US2959265A - Coin register - Google Patents

Description

E. J, COIN REGISTER Nov 81 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 26, 1954 tbl Nov. 8, 1960 E. J. Ux 2,959,265

COIN REGISTER Filed March 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. cfnfffflax COIN REGISTER Eugene J. Lux. Atlanta, Ga. (43-95 Ingraham Highway, Miami 33, Fla.)

Filed Mar. 26, 1954, Ser. No. 418,959

8 Claims. (Cl. 194-54) The present invention relates to coin registers and is directed particularly to the coin handling means and the actuating means.

An object of this invention is to provide a coin register that will withstand abuse.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin register that is tamperproof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin register that is positive in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin register in which the actuating means is locked When a coin is not in an operative position.

A further object of the invention is to isolate the coin handling mechanism from shock applied to the actuating mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin register that may be adapted for any combination of coins.

A still further object is to provide a coin register that is Simple in construction and has few moving parts.-

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin register that is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which Fig. l is a side view illustrating the coin handling mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating the actuating mechanism and locking bar;

Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating the coin handling mechanism raising the locking bar;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 along lines 4-4;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a modification of the operating mechanism adapted for a plurality of coins;

dg. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View along line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Figi'i 8 s a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the operation of the coin discharge;

Fig. Si is a plan view of a modification of the connection ofthe coin handling mechanism; and

Fig. lt) is a sectional view of the modified connectio taken alo g lines 10-10 of Fig. 9.

The coin register comprises a mounting plate 10 on which theA actuating and coin handling mechanisms are mounted. `\\ln Fig. 2 an actuating lever 11 of the actuating mechanisnnis turnable through a limited arc about the pivot 12. The arc is determined by the length of stroke necessary te operate the dispensing unit. The movement of the leve` through this arc actuates the dispensing devices (not Shown) of the vending machine. The actuating mechanism is locked by the locking bar 14. The lever 11 moves through a short distance Z when it contacts the locking bar 14 and is held from further rotation. When the proper coin 16 is in position A, the coin handling or operating mechanism 17 raises the locking bar 14 by means of the coin 16. This permits the lever 11 to clear f nited States Patent C ice the locking bar 14 and pass through the dispensing stroke. When the lever 11 is in the dispensing position the coin 16 drops from position A into a coin collecting box 18. The lever 11 is then returned to the initial position and is locked against further movement through the arc to the dispensing postion by the bar 14.

The coin 16 is delivered to the coin register from a slug selecting device 20 through the passage 21. The plate 10 and the plate 22, mounted parallel to and spaced from plate 10, form the walls of the passage 21. Guides 23 and 24 are positioned between plates 10 and 22 to form a bottom and side respectively to the passage.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, coin handling mechanism 17 comprises a coin supporting member 25. The coin supporting member 25 has a shelf 25a and a mounting member 25h. The coin handling mechanism 17 has a link 26 pivotally connected to the member 25b by the pin 38; and at the other end pivotally connected to the rod 27 by means of the pin 28 extending through the vertical slotl 29. The coin supporting member 25 is connected to the lever 11 by means of the stud 30 extending through the curved slot 13 in the mounting plate 10. The stud 30 is mounted in the member 25b through the short slot 31 and is connected to the coin supporting member 25 by means of the helical spring 32 and the bolt 33. Thus play is introduced between the member 25 and the lever 11. The Shelf member 25a, adjacent to the coin supporting portion, is raised as the lever 11 is actuated over the portion of the arc from 13a to 13b, Fig. 2. The portion of the arc from 13b to 13C, the end of the member 25, lowers or dips slightly. The coin supporting section of member 25 is raised by the turning of the lever 26 around pin 28. The pin 28 remains stationary in the slot 29 and is only lowered in the slot 29 when the coin returningl shaft 27 is forced downward by the purchaser to return a deposited coin.

Bar 14 has an arm 35 with a finger 35a extending through the holes 36, 37 in the mounting plate 10 and the plate 22 respectively. When the coin is dropped into position A it rests on shelf 25a and against the pin 61 between plates 10 and 22. As the lever 11 is turned, the coin raises against the finger 35a and the locking bar 14 shifts to an unlocking position. The lever 11 then misses the bar.

The locking bar 14 has a surface or edge 40 against which the impact member 41 of the lever 11 engages. A distance Z is provided between surface 40 and the member 41. Lever 11 freely moves through this space whether a coin is inserted or not.

