US2376357A - Coin device - Google Patents

Description

May 22, 1945. o. A. HoKANsoN COIN DEVICE Filed Aug. l2, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l mwa O. A. HOKANSON MayV 22, 1945.

COIN DEVICE Filed Aug. l2, 1942 v3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 22, 1945. o. A. HoKANsoN COIN DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1942 5 Shee's-Shee(l 5' l-ue nia a;

PlatxentedMay 22, 1945..

UNITED 4STATT-:s PATENT OFFICE i COIN DEVICE Otto A. Hokanson, Snyder, N. Y., assigner to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application August 12, i942, Serial No. 454,555

16 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in coin devices of the type designed to reject spurious coins or slugs and thereby prevent the operation ci the apparatus with which devices of this character are used.

/One of its objects is to provide a coin device of this character which has been designed for use with five, ten and twenty-five cent coins to effectually separate and direct non-acceptable coins through paths different from those taken by acceptable coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and reliable means for scavenging the device of non-acceptablegcoins which have been arrested by testing devices disposed in their path of travel.

A still further object is to provide a coin device of this character which is simple and compact in construction, whose parts are adjustable to insure separation of spurious coins from genuine coins, which can be readily assembled as well as be readily opened up for inspection for repair or adjustment, and which is reliable and eflicient in operation.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly'pointed `out in the appended claims.,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the coin device embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a rear view thereof, partly in section. Figure 3 is a front view of the base plate and associated parts with the gate and slug receptacle removed. Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary horizontal sections taken substantially in the planes of the correspondingly numbered lines in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Figures 6 and '7 are vertical sections taken substantially on the correspondinglynumbered lines in Figure 3. Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 8 8, Figure 1. Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 9--9, Figure-1. Figurer 10 is a fragmentary, rear perspective view, partly in section, of the base plate. Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of the gate and the knockout plate, respectively. Figure 13 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the slug receptacle.`

` requirements or characteristics of'genuine or acceptable coins, and a receptacle or cup into which scavenged or other non-acceptable coins are adapted to be directed. In traveling through the device the coins are tested as to size, weight, whether magnetic or non-magnetiaas well as to their electrial conductivity and hardness.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the same comprises an upright base plate I0 having forwardly-facing flanges II projecting from its opposite side edges and over the front face of which the coins travel by gravity for testing and separation to acceptance or reject chutes; a side or horizontallyswinging gate I2 extending over the front face of the upper half portion of the base plate and normally spaced therefrom a sulcient distance to provide a coin passage between such parts; a knockout plate I3 hinged to the rear side of the base plate to swing toward and from the same and having a plurality of forwardly-facing lugs I4 at different predetermined locations thereon for projection through corresponding openings I 5 in the base plate to dislodge any coins which have been arrested in their travel through the chute from testing or otherwise; and a slug box or receptacle I6 disposed over the lower half of the front face of the base plate, also in such spaced relation thereto to provide a continuation of the coin passagelor chute and down which the tested coins roll for separation `into the acceptance or reject chutes. The acceptance discharge chute for twenty-five cent coins is indicated at I1 and is located at the rear side of "and in parallel relation with the base plate II), beingshaped substantially as shown in Figui-ell) of the drawings, and directing such coins to a point where they will operate the coin mechanism of the phonograph or other apparatus to which this coin device is connected. At its upper or inlet end this twenty-five cent coin acceptance chute is in registering communication with an opening I 8 formed in the base plate above the receptacle I 6 and havlng a deector I9 adjoining the same for directing a tested, acceptable twenty-uve coin laterally" from the base plate chute into its. acceptancechute I1. Thatiportion of the gate l2 overlying this opening and deilector is forwardly oil'set or displaced sufficiently to permit the required angular displacement of the coin asit enters the opening I8. Aciptable ilve and ten cent coins, after test, ilnd their way to separate, companion acceptance discharge chutes 20 and 2i, respec tively, located side by` side at the lower front, left hand side of the base plate and between it and the opposing rear facel of the slug receptacle I3. Five cent slugs and certain other denominav tions here considered may be directed, after test,

to a common reject discharge chute 22 located at the right hand side of the base plate between it and the slug receptacle. In most cases, however, rejectedcoins would be deflected into the slug receptacle through an opening 23 and deflecting edge 24 formed in the rear Wall theref. as shown in Figure 13.

