US3333769A

US3333769A - Coin counter

Info

Publication number: US3333769A
Application number: US497815A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred H Osborne
Original assignee: Wurlitzer Co
Current assignee: Wurlitzer Co
Priority date: 1965-10-19
Filing date: 1965-10-19
Publication date: 1967-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-01
Also published as: DE1474959B2; GB1142833A; DE1474959A1

Description

Aug. 1,1967 v PHOSBORNE v 3,333,769'

COIN COUNTER Filed Oct. 19, 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .mzwflw rw' my), {MM

g- 1967 F. H. O$BORNE 3,333,769

com COUNTER Filed Oct. 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I 3 War 0 @wwe Allg- 1967 F. HosBoR NE 3,3333% COIN COUNTER Filed Oct. 19, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 15 VI 11 I [I]! {1/ [AI III} 11/111 [III/l} I Z5 W w 75 Aug. 1, W67 F. H. OSBORNE COIN COUNTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 19, 1965 United States Patent 3,333,769 COIN COUNTER Fred H. Osborne, Williamsville, N.Y., assignor to The Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 497,815 14 Claims. (Cl. 235-100) This invention relates to a coin counter for coin operated devices.

For various reasons it is desirable to be able to tell quickly just how much money has been deposited in a given coin operated device. In some types of vending machines the cash taken in can be tolled inversely, as from the number of items sold. However, this leaves some room for error in case the machine operates improperly or in case some or all of the money taken in is pilfered. In the case of coin operated phonographs, commonly known as juke boxes, the situation is more difficult since no physical item is vended or dispensed. Most modern coin operated phonographs do have popularitymeters for determining exactly or approximately how many times each of the records has been played, but these usually have a top limit and do not count over a certain number of plays. Nevertheless, it is desirable to be able to tell quickly how much money has been deposited, in order to ascertain whether a given installation or location is profitable, and also in order to insure honesty on the part of the collector.

Prior art coin counting devices have suffered from various deficiencies. They have been limited in the numher of types of coins that can be counted or totalized, or I they have been too complicated and expensive in construction, or they have been unreliable in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin counter or totalizer which is simple and rugged in ent invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin counter or totalizer produced in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the coin counter of FIG. 1 along the line 22 in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 on an enlarged scale; FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the coin counter as taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view looking up as taken along the line 4-4 in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIG. 4;

'FIG. 6 is an upward looking horizontal sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is another upward looking horizontal sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a detail view of one of the operating levers such as seen in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

3,333,769 Patented Aug. 1, 18967 FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the stop yoke or bail shown in several of the foregoing figures;

FIG. 11 is a partial wiring diagram of the invention, greatly simplified for illustrative purposes; and

FIG. 12 is a further partial simplified wiring diagram.

Referring now in greater particularity to the figures, and first to FIGS. 1-3, there will be seen a coin counter or totalizer 20 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and including a vertical base plate or pan 22 having vertical stiffening edge flanges 24 thereon. The'base plate or pan 22 is provided on the backside thereof with a bracket 26 for attachment to an internal wall of a machine such as-a coin operated phonograph. A rectangular box-like .cover 28 attaches to the base plate by means of upstanding brackets 30 spot welded to the front of the base plate and received in com: plementary apertures 32 in the top of the cover. A lock 34 of known design is mounted on a flange 36 welded to the base plate and cooperates with a structure inside of the cover for detachably holding the cover in place. The lock is key operated, as will be understood, a key being shown in phantom at 38 in FIG. 3. p

