US2925898A - Coin operated dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1960 R, M, TERRY 2,925,898

' I COIN OPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR. I RAYMOND M. TERRY A T TOPNL' Y Feb; I 23, 1960 R. M. TERRY 2,925,898

COIN OPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RAYMOND M. TERRY A T TORNEV Feb. 23, 1960 R. M. TERRY COIN OPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1956 INVENTOR. MYMOND M TERRY A T TORNEV 1.,"- IIIII'I'I'IIII" III f/GLS Feb. 23, 1960 R. M. TERRY COIN OPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 17, 1956 INVENTOR. RAYMOND M. 7 ERR) A T TORWEV COIN OPERATED DISPENSIIIIG DEVICE Raymond M. Terry, Oakland, Calif. Application December 17, 1956, Serial No. 628,856

4 Claims. (Cl. 194-54) This invention relates to a coin operated dispensing device. More particularly it relates to a coin operated mechanism of a type suited for dispensing of newspapers or other similar articles.

In vending newspapers from untended racks, a problem exists which is of some what different character than exists in the vending of articles of relatively small size, precise dimensions and regulargeometric shape, such as packages of cigarettes, candy bars and the like. Thus newspapers vary in bulk and do not lend themselves as well to ejection from a vending machine as do articles of uniform shape and dimensions. Also, there is frequently a differential between theprice of Sunday newspapers and weekday newspapers. Accordingly the vending machine should be one which is adjustable for Sunday use and for weekday use. It is important that such adjustment means be. simple .in its operation, such that adjustments can be made without any particular skill, for

example, by a man who delivers newspapers and is not a 1 skilled mechanic.

Another-'desideratum in newspaper vending machines,

is the ability to accept several combinations of coins which add up to the same total. Thus, if the price of a newspaper, is ten cents, it is advantageous to employ a vending apparatus which will accept a dime, two nickels, one nickel and five pennies'or ten pennies. To my knowledge no coin mechanism has been provided for newspaper vending machines which will accomplish this.

. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operated vending mechanism'for the purposeof vending I newspapers which is simple in -its design, which is readily adjustable and which'is' simple and dependable in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin operated mechanism for latching and unlatching a housing or cover member, such as the weather cover of a newspaper vendingapparatus'which will accept several coin combinations having the same monetary value (e.g., one dime, two nickels, a nickel plus five pennies, and ten penmics) and which will reject andretu'rn all other coin combinations; such mechnaism being easily adjustable for different totals (c.g, for a ten cent price, 'a twenty cent price and an eleven cent price). I

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

One form of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompany drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a newspaper vending 2,925,898 Patented Feb. 23, 1960 nism of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, rear view in perspective, of the apparatus of Figure 1, showing the coin operated dispensing mechanism attached to the rear of the apparatus and with its cover in place.

Figure 3 is a rear view in perspective of the coin operated dispensing mechanism of the invention with the cover removed. d

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig ure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Figure 2, showing in side elevation the coin operated dispensing mechanism of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 5, but showing the apparatus at a diiferent stage of operation. Figure 7 is a View along the line 77 of Figure 6 showing the gauging and locking pawl of the invention in side,

elevation and in contact with coins deposited in the mechanism.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 6 but at a still later stage in the operation of the mechanism.

Figure 9 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 6 but showing the manner in which the mechanism operates to reject and return coins which are not 'of the proper selection.

Referring now to the drawings and principally to Figures l and 2, the coin operated dispensing mechanism of the invention is illustrated in connection with a newspaper vending apparatus which is generally designated by the' reference numeral 10. It will, however, be understood that the coin operated mechanism of the invention can be employed for many other purposes.

