Rigging up an old hopper for a coin dispenser??

[jds]

alexilla
do you know if, with that switch, can it auto stop at a set number, like 200 count, 300 count, etc?
Or is there another way to do it.
thanks in advance.

[Si7]

Alexilla, can you just briefly describe what purpose the calculator serves ?

[Lazarus]

Ok I do not know what transformer 7mileslots is using to run his but it is not a 24 volt door bell transformer. It looks like one but the door bell transformers I have found are all 24 volt AC. The transformer has to be 24volt DC. Alexilla what transformer did you use and ware did you get it?

[alexilla]

the calculator is there to total the number of coins, when you hit +1 on the calculator and hit enter it will add one to the total every time so that counts the coins, every time a coin goes through the hopper it pushs a spring loaded cam and that hits the momentary contact switch which makes the electrical connection for the '=' sign and adds one to the total. As i said earlier you can use a counter make to counts things but i didnt want to spend any money.

[alexilla]

and the transformer i used is a 12 volt i found laying around the house

[Lazarus]

Yes the 12 volt works. I used a temporary power supply from an old computer. Will only put out 12 volts tops. Runs it but is slower.

[Si7]

every time a coin goes through the hopper it pushs a spring loaded cam and that hits the momentary contact switch which makes the electrical connection for the '=' sign

Ah got it, I had thought you must be using say two microswitches with wire actuators that were hit in a row, 1st one hit "1" on the calculator and second one hit "+" but just tried it and as you say if you initially start/program the calculator manually with "1+1" then have the coins effectively hit the "=" key jobs a good 'un Nice logic

[Lazarus]

Alexilla. Can you explain everything on the bourd you made. Why not keep the calculater all together? How does the switch hok up to the calculater.I would think one lead from the switch goes to the point on the = sign and the other?

[Si7]

There would be two tracks for each calculator button, they sort of run between each other back and forth so when you press a button the conductive pad on the back of the rubber button moulding (it will be seen as a dark matt grey coating - if it's a rubber button...) connects the circuit - you can usually see the two individual gold coloured tracks running up to the round maze bit for each button, just connect to those tracks (if you get to close to the "maze" bit there is a danger of shorting the lot out with one big solder blob which invariably results in lifting the tracks off as you try to rectify the worsening situation )

[Lazarus]

OK. I took a calculator apart and now I understand. I also understand wye Alexilla put switches on a separate board. The connections to the = would be under the button. So I did it different. I found two points away from the = to solder two thin wire rap wire that Rob at Pachislousa used for doing his auto stop chip installation. You just have to vary carefully scrape away the protective coating off the spots to solder the wire on. This way it does not interfere with putting the calculate back together. All you have then is the two small wires coming out of it going to the switch on the hopper by the cam. Only thing to remember. However you set up the switch at the cam it has to be in the open position to start with or the calculator will not work to enter the 1+1 or the clear it.

[Lazarus]

Now I will have this working but now the hopper is messing up.:17: Dave at 7mile said he was having trouble with it jamming once and a while. I thought I would give it a try. If I had to clear a jam once and awhile I didn't think it would be to bad. After working with it I have figured out the problem with it but it is toast without the right part and now it jams every ten tokens or so. Such a bummer! The hopper said Universal on it and looks like the ones used in Eleco brand machines. Although I think I could make any one work just would have to mess around and find another way to mount the switch. Any one with a hopper?

[Tony Junior]

Somebody had new ones up on ebay --- BIN $10 if I remember correctly.

[Lazarus]

Was that recently? I have not seen one for a long time on ebay.

[dattia]

Here ya go .......sorry, I couldn't resist.

[alexilla]

I havent had a single jam up on my hime hopper. And I didnt bother to solder, because i had already screwed up one calculator already, so I just used a wire thick enough that it would stuff into the holes pretty well and hot glued them so they wouldnt move. Any other questions? I would be happy to answer.

[logicprobe]

I got two of those hoppers that were on eBay, and figured I'd try this out with them. I've got some counters here, so won't need to do the calculator thing.

The problem with that auction was... check or MO only, and nearly $20 to ship two hoppers!!!

Maybe when they get here, I can figure something out with a counter and comparator to have them stop at certain counts.

No promises, though.
I have LOTS of plans for this summer!

[RKnarr01]

I have LOTS of plans for this summer!

Sounds like we have the same plans!

[Tony Junior]

Was that recently? I have not seen one for a long time on ebay.

Within the past week.

[alexilla]

Any ideas for dispensing a certain # of coins, I would like to do that as well. Thanks

[compirate]

I have seen counters that can be set and count down then send out a signal (close contacts/ open contacts) that could be used to stop the hopper although I believe that outside Ebay they are expensive. Perhaps some software and a parallel computer interface could control one. Relay control of the hopper on/off and simple digital I/O for count up/down. If I hadn't gotten a coin counter or the dispenser that was my next route.