US3172523A - Cradle check device for coin accepting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1965 M. P. HAVERSTICK CRADLE CHECK DEVICE FOR COIN ACCEPTING APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1962 INVENTOR. Me/V'a/ I? flaw/$270k United States Patent C) ACCEPTING This invention relates to coin handling equipment and particularly to apparatus for separating coins from spurious discs and mutilated coins, as well as being capable of selecting coins of a predetermined denomination and directing the same into a coin accepting pathway forming a part of the mechanism.

One of the most significant factors in recent years leading to the popularity and widespread public acceptance of vending and other types of coin operated machines, has been the development of simple, efficient and relatively inexpensive mechanisms controlling operation of the machines and capable of accepting coins of various denominations, returning change to the customer if necessary, and able to distinguish between genuine coins and a wide variety of spurious discs. However, certain problems have still been encountered with the coin accepting and selecting mechanism in those instances where deliberate etforts are made to obtain products from a machine or services performed thereby, without deposit of proper coins in the mechanism. One of the important advances resulting in a commercially practical coin selecting and rejecting unit was the development of a rotatable cradle positioned in the path of travel of coins deposited in the mechanism for causing coins of predetermined size to become lodged on the legs of the cradle and thereby diverted into the coin accepting pathway for such coins while smaller coins passed downwardly between the legs of the cradle for discharge from the mechanism or testing by another cradle therebelow.

Although the selector cradle described above was valuable in permitting selection of coins of the right diameter, the cradle still had certain limitations because of the possibility that under certain circumstances, a coin of smaller than required diameter could be thrown into the coin accepting and rejecting unit with sufiicient force and in a direction to cause such coin tostrike one of the legs of the cradle in a manner to permit deflection of the cradle and thus diversion of such coin into the coin accepting pathway for larger and usually higher value coins. This resulted in either jamming of the mechanism or permitting delivery of a product to the customer or provision of a service to such customer of the machine, by a coin of lower than required value for normal operation of the machine.

It is therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple and very inexpensive cradle check device for coin selecting apparatus of the type specified, wherein the cradle check device operates to preclude rotation of the cradle controlled thereby, unless a coin of required diameter comes to rest on both of the legs of the cradle before such coin is then diverted into the coin accepting pathway therefor. Thus rotation of the cradle by a coin striking only one leg thereof is rendered impossible and only coins of the proper value will be diverted into the coin accepting pathway adjacent the cradle controlled by the cradle check device.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a cradle check device for coin accepting and selecting apparatus wherein the cradle for diverting genuine coins of required diameter into a coin accepting pathway adjacent thereto, is provided with a pair of legs for receiving the coin thereon with one of the legs being movice able upwardly and the other leg downwardly during ro tation of the cradle to divert a genuine coin of required diameter into the coin accepting pathway therefore, and wherein the novel coin check device is positioned within the path of a coin gravitating toward the coin selecting cradle and located immediately above the normally upwardly movable leg of the cradle to preclude rotation of the cradle, unless a coin displaces the check device from its position overlying the upwardly movable leg of the cradle as such coin comes to rest on both of the legs of the cradle and thereby preventing a smaller than required size coin striking the downwardly movable leg of the cradle to effect diversion of such small coin into the coin accepting pathway.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a cradle check device for coin accepting apparatus which may be utilized on presently existing equipment without substantial modification thereof.

Other important objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious or be explained in greater detail as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of coin accepting and selecting apparatus adapted to separate genuine 50 coins from spurious discs and coins of smaller diameter, adapted to be mounted on the upper end of coin accepting units designed to separate smaller value coins into the various denominations thereof, and embodying the novel cradle check device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking to the right;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the rear face of the swingable gate unit forming a part of the coin selecting apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the cradle in the location thereof whereby a coin is diverted into the coin accepting pathway for the same.

Briefly, the present cradle check device is adapted to be mounted on coin accepting and selecting apparatus provided with a rotatable cradle having a pair of legs thereon extending into the coin receiving pathway and adapted to support a coin thereon during rotation of the cradle to thereby divert the coin into the coin accepting pathway of the apparatus. One of the legs of the cradle is movable downwardly and the other leg upwardly with respect to the axis of rotation of the cradle, as such cradle is rotated to divert the coin into the coin accepting pathway. The novel cradle check device is positioned in the path of the coin gravitating toward the cradle and also is provided with an extension thereon normally overlying the upwardly movable leg of the cradle to preclude rota tion of the cradle through a suflicient arc to divert a coin into the coin accepting pathway, until such coin comes completely to rest on both of the legs of the cradle. A secondary cradle check structure is provided to preclude rotation of the cradle when an attempt is made to substitute a washer of appropriate size and weight for a legitimate coin.

