US1060307A - Coin-selecting mechanism for coin-operated vending-machines. - Google Patents

Description

M. C. BAILEY.

GOIN SELECTING MEGHANSM FOB. GOIN OPEBATED VENDING MAGHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED OOT. 11, 1912.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

3 SEEETS-SHEET 1.

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M. G. BAILEY. .GOIN SELEGTING MEGHANISM FOR com OPERATED VENDING MAGHINES.

APPLIGATION FILED 0GT.11, 1912.

1060,307 Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` M. o. BAILEY.

GOIN SELEGTING MECHAHISM POR OOIN OPBRATED VENDING MAGHINES.

APPLIOATION PILED 0GT.11, 1912.

1,060,307 Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

3 BHEETS-SHEET 3.

& A WM& a %KM W TEU %TATE ?KEQE MORTIMER C. BAILEY, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF TO EDWARD H. HANCOCK, OF SHELTON, CONNECTICUT( COIN-SLEILETING MECHANISM FOR COIN-OPERATED VENDING-MACHINES.

mat eo?.

Speciflcation of Letters Patnt.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Application filed October 11, 1912. Serial No. ?25,152.

' To all whom it may concemk Be it known that I, MORTIMER C. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Derby, in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Selecting Mechanism for Coin-Operated Vending- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection'with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this ap licati0n, and represent, in-

igure l a view in side elevation of a Coin-selecting mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, a port-ion of one side of its case being broken away, as

well as a portion of one of its movementinto the upper end of a main Coin-passage ,10 having a straight upper arm, a rearjwardly debouching curved lower arm, and ,what I shall call a selecting-chamber 11 located at the merge into eac ;sage 12 leads forward from the lower end ,of the upper arm of the said ,main coinplates. Fig. 2 a corresponding view taken from the opposite side of the case but without breaking the other movement-plate away. Fig. 37 a view of the mechanism in transverse section on the line a-b of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 a broken View of the mechanism in vertical section on the line c-d of Fig. 1, looking rearward in the direction of the arrows A, and drawn to twice the. the preceding figures. i

My invention relates to an improved coinselecting mechanism for use in conjunction with coin-operated vending machines, the

object being to provide simple, reliable and' eificient means for guarding against thesurreptitious operation of coin-operated vending machines by the introduction of blanks or slugs into them in lieu of true coins.

With these. ends in view, my invention consists in a Coin-selecting mechanism having certain details ofconstruction and 'combiations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown, my improved mechanism is organized as a separate unit adapted to be combined with any suitable coin-operated vending machine, the only requirement being that my improved device shall be placed 'so as to receive the coin before the com passes into the vending machine. however, my improved mechanism-'may be organized with the coin-operated vending machine it is designed to guard, but in scale of j chamber 13 located in the forward lower ,QOI'IIQI' of the case inclosing the mechanism. The said coin- passages 10 and 12 are for-med :in a filler-plate 49` substantially conforming to the thickness of the coins designed to be used and interposed between two fixed vertically arranged movement-plates 14: and ,15 located in the center of the case'.

If preferred,

either case, its Construction and principle of operation will be substantially unchanged.,

As herein shown, I employ an escutcheonlike gage 2 having a narrow coin-slot 3 closely gaged in size to the size of the coin g which it is designed shall operate the vendi ing machine which is not shown, but which,

as aforesaid, may be of any approved charp acter and Construction, and for any purpose for which such machines are made. .said gage 2 is mounted in the top 4: of a `case which also comprises sides,5 and 6, a

The

front end 7, a rear end 8, and a bottom 9.

The case may, of course, be changed in form, and, if preferred, the gage 2 may be located on one side of it rather than on topof it.

As shown, the coin-slot 32 opens directly oint where the said arms other. A Shunt Coin-paspassage 10 and opens downward into a slug- A primary deflector 16 forming a part of the fillerlate 49 is located in the lower -portion oi ;main Coin-passage 10 just forward of the vertical center thereof, and. therefore in position to normally deflect all coins and ;slugs from 'frontto rear into the selectingichamber 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, whereby all coins and slugs will be directed into the said selecting-chamber 11 in which the straight upper arm of the they will be brought to rest upon a manu- 'ally operable horizontally arranged stop- ,pn 17, as. shown by the coin 18 in Fig. 1.