The actuating mechanism 11 has a stud 42 spaced from the pivot 12. The delivery mechanism connected to the dispensing unit of the machine has a lever 43 connected to the stud 42. When the dispensing mechanism is actuated, lever 43 moves the actuating lever 11 by means of stud 42. I-f the proper coin has not been deposited in the machine, the lever 11 contacts the locking bar 14 and prevents the dispensing unit from operating. The lever 43 is connected to the handle or button 44 manually operated by the purchaser of the merchandise. Thus the actu-ating leve-r 11 is directly connected to the outside of the dispensing machine. This subjects the actuating lever to mishandling by the purchasers and therefore it must be strong and rugged in construction. Preferably stud 42 is mounted on the end of the actuating lever 11 that engages the edge 4t) of the locking bar 14. Any shock applied to the handle 44 is thus transmitted directly to the locking bar 14 and not through any portion of the actuating lever that would permit an increase in the implied force. Similarly, stops 46 and 47 may be positioned at each end of the arc of travel of lever 11 so that the portion of the lever 11 on which the stud 42 is mounted will engage these blocks and transmit the impact ?atented Nov. 8, 19,60`

applied to handle 44 directly to the mounting plate 10 and thus to the frame of the machine. Slot 13 is longer than the arc of travel of the actuating lever so that the pin of pivot 30 does'not engage the mounting plate 10 or any other supporting structure` Instead of the stops 46 and 47 absorbing the force transmitted through handle 44 stops may be provided in the dispensing unit to absorb the blow.

On application of even and normal pressure on the actuating mechanism to the handle 44 the lever 11 and` the' coin supporting member 25 move together. The elastic constant of the spring 32 is high enough so that the spring does not yield appreciably and draws the coinv supporting member 25 thereby actuating the coin handling mechanism. y j j On application-of a forceful blow to the handle 44 and the actuating mechanism the spring 32 has an elastic constant-.which permits the spring to momentarily expand. The stud travels in the slot 31 without imparting appreciable movement to the-coin supporting member 25. The length of this free travel is sufiicient to permit the edge 4.1-.off lever. 11 to engage the edge 40 of the locking bar 14 and prevent further movement of the coin register, even if there is a coin on the coin supportingmember. The register will only operate when the pressures are normal.l Sudden force that would tend to throw the register out of balance automatically locks the actuating mechanism. I

Avratchet 49 having teeth Sillon the lever 11 and a stop pin are provided to restrict the movement of the lever 11. to the direction of the stroke. The teeth 50 are symmetrical and the pin 51 and pivots 12 and 52 are alined along the radial line of the lever 11. A spring 53 is connected between the pin 51 and the mounting plate 10 to holdA pin 51 in engagement with teeth 50. The pin 51 and teethStl' prevent lever 11 from retracing any portion ofitsarc of travel in eitherk direction until the movement ofthe lever` is completed in thatdirection, except for theportion `Z. On an actuating stroke, pin 5.1 engages the teeth 50 after the lever passes the edge 4@ of the locking bar 14, andV continues in engagement until the end of the actuating stroke is reached, at which point the pin 51 disengages from the teeth f). On the return stroke, the pin 51V reengages the teeth 50 and remains in engagement therewith'untilthe lever again passes the edge 40 of the locking bar 14. At the dispensing end there is a' slight space of play to permit the pinV 51' to reengage the other surface of teeth 5B. The teeth, pin and pivotV 52 must be ofV rugged construction in order to withstand any shock blows applied to the handle 44 during the actuating and return strokes.

Stops 4,6.and 47 engage the surfaces 53' and 54 respectively on lever 11. These members are also of a rugged construction in order to withstand any blows applied through the handle 44. The pivot 55 of the locking bar 14 should correspondingly be also strong and securely mounted in the mounting plate lil in order to receive the impact blows. A catch 56 is provided to position. the locking bar 14. and particularly the edge 4t) in` relationto the edgey 41 of lever 11. The application of the: impact blows to the studv 42 of lever 11 is not transmitted to the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is isolated by the spring 32 and the slot 31 thereby permitting is turned into the vertical position raising the coin against the finger 35a. The edge 41 of lever 11 clears the edge 40 of locking bar 14. The coin is held from horizontal movement by pin `61 and the area 60 slides underneath the coin and the edge 59 is drawn to the coin. Further rotation of lever 11 moves lever 26 past the vertical position and draws the edge 59 underneath the coin. The com is held by the surface 60, pin 61 and the finger 35a, between the wall of the plates 10 and- 22. Stud 30 moves in an upward direction in the slot 13 raising the stud 30 of the supporting member 25 andl lever 26 moves farther from the vertical position lowering the edge 59 and moving it underneath the finger 35a'. The coin then rolls off the edge 59 into the coin collecting box and locking bar 14 drops on the catch 56. Further rotation of the lever 11 draws edge 59 past finger 35a to open a space below the finger 35a. The coin is dislodged and a succeeding coin would drop through. The linger 35a is unsupported. On the return: strokev of the lever 11 the coin supporting member is returned to the ini-tial position to receive the succeeding coin,y Guide member 62 spaced from the mounting plate 10 may be providedto hold the coin supporting member against the mounting plate tu.