The newspaper vending device 10 comprises a frame 11 formed of sheet metal and having legs 11a. Hinged to its rear is a leg orrear brace 12 of U-shape which, together with the front legs 11a provides support for the apparatus. A transparent glass or plastic case or weather cover is provided at 13 which has a rigid frame member 14 which is hinged at 15 to the main frame 11 (see Figure 2). The case is pitched at an angle such that its weight normally holds it in closed position. Bottom support rodsare provided at 16 which are fixed to and project forwardly from the main frame 11 and which provide bottom supportfor newspapers. Side bars are provided at 17 which are fixed to and project forwardly from the main frame 11 and which provide lateral support. A quantity of newspapers are shown at 18 which are supported at the bottom by the rods 16 and along the sides bythe bars 17. A handle or finger hold is provided at 19 which is fixed to the bottom of the frame 14 for the purpose of grasping to pull the case 13 outwardly and open it. "Coinslots are provided at 20a and 20b above the case 13. Each slot may be of a size to permit the insertion of'coins of a certain diameter, more or less. In any event, as explained herein below, the slot 20a is intended to receive certain coins (e.g., dimes and pennies) and the other slot 20b is intendedto receive other coins, e.g., nickels and pennies. Suitable instructions (not shown) will appear on the frame 11 adjacent the slots.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the coin operated dispensing mechanism of the invention is there shown and is generally designated by the reference numeral 25. It is surrounded by an angle frame 26 prowhich is fixed to and extends through the bottom of the a coin return chute 33a adjacent an opening 35 which is formed in the cover 23 and which is shown in Figures 2 and 5. It isthe purpose of the coin return chute 33a to guide-rejected coins to a position where they can be reached by inserting a finger in the opening 35. The

to act as a cam against the frame 11 and catch member 66 upon return of the case 13 from open position.

That is, once the case is opened in the manner described hereinafter, and is then released it drops by gravity toward closed position and the slanting cam surface 62 acts against the frame 11 and catch member 66, which deflects the hook 58 downwardly. This allows the case 13 to close completely. The hook 58 then returns, under the influence of the leaf spring .64, to its normal, elevated, latching position. It will, therefore, be apparent that I the hook 58 and leaf spring 64 act as a one way latch manner in which improperly selected coins are rejected isdescribed hereinafter.

The vertical. portion 34 of the bafile member 33 together with the opposing rear surface of the main frame member 11, provide a coin box or receptacle for accepted coins, and it is indicated'by the reference numeral 36. Access to such coins, of course, is bymeans of a key for the lock 31.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the coin mechanism is generally designated by the reference numeral 25. It is divided, however, by a vertical plate 40 into duplicate mechanisms 25a and 25b. The plate 40 is welded or otherwise fixed to the rear surface of the main frame member 11. The reason that duplicate coin mechanisms 25a and 25b are employed will be apparent from the description hereinafter. However, it will be understood that, where conditions permit, only one coin mechanism may be employed. Alternatively, where conditions require, three or more coin mechanisms may be employed. Inasmuch as the coin mechanisms 25a and 25b are substantial duplicates, one of the other,only the mechanism 25a will be described in detail.

A coin-hopper 41 is provided which is fixed to the plate 40 beneath the coin slot 20a, so that coins dropped through the slots 20a will drop into the hopper. Beneath the hopper 41 a channel member 42 is provided which is fixed to the plate 40 to provide a coin passage or chute 43 (see Figure 4). A

The channel member 42 is formed with a vertical slot .44 having a purpose explained hereinafter. The plate 40 is formed with a slot 45 to the left of the plate 42 (as viewed in Figure 3) which is intended to receive a screw 46- which is clamped in place in any position desired by means of a wing nut 47 and lock washer 47a. The screw 46 carries a bracket 48 having an outwardly projecting ear 48a, on which a pivot pin 49 is carried. The pin 49 pivotally supports a gauging and locking pawl or trap member 50., The pawl 50 is best shown in Figure 7. It has an outwardly projecting nose 55,, the upper, cam surface of which has a downward slant at 56 in the direction of the coin passage 43. The lower, trapping surface 57 of the nose 55 is horizontal.

The pawl 50 swings in'the slot 44 and it is counter weighted so that it normally assumes the position shown in Figure 7 with its nose 55 in the coin chute 43.

A catch lever or latch hook 58 is provided which the case 13, the vertical surface 63 of nose 61 of the hook 58 will strike a ledge 65 on a resilient catch member 66. That is to say, the normal arc of movement of the nose 61 of hook 58 coincides with the catch member 66. Therefore, the case 13 is normally held in latched position unless and until the hook 58 is deflected downwardly against the force of the leaf spring 64 to clear the ledge 65. It is the function of the slanting surface 62 which normally acts to prevent opening but always permits closing the case 13.

The means whereby this latch is opened when a proper selection of coins has been inserted, will now be described.

