US3249193A - Coin separators - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1966 Original Filed June 6. 1960 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL COIN SEPARATORS 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,249,193

n COIN SEPARATORS May 3, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,249,193

COIN SEPARATORS Original Filed June 6. 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 3, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,249,193

COIN SEPARATORS Original Filed June 6. 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 3, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,249,193

COIN SEPARATORS May 3, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,249,193

COIN SEPARATORS Original Filed June 6. 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,33 f333 T1 7 lb.

May 3, 1966 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,249,193

COIN SEPARATORS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed June 6. 1960 May 3 1965 G. F. ERICKSON ETAL 3,249,193

COIN SEPARATORS Original Filed June 6. 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 May 3, 1966 G. F. ERlcKsoN ETAL 3,249,193

COIN SEPARATORS Original Filed June 6. 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 must occupy as little space as possible.

United States Patent 3,249,193 COIN SEPARATORS Gustav F. Erickson, Kirkwood, and Fred J. Melvin, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Mo., assignors to National Re: iectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Original application June 6, 1960, Ser. No. 34,251, now Patent No. 3,172,522, dated Mar. 9, 1965. Divided and this application Mar. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 357,000

This is a division of our co-pending application Serial No. 34,251 which was led June 6, 1960, and which issued March 9, 1965, as Letters Patent No. 3,172,522.

This invention relates to improvements in coin separators. MoreV particularly this invention relates to improvements in coin-handling devices which can respond to the insertion of coinage to store credits, to actuate a secondary device, and to pay out change.

It is therefore an object of the present invention t0.

. provide an improved coin-handling device that can receive coinage, canstore credits, can actuate a secondary device, and can pay out change.

The merchandising of goods and services by coin-operated vending machines is a growing and increasingly important business. To meet the present and future needs of such a business, the coin-handling devices for such vending machines should be made so they can respond to coins of different denominations, can be set to receive those coins in random sequence, can lbe set to establish different sales prices, and can pay out change in the event the customers deposit coinage having values in excess of the sales prices. Such coin-handling devices avoid `lost sales that would otherwise occur if the cutomers had coins of just one denomination and the coin-handling devices responded only to coins of a diiferent denomination; and they obviate the resistance which customers naturally have to vending machines that require the customers to deposit coins in a prescribed order. In addition, such coin-handling devicesmake it possible for the operators thereof to vary the sales prices from time to time, and they permit different articles with diferent sales prices to be handled simultaneously in the same vending machine. Furthermore, such coin-handling devices do not require the customers to have exact change; instead they permit the customers to deposit coinage exceeding the sales prices, and then they pay out the exact -amount of change that is needed. Such coin-handling devices are needed to increase the number and kind of goods and services that can be provided by coin-operated vending machines. The present invention provides such a coinhandling device; and one embodiment of that coin-handling device can respond to vUnited States pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, it can receive those coins in random and disconnected order, it can be set to establish sales prices ranging from less than a nickel to as much as four dollars and ninety-nine cents, and it can pay out as much as twentyfour cents worth of change. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin-handling device which can respond to coins of different denominations, can be set to receive those coins in random sequence, can be set to establish `different sales prices, and can pay out change.

To be commercially acceptable, coin-handling devices The present invention provides a coin-handling device that is compact and that can fit within a small space; and the creditstoring device of that coin-handling device accounts, in part, for the compactness of that coin-handling device. That credit-storing device has two sections; one section storing credits that are within a particular range, and the other section storing credits that are integral multiples of that range. Thus, in the said one embodiment of the ice coin-handling device of the present invention, one section stores credits in the range from zero through ninety-nine cents, while the other section stores credits-each of which credits corresponds to the full zero through ninetynine cent range of the said one section. Hence, instead of having a credit arm that passes through live hundred separate and distinct positions, thel credit-storing device of the lsaid one embodiment of the present invention has a credit arm that need only pass through 'one hundred positions; and each time it does so in the course of a single credit-storing operation it will cause the credit arm of the second section to advance one step. The great saving in size that this two-section credit-storing device affords should thus be clearly apparent. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a creditstoring device, for coin-h-andling devices that has a section which stores credits that are within a particular range, and that has a second section which stores credits that are integral multiples of that range.

The use of a two-section credit-storing device makes the overall size of each section very much smaller than the size of a one-section credit-storing device of comparable capacity. As a result the said one section, of the said one embodiment of the present invention, can be made relatively large while still being materially smaller than a one-section credit-storing device with a capacity equal to that of the two-section credit-storing device. The relatively larger size of that one section of the two-section credit-storing device is very desirable because it enables the operators of the vending machines to set the sales prices quickly and with absolute accuracy. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a two-section credit-storing device for coin-handling devices wherein one of the sections is made relatively large to facilitate rapid and precise setting of the sales prices.

The compactness of the said one embodiment of the present invention is also due, in part, to the novel cornbination of escrow chamber and coin-aligning hopper therein. The escrow chamber receives and holds coins in random and unoriented arrangements, and those coins can move relatively to each other until they occupy an area of low height. In so moving, the coins can spread out; and thus the escrow chamber of the present invention can be shorter than escrow chambers, of equal capacity, wherein the coins are oriented in face-to-face or edge-toedge relation. The coins in the escrow chamber can be selectively returned to the customer or can be directed to the coin-aligning hopper. That hopper will receive those coins in random and unoriented arrangements, and it will commingle those coins with other coins already in that4 hopper. In doing so, that hopper will enable all of the coins therein to move relative to each other and occupy the lowest possible height. In the hopper, as in the escrow chamber, the random and unoriented arrangements of the coins minimize the total overall height required.- Hence the escrow chamber and coin-aligning hopper'- of the present invention provide large coin-holding capacity within a limited overall vertical distance; and the coin-aligning action of the hopper restores the required oriented arrangement of the coins supplied to the change pay-out system. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an escrow chamber for coin-handling devices that holds coins in random and unoriented arrangements and to provide a coin-aligning hopper that can receive coins from said escrow chamber in random and unoriented times. The irst said plate has the upper edge thereof scalloped away to define coin-agitating projections thereon, and the second said plate has lingers of varying length extending upwardly from it; and those projections and fingers engage and agitate the coins in the hopper. The actions ofr those projections and lingers combine with the alternating rise and fall of the two plates to Iassure rfull and prompt movement of the coins onto the runway of the iirst said-plate; such movement providing the, desired alignment of the coins. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin-aligning hopper with horizontally spaced vertically directed plates that rise and fall alternately; and to scallop the upper edge of one of those plates and to provide fingers on the other of those plates.

The coin-handling device of the present invention can pay out change when the coinage inserted by the customer exceedsthe sales price of the goods or services desired by the customer. That change must be replenished during the operation of the coin-handling device or the changemaking capabilities of that coin-handling device will be limited. The said one embodiment of the present invention avoids any such limitation by using two coin-aligning hoppers and by directing the coins from those hoppers into the change payout system. One of the coinealigning hoppers will receive and. align pennies, while the other coinaligning hopper will receive and align nickels. As a result, an ample supply of pennies and nickels, for changemaking purposes, can be maintained in the coin-handling. device of the present invention. It is therefore an object.

of Athe present` invention to provide coin-handling devices with coin-aligningI hoppers that align and direct coins to change payout systems, thereby replenishing the supply of change for those systems.

The change payout system, of the coin-handling device. provided by the present invention, isnorrnally disconnected from the credit-storing device of that coin-handling device; but it is connected to that credit-storing device when the sales price has been reached. The connection of the change payout system to the credit-storing device is positive and immediate; and once that connection has been set up, the credit-storing device and the change payout system will respond to the establishment of additional credits to act in unison and synchrony. As a result, there is no opportunity for errors in the paying out of change. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a change payout system that is normally disconnected from the credit-storing device of a coin-handling device, but that is positively and immediately connected to that credit-storing device when the sales price is reached.

In the operation of coin-operated vending machines, the customers sometimes insert one or more coins and then change their minds and want to get their money back. The coin-handling device provided by the present invention utilizes a'number of escrow chambers to receive and` hold the deposited coins; and those coins will not be directed toward the lcoin box or change payout system of the coin-handling device until the credit arm reaches the sales price. Consequently, the customer can change his mind at any time prior to the instant the credit farm reaches the sales price. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin-handling device wherein the customer ycan change his mind and recover his 4money at any time prior to the moment the credit arm reaches the sales price.

