US3197009A - Coin separators - Google Patents

Description

y 1965 A. OKOLISCHAN 3,197,009

COIN SEPARATORS Filed Oct. 19. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet l as 38 E (2 14s" FF 0 Q 54 INVENTOR.

ANTON OKOUSCHAN F Z BY ATTORNEY July 27, 1965 A. OKOLISCHAN COIN SEPARATORS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 19. 1961 INVENTOR.

ANTON OKOLISCHAN TTO QNEY July 27, 1965 A. OKOLISCHAN COIN SEPARATORS Filed Oct. 19. 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 c? g l I22 60 ,zo/ 372 INVENTOR. F15 4: ANTON OKOUSCHAN ATTORNEY July 27, 1965 A. OKOLISCHAN 3,197,009

COIN SEPARATORS Filed 001:. 19. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZZEnZL INVENTOR. ANTON OKOUSCHAN ATTO RNEY y 7, 1965 A. OKOLISCHAN 3,197,009

com SEPARATORS File d Oct. 19. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet s 8 I34- i 3 4 74 e2 :24

INVENTOR. ANTON OKOLISCHAN ATTORNEY A. OKOLISCHAN COIN SEPARATORS July 27, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 19.. 1961 ANTUN OKOl-ISCHAN AT TOF? N EY United States Patent 3,197,069 (IOIN SEPARATORS Anton Girolischan, St. Louis, Mo assignor to National Reiectors, Inc, St. Louis, Me, a corporation of Missouri Filed 0st. U, 1961, Ser. No. 146,138 33 Claims. (Cl. 194-97) This invention relates to improvements in coin separators. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in slug rejectors.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved slug rejector.

In separating slugs and undesired coins from desired coins, eddy-current testing of theslugs and coins is very helpful; because such testing make it possible to reject slugs and coins which have electrical resistivities that are appreciably diiferent from the electrical resistivities of desired coins. However, some commercially available alloys have electrical resistivities which are sufliciently I close to the electrical resistivities of some desired coins to keep eddy-current testing of slugs, made from those alloys, from separating those slugs from those desired coins. As a result, slug rejectors which were intended to accept certain desired coins and were intended to reject all slugs and all other coins, and which relied upon eddycurrent testing, have been known to accept some slugs which had electrical resistivities similar to the electrical resistivities of the desired coins. It would be desirable to provide a slug rejector which could reject such slugs. The present invention provides such a slug rejector; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a slug rejector which can accept certain desired coins and which can reject all slugs and all other coins, including slugs which have electrical resistivities similar to the electrical resistivities of the desired coins.

The slug rejector provided by the present invention not only uses eddy-current testing but also tests the weight and the thickness of inserted coins and slugs. The eddycurrent testing enables that slug rejector to reject all slugs and coins which have electrical resistivities that are appreciably different from the electrical resistivities of desired coins, and the weight and thickness testing enable that slug rejector to reject all slugs and coins which have electrical resistivities similar to the electrical resistivities of the desired coins but which are made from alloys that are different from the alloy of which the desired coins are made. For example if the desired coins are made from a silver alloy, slugs that are made from copper alloys having electrical resistivities similar to the electrical resistivities of the desired coins would have specific gravities that are appreciably smaller than the specific gravity of the desired coins. This means that if those slugs were made as thin as the desired coins, those slugs would not pass the weight test; and it further means that if those slugs were made thick enough to have enough weight to pass the weight test, those slugs would not pass the thickness test. As a result, the slug rejector provided by the present invention is able to reject all slugs and coins which are rejectable by slug rejectors relying upon eddycurrent testing, and is also able to reject slugs and coins which have electrical resistivities similar to the electrical resistivities of the desired coins but which have specific gravities that are appreciably smaller than the pecific gravity of the desired coins: It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a slug rejector that provides weight testing and thickness testing as well as eddy-current testing.

The slug rejector provided by the present invention tests the weights of inserted coins and slugs by directing those coins and slugs into engagement with a pivoted member which responds to the weights of those coins and 'ice slugs to rotate and thereby permit those slugs and coins to start moving toward an accepted coin chute. That pivoted member is made so the rotative couple, provided by the combined weights of that member and of the coin' or slug that rotates with that member, will progressively decrease as that member rotates toward the accepted coin chute. The weight of a desired coin will be great enough to cause that pivoted member to rotate far enough to enable that coin to pass to the accepted coin chute; but the weights of lighter-weight coins or slugs will be too small to cause that pivoted member to rotate far enough to enable those coins or slugs to pass to the accepted coin chute, and those coins or slugs will fall into a returned coin chute. The weights of heavier-weight coins or slugs would be great enough to cause the pivoted memher to rotate far enough to enable those coins orslugs to pass to the accepted coin chute; but all such coins or slugs will either be caught and held by the thicknesstesting apparatus or will be rejected by the eddy-current testing apparatus of the slug rejector before those coins or slugs can reach the pivoted member. In this way, the slug rejector provided by the present invention utilizes a pivoted member to separate lighter-weight coins from the desired coins and uses thickness-testing apparatus and eddy-current apparatus to keep heavier-weight coins from reaching that pivoted member.

The thickness-testing apparatus of the slug rejector provided by the present invention includes a runway and two spring-biased plungers that are adjacent that runway. Those plungers are normally spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of the rim of a desired coin, and those plungers will be moved further apart by coins rolling along that runway. As those plungers are moved further apart by a coin, the spring-bias on those plungers will increase and will enable those plungers to apply appreciable braking forces to the surfaces of that coin. Where that coin has a cameo-type engraving, some of the portions of that coin which are disposed inwardlyrof the rim of that coin will be thinner than the rim of that coin; and, as those reduced-thickness portions of that coin move between the plungers, the spring-bias on those plungers and the braking forces applied to that coin by those plungers will decrease. As a result, uch a coin will be able to pass between and beyond the plungers and to fall from the runway. However, Where a slug or coin has a thickness equal to that of the rim of a desired coin and has plane faces, the spring-bias on the plungers will not decrease as that slug or coin passes between those plungers; and hence that spring-bias will be great enough to enable the braking forces applied to the surfaces of such a coin to bring that coin to rest while it is still supported on the runway. This halting of plane-faced slugs or coins, having thicknesses comparable to that of the rim of a cameo-type desired coin, i desirable because such slugs or coins can have more mass than the desired coin, and such slugs or coins could thus have weights approximating the weight of that desired coin even though those slugs or coins were made from alloys having specific gravities that were smaller than the specific gravity of that desired coin. In this way, the slug rejector keeps planefaced coins, having thicknesses comparable to that of the rim of a cameo-type desired coin, from reaching the pivoted member which tests the weights of slugs and coins. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a slug rejector with spring-biased plungers that will apply braking forces to coins or slugs passing-between them and that will permit a cameo-type desired coin to pass between and beyond them and to fall from an adjacent runway but that will bring to .rest any planefaced coins or slugs, having thicknesses comparable to that of the rim of a cameo-type desired coin, while those slugs or coins are still supported on that runway;

The spring-bias on the plungers will tend to cause those plungers to hold cameo-type desired coins as the trailing edges of the rims of those coins engage those plungers. The present invention keeps the plungers from holding cameo-type desired coins as the trailing edges of the rims of those coins engage those plungers by disposing the trailing edge of the adjacent runway so close to those plungers that by the time the trailing edges of the rims of those coins engage the plungers, the centers of mass of those coins will have moved beyond that trailing edge. As a result, cameo-type desired coins are able to pass between and beyond the plungers. Plane-faced slugs or coins, having thicknesses comparable to that of the rim of a cameo-type desired coin, will not be able to move far enough between those plungers to have the centers of mass thereof moved beyond the trailing edge of that runway. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a slug rejector with a runway, to provide springbiased plungers adjacent that-runway, and to space those plungers from the trailing edge of that runway a distance less than the distance between the center of mass of an accepted coin and the trailing edge of the rim of that When plane-faced slugs or coins, having thicknesses,

comparable to that of the rim of a cameo-type desired coin, areheld in position on the runway adjacent the plungers, the patrons who inserted those slugs or coins may try to joggle the scavenging lever of the slug rejector and free'those slugs or coins for movement toward the accepted coin chute. Any such movement would be very undesirable; and all such movement is prevented'by a slot in that runway. That slot is normally sufiiciently narrow to'enable the runway to keep desired coins and slugs or coins, having thicknesses comparable to that of the rim of a cameo-type desired coin, from moving down into that slot; but that slot will widen as the scavenging lever is joggled, and the widening of that slot will permit the lower portions of slugs or coins which are held in position on the runway to move down into that slot. Once the lower portions of slugs or coins have moved down into that slot, the patrons will be wholly unable to free those slugs or coins for movement toward the accepted coin chute. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a slug rejector with a runway,

adjacent thickness-testing plungers, that has a reduced width portion which defines a slot that is normally sufficiently narrow to keep desired coins and slugs or coins, having thicknesses comparable to that of the rim of a cameo-type desired coin, from entering it but that can respond to joggling of the scavenger lever of that slug rejector to widen and thereby permit such coins or slugs to enter it 7 In the event a slug or coin were to be held in position on the runway by the plungers, it would be undesirable to permit a second slug or coin, introduced into the slug rejector, to engage that slug or coin; because the impact of that second slug or coin might cause the plungers to free the first slug or coin. The present invention keeps any second slug or coin from engaging a first slug or coin thatis held by the plungers, by providing a lever that is moved to blocking position by each slug or coin as that slug or coin engages the plungers and that can not be moved out of blocking position as long as that first slug or coin is adqacent those plungers. However, that lever will not prevent the acceptance of further coins after the insertion of a desired coin because that desired coin will move beyond the plungers .and thus enable the further coins to move the blocking surface of the lever out of blocking position. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a lever which is moved to blocking position by each inserted slug orcoin and which will be held in blocking position by any slug or coin that is arrested and held by the plungers.

In some instances, slugs of soft, heavy metal, such as lead, have been provided with inserts of magnetic metal;

and the inserts in any given slug extended to just one face of that slug. If that insert faced away from the magnet used for eddy-current testing, that slug would move past that magnet with substantially undiminished speed and would be rejected; but if that insert confronted that magnet, that insert would coact with that magnet to retard that slug sufiiciently to enable that slug to be accepted. That retardation would be due to direct magnetic attraction between that magnet and that insert, rather than to eddy-current effect; but that retardaion could lead to accept ance of that slug. It would be desirable to provide a slug rejector which could reject such a slug. The slug rejector provided by the present invention rejects such a slug; and it does so by providing a magnet, in advance of the eddy-current testing magnet, that can provide a suificiently strong attraction for the insert of that slug to bring that slug to rest. The two magnets are mounted so that each of them confronts the same face of each inserted coin or slug; and this is important because if the eddycurrent testing magnet confronted one face of that slug while the advance magnet confronted the other face of that slug, the insert could face away from and not be arrested and held by the advance magnet but could confront and be retarded by the eddy-current magnet sufliciently to enter the accepted coin chute. Any such ac ceptance of such a slug is avoided by the present invention; because if the magnetic insert in the slug is disposed so it would confront the eddy-current magnet, that insert would confront and be arrested and held by the advance magnet. On the other hand, if that magnetic insert is disposed so it faces away from the advance magnet, it will also face away from the eddy-current testing magnet, and will thus be unable to retard the movement of that slug. to provide a slug rejector with an eddy-current testing magnet, and with a second magnet that is disposed in advance of the eddy-current testing magnet, and to mount both of those magnets so they confront the same side of any inserted coin or slug.

