US2620914A - Weight actuated mechanism and machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1952 P. G. CRISAFULLI WEIGHT ACTUATED MECHANISM AND MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6. 1948 [HUM J abbot-neg Dgc. 9, 1952 P. s. CRISAFULLI 3,

WEIGHT ACTUATED MECHANISM AND MACHINE Filed May s, 1948 5 sheets' sheet 2 FIGr-E Dec. 9, 1952 I P. G. CRISAFULLI 2,620,914

WEIGHT ACTUATED MECHANISM AND momma Filed May a, 1948 5 sheets-sheet s T ick-(o pter G. Crzisafullz. {Baa/ember b giia abwme O GH P. G. CRISAFULLI 2,620,914

WEIGHT ACTUATED MECHANISM AND MACHINE 5 sheets-wsheet 4 Dec. 9, 1952 Filed May 6, 1948 m w m ww m W 0 m w. MP/M0 a L r. c @I a ab P Dec. 9, 1952 FU L 2,620,914

WEIGHT ACTUATED MECHANISM AND MACHINE Filed May 6, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1952 OFFICE WEIGHT ACTUATED MECHANISM AND MACHINE Peter G. Crisafulli, Newark; N J

Application May 6, 1948, Serial No. 25,375

11 Claims. 1:

Thisinvention deals with a weight-actuated. mechanism and with machines incorporating such mechanism. More specifically, it relates to a weight-actuated lever arm pivoted near the center, the actuation being accomplished by gravity action of a weight dropped over thelower portion of the arm and to coin vending and dispensing units, and other machines of a similar character.

Conventional dispensing machines now require highly complicated electrical circuits, moving mechanisms and expensive switches in order to maintain a reasonably high eliiciency. Yet, in spite of these features, the maintenance'problem in conjunction therewith is a serious one, and expert technicians are required as trouble shooters and servicemen. In such units, considerable arcing; fusing, pitting and coating of contacts take-place, since each contact generally closes an electrical circuit to prepare the machine for the next succeeding electrical or mechanical 'opera tion. In many instances a D. C. are is too hot for switches inthe machines, so that such-machines can operate only on A. C. Mostofthe difficulty is due generally to the'large number of parts, particularly moving parts, which incur the danger of jamming, high maintenance costs and the like.

Much of the serious trouble incurred with present daydispensing machines-occurs in the coin registering mechanisms which are generally micro-switch and solenoid'combinations. A considerable portion of the cost of such machines is also due to the expensive die-casting incurred. There are many other disadvantages of conventional machines which will be mentioned in the discussionto-follow.

Oneobject of the present invention is to provide a'simple cheap actuating unit and assembly, the parts of which may be all produced on a power press from sheet metal, thereby eliminating die casting and similar expensive forming operations. Anotherobject is to incorporateonly a small number-of moving parts traveling for a short distance-only, thereby reducing wear to a minimum and giving the-apparatus a long life. A still further object is to provide a circuit wherein the contacts close in succession, operating in an open circuit up to the final actuating operation for the dispensing or other final operation of the machine, whereby arcing at the contacts ispractically eliminated and no condensers'are found necessary across practically all of theswitch contact points, and fusing, pitting and other switching diificulties are reduced to a bare-minimum.

A further purposeis to provide amachinewhichonly inexperiencedxtrouble shooters and imai ne. tenance men. Other purposes will be apparent from the description which is to: follow.

The invention will bemorereadilyunderstood' by reference to the drawings in which Figure-,1

is a front view-of the lever arm actuatingmechanism while Figure 2 is aside view thereof as in.- dicated by line II-II-oftFigure '1. An isometric front view of the housing: channel, for the .actu ating assembly is. shown in Figure .3. Figure 1- depicts an isometric-front viewpof the ,coinngate which fits and slides. within the channel shown in' Figure3. Figure 5 illustrates a front'view of the channel or channel housing showing. the

stacked weight-actuated lever arms ready to be actuated by falling weights- A frontrview ofa complete assembly of .one embodiment of this :invention is shown in Figure '6, as applied to a coin vending machine. Figures 7-10 .are phantom side views in simplified .form, showing the successive steps in the operationuof an .assembly.

