US3204743A - Adapter for coin slide - Google Patents

Adapter for coin slide Download PDF

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US3204743A
US3204743A US346787A US34678764A US3204743A US 3204743 A US3204743 A US 3204743A US 346787 A US346787 A US 346787A US 34678764 A US34678764 A US 34678764A US 3204743 A US3204743 A US 3204743A
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slide
coin
interceptor
starter
movement
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US346787A
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Mitchell A Hall
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/02Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks actuated mechanically by coins, e.g. by a single coin
    • G07F5/06Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks actuated mechanically by coins, e.g. by a single coin wherein two or more coins of different denominations are required for each transaction

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  • This invention relates to a coin slide and attachment therefor, whereby operation of a dispensing machine may be controlled in a manner such that several complete actuations of the coin slide, accompanied by a like number of coins, are required in order to produce a single dispensing operation of the dispensing machine.
  • a dispensing machine As usually constructed, a dispensing machine is designed to dispense a product or a service, upon the tripping of a lever, the closing of an electrical switch, or the movement of a plunger or the like, imparted by the slide element of a coin slide.
  • the simplest and most popular form of coin slide is made to accept a single coin, which coin if genuine, permits one full advancement and retraction of the slide element. If, for example, the dispensing machine controlled by such coin slide is one which dispenses a seventy-five cent commodity, the coin slide might be one which accepts three quarters (quarterdollars), before becoming operative to initiate delivery of a commodity from the dispensing machine.
  • the deposit of a quarter into the coin slide will permit a normal full advancement and retraction of the slide element, but may not initiate delivery of a commodity.
  • the deposit of a second such coin into the coin slide will permit another normal slide element movement, but without effecting a delivery. If the cost of the commodity to be dispensed is seventy-five cents, the deposit of a third quarter into the coin slide will permit a normal full advancement and retraction of the slide element, this time accompanied by delivery of the commodity from the dispensing machine.
  • the device of the invention is subject to slight alteration for effecting delivery of a commodity or service upon deposit of any plural number of coins of a given denomination, in succession.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an improved coin slide and attachment therefor, for controlling the operation of a dispensing machine with great accuracy and reliability.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide means of a simple and highly dependable nature, for altering the coin-acceptance characteristics of a coin-controlled actuator, particularly as to the number of coins required for effecting actuation of a dispensing machine controlled thereby.
  • a further object is to provide improved means for the purpose stated, which will effectively defy efforts to obtain free play, or to jam the mechanism with intent to commit vandalism.
  • Another object is to provide improved means for the purpose stated, which may be quickly and easily adapted to changing coin requirement conditions, with substantial savings of time, labor, and parts costs.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character stated, improved mechanism of great durability which requires a minimum of servicing throughout an extended period of use.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a coin-controlled actuator embodying the present invention, the actuator being shown in the normal inoperative condition with the slide element retracted.
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational viewof the same.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmental top plan view of the actuator, with a firs coin in the slide element, and the slide element about half-way advanced.
  • FIG. 4 ii a view similar to FIG. 3, with the slide element further advanced.
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, with the slide element an? advanced and the first coin accepted.
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, the slide element beingabout half-way retracted to impart an initial stepping rotation to an indexing ratchet wheel.
  • FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the ratchet wheel indexed, and the slide element fully retracted for acceptance of a second coin.
  • FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the relationship of parts resulting from deposit and movement of a second coin to fulladvancement, followed by a partial retraction of the slide element to once again step-rotate the indexing wheel, with resultant disposition of an interceptor element to operative position, as in FIG. 12.
  • FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing the slide element fully retracted for reception of a third coin, and the interceptor element in operative position to actuate a dispenser.
  • FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, indicating the relationship of parts occurring after deposit of a third coin, followed by a full advancement and retraction of the slide element and attendant actuation of the dispenser.
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective detail view showing the interceptor element in an inoperative position.
  • FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, showing the interceptor element in operative position.
  • the character 10 indicates a frame or housing in which may be longitudinally reciprocated a slide or slide element 12 having a well or aperture 14 for reception of a coin to be advanced into the housing by movement of the slide element to the right in these drawing views.
  • the forward end 16 of the slide element may be upturned to provide a handle as shown, for reciprocating the slide element manually.
  • the inner or rear end of slide element 12 is indicated at 18.
  • a mounting plate 20 integral with housing 10 serves to mount the assembly upon an upright panel (not shown), which prevents access to the mechanism at the right of 'plate 10, by patrons who are to manipulate the device at the handle end of the slide element.
  • Housing 10 includes the usual coin-testing expedients ordinarily associated with coin slides.
  • the housing carries a pivoted dog or ratchet member urged by a spring 24 onto ratchet teeth carried by the slide member, for preventing retraction of the slide member after a coin has been accepted by the testing devices, this being for the purpose of precluding such slide manipulation as might be resorted to for cheating the machine or obtaining free play.
  • the features above mentioned are of no concern .to the present invention, .and are so well known as to require no detailed explanation here.
  • the inner end 18 of the slide element has fixedly mounted thereon, as by means of screws 25, an indexing device the function of which is to predetermine the number of full advancements of the slide element required for actuating a dispensing machine delivering goods or services.
