US1932234A - Coin collector - Google Patents

Description

@c 249 @33 H. sENGEBUscl-a l,932,234

COIN COLLECTOR Filed June 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l fm1-ZE? Hans anqsbusch Oct. 24, 1933. H. sl-:NGEBuscl-l 1,932,234

COIN COLLECTOR Filed June 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Im Hans Sez-L c/ebusch Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITEA STATES CQIN` CGLLECTOR Hans Sengebusch, Villa mesne assignments,

Park, lll., assigner, by

to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi Delaware Application June 26, 1931; Serial No. 546,963

9 Claims. (Cl. 194^16) Thisinvention relates to coin-collecting apparatus `oi the type used at paystations in telephone systems and adapted for what are generally known as pre-pay service and postpay service.

Such apparatus is provided with means which hold-deposited coins in suspension where they maybe either`- collected or refunded as the case might be; This collecting and refunding of deposited coins may be performed either automatically or under the control .of an operator according to the type of telephone system in which the=apparatus is used. In the past, considerable diiiieulty has beenv encountered in the collecting l and refunding of deposited coins when several coinsare deposited for a single call because or" the weight ot'the several coins and it has been necessary to provide thecontrolling circuits with meansl which repeatedly operate the vcollecting andrefunding means to vjar or shake loose the coins-under such conditions. y

According to the main feature of the present invention, novel coin suspension means is provided", which means insure the proper distribul tion of deposited coins, that is, the collecting or refunding of theY deposited coins, with only 'a single' positive operation of thatr means,

Other features of the invention, not being speciiicallyv mentioned at this time, will be apl'iparent fromastudy oi the following description in' conjunction with the associated drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, which depict the present invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front View of the assembled apparatus; v

Fig. 2 is a side Viewl of the assembly; v

Figs. Sand 4 are detailed views of one embodiment of the invention; and' Figs; 5 and 6 are detailed views of a second embodiment of the invention.

The coin collecting apparatusy comprises esjsentially a coin chute, a coin operated trigger, contact springs controlled thereby, coin suspension means, and means for operating said coin suspension means to either collector refund'sus pended coins.

Thecoin chute and the casing for-housing the coin suspension means are formed in 'the vusual manner bythe two casing members 1v and 2, Figs.

l 1 and 2. These two members are substantially symmetrical 'and when secured together by means of screws-3i and flanges on the two members, the upper half forms the coin chute and the lower half forms the housing for the coin suspension means. The-upper extremity o the member 1 flares outward to provide anv enlarged opening for receiving coins.

Pivotally mounted on a projection 8 of*y 'the iront casing member 1 by means of pin 14, is a lever having the three arms 9, 10, and 11. Lever r arms 9 and 10 have their plane surfaces at right angles to each other and arm 11 is al continuation of the arm 10 upon the opposite side of the axis formed by pin 14. The upper eX- tremity of arm 11 is provided with anv insulat- 65 ing bushing lto insulate the lever from the contact springs of the spring assembly 5 which is secured to the bracket 4 and by means thereof mounted on the front casing member 1. This lever is formed U-shaped at itscenter to pre-- vent any but a rotary movement on the pin 14;- The casing members 1 and 2 are provided with cooperating projections 8 situated-below the projection 8, at the extremities of which is pivotally mounted a second lever 18. The lever v 18 has two upwardly turned projections '151 and 15v by means of which the lever 18' is provided` with a U-shaped mounting for being pivotally secured to the projections 8 bymeans of pin'16".l A counter-clockwise rotation of coin lever` 18 80y about pivot 16 is translated to lever 9` by means of connecting rod 12 which is pivotally secured to lever 9 at 13 and which is connected to theupper extremity of projection 15 of lever 18 by a sliding pivot 17. f

Coin lever 18 at its left-hand extremity is turned inward to project through an arcialI aperture 19 in casing member 1 into the coin chute. All coinslrialling in the coin chute fall upon this inward projection and rotate the lever 18 in a 90 counter-clockwise direction about its pivot'l' until the lever projection is pushed out of the path of the coins. The arcial aperture 19 has a radius of curvature equal tothe radius ofthe arc described by the inward projection of coin lever 18'. 95 When the coin has passed this inward projection the coin lever is returned in a clockwise direction of rotation by the weight 20 secured to theA right end of lever 13 until the lever assumes the' position in which it is shown in Fig. 1'.

