US2040983A - Coin controlled mechanism - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1936. F. c. Du GRENIER 2,040,983

COINV CONTROLLED MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 5, 1955' s'shets-sheet 1 May 19, 1936.

- F. C. DU GRENIER COIN coNTRoLLED MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet'. 2

Filed Feb. 5, 1935 Jnberzo'rf. M

@CHM

MRY 19, 1936. F. c. Du GRENIER 2,040,983

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Y Filed Feb. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'zverloi".

Patented May 19, 19365.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f ammetteV com coN'rRoLLEn-MECHANISM Francis C. Du Grenier, Haverhill, Mass., assignon to Blanche E. Bouchard, Haverhill, Mass'.

Application February 5,1935, Serial No. 5,009

s claims. (01.194-93) This invention relates to coin controlled ap paratus for vending machines, and more particularly to mechanism of the type which acts to release the dispensing mechanism when a plurality of coins have been inserted, the denominations of which are equal to a certain amount, as, for example, three nickels, or a nickel and a dime. 'I'he objects of my invention are to provide a simple and effective coin controlled releasing mechanism, in which the dispensing mechanism will be released when three nickels, or when one nickel and a dime have been placed therein, and

in which, if one nickel and a dime have been placed therein and then an additional nickel is inserted,

the latter will immediately be returned, or if two or three nickels have been inserted and then a dime is inserted, the nickels in excess of one'will be returned. Also to provide means whereby, if an attempt is made to have the coins restored after the dispensing operation has been advanced sumciently to release the same, such attempts will be frustrated and the dispensing operation '30 and the other of which is held ln its inoperative position either by the third nickel inserted, or by a dime when inserted. Also by providing an auxiliary coin-holding device which is arranged normally to hold the second and third nickel in position, but which is moved to an inoperative position upon the insertion of a dime, so that anyv nickels which are, or havebeen inserted, in addition to the first nickel, will be returned if, or

when a'. dime is inserted.' Also by providing an auxiliary coin retaining device which is moved into operative'position bythe dispensing mechanism, when moved initially, and before the coins pass into the receiving chamber, so that, if -it is attempted to dislodgeA the coin retaining means which is controlled by the dime, the attemptwill be unsuccessful.

For a morecomplete and detailed disclosure ol my invention, referenceis now made to the following specication in connection with th'e accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the.l coin-controlledV mechanism embodying my invention, which is mounted on the right hand end of the l Casin-8- Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof at line 2 2 o1' Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views at lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 4, showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view at line 6--6 of Fig. 4. l l

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the enclosing cabinet.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view at line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Y

Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of the two locking levers. I l

As is customary in machines of this character, the machine proper is enclosed in a cabinet, as I0, at the front of which a series of pull hands I2 protrude, whereby, when any one of them is pulled out, a package will be dispensed from the stack of packages in the rear thereof and delivered to L shelf I3. As indicated in Fig. 3, a crank shaft I4 is journaled at its ends in the end -frames I5 of the machine, and a. finger, as I6, depends from each p ull handle and engages the crank portion of shaft I4, so that, when any one of the handles is pulled out, theshaft I4 Vwill be oscillated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l, and will be returned to its initial position when the handle is drawn back. The end portion of shaft I4 extends I8 is secured thereon, so that the shaft may be rotated sufficiently to permit a dispensing operation only when the cam I8 is free to move therewith.

According to my Y invention, the particular means employed to lock the shaft against operative movement consists of a pairA of locking levers 20 and. 22, which are arranged side by side in proxmityandvmounted on a pivot 24 at their upper ends. Each lever has a friction roll 2I, 23 at its lower end, which is arranged in rolling contact with the outer side of cam I8, and coil springs 26, 21 are connected to said levers 20, 22 respectively, and-tend to swing the same in the direction to hold the friction rolls thereon in contact with the surface of the cam I8. In the initial position of the parts, projections 28, 30 on cam I8 engage rolls 2I, 23, holding springs 26, 21 under tension, as shown in Figs. l and 8, but, on a slight forward movement of cam I8, caused by pulling out any one of the handles I2, either, or both levers 20, 22 will be swung inward, so that the rolls 2 I 23 thereon will be engaged by abutments 3|, 33 on the cam, as shown in Fig. 3, positively locking .the machine against further operation by the coins in the machine, and as the present invention' in no way relates to any coin detecting operations, means of that character are not shown.

In the present instance the machine is designed to be operated to perform the dispensing operation after three nickels, or one nickel and one dime have been inserted, and, alter acceptance by the coin testing means, the nickels fall ,down a passage 34 and the dimes down a passage 35, and the tlrst nickel inserted 'and the dime come to rest 'on the top side of'a projection, or coin-support 38 .formed on the peripheral portion of cam I8, and

areretained in this position by a nger 38 on the innerv end of a push rod 39, as shown in Figs. l, 4,

