US3260338A - Switch closing coin escrow vanes - Google Patents

Description

y 1966 L. P. LA BARGE SWITCH CLOSING COIN ESCROW VANES INVENTOR. L 00/3 P. L0 B0265 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1964 July 12, 1966 L. P. LA BARGE SWITCH CLOSING COIN ESCROW VANES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1964 INVENTOR. Lou/.5- 1 L4 B4265 W ,e W

firraen/sys 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L. P. LA BARGE SWITCH CLOSING COIN ESCROW VANES INVENTOR. I. 00/5 1 l4 B/JEGE July 12, 1966 Filed Aug. 13. 1964 United States Patent 3,260,338 SWITCH CLQSING ODIN ESCROW VANES Louis P. La Barge, Newport Beach, Calif., assignor to Teletek, Inc., Costa Mesa, Califi, a corporation of @alifornia Filed Aug. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 389,263 19 Claims. (Cl. 194-46) The present invention relates to coin operated units, and it relates more particularly to a coin control mechanism for use in a coin operated unit, wherein one or more coins are dropped into the coin control mechanism and retained therein until the mechanism is actuated to drop the coins into one of a plurality of paths. One such path may conduct the coins into a coin box or safe, and the other into a coin return receptacle.

Although the present invention is useful in any of a variety of coin operated units or devices, it has particular utility in connection with telephone pay stations, which require a coin control mechanism of this general character for retaining the coins which have been deposited until the operator actuates the coin control mechanism to either deposit the coins into the coin safe of the pay station or return the coins to the coin return receptacle. However, the coin control mechanisms presently employed in telephone pay stations have certain structural and functional disadvantages which are overcome by the present invention.

Coin control mechanisms currently employed in telephone pay stations comprise a box or housing which is open at the top and bottom and has a pair of pivoted vanes therein that are normally closed together to retain any coins dropped into the mechanism. Each of these vanes can be selectively pivoted downwardly to release the coins either into the coin safe or into the coin return chute, according to which vane or gate is moved. However, these vanes in prior art coin control mechanisms are directly operated by magnetic relay devices so as to pivot with the relay armatures, and because of this the voltage and current requirements were high and also the vanes had a rather limited capacity for supporting coins, and could only support about $2.00 worth of mixed change, which is much less than many telephone calls require.

Another difiiculty in connection with coin control mechanisms currently in use is that they require a separate spring pile-up in the path of the coins dropped down into the coin control mechanism, the coins causing the spring pile-up to transfer an electrical circuit from a normally open circuit condition to a closed circuit condition so that the magnetic relays which control the vanes will become operative. This spring pile-up is quite sensitive and readily becomes out of adjustment, and is thus a frequent cause for telephone pay stations to be out of order.

A further problem in connection with present coin control mechanisms of this general character is that the same coin control mechanism cannot be employed in a telephone pay station for both the prepay and semi-postpay conditions of operation, since different types of relay devices must be ued in connection therewith According to the present invention a coin control mechanism is provided wherein there is a box or coin hopper that is open at its upper and lower ends and which has a pair of pivoted vanes that are gravity actuated. The

3,260,338 Patented July 12, 1966 second positions may be utilized for energizing electrical circuitry or other actuating means for controlling the latch devices, and for controlling other devices such as a shunt-switch for the dial pulse contacts of a telephone. Then either latch device may be actuated to release the respective vane which will be swung downwardly by the Weight of the coins to release the coins in either of two different release paths (for example into a coin safe or into a coin return chute). When the weight of the coins is off of the vanes they will automatically move back up to their first or uppermost positions wherein the electrical circuitry or other operating means for the latch devices is again inoperative.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coin control mechanism which is usable in a variety of coin operated devices or machines, but which has particular utility in connection with telephone pay stations, wherein a plurality of coin support and releasing vanes are gravity actuated by the weight of the coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin control mechanism of the character described wherein the coin support and releasing vanes are gravity actuated by the weight of the coins to shift from an uppermost or first position of repose to a second, intermediate position wherein the coins are still retained by the vanes, this movement of the vanes between the first and second positions energizing electrical circuit or other power providing means associated with the coin control mechanism, the vanes being retained in the second position by respective latch devices, and each of the vanes being releasable by actuation of its respective latch device to release the coin or coins so that they will drop into a respective path, and all of the vanes being automatically returned to their first or uppermost position by suitable biasing means, preferably counterbalances, when thus relieved of the weight of the coin or coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin control mechanism of the character described wherein electrical switch means associated with at least one, and preferably both, of the pivoted, gravity actuated coin retention vanes is actuated by movement of the vanes from their uppermost positions of repose to their intermediate latched positions, the circuit means closed by; said switch or switches providing operational circuit means for the latch devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin control mechanism of the character described wherein additional switch means is actuated by downward movement of the vanes from their uppermost position of repose for opening a dial pulse contact shunt circuit or other circuit means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin control mechanism of the general character described which is particularly simple and foolproof in structure and in operation, requiring no adjustment over a long operative life, and being self-energized, requiring no accessory devices such as a spring pile-up for energizing the latch devices which are provided for retaining and selectively releasing the vanes or gates.

