US3415256A

US3415256A - Coin changer for an automatic vending machine with automatic refilling of the coin magazine

Info

Publication number: US3415256A
Application number: US659356A
Authority: US
Inventors: Meloni Mario
Original assignee: Autelca AG
Current assignee: Autelca AG
Priority date: 1966-08-12
Filing date: 1967-08-09
Publication date: 1968-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-10
Also published as: DE1574177B2; DE1574177A1; DE1574177C3; CH444548A

Description

Dec. 10, 1968 M. MELON] 3,415,256

COIN CHANGER FOR AN AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC REFILLING OF THE COIN MAGAZINE Filed Aug. 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l IAJVENTOR MARI'O Neda/u;

M. MELONI Dec. 10, 1968 3,415,256 WITH COIN CHANGER FOR AN AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE AUTOMATIC REFI'LLING OF THE COIN MAGAZINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1967 Int Ema Man/o Ne Lo;

United States Patent 3,415,256 COIN CHANGER FOR AN AUTOMATIC VENDEIG MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC REFILLING OF THE COIN MAGAZINE Mario Meloni, Bern, Switzerland, assignor to Autelca A.G., Gumligen, Bern, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 659,356 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 12, 1966, 11,771/ 66 9 Claims. (Cl. 133-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coin changer for an automatic vending machine with automatic refilling or loading of the coin magazine, where in said coin magazine is provided with a forwardly and rearwardly stepwise rotatable magazine plate for each coin denomination. The stepwise rotatable magazine plate includes means providing a rim of uniformly distributed coin compartments, each of which is adapted to receive a coin. Further, the invention contemplates the provision of drive means for forwardly rotatably indexing the magazine plate through one coin compartment before receiving a coin from a coin deposit channel and for rearwardly rotatably indexing the aforesaid magazine plate through one coin compartment before the removal of a coin for transferring the latter to a coin return channel.

Baekground 0f the invention The present invention relates to an improved coin changer for use in automatic vending machines with automatic refilling or loading of the coin magazine.

Prior art coin changing devices of this type provide for the coin magazine a cylindrical chute for each coin denomination. The stacked coins are removed from the bottom of the coin chute and filled into the top thereof. However, experience has shown that such type coin chutes possess the drawback that the inserted coins sometimes fail to properly lie upon the coins situated there-beneath. This can result in jamming of the coins during coin removal.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of the mentioned type which effectively overcomes the previously considered drawbacks of the prior art structures.

Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved coin changer for an automatic vending machine which is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, extremely easy to operate, and highly reliable in its operation, particularly preventing against jamming of the coins in the apparatus.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, and in particular to prevent the afore-mentioned drawback of jamming of the coins, the inventive coin changer effectively overcomes such disadvantage in that, the coin magazine is provided with a forwardly and rearwardly stepwise rotatable magazine plate for each coin denomination. This stepwise rotatable magazine plate includes means providing a rim of substantially uniformly distributed coin compartments, each of which is adapted to receive a coin. Further, there is provided drive means for forwardly rotatably indexing the magazine plate through one coin compartment before receiving a coin from a coin deposit channel and for rearwardly rotatably indexing such magazine plate through one coin compartment before ice the removal of a coin for transferring the latter to a coin return channel.

A further advantage of the inventive coin changer resides in the feature of returning the same coin which the customer has inserted into the vending machine in the event that the sale is not consummated.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a preferred embodiment of inventive coin changer;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the coin deposit channel of the coin changer of FIG- URE 1, taken along the line IIII thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a detail of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2, taken along the line III-III thereof; and.-

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the coin changer depicted in FIGURE 1, taken along the line IVIV thereof, and showing details of the coin transfer mechanism for transferring coins from the coin compartments of the magazine plate into a surplus coin removal channel.

Description of the preferred embodiment Prior to considering in detail the herein depicted exemplary embodiment of inventive coin changer device, it should be understood that in order to preserve clarity in illustration and conciseness and accuracy in presentation, only enough of the physical structure thereof has been depicted in the drawings and will be considered more fully hereinafter, to enable one skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying concepts of the inventive subject matter.

