US2113430A - Coin-control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

lApril 5, 1938. w. J. KENNEDY COIN CONTROL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed vMarch 26, 1957 ATTO April 5, 1938. w. J. KENNEDY COIN CONTROL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1957 April V5, 1938. w. J. KENNEDY v 2,113,430

COIN CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed March 2e, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 5 Ji-"55 5; F55 5- 2O 10 zo 1o 224 6s 42 a 25 gs 2 s a 6a l I Z 40 g -66 .3s 6 o .19

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67 A- 67 f l: 1,7

^ April 5, 1938.

w. J. KENNEDY COIN CONTROL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 26, 1937 Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention relates to coin-controi mecha nism for machines or apparatus designed to be used or operated upon the payment of a fee. usually a coin of a certain value, inserted in a slot in the casing of the machine. Included with this class of slot machines, may be mention-ed turnstiles, radio sets, phonographs, games oi various kinds, picture exhibiting machines, vending machines and the like.

The invention embraces a number of features which are readily adaptable for use in changemaking, counting, adding and like machines, handling money in coin `form.

In showing the invention applied, I have, as a matter of convenience, embodied it in a form suitable for use in connection with a turnstiic but it is to be understood, that this showing is not intended, in any way, as limiting the invention to this particular use and is merely illustrative of one of the many uses for which the invention may be adapted.

In fare collecting turnstiles, as in various other coin-controlled, machines, a suitable device is employed to prevent operation until the required coin has been deposited. After the deposit of the coin, the patron or operator actuates a movable member, such, for example, as the rotatable barrier of the turnstile, which, through the inserted coin, is brought into relation to act, either directly or indirectly, upon the aforesaid device, to put the machine in condition for operation.

Attempted actuation of the above mentioned movable member, without first inserting the required coin, ordinarily has no effect upon the machine and in turnstiles, results only in the rotatable barrier checking against 'further rotation, after it has been advanced a very short distance and has reached the end of its allowable free movement.

The turnstile barrier is purposely left free for a short advance movement, to obtain motion nec essary to actuate the coin finder of the coincontrol mechanism, for the purpose of determining whether or not a coin has been inserted. If a coin is present, it is engaged and advanced by the finder and, in my improved mechanism, the coin, in its advance, imparts movement, 'through a suitable connection, to the turnstile barrier lock, releasing the same and freeing the machine for operation.

The turnstile having been freed and put into operation, it remains to register Yne inserted coin by means of a suitable counter and thereafter eject and deposit the coin. This could be accomplished by a comparatively simple mechanism (Cl. 23S-32) that would meot all requirements, Where 'the coins used are all alike but, present day practice of transportation companies in establishing diner" ent classes of fares, -for which they issue coinshaped disks oi different diameters, requires that provision be made in the control mechanism oi a fare collecting turnstile, for handling a variety of coins and/or disksand for making them all effective for releasing the turnstile. It is iup thermore required that the different classes of fares be separately registered and totalized and that the inserted coins and/or disks, representing such fares, be rapidly ejected, distributed and deposited in separate receptacles Within the machine casing.

To meet these requirements, my improved mechanism, in its present embodiment, provides a common entrance passage for nickelsthc regular fare, transfer disks of larger diameter than nickels and token disks-a reduced fare, of larger diameter than transfer disks.

I further provide a coin ndcr common to the three types of fare disks mentioned, Which is adapted to advance them along a common path, in Which their travel is checked, according to their diameters, at diierent points therein. As each coin reaches its limit of travel in the common path, it engages and is held until ejection. by a spring-advanced selector, which action imparts movement to the selector, increasing the tension of its spring and shifting a selector member into engaging relation with a member of its counter which is subsequently actuated to register the fare coin or disk engaged by its selector. As the mechanism is designed to handle three classes of fares, three selectors are employed, each with its counter, so that each class is separately registered. After a fare is registered, ejection of the coin or disk follows and is brought about by withdrawing the support from under the coin or disk, permitting the 'tensioned selector, by which the coin or disk is held, as above described, to act and speed the discharge. To save the time and labor ci sorting the ejected coins and/or disks, they are automatically distributed and deposited, followg their discharge, according to the class o fares v represent. This is accomplished by means trate coin chutes, leading from the several points of discharge to separate receptacles Within casing of the machine.

