Coin dispensing apparatus for circulating overflowing coins

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to a coin dispensing apparatus having a large bulk coin storage capacity, within a limited space, including a first coin storage bowl and a second coin storage bowl that can receiving overflowing coins which can operatively translate those coins through a coin transporter unit for re-circulating them to the first coin storage bowl.

2. Description of the Prior Art

High capacity coin hoppers have been suggested for storing, agitating and dispensing a large volume of coins or tokens in a gaming machine, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,495. A rotating coin dispensing disk is tilted to a horizontal surface and receives coins from a cylindrical mount adapter for ejecting coins from the coin hopper. A rotating cylinder is positioned between a coin bowl and the cylindrical mount adapter. Basically, the coins move through the coin hopper, the rotating cylinder, and the mounting adapter for dispensing by the rotating disk. The supply of coins depends upon a gravity feed, and as such, the coin bowl is tilted at least 30° and elevated relative to the disposition of the rotating coin disk dispenser.

The Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication 07/000595 discloses an overflow storage bowl which receives overflow coins from a hopper bowl, and a coin carrier device that can carry the coins from the storage bowl to the hopper bowl. A coin transporter unit is mounted within a sidewall of the hopper device for lifting the coins back to the coin hopper.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,589,433 and 5,122,094 are cited of general interest to disclose various types of hopper type coin dispensing apparatuses.

Increasing the coin storage capacity of a coin dispensing apparatus within the allocated space of a gaming machine remains an issue, particularly in the gaming industry, which relies on coin dispensing apparatuses and gaming machines such as slot machines, to continually pay out coins to players at high speeds. Therefore, there is still a need to maximize the coin storage capacity in this industry.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved coin dispensing apparatus having a relatively large coin storage capacity by increasing the operative volumetric capacity of the limited space that is made available in a gaming machine.

The present invention includes a first coin storage member having a coin dispenser unit operatively connected to the first coin storage member for dispensing coins. A second coin storage member is operatively connected to the first coin storage member in such a manner to increase the overall storage capacity and is capable of receiving an overflow of coins when the first coin storage member stores a predetermined quantity of coins. A coin transporter unit is operatively mounted in the base of the second storage member to receive coins from a bottom surface of the second coin storage member and to translate them for removal from the second coin storage member. A coin guide member is operatively connected to the coin transporter unit for lifting coins from the coin transporter unit to return the coins to the first coin storage member. Appropriate sensors can monitor the storage level of coins in the first coin storage member and thereby automatically activate the coin transporter unit in the second coin storage member.

By optimally designing an arrangement between the first coin storage member and the configuration and shape of the second coin storage member, an increase in the storage capacity can be achieved and the previous loss of storage space beneath the first coin storage member can be utilized. The second coin storage member can basically encompass and extend beneath the first coin storage member whereby overflowing coins from the first coin storage member can fall by gravity into the second storage member. A horizontally orientated coin transporter unit can translate the coins from the bottom of the second coin storage member to a vertically orientated guide member that can lift the coins and deposit them by gravity into the first coin storage member.

The first coin storage member can still have a tilted disposition so that a gravity feed can direct coins to a coin dispenser unit operatively connected to the first coin storage member. The coin transporter unit mounted in the second coin storage member can be mounted underneath the first coin storage member with the coin guide member extending along a side of the second storage member for returning coins to the first coin storage member at a position above the coin dispenser unit. The arrangement of the coin transporter unit and coin guide member does not require a sloping bottom surface for the second coin storage member, and thereby maximizes the quantity of coins stored in the second coin storage member. The coin guide member can be relatively inexpensively constructed and can be integrally formed as a portion of the second coin storage member. The coin guide member can include a groove of an appropriate dimension for the coins which can be integrally formed on an outer wall surface of the second coin storage member. Alternatively, the coin guide member can be attached to an outer surface of the second coin storage member to further strengthen the construction. Preferably a drive member used for rotating the coin transporter unit is placed along one side of the second coin storage member.

The exact nature of the present invention will be readily apparent from consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the first embodiment with a first coin storage bowl removed;

FIG. 3 is a top view with the first and second coin storage bowls removed for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view to illustrate the relative arrangements of the first and second storage coin bowls;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view with the second coin storage bowl removed;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of the coin transporter unit and the coin guide member;

FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the coin transporter unit;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of a gear assembly of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the second coin storage bowl of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the coin guide member for lifting coins in the second embodiment.