When the coin lever is thus rotated by-a coiny falling in the chute, the motion of the lever is' translated tolever 9 by the connecting rodl 12. Consequently-lever 9 is rotated in a clockwise direction about its pivot 14.

A bearing plate 'l secured to a boss 6 on casing.. member 1 forms a bearing for the pin 23 which supports the two levers 21`and 25'substantially midway between their extremities,

' The lever 21 is provided at its left-hand endA 110 pivot 36.

with a weight 24 which holds the shoulder 22 at the other extremity against the under edge of the arm 10 of lever 9. If lever 21 were free to rotate without interference from arm 10, the weight 24 would rotate lever 21 in a counterclockwise direction about pin 23.

From this it can be seen that, when lever 9 is rotated clockwise, the end of arm 10 will clear shoulder 22 and lever 21 will rotate an amount equal to the height of the shoulder. Therefore, when coin lever 18 returns to its normal position after a coin has passed, lever 9 will be held in its new position because of arm V10 engaging the shoulder 22. Thus the: contact springs of assembly are moved by the rotation of lever 9 and held in the new position by arm and lever 21. Since rod 12 is provided with a sliding connection to projection 15, lever 18 will be free to return to its normal position even though lever 9 is held in its new position.

The lever which is also pivoted on pin 23, has a connecting rod 26 plvotally connected to one end thereof at 27 and a weight 29 secured to the other end. The lower end of rod 26 is secured to the coin suspensionmeans as shown at 3,0. The weight 29 has suiiicient mass to return the coin suspension means.V to normal as will be described presently.

An auxiliary arm 28 on lever 25 engages the lever 21 as lever 25 rotates in a clockwise direction and similarly rotates that lever. This ro'- tation frees the arm 10 of lever 9 from behind shoulder 22. The tension of the contact springs thereupon rotates the lever 9 to the position shown. When lever 25 returns to its normal position under the influence of weight 29, the lever 21 also rotates until the shoulder 22 abuts the lower edge of arm 10 of lever 9.

Two solenoid magnets 31 and 31 having plungers 32 and 32 are secured to mounting brackets 33 and 33 which in turn are secured to front casing member 1. Two levers and 35' of the general design shown are pivotally secured to the front casingmember 1 'at 36 and 36. These levers 35 and 35 are connected to plungers 32 and 32', respectively, by connecting rods 34 and 34. Thus when magnet 31 is energized by current owing through its winding, the plunger 32 thereof will be drawn in, thereby raising the y associated connecting rod 34 rotating the corresponding bracket 35 about its pivot 36. Energization of magnet 31 causes plunger 32 to be drawn inward, thereby pulling connecting rod 34 upward and rotating lever 35 about its One of these magnets is used for the collecting of deposited coins and the other for refunding purposes. y

The coin suspension means shown in Figs. 3 and 4 will rst be described. This suspension g means is constructed in the form of a table having collapsible legs.

The two legs which support the table top 37, to which is secured the connectv ing rod 26 at 30, comprise the two upper sections 38 and 38 and the two lower sections 40 and 40. The upper sections 33 and 38 are rotatably se.- cured to the table top 37 by means of pins 39 and 39', respectively, which pins are inserted through cooperating holes in the flanges with which these members are provided. The lower vsections 40 and 40 are rotatably mounted on the pins 36 which are secured in the casing members 1 and 2. The upper sections and the lower sections are rotatably secured together by means of pins 41 and 41 inserted through holes in the .flanges fof these two sections. The lower seo-i v the lever brackets 35 and 35', respectively.

Thus, when the lever 35 is rotated on 36 upon the energization of magnet 31, lever 35 by means of the projection 42 rotates the lower leg section in a counter clockwise direction with respect to its position in Fig. 3. This carries the upper section 38 to the left and downward and consequently causes the top plate 37 to rotate clockwise about the pin 39. During this movement, the leg sections 38 and 46 remain rigid and consequently the pin 39 remains stationary. Finally, the mechanism assumes the position shown in dotted form in Fig. 3.

