US2431432A - Coin selector and slug rejector - Google Patents

Description

Filed Jam. 15, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 Y INVENTOR.

HAROLD A. SNlTH BY ATT'Y.

NOV. 25, 1947. H, A sMn-H 2,431,432

COIN SELECTOR AND SLUG REJECTR Filed Jan. l5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 68 v INVENTOR.

HAROLD A. SMITH MMM vso ATT'Y UNITED STATES PATENT Patented Nov. 25, 1947 COIN SELECTOR AND SLUG REJECTOR Application January 15, 1945, Serial No. 572,849

'tion of genuine coins.

26 Claims. l

Y ation of such machines by means of slugs or counterfeit coins.

The invention may be considered as an improvement on the invention disclosed in U. S.

Patent Re. 22,229, granted December l, 1942, to Harold A. Smith, and employs a pair of dies each containing an impression of the coin to be selected, means for bringing about a fit between a deposited coin and one of the dies, and means including a suction device for causing the coin to adhere to the die temporarily, whereby the coin may be directed into a chute for the recep- A slug or a counterfeit coin is rejected by reason of the fact that it does not match the dies and will not adhere to either die, due to the excessive leakage of air.

The invention and various features thereof will be described more fully in the detailed specification which follows, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front view of a coin selectorv and slug rejector embodying the invention, with the front of the casing removed to expose the parts inside, certain of said parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, with the top of the casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, and shows certain other parts, including a coin chute and part of the front wall of the casing of a vending machine or other machine in which the coin selector and slug rejector is incorporated;

' Fig. 4 shows a gear with an integrally formed cam;

Fig, 5 shows the contour of the cam; and

Fig. 6 is a partial section through the coin chute on the line 6 6, Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the mechanism is enclosed in a metallic casing comprising the front IIB, back II, bottom I2, sides I3 and I4, and top I5. The back, bottom and sides of the casing are preferably formed integrally from a single piece of material, which is bent to the proper shape in a suitable fixture. The front and top of the casing are also formed in one piece. The sides and bottom of the casing are provided with ears such as I6, Il and I8, Fig. 1, to which the front of the casing may be secured by means of screws as shown in Fig. 2.

Near the topy of the casing are two supporting blocks 2B Vand 2|, the shape of which can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2. The block 2e is secured to the side wall I3 of the casing by screws 24 and 25, while block 2| is secured to the side wall I4 of the casing by screws 26 and 21. These blocks rigidly support the two rods 22 and 23 which extend across the casing between the blocks.

The reference character 3| indicates a yoke which is slidably mounted on the rods 22 and 23 and is urged to the left by the two springs 32 and 33. These springs surround the rods 22 and 23, respectively, and are compressed between the yoke 3| and the block 2|. The yoke 3| is additionally supported by means of two pins 34 and 35 which are iixed in the yoke and are slidable in the block 2|. v

There is a corresponding yoke 30 on the left hand side which is slidable on the rods 22 and 23 like yoke 3| and is urged to the right by the two springs 36 and 31. The pins 38 and 39 are fixed in yoke 30 and are slidable in the block 20. The position of the yokes 3U and 3| is controlled by two cams, as will be described presently.

The reference characters 4|) and 4I indicate two coin gripping cylinders which are supported on the yokes 30 and 3|, respectively. The cylinder 4|) has an internal bevel 42 at the right hand end, the smaller diameter of which is the same as or slightly less than the diameter of the coin to be selected. At its left hand end the cylinder 40 has an annular recess in which the flexible disc 4S is secured by staking. The disc 48 is secured to the yoke 30 by means of a headed sleeve 41, which has a press fit in the yoke and is additionally secured by staking. A ring 4S is interposed between the yoke and the disc, which is clamped between the ring and the head of the sleeve.

The cylinder 4I is supported on the yoke 3| in the same way that cylinder 4U is-supported on yoke 3|). It will be seen that the discs such as 48 provide flexible connections between the cylinders and the yokes, whereby the cylinders are adapted to yield or tilt slightly to adjust themselves to a coin, which may not be of uniform thickness around the rim. The operation of the cylinders in gripping and holding a deposited coin will be explained presently.

The reference character 44 indicates a die which is supported on the tubular shaft 49. The shaft has a bearing in the sleeve 41 and another bearing in the air seal washer 5| which is preferably made of Bakelite. A pinion 52 is secured to shaft 49 by means of a set screw. The yoke 3|) has a rectangular opening, seen clearly in Fig. 2, t9 provide room for the pinion 52. This opening is larger than the pinion 52, and thus the shaft 49 is permitted to have a limited axial movement in its bearings in addition to its rotary movement. The shaft is urged toward the right by a spring 55 which is compressed between the washer 5| and the pinion 52, so that the pinion normally bears against the right hand side of the opening in yoke 30.