In order to illustrate the novel concepts of the present cradle check device, coin selecting and accepting apparatus 10 is shown in the drawing and for this purpose, apparatus is illustrated of the type especially adapted to separate 50 coins from smaller coins and to also efiect rejection of spurious discs which are occasionally and deliberately deposited in the apparatus. It is particularly contemplated that apparatus 10 be adapted to be mounted on the upper margin of additional coin selecting and accepting mechanism of the same nature to handle the smaller coins of usually lesser value.

The 50 selecting apparatus 10 includes a generally U- shaped main frame 12 with the rear wall 12a thereof having tab means 12b thereon adjacent the side wall 12c of frame 12, for supporting a pair of swingable gate units 14 and 16 which are rotatable about the axis of pin 18 removably carried by the spaced tabs 12]). Since the construction of gate units 14 and 16 forms no part of the present invention, the same will not be described in detail in that those skilled in this art will readily appreciate the manner in which such gate units should be configured to present a coin receiving pathway, coin testing means including a rotatable cradle broadly designated 20, a coin accepting pathway adjacent cradle 20, and a coin rejecting pathway for delivering spurious discs and coins of smaller size, to the coin accepting and selecting mechanism positioned immediately below apparatus it).

In order to permit proper orientation of the parts, it is to be understood that the gate unit 16 includes a main irregularly shaped plate 22 maintained in parallel spaced relationship with respect to back 12a of frame 12 provided with an inclined upper marginal portion 22a cooperable with the upper edge of back 12a to produce a coin receiving pathway designated 24 in FIG. 2. The coin chute of the vending machine or other equipment in which apparatus It is mounted, connects a coin slot with coin receiving pathway 24 so that coins inserted in the machine are caused to gravitate directly into the opening between plate 22 and back 12a and designated as the coin receiving pathway 24 in proximal relationship to the leg 12d of frame 12.

The selector cradle 2% is pivotally mounted on the outer face of plate 22 for rotation about the horizontal axis of pin 26 carried by plate 22, and as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, plate 22 has a pair of opposed, arcuate slots 28 and 3G for clearing the inwardly projecting, opposed legs 32 and 34 of cradle and which project into the coin receiving pathway 24. Structure cooperable with plate 22 and back 12a to direct coins onto the legs 32 and 34 of cradle include an integral, inwardly directed lug 36 forming a part of plate 22 adjacent leg 12d of frame 12, and also an extension 38 forming a part of a member 4%] carried by the outer face of plate 22 adjacent the inclined portion 22a thereof.

A section 22b of the lower margin of plate 22 is bent rearwardly toward the inner face of back 12a of frame 12 and defines the coin accepting pathway of apparatus 1% whereby 50 coins 42- are diverted by cradle 2% from the coin receiving pathway 24 onto the rail 22b for gravitation therealong. An integral, irregularly configured foot 44 extending downwardly from the lower edge of back wall 12a adjacent the side leg 12c thereof, serves to direct the coin 42 into the cash box of the machine receiving apparatus 10. Note should be made in this respect that the foot 44 serves to direct the coin 42 over the top of the coin accepting and selecting unit serving as the mount for apparatus 10.

The gate unit 14 includes a cast body 46 mounted on pin 18 for rotation about the axis thereof, by the framework 48 and is movable relative to the plate 22. A magnet 50 is mounted in body 46 in facing relationship to back 12a of frame 12, it being noted that plate 22 is provided with an irregular aperture 52 therein for clearing body 46 to permit coins 42 gravitating along the coin track defined by section 22b, to be subjected to the magnetic field of magnet 50. A shiftable stop 54 carried by body and extending toward frame 12 is adapted to en gage the inner face of back 12a and thereby maintain the outer surfaces of magnet in predetermined spaced relationship from back 120.