such as that depicted in Figure 16, while'tFigure 11 illustrates a schematic electrical diagram illustrating the wiring employed for a vending ma- .'..,chine employing the mechanism of the present invention as illustrated in Figure 6 and adapted to be activated after-insertion-of five coins. Similar numbers refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Referring again to the figures, and particularly to Figures 1. and 2, numeral I representsa lever arm having projecting side lugs land .8 which project forwardly. The upper portion of lever arm I ispreferably bifurcatedwith sideprongs 2 and -3 straddlingcentrally disposed open space 6 (mainly for weight saving), prongs Zand S being beveled at the vupperiback edges H to faci1i-' tate continuous riding over thefront surface by coins or weights when the prongs are-contacting the back wall of channel housing l9 (Fig; 2). The lower portion 4 of arm I is preferably narrowed to a centrally disposed strip, bent forwardly at point 5 at an angle of about 20. Lower portion 4 is extended sufliciently so that it projects through the central opening of the back wall 39 of coin gate 33 (Fig. 4) when arm I is not actuated by coin 8|, and said portion 4 is'almost in juxtaposition with back wallsections 4| 4-3, etc. of coin gate 33-when arm I isactuatedby a coin. Lugs land 8' are providedwith laterally disposed holes 86 in which is held wire 9, in loose pivoted relation, at a point somewhat below the center of gravity of lever arm I. One end ID of wire 9 projects from lug 8 to act as a support for lever arm I in channel housing I9. This wire 9, is bent and extended under lower portion 4 of arm I (somewhat above the middle section of said lower portion) and bent again in reverse direction and allowed to protrude outwardly through lug "I, the protrusion being bent into arm I2 and lever handle l3 which acts as the actuating means for completing a circuit or performing other electrical or mechanical operation upon actuation of lever arm I by a weight. Horizontal portion 8'! of wire 9 extending from lug 1 (Fig. 1) serves as a pivot shaft for holding the other side of lever arm I in side 29 of channel housing I9.

As is shown in Figure 2, a coin falling from slot IT and chute I8 falls along the forward side of bifurcated arms 2 and 3 and down over the front surface of lower projection 4, whereupon the weight of the coin casuses the upper section of lever arm I to tilt forward on pivots l and 81, thereby pushing backward wire arm I I which, in turn, causes protruding lever arm I3 to move forward thereby closing the switch or other mechanism to be actuated. As is apparent from Figure 2, when this occurs, the back surface of upper arms 2 and 3 become flush with the wall of chute I3, thereby allowing the succeeding coin to slide along the back surface of lever arm I onto the front surfaces of the bifurcated upper arms of the next lower lever arm 94' (Fig. 5) which is shaped and mounted similarly to lever arm I at a point immediately under lever arm I. Succeeding coins thus actuate succeeding levers such as I3, which then actuate their adjacently disposed switches, until the lowermost lever arm 84, is made available for coin actuation. Up to this point, if lever arms I3 and I3 are employed for closing switches, such switches still may be in an open circuit, which circuit stays open even after actuation of lever arm 84 and switch actuating arm 85, which makes the unit ready for dispensing or other operation. The latter operation is effected by a switch such as lI (Fig. 6), or a mechandise selector switch which then closes the entire circuit. Any succeeding coins inserted in slot I! (Fig. 5) after the lowermost lever arm 84 has been actuated by means of a coin (before the circuit is closed by switch 'iI), will be uninterrupted in travel and will continue through chute 68 and emerge into coin return hopper 69 (Fig. 6)

It is desirable that all sharp edges and protrusions in the line of coin travel be beveled off so that the coin is not hindered in its travel. For this reason it is desirable to bevel off edge 99 on both sides of arm I. Lever I3 is insulated by sleeve 98 having collar 91 fitting over contact 62 so that sleeve 98 cannot slip off.

