US3204131A - Purchase-change device - Google Patents

Purchase-change device Download PDF

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US3204131A
US3204131A US9153861A US3204131A US 3204131 A US3204131 A US 3204131A US 9153861 A US9153861 A US 9153861A US 3204131 A US3204131 A US 3204131A
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clutch
brush structure
coin
test
wall
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Jr Joseph E Wright
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REED ELECTROMECH CORP
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REED ELECTROMECH CORP
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/24Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks with change-giving

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  • This invention relates in general to drive apparatus and release arrangements therefor and more particularly to a drive and release arrangement for a coin changer which is in part under control of apparatus positioned in accordance with a coin deposit.
  • the circumstances under which the present invention arose were founded in an improved coin change apparatus of the type disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,459,008 and 2,923,165 granted Tratsch and Patzer respectively and an article entitled Change-Maker with a Magic Brain appearing in the publication Metal Products Manufacturing in May, 1958.
  • the coin change apparatus referred to comprised a stepping mechanism operated to a position dependent on a coin deposit in an automatic vending machine for totalizing the deposit together with circuits and apparatus for sequentially testing the deposit against the value of an article to be vended. On each test a predetermined coin payout was made if the amount deposited exceeded the cost of the article.
  • Previous coin change apparatus had permitted the automatic vending of articles having respective values and the making of change responsive only to predetermined coin deposits. In the improved coin change apparatus, however, it was possible to automatically vend articles of considerable difference in value responsive to deposits of considerable variance in value.
  • the stepping mechanism was operated to position a pair of contact brushes in accordance with the value of the total coin deposit.
  • One of the brushes was part of a series of spaced apart brushes which were simultaneously stepped to respective positions representing consecutively lower values. Either the one brush or one of its spaced apart series thus was placed in a position which represented the value of the article to be vended.
  • a coin payout drive or coin control apparatus stepped the other of said pair of brushes back to test respective ones of said series of brushes successively. After each test, a coin of predetermined denomination was paid out, until the position of the other or test brush corresponded to the value of the selected article to be vended.
  • the article was then vended, or dispensed, and the entire stepping arrangement, including the brushes, was returned to its original or normal position.
  • This invention eliminates the release problem, while still providing all required brush functions. In essence this is done by utilizing a cam or lever which on rotation in one direction moves a drive clutch axially into engage- .ment with the test brush while a spring located between the drive clutch and test brush aids in the proper engagement thereof. Thereafter a momentary'rotational impulse in the opposite direction transmitted on the test brush being moved to a position corresponding to the article value permits the spring to axiallyretract the clutch from the test brush and immediately reset the drive.
  • a further object of this invention' is the provision of an improved drive and release apparatus for a coin changer.
  • a still further object of this invention is the provision of a coin change or payout comparison test drive which is rotated in one direction to make said test and is released by movement along its rotational axis responsive to an external rotational impulse in the same direction.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the general assembly of the coin deposit totalling and coin payout drive
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the important components of FIG. 1 in greater detail whereby their relationship may be more easily ascertained
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of various components of the coin payout drive arrangement to show their axial relationship
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are respective side and front views of the drive camming element.
  • That arrangement comprises a stepping and reset assembly indicated at 10 for stepping a series of spaced apart brushes, one of which is indicated at 45, and a testing brush indicated at 48 to a position corresponding to the deposit in the vending machine.
  • Commutator or rotor brushes are indicated at 44 and 49 respectively for establishing electrical connections to the respective brushes as may be seen from the aforementioned article.
  • the change control apparatus comprises the motor indicated at 81 together with the drive clutch 70 and the driven clutch 52.
  • the latter are opera-ted by the motor 81 after brushes 45 and 48 are stepped to a position corresponding to the deposit to move the brush 48 back to be compared with the position of the spaced apart brushes 45.
  • a coin of predetermined denomination may be paid out for each step back.
  • brush 48 moves back into a position corresponding to the price of the article to be vended, coin payout is terminated and the article is dispensed or vended. Thereafter all apparatus is returned to normal and it is at this time that the reset arrangement comprising the present invention and indicated generally at 50 is effective.
  • the stepping assembly comprises a 25 solenoid 12, a dime solenoid 14 and a nickel solenoid (not shown), the latter being located behind the solenoid 12 as viewed in FIG. 1.
  • Each is energized only responsive to the deposit of coins of respective denomination for rotating the stepping pawl 22 a distance individually corresponding to the energized solenoid to totalize the deposit.
  • Bracket 16 also carries at its upper end a substantially L shaped bracket 18 whose long leg 19 is arranged parallel to bracket 16 and each is provided with an aligned aperture for rotatably supporting the shaft 20. Details of the arrangements of the components and apparatus along shaft 20 are also seen in FIG. .2.
  • the shaft 20 carries the ratchet 21 which is adapted to be engaged by pawl 22 and to be stepped in acoordance with the movement of pawl 22.
  • the pawl 22 is pivotally carried by an arm 23 which is only seen endwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 and which in turn is carried by the substantially U shaped bracket 25.