The spring means broadly designated 56 and mounted on pin 18, has individual leg portions engaging the back 12a, plate 22 and framework 48 for biasing gate units 14 and 16 toward the iner face of back 12a. It is to be noted from FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 that a generally L-shaped plate 58 is mounted on the outer face of body 46 for movement therewith and provided with three inwardly exitending legs 58a, 58b and 580 projecting toward, but normally spaced from, the inner face of back 12a. The legs 58a and 581) project through the slots 28 and 30 respectively, while plate 22 is provided with a circular opening 60 therein adjacent magnets 50 for clearing the leg 58c of plate 58.

Means for shifting the plate 22 toward plate 58 to effect scavenging of coins from cradle 20 or the faces of magnet 59 if a spurious metal disc is attracted thereto, includes a lever arm 62 pivotal about the horizontal axis of securing means 64 mounted on the rear face of back 12a and cooperable with a lug 66 of plate 22 extending through a suitable aperture therefor in back 12a, to effect movement of plate 22 toward plate 58 whereby the legs 58a, 58b and 580 project through the openings therefor in plate 22 and scavenge coins from the cradle 20 as well as on the track defined by section 22b. A conventional scavenger arm 68 is also provided on the inner face of back 12a and operably coupled to lever arm 62 for movement thereby to scavenge discs from the faces of magnet 50 as arm 68 is swung downwardly by downward movement of the lever arm 62. Spring means 70 carried by securing means 64 is operably coupled to lever arm 62 and to the frame 12 for maintaining the arm 62 at the normally uppermost end of its path of travel.

The novel cradle check device forming the structure for precluding rotation of cradle selector 20 unless coin of proper size and Weight is positioned thereon, is indicated generally by the numeral 72 in the drawing and constitutes the basic portion of the present invention. It is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the device 72 is formed of an elongated length of relatively rigid spring wire bent longitudinally thereof into predeter mined configuration. The wire member 74 therefore is of generally U-shaped configuration and has a horizontal bight portion 72a rotatably received within the semicylindrical segment 75 of an elongated connector unit 76 suitably secured to the outer face of plate 22 at the inclined portion 22a thereof adjacent leg 12a. The generally J-shaped leg 72b of member 74 mounts a discshaped counterweight 78 that serves to bias bight portion 72a in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 3. An intermediate leg 72c of member 74 extends downwardly from bight 72a and lies in normal flat engagement with the outer face of plate 22 and is slightly bent intermediate the extremities thereof toward the counterweight 78. The cam portion 72d of member 74 is generally V- shaped in configuration and projects into the slot 28 in direct overlying relationship to leg 32 of cradle 29. The upwardly inclined face of V-portion 72d serves as a cam surface positioned in the path of travel of a coin dropped downwardly through pathway 24. The lowermost extension 72c of member 74 directly overlies the leg 32 of cradle 20 to preclude rotation of the latter until extension 72c has been shifted out of the path of travel of leg 32.

A secondary cradle check device broadly designated 80 is also mounted on plate 22 and includes a generally U-shaped element 82 also formed of relatively rigid spring wire longitudinally bent into the configuration illustrated in the drawings. The member 82 has a generally horizontal bight 32a rotatably carried by retainer 84 which also mounts the extension 38 projecting through plate 22 as shown in FIG. 4. The generally J-shaped outer leg 82b of element 82 mounts a counterweight 86 similar to weight 78 while the other leg of element 82 includes a downwardly directed, substantially rectilinear leg 82c lying flatly against the outer face of plate 22, as well as a U-shaped extension 82d which projects through slot 30 into the path of coins 42 through apparatus 10 and serves to act as a feeler for disc inserted in the selector that have holes therein such as washers or the like. The outer projection 88a of element 82 and in gral With the am segment extension 82d thereof, is

positioned within the path of travel of a radially extending shoulder 88 of cradle 20 to preclude rotation of the latter, unless projection 88e has been shifted out of the path of travel of radial shoulder 88 by a legitimate It is further to be noted that the cradle 20 is provided with a counterweight 90 thereon located in strategic disposition with respect to pin 26 so that the cradle 20 will not be tipped to divert a coin 42 onto track section 221), unless such coin is of proper weight when located in correct disposition between legs 32 and 34.

