Gaming device including coin dispensing means

摘要

A gaming machine which incorporates an improved coin dispensing device for rapidly dispensing coins therefrom during a payout mode of operation. The improved coin dispensing device includes a vertically disposed hopper for storing a supply of coins to be dispensed, the hopper including a bottom exit for the coins. A guide member is supported adjacent the bottom exit of the hopper and includes a lower edge portion which defines a circular opening through which coins may be guided, the circular opening being of a first predetermined diameter. A rotatable feed disc is arranged vertically beneath the guide member for rotation about an axis substantially coinciding with the axis of the circular opening of the guide member. The feed disc includes a central hub element coaxially arranged with the axis of rotation of the feed disc and extending above the upper surface of the feed disc. The circular hub element is of a second predetermined diameter which is less than the first predetermined diameter by an amount which is approximately twice the width of the coins to be dispensed. The upper surface of the feed disc is spaced from the lower edge portion of the guide member a distance which is less than twice the thickness of the coins to be dispensed to define a coin passageway between the feed disc and the guide member through which coins supported on the feed disc may pass beneath the lower edge portion of the guide member. A closure member associated with the guide member and the feed disc is provided for substantially enclosing the outer periphery of the coin passgeway between the feed disc and the guide member. The closure member includes a lateral outlet slot communicating with the passageway between the feed disc and the guide member through which coins fed into the passageway are directed upon rotation of the feed disc.