If the lever 35 had been rotated instead of lever 35, the sections 38 and 40 would have remained rigid and the sections 38 and 40 would have been moved in the same manner, whereupon the top plate 37 would have been rotated in the opposite direction, this time upon the pin 39. This table mechanism is so placed in the lower portion of the inclosure formed by casing members l and 2 that it is immediately beneaih the coin chute. When the table top is inthe horizontal position, any coins descending the chute will drop onto the plate 37 and remain there until the plate is tipped either in the direction to collect or the direction to refund. When the plate 37 is tilted as has just been described, the coin, or coins, resting thereon, are directed either into the collect receptacle or into the return chute. Y

As the plate 37 rotates downward in either direction, it pulls the connecting rod 26 with it, thereby rotating the lever25 and causing the arm 28 thereof to rotate the lever 21, whereupon the arm 10 of lever 9 is released and the contact springs allowed to assume their normal positions.

t should be noticed that the legs when in normal position bow outward slightly atrthe joints 4l and 41. This is to prevent .he collapsing of the legs when the coins drop onto the topplate 37. The lower leg sections 40 and 49 are provided with the rear projecting pieces 46 and 46 which act as stopping members to prevent further bowing of the legs. The coil springs 44 and 44, Fig. 1, serve to maintain the legs in the bowed position to remove the possibility of the collapsing of the legs should a fraudulent attempt of the by the proper runways into the coin chute.l VAs the rst coin descends the chute it strikes the inward projection of lever 13 and moves the lever downward. This movement imparts motion to lever 9 through projection 15 and connecting rod 12. Lever arm 11 thereupon operates the conact springs of the spring assembly 5. Lever 21 rotates as lever arm 10 is moved out of the wayroi shoulder 22. Therefore, when lever 13 returns after the coin has passed, lever 9 remains in its new POS'OIi beause arm 10 abuts the side of shoulder- 5.0 of substantially the same width as the trap doors,

26 is fastened on the pin 53'.

i extremities with gear segments. e

22,. Coins subsequently descending the chute will only operatethe lever 18..

The descending coins-finally come to yrestupon thehorizontal plate 3.7 where they remain until they are either-refunded: or collected. .If they are to be collectedthe winding of solenoidmagnet 31 will be energized and if thedeposited coins are to be refunded; solenoid magnet 31. will be energized..

Assuming that the deposited coins are to be collected, magnet 3l will be energized, whereupon it: draws in' its plunger 32. This lifts the connecting rod 3- and consequently rotates the lever' 35 in a counter-clockwise direction about 36. This causes the like rotation of the lower leg section 40A and the accompanying movement of the ,upper section 38v and the consequent downward tiltingof thel plate 37 about. the pivot 39. The deposited coins thereupon slide into the collect receptacle. Y

The downward movement of the plate 37 pulls the rod 26 .downward with it, Ywhereupon the lever 25- is ro.ated clockwise about pin 23. The arm 28. of lever 25. rotatesthe lever 21. This rotation oflever 21tr-ees the arm 10 of lever 9, whereupon lever 9v returns to normal as the contact springs of the spring assembly 5 return to their normal positions because of the energy stored therein. This return to normal of the contact springs causes thedeenergizationof the magnet 3l, where uponA the weight 29 causes the restoration of the lever 25. and the restoration of the plate 37. The weight 29 is assisted in` its restoration function by the spring 44.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises coin suspension means which can be used in place of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with veryv little change in the apparatus of Figs. 1 andV 2. Two doorsv 50 and 50 pivotally mounted"l on pins 51 and 5l' secured in the casing members. 1 and 2 cooperate to form a platform beneath the coin chute for arresting descending coinsand holding them until either the collecting or'refundingoperation takes place. The supporting a-nd controlling members for these tra-p doors comprise the two levers 54 and 54', rotatably mounted on pins 56and- 56 secured in the front casing. member 1, and the two connecting mein bersA 52 and 52. Connecting member 52 is rotatably secured to lever 54r at 55 and to the door 5G at 53 on a projecting piece of the door. Con-- necting member 52" is similarly secured to lever 54 andtrapdoor 50.. f y

