US2144545A - Coin conveying mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1939. .w. e. PETERS COIN CONVEYING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'iled Jan. 13, 1936 'jyeiefor [ill/aim 61%;;

ii 2507 72696. I

Jan. 17, 1939.

'w. G. PYETERS 2,144,545

COIN CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 13, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 iffarzzegaf Jan. 17,1939. G. PETERS I I 2,14

COIN CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 13,1936 4SheetsS-heet 3 Filed Jan. 13, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .0. 4.3 7. 7. W W0 a W E ,L' 7 x. 1 5W. "w 4 v m w 4 M h r 4. 0w 7 5 a 6H J 5 7 7 5:5 .4

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,144,545 COIN CONVEYING MECHANISM William G. Peters, Chicago, 111., assignor to Richard Groetchen, Chicago, Ill.

Application'lanuary 13, 1936,v Serial No. 58,912

12 Claims.

This'invention relates to a coin handling mechanism and particularly to a means for moving, displaying and handling coins in a coin controlled or coin operated mechanism.

It has for one object to provide means for safeguarding the machine to prevent its unauthorized use. It has for another object to provide means for preventing the operation of the mechanism by a coin ortoken of the wrong'size. Another object is to provide such a controlling mechanism which is readily adaptable for use with coins of difi'erent sizes; Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more 'or less diagrammatically'in the accompanying drawings, wherein:--

Figure 1 is a general transverse vertical section of the mechanism of this invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken generally at line 2-2' of Figure 1; v m

Figure 3 is a section taken at line 3 3 of Figure 2; a m

Figure 4 is a detailedvertical section taken at line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing a coin or token in position;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the main coin carrying mechanism; I

Fig; 6 is a 'side elevation" of the coin carrier Figure 7 is a vertical section taken at line 1-1 ofFigure 6; 7

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the gate shown in Figures 6 and '7 5 Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken at line 99 of Figure 3, without coins;

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken at line lG-IO of Figure 3, showing a coin in place;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the base plate of the coin handling means;

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

The apparatus of the'present invention may be applied to any. coin controlled or coin operated mechanism. It is associated with the mecha-. nism', with'a housing and: with a coin slot, and so'arranged and so operated that'coins deposited in the slot, if they are the right size, fall into the conveying mechanism, are carried around and subsequently dropped into the coin box or other receiving member.

As shown herewith the mechanism with which the coin conveyor is associated is omitted and is indicated only very slightly diagrammatically. I lis a top or cover of a coin controlled or operated mechanism, which it cut away to provide an opening 2. Secured to the top or cover I by a flange 3 and screws 4 is an irregularly shaped housing 5 which encloses the coin conveying mechanism and also closes the opening 2 so that is closed by a transparent window 1 formed oi glass, or other suitable material. The upper portion of the housing 5 is narrowed and reduced as at 8, is perforated as at 9 and is provided with an opening l0 through which a coin may be inserted. This opening receives a coin gauging member H which is removably held in place by a set screw I2 or otherwise. The purpose of the coin gauging member is to prevent the insertion of coins which are too large for the mechanism. A coin gauging member suitable to the size of coins or tokens which are :to be inserted into the machine isfput in place and it may be removed and another substituted for it if the machine is subsequently to be operated with coins or tokens of a difierent size.

