US1896392A - Spurious coin detector and ejector - Google Patents

Description

' E. DE RYSS SPURIOUS coINBET EcToR AND EJECTOR Feb. 7, 1933.

Filed Dec. 11, 1930 COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE.

INVENTO ATTORNEY6 A? ':/3 K K W 7 A5 l6 Z6 i W Patented Feb. 7, 1933 EMII; DB RYSS, 0F SGARSDAL'E, NEW YORK SPURIOUS COIN DETECTQR AND; EJ'EGTOB Applicat on and, Decemb r 11.. use, swam sol/ sa,

This invention relates to spurious: coin detectors and. eieetorsand has particular refer ence to a. device for disorim nating between spurious and bona fide coins inserted in coincontrolled machines or t e purpose of purchase, and for ejecting the spurious. coins while utilizing the bona fide coins,

Coin detectors used heretofore relied for their eiiectiveness on the Weight, diame er, h clmess of. the coin or the like, but, as, counterfeit coins are usually approximately the weight and size Of the corresponding bona tide coins, thcywould operate the machine,

while bona, fide coins. whic had been mutilated or worn thin and thus become light, would be rejected 1 Other former spurious coin detectors, such asthe electrical types, were too slowand complicated to be effective in. installations Where the machines were, operated rapidly, and they were also too, delicate to. be durable. Accordingly, many objections to the former coindetectors hav arisen, which has rendered their value questionable. r V

The spurious; coin detector and ejector of this invention obviates the objections; of the f rmer types a d is positive, rapid and nfallible in itsaction, It operates upon the scleroscopic principle, that is to say, it takes, advantage of the resiliency or springiness of. metal of which bona fide coins are made, as, compared to lesser resiliency of a spurious coin, which might have other characteristics identical to the bona fide coin, such as weight, diameter, thickness, hardness, ring, electrical conductivity or resistance and he like. Specific gravity also. enters into; the problem, as it affects the trajectory of the coinbefore and afterimpact.

In order to illustrate the use of the scleroscopic principle in the device of this invention, assume that a bona fide coin and any number of spurious coins of the same supposed de omination, which might; be-identioi l higher than the spurious. coin, whether the latter is made of iron, ironv alloys, steel, lead in appearance, weight, and ize. to he bona or Zinc, alloys, and the like. Thus, the bona i tide and spurious coins can be discriminated positively, quickly, easily, automatically, and without previous separation or examination.

One particular form of theapparatus of this invention includes a housing, preferably of rigid metal, with a coin slot at or near the top, preferablythree rigid inclined planes arranged in zigzag fashion to, form three passes or flights of decreasing steepness. Above the end of the first inclinedplane is an overhead anvil, and the beginning of the last inclined plane is made horizontal while at the discharge end of the third inclined plane is wall or partition which separates two chutes. One of these chutes. leads to the coin-controlled mechanism of the machine and is adapted to' receive bona fide coins, while the other chute leads to a return cup or the like and is adapted to receive spurious coins and return them to the person who. at-

tempted to operate the machine therewith.

In operation, a coin of proper denomination inserted in the coin slot drops edgewise upon the first inclined plane, bounces from the rigid surface thereof, strikes the overhead anvil, and is deflected downwardly with increased velocity upon the second inclined plane, along which it bounces until it rebounds irorn the opposite rigid side wall of.

the housing, and drops upon the horizontal surface of the third plane to bounce down the same, the several impacts to which the coin was subjected during its passage having been additive or cumulative so that the rebound from this last side Wall is. accentuated accordingly. If the coin is bona fide, the rebound will be considerable and it will fly over the top 'of'the wall or partition below the end of the last coin flight and drop into the chute.

leading to the coin-controlled mechanism adapted to actuate or control article vending apparatus, unlocking or preparing mechanism, change-making devices, or the like,

