US3270848A - Coin accumulator - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1966 M. A. HALL COIN ACCUMULATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OCT.. 19, 1964 Ilm- A' f\ xNvENToR MWCHELL A. HALL ATTO Y Sept. 6, 1966 M. A. HALL com ACGUMULATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1961-3` INVENTOR. MITCHELL A. HALL BY l www' ATTO Sept. 6, i966 M. A. HALL COIN ACCUMULATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 19, 1964 L.. L L L mw wmmv @n IN VENTOR.

MITCHELL A. HALL BY JM ATT() Semo 5, i966 M. A. HALL COIN CCUMULATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 19, 1964 INVENTOR.

MiTCHELL A. HALL BY l ATT e(- Sept. 6, w66 M. A. HALL 3,270,848

COIN ACCUMULATOR Filed Oct. 19, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Lm w W////////f W m l N VENTOR.

MITCHELL A. HALL B Y l /WMWUQ ATTOR EY M. A. HALL 3,270,848 COIN ACCUMULATOR 8 Sheets-Sheec 6 N VE N TOR. MITCHELL A. HALL ATTOR Sepa 6, 1966 Filed OC.. 19, 1964 Sept. 6, 3966 M. A. HALL. 3,276,848

COIN ACCUMULATOR Filed Oct. 19, 1964 S sheets-sheet 7 INVENTOR. MITCHELL A. HALL Sept. 6, i966 M. A. HALL COIN ACCUMULATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 19, 1964 I N VEN TOR. MITCHELL A. HALL BY ATTQRNEY l United States Patent O 3,270,843 COIN ACCUMULATR Mitchell A. Hall, 445 Rossford Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky. Filed Get. 19, 1.964, Ser. No. 404,571 Ztl Claims. (Cl. 1945-92) The present invention relates to an accumulator of coins or tokens of different denominations and sizes, wherein is included means to permit manipulation of an actuator only upon deposit of a predetermined number of coins or tokens of selected sizes or values. Accumulators such as the invention per-tains to, are useful in controlling operation of various types of machines for dispensing goods or services in exchange for payment, usually by means of coins. Some examples of common usage are, to control the operation of laundry washers and dryers, machines for dispensing food and many other products, ticket and stamp dispensers, game machinery, land the like.

The accumulator as herein disclosed, is particularly adapted for service where a considerable number of coins may be required to place the device in condition for actuation; however, as will be explained, the device is adjustable for actuation upon deposit of a small number of coins also. It possesses also the advantage of accepting coins of small denomination in addition to coins of greater value, so that a patron may insert pennies, for example, in payment of sales taxes, in -addition to the base price of an article or service to be dispensed. Thus, the proprietor of the machine may dispense articles at a proper base price, plus sales tax, without having to overcharge or undercharge a patron by pricing the article to the nearest nickel or dirne valuation to include the tax, which tax is usually an intermediate amount.

An object of the invention is to provide an accumulator which can accept a large number of coins of diterent denominations, evaluate the total worth of coins deposited, and permit an actuation provided that the coins properly correspond to the predetermined price of goods or services to be dispensed.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated, which makes possible the pricing of an article or service without overcharge or undercharge, taking into account a tax item such as a sales tax, to be 4added to the selling price of the article or service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose stated, which is easily and accurately adjustable for accommodating a wide range of coins or tokens having like or diiering values, necessary to condition the device for actua-tion.

A further object is to provide in a multiple-coin accumulator, simple means to electively sense the absence of one or more required coins, or the presence of an improper coin, and to perform accordingly by barring ability of the accumulator to initiate dispensing of an article or service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which is durable, fool-proof, and simple of construction, so as to require a minimum of maintenance attention.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational View of the improved accumulator, including six proper coins conditioning the device for actuation.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, excluding the coins shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmental side elevation of the actuator shown at the top of FIG. 1, partially advanced toward dispensing position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the actuator in fully advanced, dispensing position.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the relationship of parts occurring at coin ejection.

FIG. 6 is a fragmental cross-section taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 1, showing proper coins held by a magazine.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5, showing the coins being ejected from the magazine.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section taken on line 9 9 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section taken on line lil-10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1l is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the relationship of parts obtaining when operation of the device is attempted with one coin missing from the magazine.