The present invention provides a runway adjacent the eddy-current testing magnet, and it makes the trailing edge of that runway adjustable. In doing so, the present invention makes it possible to attain precise separation of desired coins from slugs and coins, which have electrical resistivities that are appreciably different from the electrical resistivities of desired coins, even though the desired coins must fall onto a stationary and fixed runway after they are separated from those slugs and coins. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a slug rejector with a runway, adjacent the eddycurrent testing magnet, that has an adjustable trailing edge.

The pivoted weight-testing member in one embodiment of slug rejector provided by the present invention has a stop movably mounted adjacent it. That stop is normally disposed out of the path of coins which are released by that pivoted member, but that stop will be moved into the path of such coins during scavenging of the slug rejector. Such movement of that stop will keep coins or slugs, which are tested and held by that pivoted member, from falling into the accepted coin chute during the scavenging operation and, instead, will cause such coins or slugs to be directed to the returned coin chute.

If a light-weight coin or slug is tested and held by the pivoted weight-testing member, it would be undesirable to permit a second coin or slug to strike that first coin or slug and be thereby directed to the accepted coin chute, and it would be undesirable to permit such a second coin or slug to cause that first coin or slug to enter the accepted coin chute. The slug rejector provided by the present invention keeps a second coin or slug from striking a first coin or slug that is held by the weight-testing member and being thereby directed to the accepted coin chute by enabling that first coin to move the weight-testing member into position to block that chute. The slug It is, therefore, an object of the present invention rejector provided by the present invention keeps a second coin or slug from striking a first coin or slug that is held by the weight-testing member and causing that first coin or slug to pass to the accepted coin chute by enabling the composite mass of that weight-testing member and of that first coin or slug to exceed the mass of the second slug or coin sufliciently to limit the rotation of that weighttesting member to the point Where the first coin or slug can not pass to the accepted coin chute. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a slug rejector with a pivoted, weight-testing member that can respond to a light-weight coin or slug to rotate into position to block the accepted coin chute and that can coact with that light-weight coin or slug to provide a composite mass which exceeds the mass of a second coin or slug sufliciently to limit rotation of that weight-testing member to the point where the first coin or slug can not pass to the accepted coin chute.

In the manufacture of slug rejectors that rely upon eddy-current testing, it is customary to mount the eddycurrent testing magnet so it is in register with the centers of the coins or slugs that are to be tested. It is possible, by mounting the eddy-current magnet so it is in register with portions above the centers of the coins or slugs that are to be tested to attain different retardations for fulldiameter coins and for lesser diameter coins or slugs; and

those difierent retardations are helpful in separating fulldiameter coins from lesser diameter coins or slugs. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to mount the eddy-current magnet of one embodiment of slug rejector so it is in register with portions above the centers of the coins or slugs that are to be tested.

To enable the pivoted weight-testing member of the slug rejector provided by the present invention to separate coins and slugs according to their weights, that member is formed and mounted so it can absorb and dissipate substantially all of the kinetic energy of coins and slugs that engage it. Absent such absorption, the momentum of light-weight coins and slugs that engage that member could easily cause that member to rotate far enough to elfect the acceptance of such coins and slugs; but with such absorption, the momentum of light-Weight coins and slugs that engage that member is so reduced that those coins and slugs can not cause that member to rotate far enough to effect the acceptance of such coins and slugs. As a result, the pivoted weight-testing member of the slug rejector provided by the present invention is able to accurately separate coins and slugs according to their weight. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to form and mount the weight-testing member of a slug rejector so it can absorb and dissipate substantially all of the kinetic energy in coins and slugs that engage that member.

The present invention enables at least one form of the pivoted weight-testing member of the slug rejector provided thereby to absorb and dissipate substantially all of the kinetic energy of coins and slugs that engage that member by forming that member so it defines a recess which accommodate about one half of each coin or slug that engages that member, by mounting that member so it receives coins and slugs from a runway Which has a shallow inclination, and by mounting the pivot for that member so it is close to the trajectory followed by the geometric centers of coins and slugs which engage that member. The fact that the recess in the pivoted member accommodates about one half of each coin or slug that engages that member is helpful in fixing the position of that coin or slug relative to that member, the fact that the member receives coins and slugs from a runway which has a shallow inclination is helpful because the inclination of that runway will keep the momentum of those coin or slugs below a predetermined value, and the fact that the pivot for that member is mounted so it is close to the trajectory followed by the geometric centers of coinsand slugs that engage that member is helpful in keeping the momentum of coins and slugs from providing substantial rotative couples for that member. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to form the pivoted weight-testing member of a slug rejector so it defines a recess that accommodates about one half of each coin or slug which engages that member, to mount that member so it receives coins and slugs from a runway which has a shallow inclination, and to mount the pivot for that member so it is close to the trajectory followed by the geometric centers of coins and slugs that engage that member.

The present invention makes it possible to separate desired coins which have weights within a predetermined range from plane-faced slugs or coins having weights within that range; and it does so by disposing the center of mas of the pivoted weight-testing member a short distance below the trajectory followed by the geometric centers of coins and slugs that engage that member and by mounting a thickness tester immediately ahead of that member. The thickness tester will reduce the speed of freshly-minted and sli htly worn desired coins, but the masses of such coins will be great enough to enable those coins to have sufiicient momentum to rotate the member far enough to effect the acceptance of such coins. The thickness tester will not retard well worn desired coins very much, and hence the velocities of those coins will be great enough to enable those coins to have sufficient momentum to rotate the member far enough to effect the acceptance of such coins. However, the thickness tester will reduce the speed of "thick plane-faced coins and slug sufficiently so the masses of such coins and slugs will not be great enough to enable those coins to have sufiicient momentum to rotate the member far enough to effect the acecptance of such units. The overall result is that the resent invention makes it possible to separate desired coins which have weights within a predetermined range from plane-faced slugs or coins having weights within that range. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to dispose the center of mass of the pivoted weight-testing member of a slug rejector a short distance below the trajectory followed by the geometric centers of coins and slugs that engage that member and by mounting a thickness tester immediately ahead of that member.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but the drawings and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one preferred embodiment of slug rejector that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the slug rejector of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the right-hand side of the slug rejector of FIG. 1, V

FlG. 4 is another sectional view through the rejector of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by line 44 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the slug rejector of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section through the upper part of the slug rejector of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 66 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a sectional View through the upper part of the rejector of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by line 77 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 is another sectional view through the slug rejector of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 88 in FIG. 4,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, through 7 the slug rejector of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 99 in FIG. 7,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bracket which is mounted adjacent the magnet in the upper part of the slug rejector of FIG. 1,

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational veiw of the pivoted weighttesting member used in the slug rejector of FIG. 1,

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view, generally similar to that of FIG. 4, showing an alternate form of vertically-movable scavenging lever,

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary front elevational view that is generally similar to that of FIG. 1, but it shows the alternate form of vertically-movable scavenging lever shown in FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a fragmentry view that is generally similar to that of FIG. 1, but it is on a reduced scale and it shows an alternate form of pivoted, weight-testing member,

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view that is generally similar to that of FIG. 1, but it is on a reduced scale and it shows a second alternate form of pivoted, weight-testing member.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view that is generally similar to that of FIG. 1, but it is on a reduced scale and it shows the alternate form of pivoted, weight-testing member shown in FIG. 14, and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 9, through the rejector of FIG. 16, and it is taken along the plane indicated by line 1717 in FIG. 16.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 20 denotes the center wall of the main frame of one preferred embodiment of slug rejector that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. That center wall is rectangular in elevation and it is vertically-directed whenever that slug rejector is properly mounted in a coin-actuated device. A vertically-directed flange 22 is provided at the left-hand edge of the center wall 20, and a vertically-directed flange 24 is provided at the right-hand edge of that center wall. The flange 22 has a portion 28 of reduced width adjacent the upper end thereof, and that portion has a slot 26 in the top thereof, as indicated by FIG. 5. A slot 30 is provided in the flange 22 adjacent the lower end of the reduced-width portion 28, and that slot is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. A notch 32 extends inwardly from the front face of the reducedwidth portion 28 of the flange 22, and that notch is shown in FIG. 1. A slot 34 is provided in the lower portion of the flange 22, and that slot is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The flange 24 has a portion 38 of reduced-width adjacent the upper end thereof, and that portion has a slot 36 in the top thereof, as indicated by FIGS. 3 and 5. A notch extends inwardly from the front face of the reducedwidth portion 38 of the flange24, and that notch is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The notch 40 and the notch 32 are identical in configuration and are located in the same relative positions in the flanges 24 and 22, respectively. A slot 42, which is identical to the slot 30 and which is provided in the flange 24 adjacent the lower end of the reduced-width portion 38, is shown by FIGS. 3 and 5. A slot 44 which is identical. in configuration to the slot 34 is provided in the flange 24, as shown particularly by FIGS. 1 and 3. The slots 30, 34, 42 and 44 are intended to accommodate the horizontally projecting pins of a multi-coin slug rejector, not shown, which is intended to accept the test coins and slugs which have diameters that are smaller than the diameters of coins and slugs which will-be tested by the slug rejector of FIG. 1. Where the slug rejector of FIG. 1 is intended to test and accept half dollars, the multi-coin' slug rejector which will have the horizontally-extending pins thereof held within the slots 30, 34, 42 and 44 could test and accept quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies or could test and accept any one, two or three of those coins.

The numeral 46 in FIG. 3 denotes vertically-directed slots in the flange 24, and those slots are adjacent the rear of that flange. An car 48 is provided on the center wall 20. of the main frame of the slug rejector above the line 6-6 in FIG. 1, and that car also is shown in FIG-8:4 and 5. That ear extends forwardly from the front face of the center wall 28, and it is conveniently formed by punching it out of that center wall. A ledge 50 is provided on the center wall 20 of the frame of the slug rejector, and that ledge is disposed below the level of the ear 48 and adjacent the flange 24, as shown by FIG. 1. That ledge extends forwardly from the front face of that center wall, and it is conveniently formed by punching it out of that center wall. A second ledge 52 is provided on the center wall 29 adjacent the ledge 50, and that ledge also extends forwardly from the front face of that center wall. That second ledge also is conveniently formed by punching it out of the center wall 20. A third ledge 54 i is provided on the center wall 20, and that ledge also extends forwardly from the front face of that center wall. That third ledge is disposed to the left of, and below the level of, the ledge 52, as shown by FIG. 1; and it is conveniently formed by punching it out of that center wall. The ledges 50 and 52 constitute a runway which inclines downwardly from upper right to lower left in FIG. 1, and the ledge 54 denotes a further runway which inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right in FIG. 1. The upper face of the ledge 54 is tapered to reduce any tendency of coins striking that runway to bounce.