Afixed coin chute which may be of any suitable design is positioned within the composite housing formed of the members I and 5, extends upwardly toward the reduced portion 8 and is arranged to receive coins. As shown in the several figures, the coin chute comprises an upper, open portion l3, flared as at M and being laterally bent as shown particularly in Figures 2 and 4. The main body l5 of the coin chute continues downwardly in an irregular path and terminates at any desired point to" which coins are to be conducted. Along one side, asat iii, the coin chute is open to permit movement of coins into the conveying assembly. I? is a portion of the frame or housing of the main mechanism upon which the coin conveying assembly is mounted. It may be made, as shownparticularly in Figure 3, to include or form within itself a part of the coin chute I5, although. this is notan essential feature of the invention. Restingupon the member ,l'l is a-foundation plate l8 formed in its upper surface with a perforated, interiorly threaded boss 19. Resting upon this boss is a base plate 20 provided with a perforated, downwardly extending boss 2|, which rests directly upon the boss I9. The base plate 20 is shown in plan in Figure 11. It is provided with ahollow section 22 which forms a portion of the coin chute l5. It is provided also with-fa relatively narrower, downwardly extending coin slot portion 23 through which the coin passes after having passed about the conveyor assembly. Projecting downwardly from the under surface of the member 20 is a pair of perforated ears 25 which receive a pin 25 upon which a dog 25 is mounted for rotation. The free end of the dog is urged downwardly by a spring 21 which bears against the dog and the under surface of the member 28. The other end of the dog is provided with an upward projection 28 which may pass through a perforation 29 in the member 20. The member 20 is also provided with a generally arcuate slot or opening 30 the purpose of which will be described below. The member 20 is also perforated as at 3i to receive one end of a hinge pin 32 of a gate 33. A spring 34 is wrapped about the hinge pin 32 and bears at one end upon the gate 33 and at the other end upon a retaining pin 35 positioned in a perforation 35 in the member 28. The gate as shown particularly in Figures 3, 6 and 7 is provided with a generally straight side 36a and is sloped along its upper and lower edges as at 31 and 38, respectively. Extending into its straight face 33a, the gate 33 is provided with a pair of slots 39. A gauge plate 40 is removably secured to the gate on its outer face by screws il or otherwise. This plate is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 42 which extends through the gate and beyond its inner or straight face 36a, as

shown particularly in detail in Figure 7. The gate and plate are also perforated as at 43. That portion of the gate which lies between the slots 39 is provided with an inclined upper surface M as shown in Figure 3.

Screwed into the boss I9, extending upwardly from it through the perforated boss 2| is a holding screw or bolt 45. A hub 46 is positioned about the screw and rests at one end upon the upper I ticularly in Figures 5 and 10 the plate is octa- .gonal inform and each of :the flanges 52 defines one octagonal side. Obviously the plate might have more or less sides. 53 is a reinforcing or stiffening plate secured to the bottom of the plate 5| byrivets 54 or otherwise. If the plate 5! is of suflicient stiffness the reinforcing 'plate. 53 might be omitted. Perforations 54a are formed through the plates 5| and 53 and there are as many perforations as there are sides to the conveyor.v In the present case, therefore, eight perforations are provided.

Positioned about the exterior of the flanges 52 are two or more coin retaining rings 55 which on their exterior are curved or circular and on their interior are provided with straight portions 56, one for each of the sides 52, and there is thus defined on each side of the coin conveyor a space 51 which is bounded on one side by an upturned flange 52 and on the other'side by the rings 55. As shown in the drawings, particularly inFigures '1 and 3, the coins 58, when they lie within the coin but serves to move it about .in a manner which will .be describedv below.

The plate 49, in addition to covering the coin conveying assembly, furnishes an upper bearing point for the hinge pin 32 of the gate 33.

Projecting downwardly from the under surface of the base plate 20 are two guide members 59, 59. These serve to guide and to position the pawl by means of which the coin assembly is moved. 5!] is a pawl, pivoted at one end to an arm or lever 5i. Projecting downwardly from the bottom of the pawl Bills a hook member 62, to which one end of a spring 63 is secured. The other end of the spring is secured to any rigid support, for example, to a portion of the member l8 as at 64.

