US2446510A - Coin device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 3, 1948. o. A. HoKANsoN COIN DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jn. 12, 1944 IHHHHI o`. A. HoKANsoN Aug. 3, 194s.

COIN DEVICE 4 'sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1944 Aug. 3, 1948.` o. A. HoKANsoN GOIN DEVICE Filed Jan. l2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 15u/@enfer Aug. 3, 1948. o. A. HoKANsoN GOIN DEVICE Filed Jan. l2, 1944 4 `Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 3, 1948 COIN DEVICE tto A. Hokanson, Snyder, N. Y., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, North Tona- Wanda, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application January 12, 1944, Serial No. 517,962

14 Claims. l

This invention relates generally to certain new and useful improvements in coin devices, but more particularly to a multiple coin selector adapted to separate genuine coins from spurious or unacceptable coins and thereby prevent the latter from operating the apparatus to which the selector is attached.

One of its objects is to provide a coin device of this character which has been designed for use with nickels, dimes and quarters, and whereby the introduced coins are automatically directed from a common entrance chute or selector guide to one or the other of two testing chutes and while traveling through such chutes subjected to various tests for separating the acceptable from the unacceptable coins and directing them to diiierent paths of discharge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel entrance chute or selector guide for different denomination coins which is displaceable to one or the other of two positions to eiiectually direct certain denomination coins to one testing chute and wherein it is governed directly by another denomination coin to selectively displace the guide to the other of its positions to present such coin to the other testingr chute.

A further object is to provide the coin device with simple and reliable means for simultaneously scavenging both vchutes of arrested or trapped unacceptable coins.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the different denomination, acceptable discharge passages with coin-actuated means for registering the passage of an acceptable coin'v through the device.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: l Figure 1 is a front view of the coin device embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a rear view thereof. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the saine. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the front side of the device with parts broken away to show the nickel and dime ycoin testing chute and speciiically the path of travel of a genuine nickel. Figure 5 is a similar view, but showing the path of travel of a genuine dime. Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the rear side of the Vdevice with parts broken away to show the quarter testing chute and the path of travel ofa genuine quarter. Figures 7 and 8 are vertical sections taken on the correspondingly-numbered lines in Figures 1 and 2. Figures9 and 10 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Figure 1. Figure 11 is a detached perspective View of the common coin selector guide in its normal position for directing nickels and dimes to their coin-testing chute.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, this device consists of a housing composed of a center plate or partition lil constituting a supporting frame, and displaceable side plates Il and I2 hinged in normally spaced parallel relation to the front and rear sides of the center plate and forming and defining therewith upright coin-testing chutes I3 and I4, respectively, extending from side to side of the plates for the downward travel of coins of different denominations; a common coin-introducing means or coin-governed selector guide indicated generally by the numeral I6 disposed at the top and adjacent one side of the housing in correlation with the upper ends of the coin-testing chutesand automatically operative to selectively direct a coin or coins of certain denominations, say nickels and dimes, to one of the testing chutes and coins of another denomination, say quarters, to the other testing chute; means in the respective chutes for testing and dening acceptance and reject paths for the coins and for deilecting and sorting the acceptable from the unacceptable ccins of diierent denominations into predetermined separate paths; means for displacing the chute-forming side plates to release non-acceptable, trapped coins and for scavenging other coins which have been arrested in their travel through the device by failure to meet the requirements or characteristics of genuine or acceptable coins; and slug boxes or receptacles II mounted on opposite sides of the lower end of the center plate and into which rejected or scavenged coins are directed. Acceptable nickles and dimes are discharged through Openings I3 and I, respectively, at the lower end of the front side of the center plate Ill ln line with the chute I3, While acceptable quarters are discharged through an opening 20 at the lower rear side of the center plate in line with the companion chute I4 after successively passing through such testing chutes. Just prior to passing through their respective discharge openings, the coins encounter switch-closing devices which function to -close circuits for registering the passage of acceptable coins through the device.

