US1579163A - Coin-controlled apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 30,1926. 1,579,163

D. H. STEWART G01N coNTRoLLED APPARATUS' Filed Jan'. 7, 1924 zsheets-sneet 1 ATTORNEY March 30 1926..

D. H. STEWART COIN GONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. f1, 1924 ZKSheets-Sheet 2 w f f 1 .l0 111/. 1 1L. la wd Y 1 M 1 ATTORNEY Patented-Mai?. 3o, 192e.

s citizen offthe United States, residing at y 1 UNITED srAiEs i A 1,579,163) minar euries.

STEWART MACHINE C0., 0F

COIN-ONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Tov aZZ wLo/m. if may concern: i

Be it known that I, DAVID H. STEWART, a

Kent, in the county of Portage and `State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in`Coin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

T-hg invention resides in the provision of certain new and useful improvements in coin controlled apparatus adaptable for use vin cooperation with article vending machines. y

The invention is particularl adaptable for use in cooperation with tat type of vending machine disclosed i'n the application identified by Serial Number 686,697 in which application a'ioller ty-pe of delivery mechanism is disclosed.

Therefore, it is the object of my present application to provide an improved coin controlled apparatus for use in cooperation with a delivery mechanism in which a full or partial rotation of a part of. the mechaf nism is utilized to effect the vending of the article, which isof a simple and durable structure, inexpensive to manufacture and so constructed-land arranged as to assure positive and effective vending of the article under control of the coin or coins of the predetermined values. y

The invention further seeks to provide a coinl controlled apparatus ofthe type stated in which means are provided adaptingthe said apparatus to be controlled by various coin numbers and values tol permitthe use of said apparatus in cooperation With a sinvgle vendingmachinev for vending articles of var in values yas for exam le'v unda and p y g a p 7 y daily newspapers.

The inventan ssii further has for its 0bject to provide an apparatus of the type `stated in which means arey provided for assuring perfect registering alignment of the vcoin or coins receiving slotways, and

l Other -means for permittingv a restricting of said slotways for permitting the insertion thereinto of coins cfa certain predetermined value only.

. `l.VV'th the above and other objects inl view,

fthe invention furtherl resides in those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be rst fully described, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, vrefer- Figure 6 is a detail section takenV on the line 6 6 o-n Figure 5.

,Figure 7 is-a diagrammatic fragmentary cross section illustrating a means for automatically closing olf the coin slotway;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the cooperative relation of the coin slotway close-ofi means and the coin slotway portion of the main casting.

In the practical development of my invention I provide a suitable casing 1 for the coin controlled mechanism, whichcasing includes a side wall, al bottom, a' rear wall and a top or cross Wall, thus leaving an open side which is adapted to fit up against the side. wall 2 yof' the vending machine with which the apparatus is adapted to coopcrate. closed in application Serial'Number 686,697. In' the application mentioned a roller type of delivery mechanism is illustrated, that is,

1a roller/is so positioned within the casing of the vending machine as to engage the foremost one of the newspapers to be vended and adapted, when crank'operated as there disclosed, to eiect a vending of that foremost paper by a complete rotation of the said roller.v It will be observed that the roller of the delivery mechanism referred to is rotatably mounted in the casing by reason of havin its endv shaft portions rotatable in suita le` bearings formed therefor` in the casing walls, one of the ,said shaft' portions being extended into the walls of the casing and adapted tol' cooperate vwith See for example lthe machine dis' the coin controlled mechanism in a manner whereby to permit rotation-of the delivery roller only after the insertion ofthe coin or coins of proper value and .the proper operation of the said mechanism as will later bek described. This extended shaft portion is, in the present application, indicated by the numeral 3 and a suitable bearing therefor is provided at 4 upon the wall 2 through which the said shaft projects.

Tt will be observed that the casing 1 is so constructed as to' provide an open front through which the mechanism may be adjusted when desired and this open front is closed by a cover door 5 hinged as at G to the said casing. This cover door is provided with a reinforce bar 7, for strengthening the same, and the casing may be provided with a supporting flange S for supporting the door 5 by reason of which, together with the strengthening bar 7,- it is impossible for one endeavoring to tamper with the mechanism within the casing to do so by forcing the door inward.