The effect of the spring is to hold the pawl and arm in the full line position of Figure 1 when free to do so. At its outer end the pawl is provided with an engaging hook portion 65 which has an upper inclined or cam face 66. The arm 6| moves from the full line position of Figure 1 to the dotted line position of that figure in response to movement of some part of the machine with which the present device is associated. Each time this movement occurs the coin conveyor is rotated and this movement occurs step by step. Thus with the parts in theposition shown in Figure 1 in full lines, the point 55 is, penetrating through one of the perforations 54a. If the arm 6| is moved to the dotted line position, the coin conveyor is rotated an equal distance. In each stop-ping position the member 28 penetrates through one of the perforations 54a. but when the movement of the arm BI just described occurs, the member 28 is forced downwardly, the spring 21 being compressed to permit this, and as soon as the conveyor has moved through one step, the member 28 is forced into the next perforation and again positions and holds the conveyor. When the arm 6! is. free to return under the influence of the spring 63, the inclinedor cam face 66 depresses the outer end of the pawl, bearing against the under surface of the conveyor, and so the nose or point 65 is withdrawn from the perforation and at the completion of the rearwardmovernent to the full line position, falls into the next perforation. 54a and the parts are in position for a further advancing step.

Several different safeguarding devices may be applied to'the. mechanism of this invention. As shown there are three positive means for preventing unauthorized, dishonest or incorrect use of the mechanism. 1

As shown particularly in Figure'3, a'means is provided to prevent incorrect use by inserting a second coin ortoken before a previously inserted coin or token has been moved into the conveyor. This comprises an irregularly shaped member 57 which has an upper surface portion 68, downwardly inclined,and a lower surface portion 69, also downwardly inclined. Two ears '10 formed preferably on the downwardly-inclined portion 59 are pivoted by means of a pin H supported in a base member 12 which forms a part of or is attached to the coin chute. when free to doso, the member 5'! falls into and remains in the full line position of Figure 3. This movement is as.- sisted by a counterweight 13. It will be noted that in this position the lower inclined portion '59 lies across or extends: into the coin slot path l5. If now'a' coin is dropped into the machine it strikes this part of the portion 69 and de- I also that each. of the flanges .52 is provided with i a cut away portion 15 through which the lower end of the member 69 projects when. the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. The upper edge of each cut away portion 15 serves as a stop to limit the upward'tilting movement of the member 69. The coin slot is perforated or cut away as at 16 to permit the. upper member 68 to penetrate through it. Thus when acoin has tilted the member 61 to the dotted line position of Figure 3, the upperinclined member 68 projects through the opening 16 into the coin slot and lies within the path of a coin falling from above so that should a second coinbe deposited while the first still remains in contact with the portion 69, the second-coin, in falling, will strike the upper surface of the member 68 and will be deflected over the gate. 33 to pass downwardly through the coin chute I to be discharged from the machine or otherwise disposed A second protective means comprises'a part effective to prevent withdrawal of a coin or token once it has been deposited in the machine and fallen into the space l6 between the gate 33 and the conveyor. This comprises a member Tl pivoted at it and provided preferablywith a laterally bent forked portion 79. A spring 86 tends to hold the member 1'! in the position shown in Figure 9. A stop 8! limits movement of the member in response to the spring. As shown in Figure 9, this member, therefore, is normally in inoperative position. It is ordinarily moved tooperative position to prevent withdrawal of a coin when a coin has been introduced and the operation of the total mechanism has been initiated. When this occurs a lever 82 which is pivoted at any suitable place, for example, at 83, and is secured to some part of the total mechanism so as to be moved by movement of the latter, swings outwardly from the position of Figure l and by means of a link 86 holds the member Tl against the resistance of the spring 86 so that the forked end 79 extends into the coin slot. Since it lies above the coin it prevents its withdrawal. For convenience the member 79 is so positioned that in the movement just described it extends through a perforation or cut away portion 85 formed in the member 61.