  • a dispensing machine may be a washer or drier of clothes, or perhaps a dispenser of cigarettes, sandwi ches, cosmetics, or the like. It is considered suflicient for the purpose of this disclosure, to indicate in FIGS. 11 and 12, a starter 26 in the form of a rod or button to be depressed by an interceptor element 28 of the indexing device, for initiating operation of a dispensing machine with which starter 26 is associated, for eitecting delivery of a commodity or service.
  • the slide element will result in actuating the dispenser starter 26.
  • several full advancements of slide element 12, each accompanied by a coin may be required in order to bring about a single dispensing movement of starter 26.
  • the element 26 may be an electric switch requiring actuation in order to effect release of goods or services deliverable by the dispenser.
  • the indexing device carried by the rear end 18 of slide element 12 may comprise a normally fixed platform 30 screwed as at 25 to the slide element in spaced substantial parallelism therewith. The platform accordingly moves with the slide elment at all times.
  • the platform 38 may carry a pair of perforated depending ears 32 spaced apart to serve as bearings for the oppositely extending trunnious 34 of a rocker member 36 (FIGS. 2, 8 and 11).
  • Rocker member 36 may be constructed as a sheet metal stamping, including the oppositely extending trunnious or pintles 34 parallel to a forward edge 38, a pair of integral fingers or tabs 40 and 42 along said edge, and an arm 44 at right angles to edge 38 carrying an outwardly directed pivot pin 46 parallel to trunnions 34.
  • Finger 40 may be turned upwardly and rearwardly to serve as a cam follower (FIG. 11), said follower being rigidly related to rocker member 36 and subject to movement by cams 48 and 50.
  • interceptor element 28 may be moved by the action of earns 48 and 50, from the elevated inoperative position of FIG. 11, to the lowered operative position of FIG. 12.
  • element 28 will strike and move the starter 26 of a dispensing machine, upon full advancement of slide element 12 which carries the entire indexing mechanism of FIG. 12.
  • the interceptor element 28 is elevated to the FIG. 11 position, it is displaced from alignment with starter 26 and will therefore avoid contact with starter 26 whenslide element 12 is moved to a position of full advancement.
  • Pivot 52 may be in the form of a screw anchored in platform 30, which screw passes loosely through ahub 56 in which the inner ends of cams 48 and 58 are fixed, at locations 58.
  • the cams 48 and 58 may consist of resilient arcuate spring leaves which do not flex appreciably in normally functioning to move follower 40 to the FIG. 12 posit-ion. Again with reference to FIG. 12, further counter-clockwise rotation of cam hub 56 will cause follower 40 to leave the free end of cam 48, and the follower then will return to the home position against the side of the hub (FIG. 11), this resulting in lowering the arm 44 and pivot 46, to rotate interceptor element 28 about its pivotal mounting 54 and thereby elevate said interceptor element to the inoperative position of FIG. 11 relative to starter 26.
  • cam follower 40 Movement of cam follower 40 toward hub 56 may be aided by a tension spring 60, FIG. 9, opposite ends of which may be anchored to finger 42, and to a lug 63 struck up from the material of platform 30.
  • the spring normally urges the parts to the FIG. 11 position.
  • Interceptor element 28 is seen to comprise a sheet metal stamping in the form of a lever pivoted at 54 upon platform car 55.
  • the tail end 62 of the lever is provided with an elongate slot 64 receptive of pivot pin 46, thereby effecting a connection whereby rocking movements of member 36 are translated to the interceptor element.
  • the interceptor element may carry an enlarged head 66, formed'by turning at right angles the material of the part, so as to present an area of ample size to contact the dispenser starter 26.
  • An integral ear 68 on the interceptor element performs as a stop which may abut v mounted thereon.
  • Stop 68 in abutting the end of slide member 12, imparts great rigidity to head 66 as the slide advances and projects the head against starter 26.
  • the stop also relieves pivot 46 and arm .44 of injurious strain incident to impingement of head 66 against starter 26, and precludes transmission of strain also to rocker member 36 and the indexing mechanism associated therewith.
  • a ratchet wheel having a plurality of equally spaced peripheral teeth 72, and this wheel is fixed to hub 56 concentrically therewith so that the ratchet wheel and the hub rotate as a unit.
  • Unitary rotation of the hub and ratchet wheel is counter-clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 9, and a spring'actuated dog 74 pivoted at 76 upon platform 38, is adapted to yieldingly engage the ratchet teeth to preclude rotation of the wheel and hub in the opposite direction.
  • Step rotation is effected by a pawl 80, shown as an upturned end of a rod 82, which at the opposite end 84 is anchored upon an upright post 86 fixed to housing or frame 18.
  • a screw 88 driven into the upper end of the post may constitute the anchorage for rod 82.
  • the pawl end of rod 82 extends Well beyond the platform 30 and the inner end'18 of the slide element.
  • the slide element 12 may be advanced by means of handle 16, through the three. stages illustrated by FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, carrying with it the platform 38 and all the parts Pawl 80, however, remains stationary while the platform and ratchet wheel 70 advance past the pawl.
  • slide element 12 has been advanced only slightly, to place platform 30 opposite the pawl 88. Further advancement of the slide element, FIG. 4, drives ratchet wheel 70 against pawl 80, the pawl overriding the teeth of the ratchet wheel without rotating the wheel, since the wheel is held against clockwise rotation by dog 74.