In case a second coin or slug is introduced nto my improved com-selecting mechanism before the coin or slug last introduced into the mechansm has been selected or rejected,

i and while it is still resting upon the said stop-pin 17, the second coin or slug willcollide with the upper edge of its immediate predecessor and -be deflected forward by gravity over the high point of the primary d'eflector 16 and into the coin-Shunt passage 12 from which it will drop into the slug-chamber 13.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a coin 18 as resting upon the pin 17, and a slug 19 as being deflected by the said coin 18 into the coin-Shunt passage 12. It will be observed that the distinction between the coin 18 and the slug 19 is that the former is furnished with an overhanging rim, while the sides of the latter are flat.

From the passage 12, the superfiuous coin or slug, as the case may be, drops upon an inclined deflector 20 extending from front to rear in the slug-chamber 13 and Operating to deflect the coin o-r slug upon the forwardly curved bo-ttom 21 of the said chamber, whereby the coin or slug will be deflected fromthe vertical to the horizontal plane and caused to .slide forward and emerge through the horizontal dischargeslot 22 at the lower extremity of the front end 7 of the case and then appear in the trough-like coin-receptacle 23. It will thus be seen that if any one attempts to .pervert the operation of my improved selectingmechanism by introducing a second coin or slug into it without disposing of the last preceding coin or slug introduced into it, the second coin or slug will, so to speak, be shunted through the mechanism, and almost immediately reappear in the receptacle 23; but no coin or slug will pass through the Shunt-passage 12 unless at the time of its int-roduction into the mechanism there happens to be a coin or slug supported upon thestoppin 17. In that case, the supported coin or slug acts as a deflector for any subsequently introduced coins or slugs until the coin or slug supported by the stop-pin 17 has been selected or rejected ,in the chamber 11 as will be described later on.

Any coin or slug introduced into the machine so as `to assume the position of ther shown by broken lines in^Fig. 1, the said plate 14 being provided with a transverse opening 27 receivin the pin 24 which is free to move back and orth in it, as shown in Fig. 4. Normally the pointed inner end of the said 'in 24 projects slightly into the selecting-cl famber 11 as also shown in Fig. 4.

In line with the selecting-pin 24 is a corresponding selecting-pin 28 mouhted horiing-chamber'll by means of a horizontally.

arranged lever 32 resting upon a block 33 receiving a screw-stud 34 upon which the said lever 32 turns, and itself Secured to the outer face of the movement-plate 15. ward end of the said lever 32 co-acts with the inner face of a vertical operating-plate 35 Secured to a block 36 fastened to the outer face of the lower end of the spring 29 carrying the pin 28, as shown in Fig. 3. The rear end of the said lever 32 co-acts with the upper end of a finger 37 eXtending upward from the free rear end of the horizontally arranged Operating-spring 38 which is fastened at its forward end by screws 39, 39, to the outer face of the movenent-plate 15. The horizontally arranged stop-pin 17 aforesaid, is mounted in the said spring 38 and extends inward therefrom through an opening 40 in 'the moVement-plate 15 into the middle of the selecting-chamber 11 at a point directly below the selecting- pins 24 and 28, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

1 For the operation of the spring 38, I employ a push-button 41 mounted in a bushing 42 in the side 5 of the case of the device, and held against being` drawn outward in the said bushing by means ,of a collar 43. At its inner end the push-button 41 passes through alined openings 44 and 45 in the plates 14 and 15 of the case. its projecting rear end being reducd in diameter as at 46 to enter an eye 47 fo'rmed for its reception at the rear end of the sprin 38, as shown in Fig. 2.

The for-' Below and a little in front of the stop-pin 17 I locate, as shown in Fig. 1, a secondary deflector 48 forming a part of the filler-plate 49 and over which the curved lower arm of the main-coin-passage 10 debouches to the v rearward.

It should now be explained that the operating-spring 38 is always superior in tension to the spring 29 carrying the selecting-pin 28.` Normally, therefore, the action of the spring 29 through its finger 28 and the-lever 32, will be to overcome the tension of the spring 29, and hold the same in its sprung position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, and in which the selecting-pin 28 is withdrawn from the chamber 11 into which the said pin is not allowed to move until the user of 'the device, by Operating the push-button 41',

overcomes' the 'power of the spring 38 and allows the spring 29 to assert itself in pro-' jecting the selecting-pin 28 into the chamber 11.