The casing 1, by reason of its shape and in cooperation with the side wall 2 of the vending machine with which it cooperates and the front cover door 5, provides a compartment within which the coin controlled mechanism is operatively mounted, and also provides space within which may be positioned a coin receiving tray 9 for receiving the coins deposited in the machine in payment for the article to be vended and deposited into-the said tray from the coin controlled mechanism in a manner later to be described.

Positioned adjacent the upper portion of the casing 1, and ,extending thereacross, is a rock shaft 10, the trunnion ends 11 of which have bearings in the casing wall 1 and the vending machine wall 2, and being provided with a lock notch portion 12 adapted to cooperate with the locking lug 13 secured upon the door 5 for locking the said door to theposition illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. That trunnion end of the rock lock shaft 10 which passes through the wall 2 may be provided with a crank 14 by which the said shaft may be operated for locking or releasing the door in any manner which may be desired,- it being understood that while I have illustrated this means for locking the door 5 to theposition indicated in Figurel of the drawings it should be understood that any locking means may be provided which is suitable for the purposes, as for example any ordinary type of key lock.

The casing 1 includes a top or cross wall portion 15 in which is provided a coin slotway 16, the said cross wall being cut out, as at 17,- to permit movement of the several levers later to bel described, and this cross wall portion also hincludes a downward extension 18 which provides a suitable supporting means for. a fixed pivot. pin 19 adapted to form the pivot for the said movable levers mentioned.

My improved coin controlled apparatus,

is very simple in construction and coniprises comparatively few working parts, all

of which are of simple construction and compactly arranged in a manner whereby it is practically impossible for any of the parts thereof to become broken or dislodged from their operative condition. Of this mechanism the principal part thereof is the main casting memberl 20 which includes a cylindrical bore 21 for accommodating thc extended end of the shaft portion 3.

It will be observed from Figure 3 of the drawings that the said casting 20 is loosely and rotatably mounted upon the end of the shaft extension so as to permit forward rotation of that shaft section independently of the said casting 20. This shaft extension 3 has securely mounted thereupon a ratchet member 22 with which cooperates the spring pawl 23 pivotally secured at 24 upon the casting 20. By reason of the ratchet and pawl connections 22-23 between the casting 20 and the shaft end 3, forward rotation of the said shaft section is permitted independent of the said casting, but any forward rotation of the casting will effect a like forward rotation of the said shaft section in a 'manner and for a purpose later to be described.

The casting 20 also includes a shaft lextension 25 in axial alignment with the bore 21 thereof and which extends through the wall of the casing 1 and is turned down to accommodate an operating crank 2G, see Figure 3. The shaft extension 25 of the casting 20 has securely mounted thereupon a ratchet member 27 adapted to cooperate with the spring pawl 28 pivoted at 29 to the wall of the casing 1, which said ratchet and pawl devices cooperate in preventing rotation of the casting 20 in any other manner than forwardly, see Figures 2 and 3. The casting 2O is provided with an annular grooveway 30 in a manner for providing a central hub portion in which the bore 21 is made thereby providing opposing halfportions as will be readily apparent from Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. A coin stripper finger 31 is mounted upon the strengthening bar of the door 5 and projects therefrom between the opposin half portions of the casting 2O and into tie annular grooveway 30. A groove is provided in each of the opposing faces of the half portions of the casting 2O in a manner for providing a coin slotway 32, and the slotway is so constructed, and the manner of mounting the casting 2O in cooperation with the ratchet and pawl devices is such, that the said slotway 32 will be normally held in vertical aligning register with the coin slotways 16 formed in the cross wall 15. In each of the flanges aiding in the provision of the slotway 32. is provided a plurality of screw taps 33v provided for accommodating the stop screw 31 insertible into any particular one thereof for providing a stop Lafraise for the coin or coins inserted into the coin slotway 16 and which drop therethrough into the coin slotway 32.