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

In the drawing and accompanying description several preferred embodiments ofthe present invention are shown or described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description arefor the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a partially brokenaway front 4 2 elevational view of a preferred embodimentof the coinhandling device provided by the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away rear elevational view ofthe coin-handling device of FIG. 1,y

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1 and 2, and it shows` the left hand end of that .device as that device is viewed in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional end view of a portion of the coinhandling device of FIGS. 1*'5, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line r4 4 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a portion of the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 5--5 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a rear sectional View of the `coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 6 6 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a sectional View in plan of the coin-handling device of FIGS.1-3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 7-7 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 is a partially broken-away sectional view in plan of .the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 8 8 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 is afront sectional view of a portion of the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3; some of the parts have been removed and broken raway for clarity of illustration,

FIG. 10 is another frontI sectional view similar to that of FIG. 9; some of `the parts that were removed and broken away in FIG. 9 being shown in full in FIG. 10,

FIG. 11 isa sectional view in plan of a portionof the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the planeindicatcd b ythe line ll-Il in FIG. 9,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion ofthe upper end of a gear segment and of theV two pawls and lever carried thereby,

FIG. 13 is a partially broken-away sectional en'd view of a'portion of the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 13-13 in FIG. 9,

FIG. 14 is apartially broken-away front sectional'view of the upper portion of the coin-handling device of FIGS. l-3,

FIG. 15 is a sectional view in plan of a portion of the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 15-15 in FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 is a sectional view in plan of a portion of the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 16-16 in FIG. 14,

FIG. 17 is a sectional end View of a portion of the coinhandling device of FIGS. 1-3,v and it is Itaken'along the plane indicated by `the line 17-17 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 18 is a fronty sectional view ofthe lower part of the coin-handling device of FIGS. l-3, and it is taken along the plane. indicated by the line 18-18 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 19 is a front sectional view of the central portion of the coin-handling device of FIGS. 1 3 and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 19-19 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 20 is a sectional end view'of a portion of the coinhandling device of FIGS.- 1-3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 20-20 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 21 is a sectional end View of a portion ofthe coinhandling device of FIGS. 1-3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 21--2ll in FIG. 18,

FIG. 22 is a sectional end view similar vto FIG. 2l but it is taken along a plane that is spaced to the left of `the plane indi-cated by the line 21;21 in FIG. 18,

FIG. 23 is a sectional end View similar to FIGS. 21 and 22, but it is taken along a plane spaced to the left of the plane of FIG. 22,

FIG. 24 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 21-23, but it is taken along a plane spaced to the left of the plane of FIG. 23,

FIG. 25 is a sectionalend view similar toFIGS.y 21-24, but it is taken along a plane spaced to the left of the plane of FIG. 24,

lmachines that dispense services.

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic view of the two cam shafts and cams of the change payout system of the coin-handling device provided by the present invention, and

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of one form of electrical circuit that can be used in a vending machine that embodies the coin-handling device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 30 generally denotes a frame for the said preferred embodiment of coin-handling device provided by the present invention. That trame consists of a center wall which has illanges at the opposite side edges thereof. Those flanges are vertically disposed, and they stiften the center wall of the frame 30. -T hat frame will be suitably secured within a vending machine or other secondary device by bolts screws, or clamps.

The coin-handling device of the present invention can be used with many different kinds of secondary devices. For example, that coin-handling device can be used with machines that vend products, and it can be used with In fact, the coin-handling device provided by the present invention can be used with almost any secondary device that is intended to respond to the insertion of coins to provide a desired response. j

The frame 30 is substantial, and it will provide the principal support for the coin-handling device of thepresent invention. The numeral 32 denotes a pla-te that is vertically directed and that has a foot secured to the center wall of the frame 30; and that plate is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That foot can be suitably secured to the center wall of frame 30 by bolts, rivets, welds or the like. The plate 32 will be spaced from but will confront the inner face of the left hand flange of the frame 30, as that frame is viewed in FIG. 2. The plate 32 will coact with that ange of frame 30 to define a space which can receive a slug rejector 38. 'Ih-at slug rejector can be of the type shown in Merral P. Haverstick application Serial Number 370,456 which was tiled July 29, 1953, for Coin Separato-rs. While other slug rejectors could be used, the said slug rejector separates coins :and slugs with a high degree of accuracy. That slug rejector is able to receive coins of four different denominations :and to test and separate those coins before directing those coins to four spaced outlets of the slug rejector. In one embodiment of that slug rejector, pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters can be received, tested, separated and directed to four separate and distinct coin outlets. Furthermore that slug rejector accepts those four coins in random sequence.

A slot 34 is rformed in the plate 32, and a similar slot 34 is formed in the flange at the left hand side of the frame 30; and those slots receive pins 36 which :are carried by the slug rejector 38 adjacent the bottom thereof. The slots 34 have horizontally directed portions and have notches at the bottoms thereof; those notches being contiguous with the horizontal portions of those slots. The pins 36 can pass freely through the horizontal portions of the slots 34 yand will then rest in the notches. The slug rejector 38 also has pins 40- at the top thereof, and those pins are releasably held by pivoted levers 42. One of those levers is pivoted to the plate 32, and the other of those levers is pivoted to the left lhand flange of the frame 30, as tha-t frame is viewed in FIG. 2. The levers 42 have notches at their free ends, and those notches releasably t down over the pins 40 and hold the upper end of the slug rejector against inward or outward movement. Hence, the levers 42 coact with the notches of slots 34 to releasably hold the slug rejector 33 in lxed position relative to the frame 30 of the coinhandling device.

The slug rejector 38 has an opening 44 in one wall thereof, and that opening selectively receives ya movable arm 46 that is connected to the armature of an electromagnet 48. The arm 46 is secured to the armature of the electromagnet 48 by a pivot 50 which has a spring 51 surrounding it; the spring- 51 biasing the movable arm 46 toward the yarmature of the electromagnet 48 to enable that -arm and that armature to move as a unit during the normal operation of the coin-handling device. However, the spring 51 can yield and permit the arm 46 to be rotated relative to the armature of the-electromagnet 48; and this will be done whenever the slug rejector 318 is to be assembled with vor separated from the frame 30. The provision of the opening 44 and the use of the arm 46 and electromagnet 48 is in accordance with theteachings of Merral P. Haverstick application Serial Number 375,631 which was led August 2l, 1953, now Patent No. 2,885,- 0 50 for Coin Separators.

The numeral 52 denotes a vertically directed chute for coins for slugs that are rejected by the` slug rejector 38. The upper end of the chute 52 is denoted by the numeral 54, and it is immediately below the left hand end of the slug rejector `38, as that slug rejector is viewed in FIG. 2; and it will receive coins or slugs that are rejected by the slug rejector 38. The upper end 54 of the chute 52 is inclined rearwardly from the center wall of the frame 30; and the inclination of that upper end S4 lfacilitates the receipt, by the chtite 52, of lall coins and slugs released by the slug rejector 38. The lower end of the chute 52 has an ear 53 thereon, and that ear Ihas an opening -that receives a screw 55. Tha-t screw extends into the upper portion of a supporting wall 676 which is spaced rearwardly of the center wall of the frame 30. The wall 676 is mounted on a bracket 675 which is at the upper end of that wall, 4and on studs l678 which are at the lower end of that wall. The bracket 675 and the studs 678 extend between the center wall of the frame 30 and the wall 676. Screws 680 extend through the wall 676 and seat in the studs 678.

The numeral 56 denotes a returned coin chute, and that chute is vertically directed. The upper end of the returned coin chute 56 has an inclined portion 58 and a vertical portion `6i) at the rear thereof, and it has an inclined portion 62 and a vertical portion 64 at the front thereof. The inclined portions 58 and 62 diverge and coact with the vertical portions 60 and 64 to provide a wide entrance for the returned coin chute 56. The upper end of the returned coin chute 56 is directly below, and is contiguous with, the outlet of the rejected coin chute S2. Hence, the two chutes coact to provide a substantially continuous coin chute which has additional entrances intermediate its top and bottom. These addi-tional entrances are defined by the inclined portions 58 and 62 and by the vertical portions 60 and 64 of the returned coin chute 56. Another additional entrance to the returned coin chute 56 is provided at the front of that ch-ute. That additional entrance is shown in FIG. 18, and it includes an inclined wall portion 66 and a vertical wall portion `68. The wall portion 66 inclines forwardly from the plane of the front wall of the chute 56, and it displaces the vertical wall 68 from that front wall. The combination coin chute formed from chutes 52 and 56 thus has four places where coins can be introduced: rst, at the upper end 54 of the rejected coin chute 52, second, at the opening defined by the inclined wall S8 and the vertical wall 60, third, at the opening defined by the inclined wall 62 and the vertical wall 64, and fourth, -at the opening defined by the inclined wall 66 and the Vertical Wall 68. All coins entering the combination chute will be directedto the outlet at the bottom of the returned coin chute 56; and will thereafter be directed to an openingat the exterior of the secondary device where they can be recovered by the customer.

56, as the chute is viewed in FIG. 2; `and that opening peroutlet of the slug rejector.

stood that where coins of other and different denominamits additional coins to be introduced into the Vchute 56 for delivery to the customer.

The numeral 72 denotes a vertcal wall or platewhich is mounted on st-uds 74 that are secured to and extend rearwardly from the center wall of the frame 30. Screws 76 extend through the plate 72 and seat in those studs, thereby preventing accidental separati-on of plate 72 and studs 74. The plate 72 supports one end of a horizontal bracket 78 which extends rearwardly from that plate. That bracket has an upwardly bent end that receives and supports the electromagnet 48, as best shown in FIG. 7.

A block 80 is mounted on the rear face of the plate 72; and that block is secured to that plate by elongated screws 81 which extend through that block and seat in that plate. The block 80 can be fabricated from a series of plates which are assembled in face-to-face relation, or it can be cast as a unit. In either case, the block 80 will have a plurality of coin passages through it; and in the preferred embodiment shown, that block has four such passages. Those passages are denoted by the numerals 82, 84, 86 and 88; and those passages will register with the accepted coin outlets of the slug rejector 38. In the said preferred embodiment, the passage 82 is in register with the quarter outlet of the slug rejector, the passage 84 is in register with the dime outlet of the slug rejector, the passage 86 is in register with the nickel outlet of the slug rejector, and the passage 88 is in register with the penny However, it should be undertions are to be handled by the slug rejector 38, the block 80- will have the passages thereof modified to accommodate the coins that issue from the accepted coin outlets of that slug rejector.