However, if the coin inserted in the coin slot is spurious, the accumulated bounces thereof. in passing thro gh the e ra fl gh of the apparatus. will. h insufliei n to a ry it over the wall or parti ion and; i i l s r k the latter and iall, into thereturn hut t rugged, fool-proof, simple and has no moving :parts. For a better understanding of th1s invention a preferred embodiment thereof rejected and returned to the person who inserted it into the coin slot. The resiliency or springiness of spurious coins is generally less than that of bona fide coins and renders them amenable to detection and rejection by the device of this invention. The slugs of low resiliency do not rebound sufficiently from the first inclined plane to engage the overhead anvil, so that their resiliency is not accentuated at this point. Also, the-slugs drop ofi the end of the second plane without engaging the side wall, so that they fall straight down on the horizontal portion of the third plane and consequently rebound straight up, whereby they have no start down the third plane and frequently have insufficient velocity to reach the side wall and so drop directly into the ejector chute. Thus, the several flights through which the coins are passed through the device decrease the rebound of slugs and in this way serve to accentuate the difference between good coins and slugs, whereby the discrimination of the device is sharp and more critical. I

The nearest approach to bona fide colns, 1n

,sofar as resiliency or springiness is concerned, ,is found inslugs conta n ng the common magnetic metals such asiron, steel, or the1r alloys,

and in order to make their detection certain, no matter how closely the resiliency of the corresponding bona fide coin is imitated, a magnet is placed at the beginning of the last 1 flight to retard the rebound of spurious coins of magnetic metal, so that they will drop into the ejector chute. r It will be seen that the spurious coin detector and ejector of this invention auto- ,matically discriminates between good coins and slugs with an unusual degree of accuracy and positiveness, and at the same time it is will be described in connection ,wit-hthe accompanying drawlng, in which V Figure 1 is an interior view of the spurious coin detector and ejector of this invention as seen when the cover plate is removed; and Fig. 2 is a. transverse section thereof as seen along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In this drawing, numeral 10 designates a frame upon which the device of this invention may be mounted, and may consist of a change making machine frame, coin controlled telephone casing, merchandise or service vending machine housing, or the like.

The device of this invention preferably consists of a back plate 12 upon the front of whichis secured by screws 13 a pair of rigid metallic strips 14 and 1 5 which may be referred to as vertical anvils or anvil guides since they guide the coins which bounce therefrom to the nextlowest inclinedanvil.

These vertical anvils: or anvil guides maybe stralght or have an irregular configuration,

so long as they extend upwardly from the upper ends of the inclined anvils to guide the descending coins thereto. These strips 14 and 15 are preferably made of brass or other resilient material and are recessed on their inner edges for the reception of front cover plate 16, which is removably secured to the strips by screws 17, and is space'd'from the back plate 12 of a sufficient distance to accommodate a coin of predetermined denomination, as seen in Fig. 2.

.Gommunicating with the interior of the housing thus formed is a coin chute 18, which is preferably arranged to discharge into one side of the housing a coin inserted therein, such as the left side as seen inFig. 1, and is arranged to accommodate a coin of proper predetermined denomination. Placed immediately below the discharge end ofcoin chute 18, so that the latter directs a coin thereupon, is an inclined anvil 19 preferably of solid metal such as brass and shaped in the form of a triangular inclined plane secured to the back plate 12 by means of the screws or rivets 20'. By careful experiment and calculation, the proper pitch of this first inclined anvil 19 has been found to be between 23 and 27, dependingnpon the size and weight of the coin which is to be inserted in illustrated, the shortest distance between it and the first inclined anvil 19 being slightly greater than the diameter of'the coin which coin chute 18 accommodates. 7

Located immediately below the discharge or lower end of first inclined anvil 19 and sloping downwardly from'right hand verti-,

cal anvil 15, is a second inclined anvil 23, also formed of brass or other heavy metal so'as to be r g d, and secured by screws or rivets 24 to the backplate12. By careful experiment, the proper pitch of thissecond in clincd anvil 23 has been found to lie between 20 and 23.

Mounted immediately below the discharge or lowerend of second inclined anvil 23 and located adjacent left hand'vertical anvil 14 is a third inclined anvil 25, also formed of brass or other'heavy metal so-as to be rigid,

and securedto the back plate 12 by means of 1 screws or rivets 26. The upper edge of this third anvil 25,1smade with a horizontal portion to form a surface which serves as a horizontal anvil 27 located adjacent the left hand ment, the proper pitch of this third inclined communicates with a receiving chute 35 which discharges into a coin controlled device 36 of any form, such as acoin or token vending machine, telephone contact device, merchandise or service vending machine, or the like, the particular apparatus which the purchase coin controls being immaterial to the present invention, asthe invention is adapted to any use wherein the detection and ejection of spurious coins is desired.

