EP1103930A2

EP1103930A2 - Adaptable hand operated device for selecting coins

Info

Publication number: EP1103930A2
Application number: EP00500251A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ricardo Romero Herrera
Original assignee: Industrias Lorenzo SA
Current assignee: Industrias Lorenzo SA
Priority date: 1999-11-25
Filing date: 2000-11-24
Publication date: 2001-05-30
Also published as: EP1103930A3

Abstract

Adaptable hand operated device for selecting coins, with a frame (10) formed by several parallel walls (12) defining several slots (13, 14) for coins passing, a rotating element (20), a crank (25) mounted on said frame (10) limited to a single direction by a first ratchet (30), a plurality of disks (40) secured to the element (20), each arranged between two walls (12) and provided with a slot (42) for a kind of coin, and a plurality of levers (50) each elastically loaded supported on a peripheral edge (44) of a respective disk (40), constituting with a slot (42) a second ratchet comprising obturating parts (70) provided with means for being secured between two walls (12) obturating the related inlet slot (13) and an appendage for locking the respective lever (50) to a position which disables its effect of ratchet, locking its elastic load and allowing the rotation of the element (20) and a plurality of elastic elements (80), acting independently on a related lever (50) pushing it against the peripheral edge (44) of the respective disk (40).

Description

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a hand operated device for selecting coins of the type incorporated in a number of dispensing and similar machines comprising multiple inlet slots, each suitable for a kind of coins.

Background of the invention

This kind of devices for selecting coins are well-known in the art of the sector such as for example the one disclosed in the utility model ES-A-1004783, which comprises a first step of walking beam and counterweight designed to admit or refuse a coin in particular depending on a kind of preestablished coin and a second step to which the coin admitted arrives, which enters in a slot of a hand operable disk in order it rotates, provided with a first ratchet which only allows the rotation in one direction. A second ratchet acts on said slot making impossible the rotation of the disk unless a coin is located in the slot, in which case said second ratchet slides over it so that a complete rotation of the disk may occur favouring the fall of said coin when the slot is passing at the lowest position.
The second step disclosed by said utility model ES-A-1004783 constitutes the classical mechanism of most of the hand-operated coin selecting devices. In addition, presently devices of that kind are produced with several of said disks mounted so that they can rotate together, each with a slot suitable for a kind of coin, so that the device can operate when the amount to be paid has been reached with two or more preestablished small amount coins.
It is greatly wished to have available a device with multiple disks suitable for multiple kinds of coin, in which it is possible to selectively annul some of them, for example for adapting the device to a new amount or a change of the monetary system.
To annul one of the disks it is required, first, to obturate the access of the coins to related slot and second, to lock the lever of the second ratchet at a position, which does no interfere with, said slot.
A problem is posed when there is an arrangement of more than two disks, because, although the levers of the ratchet of the side disks are easily lockable by having access to them through the holes of the side walls of the box or frame which contains them, the levers of the disks located at the most inward positions are not accessible for locking them without crossing and therefore locking at least one of the levers of one of the side disks.
Another problem, which is posed, consists in the fact that this kind of devices has a common pushing element for all the levers of the second ratchet. Therefore, when locking any of the levers of the second ratchet at a position apart from the related disk, the lever itself locked retains said common pushing element which otherwise would operate on every and each of the levers, so that the non locked levers have no force, apart from gravity, which pushes them against the edge of their respective disks, the force of the gravity having being checked a insufficient, specially if the device is shaken at same time it is tried to have the disks rotating.

