US2230566A

US2230566A - Coin-selecting mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2230566A
Application number: US152346A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hakanson Alfred
Original assignee: Peerless Weighing & Vending Ma
Current assignee: Peerless Weighing & Vending Ma; Peerless Weighing & Vending Machine Corp
Priority date: 1937-07-07
Filing date: 1937-07-07
Publication date: 1941-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1958-02-04

Description

Feb. 4, 1941. A. HAKANSON COIN-SELECTING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet l i Fi1 ed July 7, 19:57

INVENTOR' w mm b l r v ORNEYS Feb. 4, 1941. A. HAKANSON COIN-SELECTING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July '7, 1937 INVENTOR 4 i 4. a a

TORNEYS A. 'HAKANSQN COIN-SELECTING mncgmrsu Filed Jui '7, 1931 '7 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR- AT ZRNEYS Q Feb. 4, 1941.

A. HAKANSON COIN-SELECTING MECHANISM Feb. 4, 1941.

Filed July 7, 1937 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 w/ t: 1% m mu J l a $1.715 I K g g w 6 WW & Z

Feb. 4, 194 1 A. HAKANSQN 2,2305% GOIN-SELECTING MECHANISM Y Filed July 7, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORY M Patented Feb. '4, 1941 COIN-SELECTIN G MECHANISM Alfred Hakanson, North Arlington, N. 1., assignor to Peerless Weighing d; Vending Machine Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 7, 1937, Serial No. 152,346 2 Claims- (CI. 194-97) The invention relates to novel and useful coin selecting mechanism to detect and prevent fraud in the use of coin-controlled machines and to insure operation of any coin-controlled device only by the coin with which it is intended to function. I

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. i I

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to here-,

in and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 7

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the mech anism embodying the invention and showing a coin in the actuating station;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism with the lower portion of the movable front wing broken away to show the coin pathway;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line' 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the elements moving into coin discharging posi- 30 tion;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on line 6-6 of Fi 3;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section on line 1-1 of Fi 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section along the interior face of the actuating plunger looking in the same direction as Fig. 4 and showing the parts in their lowermost position or a position of rest;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the parts approaching their uppermost. position;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detailed side elevation of the mechanism showing the coin slot and coacting parts in coin-receiving position;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 and showing the coin slot when the parts are in coin-discharging p sition;

. Fig. 12 is a detail in perspective of the coin discharging interponent which coacts with the coin in its actuating position;

Fig. 1-3 is a perspective 'detail of'the scale or balance for testing coins as to weight;

Fig. 14 is a detail in perspective of the lower I diameter gauge; and

Fig. 1515 a similar perspective of'the upper 5/ diameter gauge.

The invention is directed to providing a mechanism for selecting and cooperating with discs or coins of predetermined characteristics, while all other coins,'dlscs and like objects which do 1 not correspond to the predetermined standard in all particulars will be detected and rejected. The invention is particularly useful in connection with coin-controlled vending machines and other coin-controlled machines wherein a coin of 5 predetermined standards is utilized as an actuating or releasing means for effecting further operation of the machine. The invention is of wide general application and high utility in detecting and preventing use of slugs, counterfeit coins and 20 other spurious articles.

one object of the invention is to provide a very compact, sturdy and simple coin-selecting mechanism which can be attached as a coin detector to practically any machine which operates on 2 g the coin slot principle. Accordingly the mechanism of the invention combines within very small compass a great number and variety of coin-testing and selecting elements which are capacitated to very accurately and rapidly detect and reject articles which deviate in any particular from the predetermined coin with which the machine is designed to coact. The mechanism not only provides means for testing and detecting falsiti es and irregularities in c0ins, but also said testing means are selectively variable and controllable in their capacities whereby to calibrate the mechanism for operation with different types and denominations of coins and also to permit very .nice setting of one or more of said testing 40 means to detect arelatively slight element of difference between a good coin and a bad one, as for example, where a certain imitation or slug is prevalent in a, particular locality.