  • the slide element reaches the fully advanced position at which ratchet wheel 70 has moved completely past pawl 80, without in any way activating the indexing mechanism or the interceptor element 28.
  • the slide by this time has deposited the coin in a suitable receptacle beneath housing 10.
  • FIG. 6 shows slide element 12 undergoing retraction from the FIG. 5 position.
  • ratchet wheel 70 in moving with platform 31 ⁇ to the left, has been rotated counterclockwise by reason of pawl 80 engaging one of the ratchet wheel teeth.
  • the ratchet Wheel 70 will have been rotated counter-clockwise by pawl 80 a distance of one ratchet tooth, accompanied by a relocation of cam 48 into position for initiating movement of the follower 40.
  • interceptor member 28 remains in the inoperative elevated position out of alignment with dispensing machine starter 26, so that no actuation of starter 26 resulted from the first cyclic manipulation of the coin slide, although the first coin deposited was retained.
  • the slide element may be again advanced fully by means of handle 16, the second coin dropping into the receptacle aforesaid, and the ratchet wheel being subjected to no rotational movement because of the retentive action of dog 74.
  • pawl 80 will again rotate ratchet wheel 70 one step as in FIGS. 8 and 9, to advance cam 48 against follower 40 and move the follower away from hub 56, thereby to rock arm 44 upwardly for turning interceptor element 28 clockwise about its pivot 54 to the operative position shown in broken lines at 28 of FIG. 2.
  • Such disposition of the interceptor element to operative position places it in alignment with starter 26 so that a third advancement of the slide element, after deposit of a third coin, will drive the interceptor element against starter 26 to initiate a delivery of goods or services from the dispensing machine.
  • the coin slide will accept three coins in succession, permitting three full advancements and retractions of the slide element, in order to initiate a single dispensing function of the dispensing machine.
  • the coins are quarters, the. fee payable for a dispensation of goods or services will be seventy-five cents.
  • the coin denomination three coinswill be required for each dispensing operation.
  • the indexing or ratchet wheel 70 has six teeth, so that six complete cycles of coin slide reciprocation are required for rotating the wheel a full turn.
  • the number of teeth on the wheel may be in creased or decreased, if desired.
  • two earns 48 and 50 are attached to the ratchet wheel by way of hub 56, but the number of cams employed may be increased or decreased as a means of determining the number of coins to be required for achieving a dispensing action.
  • the coin slide operation may be altered for predetermining the numberof coins that will be required for initiating operation of the dispensing machine.
  • the dispensing rate is very easily altered, by incorporating slight changes in the ratchet or indexing unit comprising Wheel 70 and/ or cams 48, 50. This may be accomplished with ease and despatch, by simply removing screw 52 and substituting differing indexing units one for another Whenever the dispensing rate is to be altered.
  • rod 82 carrying pawl 80 is slightly resilient, since it must flex laterally in overriding the teeth of ratchet wheel 70.
  • Pawl 80 may be yieldingly pressed toward the ratchet wheel by a spring wire guide 92 as the slide member traverses the ratchet wheel past the stationary pawl, thus assuring firm contact of the pawl against the teeth to avoid skipping or incomplete step ro tation of the ratchet wheel.
  • Guide 92 may be fixed at one of its ends to platform 30, by means of a screw or other fastener 94.
  • a long tension spring 96 may be provided to assist return of slide element 12 to the retracted position, opposite ends of said spring being anchored to housing 10 at 98, and to slide element 12 at 100.
  • the character 102 of FIG. 2 indicates an inverted dis-shaped spring washer located between the platform and ratchet wheel 70, which serves to frictionally oppose over-rotation of the ratchet wheel in the event of a rapid or sudden retraction of slide element 12.
  • the characters 102 and 104 indicate generally certain coin testing units which are commonly applied to coin slides, and which are of no concern to the present invention.
  • a coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, an interceptor element mounted upon the inner end portion of the slide for bodily movement therewith, to strike and move the starter of the dispensing apparatus for initiating a dispensing operation thereof, means on the slide pivoting the interceptor element for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, a rocker element pivoted upon the slide, said rocker element including a cam follower and an extending arm having a free end, pivot means connecting the free end of said arm to the interceptor element, for imparting rocking movements of the rocker element to the pivoted interceptor element to and from operative position, stepping means including a cam operative upon the follower to rock the rocker element,
  • the interceptor element includes a rigid stop member located remotely from the pivot means connecting the interceptor element to the slide, said stop member adapted to abut the inner end portion of the slide upon movement of the interceptor element to the operative position.
  • a coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and ahousing supporting the slide for lengthwise-reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, an interceptor element mounted upon the inner end portion of the slide for bodily movement therewith, to strike and move the starter of the dispensing apparatus for initiating a dispensing operation thereof, means on the slide pivoting the interceptor element for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, a cam, and an associated rockable cam follower pivoted on the slide, and means operative upon completion of a plurality of operating cycles of the slide, to move the cam into position for rocking the cam follower in one direction of pivotal movement, and simultaneously rocking the interceptor element in the opposite direction of pivotal movement.