The slug receptacle I3 is open at its upper end o ver the full width thereof to receive any coins which have been arrested in the upper testing portion of the coin chute above the plane of the receptacle and which have been subsequently released by the knockout plate I3 or otherwise scavenged in a manner as will hereinafter appear. To facilitate the gravity discharge of the rejected coins or slugs from this receptacle, it has a sloping bottom wall 25 and a discharge opening- 26 at the right hand side thereof adjoining the common reject chute 22. This receptacle is detachably secured to the base plate i@ by tongues 21 projecting from one side of the receptacle and engaging companion openings 23 in the adjoining plate-flange Il, while a spring-urged latching lever 29 is applied to the opposite side of the receptacle and has n coupling tongue 3@ thereon for engagement with a companion opening 3| in the opposing basen-flange II.

The upper or testing portion of the coin passage formed between the base plate I@ and the gate I2 is provided with a coin-receiving'opening or passage 32 through which five, ten and twenty-five cent coins are deposited into thede` 1 vice and then allowed to roll edgewise in the plane :f the base plate to be tested and separaten. Upper and lower inclined ledges or tracks 33. 34 separate the path of twenty-five cent coins from those of ve and ten cent coins, the twenty-five cent coins or slugs being guided along the upper I track 33 and the other denomination coins or slugs being guided on the lower track 34. Pivoted at 35 to the rear side of the base plate and below the mouth of the coin-receivingv opening 32 is a vertically-swinging, counter-balanced cradle '35 having forwardly-facing lugs or abutments 3l at opposite sides of its pivot which extend through the adjoining openings I in the base plate and which are so spaced as to permit iive and ten cent coins to pass downwardly there-between onto the lower track 34, but which intercept a twenty-five cent coin, the weight of the latter causing the cradle to rock in a clockwise direction and shifting the coin to a position where it will roll free of the cradle onto the upper track 33. In traveling along the respective inclined passages defined by the tracks 33, 34, the coins enter a zone of magnetic flux created by electromagnets 33 applied to the gate I2 and opposing keepers 39 applied to the knockout plate I3. Depending upon the metallic content of the coins, their speed of travel is retarded or not as they pass through or 34 in various trajectory paths as 'determined by their resulting velocity.

Means are disposed in these various paths for effecting the separation of the acceptable coins from the spurious coins or slugs and thence directing such coins, respectively, to their companion acceptance or-reject discharge chutes. The separating means associated with the trajectory path of the twenty-five cent coins or slugs preferably consist of deectors or impact members 4D, 4| which are disposed. as shown in Figure 3 adjacent the opposite ends of the acceptance opening I8 leading to the twenty-five cent coin chute II, so that a genuine twenty-ve cent coin, after leaving the inclined track 33 will fall in atrajectory to pass between these deflectors and into the acceptance chute. A twenty-five cent slug, which is not affected by the magnetic flux and therefore leaves the track at' a high velocity, strikes the upper deiiector 40 and is rebounded therefrom clear of the acceptance chute Opening I8 and takes a path of travel where it is discharged into the slug receptacle I6. A twenty-five cent slug, which is materially retarded by the magnetic flux and therefore drops sharply downwardly from the end of the track 33, encounters the lower deector 4I and is likewise directed to the reject chute. By preference this deflector 4I is in the form of a yieldable element or wire which, when-encountered by a coin, flexes downwardly and cushions the impact. A thirddefiector 42 is disposed below the companion deectors 4B, 4I and in the path of the descending travel of the deflected twenty-five cent slugs to direct them laterally toward the reject. chute 22, or to deflect them toward the opening 23 and thence into the slug receptacle i6. By preference, this deilector 42 is pivoted at 42*L and is counterweighted to normally assume the position shown but is free to be displaced in one the magnetic flux and they leave the tracks 33 'I5 direction when engaged by aten cent coin to cushion the impact, but is held against swinging in the opposite direction to deect slugs into the reject chute or receptacle. To assist in such disposal of the slugs into the receptacle, its front wall is depressed inwardly adjacent the area of the opening 23 to provide an abutting portion 43 against which the slugs are adapted to contact and by which they are brought into a properly alinea position to freely drop into the receptacle. A fourth deiiector 44 is disposed to the left of the deflector 42 and spaced therefrom suiliciently to v provide for the passage of any of the coins therebetween. Like the companion deectors, this one serves to separate the spurious coins by deecting them in paths leading to the reject chute 22 or the slug receptacle I6.