Further ledges 58 and 60 are provided on the center wall 20, and those ledges are adjacent the bottom of that wall. Those ledges extend forwardly from the front face of that center wall; and those ledges are conveniently formed by punching them out of that center wall. The ledge 58 inclines downwardly from upper right to lower left in FIG. 1, and the ledge 60 inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right in FIG. 1.

The numeral 62 denotes a slot which is formed in the center wall 2%} of the frame of the slug rejector, and thatslot is disposed above the ledge 54 in FIG. 1 and is disposed above the levcl of the ledges 50 and 52. A slot 64 is provided in the center wall 20 adjacent the ledges 5t and 52, and that slot is conveniently formed when those ledges are punched out of that center wall. A slot 66 is provided in the center wall 20 adjacent the ledge 54, and that slot is conveniently formed when the ledge 54 is punched out of that center wall. An arcuate slot 68 is formed in the center wall 20, and that slot is contiguous with the lower end of the slot 66. The slot 66 inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right and the arcuate slot 68 also inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right; all as shown by FIG. 1. A vertically-directed notch, not shown, is provided in the center wall 20 below the arcuate slot 68. Anotch 70 is formed in the center wall 20 at a point intermediate the confronting ends of the ledges 58 and 66; and that notch opens to the lower edge of that center wall.

The numeral 72 denotes a bracket which is spaced from the front face of the center wall 20 by a semicircular spacer 71; and the lower end of that spacer abuts the upper edge of the slot 62 in that center wall. The bracket 72 fixedly supports a permanent magnet 74, and the poles of that magnet are shown in FIG. 4. The slot 62 facilitatesready cleaning of those pole faces. A string catcher 76 of standard and usual construction is secured to the front face of the center wall 20, and that string catcher is disposed adjacent the slot 64 in that center wall. The

' right-hand end of that string catcher, as that string catcher is viewed in FIG. 4, will intercept any strings or threads which are attached to coins or slugs that are inserted into the slug rejector and that pass downwardly beyond that string catcher. The string catcher will act to break or sever those strings or threads if those strings or threads are used to try to raise those coins or slugs.

The numeral 78 denotes four spacers which are secured to the front face of the center wall 20, and those spacers have threaded openings at the centers thereof. Fasteners '79 releasably extend through openings in a wall 80 and seat in those threaded openings to releasably hold that 9 wall in spaced relation with the center wall 29 of the frame of the slug rejector. The wall 86 is generally rectangular in elevation, and it is almost as wide as the center wall 20, but it is materially shorter than that center wall. A large notch 82 is formed in the upper edge of the wall '80, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 4, and that notch accommodates the magnet-supporting bracket 72. An ear $4 is provided at the upper edge of the wall 80, adjacent the left-hand side of the notch 82, as that car and notch are viewed in FIG. 4; and that ear extends into engagement with the center wall of the frame of the slug rejector.

The right-hand portion of the upper edge of the wall 88, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 1, is bent forwardly to define a funnel-like portion 86. That funnel-like portion will tend to guide any coins or slugs, which engage it, into the coin passageway between the wall 80 and the center wall 20. A slot 88 is provided in the wall 84 below the funnel-like portion 86, and that slot accommodates the ledge on the center wall 20. A deeper slot 9% which is contiguous with the slot 88, also is formed in the wall 811; and that slot accommodates the ledge 52 on the center wall 20 and is in general registry with the string catcher 76. A slot 92, which is contiguous with the slot 91), extends downwardly and to the left from the slot 90, as those slots are viewed in FIG. 1.

Three circular openings 94, 96 and 28 are formed in the wall 81 below the level of the slots 88, 90 and 92; and the opening 94 is adjacent the flange 24 while the openings 96 and 98 are spaced away from that flange. An opening 100 is disposed below the level of the openings 94 and 96, and an arcuate slot 102 is contiguous with the opening 100. The opening 94 can accommodate a coin-rejecting pin which can reject one of the coins tested by the multi-coin slug rejector; and the opening 98 can accommodate a further coin-rejecting pin which can reject another of the coins tested by the multi-coin slug rejector. The opening 96 can accommodate a coin-rejecting pin which can reject a half dollar passing through the coin passageway defined by the wall 89 and the center wall 20. The opening 100 can accommodate a still further coin-rejecting pin which can reject yet another of the coins tested by the multi-coin slug reject-or. A slot 104 is provided in the wall 80 below the level of the opening 98, and that slot accommodates the ledge 54 on the center wall 20 of the frame of the slug reje'ctor. An arcuate slot 166 is contiguous with the lower end of the slot 104, and that arcu-ate slot is generally similar to the upper part of the arcuate slot 68 in the center wall 20. A horizontallydirected slot 1% is contiguous with the lower end of the arcuate slot 106, and that horizontally-directed slot extends to the right beyond the lower end of the arcuate slot 68 in the center wall 29. An car 110 is formed on the wall 80 adjacent the bottom of the horizontally-directed slot 108, and that car extends forwardly from the front face of that wall. That ear has a vertically-directed opening through it. A vertically-directed slot 112 is formed in the wall 80 below the level of, and in vertical registry with, the ear 110; and that slot is in register with the vertical slot, not shown, which is in the center wall 21) and is disposed below the level of the arcu-ate slot 68 in that center wall. A vertically-directed ear 114 is formed on the wall 80 at one side of the slot 112, and a second vertically-directed ear 116 is formed on that wall at the other side of that slot. The ears 1 14 and 116 extend forwardly from the front face of the wall 80, and each of those ears has a horizontally-directed opening in it. The numeral 118 denotes a ledge which is formed on the wall 8! and which extends forwardly from that wall; and that ledge is conveniently formed by punching it out of that wall. Similarly, the ears 114 and 1 16 are conveniently formed by punching them out of the wall 80. An opening 129 is provided in the wall 89 to the right of the ledge 113, as that opening and ledge are viewed in FIG. 1.

Ears 122 project outwardly from the right-hand edge of the wall 8! as that wall is viewed in FIG. 1. Those ears extend into the vertically-directed slots 46 in the flange 24 of the frame of the slug rejector. Those ears and those slots will ooact to hold the right-hand edge of the wall fixed relative to the center wall 21% The two left-handmost spacers 78 will fix the spacing between the left-hand edge of the wall 80 and the center wall 20; and hence that wall will be held fixed relative to the center wall 29. As indicated by FIGS. 2 and 5, the wall 89 will be held parallel to the center wall 29.

The numeral .124 denotes a pin which is fixedly secured to the Wall St and is in vertical alinement with the ear 8-4 and the ear on that wall. That pin is disposed above the level of the slot t and that pin extends forwardly from the front face of that wall.

The numeral 126 denotes a member that is disposed within the slot 92, and that serves as an adjustable trailing edge of the runway defined by the ledges 50 and52 on the center wall 20. A fastener 128 is seated within a threaded socket in the member 126; and loosening of that fastener can permit adjustment of the position of the member 126 along the length of the slot 92; and tightening of that fastener can clamp the member 1 26 fixedly in position relative to that slot. The member 126 will be adjusted so half dollars will roll off of that member and fall onto the runway 54, and so coins having electrical resistivities greater than that of half dollars will roll ofi of that member and pass between the runway 54 and the flange 22. The numeral 131 denotes a pin-like pivot which is secured to the wall 80 intermediate the opening 1% and the slot 119 5- in the wall 8%; and that pivot extends forwardly from the front face of that wall.

The numeral 132 generally denotes a vertically-directed slide which has an ear 134 at the top thereof, which has a slot 1.36 below that car, and which has the lower portion thereof extending downwardly through the opening in the ear 116. The portion of the slide 132 which has the slot 136 therein is off-set rearwardly of the plane of the rest of that slide; and that slot is telescoped over the pin 124. A helical extension spring 138 has the upper end thereof hooked around the pin 124 and has the lower end thereof hooked through a loop that is punched forwardly out of the slide 132. That spring urges the slide 132 upwardly, and thereby urges the lower end of the slot 136 against the under face of the pin 124; but that spring can yield to permit that slide to move downwardly. The numeral 146 denotes an ear which is punched out of the slide 132 and which extends rearwardly from that slide toward the wall 80. However, that ear stops short of the wall 89 so the slide 132 can reciprocate freely relative to that wall.

The numeral 142 denotes a stop which has a verticallydirected portion and which has a horizontally-directed portion with ears 144. The horizontally-directed portion is adjacent the top of that stop, and the ears on that horizontally-directed portion extend into the openings in the ears 114- and 116 on the wall 80. As a result, the stop- 142 can rotate relative to that wall; and the verticallydirected portion of that stop can rotate into a horizontal position where it will extend into the slot 112 and into the corresponding slot in the center wall 20. In rotating into that horizontal position, that stop will block movement of coins to an accepted coin chute, not shown, which will have the upper end thereof disposed intermediate the ledge 60 and the flange 24.

The numeral 146 denotes a mounting bracket which is disposed adjacent the lower portion of the wall 80. That bracket has a slot in the left-hand end thereof which accommodates the shank of a fastener 148; and that shank extends through that slot and seats in a threaded opening in the wall 89. The bracket 146 carries a pivot 149, and that pivot r-otatably supports an L-shaped separator 156. A counterweight 151 is mounted adjacent the left-hand end of the separator 15d, and the right-hand end of that separator has an ear which extends rearwardly through the opening in the wall 80 and through the opening 70 in the center wall 20, as that separator is viewed in FIG. 1. 'Ihe counterweight 151 normally holds the seppivot 130 carried by the wall 80. That. hub will permit guided rotation of the weight-testing member 160 relative to the pivot 130 and thus relative to the wall 80. A pin 164 is secured to and carried by the weight-testing memher 160, and that pin extends rearwardly through the slots 106, 108 and 68, and thus spans the; coin passageway defined by the wall 80 and the center wall 20. A pin 166 also is secured to the weight-testing member 160, and that pin extends rearwardly through the arcuate slot 102 which is'formed in the wall 80 and is contiguous with the opening 100. A notch 168 is formed in the weight-contesting member 160 adjacent the pin 166, as shown by FIG. 1. An opening 169 is provided in the weight-testin member 160 to provide the desired balance for that memher.