It will be apparent that when the last coin is inserted into the lowermost arm, the circuit is complete and is ready to be closed for dispensing of the article purchased, by throwing a mechandise dispensing switch such as switch II (Fig. 6). When a single product is to be dispensed, the switch is preferably a 2-way switch as shown by II. When thrown one way to return the coins in the machine, it may actuate solenoid 12 (Fig. 6), which pulls down arm 14 pivoted at '15 to a fixed pivot on mounting or base 79. It will be observed that arm I4 is pivotally attached to arm 11 of solenoid I2. The left end 18 of arm I4 is in pivoted relation to pivot post 59 projecting forwardly from the upper portion of back wall 39 of coin gate 33. As lever arm I4 is pulled down, coin gate 33 is also pulled down since it is attached to post 59.

Coin gate 33 (Fig. 4) is mounted inside channel housing I9 (Fig. 3) in vertical sliding relation thereto. This coin gate has narrow side walls 34 which are provided with inwardly directed front lips 36 and 3'! for retaining the coins traveling within the gate, the gate being wide enough for the coins to travel easily edgewise therein. The upper and lower front faces of lips 36 and 31 have attached thereon plates 59, 53, etc. which protrude as bearing surfaces 48, 5I, etc. from sides 34 and 35 of gate 33. Curved bottom portions 49, 52, etc. on these protrusions are provided to facilitate easy movement of the bearing surfaces 48, 5|, etc. which ride over the cut-out side edges 22 and 29 of channel I9. The lower edges 23, 39, etc. of cut-out portions 22, 29, etc. are beveled (at 23 and 30) to allow travel thereon of bearing surfaces 48, 5 I, etc., this inclined-plane movement causing a forward movement of gate 33 with respect to channel I9, separating the gate from the channel. Gate 33 is flexibly mounted in channel I9 and is retained therein by springs 25 anchored at points 24 and looped around pins 26 to provide springiness, and extending over the outer side edges of channel I9. Springs 25 are also bent inwardly through slots 21 and 28 and project therethrough so that bent ends I6 (bent at I 5) of springs 25 press against the faces of lips 36 and 3! of gate 33.

As stated previously, coin gate 33 has a cutout open space (at 38, 46, etc.) in its back wall 39. the remaining portion of the back being present as retaining ends 4|, 43, etc. serving to retain the coins 8|, 82, etc. (Fig. 6) falling on lower portions 4, etc. of lever arms I, etc. Slots 40, 42, 45, etc. are provided in these remaining back strips, the upper edges of the slots being almost in juxtaposition with the lower edges of the arm portions 4 of lever arms I.

The action of solenoid 12 causes gate 33 to be pulled downwardly and outwardly with respect to channel I9 and the arms I holding coins BI, thereby allowing the coins to drop through the open space 9I (Fig. 10) and into chute portion 46 having lower deflecting arm 55, thereby causing the coins to travel through chute 68 into coin return hopper 69 (Fig. 6).

In the event the material purchased is to be dispensed, switch II is thrown in the opposite direction than heretofore described for coin return, thus simultaneously with the dispensing operation, causing actuation of solenoid l3, pulling solenoid arm I6 pivoted to end 88 of the lever arm pivoted to base 19 at "I5, which causes the other end I8 of arm 14 to be raised, which in turn causes raising of coin gate 33, the bearing surfaces 48, 5|, etc. of which slide upwardly on cut-out edges 22, 29, etc. Bearing surfaces 48, 5|, etc. are attached to lips 35 and 31 by means of soldered plates 59, 53. During this movement, there is no forward motion of gate 33 separating it from channel I9. This upward motion allows slots 40, 42, 45, etc. in back wall 39 of gate 33 to come into juxtaposition with the lower edges of coins BI, 82, etc., thus causing the coins to slip through these slots (40, 42, etc.) and ride downwardly inside space 90 of gate 33 (Fig. 9), lips 35 and 3'! preventing the coins from falling out of the gate. These coins continue downwardly and spill into chute 61 (Fig. 6) which deflects the coins into side-26 of=channel f9 and are provided-with contact points =6 2,'-etc. which areclosed =by-levers +3. :3 ete; attached tolever arms l etc; Wire-6|- is-a lead to the first switbh while -wire66' is a-lead from the-final switchcompleting the coin actil ating circuit.