By reference to Figure 4 of the `drawings it will be observed that the slotway' 32, the screw taps 33 and the stop screw 34, co-

'operate in a manner for stopping the coin v varied single, coins or combinations of coins inthe maner-abiove described. For example2 in Figure 4 isillustrated the adjustment'. of the devices for stopping two coins, which -may be two pennies, a common combination of coinr for the vending of a. newspaper, it being understood thatadjustment is there provided for controlling the apparatus by the useof varied coin values and combinations of coin values las for example by the use of a dime, a` nickel, a single penny, two pennies, three pennies or a nickel and two pennies, or 'any other combination of coins governed by tli'eposition of the screw taps 3() sothat the uppermost one of the coins will project in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. g

A stop lug 35 is secured to and projects laterally from one of the sections of the casting 20 and is adapted to cooperate with a lock lever 36 adapted to prevent backward rotation of the casting 20, the said lever being pivotedat 37 upon the fixed pivot pin 19 and being spring held to the position `illustrated in Figure 1, as at 38, and which includes a cam portion 39 adapted to b e engaged by the lug 35 as the casting 20y 1s rotated in the direction of the arrow on Figure 1 for effecting a resetting of the parts to the position indicated in that figure. Another lock lever 40 is provided and cooperates withthe said 1ug35 in preventing` forwardrotation ofthe casting 20 except whenf'coin released from its normal locking position in a manner soon. to be described.

"A `release lever 41 .is provided, having an end adapted to be coin engaged, Aand which extends to a point approximating the plane of the coin slotways 16 and 32 and in position forv being engaged by the upwardly ,projected-portion of the coin as indicated inv j Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings. This lever l41 is pivoted upon the fixed pin 19 and is joined to move with and as an integral part of the lock, lever 40 by the crossbridge pori tion 42 and is also springlield to the posif ,tion illustrated in Figure 1, as at 38, a stop 6 5 Vlug/43 ,-beingprovided which serves to hold P the levers 36, 40 and 41 tothe position indicated inthe figure referred to, against the tension of the springs 38. v

In the operation of my invention one, desiring to purchase a newspaper or other article being -vended from the machine of which the wall 2 forms a part, would insert the proper coin or coins into the slotway 16 from whence they would drop into Ythe slotway 32 to be there held by the screw 34 to the position indicated in Figure 1. Before the insertion of the coins it should be understood that forward rotation of the casting 2O would be impossible because of engagement of the lug 35 and the stop (lever 40, backward rotation of the said casting being prevented by the ratchet and pawl connections 27-28. The operator then grasping the crank 26 and giving the castingv a forward rotative movement, the coin would engage the levei 41 in a manner for forcing it upward against the' tensioneof the springs 38 and in a manner for releasing`the lock lever 40 from its.

locking engagement with the lug 35, it being observed by reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, that suiiicient `space is provided between these two elements to permit thisv initial rotation necessary in effecting such release. The casting 20, now being free to rotate one complete revolution before again being engaged by the lock lever 40, may be so rotated carrying with it the shaft portion 3 of whatever rotative delivery mechanism might be provided in the machine with which the apparatus is cooperating. Should any of the coins have a tendency to stick and remain within the coin slotway 32 they will be stripped therefrom by the finger 31 and caused to fall into the receiving tray 9.

As it is common in the use of apparatus of this kind to have persons endeavor, either by reason of an intention to beat vthe machine or by mistake, to insert coins other than those for which the machine yis set to receive, I have provided a .means for preventing such practice. lThe said means comprises a pair of coin slotways restricting dogs 44 and 46 each operative independ-V ently of the other and having pivotal bearings, as at 46, in an adjacentend of the reinforcing bar 7, as is clearly'illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The bar 7 is cut out, as rat 47, to accommodate the heel portions 48, provided one on each of the dogs 44 and 45 and adapted to Vbe engaged by the slide spring49 adapted to hold the dogs to their extended or retracted positions. The cross wall 15 is provided with suitable recesses 50, one for each of the lugs 44 and 45, and when it is desired to restrict the coin slotway 16 it is only necessary. to turn either one or both ofthe dogs 44 and 45 to the extended position, thus restricting the `coin passageway, seefFigure 5. For example it impossible Jfor a person to insert a nickel by mistake which would possibly result in a jambing of the apparatus. In this case it being necessary7 to extend one of the dogs, it being understood that should it be desired to restrict this passage for receiving dimes only, both of the dogs might be extended, the spring 49 serving to hold them, either to their extended or retracted positions as stated.

