US2869777A

US2869777A - Coin operated devices and method of collecting coins therefrom

Info

Publication number: US2869777A
Application number: US541338A
Authority: US
Inventors: Share Barnett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-10-19
Filing date: 1955-10-19
Publication date: 1959-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 1976-01-20

Description

I Jan. 20, 1959 38 com OPERATED DEVI HARE CES AND METHOD OF COLLECTING COINS THEREFROM Filed Oct. 19, 1955 -rmosPHexmc PQEssuQE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

"Ill! 1H1, my) H e2 62 e 60 G? 68 (J INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1959 B. SHARE 2,869,777

COIN OPERATED DEVICES AND METHOD OF COLLECTING coms THEREFROM Filed Oct. 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 155 "6 g FIG 4 132 132 ATTORNEY t lector.

COIN OPERATED DEVICES AND METHOD OF COLLECTING COINS THEREFROM Barnett Share, Queens Village, N. Y.

Application October 19, 1955 Serial No. 541,338

12 Claims. (Cl. 232-16) This invention relates to coin operated devices and, more particularly, to a novel coin receptacle therefor and a method of collecting coins therefrom.

Coin operated devices are presently used to perform many services hitherto performed manually. For example, while such devices have long been used in turnstiles to control admissions and in vending machines, their use in these cases is rapidly increasing. A new use, developed over the past few years has been parking meters for automatically regulating parking time in congested locations.

In every case, such coin devices include not only mechanism operated or controlled by the insertion of one or more coins or tokens of a predetermined denomination but also a receiver for the collected coins. These receivers are secured in position against unauthorized tampering so as to be accessible only to an authorized col- The latter usually has a suitable key or the like by means of which he can reach the recepetacle, remove it, collect the coins therefrom, and replace the receptacle in its security position.

For the most efficient and economical operation of coin controlled or operated devices, it is essential that the man-hours required for collection of coins and maintenance of the devices be kept at a minimum. With present types of coin receptacles, and with methods of collection requiring removal, emptying, and replacement of the coin receptacles, the collection man-hours required per device is unduly high, particularly in the case of parking meters.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention is directed to a simplified, automatically locking coin receiver or receptacle for such coin devices, and to an improved highly efficient collection method by means of which the coin receptacle is automatically unlocked, moved to a discharge position, and emptied in a single continuous operation and, when the operation is terminated, the receptacle automatically returned to its security position and automatically latched therein.

More particularly, the coin receptacle is in the form of a hollow piston movable longitudinally in an elongated cylinder constituting the support for the coin device, such as a parking meter. The upper end of the re ceptacle is open to allow coins deposited into the meter, or other device, to fall into the receptacle and against a sloping wall forming the bottom of the receptacle. This wall slopes downwardly and outwardly toward a coin discharge opening in the side wall of the piston selectively alignable with a corresponding opening in the side wall of the cylinder or support.

Normally the receptacle is positioned by gravity with its side wall opening below that in the cylinder and thus closed by an imperforate wall portion of the cylinder. In suchcoin receiving position of the piston, small perforations or airholes in the piston wall above the coin discharge opening are at the zone of the opening in the side wall of the cylinder. At this time, laterally movable it latch means mounted in the piston are biased to a pro- "ice jected position engaging a recess or opening in the cylinder wall, thus locking the piston or receptacle against unauthorized movement, as the upper end of the piston extends upwardly beyond the opening in the cylinder wall.

The method of collecting coins from the receptacle involves the use of suction. A collecting device including a source of vacuum or negative pressureis provided with a bafile and screen in advance of the source andwith 0 a hose or conduit adapted for a substantially air-tight fit in the side wall opening of the cylinder or mounting post.

When the collecting device is connected to the mounting post and suction applied, the pressure within the coin receptacle is reduced substantially below atmospheric, due to the airholes or perforations in the piston. The resulting pressure differential first releases the latch means and then effects upward movement of the receptacle, with stop means limiting such movement to a position Where the two side wall openings are aligned. The, coins are sucked into the hose or conduit and, striking the deliecting baffle, fall into a coin container from which the collected coins may be periodically removed.