FIG. l2 is a side elevation of the magazine, indicating means of adjustment thereof to accommodate coins in different numbers.

FIG. 13 is 4a View similar to FIG. 12, illustrating a modified form of magazine and linkage.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 14- 14 of FIG. 1, showing details of the magazine construction.

Referring to FIG. l, the numeral 20 indicates a reciproable actuator or plunger supported in bearings 22 for longitudinal shifting movement from the inoperative or retracted position of FIG. l, to the extended or operative position of FIG. 8. When fully extended, actuator 20 at its inner end 24 may strike an electric switch, or some other operable part of a vending machine, to cause delivery of a product or service offered by the vending machine. Movement of the actuator to operative position may be eltected only after deposit of a predetermined number of proper coins Q, N, P, int-o a coin magazine 25. For purposes of explanation and convenience only, and without intention to limit Ithe invention, the coins may be quarters, nickels, and pennies, Q, N, P. With slight moditcation, the magazine may be adapted to accommodate other coins, including dimes, or various combinations of diierent coins as will become manifest.

Bearings 22 may be supported by a stationary frame part 26, to which may be fixed a depending upright frame part 28. A post 30 and =base 32 (FIG. 2), are not necessary elements of the device, but are indicated simply as a form of support therefor. The frame parts 26, 28, might as well be supported upon an inside wall or inner structural part of -a cabinet into which coins may drop, so as to be inaccessible to a patron or user of the device.

Actuator or plunger 20 may carry a fixed ange or abutment 34, and an adjacent iixed spool 36, the latter being grooved at spaced intervals to provide a rack having opposite ends 38 and 40. A spring-biased pawl 42, pivoted upon frame part 26 at 44, operates against rack 36 to prevent withdrawal of plunger 20 once the plunger has been advanced partially toward operative position. This is best understood by referring to FIG. 11. Pawl 42 is adapted to override the end 4t) of the rack as plunger 20 closely approaches the fully extended or operative position of FIG. 4, whereupon the plunger may thereafter be retracted, with the pawl idly traversing the rack teeth according to FIG. 5. The pawl in FIG. 5 will of course preclude advancement of the plunger, until the pawl passes oit the end 38 of the rack.

Adjacent to the end 38 of rack 36, the plunger or actuator may be reduced in diameter to provide a depression or pocket 46, into which may dip a latch 48, as shown upon FIG. 11, to stop against spool end 38 for blocking advancement of the plunger. This condition occurs when improper or insufficient coins are deposited in magazine 25 by the patron. If properand sufficient coins are deposited, latch 48 will refuse to dip, as in FIGS. 3 and 5, thereby permitting the plunger to advance without interference from latch 48. In that event, the plunger may be advanced to the fully extended or operative position of FIG. 4, with latch 48 remaining retracted. Upon retraction of plunger 20, all coins will be ejected, as will later be explained, and latch 48 at the end of plunger retraction, will assume the initial normal position of FIG. 1 against one side of the plunger. In arriving at said initial position, the latch will dip momentarily into pocket 46 'because it is normally yieldingly biased in -that direction by a spring 50, as will be explained.

Coin magazine may comprise a substantially flat plate-like structure having parallel longitudinal outwardly extending ribs 52, 54, 56, 58 on one face thereof, said ribs providing elongate runways for supporting coins fed therein by a patron. The coins entry ends of the runways are designated by the numerals 60, 62, 64, and these ends preferably are disposed at an inclination to induce gravity movement of coins along the runways. For this purpose, the magazine 25 may be secured to frame part 2S at an inclination, as shown.

Ribs 52, 54, 56, have upper plane shelf surfaces 66 to support the coins Q, N, and P. The lower surfaces of ribs 54, 56, 58 are provided with channels 68 which prevent the coins from inadvertently tipping outwardly from the runways, thereby assuring that the coins remain substantially upright in rolling down the inclined shelves, FIGS. 6 and 7. If desired, the magazine may be mounted to tilt slightly from the vertical, as in FIGS. 6 and 7, to prevent the aforesaid inadvertent tipping of coins laterally from the runways. It may here be noted that the coins are subject to deliberate lateral ejection, as in FIG. 7, due to the planar nature of shelf surfaces 66 which support them.