The coin counter further includesan electricmotor 38. This motor conveniently is of the shaded pole type hav inga rotor 40 which is spring-pressed out of the stator 42 in an axial direction so that a friction brake number 44 fixed thereto may engage-a fixed brake surface 46 for rapidly stopping the motor when it is de-energized. When the motor is energized the rotor or armature is shifted axially by inherent solenoid action to release the brake. Motors of this construction are well-known in the art,

and the present motor therefore needs no further description, save for the mention that it preferably is designed for low voltage operation, such as 24 volts. Thev motor 38 acts through a conventional reduction gearing unit 48 to drive an output shaft 50 at a reduced speed. As will be observed, the housing of the gear reducing unit 48 is secured to a bracket 52 extending out from the base'plate or pan 22 to support the motor and gear reducing unit. An actuator unit 54 is mounted next to the gear re"- ducing unit 48 and will be described hereinafter in greater detail. The actuator unit is in part driven by the motor 38 and reducing gearing 48, and in turn acts to drive a register 56. The register 56 is of the type having a window 58 which is visible through an aperture 60 in the front of the cover 28. The register has a series' of dials .with numerals thereon readable up to four digits to the left of the decimal point, ie up to but not includ ing $10,000. In addition, the right number wheel 60 is provided with ten cent increments of indicia, but is mov able by five cent increments. The counter has an input shaft 62 having a spur-gear 64 fixed thereon and driven through idler gears 66 from a sheet metal crown gear 68 0n' the output shaft 70 of the actuator unit 54.

The actuator unit is to be seen in whole or in part in all of FIGS. 2-10, but particular attention should be payed first to FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, with reference also to FIGS. v2 and 3. The actuator unit 54 includes an endplate 72 proximate to the motor 38 and gear reduction unit 48, and an endplate 74 spaced therefrom and proximate to the register56. The endplates 72 and '74 are secured together by means including a left sideplate 76 (as viewed in FIG. 3) and a right sideplate 78, suitably secured to the endplates by bent-over ears or tabs and by self-tapping screws. The first, or upper or top endplate 72 is secured to the mounting plate or bracket 52 previously identified by means of suitable overlapping tabs or ears 80 and self-tapping screws passing therethrough. The second or bottom or lower plate 74 is secured by means such as a bracket 82 to the mounting plate or pan 22, and this endplate further is secured by suitable bracket means 84 to the counter or register 56. In addition to the

sideplates

76 and 78, the

endplates

72 and 74 are further secured in the spaced relation recited by a pair of spacer bars secured to the endplates near the back corners thereof in proximity to the base plate or pan 22. It will be understood that the spacer bars or rods 88 are secured in any suitable or known manner to the endplates. However, for purposes of illustration the bars are staked to the upper plate 72 and are held to the lower plate 74 by screws passed through the plate and threaded into tapped bores in the bars,

The

endplates

72 and 74 are provided with upper and lower inserted

bearings

90 and 92 respectively, having outer flanges 94 and staked internally at 96 to hold the bearings in place. These bearings journal the shaft 70 previously referred to, and also support additional parts hereinafter to be described.

The shaft 70 is in the nature of a spline shaft, having splines 98 thereon extending nearly from end to end. A plurality of ratchet wheels is pressed on this shaft in axially spaced locations, respectively being identified as 100, 102, 104 and 106. The ratchet wheels all are identical, having peripheral ratchet teeth 108 thereon, but are identified by different numerals for sake of identification hereinafter. Bearing or hub members are rotatably received on the spline shaft 70 intermediate the ratchet Wheels just identified. The hub members also are identified by dilferent numerals for sake of identification, and the hubs are respectively labeled as 110, 112, 114 and 116. Each hub 116 has an annular groove 118 in the periphery thereof in which a helical spring 120 is stretched to urge the corresponding hub in a clockwise direction as viewed from below (see FIG. 6). The springs 120 are anchored at one end in suitable apertures 122 in an inwardly deflected flange 124 on the right sideplate 78. The opposite ends of the springs are respectively anchored relative to the hubs 110, etc. by structures hereinafter to be set forth.

'Each of the hubs 110 et seq. has a lever secured thereto, the levels respectively being identified as 126, 128,130 and 132. The lever 132 is seen in outline in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the lever 126v is identical therewith. The lever 130 is seen in outline in FIG. 8, and the lever 128 is identical therewith. The

levers

130 and 132 are identical except for the addition of one part in FIG. 8 as hereinafter will be brought out. With reference to FIG. 8, the lever 130 will be seen to have a generally circular body section 134 and a pawl tail 136 extending therefrom. The pawl tail is provided with a hole 138 for mounting of a pin, hereinafter to be described, and with a smaller hole 140 forming a biasing spring anchor.

