US2352846A - Coin handling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

y 1944. F. A. MARCHIONI ET AL 2,352,846

COIN HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: FRHNK H. Mfl/PCH/ON/ MHRK E. MHECH/ON/ y 1944- F. A.. MARCHlONl ET AL 2,352,846

COIN HANDLING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Aug. 24, 1938 y 1944. F. A. MARCHlONl ET AL 2,352,846

COIN HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS: FEHNK H. MHPCH/ON/ B MHRK E MHECH/ON/ Patented July 4, 1944 COIN HANDLING MECHANISM Frank A. Marchioni and Mark E. Marchioni, Rutherford, N. J.

Original application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,558. Divided and this application May 28, 1942, Serial No. 444,824

6 Claims.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 226,558, filed August 24, 1938.

This invention relates to coin mechanisms and in particular to a type for use in stores, restaurants and shops wherein coins of various denominations are dropped into the mechanism by the customer, directly, and the coins actuate the mechanism to register the number of units of coins or total Value thereof.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a coin receptacle for use with a sight member in which coins are lodged for inspection after passing through the counting or registering mechanism. It is essential in mechanisms of this character, where they are disposed on the edges of counters, that they be compact, have few parts, so that they will not get out of order easily and are tamper proof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin mechanism in two separable units, so that the registering mechanism or unit can be located at a distance from the coin unit and can be placed beneath a counter, in the cashiers cage or at any remote point from the coin unit.

The coin unit actuates the coinregistering unit and is so constructed that it can be attached to the top of the coin receptacles already in use so that the coins can pass through the coin unit and drop down into the coin sighting receptacle from whence, after being released by the counter attendant, they drop into suitable locked boxes under the counter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a mechanism of the character referred to, a minimum amount of mechanism for doing the work electrically, that is, for receiving the coin, closing the proper circuit to register the coin in a unit register or in a dollars and cents register, then operating a pusher for ejecting the coin from the coin unit and causing it to fall into the sight receptacle, all without attention on the part of the counter attendant who merely checks the amount of the coins and their genuineness.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a multiple action unit which will operate to register in a single counter, a plurality of coins of different denominations depending upon the operation of a selected solenoid that is energized by the deposited, coin.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain constructions hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claims, preferred embodiments of our invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the combined coin units mounted on a sight coin receptacle as commonly employed on the edges of counters, in shops,

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of the combined coin units as illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the coin unit minus its housing and showing the details of construction,

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation, of "the coin unit as illustrated in Figure 3, the coin pusher and operating means being shown,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of both the coin unit and a single registering unit showing the wiring arrangements necessary in actuating the units in proper synchronism,

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of th com registering mechanism unit minu the housing therefore, the View illustrating the solenoid arrangement,

Figure 7 is a partial view in side elevation, of the registering unit, parts being broken away to disclose the interior construction,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the switch employed in the registering unit to operate with all registering operations of the unit,

Figure 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 6 showing the registering mechansm in detail,

Figure 10 is a section on the line Iii-l0 of Fi ure 4 showing a detail of the coin mechanism, and

Figures 10A, 10B and are face views of the plates used in the coin unit.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates a counter as employed in shops and upon which may be mounted, a coin receptacle I I having a sight opening or window 12 through which the attendant can detect spurious coins before actuating the lever l3 to partly revolve a coin detent inside receptacle H to drop the coins into a locked box or other receiver l4 beneath the counter. The construction and operation of the coin receptacle is Well known and it is the purpose of our invention to adapt to this coin receptacle, a coin unit, which, coacting with a registering mechanism unit will register each coin deposited and will carry a register of the total coins passing through any unit in the store. While the drawings show the use of one coin unit with one registering unit, it is to be understood that a plurality of coin units could be employed with a single registering mechanism or unit. The registering unit as illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive renders the total in terms of single units,

so that coins or tokens may be employed. As an example, a nickel would be one unit, a dime two units and a quarter five units.

The coin unit is denoted by the numeral l and comprises the housing i5 which encases the coin unit mechanism l1 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. This unit consists of a base plate or support plate l8, preferably of metal for structural rigidity, a depending portion IQ of which is suitably secured to the upper edge of the coin receptacle so that a coin passage in the unit I5 is in vertical alignment with a coin passage 2| in the receptacle II. For convenience of construction, three layers of dielectric material such as Bakelite or hard rubber are employed and are mounted on plate l8 by tabs 22 and screws 22A extending from plate l8. The layers of dielectric material are denoted as a front layer 23, (Fig. 10A) a middle layer 24 (Fig. 105) and a rear layer 25 (Fig. 100). The rear layer 25 and front layer 23 are each provided with a slot 26 which registers with a vertical slot 27 in plate H3. The rear layer 25 is provided with side cut outs 2B and 23. The middle layer is shaped to provide a side opening 30 corresponding to 28, and a vertical edge 3| which constitutes one side of a tapered coin passage 20 in which are suitably embedded the metal contacts 32, 33, 34, and 35. The middle layer 24 is completed by a corner piece 36, whose inner edge 31 constitutes one side of the upper end of the coin passage 25]. This coin passage is completed by a swinging contact arm 38, whose inner oblique edge 39 forms the opposite side of the coin passage from that side carrying the metal contacts. The arm 38 is pivoted as at 4!] to the rear layer or plate 25 and is normally maintained in contact with an edge 4| in the front layer 23 by a spring 42, one end of which is secured to the plate It! and the other end to a dog arm 43 of a lever or arm 38.