The center plate IIl, which constitutes the supporting frame of the device, is hanged at its opposite side edges, as indicated at 2|, and the displaceable side plates I I, I2 are separately hinged on companion upright pintles 22, 23, respectively, mounted on lugs 24 formed at opposite sid-es of the base plate and inwardly 4along one of the side anges thereof. Springs 25 coiled about these pintles and Ibearing at one end against the corresponding side plates -serve .to normally retain the latter in their spaced, chute-forming relation with the .center plate, land yieldingly resist their outward displacement. The side plate-s .terminate at their lower edges above the lower edge of the center plate and .the slug receptacles I? .occupy .the space therebelow, their rear walls forming continuations of and being the same plane as the companion side plates to laccordingly .provide the lower or nal paths of the respective coin chutes I3 and I4 for the discharge oi :the differ-- ent denomination 'coins through the openings 4.3, I3 or 29. The iront or outer walls of the slug receptacles preferably extend some distance above .the companion inner walls thereof, as show-n, to assure the `deflection of tested, unacceptable coins into the receptacles, while their bottom walls preferably converge downwardly and terminate in a common discharge opening 23 through which the rejected coins pass from thedevice to a vreject chute, lnot shown. Certain rejected coins; say nickels and dimes, may not be deflected into the slug receptacle 'but instead are adapted to be dis-` charged through an opening 2;1' formed at the lower end of the testing chute it and located at one side of Ithe nickel acceptance discharge opening IS.

The coin-governed'selector guide i6 is located at the upper end and at one side of the device for selective registration at its lower end with the upper 'end of either coin chute, and functions to direct the deposited or introduced coins 'to one or the 'other of the chutes i3, le for test, the coins rolling edgewi'se downwardly vthrough the Ychutes and "being subjected to various tests to separa-te the genuine from `:the spurious coins and preventing spurious coins or slugs from registering and initiating the operation ofthe apparatus to'which the coin device is connected. Disposed vertically alongvthe outerside of'this guide and'applied to the adjoining center plate-'flange 2| is a coin-engaging reaction plate ESalongwhich the outer edges of the coins roll while passing through the guide, while `disposed above the entry ormouth of this guide and at the opposite orinner side thereof is a gage plate 29 which is Vadjustably mounted in any well known manner for transverse adjust'- ment on an upward extension ,of the ceniter plate I and which 'is so spaced relative to the reaction plate .toprovide a coin-diameter gageopening of a sizeto receive all coins up to thesize of a minted quarter, so that oversized spurious coins are prevented irom entering .the guide and Yare immediately trapped above the entrance thereto.

In its preferred construction this coin-governed selector guide consists' of a pivoted or pendant trough or funnel-like member including a yoke 33 supported on a horizontal pivot 3l mounted onga bracket 32 suitably fastened .to the outer face of .the rear'side plate I2 adjacent the upper end and at that side thereof remote from its hinged pintle 22. Depending fromthe inner end on .the opposite side of the pivot 3| lthe yoke is provided with a counterweight 3d which normally tends to swing the yoke downwardly to bring the trough-forming members 33 into communicating relation with the testing chute I3 for directing nickels and dimes thereto. When the yoke is moved in the opposite direction or against the counterweight, then the troughfforming members are accordingly shifted out of register with the vchute i3 and into register with the companion chute Ill for directing quarters thereto for test. The trough-forming members are open at their opposite side edges and the resulting funnelshaped opening for .the travel of the coins is transversely in line with the coin-engaging reaction plate 28, so that as the coins are introduced into the selector guide their outer edges engage such plate. Disposed below the pivot 3i and spaced laterally from the reaction plate less than the diameter of the quarter Aare superposed coin- engaging iingers 35, 36 which extend acrossthe inner edges of the trough-forming members in the edgewise path of tra-vel of quarters `lout outside the range of travel'of nickels and dimes. These ngers are laterally bent `from companion vertically `swinging levers 3l, 33, respectively, which are disposed side by side on the ,outer face of the bracket 3.2 and yare mounted on corresponding horizontal pivots 39, 43. The levers 37, 3B are latched in their normal coin-engaging positions I'by a latching lug QI formed on .the lever 3S engaging a companion notch or shoulder li'flformed on the other lever 31. Projecting from lthe hub ofv .the lever "J3 is `an arm d3' connected by a Ylink 114 with the outer end of the yoke 3G. By this construction, when a quarter is introduced into the selector guide it successively engages the vfingers 35 and 36 :to rst unlatc'h the levers 31, 33, whereupon the counterweighted yoke is free to rock in a direction to displace `the guide to bring its funnel-forming members 33 out of register with the chute i3 and into register with the quarter- .testing chute I4. In order to retain the guide in this position for the predetermined time required for the coin to enter the testing chute, I provide a latching lever 45 which is pivoted intermediate its ends at i6 to Lthe lower end of the bracket 32 in cooperative relation at its inner end with a latching lug 41 projecting radially from the hub of the lever y38, whereby the parts are latched in their displaced position. Applied to the other end of this lai-,ching lever and disposed in t'he path of travel of the quarter as it is discharged from .the guide into this chute, is a transversely-extending iinger or tappet 418 adapted to be tripped by the passing coin to swing and restore the latching le ver toits normally released position and permit the counterweighted yoke to return to its normal position and the levers 31, 38 to be aga-in latched in their normal position with the trough-forming members in register with the nickel-dime chute I3. As before stated, the fingers 35, 3.6 are so spaced from the reaction plate 28 that nickels and likewise dimes do not encounter these ngers and therefore do not disturb the normal position of the guide which is that of directing nickels and dimes to their common testing chute I3.