A coin arresting member 63 is pivotally mounted on a pin 64 at thel end of the passage 21. The member 63 is pivoted off from the center of gravity. When free, the member assumes a position to hold the succeeding coin from dropping to position A until the coin supporting member returns to the coin receiving position. In the coin receiving. position the coin supporting member 25 has aprojection S8` engaging the` edge 63a of the coin arresting member. The projection 58 rotates the member 63 to widen the space between pin 65 and the edge 66 of` the arresting member 63 so that the succeeding coin will pass on the shelf 25a when the position A is clear. When the proje'ctionSS doesV not engage the edge 63a, the edge 66 raises to support the coin in position B2 between pin 65 and the edge 66. During the operating movements the succeeding coin is supported by the arresting member and at the end of the return stroke the projection 5S reengage's the edge65a lowering the edge 66 and opening the space between 65 and 66 to permit the coin to drop into position A.

movement of the pin or stud 30 in the coin supporting member 25.

The supporting shelf 25a has a long horizontal surface 57 and a projection 5S at the coin receiving end. The -surface 57 has an edge 59 off of which the coin is discharged. On initial deposit of the coin on surface 57 the coin rests on the area 60 of the surface 57 and against a 'stop-61. The pin 30 ofthe coin supporting member 25 is lower than the pin 38 thus inclining the area 6i) so that the coin in position A rests against stop 61. The upper edge of the coin is spaced slightly below the finger 35a of the locking bar 14. On initial rotation of lever 11, the stud 30 is drawn substantially horizontal and lever 26 Additional coins deposited in the register 20 and passing down through the pasage 21, when the coin is in position-B14 or B2, will either lodge on top of the coin in positions B1 or B2 or will roll over the coin in position B1 or B2l over the top of finger 35a on to the surface 57`and be discharged through a suitable means (not shown).

InV Figs. 6, 7 and 8 a modification of the coin register is shown for handling a plurality of coins. In Fig. 6 a

register is shown whichl requires a deposit of a dime or two nickels E1, E2. The actuating mechanism is simil:

lar to theV actuating mechanism of the singleA coin vmachine. The locking bar and the coin handling mechanism are, however, modified to accommodate the additional coins. In Fig. 6 a locking'bar 70 is shown with finger 71 to-beengaged by dime D, and finger 72 to be engaged by the nickel E2. The locking bar will be raised either by the dime or by the' secondnickel. The dime may beydelivered through the passage 73 and the nickels from passage 74.

Considering the operation of the register with two nickels deposited in the machine, the rst nickel El will droponto' the coin supporting member 75 with a shelf 75a and roll underneath the finger 72 ofthe locking bar and come to rest against pin 76 in the mounting plate 7-7-. The-second nickel E2 sits on the shoulder and rests against nickel El and is underneath the finger 72. When the coin supportingAv member 75 is raised, the nickel E1 will then raisev the-locking' bar 70 permitting the cornpletion ofr the actuating stroke of the lever ill.