The operaticnr-pif the machine illustrated in Figure 6 is-depicted schematically in Figures 7-10;"-l' igure 7 showing the lever arms --in inactive positiona Figureshows four "ofthe-lever arms raised by ooins resting against back walls 4 I, 'etci' ot'coin gate-3e. When coin-89 is dropped-intothe' last lever'arm' GM-) the operating circuit'is closed up to=theopen-dispensing switch-1i (Fig; 6); and wliemxthis switch is tripped'fordispensingthe productpurch'ased; coingatetii is -raised as in" Figure -9 until sl'otsdll, 4-2,- etc. are injuxtaposition With th'e' bottoms of the coins 8 l-, 'etc;, thereby 'allowing 'the coins to fall 'therethrough edge wise into coin gate'space SO and finally into thecashbox 70". If 'swit'ch l l'is' tripped for thepurposeof returning the coins to the prospective purchasen-coin gate 'fie 'is' meved-downwardly and outwardly; and the coins ran through space-9'1 (Fig. 10) between the bottom edges of the -lever armsv l and the back wall-strips 4 I ofthe coin gate; overdeflector 55", and thence into a coin re turn hopper'blli It will be-observed that in the present system the coinsstack from the top-down whereas;inconventi'onaI systems now in--use; the coins stacein the-reverse direction, i. e'., from bottom-up;

It is apparent from 'this description that practically all of. the parts may be produced from pressed sheet metal 'and' there i-s' no -necessity-for employing die-cast parts. Furthermore; the moving parts travel: over onlya short distance and the unit. possesses a long life. Another inherent advantageisrthe fact that "only a small number of partsiare. required, these parts being simple. in construction, thereby-eliminating theneed for highly trained technical personnel"for trouble shooting; and maintenance The coin gate hold down springs actas neutral positioners for coin .gate 33 mounted in channel I9, since-they? act 170' pull gate '33 down from the inclined 'planes' orramps Al to the neutral position; where: thexgate is-ready again to'recieive coins fromslot l1- Unnecessaryduplication. is" eliminated by using the same springs 25 to return gate '33 'afteractuation or movingof the gatefor discharging.coinsintozeither chute;

'I'hebent wire levers "I73, etc. attached to coin holder lever'arm etc.serve atdual purpose to support the coin holder lever armsiuponactuation) and-also to operate the". electricalscontacts, thereby-eliminating .theneed fortrivets for holding arms, etc;

Flatbearing lugs 48, 51, etc, not-only act as bearing surfaces for the'tcoin'gate'but also act to maintain proper clearance between the gate-andcoin holder lever arms l. Actuation of the coin gate can-beaccomplished by .directtlinkage to an outside -leverwhich=can be linked for either coin discharge or dispensing operations by means of a single lever arm, although the use of solenoids makes the-unit morefool-proof and p'laces under- Figure and I36, and-a branch line 1.37 from line .l36leads controlzthexiforce'impo'sedron:thexmachine. The

presentxunitzmay b'eflmodified to 'allow' dropping: coin'slinto aapartiti'onedlchute leading :to a partitio'n'ed coin .box t'which- .:wou1d: segregate 'nickels; dimes;;quarters, etc.. for easier counting Figure :11: represents the electrical #circuit' employed ifor the operation of the unitillustrated in Voltage is 'applie'dx-at.terminals. I35

to coin return solenoid 12, the other terminal-oi whicdis attached:.to contact l4! of switch' 'll. Commonterminal? fi8iofiswitch l3 isled to outlet I351;

From the .juncturewithdine' I31, line-l36 connectswiith line ita9 'to which are connected; in series; switches 60565;, etc. which are actuated by lever arms l, 84",. etcwhen' they, in turn, are actuated by coins 8|, 89, etc. The terminal of last =switch :is :connected with dine t4 5 leading todierminali lfix whichsconnects withthe displens ingtzmotortor merchandise selector switch; The othert'erminal M2101.thisiconnectionisxconnected to rlinedfliflqleading; to; coincollecting: solenoid the-other. terminal: :of which is connected with contact-1440f switch TH.