I have alsdprovided a means for automatically closing off the coinl slotway 16 while the casting is being moved from the normal position illustrated in Figure 1, through its complete revolution and back to that position, so that should a person operating the machine fail to turn the casting a complete revolution necessary fer resetting the parts to their normal positions the said means referred to will operate to prevent an insertion of the coin into the machine before the parts are so reset to the normal position, thus preventing any possible jambing of the apparatus or the loss of the cc-in to the prospective purchaser. ln providing this mechanism I-provide a cut out portion 5l in the cross wall 15 of the casing l in which is pivotaliy mounted a slotway closing plate '52, as at 53, and which said plate has pendent a finger 54 extending downwardly therefrom into position for engaging one of the slotway forming flanges of the casting 20. See Figures 7 and 8. Nhen the parts of my improved apparatus are at their normal position illustrated in Figure 1 the pendent finger 54 will be engaged by the casting 2G in the manner illustrated in Figure 7 for holding the plate 52 out of cooperative relation-with the slotway 1G and in position for permitting the passage of the coin through that slotway and into the slotway 32, it being understood that when the casting 20 has been coin released and rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow on said figure, the finger 54 will be released from engagement therewith, and will be forced by the spring 55 into the position indicated in dotted lines onthat figure and forjclosing off the coin slotway against the insertion of the coin. It will be observed frcm Figure 7 that. the position of lthe closure plate 52 is such that should a coin be inserted into the slotway when the casting is only partially rotatedand the slotway closed off by the plate 52, the coin will only drop down to such a point whereby its uppermost portion will project out of the slotway, in position for being .readily engaged by the fingers of the prospective purchaser and withdrawn therefrom. A further forcing downward of the coin by the purchaser will not effect a complete release of the plate such as will permit a dropping in of the coin, the spring 55 serving to force the coin back up again to the position illustrated in that figure.

- member, the said casing having a coin rl`he casing 1 may be secured to the side Wall 2 of the vending machine by screws 56 in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

It will be observed from Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings that the casting 'is so constructed, and the bore 21 so formed therein, that the center of gravity will be at a point laterally of the axis of that `bore and so positioned as to cause a tendency to rotate in a direction opposite that indicated by the arrow on Figure 1, or in a direction tending to hold the stop lug into connection with he lever 36 as is indicated in that ligure, thus making it certain that the coin slotways 16 and will always be in perfect register.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying ldrawings. it is thoughtthat the novel details of construction, the manner of operation and the. advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

vWhat 1 claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the

.combination with a movable part of a vendsaid said slotway, the said member having a coin slotway adapted to register with that of the said casing, means for holding said member against forward movement, means on said member for holdingV the coin inserted into the slotway thereof in a manner whereby the same will project therefrom, means releasable by coin engagement for releasing said forward rotation preventing means, and swingably mounted means mounted ,on said easing and adapted to be swung into the path of the coin slot-way whereby the coin slotway thereof may be restricted to receive certain predetermined coins only.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movablepart of a vending machine, of a casing, a member rotatably mounted in said casing and upon said movable part and so cooperative therewith as to cause forward rotation thereof when said ing machine, of a member for moving movable part, a casing for enclosing `member is rotated but for permitting rotation of said movable part independently thereof, the said casing having a coin slotway, the said member having a coin slotway restricted to permit` passage of a coin thereinto inilimited degree for causing a portion thereof to project, means for preventing rotation of said member in either direction but permitting a limited amount of movement therebetween, and means operable by engagement therewith of the projected coin portion for releasing said forwardrotation limiting means during the limited free movement thereof.

