US1517672A - Coin-controlled apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4- 1,517,672

w. P. DWYER ET AL COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. PDwyer, 3+ 16. Tffarzley.

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W. P. DWYER ET AL COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwuenloz Z1), 1?. Dwyen 7?. Tharz Zcy,

g/mm d l Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. DWYER AND RAYMOND T. I'IANLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Application filed December 6, 1923. Serial No. 679,032.

To all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. Dwrnn and RAYMOND T. HANLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to coin controlled apparatus, and has particular reference to such apparatus designed for vending slugs, for use in operating telephones, while not necessarily restricted to this use.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which may be easily and quickly operated, upon the insertion of a coin of the proper denomination.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a number of the coins, last inserted into the vending machine will be visible from the exterior thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to prevent the operation of the machine by means of a coin of improper size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, having means for producing a signal, upon each operation of the same, in ejecting a slug.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vending machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view, at a right angle to Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure A is a vertical section taken on. line -ll of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a detail section taken on line 66 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 10 designates the casing or body portion of the machine, mounted upon a base 11.

Arranged within this casing is a vertical tube or receptacle 12, supported by brackets 13, rigidly attached to the casing 10. The

adapted to be shifted to opened and closed I positions.

Arranged beneath the lower end of the tube 12 is a table 15, see more particularly Figures 5 and 6, having a curved opening or notch 16 formed therein. This table is arranged above a pocket or chamber 17, having its outer side open, as shown at 18. Thetable is supported rigidly by any suitable means, and may have a vertical arm 19, bolted or riveted to the wall of the casing 10, as shown at 20.

The tube 12 preferably has its lower end provided with a flange 21, and this flanged end is spaced from the table 15, preferably for substantially the distance of the thickness ofthe slug to be vended. Mounted to slide between the table 15 and the flanged end of the tube is a segmental ejector 22, having a circular opening 23, formed therein, which opening is of the same diameter as the bore of the tube 12 and is adapted to register therewith. The lowermost slug is therefore held within the opening 23 of the ejector and rests upon the table 15.

The segmental ejector 22, in the form of a plate is rigidly secured to-a horizontally swinging crank or arm 23, which is rigidly mounted upon a rock shaft 24:, in turn V61 tically arranged. This rock shaft is journaled in bearings 25, rigidly attached to the wall of the casing 10. The arm 23 has connection with a retractile coil spring 26, which is secured to the casing 10, as shown at 27. This spring serves to normally retain the ejector 22 in the retracted position, Figure 6.

At its upper end, the rock shaft 24 is provided with a laterally extending arm or crank 28, rigidly attached thereto, and having an opening 29 in its free end. The arm or crank 28 operates between coin rails 30, which are U-shaped in cross section, and serve to guide therebetween, a nickel, or any other coin of selected diameter, or size. The crank 28 is adapted to engage with. the side or vertical edge of a vertical coin chute 31, having a vertical opening 32 in such edge. through which the coin may be shifted laterally. In its lower end, this vertical coin chute has an opening 33, too small to permit of the passage of anickel or a coin of the selected diameter, but adapted to permit of the passage of a penny or other improper coin. If desired, a magnet maybe associated with the coin chute to detect a slug formed of iron or the coin chute may be magnetized. It is thus seen that the coin deposited within the vertical coin chute 31 will be brought to the right end of the coin tracks 30, which are horizontal, and this coin will then engage behind the horizontal crank or arm 28.

The numeral 34 designates a plunger guide or housing, receiving a reciprocatory plunger 35, the free end of which is adapted to be passed into the lower end of the vertica-l coin chute 31, and to force the coin to the left, thus turning the crank or arm 28 to the left. The coin then clears this crank or arm which is returned to the normal position by the spring 26. The plunger 35 is carried by a head 36, having a laterally extending crank or handle 37, rigidly secured thereto, operating through a slot 38.

As the coins travel along or between the coin tracks 30, they are visible through an opening 39, formed in the side wall of the casing 10, which openings may be covered by a section of glass or the like. e provide the lower track 30 with an opening 41, for the dropping of the coin therefrom, when it reaches such lower end, the coin being caught in a suitable receptacle for this purpose. \Ve provide a leaf spring 42, curved upwardly, and arranged in the path of travel of the coins, to retard the movement of each coin, whereby it will not improperly pass through the opening 41, until positively forced past the spring 42. This holds a plurality of the coins last used in a position to be viewed.

lVe provide means for producing an audible signal, upon the operation of the machine, in vending each slug, and for this purpose, the vertical rock shaft 24 is equipped with a horizontal arm or crank 43, rigidly attached thereto, and adapted to move into engagement with the extension 44 of a trip lever 45. The extension 44 has a springpressed knee joint with the lever 45. The lever 45 is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane, at 47, and this levercai'i'ies an arm 48, having a clapper 49. The arm 48 is swung in one direction by means of a spring 50. The clapper 49 is adapted to strike a gong 51, as shown.

In the operation of the machine, the tube 12 is suitably filled with the slugs to be vended. The operator places a coin, such as a nickel, into the vertical coin chute 31, and it gravitates to the lower end thereof, and is supported over the opening 33. The lever 37 is moved inwardly, and the plunger 35 engages the coin and forces the same against the arm or crank 28, which swings this arm or crank and turns the rock shaft 24 upon its axis. This movement of the rock shaft shifts the ejector 22 forwardly, and hence the coin held within the opening 23 passes into the pocket 17. 'hen the coin clears the arm or crank 28, the parts of the machine are restored to the normal position by means of the spring 26. If the plunger 35 is moved inwardly, in the abscncc of a coin within the coin chute. such plunger will pass through the openiir 29 in thc arm 28,

\Vhen the rock shaft 24 is turned, as above indicated, the arm 43 trips the lcvcr 45 and the gong 51 is sounded.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described. is to be taken as a preferred example ot the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of our invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention. we claim:

In a coin controlled apparatus, a vertical casing having a delivery means near its bottom, a vertical tube to hold slugs arranged within the casing and extending throughout the major portion of the length of the casing and having its lower end near and above the delivery means, a vertical rock shaft disposed within the casing exteriorly of the vertical tube and extending throughout the major portion of the length of the tube, a horizontal ejector rigidly bodily mounted upon the lower end of the rock shaft and adapted to travel beneath the lower end of said tube, a spring to turn the rock shaft in one direction, a horizontal coin track disposed in the top of the cusing and ar 'anged upon one side of the upper end of the vertical rock shaft and spaced therefrom, a crank directly rigidly mounted upon the upper end of the rock shaft and projecting across the path of travel of the coin held within the coin track and adaptcd to be shifted by said coin out of said path of travel whereby the coin may pass beyond said crank, a coin inlet chute extending through the top of the casing and leading to the forward end of the coin track. a plunger guide arranged upon the front sidc of the asing opposite the forward end of the coin track, and a plunger slidable within the guide and movable toward the forward end of the coin track to affect thc travel of the coin therein.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

WILLIAM I. D\VYER.

'; r, t RAYMOND T. HANLEY.

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