An arcuate slot 90 is formed at the left hand side of the block 80, and that slot communicates with each ofV the coin passages 82, 84, 86 and 88. An electric switch 92 is mounted adjacent the -block 80, and it has an actuator 94 that extends into the arcuate slot 90 of the block 80. The switch 92 is-mounted on studs 96 that in turn are mounted on plate or wall 72. The

. actuator 94 will rotate about `a pivot of the switch 92,

and the the free end of that actuator will describe an arc which is similar to the arcuate configuration of the slot 90 in the block 80. The actuator 94 will extend all the way into the arcuate slot 90 so that coins passing through the passages 82, 84, 86 or 88 can engage and force that actuator downwardly,

A second arcuate slot 98 is provided at the right hand side of the block 80, and that arcuate slot communicates with each of the coin passages 82, 84, 86 and 88. A lever 102,` that is generally L-shaped, has a pin 104 that extends all the way into the arcuate slot 98. That pin can block all of the coin passages 82, 84, 86 or 88 when it is at the left hand end of the arcuate slot 98, as that slot is viewed in FIG. 2. However, that pin will permit coins to pass freely from the coin passages 82, 84, 86 and 88 when it is at the right hand end of the arcuate slot 98, as that slot is viewed in FIG. 2.

The lever 102 is pivoted to a st-ud 100 by a screw 106; and that Studis secured to and extends rearwardly from the plate 72. The screw 10.6.connes the lever 102 for rotation in such a way that the path of the pin 104 is similar to the arcuate configuration of the slot 98. A pin 112 is also'provided on the lever 102, and that pin extends forwardly a short distance toward the plate 72.

A plate 108 has a vertically directed portion which is secured to the left hand face of the block 80v by screws 109. The lower portion of that plate is arcuate, and it extends below the level of the bottom of the block 80. A spring 110 is secured to an ear on the plate 108 and to an opening in the lever 102. That spring biases the lever 102 for rotation in a counter clockwise, direction, as that lever is viewed inFIG. 2.

8 Hence, the spring 1'10fbiases the pin 1'04 on lever 102 toward the left hand end of the slot 98.

The numeral 114 denotes a rotatable Shaft which extends through and is `supported by bushingv 115 on the center wall of the frame 30, and by a bushing 116 on the plate 72. That, shaft supports a cylindrical coin wheel or drum 118; and that coin wheel is disposed rearwardly ofthe center wall of the frame 30' and of the plate 72.` The coinwheel 118 has a cam 119 at its rear face, and that cam engages and drives the pin 112 on lever 102. The cam 119 has a high point which forces lever 102 to rotate, in a clockwise direction, to the position shown in FIG.,2; butthe rest of the periphery of that cam will permit` the lever 102 to rotate under the action of spring 110 and hold the pin 104 adjacent the left hand' end of the slot 98', as that slot is viewed in. FIG. 2. In such position, the pin -blocks the coin passages 82, 84,. 86 andy 88.

The coin wheel '118 has aY pluralityrv of pockets to receive coins, and those .pockets are spaced axially and circumferentially of that coin wheel. Those pockets are denoted by the numerals 120, 122, 124 and 126; and they move into registration with the coin passages yof the block 80. For example, in the said preferred ernbodiment, the coin pocket 120 is registerable with the coin passage 88, the coin pocket 1221is registerable with the coinv passage 86, ther coin pocket 124 is registerable with the coin passage 84,` and. the coin pocket 126 is registerable with the coin passage 82'. Thus, the coin pocket 120 will receive pennies, the coinpocket 122 will receive nickels, the coin pocket 124 will receive dimes, and theL coin pocket 126 will receive quarters. Each of the coin pockets has a shallowend and a deep end, and in each case the shallow end is the leading end. The coin wheel 118 will receive coins from the-passages in the block 80, and it will carry those coins past any given point'in a certain sequence; namely, a quarter, a penny, a dime, and a nickel.

The coin Wheel 118 has a plurality of circumferentially extending grooves 128V in the peripherypthereof. These grooves are in register with the coin pockets 1207 122, 124 and 126, and they are wide enough to accommodate the bottom ledges of coins which are introduced into the coin passages 82, 84, 86 and 88 of the block 80.

. The side edges of the peripheral grooves 128 will coact with the side walls of the passages 82, 84, 86 and 88 of the block 80 to provide lateral support for the coins whic-h are preparing to enter, but have not yetv entered, the coin pockets 126, 120, 124 -and 122.

A cam disc 130 is secured to the shaft 114 atA a point which is spaced forwardly of the center wall of the frame 30. That cam disc is rigidly securedfto the shaft 114 in such a way that there is a positive relationship between the angular position of the coin wheel 118 and the angular position of the cam disc 130.- That Ielationship is indicated in FIG. 14.

The cam disc 130 provides two angularly spacedcamming surfaces on each of its opposite faces. The rear face of the cam disc 130 has a camming surface 132 in they form of a pin, and has a second camming surface 134 of .generally triangular configuration. The front face of cam disc 130 has two camming surfaces; one of those surfaces being denoted by the numeral 136 and the other of those surfaces being denoted by the numeral 138. Each of the camming surfaces has its leading edge as part of. a circle thatis concentric with the shaft 114 but is spaced outwardly of the shaft. Each of the camming surfaces provides an outwardly directed radial thrust; the thrustv of the surface 132 being the smallest of all, the thrust of the surface 134 being about live times as great as that of the surface 132, the thust of the surface 136 being about ten times as great as that of the surface 132, and the thrust of the surface 138being about twenty tive timesA as; greatas the thrust of thesurface132.` The the coins in the pocket 122, the camming surface 136.

corresponds to the coins in the pocket 124, and the camming surface 138 corresponds to the coins in the pocket 126.

A sprocket pinion 140 is secured to the rotatable shaft 114 intermediate the coin wheel 118 and the cam disc 130. That sprocket pinion is disposed between the bushing 116 and the center wall of the frame 30, as shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 8. Rotation of the sprocket pinion 140 will cause simultaneous rotation of the coin wheel 118'and the cam disc 130.

A cylindrical disc .142 is xedly on the front end of the shaft 114. That disc hasan eccentric pin 144 projecting from it, and a connecting rod 146 is secured to that eccentric pin. A C-washer 145 is used to maintain the connecting rod 146 in assembled relation with the eccentric pin 144. Rotation of the shaft 114 will cause the eccentric pin 144 to follow a circular path that is disposed radially outwardly of the axis of the shaft 114; and this will cause the connecting rod 146 to follow a generally reciprocatory path. A sprocket chain 148 extends around and meshes with the sprocket pinion 140. That chain also extends to and meshes with a sprocket pinion 152 which rotates on a pivot 150. The pivot 150 is txedly secured to and supported by the center wall of the frame 30. A pivot 154 is secured 4to the center wall of the frame 30 at a point which is below and spaced to the left of the pivot 150 as those pivots are viewed in FIG. 1. The pivot 154 rotatably supports a roller 156; and the sprocket chain 148 extends around that roller.

An electric motor 162 is spaced from the center Wall of the frame 30 by studs 161, but it is held xedly in relation to that center wall by those studs. The shaft 158 of that motor extends through an opening in the center wall of the frame 30, and that shaft has a sprocket pinion 160 mounted on it. That sprocket pinion meshes with the sprocket chain 148 and drives it. Hence, rotation of the motor shaft 158 will cause rotation of the sprocket pinion 140; andv this in turn will cause the shaft 114 to rotate and drive the coin wheel 118, the cam disc 130, and the eccentric pin 144.

A generally L-shaped lever 164 is mounted behind the center wall of the frame 30; and that lever has a bushing 166 which telescopes over a pivot, not shown, which is secured to -the plate 72 and which has a screw 186 seated in its outer end. The bushing 166 is located intermediate the center and the upper end of the lever 1'64. A pin 169 is carried by the lower end of the lever 164, and that pin carries a roller 168. The lever 164 holds the roller 168 in register with the pockets 124 and 126 of the coin wheel 118. A pin 170 is mounted on the lever 164 adjacent the top thereof, and that pin receives one end of a helical extension spring 172. The other end of that spring is held. by a pin 174 which is mounted on the plate 72, and which extends rearwardly from the plate. A lever 176 is disposed adjacent the .lever 164, and it has a bushing 178 on it. This bushing telescopes over the pivot, not shown, which supports the bushing 166 and which has the screw 186 seated in its outer end. That pivot coacts with the bushings 166 and 178 to permit the levers 164 and 176 to rotate relative to each other and relative to the coin wheel 118. A pin 182 is mounted on the lower end of lever slightly upwardly above the horizontal.

Il roller 180 and it is telescoped over pin 182 before the riveting operation.

A pin is secured to the upper end of the lever 176, and a helical extension spring 184 extends from the pin 185 -to the pin 174. This spring tends to rotate the lever 176 about its pivot in a counter clockwise direction, as Ithat lever is viewed in FIG. 2. The extension spring 1'72 similarly tends to rotate the lever 164 about its pivot in a counter clockwise direction. The action of these springs thus causes the roller 168 and the roller 180 and its extension 183 to be disposed adjacent, and to roll along, the periphery of the coin wheel 118.

A pin 188 is carried by the lever 164, and that pin extends into an opening in one end of a connecting rod 190. The pin 188 will serve to connect the lever 164 to the connecting rod 190, and it will also serve as a pivot for the connecting rod. The connecting rod 190 extends to theright, as that rod is viewed in FIG. 2, and extends However, only a small part of that rod is visible because it lies behind other parts of the coin-handling device. The right hand end of the connecting rod 190, as tha-t rod is viewed in FIG. 2, has a horizontal slot 192. That slot and that end of the connecting rod 190 are best shown in FIG. 28. The slot 192 is elongated, and it is close to that end of the connecting rod 190. An L-shaped slot 194 is provided in that same end of the connecting rod 190, and that slot has a vertically directed arm and a horizontally directed arrn. The horizontally directed arm of the L-shaped slot 194 is closer to the end of the rod 190 than is the vertically directed arm of that slot.

