GB1578213A

GB1578213A - Coin storage device

Info

Publication number: GB1578213A
Application number: GB22370/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sodeco Saia AG; Societe des Compteurs de Geneve SODECO
Current assignee: Sodeco Saia AG; Societe des Compteurs de Geneve SODECO
Priority date: 1977-07-29
Filing date: 1978-05-25
Publication date: 1980-11-05
Also published as: DE2740060B1; CH624501A5; FR2399074B1; FR2399074A1; DE2740060C2; DK335278A; NO782603L; NL7808004A; ATA456978A; AT365873B; ES472141A1; BE869367A

Abstract

The device has a blocking pin (7) which projects into the coin channel (2) and which prevents the coins (8) from falling further. Connected to the blocking pin (7) is a lever (10) which, at its end, carries an inclined plate (11) which likewise projects into the coin channel. By means of an electromagnet (6) acting on the blocking pin, the coin channel can be opened briefly. During an energisation time of the electromagnet (6) which is shorter than the falling time of the coin (8), the latter is deflected by the plate (11) into a return channel, whereas it is collected in the event of a longer energisation time. The two functions of storage and diversion can thereby be controlled with low energy consumption by means of a single electromagnet. If the collecting device is used in a coin-operated telephone, the electromagnet (6) is fed from the telephone loop. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) COIN STORAGE DEVICES (71) We, SODECO-SAIA AG, a body corporate organised and existing under the laws of Switzerland, of CH-1211 Geneve 16, Switzerland, do hereby declare the in Invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to coin storage devices.

Known money collecting apparatus, such as automatic sales machines and automatic service machines, and in particular coinoperated telephones with indirect coin collection, are provided with a mechanical storage means in which the money, tokens and the like which are put into the machine are stored before being passed for collection. That is, such money, tokens and the like is prevented by a blocking means from falling further into the collection or return passage respectively. Additionally, such apparatus has a diverter means which passes the money which is released, either into the collecting container or into the return dish of the money collecting apparatus. The blocking means and the diverter means are actuated by separate mechanisms.The electrical power required for this purpose is large, so that it must be taken from a separate power source, and, in the case of coin-operated telephones, cannot be supplied from the telephone loop.

According to the present invention there is provided a coin storage device comprising a coin passage, a blocking pin which is controlled by an electromagnet and which in the rest position prevents money coins which are stored in a storage portion of the coin passage from falling into a collecting portion of the coin passage which opens into a collecting container passage and a return passage, and a diverter member which enables the money coins which are released for collection either to pass into a collecting container or into a return dish, the diverter member being disposed on a lever which is connected to the blocking pin.

Throughout this specification the term "collection" denotes both the actual collection operation and also the return of the residual balance, and the term "money coin" denotes coins, tokens and similar money substitutes.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of a coin passage with a collecting device; and Figure 2 shows a view in cross-section through the coin passage taken along line A-A in Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 show a coin collection device which comprises a coin passage 1 which includes a storage passage 2 which is inclined at a shallow angle, and a collecting passage 3 which extends vertically. The collecting passage 3 opens on the one hand into a collecting container passage 4 and on the other hand into a return passage 5 which leads to a return dish (not shown).

A blocking pin 7 which is controlled by an electromagnet 6 is arranged, perpendicularly to the wide wall of the coin passage 1, in the transition portion between the storage passage 2 and the collecting passage 3. When the electromagnet 6 is energised, the blocking pin 7 is drawn out of the coin passage 1, and allows the first money coin 8 stored in the storage passage 2 to fall into the collecting passage 3.

The blocking pin 7 is pivotally connected to a lever 10 which is pivotal about a pin 9. At its end remote from the pin 9, the lever 10 is provided with a diverter member in the form of an inclined plate 11 which blocks the entry into the collecting container passage 4, in the rest position, that is to say, when the blocking pin 7 projects into the coin-passage 1. The wall of the collecting passage 3 which is opposite to the blocking pin 7 is provided with a pocket-like, outwardly bulged, portion 12 into which the released money coin 8 can be diverted if the blocking pin 7 returns rapidly into the rest position.

When the electromagnet 6 is energised, the blocking pin 7 is drawn out of the coin passage 1 and releases the money coin 8 which is lying on the blocking pin 7, for the coin collection operation, so that the money coin 8 can fall into the collecting passage 3. Due to the movement of the blocking pin 7, at the same time the lever 10 with the plate 11 is pivoted into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2.

The plate 11 opens the entrance to the collecting container passage 4 and the money coin 8 falls into the collecting container of the coin collecting apparatus.

After the electromagnet 6 is de-energised, the blocking pin 7 is moved back into the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2, by the action of a spring 13. The plate 11 again closes the entrance to the collecting container passage 4.