Disposed in the path of the coins as they travel through the selector guide is a transversely-disposed tappet finger 43 which is applied to the lower end of a vertically-swinging countere weighted bell crank 50 pivoted on the upper outer side of the displaceable side plate II, thetappet finger projecting through an arcuate slot 5I in such plate. This finger tends to urge the coins against the reaction plate 28 so that in dropping away from the guide into the testing chute I3, nickels and dimes will drop upon theleading end of a sloping coin-runway 52 mounted on that side of the center plate I opposed by the companion displaceable side plate Il. Introduced quarters, after leaving the displaceable selector guide, drop onto a similar sloping runway 53 mounted on the opposite side of the center plate which forms the other testing chute I4. Spanning the testing chute I3 above the runway 52 is a coin diameter gage 54 which is mounted on the displaceable side plate II for elevational adjustment relative to the runway and whose inner end has a shouldered element 55 thereon which engages a companion opening 56 in the center plate. This gageis adjustably set for the diameter of a genuine nickel and therefore Varrests or traps all coins of larger diameter than a nickel so that they are prevented from passing on through the device. IThe provision of the shouldered element serves to effect the release of the trapped coin by compelling its lateral movement with the displaceable side plate II when the latter is swung open to its scavenging position in the manner to be hereinafter described.

Operatively positioned along the nickel and dirne testing chute i3 adjacent the trailing end of the coin-runway 52, and mounted on the front plate I I, is a magnet 5'! which sets up a magnetic flux and thereby serves to regulate the speed of travel of the coins, whereby spurious coins, depending upon their conductivity, are retarded more or less so that the path of trajectory of the different coins, after leaving the runway, varies. Disposed adjacent the lower end of the chute I3 and at that side thereof opposing the trailing end of the coin runway therein is an anvil 58 which is secured to the `center plate Ill and against which nickel coins are trajected and from which they are rebounded, if genuine coins, to the nickel discharge opening I8 and if spurious coins, to the reject discharge opening 21. In its rebounded trajectory, a genuine nickel passes between spaced upper and lower studs 59, 6I) which extend or bridge the lower portion of the testing chute I3. An arcuate-shaped guide 6I is also positioned in this chute in the trajectory beyond these studs and acts to deflect a genuine nickel downwardly through its acceptance discharge opening I8. A coin of harder metal and of less conductivity than a nickel is less retarded by the magnetic ux and after striking the anvil rebounds along a higher trajectory, striking the upper stud 59 from which it is deected in a reverse path and downwardly into the reject opening 2l. A coin of softer metal and of more conductivity than a nickel is more retarded by the magnetic flux and may or may not reach the anvil. In the event that it does not strike the anvil it will be discharged forthwith through the reject opening. If it does strike t-he anvil it feebly rebounds therefrom and drops or rolls directly into the reject opening. If the coin does rebound to a greater extent from the anvil it will strike the lower stud 60 and be deected therefrom in a reverse path into the reject opening.

