EP0026745B1 - Coin operated locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A coin-operated locking device for clothing lockers or the like whereof the lock is not brought into the locking state until a coin (8) has been inserted, wherein the key (29) is secured against withdrawal in the open state, a pivotable rocker (7) which locks a locking bolt (5) in its open position projects into the coin duct (22, 27), the rocker (7) can be pivoted into its non-locking position by the insertion of a coin and comprises in its upper part a clamping cam (13) which projects into the coin duct (22, 27) for holding back an inserted coin in a first stage, when the lock bolt (5) is moved into the locking position the rocker (7) carries out a pivoting movement allowing the coin (8) to drop down in a second stage, and the rocker (7), the movement whereof is linked to the movement of the locking bolt (5), has a coin clamping element (11) projecting into the coin duct (22, 27), which holds the coin (8) back in the second stage and releases it only after the locking bolt (5) has been moved back into the open position, wherein the rocker (7) has a locking nose (10) which engages in a recess (9) in the locking bolt when the locking bolt is in the open position, the rocker (7) has a sensor protruberance (12) which, after insertion of a coin, rests against a part (36) of the locking bolt made in the form of the arc of a circle, and which is located at a point offset from the locking nose (10) by approximately the pivot angle of the part (36) of the locking bolt, characterised in that on the side of the coin duct (22) opposite to the clamping cam (13) there is a coin-stopper (6) which narrows the duct and has a sloping surface (37) and a point (38), the coin (8) being held in the first stage between the sloping surface (37) and the clamping cam (13), and the projection on the rocker (7) being constructed in the form of an arm (11), the coin (8) resting between this arm and the point (38) in the second stage, the arm (11) being adapted so that the distance over which the coin (8) travels between the first stage and the second is less than the diameter of the coin.

Description

The invention relates to a coin-operated locking device for cloakroom boxes or the like, in which the lock can only be brought into the closed position by inserting a coin, the key being secured against being pulled off in the open position, a pivoting rocker protruding into the coin channel, which locks the bolt in its open position, the rocker can be swiveled into its non-locked position by inserting a coin, in its upper part it contains a clamping cam protruding into the coin channel for holding back a inserted coin in a first step, by moving the bolt into the closed position the rocker is such Swiveling movement executes that the coin falls to a second level, and the rocker connected to the bolt has a coin retention element protruding into the coin channel, which holds back the coin in the second stage and only releases after the bolt has been moved back into the open position, the rocker releasing one Locking nose, which e engages in the bolt opening position in a recess of the bolt, the rocker contains a sensor attachment which, after the coin has been inserted, rests against a bolt part designed as a circular arc and which is located at a point offset approximately at an angle about the pivoting angle of the bolt part.

In cloakroom boxes, for example in open-air or indoor pools and in sports facilities, it has proven to be useful to design the lock so that it can only be closed against a key deposit, which is refunded when the key is reinserted in the lock and in this against Pulling out is secured. This is to prevent the key from being carelessly lost or taken away. On the other hand, the user of such a box has the advantage that he can open and close the wardrobe box any number of times without having to pay extra, for example to remove or put items of clothing in.

A closing device according to the preamble of the patent claim is known (CH-A-606 717, AT-B-347 286) in which a coin channel running in a straight line from top to bottom is present. A locking lever cooperating with the bolt is designed so that the inserted coin covers a relatively large drop distance between the upper and the lower step, which is more than the coin diameter. If a second coin is mistakenly or maliciously inserted when the bolt is closed, this second coin blocks the bolt so that it can no longer be opened.

A deposit lock already emerges from AT-PS 297 379, in which a cloakroom locker can only be locked after the coin has been inserted and the coin is reimbursed after the bolt has been opened. In practice, however, it has been shown that the changeover to other types of coins was relatively complex and, in addition, improper use, for example by shaking movements, was not completely ruled out.

Furthermore, from DE-B-1 474 936 a key pull-out lock is known, in which an angular locking lever comes into a non-locked position through a coin inserted into a coin channel. The return of the deposit key can, however, be easily avoided by moving the bolt into the closed position with the door open, removing the deposit coin and removing and taking away the key.

The object of the invention is to provide a closing device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that there is increased security against misuse without complicating the mechanism and, moreover, there is simple adjustment or conversion to different coin diameters.

The invention with which this object is achieved is characterized in that there is a narrowing coin stopper on the side of the coin channel opposite the clamping cam, which has an inclined surface and a tip, the coin in the first stage between the inclined surface and the Clamping cam is held, and the approach of the rocker is designed as an arm, between which and the tip of the coin rests in the second stage, the arm being arranged so that the fall distance the coin travels between the first and second stages is less than is the coin diameter.