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide a coin dispensing apparatus having increased coin storage capabilities with a first coin storage member operatively positioned relative to a second overflow coin storage member so that it can re-charge the first coin storage member.

The present invention is designed to provide an improved coin dispensing apparatus that can dispense coins, medallions, disks, or tokens that are commonly used in the gaming industry. The present invention utilizes the terminology “coin” in a generic manner to also include not only monetary coins, but other forms of disks, tokens, and medallions that are frequently used in the gaming industry. The present invention addresses the specific confines and limitations of storage space that is allocated in a gaming machine and attempts to maximize the coin storage capacity while maintaining an economical arrangement of parts for both construction and maintenance purposes.

As can be appreciated, the various components and parts described in the present invention can be formed from either metal or plastic components. Additionally, a person skilled in this field can appreciate that various equivalent components can be utilized to achieve the same function and purpose of the present invention and that a control system (not shown), for example, such as a microcomputer-based system having appropriate sensors and input/output interfaces can be used to automatically drive motors for controlling the disposition of the coins.

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 8. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an upright support plate 1 is mounted on a lower base in such a manner to provide a tilt to a first coin rotating disk 2 that forms a dispensing and segregating portion of a coin dispensing unit. A first storage coin bowl 3 is mounted to include sloping surfaces 3 S 1 and 3 S 2 above the first coin rotating disk 2 with a bottom wall 3 AC sloping to direct coins by gravity feed to the rotating coin disk 2 . The support plate 1 is fixed on the frame members 6 A and 6 B of the base 5 . The support plate 1 provides a tilt relative to a horizontal support surface of about 60°. The first rotating coin disk 2 includes a circumferential disk configuration with a base place 2 A and a perimeter flange 2 B. A plurality of coin receptacle holes 2 C, for example eight in the disclosed embodiment, are formed in the base plate 2 A. An output shaft 7 A of a gear reduction assembly such as a gear speed reducer unit 7 is connected to the rotating coin disk 2 and is fastened on the back surface of the support plate 1 . The illustrated shaft line CL disclosed in FIG. 4 of the rotating coin disk 2 is approximately at a right-angle position to the support plate 1 . The rotating coin disk 2 is thereby orientated at about 30° to the horizontal surface. An electric motor 8 can drive the speed reducer unit 7 which, in turn, drives the rotating coin disk 2 .

When a coin is to be dispensed, it is supported on the support plate 1 after it has passed through the coin holes 2 C, while the rotating coin disk 2 rotates. A protrusion (not illustrated) is provided on the rotating coin disk 2 of the back surface. When the coin contacts an appropriate pin on the support plate 1 at a predetermined position, the coin is thereby dispensed from a coin projection aperture or mouth 9 .

As seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 , the first coin storage member or first coin bowl includes a lower base bowl 3 A and an upper increased storage bowl portion 3 B. The base bowl 3 A is operatively connected to the first rotating coin disk 2 and has an inclined cylindrical base surface. The base bowl 3 A includes the base rim 3 AA which surrounds the first rotating coin disk 2 and an opening 3 AB that forms an upper surface sidewall. The base rim structure 3 AA is fixed to the support plate 1 . The bottom wall 3 AC is almost parallel with the axis of the shaft driving the rotating coin disk 2 . Any coins C that contact the bottom wall 3 AC will, by their weight and gravity, slide downward to interact with the first rotating coin disk 2 . A sensor electrode TB is mounted in the bottom wall 3 AC adjacent the rotating coin disk 2 . This bottom surface electrode TB is positioned to contact conductive coins, and with an upper sensor electrode TU which is fixed at a sidewall inner surface of the base bowl 3 A, constitutes a coin quantity sensor unit. When an electric current flows through the coins stacked between the electrode TB and TU, then it can be determined by a control circuit (not shown), that the coins in the first coin bowl storage member are at a level greater than a predetermined quantity of coins. As can be appreciated, the specific predetermined quantity of coins can vary over a range due to the random alignment of coins in a bulk storage configuration. When the output current is interrupted between the sensor electrodes TB and TU, a lift device shown in FIG. 3, is then operated by the control circuit. The increased bowl member 3 B also includes the first slope 3 S 1 above the rotating coin disk 2 , a second slope 3 S 2 , and a third slope 3 S 3 on the side of the rotating coin disk 2 . Generally, the storage bowl member 3 B has a funnel configuration of a pyramid shape. The upper end of the coin storage bowl 3 B provides a coin charge mouth or aperture 3 BE of a generally rectangular configuration. The lower end of the coin bowl 3 B is also of a rectangular exit configuration 3 BB and is inserted into the opening 3 AB of the base bowl 3 A. The lower end of the coin bowl 3 B is formed into a rectangular configuration which is smaller than the upper end including the exit 3 BB. The exit 3 BB of the coin bowl 3 B is inserted into the opening 3 AB of the base bowl 3 A and is fixed by screws or other appropriate fasteners to the base bowl 3 A at an upper end. An overflow mouth 3 WA is formed in the vertical wall surface of the increase bowl 3 B, which is positioned above and opposite to the first rotating coin disk 2 . Any overflow of coins stored in the first coin bowl 3 will overflow by gravity through the opening 3 WA to a second coin bowl storage unit 10 .