It a will beobserved that :any coins present: in leverarms which actuate switches 60, 65,.etc. may be returned:tothecustomer by actuating-solenoid 1.2-. with switch! I; However, actuation oflsoleinoid "L31 cannot be accomplished unless allot the five. coins are presentan'dvare actuatingthel'ever arms whichwactuate switches 60;: 65 etc; Whenall of .the.coins are gpresent, actuation of, solenoid T3 .by switch .H- will close the-circuitpp to con-- nection. |42-l4;3 tor the dispensing operation.

Channels, leverarms and-gates are provided for. I

eachtype of coin Inrthis case there=would-be three channel gate assemblies,- -but they all may be connected .toicommon .coin hoppers.

Although. most .01? the .discussionherein: has. been directedlmainly to the application oi -the present device .to .coin dispensing machines, the weight-actuateddevice. is applicable to any actuati'ng, mechanism to beactuated (in each gate) bymeans of substantially regular. shaped weights of"substantially equal weight. .In other .words, different weights may be used in .difierent'coin. gates;3all"of which'maybe connected electrically and7or'm'echanically to the proper circuits and coin dischargehoppers.

Various 'modifi'cation's'ofthe present. device are possible. F'onexamplexit' is' possible to control carefullythe width of "space '9 I in .Fig. 8"so that thinnereoinssuch' as dimes may 'fall" through upper arms-"and be" caught by proper spacing in lower arms, whilethe-upper arms mayicatch and-hold thicker coins, "such as nickels; "for example;

As in other-machines, slugs may berejecte'd in the present machine by inserting a slugde= tector unit in the coin-chute above the coin actuated lever-arms, there beinga separate-chute provided to discharge-the rej ected slugs intoth'e coin return hopper;

I'nsteadof the wire 9" for actuating-theex traneous" device (e. 'g. switch I 3), the -lever'le may be directly attached to lever arm 1 byweld ing, soldering, etc. so thati'tmoves with arm 1*. Other actuating means may-be provided; in-

stead-o'flever l3; for"actuating'anexternal device; such as a-switch or electrical contact under each lower portion 4 of' arm -I,- for example, in which-ease proper insulating precautions would necessarily have'to'be taken.

The raising of the gate can *be' called*the=-coin collecting position of the gate, while the lowering and separating operation of the gate may be termed as the coin return operation. However, such operations need not be limited to such uses and it is apparent that, with proper changes obvious to those skilled in the art, the uses for these operations may be reversed. Also, the hoppers for holding the dropped coins may be employed either for returning or collecting the As stated previously, although the use of this mechanism has been applied particularly to coin dispensing machines, it may be used in other mechanical or electrical operations, as for example, in cases where a weight is dropped on the lever arm I for a certain period for actuating an external device, and then lifted again.

I claim:

1. In a weight actuated unit for actuating an extraneous device, wherein the weight is fed edgewise through a chute into the unit down a substantially vertical channel having side walls and a back, into the upper portion of which the chute feeds, and having at least one uprightly disposed lever arm having an upwardly projecting portion and a downwardly and forwardly projecting portion, said lever arm being pivotally mounted near its center and at its sides to the sides of said channel far enough away from the back wall of the channel to allow sufficient room behind the pivoted portion of said lever arm to allow another weight to pass therethrough when said lever arm is actuated by a weight, said actuating weight resting on the lower portion of the lever arm below the pivot when it actuates the lever arm by moving forward the upper projecting portion of said arm, the improvement comprising movable retaining means in front of the lower portion of the lever arm for holding said weight and preventing it from leaving said arm, a centrally disposed opening in said retaining means for allowing protrusion therethrough of at least a part of the lower portion of said lever arm, a horizontally disposed opening in said retaining means, disposed in juxtaposition with said actuating weight when said retaining means is moved vertically to discharge said weight therethrough, actuating means attached to said lever arm, working in conjunction therewith and disposed in a manner such that a movement of the lever arm is transmitted through said actuating means to actuate an extraneous device, thrust means on said arm for automatically returning the upper projecting portion of said lever arm back in contact with the channel back wall after the actuating weight has been discharged from said arm, and moving means attached to said retaining means for vertically moving said retaining means.