Any change to a different coin type can be made by simply changing parts, without the need for manual skills and without having to replace the entire lock. Furthermore, the locking device cannot be misused into the closed position without depositing a deposit, for example by shaking movements, or the deposit can be released by striking the door or the like because the rocker is loaded by the inserted coin in the closed position of the bolt. Since only the rocker can be moved in addition to the latch, the structure is simplified and is suitable for use with mold casting of the housing with the possibility of pouring the coin channel and other functional elements directly. In addition, the prerequisites are in place to enable the supervisory staff to lock the door without depositing a deposit, for example if the cloakroom system is shut down seasonally.

• Fig. 1 einen Vertikalschnitt in der Ruhelage bei geöffnetem Riegel,
• Fig. 2 den Vertikalschnitt gemäß Fig. 1, jedoch nach Einwurf einer Münze,
• Fig. 3 den Vertikalschnitt gemäß Fig. 1, jedoch nach Einwurf einer Münze und Verdrehung des Riegels in die Schließlage,
• Fig. 4 einen Horizontalschnitt nach der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 1,
• Fig. 5 eine Ansicht der Münzeinwurfplatte,
• Fig. 6 eine Ansicht, mit teilweisem Schnitt, des Handauslösers,
• Fig. eine Vorderansicht des Handauslösers in Richtung des Pfeiles C.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the object of the invention is shown and is explained in more detail below. It shows

• 1 is a vertical section in the rest position with the bolt open,
• 2 shows the vertical section according to FIG. 1, but after inserting a coin,
• 3 shows the vertical section according to FIG. 1, but after inserting a coin and rotating the bolt into the closed position,
• 4 shows a horizontal section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1,
• 5 is a view of the coin insert plate,
• 6 is a view, with partial section, of the hand release,
• Fig. A front view of the hand release in the direction of arrow C.

The coin-operated locking device is fastened to the inside of the door, for example a cloakroom locker for sports facilities, outdoor or indoor swimming pools, with the coin slot and lock being accessible from the inside of the door. The lock is designed so that the bolt 5 can only be locked with the associated key 29 when a deposit in the form of a coin or a token is inserted. For reasons of language simplification, the term "coin" used here should also include "token" with which the same function is achieved.

By inserting a coin 8 into a slot, locking members are unlocked inside the locking device, so that the key 29 is turned and thereby the bolt 5 can be brought into the closed position. In this closed position, the key 29 can be removed. When the box is to be opened again, the coin 8 is released by inserting the key into the lock cylinder 4, turning the key and thus the bolt, and can be removed from a return tray by the user. As soon as the bolt has reached its open position, the key 29 can no longer be removed, since it is locked in the interior of the cylinder by locking members.

1 to 4, two housing halves 1, 2 are present, which are preferably designed as aluminum mold castings. For inserting a coin 8, a coin insertion plate 3 is provided at the top with a laterally accessible, vertical slot 32 and opens into an insertion channel 23. This insertion channel 23, which serves to insert the coin, is designed in such a way that the inserted coin stands upright. The coin insert plate 3 extends transversely to the parting plane of the two housing halves 1, and is held interchangeably therein. An upper coin channel 22 adjoins the insertion channel 23 and leads slightly downward in a curved manner. This coin channel 22 is delimited on one side by a downwardly inclined coin channel tongue 18 and on the other side by a curved wall. A rocker 7 protrudes into this upper coin channel 22, which is mounted so that it can pivot freely about a pin 34. This approximately anchor-shaped rocker 7 contains at the top a sensor attachment 12, on the opposite side a clamping cam 13 and below the pin 34 on one side a locking lug 10 and on the other side an elongated rocker arm 11. The rocker 7 consists of a single piece, preferably made of a tough plastic. The center of gravity of this rocker 7 is located above the pin 34 on the side of the rocker arm 11, so that the rocker 7 has the tendency to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

With the lock cylinder 4, a bolt 5 is rotatably connected via its axis of rotation 35. This one-piece bolt 5 has a rectangular bolt groove 9 which is mounted in a bolt part 36 which is concentric with the axis of rotation 35. A stop element in the form of a coin stopper 6 projects with its tip 38 between the upper coin channel 22 and the lower coin channel 27. This coin stopper 6 is held in the housing part 1 easily replaceable and contains an inclined surface 37. The subsequent lower coin channel 27 is provided on its outer wall with prongs 26 in order to hinder improper attempts at malfunctioning with wires or the like. The lower coin channel 27 opens into a coin return opening 28, from which the fallen coin 8 can be removed.

