US1347742A - Coin-operated mechanism - Google Patents

Description

E. H. HELT.

COIN OPERATED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4, 1919.

1,347,742 Patented July 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. H. HELT.

COIN OPERATED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4. 1919.

1,347,742. Patented July 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- mechanism of automatic vending machines.

oNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

COIN-OPERATED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1920.

Application illed November 4, 1919.- Serial No. 335,577.

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. HELT, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the borou h of Bellevue, county of Allegheny, an State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Operated Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a specication.

My invention consists incertain new and useful improvements in the coin operated One object which I have in view is .the provision of means whereby such mechanism may be set or adjusted to operate wlth different numbers of the proper coin, thereby. enabling the mechanism to be set for vending articles of different values. Thus by setting the machine properly articles of, say the value of live cents can at one time be vended, while at another time ten cent, fif- I against the required movement, such means being however rendered inactive by the in sertion Bf the proper coin or coins in the mechanism, the locking means being adjustable so that it may be set to require any given number of coins in the mechanism to render it operatable.

l also show novel means whereby the actuating element of, a coin operated mechai nism is normally locked against actuating movement and the locking mechanism is rendered inactive by the insertion of a coin or. coins.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accom anying drawings, which are merely intende to illustrate a practical embodiment of the principle of my invention without limiting the scope of the same to the construction shown, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my mechanism shown contained coins to drop out of the coin slot; and

in an outer box or case; Fi 2 is a vertical section of the mechanism; l plan view of the mechanism, t e lever shown for connecting the mechanism to a vendingl suflicient number of coins in the slot and the mechanism locked when an attempt is made to depress it. v

The following is a detailed description of the drawings.

A is the box or outer case, preferably made of metal and provided with' a front panel l of glass. B is the back or supporting plate rigidly mounted in the case A, as by brackets 2. 3 represents vertically disposed rails fixed to the back of plate B be tween which works the slide bar C which is provided with a longitudinal coin slot 4, open at the bottom and also, preferably, at the top of the slide. The slide VC is held in `position between the rails as by the cross bar 5 near the uppnr ends of the rails and the rails near their bottom ends.

7 represents plates secured to the outer faces of the rails and shown extending below the latter. Said plates are provided on their exposed edges with locking notches 8 whose lower walls are horizontal .while their upper walls are inclined to form entrances to said notches. The notches on the two lock plates 8 are alined horizontally in pairs, and the number of pairs provided equals the greatest number of coins which the mechanism can be set to require to make the same operate.

The plate B is provided with a longitudinal slot 9 and the front wall of the slide C is provided with a similar slot 10 which registers with slot 9 when the slide is elevated. The slot 10 thus exposes a portion of the interior of the coin slot 4 through the slot 9, so that the coins in said slot 4 can be seen through the glass front of the case A. The rear wall of the slide C, opposite the slot 10 in its front wall, is'provided with a vertical row of pin holes l1 which are in effect exi 3 is a bottom inwardly extending plates 6' secured to the tended rearwardly of the slide by means of 29 on the slidewith the under side of the 65 annular collars or slide bearings 12 fixed on v the rear face of the slide.

D is an open frame fixed on the rear fac-e of the slide C and consisting of end cross bars 13 attached to the slide and having their ends connected by side plates 14 which p move outside of the notched plates 7. .The

plates 14 are provided in the horizontal plane of each pin hole 11 with slots 15 eX- tending outwardly from their inner edges to a distance greater than the width of the lock plates 7. 16 represents a central longi-` cross bar 5.

The position of the slide and frame when elevated and at rest is such that the cross heads 1S) of the pins 18 are just above the corresponding notches 8 in the lock plates 7.

30 is a lever or other operative connection attached to the lower end of the slide C in any convenient manner, and adapted, when the slide is depressed, to actuate the vending machine not shown.

