US2256486A - Coin detecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1941 J. F. LINDBERG COIN DETECTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 If a:

p 1941- J. F. LINDBERG I 2,256,486

COIN DETECTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 15/061222: Jb/wd f .ZIL 12616659 @& @y d mw p 1941. J. F. LINDBERG 2,256,486

' COIN DETECTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6720556 3% @z r 772001 Mi Patented Sept. 23, 1941 CGEN DETECTENG APEPARATUS John F. Lindberg, Chicago, Ell.

Application February 23, 1937, Serial No. 127,003

(61. ice-res) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a coin detector.

Coin controlled machines in use today possess generally the disadvantage of being susceptible to operation by crudely and cheaply made slugs or fake coins inserted 'by unscrupulous persons. The owners or proprietors of such machines have suffered considerable losses in revenue because of the increasingly large numbers of such slugs fraudulently employed, to obtain goods or services without payment. This cheating of coincontrolled machines has, in certain sections of the country,-and particularly in the larger cities, become a more or less popular pastime or form of amusement to otherwise honest and scrupulous citizens. It has become so prevalent in certain sections that the telephone companies have been compelled to place on the coin receptacle of each pay station box a member fitted with various prongs, slots and the like, which prevent the insertion of any device save a complementally shaped and slotted slug which can only be purchased from an attendant or from a clerk in the store in which the station is located. The successful operation of a system such as this requires that the fitted members and slugs for each pay station, or group of stations at one location, be difierent from the fitted members and slugs for all other stations or groups in that vicinity. The cost of manufacturing and handling the neoessarily large number of different receptacles and slugs increases the costof the service to the con pany. The necessity of obtaining slugs and the difficulties attendant upon an attempt to insert one of those slugs in its receptacle are sources of considerable annoyance to and loss of time by the customer. revious attempts to design means to select slugs or spurious checks from coins for the purpose ofpreventing the fraudulent operation of coin-controlled machines have resulted in mechanisms which, because of their complexity, their costliness and their relative inefficiency, have failed to solve commercially the problem of fraud prevention. In order to meet this problem, it is essential that the coin detector mechanism be of relatively simpleconstruc tion .and of an efficiency such that the savings effected thereby are more than sufficient to sustain its cost of .manufacture and installation.

It is accordingly .an-object of this invention to provide in coin controlled mechanism or machines, a simplifiedefficient and highiy sensitive coin detector which rejects slugs of every description and passes only coins or" the proper sizeand weight to the control mechanism, thereby preventing such fraudulent manipulation or cheating of the machine or mechanism.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simplified and relatively inexpensive coin detector which is capable of sorting coins from slugs of greater or lesser diameter, rejecting the slugs, and passing the coins to a mechanism intended to be operated by those coins.

It is another object of applicants invention to provide a compact and simplified coin detector which is capable of sorting coins from slugs of greater or lesser thickness, rejecting the, slugs and passing the coins.

It is a further object of this invention to .provide a peculiarly simple and efficient coin detector which is capable of sorting coins from slugs of greater or lesser weight, rejecting the slugs, and passing the coins .to a coin control mechanism to be operated thereby.

It is a further object of this invention to ,provide a highly simplified and efiicient coindetector which is capable of separating coins from'slugs which diiier from normal coins in diameter, thickness or weight, rejecting the slugs and passing the coins to the coin operated mechanism.

It has heretofore been proposed to weigh tokens or checks by means of scales or balances across which the token or check rolls or bounces during the weighing operation and from which it is directed along one of several paths depending on the deflection of the scale. In use it has been found that suchmeans are not sufficiently sensitive to make a practical separation of tokens according to weight because the percentage of slugs passed by such means is relatively high. Applicant has found that the rolling of the token on the weighing means during the weighing operation materially interferes with the accuracy of the operation.

A further. object of applicants invention,

therefore, is to provide a token or check weightdetermining and selecting mechanism, which is more sensitive, than any heretofore known and one inwhich the token remains stationary relative to the weighing means during the weighing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in greater sensitivity, whereby all remaining tokens which difier in weight from the weight of the true coin by any amount in excess of the standard weight-tolerance of coins are absolutely and positively rejected.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanism for weighing and directing tokens, an extremely sensitive pendulum directing the tokens along different predetermined paths in accordance with the amplitude of oscillation of the pendulum.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a coin detector having aweight determining and selecting means, size measuring and selecting means for receiving the operating tokens and for preventing passage of a token of a size different from a true coin to the weight determining means.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a coin detector having an operating handle, means responsive to the size of the token inserted in the detector for clamping the handle against movement and preventing the insertion of an over or under sized token.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a coin detector having an operating handle, means responsive to the size of the token inserted in the detector for clamping the handle against movement in a direction to insert the token into the detector, but allowing movement of the handle in the opposite direction to deliver an over or under sized token to the reject channel for return to the operator.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of one illustrative embodiment of the invention when considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the coin detector embodying the applicants invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in vertical elevation showing the side of the coin detector opposite from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation of the coin detector with one cover plate removed;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing the operation of a portion of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a portion of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation of the upper part of the mechanism with a cover plate removed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig, 7 with a token of a smaller size;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but with a token of larger size;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken along the line l0l 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with a token of smaller size;