In general the mechanism comprises a coin 45 pathway operating on the principle of a gravity chute, along which the coin travels to reach an actuating station. In the chute and preferably projecting from the faces thereof are successively arranged-various devices for testing the coin as to various features and for arresting any coin or other article which does not conform to the standard in the feature for which it is being tested by the particular device. .A coin which successfully passes all of the testing devices (hereinafter called a good" coin) will arrive at a station whereat it' cooperates to effectuate ini- "strong box or other receptacle. Means are also provided for selectively returning the good coin from the actuating station to the operator as an alternative to actuating the machine. Any disc slug,counterfeit coin or non-standard coin (hereinafter called bad coins) which has been arrested by the testing devices, and prevented from 15 reaching theactuating station, is discarded by a preliminary movement of the machine actuator, whereby the coin testing and arresting devices are retracted from the coin pathway. To eilect retraction, of said testing devices means are pro- 20 vided for permitting a preliminary movement of the actuator mechanism which causes the retracting and discharging operation, regardless of whether or not a good coin is in the actuating station so that any attempt to actuate the machine with a bad coin causes the discharge thereof.

Among the testing devices which may be positioned in the coin pathway are a gauge for testing the thickness of coins; a gauge for testing 30 the diameter; means for discovering and arresting discs with holes in them, such as washers;-

means for testing the weight of coins; means for detecting coins or discs-having paramagnetic qualities, such as iron or steel slugs; and means 35 for detecting coins of improper weight. All of these testing devices, and others if desired, are preferably arranged along a relatively short and simple gravity-chute pathway so as to interfere with and arrest the progress of any bad coin which falls to correspond to the standard for 40 which the testing device is set. Bad coins so arrested are thus prevented from reaching the actuating station and are automatically discarded upon any attempt to operate the machine actuator. It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary'and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof. Referring now in detail to the present preferred 50 embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the coin-selecting and testing mechanism, illustrated as a whole in Figs. 1 and 3 comprises a main frame casting having a horizontal base I, a vertical side wall 2, a horizontal top 3 and a vertical front wall or plate 4. The front wall or plate 4 constitutes the main vertical fiat'face of the coin pathway, along which the coin travels from its introduction into the coin slot until it arrives 60 at the terminal actuating station. As herein after described said main face 4 of the coin chute or pathway is provided with a plurality of openings through which the principal coin-testing devices extend and from which they are retract- 65 able to clear the face to discard bad coins which 7 with respect to each other, being preferably have been arrested thereby.

In accordance with the invention, the main vertical faces which determine the sides of the coin chute or pathway are relatively movable separable to effect discharge of bad coins which have been arrested in the chute. As above described, one vertical face of the coin chute is fixed, being defined by the flat face 4 of the main cast- 75 ing, while the opposite flat face of the chute is defined by the inner wall or face 8 of a vertically disposed plate or wing I which is pivotally suspended from the top I of the main casting to hang parallel to the face 4. Hinged suspension of the pivotal chute, plate or'wing I from the top I of the main frame is provided by a pin II- 4 and 6 is effected by a raised portion l2 along the upper part of plate 4and is somewhat greater than the maximum thickness of any coin to-be used. As shown in Fig. 3 the raised portion l2 terminates in an edge l3 which inclines inwardly and downwardly from the side wall 2, curving into the vertical, to form the upper and inner edge of the coin chute. The mouth or entrance slot to the coil chute lies near the top of the side wall' 2, the upper edge of the slot being determined by the narrow end of the raised portion l2. The corresponding upper portion of the pivotal wing is cut away at ii to form one side and the bottom edge of the slot and, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a U-shaped guard plate It is preferably attached to' the wing 5 and overlies wall 2 to outline the bottom and vertical sides of the coin slot.

The invention provides for free passage of a good coin from the entrance slot to a terminal station, and the pathway along which said coin travels is provided with a plurality of testing devices or gauges which permit travel of the good coin but arrest any coin which does not conform to the standard required by any gauge. Asembodied, the first of such gauges isone for testing the thickness of coins, although, of course, the particular order and arrangement of the gauging or testing devices is largely optional. As shown, the thickness gauge comprises a stud which is threaded into a suitable bore 2| in. the wing plate 5, the latter being thickened at 22 for that purpose. The inner end 20 of the stud is positioned to extend into the coin pathway and limit the'eflective thickness of the coin chute so as to arrest any coin which is too thick. For example, if the device is set to operate upon a one-cent piece, the position of the inner end of the stud 20 will be such as to just permit passage of a one-cent piece but prevent passage of any thicker coin such as a nickel or a quarter. As

shown, the thickness gauge is variable to calibrate the device for other coins, the threaded stud having a nut 23 to set the stud at the desired point.