It is evident that many different types of operative connection between the sliding eletudinal bar on the frame D provided with a\ments of my coin operated mechanism and a series of pin holes 17, one in the same horizontal plane of each of the pin holes 11 and corresponding pairs of slots 15. 18 represents. pins whose inner ends engage the bearings 12 While their outer ends protrude through the holes 17 in the bar 16. 19 are A cross heads fixed on'the pins 18, and 2() are helical springs coiled about said pins between said cross heads and the bar 16, thus tending to force said pins through the holes 11 into the coin slot 4. Said pins may be held retracted from said coin slot by means of washers 21 and nuts 22 on the outer ends of said pins. In the drawings I have shown the two upper pins and the bottom pin thus retracted, while the second pin from the bottom is not thus retracted and may be termed active The slide C and the frame D are normally held elevated by the helical spring 23 which connects the vtop of the frame with a point on the plate B near its top. After the slide is depressed, when released, it will thus be automatically returned to its elevated position.

24 isa second vertical slot in the plate B, below the slot 9, or the two slots may be continuous. The lower end of the slide C is also slotted transversely to the coin slot and is provided with a pair of spaced apart projections 25 which protrude through the slot 24 and by contacting with the lower end of said slot, limit the downward movement of the slide C. The projections 24 are pierced to permit the lever 26 to be pivoted between them, the short end of said lever normally occupying the slotted lower end of the slide C, intersecting the coin slot 4 and prevent ing the downward escape of the coins E contained in said coin slot. 27 is an abutment bar spaced from and mounted on the plate B at the lower end of the slot 24, and 28 is a helical spring connecting the outer and longer end of the lever 26 to the abutment 27, thus holding the lever in its horizontal position, when the slide C is elevated, to block the lower end of the coin slot 4.

The upward movement of the slide C and frame D is limited by any convenient means, such as the contact of the heads of screws vending machine may be used. This operative connection is therefore simply indicated by the depending lever 3() extending through a slot 31 in the bottom of the case 32 is a push stem attached to the upper end of the slide and extending up through a slot 33 in the top of the case-A. A convenient manner of securing the push stem to the slide is by inserting the former into the upper end of the coin slot 4 and securing it to -the slide by screws 34.-

35 is a coin hopper on the top of the case A communicating'with a curved passage 36, formed on the back of plate B. 37 is a lateral gate or entrance to the coin slot 4, so positioned that when the slide C is in its elevated position, said gate registers with the lower end of the passage 36, so that the proper coin, when inserted in the hopper 35 will pass down into the coin slot 4 and rest on the inner end of the lever 26 or upon the coin previously inserted, 'as the case may be.

The side of the passage 37 is preferably slotted, as. at 38 to permit a coin of too small a diameter to drop outlaterally to the bottom -of the case A without entering the coin slot 4.

The operation of my improved coin mechanism, as the same is illustrated in the accompanying drawings is as follows:

It will be noted in the drawings that the second pin 18 from the bottom is not permanently retracted and thus may for convenience be called active. Thus the mechanism is set or adjusted to require the insertion of two` coins, say nickles, before the slide C can be depressed'to operate the as.

sociated vending machine, not shown.

It will be seen that when the mechanism 60 j the spring 23 automatically returns the slide depression and preventing the pperati'on o f the vending machine. This action is shown in Fi 7 where the active pin 18 has been force to protrude into the slot 4 and the cross head is' engaged with the locking notches.

However, if, aswin Fi two coins E are inserte in the slot, when the push rod is forced downwardly, the cross head 19 of the active `pin 18 willnot be sprung into engagement with the locking notches .8 because the upper com blocks the corresponding pin ho`le`11 in the wall of the slide C, thus holding the active pin 5, the necessary retracted so that its cross head will' pass down in front of the notches 8 without engaging the same, and thus the slide can be depressed until its projections 25 contact- `with the lower end of theslot 24C in the plate B. Thus the vending machine is operated. When theslide C reaches the lower end of its movement, the lever 26 contacts with the abutment 27' and is tilted, as shown in Fig. 6, permitting the coins E to drop out at the bottom pf the slot into the case A.