Fig, 12 and Fig. 13 are vertical elevations showing the operation of a portion of the mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 7;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of the mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line lG-l 6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a View in exploded perspective of certain elements of Figs, 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line |8I8 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 19 to 24 are detailed views in elevation showing the operation of a portion of the mechanism, and

Figs. 25, 26 and 27 are diagrammatic sketches illustrating the operating principles of a portion of the mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the coin detector comprises a frame 2 having a body portion 4, a front face 6, and an upper face 8 formed by flanges extending oppositely from the body 4. One side of the body 4 is milled to provide a guideway I0, a recess l2 and coin directing channels l4, l6 and I8. A plurality of operating levers or slides 20, 22, 24 and 26 are slidably mounted in the guideway Ill, and the levers 22, 24 and 26 extend outwardly therefrom and are supported in an L-shaped bracket 28 formed integrally with the front face 6 of the frame. A cover plate 30, secured to one side of the body 4, has a forwardly projecting portion 32 passing through an aperture 34 in the face plate 6, and secured to the bracket 28, to form therewith a housing for the outer end of the operating levers 22, 24 and 26, The lever 26 is the main operating lever and carries at its outer end a laterally extending portion 36 forming a handle by which the lever 26 is to be operated. The lever 22 is riveted to the lever 24 and in its outer position extends from the outer face of the bracket 28 inwardly a sufficient distance to engage the forward edge of a coin inserted between the projecting portion 32 of the cover plate and the lever 24; the portion 32, the bracket 28 and the levers 24 and 26 having semi-circular grooves in their upward edges to permit the ready insertion of the coin. The lever 20 is mounted in the guideway ID in alignment with the lever 22 and has a lost motion connection to the lever 24. This lost motion connection comprises a pair of lugs 38 and 40 (Fig. 7) formed integrally with and projecting outwardly from the levers 20 and 24 adjacent their rear edges. The lug 40 extends through a slot 42 (Fig. 5) in the rear edge of the lever 20 and is connected to the lug 38 by a bolt 44 (Fig. 7) passing through aligned apertures in the respective lugs. Th bolt 44 is adjusted to permit the levers 22 and 24 to move rearwardly relative to the lever 28 so that a coin of the proper diameter will be clamped between the levers 20 and 22, but a token or slug of lesser diameter will not engage the forward edge of the lever 28. A spring steel member 46, of V-shaped configuration, is mounted in the recess l2 above the lever 20, and this spring bears at its upper end against the upper edge of the recess and at its lower edge against the lever 20 for the purpose of preventing movement of the lever 20 during the initial movement of the levers 22 and 24.

Lever 24 has an overload release connection to the main operating lever 26. This overload release connection comprises a member 48 (Fig. 12) which has a base portion 50 riveted or otherwise secured to the lever 24 adjacent its rear edge, an arm 52 extending longitudinally of the lever 24 and an enlarged head 54. The head 54 has a semi-circular or elliptical aperture 56 in its outer edge. rear end with inwardly extending flanges 58 for receiving therebetween the arm 52 of the member 48, and the head 54 of this member is received in a slot 60 formed in the lever 26 inwardly of the flanges 58. A second slot 62 of less width is formed in the lever 26 inwardly of the slot 60 and is connected thereto by beveled shoulders 64. A V-shaped fork 66 of spring steel has its head 68 spring-pressed into the aperture 56 of the member 48, and the tines of the fork are normally held apart by a spring 10 interposed therebetween. The outer ends of the tines The lever 26 is provided at its' are provided'with cam fingers l2 whichnormall engage-the-shoulders 64 and extend a slightdistance into the slot 62.

A small lever M is mounted in the recess I2 invertical alignment with the lever 20, and is provided with a semi-circular knurled portion 16, a nosel and a finger-89 directed oppositely from the nose "l8. Apin-BZ pivotally secures the lever 24 to the body l, and it is to be noted that this pivot is eccentric to the semi-circular portion -76. An adjustable lever 84 (Fig. 2), pivotedto the outer face of the body d, is provided with a finger 88 extending through a slot 88 in the body 4 and engaging the finger '80 of the lever M for the purpose of pre-setting the lever 14 so that the knurled portion '16 will engage the circumference of an over-size slug. The set screw til, which passes through an arcuate slot in the lever 84 and threadedly engages the outer face of the body 4, provides means for locking the lever 84 in adjusted position.