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the second coin storage member or storage bowl 10 has a rectangular configuration that encompasses a forward end of the first coin bowl 3 . The left wall panel 10 L of the second storage bowl 10 is also affixed by screws or other appropriate fasteners on the left side wall of the increase bowl 3 B. Likewise, the right wall panel 10 R is affixed by screws or appropriate fasteners to the right side wall of the increase bowl 3 B. The wall panel 10 C, which is opposite to the first rotating coin disk, is almost arranged in a vertical alignment. A cylindrical exit hole or aperture 10 E, as shown in FIG. 2, is positioned in the base plate 10 D of the second storage bowl 10 . The base plate 10 D, as shown in FIG. 4, has a slanted configuration so that the coins will slide downward to engage with the exit hole 10 E. The wall panel 10 F, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, contacts the bottom wall 3 AC of the base storage bowl 3 A. Therefore, the second storage bowl 10 includes at least the base bowl 3 A as part of its structure. As can be readily appreciated, the second storage area is formed between the second bowl 10 , the base bowl 3 A, and the increase bowl 3 B. A rectangular flange 10 G is formed about the circumference of the exit hole 10 E and is fixed on the upper surface of the gear box 27 .

A second coin rotating disk 21 , which forms a portion of a coin transporter unit, is operatively mounted to the second coin storage member or bowl to remove coins from a bottom surface of the second coin storage bowl member and to translate them for removal from the second coin storage bowl member. The second rotating coin disk 21 is placed below the exit hole 10 E of the second coin bowl 10 . The coin transporter unit 20 includes a second rotating coin disk 21 and a rotation extrusion body 23 . The second rotating disk 21 is circular and includes second coin passage holes 21 A, which in the preferred embodiment is three holes. A feed protrusion 21 B, as shown in FIG. 6, is placed between the passage holes 21 A of the second rotating coin disk 21 back surface. The second rotating coin disk is positioned in a horizontal plane and below the lowest edge of the first rotating coin disk 2 as shown in FIG. 4. A rotating shaft 22 is mounted on the gear box 27 and is connected to this second rotating coin disk 21 . The second rotating coin disk 21 is rotated at a first circular concavity 27 A formed at the upper surfaces 27 U of gear box 27 and exit hole 10 E of the second coin bowl 10 . The second rotating disk 21 is positioned at a left side wall 10 L offset from the shaft line CL of the first rotating coin disk as shown in FIG. 3 . The second coin rotating disk 21 is also placed below the coin passage mouth 3 WA of the increase bowl 3 B.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second rotating coin disk 21 has, adjacent to one side, a rotation extrusion body 23 of a three-prong shape having arms 23 A, 23 B, and 23 C positioned at 120° offset spaces. Rotation body 23 is affixed to a rotating shaft 24 of the gear box 27 . A second circular concavity 27 B is placed at the upper surface 27 U of the gear box 27 in a left side wall 10 L from the shaft line CL. The rotation body 23 rotates so that the tips of the protruding arms 23 A- 23 C are rotated in a horizontal plane beneath the second coin rotating disk 21 . An electric motor 26 with a speed reducing gear arrangement 25 is affixed at the upper surface in a right wall panel 10 R of the gear box 27 . The electric motor 26 is placed at an outside edge of the slope of the base plate 10 D of the second coin bowl member 10 . While the electric motor 26 is on an upper surface 27 U of the gear box 27 , its arrangement does not interfere with the position of the second coin bowl 10 . A gear 28 is affixed at the output shaft 25 A of gear box 27 beneath the speed reducer 25 shown in FIG. 8 . An idle gear 30 is fixed on a rotation counter shaft 29 mounted in the gear box 27 and engages with gear 28 . A gear 31 is affixed at the upper end of the rotating shaft 24 and engages with the gear 30 . Gear 32 is affixed at the lower end of the rotating shaft 22 and engages with gear 31 . Gears 30 - 32 are the same diameter and are rotated in synchronization.

