US1039604A - Coin-distributing apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. SMITH. com DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED APB-20. 1909.

Patented Sept 24,1912.

H, SMITH. GOIN DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION riLBD APR. 20, 1909.

Patented sept.24,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STATES rerun curios.

HENRY ennxnnnnn SMITH, or Artur-re, GEORGIA, AssIenoii, BY Dinner; Ann Mnsmz ASSIGNMENTS, or sun-recurs T0 cnnnrns .cmrrom) unsen, or m ss POINT, GEORGIA, AND ONE-SIXTH; TO A. I. v. WILsotu, or ATLANTA, chosen,

- COIN-DISTRIBUTING ABEARATUS. I

nosogsoi.

Specification of Letters'fatent.

Application filed April 20, 1909. I Serial N 0. 491,094.

To all whom it may comm:

Be it known that I, HEHRY r-XLE'XANiDER S;M IT'H. a citizen of the United States, -residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of'Georgin, have invented newsnd useful Improvements in Coin-Dietrih uting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in coin distributingvapparatlus designed par- 3 ticulnrly for use in connection :with telephone pay stations or the like, and is specifically directed to s mechanism whereby the various essential coins deliveredto the 'sppnretus through n single slot are autonmtlcally del vered to a proper coin chute,

cost of a call will notify the celier to deposit s coinof aoertain 'denomination'and will determine the proper deposit of such acoin by the sound incident to the contact 10% the coin in its travel through the chute with a distinctive sounding .alarm. As heretofore constructed .these devices have required the formation of distinctive coin chutes, one for each particular coin and there has been no way to guard against the insertion of a counterfeit coin or marker resembling the proper coin in size and shape.

it is, therefore, the main object of the presentinv'ention to construct a coin delivto the proper coin b of proper size and-We ght, an will re ect and return to he caller ali some or markers cry apparatus in which automatic 'selective mechanism is emplo ed which WLll deliver chute only effect 001118 other than those'of a perfect character.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the coin slot in the'well of the casing is closed a ainst. the further introduction of a coin uring the operation 'ofthe apparatus.

q The invention will he described. in the ol lowing specification, reference being had 50 particularly to the accompanying drawings,

in which: I.

Figure 1 1s a. view 111 elevation, partly n 4 apparatus with the 'coin, as a dime.

Wided with any desiredform ofloclc; As illustrated-the upper portion, of the'c'ase is curing means being usedyto motion, illustrating the improved delivery operative osition. Fig. 2-"'is a' view .in'-*s i parts norm all or in;

tion, party in elevation, ofthe snme,'with the parts inoperative positions; Fig; Bis} a front elevation of the pparatus, the for word well of. the casing heing'frelhovedfi-f Flg. 4 is a section on lined-i of 3.

saw

Fig. 5 is an elevation ofthe coin 'rece1ver,-

ShoWin the vparts in the positions occupied when e livering the smallest-and lightest Fig.' 6xis "zi 'sixnilar view? with the parts in 'position'lor delivering the next lightest com, asa nickel; Fig. 7.

is :1 Similar view with the parts in theposition occupied when delivering' theheaviest coin, .2 5 a quarter. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan" of the recelver, showing thepreferr edsec tlona-l *fOIIIlfiElOIl thereof. Fig; 9 is a' spectlve view of the lockingjber.

I 70 P r- Q Referring particularly to theeccompsny-"l mg drawings, my improvement is shownasf' applied to a telephone pay station case 1,

and it is tobe understood that this fcasgfj aside from the details ofconstructionhero ina-fter noted, is to indicate anydesired form or size of c2 1se,.es. such; forms m: teriall part of the pi'esent-Iipventioni As shown the case is divid'etlg byizi' transverse". vpartition 2 near the bottom-thereoftofforin- 1 an upper or delivery chamber Sande lower;'

.or coin chamber 4;, the. letterjheing'oi di- Inirily designed to receive s coin'rc'ceiving" receptacle and being closed hy'a: door 5 pr made .111 two so arableljsecti'ons Jone of lower portion, the other section, including the side walls and frontwellof the case and being adapted to slidahly engage flanges 6 and 7 formed on the edges ,of the oertition and to]: 1 late end ,toQbe'arl 1 2 P as,

against flanges 8 projecting f rorn the hack phite when in appliedyp osition, suitable'lsein case-forming position.