A coin-engaging member 170 has an opening 172 therein which telescopes over the pin 166 carried by the weight-testing member 160; and that opening will coact with that pin to permit guided rotation of the coin-engaging member 170 relative to the weight-testing member 160. A pin 174 is carried by the coin-engaging member 170 and extends forwardly from that member to lodge within the notch 168 in the weight-testing member 160. That pin will coact with that notch to limit the rotation of the coin-engaging member 170 relative to the weighttesting member 160. A finger 176 is provided at the upper end of the coin-engaging member 170 and a finger 178 is provided adjacent the lower end of that member. Those fingers are adapted to coact with the pin 164 to provide three-point support for coins or slu'gs leaving the trailing edge of the ledge 54 on the center wall 20.

The numeral 182 generally denotes the center wall of a sub-frame which is releasably securable to the upper. part of the main frame of the slug rejector. That subframe has a flange 184 which is contiguous with the lefthand edge of the center wall 182, and has a flange 186 which is contiguous with the right-hand edge of that center wall. Those flanges abut the inner faces of the flanges 22 and 24, respectively, and extend toward the center wall 20 of the main frame, whenever that subframe is secured to that mainframe. A three-sided f unnel-forming portion 188 is secured to the center wall 182 and extends upwardly from that center wall. A pin 190 is secured to and projects horizontally-outwardly from the flange 184, and a second pin 194 is secured to and projects horizontally-outwardly from that'flange. The pins 190 and 194 are in vertical registry, and the pin 190 is adjacent'the upper end of the flange 184 while the pin 194 is adjacent the lower end of that flange. A pin 192 is secured to and projects horizontally-outwardly from that flange 186, and a pin 196 is secured to and projects horizontallyoutwardly from that flange. The pins 192 a d 196 are in vertical registry, and the pin 192 is adjacent the upper end of the flange 186 while. the pin 196 is adjacent the lower end of that flange. The pins 194 and 196 can be releasably seated in the lower portions of the notches 32 and 40, respectively, in the flanges 22 and 24; and the pins 190 and 192 can be seated in the slots 26 and 36, respectively, in the top edges of the reduced- width portions 28 and 38 of those flanges.

The numeral 198 denotes an arcuate slot in the center wall 182 of the sub-frame, and the numeral 200 denotes a second arcuate slot in that center wall. The radii of curvature of the slots 198 and 200 are different, but those slots are concentric. The numeral 199 denotes an arcuate slot in the center wall 182 adjacent the upper ends of. the

12 arcuate slots 198 and 200; and that slot inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right, as that slot is viewed in FIG. 7.

The numeral 202 denotes a pin which is secured to the center wall 182 adjacent the upper left-hand corner of that center wall, and that pin extends forwardly from that center wall. That pin has a relatively large diameter shoulder 203 thereon, and that shoulder is spaced a short distance forwardly of the front face of that center wall. The pin 202 has a head thereon which is smaller in diameter than the shoulder 203 but which is larger in diameter than the shank of that pin, and that head is spaced forwardly of the shoulder 203.

The numeral 204 denotes an arcuate slot in the center wall 182; and that slot is disposed to the right of the pin 202, as that slot and pin are viewed in FIG. 1. A vertical slot 206 is formed in that center wall to the right of the slot 204, as those slots are viewed in FIG. 1. A pin 208 is secured to and extends forwardly from the center wall 182; and that pin is disposed to the right of, and below the level of, the vertical slot 206, as that pin and slot are viewed in FIG. 1. An car 210 is punched out of the right-hand upper portion of the center wall 182, and that ear extends rearwardly from the rear face of that center wall. A second ear 212 is punched out of the right-hand lower portion of the center wall 182 adjacent an opening 214 in that center wall. The car 212 extends rearwardly from the rear face of the center wall 182, and it is in vertical registry with the ear 210. The ears 210 and 212 have vertically-directed, alined openings therein.

The numeral 216 denotes a ledge which inclines downwardly and rearwardly from the plane of the center wall 182, and that ledge is contiguous with the lower righthand corner of that center wall, as that center wall is viewed in FIG. 1. A skirt 218 is contiguous with the lower end of the ledge 216, and that skirt inclines downwardly and rearwardly from that lower end. The inclination of the skirt 218 is much sharper than is the inclination of the ledge 216.

The numeral 220 deotes an opening in the center wall 182, and that opening is below the arcuate slot 204. That opening is rectangular in elevation, as shown particularly by FIG. 7. A ledge 222 is formed on the center wall 182 below the opening 220, and that ledge extends rearwardly from the rear face of that center wall. A pin 224 is secured to the center Wall 182 adjacent the upper lefthand corner of that center wall, as that center wall is viewed in FIG. 1; and that pin extends rearwardly from the rear face of that center wall. A magnet bracket 226 is secured to the front face of the center wall 182, and that bracket holds the pole faces of a permanent magnet 228 within the opening 220, as shown by FIG. 7.

The numeral 230 denotes a pendulum which has the upper end'thereof rotatably held'by the pin 208, as shown by FIG. 1. That pendulum has an car 232 which extends forwardly from the front face of that pendulum, andthat pendulum also has an car 234 which extends rearwardly from the rear face of that pendulum. The car 234 extends through and beyond the opening 214 in the center wall 182 of the sub-frame.

The numeral 236 generally denotes a lever which has the left-hand end thereof rotatably held by the shank of lever in assembled relation with the center wall 182 of the sub-frame. The lever 236 .has a generally horizontally-directed flange 238.at the upper edge thereof, and that flange extends forwardly from that lever. ate slot 240 is provided in the lever 236, and that slot is concentric with the pin 202. A pin 242 is secured to, and extends rearwardly from, the rear face of the lever 236; and that pin extends through the slot 204 in the center wall 182. A bowed surface 244 is provided on the front face of the lever 236adjacent the lower edge of that lever, and that'bowed surface is inregister with the vertical An arcu-.

opening 2% in the center wall 182. A pin 246 is secured to the lever 236 adjacent the right-hand end of that lever, and that pin extends forwardly from the front face of that lever. The numeral 248 denotes the down-turned, right-hand end of the flange 238 of the lever 236; and that down-turned end is disposed to the right of the pin 246, and its lower end extends downwardly below the level of that pin.

The numeral 250 denotes an elongated lever which has the upper end thereof rotatably secured to the lever 236 by the pin 246. The lever 250 extends downwardly from the pin 246 in a generally vertical direction, and it has an ear 252 at the lower end thereof which extends rearwardly from the rear face of that lever. That ear is disposed below the level of the bottom edge of the center wall 182; but it is disposed above the level of the ear 134 on the slide 132', which is held by the pin 124 and the car 11 on the wall St An elongated pin 254 is disposed at the rear face of the center wall 182 of the sub-frame, and that pin has a threaded shank which extends forwardly through an opening in that center wall. That threaded shank also extends forwardly through the arcuate slot 240 in the lever 236; and a nut 256 is threaded onto that threaded shank. That pin and nut will coact with the pin 262 to hold the lever 236 immediately adjacent the front face of the center wall 182 of the sub-frame, while permitting rotation of that lever relative to that center wall. A wire-like spring 258 is wound around the shank of the pin 202, intermediate the shoulder 2193 and the head of that pin; and the upper end of that spring bears against the under face of the flange 238 on the lever 236 while the lower end of that spring bears against the shank of the pin 254. That spring biases the lever 238 upwardly to the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 but can yield to permit rotation of that lever downwardly to the position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1.

The numeral 260 denotes a bracket which is secured to the front face of the center wall 132 adjacent the lower edge of that center wall; and that bracket is intermediate the opening 214 and the magnet bracket 226, as shown by FIG. 1. An ear 261 is formed on the bracket 260, and that ear extends forwardly from the front of that bracket and thus extends forwardly from the plane of the front face of the center wall 182. That car has a vertically-directed opening therein, and that opening slidably accommodates the lower part of the vertically-directed portion of the lever 25%. That opening will coact with the pin 246 to guide and confine the vertical reciprocation of the lever 259.

The numeral 262 denotes a housing which is supported by thebracket 263; and, as shown by FIG. 9, that housing is hollow. A plunger 264 has the shank thereof disposed within the housing 262, and a helical compression spring 266 is disposed within that housing and encircles that shank. The projecting end of the plunger is conical. A generally similar housing 272 is secured to a bracket 27%, which has the upper end thereof. forwardlyo'r'fset and secured to the rear face of the center wall 182. The housing 272 is hollow and accommodates the shank of a plunger 274 and a helical compression spring 276, all as shown by FIG. 9. The projecting end of the plunger 274 is conical; and it confronts, but is normally spaced a short distance from, the conical projecting end of the plunger 24. The housings 262 and 272, the plungers 254 and 274, and the springs 266 and 276 are similar to corresponding housings, plungers and springs shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 83,233 for Coin Separators which was filed January 17, 1961. The bracket 270 has the lower portion thereof 7 disposed in register with, but spaced from, the pole faces of the magnet 228 held by the magnet bracket 226; and the lower portion of the bracket 270 will serve to complete the magnetic path of that magnet. Also, the

lower portion of the bracket 270 will coact with those shown by FIG. 4. The slot 304 is similar in configura-.

l4 pole faces and with the rear face of the center wall 182 to help define a coin passageway for coins moving past the magnet 228.

The numeral 263 denotes a funnel-forming member which is secured to the rear face of the center wall 182 at a point below the funnel-forming portion 183. The funnel-forming member 268 is shown particularly by FIGS. 6 and 7; and it can guide under-size coins and slugs to the coin entrance of the multi-coin slug rejector, not shown, which can have the horizontally-projecting pins thereof lodged within the slots 30, 34, 42 and 44.

The numeral 280 denotes a wiper blade which has the upper end thereof rotatably held by the pin 254, and which has the lower end thereof movable in the space defined by the lower portion of the bracket 270 and by' the rear face of the center wall 182. The pin 242, which is secured to the lever 236, extends into a slot in the wiper blade 28% and that pin will respond to downward movement of the lever 236 to move the wiper blade 280 from the solid-line upper position to the dotted-line lower position of FIG. 7. l

a The numeral 282 generally denotes a gate which is associated with the sub-frame for the slug rejector; and that gate has a funnel-forming portion 284 that can coact with the funnel-forming portion 188 to define a coinreceiving funnel. Ears 286 and 288 are provided on the gate 282, adjacent the left-hand end of that gate as that gate is viewed in FIG. 4; and those ears extend rear-- wardly from the rear face of that gate. Those ears are disposed intermediate the ears 210 and 212 on the center wall 182 of the sub-frame, as shown by FIG. 4. The cars 286 and 288 have vertically-directed openings therein which are alined with the openings in the ears 210 and 212, and an elongated pin-like pivot 290 extends through all of those openings.