The invention provides means for guarding against attempts to recover a coin after it has been dropped into the slot and entered the actuating station, as might be tried by a wire,

thread or the like attached to the coin or pushed posed horizontal lip 28 which projects into a corresponding horizontal slot 29 in the plate 5, but normally does not extend through said slot and into the inner face 4 of the wing plate 5 because of the counter-balancing effect of the lower and 32 in the main plate 4. The weight and balance of the parts of the guard member 25is such that the tongues normally extend into the openings 3| and 32 and thus lie across the coin pathway. When a coin reaches the tongues 30 it causes the plate 25 to tilt outward permitting the coin to. travel past the tongues, whereupon the tongues return into the openings. When a coin C has arrived at the terminal station, as shown in Fig. 3, efforts to withdraw it therefrom will be blocked by the tongues 30. Furthermore, any attempt to introduce into the coin pathway a retracting device such as a wire hook will be blocked by the plate 25, the tongue 28 thereof binding the upper portion of the wire and the bad coin into the actuating station by pushing on a column of coins lined up in the coin passageway. With a coin in the actuating station, if a second coin lies against the tongues 30, the upper lip 28 of the plate 25 will close the passageway above, so that no more coins can be forced into the lower part of the passageway and thus bear against a coin in the actuating station. In this way it is impossible for the operator to build up a column of coins extending through the passageway against which he could exert pressure by forcing a new coin into the coin slot.

Means are provided for arresting coins in the coin pathway which exceed the diameter of a good coin. As embodied, a horizontal slot 35 is provided in the face plate 4 and through said slot extends a stud 36, which projects beyond the face 4 to terminate just short of the inner face I of the wing 5. The stud 36 thus provides on the far or inner side of the coin passageway a bar against coins of excess diameter. Means opposite said stud 36 for cooperation with it to gauge the coin diameter comprise a plate 40 which is pivotally connected at 4| to the inner face of arm 21 of the swinging chute plate 5 and forms the rear edge of the coin chute. Said plate 40 is trapezoidal in outline and lies across the inside face of vertical plate 2 of the main frame, being adapted to pass through a vertical slot 42 therein. The plate 40, shown in normal position in Figs. 6 and 10, is provided with an L-shaped edge 43 which normally lies vertically along one side of the coin slot to permit entrance of the coin. The inner face 44 of the plate 40 forms a gauge or boundary for one edge of the coin while its opposite edge passes the diameter gauge stud 35 in traveling downward. A coin of excess diameter will thus be suspended between the stud 35 and the surface 44 of plate 40. The elongated nous permits variations in the position of the stud 36 for coins of different diameters. The means for supporting and for varying the position of stud 36 will be hereinafter described.

The invention provides means'for detecting and arresting objects, such as washers or nuts having holes in them and as embodied, said means f are positioned next in sequence in the coin passageway. As shown, a vertical slot 50 is provided in plate 4, said slot being located substantially intermediate the diameter stud 35 and the gauge trolling means;

plate 40. A rotatable pronged disc 5| is rotatably mounted on a horizontal threaded shaft 52. Said disc is of irregular form and is provided with a prong 53 which normally extends outwardly through the opening 50 and into the coin passageway, being held lightly in that position by gravity. The major weight of the disc 5| is on the opposite side of shaft 52 and so tends to rotate the disc clockwise (Fig. 6) but is prevented from moving it farther in that sense by the lower triangular point 54 of the disc which contacts with the bottom of opening 50. Disc 5| is capable of a limited rotational movement about shaft 52 in a counter-clockwise direction whereby prong 53 may rock downwardly from its normal horizontal position until it contacts the bottom surface of the opening 50. Further downward movement of prong 53 in a counter-clockwise direction is also prevented by the substantially opposite prong 55 which is so long that it strikes above the top of opening 50. An intermediate prong 51, preferably slightly hook-shaped, extends from the disc 5| and is adapted to swing through the opening 50 and project from the face of plate 4when the prong 53 is depressed. Thus. when a disc having a central opening, such as a washer, is attempted to'be passed through the coinpassa'geway its bottom edge will temporarily depress the prong 53 0f disc 5|, but as the central opening of the washer comes abreast of the opening 50, the prong 51 projects and books into the washer opening to catch and hold the washer. It will be noted that the ,disc 5i and the opening 50 are substantially midway between the

diameter gauge members

35 and 44, so that the central portion of a disc is automatically caused to pass across the opening 50. Thus common articles such as washers having holes at their centers will be. positioned for engagement by the prongs of disc 5| in traveling down the coin passageway. The disc 5| is interiorly threaded sothat it may be variably positioned along threaded shaft 52 to center the prong 51 for discs of different diameters.