in the accompanying drawings, I have illus-- trated a form of coin-control mechanism suitable for carrying my invention into effect but do not Wish to be understood as intending to limit myself to either the form or details shown, as various changes may be made therein within the scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a view in elevation, showing mainly the fare-registering assemblage of the coin-control mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the registering counters removed to show the coin selectors through which the counters are operated. The selector at the left is shown shifted by an inserted coin (indicated in dotted lines) into position to operate its counter. The coin represented is the nickel cash fare, which is of smaller diameter than 'the transfer and token disks used.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the mechanism from the side opposite that illustrated in Figs. l and 2, with portions of the body plate broken away to show the coin gauge and selector studs in the coin guideway. In this view the mechanism is shown in normal position or inactive.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the mechanism in operation after a transfer disk has been inserted, which is of the intermediate diameter used. The coin-finder is shown in position after it has advanced the disk (indicated in dotted lines) to the point where further advance has been stopped by the coin gauge in the guideway and the coin has been moved under and raised the selector stud against the action of its spring. Thus positioned, the coin is held by the tensioned selector stud until it is registered and ejected.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line S5-S5, of Fig. 3, in which various parts have been omitted for clearness of illustration. The view illustrates, mainly, the coin ejector and distributor and shows the ejector after it has been shifted from an adjusted position, shown in Fig. 6, in which it supports the coin, back to normal position, in which its support for the coin is withdrawn and the distributor is positioned to receive the coin as it is ejected.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the ejector and distributor as a coin is being advanced in the coin guideway by the coin-nder.

Fig. 7 is a View in elevation looking at the left side of the mechanism, as viewed in Fig. 3, showing the same in normal or inactive position.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the coin guideway, and

Fig. 9 is a top plan View, with the casing removed, showing the barrier-positioning and locking mechanism of a four-arm turnstile and the connections from the same to the coin-control mechanism shown in the other gures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, I represents a common entrance passage for coins, and/or metal disks; 2, representing different classes of fares and distinguishable one from the other, usually, by size (diameter), color and lettering.

Forming a continuation of the entrance passage and angularly disposed thereto, there is a coin guideway which the coin enters on leaving the entrance passage and comes to rest on a seat formed by the extended left-hand wall 3 of the entrance passage, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and a cross pin 4 in the guideway. This coin seat, in the present embodiment of the invention, is designed to serve for the three classes of coins or fare disks mentioned above.

At the left of the seated coin, again as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and projecting into the coin guideway, there is a lug 5 of an arm 6, which latter will be hereinafter termed the coin-finder.

The coin-nder is pivoted at 1, to have forward and backward movement about its pivot and the coin guideway is given the curved form of an arc, struck from the coin-finder pivot as a center. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the curved guideway for the coin is formed between two sheet metal body plates 8 and 9, which are suitably spaced apart to admit passage of the coins in a restricted path between them and to the right of the cross pin 4, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, the guideway is normally open at the bottom, for a purpose to be later on explained.

The top of the guideway is closed by a plate I0, secured between the two body plates 8 and 9, and shaped to serve as a coin gauge, to check movement of the coins at different points in the guideway, according to their diameters.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the coin gauge plate I Il, is provided with three shoulders II, I2 and I3, positioned to engage and check movement in the guideway at different points, of coins of the three different diameters, for which the mechanism is designed.

The body plate 8 (see Figs. 3 and 4), is slotted, as indicated at I4, in line with the curved guideway, to permit free forward and backward movement of the lug 5 of the coin-finder therein.

Assuming that a coin of the intermediate diameter is inserted in the entrance passage and comes to rest on the seat at the left-hand end of the coin guideway, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. If now, the coin-finder is actuated, its lug, engaging the coin, will advance it toward the right along the guideway, until the coin strikes the intermediate shoulder I2 of the coin gauge, and its further motion along the guideway will be checked and it will remain held at this point between the shoulder of the gauge and the lug of the coin-finder until it is registered and ejected in a manner to be later described.

We have the same operation, as above described, for the larger and the smaller coins or disks but with this difference, the larger coin will travel a shorter distance in the guideway, as will be apparent from the position of the shoulder II of the coin gauge and the smaller coin will travel the full length of the guideway.