  • a coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, an
  • elongate coin-receptive slide and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, an interceptor element pivoted upon the slide for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, a cam, and an associated rockable cam follower pivoted on the slide, and means operative upon execution of a cyclic operation of the slide, to move the cam for rocking the follower in one direction of pivotal movement, while rocking the interceptor element in the opposite direction of pivotal movement.
  • a coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, a platform fixed upon the inner end portion of the slide in spaced substantial parallelism there with, an interceptor element having a pivotal mounting upon one side of the platform for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, said interceptor element having a head end and a tail end flanking the pivotal mounting aforesaid, a rocker element pivoted upon the platform at a location spaced from and in substantial parallelism with the pivot of the interceptor element, said rocker element including an arm having a free end pivoted to the tail end of the interceptor element; whereby rocking of the rocker element is translated to the interceptor element, and means for rocking the rocking
  • a coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, a a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of.
  • a coin-controlled actuator for activating a starter of a dispensing apparatus comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, a housing supporting the slide for longitudinal reciprocation, means under the control of a coil for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and on retraction as -a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, a platform fixed upon and overlying the inner end portion of the slide and having side edges, an interceptor element comprising a substantially flat elongatebody disposed adjacent to one of said side edges of the platform in a plane approximately perpendicular to the platform, a pivot mounting said element on the platform adjacent to the rear end thereof for turning movement in said plane, said element body having a rear end portion extending in the direction of the opposite side of the platform and disposed rearwardly of the platform and forming a starter engaging head, said element body having a forward tailend, a rocker element pivoted on the platform forwardly of said pivot mounting for turning on an axis substantially parallel with the axis of said pivot
  • stop member carried by the interceptor element in spaced relation with and extending in the same general direction as said head and positioned to abut the inner end of the slide upon movement of the interceptor element to operative position.

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Description

Sept. 7, 1965 M. A. HALL ADAPTER FOR COIN SLIDE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1964 INVENTOR.
MITCHELL A. HALL ATTORNEYS Sept. 7, 1965 M. A. HALL 3,204,743
ADAPTER FOR COIN SLIDE Filed Feb. 24, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P6 82 52 80 5o 94 INVENTOR. IO 88 92 M|TCHELL A. HALL BY v TTOR NEYS Sept. 7, 1965 M. A. HALL 3,204,743
ADAPTER FOR COIN SLIDE Filed Feb. 24, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR ...|2 MITCHELL A. HALL ATTOR N EYS United States Patent 3,204,743 ADAPTER FOR CGIN SLIDE Mitchell A. Hall, 445 Rossford Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky. Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. 'No. 346,787 12 'tllaixns. (Cl. 194-92) This invention relates to a coin slide and attachment therefor, whereby operation of a dispensing machine may be controlled in a manner such that several complete actuations of the coin slide, accompanied by a like number of coins, are required in order to produce a single dispensing operation of the dispensing machine.
As usually constructed, a dispensing machine is designed to dispense a product or a service, upon the tripping of a lever, the closing of an electrical switch, or the movement of a plunger or the like, imparted by the slide element of a coin slide. The simplest and most popular form of coin slide is made to accept a single coin, which coin if genuine, permits one full advancement and retraction of the slide element. If, for example, the dispensing machine controlled by such coin slide is one which dispenses a seventy-five cent commodity, the coin slide might be one which accepts three quarters (quarterdollars), before becoming operative to initiate delivery of a commodity from the dispensing machine.
Otherwise stated, the deposit of a quarter into the coin slide will permit a normal full advancement and retraction of the slide element, but may not initiate delivery of a commodity. Likewise, the deposit of a second such coin into the coin slide will permit another normal slide element movement, but without effecting a delivery. If the cost of the commodity to be dispensed is seventy-five cents, the deposit of a third quarter into the coin slide will permit a normal full advancement and retraction of the slide element, this time accompanied by delivery of the commodity from the dispensing machine.
The device of the invention is subject to slight alteration for effecting delivery of a commodity or service upon deposit of any plural number of coins of a given denomination, in succession.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved coin slide and attachment therefor, for controlling the operation of a dispensing machine with great accuracy and reliability.
Another object of the invention is to provide means of a simple and highly dependable nature, for altering the coin-acceptance characteristics of a coin-controlled actuator, particularly as to the number of coins required for effecting actuation of a dispensing machine controlled thereby.
A further object is to provide improved means for the purpose stated, which will effectively defy efforts to obtain free play, or to jam the mechanism with intent to commit vandalism.
Another object is to provide improved means for the purpose stated, which may be quickly and easily adapted to changing coin requirement conditions, with substantial savings of time, labor, and parts costs.
A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character stated, improved mechanism of great durability which requires a minimum of servicing throughout an extended period of use.
The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a coin-controlled actuator embodying the present invention, the actuator being shown in the normal inoperative condition with the slide element retracted.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational viewof the same.
FIG. 3 is a fragmental top plan view of the actuator, with a firs coin in the slide element, and the slide element about half-way advanced.
FIG. 4 ii a view similar to FIG. 3, with the slide element further advanced.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, with the slide element an? advanced and the first coin accepted.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, the slide element beingabout half-way retracted to impart an initial stepping rotation to an indexing ratchet wheel.