  • the bracket 25 is in turn adapted to rotate about shaft 20 and as indicated in FIG. 2 to be engaged at either arms 28 or 29 by the respective solenoids 12 and 14, etc., for rotation about shaft 20.
  • Spring 27 biases pawl 22 toward engagement with the ratchet 21 while spring 26 mounted between post 30 carried by bracket 25 and post 31 carried by bracket 16, biases the bracket 25' for rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right of FIGURE 2.
  • a lever arm 33 is seen whose use as explained in the aforementioned second patent (2,923,165) ensures a proper release operation of the ratchet 21 and attendant apparatus on completion of the vend operation.
  • the ratchet 21 and the shaft 20, of course, are movable in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the right of FIGURE 2 under the impetus of the solenoids acting through the bracket 25 and the pawl 22 and are biased in a clockwise direction by a flat coil spring indicated at 32 in FIG. 2.
  • the ratchet is adapted to be held in any position to which it is stepped by an escapement pawl and other apparatus -(not shown) as it is disposed behind the ratchet 21 and attendent apparatus, but seen and described in the aforementioned patents and article.
  • Brush 45 is intended to illustrate one of a plurality of spaced apart brushes each adapted to make contact wit-h respective printed circuit terminals distributed in an arc about bracket 46 and each representing a different monetary value in predetermined increments.
  • the brush 45 may be one of several which are spacedly attached together.
  • a common terminal is provided for brush 44 to feed current from or to any one of the brushes such as 45.
  • Bracket 46 is suitably supported on bracket 16 and spaced therefrom by the spacer elements 38. It also carries terminals 39 to which external circuits are extended from and to the printed circuit contacts.
  • On the other side of bracket 46 other printed circuit terminals are provided through to which brush 48 extends respective connections to or from the common rotor brush 49. External connections are made to this side of bracket 48 at the terminals likewise indicated at 39.
  • the brushes 48 and 49 are carried by a driven clutch member 52 rotatably mounted on shaft 20.
  • the clutch 52 is provided with a wall 53 perpendicular to the axis of shaft 20' as best seen in FIG. 3, and it carries a toothed peripheral flanges 54.
  • the wall 53 has protruding therefrom in the direction of commutator 42 a pair of spaced apart posts 55 for engaging the brushes 48 and 49 and having therebetween a coiled torsion spring 57 that surrounds the hub element 59 formed on wall 53 as seen in FIG. 2.
  • One end of the torsion spring 57 is affixed to one of the projections 60 while the other end of the spring is affixed to one of the posts 55.
  • the hub element 59 nests in the central recess formed by projections 60 on the commutator 42.
  • the posts 55 normally abut one side of the respective projections 60 formed on the commutator 42.
  • the posts 55 are biased into engagement with the respective projections 60 by the spring 57.
  • this motion is transmitted from the projections 60 through the spring 57 to the posts 55 for moving the driven clutch 52 and the brushes 48 and 49 correspondingly without play.
  • the drive clutch 70 is rotatably carried by a camming element 72 which in turn is adapted to be rotated by shaft 66 as may be seen from the arrangement in FIG. 3.
  • Shaft 66 in turn is adapted to be rotated by motor 81 through an appropriate gear train and the assembly of motor 81, cam 72 and drive clutch 70 is carried by bracket 90.
  • the bracket 90 in turn is carried by and appropriately spaced from brackets 46 and 16 by screws 92 and spacers 94.
  • the drive clutch member 70 is likewise provided with a wall 74 perpendicular to the axis of shaft 66. From this wall a toothed peripheral flange 78 is provided whose teeth are adapted to engage with the teeth in flange 54. As seen in FIG. 2 wall 74 and flange 78 are normally urged away from clutch 52 (toward the left side of FIG- URE 2) by the compression spring 82 which is suitably restrained by the relatively fixed washer and clamp indicated at 83 and 84 respectively on the end of hub 85. This hub 85 is formed on the camming element 72 and rotatably supports the drive clutch 70.
  • a series of three protruding U or V shaped walls 80 are provided whose legs intercept and end at the peripheral of wall 74.
  • the walls 80 normally rest against the flat wall 86 of camming element 72 and as the camming element 72 is of smaller radius than the clutch 80, each wall 80 protrudes beyond the periphery of element 72. This enables certain of the walls 80 to engage with certain spaced apart stops 89 carried by the bracket 90.
  • Three stops 89 are provided each being carried by bracket 90 at approximately 120 apart.
  • Cam 72 also carries a series of spaced apart wedges or lever walls 96 each normally nesting between a-separate pair of walls 80 on clutch 70. Walls 96 each have one face perpendicular to the wall 86, however, the opposite face 98 slopes out from wall 86 at an acute angle therefrom.
  • a step or somewhat flat portion 99 of the approximate width of wall 80 is formed in face 98 to provide a support surface for wall 80. Step 99 is then extended to form an inclined face 97 substantially parallel to face 98, and as may be already seen he faces 97 and 98 act as a lever in moving the clutch 70 along the axis of shaft 66.
  • a deposit is made of coins of various denomination corresponding to or of greater value than the article to be vended.