Accordingly, turning attention now to the drawings, it should be understood that the coin magazine M of the inventive coin changer C depicted in FIGURE 1, possesses a rotatable magazine plate 1 for each coin denomination or type. Each rotatable magazine plate 1 is provided with a rim 50 of uniformly distributed coin compartments 2, each of which is capable of receiving a respective coin 3. More precisely, the magazine plate 1 possesses a trough 4 extending along its outer rim 51. Intermediate Walls or partitions 5 are arranged radially above the peripheral trough 4 in order to form the coin compartments 2. As best shown by referring to FIGURE 4, a suitable, schematically depicted drive mechanism 53 engages with a gear or toothed rim 6 of the magazine plate 1. This drive mechanism or drive means 53 serves to stepwise or incrementally drive the associated magazine plate 1 in the one or other direction of rotation. The direction of rotation indicated by arrow 7 can be conveniently considered as the forward direction of rotation or indexing of the magazine plate 1, and the opposite direction then would be the rearward direction of rotation or indexing of such magazine plate.

A coin deposit mechanism D, a coin return mechanism R and a surplus coin removal mechanism S are operably associated with the magazine plate 1, and the details of which will be fully considered hereinafter. Broadly speaking, however, the coin deposit mechanism D serves to control the proper depositing of the inserted coins into the individual coin compartments 2 of the magazine plate 1, the coin return mechanism R serves to return the proper change or to return the inserted coins, whereas the surplus coin removal mechanism S serves to collect the coins out of the coin compartments 2 when the latter are filled with coins, so that there are always provided empty coin compartments 2 capable of receiving further coins.

Considering now the coin deposit mechanism D in greater detail, it will be recognized that Such embodies a coin deposit channel 8 into which the inserted and checked coins fall. As best shown by inspecting FIGURE 2, a lever 9 normally extends into the confines of the coin deposit channel 8 and when contacted by a coin located in the deposit channel 8, such as the depicted coin 37, this lever member 9 is displaced so as to actuate a suitable switch 10, for reasons to be expounded upon more fully hereinafter. Furthermore, at the location of the lever member 9 of FIGURE 2 there is also arranged a rotary slide member 11 which can be actuated, for instance, electromagnetically. This rotary slide member 11 or equivalent structure is equipped with two

tongue members

12 and 13 which are elevationally displaced from one another, as shown. In the depicted rest position of the rotary slide member 11 the lower tongue member 12 extends through the opening 12a provided at the coin deposit channel 8 into the path of travel of the coins therethrough. On the other hand, when the rotary slide member 11 is actuated then the upper tongue member 13 extends through the opening 13a provided at the coin deposit channel 8 and into the aforementioned path of travel for the coins.

Continuing, it is to be understood that the coin return mechanism R and the surplus coin removal mechanism S are of similar construction and supported by a stationary frame member 14. Two bearing blocks 15 and 16 are supported upon the frame member 14. Further, two

rod members

17 and 18 are mounted to be longitudinally displaceable at these bearing blocks 15 and 16. A respective

rotary arm member

19 and 20 of the

rotary magnets

21 and 22, respectively engages with the one respective end 17a and 18a of the

rod members

17 and 18 respectively, whereas at the opposite respective end 1712 and 18b of these

rod members

17 and 18, respectively, there engages a return spring 23 and 24, respectively. A

respective slide member

25 and 26, each having a downwardly depending or directed

finger

27 and 28, respectively, is secured to each

rod member

17 and 18 respectively. Upon actuation of the associated

rotary magnet

21 or 22 the

slide member

25 or 26, respectively, displaces a coin located in the coil compartment 29 or 30, respectively, into the opposite confronting opening 31a or 32a of the coin return channel 31 or the surplus coin removal channel 32 respectively. Spacer sleeves 33, 35 and 34, 36 limitthe movement of the

slide members

25 and 26 respectively. It should be apparent from the foregoing discussion that the components designated with the uneven reference numerals 17 to 35 form the coin return mechanism R and the components designated with the even reference numerals 18 to 36 form the surplus coin removal mechanism S.