The numeral 292 denotes a generally horizontally-directed ear which extends rearwardly from the rear face of the gate 282 adjacent the lower edge of that gate, and that car is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. A generally vertically-directed opening, not shown, is formed in that car. An car 293 is formed on the gate 282, adjacent the top of that gate; and that ear extends forwardly from that gate and extends through the vertical opening 205 in the center wall 182 into the path of the bowed portion 244 on the lever 236. The front face of the car 293 is arcuate, and that face curves forwardly and downwardly so it is generally complementary to the under face of the bowed portion 244. As a result, the bowed portion 244 of the lever 236 can serve as a cam, and the car 293 can serve as a cam follower, to enable downward rotation of the lever 236 to force the gate 282 rearwardly and away from the center wall 182 of the subframe.

The numeral 294 denotes a ledge which is formed on the gate 282 adjacent the bottom edge of that gate, and that ledge extends forwardly from that gate. That ledge has a reduced-width portion 295, shown particularly by FIG. 8, and that reduced-width portion coacts with the center wall 182 to define a narrow slot. The ledge 294 is conveniently formed by bending part of the bottom of the gate 282 forwardly.

The numeral 296 denotes a large opening in the gate 282, and that opening is generally complementary to the bracket 270. An ear 297 is formed on the gate 282, adjacent the opening 296, and that car extends rearwardly from that gate.

the trailing edge of the ledge 294, as shown by FIG. 4. The numeral 302 denotes an opening in the gate 282 which accommodates the forward end of the pin 254, as

shown by FIG. 4. The numeral 304 denotes an arcuate slot which is formed in the gate 282, adjacent the top of that gate; and that slot is adjacent the opening 302, as

A circular opening 298 is pro-- vided in the gate 282 adjacent the car 297 andadjacent tion to, and is in register with, the slot '199 in the center wall 182 of the sub-frame. A pivot 306 is secured to the gate 282, at a point below the opening 302 and the slot 304,=and that pivot extends rearwardly from'that gate. A vertically-directed slot 308 is formed in the gate 282 to the right of the slot 304, as those slots are viewed in FIG. 4. Arcuate slots 31 and 312 are formed in the gate 282, as shown by FIG. 4; and those slots are similar in configuration to, and are in register with, the slots 198 and 200, respectively; in the center wall 182.

The numeral 314 denotes a small opening in the gate 282, and that opening is disposed adjacent the arcuate slot 310,'as shown by FIG. 4. That opening accommodates the pin 224 which is secured to, and which extends rearwardly from, the center wall 182. A pivot 316 is secured to, and extends. rearwardly from, the gate 282; and a generally U-shaped bracket 318 also is secured to, and extends rearwardly from, that gate. The bracket 318 is adjacent the lower end of the arcuate slot 312, as shown by FIG. 4.

The numeral 320 denotes a lever which has a reentrant leading edge 322 and an inclined trailing edge 324. That lever is shown particularly by FIG. 8, and it is rotatably secured to the ear 292 on the gate 282 by a pivot 326. The re-entrant leading edge 322 is in register with, and can be moved close to, the arcuate slot 312; and the inclined trailing edge 324 is in register with,

and can be moved into, the opening 298.

The numeral 328 denotes an adjustable stop which is secured to the gate 282 adjacent the opening 302 in that gate by a fastener 329, all as shown by FIG. 4. The fastener 329 can be loosened to permit adjustment of the position of the stop 328 relative to the opening 302 and can then be tightened to hold that stop fixed relative to that opening. The lower end of a lever 330 is rotatably secured to the gate 282 by the pin 306; and the upper end of that lever carries a pin 332 which extends forwardly through the slot 304 in that gate and extends into the slot 199 in the center wall 182 of the sub-frame. As a result, that pin spans the coin passageway which is defined by the center wall 182 and by the gate 282.

The numeral 334 denotes a coin-sizing cradle which has a hub 335; and that hub is telescoped over the pivot 316 carried by the gate 282. That hub and that pivot coact to permit guided rotation of the cradle 334 relative to the gate 282. The cradle 334 has coin-intercepting fingers 336 and 338; and the finger 336 extends for wardly through the slot 310 in the gate 282 and into the slot 198 in the center wall 182, while the finger 338 extends forwardly through the slot 312 in the gate 282 and into the slot 200 in that center wall. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, those fingers are spaced apart sufficiently to enable quarters, nickels, pennies and dimes to pass between them but are spaced close enough to each other to enable them to intercept and hold half dollars. A counterweight 339 is provided for the cradle 334, and'that counterweight biases that cradle for rotation to the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 4, but can permit that cradle to be rotated to the position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 4.

The numeral 340 denotes a feeler which has a portion that extends through openings in the spaced sides of the U-shaped bracket 318 and which serves as a pivot for that feeler. That feeler has a coin-engaging upper end which is in register with the slot 308 in the gate 282. A weight 342 is secured to the lower end of that feeler, and that weight biases the coin-engaging upper end of that feeler for movement through the slot 308 and into the passageway defined by the gate 282 and by the center wall 182. Normally, however, the arm of the cradle 334 which supports the finger 338 will engage the feeler 340 and hold the grain-engaging upper end of that feeler out of that coin passageway. As an inserted coin causes the cradle 334 to rotate to the dotted-line position in FIG. 4,

. that arm of that cradle will free the feeler 340 and permit the coin-engaging upper end of that feeler to engage and feel that coin. The feeler 340 is substantially identical, in structure, function and operation, to the feeler shown in Gottfried Letters Patent No. 2,711,243. which were granted June 21, 1955 for Apparatus For Rejecting Apertured Coins.

The numeral 344 denotes an elongated plate which has ears 346 and 348 adjacent the left-hand end thereof, as that plate is viewed in FIG. 4. Those ears are disposed between the ears 286 and 288 on the gate 282, and those ears have vertically-directed openings therein. As a result, the pivot 290 can hold the gate 282 and the plate 344 for rotation relative to the center wall 182 and relative to each other. The plate 344 can either rotate with the gate 282 or can rotate independently of that gate, as desired. The plate 344 has a flange 350 adjacent the free end thereof, and that flange extends forwardly at a right angle to the plane of the plate 344. That flange is in register with, but does not normally extend into, the slot 308 in the gate 282; because the pin 254 limits movement of that plate toward that gate. A helical torsion spring 352 encircles part of the pivot 290 and has one end thereof lodged within a notch 353 in the flange 186 of the subframe while having the other end thereof lodged in an opening, not shown, in the plate 344. That spring urges the forward face of the plate 344 into engagement with the rear face of the pin 254. However, that spring can yield to permit the plate 344 to be rotated away from the pin 254. Further, the gate 282 can be rotated toward the plate 344, as during a scavenging operation, to permit the slot 308 to telescope over the flange 350 on the free end of that plate.

Thenumeral 354 denotes a second helical torsion spring which encircles another part of the pivot 290. One end of the spring 354 is lodged within the notch 353 in the flange 186 on the sub-frame while the other end of that spring is lodged within an opening, not shown, in the gate 282.. The spring 354 urges the gate 282 into a position parallel to the center wall 182 of the sub-frame, but it can yield to permit rotation of that gate away from that center wall. A shoulder 225 on the pin 224 limits movement of the free edge ofthe gate 282 toward the center wall 182 of the sub-frame, and thereby normally holds the gate 282 in parallel relation with that center wall.

The numeral 356 denotes a leaf spring which has an opening in the upper end thereof that is intended to accommodate the pin 192 of the sub-frame. Fasteners 358 secure the lower end of that leaf spring to the outer face of the flange 24. adjacent the upper end of that flange. In doing so, those fasteners permit the upper end of the leaf spring 356 to flex readily relative to that flange. As a result, it is possible to flex the upper end of the leaf spring 356 sufiiciently to facilitate telescoping of the opening in that leaf spring over the pin 192, and thereby releasably hold the sub-frame in assembled relation with the main frame of the slug rejector.

The sub-frame with its gate 282 and its plate 344 can be handled as a unit and can be readily assembled with.

and disassembled from the main frame of the slug rejector. Whenever that sub-frame is assembled with that main frame, the skirt 218 on the center wall 182 will be above and in register with the funnel-like portion 86 of the wall 80. The ear 252 on the lever 250 will be above and in register with the ear 134 on the slide 132; and the funnelforming member 268 will be above and in register with the coin entrance for the multi-coin slug rejector, which will have the horizontally-extending pins thereof held by the slots 30, 34, 42 and 44. The cradle 334 will be in the position shown by solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 4; and the lever 236 will be in the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, and hence the gate 282 and the plate 344 will be in the positions shown by FIG. 5. The lever 320 will be in the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 8, and the plungers 264 and 274 will have the confronting ends thereof closer together than indicated by FIG. 9. The slide 132 will be in the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, the weight-testing member 160 will be in the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, and the separator 159 will be in the position shown by FIG. 1.

If a quarter, a nickel, a penny or a dime, or if another coin or slug having the diameter of a quarter, a nickel, a penny or a dime, is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 188 and 184, that coin or slug will fall downwardly between the fingers 336 and 338 of the cradle 334 and will enter the funnel-forming member 263. That coin will then be guided by that funnel-forming member into the entrance of the multi-coin slug rejector which has the horizontallyextending pins thereof held by the slots 39, 34, 42 and 44. That coin or slug will be suitably tested by that multi-coin slug rejector and will be directed to the appropriate accepted coin outlet or to the returned coin outlet. As such a slug or coin moves downwardly from the funnel defined by the portions 138 and 284, it may pass wholly to the right of the pin 332 which is carried by the upper end of the lever 330, as that pin is viewed in FIGS. 4 and 7; and in such event that slug or coin will be unable to engage the finger 338 on the cradle 334. If that coin were to engage the pin 332, that pin would force that coin to move to the right and away from the finger 338; and such movement would be desirable because it would keep that slug or coin from engaging that finger and riding it toward the runway defined by the ledge 294. As a result, wether a coin or slug having the size of a quarter, a nickel, a penny or a dime falls so it unaidedly moves to the right of the finger 338 or falls so the pin 332 moves it to the right of the finger 338, such a coin or slug will move downwardly between the fingers 336 and 338 of the cradle 334 and will pass into the funnel-forming member 268.

If a half dollar is inserted into the funnel defined by the portions 183 and 284, it Will move downwardly and engage the pin 332 on the lever 33%) and the shoulder 225 on the pin 224; and that half dollar will force the pin 332 and the lever 33% to move to the left in FIGS. 4 and 7. When that pin has moved far enough to permit the half dollar to pass downwardly beyond it, that half dollar will move down and engage the upper edges of the fingers 336 and 338 of the cradle 334. That cradle will then respond to the weight of that half dollar to rotate in the counter clockwise direction in FIGS. 4 and 7, and it will rotate to the dotted-line position shown in FIG. 4, As that cradle so rotates, the arm which carries the finger 338 will move away from, and will free, the feeler 34% and the coinengaging upper end of that feeler will engage that half dollar; but that coin-engaging upper end will not halt the movement of that half dollar. The arm which carries the finger 333 will then engage the reentrant end 322 of the lever 326 and will rotate that lever from the solid-line position to the dotted-line position of FIG. 8. That rotation will cause the inclined left-hand end 324 of that lever to move into the passageway defined by the gate 232 and the center wall 182; and that rotation can be accomplished easily because no coin is held Within that passageway in register with the inclined end 324.