The die 44 is supported on the shaft 49 by means of a disc 45, which is staked on the shaft, and a rubber ring 43 which is cemented 0r molded to the back of the die. The ring 43 has an internal groove and is resilient enough .so that it can be slipped on or olfv the disc.

The die 44 is preferably made of glass and has on its face an impression of the coin to be selected, as shown in Fig. 3. There lare a plurality of small openings connecting the face of the die with the back thereof and forming air passages .through the die. These openings are preferably .two -in number andare located in elevated areas on the face ofthe die. One opening is indicated .at -53 in Fig. 3. Another opening, which is almost diametrically opposite opening 53, is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Each opening is connected to the nearest adjacent depressed area in the face of the die by a bleeder `channel such as 55.

The cylinder 4| is mounted on yoke 3| in the .same way .that cylinder 4D is mounted on yoke 30. Other parts on the right hand side correspond to those on the'left hand side which have .just been described. The die 54 is identical with die 44 and is supported on the tubular shaft 56 which carries the pinion 51. The shaft 56 has bearings in the yoke 3| and in the block 2| and .has a limited axial movement relative to the yoke. vSpring 58 urges the shaft assembly to the left and normally holds the `pinion 51 against the left side of Athe opening in the yoke 3|.

The reference character B0 indicates the gear mounting block which Yextends between the front and rear walls -of the casing and is firmly secured to the rear wall v|| by means .of four screws such as 6| `and 62. The -block 60 issubstantially square in cross section .and has Aplane surfaces on all `four sides except for a semi-circular recess 63 on the upper surface which is .cut out to provide room for the cylinders 40 and 4|. The block also ,has a number rof slots which extend downward from its upper surface.

The slot r64 is the slug return slot or chute, and can Vbe seen -in Figs. l Aand 2, Vbeing partly shown also'in Fig. 3, where the bottom of the slot is dened by the solid line65 and the dotted continuations of this line. It will be seen that this return slot64 is located directly -beneath the space between the two dies -44 and 54' and that it slopes downward toward the `front `wall I 0 of the casing. There is of course a slot -in the front wall .of thercasing which is aligned with the slot 64 in the block.

There are two coin collect 'slots indicated at 66 and 61, Fig. 2, which aresymmetrically located von opposite sides of the slug return slot 64. -One of these coin collect slots, slot 166, can be seen in Fig. 1. The `dotted .line -58 :in Fig. 3 defines the bottoms of ithe two coin collect slots .and shows Lthat they slope ,downward toward Vthe rear wall .of -the casing. There are two slots in the rear wall which are in alignment with the .slots-65 and 61, respectively.

In addition to the slug return and coin collect .slots described, the block it] vhas a narrow slot 69, Fig. 2, which extends from the slug return slot 4 64 to the rear end of the block. The depth of the slot 69 is indicated by the dotted line 10, Fig. 3. It is provided in order to permit necessary movement of the coin actuated switch lever H5, as will be explained shortly.

The gear 1| is rotatably supported on the block v60 bymea-ns of a 4headed shoulder pin .or stud 12, the shank portion of which has :a drive fit in a hole drilled transversely through the block. The opposite gear 13 is similarly mounted on the block 68 by means of a stud 14. The gears 1| and 13 are in mesh with the pinions 52 and 51, respectively, and are driven in opposite directions by the gear 15, which is mounted on the lower side of block 60 by means of the stud 16.

The gear is driven by the pinion 18 on shaft 19, which in turn is driven by the motor 11 through the medium .of suitable speed reducing gears. The motor is mounted yon the rear wall Il of the casing as shown. The motor unit including the speed reducing Ygears is of Vknown construction and need not be Vdescribed in detail. It may be mentioned, however, that the speed reduction should be such that .the gears 1| and 13 rotate at a speed of from about 45 R. P. M. to 60 R. P. M.

The gears 1| and 13 are provided with integrally formed cams 8D and 8|, respectively, which .control the sliding movement of the yokes 30 and 3| .on .the rods 22 and 23. Gear 13 and cam 8| are shown in Fig. 4. The contour of the cam is shown in Fig. 5 from which it, will be seen that the working face includes a long gradually rising portion 82, a lat portion 82', a short lrapidly descending portion 83 terminating in a shallow depression 85 and a short rapidly descending portion 84. The Vgear 1| and cam 80 are identical withgear 13 and cam .8|. The two cams engage rollers .88 and '81, respectively, which are mounted 4on the yokes .30 and 3| as shown. The gears are so assembled with the gear 15 that .corresponding vpoints on the cams engage the rollers simultaneously., in order to secure synchronous operation of the vyokes .3D and 3|.