A still further object is to provide apparatus of the character described which is capable of holding about three or more times the amount of mixed change than could be handled by prior .art devices, without likelihood of improper operation or damage to the device because of the weight of the coins.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which may be employed without change in a telephone pay station that is in either the prepay or the semi-postpay condition of operation.

An additional object is to provide apparatus of the character described which requires a relatively small amount of electrical power for actuation thereof, permitting relatively low voltage and current to be employed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the course of the following part of the specification, wherein the details of construction and mode of operation of a presently preferred embodiment are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with a portion of the outer case broken away, illustrating a telephone pay station embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the coin control mechanism of the present invention principally in front elevation, with a portion of the front wall thereof broken away, with the coin control vanes shown in their uppermost position of repose.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2, providing a top view of the essential working parts of the mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the coin control mechanism looking from the front, with portions in elevation, showing the coin control vanes in their intermediate, latched position with a coin therein.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but with one of the vanes released by its latch and pivoted downwardly by the weight of the coin to deposit the coin in the coin safe.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the coin control mechanism in rear elevation.

FIGURE 8 is a wiring diagram of a telephone circuit in the prepay condition embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a wiring diagram of a telephone circuit in the semi-postpay condition embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a telephone pay station 10 embodying a coin ccontrol mechanism 12 according to the present invention. The pay station 10 has a coin slot 14 near the top thereof for receiving nickels, dimes or quarters, and the coin slot 14 feeds these coins into a slug rejector 16 which checks and sorts the coins. Any slugs or coins which are not found to be of the correct diameter, thickness, weight, or material content, and coins which are bent, will be rejected by the slug rejector 16 and will pass therefrom into rejected coin chute 18 and thence into coin return chute 20 and coin return receptacle 22 where it can be retrieved by the calling party.

On the other hand, coins which pass the tests in the slug rejector mechanism 16 will pass into a coin annunciator and two-nickel latch mechanism 24. The device 24 will annunciate the coin values to the operator, as by bells or by electronic means, and will electrically lock out the dial pulse contacts when a first nickel passes therethrough and until another is deposited so that two nickels are required for the dial pulse contacts to be rendered operative. The coin annunciator and two-nickel latch mechanism has an outlet passage 26 disposed directly above the center of the coin control mechanism 12 so that coins passing through the device 24 will be deposited into the coin control mechanism 12.

Coins thus dropped into the coin control mechanism 12 will be retained therein until released by the operator to either drop into the coin return chute 20 for return to the calling party or to drop into a coin safe 28 disposed generally in the bottom portion of the pay station and extending under one half of the coin control mechanism 12.

The structural details of the coin control mechanism are illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 7, and will now be described in detail.

The coin control mechanism includes a box or coin hopper comprising generally parallel, flat front and rear walls 30 and 32, respectively, which are connected by a plurality of spacer posts 34 and screws 36. A support bracket 38 is connected to the left side of the box looking from the front, as in FIGURES 2 to 5, and includes a horizontal base 40 attached to the coin safe by a screw 42. The bracket 38 has an upright side 44 from which suitable ears 46 extend and are attached to the front and rear walls 30 and 32 at the bottom by suitable fasteners 48 and at the top by the screws 36.

The front wall 30 has a pair of symmetrically arranged, arcuate slots 50 and 52 therein which have their radial centers disposed generally in the upper left and upper right-hand corners of the box, respectively. The rear wall 32 has similar arcuate slots 54 and 56 therein which are aligned with the respective front wall slots 50 and 52.

A pair of vane or gate members 58 and 60 are pivotally mounted on horizontal pivot axes disposed at the respective radial centers of the arcuate slots, the vane 58 being pivotally mounted at the radial center of the arcuate slots 50 and 54 in the front and rear walls, and the vane 60 being pivotally mounted at the arcuate center of the slots 52 and 56 in the front and rear walls. The vanes are provided with ears 62 for this pivotal mounting on pivot pins 64 which extend inwardly from the front and rear walls 30 and 32 and may be threadedly supported in the front and rear walls.