A mobile roller 23 is positioned at the boundary of a depression or groove 27 D and the second circular concavity 27 B as shown in FIG. 7 . The mobile rollers 33 are freely mounted at the tip of the shaft 35 as shown in FIG. 8 . Shaft 35 , in turn, is fixed on a fluctuation lever 34 placed on the back surface side of the gear box 27 . The fluctuating lever 34 is arranged about the rotating shaft 24 and is biased by a spring 37 anchored on a pin 36 on the underside of the gear box 27 so that the fluctuation lever 34 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction. Mobile roller 33 is rotated, in FIG. 7, in a counter-clockwise direction when the fluctuation lever 34 is stopped by the stopper 38 . The space between the mobile roller 33 and a regulation piece 39 B of a first circular concavity 27 A is set at a distance less than the diameter of the coin C thereby preventing any backward movement of the coin C as it is being translated to a coin guide member. A guide disk G, as shown in FIG. 7, is fixed in the first circular concavity 27 A about the rotating shaft 22 so that it is concentrically arranged. Three feed protrusions 21 B are placed between the second coin passage hole 21 A at the same radial position from the rotating shaft 22 so that they rotate outside of the guide disk G. A rod-like regulation pin 39 A is placed in between the guide disk G and the rotation locus of the feed protrusion 21 B. The regulation pin 39 A is affixed on the gear box 27 outside of the feed protrusion 21 B rotation locus. The regulation piece 39 B includes a linear guide plane 39 BS which is almost parallel to form a tangent between the first circular concavity 27 A and the second circular concavity 27 B. A second induction plane 27 D 2 of derivation groove 27 D is formed in the extension of the guide plane 39 BS of the upper surfaces 27 U of the gear box 27 .

The coin guide member 40 , which provides a passageway for the coins, is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and includes an arc division 41 , a straight division section 42 , an arc guide 44 , a straight guide 45 , and an induction guide 46 . The arc division 41 includes an arc plane 43 with a one quarter circumferential length. The straight division 42 continues the arc division 41 and is mounted above it. An overlapping arc guide 44 is bent in a complimentary configuration to capture the coins being translated up the arc guide 44 . A straight guide portion also captures the coins when mounted on the straight division 42 . The rectangular slab-shaped guide 46 guides the coins back to the first storage bowl 3 . The arc division member 41 is affixed at the upper surface 27 U of the gear box 27 . As can be appreciated, the groove 41 G is slightly smaller than the diameter of the coin, so that the coin will slide along the rims 41 L and 41 R. An outer rim 41 R 2 and 41 L 2 can interface with the arc division guide 44 . Appropriate fasteners can be utilized to fasten the structure together. The lower end of the arc division 41 is arranged adjacent to the groove 27 E formed on the upper surface 27 U of the gear box 27 . The upper surface of the rims 41 R and 41 L are located in the extension of a plane of the groove 27 D.

Openings 44 A are provided in the arc guide 44 in order to monitor coin movement, while a stiffening bracket 44 B extends across the arc guide 44 . The upper vertical straight division 42 has spacers 42 L and 42 R which interface with the straight guide 45 . As can be appreciated, a coin is directed through the straight groove 43 D to the curve passageway 43 P to direct the coins to a rectangular tubular guide 46 that protrudes on the left side. The tip of the guide 46 tilts to the increased storage bowl 3 B. The guide 46 is inserted into a coin storage mouth 47 of the sidewall 3 BR of increase storage bowl 3 B. This coin supply mouth is placed above the lower end of the first coin rotating disk 2 so that it can supply the re-circulated overflow coins to the base coin bowl 3 A. Base 5 and gear box 27 are fixed and united on the plane substrate 49 .

In operation, the first embodiment of the present invention has bulk coins C supplied until the upper electrode sensor TU is contacted. At that point, a predetermined quantity of coins is contained within the second storage compartment 11 of the second coin bowl 10 . As additional coins are inserted during the play of the game, they are introduced into the coin charge mouth 3 BE to the first coin storage bowl 3 . Overflow coins C will thereby flow from the coin mouth 3 WA to the second coin bowl 10 .