Relatively opposite to the pawl tail 136 is an operating arm 144, and disposed clockwise therefrom as viewed in FIG. 8 there is a second operating arm 146. A hole 148 is provided between the

arms

144 and 146 and a like hole 150 is spaced arcuately therefrom.

Anchor pins for the springs 120 are mounted in the holes 148 of the

levers

130 and 128 but are not seen in the drawings. The

levers

126 and 132 are identical with the lever 130 except for the omission of an actuating or operating arm corresponding to the arm 146. In these two levers there are spring anchor pins 152. As will be seen in FIG. 6 the end of the corresponding spring 120 is hooked over a pin 152 to bias each lever rotationally.

Each of the pawl tails 136 carries a stud 154 staked or otherwise suitably affixed in the hole 138. Each such stud 154 pivotally mounts a pawl 156 (FIGS. 3 and '7') urged into engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel 100 et seq., specifically the teeth thereof, by a spring 158 coiled about the pin or stud 154, and having one end anchored in the pawl tail spring anchor hole 140 and having the other end anchored in a suitable hole in the pawl.

Ill

An armature pivot rod 160 (FIGS. 3 and 7) is located immediately to the right and slightly forward of the leftmost spacer rod 88. A plurality of identical armatures 162, the illustrative embodiment having four such armatures, is pivoted on this rod in spaced relation, being spaced apart by suitable cylindrical spacers 164 on the rod and to which the armatures 162 are respectively fixed to provide wide bearings. Each of the armatures 162 com prises an elongated body or lever arm 166 extending forwardly from the pivot rod 160 to a position adjacent a corresponding operating lever pawl tail 136. A transverse ear 168 is provided atthe outer end of each such arm 166, and a laterally extending pin 170 immediately to the right of such ear engages the adjacent pawl tail and restrains or latches the pawl against clockwise movement as urged by the corresponding spring 120. The armature is urged into such latching position by a spring 172 stretched between a tail 174 on the armature and an inwardly directed flange 176 on the left sidewall 76. The springs 172 obviously urged the armatures 162 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7, and movement of the armature in a clockwise direction is limited by abutment of the armature tails 174 against the left or adjacent spacer rod 88.

A plurality of electromagnets 178 equal in number to the armatures 162, four in the present illustrative embodiment, is mounted on the left sidewall 76. Each such electromagnet includes a core 180 aligned with the ear or tab 168 of the corresponding armature 162, and a coil winding 182 thereon. When any of the e'lectromagnets is energized it attracts the corresponding armature, thereby retracting the corresponding pin 170 from latching engagement with the corresponding pawl tail 136, and freeing the corresponding lever 130 for clockwise rotation under the force of the attached spring 120.

As hereinafter will be set forth in greater detail, the levers 126 et seq. are limited in rotation under the impetus of their respective springs 120 by engagement of the

arms

144 or 146 thereof with a motor starting bail 184, best seen in FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 10, and also seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. The motor starting bail 184 is moulded of a suitable plastic material, Delrin being one preferred example. The plastic material provides a cushioning effect both enhancing the life of the parts and reducing noise. The motor starting bail includes a body 186 which is generally a cylindrical section. The body is provided with four stopping

edges

188, 190, 192 and 194 which are circumferentially offset from one another, and spaced axially for respective engagement by the arms of the

levers

126, 128, 130 and 132. The bail is provided with two radially extending side arms 196 having apertures 198 therein by means of which the bail is rockably mounted on the shaft 70 for rocking movement concentric with the levers 126 et seq. Thin sheet metal washers 200 encircle the shaft 70 inwardly of the arms 196 and space these arms from the ends of the splines 98 to prevent engagement of the splines with the arms which obviously would damage the plastic material.