The vanes 58 and 60 have counterbalance weights 66 thereon which normally bias the vanes to an uppermost position illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, wherein teeth 68 at the free ends of the vanes mesh and the free ends thereby cross each other. Engagement of the vanes at the roots of the teeth 68 defines the uppermost limit of travel of the vanes as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, and this is the position of repose of the vanes, or the inoperative position, when there is no coin deposited therein.

Vane 58 is disposed directly over an opening in the coin safe 28, and will sometimes hereinafter be referred to as the collect vane, since release of the vane 58 will result in a coin being collected by deposit thereof into the coin safe. Vane 60 is disposed directly over the upper end of the coin return chute 20, and release of the right-hand vane 60 will permit a coin to drop down into the chute 20. Accordingly, vane 60 will sometimes hereinafter be referred to as the return vane.

Each of the vanes has a forward arm 70 which extends forwardly out through the respective arcuate slot 50 or 52; and similarly each of the vanes has a rear arm 72 extending rearwardly out through the respective rearward slot 54 or 56. In the uppermost position of the vanes, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 7, the arms 70 and 72 project out near the tops of their respective slots. In this uppermost position of the vanes, the vanes preferably incline downwardly from their pivots at angles of approximately 45 from the horizontal, so that the vanes are approximately at right angles to each other. This angular relationship of the vanes is merely a presently preferred one, and may be varied as desired.

A pair of latch relays 74 and 76 are mounted on the outside of the front wall 30 by means of a suitable support bracket 78 fastened to wall 30. The latch relay 74 includes a pivoted stop or latch member 80 disposed below and normally in the path of the forward arm 70 of the collect vane 58. Accordingly, the latch relay 74 will sometimes hereinafter be referred to as the collect latch relay.

Similarly, the latch relay 76 has a pivoted stop or latch member 82 disposed below and normally in the path of the forward arm 70 of the return vane 60, and accordingly the latch relay 76 will sometimes hereinafter be referred to as the return latch relay 76.

Each of the stop or latch members 80 and 82 is biased toward its latching position in the path of the respective vane arm 70 in the unactuated positions of the latch relays as best shown in FIGURE 2 by means of a leaf spring 84 mounted on the respective latch relay. Actuation of either latch relay 74 or 76 will cause the respective latch member 80 or 82 to pivot against the biasing force of the respective spring 84 out of the path of the respective vane arm 70,

FIGURE 2 illustrates a coin 86 dropping down through the outlet passage 26 of the coin annunciator and twonickel latch mechanism 24, and about to enter the unactuated coin control mechanism 12. Entry of the coin 86 between the vanes 58 and 60 is assured by a pair of guide members 88 in the upper part of the box. The counterbalance weights 66 on the vanes are sufi'iciently light so that any coin dropping onto the vanes will overcome the counterbalance weights and swing the vanes 58 and 60 downwardly until the forwardly projecting arms 70 of the vanes are engaged against the respective stop members 80 and 82 of the latch relays to limit further downward travel of the vanes. In this position of the vanes they still are closed to prevent escape of the coin, but the ends of the vane teeth 68 are now proximate each other, and are also proximate the upper edge of a generally vertically disposed divider plate 90 which has the opening to the coin safe 28 on the left side thereof and the opening to the coin return chute on the right side thereof, looking in the direction of FIGURES 2 to 5. It will be apparent that if the collect latch relay 74 is actuated to release the vane 58, the weight of the coin 86 will swing that vane further downwardly to allow the coin to pass down into the coin safe. On the other hand, actuation of the return latch relay 76 to release the return vane 60 will permit the weight of the coin to swing the vane 60 downwardly so that the coin will pass down into the return chute 20.

It is preferred to have the latch relays 74 and 76 completely inoperative when the vanes are in their uppermost positions without a coin therein, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7. This is preferably accomplished by employing switch means on the coin control mechanism and associated with the vanes so as to close an electrical circuit to each of the relays 74 and 76 in response to movement of the respective vane 58 or 60 from its uppermost position to its intermediate latched position of FIGURE 4. Such switch means is provided on the rear wall 32, and comprises a pair of small magnetically actuated switches associated with the respective vanes. To operate such switches, a small magnet 92 is attached to the rearwardly projecting arm 72 of vane 58, and a similar magnet 94 is attached to the arm 72 of vane 60. Disposed adjacent the upper end on the arcuate slot 54 is a normally closed reed relay 96 which is actually a small magnetically operated switch; and similarly disposed adjacent the upper end of the arcuate slot 56 is a normally closed reed relay 98. In these positions of the reed relays 96 and 98, when the vanes 58 and 60 are in their uppermost positions as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, without the weight of a coin thereon, the magnets 92 and 94 will be adjacent the respective reed relays 96 and 98 so as to hold the reed relays 96 and 98 open and thereby open the circuits to the respective latch relays 74 and 76, which circuits in clude as elements thereof the reed relays 96 and 98, respectively.

