Disc dispensing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing discs, for example coins, the apparatus comprising upper and lower relatively rotatable plates the upper plate having a disc receiving hole positioned to receive a disc to be dispensed, the lower plate having a disc supporting surface and a disc receiving recess disposed below such disc supporting surface, said recess communicating with the exterior of the plates, the upper plate having disc ejecting means to engage a disc in said recess and to drive such disc from the recess, the arrangement being such that the hole in the upper plate can receive a disc which is supported from below by said disc supporting surface of the lower plate, the disc riding on the said disc supporting surface during continued relative rotation of the plates until the disc is in alignment with, and drops into the disc receiving recess from which it is ejected by the disc ejecting means during further relative rotation of the plates.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the lower plate is arranged to remain stationary and the upper plate is rotatable.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which both plates are arranged at the base of a hopper.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the plates slope at an angle of the horizontal and in which the disc receiving recess is arranged to be lowermost.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the plates are disposed horizontally.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a vertical tube is arranged directly above the upper plate and in direct alignment with the disc receiving recess.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the disc ejecting means comprises a member extending downwardly from the upper rotatable plate and extending into a groove formed in the disc supporting surface of the lower plate, such groove extending in a circular arc around the lower plate from one end region of the recess to an opposite end region.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the lower plate has a sloping wall portion arranged radially at that portion of the recess where a disc first enters the recess, such wall portion sloping downwardly in the direction of movement of a disc.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which a disc guide wall portion is provided adjacent the radial wall portion and serves to guide a disc towards the periphery of the plate as the disc is ejected from the recess by the disc ejecting means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the disc guide wall portion slopes downwardly towards the periphery of the disc and merges with the floor of disc receiving recess, such sloping wall serving to prevent jamming of a disc between such wall and the peripheral wall of a disc receiving hole in the upper plate.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the disc guide wall is curved.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which a vertical wall portion is provided adjacent said sloping wall portion, said vertical wall portion extending as far as the groove.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which a peripheral wall of the lower plate which wall is defined by the groove and disc receiving recess, has a bevelled face sloping upwardly in the direction of movement of the disc being ejected, such bevelled face extending upwardly from the Floor of the recess and groove to the top face of the peripheral wall and serving to prevent jamming of a disc between the peripheral wall and a wall defining a hole in the upper plate.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of disc receiving holes and disc ejecting members are provided on the upper plate.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which counting means are provided to count discs ejected and to interrupt rotation of the plates when a desired number of discs have been ejected.

Claim 17

An amusement machine including apparatus for dispensing discs, the apparatus comprising a rotatable upper plate and a non rotatable lower plate, the upper plate having a disc receiving hole positioned to receive a disc to be dispensed, the lower plate having a disc supporting surface and a disc receiving recess disposed below such disc supporting surface, said recess communicating with the exterior of the plates, the upper plate having disc ejecting means to engage a disc in said recess and to drive said disc from the recess, the arrangement being such that the hole in the upper plate can receive a disc which is supported from below by said disc supporting surface of the lower plate, the disc riding on said disc supporting surface during continued rotation of the upper plate until the disc is in alignment with, and drops into the disc receiving recess from which it is ejected by the disc ejecting means during further rotation of the upper plate, the upper and lower plates being being disposed at the base of a hopper arranged to contain discs to be dispensed, the disc ejecting means comprising a member extending downwardly from the upper rotatable plate and extending into a groove formed in the disc supporting surface of the lower plate, such groove extending in a circular arc around the lower plate from one end region of the recess to an opposite end region, counting means being provided to count discs ejected and to interrupt relative rotation of the plates when a desired number of discs have been ejected.

Claim 18

An amusement machine including apparatus for dispensing discs, the apparatus comprising a rotatable upper plate and a non rotatable lower plate, the upper plate having a disc receiving hole positioned to receive a disc to be dispensed, the lower plate having a disc supporting surface and a disc receiving recess disposed below such disc supporting surface, said recess communicating with the exterior of the plates, the upper plate having disc ejecting means to engage a disc in said recess and to drive said disc from the recess, the arrangement being such that the hole in the upper plate can receive a disc which is supported from below by said disc supporting surface of the lower plate, the disc riding on said disc supporting surface during continued rotation of the upper plate until the disc is in alignment with, and drops into the disc receiving recess from which it is ejected by the disc ejecting means during further rotation of the upper plate, the upper and lower plates being being disposed at the base of a hopper arranged to contain discs to be dispensed, the disc ejecting means comprising a member extending downwardly from the upper rotatable plate and extending into a groove formed in the disc supporting surface of the lower plate, such groove extending in a circular arc around the lower plate from one end region of the recess to an opposite end region, counting means being provided to count discs ejected and to interrupt relative rotation of the plates when a desired number of discs have been ejected.