US2421857A - Coin chute - Google Patents

Description

June 7- I w. A. TRATSCH 2,421,857,

com CHUTE Filed Feb. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Shet 1 S l2 Z v 2 y I IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 10, 1947 COIN CHUTE Walter A. Tratsch,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in coin chutes.

More specifically the invention relates to a coin chute of the gravity type whereby the movement of coins by gravity through a runway operates certain mechanism of a coin chute. The invention contemplates a coin chute of this type which will be highly efficient in use and ecconomical in manufacture.

A still'further object of the invention is the provision of a coin chute, the mechanism of which is operated by one or more coins and in which chute there is provided a window which displays the coins temporarily retained in the coin runway or chute.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the invention; Fig. 2 is a reverse. perspective view of the coin chute illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, with the actuating bar embodied. in the invention removed.

The drawings illustrate the preferred form of construction by which the several objects of this invention are accomplished.

In this connection the preferred form of construction of the invention, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a, housing It. This housing It has a back wall Hover which a frame I2 is disposed, and this frame I2 carries a transparent plate I3.

In the back wall II on the face thereof, there is formed a, circuitous coin chute or passage t4, the upper end of which has communication with a coin entrance opening I formed in the plate I3. The lower end portion ofthis coin chuteor passage [4 communicates with an exit opening I5 at the lower end of the housing It.

A mounting bracket I! is secured to the rear face of the back wall II by means of screw ele-- ments I8. This mounting bracket carries a stud shaft I9, and mounted on this stud shaft I9 is a ratchet wheel 20. likewise mounted on the stud shaft is is a spring 2|, one end of which is connected to the ratchet wheel as at 22 and the opposite end to the mounting bracket as at 23, the arrangement being such that the ratchet wheel 20, rotatable upon the stud shaft I9 in an anticlockwise direction, will place the spring 2| Chicago, 111., assignor to Clarence E. Threedy, Chicago, 111., as trustee Application February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,584

under tension so that when the ratchet wheel is free to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, it will rotate under action of the spring 2|.

Secured to the rear face of the back wall II is a bracket 24. This bracket 24 pivotally carries a finger 25. Formed as an integral part of this arm 25 is a spring clamp 23 which frictionally holds a mercury switch 21. This mercury switch 2'! is of a well-known type and includes the lead elements 23 to which circuit wires of an electric circuit are connected. In this mercury switch is a spot of mercury 29 which is adapted to contact the lead elements 28 when the arm 25 is pivoted in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in- Fig. 2. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the spot of mercury is in the lower end portion of the tube of the mercury switch, free from contact with the lead elements 28. The arm 25 tapers into a finger 30 which is disposed in the path of pin elements 3| and 32. The pin element 32 has an end frictionally mounted in one of spaced sockets 33, the arrangement being such that the pin element 32 may be adjusted so as to causev the ratchet wheel to operate in a manner hereinafter more fully explained, by the use of one or more coins.

An actuating bar 34 is provided with an elongated slot 35, and projecting through this elongated slot 35 is a stud shaft 34 A similar elongated slot 35 is formed in the lower end portion of the actuating bar 34, and a similar shaft 36 is projected through this slot 35' and connected to the rear wall II as at 37.

An escapement bar is indicatedat 33, and this escapement bar is pivotally connected to the back wall I I by means of a stud shaft 39. The pivotal movement of this escapement bar 38 is under the action of a spring 40, one end of which is connected as at 4| to the escapement bar and the opposite end of which is connected as at 42 to the rear wall I I.

Carried by this escapement bar is a coin-actuated finger 43 movable through a slotted guide 44 carried by the rear wall II. The end portion 45 of this finger 43 projects through an arcuated slot 46 into the coin passage I3, the arcuated slot 46 being formed in the rea wall I I. I

The sprin 43 normally pivots the escapement bar 38 in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the finger 43 disposed in the upper extremity of the slot of'the plate 44 and with the end portion 45 of the finger disposed in the upper extremity of the arcuated slot 46.

Secured to the rear wall II are bracket elements 4'! spaced from each othe as shown and pivotally supporting therebetween a coin-retaining bar 48. The lower end portion 49 of this bar 48 projects through a slot 55' into the path of coins passing through the coin passage l3. The upper end portion 5| of the bar 48 is disposed in the path of a cam element 52 carried by the ratchet wheel 2il.

A spring leaf 5-3 secured to the rear wall H as at 54, bears against the upper reach of the bar 48 for reasons hereinafter more fully set forth.