On-the side of the guideway in opposite to and in alignment with the lever 14, there is inserted a block 9! separating the channel l6 from the channel 14. knurled upper surface for engaging theperiphery of the token and causing it to rotatively engage the semi-circular portion 16 of the'eccentrically mounted lever 14.

To a bracket 92 (Fig. 7) carried by the plate 3 and in alignment with the lever or slide 20 is pivoted a lever 94. At its forward end the lever 94 is provided with a right angle finger 96 having a rearward curve or cam surface 93 for a purpose later to be-described. 'I'he'finger 96 passes through and normally rests in an-aperture H33 in the cover plate Bil. In the opposite end of the lever there is threaded a set screw I02 provided with a clamping nut Hi l for retaining the set screw in adjusted position relative to the lever 95. A set screw me, which has a rounded head i 98 is threaded into the lever 95 between its pivot point and the finger 93. The usual clamping nut lid secures the set screw in adjusted position. The set screws Hi2 and I86 extend through suitable apertures lid and 1 I2, respectively, in the cover plate 30 in position to engage the outer face of a coin or token upon rearward movement of the levers 22, 24 and 25.

Under certain conditions the set screw I 52 must move inwardly of the outer edge of the lever or slide 223 and for this purpose the said lever or slide is provided with a longitudinal recess I I5 (Figs. 4 and 9) in horizontal alignment with said set screw.

A leaf spring 558 of somewhat bowed configuration is seated in notches in the cover plate 313 and engages the inner side of the lever 94 to normally urge it in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. '7.

The mechanism heretofore described constitutes a size determining and selector mechanism which operates to pass coins of the proper size and to reject slugs of-larger or smaller size. The operation of this mechanism is as follows:

A coin or slug or other token havingbeen inserted, the handle 36 is operated to move the lever 26 rearwardly. The motion of the lever 25 is transmitted through the shoulder $4, the fork 66 and the member is to the lever 24 and from the lever 25 to the lever 22 which is in engagement with the forward edge of the coin'or slug.

If the token inserted is a coin of the proper diameter, the rear edge of the coin will engage the forward edge of the lever 2i) just before the This block 9| is providedwith a lever 26 has moved rearwardly a sufficient distance to'be connected-to the leverzll'bytheilugs 38 and'dland the bolt 44. Since the movement of the lever 29 is resisted by the spring 46, :the coin will be "efiectively :clamped between "the :levers 2iiand 22, and will thereafter be carried; past the-channel l6 and to the channel M. When a coin reaches the channel Mythe spring 46 will drop belowthe upper surface of theslide 20 and engage its forward-edge, as seen in Fig.4. The spring *46 will then force the slide *20 'rearwardly relative togthe slide 24, takingup the remaining lost motion betweensaid slides and freeing the token. The token then drops by gravity into the channel M. it is to .be noted in this connectionthat theforwardhalfof the upper edge of the lever 20 is cut away to provide a recess into which the semi-circular portion :16 of the lever i l normally projects, and to effect a decrease in the retarding force of the spring =46 after the coin has passed the channel it.

If the token is of less diameter than the normal diameter of the proper coin, the lost motion between the levers 26 and #24 will be taken up before the rear end of the slug canconta'ct the forward edge of the lever -23; therefore, as the levers 22,24 and Ziimove rearwardly,theslug will not be clamped between the levers :26 and 2'2, and will, on theaction of gravity, drop into the reject channel 45.

If the token is of greater diameter than the normal diameter of the proper coin, it will be clamped between the levers 28 and 22, but before it reaches thechannel l4 it willengage the knurled block '9! which will cause it to rotatively engage the semi-circular portion "16 of the .eccentrically mounted 'lever 14. in rotating, the nose 'ifi'of-the lever i i willengage the-upper edge of its recess l2 (Fig. 12) causing the slug to be jammed againsttlie knurled-edge of the block 19'! and preventing further inward movement of the levers and slug. In order to jproteotthe apparatus against extraordinary forces which might be spitefully applied in an attempt to force a slug into the machine, the overload releaseconnection between the :main operating lever =26 and the lever 24 has been provided. If such a force is applied-to the operating lever -25 and this force is in excess of the retarding force exerted 'by the forked and spring l'tLthe tines of the fork will be forced inwardlyunder the camming action of the-shoulders 64 and fingers l 2,'as shown in Fig. 113. The'release of thefingers ii-from shoulers-ii l will permit the leverfifi to move'rearwardly relative to the lever 24 until the lugs or flanges 53 engage the plate .523. In this positionof lever 26, the handle 36 will be in contact with the outer edges of the bracket 28 and the projecting portion 32 of the cover plate Further inward movement of the lever 25 is, of course, impossible.