3. In "apparatus of the class described` the combination with a movable part of a vending machine, of a casing, a member ro- Lerares tatably mounted in said casing and upon said movable partand so cooperative therelwith as to cause forward rotation thereof when said member is rotated but for permitting rotation of said movable part independently thereof, the said casing having a coin slotway, the said member having a coin slotway restricted to permit passage of a coin thereinto in limited degree for causing a portion thereof to project, means for preventing rotation of'said member in either direction but permitting a limited amount of movement therebetween, and means operable by engagement therewith of the projected coin portion for releasing said forward rotation limiting means during the limited free movement thereof, the said member being overbalanced to hold the coin slotways normally in register.

4. In apparatus-of the class described, the combination with a movable part of a vending machine, of a member for moving said movable part, a casing for enclosing said member and being provided with 'a coin slotway, said member comprising a pair of opposing half portions, a hub joining said half portions, havingopposing grooves for providing a coin slotway, and being rotatably mounted in said casing and upon the movable part, a stop lug on said member, a stop lever for preventing backward rotation of said member, a stop lever for preventing forward rotation beyond a limited degree, adjustable stop means on the mov! ing member and cooperative with the coin slotway thereof for intercepting the movement of coins therethrough to cause a portion to project therefrom, and a release lever adapted to be engaged by the projected coin portion during the limited forward rotation permitted for releasing said front lock lever to permit forward rotation of said moving member.

' v5. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a movable part of a vending machine, of a member for moving said movable part, a casing for enclosing said member and being provided with a coin slotway, said member comprising a lpair of 'opposing half portions, a hub joining said half portions, having opposing grooves for providing a coin slotway, and being rotatabl'y mounted in said casing, a stop lug on said member, a stop lever for preventing backward rotation of said member, a stop lever for preventing forward rotation beyond a limited degree, adjustable stop means on the moving member and cooperative with the coin slotway thereof for intercepting the movement'of coins therethrough to. cause a portion to-project therefrom, and a release lever adapted to be engaged by the projected coin portion during the limited forward rotation permitted for releasing said front lock lever to permit forward rotation of said movingv member, ratchet and pawl devices for permitting free movement of the movable part independently of the moving member, other ratchet and pawl devices for preventing backward rotation of said member when said member is out of the influence of said backward stop lever, and means for causing the said member to normally engage said backward stop lever to cause the coin slotways to normally register.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable part of a vending machine, of a member for moving' said part, means for locking said member against rotation, coin engaged means for releasing said locking means, a casing for said member and including a coin slotway, the said member including a restricted coin slotway adapted to register with the coin slotway of the casing, coin slotway restricting fingers pivoted in position for being extended across one of the coin slotways for restricting the same to adapt it to receive certain coins only or for being retracted out'of the way, and means for engaging said fingers to hold them to their extended or retracted positions.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable part of a vending machine, of a member for moving said part, means for locking said member against rotation, coin engaged means for releasing said locking means, a casing for said member and including a coin slotway, the said member including a restricted coin slotway adapted to register with the coin slotway of the casing, a yieldably pivoted coin slotway closing plate, means tending to close said plate across the casing coin slotwa and means cooperative with said moving member for holding said closing plate from its slotway closing position.'

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable part of a vending machine, of a member for moving said part, means for locking said member against rotation, coin engaged means for releasing said locking means, a casing for said member and including a coin slotway, the said member including a restricted coin slotway adapted to register with the coin slotway of the casing, coin slotway restricting fingers pivoted in position for being eX- tended across one of the coin slotways for restricting the same to adapt itto receive certain coins only or for being retracted out of the way, and means for engaging said fingers to hold them to their extended or rey tracted positions, a pivoted coin slotway closing plate, means tending to close said plate across the casing coin slotway, and means cooperative with said moving member for holding said closing plate from its slotway closing position.

DAVID H. STEWART.

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