When coin mechanism such as we have here is in use, it frequently happens that several coins are inserted in the entrance passage by a person paying for himself and others accompanying him and in order to prevent the mechanism from being blocked or jammed, after the coin-finder has advanced the rst coin along the guideway, the coin-finder is provided in the rear of the lug 5 with a lip or flange I5, which is given the curvature of the guideway and as the coin-finder moves forward to advance the first coin along the guideway, its lip or ange rides under the entrance passage and provides a closure for the lower end thereof, holding the other coins in the passage until the coin-nder makes its full return movement, when the next coin drops down on the seat and the above described operation is repeated, so that entrance to the guideway will be closed when the mechanism is in operation and will remain closed until each operation is completed.

To reduce friction and ease and steady the motion of the coin-nder, a roller I8, is provided and mounted thereon to ride on the face of the body plate 8, and to provide a denite stop for the coin-finder on its return movement, a rearward extension is employed which terminates in a bent-up end I1, shaped to engage the edge of the body plates, as best shown in Fig. 7.

The coin-finder is given both forward and backward movement by an actuating arm I8, mounted to turn about the same pivot 1, as the coin-finder and connected to it by a spring I9 (see Figs. 3 and 4). Through this spring the actuating arm I8 gives motion to the coin-finder but isfree to move independently of the coinnder, in opposition to the spring. In other words, the actuating arm I8, must make a full forward stroke in each operation of the mecha.- nism, for reasons which will appear later on and, as the-coin-finder is subject to being checked at points short of its full stroke by the larger and intermediate diameter coins or disks, a yielding connection, such as is provided by the spring` I9, isr required to permit independent movement oi these cooperating members.

vAv coin or disk having been inserted and advanced by the coin-finder, as above described, the next step is to register the same before it is ejected.

Provision is made in the present embodiment of ythe invention for registering each of the three classes of fares the mechanism is designed to handle, on a separate counter, so vthat the total for each class may be instantly read by a glance at the exposed faces of the counters.

It may be mentioned at the outset, that the registering devices for the three classes of fares are identical and are so constructed and arranged, that only one can operate at a time and must complete its operation, before either of the others can be actuated.

`In separately registering the three classes of fares, I employ a coin or disk selector for each counter, which is so positioned, as to respond only tov one class of fares, the selection depending upon the diameter of the coin or disk.

Each selector (see Fig. 2) consists of a centrally pivoted arm 20, turning on a fixed pin 2|, projecting from the body plate 9. The arm is provided at the lower end with a stud 22 (see Fig. 5), which projects through a slot 23 in the body plate 9, and on into the coin guideway, at a point adjacent one of the shoulders of the coin gauge Ill therein.

A spring 24, acting on the arm 20, normally maintains the stud 22, at the lower end of the slot 23, and, in this position, the stud will be engaged, moved upward and held by each coin advanced in the guideway by the finder which is of the diameter of the class of fares the counter of the particular selector is intended to register.

The upward movement imparted to the selector by the selected coin or disk, serves two important purposes. The selector and its associated counter are, normally, disconnected, as is best shown in Fig. 2, and one purpose served is to bring a member of the selector into cooperative relation. with a member of its counter for subsequent operation of the latter, in a manner to be described. The other purpose served is to increase the tension of the selector arm, to make it available for use in speeding the ejection of the coin, as will also be described.

Again referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that each of the selector arms 20, has pivoted at its upper end, a downwardly extending rod 25, the lower end of which is normally held by a slotted bar 26, slightly to the left and clear of a stud 21, carried by a spring-retracted sector 28. The sector 28 is mounted to turn about a fixed stud shaft 29, projecting from the body plate 9, and is conected through a link 30 to operate the counter 3 I.

It will be observed that in the figure of the drawings referred to (Fig. 2), the rod 25 of the selector at the left, has been shifted into position to engage the stud 21 of its cooperating sector 2B, while the rods of the other selectors are in normal position or clear of the studs of their sectors. This shifting of the rod at the left, was brought about by a selected coin, indicated in dotted lines, in the guideway, engaging and raising the stud of selector arm at the left, thereby rocking the arm, and dropping the rod to the position shown.