The deectors 40, 4I, 42 and 44 are mounted on the rear side of the base plate l0 and their coin-engaging portions extend through the companion openings I5 provided in such plate. These deilectors are adjustable to readily position them as desired and for this purpose are provided with slots 45 for receiving the fastening bolts 46.

Disposed at the lower right side of the coin passage through which the rejected'coins descend to the discharge chute 22 is an anvil 4l which is secured to the front face of the base plate I 0 below and to the right of the deector 42. Genuine iive cent coins introduced into the device en.. gage and roll down the lower inclined track 34 and then follow a trajectory which brings them into contact with this anvil, from which they are rebounded in an arcuate path toward the aardse? left hand side o( the base plate from which they descend through the acceptance chute 2li.

Between the latter and the anvil 41 and belowthe defiector 42 and the normal rebound path of a genuine five cent 'coinvis a vertically-swinging, counterbalanced cradle 4l pivoted at 44 to a bracket 50 adjustably secured to the rear side of the base plate and having forwardly-facing lugs or coin abutments 5I at opposite sides of its pivot which extend into the coin passage through adjoining openings I5 inthe base plate. These cradle-lugs are spaced apart sufficiently to permit a ten cent coin descending through the coin passage to freely pass therebetween to the companion acceptance chute 2 I which is in vertical alinement with such lug-creating `coin path. However, five .and twenty-five cent coins which may descend toward this cradle are intercepted thereby, the weight of such coins tilting the cradle and dumping them into 4the reject discharge chute 22.

onto the cradle 43 from which it is dumped into the reject chute. Y Means are provided inthe upright intake portion ofthe coin passage and in a plane below the twenty-tlvejcent coin track 33 for .intercepting 2or,

- separating light undersize coins as wellas per- '.vide vertically-swinging, counterbalanced levers v Above the rebound path of a genuine five cent coin and between the deflector 42 and the left hand side of the base plate III` are superposed spacing studs or pins 52 which not only maintain the base plate and slug receptacle I8 in uniform spaced relation to provide the coin passage, but are so positioned as to prevent other coins reach- 'ing the acceptance chute 20 and to deflect them in directions away from such chute. Similar st uds 52I are located along the lower edge of the base plate to separate the coin chutes 20, 2l and 22.

n considering the travel of ten cent coins and slugs through the device, a legitimate ten cent piece,l after leaving the inclined track 34, takes a trajectory between the cleiiectors.` 4I, 44 and strikes and displaces the pivoted deflector 42 at a point. to the right of its center of gravity -and then descends between the lugs 5I of the lower cradle 48 into the acceptance chute 2l. A slow moving ten cent slug, lor one which is retarded by the magnetic ilux, encounters the dellector 44 and drops onto the deector 42 at a point to the left of its center of gravity and from which point it descends into the slug receptacle I6.. A fastmoving slug, or one unaffected by the magnetic flux, takes a trajectory where it strikes the right side of detlector 42 and is then rebounded therefrom and deflected either v.through the opening 23 into the slug receptacle I6 or into thereject chute 22. z