  • the 25 solenoid 12, the solenoid 14 and the nickel solenoid are operated either alone or successively dependent on the number and value of coins deposited.
  • Each operates the bracket 25 through an angular displacement corresponding to the operated solenoid so that pawl 22 drives the ratchet 21 counter-clockwise (as viewed from the right of FIGURE 1) through a corresponding arc.
  • shaft 20 is likewise rotated in a similar direction, and it drives the series of five brushes such as 45 to a corresponding position, wherein the five brushes make contact with corresponding. printed circuit terminals on bracket 46.
  • driven clutch 52 and brush 48 are rotated through the spring 57 in a similar direction to make contact with a printed circuit terminal on its side of bracket 46.
  • the first of the five brushes such as 45 and brush 48 come to rest at a position corresponding to the value of the total deposit, and thereafter the person desiring a particular article operates a key corresponding to that article.
  • a circuit is then completed for initiating coin payout if the deposit was of greater value than the article to be dispensed. At such time motor 81 is energized.
  • Wall 80 and clutch 70 thereafter ride over step 99 and part way up face 97.
  • clutch 70 rides up face 97 it is disengaged from stop 89 and face 97 now rotatably urges the wall 80 past stop 89, whereafter it drops back to and engages with step 99 under pressure of spring 82.
  • the clutch 70 is thereafter rotatably carried by cam 72. Ordinarily only one stop will be engaged since this amount of rotation in the embodiment shown enables the brush 48 to pass over all of the spaced apart brushes 45. In this connection, it must also be remembered that independent rotation of driven clutch 52 is limited to the peripheral distance between projections 60 since the posts 55 are positioned between the projections.
  • a coin changer for use in driving a test brush structure which is positioned in accordance with the amount of coin deposited in a vending machine, comprising a drive clutch mounted for rotational movement about an axis, means for moving said drive clutch in one direction along said axis into operational engagement with said test brush structure for rotational movement therewith in one direction, and means responsive to separate actuation of said test brush structure in rotational movement for displacement of the clutch axially in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch from operational engagement with said test brush structure.
  • a coin change ascertainment arrangement for use in driving a test brush structure which is positioned in accordance with a coin deposit in a vending machine, comprising a drive clutch mounted for rotation on one axis, means for moving said drive clutch along said axis for engaging said test brush structure responsive to rotation of said clutch in one direction, means for thereafter holding said clutch engaged while said clutch and brush structure are rotated, means for rotating said test brush structure in the opposite direction, and means responsive to movement of the test brush structure in said opposite direction for displacement of the clutch axial-1y in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch and brush struc ture.
  • said means moving said clutch into engagement comprises rotating means for rotating said clutch, a stationary stop for terminating the rotation of said clutch, and a lever wall carried by said rotating means thereafter engaged with said clutch for moving said clutch axially.
  • said means for axial displacement of said clutch in the opposite direction comprises a spring normally urging said clutch out of engagement with said test brush structure.
  • a coin change maker for use in a vending machine having articles of various values and adapted to operate a test brush structure to a position corresponding to the total coin deposit preparatory to vending one of said articles, the improvement comprising means operated after said deposit for engaging With and repositioning said test brush structure to another position corresponding to the difference between said coin deposit and .the value of said article, and means normal-1y biasing said test brush structure for operation inone direction and arranged to automatically release said engaged means responsive to said test brush structure being in said other position.
  • a coin change maker for use in a vending machine having articles of various values and adapted .to operate a test brush structure to a position corresponding to the total coin deposit preparatory to vending one of said ar ticles, the improvement comprising means operated for engaging with .and repositioning said .test brush structure to another position corresponding to the difference between said coin deposit and the value of said article and for thereafter disengaging from said test brush structure, said means comprising a rotatable clutch arranged for axial movement in one direction to engage said brush structure, means normally urging said clutch to move axially in another direction, means for driving said clutch in said one direction responsive to its rotation, and means operated for rotating said test brush structure in another direction responsive to it being in said other position whereupon said normally urging means is operated to move said clutch in said other direction.

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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Description

Aug. 31, 1965 WRIGHT, JR 3,204,131
PURCHASE-CHANGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Joseph E Wn'g/z/ Jr. BY
Aug. 31, 1965 J. E. WRIGHT, JR 3,204,131
PURCHASE-CHANGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,204,131 PURCHASE-CHANGE DEVICE Joseph E. Wright, Jr., Rockford, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reed Electromech Corporation, Rockford, 'III., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 91,538
i 17 Claims. (Cl. 307-112) This invention relates in general to drive apparatus and release arrangements therefor and more particularly to a drive and release arrangement for a coin changer which is in part under control of apparatus positioned in accordance with a coin deposit.
The circumstances under which the present invention arose were founded in an improved coin change apparatus of the type disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,459,008 and 2,923,165 granted Tratsch and Patzer respectively and an article entitled Change-Maker with a Magic Brain appearing in the publication Metal Products Manufacturing in May, 1958. The coin change apparatus referred to comprised a stepping mechanism operated to a position dependent on a coin deposit in an automatic vending machine for totalizing the deposit together with circuits and apparatus for sequentially testing the deposit against the value of an article to be vended. On each test a predetermined coin payout was made if the amount deposited exceeded the cost of the article.