The cams B0 and -8| .also `operate two suction devices each of which is in theform of .a bellows. The left hand bellows .8.8 is ,shown in section .and comprises twometal vplates .9D and 9| which are hinged together `at the .bottom vas indicated ai; 93 .and which are connected at the edges all around by an accordion pleated fabric .such as rubber, which is impervious to air. The .plate 90 is secured .to .the .side wall I3 v.of vthe casing vby means of .two -screws such as f28 ,at the top and a screw .84 .at the bottom. .The plate 9| vhas a metal strap 95 outside, .preferably secured -to the plate by spot welding. The upper -end `portion 96 of strap 95 is bent away from the plate 9| as shown and engages `the .head Yof -stud 12, which acts as a stop. Another part 91 struck outf-rom the body of the strap 35 is also bent away from plate 9| and forms .a support for the .roller 99. Another part .9 8 `is struck outfrom the ,body of strap 95 and is bent to form a hookfor the spring |00. The plate 9.! .has an opening at `lll/I., which is closed by the rubber flap |02. This flap is effective to permit the egress vbut'not the .ent-rance of air and acts as a valve.

The bellows -89 is in all vrespects the same as bellows 88 `and accordingly need not be described .in .detai-l.

The spring |00 is tensioned between the hook 58 on bellows 38 and a corresponding hook |03 on bellows -89 and Ynormally maintains both bellows -in yexpanded condition. The bellows 88 is compressed by the cam 80 acting on roller 99,

5 while the bellows 89 isgcompressed by the cam 8| acting on the roller |04.

The plate |05 is secured to the wall I3 of the casing by means of screws 24 and 25, Fig. 2, and

two screws such as 20, Fig. 1, and has a raised bead |06 which forms a channel communicating at its lower end with the interior of the bellows 88'by way of aligned openings in the wall I3 and plate 90. A gasket |01 is interposed between the plate vI 05 and wall I3. At its upper end the channel formed bybead |fa` communicates with the bore |08 in block 20 and the bore |09 which is in communication with the interior of the tubular shaft 49. Bore |09 is of smaller diameter than bore |08. The valve member ||0`is formed from a disc of Bakelite of the same diameter as the bore |08. The spring III is compressed between a perforated concave washer which rests against the gasket |01 and the valve member ||0 and holds the latter against the shoulder which is formed at the junction of bores |08 and |09. The valve member I|0 has a number of small holes therein located on a circle of slightly smaller diameter than bore |09 so that it does not shut 01T communication between bores |08 and |09.VV

The function of the valve member I|0 is to close the end of the tubular shaft 49. When the shaft 49 and associated parts are moved to the left by the yoke 30, the shaft engages the valve member IIO near the end of the movement and the shaft 1 those described for bellows 88, and a valve similar.

to valve I|0 is provided in block 2| to seal the shaft 56.

When a coin is deposited it is supported in selecting position by means of a coin locator |I2 and a switch lever I I5, bothY of which extend into the space between the coin Vgripping cylinders 40 and 4I. The coin locater I|2 is made from a sheet metal stamping, bent to the form shown in Fig. 2, and is pivoted on the rod 23, A spring ||3 is tensioned between a hook on slide |I4 and the coin locator I I2 and maintains the forwardly extending part of the coin locator in engagement with the slide, as shown in Fig. l. In this position the rearwardly extending rounded end or nose of the coin locator is opposite the center of the die 44, as seen in Fig. 3, and is separated from the axis of the die by a distance equal to the radius of the coin to be selected.

The switch lever H5 is also made from a sheet metal stamping, and is formed as shown in Fig. 2. The switch lever is pivoted on the rod 22 and its forwardly extending rounded end, shown dotted in Fig. 3, projects somewhat farther into the space rbetween the gripping cylinders 60 and 4I than the coin locator I I2. The upwardly extending part of the switch lever II5 has a projection which bears against a bushing on the end of contact spring II8 The contact springs IIB and ISare mounted on the rear wall |I of the casing by means of screws, spacers and insulators, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The socalled cam lever is made from a sheet metall stamping, like the coin locator and switch lever, but has a somewhat more complicatedV the switch lever.

`axis of vthe dies.

horizontally to the right as seen in Fig. 2, and an arm |25 which extends downwardly and to the left as seen in Fig. 3. `The upwardly extending part |22 of the cam lever lies between two pins IIS and I|'| xed to the switch lever ||5 and has a tapped hole in which .the adjusting screw |24 is threaded. A spring |26 is mounted on the rear wall of the casing in the spring assembly which includes the contact springs IIB and IIS and has its end bearing on the part |22 of the cam lever; as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The spring |26` is tensioned to the rear and maintains the end of the adjusting screw l2@ in engagement with the rear wall II of the casing.