Suitably secured to the back plate 12 is a permanent magnet 37, whose poles lie adjacent horizontal anvil 27, as seen in Fig. 1, so as to influence magnetic coins rebounding from this horizontal anvil 27 and adjacent anvils.

' It will be observed that the three inclined anvils, 19, 23, and 28, are arranged in zigzag fashion between theback plate and the front plate 16 and have decreasing degrees of steepness, and the vertical anvils 14 and 15 are located at'the beginnings and ends of each flight of this zigzag arrangement. Accordingly, the coin inserted in coin chute 18 follows a zigzag path through the device,

engaging each of the anvils in each pass if a. genuine coin of proper denomination, and missing some of these anvils if a spurious coin, even though its weight and dimensions maybe identical to those of the correspondent genuine coin. This is the general rule in regard to spurious coins, but it has some exceptions which will be discussed later.

In operation, a prospective purchaser of coins or tokens, merchandise, service, or the like, drops a coin of proper denomination into the coin chute 18. Assuming first that the coin so dropped into the coin chute 18 is genuine, it will follow the path indicated by the unshaded phantom coin in Fig. 1. The first effect is a rebound from the upper end or first inclined anvil 19, this rebound'be ng considerable and causing the coin to engage overhead anvil 21, following the trajectory indicated in Fig. 1. The overhead anvil 21 deflects the coin downwardly with increased velocity, so that it strikes the right hand vertical anvil 15 before it engages the second inclined anvil 23. The coin then rebounds from second inclined anvil 23 against the left hand vertical anvil 1 1, missingthe horizontal anvil 27,. and rebounding from the third inclined anvil 28 against the right hand vertical anvil 15 as indicated. The resilient genuine coin, during its three flights through the zigzag passes of the device has had its rebound or resilient effect accentuated because of the additive results of its rebounds 310 from the vertical 1 and successive inclined anvils. Itaccordingly strikes the right hand anvil adjacent the discharge end 29 of lower anvil with considerable force, so th'atit rebounds therefrompver the partition. 30 5 and into the receiving chute to operate the coin controlled device '36, whateverit may be.

I Now, assuming that the coin dropped in coin chute 18 is spurious, and: assuming further that it isan extremely heavy slug of low resiliency, such as one whose principal ingredient is lead, and which will operate most coin controlled devicesbecause of its weight, the lead slug, in falling by-gravity through coin chute 18 scarcely rebounds at all from inclined anvil 19, but rolls downit without engaging overhead anvil :21, since it does not bound up toeng'age the latter.

Having a specific gravity considerably higher than the specific gravity of a genuine :coinfi its trajectory off theend of inclined anvil 19 is low, and so it drops almostdirectly downwardly upon the second inclined anvil 23 withoutengaging right hand vertical anvil 15, or at least without engaging the latter with sufiicie'nt force to cause the slug'to rebound therefrom, a-nd the slug follows-the trajectory indicated by the shaded coin'in Fig. 1. The lead slug scarcely rebounds from the second inclined anvil 23,"but'rolls"" down it and ofi" the discharge endthereof with relatively low velocity, that is-to say, velocity which has not been augmented by successive rebounds from the l preceding anvils, as was the case with the genuine coin.

of incidence on this horizontal anvil-27 is small, it bounces almost directly upwardly,

though it may engage the left hand anvil 145 lightly. Then, depending upon its composite tion, it may bounce one or two more times upon horizontal anvil 27 before descending third inclined anvil 28. Having lost most of its velocity by this time, the slug simply rolls off the discharge end 29 of anvil '25 directly into the ejector chute 33, which discharges it into cup 34sto be returned to the person who attempted to operate the coin controlled-device36 therewith. The action of the spurious coinj-ust describeddepends upon its composition,;and though the majority of slugs contain alarge quantity of lead and act as described above, Certain yp s a-re'made of more resilient materials and rebound through the device to a degree greater than the lead slug, but less than the genuine coin. However, in general, the resultant resilient efliect of slugs passing through the device is less than that of genuine coins, and the slugs do not have as'uflicient rebound from the right hand,- vertical anvil at the end of the third flight to fly over partition 30. On the contrary, theyrstrike this partition on the right hand side and drop into ejector chute 33 after rebounding insufficiently from right hand anvil 15, or they miss the partition altogether and drop directly into the ejector chute 33. 1