However, as soon as a coin is dropped into the coin control mechanism onto the vanes, thereby causing the vanes to shift to the latched position of FIGURE 4, the magnets 92 and 94 will move away from the reed relays 96 and 98, permitting both of them to move to their normally closed positions so as to close the electrical circuits to the latch relays 74 and 76.

A third reed relay 100 is mounted adjacent the top or either one of the arcuate slots 54 and 56, in this case the slot 54, and this reed relay 100 is normally open, but is held closed by the magnet 92 when the vanes are in their uppermost position as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7; but is allowed to open when the vanes are shifted to their latched position of FIGURE 4. The reed relay 100 may be employed for any desired purpose, but is used in the telephone pay station for normally shunting the dial pulse contacts so that dialing cannot be effected until a coin is deposited on the vanes to shift them to 6 their latched position of FIGURE 4, which opens the reed relay and thereby opens the dial pulse contacts to permit dialing.

It will thus be seen that the operation of the coin control mechanism 12 is generally as follows: the vanes will normally be in their uppermost position, which is the position of repose, as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, at which time the reed relays 96 and 98 will be held open by the respective magnets 92 and 94 so that the latch relays 74 and 76 will have open circuits and will at that time be inoperative. At the same time, the dial pulse contact shunt switch comprising the reed rel-ay 100 will be held closed by the magnet 92 to provide a shunt circuit across the dial pulse contacts.

When a coin is dropped into the mechanism 12, it will overcome the biasing effect of the counterbalance weights 66 and will drop the vanes 58 and 60 down to their latched positions as shown in FIGURE 4 wherein they are both latched by engagement of the forwardly projecting arms 70 of the vanes against the stop members 80 and 82 of the latch relays 74 and 76. Because of the downward inclination of the vanes, and the generally V-shaped groove therebetween, the coin or coins will rest at the apex of. the two vanes generally as shown in FIG- URE 4, so that if either vane is released the coin will fall down through the opening under that vane. Movement of the vanes from their uppermost positions of FIG- URES 2, 3 and 7 to their intermediate latched position of FIGURE 4 causes the magnets 92 and 94 to move away from the three reed relays 96, 98 and 100, thereby providing an operative electrical circuit to each of the latch relays 74 and 76 and opening the shunt across the dial pulse contacts.

Although the closing of reed relays 96 and 98 at this time will provide operative circuits for the latch relays 74 and 76, respectively, the latch relays are still not energized until an electrical current is passed through either of the circuits. Then, according to whether the coin is to be collected or returned, one of the latch relays 74 or 76 will be actuated to release the respective vane 58 or 60 and thereby permit the coin to drop into the coin safe 28 or into the return chute 20. As soon as one of the relays 74 or 76 is thus energized to move its respective stop member 80 or 82 out of the way of the respective vane, that vane will drop down and the other vane will then be relieved of the weight of the coin and will immediately swing back up to the uppermost, unactuated position thereof. Normally, the electrical impulse applied to the latch relay which is being actuated will be held a sufiicie-nt time (usually about 2 seconds) to allow the coin to drop and to allow that vane to swing back up into its uppermost, unactuated position, at which time the electrical impulse will be removed from the respective latch relay and the apparatus will be ready for another cycle of operation.

In FIGURES 5 and 6 the latch relay 74 has been actuated to release the vane 58 so that the vane 58 has been swung downwardly by the weight of the coin and the coin is dropping into the coin safe. At the same time, since the other vane 60 has been relieved from the weight of the coin it has swung back upwardly to its initial position of repose. As soon as the coin passes below the ends of the teeth 68 of vane 58 that vane will again swing back upwardly and resume its uppermost position.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view showing a circuit arrangement embodying the present invention for a telephone in the prepay condition of operation.

The two telephone lines are designated 102 and 104, and the coin control circuit 106 is shown connected to the line 102 and to ground. Also disposed in line 102 is the hook switch 108 which connects the ringer circuit 110 between lines 102 and 104 when the receiver is on the hook, and which provides a continuation of line 102 when the receiver is off the hook and the hook switch 108 is in the position illustrated. Line 102 then terminates at the dial pulse contacts 112, which are normally closed. Normally open transmitter-receiver shunt springs 114 are provided between the dial pulse contacts and the line 104 to shunt-off the transmitter-receiver network when the dial is cocked off of its normal position.

