US3167078A - Coin handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26; '1965 M. J. TRAUTENBERG COIN HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6. 1961 EE aw mm INVEN Fl 2 MANUEL J. TRAUT N G 7 BY i ATTORNEYS 1965 M. J. TRAUTENBERG 67,

COI N HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6. 1961 46 INVENTOR MANUEL .1. TRA TENBERG BY V ATTORNEYS M. J. TRAUTENBERG 3,167,078

com HANDLING APPARATUS Jan. 26, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheec 3 Filed June 6, 1961 FIG? F mmma ASSEMBLY SECTI TTEEWNZLEOWsfiOT Tmfi 135575? sTzcrTonT] I l l l I FIG. 8

lllilli ||l-i INVENT OR. MANUEL J. TRAUT NBERG BY 7 f l M W Z ATTORNEYS i as indicated on line rates 3,167,078 Patented, Jan. 26., 1965 3,167,078 CUIN HANDLING APPARATUS Manuel J. Trautenberg, 7063 Eastiawn Brive, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed June 6, 1961, Ser. No. 115,216 1 Claim. (til. 133-4) The presentinvention relates to coin handling apparatus or change makers. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus including a receiver for deposited coins and a dispenser forchange coins. Specifically, the invention relates to an improved mechanism, activated by the deposited coin receiver, for dispensing a predetermined number of coins as change.

Change makers having a dispensing mechanism in which the change coins are stored in stacked relation in a plurality of tubes are well known to this art. The capacity of coin tube dispensing mechanisms, that is, the number of times the mechanism will deliver two or more smaller denomination coins upon deposit of a larger denomination coin, is determined by the length or vertical height of the coin tubes. The greater the height of the tubes, the larger the capacity.

However, as a practical matter a change maker has the receiver and dispenser contained within a secure or theft-proof cabinet. Further, the overall dimensions of the changer cabinet and, therefore, the maximum height of the coin tubes therein, are limited by extrinsic factors unrelated to capacity of the coin tubes. tration, insurance or underwriting regulations require that thechange maker cabinet be compact and installed in plain view, well lighted and visible from the street. The change maker must be installed so that it cannot be removed without extensive damage to the machine or support on which it is mounted. The more compact the change maker, the more easy to comply with regulations.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for dispensing a predetermined number of change coins. Further it is an object to provide a coin dispensing mechanism which has greater capacity yet is compact for ease of installation and use within a smaller cabinet. Still further, it is an object to provide a simplified, fool-proof, efficient, reliable, quiet in operation coin dispensing mechanism.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent in view of the following detailed description and the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a change maker, with r the cabinet door open as for coin refilling or routine service; 1

FIG. 2 is a side section, taken substantially as indicated on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the improved coin dispensing mechanism; 1

FIG. 3 is a plan view, looking down substantially as indicated on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing a series of ten coin tubes, for dispensing five coins at a time, mounted in sockets on a stationary tube support plate, the dotted line circles representing ten coin pockets in a dispensing plate reciprocable beneath the tube support plate;

FIG. 4 is a section, taken through three coin tubes 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the dispensing plate reciprocatcd to the opposite position of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section, taken through the three coin tubes shown in FIG. 4, as indicated on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan section, taken substantially as indicated online 7-7 of FIG. 2, showing the series of ten coin pockets in the reciprocating dispensing plate, the

By way of illus dotted line representing eight coin discharge holes in the stationary bottom plate; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the improved electrical circuit operating the dispensing mechanism of FIGS. 1-7.

A change maker, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 1%), includes a receiver for deposited coins, indicated generally at 12, an improved coin dispensing mechanism indicated generally at 14 and an enclosure or cabinet 15.

The cabinet 15 is preferably a welded assembly of /3 or Mi inch steel. The door 16 is held on one side by a heavy non-removable hinge 17 and on the other side by a sturdy locking mechanism 18. The cabinet box 19 has a deposited coin slot (not shown) for entrance of coins into receiver 12. On the floor of the box 19 are a deposited coin storage box 2d and a smaller coin outlet box 21. The box 2% fills with authentic coins checked and passed through the receiver 12. Counterfeit coins or slugs rejected by receiver 12. are ejected downchute 22 to the outlet box 21.

The deposited coin receiver 12 is attached to a side wall of the cabinet box 19 as by a suitable bracket 23 preferably adjacent the hinge 17 and may be any suitable standard coin receiver and rejector mechanism. Numerous such mechanisms are available commercially, for example, as shown in US. Patent No. 2,292,628, and as manufactured by National Rejectors, Inc. For purpose of the present disclosure, which describes by way of example a change maker 10 which receives a 50 coin and dispenses five 10 coins as change, the receiver 12 may be a National Rejectors, lnc. mechanism, Model No. 7904. This particular mechanism is illustrative only, and any other suitable deposited coin receiver mechanism may be substituted.