A dime, after leaving the selector guide I6, enters the same coin testing chute I3 as the nickel and travels down the same runway 52. A genuine dime, which is somewhat retarded `by the magnetic ux created by the magnet 51, falls in a substantially straight vertical path. after leaving the end of the runway upon a diverter or separator member 62 positioned lacross the chute substantially centrally thereof. This diverter is adjustably mounted in any suitable manner on the side plate I I and is so located that its separating edge 63 is somewhat to the right, viewing Figure 5, of the center of gravity of an intercepted genuine dirne. Consequently the dime is deflected to the left by the diverter and is guided to the companion acceptance opening I B through the medium of the upper convex surface of the arcuate guide 6l. In this connection the diverter is pivoted to rock slightly to the right by the impact of the coin to cushion the fall of the same but is prevented from rocking in the opposite direction. A spurious dime of a metal which is more retarded by the magnetic ux leaves the runway in a steeper, vertical trajectory and in so doing encounters an adjustable deiiector 64 also mounted on the side plate II and extending across the coin chute immediately below the trailing end of the runway 52, such coin being thereupon deiiected to the right and encountering the diverter 62 with its center of gravity to the right of the separating point 63. To prevent'such coins from dropping and gravitating further in the coin chute and encountering the nickel-engaging anvil 58, the diverter is sloped ina direction to cause the spurious coin to be deflected laterally or outwardly through an opening 65 formed between the opposing edges of the side plate Il and coplanar rear wall of the companion slug receptacle I'l. A spurious dime of a metal which is less retarded than a genuine dime follows a greater trajectory and drops onto the right side of the diverter and is deflected into the slug receptacle in the same manner as the spurious coin just described.

Referring now to the means for testing quarters and spurious coins of like denomination, after leaving the selector guide IS they drop onto the runway 53 and adjacent the trailing end of the latter is a magnet 66 which is mounted on the side plate I2 in opposing relation to the magnet 5l and which serves to regulatel the speed of travel of such coins. A genuine quarter, after leaving the runway, travels in a downward trajectory where it encounters, to the right of its center of gravity, a yieldably counterweighted deflector 5l adjustably mounted on the side plate i2 and posi.- tioned across the chute I4, whereby such coin is deflected to the left and directed downwardly by an arcuate guide 58 positioned in the chute to the acceptance discharge opening 2). A spurious coin, which is less retarded by the magnetic flux, strikes a deector 69 adjustablymounted on the plate I2 in spaced relation to the end of the runway and from which it is rebounded in a reverse trajectory where it encounters a sloping lip or deector 'ld bent inwardly from a slotted opening 'II formed in the side plate I 2 adjoining the companion slug receptacle of and by which lip the coin is directed into such receptacle. A spurious coin which is more retarded by the magnetic flux drops upon the deflector 61 with its center of gravity to the right thereof, from which point the coin is directed upon the sloping lip 'Ill into the slug receptacle.

The center plate IB and the displaceable side plates II, I2 are made of a diamagnetic material, and means are provided for effecting the lateral separation of the side plates from the center plate when it is desired to release any non-acceptable trapped coins lodged in the coin chutes I3, I4, and other means are provided for sweeping any paramagnetic coins or like matter which have been trapped and arrested in their travel through the device by the magnets 51 and 66. For

ends of said ch'utes for introducing coins of different denominations to one or the other of said chutes, latching means for the guide, said guide being pivoted to swing into registering position with one'or the other of said chutes and including means for normally urging it into a latched condition in one of such'positions, and other means initiated by a certain denomination coin when introduced into the guide for causing the unlatching of th'e guide and the displacement of the latter to the other of such positions.