Previous coin change apparatus had permitted the automatic vending of articles having respective values and the making of change responsive only to predetermined coin deposits. In the improved coin change apparatus, however, it was possible to automatically vend articles of considerable difference in value responsive to deposits of considerable variance in value.
, Thus in the improved change apparatus the stepping mechanism was operated to position a pair of contact brushes in accordance with the value of the total coin deposit. One of the brushes was part of a series of spaced apart brushes which were simultaneously stepped to respective positions representing consecutively lower values. Either the one brush or one of its spaced apart series thus was placed in a position which represented the value of the article to be vended. Responsive to the selection of the desired article a coin payout drive or coin control apparatus stepped the other of said pair of brushes back to test respective ones of said series of brushes successively. After each test, a coin of predetermined denomination was paid out, until the position of the other or test brush corresponded to the value of the selected article to be vended. The article was then vended, or dispensed, and the entire stepping arrangement, including the brushes, was returned to its original or normal position.
The requirement that a brush be stepped independently by either the stepping mechanism or the coin payout drive and that it be stepped selectively both with and without the others, created a number of complications in that the separate drives and associated apparatus had to be selectively interconnected with the brush. But this was only oneafacet of the problem in that the release of such apparatus either requires that separate release arrangements be provided, which is both expensive and difficult to synchronize, or that an excessive load be thrown on the release arrangement normally provided for the stepping mechanism.
This invention eliminates the release problem, while still providing all required brush functions. In essence this is done by utilizing a cam or lever which on rotation in one direction moves a drive clutch axially into engage- .ment with the test brush while a spring located between the drive clutch and test brush aids in the proper engagement thereof. Thereafter a momentary'rotational impulse in the opposite direction transmitted on the test brush being moved to a position corresponding to the article value permits the spring to axiallyretract the clutch from the test brush and immediately reset the drive.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simple economical release arrangement for a drive apparatus.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a release arrangement for a coin change apparatus, which in part functions to aid in the engagement of said change apparatus with a selectively driven component.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a coin payout drive arrangement which is selectively engaged for rotating a test brush responsive to the axial movement of said drive in one direction and is disengaged therefrom by axial movement in another direction.
A further object of this invention'is the provision of an improved drive and release apparatus for a coin changer.
A still further object of this invention is the provision of a coin change or payout comparison test drive which is rotated in one direction to make said test and is released by movement along its rotational axis responsive to an external rotational impulse in the same direction.
With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form or arrangement and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of this invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
FIG. 1 illustrates the general assembly of the coin deposit totalling and coin payout drive;
FIG. 2 illustrates the important components of FIG. 1 in greater detail whereby their relationship may be more easily ascertained;
FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of various components of the coin payout drive arrangement to show their axial relationship; and
FIGS. 4 and 5 are respective side and front views of the drive camming element.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the general assembly of the totalizing arrangement and change payout or control apparatus may be seen. That arrangement comprises a stepping and reset assembly indicated at 10 for stepping a series of spaced apart brushes, one of which is indicated at 45, and a testing brush indicated at 48 to a position corresponding to the deposit in the vending machine. Commutator or rotor brushes are indicated at 44 and 49 respectively for establishing electrical connections to the respective brushes as may be seen from the aforementioned article.
The change control apparatus comprises the motor indicated at 81 together with the drive clutch 70 and the driven clutch 52. The latter are opera-ted by the motor 81 after brushes 45 and 48 are stepped to a position corresponding to the deposit to move the brush 48 back to be compared with the position of the spaced apart brushes 45. A coin of predetermined denomination may be paid out for each step back. When brush 48 moves back into a position corresponding to the price of the article to be vended, coin payout is terminated and the article is dispensed or vended. Thereafter all apparatus is returned to normal and it is at this time that the reset arrangement comprising the present invention and indicated generally at 50 is effective.
The stepping assembly comprises a 25 solenoid 12, a dime solenoid 14 and a nickel solenoid (not shown), the latter being located behind the solenoid 12 as viewed in FIG. 1. Each is energized only responsive to the deposit of coins of respective denomination for rotating the stepping pawl 22 a distance individually corresponding to the energized solenoid to totalize the deposit.
The solenoids 12 and 14, etc., together with the plug assembly 36 for establishing connections thereto and to other circuit components (not shown) are appropriately mounted on the bracket 16 and the right angle brackets 13 and 17 carried thereby are used for suitable support. Bracket 16 also carries at its upper end a substantially L shaped bracket 18 whose long leg 19 is arranged parallel to bracket 16 and each is provided with an aligned aperture for rotatably supporting the shaft 20. Details of the arrangements of the components and apparatus along shaft 20 are also seen in FIG. .2.