When an authentic coin has been deposited in receiver 12 and passed through to the storage box 2%, an electrical switch (described below) interiorly of the receiver mechanism actuates an electrical switch 25. The switch 25 is preferably of the double throw latching relay type, with single coil, and the feature of holding the last position of the switch with the coil de-en'ergized. For purpose of the present disclosure, the actuating switch 25 may be a Guardian Electric Mfg. Co., latching on/otf relay AC, Type lR-61OL. This particular switch is illustrative only, and any other suitable double throw switch may be substituted.

The coin dispensing mechanism 14 is electrically connected to the receiver actuation switch 25 by electrical Wiring 26, described in further detail below with reference to FIG. 8. The mechanism 14 is preferably preassembled and attached to the inner face of the cabinet door 16 by a bracket indicated generally at 28.

The principal components of the mechanism 14 include the plurality of tubular holders for change coins in stacked relation indicated generally at 34 a stationary coin tube support or upper plate indicated generally at 31, a reciprocable or longitudinally moving coin dispensing plate indicated generally at 32, a stationary coin discharge or bottom plate indicated generally at 33, and dual dispensing plate actuation means indicated generally at 34 and 35.

A mechanism 14 also preferably includes a change hopper 36, fitted with a suitable tamper proof bathe plate 37, communicating with the coin outlet box 21 when the cabinet 15 is closed and locked. The lower mid-portion of the dispenser bracket 28 is adapted for lateral mounting of the support plate 31 and bottom plate 33. At either end of the lower portion of bracket 23, are flanges 33 offset inwardly of the cabinet for mounting the actuation means 34, 35. The upper portion of bracket 28 preferably has a lateral shelf 39 stabilizing the upper portions of the coin tubes 31 and otherwise protecting the mechanism. At the end of bracket 28 adjacent the hinge 17, if desired, a suitable shield 40 may be located to prevent operation of the actuation means 34 from interference by deposited coins dropping into the storage box 20.

A feature of the present invention is that the dispenser mechanism 14 will have at least twice as many coin tubes 30 as the number of change coins to be dispensed for each actuation of the change maker 10 by a deposited coin. Further, as shown, there will preferably be exactly twice the number of coin tubes operational, loaded or filled with change coins in stacked relation as are required for each dispensing operation.

For example, the apparatus 10 as shown receives a 50 coin and dispenses five 10 coins as change. There are ten operational coin tubes 34). A 50 changer to dispense one 25, two 10 and one 50, coins as change could have more than eight coin tubes 30, but only eight coin tubes would be operational at any given time.

It will further be noted that the coin tubes are symmetrically located, one-half the total number, on each side of an imaginary center line (see FIG. 3) bisecting the tube support plate 31. For example, the 50 coin changer as shown has five coin tubes 30 to the left of the chain line in FIG. 3 and five coin tubes to the right of the chain line. A 50 changer to dispense one 25, two 10 and one 5c coins as change would have four operational coin tubes to the left and four operational coin tubes to the right of the center line of the plate 31.

Referring now to the several detail views, the lower end of each coin tube 30 is received in a socket 4-2 atop the stationary support plate 31. Each socket 4-2 has an interior bore 43 with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the coins to be stacked in a tube. It will be noted that the under surface of a plate 31 has three milled slots 44. Each slot 44 extends longitudinally of the plate 31 and communicates with at least one of the coin bores 43.

A dispensing plate 32 is a unitary structure movable longitudinally between the tube support plate 31 and coin discharge plate 33. A dispensing plate has a plurality of coin pockets 45 selectively registrable, one specifically with each of the coin bores 43, and having a diameter just slightly greater than the diameter of the change coin.

The number of coin pockets 45 in a dispensing plate 32 :are at least twice the number of change coins to be dispensed for each actuation of the change maker 10. Further, the coin pockets 45 are so located that only half the total number are registrable with coin bores 43 at any one given time; with the other half the total number being registrable at the same given time with the coin passages 49 (described below) in the bottom plate 33.

As shown, the dispensing plate 32 includes three parallel strip elements 46, joined at either end as by cross links 47, and slidably inserted one in each of the plate slots 44.

The milled slots 44 maintain accurate alignment of the dispensing plate pockets 45 with the coin bores 43. The thickness of each strip element 4-6 is less than, and the corresponding height of each slot 44 is just slightly greater than, the thickness of any coin stacked in a tube 35.