A pivot 198, of the pin and sleeve type, is secured to the center wall of the frame 30',v and that pivot extends rearwardly from that wall. A generally vertical lever 196 has the lower end thereof mounted on the pivot 198, and that lever can oscillate about the pivot 198. A pin and sleeve combination 199 connects the upper end of the lever 196 with the adjacent end of the connecting rod 190. The pin of that combination extends into the L-shaped slot 194 of the connecting rod 190; and it will normally lodge in the upper portion of the vertical arm of that slot. However,vthat end of the connecting rod 190 can be lifted upwardly to place the horizontal arm of the slot 194 -in register with the pin of the combination 199. A pin 200 is xedly secured to the upper end of the lever 196, and that pin extends forwardly through an opening 202 in the center wall of the frame 30.

A pin 204 is carried by `the lever 176, and that pin is comparable to the pin 188 carried by the lever 164. A connecting rod 206, which is similar to the connecting rod 190, has one end thereof telescoping over the pin 204. The connecting rod 286 can rotate relative to the pin 204 but it will be held in permanent assembly with that pin. The principal difference between the connecting rods 190 and 206 -is that the connecting rod 190 is longer than the connecting rod 286. The right hand end of the connecting rod 206 as that rod is viewed in FIG. 2, has an elongated horizontal slot 208 similar to the horizontal slot 192 in the connecting rod 190. Furthermore, the conencting rod 206 has an L-shaped slot 210 which -is similar to the L-shaped slot 194 of the connecting rod 190.

A C-shaped lever 212 is mounted on the pivot 198; and that lever carries a pin and sleeve combination. 214 that is comparable to the pin and sleeve combination 199. The pin of. the combination 214 extends into the L-shaped slot 210 of the connecting rod 206. Normally the pin 214 will lodge in the vertical arm of the L-shaped slot 210, but when the right hand end of the connecting rod 206 is raised, that pin will lodge in the horizontal arm of that L-shaped slot. A pin 216 is secured to the C-shaped lever adjacent the upper end thereof, and that pin extends forwardly through an opening 218 in the vcenter wall of the fra-me 30.

`An elongaed pin 220 extends through the horizontal slots 192 and 208 of the connecting rods 190* and 206, respectively. That pin also extends through an opening in the lower end of the armature 222 of a solenoid 224. This solenoid Ais referred to as the credit disconnect sole'- noid; and it is secured to the right hand flange of the framey 30,y as that frame is viewed in FIG. 2. A helical extension spring 226 engages the pin 220 and also engages an eye-plate 228 which is secured to the outer end of the pin of thek combination 198 by a screw 231). The spring 226 applies a downward force to Ithe pin 220; and -that force is transmited to the connecting rods 206 and 190 and tends to force the upper ends of the L-shaped slots 211B` and 194 downwardly to place the pins 214 and 199 within the vertical arms of those slots. However, the credit disconnect solenoid 224 can be energized to lift the armature 222 upwardly and pull the ends of the connecting rods up until the pins 214 and 199 lodge in the horizontal arms of the L-shaped slots 210 and 194.

The connecting rod 206 has a pin 232 at the free end thereof, and that vpin extends rearwardly from that connecting rod. A generally vertically directed connecting rod 234 has an opening in the upper end thereof, and. that opening telescopes over the pin 232. A C-washer 233 telescopes over the pin 232 and releasably secures the connecting rod 234 to that pin.

A pin and sleeve combination 236 is secured to the center wall o-f the frame 30, and that combination extends forwardly from that center wall. A lever 238 has an opening at one end thereof, and the opening telescopes over the pin of the combination 236. An inclined face 240 Vis formed on the lower edge of the lever 23-8, adjacent the pin and sleeve combination 236, and that inclined face is in register with the pin 216 that is secured to the C-shaped lever 212. As indicated in FIGS. 1, 9 and 14, the opening 218 in the center wall of the framet) is large enough to permit horizontal movement of the pin 216; and such movement enables the pin 216 to act upon the inclined face 240 of the `lever 23S and cause that lever to rotate about Vthe combination 236. A cam follower 241,

`shown in the form of a pin, is mounted on the lever 238 f intermediate the ends of that lever. This cam follower can respond to movement of the Ilever 238 to move into register with the camming surfaces 132 and 134 on the cam disc 130.

A second lever 242, that is generally similar to the lever 238, is also pivoted about the combination 236. The lever 242 has an inclined face 244 that extends downwardly from the lower edge of that lever; and that face is in register with the pin 200 that is secured to the vertical lever 196. As indicated in FIGS. 1, 9 and 14, the. opening 202 in the center wall of the frame 30 is large enough to permit horizontal movement of the pin 280; and such movement enables the pin 200 to engage the inclined face 244 on lever 242 and rotate that lever about the combination 236. The sleeves of the combination 236- maintain the desired spacing between the levers 238 and 242 while permitting ready rotation of those levers relative to each other and relative to the frame 30. A screw 246 extends kmounted on the lever 242. This cam follower is intermediate the ends ofthe lever 242, and it can respond to movement of that lever to move into register with the camming surfaces 136 and 138 on the cam disc 130. When the cam follower 245 is engaged by the camming surfaces 136 or 138, it will be forced to move in an arcuate path with the combination 236 as its center. Similarly, when the cam follower 241 is engaged by the camming surfaces 132 or 134, it will be forced to follow an arcuate pathwith the combination 236 as its center.

A pin 248 is secured to the center wall of the frame 30, and that pin extends forwardly from that wall. A

l position shown in FIG. l, where the cam followers 241 and 245` are closely adjacent' the center of the cam disc 130.

A pin 254 is carried by the free end of the lever 242, and a C-washer 255secures an- L-shapedV plate 256 to that pin. This L-shaped plate 256has an eye-bolt 258 threaded into it; and the eye of that eye-bolt telescopes over a pivot 260 on an elongated 'bar 262. A C-washer 261 maintains the eye-bolt 258 in assembled relation with the pin 260 on the elongatedv `bar 262. The elongated rbar 262 has an elongated slot 264 adjacent the lower end thereof,tand has a second elongated slot 266 adjacent the upper end thereof. The elongate- d slots 264 and 266` are spaced apart vertically and horizontally, as indicated particularly ini FIG. 14.

A pin and sleeve lcombination268 is secured to the center wall of the frame 30, and that combination extends forwardly fromthat center wall. The pin of the combination-268 extends: through the slot 266 of the elongated bar 262. The end of the combination 268 has a screw 270 seated therein, and that screw prevents accidental separation of the elongated bar 262lfrom that combination. A similar pin" and` sleeve combination, not shown, is secured to the center wall of the frame 30 'below andto the left of the combination 268. i The pin of thissecond combination: extends through lche slot 264 of the elongated bar 262, and it=hasV a screw 272 seated in its projecting end. The two pineand sleeve combinations coact with the elongatedrslots 2644 and 266 to guide the reciprocable movement of the elongated bar 262.

A pin 274 is mounted on the elongated bar 262, and that pin extends forwardly from that bar 262.. A helical extension spring 276 has the upperA end thereof secured to the pin 274 and has the lower end thereof secured to a pin 283 on a rack 286'.- The rack i286 is secured to the elongated bar 262 by a pivot 284 and that pivot permits rotation of the rack 286 ,relativeV to the elongated bar 262. An arcuate slot 288 is provided in the upper portion of the elongated .bar 262, 1` andthat slot receives a pin 290 in the upper end of the rack 286. 'Ihe arcuate slot 288 v.permits limited rotation of the rack 286- about the pivot 284.` A second elongated bar 278 is disposed rearwardly of .the-elongated bar 262, and the two elongated bars are identical..

A pin 280 is carried by the free end of the lever 238; and that pin extends through the lower end of an L- shaped'plate 282. A C-shaped washer 281 maintains the L-shaped plate 282 and the pin 28,0 inassembled relation. The L-shaped plate 282 is connected to the elongated bar 278 by an eye-bolt 258and by a pivot and rC-washer, not shown, which are identical to the pivot 260 and the C-washer 261.

A rack 294, thatis identical to the rack 286 with the exception that the rack 294 has a vertical offset 293 adjacent the teeth thereof, is secured to the elongated bar 278 vby a pivot 292. The elongated bar 278 will 'have an -arcuate slot comparable to the arcuate slot' 288 of the elongated bar 262; and the rack 294will have a pin which is comparable to the pin 290 carried by the rack 286. Hence, the rack 294 will be capable of limited rotation about the pivot 292 carried by the elongated bar 278. Aspring 300, comparable to vthe spring 276, Will be secured to a pin 275 ,carriedby the elongated bar 278; and the lower end of that springy Will be secured to a pin, comparable to the pin 283, whichwill be carried on the rack 294. The springs 276 and 300 biasthe . racks 286 and 294 for rotation in the counter clockwise direction, as the rack 286` is viewed in FIG. 14. However,

13 the springs 276 and 300 will yield to permit limited rotationof those racks in the clockwise direction.

The numeral 302 denotes an elongated pivot 302 which is fixedly secured -t-o the center wall of the frame 30, and which extends forwardly from that center wall. An elongated sleeve 304 is telescoped over the pivot 302, and it is rotatable relative to that pivot. A ratchet wheel 306 is xedly secured. to the sleeve 304, and that ratchet wheel will rotate with that sleeve. The ratchet wheel 306 is in register with-the rack 294 that is pivoted to the elongated bar 278. A second ratchet wheel 308 is also tixedly mounted on the sleeve 304, and that second ratchet wheel is spaced a short distance from the ratchet wheel 306. The ratchet wheel 308 is in register with the rack 286 that yis pivoted to the elongated bar 262.