The arms 196 are provided with elongated apertures 202 which are elongated rotationally or circumferentially about the shaft 70 as a center. Studs 203 (FIGS. 2 and 5) extend in from the

endplates

72 and 74 and are received in the slots 202 to limit rocking movement of the motor starting bail 184. The total amount of arcuate movement possible from one limit position to another of the motor starting bail is equal to the space between two adjacent ratchet teeth 108 on one of the ratchet wheels 100 et seq. A helical spring 203 is coiled about the left-most of the spacer rods 88 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) and has one end 206 thereof abutting the left sidewall 76 and has another end 208 received in a notch in the body 186 of the motor starting bail 184 whereby to bias the motor starting bail in a counterclockwise direction.

The bottom end wall 74 is provided with a relatively large aperture 209 (FIG. 9) and a low travel switch'211 is-mounted adjacent thisaperture with an operating member 213 thereof extending through the hole and having a wire operator 215 thereon. The wire operator engages a pin 217 extending from the adjacent bail arm 196. The switch is norm-ally off but whenever the bail is rocked from its counterclockwise biased position the pin 217 operates through the

parts

215 and 213 to close the switch.

The lever 130 initially has the arm 146 thereof bearing against the motor bail surface 192. When the corresponding relay 178 is actuated and this lever is released, the motor switch bail is operated of rocked through a distance equal to one tooth of the corresponding ratchet wheel. correspondingly, the arm 146 of the lever 128 is spaced one increment away from the stop surface 190, whereby release of this lever will allow the lever to move rotationally through two increments equal to two tooth spaces'on' the corresponding pawl, one increment before engagement with the surface 190 and one increment afterwards. Likewise, the arm 144 of the lever 126 is spaced four increments or tooth spaces from'the surface 188 to all-ow a total turning or rocking movement of this lever equal to-five increments or tooth spaces. Similarly, the arm 144 of the Llever 132 is spaced nine increments or tooth spaces from the surface 194, whereby to allow a total movement of ten increments or tooth spaces. The increments in the present illustrative embodiment are equal to five cents deposited, and the

levers

130, 128, 126, and 132 respectively correspond to a nickel, a dime, a quarter, and a half-dollar.

Movement of the levers under the. impetus of the springs 120 does not rotate the shaft 70, and therefore such movement has no effect on the register 56. However, return movement of the levers acts through the respective pawls 156 and ratchet wheels .100 et seq. to rotate the shaft 70 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed from below), and thereby to advance the register one, two, five or ten increments as the case may be. Such return is effected by structure now to be described.

An actuating lever re-setting bail 210 may be seen in FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 9. This bail comprises substantially L-shaped

end'pieces

212 and 214 pivoted on the

bearings

90 and 92 respectively and interconnected by means of a straight centerpiece 216'secured to the L-shaped end pieces by means such as screws 218 and detents 220. The re-setting bale 210 is positioned with the straight or longitudinal portion 216 thereof closer to the shaft 70 than are the outer extremities of the pawl tails 136. Indeed, this bale acts as a limit stop for the tail of the lowermost lever 132. The bail is arranged to rock through about 90 degrees as hereinafter will beset forth, and upon such rocking movement this bail engages any or all of the pawl tails that have been released from.the respective latching pins 170, whereby to return the tails and the respective levers tolatching position. In this connection it will be notedthat the outer end of each pawl tail as indicated at 222 (FIG. 8) comprises a cam surface for moving the pins 170 and matching armatures 162 back against the biasing springs .172 to allow the pawl tails to snap beneath the pins 170. I

A stud 224 extends axially up from the upper L-shaped end piece 212 through an arcuate slot 225 in the top end plate 72. A connecting rod or link 226 is pivotally secured on this stud bymeans of a C-washer 228. The connecting rod or link 226 is provided with an intermediate offset 230, and the opposite end thereof is pivotally connected to a stud 232 also by means'of a C-washer 234 mounted on a cam disc 236 fixed on the output shaft 50 of the gear reducing unit or mechanism 48.