The transmitter-receiver network for the telephone is connected to the dial pulse contacts through a conductor 118 and is connected to the telephone line 104 through a conductor 120.

A dial pulse contact shunt circuit 122 is provided between the line 102 and the conductor 118, i.e., to provide a shunt across the dial pulse contacts 112, the circuit 122 including two shunt switch elements arranged in parallel so that if either is closed the dial pulse contacts will be rendered inoperative. One of the switch elements is the reed relay 100 which is normally closed to provide a shunt circuit across the dial pulse contacts when the coin control mechanism vanes 58 and 60 are in their uppermost position, and which opens when the vanes are moved to their intermediate, latched position. The other shunt switch element is a two-nickel latch switch 124 which is associated with the coin annunciator and two-nickel latch mechanism 24. The first nickel passing through the mechanism 24 closes the shunt switch 124 to render the dial pulse contacts inoperative, and the second nickel again opens the shunt switch 124 so that when the two nickels drop into the coin control mechanism 12 and thereby open the reed relay switch 100 the dial pulse contacts become operative.

Referring now more particularly to the coin control circuit 106, the two reed relays 96 and 98 are connected in parallel, one contact of each being connected to the telephone line 102, and another contact of each being connected to a resistor 126, which is in turn connected to a parallel relay circuit 128. One leg of circuit 128 includes a diode 130 and the coil 132 of collect latch relay 74, and the other leg of circuit 128 includes a diode 134 and the coil 136 of return latch relay 76. The diodes 130 and 134 are oppositely directed so as to polarize the two legs of the parallel relay circuit 128 in opposite directions. The other end of the circuit 128 is connected through cent reset coil 138 to ground. A resistor 140 is connected in parallel with the portion of the circuit including resistor 126, the parallel relay circuit 128 and the S-cent reset coil 138. Current passing through coil 138 will cause the 2-nickel latch mechanism 24 to be reset, and the combination of resistor 126, resistor 140 and S-cent reset coil 138 serves as a voltage and current limiting network.

For all practical purposes during normal operation of the apparatus the two reed relay magnetic switches 96 and 98 will function as a single switch unit. Both of these reed relays 96 and 98 are normally in an open position, and they will both become closed as shown in FIG- URE 8 when a coin is dropped between the vanes so as to lower the vanes to the latched position. Then, when one of the latch relays 74 or 76 is actuated to release the respective vane and the coin or coins, both of the vanes are permitted to return to the uppermost, initial position, at which time both of the reed relays 96 and 98 are returned to their open positions. Thus, for normal operation of the mechanism, a single reed relay 96 or 98 could be employed in place of the two of them. However, it is desirable to have both of these magnetic switches in the circuit in case either one of the vanes is hung up and prevented from returning to its uppermost position (as for example by de-energization of its latch relay before the forwardly projecting arm 70 of the vane has a chance to move upwardly past the relay stop member 80 or 82). In this event the switch 96 and 98 of the offending vane will remain close, thus closing the coin control circuit 106 and informing 'the telephone operator that the vanes have not been properly returned, so that she can apply an appropriate voltage to the line 102 to release the caught vane.

The coin (or coins) which has been dropped into the coin control mechanism and has thereby moved the vanes 58 and 60 to the latched position and thereby closed the reed relays 96 and 98 will remain between the vanes as shown in FIGURE 4 until the operator releases the coin as follows: If the operator wishes to collect the coin in the coin safe, she applies a positive voltage (usually as a 2 second pulse) to the line 102, causing current to pass through the reed relays 96 and 98, resistor 126, the collect diode 130 and collect relay coil 132, and thence through the S-cent reset coil 138 to ground. This actuates the collect latch relay 74 so as to release the vane 58 and deposit the coin in the coin safe. At this time the diode 134 blocks the passage of current through the coil 136 of the return relay 76.

On the other hand, if the operator wishes to return the coin to the calling party she applies a negative voltage to line 102, causing current to pass through the reed relays 96 and 98, the resistor 126, the return diode 134 and coil 136 of the return latch relay 76, and thence through the S-cent reset coil 138 to ground. This actuates the return 'latch relay 76 to release vane 60 and cause the coin to pass into the coin return chute 20. At this time the diode 130 prevents the passage of current through the coil 132 of the collect latch relay 74.