Lateral ejection of coins from the magazine may be effected by a series of interconnected ejector bars 70, 70, 70, which are held in spaced parallelism by struts 72 which are fixed thereto. The set of ejector bars may be shifted bodily from an inoperative position of FIG. 7 at which the bars project through elongated slots 74 in the magazine body, to dislodge the coins. The two positions of the ejector bars are illustrated at '70 of FIG. 10.

Support means for ejector bars 78 may comprise a set of ex-tending arms 76 fixed to the magazine body, and carrying at their outer ends a pair of pivot shafts 78, 78. These shafts may carry links 80, 80, the opposite ends of which are pivotally attached to the shafts 78 and to the ejector bars 70, so that the links may swing about shafts 78 in guiding the ejector bars 7G to the operative and inoperative positions of FIG. 10. A spring 82 acts to yieldingly bias the set of ejector bars toward the inoperative or retracted position shown by full lines in FIG. 10.

Means are provided for shifting the ejector bars to eject coins from the magazine, upon each retractile movement of actuator or plunger 20. Such means may comprise an upright rock shaft 84 journalled for limited rocking movement in a bearing 86 fixed to the back of frame part 26 (FIGS. 2, 6, 7, and 8). The rock shaft may include a crank end 88 to normally rest against one of the ejector bars '70, as in FIG. 6, so that when the rock shaft is rotated slightly-in one direction, it will project the ejector `bar set, as in FIG. 7, to dislodge coins from the magazine. A small wire spring 90 may act to yieldingly return rock shaft 84 to the normal position of FIG. 6, while spring 82 returns the ejector set to the retracted inoperative position, FIG. 6.

Rock shaft 84 may have at its upper end a lever arm 92, which is normally in the path of movement of abutment 34 carried by plunger 20. When the plunger is advancing as in FIG. 3, abutment 34 will strike arm 92 to rotate the rock shaft, but such rotation will be in a direction such as to move crank 88 away from the ejector, and thereby permit the ejector to remain inoperative or idle. However, upon retraction of the plunger (FIGS. 8 and 9), abutment 34 will strike arm 92 to rotate the rock shaft 84 in the opposite direction, or counter-clockwise, whereupon the crank end 88 of the rock shaft will impinge against the ejector 70 as in FIG. 7, to actuate the ejector for dislodging coins from magazine 25. Thus, upon each retraction of plunger 20, all coins deposited in the magazine by the patron will be captured and retained, preferably within a coin box located adjacent to the magazine.

Means are provided in association with the coin magazine and latch 48; to ensure that a patron wishing to purchase goods or services has deposited in the magazine, coins of required denominations, and in such numbers, as are necessary to initiate dispensation of the goods or services desired. Suc-h means is required to count the coins, and also to test them for authenticity.

In the example illustrated by FIG. 1, the accumulator has been pre-set to accept two quarters, two nickels, and two pennies, having a total value of sixty-two cents. With these coins inserted in the proper runways, latch 48 will be held retracted to permit full advancement of plunger 20, for initiating operation of a dispenser of a sixtytwo cent commodity. By adjusting the coin stops 94 along the length of the runways, coins in greater or lesser numbers may be accommodated by the runways, for the purpose of increasing `or decreasing the amount of money necessary to purchase a commodity to be dispensed. For example, the sixty-two cent setting of FIG. 1 may be increased to sixty-three cents, by loosening the clamp screw 96 of the uppermost stop 94, and relocating the stop to the left a distance equal to the diameter of a penny. In like manner, adjustments may be .made for increasing or decreasing the number of coins to be accommodated by the remaining runways, to etect commodity price changes over a wide range.

To test or verify coins deposited in lthe several runways of the magazine, a linkage system is provided which is designed to collapse in the absence of support from proper coins resting in any one or more of the runways,

thereby allowing latch 48 to dip into plunger pocket 46 t (FIG. 11), and lock the plunger against full advancement. Latch 48 may be pivoted on frame part 26 at 98,`

and that end of the latch. which is opposite the nose thereof has pivotal connection at 100 with the upper end of a latch link 102. Link 102 in turn is pivoted at 104 upon a rocker arm 106, the latter having one end pivoted at 108 upon frame part 26.