When the collecting device is disconnected from the mounting post or cylinder, the receptacle falls by gravity to its securityposition and is automatically re-latched therein. As the only operation required to unlock the receptacle and collect the coins therefrom is the connection of the vacuum device to the cylinder, the collection time per device is only a minor fraction of that presently required. Additionally, due to the simplicity of. construction, assembly, and operation of the coin receptacle, maintenance is reduced to a minimum.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are central vertical sectional views of one embodiment of the invention showing, respectively, the receptacle in the security and in the coin discharge positions;

Fig. 3 is a pictorial and schematic elevation view illustrating the collection device and method;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention, taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 5, and showing the receptacle in the security position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view thereof; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged vertical sections respectively illustrating the receptacle and latch means in the security and discharge positions.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, one embodiment of the inventionis illustrated as incorporated in a parking meter involving a meter head 10 mounted on a tubular stand 11, head 10 having its skirt 12 welded to a ring 13 in turn welded to the top of stand 11. Meter 15 has a base 16 bolted to an annular top plate 17 on skirt 12, a coin chute 18 registering with a slot 19 in base 16 centered relative to annular plate 17.

The coin collector includes a cylinder 20 to which is welded a flange 21 seating on the upper end of stand 11 when cylinder 20 is inserted into the latter. Intermediate its length, cylinder 20 is formed with a preferably circular coin discharge opening 25 having an outwardly and downwardly sloping lower edge 26. The upper end of cylinder 20 has an annular cap 22 threaded thereon and carrying a coin chute 23 aligned with chute 18 and with a slot 24 in the cap. An annular cushion 27 of rubber or the like seats against the inner surface of cap 22. The lower end of cylinder 20 is closed by a threaded plug or cap 28.

For a purpose to be described, circumferential grooves 31 are formed in the inner surface of cylinder 20 at the 3 zone of opening 25. Just above flange 21, a latch opening 32 is formed through the cylinder wall and a stop 33 welded to the outer surface of the cylinder extends partly across opening 33. Below flange 21, a rubber seat 30 is firmly set in the cylinder and supports an annular cushion 34. Seat 30 has an axial opening 36 of polygonal and preferably rectangular cross section.

The coin receptacle comprises a hollow or tubular piston slidably mounted in cylinder 20. Piston 40 has a preferably circular opening 45 in its side wall, congruent with opening 25 in cylinder 21), and having a downwardly and outwardly bevelled lower edge 46. Edge 46 forms a smooth continuation of the upper surface of a sloping plate 35 closing the lower end of piston 40. A rectangular rod 41 extends downwardly from plate 35 and through opening 36 in seat 3t). Rod 41, in cooperation with opening 36, maintains angular alignment of cylinder 20 and piston 40. The lower end of rod 41 carries a limit stop or abutment 42.

Plate 35 has an opening 51 communicating with the interior of a radial nipple 52 secured in air-tight relation with plate 35 and the piston wall. The piston wall has an opening 53 vertically aligned with opening 32 in cylinder 20. "Nipple 52 slidably receives a cup-shape latch 50 biased outwardly by a spring 54 to enter hole 32. Above plate 35, piston 40 has a series of perforations or air holes 43.

lReferringto Fig. 3, the collecting device 60, which may 'be self supported or mounted on a vehicle, comprises a motor 61 driving a vacuum pump 62 connected to a chamber 63. Chamber 63 is connected by a flexible hose or conduit 64 to a perforated arcuate plate 65 arranged to have a close fit against cylinder 20 at opening 25. Defleeting

balfles

66 and 67, in chamber 63, deflect coins into a receiver 68 having a removable door 69. A screen 59 is disposed in advance of the connection to pump 62.

Normally piston or receiver 40 is in the lower position illustrated in Fig. 1, moving thereto by gravity, with latch '50 engaged in hole 32. The imperforate upper part of the piston blocks access through opening 25. Coins inserted in meter 15, or any other coin operated device on stand 11, fall through chutes 18 and 23 into piston 40, being retained on wall 35.

To collect the coins, plate 65 is conformingly engaged over opening 25 and motor 61 is started to drive vacuum .pump 62. The resultant high vacuum at opening 25 reduces the pressure inside piston 40 through grooves 31 and apertures 43. .It will be noted that grooves 31 communicate with opening 25 and thus connect apertures 43 and the interior of piston 40 to this opening. Atmospheric pressure, through opening 32, being in excess of the pressure within piston 40', forces latch 50 inwardly to the retracted position and then moves piston 46 upwardly against cushion 27 to the position of Fig. 2. Guide rod 41 maintains piston 40 and cylinder 20 in angular orientation so that opening 45 registers with opening 25.