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the ratchet wheel indexed, and the slide element fully retracted for acceptance of a second coin.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the relationship of parts resulting from deposit and movement of a second coin to fulladvancement, followed by a partial retraction of the slide element to once again step-rotate the indexing wheel, with resultant disposition of an interceptor element to operative position, as in FIG. 12.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing the slide element fully retracted for reception of a third coin, and the interceptor element in operative position to actuate a dispenser.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, indicating the relationship of parts occurring after deposit of a third coin, followed by a full advancement and retraction of the slide element and attendant actuation of the dispenser.
FIG. 11 is a perspective detail view showing the interceptor element in an inoperative position.
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, showing the interceptor element in operative position.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the character 10 indicates a frame or housing in which may be longitudinally reciprocated a slide or slide element 12 having a well or aperture 14 for reception of a coin to be advanced into the housing by movement of the slide element to the right in these drawing views. The forward end 16 of the slide element may be upturned to provide a handle as shown, for reciprocating the slide element manually. The inner or rear end of slide element 12 is indicated at 18.
A mounting plate 20 integral with housing 10 serves to mount the assembly upon an upright panel (not shown), which prevents access to the mechanism at the right of 'plate 10, by patrons who are to manipulate the device at the handle end of the slide element.
Housing 10 includes the usual coin-testing expedients ordinarily associated with coin slides. At 22 the housing carries a pivoted dog or ratchet member urged by a spring 24 onto ratchet teeth carried by the slide member, for preventing retraction of the slide member after a coin has been accepted by the testing devices, this being for the purpose of precluding such slide manipulation as might be resorted to for cheating the machine or obtaining free play. The features above mentioned are of no concern .to the present invention, .and are so well known as to require no detailed explanation here.
The inner end 18 of the slide element has fixedly mounted thereon, as by means of screws 25, an indexing device the function of which is to predetermine the number of full advancements of the slide element required for actuating a dispensing machine delivering goods or services. Such dispensing machine may be a washer or drier of clothes, or perhaps a dispenser of cigarettes, sandwi ches, cosmetics, or the like. It is considered suflicient for the purpose of this disclosure, to indicate in FIGS. 11 and 12, a starter 26 in the form of a rod or button to be depressed by an interceptor element 28 of the indexing device, for initiating operation of a dispensing machine with which starter 26 is associated, for eitecting delivery of a commodity or service. That is, whenever the element 28 assumes an operative position such as FIG. 12 indicates, a rearward advancement of slide ele ment' 12 and the interceptor element 28 carried thereby, will cause element 28 to strike and move the starter 26 of the dispensing machine, for effecting a delivery of goods or services. Starter 26 of course will not be actuated when element 28 is displaced to the FIG. 11 position, at which it misses contact with starter 26 when advanced. 7
From the foregoing, it may be noted that some, but not all full advancements of the slide element, will result in actuating the dispenser starter 26. In other words, several full advancements of slide element 12, each accompanied by a coin, may be required in order to bring about a single dispensing movement of starter 26. In some cases, the element 26 may be an electric switch requiring actuation in order to effect release of goods or services deliverable by the dispenser.
The indexing device carried by the rear end 18 of slide element 12 may comprise a normally fixed platform 30 screwed as at 25 to the slide element in spaced substantial parallelism therewith. The platform accordingly moves with the slide elment at all times.
At its forward end, the platform 38 may carry a pair of perforated depending ears 32 spaced apart to serve as bearings for the oppositely extending trunnious 34 of a rocker member 36 (FIGS. 2, 8 and 11). Rocker member 36 may be constructed as a sheet metal stamping, including the oppositely extending trunnious or pintles 34 parallel to a forward edge 38, a pair of integral fingers or tabs 40 and 42 along said edge, and an arm 44 at right angles to edge 38 carrying an outwardly directed pivot pin 46 parallel to trunnions 34. Finger 40 may be turned upwardly and rearwardly to serve as a cam follower (FIG. 11), said follower being rigidly related to rocker member 36 and subject to movement by cams 48 and 50.
With reference to FIGS. 2, 11 and 12, it Will be evident that earns 48 and 50, when rotated in counterclockwise direction about pivot 52, will act upon follower 40 .to rock member 36 about its trunnious 34-, 34. Member 36, through a pivotal connection at 46 with interceptor element 28, rocks the interceptor element about its own pivot 54. Thus, interceptor element 28 may be moved by the action of earns 48 and 50, from the elevated inoperative position of FIG. 11, to the lowered operative position of FIG. 12. In the operative position 'of FIG. 12, element 28 will strike and move the starter 26 of a dispensing machine, upon full advancement of slide element 12 which carries the entire indexing mechanism of FIG. 12. When .the interceptor element 28 is elevated to the FIG. 11 position, it is displaced from alignment with starter 26 and will therefore avoid contact with starter 26 whenslide element 12 is moved to a position of full advancement.
Pivot 52 may be in the form of a screw anchored in platform 30, which screw passes loosely through ahub 56 in which the inner ends of cams 48 and 58 are fixed, at locations 58. The cams 48 and 58 may consist of resilient arcuate spring leaves which do not flex appreciably in normally functioning to move follower 40 to the FIG. 12 posit-ion. Again with reference to FIG. 12, further counter-clockwise rotation of cam hub 56 will cause follower 40 to leave the free end of cam 48, and the follower then will return to the home position against the side of the hub (FIG. 11), this resulting in lowering the arm 44 and pivot 46, to rotate interceptor element 28 about its pivotal mounting 54 and thereby elevate said interceptor element to the inoperative position of FIG. 11 relative to starter 26.
