A coin feeder mechanism for transporting coins from a coin hopper is disclosed. The coin feeder mechanism includes a shelfwheel having a peripheral edge, a pinwheel having a front face and a peripheral edge, and a plurality of pins extending from the front face of the pinwheel between the peripheral edge of the pinwheel and the peripheral edge of the shelfwheel. The pinwheel is rotatably mounted with respect to the shelfwheel and positioned adjacent thereto. The shelfwheel has a coin pick-up area and a coin delivery area. The peripheral edge of the shelfwheel is farther away from pins associated with the pinwheel at the coin pick-up area than at the coin delivery area. In one embodiment, the arrangement of the shelfwheel and pinwheel is accomplished by mounting the shelfwheel so that a center thereof is offset vertically upwardly from a center of the pinwheel.
A carrying disk device of coin dispenser mainly includes a machine frame, a carrying disk and a guide arm. The carrying disk and the guide arm are connected to the machine frame. The carrying disk has a plurality of posts arranged in a plurality of radial rows on the coin-carrying surface thereof. The posts are fixed on and protrude from the coin-carrying surface. A plurality of coin-holding spaces are formed between the plurality rows of the posts. The guide arm covers a portion of the coin-carrying surface of the carrying disk, and has a guide lateral and a plurality of curvilinear grooves on the bottom thereof. The curvilinear grooves extend to the guide lateral of the guide arm to allow the posts to pass under the guide arm when the carrying disk rotates.
The invention promotes a smooth agitation and efficient transport of coins by setting the rotation direction of the agitator in the same direction as the rotary disc to move a center of rotation of the agitator to a location where most coins are collected.