The bottom plate 33 which remains stationary with relation to the longitudinally moving or reciprocating plate 31 has a predetermined number of coin passages 49 offset laterally from the bores 43 of the coin tubes 30 and having a diameter sufiicient for drop through of change coins in the dispensing plate pockets 45 into the hopper 36. The exact number of coin passages in plate 33 is determined by two factors; the number of coins to be dispensed as change; and, the relative length of each passage 49 with respect to its width. To illustrate the latter factor, relative lengthwidth, reference is made to FIG. 7.

As shown, the bottom plate 33 has six coin passages 49A, which are uniformly circular. There are also two coin passages 433 which are elliptical in shape. The elliptical passages 49B are placed symmetrically astride an imaginary center line bisecting the bottom plate 33 so that reciprocation of the dispensing plate 32, in either direction, will bring the laterally adjacent coin pockets 45 int registry with a passage 4913.

If the coin passages are each elliptical and astride the center line of plate 33, the form of passages 498, the number of coin passages will be exactly the number of change coins to be dispensed for each actuation of the change maker 10 by a deposited coin. If the coin'passages are each circular, the form of passages 43A, the number of coin passages will be twice the number of change coins to be dispensed for each actuation of the change maker 10.

The means 34 and 35, which are selectively and alternately actuated by a switch 25 to move the dispensing plate 32 longitudinally between the stationary tube support plate 31 and bottom plate 33 are preferably quick-acting pushpull electrical solenoids. The mandrel or moving bar of each solenoid 34 and 35 is attached as at 50 to a dispensing plate cross link 47.

Referring to PEG. 8, an electrical circuit for operating the change maker it has three principal component areas, delineated by the broken line boxes, and designated as terminal block section, head assembly section and back channel assembly section.

The actuating switch 25 located in the back channel assembly section is actuated by a switch means 51 interiorly of the receiver mechanism 12, and includes the double throw contacts 52 and an alternating relay 53. The numeral 54 indicates a coil energized by an electrical switch 55 when the dispensing mechanism coin tubes 30 have been emptied of change coins and are inoperative. Referring to FIG. 1, coil 54 may be energized by the normally open electrical switch 55 phsically located adjacent the base of one of the coin tubes 30, having a longitudinal side slot 56 for insertion of the actuating element of switch 55.

The alternating relay 53 provides a means to ensure specific registry of the coin pockets 45 of the dispensing plate 32 with the coin bores 43 of stationary support plate 31. It has been found that when a solenoid is energized to move the dispensing plate 32 longitudinally from a coin receiving position beneath plate 31 to a coin dispensing position above passages 49 of the stationary plate 33, conventional circuitry for energizing the solenoids 34 or 35 may cause the dispensing plate 32 to reach the end of its travel path and bounce slightly back. The drop through passages 49 in the plate 33 are sufliciently large that the change coins would fall into hopper 36 without difliculty. However, the coin pockets 45 of the dispensing plate should have a diameter just slightly greater than the diameter of the change coin. Therefore, to ensure accurate registry of the previously emptied coin pockets 45 which the respective coin bores 43, the relay 53 will again momentarily energize the solenoid previously energized, for movement in the normal direction, before the switch element 52 energizes the other solenoid for movement in its normal direction.

While a preferred form of the change maker 10 according to the invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that the improved features of the dispensing mechanism 14 may be employed in other forms of change making apparatus, such as in vending machines, without departure from the disclosure herein.

What is claimed is:

In a change maker discharging a number of different denomination coins, there being twice the number of loaded coin tubes as the number of coins discharged for each changer operation, the combination comprising, a stationary upper plate, an even plurality of substantially vertical sockets projecting above said upper plate, an even plurality of substantially vertical tubes supported by said vertical sockets for storing change coins in stack relation, longitudinal slots in the lower surface of said upper plate having a height slightly greater than the thickness of any coin in said tubes, a dispensing plate longitudinally movable in said longitudinal slots and having a thickness slightly less than the thickness of any coin in said tubes,

5 a plurality of coin pockets in said dispensing plate each selectively registrable with two of said tubes, a stationary bottom plate mating with said upper plate and said dispensing plate, coin passages in said bottom plate longitudinally offset from said tubes, dual electrical solenoid means connected one to each of the longitudinal ends of said dispensing plate, means selectively energizing first one and then the other of said solenoid means for movement of said dispensing plate opposite directions, and relay means to momentarily energize the previously energized solenoid means before energization of the other of said solenoid means, whereby specific registry of said coin pockets with said tubes and said coin passages is ensured.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,941 11/21 Beattie 221'117 2,628,874 2/53 Everhart 221116 2,629,477 2/53 May 19410 2,712,892 7/55 Warren 221117 FOREIGN PATENTS 202,460 10/ 08 Germany.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, LOUIS J. DEMIBO,

Examiners.

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