The shaft 20 carries the ratchet 21 which is adapted to be engaged by pawl 22 and to be stepped in acoordance with the movement of pawl 22. The pawl 22 is pivotally carried by an arm 23 which is only seen endwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 and which in turn is carried by the substantially U shaped bracket 25. The bracket 25 is in turn adapted to rotate about shaft 20 and as indicated in FIG. 2 to be engaged at either arms 28 or 29 by the respective solenoids 12 and 14, etc., for rotation about shaft 20. Spring 27 biases pawl 22 toward engagement with the ratchet 21 while spring 26 mounted between post 30 carried by bracket 25 and post 31 carried by bracket 16, biases the bracket 25' for rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right of FIGURE 2. In addition a lever arm 33 is seen whose use as explained in the aforementioned second patent (2,923,165) ensures a proper release operation of the ratchet 21 and attendant apparatus on completion of the vend operation. The ratchet 21 and the shaft 20, of course, are movable in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the right of FIGURE 2 under the impetus of the solenoids acting through the bracket 25 and the pawl 22 and are biased in a clockwise direction by a flat coil spring indicated at 32 in FIG. 2. The ratchet is adapted to be held in any position to which it is stepped by an escapement pawl and other apparatus -(not shown) as it is disposed behind the ratchet 21 and attendent apparatus, but seen and described in the aforementioned patents and article.
Also carried by shaft 20 is the commutator 42 which in turn carries the brushes 44 and 45. Brush 45 is intended to illustrate one of a plurality of spaced apart brushes each adapted to make contact wit-h respective printed circuit terminals distributed in an arc about bracket 46 and each representing a different monetary value in predetermined increments. By way of example, the brush 45 may be one of several which are spacedly attached together. In addition a common terminal is provided for brush 44 to feed current from or to any one of the brushes such as 45. Bracket 46 is suitably supported on bracket 16 and spaced therefrom by the spacer elements 38. It also carries terminals 39 to which external circuits are extended from and to the printed circuit contacts. On the other side of bracket 46 other printed circuit terminals are provided through to which brush 48 extends respective connections to or from the common rotor brush 49. External connections are made to this side of bracket 48 at the terminals likewise indicated at 39.
The brushes 48 and 49 are carried by a driven clutch member 52 rotatably mounted on shaft 20. The clutch 52 is provided with a wall 53 perpendicular to the axis of shaft 20' as best seen in FIG. 3, and it carries a toothed peripheral flanges 54. The wall 53 has protruding therefrom in the direction of commutator 42 a pair of spaced apart posts 55 for engaging the brushes 48 and 49 and having therebetween a coiled torsion spring 57 that surrounds the hub element 59 formed on wall 53 as seen in FIG. 2. One end of the torsion spring 57 is affixed to one of the projections 60 while the other end of the spring is affixed to one of the posts 55. The hub element 59 nests in the central recess formed by projections 60 on the commutator 42.
The posts 55 normally abut one side of the respective projections 60 formed on the commutator 42. The posts 55 are biased into engagement with the respective projections 60 by the spring 57. When commutator 42 is rotated under control of shaft 20 this motion is transmitted from the projections 60 through the spring 57 to the posts 55 for moving the driven clutch 52 and the brushes 48 and 49 correspondingly without play. It can, therefore, be seen that as the shaft 20 turns in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from the right side of FIGURE 3) the driven clutch 52 moves in a like direction but that the driven clutch 52 is capable of in dependent movement in the opposite direction against the torsion spring 57 since the posts 55 are located on the clockwise side of the projections 60. Hence, the peripheral distance between the sides of projections 60 limits the amount of independent rotation of driven clutch 52.
Adapted to engage with but normally separated from the driven clutch 52 is the drive clutch 70. The drive clutch 70 is rotatably carried by a camming element 72 which in turn is adapted to be rotated by shaft 66 as may be seen from the arrangement in FIG. 3. Shaft 66 in turn is adapted to be rotated by motor 81 through an appropriate gear train and the assembly of motor 81, cam 72 and drive clutch 70 is carried by bracket 90. The bracket 90 in turn is carried by and appropriately spaced from brackets 46 and 16 by screws 92 and spacers 94.
The drive clutch member 70 is likewise provided with a wall 74 perpendicular to the axis of shaft 66. From this wall a toothed peripheral flange 78 is provided whose teeth are adapted to engage with the teeth in flange 54. As seen in FIG. 2 wall 74 and flange 78 are normally urged away from clutch 52 (toward the left side of FIG- URE 2) by the compression spring 82 which is suitably restrained by the relatively fixed washer and clamp indicated at 83 and 84 respectively on the end of hub 85. This hub 85 is formed on the camming element 72 and rotatably supports the drive clutch 70.
On the side of wall 74 that faces camming element 72 a series of three protruding U or V shaped walls 80 are provided whose legs intercept and end at the peripheral of wall 74. The walls 80 normally rest against the flat wall 86 of camming element 72 and as the camming element 72 is of smaller radius than the clutch 80, each wall 80 protrudes beyond the periphery of element 72. This enables certain of the walls 80 to engage with certain spaced apart stops 89 carried by the bracket 90. Three stops 89 are provided each being carried by bracket 90 at approximately 120 apart.