The teeth on the ratchet wheels 306 and 308 are complementary to the teeth on the racks 294 and 286; and upward movement of the racks 294 and 286 will bring the teeth of those racks into engagement with the teeth of those ratchet wheels, and continued upward movement of those racks will cause rotation of those ratchet wheels. The springs 276 and 300, which are :secured to the pins 274 and 275 ofthe elongated bars 262 and 278, will normally hold the racks 286 and 294 in register with the teeth on the ratchet wheels 308 and 306; but those springs will yield to permit the racks 286 and 294 to rotate away from the ratchet wheels 306 and 308 during downward movement of the elongated bars 262 and 2'78. Hence, during upward movement of the elongated bars 262 and 278 the ratchet wheels 308 and 306 must rotate, but during the downward re-setting movement of those bars the ratchet wheels 308 and 306 will remain stationary. A ratchet wheel 310 with coarse teeth is also fixedly mounted lon the sleeve 304; and that ratchet wheel is adjacent the ratchet wheel 306. The ratchet wheel 310 carries a pin 474 at its front face, and that pin is closely adjacent the periphery of that ratchet wheel. The pin 474 extends toward the ratchet wheel 306. The ratchet wheels 306, 308 and 310 are all fixedly secured to the sleeve 304 and will rotate as a unit whenever the sleeve 304 rotates about the pivot 302.

A sprocket wheel 312 is lixedly mounted on the sleeve 304 adjacent the forward end of that sleeve. An arm 316 is lixedly mounted on the sleeve 304 adjacent the sprocket wheel 312. Hence, the ratchet wheels 306, 308 and 310, the sprocket wheel 312, and the arm 316 will rotate `as a unit whenever the sleeve 304 rotates.

that plate extends rearwardly from the arm 316. Set

screws 320 are provided which secure the plate 318 to the arm 316. These set screws can be loosened to permit adjustment of the position of the L-shaped plate 318 relative to the arm 316; the `openings in the plate 318, which receive the screws 320, being larger than the shanks of those screws. The rearwardly extending portion of the L- shaped plate318 is in register with the projecting buttonlike actuatory 323 of a switch 322. This switch is a single pole double throw switch; :but only two of its three terminals are connected, as indicated particularly in FIG. 27. Because the detailed showing of electrical conductors can sometimes obscure the showing of structural parts, the leads to the various switches of the coin-handling device of the present invention are omitted in many of the figures and are abbreviated in others. However, those leads are shown in full in FIG. 27.

An L-shaped pressure foot 324 is adjustably secured to the outer end of the arm 316 by set screws 326. That pressure foot has a radially-extending portion and a tangentially-extending portion; and the tangentially-extending portionserves as the leading edge. That edge is suitably .rounded at the front to enable it to engage the button-like Vactuators of switches and gently ease those actuators into switch-actuating position. Both the radial and circumferential positions of the pressure foot 324 relative to the arm 316 can be adjusted by releasing the set screws 326;

14 the openings in the pressure foot, that receive the set screws 326, being larger than the Shanks of those set screws.

A supporting plate 330 is mounted on studs 332, and those studs space that plate forwardly of the center wall of the frame 30. Screws 333 extend through openings in in the plate 330 and seat in the ends of the studs 332, thereby rigidly securing that plate to those studs.

A cylindrical support of cup-like configuration is denoted by the numeral 328, and that support is mounted on the front face ofthe plate 330. That support is concentric with the sleeve 304, and thus the' arm 316 can describe an arcuate path which is concentric with the support 328. The support 328 has a number of radially directed, axially aligned, and circumferentially spaced openings 334 through it. Those openings are grouped in sets of three, and the groups of openings are spaced around the entire circumference of the support 328; each group of openings being in radial alignment with an indicia representing a unit of credit. Those indicia are on the front face of support 328, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 14; and they are one hundred in number, ranging` from zero through ninety nine. In the said preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the indicia represents one cent; and for convenience every fth indicia is denoted by a numeral.

The openings 334 receive the projecting terminals of single pole double throw switches such as the switches 336, 890, 892 and 894 that are shown in FIG. l. Those projecting terminals are in the form of pins; and the center pin of each switch is threaded to receive a nut 343. The engagement between the openings 334 and the projecting terminals of the switches coacts with the nuts 343 to releasably hold the switches precisely in alignment with the said indicia. Hence the operators can attain simple, quick and precise mounting of the switches on the support 328.

The projecting terminals of the switches extend beyond the outer periphery of the support 328, and they receive I sleeve-type terminals on leads, such as the leads 338, 340 and 342 for the switch 336. Those sleeve-type terminals will provide a good electrical connection between the various leads and the various projecting terminals of the switches. The sleeve-type `terminals are readily separable from the projecting terminals of the switches, and those projecting terminals can easily be inserted into and removed from the openings 334 in the support 328. This makes it simple and easy to adjust the positions of the switches relative to the support 328. It is possible to set a switch at any of one hundred desired positions on the support 328, and therefore it is possible to have switches set at positions corresponding to any integral price between Zero and ninety nine cents.

A sprocket chain 344 engages the teeth of the sprocket wheel 312, and that sprocket chain will be driven by that sprocket wheel. A sprocket pinion 346 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 348, -and that shaft is rotatably mounted on a supportmg platform 347 at the right hand side of the frame 30, as that frame i-'s viewed in FIG. 1. The shaft 348 1s suitably geared to a unit counter 350 of standard design and construction. The gear ratio of the sprocket pinion 346 and the sprocket wheel 312 is such that the rotation of the arm 316 between any two indicia will cause the counter 350 to retlect a one unit change. This relationship holds whether credits are fbeing stored or removed.

A spring housing 352 and a bushing 353 are loosely telescoped over the sleeve 304. That spring housing is disposed rearwardly of the plate 330, and its open face is closely adjacent the ratchet wheel 308. The bushing 353 extends through central openings in the plate 330 and in support 328. One end of that bushing is adjacent the spring housing 352 while the other end of that bushing is adjacent the arm 316. A spiral spring 354 is disposed within t-he spring housing 352, and one end of that spring is connected by pin 349 to the sleeve 304. The other end of the spring 354 extends outwardly through 1 5 an opening in the periphery of the housing 352 `and is held by a pin 355, as indicated in FIG. 14. Hence, one end of the spring is held in xed position by the pin 355 while the other end of that spring will move with the sleeve 304. Whenever the sleeve 304 rotates in a counter clockwise direction, as that sleeve is viewed in' FIG. 14, the spring 354 will be tightened; and it will tend to restore the sleeve 304 to its normal position. However, that spring can permit several revolutions of the sleeve 304 to be effected.

A castellated nut 31'4 is threaded onto the threaded forward end ofthe pivot 302, and it bears against a shoulder at the forward end of the pivot 302. The nut 314 overlies the forward end of the sleeve 304 and also overlies part of thesprocket wheel 312. Hence, that nut will prevent accidental separation of the sleeve 304 from the pivot 302. A cotter key 315 extends through the spaces between confronting castellations of the nut 314 and .through an opening in the threaded end of the pivot 302 to prevent accidental separation of the nut 314 from the pivot 302.

A pivot 356 is mounted below and to the left of the pivot 302; and that pivot is a pin and sleeve combination. The pin of that combination extends to and is supported by the center wall of the frame 30. A pawl 358 is mounted on the pivot 356, and a C-washer 3 57 prevents accidental separation of the pawl 358 from the pivot 356. The pawl v358 has teeth which mesh with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 306. A spring 366 is connected to the pawl 358, by having its upper end extending through an opening in that pawl, and it is also connected to` a `pin 489 that extends rearwardly to and is supported by the center wall of the frame 30. The spring 366 is a helical extension spring, and it biases the pawl 358 for rotation in a counter clockwise direction about the pivot 356 to the position shown in FIG. 14. When that pawl is in that position, the teeth therein engage the teeth on the ratchet wheel 306 and prevent clockwise movement of that ratchet wheel. However, the spring 366 can yield to permit rotation of the pawl 358 in a clockwise direction, thereby freeing lthe ratchet wheel 306for rotation. The pawl 358 will normally permit clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 306, the teeth of that ratchet wheel slipping past the teeth on the pawl 358; but it will normally prevent counter clockwise rotation of that ratchet wheel.

A pin 360 connects the left hand end of the pawl 358 with a connecting rod 363. That rod extends to the armature 362 of a solenoid 364 and interconnects the pawl 358 and the armature 362. This solenoid is known asA the credit reset solenoid; and when it is energized it will pull the armature 362 upwardly and rock the teeth of the pawl 358^out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 306. A pin 365 secures the upper end of the connecting rod 363 to the armature 362. The pins 360 and 365 permit relative rotation between the pawl 358, the connecting rod 363, and the armature 362.

A gear segment 368 is mounted on the pivot 302,'and it can rotate relative to that pivot and relative to the sleeve 304. That gear segment is best shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 13. The upper portion of the gear segment 368 has the form of an elongated arm, and that arm projects radially beyond the periphery of the ratchet wheel 310. A spring 370 encircles the hub of the gear segment 368 and bears against one side of the upwardly extending arm of that gear segment. bears against a pin 372 which is secured to the center wall of the frame 30. The spring 370 biases the gear segment 368 for rotation in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 9.

