Coin payout apparatus in gaming device

Claim 1

A coin payout apparatus in a gaming device which includes a coin hopper storing therein a plurality of coins and a coin guide generally in the shape of an elongated flat plate connected to the hopper for successively delivering coins in edge-to-edge relationship from the hopper to a coin dispensing opening, said coin payout apparatus comprising: a rotary arm pivotally mounted to said coin guide at substantially a central portion of one surface of said coin guide in a widthwise direction thereof, said rotary arm having one end portion movable toward and away from said coin guide; a coin ejecting roller rotatably supported to said one end portion of the rotary arm, said coin ejecting roller being in rotational contact with an outer peripheral surface of a leading coin in said coin guide; a biasing means connected to said one end portion of said rotary arm for biasing said one end toward said leading coin; a supplemental coin ejecting means positioned in confrontation with said coin ejecting roller, said supplemental coin ejecting means being rotatably supported for ejecting the leading coin in cooperation with said coin ejecting roller; a detecting means for detecting rocking movements of said rotary arm comprising a non-contact type sensor means mounted on said one surface of said coin guide on one side of said rotary arm in the widthwise direction thereof and a protruding piece provided for a lower end of said rotary arm to be movable toward and away from said sensor means in association with the rocking motion of said rotary arm, said sensor means having a structure allowing said protruding piece to enter in a non-contact manner, said sensor means generating a pulse signal in response to entry of said protruding piece; and a stopper means mounted on said one surface of said coin guide on the side of said rotary arm opposite said one side to restrict a backward movement of said rotary arm.