The construction described s, imply, n1]

convenient means for providingi -ac cess: to:

the coin delivery n1ecl1a nisn1',-it"being un-w ion contemplates the use of: any style or form of case.

to facilitate the insertion of coins and in the'construction shown this guard strip is carried on-a separate section securedto the under surface of the top wall of the case. Pivotally 'mounted in ears 11, depending from the top wall of the case in advance of the slot 9, is a trap 12 comprising a strip of metal having its upper. edge bent rearwardly, as at 13, so that when the trap is in a certain position said edge 13 will bear against the guard strip 10 and close the slot 9 against the introduction of a coin. The trap is provided with an arm 14:, preferably of wire, which projects rearwardly and downwardly from the trap and then upwardly to form a. loop 15, for a purpose which willlpresently appear.

Secured" to and rising from the partition 2 in the case are coin chutes 16, 17 and 18,

three being shown in the present instance, it

being understood, however, that the number of coin chutes will depend upon the number of coins for which the device is adapted. The coin chutes are practically of identical construction and communicate with the coin chamber t through the medium of slotted openings 19 in the partition, so that any coin delivered to said chutes will be in turn delivered to the coin chamber or to any ileireptacle placedtherein. The coin chutes are of unequal heights, that nearest the forward wall of the case being of the greatest height while that nearest the rear wall is of least height, the particular height of the coin chutes having a definite relation to the working out the apparatus, as will presently appear. The rear wall of each coin chute is provided with a guard finger 20, arranged centrally of said wall and projecting above the upper edge thereof, said fingers being very narrow as compared with thenormal width of thechute, as particularly apparent from Fig. 3 of the drawings. A coin trough 21 is arranged about the coin chutes, said trough comprising a bottom plate 22 through which the respective chutes pass, said plate l nclining d wnwardly toward the rear of "the case and laterally toward one side thereof, being adjacent said latter side of the case provided with a guard flange 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The coin trough has its forward edge "arranged in advance of the forward coin chute 16, and its rear edge in rear of the final coin chute18, the rear edge of the trough being formed to provide a delivery chute 21 formed to direct the coins falling into the coin trough toward one side of the casing, the mouth 0 the: delivery;

chute opening through an appropriately formed opening in said sidewall. a v

Each of the coin chutes 16 17, and 18 are provided with distinctive alarms, as 25, 5 36,

and 27, each secured immediately adjacent its respective chute, and saild chutes are so tormed that the coin in. its passage there through will engage and sound the'particu lar alarm, whereby the operator is advised of the passage of a a j-particular chute.

iAs so far described the apparatus com prises the fixed parts of the apparatus while preferring the specific embodiment p'articuljxar coin through requirements within the terms, of the appended claims.

The selective coin receiver islia single idevice designed to receive the co nsfrom the.

coin slot 9 and to autoiiiat-ically gselect,gthea,1

proper coin chute to which saidcoimiinac} V cordance with its value, istobe deli' fered and to reject and prevent the delivery total coin chute of any inarker or COIIlIlOt exactly in accordance with the particular requ re ments for which the apparatus is designed.

