Electronically-controlled rotary coin change dispenser

A coin dispenser comprising:

• a base;
• a coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels for receiving stacks of coins, said coin magazine being mounted for rotation on said base such that the coin channels move along a looped coin path;
• a coin ejector that is located at a single coin ejection location and proximate to said looped coin path, said ejector being operable to extend into and out of a selected coin channel to contact and eject a coin;
• a position monitor for monitoring angular movement of the coin magazine and the respective coin channels in relation to the coin ejector;
• an electronic control responsive to position signals from the position monitor for coordinating operation of the coin ejector to coincide with arrival of a selected coin channel at the coin ejection location;
• and
• further comprising a low coin sensor and a second position monitor f or tracking angular movement of the coin magazine relative to the low coin sensor.

A coin dispenser comprising:

• a coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels for said base such that said coin channels move along a looped coin path;
• a low coin sensor disposed at a low coin detection location along the coin path to detect an absence of coins in a selected coin channel at a predetermined height above a bottom support in the selected coin channel;
• a position monitor for monitoring angular movement of the coin magazine and the respective coin channels in relation to the low coin detection location;
• and
• an electronic control responsive to signals from the position monitor for coordinating operation of the low coin sensor to coincide with arrival of the selected coin channel at the low coin detection location.

A coin magazine assembly for a coin dispenser, said coin magazine assembly comprising:

• an annular, integrally formed magazine base having a driven portion formed around a central opening by which mechanical power is imparted to the coin magazine assembly;
• and
• an annular, integrally formed coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels disposed in a circle for receiving stacks of coins, and
• wherein said magazine is mounted on said magazine base, and wherein said magazine base includes at least a portion of surfaces supporting the coins in the channels prior to ejection and wherein said magazine base forms portions of slots for receiving an ejector member for ejecting said coins from respective channels.

A coin dispenser comprising:

• a base;
• a coin magazine with a plurality of coin channels for receiving stacks of coins, said coin magazine being mounted for rotation on said base and being drivable through a ring gear;
• a motor disposed in said base and inside of said ring gear when the magazine is installed;
• and
• a gear drive coupling said motor to drive said ring gear to drive said coin magazine.