It will be noted in FIGURE 8 that the reed relays 96 and 98 are actually single pole, double throw switches which have fixed contacts that are not used in the circuit of FIGURE 8, but which are contacted by the movable contacts when in the open position in the circuit of FIG- URE 8. These additional contacts are employed in the semi-postpay condition illustrated in the circuit diagram of FIGURE 9, and therefore useful in permitting the same coin control mechanism 12, even including the switches thereon, to be employed in either the prepay or the semi-postpay condition.

In the semi-postpay condition as illustrated in FIGURE 9 there is no dial pulse contact shunt circuit like the circuit 122 of FIGURE 8, because when the receiver is lifted 011 of the hook the calling party talks to the operator before money is deposited. Accordingly, the reed relay and the 2-nickel latch switch 124 are employed elsewhere in the circuit as will become apparent.

The hook switch 108, ringer circuit and transmitter-receiver network 116 are arranged in the semipostpay circuit of FIGURE 9 in generally the same manner as in the prepay circuit of FIGURE 8. The principal difference lies in the entirely different coin control circuit 142 of FIGURE 9 as compared with the coin control circuit 106 of FIGURE 8.

In the coin control circuit 142 only one of the reed relays 96 and 98 has been shown, namely, the reed relay 96. This is to keep the circuit simple. However, the two reed relays 96 and 98 may be arranged in parallel without altering the operation as hereinafter described. In the reed relay 96 as shown in FIGURE 9, the movable contact element is designated 144; the fixed contact which is engaged by the movable contact when the vanes are in their uppermost positions is designated 146; and the other fixed contact is designated 148.

One circuit path through the coin control circuit 142 extends from the incoming line 102 through a diode 150, a resistor 152 and the reed relay 100 (which is closed when the vanes are in their uppermost positions) to the other incoming line 104. The movable contact 144 of reed relay 96 is connected to the line 102, and the fixed contact 148 thereof, as well as one end of 5-cent reset coil 138, is connected to this last mentioned circuit path between the diode 150 and the resistor 152. Another diode 154 is positioned in the line 102.

A conductor 156 is connected to the line 102 so that the diode 154 is between this connection and the connection of reed relay 96 with line 102; the conductor 156 also being connected to the fixed contact 146 of reed relay 96. The other end of S-cent reset coil 138 is connected to the coil 132 of collect latch relay 74, which 9 in turn is connected through the Z-nickel latch switch 124 to the other telephone line 104. An isolation diode 158 is connected between the contact 146 of reed relay 96 and the juncture between coils 138 and 132.

When the receiver is lifted in the semi-postpay arrangement of FIGURE 9, the incoming line 152 has a negative voltage and line 104 a positive ground. With this voltage arrangement, current cannot pass through the diode 150, nor through diode 154, but current will pass through contacts 144 and 146 of the reed relay 96 and thence through conductor 156, so that current will pass around diode 154 and through the hook switch 158 and the transmitter-receiver network 116 to the other line 1194, so that the calling party can talk to the operator.

When the other party lifts the receiver off of the hook the electrical polarity of the lines 102 and 104 reverses, so that 152 is now positive and 104 is now negative. This arrangement is usually referred to as called party reversal, although some telephone companies refer to it as called party supervision. With this reversal of polarity, current can now go through both of the diodes 150 and 154.. The current through diode 150 has the path of lesser resistance so that most of the current will now flow through diode 150, through resistor 152 and the closed reed relay 100 to line 104. However, some current will flow through diode 154 and therefore through the transmitter-receiver network 116 to line 104. In this condition there is just enough current allowed through the transmitter-receiver network so that there is very weak, faint transmission and reception; just enough to advise the parties that someone is at the other end of the line.

It is at this time that the coin or coins are dropped into the telephone, which will cause the vanes 58 and 60 to shift from their uppermost position to their intermediate, latched position. This causes the movable contact 144 of reed relay 96 to shift away from fixed contact 145 and engage fixed contact 148. At the same time the reed relay 1011 is shifted from its normally closed position to its open position, and it is this open position of the reed relay 1% which now permits most of the current to flow through the transmitter-receiver network. The diode 158 blocks the passage of current between the lines 1M and 104 through conductor 156 and the collect relay coil 132.

The 2-nickel latch switch 124 is moved to a left-hand position as shown in FIGURE 9 upon the insertion of one nickel, which would by-pass the reed relay 100 and divert current from the transmitter-receiver network, but upon insertion of the second nickel the switch 124 is moved to the position shown in FIGURE 9 wherein the by-pass circuit is open as aforesaid.