A cam member or ramp 70 is provided which'is fixed to the hook 58. It will be noted that only one hook 58 and one catch member 66 are provided, both of which are located on that side of .plate 49 which is visible in Figure 3. Also, only one ramp 70 is provided. However, the ramp 70 bridges the two sides of the device so that it is acted upon by coins dropped into either of the mechanisms 25a and 25b. it will be seen that the ramp 70 is formed at its left-hand end (as viewed in Figures 5 and 6) with a dog leg or cam portion 71 which includes a rise portion 72, a high point or peak 72b and a. recede 720. When the case 13 is in closed position, the cam portion 71 lies slightly to the left of the two coin chutes 43 as viewedin Figures 5 and 6.

Referring now to Figure 7, and assuming that the coin mechanism 25a is to be set for a nickel and a penny (which are shown at 73 and 74, respectively) the corresponding pawl 56 will be set as follows: The two coins (a nickel and a penny) are inserted in either order in the respective hopper 41. They will come to rest with the bottomcoin on the ramp 70 and the top coin beneath the pawl 50. The wing nut 47 (see Figure 4) of the pawl 50 will be loosened and it will be adjusted up or .down until it is free to swingback into the normal position shown in Figure 7 with a very small clearance (e.g., between its horizontal surface 57 and the top coin. (In practice, each device will be supplied with a gauge strip (not shown) adjacent each slot 45 so that a person adjusting the device can adjust the pawls 50 by means of indicia on the gauge strip. This will eliminate the necessity of dropping in coins and adjusting the pawls for proper clearance.)

Assume, now, that the pawl 50 of the mechanism 25a has been set in the manner described for a nickel and a penny, and that a nickel and a penny have been inserted and occupy the position shown at 73 and 74 in Figure 5. .Whenthe handle 19 is pulled to open the case 13, the bottom coin-73 will ride up the rise portion 72a of ramp 70 until the top coin 74 contacts the horizontal surface 5'7 of pawl 50. Since the coins cannot move upwardly any further, continued outward movement of the case 13 will, of necessity, cause a downward deflection of the ramp 70 and the hook 58. When the high point '72!) reaches dead center in relation to the coins 73 and 74, the hook 58 will bedeflected sufiiciently to clear the ledge 65 of latch memberf66-and will be in the position shown in-Figure 6. The case 13, can, therefore, be opened to allow access'to the newspapers '18.

Not only do the proper coins act in conjunction with the pawls 5t) and the ramp 70 to unlatch the case 13, but the accepted coins dnop into'the coin box 36. (See Figure 8.) Then, when the user extracts a newspaper and releases the handle 19, the case 13 will drop back toward closed position, and the slanting cam surface 62 of hook 58 will .deflectthe hook to allow the case to close completely.

It sometimes happens that a coin, in falling through the slot 43, will bouncewhen it strikes the ramp 70 in such a direction that it is ejected. To prevent this a pair of guard pawls are provided, one of which is shown in a, a. .m

Figures 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9. These guard pawls are fixed to a pin 86 which is rotatably mounted in the plate 40, one pawl being located on one side of the plate 40 and the other pawl being located on the otherside of the plate 40. The pawls 85 are free to pivot with the pin 86 but must pivot'together. Each pawl 85 has an edge 87 which normally lies alongside the respective coin slot 43. The combined mass of the pawls 85 is sufficient to rebound any coin which bounces to the left (as viewed in Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9); hence these pawls act to confine coins to the coin slot 43.

Assume, now, that an improper coin combination (e.g., two pennies, shown at 75 and 76 in Figure 9) have been inserted. If two pennies rather than a penny and a nickel are inserted, their combined diameter will be less than the combined diameter of a nickel and a penny. Accordingly there will be an excessive clearance between the top coin 76 and the horizontal edge 57 of the pawl 50. Therefore, when the handle 19 is pulled outwardly, the coins 75 and 76 will ride up the rise 72a of the ramp 70 without contacting the pawl edge 57. Therefore the hook 58 will remain undeflected, its vertical edge 63 will contact the ledge 65 and the case 13 will remain locked.

