the main flap 8 is displaced again by the displacement flap 9, driven by the driver element 15, possibly slightly further via the double joint 6 and the joint 5 and then pivoted, whereby the coin channel 3 is completely opened.

[0028] In Figures 1 to 3, under a) the figure is the same in all three representations, i.e. the coin accelerator is shown from behind, where the motor 18 and a further motor 20 can be seen, which is part of the electromechanical drive of the coin accelerator in order to catapult an inserted coin upwards in a known manner (see EP 2 336 983 A1). Figures b) show the various positions of the eccentric 17, the moving element 12 and the double joint 6. Similarly, figures c) show the side view and the various positions in section. The front views d) are again the same in all three opening states, while in figures e) the three opening states can be seen based on the double joint 6 and the flap position. The same applies to the perspective views in figures f) and g), which show the closed state of the coin channel 3, the state after the parallel orlinear movement of the travel flap 9 with retracted guide edge 10 and the fully opened state of the pivoted double flap 7 and released coin channel 10.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Coin accelerator for a coin-operated machine with an electromechanical drive for transporting a coin into a coin processing or coin forwarding device located higher in relation to the coin accelerator, wherein the electromechanical drive has a coin acceleration lever movably arranged in a coin channel (3) which is delimited by two wall elements (1, 2) arranged at a distance from one another, characterized in that a double flap (7) at least partially covering the coin channel (3) is hinged to one of the wall elements (1, 2) and is a component of the wall element (1), wherein the double flap (7) comprises a main flap (8) and a displacement flap (9) which is movable or displaceable relative to the main flap (8) via a double joint (6), wherein the displacement flap (9) forms a guide edge (10) delimiting the coin channel (3) in the idle state.

2. Coin accelerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the double flap (7) is operatively connected to a flap drive (15, 18) for opening and for moving or displacing the travel flap (9).

3. Coin accelerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the double flap (7) is opened in a first movement sequence, the travel flap (9) can be moved in a longitudinal movement by means of the driver element (15) in such a way that the guide edge (10) is pulled out of the coin channel (3).

4. Coin accelerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the double flap (7) is opened, the travel flap (9) pivots in a second movement sequence, whereby the travel flap (9) is designed to entrain the main flap (8) for opening. Coin accelerator according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the flap drive (15, 18) has a driver element (15) and a geared motor (18), wherein the driver element (15) is connected to the travel flap (9) and can be driven by the geared motor for its longitudinal movement. Coin accelerator according to claim 5, characterized in that the driver element (15) can be driven via an eccentric (17) and an elongated hole (16) provided in the driver element (15). Coin accelerator according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the eccentric (17) is connected to the geared motor (18).Coin accelerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the double flap (7) is operatively connected to a driver element (15) for opening and moving the travel flap (9), and a handle element (13) that can be actuated from the outside with respect to the coin accelerator is connected to the driver element (15). Coin accelerator according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the handle element (13) forms an assembly with the travel flap (9). Coin accelerator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one light barrier (19) for determining whether a coin is stuck in the coin channel (3) is arranged on or in the coin channel, which is connected to a control unit for opening the double flap (7). Coin accelerator according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control unit controls the flap drive having a geared motor (18).

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