The coin receiver comprises duplicate rods 28, formed adjacent their relatively rear er'ids with opposed knife edge trunnions :29 dcj loo signed to be mounted in bearings projecting tr m standards 30 depending from the upper wall of the case. standards and bearings carried thereby are so arranged that the rods 28 project toward the forward wallof the case in a relatively The, respective r.

converging relation,that is at the forward; or s free ends the rods are pract cally in contactg.

while at their rear ends they are spaced the maximum distance apart. QEach of the rods appropriate counterweightfll, which weights are designed to slightly over-balance the normal weights of the rods and the coin receiver proper, so that under normal condiiv tions the rods are always in theiruppermost or coin receiving positions. Each rod cai ries' at its forward end a portion of the coin receiver, or more properly speaking each rod carries one-half of said receiver. The receiver, which is, of course, in duplicate sections, asone-half is c'arried'by' each'rod, comprises an approximately rectangular holder 32 divided longitudinally into duplis cate sections 33 and 3st. The holder as an entirety has its side walls extended for a' portion of its length in parallel relation, as at and the maximum width at this point is of a size to just receive a coin corresponding to a perfect coin 0t the'largest size for 1 are provided ad acent their pivots with an 1 I in a plane which is practically concentric to be introduced is a' dime, which is the lightwill' be clear that as said'arms move. down,

he graduall se arated to virtuanv increase a .Y a

though immediately succeeding the initial which the apparatus is adapted. Below the parallel sections the sidewalls of the holder and the extent or the converging portion of the side} walls 36 is such that at-fthe narrowest point of the holder -wzh'en the sections 333e thereof are inj-contact, as when the parts are-in normal position is such that the smallest coin for which the machine is designed will not pass through the holder. x i

As has been previously stated the arms 28 of'the receivingmechanism are mounted in angulanrelat -ion with the effect that assai'd arms are ,moved downward the relatively forward ends thereof will gradually recede from each other} This will be clear from an inspection of Fig, 4 of the drawings, and it ward and, therefore cause the forward ends thereof to recede from eachother, the side wallsiot the holder will, by virtue of such moveh'ient of the forward endsot the arms,

the transverse dimension of the holder. It is by virtue of this movement that the apparat sis designed for the automatic selection-of tlie -propercoin chute for the delivery theretoohthe coin carried in the holder, as will preseiitlyappear.

The receiving or mouth endsof the chutes l6, l7 and 18 are arranged sdthat in the movement of the receiving vapparatus the holder will aline successively with the chutes with its ower edge immediately above the a ofsaid chutes. In other words pper'edge of the chutes are arranged with the path of movement of the lower end of the holder, as plainly shown inFigs. l and 2.

In the disposition of the receiving apparatus in normal position, which is the position occupied under the influence of the weights 31, one of the arms 28 engages the loop 15 of the arm l land so tilts the trap 12 as to open theslot- 9, so that .as long as the receiving apparatus is in position the slotis open for the introduct on of coins.

movement of the receiving .device the slot is automatically closed to prevent introduction tion of the device under the influence of the first coin.-

In use, assuming the parts constructed and arranged as described, the operation of the improved -coin delivery and selective mechanis nlis as follows: If for instance the coin est and smallest coin to be usedg'a perfect coin of such type is introduced into "the m'ler holder is so constructed that the s will he held thereinhetween the con: I

vergent portions i=6 ot the side walls as long as the sections 83 andi l of the holder are increment, or mother words as long as the receiving d ice isin normal position; v The weight of 7 7E3- coin is sutiicient to cause the forward ends of the receiving dev ce'to move downward, which movement as beforestated tends to gradually separatethe sections of" the holder, when the holder sections. have been sufficiently separated to permit the passage of the dime therethrough, said holderwillbe alined with the ,coin chute 16 thereby; delivering the coin directly to said chuteand v q 15 Clhe parts are so related that a sounding the audible alarm'25; The'guard),

the chute holder is a nickel it willzbe obvious finger 2.0 provides a guiding cooperation that the separation of the holder sections f when in alinenient with the. chute -16 .ivill not be sutiicient to permit the passage of the nickel through the holder; and that said sections will not separate to mit such passage until the holder'is in alinev an extent to per-.