The coinV supporting member is mounted on links 78 and 792 Link 73 is rotatably mounted on the mounting plate-77' by means of the spring loaded pivot pin 81 and isconnected to theV member 75 at the coin' delivery end by the pivot pin 82. Link 79 is also mounted on the plate 77 by means of a spring loaded pin 83 and to tbe other member 75 by the pin 84. The mounting plate 77 has a curved slot through which the pin 86 extends to lit in the short slot 87 in member 75. Pin 86 is connected to the member 75 by the spring 88 fastened to the member 75 by bolt 89. This provides a resilient connection between lever 11 and the coin supporting member 75 under conditions of impact. v

When the actuating lever is turned: through an actuating stroke, the member 75 is raised bythe links 78 and 79 movingto a verticali position. .The shelf 75a forces the coin E2 upwardly to engage the iinger 72 and raise the locking bar 73. The actuating lever 11 continues to draw the member 75 to carry the levers 78 and 79 past the vertical position. Member 75 has bosses 91 and 92 fitting in slots 93, 94. Slots 93 and 94 are shorter in length than the distance of travel of the bosses 91, 92. At the latter portion of the actuating stroke the bosses 91, 92, ride out of the slots 93, 94 as shown in Fig. 8 and force the member 75 away from the mounting plate 77. The pins 81 and-83 extend through the mounting plates and have springs 97 tted thereon to permit the flexing of the pivot on the mounting plate 77. The links 78, 79 and the member 75 are tilted away from plate 77 and permit the coins E1,'E2 to slide through the space between the member 75 and the wall 77 and drop the coins in the depositing box (not shown).

On the returning stroke, the bosses 91, 92 -t into their respective slots 93, 94 to secure the member 75 against the plate 77. The locking bar 70 is provided with a check 95 and the actuating lever may have stop blocks 106 and 107. The dime is similarly handled.

In Fig. 2 a coin rejection rod 27 is shown. The pin 28 on which link 26 is mounted is fastened to the end of this rod and the pinv 28. tits in a. slot 29. The movement of rod 27 in a downward direction lowers the surface 57 so -that the coin in position A will clear the pin 61 and roll down the surface S7 to the discharge chute (not shown). Rod 27 may be actuated by the slug rejection mechanism so that if a coin gets stuck in the slug selecting device 20, it may be dislodged therefrom by the actuation of rod 27 and will pass through the coin register and out through the return chute. In Fig. 6, the link 79 is similarly pivoted by pin 83 to the rod 27 (not shown) and Vthe shelf 75a isv lowered sufliciently to permit the discharge of both nickels and dimes. Thus the coin return mechanism, in conjunction with the coin arrester 63, permits a purchaser, who inserts more than enough coins, to return the excess money without operating the dispensing machine.

*i It is thus seen that the sensitively adjusted operating mechanism handling the coin is isolated from the external mechanism exposed to the abuses of the purchasing public. The actuating lever is stopped by the check bar. Blows'fpr forces of high impact may be applied against the external mechanism. These blows will be transferred to the locking bar 14. This bar is constructed to receive such blows. The blows are not transmitted to the delicate and sensitively adjusted coin handling mechanism isolated by the spring. The dispensing machine may be abused by the public and still remain in operating condition to deliver merchandise to purchasers. The machines may be stationed in unattended and unguarded locations. This feature of a machine, being tamperproof, is very important. A machine that m-ay be mutilated and rendered inoperative cannot deliver merchandise and earn money. The aforementioned machine fullls both requisites of being tamperproof and operative.

Modifications may be made in the coin register. In Fig. 9 an intermedia-te disc shaped member 85 is positioned between the actuating lever 90 and the coin supporting member 75. The member 85 is rotatably mounted on the mounting plate 10 by the stud 98. At one end the actuating lever 90 is pivotally connected to the member by a stud 100. The lever 43 is connected at the other end of the actuating lever by the stud 101. Stud 98 projects into a slot 102 in the actuating lever intermediately between the studs and 101. A pin 103 extends through a curved slot 104 in plate 10 to pivotally connect the coin supporting member and intermediate member. A spring 105 is connected between the actuating member and the intermediate member. On an actating stroke towards lever 14 (counter clockwise in Fig. 9), the spring will turn the intermediate member which, n turn, willy operate the coin handling mechanism. The locking bar 14 is similarly positioned to check the movement of the actuating member when a proper coin has not been deposited. Blocks 46 and 47 may be utilized to receive the blows at the ends of the dispensing and return strokes.