Thus normally compression spring 82 retains drive clutch 70 out of engagement with driven clutch 52 and maintains it in engagement with camming element 72. Walls 80 are then seated against flat wall 86 of the cam or camming element 72. Cam 72 also carries a series of spaced apart wedges or lever walls 96 each normally nesting between a-separate pair of walls 80 on clutch 70. Walls 96 each have one face perpendicular to the wall 86, however, the opposite face 98 slopes out from wall 86 at an acute angle therefrom. A step or somewhat flat portion 99 of the approximate width of wall 80 is formed in face 98 to provide a support surface for wall 80. Step 99 is then extended to form an inclined face 97 substantially parallel to face 98, and as may be already seen he faces 97 and 98 act as a lever in moving the clutch 70 along the axis of shaft 66.
When camming element 72 and clutch 70 are rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the right side of FIGURE 3), the stops 98 on bracket 90 each engage one of the legs of the U shaped walls 80 to prevent further rotation of clutch 70 on the hub 85. Thereafter as cam 72 continues to rotate face 98 acts as a lever against the other leg of each U shaped wall 80 to move the drive clutch 70 parallel to the axes of aligned shafts 66 and 20 against the pressure of compression spring 82. That leg of wall 80 thereafter engages the step 99, which is at slightly below the level of stop 89 and therefore wall 80 continues to move for a slight distance up face 97 which parallels the slope of face 98 when wall 80 engages stop 89. It is then raised to the level of stop 89 whereafter face 97 acts to rotate the clutch 78 across the top of stop 89. Pressure of compression spring 82 then forces clutch 70 back down face 97 but as wall 80 is then aligned with step 99 it engages therewith and is restrained from further movement along the axis of shaft 66. At that time wall 80 and clutch 70 are firmly seated against step 99 by the pressure of compression spring 82. As the walls 80 move along the face 98 of camming element 72 onto the step 99 the teeth on flange 78 engage the teeth on driven clutch 52 against the pressure of torsion spring 57. It can, therefore, be seen that when the walls 80 are in contact with the step 99 on camming element 72, that the camming element 72, driving clutch 70 and driven clutch 52 are in operative engagement with one another and rotatable in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right of FIGURE 3.
In operation a deposit is made of coins of various denomination corresponding to or of greater value than the article to be vended. The 25 solenoid 12, the solenoid 14 and the nickel solenoid (not shown) are operated either alone or successively dependent on the number and value of coins deposited. Each operates the bracket 25 through an angular displacement corresponding to the operated solenoid so that pawl 22 drives the ratchet 21 counter-clockwise (as viewed from the right of FIGURE 1) through a corresponding arc. As ratchet 21 rotates, shaft 20 is likewise rotated in a similar direction, and it drives the series of five brushes such as 45 to a corresponding position, wherein the five brushes make contact with corresponding. printed circuit terminals on bracket 46. Likewise driven clutch 52 and brush 48 are rotated through the spring 57 in a similar direction to make contact with a printed circuit terminal on its side of bracket 46. The first of the five brushes such as 45 and brush 48 come to rest at a position corresponding to the value of the total deposit, and thereafter the person desiring a particular article operates a key corresponding to that article. A circuit is then completed for initiating coin payout if the deposit was of greater value than the article to be dispensed. At such time motor 81 is energized.
As the energized motor 81 rotates shaft 66, cam 72 is rotated together with drive clutch 70. Wall 80 on clutch 70 is moved against one of the stops 89 and as cam 72 continues to rotate face 98 on lever wall 96 lifts clutch 70 axially against the pressure of spring 82 so that wall 80 rests upon step 99 to thereby cause the teeth on the driving and driven clutches to engage.
Wall 80 and clutch 70 thereafter ride over step 99 and part way up face 97. As clutch 70 rides up face 97 it is disengaged from stop 89 and face 97 now rotatably urges the wall 80 past stop 89, whereafter it drops back to and engages with step 99 under pressure of spring 82. The clutch 70 is thereafter rotatably carried by cam 72. Ordinarily only one stop will be engaged since this amount of rotation in the embodiment shown enables the brush 48 to pass over all of the spaced apart brushes 45. In this connection, it must also be remembered that independent rotation of driven clutch 52 is limited to the peripheral distance between projections 60 since the posts 55 are positioned between the projections. In any event, this independent rotation of clutch 52 with respect to shaft 20 must be enough to permit the brush 48 to contact all of the contacts which are engaged by the brushes 45. In the meantime the teeth on drive clutch 70 engage the teeth on driven clutch 52, and clutch 52 is rotated therewith. As posts 55 are now being driven away from projections 60, the driven clutch 52 and brushes 48 and 49 are rotated without moving commutator 42 and its brushes 45. As brush 48 rotates back, it successively makes contact with the contact that each one of the brushes 45 is engaging to thereby make a comparison with a different one of the spaced apart brushes 45. Each time brush 48 makes contact with one of the contacts associated with one of the brushes 45, there is completed a circuit for dispensing a nickel, for example, in a well known manner until brush 48 corresponds to one of the brushes 45 which is in a position corresponding to the value of the article to be dispensed. Further coin dispensing and operation of motor 81 are then terminated. The article is then dispensed instead and a circuit completed for enabling restoration of the stepping assembly 10 including ratchet 21 and shaft 20 under control of spring 22.