The contact spring I|8 is also tensioned to the rear and maintains the pin II'I on switch lever ||5 in engagement with part |22 of the cam lever, thus determining the normal position of When a coin is deposited the periphery of the coin contacts the rounded end of the coin locator |I2 and the rounded end of the switch lever ||5 and the latter is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction until the end of the switch lever is substantially the same distance radially from the axis of the dies as the end of the coin locator, at which time the rotation voi the switch lever is stopped by the engagement of pin IIS with the part |22 of the cam lever. 1n rotating as described the switch lever moves the contact spring ||8 into engagement with contact spring I I9, spring I3 being adjusted with such a lightr tension as to permit this operation. The spring |26, however, which bears against the part |22 of -the cam lever, is too stiiT to allow the cam lever to be operated by the coin. t will be seen now that the operated position of the switch lever can be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw |29 so that a deposited coin will be very accurately located with respect to the dies and the gripping cylinders, with the center or the coin in substantial alignment with the The coin is held suspended in this position, that is, it cannot fall through, because the end of the switch lever is angularly spaced from the end of the coin locator by yonly about 145 degrees and the distance between them is less than the'diameter of the coin.

The contact springs I|8 and II9 constitutea switch for controlling the motor 'I1 and are connected in series with one of the power supply conductors extending to the motor. The motor terminals are indicated at and I'I. The wir- `ing is not shown but will be readily understood.

The hub |30 of gear 'I3 is utilized as a cam for operating the cam lever and to this end is providl II'I and rotates the switch lever II5 far enough Hso that the end thereof clears the slug return slot.,V The slot-69, hereinbefore referred to, 4is

i provided to enable the switch lever to make this movement. The'parts remaian in this position,

with switch |I8--I I9 closed, until the cam |30 has rotated far enough, for the arm |25 to drop into the notch `I 31| again, whereupon thecam lever and the .switch lever' return to the positions in'which theyare shown in'Fig. 3.

-The slide l |4, previously ,referred to, is 'shown in Fgs. 1, 2 and Only one half of the slide appears Yin Fig. 1, but it will be understood that the other .half s symmetrical with the half that is shown. The general shape of the slide is that `of an inverted U. The .two `legs |32 and |33 have an angular cross-section, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, where the block .60 Vis shown ,partly in ysection to expose the leg |33, also shown in section. 'The slide is supported on the block 60, which is provided with vertical grooves in which the legs |32 and |33 are received. The spring |34 is tensioned between the top of block 60 and a, projection |36 formed at the 'lower end of leg |33 and with a corresponding spring associated with leg |32 maintains the slide in `its uppermost position, in which the shoulder |35 anda corresponding shoulder at the left hand side of the slide engage the top l5 of the casing. One purpose for which the slide ||4 is provided is vto enable y the yokes and 3| to be operated, or moved .in `opposite directions, by hand, and to this end the slide has diverging sides above the junction of the two legs, forming cams |31 vand |38 which engage the yokes 30 and 3| when the slide is moved downward. The depression of the slide also rotates the coin locator ||2 and moves the rounded nose thereof out of the space between the gripping cylinders and 4|.

It may be assumed that the coin selector and slug rejector is incorporated in a vending machine which includes a casing of which a part of the front wall is Yindicated at |40 in Fig. 3. The coin selector and slug revjector may be fastened to the wall I 40 by vmeans of two screws such as |42 and two more screws below. The wall |40 has a slot in alignment with the slug return slot 64 and is provided with a cup 4| in which returned slugs or defective coins are deposited.

The coin chute |43 is attached to the top I5 of the casing as shown and projects through the wall |40. Two springs |44 and |45 are attached to the Asides of the coin chute and, as shown in Fig. 6, have curved portions which project through openings in the coin chute. The springs are accordingly adapted to be engaged by a coin passing down the chute but are `very flexible or limber vand consequently will not Istop a proper coin. The purpose of these -springs will be explained presently.

The lever |46 is pivoted on va bracket, |41 'attached to the top I5 and extends to the left `past the coin chute 43. Beyond the coin chute the lever rests in a slot at the end of slide ||4 land passes through a slot in the Wall |40. An operating knob |48 is provided at the end of the lever. Where it passes the coin chute |43 the lever |46 -is -bifurcated and has two curved arms such as V|49 which lie close to the sides of the coin chute. These arms 'have wedge shaped ends such as |50 which are adapted when the lever -is depressed to enter between the springs |44 and |45 and the adjacent-sides o'f the coin chute to separate vthe springs.

The depression of lever |46 Yis also effective to operate the slide fl-l4'and'a, small lever |5| which 'extends through the top I5 of the casing. When lever |5| l"is operated the end of the lever engages spring "I I9 and moves 'it out of the rangeof spring :|'|8. The end of 'lever |5| Amay lbe provided with an insulating sleeve (not shown) to prevent grounding oi the motor circuit on the casing.

A coin chute |52, partly shown in Figs. 2 and .3, is vsecured to theiback wall -of the casing and is adapted 'to vreceive lcoins from the -collect 8 :slots 66 land 61 and direct tthem vto the coin actuated mechanism of the vending machine.

The operation of the coin selector andslug re- 4lector will now be explained. For this purpose itwill be assumed first that a good coin is deposited in the coin chute |43.