The swingable end 110 of rocker arm 106 carries a pivot 112 from which depends a connecting link 114, whose lower end has pivotal connection at 116 upon the free end of a caliper support beam 118, which beam is pivoted at 120 upon frame part 28. The caliper support beam 118 is biased by spring 50, about pivot 121), ending to tension the linkage for urging the nose of latch 48 toward plunger 20. As will be poin-ted out, however, the action of spring 5) is nullied by proper insertion of proper coins in the magazine runways, thereby to prevent dipping of latch 48 into pocket 46 when the plunger is manipulated toward operative position.

Near the swinging end of beam 118 is a pivot 122 from which depends a link 124. This link has pivotal connection at 126 with the upper leg of a caliper element 128 formed as an inverted Y, whose arms 13() and 132 diverge in generally opposite directions. From a pivot 134 on the free end of arm 132, depends a swing member or link 136 having a lower pivot 138.

A bell crank 148 having divergent arms 142 and 144, is attached at the junction of said arms, to pivot 138. The free ends of arms 142 and 144 carry gauge pins 146 and 148, which pins extend laterally from the arms in parallelism and in a common direction. A similar gauge pin similarly extended, is carried by the free end of caliper element arm 130, and is denoted by the numeral 150. The parts 128 and 140 which carry the gauge pins, are properly considered caliper elements, as the pins thereof are arranged to rest upon the edges of coins such as P, N, and Q, for gauging or calipering the coins as to their height while the coins rest upon the several runway shelves 66.

Gauge pins 146, 148, 150, extend transversely through the runways of magazine 25, FIG. 6, at levels corresponding to the levels of the several runway channels 68, so that when proper coins of the proper diameter occupy said channels 68, the gauge pins will rest upon the top portions of such coins at certain predetermined elevations. This condition is illustrated by FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, then, it is seen Ithat coins Q and N support caliper element 140 at a definite elevation, with pivot 138 supporting swing member or link 136; link 136 supports one arm 132 of Y-shaped caliper element 128, while coin P supports the other arm 130 thereof. In turn, link 124 rigidly supports beam 118 at a definite predetermined elevation which establishes the position of latch 48. The entire linkage above referred to becomes a rigid structure determining the position of latch 48, which, upon advancement of actuator 20, offers no interference with advancement of the actuator.

Now, if any one or more of the coins Q, N, P, is absent from its proper runway, as in FIG. 11, .the entire linkage above referred to will collapse for want of support at a critical point. Thus, in FIG. 1l, the absence of a coin N to support gauge pin 146, permits bell crank 140 to drop and to carry with it the link 136, which in turn tilts .the caliper element 128 to offset it from link 124, resulting in a lowering of beam 118 by spring 50. Lowering of beam 118 pulls downwardly the members 114, 106, and 102, for projecting latch 48 into recess 46 to block advancement of actuator 20. Such projection of the latch will occur as soon as actuator is moved from the initial position of FIG. l, to the partly advanced position of FIG. ll.

Projection of latch 48 to intercepting position will result not only from the absence of a coin, as above explained, but will result also in the event that one or more of the supporting coins is undersize in diameter. In that event, collapse of the caliper linkage will not be as complete as FIG. 11 depicts it, but collapse will be at least partial, and sufficient to initiate displacement of latch 48 to the actuator-intercepting position of FIG. 11.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that actuator 20 may be advanced fully, only when proper coins of proper sizes are inserted in magazine 25, in such numbers as stops 94 determine. For example, in FIG. 11, the number of P coins required for actuation may be increased to four, by relocating the P coin stop 94 to the left a distance equal to two P coin diameters. Similarly, the coin requirements of other coin runways may be increased or decreased by relocating their respective stops (see FIG. 12).