The invention provides means for detecting an arresting discs, counterfeit'coins or otherspurlous objects having paramagnetic qualities, as an iron washer for example. As embodied, a permanent magnet, preferably of the horse shoe typ is mounted so'that its poles 6|! and 8| lie across the coin passage, preferably just below the opening 5|! in plate 4. The magnetic poles extend through suitable openings 62 and 63 in the face plate 4 and in their normal position lie substantially flush with the face 4. The openings 62 and 63 are preferably made substantially larger in diameter than the magnet poles to provide for free retracting movement, which is accomplished as hereinafter described. v

The invention also provides means for detecting and arresting discs which are lighter in weight than the standard'good coin, said means preferably coacting with a second diameter-con- As embodied, an inclined, depressible ledge 65 (Figs. 3, 6 and 13) is mounted below the

magnet poles

60 and 5| to form the in.-

clined bottom of the coin passageway. Said ledge projects through a triangular opening 66 near the bottom of the face plate 4 and is inclineddownwardly and toward the right (Fig. 3) to cause coins falling thereon to roll in the direction of its inclination. The ledge 55 is tilted rearwardly, its outer edge or lip being higher, so that coins tend to bear against the face plate 4.

The ledge 65 constitutes one end of a weighted coin is supplied. The coin is held in said aclever or balance 61 which extends through the opening 66 and is pivotally mounted in the rear of plate 4 on a horizontal axle 68, (Fig. 13). The portion of lever 61 to the rear of axle 65 is enlarged and provided with a threaded socket 55 in which is seated a threaded bolt I0. One or more nuts II are threaded on to said bolt I. so that the balance of lever 6'! may be nicely varied by the positioning of the nuts H along the bolt.

plate 4. Stud 15 is so positioned in slot 15 that the distance between the lower surface of the stud and the upper or left hand comer of ledge 65 is less than the diameter of a standard good coin when the ledge 65 is in its upper or undepressed position. However, when a coin of standard weight rides onto ledge 65,'it will depress.

the ledge sufiiciently to permit a coin of the standard diameter to roll past the bottom of stud 15. A coin of the standard diameter but too light in weight will not depress the ledge sufllciently and will be stopped from further travel by the stud I5.

Having passed the weight testing gauge provided by the ledge 65 of lever 81, the good coin is enabled to travel to the terminal station. As embodied said station comprises devices for temporarily holding the coin in a position where it will cooperate to effect operation of the actuating devices of the machine for which the tuating station until the actuating movement has been substantially advanced, and is then discharged into a suitable receptacle during the final portion ofthe actuating movement. In accordance therewith an inclined coin-supporting ledge is positioned in the coin passageway just beyond the lower end of the inclined weighing ledge 65, so that the good coin will roll onto said ledge 80. The ledge 80 extends from the face plate (which has a rectangular cut-out portion 8| at that point, The ledge 80 constitutes an inclined tongue projecting from a cylindrical member 82 (Fig. 12), the periphery of which is substantially tangential with face plate I. Cylindrical member 82 is mounted for limited pivotal "movement with respect to face plate 4, being provided with an axially extending shaft 83 which is journalled in the enlarged bottom portion 84 of the main casting, slightly to the rear of the rear face of the main vertical plate 4.

Means are provided for arresting the good coin so that it rests upon the ledge 80 for the purposerestraining edge 85 is formed in an angled block 86 which lies against the face I and the righthand side edge 90 thereof. The block 86 is supported at the proper height by a binding screw 81 which passes through a suitable vertical slot II in the block and is seated in a threaded recess tapped in the face plate 4. If desired, a coindischarge guide plate I! may be formed on the outer face of block II, the lower portion of said plate extending downwardly and outwardly from the block to aid in the discharge of the coin as will hereinafter appear. Thus it will be clear that the coin in its terminal station is held between the inclined ledge and the inclined edge 85.