The cam disc 236 is generally circular in outline and is provided with a face cam 238 comprising an integral ramp 240 and a terminating shoulder or drop-off 242, the cam and terminating shoulder thereof being formed by a generally L-shaped slot 244.

A plastic follower 246 (FIGS. 4 and 5) rides against the face of the cam disc 236 and is mounted on one flex ible blade of a full cycle motor switch 248. When the follower 246 rides on the main surface of the cam disc 236,.the switch 248 is held closed. On the other hand, when the follower drops off of the shoulder 242 the switch is allowed to open, and it remains open until the disc again is rotating to cause the follower 246 to ride up the ramp 240.

In addition to the foregoing, the cam disc 236 is pro- .vided with a peripheral rise or bump 250. A follower roller 252 mounted on an arm 254 rides on the periphery of the cam disc and is engageable by the rise or bump 250. The arm 254 is provided with an intermediate offset 256, and is positioned substantially vertical with its. upper end pivoted at 258 on an upstanding tab 260 on the motor mounting plate 52. A spring 262 is stretched between a hole 264 in the lower end of the arm 254 and a hole in a pair of the overlapping tabs or connecting members 80 resiliently to hold the follower roller 252 in engagement with the periphery of the cam disc 236. The resiliently biased roller 252 in combination with the rise or bump 250 on the periphery of the cam co-act as a brake to insure stopping of the cam disc, and hence of the connecting arm or link 226 and the re-setting bail 210 in correct position.

Simplified wiring diagrams of the apparatus are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. A D.C. circuit is shown in FIG. 11, wherein there is shown a plurality of. coin operated switches 266 connected to one side of the line. The switches are respectively series connected to the coil windings 182 of the relays 178, the other sides of the relays being connected to the other side of the line. It will be understood that the switches 266 are respectively operated when a coin of different denomination, Le. a nickel, a dime, a quarter or a half-dollar, is deposited in the machine. The switches may be closed directly by the coin, or indirectly. However, it will be understood that each of the switches 266 is closed only momentarily, whereby each relay coil 182 is respectively energized for only a short time.

The circuit shown in FIG. 12 is an A.C. circuit, and an A.C. input line, preferably at reduced voltage such as the 24 volts previously mentioned is connected to the motor starting switch 211. The motor starting switch 211 is paralleled by the switch 248 which might be termed a full cycle switch. The parallel combination of these two switches is connected to the winding of the motor 38, and the other side of the line is connected to the other side of the motor.

' Operation ing levers 126, 128, 130 or 132. The

arm

144 or 146 of the lever, as the case may be, engages the respective stop surface 188 et seq. of the motor starting bail 184, and the motor starting bail is rocked one increment or tooth space to close the switch 211. This starts the motor 38 in operation, and the cam disc 236 turns to close the switch 248, and thereby to insure a full cycle of operation.

The operating or actuating lever which has been re leased moves one, two, five or ten increments or tooth spaces as previously described, and this without turning the corresponding ratchet wheel. As the cam disc 236 is driven it operates through the connecting rod or link 226 to move the reset bail 210 through approximately degrees of rocking movement, causing it to engage the tail 136 of the released lever, and thereby to return the lever to its latched position. Continued rotation of the cam disc 236 returns the re-setting bail 210 to its initial position. As the operating or actuating lever is 7 returned to its initial position the pawl 156 thereon turns the corresponding ratchet wheel 100 et seq. through the number of tooth spaces or increments that the lever has been displaced, thereby turning the shaft 70 the same number of tooth spaces or increments, and driving the register 56 accordingly. Thus, the register totalizes the coins deposited.

As will be appreciated, the actual wiring circuit is considerably more complex or sophisticated than the simplified diagrams shown. However, the diagrams shown are entirely adequate for an understanding of the princi' ples of'the invention.

Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of the present invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A coin counter comprising a register, a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft and said register for driving said register in response to rotation of said shaft, a plurality of members rockably mounted on said shaft, each of said members corresponding to a coin of different value deposited in an associated coin mechanism, means coupling said members to said shaft for turning said shaft when said members rock in one direction but not in the other, means for respectively rocking said members in said other direction a distance corresponding to the value of a coin deposited, and means for thereafter rockably returning in said one direction to rest position a member so rocked to turn said shaft and thereby operate said register an amount corresponding to the degree of rocking of a respective member, said means for rockably returning a member comprising a bail pivotally mounted about said shaft and engageable with any of said members rocked in said other direction from rest position.

2. A coin counter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means coupling said members to said shaft com-prises pawl and ratchet means.

3. A coin counter comprising a register, a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft and said register for driving said register in response to rotation of said shaft, a plurality of members rockably mounted on said shaft, eachof said members corresponding to a coin of different value deposited in an associated coin mechanism, a plurality of pawl and ratchet means respectively coupling said members to said shaft for turning said shaft when said members rock in one direction but not in the other, means for respectively rocking said members in said other direction a distance corresponding to the value of a coin deposited, and means including a common bail mounted on said shaft for thereafter rockably returning in said one direction to rest position a member so rocked to turn said shaft through the corresponding pawl and ratchet mechanism and thereby to drive said register an amount corresponding to the degree of rocking of a respective member.

4. A coin counter as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for rocking said members in said other direction comprises a respective plurality of springs, means latching said members against rotation under the force of said'springs, and respective electromagnetic devices for unlatching said members.

5. A coin counter comprising a register, a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft and said register for driving said register in response to rotation of said shaft, a plurality of members rockably mounted on said shaft, each of said members corresponding to a coin of different value deposited in an associated coin mechanism, means coupling said members to said shaft for turning said shaft when said members rock in one direction but not in the other, means for respectively rocking said members in said other direction in response to deposit of a coin in an associated coin mechanism, stop means for limiting 8 rotation of said members in said other direction, said stop means having a like plurality of stopping surfaces differently positioned and respectively engageable by said members for allowing each of said members to move in said other direction a distance corresponding to the value of a coin deposited, and means for thereafter rockably returning in said one direction to rest position a member so rocked to turn said shaft and thereby operate said register an amount corresponding to the degree of rocking of a respective member, said means for rockably returning a member to rest position comprising motor means, motor starting switch means, and means interconnecting said stop means and said motor starting switch means for operating said motor starting switch means upon movement of a respective member into engagement with a stop surface of said stop means.

6. A coin counter as set forth in claim 5 and further including full cycle switch means operable by said motor means to insure a complete cycle of operation irrespective of the length of time the motor starting switch means is closed.

7. A coin counter comprising a register, a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft and said register for driving said register in response to rotation of said shaft, a plurality of members rockably mounted on said shaft, each of said members corresponding to a coin of different value deposited in an associated coin mechanism, means coupling said members to said shaft for turning said shaft when said members rock in one direction but not in the other, means for respectively rocking said members in said other direction, common stop means mounted for limited movement and thereon having a plurality of different stop surfaces thereon engageable by said members for controlling rocking of said members in said other direction a distance respectively corresponding to the value of a coin deposited, and means responsive to engagement of any of said members against said stop means for thereafter rockably returning in said one direction to rest position a member so rocked to turn said .shaft and thereby operate said register an amount corresponding to the degree of rocking of a respective member.

8. A coin counter comprising a register, a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft and said register for driving said register in response to rotation of said shaft, a plurality of members rockably mounted on said shaft, each of said members corresponding to a coin of different value deposited in an associated coin mechanism, means coupling said members to said shaft for turning said shaft when said members rock in one direction but not in the other, means for respectivelyrocking said members in said other direction, means providing a plurality of differently positioned stop surfaces engageable by said members respectively when rocked in said other direction to limit the rocking movement of said members in said other direction to a distance corresponding to the value of a coin deposited, and means for thereafter rockably returning in said one direction to rest position a member so rocked to operate said register an amount corresponding to the degree of rocking of a respective member, the means for rockably returning a member comprising a motor, and switch means operated by the means providing the plurality of stop surfaces, the stop surface providing means being movable a pre-determined distance to operate said switch means.