ment with the chute 17. The same operation applies when the coin is a quarter, the se l ation' of the holder sections in this instance being not sutlicient to permit the passage of the coin therethrough until said holder is in aliiiement;

with the chute 18. in other words theholder will be automatically opened to permit thelpassage therethro'ugh of a coinionly when theholder has reached a position in aline unent with the chute designed to receive-that coin, thus causing an automatic selection of theproncr chute for the'eoin. Uponthedclivery of the coin from the holder the ears 31' operate to return the receiving device to normal position for further operation.

inserted in the holder In the event the coin; deposited is of less weight and size than a perfect coin it is ohwill not be timed inexactaceordance with no a vious that the pasliage'through the holder 1 the arrangement of the chutesiso that said coin will hedelivered' through the holder in a position in advance or lit-rear of that chute 1 1 i a oesignc -io1 a coin most nearly approximatmg the weight and size otthe coin carried.

In delivery from the holder it). any position other than in alinement with the chutes per 21 and from said trough to be eturned tomits the coin to drop into tlie coiii trough the operator through the deliverv rhute 24-. j

. In Fig. 8 I have illustrated what i prefer as the sectional tormatlon of the hplder in which instance the side walls are ofiin ular formation, as at 3S.- By this meanslitwill be obvious that if the coin or markeniutrm duced is-not of the exactly proper thulgness, it will have greater freedom of movement in the holderthan a coin of. proper. thiclihess' and hence will be delivered to the .coin trough notwithstanding the fact that it may be of an exactly proper diameter and weight.

From the construction described it willbe for the automatic selection ot pertect coins and forthe delivery of such perfect coins to their proper chutes only, and while the em bodimentbfdetails herein described preferred it is to beundcrstood that I mus-rider as within the spirit of the present it". mntion tributing mechanism in the event the coin chamber 4' is unoccupied by the'proper coin receiving receptacle. F or the purposes of this look the receptacle is provided with a projection designed to pass through an' opening-37 formed in an auxiliary chamber 38 in the chamber l. The locking rod 39 is mounted for rotation within the case 1 adjacent the rear wall thereof, said rod being provided near its upper end with a finger 40 designed to overlie a'portion of one of the arms 28, lnd near its lower end Within the chamber 38 with an arm ll alining with the opening 37.. A spring. 42 isarranged on tlie rod'and operative to hold the arm normally adjacent the opening 37, in which position the finger 4:0 is so disposed as to prevent movemenmof the .arm. Therefore until the coin drawer is in place the chins cannotbe deposited, as the "apparatus is held inoperative. It is to be understood that the device will reject coins which are so worn as to become unsuitable for usi lal commercial purposes.

Having thus ,described tl e invention -,w hat is claimed as new, is p '.L A receptacle arranged" for coin reception, a plurality of chutes arranged in t e receptacleto receive coins of different values, a movable sectional coin holder to receive the coins delivered to the receptacle,

and means whereby the sections of said holder are automatically operatedto permit the vpassage therethrough of the specific coin corresponding with the particular chute when said holder is in position to deliver said coin to said chute] Areceptacle arranged for coin reception, a plurality of difl'erent coin chutes arranged 'within" the receptacle, a sectional coin holder operated by the com. and adapted to cooperate with each chute in sucsession. and means whereby the sections of said holder are operated topermit the passage tliereth 'iugh of a particular coin when the holder inposition to deliver said coin to the chute arranged tluzrcfor,

3. A receptacle arranged for corn reception, a. plurality of dill'cre'nt coin chutes saftherein, ascctional coin holder to receive obvious that the device described provides chute adapted for the reception of such coins.

'4. Areceptacle adapted to receive coins of different values, an independent chute for each respective coin value, and a coin holder to receive all the coins delivered to the receptacle and movable to cooperate with the successive chutes, said holder being formed with a coin passage normally arranged to prevent the travel of coins thcrethrough, and means whereby said passage is automatically varied in size to permit the passage therethrough of a particular coin when the holder is in inoperative relation with the chute designed to receivr he particular coin.