- Having now described the construction of my improved coin-selecting mechanism, I will proceed to explain its operation. I

The coin 18 when introduced into the coinslot 3, ,will descend by gravity until it strikes the primary defiector 16, which will deflect it rearwardly into the selecting-chamber 11 in which it will be stopped and held by the stop-pin 17. Just before the said coin 18 comes in contact with the upper face of the stop-pin 17 the upper portion of its oVerhanging rim engages on one side with the selecting-pin 24 and crowds the same out of the said chamber 11. The coin having been lodged upon the pin 17 as described, and having beenengaged with the selecting-pin 24, the-user of the device begins to operate the push-button 41, whereby the Operatingspring 38 is slightly Sprung away from the outer face of the movement plate 15, thus moving its upwardly extending finger 37 away from the rear end of the lever 32 so that the tension of the spring 38 is removed from the said lever 32, and hence from the spring 29 which now asserts itself to move the selecting-pin`28 inward so as to engage with the overhanging rim on the opposite face of the coin which is now engaged by its rim on opposite sides thereof at a point directly above the stop-pin 17 which, meanwhile, has been backed out of the slot, but not sufficiently to remove its support from the coin. As soon, however, as both of the selecting- pins 24 and 28 have, in the manner described, been engaged with the opposite faces of the coin, the continued inward movement of the push-button will operate to entirely remove the stop-pin 17 from the selecting-chamber 11, and hence from the position in which it supports the coin, which will now be swung by gravity upon the selecting pins 24 and 28 as upon a center, until the center of the co-in has passed the point of the secondary deflector 48. The movement of the push-button 41 being continued, its extreme inner end now engages with the lower end of the operating-plate 35, whereby the spring 29 is sprung outwardly sufiiciently to disengage the selecting-pin 28 from the coin which then disengages itself from the Qpin 24 and drops downward through the curved lower end of the coinpassage 10 and functions the vending machine, whatever that may be. In swinging upon the pins 24 and 28 upon a center as described above,'the coin sweeps through a vert-ically arranged coin-slot 50 leading from the selecting-chamber 11 into the sing-chamber 13, as shown in Figs. 1' and 2.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing, that if a dummy or slug 19 corresponding in gage to the coin 18 is introduced into the coin-slot 3, the operation of the mechanism will be as above described, except for theimportant difference that as the slug has no raised rim instead of swinging upon the selecting- pins 24 and 28 as upon a center when the stop-pin 17 is removed from under it, it will disengage itself from the said pins and dropwith its center in front of the secondary defiector 48 by which it will be defiected through the slot 50 into the slug-chamber 13 from which it will be ejected through the slot 22 into the slugreceptacle 23. In this way, the return, ,so to speak, of the slug to the person attempting to surreptitiously operate the mechanism, will indicate to him that he has failed of his purpose. The operation of the device will be the same with a smooth or much worn coin as with a dummy or slug, so that by means of my improved coin-selecting mechanism, the public will soon learn that it.

can be operated only by legitimate and unworn or relatively perfect coins.

For the reason that the slot 50 aforesaid, stands at a right angle to the slot 22, it is virtually impossible for anyone possessed of a great many slugs, to surreptitiously pass one through the mechanism in place of a legitimate coin by the introduction of a great many slugs into the slug-chamber 13 through the slot 22. Slugs may indeed be introduced flatwise into the slug-chamber 13 through the horizontal slot 22, but the per son who would work this gam has no means of controlling the slugs 'after their introduction into the slug-chamber, and hence cannot make them assume the vertical positions which they must take in order to move in reverse direction through the vertical coin-slot 50 so as to enter the selecting-- chamber 11 and so descend through the lower end of the coin-passage 10 into the vending machine the operation of which is the thing aimed at by this mode of attack. As shown, the selecting- pins 24 and 28 are located directly over the stop-pin 17, but this is not essential, the only requisite being that they shall be positioned so as to cause the coin Suspended from them to swing over the high point of the secondary defleotor 48 and enter .the lower end of the main coinpassage 10.

It will, of course, be understood that my coin-selecting device may be adapted for handling coins of ,any denomination, the size of the device and the tension of its spring being govern'ed accordingly.

I claim v 1. In a coin-selecting mechanism, the combination with two selecting-pins, arranged in line with each other and normally separated for the i'eception of a coin fiatwise between them, and one'of the pins being movable toward and away from the other in line therewth, of a deflector located below the said' selecting-pins upon which-the bination with two selecting-pins upon which the coins are swungby their rims as upon a center,' the said pins being arranged in line with each other and one being movable toward and away from the other inline therewith, of a deflector located below the said' pins in position to co-act with coins and slugs according as they function in the said pins.

3. In a coin-selecting mecha1ism,the combination with two selecting-pins co-acting with the rims of the coins for swinging the same, the said pins being arranged in line with each other and one being movable toward and away from the other in line therewith, of a stop-pin located below the said selecting-pins for temporarily supporting the coins and slugs, and a deflector located below the said stop-pin to function the coins and slugs after they are released by the said selecting-pins and stop-pin.