When the called party hangs up, the polarity again reverses back to the original polarity wherein line 102 is negative with respect to line 104. Accordingly, current will now flow from line 102 through contacts 144 and 148 of reed relay 96, thence through the -cent reset coil 138, through the coil 132 of the collect latch relay 74 and through the switch 124 to line 104. This current operates the S-cent reset, and actuates the collect latch relay 74 to release the collect vane 58 and allow the money to drop down into the coin safe. Then, both vanes move back to their initial, uppermost positions, and the reed relays 96 and 105 return to their initial positions, and the circuit is back to the condition originally described. With the semi-postpay circuit there is no provision for the operator to operate the return latch relay relay for return of coins to the calling party.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. Coin control mechanism comprising a housing having a coin inlet opening and a plurality of coin outlet openings below the inlet opening, a plurality of vanes pivo-tally mounted in the housing, each vane being disposed generally above a respective one of said outlet openings, the vanes being pivotal from an uppermost position wherein the vanes form a closed bin below the inlet opening for receiving coins entering through the inlet opening and wherein each of the vanes provides a closure above its respective outlet opening, and a lowermost position of each vane wherein the vane exposes its respective outlet opening so that coins may drop down therethrough, means biasing the vanes toward their said uppermost positions with a force less than the weight of a coin which the vanes are adapted to receive, and latch means releasably engageable with each vane at a position of the respective vane intermediate said uppermost and lowermost positions, the bin formed by the vanes remaining closed when the vanes are in said intermediate position, whereby the weight of a coin deposited on the vanes through the inlet opening will move the vanes from their uppermost positions to their intermediate, latched positions, and release of the respective latch means of a vane will permit the weight of the coin to swing that vane downwardly to its lowermost position and thereby permit the coin to drop through the respective outlet opening under that vane, said biasing means returning the vanes to their said uppermost positions.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein a pair of said vanes and respective outlet openings and latch means are provided.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein the vanes are pivoted on generally horizontal, parallel, spaced pivot axes.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said vanes extend generally downwardly at an angle from their respective pivot axes so as to form a generally V-shaped bin in the said uppermost and intermediate positions of the vanes.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means biasing the vanes toward their uppermost positions comprises counterbalance weights on the respective vanes.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the latch means associated with each vane comprises a latch member movable between a latching position and a release position, and means normally biasing each latch member to its latching position.

7. Mechanism as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said latch means further comprises magnetic means operable when energized to shift the respective latch member against its biasing means from its latching position to its release position.

8. Coin control mechanism comprising a housing having a coin inlet opening and a pair of coin outlet openings below the inlet opening, a pair of vanes pivotally mounted in the housing, each vane being disposed generally above a respective one of said outlet openings and each of the vanes having a plurality of generally parallel, spaced teeth terminating at the free end of the vane, the vanes being pivotal from an uppermost position wherein the teeth of the vanes intermesh and cross each other and the vanes form a closed bin below the inlet opening for receiving coins entering through the inlet opening and wherein each of the vanes provides a closure above its respective outlet opening, and a lowermost position of each vane wherein the vane exposes its respective outlet opening so that coins may drop down therethrough, means biasing the vanes toward their said uppermost positions with a force less than the weight of a coin which the vanes are adapted to receive, and latch means releas ably engageable with each vane at a position of the respective vane intermediate said uppermost and lowermost positions, the free end portions of the vanes remaining adjacent each other so that the bin formed by the vanes remains closed when both vanes are in said intermediate position, whereby the weight of a coin deposited on the vanes through the inlet opening will move the vanes from their uppermost positions to their intermediate, latched positions, and release of the respective latch means of a vane will permit the weight of the coin to swing that vane downwardly to its lowermost position and thereby permit the coin to drop down through the respective outlet opening under said vane, said biasing means returning the vanes to their said uppermost positions.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 8, wherein both of said vanes extend generally downwardly at an angle from generally horizontal, parallel pivot axes so as to form a generally V-shaped bin in the said uppermost and intermediate positions of the vanes.

10. Mechanism as defined in claim 9, including a generally upright divider plate in the lower portion of the housing and providing a division between the said outlet openings in the housing, said divider plate lying in a plane that is generally parallel to the pivot axes of the vanes, and the free ends of the vanes being disposed adjacent to the upper edge of said plate in said intermediate positions of the vanes.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said means biasing the vanes toward their uppermost positions comprises counterbalance weights on the respective vanes.

12. Mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein the latch means associated with each vane comprises a latch member movable between a latching position and a release position, and spring means normally biasing each latch member to its latching position.

13. Mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein the latch means associated with each vane comprises a magnetically operable latch relay having normally open electrical circuit means associated therewith, and electrical switch means operable by movement of at least one of said vanes from its said uppermost position to its said intermediate position so as to close said electrical circuit means for rendering said magnetic latch relays operative.

14. In a telephone pay station having slot means in the upper portion thereof for receiving coins, a coin safe in the lower portion thereof and a coin return chute also in the lower portion thereof; coil control mechanism comprising a housing having a coin inlet opening communicating with said slot means and a pair of coin outlet openings below the inlet opening, one of said outlet openings communicating with said coin safe and the other communicating with said coin return chute, a pair of vanes pivotally mounted in the housing, one vane being a coin deposit vane disposed generally above the outlet opening which communicates with the coin safe, and the other vane being a coin return vane disposed generally above the outlet opening which communicates with the coin return chute, the vanes being pivotal from an uppermost position wherein the vanes form a closed bin below the inlet opening for receiving coins entering through the inlet opening and wherein each of the vanes provides a closure above its respective outlet opening, and a lowermost position of each vane wherein the vane exposes its respective outlet opening so that coins may drop down therethrough, means biasing the vanes toward their said uppermost positions with a force less than the weight of a coin which the vanes are adapted to receive, a collect latch relay releasably engageable with said collect vane and a return latch relay releasably engageable with said return vane, said latch relays each being releasably engageable with its respective vane at a position of the respective vane intermediate said uppermost and lowermost positions, the bin formed by the vanes remaining closed when the vanes are in said intermediate position, whereby this weight of a coin deposited on the vanes through the inlet opening will move the vanes from their uppermost positions to their intermediate, latched positions, and release of said collect latch relay will permit the weight of the coin to swing said collect vane downwardly to its lowermost position and thereby permit the coin to drop down into the coin safe, while release of the said return latch relay will permit the Weight of the coin to swing the return vane downwardly to its lowermost position and thereby permit the coin to drop down into the coin return chute, said biasing means returning the vanes to their said uppermost positions.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, which includes a normally closed dial pulse contact shunt switch means associated with at least one of said vanes, said switch means being closed in the uppermost position of that vane and being opened by movement of the vane to its said intermediate position, whereby the dial pulse contacts are shunted and thereby rendered inoperative when the vanes are in their uppermost positions, and the shunt is removed and the dial pulse contacts rendered operative when the vanes are moved by the weight of a coin thereon from their uppermost to their intermediate positions.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, which includes electrical circuit means associated with said magnetic latch relays, said circuit means including switch means associated with at least one of said vanes, said switch means being open in the uppermost position of said vane and being closed by movement of said vane to its said intermediate position, whereby said latch relays are inoperative at the uppermost positions of the vanes and are rendered operative when the vanes are moved by the weight of a coin thereon from their uppermost to their intermediate positions.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said latch relays each have separate circuit means associated therewith, each of said circuit means having a respective one of said switch means associated therewith and operated by movement of the respective vane.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein each of said switch means comprises a reed relay mounted on the housing and a permanent magnet mounted on the respective vane.

19. Apparatus of claim 18, which further includes a third reed relay associated with one of said permanent magnets so as to provide dial pulse contact shunt switch means that is closed in the uppermost position of the vanes and opened by movement of the vanes to their said intermediate position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,284,755 6/l942 Melick 23257.5 2,519,046 8/1950 Hull 194-9 3,207,428 9/1965 Lotspeich 23257.5

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

S. H. TOLLBERG, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. COIN CONTROL MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A COIN INLET OPENING AND A PLURALITY OF COIN OUTLET OPENINGS BELOW THE INLET OPENING, A PLURALITY OF VANES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING, EACH VANE BEING DISPOSED GENERALLY ABOVE A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID OUTLET OPENINGS, THE VANES BEING PIVOTAL FROM AN UPPERMOST POSITION WHEREIN THE VANES FROM A CLOSED BIN BELOW THE INLET OPENING FOR RECEIVING COINS ENTERING THROUGH THE INLET OPENING AND WHEREIN EACH OF THE VANES PROVIDES A CLOSURE ABOVE ITS RESPECTIVE OUTLET OPENING, AND A LOWERMOST POSITION OF EACH VANE WHEREIN THE VANE EXPOSES ITS RESPECTIVE OUTLET OPENING SO THAT COINS MAY DROP DOWN THERETHROUGH, MEANS BIASING THE VANES TOWARD THEIR SAID UPPERMOST POSITIONS WITH A FORCE LESS THAN THE WEIGHT OF A COIN WHICH THE VANES ARE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE, AND LATCH MEANS

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