6, 8 vand 9, sothat, when the handle at the outer end of rod` 39' is pushed inward, the coins supported on projection 36 will roll therefrom and fall into the'coin return passage 40 and be delivered to the shelf I3. If two additional nickels have been inserted, they will be supported edge to edge on the one rst inserted, one above the other, as shown in Fig. 6, so that if the rod 39 is moved inward they will also berestored. Also ii more than three nickels are inserted, or more than one dime is inserted, the additional coins will merely strike the top nickel, or the dime and immediately roll into the return passage, as shown in Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 9, when the bottom nickel and l the dime\ar held on the support 38 and retained thereon by finger 38, the dime will be held smewhat oi! center with relation to the nickel, so that it only partly overlaps the same. The lever 20 is provided with a nger 42, which is arranged in position to engage the portion ofthe nickel which is not overlapped by the dime, when both are sustained on support 38, as shown in Figs. 4, 6, 8 and 9, so that when cam I8 is rotated, so that its projection 28 is carried-out of engagement with the roll 2|, lever 20 will be swung inward by its spring 2'6 until nger 42 engages the'side of the nickel, thereby preventing lever 20 from swinging inward suiliciently to engage abutment 3|, and holding the same in the position of Fig. 4, so that,- as the cam I8 rotates, the roll 2| may engage the inclined top portion of abutment 3|, and may ride upon the outer side of cam I8, and thus will be inoperative to preventthe dispensing-operation. The lever 22 also has a nger 44, which operates in a similar manner to hold lever 22 in an inoperative position'by engagement with one side oi the Mhirdnickel Which is' inserted, as indicated inf oFig., 6, so that when three nickels have beenins serted both locking levers will beheld in their inoperative positions and the dispensing opera.-y tion will be permitted.

'I'he lever 22 is also provided with a iinger 4l,

which is arranged in-position to engage the dime when lheld in position on support 38, shown in Figs. 6 and 9, so that if a nickel and a dime have been inserted both making levers will be heldin their inoperative positions, permitting the dispensing operation to be performed, and in all instances when movement of cam I8 is permitted, beyond the point where it would be locked, support 38 is moved from beneath the coins supported thereon, so that they will fall into the money box. As the locking levers 2n, 22 press the coins rmly ytion st which they may be engaged against the sides of the coin passages, they would not be released when the support 33 is moved vi'rom beneath them it this pressm'e were not removed.

- The cam I8 is therefore arranged to press the the machine, a dime is inserted, which consists of a latch, orv dog 48, which is arranged to swing freely on a pivot 41 and which is provided with a nger 48 vat an intermediate'-point thereon, which normally extends in a position to engage ythe edge of the second nickel in the rearthereof, so that, under normal conditions, .shownK in Figs. 3, 4, and 5,'-it will hold the nickel in the i position oi Fig. 6and prevent the same from falling into the-returnpassage 48, but if withdrawn i'rom thisposition will permit this nickel, and,

if a third nickel is supported thereon, both lto pass into the return passage. A nger 58 is formed on the lower end of dog 46 and normally 'extends into the dime passage 35 a short distance above the point where the dime is held by support 36, the edge of lsaid nger yhaving an inclined face 5I, so arranged that Ait faces upward in position to be engaged by the dime, as it i'alls into position, thereby causing the dog to be swung to the position of Fig. 8, and, at the same time,

. withdrawing nger 48 irom the position in which it retains the second nickel in its passage, so that, when a dime falls into position, ifv a second nickel is. or has been inserted, the latter will immediately be restored, and, if a third nickel has been inserted, it will also be restored.

, It has been ascertained, however, that. on account oi! the fact that dog 43 can be moved out of its intercepting position by as slight a force ras the impact of a falling dime, it is possible, by subjecting the machine to Aa, somewhat violent jarring action, as byv striking it a sharp blow, to cause the dog 46 to be swung back to its inoperative position. This fact is of no consequence if the dispensing operation hasnot beenl started,

. as the second and ithird nickels will merely be returned and it will not then be possible to operate the machine without' returning them, but

itis necessary'toprovide a short period between the point when the cam Il ha's been moved to a point where the locking lever will no longex intercept its movement and the point where thev coins are dumped from support 38 into the money box, so that if the'casingwere struck a sharp blow whileV the cam is held in this position,ltwo ot the nickels would fall into the return passage, and then thev operator could continue the operation and secure-'apackage ri'or a single'nickel.

Machines vof `this character are usually4 provided .with so-called scavenger means, which operates to liberate and return all defective coins or slugs which have been intercepted by the/com tester. k

In the present instance the lever -82 ounted o n pivot 53, performs this function' said lever having a roll 84 at its lower end, which engages a cam lace on cam |8,and is moved to perform its normal functions, (such means not being shown -in the present instance), before the cam I8 is moved to the point where it will be` released by levers 28, 22. Said lever 82 is provided with a nnger 55 at its upper end. see Figs. l and 2, which delivered to the money box, the ilnger 55 willA f dimensions of the coins which are i l l Y,oaops'a' l 3 Yis inoperative when'the parts are in vtheir initial position, but which, immediately on the initial movementA of cam I8, is moved inward to a` position side by' sidev with nger of vdog 46, as indicated in Fig. 6. Consequently if the dog 4B is dislodged in any way after the disepnsing operation has been started and before the coins are prevent the discharge of any ofthe coinsv into the return passage, so that they bea discharged into the money box. 1

Y 'I'he above described construction .is primarily advantageous on account of the simplicity and durability of its parts and the factthat the action is positive and in no way dependent on the nserted, the latter having previously been thoroughly tested beiore they-reach the position in which they act to permit operation of the dispensing means.