If the length of time for which the electromagnet 6 is energised is shorter than the time which the money coin 8 requires to fall through the distance a to the entry into the collecting container passage 4, then the plate 11 has already returned to the rest position when the money coin 8 reaches the diverter member formed by the plate 11, the collecting container passage 4 is blocked, and the money coin 8 falls into the return passage 5. In order to conduct the money coin 8 into the colelecting container passage 4 or into the return passage 5, it is therefore sufficient to energise the electromagnet 6 by pulses cf different duration.

The described coin collecting device, which is of a very simple mechanical construction, reliably performs the two functions which hitherto were performed by two separate mechanisms, that is to say, the storage and release of the money coins put into the machine, and the guiding thereof into the collecting container or into the return dish. It requires only a single electromagnet 6, the energy requirement of which can be entirely supplied from the telephone loop, when used in coin-operated telephones. The collecting dcvice can be used without modifications for money coins 8 of both large and small diameter. Only one money coin 8 is ever collected, as the blocking pin 7 closes off the storage passage 4 before the next following money coin 8 rolls on down through the slightly inclined storage passage 2.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A coin storage device comprising a coin passage, a blocking pin which is controlled by an electromagnet and which in the rest position prevents money coins which are stored in a storage portion of the coin passage from falling into a collecting portion of the coin passage which opens into a collecting container passage and a return passage, and a diverter member which enables the money coins which are released for collection either to pass into a collecting container or into a return dish, the diverter member being disposed on a lever which is connected to the blocking pin.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein, if the period of time for which the electromagnet is energised is shorter than the time required for the released money coin to fall over the distance to the diverter member, the money coin is passed into the return passage, while if the period of ener gisation of the electromagnet is longer, the money coin is passed into the collecting portion of the coin passage.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the diverter member comprises an inclined plate disposed at one end of the lever, the other end of which is mounted on a further pin, and the connection between the lever and the blocking pin is such that the end of the lever which is provided with the diverter member is pivoted when the blocking pin is withdrawn from the coin passage by the electromagnet, whereby the entrance to the collecting container passage for the money coin which is to be collected therein is opened.

4. A device according to claim 1 in a coin-operated telephone, the electromagnet being arranged to be supplied by power taken from the telephone loop.

5. A coin collecting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. which blocks the entry into the collecting container passage 4, in the rest position, that is to say, when the blocking pin 7 projects into the coin-passage 1. The wall of the collecting passage 3 which is opposite to the blocking pin 7 is provided with a pocket-like, outwardly bulged, portion 12 into which the released money coin 8 can be diverted if the blocking pin 7 returns rapidly into the rest position. When the electromagnet 6 is energised, the blocking pin 7 is drawn out of the coin passage 1 and releases the money coin 8 which is lying on the blocking pin 7, for the coin collection operation, so that the money coin 8 can fall into the collecting passage 3. Due to the movement of the blocking pin 7, at the same time the lever 10 with the plate 11 is pivoted into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2. The plate 11 opens the entrance to the collecting container passage 4 and the money coin 8 falls into the collecting container of the coin collecting apparatus. After the electromagnet 6 is de-energised, the blocking pin 7 is moved back into the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2, by the action of a spring 13. The plate 11 again closes the entrance to the collecting container passage 4. If the length of time for which the electromagnet 6 is energised is shorter than the time which the money coin 8 requires to fall through the distance a to the entry into the collecting container passage 4, then the plate 11 has already returned to the rest position when the money coin 8 reaches the diverter member formed by the plate 11, the collecting container passage 4 is blocked, and the money coin 8 falls into the return passage 5. In order to conduct the money coin 8 into the colelecting container passage 4 or into the return passage 5, it is therefore sufficient to energise the electromagnet 6 by pulses cf different duration. The described coin collecting device, which is of a very simple mechanical construction, reliably performs the two functions which hitherto were performed by two separate mechanisms, that is to say, the storage and release of the money coins put into the machine, and the guiding thereof into the collecting container or into the return dish. It requires only a single electromagnet 6, the energy requirement of which can be entirely supplied from the telephone loop, when used in coin-operated telephones. The collecting dcvice can be used without modifications for money coins 8 of both large and small diameter. Only one money coin 8 is ever collected, as the blocking pin 7 closes off the storage passage 4 before the next following money coin 8 rolls on down through the slightly inclined storage passage 2. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A coin storage device comprising a coin passage, a blocking pin which is controlled by an electromagnet and which in the rest position prevents money coins which are stored in a storage portion of the coin passage from falling into a collecting portion of the coin passage which opens into a collecting container passage and a return passage, and a diverter member which enables the money coins which are released for collection either to pass into a collecting container or into a return dish, the diverter member being disposed on a lever which is connected to the blocking pin.