When the commutator 42 is rotated back towards normal, as aresult of the release of the escapement pawl projection 60 engages post 55 and thus urges clutch 53 in the normal direction (clockwise as viewed from the right of FIGURE 3). This action moves wall off of the step 99 whereupon compression spring 82 operates to disengage the clutch. This lets the commutator return to zero under the impetus of flat coil spring 32 (FIGURE 1). Then spring 82 drives clutch 70 back toward wall 86 along face 98 and when wall 80 engages wall 86 further movement is terminated and the change control or payout apparatus is now ready for another cycle.
In accordance with the above there has been shown and described herein a novel, useful and simple arrangement for automatically engaging and resetting an auxiliary drive arrangement the latter responsive to only an initial impulse transmitted pursuant to the resetting of a primary drive arrangement, but the particular embodiments or forms of the invention described herein are not limitations upon other manners of practicing the invention.
I claim:
1. A coin changer for use in driving a test brush structure which is positioned in accordance with the amount of coin deposited in a vending machine, comprising a drive clutch mounted for rotational movement about an axis, means for moving said drive clutch in one direction along said axis into operational engagement with said test brush structure for rotational movement therewith in one direction, and means responsive to separate actuation of said test brush structure in rotational movement for displacement of the clutch axially in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch from operational engagement with said test brush structure.
2. The arrangement claimed in claim 1 in which a camming element is provided for rotating said clutch in one direction.
3. The arrangement claimed in claim 2 in which said camming element is rotated by a coin payout control motor.
4. The arrangement claimed in claim 1 in which spring means as provided for driving said test brush structure in another direction to rotate said clutch in said other direction.
5. A coin change ascertainment arrangement for use in driving a test brush structure which is positioned in accordance with a coin deposit in a vending machine, comprising a drive clutch mounted for rotation on one axis, means for moving said drive clutch along said axis for engaging said test brush structure responsive to rotation of said clutch in one direction, means for thereafter holding said clutch engaged while said clutch and brush structure are rotated, means for rotating said test brush structure in the opposite direction, and means responsive to movement of the test brush structure in said opposite direction for displacement of the clutch axial-1y in the opposite direction to disengage the clutch and brush struc ture.
6. The arrangement claimed in claim 5 in which said means moving said clutch into engagement comprises rotating means for rotating said clutch, a stationary stop for terminating the rotation of said clutch, and a lever wall carried by said rotating means thereafter engaged with said clutch for moving said clutch axially.
7. The combination claimed in claim 6 in which said clutch is disengaged by said lever wall from said stationary stop responsive to said axial movement.
8. The arrangement claimed in claim 6 in which said lever wall has a platform upon which said clutch is engaged responsive to said axial movement.
9. In the arrangement claimed in claim 8, means for normally urging said clutch into engagement with said platform.
10. The arrangement claimed in claim 8 in which said lever wall platform carries said clutch for rotation about the axis of said clutch.
11. The arrangement claimed in claim 5 in which said means for axial displacement of said clutch in the opposite direction comprises a spring normally urging said clutch out of engagement with said test brush structure.
12. The arrangement claimed in claim 11 in which said spring is mounted axially with said clutch.
13. In the arrangement claimed in claim 6, means for biasing said test brush structure for rotation in said other direction.
14. A coin change ascertainment arrangement for use in driving a test brush structure which is positioned in accordance with a coin deposit in a vending machine comprising a drive clutch mounted for rotation on one axis, means for moving said drive clutch along said axis in either direction for engaging said test brush structure responsive to rotation in one direction and for disengaging said test brush structure responsive to rotation in another direction, means for rotating said drive clutch in one direction responsive to the selection of an article in said vending machine, and means for freeing said drive clutch and test brush structure for independent rotational movement when the test brush structure returns to a position conforming to the value of the article selected.
15. A coin change ascertainment arrangement for use in driving a test brush structure which is positioned in accordance with a coin deposit in a vending machine comprising a drive clutch mounted for rotation on one axis, rotatable means normally engaging said drive clutch and rotating said clutch in one direction responsive to the selection of an article in said machine, a stationary stop arranged to thereafter engage said clutch, a lever wall rotatably carried by said rotatable means for then engaging said clutch to move said clutch along its axis and for then disengaging said clutch from said stationary stop and rotatably engaging said test brush structure, and means for rotating said brush structure towards starting position, means responsive to rotation of said brush structure to cause said clutch to engage said stationary stop when the test brush reaches a position conforming to the value of the article selected, and means thereafter operatively responsive to the rotational movement of said test brush structure for disengaging the clutch and test brush structure.
16. A coin change maker for use in a vending machine having articles of various values and adapted to operate a test brush structure to a position corresponding to the total coin deposit preparatory to vending one of said articles, the improvement comprising means operated after said deposit for engaging With and repositioning said test brush structure to another position corresponding to the difference between said coin deposit and .the value of said article, and means normal-1y biasing said test brush structure for operation inone direction and arranged to automatically release said engaged means responsive to said test brush structure being in said other position.