4. In a coin device, a housing having coin chutes disposed side by side for the travel of different denomination coins and being open at their upper ends to receive such coins, a coin-governed, displaceable guide disposed in correlation with the open upper ends of said chutes for introducing coins of different denominations to one or the other of said chutes, saidguide being pivoted to swing into'registering positions with' one or the other of said chutes and includingk means for normally'urging it into one of such positions, a certain denomination coin when introduced into the guide causing its displacement to the other of such positions, and coin-governed means operatively -connected to said guide for releasably latching it in its last-named displaced position.

5. In a coin device, a housing having coin chutes disposed side by side for the travel of diiierent denomination coins and being open at their upper ends to receive such coins, a coin-governed, displaceable guide disposed in correlation with the open upper ends of said chutes for introducing coins of diierent denominations to one or the other of said chutes, said guide being pivoted to swing into registering position with one or the other of `said chutes and including means for normally urging it into one of such positions, a certain denomination coin when introduced into the guide causing its displacement to the other of such positions, and coin-governed means operatively connected to said guide for releasably latching it in its last-named displaced position, said latch'ing means including a coin-engaging trip for releasing the same when the displacementcausing coin reaches a predetermined position relative to the guide.

6. In a coin device, ahousing having coin chutes disposed side by side for the travel of different denomination coins and being open at their upper ends to receive such coins, a coin-governed displaceable guide disposed in correlation with the open upper ends of said chutes for introducing coins of different denominations to one or the other of said chutes, said guide being pivoted to swing into registering position with one or the other of said chutes and including means for normally urging it into one of such positions, means operatively connected to said guide and including a part in the introductory path of and for actuation by a certain denomination coin for causing the displacement f the guide to the other of such positions, and means governed by said coinactuated part for releasably latching said guide in its last-named position, said latching means including a part in the discharging path of and for actuation by such coin for effecting the unlatching of the guide and its return to normal position.

7. In a coin device, a housing having coin chutes disposed side by side for the travel of different denomination coins and being open at their upper ends to receive such coins, a, displaceable guide disposed in correlation with the open upper ends of said chutes for receiving and directing coins of different denominations to one or the other of said chutes and including means for normally urging it to a position in register with one of the chutes, and a motion-transmitting connection for actuating the guide to a position in register with the other coin chute including a coin-engaging member disposed in the introductory path of a certain denomination coin for initiating the operation of said connection whenever such a coin is introduced into said guide.

8. In a coin device, a housing having coin chutes disposed side by side for th'e travel of different denomination coins and being open at their upper ends to receive such coins, a displaceable guide disposed in correlation with the open upper ends of said chutes for receiving and directingcoins of different denominations to one or the other of such chutes and including means for normally urging it to a position in register with one of the chutes, and coin-initiated, motion-transmitting means operatively connected to said guide for actuating it to a position in register with the other coin chute when a coin of a certain denomination is introduced thereto, said means including a part extending into the entry portion of the guide for actuation by such last-named coin.

9. In a coin device, a housing having coin chutes disposed side by side for the travel of diierent denomination coins and being open at their upper ends to receive such coins, a displaceable guide disposed in correlation with the open upper ends of said chutes for receiving and directing coins of different denominations to one or the other of such chutes and including means for normally urging it to a position in register with one of the chutes, coin-initiated, motion-transmitting means operatively connected to said. guide for actuating it to a position in register with the other coin chute when a coin of a certain denomination is introduced thereto, said means including a part extending into the entry portion of the guide for actuation by such last-named coin, and a latching element in cooperative relation with said motiontransmitting means for latching the same and its guide in said last-named position during the travel of the coin through said guide, the latching element including a part disposed at the discharge end of the guide for engagement by said certain denomination coin to release the latching element and cause th'e return of the guide and its motion-transmitting means to their initial position.

10. In a coin device, a housing having coin chutes disposed side by side for the travel of different denomination coins and being open at their upper ends to receive such coins, a displaceable guide disposed in correlation with the open upper ends of said chutes for receiving and directing coins of diierent denominations to one or the other of such chutes and including means for normally urging it to a position in register with one of the chutes, coin-initiated, motion-transmitting means operatively connected to said guide for actuating it to a position in register with the other coin chute when a coin of a certain denomination is introduced thereto, said means including a part extending into the entry portion of the guide for actuation by such last-named coin, and a l-atching element in cooperative relation with said motion-transmitting means for releasably retaining the latter and the guide in their normal position, the latch'ing element including a Part extending into the entry portion of said guide in substantially coplanar relation with and in advance of the coin-actuated part of the motion- 11 transmitting -means for releasing said latohing element vupon engagement of lsuch certaindenomination coin therewith.