Secured to the lower end other and pivotally carrying 'there'between a second coin-retaining bar 56. The upper end portion 5! of this bar projects through the slot .50

while the lower end portion 58 of the. .bar 56.

projects through a slot 59 formed in the wall ll. Carried by the rear wall H as at 50 isa leaf spring 51 simila to the leaf spring 53 and having its end portion bearing upon the lower reach of thebar55.

Carried by th upper end portion 51 of the bar 56 is a laterally projecting finger 62, the end 63 of which is adapted to engage a cam element 6 carried on the underside of the actuating bar 3 To c mplete the invention, a spring 65 connected to the actuating 'bar as at 6-6 and to a screw element 5'1 '(the latter carried by the rear wail-l 14) serves to return the actuating bar 34 to the position shown inFig. 2. I

Let it be assumed that the pi ii '32 is positioned in the opening 33 nearest the-pin 31. In this positionni the pin '32 the coin chute mechanism is adapted to be operated by a'single coin, To operate the coin chute, a coin is passed through the entrance. opening l5 into th upper reach of the coinpassage l3, from whence it gravitates downwardly to a position to be retained by the end portion 49 or the bar 48-. In this passage of the coin 't'o-posi tion upon the end portion 49 of the bar 48, the coin engages the end portion 45 of the finger 43 and the weight of this coin will pivot the finger downwardly. ,In so doing, the escapement bar is pivoted in a direction to permitthe ratchet wheel to advance a step equivalent. to the space between the teeth of the. ratchet wheel. In so rotating, the pin 32 will engage the finger 30' and impart pivotal movement to the arm 25, with the result that the mercury switch will be pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, disposing the spot of mercury into contact withthe lead elements 28, thereby completing the circuit to the mechanism operating the machine with which the coin chute constituting this disclosure is associated.

To return the ratchet wheel'in an opposite direction one step to reset the mercury switch to the position shown in Fig. 2, the operating bar 34 is moved downwardly in a longitudinal direction with respect to its length, this movement being against the action of the spring 65. In thus moving the bar 34 downwardly, theupper end portion thereof will engage the stud shaft 34 and rotate the ratchet wheel in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, causing the pin-3i to-engage the finger 55 and thus pivot the mercury switch to theposition shown in Fig. 2; breaking the elect'ric circuit through the lead elements 28.

As the ratchet wheel is moved in a clockwise.

direction as viewed: in Fig. 2 by the a'ctionof the portion of the Wall H are bracket elements 55 spaced from each coin-engaging finger 45, the cam element 52 will engage the end portion 5| of the bar 48. This engagement of the cam 52 with the end portion 5| of this bar, will pivot this bar against the action of spring 53 to project the end portion 49 thereof into the coin passage, in which position this end portion 49 will support the coin so that the same may be viewed through the transparent plate [3. The coin will remain this position until the actuating bar 3'4 is moved downwardly in the longitudinal direction hereinbefore described. In this downward movement of the bar 134, the cam 64 will engage the finger 62 and vpivot the .bar 56 against the action of the spring 164. This moves the upper end of the bar 56 into the path of movement of the coin through the coin passage 44 :so that when the bar 48 is pivoted by engagement with the cam 52 and the end portion 4-9 thereof withdrawn, the coin will be released from engagement with the end portion 49 of the bar 4'8 and instead rest upon the end portion 51 of the bar 56. The coin williemain in this latter position until the actuating bar 34 is released for-movement action or the spring 65 to thepcs'ition shown in at which time the ha r 55 will return to its normal position shown Fig. 2 by action of the spring leaf 6| projecting the end portion 58 of th'e b'ar 56 into the coin passage M to temporarily retain the coin therein in the position shown in Fig. 1. ihe coin will be retained in this positionuntil the actuating bar 34 is again moved downwardly to bring the cam element 54 into engagement with thee'nd 53 of the finger 62 toeflect pivotal movement of the bar 56 to withdraw the end portion 58 from the path of movement of coins gravitatingdown the coin passage 14.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown four coins retained in the lower portion of the coin passage- In this particular instance the pin 32 is shown as being set to operate the coin machanismby the passage of four coins. As each of these coins gravitate down the chute they will each engage the end portion '45 of the finger 44 and thereby effect operation of the mechanism in the manner herein'before set forth.

The simplicity of my invention is apparent from the foregoing description, and the coinchute mayv be operated'with facility.

The actuating bar is normally actuated. by some element of the mechanism of the machine with which the coin chute is associated. This mechanism may be a plunger which engages the upper endportion of the bar 34.