It is desirable, not only that an improper coin combination be rejected in this manner but also that the rejected coins be returned. This object (return of rejected coins) is accomplished in the following manner: As the peak 72b of the ramp 70 reaches dead center in relation to the coins 7S and 76, the book 58 will engage. the ledge 65. The catch member 66 is. a piece of resilient steel which is fixed at the top to frame 11 but is free at the bottom and is bent outwardly away from the frame 11. Continued movement of the hook 58 toward the right will cause the bottom portion of catch member 66 to deflect in the same direction until it contacts the frame 11. The peak 72b therefore passes dead center in relation to the coins and the slanting recede portion 720 of the ramp 70 also passes somewhat to the right of the coins, i.e., to the right as viewed in Figure 9. When the case 13 is released and returns to closed position, the recede portion 720 of ramp 70 ejects the bottom coin 75. The adjacent pawl 85 pivots aside to permit ejection. By pulling the case 13 again to partly open position and releasing, the next coin 76 is similarly ejected, and by a repeated pumping action all coins (if there are any more) are rejected.

. Adjustment of the apparatus, its operation with a particular selection of coins (a nickel and a penny) and its rejection and return of a deficiency of coins (two pennies) have been described. The apparatus has, however, greater versatility, as will not be explained by several illustrations.

Suppose that the mechanism 25a has been set, as described above, for a nickel and a penny, but that two nickels are inserted. The second nickel, in falling, will rock the respective pawl 50 aside. Moreover, because the pawl has been set to trap a nickel and a penny, the second nickel will extend above the normal level of the surface 57 of pawl 50 and, as a consequence, it will hold the pawl aside; i.e., the second nickel will inactivate the pawl. The hook 58 will not, therefore, deflect; the case 13 will remain locked; and the two nickels will be returned when the handle 19 is pumped, exactly as the two pennies in the illustration above.

In general, therefore, the pawl 50 will accept and operate with one particular coin combination and no other, and it will reject and return all other coin combinations.

Suppose, now, that it is desired to dispense newspapers at a price of ten cents, and that it also is desired to accept each of the following coin ten cent combinations: One dime, two nickels, one nickel plus five pennies, and ten pennies. The coin slots 20a and 2% (see Figure 1) are preferably of a size that the left-hand slot 20a will take a dime and pennies but is not long enough to take nickels as well as pennies. Instructions will be placed on the frame 11 adjacent the slots 20a and 20b, to insert a dime or ten pennies in the slot 20a and two nickels or a nicke plus five pennies in the slot 20b.

Two pawls 50 will be employed for each of the mechanisms 25a and 25b. For convenience of description, the two pawls of mechanism 25a will be referred to as the dime pawl" and the penny paw and the two pawls of the mechanisms 25b will be referred to as the double nickel pawl and the nickel-penny pawl.

The dime pawl will be adjusted in the manner explained above (or with the aid of a gauge strip), to accept one dime; and the penny pawl will be adjusted'to accept ten pennies. Similarly, the double nickel and nickel-penny pawls will be adjusted to accept two nickels and a nickel plus five pennies, respectively.

Assume now that a dime is inserted in the slot 20a. It will activate the dime pawl and will act to unlatch the case 13. Meanwhile the penny pawl will be inactive because it is located far above an inserted dime. As: sume, now, that ten pennies are inserted in slot 20a. They will activate the penny pawl. Meanwhile the bottom penny (which has a greater diameter than a dime) will inactivate the dime pawl by holding it to one side.

It will be apparent that the double nickel and nickelpenny pawls of the mechanism 25b will operate similarly to accept two nickels (the nickel-penny pawl remaining inactive) or a nickel and five pennies (the double nickel pawl being held inactive).

Another facet of the versatile character of the mechanism of the invention is as follows: Suppose that the ten cent price assumed above is for weekday papers and that a Sunday paper costs twenty cents. In such case the device may be fitted with a double dime pawl, a dimetwo nickel pawl, a four nickel pawl and a dime-nickelfive penny pawl. These pawls will be properly located in the adjustment slots 45, but they will be held back in inactive positions by clamps (not shown) on weekdays. When a deliveryman delivers Sunday papers, he will release these pawls and will apply the clamps to the weekday pawls, thereby setting the machine for the four Sunday combinations, i.e., two dimes; one dime and two nickels; for nickels; and a dime-nickel-five penny com bination.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a coin operated dispensing mechanism has been provided which is very simple in its construction and which has several very significant advantages. Thus, it is very easily and speedily adjusted for any particular selection of coins desired. The person making the adjustment needs no particular skill. The most he has to do is select the coins for each of the mechanisms 25a and 25b as desired, place them in the respective chutes 43, then adjust the respective gauging pawls 50 to trap the proper selection of coins and deflect the hooks 58 enough to permit opening the case 13, and then tighten the wing nuts 47 to clamp the pawls 50 in proper positions. Even more conveniently, the device may be supplied with gauging strips.