In the event that the xing of a commodity price involves eliminating a coin denomination, such as FIG. 12 suggests by way of example, the runway for the coin to be eliminated may be provided with a dummy support for gauge pin 146, in ,the form of a block or part 152 carrying a clamp screw 154, whereby the block may be fixed in position to maintain an elevated position of gauge pin 146 equivalent to the position that would be established by a proper coin. Thus, the device may be conditioned to accept only a predetermined number of coins Q, and a predetermined num-ber of coins P, as a prerequisite to dispensing a commodity or service. Dummy supports may of course be applied to any of the magazine runways.

In an alternative magazine construction, FIG. 13, the number of runways may be reduced, with retention of the same collapsible linkage system as was disclosed in the description of FIGS. 1 and 1'1. However, in FIG. 13, the lower arm 144 of bell crank member 140 may then be pivoted at 156 upon the magazine, to provide the linkage support that would have othe-rwise been provided by a third coin. As will be understood, failure of a coin N or P to elevate either of the gauge pins 146 or 150 the required amount, will result in collapse of the linkage system as soon as actuator 20 is advanced sufficiently to meet resistance by latch 48, as in FIG. 1l. Pivot 156 in this instance is substituted for gauge pin 148.

It may here be pointed out that the thickness, as well as the diameter of coins inserted in the several runways of the magazine, may be placed under test for authenticity by establishing a proper width dimension for each of the runway grooves 68, as suggested by FIGS. 7 and 14. It should be understood that the present device may be equipped also with various other coin-testing expedients common in the art, for the detection and rejection of spurious coins or slugs.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it may be noted that the lowermost gauge pin 148 of the collapsible linkage is shown to include a hooked end or retainer to bear loosely against the back of magazine 25, this being merely a means t-o preclude accidental lateral displacement of the linkage system bodily outwardly from the magazine. The hooked end :160 lightly contacts the back of the magazine, and will not therefore interfere with free movement of the gauge pin and the linkage in a plane which is substantially parallel to the mean plane of the magazine. Means other than hook 160 might be employed for the purpose stated.

Magazine 25 may be provided with cut-outs 162 at each of the nunway ribs 54, 56, 58, lpermitting the several gauge pins to assume an elevated position upon the periphery of a supporting coin, according to FIG. 1 and as previously expalined.

It is .to be understood that various modiications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An accumulator of coins of different sizes, :comprising in combination: an actuator movable from a normally inoperative position to an operative position; a shiftable latch member movable from an inoperative position in non-interfering relationship with movement of the actuator, to an operative position barring movement of the actuator to the operative position; a coin magazine comprising la plurality of coplanar runways, said runways each including an elongate inclined shelf to support the coins on edge in a `common plane, and along which the coins may roll by gravity toward the lower ends of the shelves, the runw-ays each having an open coin entry end receptive of coins deposited in the several nunways; individually adjustable coin stops intermediate the ends of the runway; and means supported by accepted coplanar coins resting in edgewise contact upon the several inclined shelves, for holding the latch member in the inoperative position favoring unobstructed movement of the actuator .to the operative position.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included: means operative incident to movement of the actuator toward the operative position, for dislodging the coins from the supporting shelves.

3. The combination as set forth in claim l, wherein is included: means operative incident to movement of the actuator toward the operative position, for striking corresponding faces of all coins in the runways, to dislodge the coins laterally from the runways.

4. tAn accumulator of coins of different sizes, comprising in combination: an actuator movalble from a normally inoperative position to an operative position; a shiftable latch movable from an inoperative position in non-interfering relationship with movement of the actuator, to an operative position barring movement of the actuator to the operative position; a coin `magazine including a plurality of elongate nunways each receptive of at least one coi-n, the runways each being dimensioned to accommoda-te a different ,form of coin; a rockable member, and means connecting the rockable member with the latch, whereby rocking of the rockable member in one direction moves the latch to operative position, and rocking thereof in lan opposite direction moves the latch to the inoperative position; yielding means biasing the rockable member in the direction of latch Ioperativeness; a plurality of independently movable coin calipering elements each including a gauge pin extended into a runway in position to be struck and elevated by a proper coin deposited in each runway; means linking one coin calipering element to the other VL] coin calipering element, to provide partial support for said one calipering element by said other calipering element, the remainder of the support being provided by the gauge pins resting upon proper coins in the several runways, to shift and hold the latch at inoperative position in opposition to the force of the yielding means.