When coins are to be dispensed, the first coin rotating disk 2 is activated by energizing the electric motor 8 so that it is rotated through the speed reducer unit 7 . A coin C will fall within the coin holder 2 C by the rotation of the first coin rotating disk 2 . The coin is then subsequently dispensed from the aperture 9 . Other coins C will slide down the bottom wall 3 AC to the first coin rotating disk 2 until such a point that the electric current will not flow between the upper sensor electrode TU and the bottom sensor electrode TB. At this time, it can be determined that the quantity of coins C remaining in the base storage bowl 3 A is lower than a predetermined number. At this point, a control circuit (not shown) will then be activated to energize motor 26 to thereby rotate the second rotating disk 21 in a counter-clockwise direction through the speed reducer 25 , the output shaft 25 A, and the respective gears 28 - 32 . The rotation extrusion body 23 is synchronized with the second coin rotating disk 21 and is rotated in a clockwise direction. As a result of the rotation of the second coin rotating disk 21 , coins are stirred and are caused to fall into the second coin passage hole 21 A when the coins become parallel to the second rotating coin disk 21 . The coin C is supported in the basal plane of the first circular concavity 27 A and is guided in the guide disk G so that the feed protrusion 21 B of the back surface of the second rotating disk 21 pushes it forward.

The coin C will be stopped at the regulation pin 39 A when the feed protrusion 21 B pushes it to that point and then the feed protrusion 21 B will push the coin out to the groove 27 D. The coin C will contact the guide plane 39 BS of the regulation piece 39 B. At this point, the coin C will be temporarily positioned as shown in FIG. 7 until arm 23 A will push the coin C forward to be guided by the guide plane 39 BS and the second guide plane 27 D 2 whereby it is pushed into the groove 27 D. The coin C will act against the bias force of the spring 37 to push the mobile roller 33 to the right side direction. Afterwards, the mobile roller 33 pushes the coin C out to the groove 27 D. The coin C is captured at the upper part of the groove 27 D and the lower end division of the arc guide 44 . After the initial coin C passes, the fluctuation lever 34 is rotated by spring 37 and is stopped by the stopper 38 to remain in a standby condition. In this standby condition, the coin C is stopped by mobile roller 33 if coin C attempts to return to rotating coin disk 21 . The distribution of the coins C will continue as the second coin rotating disk 21 rotates. The successive coins will push the preceding coins up the passive coin guide member 40 until the coins are ultimately dispensed back into the first storage coin bowl 3 . The electric motor 26 will continue to operate to re-charge the overflowed coins back into the coin storage bowl 3 until the upper sensor electrode TU and the lower sensor electrode TB are again electrically interconnected through the accumulation of stored bulk coins.

By this particular arrangement, it is possible to re-direct the coins discharged from the second coin bowl from initially a horizontal arrangement to a vertical orientation through the coin guide member 40 in a relatively limited space. As can be appreciated, the coin guide member 40 is initially arranged in a horizontal position and below the lower end of the first coin rotating disk 2 . This increases the storage space of the second storage bowl 10 whereby the quantity of the coins that can be utilized in this limited space is significantly increased.

Additionally, by connecting the coin guide member 40 at the right wall panel 10 R of the second coin storage bowl 10 , the right wall panel 10 R is further reinforced.

As a modification to this first embodiment, the first coin bowl 3 can be composed of only the base bowl 3 A. In such an arrangement, guide boards can be utilized to dispense the coin C from the straight passage 43 D to fall into the opening 3 AB of the base coin bowl 3 A. Additionally, the rotation extrusion body 23 may be deleted, and accordingly, the feed protrusion 21 B of the second coin rotating disk will push the coins C into the groove 27 D. In such an arrangement, the coin transporting unit 20 includes the second rotating coin disk 21 which is operatively connected to the coin guide member. Additionally, the second coin rotating disk 21 can be of a type which dispenses coin C one by one by pins which are affixed to the surface of a rotating disk in a predetermined space. The coin quantity sensor can also be modified to use a light sensor whereupon the vertical buildup of the bulk coins can prevent the emitted light from a light emitter from reaching a photo receptor thereby activating a sensor signal for the control circuit.

A second embodiment of the present invention can be understood by reference to FIGS. 9-12. In this embodiment, the first coin storage bowl 3 is only the base bowl 3 A and the structure of the coin guide member 40 is altered. A second coin bowl 51 represents a combination between the first coin bowl piece 51 A and a second bowl piece 51 B. The first coin bowl piece 51 A includes a tip sidewall 51 AS including left and right L-shaped sideboards 51 A and 51 AR. The first bowl piece 51 A further includes a ramp 51 S 1 extending from the sidewall 51 AS and a second interconnecting ramp 51 S 2 with a lower straight board 51 S 3 as seen in FIG. 12 . The first coin bowl piece 51 A includes a first circular concavity 27 A and a second circular concavity 27 B, an arc concavity 52 A, straight groove 53 D, and guide groove 54 of the base plate 51 A. The arc concavity 52 A constitutes an arc division 52 . The respective straight groove 53 D and groove 54 of the straight division 53 are formed as indentations in the inner surface of the right side board 51 AR.