Considering now the travel of live cen't coins and slugs through the device, a legitimate ve cent piece, takes a trajectory which clears the deflectors 4I, 42 and 44 and strikes the anvil 4I from which it is rebounded over the cradle 48 into the acceptance chute 20. A slow-moving five cent slug, or one retarded by the magnetic flux, may strike against the deilectors 44 and 42 and be deflected laterally from the latter into the slug receptacle I6 or it may be deflected to the 'right by the delector 42 and descend straight downwardly between the anvil 4'I and the opposing cradle-lug 5I into the reject chute 22; or itmay be deflected tothe left of the deflector 42 against one or the other of the pins 52 and then descend onto the cradle 48 to be'rocked therebytoward and into the reject chute. A fast-moving five cent slug, or one unaffected by the magnetic iiux, passes over the deilector 44 and drops onto the detiector 42, from which it is deflected into the slug receptacle or the reject chute 22; or it may be trajected from the deilector 42 and then forated slugs or washers introduced into the coinreceiving opening 32 andA denectingfthem away from the coin track 34 and into the slug receptacle I6. For` intercepting light-weight slugs made' of cardboard, Bakeliteand the like,` I pro- 53, 53n pivoted at 54 to the rear side of the base plate I0 to swing in the plane thereof and termi'- nating at their free ends in forwardly-bent lugs 55 and 55B, respectively, the former oi.' which ex- Y tends through the companion opening I5 formed in such plate into the path of the introduced coins, while the latter` is disposed in the Path 'of and adapted to be engaged by the lever 5Iwhen the same is displaced by a ve cent coin. Five and ten cent coins having sumcient weight displace these levers to permit them to pass on through the coin passage, while light-weight coins do not disturb thelevers and they are accordingly blocked against descending inthe chute until scavenged in a manner to be r hereinafter described The lever-lug 55 is disposed to intercept light-weight ten cent coins, While a light-fweight live cent coin may displace the lever 53 a short distance, say, until it encounters the lwg 55"', when the combined counterweight of these levers will then come into play and prevent th'e escapement of the coin and it is blocked in its descent. A

counterweighted, pendulum-like member 55 is pivoted at 5'I to the rear side of the base plate and terminates at its lower end in a hook-like ele-. ment 58 which extends through. the companion opening I5 in such plate and is normally urged transversely against the rear face of the overlying gate I2 and in the path of the introduced coins. 'Ihis pendulum is vlaterally displaced by those coins descending past the lever 53 so asnot to obstruct the free descent of nornial-sized'coins.A However, in the case of washer-like slugs, these are penetrated by the hooked end 58 of the pendulum and held thereby until scavenged. To effect the-rejection and diversion ofundersized coin-s,the gate I2 is provided with a; discharge opening 59 which is disposed opposite the lower end of the pendulum 5B and for such size and shape to prevent passage therethrough of coins simulating a ten cent piece in size. Arranged over this discharge opening is a shield 60 which is open at its lower end and through which undersize coins, displaced yby the pendulum through said opening, are discharged and thence' dropped by gravity into the slug receptacle I6, being deflected therein by the upper inclined portion 6I of such receptacle. l p The gate I2 and knockout plate I3 are hingedv on a common upright pintle 62 mounted in,lugs 53 on the base' plate I0 and a spring 64 serves to constantly urge said gate to its normally closed position in spaced overlying relation to the base plate. A second spring'65 coiled about the pintle and having its ends in bearing engagement with the gate and the knockout plate lserves to con# stantly urge such parts toward each other, so that when the gate is `opened for scavenging purposes, for example, the knockout plate follows in a like direction with it toward the base plate, the gate having a bolt or like element 66 projecting rearwardly therefrom through an opening in the base plate and abutting the opposing free end of the knockoutplate; The magnets 33 and keepers closed position of the gate", the knockout plate assumes a position'somewhat rearwardly inclined to the plane ofthe base plate, wherein its lugs I4 are retracted from andclear on the coin passage.

When the gate is opened, the knockout plate is automatically moved in, a directionD to project its lugs I4 through the alined openings I5 in the/ base plate and engage any coins which may have become trapped or stuck in the coin passage and displace them from their trappedA positions to'enable them to drop by gravity into the slug receptacle I 6.k For the purpose of freeing ,any coins ,which may have been dropped in the lower cradle 48 and over which area of the coin passage the slug receptacle extends, the rear wall of the latter is provided with a transversely displaceable trap door 61 normally closing a coin-escapement opening'68 formed therein and adapted to be opened when the gate I2 and the knockout plate I3 are moved to a scavenging position and at the .same time dislodge the arrested coin and permit it to drop by gravity into the bottom of the slug receptacle. This trapdoor is hingedly suspended from a pintle 69 mounted on a bracket 10 applied to the slug receptacle and a spring 1I engages which have been arrested along the coin path.