The versatility of the device is very great; it lends itself to use for newspapers of many diiferent prices; it will accept many coin combinations; and it returns all rejected coins. The apparatus is in essence so simple and involves so few working parts that it is not likely to get out of adjustment or repair.

I claim:

1. A coin operated mechanism of the character described comprising a vertical coin chute having open upper and lower ends; a coin trap pawl located between said ends, normally lying athwart said chute, rocking to one side to permit downward passage of coins and rocking back to normal position to limit upward movement of coins in said chute, said trap pawl being adjustable lengthwise of said chute; a latch hook mounted beneath said chute for up and down movement in the direction of and away from the lower end of said chute and also for opening and closing substantially horizontal movement; resilient means acting normally to hold said hook inarelatively elevated, latching position but allowing downward deflection of the hook in response to a sufficient force to an unlatched position; a cam member moving with said hook and having a rise portion underlying said chute and acting, when the hook undergoes opening movement, to lift coinsin the chute, said cam member having also a recede portion acting to eject coins when the hook undergoes closing movement; and a guard pawl mounted to rock in a vertical plane adjacent one edge of the lower end of said chute, said guard pawl actingby its mass to prevent improper ejection of coins but rocking aside to permit proper ejection of coins.

A coin operated device of the type which accepts a predetermined coin selection and acts to return other coin selections, said device comprising: a frame having a catch member thereon; a latch mounted for forward opening movement and for retractive return movement relatively to the frame and also mounted pivotally for pivoting between a latching position wherein the latch engages the catch member during said forward movement to prevent completion of such movement and a release position wherein the latch clears the catch member during forward movement to permit complete forward movement, and means normally holding said latch in its latching position but yielding to an opposing force to allow the latch to move to its release position; an upright coin chute having an open upper end for insertion of coins and an open lower end, and a coin receptacle beneath said chute for reception of accepted coins dropping from the lower end of the chute; a lateral coin passage beneath said chute and above said coin receptacle adapted to pass and return coins dropped from the lower end of the chute and deflected laterally; a trapping pawl located between the upper and lower ends of the chute, having a normal position athwart said chute in the path of travel of coins therein, pivotally mounted so as to pass dropping coins and having a bottom contact surface engageable with coins in said chute; and cam means for pivoting said latch and'for deflecting nonaccepted coins, said cam means being associated and moving with saidlatch, having a rise portion which acts to lift coins in said chute during forward movement of the latch and which exerts a downward thrust on the latch to move the same toits release position when a predetermined coin selection is trapped between said rise and the contact surface of said pawl, said cam means also having a deflector portion which, during return movement of the latch, while the latch is in its latching position, contacts the bottom coin in said chute and deflects the same laterally into said lateral coin passage.

3. A coin operated device of the type which accepts a predetermined coin selection and acts to return other coin selections, said device comprising: a frame having a catch member thereon; a latch mounted for forward opening movement and for retractive return movement relatively to the frame and also mounted pivotally for pivoting between a latching position wherein the latch engages the catch member during said forward movement to prevent completion of such movement and a release position wherein the latch clears the catch member during forward movement to permit complete forward movement, and means normally holding said latch in its latching position but yielding to an opposing force to allow the latch tomove to its release position; an upright coin chutehaving an open upper end for insertion of coins and an open lower end, and a coin receptacle beneath said chute for reception of accepted coins dropping from the lower end of the chute; a lateral coin passage beneath said chute and above said coin receptacle adapted to pass and return coins dropped from the lower end of the chute and deflected laterally; a trapping pawl located between the upper and lower ends of the chute, having a normal position athwart said chute in the path of travel of coins therein, pivotally mounted so as to pass dropping coins and having a bottom contact sur face engageable with coins in said chute; and cam means for pivoting said latch and for deflecting nonaccepted coins, said cam means being attached to said latch, having a rise portion which acts to lift coins in said chute during forward movement of the latch and which exerts a downward thrust on the latch to move the same to its release position when a predetermined coin selection is trapped between said rise and the contact surface of said pawl, said cam means also having a, deflector portion which, duringreturn movement of the latch, while the latch is in its latching position, contacts the bottom coin in saidchute and deflects the same laterally into said lateral coin passage.

I 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said pawl swings in a plane transverse to the plane of the chute.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 355,049 Great Britain of 1931

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