The upwardly extending arm of the gear segment 368 -carries a pivot 374, `and a pawl 376 and a second pawl '378 are mounted on that pivot. The pawl 376 is plane, but the pawl 378 has an oiTset adjacent the free end thereof. This offset places the free ends of the pawls 376 and .378 in register with each @ther and in register with the The other end of that spring 18 teeth on the ratchet wheel 310. The spacing between the free ends of the pawls'376` and 378 is such -that when the free end of the pawl 376 is seated against the root of a tooth of the ratchet wheel 310,y theV free end of the pawl 378 is in register withthe inclined face, rather than the root, of a succeeding tooth of that gear.

The pawl 376 has a pin 380 adjacent the free end thereof, and the pawl 378 has a pin 382 adjacent the free end thereof. These pins extend rearwardly from those pawls and extend'toward the center wall of the frame 30, but they terminate short of lthat center wall. The pin 380 has a helical extension spring 390 connected to it, and that spring extends downwardly to a pin 388 on therfront face of the upwardly extending arm of the gear segment 368. The pin 382 has a helical extension-spring 386 connected to it, and that spring extends downwardly to a pin 386 which extends rearwardly fromthe upwardly extending arm of the'gear segment 368. The springs 386 and 390 bias the free ends of the pawls 378 and 376 for rotation downwardly toward the teeth of the ratchet wheel 310.

An L-shaped lever 392 is mounted for rotation about the pivot 374 on the upwardly extending arm of the gear segment 368. This lever has the horizontal portion thereof extending forwardly from the gear segment 368 so it is in register with the upper ends of `the pawls 376' and 378.v Those upper ends of those pawls are formed to define acute angles; having vertical faces that receive the L-shaped lever 392 and having inclined tops that slope downwardly and away from the upper ends of those Vertical aces. A spring 396 .is connected to the lower end of the L-shapedlever 392, and that spring is also connected to a pin 394 which is Secured to the upwardly extending arm ofthe gear segment 368. The spring 396 is a helical extension spring and it biases the lever 392 for rotation to the position shown in FIG. 10. In that position, the L-shaped lever 392 is out of engagement with the upper ends of the pawls 376 and 378, and it thus permits those pawls to rotate aboutthe pivot 374.

A pin 398 is provided on the rear face of the ratchet wheel 310, and that pin is in register with the lower end of the L-shaped lever 392. That pin will be in the position shown by FIG. 9 whenever the coin-handling device of the present invention is in its normal condition; and in that position that pin will engage the lower end of the lever 392 4and force it to the position shownin FIGS. 9 and 12. At such time, the lever 392 holds the free ends of the pawls 376 and 378 above and put of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 310. However, when the ratchet wheel 310 rotates away from the position shown in FIG. 9, the pin 398 on that ratchet wheel will move out of engagement-with -the lower end of the L- shaped lever 392 and will permit the spring 396 to move that lever away from the upper ends of the pawls 376 and 378.

A pin 400 is yformed on the rear face of the pawl 378, and that pin extends toward but terminates short o-f the center wall of the frame 30.` An arcuate guideway 402 is secured to the center wall of the frame` 30 by screws 404; and that guideway is concentric with the pivot 302. Whenever the gear segment 368 rotates about the pivot 302, the pin 400 will move under and be over-lain by the arcuate guideway 402. That pin will be spaced a short distance inwardly of the inner periphery of that guideway, but it will be so close to the guideway 402 that the guideway will positively prevent separation of the pawl 378 from theteeth `of the ratchet wheel 310 as long as that pin is within the angular limits of that guideway.

The` numeral 406 denotes an electro-magnet which has an armature 408, yand one end of the armature 408 is formed as 1a hook, as shown particularly in FIGS. 9 and l0. That hook engages and can hold the upper end of the pawl 376. When the ratchet wheel 310 is in the position shown yhy FIG. 9, the pin 398 will cause the lever 392 to rotate against the upper ends of the pawls 376 and 378 and hold them against clockwise rotation. ever, even when the ratchet wheel 310 rotates to move the pin 398 away `from the lever 392, tand thus permits the spring 396 to move that lever away from the pawls 376 and 378, the pawl 376 will not be able to rotate in a clockwise direction; that :pawl `being held by the hook on armature 408. Similarly the pawl 378 can not move at that moment because it is held by the end of the armature 416 of an electro-magnet 414.

The other end of the 'armature 408 is bent upwardly adjacent a switch 412, and it can act upon the button-like actuator of that switch to cause it to shift the contacts of that switch. The switch 412 is `a double pole single throw switch; and one set of poles or contacts is denoted by the numeral 412A on the diagram in FIG. 27, while the other set of poles or contacts is denoted by the numeral 412B on that diagram. A spring 410 normally holds the armature 408 in the position shown in FIG. 9; and in that position, the armature will hold the free end of the pawl 376 away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 310 and will hold the contacts 412A land 412B open. However,

Howl that spring can yield, wheneverthe electro-magnet 406 is energized, to permit the armature 408 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction and free the pawl 376 and close the contacts 412A and 412B. The electro-magnet 406 and Itheiswitch 412 constitute a relay, and that relay is one of two sub-vend relays of the coin-handling device of the present invention.

The electro-magnet 414 is mounted adjacent the electro-magnet 406; both of those electro-magnets being 4secured to the cen-ter Wall of the frame 30. The electromagnet 414 has an armature 416, and -one end of that armature can selectively engage and hold the upper end of the pawl 378.- Whenever the armature 416 engages and holds the upper end of the pawl 378, that pawl is held away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 310. The other end of the armature 416 is bent upwardly into position adjacent the double pole single throw switch .420. One set of poles of that switch is denoted by the numeral 420A on the circuit diagram of FIG. 27, and the other set of poles is denoted by the numeral 420B. The upwardly bent end of the armature 416 is adjacent the lbutton-like actuator of the switch 420, and it can engage -that actuator to close the normally-open poles 420A and 420B. A spring 418 normally holds the armature 416 in the position shown in FIG. 9, but that spring can yield to permit rotation lof the armature 416 in a clockwise direction whenever the electro-magnet 414 is energized. The electro-magnet 414 and the switch 420` constitute a relay, and that relay is the other of two sub-vend relays of the coin-handling device of the present invention.

A double rack 422 is mounted below the gear segment 368, and the vertically-directed rack thereon is driven by that gear segment. The double rack 422 is lguided and supported by a pin 424 which has la .groove 425 therein to receive the double rack 422; and it is also guided and supported by a block 426. The block 426 and the pin 424 are secured to the center wall of the frame 30. That block and that pin hold the double rack 422 in register with the gear segment 368 while permitting that double rack to reciprocate under the action of that gear segment.

A spurgear 428 is mounted on a vertically directed shaft 430, and that spur gear engages the horizontally-directed yrock of the double rack 422. An opening 432 is provided in the center wall of the frame 30, adjacent the gear 428, to avoid any interference between the spur -gear 428 and that center wall. The spur gear 428 meshes with the horizontally-directed rack of the double rack 422 and will be driven by it as the double rack reciprocates.

The double rack 422 carries a pin 434, and that pin extends into a slot 440 in an L-shaped tlever 436. That slot is a-t one end of the L-shaped lever, and a pin 438 is provided at the other end of that lever. That pin is connected to an elongated, generally vertically-directed lever 446; and a C-washer 439 prevents accidental separation of the lever 436 from the lever 446. The L-shaped lever 436 is rotatably mounted on a pivot 442 that extends rearwardlyto and is supported by the center wall of the frame 30. A C-washer 443 encircles the pivot 442 and prevents accidental separation of the lever 436 from the pivot 442. A spring 444 encircles the pivot 442 and extends to and is held within an opening in the lever 446. That spring is a helical extension spring, and it normally biases the lever 446 for rotation about the pin 438 in a clockwise direction. However, that spring can yield t-o permit rotation of the lever 446 in a counter clockwise direction about the pin 438.

The lever 446 has an offset 447 intermediate the ends thereof, and that oifset displaces the lower end of the lever .446 further forwardly from the center wall of the frame 30. That lower end of the lever 446 has an elongated slot 448 therein, and it also has a shorter slot 450 therein. The slots 443 and 450 are contiguous and constitute one large slot `with a long arm-and a short arm.

A lever 452 is rotatably mounted on a pivot 454, and that pivot extends rearwardly to and is mounted on the center wall of the frame 30. A C-washer 453 encircles the pivot 454 and prevents accidental separation of the lever 452 from that pivot. A cam follower 456 is mounted on one end of the lever 452, and that cam follower is in register with the router periphery of the cam disc 130. A pin 458 is mounted at lthe other end of the lever 452, and that pin extends through the slot 448y or the slot 450 land carries a washer 457 on -its forward end. A C-washer 459 rings the pin 458 and prevents accidental separation of the washer 457, the lever 446, and the lever 452.

A pivot pin 460 is secured to the center Wall of the frame 30, and it extends forwardly from that center wall. That pivot :pin supports one end of a helical extension spring 462, and the other end of that spring extends to land vtits Within an opening in the lever 452. This spring biases the lever 452 for rotation in the clockwise direction about the pivot 454. However, that spring can yield to permit rotation of the lever 452 about that pivot in the counter-clockwise direction. Hence, the spring 462 will fbias the cam follower 456 on lever 452 into continuous engagement with the outer periphery of the cam disc 130.