With the parts positioned as shown and described, it only remains to move the slotted bar lengthwise, to cause the rod at the left, to engage the sector stud and give the sector the necessary limited rotary movement to pull down on the link and operate the counter, which operation registers the selected coin before it is ejected.

The bar 28 has a separate slot formed therein for each of the rods 25, and as the bar is moved lengthwise, it gives simultaneous motion to the several rods and the rod that is shifted downward by a selected coin, gives motion to its sector and through the connection described, operates its counter.

The righthand end of the slotted bar 26 (Fig. 2)

moves in a guide 32, and the lefthand end is pro- 1 vided with an opening for a projecting stud 33 of a spring-retracted arm 34, mounted on the opposite side of the body plates. The stud projects through a slot 35 in the body plates and the retractile spring 36 of the arm 34, acting through I the stud-connected bar 26, yieldingly maintains the rods 25 in their normal position, that is to say, disconnected from the operating devices of the counters.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the arm 34 is shown mounted on a stud shaft 31, xed to the body plate 8. The lower free end of the arm` 34, is provided with a downwardly projecting tooth 3B, which is designed to be engaged by a spring-retracted pawl 39, carried by the actuating arm I8 of the coinfinder.

On each forward stroke of the coin-finder actu ating arm I8, in which it moves from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. e. the pawl 39, carried thereby, engages but yields and rides under the tooth 38 of the arm 34, with out giving motion to the arm. On the return or back stroke of the actuating arm, the pawl, again engaging the tooth of the arm 34, will continue in engagement therewith long enough to impart the necessary motion to the arm 34, to move the above described slotted bar 26, in the direction of its length and so give motion to the several selector rods 25, one of which will be positioned to actuate the sector with which it cooperates and cause registration by the counter of the selected coin, as previously explained.

The inserted coin having been registered by the proper counter for its class of fares, the next step is to eject the coin.

It has been explained that beyond the coin seat at the lower end of the entrance passage, the coin guideway, along which the coin is advanced by the nder, is normally o-pen at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 5.

Below the coin guideway, the body plates 8 and 9 are cut away to provide clearance for an arm 40, which is pivotally mounted on a -short cross shaft 4I, and is shaped at its upper end 42, to servev as a bottom for the coin guideway.

'I'he lower end 43 of the arm 4B and an extension 44 on the actuating arm i8, of the coinflnder, are shaped to cooperate as cams and act, when the mechanism is in normal position or inactive, to maintain the arm 4U with its upper shaped end, clear of the open bottom of the coin guideway, as best shown in Fig. 5, and also shown in elevation in Fig. 8,

Above the cross shaft 4|, the arm 40 is provided with a second cam 45, and the actuating arm i8 of the coin-iinder, is similarly provided With a second cam 46. These cams 45 and 46, stand in close relation but disengaged when the mechanism is in normal position or inactive.

As will be evident, the purpose of the two sets of cams above described, is to rock the arm 40, and maintain the shaped end thereof in or out of bottoming relation with the coin guideway.

The disengagement of the lower set of cams 43 and 44, and the engagement of the upper set 45 and 46, occurs a moment or so after the coinfinder actuating arm begins to move on its forward stroke and thus shifts the shaped upper end of the arm 40 from the position shown in Fig. 5, to the position shown in Fig. 6, so as t0 provide a bottom for the coin guideway before an inserted coin is advanced therein by the coinfinder.

Once shifted, as above described, the upper shaped end of the arm 40, is maintained by the cams in bottoming relation with the coin guideway, while the actuating arm of the coin-finder completes its forward stroke and returns almost to its normal position, then the upper cams disengage and the lower cams re-engage and rock the arm 4U, withdrawing the upper shaped end clear of the coin guideway and opening the same for the release and ejection of the coin.

As will be apparent, the withdrawal of the bottom of the coin guideway would be sufficient in itself to bring about gravitational discharge of the coin therein but quicker action is desirable and I accordingly utilize the tensioned ejector stud, under which the coin is held in the guideway, to speed up the discharge and eject the coin.

As indiscriminate ejection of coins and/or disks, representing different classes of fares, would necessitate subsequent sorting, I provide for distributing and depositing the coins and/or disks, according to their class, in separate receptacles.