Below the rocker 7 and laterally there is also an opening 20 deviating from the circular shape, from which an approximately semicircular curved channel 21 extends. This channel 21 ends in the region of the rocker arm 11 and serves to be able to carry out the closing process for the bolt 5 without a deposit, as will be explained in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7.

The coin insert plate 3 shown in FIG. 5 contains a vertical coin insert slot 32 which is accessible from the outside of the housing. The choice of the slot size means that the coins that can be used are sorted out in that coins that are too thick or too large in diameter cannot be inserted into the slot 32. The small, open-edge slot 39 at the lower end of the coin insertion plate 3 serves to keep the coin channel 22 free for the inserted coin. This coin insert plate 3 extends transversely to the parting plane of the two housing halves and can be easily replaced when the type of coin is changed. So that the rocker 7 can not be abusively pressed with a wire or the like. In the unlocking position, the coin channel tongue 18 in the upper coin channel 22 is advanced so far that it largely covers the upper part of the rocker 7, and it is also top with Zakken Mistake.

In order not to have to deposit a deposit for each cloakroom locker when closing the door, for example when the cloakroom system is put out of operation, the locking device can also be put into the closed position by the supervisory staff with a hand release according to FIGS. 6 and 7. The hand release 14 is with its front Ren guide part 15 inserted into the bore 20 of the outer housing half 1. This guide part 15 has a non-circular cross section, which corresponds to the opening 20. By manual actuation of a pressure pin 19, a flexible pin 17 emerges from a corresponding lateral bore in the guide part 15. Since this exiting pin 17 is flexible, it follows the curved channel 21 in the housing in the direction towards the rocker arm 11. During the further ejection movement, the rocker 7 is finally rotated somewhat by this flexible pin 17, so that the locking lug 10 comes out of the locking groove 9 and then the bolt 5 can be moved in the direction of arrow A in the closing direction. The key 29 can then be removed. When the pressure pin 19 is released, a spring 16 causes the pin 17 to return to its previous position so that the hand release can then be removed. The choice of material for the pin 17 is to be made in such a way that this pin 17 is very flexible in order to be able to follow the curved channel 21, but is nevertheless so resistant that it can lift the rocker arm 11. This flexible pin 17 is preferably made of a strand-like plastic, for example polyamide. If there is a possibility of misuse of such manual releases, the channel 21 can be closed by inserting a piece of wire.

Due to the symmetrical arrangement of the insertion channels 23 and the coin return 28 in the two housing halves 1, 2, the closing device can be used both for doors with a left-hand stop and for doors with a right-hand stop. Only the mounting hole for the lock cylinder 4 must be made on the other half of the housing.

If the door construction requires this, the bolt 5 can also be bent, since a correspondingly wide slot is provided in the housing halves 1, 2.

It is also possible to close the coin return opening 28 by a container, whereby a cashier lock is obtained.