As the cradle 334 approaches the dotted-line position in FIG. 4, the half dollar will successively tilt away from the finger 336 and the finger 333 and will fall onto the ledge 294. That half dollar will then roll into the space between the bracket 27d and the pole faces of the magnet 228, and it will then engage the confronting ends of the plungers 264 and 274. The rim of that half dollar will be wider than the normal distance between the confronting ends of those plungers, and hence the leading edge of that rim will force those plungers further apart, and thereby additionally compress the initially-compressed springs 266 and 276, as it passes between those confronting ends. Almost immediately after that leading edge of that rim passes beyond the confronting ends of 'the plungers 26 i and 274, those confronting ends will move closer to each other and will engage the relieved portions of the cameo-type engravings on the faces of the half dollar; and as those confronting ends of those plungers move toward each other, the pressure exerted by the springs 266 and 276 will be reduced. Further portions of the cameo-like engravings on the faces of the half dollar will cause the confronting ends of the plungers to again move further apart and will thus again cause the springs to become additionally compressed. However, the greatest distance between corresponding oppositely-directed portions of the cameo-like engravings on the faces of the half dollar is less than the normal thickness of the rim of that half dollar; and hence the plungers will not be forced to move as far apart by those cameo-like engravings as they were .by the leading edge of the rim of that half dollar. This means that while an initial substantial braking force is applied to the leading edge of the rim of the half dollar, that braking force will subsequently be less. Consequently, the half dollar will be able to roll along the surface of the ledge 294 despite the braking forces applied to it by the plungers 264 and 274,

The thickness of the rim of the half dollar is greater than the width of the slot defined by the center wall 182 and the reduced-width portion 295 of the ledge 294; and hence the lower portion of the half dollar will not slip down into that slot. This means that the half dollar will continue to roll along the ledge 294 until the trailing edge of the rim thereof engages theconfronting ends of the plungers 264 and 274. Those confronting ends will apply an appreciable braking force to that trailing edge of that rim; but, by the time that braking force is applied, the center of mass of the half dollar will be disposed to the left of the lower end of the ledge 294, as that ledge is viewed in FIG. 7. That disposition of that center of mass will enable gravity to apply such a substantial downwardly-directed force to the half dollar that the braking force applied to the trailing edge of the rim of that half dollar will be unable to prevent movement of that half dollar downwardly and away from the ledge 294. As a result, the half dollar will fall downwardly onto the inclined ledge 216 and will then be guided by the skirt 218 to the funnel-like portion 86.

Either shortly before or shortly after the trailing edge of the rim of the half dollar engages the confronting ends of the plungers 264 and 274, that half dollar will engage the inclinedtrailing end 324 of the lever 320. As that half dollar continues to move, it will rotate the lever 320 back to the solid-line position shown in FIG. 8; and such rotation is easily accomplished because the cradle 334 will have responded to the counterweight 339 to rotate back to its initial position.

As the half dollar passes downwardly beyond the funnel-like portion 86, and enters the coin passageway between the wall St) and the center wall 20, that half dollar will engage the runway which is defined by the ledges 50 and 52 and the member 126. That runway will cause that half dollar to move toward the magnetic field of the magnet 74; and, as the half dollar rolls beyond the trailing edge of the member 126, that half dollar will fall downwardly. The magnetic field of the magnet 74 will retard the rate of movement of the half dollar, while that half dollar is still supported by the member 126; and that retardation is great enough to cause that half dollar to fall onto the ledge 54-. The upper edge of that ledge is tapered to reduce any tendency of the half dollar to .bounce; and hence that half dollar will roll downwardly toward the weight-testing member 160.

As that half dollar rolls beyond the trailing edge of the ledge 54, that half dollar will engage the pin 164 and start the weight-testing member rotating in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 1. Prior'to the time the weight-testing member 160 is engaged by the half dollar, the coin-engaging member 179 and that weighttesting member will be in the positions shown by FIG. 11; but as the half dollar engages the finger 178, the coinengaging member 170 will rotate until both the fingers 176 and 178 thereof engage that half dollar. At that time the coin-engaging member 170 will have moved to the dotted-line position in FIG. 11, and the half dollar will be supported by the pin 164 and the fingers 176 and 178. The weight of that half dollar will be great enough to rotate the weight-testing member 160 from the solidline position to the dotted-line position of FIG. 1. The half dollar will remain in engagement with the pin 164 and the fingers 176 and 178 until the center of mass of that half dollar has moved to a position which is disposed to the right of the ear of the separator 150 which extends rearwardly through the opening 120, as that separator is viewed in FIG. 1. This means that as the half dollar successively falls away from the fingers 176 and 178 and from the pin 164, that half dollar will be guided by the separator 150 and the ledge 60 to the accepted coin chute.

As the half dollar rolls out of engagement with the weight-testing member 160, that member will return to the solid-line position shown in FIG. 1. As the half dollar moves beyond the rearwardly-extending ear on the separator 150, that separator will return to the position shown in FIG. 1.

'The path which the half dollar follows, as it moves through the passageway defined by the sub-frame and the gate 282 and as it moves through the passageway definedby the wall 80 and the center wall 20, is denoted by the dashed line 370 in FIG. 4. As the half dollar moves along that path, it is given an over-size test by the pins 224 and 332,,it is given an under-size test by the cradle 334, it is tested for the presence of a hole by the feeler 340, it is tested for the presence of magnetic material by the magnet 228, and it is tested for surface conformation and thickness by the plungers 264 and 274. That half dollar also is tested forits electrical resistivity by the magnet 74 and it is tested for weight by the weight-testing member 160.

In the event a coin or slug, that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 188 and 284, is appreciably lighter in weight than a half dollar, that coin or slug will be unable to overcome the bias, provided by the counterweight 339, for the cradle 334. As a result, that coin or slug will come to rest in that cradle and will 'not be transferred to the runway 294. That coin or slug can subsequently be freed from the cradle 334 by downward movement of the lever 236; because such downward movement will enable thebowed surface 244 on that lever to engage the arcuate face of the ear 293 and thereby cam the gate 282 away from the center wall 182 of the sub-frame. As that gate is so cammed, the flange 350 on the plate 344 will force that coin or slug out of engagement with the fingers 336 and 338 of that cradle; and that coin or slug will then fall downwardly into a rejected coin chute, not shown, which will be located below the cradle 334 and below the multi-coin rejector.

In the event a coin or slug, that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 188 and 284, is appreciably larger in diameter than a half dollar, that coin or. slug will engage the pins 224 and 332 and force the pin 332 to move toward the left-hand ends of the slots 304 and 199, as those slots are viewed in FIGS. 4 and 7. As the lever 330 reaches the stop 328, the pin 332 will be stopped and will coact with the pin 224 to intercept and hold that coin or slug. That coin or slug can be subsequently freed from the pins 224 and 332 by downward movement of the lever 236; because such downward movement will enable the bowed surface 244 on that lever to engage the arcuate face of the ear 293 and thereby cam the gate 282 away from the center wall 182 of the sub-frame. As that gate is so cammed, the flange 358 on the plate 344 will forcethat coin or slug out of engagement with the pins 224 and. 332; and that coin or slug will then fall down- 7 wardly into a rejected coin chute, not shown, which will 20 be located below the cradle 334 and below the multi-coin rejector.

V The diameter of the smallest over-sized coin which is to be rejected in this manner can be determined by appropriate setting of the stop 328. Loosening of the fastener 329 will permit the stop 328 to be moved closer to, or further away from, the initial position of the lever 330; and that movement will either decrease or increase the permissive movement of the lever 338, and thus of the pin 332. One usable setting of the stop 323 is shown in FIG. 4.

In the event a coin or slug, that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 188 and 284, is appreciably smaller in diameter than a half dollar, that coin or slug will fall downwardly between the fingers 336 and 338 of the cradle 334 and will pass into the coin entrance of the multi-coin slug rejector which is mounted below the subframe. In this way, such a coin or slug is kept from er:- tering upon and moving along the path 370 for half dollars.

In the event a coin or slug, that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 188 and 284, has the same diameter as a half dollar but is made of magnetic metal, that coin or slug will be transferred by the cradle 334 to the runway 294 and will enter the space between the magnet 228 and the bracket 270. The magnetic field of that magnet will apply such holding forces to that coin or slug that the said coin or slug will come to rest and will be unable to continue to roll along the runway 294.

That coin or slug can subsequently be freed from the subframe by pressing downardly on the lever 236; because that lever will cause the bowed portion 244 thereof to engage the arcuate face of the ear 2'93 and thereby force the gate 282 away from the center wall 182 of the subframe. As that lever moves downwardly, it will cause the pin 242 to move downwardly and thereby rotate the wiper blade 280 from the solid-line position to the dottedline position of FIG. 7; and as that wiper blade so moves it will force any coin or slug held by the magnet 228 to pass to the funnel-like member 268. As the lever 236 moves downwardly, it will also cause the lever 250 to move downwardly; and the ear 252 on that lever will cause the slide 132 to move downwardly until the ear 134 on that slide causes the scavenging system of the multicoin slug rejector to move to scavenging posit-ion. This means that the coin or slug will be able to pass to the rejected coin chute that is below the funnel-like member 268 and that is also below the multi-coin slug rejector.

In the event a coin or slug, that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portion 188 and 284, has plane faces and is as thick as or thicker than a half dollar, that coin or slug will be transferred to the runway 294 by the cradle 334 and will pass through the space between the magnet 228 and the bracket 270. If that coin or slug is not unduly thick, it will be able to force the confronting ends of the plungers 264 and 274 apart and to pass into the space between those ends. As that coin or slug forces those plungers apart, the springs 266 and 276 will apply braking forces to that coin or slug, and those braking forces will be large enough to bring that coin or slug to rest while it is still supported by the runway 294. That coin or slug can subsequently be freed from the plungers 264 and 274 and the runway 294 by pressing down on the lever 236, thereby causing the bowed surface 244 on that lever to engage the arcuate face of the ear 293 and cam the gate 282 away from the center wall 182. The downward movement of the lever 236 also will enable the downwardly-bent end 248 of the flange 238 of that lever to engage the ear 232 on the lever 230, and thereby force that lever to move in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1. That lever will, whenever a coin or slug is held by the plungers 264 and 274, be disposed to the right of the solid-line position shown in FIG. 1; and, as the down- Wardly-bent end 248 of the flange 238 on the lever 236 engages the ear 232 on the lever 230, that downwardlybent end will successively force the lever 23% to pass to the solid-line position and then to the dotted-line position in FIG. 1. As that lever so moves, the rearwardly-extending ear 234 thereon will force the coin or slug held by the plungers 264 and 274 to move to the left in FIG. 1, and hence into a position where the wiper blade 23%) can force that coin or slug to move toward the funnel-forming member 258. That wiper blade will force that coin or slug far enough toward the funnel-forming member 268 to enable that coin or slug to fall downwardly through that funnel-forming member, and thence to the rejected coin chute which is disposed below that funnel-forming member and below the multi-coin rejector.