Formed on or attached to the upper part of the arm 40, above the cross shaft and on the side opposite the cams, there are three coin chutes 41, 48 and 49, arranged in line with the selectors above, in the coin guideway. As a coin or disk is ejected by any one of the three selectors, it enters the chute on the arm 40, designed to receive the class of fares represented by the coin and, on leaving the chute of the arm 40, the coin enters a. xed continuation of the same, indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and is carried by the extension chute and deposited in a suitable receptacle, not shown, usually located within the casing of the machine the coin mechanism is employed to control.

By means of this arrangement, the coins and/or disks are distributed and deposited, according to the class of fares to which they belong, and as the number deposited in each receptacle appears on the counters, it only remains for the collector to separately bag the coins and/or disks, note the number of each and his work is done.

As pointed out in the preliminary statement of invention, the above described coin-control mechanism may be readily adapted for use on machines and apparatus of various kinds, designed for operation upon the payment of a fee and for a convenient showing of the application of the invention, I have selected a well known form of turnstile such as is used to bar an entrance passage and is normally locked against operation.

Referring to Fig. 9, the essential parts of the turnstile mechanism are shown, with the casing removed, for clearness of illustration.

As there shown, the turning axis of the fourarm rotatable barrier 50 of the turnstile, is indicated at 5|. The ratchet wheel 52, fast to and movable with the barrier and the spring-advanced pawl 53, engaging the ratchet, constitute the back-lock, to prevent reverse movement of the barrier. The disk 54, also fast to and movable with the barrier, is peripherally shaped to provide four equi-spaced stop-shoulders 55,

etc., and has mounted upon it four equi-spaced rollers 56, 56 etc. Cooperating with the rollers 56, in pairs, there is a spring-advanced lever 51, pivoted at 58, which acts in the well known manner to position the barrier, with one of its arms across the entrance passage the turnstile controls.

Cooperating in the usual manner with the stopyshoulders 55, 55 etc., there is a spring-advanced locking pawl 59, pivoted at 50. The pawl is normally spaced away, a slight distance, from the stop-shoulder it is positioned to engage and this clearance permits limited free rotary movement of the barrier, which is utilized to operate a. coinnder. If no coin is present, the stop-shoulder 55, engages the end of the locking pawl 59, and checks further forward rotary movement of the barrier. If a coin has been inserted, the coinnder advances the coin and through connections to be described, imparts the necessary motion to the locking pawl 59, to move it about its pivot, clear of the advancing stop-shoulder, permitting continued rotation of the barrier as required for a complete operation of the turnstile.

The effect of continued rotation of the barrier is to cause the roller 56, engaging the outer free end of the positioning lever 51, to ride under the lever and give it motion towards the right, about its pivot, in opposition to its heavy retractile spring. As the roller 56, passes the high point 6| of the cam face of the positioning lever, Which is in the dead center line of the barrier axis, the retractile spring acts, forcing the positioning lever in the reverse direction, towards the left and driving the roller before it, thereby continuing the clockwise rotation of the barrier, under the power of the retractile spring of the positioning lever, until the turnstile completes its operation.

The above described back and forth movement given the positioning lever, is utilized to impart like movement, in reverse direction, to the actuating arm i8, of the coin-control mechanism. This motion is transmitted through a link 62 from the positioning lever to a lever 63, pivoted at 64,

and connected by a link 65, with the lower endl 65 of the actuating arm I8 of the coin-finder.` Through the connection described, rearward movement of the positioning lever to the right, during the first eighth of a revolution of the turnstile barrier, causes the coin-finder to advance the coin in the coin guideway and as the movement of the positioning lever is reversed during the second eighth of a revolution of the turnstile barrier, the coin-iinder is caused to return to normal position.

-It will be seen that continued rotation of the turnstile barrier, beyond its free initial movement, depends upon the instant withdrawal of the locking pawl 59, from engaging relation with the stop-shoulders 55, of the disk 54. To bring about such release of the barrier, I cause each coin and/or disk, in the first part of its ad vance by the nder, to impart the necessary movement, through a connection, now to be described, to shift the locking pawl, as required, to release the barrier and permit operation of the turnstlle.

- Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a diagonally disposed shaft 66 is shown, mounted in suitable bearings 61, 61, on the body plate 8. Near the upper end, a. short arm 68 is made fast to the shaft and its free end projects into the guideway in the path of 'coins and/or disks advanced therein by the coin-finder. A spring 69 encircling that portion of the shaft between the arm and the upper bearing, acts to yieldingly maintain the arm 68 positioned as above described.

On the lower end of the shaft 66, projecting beyond the lower bearing 61, a curved arm 1D is made fast, with its outer free end normally in engaging relation with a pin ll, projecting upward from the lower end of the barrier-locking pawl 59.

In operation-as an inserted coin or disk is given movement by the coin-finder, in advancing it in the guideway, the coin or disk engages the free end of the arm 68, and as the advance of the coin is continued, it forces the arm outward, thereby giving motion to the diagonally disposed shaft 66, which, in turn, moves the curved arm 10, carried at its lower end, causing the free end of the curved arm to exert sufficient pressure on the pin 1|, to swing the barrier-locking pawl 59 about its pivot, clear of the notched disk 54, and release the barrier for operation of the turnstile.

As the coin forces its way by and moves the arm 68 outward, as above described, the coinnder rides under the free end of the arm and holds it clear of the coin guideway until the coin- `finder, on its return or back stroke clears the arm, which is immediately swung into the guideway and thus positioned, by the action of its spring 69, for engagement by the next coin or disk inserted by a person operating the turnstile,

As the free end of the curved arm 10, at the lower end of the. diagonally disposed shaft 66, moves forward, in engagement with the pin 1I, of the barrier-locking pawl, as above described, it will be noted, that its movement is on a shorter radius than that of the pin of the locking pawl and this results in the pin 1|, riding off the free end of the arm 68, and into engagement with the inner curved edge thereof, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. In thus causing the pin to shift from the end to the inner edge of the arm, the latter is relieved of the strain of further advancing the locking pawl against the increasing tension of its retractile spring and excessive movement of the pawl is` avoided.

As the operation and many important advantages of my improved control-mechanism will be apparent from the foregoing, it will not be necessary to further describe the same.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a. coin-iinder adapted to advance inserted coins of different diameters along a common path, means in the path for limiting movement of the coins along the same according to their diameters, counters for registering the number oi coins advanced by the finder, and a coin selector for each counter, each coin selector being operatively disconnected normally from its counter and responsive only to coins of a certain diameter.

2. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of diiferent diameters, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins of different diameters along a common path, means in the path for limiting movement of the coins along the same according to their diameters, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the iinder, a selector for each counter responsive only to coins of a certain diameter, the said selectors adapted to be held under tension by each coin selected, and means for utilizing the tension of the selectors to eject the coins.

3. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of diierent diameters, a coin-iinder adapted to advance inserted coins of different diameters along a common path, means in the path for limiting movement of the coins along the same according to their diameters, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the iinder, and a coin selector for each counter adapted to respond only to coins of a certain diameter, said selectors each including a spring-advanced member positioned to be engaged and put under increased tension b-y the f selected coins, and means for utilizing the tensioned selectors to eject the coins.

4. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a

coin-nder adapted to advance inserted coins of I I dilerent diameters along a common path, means in the path for limiting movement-of the coins along the same according to their diameters, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the finder, a coin selector for each counter adapted to respond only to coins of a certain diameter, said selectors each including a spring-advanced member positioned to be engaged and put under increased tension by the selected coins, means for utilizing the tensioned selectors to eject the coins, and distributing means for depositing the coins ejected by each selector in a separate receptacle.

5. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins, a coin-lnder movable to advance inserted coins to the required point for ejection, a counter for registering the number of coins advanced by the nder, coin ejector means, and a member operatively associated to actuate the nder, counter and ejector by a single forward and back stroke.

6. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins, a coin-nder movable to advance inserted coins to the point required for discharge, a member movable from normal position into position to support the coin in its advance by the finder, and means for shifting the member back to normal position to Withdraw its support and permit gravitational discharge of the coin.

'7. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins, a tensioned coin-ejector at a point distant from the passage, a coin-finder movable to advance inserted coins into engaging relation with the tensioned ejector, a member supporting the coin in its advance by the finder, and means for shifting the member to withdraw its support and permit the ejector to discharge the coin.

8. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins, a coin-finder movable to advance inserted coins to the point required for discharge, an actuating arm for the coin nder, a member pivotally mounted for movement at right angles to the direction of movement of the finder, cams on the member and on the actuating arm of the finder cooperating to move the member from normal position to support the coin as the latter is advanced by the nder and to subsequently shift the member back to normal position to Withdraw its support and permit gravitational discharge of the coin.

9. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a coinnder movable to advance inserted coins to different points for discharge according to their diameters, and a combined coin-supporting member and distributor, the said member serving as a support for the coins in their advance by the iinder, and means for shifting the member to withdraw its support and move the distributor into position to receive and distribute the released coins according to their diameters.

10. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins to the point required for ejection, an actuating arm for the coin-finder, a counter for registering the number of coins advanced by the finder, a spring retracted member operatively associated with the counter and positioned to be tensioned by each advanced coin and coin-releasing means utilizing the tensioned member to speed ejection of the coin, the said coin-releasing means being actuated by the actuating arm of the coin-iinder.

11. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins to the point required for ejection, an actuating arm for the coin-finder, a counter for registering the number of coins advanced by the nder, a spring retracted member operatively associated With the counter and positioned to be tensioned by each advanced coin and coin-discharging means utilizing the tensioned member to speed ejection of the coins, the actuating arm of the coin-finder cooperating to rst position the coin-discharging means to support the coins advanced by the coin-finder and subsequently re-position said means to remove the support and permit the coins to be ejected.

12. In a coin-control mechanism, an entrance passage for coins, a coin-iinder adapted to advance inserted coins to the point required for ejection, a counter for registering the number of coins advanced by the nder, a spring retracted member operatively associated with the counter and positioned to be tensioned by each advanced coin, a coin support, and means spring-connected to but movable independently of the coin-finder for shifting said support clear of the coin on the back stroke of the coin-finder to permit said tensioned member to eject the coin.

13. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins of diierent diameters along a common path, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the finder, a coin-selector for each counter normally disconnected from its counter, each of the said selectors being constructed and positioned in the aforesaid common path to be given limited movement by the coin it selects, means utilizing the movement imparted to a selector by a coin to operatively connect that selector with its counter, and requisite actuating means for giving motion to the selector to operate the counter.

14. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins of different diameters along a common path, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the iinder, a coin-selector for each counter normally disconnected from its counter, each of the said selectors being constructed and positioned in the aforesaid common path to be given limited movement and held under tension by the coin selected, means utilizing the movement imparted to any one of the several selectors by a coin to position a member of that selector for engagement with a member of its counter, and means for actuating the selector member to operate the counter and for subsequently releasing and discharging the coin.

15. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins o1' different diameters along a common path, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the nder, a coin-selector for each counter normally disconnected from its counter,` each of the said selectors being constructed and positioned in the aforesaid common` path to be given limited movement and held under tension by the coin selected, means utilizing the movement imparted to any one of the several selectors by a coin to position a member of that selector for engagement with a member of its counter, means common to the aforesaid members of the several selectors for actuating the same and means for subsequently releasing and discharging the coin.

16. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins of diierent diameters along a common path, an actuating arm for the coin-iinder, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the nder, a coin selector for each counter, each of the selectors being constructed and positioned to be given limited movement by the coin selected. means utilizing the movement imparted to any one of the selectors by a coin to position a member of that selector for engagement with a member of its counter, and means for transmitting motion from the finder-actuating arm to the aforesaid selector members to operate the proper counter for the coin selected.

17. In a coin-control mechanism, a single entrance passage for coins of different diameters, a coin-finder adapted to advance inserted coins of diderent diameters along a common path, an actuating arm for the coin-iinder, the said arm being mounted to have forward and back movement about a center, counters for registering the number of coins advanced by the finder, a coinselector for each counter normally disconnected from its counter, means utilizing each coin advanced by the finder to operatively connect the selector of a coin with the counter for that selector, and means for simultaneously transmitting motion from the nder-actuating arm on its back stroke to the aforesaid members of the several selectors to operate the proper counter of the coin selected.

WILLIAM J. KENNEDY.

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