Short exposure of the invention

Therefore, an object of this invention is to contribute with a hand operated con selecting device, having more than two disks, which has means for selectively obturating the passage through any of the suitable slots to a given kind of coins and to lock their respective lever of ratchet, allowing however the operation of the remaining disks.
Another object of this invention is to contribute with individual pushing means for each lever of the second ratchet, being able to complete the force of the gravity and to assist the common pushing element when it is retained by a locked lever or to fully substitute it.
These objects are reached according to this invention by contributing with an adaptable hand operated coin selecting device of the kind which essentially comprises a frame basically formed by several parallel laminar walls, at least three, so that they define at least two slots at an upper side and two slots at a lower side for the coin passing. The gaps between said laminar walls agree with the thickness of different kinds of coins. Mounted on said frame, there is a rotating element so that it can rotate with respect to an axis perpendicular to said walls, connected to a hand operated external crank to let it rotate. A first ratchet, elastically loaded, limits the rotation of the rotating element to a single direction and a plurality of disks are fixed on said rotating element, coaxially to its mentioned rotation axis, each arranged between two of the laminar walls of the frame and provided in one sector with a slot having sizes suitable for a kind of coin, said slot may remain alternatively facing one respective of said slots of the upper side, to receive said coin and a respective of said slots of the lower side to expel it. Associated to each disk there is a pivoting lever, slidingly supported by gravity and elastically loaded on a peripheral edge of a respective disk, constituting with the respective slot a second ratchet, so that when at least one of said slots is empty or filled with an unsuitable coin, the related lever of the second ratchet is locked in the respective slot preventing the rotation of the rotating element, while when in each of the slots there is a suitable coin, the levers slide on said coins allowing a rotation of the rotating element until the coins falls by gravity through the slot of the lower side of the frame.
The essential contribution of the invention consists in that this device comprises in addition a plurality of obturating parts, each provided with means to be locked between two of said laminar walls obturating the slot for the coin passing to the slot of related disk. Each of said obturating parts in addition comprises an appendage for locking, from said passing slot, the respective lever of the second ratchet in a position which enables its effect, blocking with it its elastic load and allowing the rotation of the rotating element.
The device of the invention also contributes with a plurality of elastic elements, each operating independently on a part of a related lever pressing it against the peripheral edge of the respective disk.
Said obturating parts and said individual elastic elements may be mounted in already existing devices of the kind which incorporate a common pushing element for all the levers of the second ratchet, in which case the individual elastic elements operate in addition to said common pushing element.
With that contributions the selective obturation of any of the slots and the lock of the effect as second ratchet of its related lever is allowed, which permits the free operation of the remaining mechanisms, so that the device may be selectively adapted to a variable number of different kinds of coins.
It has to be pointed out that theoretically there exists no limitation as for the number of mechanisms of disk and lever of second ratchet mounted in parallel, and therefore of different kind of coins acceptable, nor as for the number of obturated slots and locked mechanisms, as in addition the position of said locked mechanisms is without importance.

Short description of the drawings

The characteristics of this invention will be more obvious from the detailed description of an example of embodiment thereof with reference to the drawings appended, in which:
Fig. 1 is a top view of the device according to this invention;
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation view of the device, seen in the direction of the arrow II of Fig. 1, in which some parts have been omitted to show the mechanism of the first ratchet;
Fig. 3 to 5 are cross sectional views taken by the line III-III of Fig. 1 which illustrate different positions the mechanism of the second ratchet can adopt in the situations of ready for receiving a coin, rotated without any coin is present and rotated with a coin being present, respectively;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken by the line III-III of Fig. 1 which illustrates an obturating element obturating the slot of access for the coins and locking the lever of the second ratchet; and
Fig. 7 to 9 are side views of the obturating element, the lever of the second ratchet and the elastic element of the lever of the second ratchet, respectively.