It will be clear that a coin which is too small V in diameter will not be retained in the actuating vention as shown is provided with a vertically movable plunger which may be connected by any suitable linkage (not shown) with mecha- 7 good coin, and-so far as the present invention is concerned said actuating mechanism may be combined with any other device which may be susceptible of control by proper connection with said actuating means.

As embodied, the actuating plunger 95 is operatively connected to elevate a vertically movable frame 98 which is adapted to travel up wardly along the inner or right hand side of Figs. 1 and 3 of the mechanism, that is, the side opposite the-coin slot entrance. The plunger 95 is suspended in the lower end block 99 of the frame 98 (Figs. 8 and 9) which is bored at "I to loosely receive the plunger. The plunger is adapted to have a limited idle movement with respect to the block 99 so as to permit some vertical manipulation of the plunger without any actuation of the mechanism. Accordingly a kerf I" is cut in the plunger a short distance below the upper end thereof, the plunger ordinarily being loosely suspended in the bore III of the block 59 by the shoulder I02 of the kerf which rests against the inner end of a threaded supportingstud III! which extends for a short distance into the bore. At the limit of its upward idle stroke, the upper end of the plunger 85 is adapted to contact with and push against a shoulder l, formed in the frame 98.

Upward movement of the frame 98 is opposed by a helical compression spring I 06 which at its upper end is fixed to an arm I01 forming part of the top plate '3 of the main frame. Said spring I is mounted around a guide rod I III which is fixed to and extends downwardly from the end of arm I01. The upper portion of vertical frame 98 is enlarged at I09 to provide a vertical cylindrical recess III in which the lower end of the helical spring I" is seated and into which the rod "I is adapted to travel. Thus upon upward movement of the vertical frame 98 helical A limited upward movement of the vertical frame 98 is permitted, regardless of whether or not a good coin is in the terminal actuating station, but means are provided for preventing a full upward stroke of said vertical frame except when a good coin is in said station. As embodied, said preventing means constitute an interponent which is formed as an integral part of the cylindrical member, 82. As shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 12, said cylindrical member 82 is provided with an upwardly extending arm .I I5 which at its upper end is provided with horizontally extending shoulder I I6 havinga flat underface I I1. The rear face II8 of said shoulder H8 is also flat in the vertical plane. Shoulder I I6 comprises an interponent which is adapted to move into position to block the upward travel of vertical frame 98 unless a coin is in the actuating station, the

presence of the coin preventing such blocking movement of the interponent H8. The blocking ber 82, by means of a helical spring I20 which lies about astud I2I which is fixed to the rear face of main plate 4. The rear end of the spring I20 is seated in a cooperating recess I22 in the arm I I5, so that the spring tends to rock the member 82 and arm H5 -rearwardly (counterclockwise in Figs. 4, 5, 8 and 9) unless a coin-C is in the terminalstation. If the coin C is in said station, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8-, it lies between the ledge and the edge and prevents upward, i. e., counterclockwise movement thereof.

The vertical frame 98 is designed to cooperate with the interponent M6 to engage therewith to block further upward movement of the frame, or to clear the interponent and permit such further upward movement, depending on whether a coin is in the terminal station. As shown, an L- shaped block I25 is fixed .to and extends from the inner side of thevertical' frame 98. The'block I25 is so positioned that its fiat vertical face I26 will just clear the rear flat face- II8 of the interponent II6 (Fig. 9) when the coin is in the terminal station. Consequently the vertical frame interponent will move into the path of block I25.

Accordingly, upon preliminary upward movement of the vertical frame 98, the upper inclined face I21 of block I25 will come into contact with lower face II1 of the interponent and further upward movement of the vertical frame 98 will be prevented.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for effecting delivery of the coin from the terminal actuating station during the final portion of the upward stroke of the vertical frame 98. As embodied, an L-shaped coin ejecting lever I30 is pivotally connected by its upper arm I3I to the vertical frame 98 at I32; As shown in Fig. 8, the lower arm I30 of the coin ejecting lever normally lies retracted below and behind the terminal coin station, but is adapted upon full upward stroke ofthe plunger to rise upwardly and forwardly (Fig; 9) to lift and push the coin off the ledge 80 whence it falls to delivery into a suitable receptacle as hereinafter described. The embodied means for effecting said upward and outward movement of the coin discharge'lever comprises an outwardly and rearwardly sliding cam slot I35 which is formed in a 'wing member I36 extending rearwardly from the main plate 4. 'The upper portion of arm I3I of the coin discharge lever is provided with a pin I 31 which lies at right angles to the end of the lever and is adapted to travel in the cam slot I35. Thus upon the preliminary upward movement of the' vertical frame 98 the coin ejecting lever is retained in its retracted position, but upon further upward movement the inclined part of the cam slot causes the arm I30 .to move outwardly and upwardly to eject a coin. As shown in Fig. 9, the

inclined portion of the coin, guard plate 89 causes the ejected coin to be deflected downwardly for.