When the token is of the proper diameter, it willpass the reject channel 28, and will not engage the lever it, but if it is either thinner or thicker than the normal coin it will not "be fed to the channel i i. If it is thinner than the normal sizecoin, the set screw Hit may'mov-e inwardly so that the spring H8 rotatesthelever 9d counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 8, and projects the finger into an aperture 329 (Fig. 8) in the slide 22 and further rearward movement of this slide is therefore prevented. The latching of slide 22 also serves to latch the slides 2d and 2 5. However, upon the application .of an overloading iorce, the slide 26 can be moved relative to the slide 24-without afiecting'therlocked condition of the slides 22 and 24 in the manner previously described. If the token is a coin of the proper thickness, the set screw I86 will hold the finger 96 of the lever 94 out of engagement with the aperture I20 and therefore the movement of the coin to the channel I4 is not prevented. If the token is a slug thicker than a normal coin, the set screw I06 will be moved outwardly rotating the lever 94 clockwise (Fig. 9), and causing the forward edge of the set screw I02 to pass into the slot II6 of the lever 20 and engage the forward edge of the slug. In this manner, the lever 22 and the lever 24 are again latched against further inward movement.

In all cases where the slug causes the locking of the operating mechanism against further inward movement, the slug may be fed to the reject channel I6 and the apparatus restored to normal operating condition by simply withdrawing the handle 36. For this purpose the lever 14 is eccentrically pivoted, the eccentric radius increasing from the nose 18 to the finger 80 (Fig. 12), and the leading edge of the aperture I28 (Fig. 8) is provided with a cam surface to co-act with the cam surface 98 of the finger 98.

On the side opposite the channels I4, I and I8, the body 4 is provided with an annular flange I22 (Figs. 2 and 18) forming, with a pair of cover plates I24 and I28, a housing for a weight-measuring or weight-determining mechanism I28. The weight-measuring or determining mechanism I28 comprises a shaft I30 (Fig. 18) which extends from the housing through an opening I3I in the body 4 and is mounted at its opposite ends on substantially frictionless pivots I32 and I34. The frictionless pivot I32 comprises a set screw threaded through the V-shaped cover plate I 24, which, it will be noted is of substantial- 1y greater thickness than the cover plate I28 for the purpose of providing more substantial support for the pivot I32. This set screw is clamped in adjusted position by the usual lock nut I36 and the inner end of the set screw is beveled to form a substantially pin-point frictionless support for the shaft I30. The frictionless pivot I34 is similar to pivot I32 and comprises a set screw threaded through an arm I38 formed integrally with the body 4 and extending through an aperture in the cover plate 30 to permit access to the set screw for ready adjustment of the same.

On its outer end the shaft I30 carries a collar I40 in which are threaded screws I42 and I44 (Fig. 3), and these screws threadedly receive small weights I46 and I48. A coin receptacle I50 is secured to the other end of the shaft I38 and this receptacle comprises a pair of jaws I52 and I54 (Figs. 19 to 24), and an off-set portion I56. Pivoted on the off-set portion I56 is a disc I58. The disc I58 is provided with three annularly. spaced lugs I60 having inwardly bent outer edges forming channels with the body of the disc for receiving a coin or slug from the channel I4. A pin I82 (Fig. 16) is secured to or formed on the disc I58 adjacent its periphery and between the free ends of the jaws I52 and I54. The pin is internally threaded as at I84 and has secured to its outer edge a notched disc I86. A lever 168 is secured to the pin shaft I64 for movement relative thereto by a screw I10, and the lever I68 has an annularly bent pawl I12 engaging in the notch of the disc I66 to limit the movement of the lever relative to the pin shaft. The lever I68 is substantially triangular in configuration and is enlarged at its lower pointed end to provide the weight necessary to retain the lever in a vertical position and to retain the pawl I12 in contact with one of the edges of the notch in the disc I66.

A weighted lever I14 (Figs. 3 and 19) is pivotally mounted in the channel I4 and controls the delivery of tokens to the weight-measuring mechanism I28. The weighted lever is normally retained in the position shown in Fig, 3 by stop pin I16 and its movement in a clockwise direction is limited by a similar stop pin I18. Lever I14 directs the coin or slug onto the disc I58 and between the jaws I52 and I54, the outer surface of the disc I58 being aligned with the edge of the base of the channel I4, as best shown in Fig. 18. The channel I4 is separated from the channel I8 by a portion I of the body 4 and by a pawl I82 aligned with portion I80 and fixedly secured to the body 4 by a set screw I84. At its lower end the channel I4 is provided with an opening I86 extending through the base of the channel; The portion I80 and the pawl I82 extend upwardly and outwardly from the base of the channel and are so inclined as to direct any slug in the-bottom of the channel I4 into the opening I86 (Fig. 3).