Other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention I claim:

l. A coin register comprising a mounting plate positioned vertically in an operative position, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said plate, means for limiting the movement of said actuating lever through an arc, a locking bar pivotally mounted at one end and the other end being adjacent said actuating lever and engageable thereby on movement of the lever, Ia stud on said lever, a coin supporting member mounted on said plate and having a sho-rt slot at one end through which said stud passes, resilient means connected at one end to said coin supporting member and at the other end to said stud to provide a resilient connection between said actuating mem- 'ber and said coin supporting member, a pin stop to hold an inserted coin at a coin resting position on said coin support member during the locking-bar lifting operation, a linger mounted on said locking bar and positioned above said coin resting position on said coin supporting member for engagementby a given size coin o-n actuation of said lever, mounting means including said stud to move said coin supporting means longitudinally to and upwardly toward said finger to raise an inserted coin of proper size into engagement with said finger to remove the stop bar from the engageable position, said coin supporting member having a discharge edge longitudinally spaced from the initial coin supporting position and drawn underneath said iinger near the completion of the dispensing stroke to-permit the inserted coin to drop olf said coin supporting member and release the iinger so that the stop bar returns to the engageable position.

2. A coin register as claimed in claim l wherein there are provided coin delivery means, a second pin and lan arresting mechanism mounted on said plate at the end lof the coin delivery means, said arresting mechanism being pivotally mounted to decrease the distance between said second pin and said arresting mechanism to hold a coin, and means on said coin `supporting member to turn said arresting mechanism and increase the distance between said second pin and said mechanism for passing a com.

3. A coin register comprising a mounting plate, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said plate to move through a dispensing stroke, a locking bar pivotally mounted at one end `and the other end being adjacent said actuating lever and engageable thereby on initial movement of said lever, said mounting plate having a curved slot therein adjacent the end of said actuating lever opposite said locking bar, a stud on said lever extending through said slot, a coin supporting member mounted on the other side of said mounting plate close to said mounting plate to prevent passage of a coin therebetween during a major portion of the dispensing stroke, said coin supporting member having a short slot at one end through which said stud passes, resilient means connected at one end to said coin supporting member and at the other end to said stud to provide a resilient connection between Sald actuating member and said coin supporting member, a1 pinstopx attached'-y to* said mounting platel above said supporting member to hold"` said coin in position on said supporting` member, a' finger mounted` on said'y stop bar, means for pivotally mounting said coin supporting member' onsaid plate` to shift saidv member from said plate, means for shifting said supporting member from said plate near the completion of a dispensing stroke to provide a space for discharging coins to a collection box.

4';A A coin register' as claimed in` claim 3V wherein said means for shiftingr comprises ai slot and boss nesting dur'- ing a major portion of the dispensing. stroke and separating at the end of thel dispensing. stroke;

5. A coin. register comprising a mounting plate, an actuating means pivotally'A mountedV on said plate means limiting, the movement" of said. actuating means through an arc, locking means engageable by said actuating means on movement through al portion of said arc, a coin supporting member mounted against said plateto support a coin on said supporting member and against said plate and pivotally mounted` to raise a coin to engage said locking means, resilient means connecting said actuating means to said coin supporting member and having an elastic constant permitting said resilient means to remain substantially unliexed under normal operating conditions and exing under shock impact applied to said actuating mechanism permitting said actuating mechanism to engage said locking means,-means for shifting said coin supporting member from against said plate at the end of an actuating stroke to open a space between said supporting member 4and said plate to discharge the coin.

6. A coin register as claimed in claim 5 wherein said discharge means comprises a pair of links pivotally supporting said coin member and studs resiliently mounted 0n said plate pivotally connecting said links to said plate so that the links move laterally to said plate opening a space between'said plate and said member to discharge said coin.-

7. In a coin register an actuating means for operating the delivery mechanism of a vending machine on insertion of a given size coin, -a locking means, a coin handling means having a movable coin supporting means for supporting a coin for shifting the locking means to an unlocked condition and having a stationary coin cooperating means separate from said locking means and holding the coin on said coin supporting means, means connecting said actuating means to said coin supporting means-to moveI said coin-supporting.l means' so'that-a; coin.v

thereon moves said locking means4 tot an unlocking condition:` permitting further acftuatitmi offsaid'. actuatingrmeans:

coin handling; means, resilient means. connecting saidv actuatingJ means to said coin handling; means,- said resilient means having' a rotatably mounted intermediate member connected oft center to'saidA coinfhandlingmeans, a stud pivotally: connecting saidy actuatingV means to said intermediate member and a spring connectedy between said intermediate member *and said actuating means, said spring having. anv elastic constant to remain substantially unexed under normalf operating conditions and rotate the intermediate memberand exing under shock imp-act applied to said actuating means so that the intermediate member remains substantially in position and said actuating means engages said locking means and transmits the shock theretoA before said locking means' is actuated by a supported coin.`

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS

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