Bucket type coin accumulation apparatus

摘要

A bucket type coin accumulation apparatus includes a collection plate, a return plate, locking members, weights, and photodetectors. The collection and return plates constitute a bottom portion of a coin accumulation bucket and cooperate to randomly accumulate coins in the coin accumulation bucket. The locking members independently lock the collection and return plates when a coin is inserted. The weights independently urge the collection plate and the return plate in a counter-gravity direction by a biasing force smaller than the weight of one coin. The photodetectors detect whether the collection and return plates are located at home positions where the collection and return plates are biased by the weights. One of the collection and return plates is released by the weight of the accumulated coin upon selective unlocking of the locking members, and the presence/absence of coin accumulation is discriminated by an output from the photodetectors.