5. A receptacle adapted to receive coins of 'ditlierent values, an independent chute for each respective coin,- a holder to receive all the coins delivered to the receptacle, said holder being capable of movement for cooperation with the respective chutes in successiomand means whereby the holder upon the reception of the coin will move to a position above the chute adapted for the reception of said coin and deliver said coir, thereto, the delivery of the coin permitting the return of the chute to normal position and wholly beyond the position to coiiperate with any chute.

6. A coin receptacle including three coin chutes for the reception of respectively different coins, a coin holder normally arranged beyond all of said chutes and adapted for travel under the influence of a. coin to cotiperate with the respective chutes in succession, and means whereby said holder will deliver a particular coin inserted therein to the chute adapted for said coin, the delivery of the coin serving to limit the operative movement of the holder and permittingthe same to return to normal position.

7. A coin receiver for coinoperated appatus comprising a sectional coin holder adapted for movement, and means for gradually and increasingly separating the holder sections in the movement of the latter from normal position. v p

8. A coin receiver for coin operated apparatus comprising a sectional holder to rcceivethc coins, said holder being arranged to support when in normal position the smallest coin for which the apparatusis adapted, and means for gradually and 1ncreasingly separatingthe holder sections in the movement of said holder from normal position, whereby coins of different values will be discharged from the holder at separated points in its path of movement.

9. .A coin receiver for coin operated apparatus comprising a sectional co"n holder of hollow construction, and an arm support-- ing each section of the holder, said arms being arranged in relatively divergent planes. f

10. A coin receiver for coin operated apparatus co-mprising a sectional coin holder of hollow construction, and an arm. supportmg each section of the holder, meansfor 12. A coin operated apparatus including a receptacle formed with a coin receiving slot, a series of coinchutes arranged within the receptacle. and respectively adapted for the reception of coins of different value, and a, single means normally disposed beyond cooperation with any chute operating between the slot and all of said chutes and adapted todeliver the coinin'serted through the slot to the particular chute designed forthe reception of such coin, slot closing means, and means operating between the slot closing means and-single means to maintain the closing means in inoperative position when the single means is in normal-position.

13. A sectional coin distributor including a coin holder arranged for movement in a determinate path, said holder being adapted to receive coins of difierent values to oper-' ate .the holder sections to distribute, a coin of a particular value 'at a certain determinate point only in its path of movement.

'14. A coin distributer including a sectional coin holder normally adapted to receive and support coins of any value, and

means for moving the sections of the holder res'pect-irmco'ins at different points in' the movement of the holder. p

15. A coin distributor. including a sectional holder, and means for operating the holder to space thesections thereof different distances apart at determinate points in the Iriovement'of the holder, whereby to permit the discharge from the holder of different coi .s at such points.-

16. A coin distributer including a coin holder made'up of sections to receive the coins between them, 'said holder being arranged for movement and adapted at de terminate points in such movementto permit' the discharge therefrom of coins of dif-. ferent values. a

'17. A coin holder comprising separated sections adapted for simultaneous movement under the influence of a coin, the distance between the sections varying at determinate points in such movement.

18.- A coin holder comprising duplicate sections, andmeans for inducing a gradually divergent movement of the sections under the influence of'a coin deposited therein.

19. A coin holder adapted for movement,

to permit the passage ther'ethrough of the said holder comprising a plurality of sec:

tions, and means for mounting the sections to induce simultaneousmovement of the sections in'twodistinct directions during move-' ment-of'the holder. j

20. A coin holder adapted for movement and made up of a plurality of'sections, and

means to operate-one section of tlie'holder in a direction away from'theotherso as to space the sections'difierent distances apart at determinate points inthe movement of the holder- 21. A coin holder adapted for travel in a determinate patln'said holder-being-forme'd with a coin passage therethrough and means for varying the size of said passage at determinate-points in the travel of the holder.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signa-- ture in presenceof two witnesses.

HENRY ALEXANDER SMITH.

' 'Witnesses:

P. HUNT R, C C. Hanson.

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