A further means for preventing unauthorized or incorrect use of the machine comprises a'member connected with some operating part, preferably an operating handle, of the main mechanism and is so arranged that it either prevents operation of that handle and hence prevents operation of the main mechanism, or else if it permits operation of the handle, makes it ineffective to operate the mechanism. This mechanism comprises among other parts a lever 86, which may be pivoted at 83 and which carries at its upper end a plunger 81 which extends through a suitable perforation in the outer wall of the coin chute l5 and through a perforation-43 in the plate 40 and gate 33. When the handle or other operating means is operating, the total mechanism is actuated, the level 86 is moved counter-clockwise, by a connection 88 which is suitably connected to the main mechanism. Thus the plunger 81 is moved into the coin slot space It. If no coin is present the plunger contacts nothing and moves across the slot through one of the perforations89 in a flange 52, there being one perforation in each flange. This movement of the plunger across the space 56 and through the perforation actuates a control mechanism, not shown, either to prevent movement of the handle or to make, it ineffective. Should there be a coin present in the space l6 at the time that the plunger is moved as described, it will contact that coin and its movement is limited by the coin. This limited movement is effective upon the controlmechanism not shown, and the operation of the total mechanism is permitted.

It is to be understood that the operation and connection of the members 6|, .82 and 86 with the main mechanism is not limited to any particular construction or details. no essential part of the present invention. It is sufficient that these parts are connectedto the main mechanism to carry out the functions-assigned to them and indicated in the above. description. 1

' The use and operation of my invention are follows:

The device of the present application can be used with slight alterations for several different sizes of coins or tokens. It is assumed that a suitable gauge ll has been inserted in the opening ill of the coin slot and that a suitable gauge plate it carrying a suitable gauge extension 42 has been positioned in the gate. A coin or token of the proper size is now inserted and falls into the These details form flaring opening it of the slot l3, passes downwardly into the space l6 between the gate 33 and one flange 52 of the conveyor. The coin strikes the member 69 and swings it to the dotted line position of Figure 3, thus also swinging the-upper portion 63 into the dotted line position covering the space it. With the parts in this position, should another coin be inserted, it will strike on the top of the member 68, be deflected to the right of the gate 33 and fall through the chute I6,

either to be returned to the user or deposited in' With the coin in this position the operating handle or device of the main mechanism is operated. When this occurs the arm 6! is moved from the full line position of Figure 1 to the dotted line position of that figure and the hook 51 passing through one of the perforations 54a pulls the conveyor around one step. To permit this movement the gate 33 yields outwardly against the spring 3%. When the handle of the mainmechanism is released the arm 6| is brought back by the spring 63, the hook being withdrawn from the particular perforation 54a in which it has been,

by the camming effect of its inclined face 66 against the bottom of the conveyor; It stops'in position beneath the next perforation 54w and snaps or projects upwardly through it to be in position for the next advancing movement of the.

conveyor. The inclined or beveled edge 14 of the member 69 contacts the walls of one of the perforati'ons i5 and is retained in the dotted line in tilted position of Figure 3 until the conveyor has moved far enough to bring the next opening '65 into position so that the member '69 can fall through it into the full line position of Figure 3.

To prevent unauthorized or improper usetwo other operations occur. The lever is also connected with the handle for operating the main mechanism and before the movement of that handle becomes effective to operate the main mechanism the lever 86 isimoved to the left from the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 and if a coin is lying properly within the space Hi the plunger 81 will contact it, will limit further movement of the lever 86 and Will thus make effective the further movement of the main operating handle. If no coin is present, the plunger,

continues and finally extends through one of the perforations 89 and this movement positively prevents rotation of the conveyor and isefiective also, through a connection with the lever 85, to render ineffective the operation of V the main mechanism. Thus unless a coin of the right size is present at the time of operation the main mechanism cannot be operated.

To prevent withdrawal of coins the lever 82 is provided which is also operated in connection with the operating handle or other means of the main mechanism. It is moved in a clockwise direction and through the link 84 draws the lock ing member I! into such position that its forked end '19 extends across the space it and prevents withdrawal of a coin.