A generally vertically directed lever 464 has the lower end ythereof secured to the pivot pin 460, and a C-washer 465 encircles that pivot'pin to maintain the lever 464 in assembled relation with that pivot pin. The lever 464 has a ipin 466 mounted on its upper end, and that pin is in register with lthe lower part of the lever 446. Hence, rotation of the lever 464 in the clockwise direction about the pivot 460 can cause the pin 466 to urge the lever 446 to move in the counter clockwise direction about the pin 438. The -lever 464 car-ries a pivot 468 adjacent its lower end, and Ithat pivot rotatably supports a short lever 469. The lever 469 has an opening in the upper end thereof which receives one end of the helical extension spring 470, and the other end of that spring extends to an opening on the end of a projecting arm of the lever 464. The spring 470 biases the lever 469 f-or rotation about the pivot 468 in a counter clockwise direction, but it can yield to permit rotation of the lever 469 in la clockwise direction about that pivot. The lever 469 has an inclined arm 472 thereon, and that arm is biased to the position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 9; but it 4can be moved to the posi tion indicated by dotted lines in that figure.

The' numeral 476 denotes a pivot that is fxedly secured to the center wall of the frame 30 and which extends forwardly from that center wall. The pivot 476 has a sleeve 478 rotatably mounted thereon, and that sleeve supports a Geneva gear 480. That gear is rigidly connected to the sleeve, andhence it will rotate with the sleeve. The gear 480 has a stop 482 thereon, and that stop selectively engages a pin 484 which is secured to the center wall of the frame 30 and which extends'forwardly from that wall. The stop pin 484 limits rotation of the `tend to cen-ter the gear.

19 Geneva gear 480 in a counterclockwise direction, but it permits free rotation of that gear in a clockwise direction for almost one complete revolution.

A stud 486 is mounted on the center wall of the frame 30, and that stud extends forwardly from that center wall. A screw 490 seats in the forward end of the stud 486, and that screw secures an Lsshaped lever 488 to that stud while permitting rotatation of that lever relative to that stud. The lever 488 has a pin 492 at one end thereof, and that pin is langer than the width of the slots yformed inthe Geneva gear 480. However, the diameter of the pin 490 is not greatly in excess of the width of those slots; and hence a substantial portion of the surface of -that pin can extend into the outer end of any slot that is presented to that pin. A spring 491 has one end thereof extending through an opening in the other end of the lever 488, `and it has it-s other end secured to a stationary pin 489. The spring 49,1 tends to rotate the lever 488 in a counterclockwise direction and thus .to force the pin 492 toward the periphery of the gear 480. When a slot of that gea-r is presented to the pin 492, the spring 491 will urge the pin 492 into the end of .that slot and will This action is helpful because it enables the Geneva gear 480 to maintain its vari-ous moved positions with considerable precision.

An arm-ature 494 is mounted on the forward end of the sleeve 478, and it is xedly secured to that sleeve. Hence, rotation of the Geneva gear 480 will cause rotation of the armature 494.` A screwv `496 is seated in the forward end of the lpivot 476, and that screw will overlie part of the sleeve 478 and of the armature 494 thereby preventing accidental separation of the sleeve 478 from the pivot 476. A continuous contact ring 498 is mounted on the front face of the cup-like support 328, and that ring is concentric with the pivot 476. A series of arcuate segments 499, 500, '501, `505 .and 507 are disposed radially 2Q is normally held in raised position by a helical extension lspring 512 that extends between an opening in the arm of that rack and a pin 514 which is secured to the plate 503. However, the spring 512 can yield to permit downward movement of the rack 510.l That downward movement-will occur when the solenoid 504 is energized and outwardly of the contact `ring 498. Each of those segments is secured to the support 328; and they coact together to define an interrupted contact ring which is concentric with the uninterrupted contactring 498. The a-r-` mature 494 carries a contactor 502 which consists of a pin that isf spring-'biased toward the uninterrupted contact 498' and of a sleeve that guides that pin and which securesl the pin and the spring to the armature 494. The armature 494 also Icarries a similar contactor 509; and the oontactor 509 is in register with the spaced con- tact segments 499, 500, 501, 505 and 507. The rear face of the pin of the contactor 509 is broad enough to enable it to move between the contact segments without binding or jamming. A --tlexible connector or pigtail 511 extends between and electrically connects the contactors 502 and 509.

The numeral 503y denotes ,a plate which is mounted on studs S13 that are secured to the :center wall of the frame 30 and which extend forwardly from that center wall. Screws 515 extend through the plate 503 and seat in the studs 513; `and lthose screws hold thel plate 503 rigidly in position on the studs 513.V The plate 503 supports a solenoid 504 which is the motor timing solenoid of the coin-handling device of the present invention. That solenoid has anarmature 506; and a switch 598 is mounted on the Iplate 503 adjacent the upper position of the armature 506.- The armature 506 of the solenoid 504 can engage the actuator 517 of the switch 508 when that armature isv in its upper position; but that armature can move out of engagement with .that actuator when that armature is in its lower position. When the Aarmature 506 engages the actuatorv 517, it will move that actuator and cause the contacts of the switch 508 to open. However, when the armature 5016 is in its lower positiornit will be. out of engagement wth the actuator 517, and the contacts of the switch 508 will close.

The armature 506 of the solenoid 504 carries a pin 519 at its upper end, and that pin connects the armature 506 with an arm of a vertically directed rack 510. That rack the armature 506 moves downwardly in response .to that energization. The rack 510 vhas elongated slots 516 adyjacent its upper and lower ends, land pins 518 extend through those slots and sea-t in the plate 583. Those pins coact with the slots S16 ito guide the rack 510 for vertical reciprocatory movement.

The numeral 520 denotes a pivot that is secured to the plate 503, and that extends forwardly :from that plate. A pawl 522 is rotatably mounted on that pivot; and that pawl has 'a tooth 521 below the level of the pivot 520 and a second tooth 523 above the level of the pivot 520. These teeth of the pawl 5-22 selectively engage the teeth of the rack 510;;and since they .are disposed on opposite sides of the pivot 520, they provide an escapementaction. A pin 524, -that is secured to the plate orwall 503, has 4a helical extension spring 526 secured toit. The upper end of that spring engages one end of an L-shaped lever 530; and that lever is rotatably secured to the pawl 522 by ya pin 528.: The spring 526 biases the lever 530 for rotation in a clockwise direction about the pin 528, but such yrotation is limited by an ear 532 on the pawl 522. Hence, rotation of the L-shaped lever 530 in a clockwise direction is limited to the position shown by FIG. 1. The L-shaped lever can rotate in a counterclockwise direction; the spring 526 yielding to permit such rotation, but at the conclusion of such rotation the spring S26 will return the lever `530 to the position shown by FIG. 1.

The upper end of the lever 530 has an ear 529 which extends rearwardly through an opening 534 in the `center wall of the frame `30. That ear can move .freely within the opening 5:34, and as it does so it will cause the pawl 522 to provide an escapement action. The action of the spring 526'normally maintans the ear 529 at the-right hand side of the opening 534, but that ear can bemoved to the left hand side of that opening by the lug 536 which is mounted on and carried by the .sprocket chain 148. As the sprocket chain moves, in response to the operation of .the motor 162, the lug 536 on that chain will recurrently strike theear 529, thereby movingthe pawl 522 in a counterclockwise direction. Such movement causes the lower tooth 521 of that paw-l to move out of engagement with .the rack 510 but causes the upper tooth 523 of that pawl to move into engage-ment with one of the teeth of that rack; and thereupon the-spring 512 `will move the rack 510 up one tooth. As soon as the lug 536 has moved out of enlgagement'with the ear 529, the spring 526 will rotate the pawl 522 to the position shown -in FIG. l; and at such time the upper tooth l523 will have moved out ot eng-agement with thev rack 510 and the lower tooth 521 will have moved into engagement with one of the teeth i y forwardly from that center wall.

of lthat rack. Recurrent engagements of the lug 536 with the ear 529 will cause the rack 510 to move up to the` position shown in FIG. 1. The path of movement of the rack 510 is limited; and after .two escapement actions, that r-aok will have reached its full upper position.v

The numeral 538 denotes a plate which is mounted on piu and sleeve combination studs 540. Those studs are secured to the center wall of the frame 30 and extend Screws 542 extend into the outer ends of those studs and rigidly secure the plate 533 to those studs. A-second plate 544 is mounted on the studs 541i;` that plate is disposed rearwardly of the plate 538.

A rotatable shaft 546 is supported by the plates 538 and 544, and that shaft extends perpendicularly of the center wall of the frame 30. i A ratchet wheel 548 is mounted on the shaft 546, and that ratchet wheel will turn with that shaft. One of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54S is cut away, as indicated particularly in FIG.

21 5. A bar 550 is disposed at one side of the shaft 546 and of the ratchet wheel 548; and that lbar is connected to the connecting rod 146 by a pivot pin 552. A C-washer v 553 encircles the pivot pin 552 and prevents accidental separation of the bar 550 and the connecting rod 146. The bar 550 has elongated slots 554 therein, and those slots are adjacent the opposite ends of that bar. Pins 556 extend through the slots 554 into the bar 550 and seat in the ends of studs 557 that are supported on the plate 554. Those studs extend forwardly from that plate and hold the bar 550 in position to be secured to the connecting rod 146. C-washers 555 encircle the pins 556 and prevent accidental separation of the bar 550 from the studs 557 and from the pins 556. A pawl 560 is mounted on the bar 550 by a pivot 558, and that pawl will rotate about the pivot 558 under the action of a helical extension spring 562. One end of that extension spring is held by an ear n the pawl 560, and the other end of that spring is held by an ear on the bar 550. The spring biases the pawl 560 for rotation in a counter clockwise direction about the pivot 558, but it can yield to permit rotation of that pawl, in the clockwise direction, away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 548.