vention. As shown, the coin selecting mechanism as a whole is mounted upon the top of a strongbox I40, the top portions thereof being inclined as shown at Mt. A trap door I42 is pivotally mounted in the upper pant of the inclined box top I4I, having a side flange I43 which is journalled on a fixed axle I44. Means are provided for causing the trap door to positively open to permit entrance of a good coin and to be positively closed upon return stroke of the vertical frame. As shown, an actuating'tongue I45 is mounted to extend forwardly from the bottom block 99 of the vertical actuator frame. The side flange I43 of the trap door is notched at I48 to cooperate with said tongue I45. The upper inclined edge I41 of the notch is spaced above the upper surface of tongue I45 far enough to permit the preliminary upward movement thereof without affecting the trap door. When the vertical frame goes into its extended upward movement, that is, when a good coin is in the terminal actu ating station, then the tongue I45 is adapted to engage the edge I41 and rock the trap door to its open, coin-receiving position, as shown in Fig. 5.

Upon the return movement of the vertical frame,

the lower inclined edge of the tongue I45 engages the similarly inclined lower edge I48 of the notch I41 and returns the trap door to the closed position as shown in Fig. 4.

The invention provides means for permitting only a. single actuating stroke of the vertical plunger 95, even though the vertical frame 98 and its cooperating parts may be sustained in the uppermost position. As shown, a supplementary weighted lever 300 is pivotally suspended from the pivot I32 on the vertical frame so that it normally hangs behind the path of the plunger 95, being held in that position by a pin 30I which projects from the outer face of ejecting lever I30 and bears against the upper end of lever 300. However, when the vertical frame is supported in its uppermost position by pressure on the bottom -'block 99, the idle plunger 95, having dropped below the contact surface I04, lever 300 will then swing by gravity over the top of block 99. Thereafter upward movement of plunger will cause its upper end to contact the bottom of lever 300 most position. The mechanism described thereby prevents unpaid operations of the dispensing machine or the like which might otherwise be attempted by a dishonest operator.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, optionally operable means are provided for enabling the operator to effect return to him of the good coin after it has reached the terminal actuating station, instead of depositing it in the strongbox and without any movement of the vertical plunger and frame. As embodied, said means comprise a manually operable device for downwardly and outwardly tilting the coin-supporting ledge 00 independently of the vertical frame and while the latter is in its lowermost position. For this purpose the arm II5 of the cylindrical member 02 is provided with a rearwardly extending boss I00 (Figs. 2 and 12). Manual means for effecting an upward tilting movement against the bottom of the boss com-- prise a lever I5I pivotally mounted at I52 and adapted to be actuated by horizontal movement of a pin I53. Such movement is given to the pin by means of a manually operable plunger I50 which has reciprocatory movement in a cylindrical bore I55 formednear thebottom of the main frame, the end of the plunger protruding from the side face 2 of the main frame. The bore I55 is slotted at I50 to receive and coact with the inner part of the pin' I50 and is adapted to be returned after actuation by a helical spring I51 which lies betweenthe inner end of the plunger and the inner end of the bore I55. It will be clear that pushing in the end of the plunger I50 will cause pin I50 and lever "I to raise the boss I50 thereby depressing ledge 00 and causing the coin to roll along the ledge below the restraining edge 05. The coin then falls into a return chute I50 and thence back to the operator.