• Im Ruhezustand bei geöffnetem Riegel 5 befindet sich die Wippe 7 in der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Lage, in welcher die Sperrnase 10 in die Riegelnut 9 eingreift. Wenn eine bestimmungsmäßige Münze durch den Schlitz 32 der Münzeinwurfplatte 3 in den Einwurfkanal 23 eingeschoben wird, fällt sie entlang des oberen Münzkanales 22 nach unten und kommt zwischen der Schrägfläche 37 des Münzstoppers 6 und dem Klemmnokken 13 der Wippe 7 auf einer ersten Stufe zum Anliegen. Dadurch wird die Wippe 7 leicht im Uhrzeigersinn verschwenkt und die zuvor in die Riegelnut 9 eingreifende Sperrnase 10 kommt außerhalb des Bewegungsweges des Riegels 5 zu liegen, wie dies aus Fig. 2 ersichtlich ist. Andererseits gelangt nun der Fühleransatz 12 zum Anliegen an den Kreisteil 36 des Riegels 5. Der Riegel 5 läßt sich nun mit Hilfe des Schlüssels 29 in Richtung des Pfeiles A um 90° verdrehen, so daß dadurch die Türe des Garderobekastens od. dgl. abgeschlossen werden kann. Mit der Drehbewegung des Riegels 5 wird die Riegelnut 9 um den gleichen Winkel verdreht und liegt nun genau neben dem Fühleransatz 12. Das Gewicht der gegen den Klemmnocken 13 anliegenden Münze 8 bewirkt nun, daß der Fühleransatz 12 in die Riegelnut 9 hineingedrückt wird, so daß der Durchgang zwischen der Spitze 38 des Münzstoppers 6 und dem Klemmnocken 13 größer wird als der Münzdurchmesser. Dadurch fällt die Münze 8 zwischen diesen beiden Klemmpunkten hindurch auf eine zweite, tiefere Stufe und wird dann durch die Spitze 38 und den Wippenarm 11 aufgehalten, wobei der Fallweg kleiner als der Münzdurchmesser ist. Durch das Gewicht der Münze 8 wird nun die Wippe 7 so weit im Gegenuhrzeigersinn gedreht, bis die Sperrnase 10 am Umfang des kreisförmigen Riegelteiles 36 ansteht, wie dies aus Fig. 3 hervorgeht. Da der Abstand zwischen dem Wippenarm 11 und der Spitze des Münzstoppers 6 kleiner ist als der Münzdurchmesser, bleibt die Münze 8 nun auf dieser zweiten Stufe liegen. Wenn die Türe wieder geöffnet werden soll, wird der Schlüssel 29 in den Zylinder 4 gesteckt und danach der Riegel 5 in Öffnungsrichtung B verdreht. Durch die Drehung des Riegels 5 in seine Öffnungslage kommt die Riegelnut 9 in eine Position, in welcher sie der Sperrnase 10 gegenüber liegt. Als Folge davon kann sich die Sperrnase 10 der Wippe 7 durch das Gewicht der Münze 8 in die Riegelnut 9 hineinbewegen und verriegelt dadurch den Riegel 5 in seiner Öffnungslage. Durch diese Drehbewegung der Wippe 7 im Gegenuhrzeigersinn wird der Wippenarm 11 so weit zurückgedreht, daß die Münze 8 zwischen der Spitze 38 und dem Wippenarm 11 nicht mehr festgehalten wird und dadurch entlang des unteren Münzkanales 27 in die Münzrückgabeöffnung 28 fallen kann und hier entnommen werden kann. Die Münzprüfung erfolgt somit in der Weise, daß zu kleine Münzen zwischen der Spitze 38 und dem Klemmnocken 12 durchfallen, ohne die Wippe 7 zu entriegeln. Zu große oder zu dicke Münzen werden durch den Einwurfschlitz 32 der Münzeinwurfplatte 3 ausgeschieden.

The function of this closing device is as follows:

• In the rest state with the bolt 5 open, the rocker 7 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, in which the locking lug 10 engages in the bolt groove 9. When a designated coin is inserted through the slot 32 of the coin insertion plate 3 into the insertion channel 23, it falls down along the upper coin channel 22 and comes to rest on the first step between the inclined surface 37 of the coin stopper 6 and the clamping cam 13 of the rocker 7. As a result, the rocker 7 is pivoted slightly clockwise and the locking lug 10 which previously engages in the locking groove 9 comes to lie outside the movement path of the locking bolt 5, as can be seen from FIG. 2. On the other hand, the sensor approach 12 now comes to rest against the circular part 36 of the bolt 5. The bolt 5 can now be turned by 90 ° with the help of the key 29 in the direction of arrow A, so that the door of the wardrobe box or the like is thereby locked can. With the rotary movement of the bolt 5, the locking groove 9 is rotated by the same angle and is now located exactly next to the sensor attachment 12. The weight of the coin 8 resting against the clamping cams 13 now causes the sensor attachment 12 to be pressed into the locking groove 9, so that the passage between the tip 38 of the coin stopper 6 and the clamping cam 13 becomes larger than the coin diameter. As a result, the coin 8 falls between these two clamping points to a second, lower step and is then stopped by the tip 38 and the rocker arm 11, the drop path being smaller than the coin diameter. Due to the weight of the coin 8, the rocker 7 is now rotated counterclockwise until the locking lug 10 is in contact with the circumference of the circular locking part 36, as can be seen in FIG. 3. Since the distance between the rocker arm 11 and the tip of the coin stopper 6 is smaller than the coin diameter, the coin 8 now remains on this second level. If the door is to be opened again, the key 29 is inserted into the cylinder 4 and then the bolt 5 is rotated in the opening direction B. By turning the bolt 5 into its open position, the locking groove 9 comes into a position in which it lies opposite the locking lug 10. As a result, the locking lug 10 of the rocker 7 can move into the locking groove 9 by the weight of the coin 8 and thereby locks the locking bar 5 in its open position. By this rocking movement of the rocker 7 in the counterclockwise direction, the rocker arm 11 is turned back so far that the coin 8 is no longer held between the tip 38 and the rocker arm 11 and can therefore fall along the lower coin channel 27 into the coin return opening 28 and can be removed here . The coin check is thus carried out in such a way that coins that are too small fall through between the tip 38 and the clamping cam 12 without unlocking the rocker 7. Coins that are too large or too thick are excreted through the insertion slot 32 of the coin insertion plate 3.