Movement of cam follower 40 toward hub 56 may be aided by a tension spring 60, FIG. 9, opposite ends of which may be anchored to finger 42, and to a lug 63 struck up from the material of platform 30. The spring normally urges the parts to the FIG. 11 position.
Interceptor element 28 is seen to comprise a sheet metal stamping in the form of a lever pivoted at 54 upon platform car 55. The tail end 62 of the lever is provided with an elongate slot 64 receptive of pivot pin 46, thereby effecting a connection whereby rocking movements of member 36 are translated to the interceptor element.
The interceptor element may carry an enlarged head 66, formed'by turning at right angles the material of the part, so as to present an area of ample size to contact the dispenser starter 26. An integral ear 68 on the interceptor element performs as a stop which may abut v mounted thereon.
the inner end 18 of slide member 12, FIG. 2, for limiting downward disposition of head 66 to the operative position in alignment with starter 26. Stop 68 in abutting the end of slide member 12, imparts great rigidity to head 66 as the slide advances and projects the head against starter 26. The stop also relieves pivot 46 and arm .44 of injurious strain incident to impingement of head 66 against starter 26, and precludes transmission of strain also to rocker member 36 and the indexing mechanism associated therewith.
At 70 is indicated a ratchet wheel having a plurality of equally spaced peripheral teeth 72, and this wheel is fixed to hub 56 concentrically therewith so that the ratchet wheel and the hub rotate as a unit. Unitary rotation of the hub and ratchet wheel is counter-clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 9, and a spring'actuated dog 74 pivoted at 76 upon platform 38, is adapted to yieldingly engage the ratchet teeth to preclude rotation of the wheel and hub in the opposite direction.
Rotation of ratchet wheel 78 in the counter-clockwise direction is by steps, each step being performed by a retractile movement of slide element 12. Step rotation is effected by a pawl 80, shown as an upturned end of a rod 82, which at the opposite end 84 is anchored upon an upright post 86 fixed to housing or frame 18. A screw 88 driven into the upper end of the post, may constitute the anchorage for rod 82. In the fully retracted condition of slide element 12, illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the pawl end of rod 82 extends Well beyond the platform 30 and the inner end'18 of the slide element.
If now a-proper coin is deposited in wall 14, the slide element 12 may be advanced by means of handle 16, through the three. stages illustrated by FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, carrying with it the platform 38 and all the parts Pawl 80, however, remains stationary while the platform and ratchet wheel 70 advance past the pawl. In FIG. 3, slide element 12 has been advanced only slightly, to place platform 30 opposite the pawl 88. Further advancement of the slide element, FIG. 4, drives ratchet wheel 70 against pawl 80, the pawl overriding the teeth of the ratchet wheel without rotating the wheel, since the wheel is held against clockwise rotation by dog 74. Finally, as in FIG. 5, the slide element reaches the fully advanced position at which ratchet wheel 70 has moved completely past pawl 80, without in any way activating the indexing mechanism or the interceptor element 28. The slide by this time has deposited the coin in a suitable receptacle beneath housing 10.
To complete a cycle "of operation of the coin slide, the slide element is to be retracted to initial position by means of handle 16. FIG. 6 shows slide element 12 undergoing retraction from the FIG. 5 position. It will be noted, from FIG. 6, that ratchet wheel 70 in moving with platform 31} to the left, has been rotated counterclockwise by reason of pawl 80 engaging one of the ratchet wheel teeth. By the time full retraction is reached, as depicted by FIG. 7, the ratchet Wheel 70 will have been rotated counter-clockwise by pawl 80 a distance of one ratchet tooth, accompanied by a relocation of cam 48 into position for initiating movement of the follower 40. It mayhere be noted that interceptor member 28 remains in the inoperative elevated position out of alignment with dispensing machine starter 26, so that no actuation of starter 26 resulted from the first cyclic manipulation of the coin slide, although the first coin deposited was retained.
Now if a second proper coin is inserted in the slide element well 14, the slide element may be again advanced fully by means of handle 16, the second coin dropping into the receptacle aforesaid, and the ratchet wheel being subjected to no rotational movement because of the retentive action of dog 74. However, upon retraction of slide element 12 to initial position this time, pawl 80 will again rotate ratchet wheel 70 one step as in FIGS. 8 and 9, to advance cam 48 against follower 40 and move the follower away from hub 56, thereby to rock arm 44 upwardly for turning interceptor element 28 clockwise about its pivot 54 to the operative position shown in broken lines at 28 of FIG. 2. Such disposition of the interceptor element to operative position, places it in alignment with starter 26 so that a third advancement of the slide element, after deposit of a third coin, will drive the interceptor element against starter 26 to initiate a delivery of goods or services from the dispensing machine.