The channel I6 is separated from the channel I8 by a portion I88 of the body 4 upstanding from the base of the channel and by a pawl I90 secured to the body 4 by a set screw I92. The channel I6 terminates at its lower end in an opening I94 (Fig. 3) which extends through the base of the channel. The right hand surface of the pawl I90 is so curved as to direct any slug which engages that surface into the opening I94.

In the side of the body 4, opposite to the channels I4 and I6, there is cut a way or guide I96 (Fig. 18) terminating at one end in alignment with the opening I86, and registering at its other end with an opening I 98 formed in the face plate 6, adjacent its lower edge (see Figs. 2 and 3). Through the opening I98 are returned all slugs or coins which are not of the proper diameter, thickness or weight as a normal operating coin.

A plurality of annularly spaced pins 200, 202 and 204 are secured to the body 4 and extend into the way or guide I96 in positions to engage the weighted lever I68, as shown in Figs. 21 to 24. A cover plate 206 (Fig. 18) closes the way I96, and this cover plate is secured to the body 4 in any convenient manner, and has a laterally extending flange 208 closing the bottom of the housing formed by the flange I22 and the cover plates I24 and I26.

In describing the operation of the size-determining mechanism, it was pointed out that a coin, or slug of the proper diameter and thickness would be delivered to the channel I4. The operation of the mechanism thereafter described in determining differences in weight between coins and slugs, and in delivering only coins of the proper weight to the mechanism to be controlled will now be described.

From the upper end of th channel I 4, the coin or slug rolls down the inclined surface of said channel onto th weighted lever I14. If it is a substantially underweight slug, it attains a sufficient velocity in rolling down the channel I4 to pass over the weighted lever I14 before that lever can be rotated clockwise by the weight of the slug a sufiicient distance to check its forward movement. If it is a coin of the proper weight, or a slug slightly underweight, or an overweight slug, its weight will be suficient in relation to its velocity to rotate the lever I14 a sufficient angular distance to cause the forward movement of the coin to be checked, and to reverse the direction of rotation of the coin. The coin or slug then rolls from the lever llA, while rotating in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 19, onto the disc E53, the periphery of the slug or coin engaging the lugs Hill. Because the coin or slug is rotating in the clockwisedirection, and because, in moving downwardly from the lever lid, it first engages the right hand one of the lugs ace, the disc i58 is rotated thereby in a clockwise direction relative to jaws E52 and I54, causing th left hand lug i6?! (Figs. 19 and 20) to approach the outer end of the jaw I54 and. to assume a position wherein it is spaced from that jaw by a distance less than the diameter of the slug or coin, as best shown in Fig. 21. The rotation of the disc E53 relative to the offset portion iEE is limited by the pins 2% and H2 which engage opposite sides of the ofi-set portion I56.

The principle of operation of the weight mease uring or determining mechanism 528 is that of a compound pendulum (Figs. 25 to 27), of which the coin receptacle [5b is one weight A, the members M2, HA4, M6 and MS forming another weight B, and pivots Hi2 and E34 forming the axis of oscillation C. As will be evident, the amplitude of oscillation of the compound pendulum A, C, B depends upon the relative weights of members A and B, and the length of pendulum arms AC and C-B. Assuming constant length of the pendulum arms AC, and CB, it will be further evident that the greater the weight A in relation to the weight B, the greater will be the amplitude of oscillation of the pendulum and that similarly, the greater the weight B in relation to the weight A, the lesser will be the amplitude of oscillation. If the weight B be constant, the amplitude of oscillation of the pendulum will vary directly with the weight A. This is shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27. In Fig. 25 the weight A represents the weight of the receptacle i5!) when a coin of the proper weight has been inserted therein. It will be seen that the greater weight A will cause the pendulum to oscillate counterclockwise from the rest position 13 to the extreme position E when it will reverse its direction of oscillation and pass through a position such as F. If thependulum were free to oscillate, it would gradually come to rest at some new neutral position wherein the weight A, times the lever arm A-C, was equal to the weight 13 times the lever arm BC. In Fig. 26 the weight A represents the weight of the receptacl 59 plus that of a slug which is greater in weight than the weight of the proper coin. This weight is greater than the weight A of Fig. 25 and it will be seen by a comparison of these two figures, that the extreme position E to which the pendulum will be moved under the action of the heavier weight A is angularly advanced from the extreme position E, and that the angl of oscillation is the greater in the case of the heavier weight of Fig. 26. In returning from the extreme position E, the pendulum will, of course, pass through a position F, which is a slightly greater angular distance from the neutral position D than is the extreme position E of Fig. 25.