Of course, the distance from the top edge of the lever 26, when the same, is horizontal to the first pin hole 11 and the distances between the pin holes must be suiicient to properly position the coins in the slot 4.' Thus said pin' holes should be centered apart a distance equal.to the diameter of the coin intended to be used while the distance from the center of the lowest pin' tracted by means of the nuts and washers except the lowermost pin which would beI active, locking the mechanism against oper- 'ative movement unless a coin was first inserted inthe slot 4. With the coin inserted, the same would holdthe active pin retracted and permit the full depression of the slide.

If three coins are to be required, the second pin from the top would be made active and the rest inactive. If four coins are to be required, the top pin would be made active and the remainder may be inactive. By increasing the number of pins 18, pin holes 11, and pairs of locking notches 8, it is evident that the machine might be set to operate with the insertion of any 'desiied number of coins.

When the stem 32 is relieved of pressure and frame to its elevated position at rest. This occurs in case a full operative depression has just been eiected or an attempt has been made to operate the mechanism with an in- `thereby permitting the actuating movement A suiiicient number of 'coins resulting in locking of articles of greater or less value. This is a very important and advantageous feature, especially 1n automatic restaurant servicewhere articles of a large range pf yvalues are for sale. Thus the coin operated mechanism ma be standard in construction and the individual mechanism set for the proper values of the particular articles whose sale they are to control.

The mechanism is simple, durable and easy to keep in eiiicient working order. The coins which are inserted in the slot are in plain-view until discharged simultaneously with the operation of the vending machine, so in case ofA a dispute owing to the reusal of the mechanism to work, the coins inserted by the customer can be easily seen and counted.

Although, for the sake of clearly lillustrating the principles of my invention, I have minutely described the embodiment shown inthe drawings, I do notl wish to limit myself thereby but claim broadly:

1. Ina coin operated mechanism adapted Vto be v operated with different numbers of coins, the combination ofa fixed member, an actuating member provided with a longitudinally disposed coin slot into which the coins are ldropped one after the other and mounted to reciprocate in relation \to said fixed member, a pluralityof locking means moving with said actuating member and individually adapted to engage a portion of said fixed member to prevent actuating movement of said actuating member, means 'for rendering said locking means individually inactive, and means whereby the active locking means are temporarily rendered inoperative by the insertion 'of the proper number of ycoins in said coin slot,

of said actuating member.

2. In a coin operated mechanism adapted to be operated with diierent numbers of coins, the combination of a fixed member, an actuating member provided with a longitudinally disposed coin slot into which the coins are dropped one after the other and mounted to reciprocate in relation to said ixed member, a plurality of locking means moving with said actuating member and individually adapted to engage a portion of said fixed member to prevent actuating movement of said actuating member, means for rendering said locking means individually inactive, means whereby the active vlookin means are rendered temporarily inpermitting the actuating movement of said actuating member, and means whereby said coins are dischalged from said coin slot upon the actuating movement of said actuating member.

In a coin operated `mechanism adapted to be adjusted to operate with different' numbers of coins, the combination ofiI a fixed member, an actuating member provided with a. longitudinally disposed coin slot into which the coins are dropped one after the other and mounted to reciprocate in relation to said fixed member, a plurality of individual locking means adapted to prevent the actuating movement of said actuating member, means whereby any selected locking means may be rendered temporarily inactive by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot, and additional means .for rendering the remainder of said locking means inoperative, whereby all but the selected locking means arel inoperative while the actuating member may be released for operation by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot.