The dog arm 43 is provided with a dog 44 which engages the teeth of a ratchet pinion journalled in the plate IS. The ratchet pinion 45 is actuated by a pawl 46, releasably held in engagement with the pinion 45 by a spring 41 and pivoted to lever 43 which extends beneath the coin pusher or clearing lever 68 to be hereinafter referred to. The lever 48 is yieldably held by spring 48A in raised position against the lower edge of a bracket |8A whose projection |8B acts as a stop for the clearing lever 65, which is also urged upwardly by the lever 48.

The radial distance of the dog 44 from its center of rotation is greater than the radius of the pinion 45. As the pinion 45 is rotated by the downward swing of lever 48, the dog 44 against the resistance of spring 42, is carried with, but out of, the teeth of the pinion 45 near the end of the stroke of the lever 48 and snaps back into the next tooth of the pinion to effectively lock the arm 33 in coin passage forming position as illustrated in Figure 3. The front layer 23 is cut out to form the edge 4| against which the arm 38 rests. The arm 38, in some portion extends beneath the front layer 23, and carries spring switch blades 49, one of which contacts the spring switch blade 50 when lever or arm 38 is at rest. The contacts 32 to 35 inclusive as well as the members 38, 49 and 53 are included in an electric circuit which will be later explained.

The coin C as shown in outline in Figure 3 is a five cent piece and makes a circuit between the arm 38 and the contact 33 by bridging the contact and the oblique edge of the arm 38,

the edge of the arm being indicated as at 39. The obliquely disposed edge of the arm 33 when the arm is at rest, forms with the contact holding wall, a coin passage that tapers so that a coin dropped into the passage will bridge any of the contacts in accordance with the diameter of the coin and complete a circuit in which is involved a coin registering mechanism or unit will be now described.

A five cent piece, or token of like size, coacts with contact 33 to operate a solenoid I to record one unit. A twenty-five cent piece coacts with contact 32 to operate solenoid 5 to record five units and a ten cent piece coacts with contact 35 to actuate solenoid 2 to record two units. A penny, as will be later explained, will not be registered, but will coact with contact 34 to actuate the pusher or clearing lever solenoid P.

The registering unit consists of a housing 5| which can be situated remotely from the coin unit as under a counter, in the cashiers cage or any place desired. The housing encases the frame 52 having end walls 53 and a connecting panel 54, upon one side of which is mounted the solenoids l, 2 and 5. The solenoids designate the respective number of coin units they will register in the mechanism and solenoid will operate the mechanism to register one unit, solenoid 2, two units and solenoid 5, five units. A suitable electric circuit, referred to as the register circuit includes the solenoids 2 and 5 and an associated circuit referred to as the pusher circuit includes a solenoid P which actuates the coin pusher or clearing lever (ill. The solenoid. P is mounted in frame 55 attached to plate I8 and the core 56 of said solenoid P is extended as at 51 with a bifurcated yoke 58 connected by pin and slot association as at 59 to a coin pusher or clearing lever 69. The lever 60 is pivoted as at MA in a part of frame 55 and is channeled to hold a tip SI of dielectric material which passes downwardly through the slot 25 in the coin unit to force the coin out of the coin passage in the coin unit and into the sight receptacle when the pusher or clearing lever is actuated by energization of the solenoid coil P.

The frame 52 of the registering unit has journalled in the end walls 53 thereof, the register shaft 62, support shaft 63 and stud shaft 84, the latter of which has pivoted thereto the detent arm 65 which engages the teeth of a detent gear 66 secured to, and arranged to revolve with, the register shaft The register shaft 62 passes through the register 61, the unit adding dials of which total the number of coin units passing through the coin mechanism. The register Bl is mounted on the panel 54 on the rear of which the solenoids 2 and 5 are mounted so that their respective cores 68, G3 and i0 pass through the panel.