In Fig. 27 the weight A represents the weight of the receptacle I59 when a slug of lesser weight than the weight of the proper coin is inserted therein. The extreme position E to which the pendulum will be moved under this circumstance, is, of course, retarded with respect to the extreme position E of Fig. 25. The amplitude of the oscillation of the pendulum with the lesser weight A is, of course, less than the amplitude of oscillation of the pendulum of Fig. 25. In returning from the extreme position E the pendulum will pass through some intermediate position such as F. The similar intermediate position F of Fig. 25, it is to be observed, is at a slightly greater angular distance from the normal neutral position D than is the extreme position E" of Fig. 27.

It will be evident from a comparison of Figs. 25, 26 and 27 that the pendulum of Fig. 27 never occupies a position between the points F and E of Fig. 25, and that the pendulum of Fig. 25 never occupies a position between the points F and E of Fig. 26. Therefore, it will be apparent that if the heavier weight A of Fig. 26 is removed from the pendulum while the pendulum is passing between the positions F and E, the heavier weight may be separated from the lighter weights; similarly, it will be evident that if the medium weight is removed from the pendulum while the pendulum is positioned between points F and E' (Fig. 25), the medium weight may be separated from thelighter weight. Inorder that the means for removing the lighter weight does not also remove the heavier weights, it is necessary that this removal be accomplished on the backward swing of the pendulum, i. e., whenthe pendulum is moving clockwise from each of the positions E, E and E" to the positions F, F and F". This is the principle of applicants weight-measuring mechanism E23.

The pin 224 is positioned to correspond to a position intermediate F, E of Fig. 26; the pin 2&2 is placed to correspond to a position between F and E of Fig. 25, and the pin 2221s placed to correspond to a position above the position E of Fig. 27. The weighted lever 55%, which has the lost'motion connection H68 and M2 to the disc E58, co-operates with the pins 2%, 282 and- 284. to release the tokens from the coin receptacle 858 only during the backward swing of the pendulum. For this purpose, the lever N58 is free to ratchet over the pins 2%, 282 and 2% during the counterclockwise rotation of the coin receptacle, the pawl H2 moving freely in the notch of disc 55 from its normal position in engagement with the upper edge or" the notch. Upon the return swing of the pendulum, the rear edge of the lever we will be engaged by one of the pins 2B0, 2G2 and 2st and the lever Will be rotated counterclockwise, as seen in Figs. 15, and

21 to 24. The lever I62 will rotate the disc I58 counterclockwise and release the coin from the coin receptacle ififi, as shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 2.4. If the token inserted into the coin receptacle IE6 is a coin of the proper weight, the pendulum, of which this receptacle forms a part, will begin oscillation, and the coin receptacle l-tfl coins mayv pass. in the usual and conventional manner to themachine to be controlled by said coins.

If a slugheavier than the proper coin is fed" to thecoin receptacle, the pendulum, of which the co n receptacle. is a part, will be swung to a position somewhat to the right of the position shown in Fig. 23, and upon the backward swing from this extreme position, the dog 568 will be engaged and rotated by pin 2% to release the heavier slug from the coin receptacle. The heavier slug will be guided by the right hand surface (Fig. 3) of the pawl I90, and by the portion I88 of the body 4 into the aperture I94 at the bottom of the channel IE. From the aperture I94 the slug will pass down the way or guide 596 and out of the opening I98.

If the token is lighter in weight than the proper coin, the coin receptacle will be moved to an extreme position wherein the dog IE8 is somewhere between the pins 20d and 2912 (Fig. 24). Upon backward swing of the coin receptacle, the dog will be engaged by the pin 200 to release the coin, which then falls down the inclined surface of the pawl I82 and the portion I86 of the body 4 into the opening I85, and from the opening I86 it passes down the way I99 and out of the opening I98.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the applicant has provided an especially eiiective coin detector for rejecting slugs of every description and passing only coins of the proper size and weight to a coin control mechanism, thereby preventing fraudulent manipulation or cheating of the coin controlled machine.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the: invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a coin detector, token receiving oscillatory means, the amplitude of oscillation of which is determined by the weight of the token, means operable by a token, in moving onto said oscillatory means, for clamping the token to the oscillatory means, means positioned at spaced points along the path of movement of said oscillatory means for operating said clamping means to release tokens at said spaced points in accordance with the weight of said tokens, and means for passing from the oscillatory means tokens of the proper weight in one direction and rejecting tokens of different weights in another direction.

2. In a coin detector, means for providing a first channel for passing tokens of a predetermined weight, and a second channel spaced from the first for returning tokens of different weights, oscillatory means for receiving tokens and operable by said tokens arcuate distances which vary in accordance with the weights of the tkens, means operable by the tokens for clamping the same to said oscillatory means, means positioned at a predetermined spaced point along the arc of movement of said oscillatory means for operating said clamping means to release a token of a predetermined weight from said oscillatory means and direct the same to said first channel, and means positioned at other predetermined spaced points along the arc of movement of said oscillatory means for operating said clamping means to release tokens of weights differing from said predetermined weight and direct the same to said returning channel.