In accordance with the invention means are provided for retracting the bad coin detecting and arresting devices from the coin passageway sos travels a pin 200 attached to the swinging plate as to release and discardbad coins. As embodied, substantially all of said detecting and arresting devices are movably supported with respect to the fixed face 0 of the coin chute, so that upon preliminary upward'movement of the vertical actuating frame 00, all of said devices will be simultaneously retracted from the coin pathway, thereby to cause the bad coins to fall to discard. Accordingly, a wing member I10 is pivotally suspended in the rear of the main wall 0, being hinged at its upper end by pin "I which is Journalled in the side frame members of the wing I10 and extends through a suitable cooperating bore in the top 0 of the main frame. In its normal or closed position, the wing member I10 hangs vertically and substantially parallel of the rear face-of the main plate 0 of the coin chute. Except for the thickness gauge stud 20,

ber I10. Similarly the lower diameter gauge stud 15 projects from the lower end of an arm. I10 which is vertically slotted at I11 in its upper end and is adiustably mounted in the rear face of the wing I10 by a bolt I10.

The threaded shaft 52 which supports the washer-catching disc 5| is also horizontally supported in wing plate I10 which is thickened at I00 for that purpose. The plate\ is suitably slotted at 50' to permit the disc to extend therethrough, said slot being aligned with opening 50 in the main plate 0. Similar cooperating openings I00 and I00 are provided in the wing plate I10 for admission of the gauges 00 and 15 respectively.

The horseshoe magnet I05, the poles of which have been already described, is supported against the rear of wing plate I10 for ready removal and replacement by means of a bar I00 held in place by threaded bolt I01, the poles of the magnet being curved to project through suitable openings in the wing plate I10 and thence through the openings 02 and 00 of plate 0, as previouslydescribed. \8

The weight gauge 01 also pivotally supported in the wing plate I10, the axle 00 thereof being journalled in the enlarged portions I00 of the wing plate I10, the latter also being provided with a suitable opening IOI for extension of the lever 01 therethrough and through the openings 06 in the main plate 0.

Referring now to the embodied means for imparting a rearward swinging movement to the plate I10 to effect retraction of the coin arresting devices, a block I05 is provided at the upper end of the vertical frame 00 and a cam track I00 is formed therein for cooperating with an actuating pin I01 which extends from the side wall of the plate I10. As will be clear from the shape of the cam, initial upward movement of the vertical frame will immediately cause the plate I10 to swing outwardly and thus to retract the several coin-testing and arresting devices from the face of plate 0.

The front wing plate 5 is also adapted to swing outwardly and away from the face plate 4 simultaneously with the similar and opposite movement of the; wing plate I10. For this purpose the enlarged portion, I05 of the vertical frame 00 is provided with another cam track I00 in which I. The outward swinging of plate 5 by means of said cam track I00 causes an initial separation of the faces of the coin chute and thus causes any bad coin, which had been arrested by any of the testing devices, to immediately drop from the chute and onto the spillway IOI whence it passes to discard.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, means are provided for blocking the coin slot against introduction of coins during any actuation of the vertical frame 00. As shown, the outward swinging of swing plate 5 carries with it the gauge plate 00 which then covers and blocks the coin slot from the inside, being provided with a suitable slot 205 in its lower end, which cooperates with a pin 200 in the main side plate 2.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described-but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advan-- tages.

What I claim is:

1. A coin-selecting mechanism including in combination a coin chute having one face formed by a fixed vertical plate, the opposite face being formed by a member normally lying parallel to the fixed face, but being pivotally suspended for swinging movement away from said fixed. face, testing means on said member extending across the coin chute and into an opening inthe plate, a second pivotaily movable member on the other side oi! the fixed plate. a plurality of bad-coin arresting devices mounted on said second pivotal member and projecting therefrom through openings in the fixed plate and into the coin chute, and means for simultaneously swinging both said pivotal members in opposite directions away from the flxed plate to clear the coin chute of bad coins.

2. A coin-selecting mechanism including in combination a coin chute having one face formed by a fixed vertical plate, the opposite face being formed by a member-normally lying parallel, to the fixed Iace,.but being pivotally suspended for swinging movement away from said 'flxed face.

a coin engaging device pivotally mounted on said member and normally extending therefrom through an opening in the flxed plate, a second pivotally movable member .on the other side of the fixed plate, a plurality oi. bad-coin arresting devices mounted on said second pivotal member and projecting therefrom through openings in the fixed plate and into the coin chute, means for simultaneously swinging both said pivotal members in opposite directions away from the fixed plate to clear the coin chute of bad coins, a station on said fixed plate for receiving a good coin, and means for holding the good coin in said station during the swinging movement of said members.

ALFRED HAKANSON.