By inserting a permanent magnet in the area of the upper coin channel 22, washers made of ferrous material can be held before they operate the rocker 7. Since the permanent magnet is arranged in a recess on the outside of the housing, the magnetic force acts through the housing material made of aluminum and holds such iron disks in place. In order to interrupt the holding force of such a magnet, the supervisory staff can insert a slide into a slot in the housing. As a result, the magnetic flux is short-circuited and the false disk can freely fall down and be removed from the coin return 28 after actuation of the closing device.

This closing device can be changed to a different type of coin at any time, without causing large amounts of activity. For this purpose, only the rocker 7 and the coin insert plate 3 need to be replaced. With larger differences in diameter, it may also be necessary to replace the coin stopper 6. The coin insert plate 3 can also have two slots 32 and be reversible.

Claims (9)

1. A coin-operated locking device for clothing lockers or the like whereof the lock is not brought into the locking state until a coin (8) has been inserted, wherein the key (29) is secured against withdrawal in the open state, a pivotable rocker (7) which locks a locking bolt (5) in its open position projects into the coin duct (22, 27), the rocker (7) can be pivoted into its non-locking position by the insertion of a coin and comprises in its upper part a clamping cam (13) which projects into the coin duct (22, 27) for holding back an inserted coin in a first stage, when the lock bolt (5) is moved into the locking position the rocker (7) carries out a pivoting movement allowing the coin (8) to drop down in a second stage, and the rocker (7), the movement whereof is linked to the movement of the locking bolt (5), has a coin clamping element (11) projecting into the coin duct (22, 27), which holds the coin (8) back in the second stage and releases it only after the locking bolt (5) has been moved back into the open position, wherein the rocker (7) has a locking nose (10) which engages in a recess (9) in the locking bolt when the locking bolt is in the open position, the rocker (7) has a sensor protruberance (12) which, after insertion of a coin, rests against a part (36) of the locking bolt made in the form of the arc of a circle, and which is located at a point offset from the locking nose (10) by approximately the pivot angle of the part (36) of the locking bolt, characterised in that on the side of the coin duct (22) opposite to the clamping cam (13) there is a coin-stopper (6) which narrows the duct and has a sloping surface (37) and a point (38), the coin (8) being held in the first stage between the sloping surface (37) and the clamping cam (13), and the projection on the rocker (7) being constructed in the form of an arm (11), the coin (8) resting between this arm and the point (38) in the second stage, the arm (11) being adapted so that the distance over which the coin (8) travels between the first stage and the second is less than the diameter of the coin.

2. A locking device according to patent claim 1, characterised in that the rocker (7) is approximately anchor-shaped, with a first arm which bears the clamping cam (13) and the sensor protruberance (12), and the arm (11) which forms the coin-supporting surface in the second stage and extends transversely to the first arm.

3. A locking device according to patent claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the coin-stopper (6) is made as a flat part which can be inserted interchangeably in a recess in the housing (1).

4. A locking device according to at least one of patent claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a coin insertion plate (3) with a vertical, laterally accessible coin insertion slot (32) is held in two halves (1, 2) of the housing transverse to the junction plane thereof.

5. A locking device according to at least one of patent claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a section of the coin duct wall is provided with serrations (26), and a projection (18) which defines the upper coin duct (22) extends over the top of the sensor protruberance (12).

6. A locking device according to at least one of patent claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the recesses for accomodating the coin insertion plate (3) in two housing parts (1, 2) and the coin return (28) and the lock accommodating elements are arranged symmetrically so that the locking device may be used for doore with lefthand or right-hand opening.

7. A locking device according to at least one of patent claims 1 to 6, characterised in that there is an insertion aperture (20) for a manual releasing device (14), and this insertion aperture (20) continues into a curved duct (21) which therminates in the vicinity of the rocker arm (11).

8. A locking device according to patent claim 7, characterised in that the manual releasing device (14) has an insertion part (15) with a radially disposed opening through which a flexible rod (17), adapted for penetration into the curved duct (21), can emerge.

9. A locking device according to at least one of patent claims 1 to 8, characterised in that on the outer face of the aluminium housing (1), in the vicinity of the upper coin duct (22), a permanent magnet is attached to retain improperly inserted iron-containing discs, and there is a slot in the housing into which supervisory personnel can introduce a disc which short-circuits the magnetic flux.

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