80 on its front side which is adapted to engage a cam face 8| on the gate to swing the latterl wardly to its scavenging position and bridge the the door to yieldingly retain it in its pendant, v

closed position.

The means for opening the trap door 61 and dislodging a coin trapped in the vicinity of the lower cradle 48 is associated with the lower portion of the knockout plate I3 which has a scaveng-ing lug I4 thereon for abutting against the lodged coin and pushing it through the trap door opening 68 into the slug receptacle I6. A lever 61* is pivoted at I3 to the base plate I0 to swing jointly with the knockout plate, being coupled thereto by tie-lugs 61D, and is provided at its free end with a lug/I4a which, when such plate is moved to a scavenging position, abuts the trap door and opens it. It will be noted that the respective pivots of the knockout plate and lever 61'l and the lugs I4 and I4a are so disposed that, during the swinging of the plate to its scavenging position, the lug I4 functions rst to open the trap door and thereafter the lug I4 abuts the coin and projects it through the opening 68 into the slug receptacle,

l For the purpose of scavenging-any coins attracted to and arrested by the magnets 38, I provide a sweep arm 12 which is pivoted at 13 to the rear side of the gate I2 adjacent its hinged end and which is adapted to be swung across the coin ypassage between'the magnets and their keepers 39 to dislodge the coins therefrom for discharge into the reject chute 22 or slug receptacle I6. A spring 14 is provided for normally urging this sweep arm to its retracted position clear of the coin passage. An actuating lever 15 pivoted at 16 to the upper end of the base plate I0 and having Y a roller 11 at its free end for engagement with the sweep arm 12 isadapted to project the latter to its scavenging position.A This lever has a :tinger tab 18 projecting rearwardly therefrom and a spring 19 serves to normally urge it to it retracted, inoperative position. i The actuating lever 15 also serves, when depressedtd push the sweep arm 12 downwardly, to open the gate I2 as well as to allow the spring 65 and magnets 38 to swing the knockout plate I3 forwardly with the gate to eject any coins tiplicity of spaced impact surfaces of narrow" width which prevent dust and dirt lodging thereon 'and interfering with the rebound action of the coins.

I claim as my invention:

1. A coin device of the character described, comprising means defining a coin passage having a common coin-receiving opening at its upper end for the introduction of coins of different denominations and terminating at its lower end in separate acceptance discharge chutes for the passage of certain denominational coins and a common discharge chute for non-acceptable coins of the different denominations, said means having a separate acceptance discharge chute at the rear side of said coin passage and communicating at its upper endwith the latter for receiving legitimate coins of another denomination, and means in said coin passage between its coin-receivingopening and said discharge chutes, respectively, for testing the introduced coins and separating and directing them as aVresult of the tests to the companion acceptance chutes .or to the common non-acceptance chute.

2. A coin device of the character described, comprising means defining a coin passage having a common coin-receiving opening at its upper end for the introduction of five, ten and twenty-five centy coins and separate discharge chutes for the passage of such acceptable coins and a commonreject chute for the non-acceptable coins, coin-testing means in said passage for deflecting and directing the introduced coins to their respective acceptance or non-acceptance discharge chutes, and superposed runways in -For this purpose, this lever has a second roller the coin passagebetween the coin receiving opening and said testing means for guiding twentyve cent coins to a given zone of the testing means and the five and ten-cent coins to another zone of the testing means, said-coin-testing means including a pair of spaced deector elements disposed at a predetermined trajectory distance from the end of the 25 runway and a-triangular group of spaced deflector elements disposed below the 5 and 10 runway and located at predetermined trajectory distances therefrom, whereby acceptable 25 coins pass between said pair of deflector elements and the acceptable 5 and 10 coins pass between the deector elements of the triangular group.