If the machine is operated properly the coin having once passed from the space it rolls along the upper face of the base plate 2%), being moved and guided by the conveyor and held in an upright position by the sides of the flanges 52 and the rings 55. The coin moves about the plate until it finally reaches the coin 'slot 23 and it falls into that and passes to any desired final receptacle. It will be understood therefore that in this mechanism a coin or token of the right size moves first to a position in which it is suspended by gauging members and where it acts to permit operation of the machine. It then is moved about by the conveyor and may be visible through the transparent wall I. It thus makes a step'by step movement about a curved path' and is finally deposited into a receptacle of any desired sort.

I claim:

1. In combination in a coin handling assembly, an entering coin chute and a receiving coin chute, and means for moving a coin fromv the entering coin chute and for depositing it in the receiving coin chute, said means comprising a conveying assembly including a rotary conveying wheel provided with a plurality of angularly disposed sides, a fixed transparent housing separate from and surrounding said wheel, and a retaining member formed as a part of said wheel positioned outwardly with respect to and surroimding said sides and forming with them a number of .open sided peripheral coin receiving pockets, said wheel being positioned with respect to said entering chute to receive a coin, movable means co-operable with said retaining member initially for supporting the coin in position within a pocket of said wheel, means for rotating said wheel to move the coin from such initial position to-deposit it in said receiving chute,

' other means for supporting a coin in said pocket during its movement from said initial position to said receiving chute, said coin during movement,

of the wheel, being visible from the exterior of the housing through the open sides of the pockets.

2.:In combination in a coin handling assembly, an :entering coin chute, and a receiving coin 'chute, the'entering coin chute and the receiving coin chute being out of alignment, and means fionmoving 'a coin from the entering coin chute and for depositing it in the receiving coin chute, said means comprising a conveying assembly including a rotary conveying wheel provided with a plurality-of open sided coin receiving pockets, at fixed transparent housing separate from and surrounding said wheel, said wheel being positioned with respect to said entering chute to receive 'a coin, means initially for supporting the coin in position within 'a coin receiving pocket, means for rotating said Wheel to move the coin 7 from 'suchinitial position to deposit it in said receiving chute, and additional means for sup-- porting said coin in its movement from said initial position to said receiving chute.

3. In combination in a coin conveyor, a fixed coin supporting base plate and a movable coin conveyor having coin pockets and being positionedthereabove, and means for rotating said conveyor, parts on said conveyor for spacing and balancing coins while the latter rest upon said baseplate, and a oom receiving chute associated with said base plate into which coins are deposited after having been moved aboutrsaid base plate in a predetermined path, and "a movably mounted coin positioning and gauging gate positionedadjacent said coin conveyor and initially holding'the coin in one of said pockets, and serving in part to support the coin prior to its contact with said base plate.

4. 'Incombination in a coin conveying assembly, a coin conveyor proper, comprising a wheel-like member having sides, against which a coin may lie, and retan'ers extending beyond said sides and 'shapedto'form in co-operation therewith a series of coin 'rec'eiving'p'ockets or spaces, each of said sides provided with a main opening, and a relativelysmaller additional opening, means for rotatingth'e wheel'member and control instrumentalities aligned respectively with said openings and adaptedto penetratethe same in accordance with predetermined operations of the mechanism.

5. 'In combination in a coin conveying assembly, a coin conveyor proper, comprising a wheel-like member having sides against which a coin may lie, and retainers extending beyond said sides and shaped to form in co-operation therewith a series of open sided coin receiving pockets or 1 spaces, each of said sides provided with a main opening, and a relatively smaller additional opening, means for rotating the. Wheel member, and movable control instrumentalities aligned with the respective openings in the sides of the coin pocket and movable in response to operation of the wheel to penetrate said openings, at least one of said control members'operating through the open sides of the pockets formedby said retainers.