1,1. In a coin device, a support, a pivotedcoinreceiving trough mounted thereon to swing'zto one or another of two positions'for-directingdifferent denomination coins to different coin paths, means connected to the trough for normally urging it to swing into one of its positions, and a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said support Yand having one ar-m thereof connected to said trough and the other arm extending into the trough for tripping -engagement by -a-certain introduced denomination coin for actuating said lever to swing said trough into the other of its positions.

12. In a lcoin device, a support, a pivoted coinreceiving trough mounted thereon to swing to one or another of two positions for-directing different denomination coins -to different coin paths, means connected to the trough for normally urging it to swing into one of its positions, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said support Jand having one -arm -thereofconnected to said trough' and the other arm extending into-the trough for tripping engagement `by a certain introduced denomination coin for actuating-said lever -to swing said trough into the other of its positions, Iand a latch pivoted to said support for lroleasable engagement with said lever for retaining thetrough in such other position, said Vlatch 'having a. trip element thereon-disposed in the'dischargingpath of the certain 4denomination coin for lcausing the tripping of said latch to its -releasedposition-and the return of the trough to its normal position.

13. In a coin device, a support, a pivoted coinreceiving trough mounted thereon to swing to one or another of two positions for directing different denomination'coins todierent coinpaths, means connected to the trough for normally urging it to `swing into one of -its positions, 4a lever pivoted intermediate its yends on said support and having one arm thereof connected to said trough and the other arm extending into the trough for tripping engagement by a certain introduced denomination coin for actuating said -lever to swing said trough into theother Vof 'its positions, a latch pivotedon said support iforreleasable engagement with said Llever for latching the trgugh in its normal position, said `latch having ta trip element thereon `disposed vin the trough in advance of said coin-engaginglever arm for engagement by such certain denomination coin for causing the trippingl .of said 'latch -to its released position andthe subsequent 'swinging of the ytroughv to its other position 'by -said lever, and a `second latch pivoted to Vsaid support for releasable engagement with' said vlever for :retaining the trough `in such other position, said latch having a trip element thereon disposed in the vdischarging 4vpath of the-certain denomination coin viforcausing `the tripping of said second 'latch to its released position and the return of the trouglito its normal position.

14. 'In a coin device, a support, a pivoted coin receiving trough mounted thereon for movement to one or the other of two positions for directing different denomination coins to vdifferent coin paths and -counterweighted to normally urge lit to one :of such positions, and lever and link means mounted on said support and operatively connected at one :end to said trough and provided at itsother end with :a coinfengaging actuating arm disposed in intersecting .edgewise relation `vto the inlet portion of .said ltrough for initiating the movement of .the lever and link means ina directionto swing saidtrough to the other of its positions -whenever acoin of a certain ,denomination is introduced thereto.

OTT@ 1A. `alsIoKANsCxN.

REFERENCES QIFED The following rejerences are of record in the le of this patent:

l-LIF-D PATENTS Number Name Date 771,910 Hollaway Oct. 11, 1904 842,462 'Hobart Jan. 29,1907

875,712 IalrohssonV Jan. 7, 1908 1,039,604 `Smith Sept. r24, 1912 1,081,958 'Grey Dec. 23, 19134 1,112,370 Flagg vetal Sept. 2,9, 1914 1,260,802 Pu-rt Mar. 26, 1918 1,493,098 vBolton ,f May 6, 1924 2,026,262 Wadsworth Dec. -3'1, 1935 2,249,225 Patzer et al. July 15, A1941 2,292,628 Fry f Aug. 11, 1942 2,295,493 Tratsch et al. Sept. 8, 1942 2,339,695 Gort-fried Jan. 1 8, -1944

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