When the coin is deposited it rolls down the chute, passes lbetween the springs |44 and |45, `which do not retard its descent `appreciably, and is delivered to the space between the coin gripping cylinders 40 and 4|, where it comes to rest with its periphery in engagement with the coin locator ||2 and the switch lever |l5. The switch lever is operated by the coin and rotates on rod 22 'until vDin 6 engages the part |22 of the vcam lever. This movement of the switch lever enables the coin to align itself with the gripping cylinders and also closes the switch ||8| I9.

The closure of the switch starts the motor 11, which begins to run and drives the shaft 19, Awhich drives the gear 15 by means of the pinion 18. The gear 15 drives the `gears 1| and 13 and these gears in turn drive the pinions 52 and 51 which are fixed on the tubular die shafts 49 and 56. `The lrotation ofthe dies is'thus started and continues until the coin is :selected and the motor stops.

The direction Vof rotation of the motor is such that gear 1| rotates in a clockwise direction as seen from the left in Fig. 1, while gear 13 rotates in .a clockwise direction as seen from the right. The integrally formed cams and 8| rotate `in the same directions as their associated gears and accordingly the rollers 86 and 81 leave the depressions such as 85, Fig. 5, in the cams and ride down on the sharply sloping portions such as 84. The yokes are thus released by the cams and yoke 30 is moved to the right by springs 36, v31 and 50, while'yoke `3| is moved to the left by springs 32, 33 and 58. ' Ihe shafts 49 and 56 and the dies 44 and 54 'supported thereon move with the yokes.

The dies 44 `and 54 engage the coin first and are pressed against the opposite `sides of the coin by the springs 50 and 58. The movement of the yokes and the gripping cylinders 40 and 4| continues independent of the dies for a short distance yor until the beveled edgesof the gripping cylinders engage the rim of the coin. The gripping cylinders are now pressed against the coin by v'springs 32, 33, 36 and 31, while the dies Vare independently pressed against the coin by springs 50 and 58.

An instant after the coinhas been seized by the vgripping cylinders 40 and 4| the cam |30 engages arm |25 and rotates the cam lever on the rod 22. This operation rotates the switch lever to clear the slug return slot and holds the switch |'8-i I3 closed independent ofthe deposited coin.

At this time also the cams 80 and 8| engage the rollers 99 and |04 and 4start to compress 'bellows 88 and vbellows V89. In this operation the air is expelled from bellows 88 by way of valve |02 and from bellows 89 by'way of va similar valve.

' While the bellows are being compressed the dies Vare being rotated for the purpose of enabling the coin to enter one of the dies. This testing .period is divided intoitwo stages, a first .stage extending up to the time when the coin enters one 'of the .dies and a second stage 'starting at this'tirne extending .up to the time when :the dies are separated. During the rst stage the coin is held against rotation by the gripping cylinders. The springs -suc`hasl32 lare rather weak and press the Agripping cylinders :againstthe coin withamoderate pressure, which is suicient to hold the coin against rotation nevertheless because the dies rotate in opposite directions and the rotative torque applied to the coin by one die is substantially balanced out by the torque applied by the other die. During the second stage the torque applied to the coin by the die which it has entered is much the greater and the coin rotates with this die against the friction imposed by the gripping cylinders and the torque impressed by the other die. The springs 5d and 5S should apply sumcient pressure to the dies to prevent a coin which has entered a die from leaving it but the pressure should not be so excessive as to cause unnecessary wear on the dies. The adjustment of the springs is not critical.

The testing period covers the time during which the gradually sloping portions such as 32 of the cams Sl and 8| are in engagement with the rollers 99 and |04 and is long enough so that the dies each make somewhat more than one complete rotation. This insures that the coin will have a chance to enter one of the dies.

At the end of the testing period, when the bellows are fullycompressed, the sharply sloping portions such as B3 and 84 of the cams pass the rollers 99 and |64 with the result that the bellows are releasedand are quickly expanded by the spring |60. A partial vacuum is established in each bellows, therefore, which tends to produce a flow of air through the associated die. As regards the die not entered by the coin, the holes in the die are not closed to any great extent, the flow of air'through the die is substantially unobstructed, and the partial vacuum established by the expansion of the bellows is very quickly satisfied. As regards the other die, which has been entered by the coin, the openings in the die are so effectively sealed by the coin that the air ilow through the die is very small and the vacuum in the air passage behind the die in the associated bellows is only very gradually reduced.

The parts such as 82 of the cams 8|] and 8| now come into engagement with the rollers 85 and 81 and move the yokes apart, yoke 30 moving to the left and loke 3| moving to the right. The yokes move independent of the dies for a short distance, thus disengaging the gripping cylinders from the coin. Shortly after this has occurred the yokes engage the pinions 52 and 57, whereupon the dies separate and move to the left and right, respectively, along with the yokes.