If, while the coin or slug is held by plungers 264 and 274 and runway 294, the patron who inserted that coin or slug tries to free that coin or slug for movement beyond those plungers, as by joggling lever 236 or by applying sharp blows to the coin-actuated device in which the slug rejector is mounted, the gate 282 can move away from the center wall 182. That movement can widen the slot, formed by that center wall and the reducedwidth portion 295 of the runway 294, sufficiently to enable the lower part of the periphery of that coin or slug to move down into that slot. Thereafter that slot will positively hold that coin or slug against movement beyond those plungers; and, in this way, the slug rejector provided by the present invention keeps thick coins or slugs from being accepted. Any coin which has the lower part of the periphery thereof lodged within the slot, formed by the center wall 182 and the reduced-width portion 295 of the runway 294, can be directed to the rejected coin chute by downward movement of the lever 236. Spe cifically, that downward movement will cause the gate 282 to move away from the center wall 132, will cause the downwardly-bent end 243 of the flange 238 to cause the lever 230 to move and thereby force the coin or slug to move into the path of the wiper blade 284), and will cause that wiper blade to direct that coin or slug toward the funnel-forming member 268.

During the time a coin or slug is held by the plungers 264 and 274 and the runway 294, a further coin or slug can not be caused to engage that coin or slug and apply forces to it which would force it to move toward the accepted coin chute; because the lever 32% will have the re-entrant end 322 thereof in position to block rotation of the cradle 334. Specifically, as long as a coin or slug is held by the plungers 2&4 and 274 and the runway 294, the inclined left-hand end 324 of the lever 32-9 will be held out of the coin passageway between the gate 282 and the center wall 182 and the reentrant end 322 of that lever will be held in the path of that arm of the cradle 334 on which the finger 333 is mounted. That end will coact with that arm to prevent rotation of the cradle 334 to the coin-delivering position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 4. This means that if a further coin or slug is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 183 and 234, while a prior coin is held by the plungers 264 and 274 and the runway 294, that further coin will be held by the cradle 334; and that cradle will be held against rotation to coin-releasing position. The prior coin and the further coin can subsequently be released for movement to the rejected coin chute by downward movement of the lever 236.

In the event a coin or slug, that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 188 and 234, has an electrical resistivity which is appreciably higher than that of a half dollar, that coin or slug will be retarded to a lesser extent than would a half dollar; and that coin or slug will follow the path indicated by the numeral 372 in FIG. 4. Specifically, that coin or slug will pass to the righthand side of the ledge 54 as that ledge is viewed in FIG. 4, and will fall to the rejected coin chute which has the upper end thereof in register with the space intermediate the flange 22 and the trailing edge of the ledge 58. As a result, any coin having an electrical resistivity which 22 is apprecaibly higher than that of a half dollar will pass directly to that rejected coin chute.

In the exent a coin or slug that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 183 and 284, is of annealed copper of high purity, and thus has an electrical resistivity which is appreciably less than that of a half dollar, that coin or slug will be given a retardation greater than that of a half dollar; and hence that coin or slug will fall downwardly onto the ledge 54 and be directed toward the weight-testing member 160. Such a coin or slug will have a specific gravity appreciably smaller than that of the alloy of which half dollars are made; and while that coin or slug will be heavy enough to rotate the weight-testing member in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 1, that coin or slug will not be heavy enough to rotate that weight-testing member far enough to enable that coin or slug to pass to the accepted coin chute. Instead, that coin or slug will be able to rotate that weight-testing member just far enough to enable that coin or slug to free itself fall downwardly to the lefthand side of the rearwardly-extending ear the separator 159, as that separator is viewed in FIG. 1 that separator and the ledge 58 will, thereafter, cause that coin or slug to pass to the rejected coin chute. The path of such a coin or slug is denoted by the numeral 374 in FIG. 4.

A coin or slug of annealed copper of high purity could be made as heavy as a half dollar, but such a coin or slug would be intercepted and held by the plungers 264 and 274 and the runway 294. This means that although such a coin or slug could be accepted by slug rejectors relying upon eddy-current testing, and could even be accepted by slug rejectors relying upon eddy-current testing plus a weight test, such a coin or slug will not be accepted by the slug rejector of the present invention.

In the event a slug, that is introduced into the funnel defined by the portions 188 and 284, is made of lead and has an insert of magnetic metal in one face thereof, that slug will be transferred to the runway 294 by the cradle 334. If that magnetic insert faces away from the magnet 228, that slug will not be intercepted and held by that magnet but, instead, will pass tothe runway 52 and will roll toward the magnet 74. Because that magnteic insert faced away from the magnet 228, it will also face away from the magnet 74; and that magnetic insert will be unable to coact with the magnet 74 to appreciably retard that slug. Consequently, that slug will follow the path 372 in FIG. 4 to the rejected coin chute. If the magnetic insert faces toward the magnet 228, it would also face toward the magnet 74, but that magnetic insert will not be able to approach that magnet 74 because the magnet 228 will intercept and hold that slug. In these ways, the slug rejector provided by the present invention will reject a slug that is made of lead and that has an insert of magnetic metal in one face thereof.

It will be noted that the magnet 228 is disposed immediately adjacent the runway 294, as shown by FIG. 7, but that the magnet 74 is spaced an appreciable distance away from the runway member 126, as shown by FIG. 4. The disposition of the magnet 228 immediately adjacent the runway'294 is desirable because it will enable that magnet to intercept any magnetic coin or slug, no matter how large or small it is, that rolls along that runway. The spacing of the magnet 74 an appreciable distance away from the runway member 126 is desirable because it will enable that magnet to generate appreciable eddy currents in large-diameter coins such as half dollars while keeping that magnet from generating appreciable currents in lesser-diameter coins or slugs. Because appreciable eddy current will not be generated in those lesser-diameter coins or slugs, those coins or slugs will be able to pass between the flange 22 and the ledge 54, and thereby pass directly to the rejected coin chute. .As a result, it will not be necessary to scavenge such coins or slugs from the weight-testing member 160. The magnet 74 is spaced so far from the upper surface of the member 23 126 that the geometric center of a half dollar will not extend appreciably, if at all, above the bottom edges of the pole faces of that magnet. This means that the geometric centers of all lesser-diameter coins or slugs will be spaced below the bottom edges of the pole faces of that magnet, and will thus have no appreciable eddy currents generated within them.

Small diameter coins or slugs are not intended, and will usually not be permitted, to roll along the runway 294 or the roll along the member 126; but it is conceivable that a patron may at some time be able to get a small diameter coin or slug to roll along the runway 294 or to roll along the member 126. magnets 228 and 74 will keep any such coin or slug from being accepted.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, a portion of a slug rejector which is very similar to the slug rejector of FIG. 1 is shown: and FIG. 12 is a view that is generally similar to FIG. 4 while FIG. 13 is a View that is generally similar to FIG. 1. The slug rejector of FIGS. 12 and 13 base. center wall 20, a flange 24, and a flange 22, not shown. Ledges 50, 52 and 54 are formed on the center wall 20, and those ledges are similar to the similarly-numbered ledges in FIGS. 1 and 4. Further ledges 58 and 60 are provided on the center wall 20, and those ledges are similar to the similarly-numbered ledges in FIGS. 1 and 4.

A number of spacers 78, which are similar to the similarly-numbered spacers in FIGS. 1 and 4, are secured to the front face of the center wall 20; and fasteners 79 releasably extend through openings in a wall 380 and seat in those threaded openings to releasably hold that wall in fixedly spaced relation with the center wall 20.

The Wall 380 is very similar to the wall 80 in FIGS. 1 and 4having a large notch 82, an ear 84, a funnellike portion 85, not shown, slots 88, 90 and 92, three circular openings 94, 96 and 98, opening 100, and arcuate slot 102. 104, 106 and 108, an ear 110, a slot 112, ears 114 and 116, ledge 118, and opening 120. The wall 380 differs from the wall 80 in having a large, generally-rectangular opening 382 therein; and that opening is intermediate the openings 96 and 98. The opening 382 has the left-hand edge thereof disposed to the right of the normal position of the finger 176 on the coin-engaging member 170, as

that opening and that finger are viewed in FIG. 12..

The slug rejector of FIGS. 12 and 13 has a verticallydirected slide 384; and that slide is very similar to. the vertically-directed slide 132. The slide 132 has an ear 140, whereas the slide 384 has two cars 386 and 388. The ears 386 and 388 are disposed a distance above the position which the ear 140 on the slide 132 normally occupies-the ear 140 normally being immediately adjacent the inclined upper edge of the weight-testing memher 160, whereas the ears 386 and 388 are spaced a distance above that inclined upped edge. The normal spacing between the car 388 and the inclined upper edge of the weight-testing member 160 is large enough to enable the slide 384 to be moved to the lower. end of its path of reciprocation without moving that ear into engagement with that upper edge.

This difierence between the slides 132 and 384' is desirable because it enables the scavenging lever 236, of the slug rejector of FIGS. 12 and 13, to be actuated without causing the slide 384 to rotate the coin-testing member 160 unless that coin-testing member is holding a coin or slug. As aresult, it is impossible for a patron to manipulate the scavenging lever 236, of the slug rejector of FIGS. 12 and 13, and therebyeifect rotation of the weight-testing member 160 at a time when that weighttesting member is not holding a coin or slug. However, whenever a coin or slug is held by the weight-testing member 160, that coin or slugwill be in the path of the car 388 if the coin-engaging member 170 remains in its solid-line position, and the finger 176 will be in the path of that car or in the path of the ear 386if that However, the mounting of the In addition, the wall 380 has slots coin-engaging member moves to or beyond the dottedline position of FIG. 12. In any event, the car 388 or 386 will be able to respond to downward movement of the slide 384 to cause the weight-testing member to rotate. All of this means that while the weight-testing member 160 of the slug rejector of FIGS. 12 and 13 cannot be rotated by actuation of the scavenging lever 236 prior to the time it intercepts and holds a coin or slug, that weight-testing member can be ,fully rotated toward coin-releasing position by actuation of that scavenging lever after a coin or slug has been intercepted and held by it.

When the weight-testing member 160 is rotated by downward movement of the vertically-directed slide 384, that weight-testing member will be rotated just far enough to cause the coin or slug held thereby to successively roll away from the fingers 176 and 178 and the pin 164 and then fall to the ledge 58. That ledge will then direct that coin or slug toward therejected coin chute; and will thereby prevent the acceptance of coins or slugs which do not have sufiiicent weight to rotate the weighttesting member 160 far enough to eifect their acceptance. In this respect, the weight-testing member 160 of FIGS. 12 and 13 is similar to the similarly-numbered member in FIGS. 1-11; because the latter member will respond to movement of the slide 132 to move just far enough to cause a slug or coin to pass to the rejected coin chute.