The slide element 12, having been advanced a third time, is now to be retracted to initial position. In retracting, pawl 80 will engage a tooth of ratchet wheel 70 to step-rotate the wheel from the FIG. 9 position to the position of FIG. 10, thereby displacing cam 48 from engagement with follower 40 and permitting spring 60 to rock the follower toward hub 56. Thus, all parts of the device including interceptor element 28, are restored to original position as indicated by FIGS. 1 and 2, in readiness for a subsequent three-coin dispensing cycle. The only difference is that cam 50 has replaced cam 48 as to position, see FIG. 10.
From the foregoing explanation, it is apparent that the coin slide will accept three coins in succession, permitting three full advancements and retractions of the slide element, in order to initiate a single dispensing function of the dispensing machine. Thus, if the coins are quarters, the. fee payable for a dispensation of goods or services will be seventy-five cents. Whatever the coin denomination, three coinswill be required for each dispensing operation.
In the example illustrated, the indexing or ratchet wheel 70 has six teeth, so that six complete cycles of coin slide reciprocation are required for rotating the wheel a full turn. The number of teeth on the wheel may be in creased or decreased, if desired. Also in the example illustrated, two earns 48 and 50 are attached to the ratchet wheel by way of hub 56, but the number of cams employed may be increased or decreased as a means of determining the number of coins to be required for achieving a dispensing action. Thus, by varying the number of ratchet wheel teeth and/ or the nmber of cams employed, the coin slide operation may be altered for predetermining the numberof coins that will be required for initiating operation of the dispensing machine.
Further by way of example, if one cam 50 were omitted from the structure illustrated by the drawings, six full advancements and retractions' of slide element 12 would be required, entailing the successive deposit of six coins, in order to achieve a single dispensing action of the dispensing machine. p
In view of the foregoing, it is readily appreciated that the dispensing rate is very easily altered, by incorporating slight changes in the ratchet or indexing unit comprising Wheel 70 and/ or cams 48, 50. This may be accomplished with ease and despatch, by simply removing screw 52 and substituting differing indexing units one for another Whenever the dispensing rate is to be altered.
It may here be noted that rod 82 carrying pawl 80 is slightly resilient, since it must flex laterally in overriding the teeth of ratchet wheel 70. Pawl 80 may be yieldingly pressed toward the ratchet wheel by a spring wire guide 92 as the slide member traverses the ratchet wheel past the stationary pawl, thus assuring firm contact of the pawl against the teeth to avoid skipping or incomplete step ro tation of the ratchet wheel.
Guide 92 may be fixed at one of its ends to platform 30, by means of a screw or other fastener 94. A long tension spring 96 may be provided to assist return of slide element 12 to the retracted position, opposite ends of said spring being anchored to housing 10 at 98, and to slide element 12 at 100. The character 102 of FIG. 2 indicates an inverted dis-shaped spring washer located between the platform and ratchet wheel 70, which serves to frictionally oppose over-rotation of the ratchet wheel in the event of a rapid or sudden retraction of slide element 12. The characters 102 and 104 indicate generally certain coin testing units which are commonly applied to coin slides, and which are of no concern to the present invention.
It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
1. A coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus, comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, an interceptor element mounted upon the inner end portion of the slide for bodily movement therewith, to strike and move the starter of the dispensing apparatus for initiating a dispensing operation thereof, means on the slide pivoting the interceptor element for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, a rocker element pivoted upon the slide, said rocker element including a cam follower and an extending arm having a free end, pivot means connecting the free end of said arm to the interceptor element, for imparting rocking movements of the rocker element to the pivoted interceptor element to and from operative position, stepping means including a cam operative upon the follower to rock the rocker element, and means associated with the stepping means for activating the follower upon completion of a plurality of operating cycles of the slide.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interceptor element includes a rigid stop member located remotely from the pivot means connecting the interceptor element to the slide, said stop member adapted to abut the inner end portion of the slide upon movement of the interceptor element to the operative position.
3. A coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus, comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and ahousing supporting the slide for lengthwise-reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, an interceptor element mounted upon the inner end portion of the slide for bodily movement therewith, to strike and move the starter of the dispensing apparatus for initiating a dispensing operation thereof, means on the slide pivoting the interceptor element for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, a cam, and an associated rockable cam follower pivoted on the slide, and means operative upon completion of a plurality of operating cycles of the slide, to move the cam into position for rocking the cam follower in one direction of pivotal movement, and simultaneously rocking the interceptor element in the opposite direction of pivotal movement.
4. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the pivot means for the cam follower, and the pivot means for the interceptor element, are located upon the slide at different distances from the inner end thereof.
5. A coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus, comprising in combination, an
elongate coin-receptive slide, and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, an interceptor element pivoted upon the slide for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, a cam, and an associated rockable cam follower pivoted on the slide, and means operative upon execution of a cyclic operation of the slide, to move the cam for rocking the follower in one direction of pivotal movement, while rocking the interceptor element in the opposite direction of pivotal movement.
6. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the pivot means for the cam follower, and the pivot means for the interceptor element, are located upon the slide in spaced substantial parallelism and at different distances from the slide ends.
7. A coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus, comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, a platform fixed upon the inner end portion of the slide in spaced substantial parallelism there with, an interceptor element having a pivotal mounting upon one side of the platform for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, said interceptor element having a head end and a tail end flanking the pivotal mounting aforesaid, a rocker element pivoted upon the platform at a location spaced from and in substantial parallelism with the pivot of the interceptor element, said rocker element including an arm having a free end pivoted to the tail end of the interceptor element; whereby rocking of the rocker element is translated to the interceptor element, and means for rocking the rocker element following a plurality of cyclic operations of the slide, to dispose the head end of the interceptor element in operative position for activating the starter of the dispensing apparatus.