Assuming now that the coin has entered the die 44, the openings such as 53 in the die will be substantially sealed by the coin, there will be a partial vacuum behind the die and the air prssure on the outside of the coin will cause it to adhere to the die. As the die moves to the left, therefore, the coin is carried along and is positioned directly above the coin collect slot 66 .as the movement is completed. Just before this occurs the end of the tubular shaft 49 engages the valve member which seals the shaft and stops the ow of air from the back of the die to the interior of the bellows. The space behind the die and in the hollow shaft 49 is very small as compared to the space inside the bellows and the partial vacuum behind the die is almost instantly relieved by the leakage of air around the coin and through the holes in the die, whereupon the coin drops into the collect slot 66 and passes down the chute |52 to the coin operated mechanism of the vending machine. It will be observed from Fig. that the sloping portion 82 of the cam terminates in a short iiat portion 82. These flat portions of the cams hold the dies stationary in their extreme left and right hand positions, respectively, for an interval which is long enough for the selected coin to be released as described.

As the rotation of the cams continues the sharply descending portions such as 83 come into engagement with the rollers 8S and 8l, thereby permitting the yokes 30 and 3| to move toward cach other under the power supplied by the springs 32, 58, etc. As the yokes start this movement the arm |25 of the cam lever drops into the notch iSl on cam |39 and the cam lever and switch lever H5 are restored, opening the switch iis-l ES to stop the motor 11. The yokes continue to move, however, due partly to the inertia of the motor armature and partly to power supplied by the springs, until the depressions such as 85 in the cams, reach the rollers 8B and 8l, whereupon the apparatus comes to rest. The parts are now in their normal position, the position in kwhich they are shown in the drawings, and the coin selector and slug rejector is ready for the deposit of another coin.

It will be understood that if the coin had been deposited the other way around it would have been selected by the die 54 and would have been dropped into the coin collect slot El.

If a slug is deposited, the coin selector and slug rejector goes through the same cycle of operations as when a good coin is deposited, assuming, of course, that the slug is of substantially the same size and weight as the coin, and it will not be necessary to repeat the explanation. The only difference is in the result, the slug being rejected and returned, This is due to the fact that the slug cannot enter either die and when the dies are separated it drops directly down into the slug return slot which directs it into the cup |4| The opening in the coin chute |43 should conform quite closely to the size of the coin to be selected so that a slug which is larger than the coin cannot be inserted. A slug which is substantially smaller than a coin will not be retained in selecting position by the switch lever ||5 and the coin locator ||2 but will fall through into the slug return slot immediately. There may be some slugs, however, which will be retained in selecting position when deposited but will not operate the machine. A slug made of aluminum, for example, may conform closely to a coin in size but may be too light to operate the switch trigger I l5 to close the switch and start the motor.

In order to remove a slug of the last mentioned type the lever |46 is operated by means of knob |48. The operation of the lever, it is pulled downward, depresses the slide ||4, the cams |31 and |38 of which engage the yokes 39 and 3|, respectively, and move them in opposite directions. At the same time the slide ||4 rotates the coin locator ||2 on rod 23, thus clearing the path to the slug return slot 64 and allowing the slug to be returned.

It is possible also for a very thin slug or badly worn coin to become wedged between one of the dies and the switch lever or the coin locator. Such a slug or coin may be dislodged and returned by operating the lever |46 as described, which moves the dies farther apart and allows the slug or coin to fall.

The coin selector and slug rejectoi` will unerringly accept and collect all genuine coins of the demonination for which it is designed, even if such coins are worn to a considerable extent. A very badly worn coin is returned, The machine will just as surely reject and return all slugs, howalien-13a ever closely they simulate a coin in size and weight. In this connection it may bev mentioned that the location of the openings such as 53 on elevated areas in the face of the die and the provision of the bleeder channels such as 55 are of considerable importance as this arrangement makes it impossible for a flat smooth slug to seal one ofthe openings and be selected'.

The machine will also reject most counterfeit coins. A counterfeit coin may so closely resemble the genuine coin that it dees detection by ordin ary inspection, yet if it differs in size even very slightly or if the design varies in any detail, it will not enter the die and` will be rejected.

In the case. of. a coin selector and slug rejector intended for the selection of coins of a denomination of which there. are two designs in circulation, the dies have a composite impression of both designs. For examplel a machine built for use with U. S. coins of the five cent denomination uses dies having a composite impression of one side of a buffalo nickel and one side of the Jefferson nickel and Willi select coins of both designs equally well.

An important consideration for the successful operation of the coin selector and slug rejector is that the dies be kept clean and free of all sticky substances which might cause a good coin to` fail to enter a die or a coin or slug to adhere to a die independent of air pressure; Coins in general circulation are clean, or at least are free from sticky materials, and cannot cause any trouble. However, it is known, that a coin will occasionally become contaminated with some sticky substance such as chewing gum, for example, either'by accidentl or with the intention on the part of the owner of the coin of defrauding the vending machine. Such purpose cannot be effected, of course, but in the operation of the machine responsive to the deposit of a coin or slug so contaminated some of the sticky substance might adhere to the dies or to one of them, rendering. the machine inoperative and necessitating a servicev trip to clean the dies.