2. A weight actuated unit according to claim '1 in which the movable retaining means is a gate attached to the front side edges of said channel, holding means on said channel for holding said gate, and sliding means on said channel and gate to allow sliding of said gate in a vertical direction to discharge said weight while said gate is held by said holding means.

3. A weight actuated unit according to claim 1 in which the movable retaining means is a gate attached to the front side edges of said channel, flexible holding means on said channel for holding said gate and allowing said gate to be spread away from said channel, and rigid separating means on said channel sides for separating said gate from said channel when the latter is moved vertically, separating the gate from the channel sufficiently to allow the weight held by the lever arm to drop down therebetween.

4. A weight actuated unit according to claim 1 in which the thrust means comprises an additional weight in the upper portion of said lever arm above the pivot, thereby causing an unbalance which causes said upper portion to contact the channel back when it is in idle position, said additional weight being only in such amount as to allow actuation of said lever arm by said actuating weight when the latter is dropped on said lever arm.

5. A weight actuated unit according to claim 4 in which the movable retaining means is a gate attached to the front side edges of said channel, a series of superimposed lever arms vertically disposed in said channel in over lapping relation to each other so that the lower end of the upper arm extends down to about the middle portion of the next lower arm, and the gate comprises a plate carrying said openings, said gate being disposed in front of said channel and slidably disposed upon the side edges thereof, side members projecting forwardly from the side edges of said plate, and oppositely disposed, inwardly-directed lips extending from the front edges of said side members and completing an enclosure through which said discharged weights may be passed, said lips being sufficiently close together to prevent egress of coins through the space therebetween.

6. A weight actuated unit according to claim 5 in which the front edges of the sides of the channel have oppositely disposed cut-out sections in the form of inclined plane surfaces by means of which the gate is separated horizontally from the channel as it is pulled thereover, and lips projecting from the front edges of the side members of the gate, disposed over and in juxtaposition with the inclined plane surfaces and serving as bearing surfaces for said gate.

'7. A weight actuated unit according to claim 6 in which the forward portions of the sides of the channel have spring mountings, springs disposed on said mountings, an inclined plane surface disposed on each of the inwardly-directed lips extending from the front edges of the side members of said gate, and a projecting end on each spring disposed on the corresponding latter inclined plane surface of the gate in flexible retaining relation thereto.

8. A weight actuated unit according to claim 7 in which the moving means for said gate comprises an arm, a pivot mounted on said gate and to which one end of said latter arm is pivotally attached, a mounting on which the channel is mounted, a fixed pivot on said mounting to which the said latter arm is attached near its center and for which it acts as a fulcrum, and pulling means for pulling the other end of the latter arm in a vertical direction.

9. A weight actuated unit according to claim 1 in which the actuating means attached to the lever arm is a second lever arm extending from the pivot into space outside of said channel, for contacting an extraneous device located in said space.

10. A weight actuated unit according to claim i) in which the first lever arm has, attached to it, forwardly projecting lugs extending from the sides of said arm at below the center of gravity of said lever arm, laterally directed holes in said lugs for housing the pivots, a wire disposed through said holes and acting as the pivots for said lever arm, a flat loop in said wire behind the lower portion of said lever arm, and an extension of said wire from one of said pivots, extending in the form of a second lever arm into space outside of said channel for contacting an extraneous device located in said space.

11. A weight actuated unit according to claim 1 in which the lower portion of the uprightly disposed lever arm is a flat, narrow, centrally-disposed strip of width narrower than that of the upper portion.

PETER G. CRISAFULLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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