5. The combination as set fort-h in claim 4, wherein is included means to eject coins from the runways incident to movement of the actuator in one direction.

6. An accumulator of coins of different sizes, comprisin-g in combination: an actuator movable from a normally inoperative position to an operative position; a shiftable latch, movable from an inoperative position in non-interfering relationship ywith movement of the actuator, to an operative position barring movement of the actuator to the operative position; a coin magazine including a plurality of elongate runways each receptive of at least one coin, the runways each being dimensioned to accommodate a different form of coin; a rockable member, and means connecting the rockable member with the latch, whereby rocking of the rockable member in one direction moves the latch to operative position, and rocking thereof in an opposite direction moves the latch to the inoperative position; yielding means biasing the rockable member in the direction of latch operativeness; a normally collapsible linkage system suspended from the rockable member, including a plurality of interconnected coin calipering elements each comprising a gauge pin extended into a runway in position to be struck and elevated by a proper coin deposited in each runway, said gauge pins when fully elevated serving to rigidly support the linkage system and maintain the rockable member in position to hold the latch inoperative.

7. The combination as set Aforth in claim 6, wherein is included means to eject all coins laterally from the runways incident to movement of the actuator in one direction.

8. An accumulator of coins of different sizes, comprising in combination: an actuator movable from a normally inoperative position to an operative lposition; a shiftable latch movable from an inoperative position in non-interfering relationship with movement of the actuator, to an operative position barring movement of the actuator to the operative position; a coin magazine including a plurality of elongate runways each receptive of at least one coin, the runways each `being dimensioned to accommodate a different form of coin; a rockable member, and means connecting the rockable member with the latch, whereby rocking of the rockable member in one direction moves the latch to operative position, and rocking thereof in an opposite direction moves the latch to the inoperative position; yielding means biasing the rockable member in the direction of latch operativeness; a normally collapsible linkage system suspended from the rockable member, including a plurality of interconnected coin calipering elements each comprising a gauge pin extended into a runway in position to be struck and elevated by a proper coin deposited in each runway, said gauge pins when fully elevated serving to rigidly support the linkage system and maintain the rockable member in position to hold the latch inoperative, and adjustable means for varying the effective length of the runways individually, for accommodating coins in predetermined numbers.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein each runway includes a lower shelf to support a coin, said shelves being planar and unobstructed along a side thereof whereby coins may be dislodged bodily laterally therefrom for displacement from the magazine; channeled means above each shelf to releasably confine laterally a minor portion of the coin periphery above the shelf; and ejector means movable laterally of the runways incident to movement of the actuator in one direction, for pushing the coins laterally off the unobstructed sides of the shelves, to clear the runways of coins and thereby free the gauge pins for collapse of the linkage system.

10. An accumulator of coins of different sizes, comprising .in combination: an actuator movable from a normally inoperative position to an operative position; a shiftable latch movable from an inoperative position in noninterfering relationship with movement of the actuator, to an operative position barring movement of the actuator to the operative position; a coin magazine including a plurality of coplanar elongate runways each receptive of at least one coin, the runways each being dimensioned to accommodate a different form of coin; a first coin calipering element having three divergent arms; means connecting the first of said arms with the latch, whereby movementsof said first arm are translated to the latch for moving said latch to the operative and inoperative positions aforesaid; a second coin calipering element in the form of a bell crank having two divergent arms meeting at a point of junction; a link having one end pivoted upon the second calipering element at the junction point, `and an opposite end pivoted to the free end of the second arm of the first calipering element, thereby to pivotally suspend said second calipering element from the first calipering element; a plurality of gauge pins each extended laterally into a runway in position to be struck and elevated by va proper coin deposited in each runway, said gauge pins being individually fixed one upon the third arm of the first calipering element, and the remaining two gauge pins being fixed one upon the free end of each arm of the second calipering element, so that proper coins deposited in the runways and positioned beneath the gauge pins will support the gauge pins and their associated calipering elements at a predetermined elevation, for maintaining the latch at inoperative position through the agency of the connecting means aforesaid.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10, wherein is included means to dislodge all coins laterally from the runways incident to movement of the actuator in one direction.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein is included: adjustable means associated with at least one runway, for varying the effective length of said one runway to accommodate coins `in predetermined numbers.