Theattachment on the coinV chute |43 comprising the springs |44 and |45 is designed to eliminate trouble from the source above referred to;

When a clean coin or slug is deposited it slides down the chute Without being perceptibly delayed by the springs |44 and |45, but if a coin or slug having some sticky substance; such as gum adhering thereto is deposited the movement of such coin or slug is arrested by the springs and it is heldl up in the coin chute.

The suspended coin or slug may be retrieved by operation of the lever |46 which spreads the springs |44 and |45 apart and allows it to fall down the coin chute. The operation of the lever also operates the slide |'4 as previously described thereby spreading the dies apart so that the descending coin or slug will not contact either die' as it passes through the machine to the return cup |4|, If the sticky coin or slug is left in the coin chute the next person who' deposits a coin will be advised that' the chute is obstructed by the fact that the deposited coin does not go down and will operate the lever |46- to clear theobstruction, thereby returning all coins or slugs which at that time may be inthe coin chute.

It is to be noted that the operation of the lever |46 does not spread the dies and gripping cylinders far enough to expose the coin collect slots 66 and 6]. All coins or slugs dislodged by operation of the lever therefore pass into the slug return slot.

'-Ihe invention having been described",r that which is believed to be new and for whichv the' including a die for selecting said coin, means for rotating said die in contact with said coin, and' means for holding said coin against rotation until it enters said die. I

2'. In a coin selector and slug rejector, means for selecting a coin including a pair of dies having face configurations adapted to t one side of said coin, said dies being of smaller diameter than said coin, means for bringing said dies in contact with the opposite sides of said' coin, respectively, means for rotating said` dies, and means for frictionally gripping said coin outside thev margin of said dies with a force suicient to prevent rotation of the coin until it enters one of said dies.

3. In a coin selector and slug rejector, means for selecting a coin including tWo dies having face configurations adapted to nt one side of said coin, two gripping members fo;- engaging the rim ofV said, coin to hold' the same, resilient' means for' pressing said dies against the' opposite sides of a deposited coin, independent resilient means for operating said gripping members, and means for rotating said dies in oppositeA directions.

4. In a coinV selector' and slug rejector, two supports slidably mounted for movement toward and away from each other, twoi diesA slidably mounted on said supports, resilient means forl moving said supports and dies to cause thel dies to' engage a de'- posited coin on opposite sides thereof, two gripping members mounted on said supports, respectively, and additional resilient means for continuing the movement of said supports independent of( saijd dies to cause said gripping members to engage and hold said coin.

5. In a coin selector and slug rejector, means for supporting a deposited coin in selecting position, a perforated dieV having an impression of said coin, means for rotating said die against said coin to enable said coin to enter the die, a bellows', means for compressing' said bellows while said die' is rotating, means for releasing said bellows after the coin has entered the die, a spring for quickly expanding saidv bellows, and means including an air passage connecting said bellowsV with the back of the said die, whereby air is drawn through the die to cause said coin to adhere thereto.

6. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a diehaving one or more air' passages extending. from the face of thedie to the back thereof, said die being` made of. glass, a hollow shaft, means for resiliently supporting said dieA on said` shaft, said means forming a closed air passage connecting the airpassage or passages' inthe dier with the interi'orof the shaft,l and' means for applying suc'- tion to said shaft to draw air through said die, whereby acoin engaged by thedie maybe caused' to adhere thereto.

'7. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a die having' an impression of a coin onitsv face, a hole extending through the dieV from an elevated area of said impression, a channel in the face ofV the die connecting said hole with a depressed areaof said impression, and means forV applying suction to the back of the die to draw air through said hole.

8. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a die having one or more air passages extending from :allergiesr the face of the die to the back thereof, a rubberring secured to the back of said die outside saidair passages, said ring having an internal groove,`

a flexible disc the periphery of which is located in said groove, a tubular shaft on which said disc is supported, the end of said shaft projecting through said disc, and means for exhausting air through said shaft and die.

9. In a coin selector and slug reiector, means for supporting a deposited coin in selecting position, a switch operated by the coin in said position, a motor started by said switch, a rotatable die axially movable on its rotation axis to engage said coin, and means operated by said motor for controlling the axial movement of said die and for rotating said die to establish a iit with the com.

l0. In a coin selector and slug rejector, means for supporting a coin in selecting position, a

switch operated by said coin in selecting position, a motor started by said switch, means for selecting said coin including a rotatable reciprocating die and a suction device for causing the coin to adhere to the die, and means for transmitting power from said motor to operate said die and suction device.

1l. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a die containing an impression of a coin, means for manipulating said die to establish a t with a deposited coin and to select the same, a motor supplying power to operate said means, means responsive to the deposit of said coin for starting said motor, and means actuated by the motor for causing the motor to run independent of said coin until the same is selected.

12. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a slug return chute, means including a switch actuating member for holding a deposited coin or slug suspended above said chute, a switch operated by said member, a motor controlled by said switch, means operated by said motor for holding and testing said coin or slug, and means operated by said motor for maintaining said switch closed during the testing operation and for moving said member to clear the path to said return chute so that when a slug is tested it may be rejected.

13. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a pair of dies adapted to engage the opposite sides, respectively, of a deposited coin, two axially movable and rotatable shafts on which said dies'are supported, two pinions fixed on said shafts, respectively, two gears meshing with said pinions, respectively, means for driving said gears to rotate said shafts and the said dies supported thereon, and means including cams rotating with said gears for controlling the axial movement of said shafts while the same are rotating.

14. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a rotatable die, means including a gear for rotating said die, a spring for moving the rotating die against a deposited coin, and a cam rotating with said gear and controlling the movement of said die under the power supplied by said spring.

15. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a rotatable die, means supporting said die for reciprocating motion along its rotation axis to select a deposited coin, a spring supplying power for movement of said die in one direction, means including a gear for rotating said die, and a cam rotating with said gear for controlling the movement f said die in the direction in which it is moved by said spring and for moving said die in the opposite direction.

16. In a coin selector and slug rejector, two dies each containing an impression of a coin 144 to be selected, two shafts supporting said dies, respectively, pinions on said shafts, two gears meshing with said pinions, a third gear meshing with said first mentioned gears to drive the same in opposite directions, and means for driving said third gear.

17. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a ro-` tatable die, means for rotating said die, means for giving said die a reciprocating motion along its rotation axis, a suction device for exhausting air through the die to cause a coin engaged by the die to adhere thereto, and means including a singlecamfor controlling said reciprocating motion and the operation of said suction device in timed relation to each other.

18.`In a coin selector and slug rejector, a roatable die, means including a gear for rotating said die to cause the same to fit a deposited coin, a bellows, a spring for expanding said bellows, an air passage whereby the expansion of said bellows exhausts air through said die to cause said coin to adhere thereto after a t has been established, and a cam rotating with said gear for compressing said bellows and for releasing it in timed relation to the rotation ofthe die.

19. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced dies, means for supporting a deposited coin between said dies, said means comprising a normally fixed member and a movable member operated by the weight of the coin, a switch actuated by said movable member, means controlled by said switch for causing said dies to test and select the coin, and manually operated means for operating said normally fixed member to release a deposited coin or slug which fails to cause said movable member to actuate said switch.

20. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a pair of oppositely disposed spaced dies, means for supporting a coin between said dies, a coin chute for directing a coin to said supporting means, means for arresting a sticky coin in said coin chute, means for releasing said coin, means for withdrawing said supporting means and spreading said dies to permit the released coin to fall through the space between the dies without contacting the dies, and a common operating member for actuating said last means and said coin releasing means.

21. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a die having an impression of a coin on its face, said die having one or more holes extending from the face of the die to the back thereof, a hollow shaft, resilient means including a flexible disc for connecting said die to the end of said shaft, said means forming a closed air passage connecting the hollow shaft with the hole or holes in said die, and means for applying suction to said shaft to draw air through said die, whereby a coin engaged by the die may b e caused to adhere thereto.

22. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a die having an impression of a coin on its face, said die having one or more holes extending through it from face to back, a hollow shaft, resilient means removably connecting said die to the end of said shaft, said means forming an air passage connecting the hollow shaft with the hole or holes in said die, and means for applying suction to said shaft to draw air through said die, whereby a coin engaged by the die may be caused to adhere thereto.

23. In a coin selector and slug rejector, a die having an impression of a coin on its face, means for moving said die to engage a deposited coin,

mamas.

for saiddie adapted to permit tilting of the die about any axis in a plane parallel to theface of the die.

24. In a coin selector and slug rejector, twol cylindrical members for engaging the opposite sides of a deposited coin, resilient means for operating said members to hold the coin, two dies located inside said members,lrespectively, resilient means for pressing the dies against the coin on opposite sides thereof, and means for producing, relative rotation between the said dies and saidA members to enable the coin toY enter one of the dies.

25. In a coin selector and slug rejector, two dies having a face configuration adapted to fit one side of a coin to be selected, means effective when said coin is deposited for arrestingit in a position between said dies with its center in alignment with the centers of said dies, means for bringing said dies in contact with the opposite sides` of said coin,

16 respectively, means for rotating said dies, and means for preventing lateraldisplacement of saidv coinsinany, direction during rota-tion of said dies, whereby the alignment of thecoin with the dies is maintained.

26. A coin selector and slug rejector as claimed in claim 25 wherein the means for preventing lateral displacement of the coin includes means for laterally shifting the coin slightly in case the Ainitial alignment thereof` with the dies is not exactly; correct.

HAROLD Ae. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of record in the. file'- of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name. Date Smith T- a Dec, 1, 1942 Hansen Mar.c24,V 1931. Bug.; -en -;n Nov. 7*,v 1933;

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