The slug rejector of FIGS. 12 and 13 also differs from the slug rejector of FIG. 1 in having a member 392 instead of the member 125. The member 392 differs from the member 126 in having the projection 394 thereon. That projection is intended to deflect any coins or slugs, having electrical resistivities appreciably smaller than the electrical resistivity of the alloy of which half dollars are made, toward the space between the upper end of the ledge 54 and the flange 22 of the slug rejector. Specifically, if a slug or coin of annealed copper of high purity rolls along the runway which includes the ledges 50 and 52 and the member 392, that slug or coin will tend to fall rather sharply toward the ledge 54 as it leaves the upper edge of the member 392; and such a coin or slug could strike the projection 394 and be deflected to the right of the upper end of the ledge 54, as that ledge is viewed in FIG. 12. When this happens, that coin or slug will pass directly to the rejected coin chute, rather than fall downwardly onto the ledge 54 and be directedto that rejected coin chute by the weight-testing member 160, the separator 15%, and the ledge 58. The projection 394 is made a part of the member 392 so it can move with it; and this enables the present invention to provide desirable rejection of coins or slugs, having electrical resistivities that are appreciably larger or are appreciably smaller than the resistivity of the alloy of which half dollars are made, and yet use a fixed magnet 74 and a fixed ledge 54.

FIG. 14 shows part of a slug rejector which utilizes a weight-testing member that is different from the weighttesting members of FIGS. 1-13. That slug rejector includes a magnet 74, a ledge 52, a member 392 with a projection 394, a ledge 54, a ledge 58, a bracket 146, and a separator 150. In addition, that slug rejector includes a pivot 400 that rotatably supports a weight testing member 402 and that member has fingers 404 and 406 and a projection 498. The normal position of the weight-testing member 402 is shown by solid lines in FIG. 14, and the position which that Weight-testing member assumes when it releases a half dollar is indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 14.

The weight-testing member 402 of FIG. 14 differs from the weight-testing members 160 of FIGS. l-l3 in having just two coin-receiving portions. Those portions are the fingers 484 and 406; and those fingers are spaced apart sufiiciently to enable almost one half of a half dollar to move into the concave recess bounded by those fingers. The weight-testing member 402 also diflfers from the weight-testing members 169 of FTGS. 1-13'in having the projection 4498; and that projection constitutes a coinengaging surface which acts upon, and is acted upon, by any coin or slug that rolls out of the concave recess in the weight-testing member 462. The projection 49% is spaced further from the pivot 4% than is either of the fingers 4&4 and 4%; and hence a coin or slug acting upon that projection will provide the maximum possible rotative couple for the Weight-testing member 462, and that projection will apply the maximum possible rotative lateral thrust to that coin or slug. The overall result is that the projection 4G8 helps cause light-weight coins to fall to the left of the rearwardly-extending ear on the separator 15% in FIG. 14 and to engage the ledge 58 and roll toward the rejected coin chute, while half dollars coact with that projection to rotate the weight-testing member 4%2 far enough in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 14 to enable them to fall to the right of the rearwardlyextending ear on the separator 15%) and then pass to the accepted coin chute.

A suitable scavenging system, not shown, will be provided for the slug ejector of FIG. 14; and that scavenging system will include a vertically-directed slide which will be generally comparable to the slide 384 in FIGS. 12 and 13. That scavenging system will preferably not be able to rotate the weight-testing member 482 unless and until that weight-testing member is supporting a coin or slug in the concave recess thereof, but will be able to rotate that weight-testing member fully whenever that weight-testing member is holding a coin or slug.

The slug rejector of FIG. 14 differs from the slug rejectors of FIGS. 1-13 in that the weight-testing member 492 is disposed within the passageway for coins. It will be noted that the weight-testing members 169 of FIGS. 1l3 are disposed forwardly of the walls 8e; and 33d, and that only the pins 164 and the coinengaging members 179 are disposed within the coin passageways. However, the weight-testing member 482 operates effectively in its location within the coin passageway.

The weight-testing member 4532 has the fingers 4&4 and 4% thereof formed so they diverge from each other to provide a generally V-shaped entrance for the concave recess in that weight-testing member. Such an entrance is desirable because it enables coins or slugs to enter and seat in that recess without bouncing; and any bouncing would be objectionable. The weight-testing members 16% of FIGS. 1-13 obviate bouncing of slugs or coins by having the coin-engaging members 174) rotate from the solid-line position to the dotted-line position in FIG. 11 as those coins or. slugs move into holding ongagement with those weight-testing members.

FIG. 15 shows part of still another slug rejector that is generally similar to the slug rejectors of FIGS. 1l4; and that slug rejector uses still a different weight-testing member. That slug rejector has a ledge 54, a pivot 42%, and a weight-testing member 421 which has a quadrantlike portion 422 and a finger-like portion 424. The upper surface of the finger-like portion 424 and part of the upper surface of the quadrant-like portion 422 have an undulating configuration. A stop 434 normally holds the weighttesting member 421 in the solid-line position of FIG. 15, but that weight-testing member can rotate to or beyond the dotted-line position in FIG. 15. A bracket 423, a separator 432, a pivot 43%), and a ledge 436 are provided which are substantially identical to the bracket 146, the separator 15%, the pivot 149, and the ledge 58 of FIGS. 1 and 4.

In the operation of the slug rejector of FIG. 15 coins or slugs, which have electrical resistivities that are equal to or smaller than the electrical resistivity of the alloy of which half dollars are made, will fall onto the ledge 54 and then roll toward the quadrant-like portion 422 of the weight-testing member 421. If a coin or slug is lighter than a half dollar, that coin or slug will roll along the undulatin upper surface of the weight-testing member 421 and will ride over the rearwardly-extending ear on the separator 432 and fall to the ledge 436. That ledge will then cause that slug or coin to be delivered to the re ected coin chute. However, a half dollar will have sutlicient weight to cause the weight-testing member 421 to rotate to or below the dotted-line position shown in FIG. l5; and that rotation will permit that half dollar to move downwardly below the level of the rearwardlyextending car on the separator 432. That half dollar Will then be free to fall toward an accepted coin chute, not shown, that is located below and to the left of the rearwardly-extending ear on the separator 432.

The undulating configuration on the upper surface of the Weight-testing member 421 is important in slowing down the various coins or slugs sufiiciently to enable the weights of those coins or slugs to be effective in applying rotative forces to that weight-testing member. If the upper edge of the weight-testing member 421 did not have an undulating configuration, the various coins or slugs could roll beyond the right-hand end of the finger-like portion 424 before the weights of those coins or slugs could be effectively tested by that weight-testing member. The weight-testing member 421 must be disposed within the coin passageway, but the weight-testing member operates very effectively within that coin passageway.

A scavenging system will be provided for the slug rejector of FIG. 15; and that scavenging system will preferably have a member that is generally comparable to the stop 142 and that can underlie the finger-like portion 424 and keep that portion from moving down to coinaccepting position. That scavenging system will also preferably have a lever which can sweep a coin or slug, resting atop the Weight-testing member 421, to the right of the rearwardly-extending ear on the separator 432 and thereby enable the ledge 436 to cause that coin or slug to pass to the rejected coin chute.

When a coin or slug engages any of the weight- testing members 169, 462 or 421, the weight of that slug or coin will coast with the weight of that weight-testing member to provide a composite weight; and that composite Weight will provide a rotative couple. As that weight-testing member rotates in response to that rotative couple, the value of that rotative couple will decrease; and this is desirable because it minimizes the possibility that the weight-testing member could carry an underweight coin or slug far enough to enable that coin or slug to enter the accepted coin chute.

Whenever the weight-testing member or the weight testing member 462 is holding a light-weight coin or slug, that weight-testing member will keep a further coin or slug from engaging that light-weight coin or slug and being thereby directed to the accepted coin chute, as by responding to that light-weight coin or slug to move into position to block that coin chute. Specifically, the weight-testing member 169 will respond to a light-weight coin or slug to move to a position intermediate the solid-line and dotted line positions shown by FIG. 1 and will thereby block the accepted coin chute. Similarly, the weight-testing member 492 will respond to a light-weight coin or slug to move to a position intermediate the solid-line and dotted line positions shown by FIG. 14 and will thereby block the accepted coin chute. Whenever the weight-testing member 160 or the weight-testing member 402 is holding a light-weight coin or slug, that weight-testing member will keep a further coin or slug from engaging that lightweight coin or slug and causing that light-weight coin or slug to be accepted, as by enabling the composite mass of that weight-testing member and of that light-weight coin or slug to exceed the mass of that further coin or slug to the extent that the said further coin or slug cannot rotate that weight-testing member sufficiently to permit the lightweight coin or slug to pass to the accepted coin chute. Specifically, the composite mass of a light-weight coin or slug and the weight-testing member 160 or the weighttesting member 4G2 will exceed the mass of a further coin or slug to the extent that the said further coin or slug

Claims (1)

1. 4. A COIN SEPARATOR WHICH HAS A COIN PASSAGEWAY AND WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A PIVOT ADJACENT SAID PASSAGEWAY, (B) A CRADLE THAT IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT AND THAT HAS COIN-RECEIVING FINGERS IN SAID PASSAGEWAY, (C) A RUNWAY IN SAID COIN PASSAGEWAY ADJACENT SAID CRADLE ONTO WHICH COINS OR SLUGS CAN BE TRANSFERRED BY SAID CRADLE, (D) A TESTER THAT IS ADJACENT SAID RUNWAY, (E) A SECOND PIVOT ADJACENT SAID PASSAGEWAY, (F) AND A LEVER THAT IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND PIVOT AND THAT HAS A PORTION THEREOF SELECTIVELY MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID COIN PASSAGEWAY ADJACENT SAID TESTER AND THAT HAS A SECOND PORTION THEREOF SELECTIVELY MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF POSITION ADJACENT SAID CRADLE TO KEEP SAID CRADLE FROM TRANSFERRING, OR TO PERMIT SAID CRADLE TO TRANSFER, A SLUG OR COIN TO SAID RUNWAY, (G) SAID ONE PORTION OF SAID LEVER RESPONDING TO ENGAGEMENT WITH A SLUG OR COIN, PASSING SAID TESTER, TO MOVE OUT OF SAID COIN PASSAGEWAY AND TO CAUSE SAID OTHER PORTION THEREOF TO MOVE INTO SAID POSITION ADJACENT SAID CRADLE AND THEREBY KEEP SAID CRADLE FROM TRANSFERRING A SLUG OR COIN TO SAID RUNEWAY.

Images