It has been found that slugs made of magnetic metals, such as iron, steel, or their alloys, more closely approach the resiliency or springiness of corresponding genuine coins, though their specific gravities are considerably lower. Under ordinary circumstances, more resilient coins of magnetic metal are rejected by the device because they are lighter than the corresponding-genuine coin and have sufficiently less resiliency to render their passage over partition impossible. How ever, in case the resiliency ofa magnetic slug of this description is equal or corresponding- ,ly greater than the corresponding genuine coin so that it might fly over the partition 30, a magnet 37 placed at the end of the second flight adjacent the horizontal anvil 27 retards the rebound of the magnetic slug at this point, so that its augmented resiliency up to this point is damped and it simply rolls down the third inclined anvil 28 into the ejector chute 33. At least the back plate 12 upon which the magnet 37 is mounted is made of brass or some other permeable metal, so

that the magnetic flux of the magnet is not shielded from the path of the coins passing through the device.

1 It will be seen that the-spurious coin detector and ejector of this invention has many advantages over those used heretofore, in that it embodies a means for accentuating or augmenting the natural resilient effects of all genuine coins and for decreasing the natural resilient effects. of spurious coins after they I have passed through the several flights in the device and have engaged the numerous anvils therein. The peculiar arrangement of the anvils, both inclined, vertical, and the overhead anvil associated with the first inclined anvil, as well as the decreasing pitch of the inclined anvils, serves to procure these peculiar results whereby all. spurious coins are ejected and all genuine coins are received, even though the latter may be slightly mutilated or Worn thin. It is also preferred that the inclined anvils 19, 23, and 25 be made adjustable so as to vary their pitch within the limits described to accommodate coins of dif- I ferent denomination, although in most cases the device will have to be changed throughoutwhen used with coins of different denomi- .nations, because of the wide differences in sizes between coins of different denominations. V r 1 It is apparent that the device of this invention is extremely simple, inexpensive, and inherein, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited thereby, but is susceptible of various changesin form and detail within its scope.

Iclaim:

1. Ina spurious coin detector and ejector,

the combination of a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzag series, a coin guide leadingto the first anvil, the inclination of said anvils decreasing from first to last, and a partition adjacent the discharge end of the last anvil for-separating spurious coins from genuine coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils. s

2. In a spurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a plurality of inclined .anvils arranged in zigzag series, a coin guide leading to the first anvil, a substantially vertical anvil adjacent the discharge end of each inclined anvil, and a partition adjacent the discharge end of the last inclined anvil and spaced from the corresponding vertical anvil for separating spuriouscoins from genuine coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils.

f 3. In a spurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzag series, a coin guide leading to the first anvil, a deflecting anvil above the discharge end of one of said inclined anvils for downwardly deflecting a coin rebounding from the corresponding inclined anvil, and a partition adjacent the discharge end of the last inclined anvil for separating spurious coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils. V

. 4. In aspurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzagseries, a coin guide leading to the first anvil, a substantially horizontal anvil associated with one of said inclined anvils, and a partition adjacent the discharge end of the lastinclined anvil for separating spurious coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils. i

5. In a spuriouscoin detector and ejector, the combination of aplurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzag series, a coin guide leading to the first anvil, a deflecting anvil above the discharge end of one of said inclined anvils,.a substantially vertical anvil adjacent the discharge end of one of said inclined anvils, and a partition adjacent the their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils. V

6. In a spurious c'oin detector and ejector, the combination of a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzag series, a coin guide leading to the first anvil, a substantially horizontal anvil associated with one of said inclined anvils, a substantially vertical anvil adjacent the discharge end of one of said inclined anvils, and a partition adjacent the discharge end of the last inclined anvil for separating spurious coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils.

7. In a spurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzag series, a coin guide leading to the first anvil, a magnet adjacent one of said anvils for retarding the rebound of spurious coins having magnetic properties, and a partition adjacent the discharge end of the last inclined anvil for separating spurious coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils.