A pivot 564 is mounted on the plate 544, and that pivot secures a lever 566 to the plate 544, while permitting relative rotation therebetween. A pin 568 is mounted on the free end of the lever 566, and that pin can bear against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 548. A helical extension spring 570 has one end secured to a pin 571, that is mounted on the plate 544, and it has its other end secured to a pin 573 that is mounted on the lever 566. The spring 570 biases the pin 568 against the teeth of the ratchet 548, Ibut it can yield to movement of that pin away from those teeth. The pin 568 acts to resist spinning of the ratchet wheel 548 and to conne its movement to just the Iamount of movement induced by the action of the pawl 560 as the bar 550 and the connecting rod 146 reciprocate.

The ratchet wheel 548, the bar 550 and the lever 566 are disposed forwardly of the plate 544. A ratchet wheel 572 is disposed rearwardly of that plate. An L-shaped bar 574 is disposed adjacent the rear face of the wall 544, and that bar is spaced from the wall 544 by studs 579. those slots are disposed adjacent the opposite ends of that bar. Pins 578 extend through the slots 576 and seat in the studs 579. C-washers 575 encircle the pins 578 and prevent accidental separation of the bar 574 from the studs 579 and from the pins 578. A spring 580, of the helical extension type, has one end secured to a pin 581 on the plate 544 and has its other end secured to a pin 583' on the bar 574. The spring 580 biases the bar 574 for upward movement, but it can yield to permit downward movement of that bar. A pawl 582 is rotatably secured to the bar 574 by a pivot 587, and that pawl can selectively engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 572. A spring 584 has one end secured to an ear on the pawl 582 and has its other end secured to a pin 58S on the bar 574. This spring is of the helical extension type and it biases the pawl 582 for rotation in a clockwise direction about the pivot 587. However, that spring can yield and permit the end of the pawl 582 to move in a counter clockwise direction and thus move away from the teeth of the ratchet 572.

A solenoid 586, which is the escrow timer solenoid of the coin-handling device of the present invention, is mounted on the plate 544; and the armature of that solenoid is denoted by the numeral 588. A pin 590 connects the armature 588 with the upper end of the Lshaped bar 574, and thus the armature 588 and the bar 574 will move together as a unit. The spring 580 will hold the bar in the position shown in FIG. 6 Whenever the solenoid 586 is de-energized, but the armature 588 will force the bar 574 downwardly whenever the solenoid 586 is energized.

The bar 574 has elongated slots 576 therein, `and An yarmature 592 is mounted on the forward end of the shaft 546, and'that armature carries contactors 594 and 596 which are similar to the contactors 502 and 509 of the armature 494. The contactors 594 and 596 are connected together by a exible lead or pigtail 589. The armature 592 also carries contactors 593, 595 and 597; and those contactors are secured together by a iexible conductor or pigtail 591. The contactors 594 and 596 selectively engage and electrically connect lixed contacts 598 and 607. Those contacts are mounted on the plate 538 and they are disposed between the ends of a split annulus 606. The annulus 606 is not electrically alive, and its primary function is to hold the inner ends of the contactors 594 and 596 in the'plane of the two contacts 598 and 607. The contactor 593 bears against a continuous contact ring 600. For simplicity of illustration, that contact ring is shown twice in the schematic diagram of FIG. 27; but there is actually just the one ring 600. The contactor 597 successively engages the arcuate contact segments 603, 601, 599 and 602. The segments 599 and 603 are not electrically alive, and their primary function 'is to main-tain the contactor S97 in the plane of the surfaces of the contact segments 601 and 602. The contactor 595 successively engages the arcuate segments 605 and 604. The segment 605 is not electrically alive, and it is used primarily to maintain the contactor 595 in the plane of the surface of the contact segment 604.

An elongated generally vertically-directed rod 608 has i pins 610 and 612 at its upperand lower ends, and it has a projecting arm intermediate those ends. A spring 614 of the helical extension type is secured to a pin 615 on that arm, and the upper end of that spring is supported by a pin 616 which is secured to the center wall of the frame 30. A generally similar rod 618 has pins 620 and 622 at its upper and lower ends, and it has a projecting arm intermediate those ends. The arm on the rod 608 extends to the left while the arm on the rod 618 extends to the right.

The pins 610 and 620 extend rearwardly from the rods 608 and 618, and they extend through suitable openings, not shown, in the center wall of the frame 30. The pins 612 and 622 extend rearwardly from the rods 608 and 618, and they extend through openings 613 and 623 in the center wall of the frame 30. The openings for the pins 610, 612, 620 and 622 have the form of elongated generally vertically-directed slots. A' helical extension spring 624 is secured to a pin 625 on the arm of the rod 618, and that spring is also connected to a pin 1626 which is mounted on, and extends forwardly from, the center wall of the frame 30. The rod 618 also carries a pin 626 which is in register with the inclined arm 472 on the lever 469. Downward movement of the rod 618 will cause the pin 626 to engage the inclined arm 472 and force the lever 469 to move to the right; thereby biasing the lever 464 for a corresponding movement to the right. If the pin 458 is in register with the lower ends of the slots 448 and 450 of lever, the lever 464 will immediately respond to that bias and move to the right; thereby moving the lower end ofthe lever 446 to the right. However, if the pin 458 is in the upper end of the slot 448, the levers 464 and 446 will have to wait until the pin 458 moves down into register with the slot 450; and thereupon those levers will move to the right.

A solenoid 628, which is the cash box solenoid of the coin-handling device `of the present invention, is mounted on the center wall of the frame 30 adjacent the connecting rod 608. The armature of that solenoid is denoted by the numeral 630, and that armature is connected to the projecting arm of the rod 608 by the pin 632. The solenoid 628 can act through its armature and the pin 632 to move the rod 608 downwardly; but when that solenoid is de-energized, the spring 614 will hold the connecting rod 608 in the position shown in FIG. 1.

A solenoid 634, which is the coin'return solenoid of the coin-handling device of the present invention, is

Claims (1)

1. A COIN-OPERATED DEVICE THAT CAN RESPOND TO THE INSERTION OF COINS, OF THE SAME OR DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, TOTALING A PREDETERMINED VALUE TO ACTUATE A SECONDARY DEVICE AND THAT CAN RESPOND TO THE INSERTION OF COINS, OF THE SAME OR DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, TOTALING A SUM IN EXCESS OF SAID PREDETERMINED VALUE TO ACTUATE SAID SECONDARY DEVICE AND TO PAY OUT CHANGE AND THAT COMPRISES A PASSAGE FOR COINS OF ONE DENOMINATION, A SECOND PASSAGE FOR COINS OF ANOTHER AND DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, A CREDIT-STORING DEVICE THAT HAS ELEMENTS WHICH ARE MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO SOTRE CREDITS, A COIN-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT ADJACENT THE FIRST SAID PASSAGE THAT RESPONDS TO THE PRESENCE OF A COIN OF THE FIRST SAID DENOMINATION TO CAUSE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ELEMENTS OF SAID CREDITSTORING DEVICE AND THE REBY STORE AN AMOUNT OF CREDIT DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE DENOMINATIONAL VALUE OF A COIN OF THE FIRST DENOMINATION, A SECOND COIN RESPONSIVE ELEMENT ADJACENT SAID SECOND PASSAGE THAT RESPONDS TO THE PRESENCE OF A COIN OF SAID OTHER DENOMINATION TO CAUSE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ELEMNTS OF SAID CREDITSTORING DEVICE AND THEREBY STORE AN AMOUNT OF CREDIT DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE DENOMINATIONAL VALUE OF COINS OF SAID OTHER DENOMINATION, AND ESCROW CHAMBER THAT IS DISPOSED BEYOND THE FIRST SAID COIN-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT AND THAT CAN RECEIVE COINS OF THE FIRST SAID DENOMINATION FROM THE FIRST SAID COIN-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT, A SECOND ESCROW CHAMBER THAT IS DISPOSED BEYOND SAID SECOND COIN-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT, AND THAT CAN RECEIVE COINS OF SAID OTHER DENOMINATION FROM SAID SECOND COIN-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT, A CHANGE DISPENSING DEVICE THAT IS DISPOSED BEYOND THE FIRST SAID ESCROW CHAMBER AND CAN SELECTIVELY RECEIVE COINS OF THE FIRST SAID DENOMINATION FROM THE FIRST SAID ESCROW CHAMBER, A SECOND CHANGE DISPENSING DEVICE THAT IS DISPOSED BEYOND SAID SECOND ESCROW CHAMBER AND THAT CAN SELECTIVELY RECEIVE COINS OF SAID OTHER DENOMINATION FROM SAID SECOND ESCROW CHAMBER, A RETURN COIN PASSAGE THT IS DISPOSED BEYOND THE FIRST AND THE SAID SECOND ESCROW CHAMBERS AND THAT CAN SELECTIVELY RECEIVE COINS FROM THE FIRST SAID AND SAID SECOND ESCROW CHAMBERS, AND COIN-CONTROLLING ELEMENTS THAT SELECTIVELY DIRECT COINS FROM SAID ESCROW CHAMBERS TO SAID CHANGE DISPENSING DEVICE OR TO SAID RETURNED COIN PASSAGE, SAID CREDIT-STORING DEVICE RESPONDING TO POSITIONING OF SAID ELEMENTS THEREOF CORRESPONDING TO SAID PREDETERMINED VALUE TO ACTUATE SAID SECONDARY DEVICE, SAID CHANGE DISPENSING DEVICES RESPONDING TO THE POSITIONING OF SAID ELEMENTS OF SAID CREDIT-STORING DEVICE BEYOND THE SAID POSITION CORRESPONDING TO SAID PREDETERMINED VALUE TO DISPENSE CHANGE..

Images