6. In combination ina coin conveying assembly, a coin conveyor proper, comprising a wheel-like member having sides against which a coin may lie, and ring-like retainers extending around said sides and shaped to form in co-operation there- With a series of open sided coin receiving pockets or spaces, each of said sides provided with a main opening, anda relatively smaller additional opening," a pawl operatively engaging the wheel and means for moving itback andiorth to rotate said wheel in a step by step movement, control instrumentalities operatively associated with the wheel in alignment with the openings in the sides of the wheel pockets, and means for operating the control members in a predetermined manner for moving the same into penetrating engagement with their respective openings to control the movement of the wheel.

'7. In a coin mechanism, a coin conveying and gauging assembly comprising a coin carrying wheel, having a plurality of angularly'disposed sides and a co-operating coin supporting and gauging gate, said gate movably positioned adjacent said wheel to lie generally parallel to an adjacent side of said wheel, coin retaining members on said wheel and a coin retaining gauge plate on said gate, the coin being supported initially partly on said coin retainers and partly on said gauge plate.

8. In a coin mechanism, a coin conveying and gauging assembly comprising .a coin carrying Wheel, having a plurality of angularly disposed sides and a co-operating coin supporting and gauging gate, said gate movably positioned ad-' jacent said wheel to lie generally parallel to an adjacent side of said wheel, coin retaining members on said wheel and a coin retaining gauge plate on said gate, the coin being supported initially partly on said coin retainers and partly on said gauge plate, and a safety device for preventing the insertion of a second coin prior to movement of said first coin, said device comprising a movably mounted member extending into the path of the coin, said member carrying a switch portion and adapted upon contact with a coin to be moved to bring the switchportion above the first mentioned coin and into the path of a following coin, the first mentioned coin while in position on said gauge member retaining the switch member in position to divert a second coin away from said wheel.

'9. In combination a coin handling assembly includingan entering coin chute, a wheel-like member provided with a peripheral series of open sided coin receiving pockets, means for successively positioning said pockets in alignment with said coin chute, and means for initially supporting a coin within a wheel pocket in alignment with the chute, said supporting means comprising a movable member having a portion penetrating the open side of said pocket and being positioned to be contacted by said wheel-like member and to be moved out of said pocket by said wheel in its rotation to align a succeeding pocket with the coin chute.

10. In combination in a coin handling assembly, a coin chute, a wheel-like member mounted for rotation and provided with means defining a plurality of coin receiving pockets, means for successively aligning said coin receiving pockets with said coin chute, means for initially supporting a coin in the pocket aligned with said chute comprising a member pivoted on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel and having a portion extending into the path of movement of the wheel in the direction of movement of said Wheel, said last mentioned portion of said member penetrating into a coin receiving pocket aligned with the coin chute, and means for resiliently urging said member into penetrating engagement with said pocket whereby upon rotation of the wheel to align successive pockets with the coin chute, said member successively engages the respective pockets.

11. In a coin handling mechanism, a coin chute, a coin conveying mechanism including a wheellike member having a plurality of peripheral coin receiving pockets, said pockets being open at top and bottom and on at least one side, a base member for supporting said wheel member and functioning to close the bottom openings of said pockets, said base member being apertured in alignment with said coin chute, means for moving the wheel member to successively align the respective pockets with the coin chute and opening in the base member, and a combined coin gauge and supporting member penetrating a pocket aligned with the coin chute for initially gauging and supporting a coin deposited in said pocket.

12. In a coin handling mechanism a coin chute, a wheel-like member provided with a plurality of upstanding peripheral tongues, means cooperable with said tongues for defining coin receiving pockets, said tongue members each being provided with an aperture, means for successively,

aligning said pockets with the coin chute, a pivoted guard member having a portion adapted to penetrate a pocket aligned with the coin chute through the opening in the wall thereof, said guard member including a portion movable into the coin chute in response to movement of a coin into said pocket.

WILLIAM G. PETERS.

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