Detailed description of an example of preferred embodiment

Referring first to Fig. 1, it shows the adaptable hand operated coin selecting device, according to this invention, which essentially comprises a frame 10 basically formed by several parallel laminar walls 12 , which in the example illustrated are four and define three slots 13 on an upper side, for the coins entrance and three slots 14 (not shown in Fig. 1) on a lower side for the exit thereof. The construction of said frame 10 is typically carried out by packing by means of threaded studs 90 secured on one of the external laminar walls 12, which cross the remaining walls until protruding from the other external wall, where nuts are 17 threaded. Spacers 15 interposed between each two laminar walls 12 stand the pressure of the nuts 17 and set a preestablished distance between them, according to the thickness of different kinds of coins.
On said frame 10, a rotating element 20 is mounted so that it can rotate with respect to an axis perpendicular to said walls 12. That rotating element is also formed by a packing of several element comprising a base disk 22 from which a threaded stem is protruding, coaxial to said rotation axis, on which a crank 25 is threaded to hand rotate said rotating element 20, while from the other side two stems 24 are protruding, separated at both sides of the rotation axis which cross the whole frame through holes 19 having a relatively large diameter, centred with said rotation axis, until emerging at the opposite side of the frame 10, where by means of nuts 18 a driving part 28 is secured designed to operate an associated mechanism, for example, a mechanism for delivering an item in the expending machine.
Threaded on said two stems 24, there is alternated a plurality of disks 40 and of guiding disks 26, located coaxially to said rotation axis, for which each of them has available two holes suitably located, so that each of the guiding disks 26 will remain embedded within one of said holes 19 having a relatively large diameter of a related laminar wall 12, while each of the disks 40 remains arranged between two of said laminar walls 12.
In a sector of each disk 40 there is a slot 42 having sizes suitable for a kind of coin, said slot 42 may remain alternatively facing one of said slots 13 of the upper side, for receiving a coin M, and one of said slots 14 of the lower side for expelling it, from which the coin M falls by gravity. Obviously, the gap between each of two laminar walls 12 is in accordance with the thickness of the kind of coin to which the slot 42 of the related disk 40 is designed.
Referring now to Fig. 2, it shows a first ratchet 30, composed of a lever of a first ratchet 32 elastically loaded and of a toothed wheel 34, the first ratchet 30 of which limits the rotation of the rotating element 20 to a single direction. In the example of embodiment illustrated, the lever of the first ratchet 32, pivots on a stem 92 secured to one of the external laminar walls 12 and a first arm 62 of a flexion spring 60 pushes it against said toothed wheel 34.
Between each two laminar walls 12 there is in addition a pivoting lever 50 (best shown in the following figures), slidingly supported by gravity on a peripheral edge 44 of a respective disk 40, so that it constitutes a second ratchet in cooperation with the respective slot 42, as it will be explained with more details below. The device illustrated is of the kind in which all the levers 50 are elastically loaded by a common pushing element 64, constituted by a second arm of the spring 60 operating through oblong holes 11 of the laminar walls 12 and holes 56 of the levers 50, although said common pushing element could be omitted, as it will be seen thereafter.
Fig. 3 to 5 show three possible situations which provide examples of the device operation. In Fig. 3, the device has one of the slots 42 of a given disk 40 facing the slot 13 of the higher part of the frame 10, ready for receiving a coin M. In Fig. 4, the rotating element 20 has been rotated when at least one of said slots 42 is empty, or filled with an unsuitable coin M (not shown) therefore the related lever 50 of the second ratchet is locked in the respective slot 42 preventing the rotation of the rotating element 20, while when in each of the slots 42 there is a suitable coin M (Fig. 5), the levers 50 slide on said coins M allowing a rotation of the rotating element 20 until the coins M fall by gravity through the slot 14 of the lower side of the frame 10.
In order to selectively adapt the device to the variable number of different kinds of coins, in addition it comprises, as shown in Fig. 6, obturating parts 70, each provided with means to be secured between two of said laminar walls 12 obturating the slot 13 for the coins passing toward the slots 42 of related disk 40 and with an appendage for locking the respective lever 50 in a position which disables its effect as second ratchet, locking with it its elastic load which in the device illustrated is said common pushing element 64, which allows the rotation of the rotating element 20.
To assist the locked common pushing element 64, a plurality of elastic elements 80, has been arranged, acting each independently on a part of a related lever 50 pushing each lever 50 against the peripheral edge 44 of the respective disk 40. When in the device no obturating part 70 is placed, the elastic elements 80 act in addition to the common pushing element 64.
It is obvious that the elastic elements 80 can completely substitute the common pushing element 64, but they may also operate with it be present, allowing the use of the obturating parts 70. This results particularly interesting as it allows to adapt the many already existing devices, equipped with a common pushing element 64, by simply adding the elastic elements 80 and selectively arranging those of the obturating parts 70.
The elastic elements 80 and, if fit, the common pushing element 64, are necessary because the force of the gravity results insufficient for securing the contact of the lever 50 with the disk 40, namely if the device is shaken at same time it is tried to rotate the rotating element 20, that is to say, they are necessary as safety devices.
Fig. 7 shows one of said obturating parts 70, in this case formed by a part of metal plate comprising an oblong shaped length 76 from the ends of which are starting elastic platelets 72 constituting said locking means which may be connected by pressure socketing them within some of the spacers 15 of the laminar walls 12 of the frame 10, close to the slot 13 of the coin entrance. Said appendage for locking the respective lever 50 is formed by a bended metal plate with a branch secured at an intermediate part of the length 76 and another tongue-shaped branch 74 which is protruding from the obturating part 70 for being embedded in a groove 52 of the lever 50 located at a end far from the pivoting axis 92 thereof, locking it.
It is characteristic that said obturating parts 70 are all equal and may indistinctly obturate any of the slots 13 for coin passing towards the related slot 42, regardless the kind of coin to which each slot 42 is adapted.
Fig. 8 shows in details a lever 50 of the second ratchet, which comprises at one end an incut 54 which shows a mouth and a sinus larger than said mouth. At the opposite end there is said groove 52, designed as well for being embedded within the slot 42 of the disk 40 (see, for example Fig. 4) as for being embedded with the tongue 74 of the obturating part 70 (see Fig. 6).
Last, Fig. 7 shows one of said elastic elements 80, which is formed by a part having a sinuous design of a width suitable for being placed between two of said walls 12 of the frame 10, said part comprising, at a first end , a first block 82 designed to be embedded within said incut 54 of the lever 50, so that said first block 82 is moving jointly with the lever 50 when this later pivots and at a second end a second block 84 secured to said frame 10. Said first block 82 comprises a hole 86 in which the pivoting axis 92 of related lever 50 is embedded. Preferably, a metal socket 94 is introduced in the hole 86 so that it remains interposed between the pivoting axis 92, which is generally a threaded metal stem and the plastic block 82, for acting as a bearing which protect from erosion and as separating element which prevents that the block 82 is locked. On its hand, said second block 84 comprises a hole 88 through which one of the stems 90 passes for securing by packing the laminar walls 12 of the frame 10, constituting the second block 84 a spacer for said laminar walls 12.
It has to be pointed in addition that this device has a compact design, all its mechanisms remaining contained within the limits of said frame 10.
It is obvious that a man of the art could introduce multiple modifications without being beyond the scope of this invention, which is defined by the claims appended.