In the operation of apparatus 10, and assuming that the customer has deposited 50 in the vending or service machine carrying the coin selecting and accepting mechanism, it is to be understood that such coin gravitates downwardly into the coin receiving pathway defined by the iner faces of back 12a and plate 22, as well as lug 36 and extension 38. During such downward movement of the 50 coin and which is denominated 42 in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower margin of the coin initially contacts the cam surface of V-shaped portion 72d of member 74 thereby shifting extension 72e out of the path of member 74 thereby shifting extension 72c out of the path of travel of leg 32 of cradle 20 and against the bias of counterweight 78. Next, the coin 42 contacts the upwardly facing cam surface of extension 82d of hole feeler element 82 thereby camming the projection 88a out of the path of radial shoulder 88 on cradle '20. The coin 42 then comes to rest on both of the legs 32 and 34 of cradle 20 whereby the weight of the coin is sufficiently off balance with respect to counterweight 90 to effect counterclockwise rotation of the cradle 20 as shown in FIG. 1 to effect diversion of the coin 42 onto the track section 22b for gravitation therealong past the magnet 50.

In the event the coin introduced into apparatus is below the value of 50 and thereby of smaller diameter than the distance between legs 32 and 34, the coin will pass therebetween and pass downwardly through the reject pathway of apparatus 10 defined by the lower extremities of plate 22 and back 12a of frame 12. The coin then gravitates into the upper coin receiving pathway of the coin accepting and selecting unit directly beneath apparatus 10 whereby such lower value coin is subjected to further testing for genuineness and denomination.

By virtue of the provision of cradle check device 72, it is not possible to effect rotation of cradle without a proper coin 42 being positioned on both of the legs 32 and 34. For example, if a small diameter coin is thrown downwardly through the coin receiving pathway 24 with sufficient force to otherwise displace the cradle, the latter cannot rotate about the axis of pin 26 because the leg 32 "thereof is shifted into engagement with projection 72a of member 74. In the absence of the check device 72, in certain instances, it might be possible for the small diameter coin to engage the leg 34 and move the latter downwardly through a sufficient arc to effect diversion of the small value coin onto the coin trackway section 22b. In this manner, the apparatus It could either be jammed or the coin could actually pass into actuating mechansim of the vending or service machine to permit the customer to obtain a product or service without deposit of proper value coinage in such machine.

Of particular significance is the disposition of member 74 in direct overlying relationship to leg 32 so that the coin 42 passing downwardly through the coin receiving pathway 24, must engage the V-shaped portion 72d of member 74 to cam extension 72c out of the path of travel of leg 32, before the cradle 20 may rotate in a manner to divert the coin 42 into the coin accepting pathway. In this manner, it is absolutely necessary for the coin 42 to come to rest on both of the legs 32 and 34 before the cradle 20 can rotate as previously described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In coin selecting apparatus provided with structure defining a coin receiving pathway, a coin rejecting pathway therebelow, and a coin accepting pathway, the combination of:

a cradle selector adapted to be pivotally disposed substantially at the zone of juncture of said pathways and including a pair of spaced legs for receiving a coin thereon only if substantially of predetermined size and diverting the same into said coin accepting pathway as the selector is pivoted about the axis of rotation thereof and as one of the legs of the selector moves downwardly and the other leg upwardly with respect to said axis;

an elongated coin operated member; and

means for pivotally mounting the member adjacent said coin receiving pathway for swinging movement about an axis above and in perpendicular relationship to the axis of rotation of the selector, and parallel to the major faces of coins moving downwardly in said coin receiving pathway, said member being provided with an extension on the lower extremity thereof normally overlying and releasably engageable with said other leg of the selector for preventing substantial rotation thereof from the normal disposition of the same by a coin striking said one leg of the selector before said other leg of the same, said member being further provided with an intermediate cam section above said extension and extending into the coin receiving pathway immediately above said other' leg of the selector and disposed to be moved to a position to shift said extension in a direction parallel with the axis of rotation of the selector to a position clearing said other leg of the selector for permitting pivoting movement of the latter, by a coin moving downwardly through said coin receiving pathway toward and onto both of said legs of the selector whereby the coin is diverted into said coin accepting pathway only after being sized by and coming to rest on said legs of the selector.

References Eited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,629,006 5/27 Sherburne et al. 194-102 X 2,588,510 3/52 Foushee et al. 194-l0l SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LA BORDE, Examiner.

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