8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the interceptor element carries a stop near the head end thereof, located to abut the inner end of the slide when the interceptor element is rotated to the operative position.
9. A coin-controlled actuator for activating the starter of a dispensing apparatus, comprising in combination, a a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, and a housing supporting the slide for lengthwise reciprocation, means under the control of a coin for limiting movement of. the slide to one advancement and one retraction as a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, a platform fixed upon the inner end portion of the slide in spaced substantial parallelism therewith, an interceptor element having a pivotal mounting upon the platform for movement to operative and inoperative positions into and out of intercepting relationship with the starter, said interceptor element having a head end and a tail end flanking the pivotal mounting aforesaid, a rocker element pivoted upon the platform at a location spaced from and in substantial parallelism with the pivot of the interceptor element, said rocker element including a cam follower and an extending arm having a free end, means pivoting the free end of said arm to the tail end of the interceptor element, whereby rocking of the rocker element is transmitted to the interceptor ele ment, stepping means on the platform including a cam operative upon the follower to rock the rocker element, and means associated with the stepping means, to move the cam into position for rocking the cam follower upon completion of a plurality of slide operating cycles.
10. The combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein the interceptor element carries a rigid stop member located near the head end thereof in position to abut the inner end of the slide upon movement of the interceptor element to the operative position.
11. A coin-controlled actuator for activating a starter of a dispensing apparatus, comprising in combination, a coin-receptive slide having inner and outer end portions, a housing supporting the slide for longitudinal reciprocation, means under the control of a coil for limiting movement of the slide to one advancement and on retraction as -a cycle of slide operation for each coin deposited therein, a platform fixed upon and overlying the inner end portion of the slide and having side edges, an interceptor element comprising a substantially flat elongatebody disposed adjacent to one of said side edges of the platform in a plane approximately perpendicular to the platform, a pivot mounting said element on the platform adjacent to the rear end thereof for turning movement in said plane, said element body having a rear end portion extending in the direction of the opposite side of the platform and disposed rearwardly of the platform and forming a starter engaging head, said element body having a forward tailend, a rocker element pivoted on the platform forwardly of said pivot mounting for turning on an axis substantially parallel with the axis of said pivot mounting, the rocker element having a rearwardly extending arm and a cam follower finger, a loose pivotal coupling between the rear end of said arm and' said tail end of the interceptor for transmitting rocking movement of the rocker element to the interceptor element, stepping means on the platform' including a cam operative upon the follower to rock the rocker element, and means associated with the stepping means to move the cam into position for rocking the cam follower and the pivoted rocker element upon completion of a predetermined number of slide operating cycles.
12. The combination as set forth in claim 11, with a.
stop member carried by the interceptor element in spaced relation with and extending in the same general direction as said head and positioned to abut the inner end of the slide upon movement of the interceptor element to operative position.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,101 5/86 Hoyt 221-259 461,610 10/91 Herold 221-274 1,446,285 2/23 Bartlett 221-274 3,106,278 10/63 Hall l94-92 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

  1. 5. A COIN-CONTROLLED ACTUATOR FOR ACTIVATING THE STARTER OF A DISPENSING APPARATUS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATE COIN-RECEPTIVE SLIDE, AND A HOUSING SUPPORTING THE SLIDE FOR LENGTHWISE RECIPROCATION, MEANS UNDER THE CONTROL OF A COIN FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDE TO ONE ADVANCEMENT AND ONE RETRACTION AS A CYCLE OF SLIDE OPERATION FOR EACH COIN DEPOSITED THEREIN, AN INTERCEPTOR ELEMENT PIVOTED UPON THE SIDE FOR MOVEMENT TO OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS INTO AND OUT OF INTERCEPTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STARTER, A CAM, AND AN ASSOCIATED ROCKABLE CAM FOLLOWER PIVOTED ON THE SLIDE, AND MEANS OPERATIVE UPON EXECUTION OF A CYCLIC OPERATION OF THE SLIDE, TO MOVE THE CAM FOR ROCKING THE FOLLOWER IN ONE DIRECTION OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT, WHILE ROCKING THE INTERCEPTOR ELEMENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT.
US346787A 1964-02-24 1964-02-24 Adapter for coin slide Expired - Lifetime US3204743A (en)

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US342101A (en) * 1886-05-18 -james t
US461610A (en) * 1891-10-20 Vending apparatus
US1446285A (en) * 1922-07-27 1923-02-20 Bar Trex Mfg Co Inc Device for feeding paper slips
US3106278A (en) * 1962-01-08 1963-10-08 Mitchell A Hall Adapter for coin slide

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US342101A (en) * 1886-05-18 -james t
US461610A (en) * 1891-10-20 Vending apparatus
US1446285A (en) * 1922-07-27 1923-02-20 Bar Trex Mfg Co Inc Device for feeding paper slips
US3106278A (en) * 1962-01-08 1963-10-08 Mitchell A Hall Adapter for coin slide

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