The solenoid I which registers one unit has its core 68 pivoted as at H to the upper part of a stop lever 12 which is journalled on the rock shaft 63 so that it swings under the influence of the solenoid and brings an integral stop plate 13 into contact with a detent or stop wheel 14 fixed to the register shaft 62 to prevent rotation of the latter when it has made sufficient rotary movement to register one unit in the counter or register 67. The register shaft 82 is actuated by a gear 15 having fixed thereto the throw arm 76 carrying a pawl 11 which operates a ratchet wheel 18 which is fixed to and rotates the shaft 62 depending on the rotary movement that is imparted to said gear 15.

: The gear I5 is free to rotate on shaft 62 and is in mesh and is actuated by a segment rack I9 which is journalled on the rock shaft 63 and is pivotally connected as at 86 to the core I of solenoid 5. The stop plate I3 has a tab or lug 8| extending therefrom and overlying the edge of the rack I9, so that when solenoid I is energized, it will draw lever I2 in a swinging movement to the right, against the resistance of spring 82 to cause lug 8| to swing the segment rack 19 to the right to revolve the register shaft 62, until stop plate I3 moves into contact with the next tooth of the detent wheel I4, thus effectively moving the register one unit only. The detention of the counter mechanism at the finish of a registering stroke is further facilitated by the detent arm 65 and gear 66 previously referred to.

At the top of the frame, a switch 83 is provided having the blades 84 and 85 thereof normally separated to keep a circuit open. These blades are disposed in the path of a stud 86 of dielectric material mounted on the upper endof stop lever I2 so that every time the. lever 12 swings it closes the switch whether or not said lever I2 is actuated by the solenoid I.

The segment rack 19 is pivoted to the core of solenoid 5 by a pin 80 whose extended head 81 is disposed in a slot 88 of a U-shaped or yoke lever 89, the legs 90 and 9I of which are journalled on the support shaft 63 so thatthe lever 89 can swing thereon under the influence of the solenoid 2 to which the leg 9I of lever 89 is pivoted as at 92. The other leg 90 has an overturned lip 93 at its upper end which overlies, and is spaced from, the tab 8| of stop lever I2, and a rack engaging lip 94 below said lip 93 for engagement with the rack segment I9. The spring 82 through the tab SI and lip 93 will normally cause the lever 89 to yieldably resist the action of solenoid 2. The spring 95 yieldably resists the operation of the rack I9 by solenoid 5. This tendency of the springs 82 and 95 to .throw the parts to the left or away from the solenoids is resisted by a stop 96 overlying the leg 90 of yoke lever 89, the stop being mounted on panel 54.

register shaft is illustrated in Figure 9. Throw of lever I2 under the influence of solenoid I will cause lug 8| to swing the rack 19 to revolve gear 75, detent wheel "I4 and ratchet wheel I8 until the edge of stop plate I3 arrests the movement of detent wheel 14 by engagement with the next adjacent tooth, thereby allowing the register to show one unit registered. Operation of solenoid 2 in actuating lever 89, will, through lip 93, operate the rack I9 as before until said lip 93 on lever 89 comes into contact with and operates stop plate I3 through contact with lug BI. This free movement of lip 93 before it meets the tab or lug 3| will allow rotation of the gears set forth until a two unit registry is completed, at which time the stop plate will engage the proper tooth of detent Wheel I4 to provide an accurate registry of two units. The pin and slot connection of rack I9 and lever 89 allows the former to operate independently of the latter. E nergization of the solenoid 5 will swing the rack alone until the pin 81 engages the inner end of the slot in lever 89 and then the pin will swing the lever 89 to cause the lip 93 thereon to actuate the stop plate I3 to arrest the movement of the detent wheel I4 to acclear the coin slot.

to H3.

curately register five units in the registry mechanism.

Referring to Figure 5, wherein an electric circuit arrangement is shown in connection with our mechanism, the coin unit I5 has a multiple circuit plug H6, the pins II6A of which only canfit in one position in the multiple circuit socket H5 to correctly complete the circuits joining the coin unit and the register unit. When the units are electrically joined, power from a sourcedenoted by plug H3 is carried by line I to switch 50 to arm 38. A coin C, of any denomination, may bridge the gap between said arm 38 and any contact 32, 33, 34 or 35. Assuming a ten cent piece is deposited, it will engage arm 38 and contact 35. Current from source H3, through line I86, I00, arm 38, coin C, contact 35, line I09, solenoid 2, line I08, and line I82 will complete a circuit to operate solenoid 2, which causes stud 86 to close the switch 83. Closing of switch 83 completes a circuit from I I3, through I06, I07, pusher or clearing solenoid P, line I98, I02 to source H3. Actuation of the solenoid P moves the coin clear of the contact 35 and at the same time swings the arm 38 to break the coin controlled circuit by operating switch 50, so that the coin being cleared from the coin unit by being pushed down, will not register as it passes the lower contacts. The lower end of arm 39, in moving now contacts switch I33 and a circuit is completed from H3, through I06, I60, I83, I05 to pusher solenoid P, through I88 and I82 to source H3. The solenoid P thus continues thev pushing operation to It will be noted that when switch 83 is closed, it energizes solenoid P whose operation moves the coin to break the registering circuit of solenoid 2 and cause switch 83 to open again. The line I06, I60 supplies current to switch 56, arm 38, through :05 (when switch I63 is engaged by the swinging movement of arm 38) to solenoid P.