3. In a coin detector, an operating channel and a rejecting channel and weighing means adapted to receive tokens for directing the same into said channels in accordance with their respective weights, said weighing means comprising a pendulum having a token receptacle, means operable by a token for clamping the same in said receptacle, means carried by said clamping means and operable upon backward oscillation of the pendulum to release the token from said token receptacle, means positioned at a predetermined spaced point along an arc of movement of said pendulum for operating said releasing means to direct a token of a predetermined weight into said operating channel, and means at other predetermined spaced points along said arc of movement of said pendulum for operating said releasing means to direct tokens of greater and less weight into said rejecting channel.

4. In a coin detector, token directing means providing an operating channel and a rejecting channel, a pendulum having a token receptacle, clamping means mounted in said receptacle for movement relative to said pendulum, said clamping means being operable by a token for clamping the same in said receptacle, releasing means carried by said clamping means and operable upon backward oscillation of the pendulum to release the token from the token receptacle, said releasable means being mounted on said clamping means for movement relative thereto upon forward oscillation of the pendulum, means positioned at a predetermined spaced point along an arc of movement'of said pendulum for operating said releasing means to direct a token of a predetermined weight into said operating channel and means at other predetermined spaced points along said are of movement of said pendulum for operating said releasing means to direct tokens of greater and less weight into said rejecting channel.

5. In a coin detector, token directing means providing a receiving channel, an operating channel and a rejecting channel, a pendulum having a token receptacle, a counter-weighted lever between the receiving channel and a portion of the rejecting channel, said counterweighted lever having a surface aligned with the receiving channel across which surface tokens outside a predetermined weight range pass to the rejecting channel, said counter-weighted lever being disposed above the pendulum and pivotal under the weight of a token within the predetermined weight range to cause such token to roll in a predetermined direction of rotation into the token receptacle, means pivotally mounted on the pendulum and pivoted relative to the pendulum by the rolling token to clamp the token to the pendulum, means positioned at spaced points along an arc of movement of said pendulum for operating said clamping means to release tokens at said spaced points in accordance with the weight of said tokens, means for receiving tokens of a predetermined weight from said pendulum for directing the same to said operating channel, and means receiving tokens of weights differing from said predetermined weight for directing said tokens to said rejecting channel.

6. In a coin detector, a first channel for pass: ing tokens of a predetermined weight, .a second channel for rejecting tokens of different weights, a pendulum having an opening facing outwardly to form a token receptacle, means for causing tokens to roll into said receptacle, a member rotatably mounted on said pendulum and having an annular token receiving channel Within said opening, an edge of said channel being disposed within said opening to engage the rim of the token rolling into the receptacle to cause rotation of said member relative to the-pendulum whereby a portion of the channel closes the mouth of the opening forming the token receptacle to clamp the token in the receptacle, means positioned at a predetermined point along the arc of movement of said pendulum for rotating said member relative to the pendulum to withdraw said portion of the channel from the mouth of the token receptacle, whereby to release a token of predetermined weight from said pendulum and direct the same to said first channel, and means positioned at other predetermined points spaced from the first point along the arc of movement of said pendulum for rotating said member relative to the pendulum to withdraw said portion of the channel from the mouth of the token receptacle whereby to release tokens, of weights differing from said predetermined weight and direct the same to said second channel. i

'7. In a coin detector, a first channel for passing tokens of a predetermined weight, a second channel for rejecting tokens of different weights, a pendulum having an opening facing outwardly to form a token receptacle, means for causmg tokens to roll into said receptacle, a member rotatably mounted on said pendulum and having an annular token receiving channel within said opening, an edge of said channel being disposed Within said opening to engage the rim of the token rolling into the receptacle to cause rotation of said member relative to the pendulum whereby a portion of the channel closes the mouth of the opening forming the token receptacle to clamp the token in the receptacle, a dog carried by said rotary member and operable upon backward oscillation of the pendulum to rotate said member to withdraw the portion of the channel from the mouth of the opening formed in the token receptacle, said dog being shiftably mounted on said rotary member for movement relative thereto upon forward oscillation of the pendulum, means positioned at a predetermined point along an arc of movement of said pendulum for engaging and operating said dog to rotate said rotary member whereby to release a token of a predetermined weight from said pendulum and direct the same into said first channel, and means at other predetermined points spaced along the arc of movement of said pendulum for engaging and operating said dog to rotate said member whereby to release tokens of greater and less weightfrom said pendulum and direct said tokens into said second channel.