13. An accumulator of coins of different sizes, comprising in combination: an actuator movable from a normally inoperative position to an operative position; a shiftable latch movable from an inoperative position in non-interfering relationship with movement of the actuator, to an operative position barring movement of the actuator to the operative position; a coin magazine including a plurality of coplanar elongate runways each receptive of at least one coin, the runways each being dimensioned to accommodate a different form of coin; a first coin calipering element having three divergent arms; means connecting the first of said arms with the latch, whereby movements of said first arm are translated to the latch for moving said latch to the operative and inoperative positions aforesaid; a second coin calipering element in the form of a bell crank having two divergent arms meeting at a point of junction; a link having one end pivoted upon the second calipering element at the junction point, and an opposite end pivoted to the free end of the second arm of the first calipering element, thereby to pivotally suspend said second calipering element from the first calipering element; a plurality of gauge pins each extended laterally into a runway in position to be struck and elevated by a proper coin deposited in each runway, said gauge pins being individually fixed one upon the third arm of the first calipering element, and the remaining gauge pin being fixed upon the free end of one arm of the second calipering element; and means pivoting upon the magazine the free end of the remaining arm of the second calipering element, the gauge pins being so disposed that proper coins deposited in the runways and positioned beneath the gauge pins will support the gauge pins and their associated calipering elements at a predetermined elevation, for maintaining the latch at inoperative position through the agency of the connecting means aforesaid.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein is included means to dislodge all coins laterally from the runways incident to movement of the actuator in one direction.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein is included: adjustable means associated with at least one runway, for varying the effective length of said one runway to accommodate coins in predetermined numbers.

16. An accumulator f coins of different sizes, comprising in combination: a substantially Hat elongate plate having a slotted planar face, forward and -rear ends, and upper and lower sides defining said planar face; an upper and a lower` elongate rib extending laterally from said face, said ribs being parallel to one another and extending lengthwise along the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the plate; the upper rib having a lower edge grooved longitudinally adjacent to the planar face of said plate to accommodate an edge margin of a coin disposed flatwise against said planar face; the lower rib having an upper planar shelf area substantially perpendicular to the planar face of the plate, to support an edge of a second coin resting thereon in parallelism with the first-mentioned coin; a pair of intermediate elongate ribs spaced apart on the plate and disposed each in parallelism with the upper rib, said intermediate ribs each including an upper planar shelf area and a lower edge grooved longitudinally adjacent to the planar face of the plate, the shelf area of one intermediate rib being supportive of an edge of the first-mentioned coin, and the groove of the remaining intermediate rib being receptive of an upper edge margin of the second coin; the several shelves and the grooves of the ribs above them providing elongate coin runways extending from the forward to the rear end of the plate; means adjustable lengthwise of the runways intermediate the ends of the plate, for predetermining the number of coins to be accommodated in the runways at the forward end of the plate; the slots of said plate being equal in number to the number of runways, each slot extending longitudinally of a runway between adjacent runway ribs; and a plurality of coin ejector elements movable unitarily toward and from the plate, said elements being movable from a -position remote from the runway slots to a position within each slot, for dislodging the coins bodily off the shelf areas laterally of the planar face of the plate.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 16, wherein the combination includes means for mounting the movable ejector elements upon the accumulator plate, and said ejector elements comprise each an elongate bar substantially co-extensive in length with the length of a runway slot penetrated thereby.