3. A coin device of the character described,

comprising means defining a coin passage havfor denecting and directing the introduced vcoins to their respective acceptance or non-acceptance discharge chutes, superposed runways in the coin e between the coin-receiving opening and said testing means for guiding twenty-uve cent coins to a predetermined area of the testing means and the tive and' ten-cent coins jointly to another predetermined area ofthe testing means, certain of said coin-engaging elements being in that testing area in the path of trajectory of the 25e coin guiding runway and between which acceptable 25e coins pass to their discharge chute and from lwhich elements unacceptable coins are directed for passage to the reject chute, and the remaining coin-engaging elements being disposed in that testing arca in the path of trajectory oi the 5 and 10 runway and between one or another of which acceptable 5 and 10 coins pass to their respective discharge chutes and from one or another of which last-named coin-engaging elements unacceptable coins are deflected for passage to the reject chute and means along each'of said runways for creating a magnetic iield to vary the trajectory path of the coins, whereby coins oi acceptable characteristics are directed by the testing means to the companion denominational acceptance discharge chutes while coins of non-acceptable character-"sistics are directed -by said testing means to the common reject chute. j

' 4. A coin device of the character described, comprising means deiining a coin passage having a commoncoin-receiving opening for the introduction of a plurality of coins of different denominationsand separate discharge `chutes for acceptable and non-acceptable coins, certain of the acceptable chutes and the non-acceptable -x/:hute being disposed side by side in the lower portion and plane of the coin passage and another of the acceptable chutes being disposed at the opposite side of said coin-passage-means, the latter having a laterally-disposed opening and deiiector communicating with the last-named chute and into which acceptable coins of a given denomination are ldirected, means disposed in cooperative relation with said opening and deiiector for directing non-acceptable coins of said last-named denomination clear ofthe companion acceptable chute and downwardly into the coin passage, spaced deiiector elements projecting into the coin passage between said lower discharge chutes and said opening and deiiector and between which certain of the coins are adapted to pass or be deflected into companion acceptance chutes in the lower portion of the coin passage or to be deflected into the non-acceptance discharge chute, and means providing a magnetic eld across the-coin passage between its coin-receiving opening and said laterally-disposed opening and deiiector elements.

5. A coin device of the character described, comprising means dening a coin passage having a common coin-receiving opening at its upper end for coins of diierent denominations and apair of acceptance chutes in its lowerportion for the separate discharge of genuine coins of certain denominations and a common reject chute ination are guided in a direction toward said auxiliary acceptance chute while coins of said certain denominations are guided in a direction below the entrance to such chute, means for providing a magnetic ileld across the respective runways in the coin passage, and a plurality of spaced deectors projecting into said coin passage for intercepting and deiiecting tlie coins as they leave said runways in diirerent trajectories to either the acceptance or reject chutes in the lower portion of said means. two of said deflectors being positioned in superposed relation adjacent the opposite ends of the entrance to said auxiliary acceptance chute, the third deiiector being disposedbelow the lower runway and laterally spaced from the lower defiector of said pair to provide a'space between which the diierent denomination coins may descend, and the fourth deiiector being disposed in spaced relation below and substantially midway between said lastnamed spaced deflectors and from which the descending coins are deflected into one of said lower acceptance chutes or into the reject chute.

pair of acceptance chutes in its lower portion for i the separate discharge or genuine coins o1' cerfor spurious coins of the diierent denominations,"-

said means having an auxiliary acceptance chute,

. tion,.means in the upper portion oi.' the coin pas'- sage for dividing the same into supcrposedrunways whereby the coins of the last-recited denomtain denominations and a common reject chute for spurious coins of the different denominations, said meais having an `auxiliary acceptance chute at the rear side of said coin passage and in communication with the upper portion of the latter tor receiving genuine coins of another denomination, means in the upper portion oi the coin passage for dividing the same into superposed runways whereby the'oins of the last-recitedl denomination are guided in a direction toward said auxiliary acceptance chute while coins oi said certaindenominations are guided in a direction below the entrance to such chute, means for providing a magnetic field across the respective runways in the coin passage. a plurality of spaced deflectors projecting into said coin passage between said magnetic ileld creating means and said lower acceptance and reject chutes for intercepting and deecting the coins as they leave the runways in different trajectories to the reject chute or one of the lower acceptance chutes, and an anvil disposed in the lower portion ofthe coin passage in adjoining relation to the reject chute and from which genuine coins of a certain denomination are adapted to engage and be rebounded into the other of said lower acceptance chutes. l i