Levers. 54 and 54 are provided at their lower rhe teeth. of the segment of lever 5.4 mesh wiih the teeth of the gea-r segment of lever. 54. Thus rotation of either lever imparts van opposite direction of rotation to the other lever.. Y v

A. coin-defiecting plate or vane 57, which is is rotatably mounted on the pin 58 secured in the casing members 1 and 2. This plate is provided with a roller 59 which is in position to engage the levers 54 and 54. Connecting rod The weight 29, Fig. 1, of sufficient mass to move the mechanism from the operated position of Fig. 6 to the lect magnet is energized and the other way when the refund magnet. is energized.. This. tilting. of the.- common: armature impar-.ts` an pendulunrmotion to: a: long; arm. secured toy the armature at itsv axis. of rotation.. Magnets; with. armatures such asJtheseI are well` known and; needtno-further description.v They have. been omitted from. the drawings: as it is: believed'. their. operation. can be readily understood without a. showing..

The longj arm. of the armature is.' provided; at its free. end with. an elongated aperture which receives a pin on the deiiect'or opposite1-the roller 59.. Thus it caribe seen that tilting: ofthe common armature'iin one direction will rotate the deflector 57 in one direction aboutitspivot 518 and tilting of the armatureinthe other direction will resultv in the reverse rotation of' the .deflector 5'7; t

If the deiiector. is rotated1 clockwise, the-roller'59 .will act upon the lever 514- andI rotate it. in the samev direction about its pivot 56'. As lever' 54 rotates, it causes the rotation of lever 54 in the reverse direction by means of the cooperating gear segments. Rotation of these levers. opens the trap doors and the apparatus finally assumes the position in Fig. 6. Any coins resting upon the doors in the closed position will. fallwhen the doors. are opened and will be deflected by the plate 57y into the receptacle.. When the refund magnet is energized', the deiiectoriwill be moved to the position in Fig. 6. When the collect'm'agynet is energized, the deflector acts. upon the lever 54" and assumes the position opposite to.y thatv of Fig. 6. Under this latter condition the; position of the rest of the apparatus is the same asishowrr. Thus, with the deflector moved to the riglit,. the coins will' be deflected to the refund. receptacle and with the deflector to the left, to the collect receptacle.

Lever 26' is pulled down each time the' doors'v are opened and.` performs the same functionsas'when pulled` downward. by the top plate 3.7 ofy Fig.. 3:. When the magnet. is deenergized, the` lever 26.Y is pulled upward and the trap doors are closed. In the closed position of the doors, the pressure supplied by coins isnecessarily.downward. .The-parts are so` arranged that. this pressure presses.` the levers 54 and 5.4 inward against. theV roller 59.', thereby maintaining the doors closed until one of the .magnets is energized to rotate. ther deiiector 57.

From. the foregoing. it will be. appreciated that the coincollecting and refunding apparatus is positive .inits actions and that under-no. circumstances can the apparatus fail to collect orrefund von a single operation.`

The invention havingbeen thus described, what is considered novel and is desired. to have. pro.- tected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the claims which follow.

What is claimedy is:`

i. In a coin-distributing apparatus having. two coin receptacles, a vertical coin chute, a horizontal platform directly beneath said chute for arresting and holding forl distribution coins descending therein, a system of levers for tilting said platform, means for operating certain of said levers to tilt said platform in one direction to distribute the coins to one receptacle, and means for operating others of said levers to tilt said platform in the other direction to distribute the coins to the other receptacle.