18. An accumulator of coins of different sizes, comprising in combination: a substantially -at elongate plate having a slotted planar face, forward and rear ends, and upper and lower sides defining said planar face; an upper and a `lower elongate rib extending laterally from said face, said ribs being parallel to one another and extending lengthwise along the upper `and lower sides, respectively, of the plate; the upper rib having a lower edge grooved longitudinally adjacent to the planar face of said plate to accommodate an edge margin of a coin disposed flatwise against rsaid planar face; the lower rib having an upper planar shelf area substantially perpendicular to the planar face of the plate, to support an edge of a second coin resting thereon in parallelism with the firstmentioned coin; a pair of intermediate elongate ribs spaced apart on the plate and disposed each in parallelism with the upper rib, said intermediate ribs each including an upper planar shelf area and -a lower edge groove longitudinally adjacent to the planar face of the plate, the shelf area of one intermediate rib being supportive of and edge of the first-mentioned coin, and the groove of the remaining intermediate rib being receptive of an upper edge margin of the second coin; the several shelves and the grooves of the ribs above them providing elongate coin runways extending from the forward to the rear end of the plate; the slots of said plate being equal in number to the number of runways, each slot extending longitudinally of a runway between Iadjacent runway ribs; and a plurality of coin ejector elements movable unitarily toward and from the plate, said elements being movable from a position remote from the runway slots to a position within each slot, for dislodging the coins bodily off the shelf areas laterally of the planar face of the plate.

19. An accumulator of coins of different sizes, comprising in combination: a substantially flat elongate plate having a slotted planar face, forward and rear ends, and upper and lower sides defining said planar face; an upper and a lower elongate rib extending laterally from said face, said ribs being parallel to one another and extending lengthwise al-ong the upper land lower sides, respectively, of the plate; the upper rib having a lower edge grooved longitudinally adjacent to the planar face of said plate to accommodate an edge margin of a coin disposed atwise against said planar face; the lower rib having an upper planar shelf area substantially perpendicular to the planar face of the plate, to support an edge of a second coin resting thereon in parallelism with the first-mentioned coin; an intermediate elongate rib spaced between and in parallelism with the upper and lower rib, said intermediate rib including an upper planar shelf area, and a lower edge grooved longitudinally adjacent to the planar face of the plate, said shelf area being supportive of an edge of the first-mentioned c-oin, and the groove of said intermediate web being receptive of the upper edge margin of the second coin; the several shelves and the grooves of the ribs above them providing elongate coin runways extending from the forward to the rear end of the plate; the slots of said plate being equal in number to the number of runways, each slot extending longitudinally of a runway between adjacent ribs; and a plurality of coin ejector elements movable unitarily toward and from the plate, said elements being movable from a position remote from the runway slots to a position within each slot, for dislodging the coins bodily off the shelf areas laterally of the planar face of the plate.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 19, wherein the combination includes: means adjustable lengthwise of the runways intermediate the ends of the plate, for predetermining the number of coins to be accommodated in the runways at the forward end of the plate; and means for mounting the movable ejector elements upon the accumulator plate, said ejector elements each comprising an elongate bar substantially coextensive in length with the length of a runway slot penetrated thereby.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,037,462 4/ 1936 Du Grenier. 2,633,961 4/ 1953 Dixon 194--92 3,082,912 3/1963 Hawks 221-213 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ACCUMULATOR OF COILS OF DIFFERENT SIZES, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: AN ACTUATOR MOVABLE FROM A NORMALLY INOPERATIVE POSITION TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION; A SHIFTABLE LATCH MEMBER MOVABLE FROM AN INOPERATIVE POSITION IN NON-INTERFERING RELATIONSHIP WITH MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR, TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION BARRING MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR TO THE OPERATIVE POSITION; A COIN MAGAZINE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF COPLANAR RUNWAYS, SAID RUNWAYS EACH INCLUDING AN ELONGATE INCLINED SHELF TO SUPPORT THE COINS ON EDGE IN A COMMON PLANE, AND ALONG WHICH THE COINS MAY ROLL BY GRAVITY TOWARD THE LOWER ENDS OF THE SHELVES, THE RUNWAYS EACH HAVING AN OPEN COIN ENTRY END RECEPTIVE OF COINS DEPOSITED IN THE SEVERAL RUNWAYS; INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE COIN STOPS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE RUNWAY; AND MEANS SUPPORTED BY ACCEPTED COPLANAR COINS RESTING IN EDGEWISE CONTACT UPON THE SEVERAL INCLINED SHELVES, FOR HOLDING THE LATCH MEMBER IN THE INOPERATIVE POSITION FAVORING UNOBSTRUCTED MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR TO THE OPERATIVE POSITION.

Images