It will be apparent 'that the above described mechanismis not limited to use in connection with v the particular coins' referred to, as various other combinations of coins than those referred to may '25 Vbe employed practically without modioation.

'I claim:

1. In `a coin-controlled dispensing machine having a pair of coin passages for coins of diil'erent denominations', means for supporting a coin in one of said passages and for supporting a plurality of coinsedge to edge one above another in the other passage, whereby all of said coins `will be held in predeterminedpositio'ns, operating devices movable to perform a dispensingperation including a controlling device which is movable therewith from aninitial position, a pair of locking devices arranged to be held in inoperative positions by said controlling device when in its initial position, means to movesaid locking de vices into positions to lock said controlling device when moved from its initial position, means on one of said locking devices arranged to engage the lowermost coin of said plurality of coins, and on the other of said locking devices to engage the top-mostcoin thereof and the single -coin when held in the other passage in said positions, to hold said locking devices in their inoperative positions when the requisite number of coins have been placed in one passage, or a single coin has V been placed in both passages, to. permit movement of said controlling device beyond the pofsition where it may be locked, so that-the dispensing operation may be performed. l 2. A coin-controlled dispensing machine having a coin passage and supporting means for holding a coin in a predetermined position thereon, operating devices movable to perform a dispensing operation, a rotatably mounted cam mov- 'to locking position, and means on said cam arranged, whenmoved beyond a position inwhich it may be locked, to disengage said 'locking de- 'vice from'the coin and permit deliverythereof from ,said supporting means.

3. A com-controlled dispensing machine having a coin passage and operating-devicesmovable to' perform a dispensing operation, a controlling 'device movable from anl initial position by said operating devices when moved operatively, a support on said controlling device and means lfor holding a coin delivered to said passage in a predetermined position thereinfa locking device, a

spring arranged to move saidllocking device to ltrolling device is moved from initial position,

whereby a coin on said support may hold the locking device against movement to its locking position, and means on said" controlling device for disengaging said locking device from the coin when ithas been moved beyond the position at s which it may be locked, said support being arranged to be simultaneously moved from its coin supporting position.'A v l 4. In a coin-controlled dispensing machine second passage for coins of another denomination and means arranged to support a single coin therein, and a coin return passage, operating devices movable to perform' a dispensing operation,

a controlling device movable from an initial pov sition by said operating deviceswhen moved operatively, locking devices normally held in an inhaving a passage for coins of one denomination and means to support a plurality ofcoins therein edge to edge one above another, and having a operative position by said controlling device when `'in its initial position and having means for mov- Y ing the Asame to lock said operating devices on operative movement thereof, meanson said locking devices forvengagement with the lowermost and the top-most coins in said first named DBS-138 and with the coin in the other passage. to hold said locking devices in inoperative position, and a latch havingA means to prevent the `second coin in the iirst named passage from passing into said return'passage, said latch being arranged to be engaged by a coin placed in the other passage and to be moved thereby into position to permit said second coin to pass into said rev turn passage.

5. In a coin-controlled dispensing machine' having a passage for coins of one denomination and means to support a plurality of coins there-- in edge to edge one above another, and having a second passage for coins of .another denomlnation and means arranged to support a single coin therein, and a coin return passage, operating devices movable to perform a ldispensing operation, a controlling device movable from an initial position by said operating devices when moved operatively, locking devices normally heldin an in- A operative position by said controlling device when. in its initial position and having means for moving the same to lock said operating devices on operative movement thereof, means on said locking devices for engagementwith the lowermost vand the top-most coins in said ilrst named passage 'and with the coin in the `other passage, to f hold saidlocking devices in inoperative position, c

and a vpivotally suspended latch having a. vnger normally in position to prevent dellveryof the coins above the lowest coin in the r'st named passage to said return pe and having an inclined face arranged to beengaged by a'coin placed in the second named coin pasandmeanstosuppoitaplurality'ofocinstherein edge to edge one above and having 'a second passage for ccinsof another denomination andmeansarranzedtosupportasinlleeoin therein. and .,a coin return passais. operating devices movable to'periorm a dispensing operation.

a controllingv device movable from an initial 4position by said cperatinx devices when moved op erativelxlcckinldevices normally heldin an 1li me devices for engouement with the iowermost 9,040,933 havina'a pascale for ocins of on'e denoniination` .j ecinsisaidilrstnamedpaacoin in the other passage, to

top-'most N6 and with the hold said lockimr devices in inoperative position',l

a pivotally suspended latch having a finger -normally extendinginposition to prevent delivery of the coins above the lowest coin in the'flrst named passage to'said'return passage and having means arranged to be engaged by a coin placed in said second latchfto withdraw its miser to an yinoperative position and normally inoperative means arranxed to supplementthe action 'of said iinger and movable into operative position by said operatins deviees onjinitial movement thereof.

' FRANCIS C. DU GRENIER.

named coin passage tov move -said

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