A one cent piece contacts 34, closes circuit from H3, through I08, I90, 59, 38, coin, 34, line III to solenoid P, I08 and I92 to H3. No registering of a one cent piece is made. It is pushed through the coin slot by the action of the pusher solenoid and clearing lever. A five cent coin C contacting 33 closes circuit from H3, through I06, I00, 50, 33, coin C, 33, line lz'lI, solenoid I, line I08, I02 A twenty-five cent piece contacts 32, closing circuit from H3, through I06, I00, 50, 38, coin, 32, H6, solenoid 5, I03, I62 to H3. Operation of switch 83 and solenoid P is the same for the five and twenty-five cent coins as described for the ten cent coin.

As a coin is pushed out of the coin passage, the arm 38 is moved, but is returned to its normal coin slot forming position by the spring 42, as shown in Figure 3, with the result that the circuit of solenoid P is broken by separation of the switch 39 and switch I93 and the coin circuit through the arm is ready to be completed upon insertion of a coin that will bridge the arm 38 and a contact.

It is evident that the coin unit can be made to accommodate fifty cent pieces or a larger number of tokens than illustrated by extending the contact carrying wall and the arm 38.

The units, that is the coin unit and the register units are separate devices which may be combined with each other or may be employed separately, and the wires providing the circuits terminate in separable plug parts H5 and H6, the latter of which is provided with the pins II6A of unequal diameter so that the parts can only be combined in the proper manner to complete the various circuits employed. The reason for having the units separated is that in a busy restaurant or shop, when one part of the device may break down, it can be immediately removed and another unit installed without loss of time. Also, extension of the connecting wires between the units permits the placing of them as far apart as desired,

It is evident therefore that we have provided a compact, multi-unit coin registering device which permits automatic registry of coins as they are inserted into an inspection receptacle, so that the attendant is not obliged to total the money taken in at the various stations in the store and so that coins, after registry, are made available for use in making change, immediately, Without the necessity of checking each station.

It is to be understood that our invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown since various alterations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What we claim is:

1. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including a movable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage for coins through the unit, the opposite edge of said passage being straight and vertically spaced contact members disposed in said straight edge, the oblique edge of said arm coacting with any of said contacts to form a seat for a circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and a contact and means including a passage clearing lever for moving said arm to enlarge the coin passage to permit release of the coin.

2. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including a movable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage for coins through the unit, the opposite edge of said passage being straight and vertically spaced contact members disposed in said straight edge, the oblique edge of said arm coacting with i any of said contacts to form a seat for a circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and a contact and means in said coin completed circuit for moving said arm to enlarge the coin passage to permit release of the coin and break of said circuit, and a switch on the arm adapted to be closed by movement of the arm to shunt said coin circuit through said arm moving means.

3. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including a movable arm prezii senting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage for coins through said unit, the opposite edge of the passage being straight and presenting vertically spaced contacts, the oblique edge of the arm coacting with any of said contacts to form a seat for a circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and a contact, a pusher for advancing a coin through the passage and means actuated by said pusher for swinging said arm to enlarge the passage.

4. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including a movable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage for coins through the unit, the opposite edge of the passage being straight and presenting vertically spaced contacts to form a seat for a solenoid circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and a contact, a pusher for advancing the coin through the passage to break said circuit means actuated by said pusher for swinging said arm to enlarge the passage, and a switch operated by said arm for restoring said solenoid circuit.

5. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including a movable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage for coins through said unit, the opposite edge of the passage being straight and presenting vertically spaced contacts to form a, seat for a register and solenoid circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and a contact, a pusher for advancing a coin through the passage to break said register and solenoid circuit, a ratchet mechanism operated by the pusher for swinging said arm to enlarge the passage and a switch operated by the swinging movement of said arm for restoring the solenoid circuit.

6. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including a movable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage for coins through the unit, the opposite edge of the passage being straight and presenting vertically spaced contacts to form a seat for a coin lodged between the arm and a contact, a passage clearing member, a solenoid for operating said clearing member, said coin completing a circuit including said solenoid for initiating operation of said clearing member means associated with the arm and the clearing member for moving said arm to enlarge the coin passage to drop the coin and interrupt said circuit and a solenoid circuit restoring switch actuated by said arm.

FRANK A. MARCHIONI. MARK E. MARCHIONI.

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