8. In a spurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzag series, a coin guide leading to the first anvil, a deflecting anvil above the discharge end of one of said inclined anvils, a substantially horizontal anvil associated with one of said inclined anvils, and a partition adjacent'the discharge end of the last inclined anvil for separating spurious coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing said anvils.

9. In a spurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a substantially horizontal anvil, means for guiding a coin to said anvil, an inclined anvil associated with said horizontal anvil and leading downwardlv therefrom, and a substantially vertical anvil adjacent said horizontal anvil, said horizontal anvil extending between said vertical and inclined anvils.

10. In a spurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a frame having side walls, a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in zigzag fashion between said walls, a coin chute leading to the first inclined anvil, and a partition adjacent the discharge end of the last anvil and adjacent the corresponding side wall, whereby the genuine and spurious coins are separated in accordance with their resultant resilient efiects after traversing the successive anvils.

11. In a spurious coin detector and ejector,

thje combination of a frame, a, plurality of jresilient effects after traversing.thesuccessive '12. In a spurious coin detector and ejector,

inclined "anvils arranged in the frame in downward zigzag serles, a deflecting anvil adj agent; the discharge end of at least one of said zanvils for downwardly deflecting a coin g rebounding noma one anvil, guide mernbers extending upwardly from the upper end 1 0f said anvils for directing coins on the corresponding anvil s, ap'artition adjacent the discharge end ofthe last inclined anvil'for -separatinglspurious coins fromgenuin'e coins W "in accordance with their resultant. res lient effects after, travers ng the successive anvils.

13. In 'a' spurious coin detectorand ejector, the combination ofa frame havingclose- 9, "1y spaced jwalls permitting a coin to freely move flatwise between them, a coin chute leading between the walls, a downwardly in- 'clined,anvil between the walls below the discharge end of the coin chute, an anvil guide 2 extending upwardly from the upper end of said inclinfed-anvil, a second inclined anvil below the first'anvil and extending downwardly in the opposite. direction therefrom,

a second anvil guide extending upwardly 1 from the upper end of the second anvil adj acent the lo-werend of the first anvil and spaced therefrom, a third inclined anvil below the second. inclined anvil and extending downwardly in the opposite direction therefrom a third anvil guide extending upwardly from the upper end of the third anvil adj acent the lower end of the second anvil and spaced therefrom, a fourth anvil guide adjacent the free end of the third anvil and spaced therefrom, and a partition below the lower end of the third inclined anvil and spaced from the fourth anvil guide for separating spurious coins and genuine coins in accordance with their resultant resilient efr fects.

14. In a spurious coin detector and ejector, the combination of a. frame, a coin chute thereon, a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in downward zigzag series in the, frame, the upper inclined anvil lying beneath J the coin chute, an anvil guide mounted on the frame and extending upwardly from the upper end of each inclined anvil for directing coins on the corresponding inclined an vils, the lower end of each inclined anvil be-- ing spaced from the anvil guide of the next lower inclined anvil, a rebound anvil mounted on the frame opposite the lower end of the lowest inclined anvil,and a partition mounted on the frame adjacent the lower end of this lowest inclined anvil and spaced from said rebound anvil for separating spurious coins from genuine coins in accordance with their resultant resilient effects after traversing the successive anvils.

15. In a spurious coin detector and ejector,

the combination of a frame, a coin chute thereon, a plurality of inclined anvils arranged in downward zigzag series in the frame the upper anvil lying beneath the coin chute, an anvil guide mounted on the frame and extending upwardly from the upper end of each inclined anvil for directing coins on the corresponding inclined anvils, the lower end of each inclined anvil being spaced from the guideof the next lower inclined anvil, a rebound anvil mounted on the frame opposite the lower end of the lowest inclined anvil; a partition mounted on the frame adjacent the lower end of this lowest inclined anvil and spaced from said rebound inclined anvil for separating spurious coins fromgenuine coins 1n accordance with then resultant resilient effects after traversingthe successive anvlls,

, and a deflecting anvil mounted on the frame to overhang the discharge end of at least one of said inclined anvils and spaced therefrom for downwardly deflecting a coin rebounding from said one anvil.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

T EMIL tn RYSS.

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