In arc division 52 , the first and second stage divisions are equal to the first embodiment so that an arc groove 52 G is formed for permitting the passage of coins. A relatively straight passageway 53 D extends upward from the continuation of the arc groove 52 G and interconnects with the groove 54 to permit coins to fall onto the second ramp 51 S 2 side. At the second ramp 51 S 2 and the straight board 51 S 3 , a semi-circular opening 51 W is formed so that the base coin bowl 3 A may fit into it. Therefore, the first coin bowl 3 is the base bowl 3 A. An electric motor 26 with a speed reducing gear arrangement 25 is affixed at the base plate 51 AB on the right side board 51 AR. The gears (shown in FIG. 8) are also included in the back surface side of the base plate 51 AB. A second bowl piece 51 B has a rectangular configuration and includes a left side board 51 BL and the right side board 51 BR, an episternum 51 BF and a base plate 51 BB. The episternum 51 BF connects between the left side board 51 BL and the right side board 51 BR.

A circular exit hole 10 E is formed at the base plate 51 BB and the base plate 51 BB has slopes which approach from the lower end of the side plate 51 BL, 51 BR, and 51 BF to the exit hole 10 E. As can be appreciated, a coin C will slide down the base plate 51 BB. An arc convex division 51 B is opposite to the arc concavity 52 A to form a curving coin passage groove on the underside of the base plate 51 BB. The surfaces 51 BS cover the straight groove 53 D and groove 54 to provide a straight passageway 43 P and groove 51 P. A rectangular oblique notch 55 is formed at the right side board 51 BR under the groove 54 , which is opposite to a second ramp 51 S 2 . Wall surface 54 B of the groove 54 tilts downward to the second coin bowl 51 and is opposite to the coin supply mouth 56 . The guide plate 51 BG is affixed to the inner surface of the right side board 51 BR below the coin supply mouth 56 .

Mounting flange 51 BH is formed in the circumference of the exit hole 10 E. Referring to FIG. 12, the combination between the first compass bowl piece 51 A and the second compass piece 51 B is illustrated. The first bowl piece 51 A is combined so that the base bowl 3 A may protrude into the second bowl 51 from the opening 51 W. In this arrangement, the first bowl piece 51 A is affixed to the substrate 49 .

The first coin rotating disk 2 is placed below the first ramp 51 S 1 and the second ramp 51 S 2 . The second bowl piece 51 B fits into the inside of the first bowl piece 51 A so that the external surface of the left side board 51 BL of the second bowl piece 51 B contacts the inner surface of the left side board 51 AL of the first bowl piece 51 A. The external surface of the right side board 51 BR contacts along the inner surface of the left side board 51 AR. Flange 51 BH is affixed onto base plate 51 AB and the second coin storage bowl 51 is thereby constructed. The second coin storage bowl 51 includes the base bowl 3 A which is the first coin storage bowl 3 . The arc coin passageway 41 P is constructed of the arc convex division 52 B of the second bowl piece 51 B covering the arc concavity 52 A. The straight coin passageway 43 P and passage 51 P are constructed by the external surface 51 B as to the right side board 51 BR that cover the straight groove 53 D and grooves 54 . The tip of the guide plate 51 BG is located above the opening 3 AB of the base bowl 3 A.

As with the first embodiment, the coin rotating disk 21 and the rotation extrusion body 23 will push the coins C up the arc passageways 41 P. The coins, when they are pushed through the passage way 51 P, will fall into the inclination side stage division 54 C. In turn, the coin C will fall onto the wall surface 54 B by the pull of gravity and will slide on the wall surface until it reaches the coin supply mouth 56 and falls into the guide plate 51 BG. As can be appreciated, the coin guide passageway is constructed by using the coin bowls' wall surface thereby simplifying the structure and increasing the utilization of the narrow space that is available. The coin passageway 51 P, which is connected to the coin supply mouth 56 , is a coin passageway which tilts above, thereby coin C will not block the supply mouth 56 because it does not flow into the coin passageway 51 P.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing 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.