8. In a coin detector, a counterweighted lever, means causing received tokens to roll by gravity onto said counterweighted lever, the counterweighting of said lever being such as to permit tokens differing a substantial amount from a predetermined weight range to pass over said lever and to cause pivotal movement of the lever upon receipt of tokens within the predetermined weight range whereby to caus the latter tokens to roll therefrom in a given direction of rotation and oppositely to the tokens not within the predetermined weight range, an oscillatory member positioned to receive tokens within the predetermined weight range from said counterweighted lever and operable by said tokens arouate distances which vary according to the weights of the tokens, means rotatably mounted on the oscillatory member and operable by the rolling tokens as they are received by said oscillatory member for clamping the same to said oscillatory member, means positioned at a predetermined spaced point along the arc of; movement of said oscillatory member operating said clamping means to release and pass a token ofpredetermined weight from said oscillatory member, and means positioned at other predetermined spaced points along the arc of movement of saidoscillatory member for operating said clamping means, to release and reject tokens differing from said predetermined weight.

9, Ina coin detector, an oscillatory lever, the amplitude of oscillation of which is determined by the weight of a token, a token receptacle shiftably mounted on said oscillatory lever and having means to engage a token as it moves into; said receptacle to clamp the token to the oscillatory lever, means positioned at spaced points along the path of movement of said oscillatory lever for Operating said clamping means upon backward oscillation of said lever to release tokens at the said spaced points in accordance with theweights of said tokens, and means for passing, from said oscillatory lever tokens of the proper weight in one direction and means for directing tokens of difierent weights in another direction.

10. In a coin detector, means for receiving and causing tokens to roll by gravity along a predetermined path, a counterweighted lever in said path to receive the rolling tokens, the counterweighting of said lever being such as to allow tokens of a weight substantially less than a predetermined standard to pass over the lever and to cause downward pivoting of the counterweighted lever under tokens more closely approximating the standard weight whereby to cause the last mentioned tokens to roll downwardly from the counterweighted lever, an oscillatory lever having a token receptacle in position to receive tokens rolling downwardly from the counterweighted lever upon pivoting of said counterweighted lever, said oscillatory lever being operable by said tokens arcuate distances which vary in accordance with the weights of the tokens, means shiitably mounted on the oscillatory lever and operable by a rolling token for clamping the same in said receptacle, means positioned at a predetermined spaced point along the arc of movement of said oscillatory lever for operating said clamping means upon backward oscillation of said oscillatory lever to release and pass a standard weight token from said token receptacle, and means positioned at other predetermined, spaced points along the arc of movement of said oscillatory lever for operating said clamping means upon backward oscillation of said oscillatory lever to release and reject tokens of weights difiering slightly from said predetermined weight.

11. In a coin detector, token directing means providing a receiving channel, an operating channel and a rejecting channel, a pendulum having a token receptacle, a counter-weighted lever between the receiving channel and a portion of the rejecting channel, said counter-weighted lever having a surface aligned with the receiving channel across which surface tokens outside a predetermined weight range pass to the rejecting channel, said counter-weighted lever being disposed above the pendulum and pivotal under the weight of a token within the predetermined weight range to cause upon pivoting of the lever such token to roll in a predetermined direction of rotation into the token receptacle, means pivotally mounted on the pendulum and pivoted relative to the pendulum bythe rolling token to clamp the token to the pendulum, means positioned at spaced points along an arc of movement of said pendulum for operating said clamping means upon backward oscillation of said pendulum to release tokens at said spaced points in accordance with the weight of said tokens, means for receiving tokens of a predetermined weight from said pendulum for directing the same to said operating channel, and means receiving tokens of weights differing from said predetermined weight for directing said tokens to said rejecting channel.

12. In a coin detector, a first channel for passing tokens of a predetermined weight, a second channel for rejecting tokens of difierent weights, a pendulum having an opening facing outwardly to form a token receptacle, means for causing tokens to roll into said receptacle, a member rotatably mounted on said pendulum and having an annular token receiving channel within" said opening, an edge of said channel being disposed within said opening to engage the rim of the token rolling into the receptacle to cause rotation of said member relative to the pendulum whereby a portion of the channel closes the mouth of the opening forming the token receptacle to clamp the token in the receptacle, means positioned at a predetermined point along the arc of movement of said pendulum for rotating said member relative to the pendulum upon backward oscillation of the pendulum to withdraw said portion of the channel from the mouth of the token receptacle, whereby to release a token of predetermined weight from said pendulum and direct the same to said first channel, and means positioned at other predetermined points spaced from the first point along the arc of movement of said pendulum for rotating said member relative to the pendulum upon backward oscillation of the pendulum to withdraw said portion of the channel from the mouth of the token receptacle whereby to release tokens of weights differing from said predetermined weight and direct the same to said second channel.

JOHN F. LINDBERG

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