Claims

Adaptable hand operated device for selecting coins of the kind comprising:

a frame (10) basically formed by several parallel laminar walls (12), which define at least two slots (13) at an upper side and two slots (14) at a lower side for the coin passing;

a rotating element (20) mounted on said frame (10) so that it can rotate with respect to an axis perpendicular to said walls (12);

a crank (25) for hand rotating said rotating element (20);

a first ratchet (30), elastically loaded, which limits the rotation of the rotating element (20) to a single direction;

a plurality of disks (40) fixed on the rotating element (20), coaxially to its mentioned rotation axis, each arranged between two of the laminar walls (12) and provided in one sector with a slot (42) having sizes suitable for a kind of coin, said slot (42) being able to remain alternatively facing one respective of said slots (13) of the upper side, to receive said coin (M) and a respective of said slots (14) of the lower side to expel it;

a plurality of pivoting levers (50), each slidingly supported by gravity and elastically loaded on a peripheral edge (44) of a respective disk (40), constituting with the respective slot (42) a second ratchet;

so that when at least one of said slots (42) is empty or filled with an unsuitable coin (M), the related lever (50) of the second ratchet is locked in the respective slot (42) preventing the rotation of the rotating element (20), while when in each of the slots (42) there is a suitable coin (M), the levers (50) slide on said coins (M) allowing a rotation of the rotating element (20) while when in each of the slots (42) there is a suitable coin (M) the levers (50) slide on said coins (M) allowing a rotation of the rotating element (20) until the coins (M) fall by gravity through the slot (14) of the lower side of the frame (10) characterised in that it also comprises:

obturating parts (70), each provided with means to be secured between two of said laminar walls (12) obturating the slot (13) for the coin passing to the slot (42) of related disk (40) and with an appendage for blocking related lever (50) to a position which disables its effect as second ratchet, thereby blocking its elastic load, and which allows the rotation of the rotating element (20); and

a plurality of elastic elements (80), acting each independently on a portion of a related lever (50) pushing it against the peripheral edge (44) of the respective disk (40),

so that selective obturation of some of the slots (42) and lock of the effect as second ratchet of its related lever (50) is allowed, which permits a free operation of the remaining mechanisms, so that the device may be selectively adapted to a variable number of different kinds of coins.
Device according to the claim 1, characterised in that said locking means of said obturating parts (70) comprise elastic platelets (72) which may be connected by snap fit with spacers (15) of the laminar walls (12) of the frame (10).
Device, according to claim 2, characterised in that said appendage for locking the respective lever (50) comprises a tongue (74) which protrudes from the obturating part (70) to engage a groove (52) of the lever (50) located at a end far way from the pivoting axis (92) thereof, locking it.
Device, according to claim 3, characterised in that each of said obturating parts (70) is of metal plate and comprises an oblong shaped length (76) from which ends said elastic platelets (72) are derived, said tongue (74) being formed by a bended metal plate attached at an intermediate part of the length (76).
Device according to claim 4, characterised in that said obturating parts (70) are all equal and may indistinctly obturate any of the slots (13) for the coins passing to the related slots (42) independently of the kind of coin to which each slot is adapted (42).
Device, according to claim 5, characterised in that each of said elastic elements (80) is formed by a part having a sinuous design placed between two of said walls (12) of the frame (10), said part comprising at a first end a first block (82) fitted in an incut (54) of said lever (50) so that said first block (82) is moving jointly with the lever (50) when it pivots and at a second end a second block (84) fixed at said frame (10).
Device, according to claim 6, characterised in that said first block (82) comprises a hole (86) inserted in said pivoting axis (92) of related lever (50).
Device, according to claim 7, characterised in that said second block (84) comprises a hole (88) through which a fastening screw by packing the laminar walls (12) of the frame (10) passes, said second block (84) constituting a separator for said laminar walls (12).
Device, according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that said elastic load of the levers (50) is a common pushing element (64) said elastic elements acting complementarily to said common pushing element (64).
Device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it of a compact design, all its mechanisms remaining confined within the limits of said frame (10).