4. In a coin-selecting mechanisn, the combination 'with two selecting-pins co-acting with the rims of the coins for swinging the same, the said pins being arranged in line with each other and one being movable toward and away from the other in line therewith; of a stop-pin located below the said selecting-pim, a deflector located below the said stop-pin, and means connected with one of the selecting-pins and the said stoppin for'operating the same consecutively.

5. In acoin-selecting mechanism, the com binatio-n with two selecting-pins arranged in line with each other and one' being movable toward and away from the other in line therewith, of a stoppin located below the said selecting-pins and temporarily supporting the coins, and a push-button for the operation of the said stop-pin.

6. In a coin-selecting mechanism, the combination with two selecting-pina; co-acting with the rims of the coins for swinging the same and 'so selecting the coins, the said pins being arranged in line with each other and one being movable toward and away from the other in line therewith, of a stoppin locatedbelow the said pins, a ^push-button, and an Operating-spring carrying the said stop-pin and operated by the said pushbutton.

'7. In a coin-selecting mechanism, the combination with two selectingpins, of a stoppin located below the same and temporarily supporting the coins and slugs,aspring carrying one of the said selecting-pins, a pushbutton, an Operating-spring carrying the saidstop-pin and operated by said pushbutton, and connection between the said springs, whereby the selecting-pin specified is normally retired by the superior tension of the Operating-spring, and brought into play by itscarrying spring when the tension of the Operating-spring s overcome by e the operation of the pushbutton 8. In a coin-selecting mechanism, the combination with a coin-passage having a straight upper end and a curved lower end, with a 'selecting-chamber located between the said ends of the passage, and selectingpins located in the said selecting chamber and arranged in line with each other and one pin being movable toward and 'away from the other in line therewith.

9. In a coin-selecting mechanism, the combination with two selecting-pins arranged =in line with each other, of two springs in which the said selecting-pins are respectively mounted and which permit their movement toward and away from each other in line vwith each other, a stop-pin located below said selecting-pins, a defiector located below :the said stop-pin, and means for Operating the stop-pin, the removal of which from under a coin or slug turns the same over to the action of the selecting-pina 10. In a coin-selecting nechanism, the combination with a main coin-passage and a coin Shunt-passage, of two' selecting-pins located in the said main coin-passage and selecting the coins by their rims, arranged in linewith each other and normally separated for the reception of a coin flatwise between them, and one of the pins being movable toward and' away from the other in line therewith, a stop-pin located below the said 2 W 31I1 nd a deflector hereb COlIlS OI` SlU S introduced into the mechanism prior to the disposition by the stop-pin of the last preceding coin or slug to be introduced into the mechanism, are diverted into the said coinshunt passage. 11. In a coin-selecting mechanism, the combination with a coin-passage containing a selecting-chamber, of a slug-chamber connected with the said selecting-chamber by means of a Vertical slot, two selecting-pins arranged in line with each other and normally separated for the reception of a coin flatwise between them, and one of the pine being movable toward and away from the other in line therewith, and a stop-pin located below the said selecting pins, by 'which the coins are arrested and upon which the are temporarily supported preparatory t the selecting action of the said selecting-pins,

the slugs and coins not so selected passing i toward and away from the other 'in line therewith, and a deflector located in the said slug-chamber for deflecting the coins entering it into a horizontal plane.

13. In a Coin-selecting mechanism, the combination with a coin-passa e, of a slugchamber connected with the sad passage by means of a vertical coin-slot, selecting-pins located in the said passage a't a point therein adjacent to the said slot and arranged in line.

with each other and one being movable toward and away from the other in line therewith, and. a deflector located below the said pins and deflecting thecoins into the lower end of the said passage or into the said slugchamber according to the functioning of the said pins upon the coins or slugs.

14. In a Coin-selecting mechanism, the combnation with a Coin-passage, of a slugchamber' communicating therewith, coinselecting pins located in the said passage, a

stop-pin`located in the said passage below the said selecting-pins, springs carrying the said selecting-pins, an Operating spring carryin the said stop-pin, connection between t e said Operating spring and one of the selecting-pin springs, whereby the pin carried by the said spring is normall retired, and a push-button co-acting wi'h the said operating-spring,whereby the selectingpin carried by the spring controlled by the Operating-spring is permtted to engage with a coin before the stop-pin removes its support therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have Signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' MORTIMER C.'BAILEY. Witnesses HESTER A. ROGERS, HAROLD E. DRnW.

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