While I have illustrated and described the. preferred form of construction for carrying my in vention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I. therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construe tion set forth,,but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as some within the scope of the appended claims- Having thus described my claim as new and desire to Patent is:

1. A coin chute compr"'ing a housing havin a coin passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end or the passage and an exit opening communicating. with the lower end of the passage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portions projecting into. th'ep'assa'ge for temporarily and simultaneously retaining coins. at two difierent positions substantially spaced from each other.

invention, what I protect by Letters in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and to release coinsfrom the other of said two positions for movement by gravity to said one of two positions. '2, A coin chute comprising ahousing having a coin' passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portions projecting into the passa e for temporarily and simultaneously retaining coins at two different positions substantially spaced from each other within said passage, means for pivoting said mean to release the coins temporarily retained in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and to release coins from the other of said two positions for movement by gravity to said one of two positions, and means for temporarily retaining coins at said other of two positions until after the release of coins from said one of two positions.

3. A housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portions projecting into the passage for temporarily retaining coins at two different positions within said passage, means for pivoting said means to release the coins temporarily retained in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and to release coins from the other of said two positions for movement by gravity to said on of two positions, and means actuated by coins moving by gravity down said passage from said entrance opening for actuating said release means.

4. A coin chute comprising a, housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portions projecting into the passage for temporarily retaining coins at two different positions within said passage, means for pivoting said means to release the coins temporarily retained in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and to release coins from the other of said two positions for movement by gravity to said one of two positions, means for temporarily retaining coins at said other of two positions until after the release of coins from said one of two positions, and means actuated by coins moving by gravity down said passage from said entrance opening for actuating said release means.

5. A housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portions projecting into the passage for temporarily retaining coins at two different positions within said passage, means for pivoting said means to release the coins temporarily retained in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and to release coins from the other of said .two positions forzmovefment by gravity to said one jof two positions,gand means actuated by coins moving 'by gravity down said passageirom said entrance opening for actuating said release means, said last-named means including a ratchet and pawl and an arm carried by said pawl and projecting into saidpassageand adapted to be engaged by coins gravitating throughgsaid passage and, when thus engaged, to actuate said pawl to move the ratchetstepiby step. i

6. A coin chute comprising a housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of the passage, means pivotally carried by the housing and having portions projecting into the passage for temporarily retaining coins at two diiferent positions within said passage, means for pivoting said means to release the coins temporarily retained in the passage for movement by gravity from one of said two positions to said exit opening and to release coins from the other of said two positions for movement by gravity to said one of two positions, means for temporarily retaining coins at said other of two positions until after the release of coins from said one of two positions, means actuated by coins moving by gravity down said passage from said entrance opening for actuating said release means, said last-named means including a ratchet and pawl and an arm carried by said pawl and projecting into said passage and adapted to be engaged by coins gravitating through said passage and, when thus engaged, to actuate said pawl to move the ratchet step by step.

7. A coin chute comprising a housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of the passage, switch mechanism pivotally carried by the housing, means carried by the housing and projecting into the passage and operable by coins gravitating down the passage for pivoting said switch mechanism in one direction, means pivotally carried by the housing and projecting into the passage into the path of coins passing therethrough for temporarily retaining the coins in said passage; and means operable with an element of said switchpivoting means and adapted to engage an element of said coin-retaining means to retract said coin-retaining means from said passage to permit coins to continue to move by gravity down said passage through said exit opening, and means for pivoting said switch mechanism in an opposite direction.

8. A coin chute comprising a housing having a coin passage formed therein with an entrance opening communicating with the upper end of the passage and an exit opening communicating with the lower end of the passage, switch mechanism pivotally carried by the housing, means carried by the housing and projecting into the passage and operable by coins gravitating down the passage for pivoting said switch mechanism in one direction, means pivotally carried by the housing and projecting into the passage into the path of coins passing therethrough for temporarily retaining the coins in said passage, means operable with an element of said switch-pivoting means and adapted to engage an element of said" coin-retaining means to retract said coin-retaining means from said passage to permit coins to continue to move by gravity down said passage rough-saidemt-zopening amdnthermeans pmli'e'ctm'g mw sam passage tor ben'n avm:arily iretain- REFERENCES CITED amg-thesmq asedlcainsinramither"position'witlfin The following references are of record in the said 'pass'a'ge, means 01 pivoting 'sai'd witch file of this patent:

mechanism liman opposite di-recfiion, and means a; v :actuatedhyssaid Jastmamed means and adapted UNITED STATES PATENTS to engage anselement-of said otherrcuin-retain- Number Name Date ing means-t0 efie'ct mleaseof the-coins'atmmsaid 3M Rmketts l 1900 Elast-nafxredpositionwithmssaidipassage sferzgrav- 751s420 $01011 11904 itation through saidkxitvopenin'g. '10

WALTER, A. "IRATSCH.

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