17. A coin change maker for use in a vending machine having articles of various values and adapted .to operate a test brush structure to a position corresponding to the total coin deposit preparatory to vending one of said ar ticles, the improvement comprising means operated for engaging with .and repositioning said .test brush structure to another position corresponding to the difference between said coin deposit and the value of said article and for thereafter disengaging from said test brush structure, said means comprising a rotatable clutch arranged for axial movement in one direction to engage said brush structure, means normally urging said clutch to move axially in another direction, means for driving said clutch in said one direction responsive to its rotation, and means operated for rotating said test brush structure in another direction responsive to it being in said other position whereupon said normally urging means is operated to move said clutch in said other direction.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,459,008 1/49 Tratsch 74-126 2,639,014 5/53 Manschauer 19267 2,684,741 7/54 Gregory 19267 2,869,697 1/59 Mars-hall 19267 2,906,383 9/59 Gabriel 19267 2,923,165 2/60 Patzer 74126 LLOYD McCOLLUM, Primary Examiner.
MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Examiner.

Claims (1)

17. A COIN CHANGE MAKER FOR USE IN A VENDING MACHINE HAVING ARTICLES OF VARIOUS VALUES AND ADAPTED TO OPERATE A TEST BRUSH STRUCTURE TO A POSITION CORRESPONDING TO THE TOTAL COIN DEPOSIT PREPARORY TO VENDING ONE OF SAID ARTICLES, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING MEANS OPERATED FOR ENGAGING WITH AND REPOSITIONING SAID TEST BRUSH STRUCTURE TO ANOTHER POSITION CORRESPONDING TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAID COIN DEPOSIT ANDTHE VALUE OF SAID ARTICLE AND FOR THEREAFTER DISENGAGING FROM SAID TEST BRUSH STRUCTURE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE CLUTCH ARRANGED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION TO ENGAGE SAID BRUSH STRUCTURE, MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID CLUTCH TO MOVE AXIALLY IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CLUTCH IN SAID ONE DIRECTION RESPONSIVE TO ITS ROTATION, AD MEANS OPERATED FOR ROTAATING SAID TEST BRUSH STRUCTURE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION RESPONSIVE TO IT BEING IN SAID OTHER POSITION WHEREUPON SAID NORMALLY URGING MEANS IS OPERATED TO MOVE SAID CLUTCH IN SAID OTHER DIRECTION.
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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4291556A (en) * 1979-05-04 1981-09-29 Whirlpool Corporation Automatic washer transmission shift mechanism
US6036241A (en) * 1998-03-11 2000-03-14 Maytag Corporation Locking mechanism for an appliance door
US20100181783A1 (en) * 2007-06-29 2010-07-22 Itw Metalflex, Druzba Za Proizvodnjo Delov Za Gospodinjske Aparate, D.O.O. Electromagnetic blocking device for the door of an electric household applicance, in particular the door of a washing machine

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US2450098A (en) * 1945-03-24 1948-09-28 Universal Oil Prod Co Mercury vacuum still
US2639014A (en) * 1950-08-25 1953-05-19 Niagara Machine & Tool Works Fluid and spring operated clutch
US2684741A (en) * 1948-10-08 1954-07-27 Bendix Aviat Corp Coupling device
US2869697A (en) * 1954-08-18 1959-01-20 Tiltman Langley Ltd Power transmission clutch
US2906383A (en) * 1954-07-10 1959-09-29 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Clutch coupling
US2923165A (en) * 1957-11-08 1960-02-02 Patten Company Coin control device

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2450098A (en) * 1945-03-24 1948-09-28 Universal Oil Prod Co Mercury vacuum still
US2684741A (en) * 1948-10-08 1954-07-27 Bendix Aviat Corp Coupling device
US2639014A (en) * 1950-08-25 1953-05-19 Niagara Machine & Tool Works Fluid and spring operated clutch
US2906383A (en) * 1954-07-10 1959-09-29 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Clutch coupling
US2869697A (en) * 1954-08-18 1959-01-20 Tiltman Langley Ltd Power transmission clutch
US2923165A (en) * 1957-11-08 1960-02-02 Patten Company Coin control device

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4291556A (en) * 1979-05-04 1981-09-29 Whirlpool Corporation Automatic washer transmission shift mechanism
US6036241A (en) * 1998-03-11 2000-03-14 Maytag Corporation Locking mechanism for an appliance door
US20100181783A1 (en) * 2007-06-29 2010-07-22 Itw Metalflex, Druzba Za Proizvodnjo Delov Za Gospodinjske Aparate, D.O.O. Electromagnetic blocking device for the door of an electric household applicance, in particular the door of a washing machine
US8556308B2 (en) * 2007-06-29 2013-10-15 Itw Metalflex, Druzba za Proizvodnjo Delov za Gospondinjske Aparate, D.O.O. Electromagnetic blocking device for the door of an electric household appliance, in particular the door of a washing machine

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