The coins are sucked into hose 64 and, striking baffles 66, 67, fall into container 68. Plate 65 is then disengaged from opening 25 and piston 40 falls to the security or coin receiving position of Fig. 1, with spring '54 moving latch 50 into hole 32 against stop 33. When the round of collections is completed, the coins are removed from receiver 68 through door 69.

In the arrangement of Figs. 4-7, the cylinder and stand are combined in one tubular unit 120 having a mounting flange 117 for a coin operated or controlled device. Piston 140 is telescoped in cylinder 12! and has an annular flange 147 on its open upper end. The bottom end of the ,piston is formed by a plug 160 having a sloping upper surface 135 with its lower outer edge coincident with the lower edge of opening 145 in piston 140. A tube 148 extends from flange 147 through plug 160 and is radially offset from the axis of piston 140. This tube receives a guide rod 141 having a head 142 seatin g in a notch 149 in flange 117. Rod 141 maintains piston 140 angularly oriented with cylinder 12% so that opening 145 is vertically aligned with cylinder opening 125. The latter opening has a spout or extension 136' having an axis parallel to surface and a coupling flange 131 on its outer end.

Plug 160 is formed with

air passages

161 and 162 therethrough and with an axial recess 163 intersected by a diametric passage 164 extending completely through piston 141?. The latch means comprises balls 150 in passage 164 arranged to engage in diametrically opposite recesses 132 in the inner surface of cylinder 12%).

Recess 163 receives an enlarged head 151 on a thinner threaded shank 152 connected by nuts 153 to a sealing disk 155 of carbon or the like having an airtight fit in cylinder 12 Elongated operators 154 are disposed in passage 16-4 between balls 151) and head 151 or shank 152. An annular plate 156 is bolted to the lower end of plug 160 to retain head 151 in recess 163.

Normally piston is in the position of Figs. 4 and 6, wherein the piston wall blocks opening 125, this wall having apertures 143 aligned with such opening. Disk 155 is in the position of Figs. 4- and 6 so that head 151, through operators 154, forces balls 15tl-into recesses 132 locking piston 141} in the security position.

When the vacuum collecting device 60 is coupled to spout 136, a partial vacuum is established in piston 140 through apertures 143. The partial vacuum within piston 146 is effected on the upper surface of disk 155 through

air passages

161, 162. Atmospheric pressure beneath disk 155 moves the disk upwardly to align shank 152 with passage 164. Balls 150 can now move inwardly to disengage recesses 132 permitting the atmospheric pressure to move piston 140 upwardly.

When openings 125 and are in registry, in the position of Fig. 7, the collected coins are sucked into receiver 68. Then device 63 is uncoupled from spout 136 and piston 14% descends by gravity. Disk 155 tends to pull head 151 downwardly but such movement is prevented by balls engaging the surface of cylinder 120 to hold operators 154 against shank 152. When piston 1411 reaches a position blocking opening 125, disk descends further as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 as balls 15! are forced into recesses 132 and maintained therein by head 151 through operator 154, thus locking piston 146 in the security position.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What 'is claimed is:

1. A coin collector for coin-controlled apparatus comprising, in combination, a generally upright elongated cylinder having a top opening toreceive coins and a coin discharge opening in its side wall; a hollow piston coin receiver slidably mounted in said cylinder and having a top opening to receive coins, and a coin discharge opening in its side wall registrable with the coin discharge opening in said cylinder; said piston having a coin retaining surface extending laterally thereacross from the lower edge of its coin discharge opening; said piston being biased by gravity to .a coin retaining position with its coin discharge opening completely below the corresponding cylinder opening, and with its side wall above its coin discharge opening obstructing the corresponding cylinder opening; said cylinder being open to atmosphere above and below said coin retaining surface; said piston having a substantially air tight sliding fit in said cylinder; and means establishing a connection between the cylinder coin discharge opening and the interior of said piston; whereby, upon connection of a suction device 'to said cylinder coin discharge opening, a partial vacuum will be established in said cylinder and piston above said coin retaining surface, and said piston will be moved upwardly by atmospheric pressure in said cylinder and piston beneath said coin retaining surface to a coin discharge position in which the two coin discharge openings are in substantially registry.