2. In a coin-distributing apparatus having two coin receptacles, a vertical coin chute having cirvcuit controlling springs mounted thereon, a lever for operating said springs, a coin lever mounted 4- VLacasse .o-n said chute and operated by a coin descending therein, said coin lever, upon being operated by a coin, operating said other lever to operate said springs, means for maintaining said other lever operated to hold said springs operated, a platform directly beneath said chute for arresting and holding for distribution a coin descending said chute, means for tilting said platform in one direction to deposit the coin in one receptacle or for tilting the` platform in the other direction to deposite the coin in .the other receptacle, and means operated by said platform when it is tilted for releasing `said other lever to thereby restore said springs. i

3. Coin-distributing apparatus comprising a coin chute down which deposited coins'descend, a platform comprising two oppositely hinged trap doors arranged beneath said chuteto arrest descending coins and to hold them for distribution, a. vertical deflecting plate hinged at its lower edge, a system of levers associated with each trap door and in position to be operated by an attachment on said deflecting plate, said systems of levers connected together by meshing gear segments, whereby operation of one system will operatethe other system, means for swinging said deflecting plate one direction from the vertical to operate said systems of levers to open said trap doors, whereby coins held by said platform are allowed to drop and are deilected by the deiiecting plate into one receptacle, and means for swinging said plate in the opposite direction from the vertical to operate said systems of levers and to deflect the dropping coins into another receptacle.

4. In a coin-distributing apparatus, a coin chute, a switch device including a coin-actuated lever adapted to be struck by the rst of a series of descending coins for operating the device, means for maintaining the device operated after ,theY iirst actuation of the lever, a pair of oppositely hinged doors forming a closed surface beneath4 said chute for arresting the descending coins andholding them for-distribution, a system of levers for opening each trap door, said lever systems `being connected together' by means of cooperating gears wherebyv operation of one system of levers to open one door causes the simultaneous operation of the other system to open the other door, a vertical deflecting vane hinged at its lower edge and located beneath said doors, and

means on said vane in operative relation with both lever systems whereby swinging vof vsaidlvane in either direction from the vertical ,operates one or the other of saidlev'er systems to open said doors and deilects thev coins held for distribution in one of two directions, and means operated by one of said doors ywhen opened for vreleasing said switch device. v

5. Coin-distributing mechanism for apparatus having a single coin chute and two coin receptacles, comprising a table-like structure composed of a horizontal table top hinged at each end to a collapsible leg-like structure, said top adapted to arrest coins descending said chute and hold them for distribution to either of the two receptacles, and means for collapsing either leg structure independently of the other, whereby said top is tilted in one or the other direction from the horizontal to cause the coins held thereby to be deposited in one or the other of said receptacles.

6. In a coin collector, a coin chute, a switch device mounted thereon, a coin-actuated 'lever adapted to be operated by a coin descending said chute for operating said device, means for maintaining said device when so operated, a platform for arresting the descending coin'and holding it to later be collected or refunded, means for manipulating said platform for collecting or refunding the held coin, and means operated by said platform each time it is manipulated for operating said maintaining means to release said device.

'7. In a paystation device, a coin chute, a coinactuated lever adapted to be actuated 'by a coin descending said chute, a switch device having a normal position and moved therefrom to an operated position by said lever when it is actuated by the rst of a series of coins, means for maintaining said device in its operated position, mechanism for holding deposited coins for distribution, means for operating said mechanism to either collect or refund held coins, restoring apparatus, and means operated by said mechanism, each time it is operated to distribute coins, for operating said restoring apparatus to operate saidl maintaining means, and to restore vsaid mechanism, said maintainingm'eans thereupon releasing said switch device. y

8. In a coin receiving device including a coin chute 'down which a deposited coin descends, a platform, a collapsible leg-like structure for holding said platform normally in a horizontal posi- Y tion at the base of said chute to arrest and hold in suspension a coin descending said chute, and means for collapsing said leg structure to manipulate said platform to dispose of the coin held in suspension thereby. I l

9. In a coin receiving device including-a vertical coin receiving chute, a platform, a collapsible leg-like structure for holding said platform normally in a horizontal position at the base -of said chute to arrest and hold in suspension a coin descending said chute, electromagnetic means for collapsing said leg structure, upon the energization of the magnet winding, to move said platform from the horizontal position to dispose of a suspended coin, and means acted upon by gravity and effective upon the deenergization of the magnet winding to restore said platform and leg structure to normal.

'HANS SENGEBUSCH.

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