'7. A coin device of the character described, comprising means dening a coin passage having a common coin-receiving opening at its upper end for coins of different denominations and chutes at the lower end for the separateI discharge of acceptable coins and a reject chute for the commonvdischarge o; non-acceptable coins, means disposed in the coin passage between said coin-receiving opening and said chutes fortesting the coins and directing them accordingly to the respective acceptance or reject chutes, and a receptacle applied to the lower portion of said means with its rear wall in spaced overlyingrelation to its coin passage to form a continuation or the latter and having an opening in such. rear wall and in register with the upper portion of the reject chute for receiving certain unacceptable coins said receptacle being open at its upper end in communicating relation with the upper portion of the coin passage for receiving other unacceptable coins. A

8. A coin device of the character described, comprising an upright plate, a horizontally-movable gate hinged to said plate at the front side thereof and jointly forming therewith a coin passage, a spring connected to said gate for yieldingly resisting its movement out of its normally closed position, means in the coin passage -for checking the descent of unacceptable coins therethrough, said plate having openings therein opposite said coin-checking means, a horizontallymovable knockout member hinged to the opposite side of said plate and having coin-engaging elements thereon in registration with said plateopenings, and an operative connection between said gate and said knockout member for compelling their simultaneous movement toward and from, and vice versa, the opposite sides of said plate, respectively, whereby when said gate is opened to a coin-scavenging pOSition, the knockout member is moved toward said plate to project its coin-engaging elements through the companion plate-openings to release any checked coins lodged in the coin passage.

9. A coin device of the character described, comprising an upright plate, a horizontally-movable gate hinged to said plate at the front side thereof and jointly forming ,therewith a coin passage, a spring connected to said gate for yieldingly resisting its movement out of its normally closed position, means in the coin passage for checking the descent of unacceptable coins therethrough, 4said plate having openings therein opposite said coin-checking means, a horizontally-movable knockout member hinged to the opposite side f said plate and having coin-engaging elements thereon in registration with said plate-openings, an abutting connection'between said gate and said knockout member for maintaining such parts in predetermined relation, a spring conected to the gate and knockout member for normally urging said parts toward each other at all times, and an actuating member mounted on said plate for operative engagement with said gate to move it to an open position, said last-named spring simultaeously causing the movement of the knockout member in a like direetion to project its coin-engaging elements through the companion plate-openings to release any checked coins lodged in the coin passage.

10. A coin device of the character described, comprising an upright plate, a horizontally-movable gate hinged to said plate at the iront vside thereof and jointly forming therewith a coin passage, a spring connected to said gate for yieldingly resisting its movement out of its normally closed position, means in the coin passage for checking the descent of unacceptable coins therethrough, said plate having openings therein opposite'said coin-checking means, a horizontallymovable knockout member hinged to the opposite side of said plateoandl having coin-engaging elements thereon in registration with said plateopenings, a magnet mounted on said gate and an opposing keeper element mounted on said knockout member for creating a magnetic field across the coin passage and adapted to arrest magnetic coins therebetween, means operatively connecting said gate and said knockout member for joint movement whereby, when the gate is opened to a scavenging position, the knockout member is moved toward said plate to project its coin-enf gaging elements through the companion plateopenings to release any checked coins lodged in the coin passage, a sweep arm pivotally mounted on the inner side of the gate and movable across the space between the magnet and its keeper for removing any coin arrested thereby, and an actuating member operatively connected to said gate and said sw arm for controlling the movement ot such parts and the knockout member to their scavenging positions.

l1. A coin device of the character described, comprising an upright plate, a horizontally-movable gate hinged to the upper portion of said plate at the front side thereof and jointly torming therewith a coin passage. a horizontally-movable scavenger member hinged to the opposite side of said plate and=having defiector elements thereon projectable through companion openings in the plate and across the coin passage, a receptacle for unacceptable coins mounted on the lower front side of said plate in spaced relation thereto to form a continuance of the coin passage, means inf the coin passage for arresting magnetized and other unacceptable coins introduced thereto, means movably mounted on said gate for releasing any magnetized coins from the coin passage, and an actuating means operatively connected to said gate, said scavenger member and said coin releasing means for controlling the movement of such parts to their scavenging positions, the deiiector elements `hn said scavenger member causing the released coins to be deilected into said receptacle.