9. A coin counter as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means providing the plurality of stop surfaces comprises a common stop member and the switch means comprises a common switch operated upon movement of said common member.

10. A coin counter as set forth in claim 9 wherein the common stop member comprises a bail rockably mounted on said shaft.

11. A coin counter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said bail comprises a plastic resin material.

12. A coin counter comprising a register, a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft and said register for driving said register in response to rotation of said drive shaft in a given direction, a plurality of members rock ably mounted on said shaft, each of said members corresponding to a coin of different value deposited in an associated coin mechanism, means coupling said members to said shaft for turning said shaft in said given direction when said members rock in said one given direction, means for respectively rocking said members in the other direction opposite to said given direction, a motor starting bail rockably mounted about said shaft and having a plurality of diiferently positioned stop surfaces engageable by said members when rocked in said opposite direction, each of said members rocking in said opposite direction a distance corresponding to the value of a coin deposited, means for thereafter rockably returning in said one direction to rest position a member so rocked in said opposite direction to operate said register an amount corresponding to the degree of rocking of a respective member, means for operating said returning means including a motor, and motor switch means operated by rocking of said bail upon engagement thereby of any of said members, said bail being movable a predetermined distance to effect operation of said switch.

13. A coin counter as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means for rockably returning a member comprises a common bail engageable with any of said members for returning a rock member to rest position.

14. A coin counter comprising a register, a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft and said' register for driving said register in response to rotation of said shaft in a given direction, a plurality of members rockably mounted on said shaft, each of said members corresponding to a coin of different value deposited in an associated coin mechanism, means coupling said members to said shaft for turning said shaft when said members rock in a given direction, means for respectively rocking said members in the other direction a distance corresponding to the value of a coin deposited, means including a bail having a plurality of stops thereon respectively engageable by said members respectively to stop said members at said corresponding distances, and motor means for thereafter moving said bail in said one given direction, said bail rockably returning in said one given direction to rest position a member so rocked to turn said shaft and thereby operate said register an amount corresponding to the degree of rocking of a respective member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,390,584 9/1921 Paul 235-32 2,215,191 9/1940 Pudelko et a1. 235- 2,352,847 7/1944 Marchioni et al. 235-32 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

J. G. MURRAY, M. L. LORCH, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. A COIN COUNTER COMPRISING A REGISTER, A DRIVE SHAFT, MEANS CONNECTING SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND SAID REGISTER FOR DRIVING SAID REGISTER IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF MEMBERS ROCKABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS CORRESPONDING TO A COIN OF DIFFERENT VALUE DEPOSITED IN AN ASSOCIATED COIN MECHANISM, MEANS COUPLING SAID MEMBERS TO SAID SHAFT FOR TURNING SAID SHAFT WHEN SAID MEMBERS ROCK IN ONE DIRECTION BUT NOT IN THE OTHER, MEANS FOR RESPECTIVELY ROCKING SAID MEMBERS IN SAID OTHER DIRECTION A DISTANCE CORRESPONDING TO THE VALUE OF A COIN DEPOSITED, AND MEANS FOR THEREAFTER ROCKABLY RETURNING IN SAID ONE DIRECTION TO REST POSITION A MEMBER SO ROCKET TO TURN SAID SHAFT AND THEREBY OPERATE SAID REGISTER AN AMOUNT CORRESPONDING TO THE DEGREE OF ROCKING OF A RESPECTIVE MEMBER, SAID MEANS FOR ROCKABLY RETURNING A MEMBER COMPRISING A BAIL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ABOUT SAID SHAFT AND ENGAGEABLE WITH ANY OF SAID MEMBER ROCKED IN SAID OTHER DIRECTION FROM REST POSITION.