2. A coin collector for coin-controlled apparatus comprising, in combination, a generally upright elongated cylinder having a top opening to receive coins and a coin discharge opening in its side wall; a hollow piston coin receiver slidably mounted in said cylinder and having a top opening to receive coins, and a coin discharge opening in its side Wall registrable with the coin discharge opening in said cylinder; said piston having a coin retaining surface extending laterally thereacross from the lower edge of its coin discharge opening; said piston being biased by gravity to a coin retaining position with its coin discharge opening completely below the corresponding cylinder opening, and with its side wall above its coin discharge opening obstructing the corresponding cylinder opening; said cylinder being open to atmosphere above and below said coin retaining surface; said piston having a substantially airtight sliding fit in said cylinder; means establishing a connection between the cylinder coin discharge opening and the interior of said piston; and latch means movably mounted in said piston and biased to a position engaging a latch portion of said cylinder when the piston is in the coin retaining position, said latch means having operating portions respectively subjected to atmospheric pressure and to the pressure within said piston and cylinder above said coin retaining surface; whereby, upon connection of a suction device to said cylinder coin discharge opening a partial vacuum will be established in said cylinder and piston above said coin retaining surface, and said latch means will be retracted by atmospheric pressure and said piston will be moved upwardly by atmospheric pressure in said cylinder and piston beneath said coin retaining surface to a coin discharge position in which the two coin discharge. openings are in substantial registry.

3. A coin collector as claimed in claim 1 in which said coin retaining surface slopes toward the coin dis charge opening of said piston.

4. A coin collector as claimed in claim 2 in which said coin retaining surface slopes toward the coin discharge opening of said piston.

5. A coin collector as claimed in claim 2 in which said latch means is beneath said coin retaining surface and the latter is apertured to subject one of said latch operating portions to the pressure within said piston and cylinder above said coin retaining surface.

6. A coin collector as claimed in claim 2 in which said latch means comprises a housing extending laterally of said piston from the underside of said coin retaining surface and communicating with the piston interior through an aperture in such surface; a latch slidably mounted in said housing; and means biasing said latch to extend through an opening in the cylinder wall aligned with the opposite end of said housing.

7. A coin collector as claimed in claim 1 including means restraining relative rotation of said cylinder and piston.

8. A coin collector as claimed in claim 1 in which said connection establishing means comprises grooves in the inner surface of said cylinder extending circumferentially from its coin discharge opening, and a longitudinal series of apertures in the cylinder wall above its coin discharge opening.

9. A coin collector as claimed in claim 2 in which said latch means includes a latch element mounted for lateral movement relative to said piston and engageable in a latch receiving surface formed in the cylinder wall; and pressure responsive operating means for said latch element.

10. A coin collector as claimed in claim 2 in which said latch means comprises latch elements movably mounted in a laterally extending passage through the bottom wall of said piston for selective engagement in recesses in the cylinder wall aligned with the ends of said passage; and pressure responsive operating means for said latch elements.

11. A coin collector as claimed in claim 10 in which the lower wall of said piston has an axial, downwardly opening recess intersecting said passage; and said operating means includes a rod slidably engaged in said recess and having a portion of reduced diameter; said latch elements engaging said rod and having effective lengths such as to be forced into said cylinder wall recesses by said rod except when the reduced diameter portion thereof is aligned with said passage.

12. A coin collector as claimed in claim 11 including a second piston on the lower end of said rod; said coin receiver piston bottom wall having apertures therethrough subjecting the upper surface of said second piston to the pressure within said coin receiver piston; the reduced diameter portion of said rod being aligned with said passage when said second piston is raised toward said piston bottom wall upon reduction of the pressure within said coin receiver piston, to release said latch means for upward movement of said coin receiver piston.

References (flirted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,710 Burns Sept. 24, 1889 1,303,604 Sims May 13, 1919 1,314,677 Linton Sept. 2, 1919 1,429,461 Shadinger Sept. 19, 1922 2,749,030 Jones June 5, 1956