Hopper coin and disc feeder using an air curtain or jets to dislodge excess coins

摘要

A hopper coin and disc feeder of the inclined disc type comprises blowing means having an outlet (33) or air dispensing edge (32), which is positioned so as to direct a curtain (30) of air generally down the face (8) of the disc (1), so as to urge any coins occupying intermediate radial portions of the upper part of the disc back down into the coin holding space. The outlet (33), or air dispensing edge (32), is positioned radially inward of the marginal region (37) of the disc that is provided with coin holding means (9) so that the blowing means does not significantly interfere with the coins being conveyed by the marginal region (37) of the disc. A hopper coin and disc feeder alternatively comprises a coin stripping means having one or more air jet means positioned in advance of a coin take-off region, and directed generally radially inwardly of the disc to remove piggy-back coins resting on underlying coins that are in face contact with the marginal regions of the disc. The axis of the air jet means is directed generally parallel to the disc face (8) but at a distance that is just greater than one minimum coin thickness from the face of the disc.