4. In a coin operated mechanism adapted to be adjusted to operate with different numbers of coins, the combination of a fixed member, an actuating member provided with a longitudinally disposed coin slot into which the coins are dropped one after the other and mounted to reciprocate in relation to said fixed member,y a plurality of individual locking means adapted to prevent the actuating movement of said actuating member, means whereby any selected locking means may be rendered temporarily inactive by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot, additional means for rendering the remainder of said locking means inoperative, whereby all but the selected locking means are inoperative while the actuating member may be released for operation by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot, and means whereby the coins are discharged from said coin slot upon the actuating movement of said actuating member.

5. In a coin operated mechanism adapted to be adjusted to operate with diderent numbers of' coins, the combination of a fixed member, an actuating member provided with a longitudinally disposed coin slot into which the coins are dropped one after the other and mounted to reciprocate in relation to said fixed member, .a plurality of devices each adapted to lock said actuating member against actuating movement, means whereby each of said locking devices may be individually rendered temporarily inactive by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot, and additional means for individually rendering said locking means inoperative, whereby all but a selected one of said locking devices may be rendered inoperative by said last named means and the actuating member may then be released for actuating movement by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot.

6. In a coin operated mechanism adapted to be adjusted to operate with different numbers of coins, the combination of a fixed member, an actuating member pro.

ber: of coins in saidcoin slot, additional means for individually rendering said lock- `1ng means inoperative, whereby all but a selected one of said locking devices may be rendered inoperative by said last named means and the actuating member may then be ,released for actuating movement by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot, and means whereby the coins are discharged from said coin slot upon the lzctuating movement of said actuating mem- .er.

7 In a coin operated mechanism adapted to be adjusted to operate with different numbers of coins, the combination of a fixed member, an actuating member provided with a. longitudinally disposed coin slot into which the coins are dropped one after the other and vmounted to reciprocate in relation to said fixed member, an actuating member provided with a coin slot and mounted to reciprocate in relation to said fixed member, a plurality of devices moving with said actuating member, and each adapted, by engagement with a portion of said fixed member, to lock said actuating member against actuating movement, means whereby each of said locking devices may be rendered temporarily inactive by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot, and additional means for individually rendering said locking means inoperative, whereby all but a selected one of said locking devices may be rendered inoperative by said last mentioned means, and the actuating member may then be released for actuating movement by the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot.

8. In a coin operated mechanism adapted to be adjusted to operate with different numbers of coins, the combination of a fixed member, an actuating member provided Wit-h a longitudinally disposed' coin slot into which the coins are dropped one ing means inoperative, whereby all but a.

selected one of said locking devices may be rendered inoperative by said last mentioned means and the actuating member may then be released for actuating movement b y the insertion of the proper number of coins in said coin slot, and means whereby the coins are discharged from said coin slot upon the ctuating movement ofsaid actuating mem- 9. In a coin operated mechanism, the combination of a fixed support, an actuating member mounted to reciprocate in parallel relation to said support, a coin slot having a lateral opening in the Wall thereof, and a spring detent adapted to lock said member against actuating movement, said detent when in its locking position protruding transversely through'said opening into said slot, whereby when a coin isinserted in said slot said detent is held retracted by contact With the flat face of said coin.

10. In a coin operated mechanism, the combination of a ixed support, an -actuating member provided with a coin slot and in reciprocating relation to and parallel with said support, said coin` slot belng provided with a lateral opening 'in its Wall, and a spring detent adapted to lock said member against actuating movement, said detent when in its locking position protruding transversely through said opening into said slot, whereby When a coin is inserted in said slot said detent is held retracted by contact with the flat face of said coin.

11. In a coin operated mechanism, the

combination of a fixed support, an actuating member movable in relation to said support, a coin slot having lateral openings 1n the vWall thereof, a plurality of spring detents individuallyadapted to lock said member against actuating movement, said detents when in their locking positions protruding through said openings in said slot whereby coins properly positioned in said slot .will hold said detents retracted, and additional means for holding selected detents in their retracted positions.

Signed .at Pittsburgh, Pa., thisl 29th day of October, 1919.

EDWARD I-I. I-IEL'I.r

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