l2. A coin device of the character described, comprising an upright plate, a .horizontally-movable gate hinged to the upper portion of said plate at the front side thereof and jointly forming therewith a coin passage, a horizontally-movable scavenger member hinged to the oppositeV side of said plate and having elements thereon projectable through companion openings in the plate and across the coin passage to release any coins, arrested in such passage, a` receptacle for unacceptable coins mounted on the lower front side of said plate in spaced relation thereto to form a continuance of the coin passage, the inner wall of said receptacle having an opening therein and a movabiedoor normally closing the same, and means for actuating said scavenger member toits operative position to release arrested coins, one of said elements on the scavenger member being positioned opposite said receptacle door to open the same while another of saidelements is adapted to release and direct any coin arrested in the region of the receptacle-door through the same and into the receptacle.

13. A coin device of the character described,

comprising means dening a coin passage having a common coin-receiving portion at its upper end and chutes for the separate discharge of acceptable and non-acceptable coins, a horizontallyswinging gate mounted on said means and jointly forming therewith the coin passage and having an opening therein in register with the coin-receiving portion thereof for the discharge-of undersize coins, and a counter-balanced lever pivotally mounted on said means and having a forwardlybent portion at its lower end normally extending transversely of the coin-receiving portion of the coin passage, said lever being displaceable by coinsof normal weight and size to permit them to descend into the coin passage while coins of undersize are projected by said lever through said gate-opening.

14. A coin device of the character described, comprising an upright plate, a horizontally-movable gate hinged to said plate in overlying relation thereto and jointly forming a coin passage therewith, a horizontally-movable knockout member hinged to the opposite side of said plate and operatively connected to said gate to move simultaneously therewith relative to said plate, the latter having an opening therein in the plane of the gate and the knockout member, and a magnet and a companion keeper applied to said gate Y and said knockout member, respectively, in registering relation with the plate-opening, the keeper normally extending through said opening ush with the upright plate and adapted to protrude through said opening in constant predeterc a pair of coin-separating runways leading from mined relation with the magnet when said gate the other with the upper runway accommodating 25 coins and the lower runway 5 and 10 coins, means in said coin passage for intercepting and directing 25 coins'to the upper runway and permitting 5 and 10 coins to drop unimpeded onto the lower runway, means along each of the runways for creating a magnetic eld to vary the trajectory path of the coins, and coin-testing means in the coin passage between the ends of the runways and the coin discharge chutes for deflecting and directing the introduced coins to their respective acceptance or non-acceptance discharge chutes, said means consisting of a plurality of spaced pairs of coin-engaging elements disposed in predetermined relation and at predetermined trajectory distances from the ends of said runways and between which companion acthe coin-receiving opening and disposed one below the other with the upper runway accommodating 25 coins and the lower runway 5 and 10 coins, means in said coin passage for intercepting and directing 25 coins to 'the upper runway and permitting 5 and 10 coins to drop unimpeded onto the lower runway, means along each of the runways for creating a magnetic eld to vary the trajectory path of the coins, coin-testing means in the coin passage between the ends of the runways 94nd the coin discharge chutes for deiiecting and directing the introduced coins to their respective acceptance or non-acceptance discharge chutes, said means consisting of a plurality of spaced pairs of coin-engaging elements disposed in predetermined relation and at predetermined trajectory distances from the ends of said runways and between which companion acceptable coins are free to pass for direction to the respective acceptance discharge chutes, any coins contacting said elements by trajection in an abnormal path being deflected out of the acceptance chute-paths and `into the discharge chute, and an anvil disposed in the reject chute and from which acceptable 5 coins are adapted to rebound and be trajected between a pair of said coin-engaging elements into the lcompanion acceptance discharge chute.

' OTTO A. HOKANSON.

Images