The openings 8a, 31a and 32a of the coin deposit channel 8, the coin return channel 31 and the surplus coin removal channel 32, respectively, and which face the rim 50 of coin compartments 2, are mutually displaced from one another by the spacing between each two neighboring coin compartments 2. As a result, during the stepwise forward rotation of the magazine plate 1 each coin compartment 2 is initially situated opposite the opening 32a of the surplus coin removal channel 32, then opposite the opening 31a of the coin return channel 31, and finally opposite the opening 8a of the coin deposit channel 8.

Finally, it is mentioned that for each coin denomination or type there is provided a coin changer device of the aforedescribed and illustrated type, having a magazine plate as well as coin deposit mechanism and coin removal mechanism, wherein the components forming the complete coin changer are preferably arranged in superimposed fashion, that is, above one another.

The mode of operation of the heretofore described coin changer is as follows:

An inserted or deposited coin 37 arrives from above in the coin deposit channel 8 and actuates the switch 10 through the agency of the lever member 9. Initially, the deposited coin 37 remains trapped at the tongue member 12 of the rotary slide 11. Any further coin 38 which may be inserted is stacked upon the first coin 37, in the position and arrangement depicted in FIGURE 2. Actuation of the switch member 10 causes the drive mechanism 53 to rotatably index in forward direction the magazine plate 1 by one coin compartment 2. As a result, the coin 40 located in the coin compartment designated by reference numeral 39 is moved away, and the empty trailing coin compartment 29 arrives in front of the discharge opening 8a of the coin deposit channel 8. Now, as soon as the magazine plate 1 has completed this rotatable indexing step, then the tongue member 12 beneath the coin 37 is retracted owing to actuation of the rotary slide 11. Coin 37 thus falls downwardly through the coin deposit channel 8 and into the empty coin compartment 29 of the magazine plate 1. Due to the actuation of the rotary slide 11 the tongue member 13 is previously displaced beneath the second coin 38, so that the latter is temporarily fixedly retained in its position. Thereafter, the rotary slide 11 turns back into its rest position with a small time-delay, whereupon the coin 38 drops onto the tongue member 12. Thereafter, the described deposit in the coin magazine M again repeats.

As soon as all of the coin compartments 2 of a coin plate 1 are filled with coins 3, then these coins are removed one after the other from the magazine plate 1 by the aforementioned surplus or excess coin removal mechanism S. The removed coins are transferred through the surplus coin channel 32 into an appropriate non-illustrated collecting box or container. To this end, upon the completion of each forward rotatable indexing step of the magazine plate 1, the rotary magnet 22 of the surplus coin removal mechanism S is actuated in order to actuate the slide member 26. As clearly shown by inspecting FIGURES 1 and 4, the finger member 28 of the slide member 26 ejects the coin 41 which is in the coin compartment 30 and transfers such coin into the surplus coin removal channel 32. In this manner, it is insured that each coin compartment which is situated opposite the opening 31a of the coin return channel 31 is empty and after being indexed one step in the forward direction of rotation can again receive a coin.

The return of a coin from the coin magazine M, and which can be controlled by the venting machine or by actuating a suitable coin return knob or le-ver, takes place in the manner that, initially the drive mechanism 53 rearwardly rotates the magazine plate 1 by one coin compartment. Consequently, the coin 40 which is disposed in the coin compartment 39 of FIGURE 1 arrives in front of the opening 31a of the coin return channel 31. As soon as this rotatable indexing step is completed the finger member 27 of the slide member 25, actuated by the retary magnet 21, displaces the coin 40 into the coin return channel 31 which guides this coin 40 to a suitable coin return slot or tray provided at the vending machine.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin changer for an automatic vending machine with automatic refilling of the coin magazine comprising:

( l) a coin magazine;

(2) a forwardly and rearwardly stepwise rotatable magazine plate for each coin denomination provided for said coin magazine, said stepwise rotatable magazine plate including means providing a rim of uniformly distributed coin compartments each adapted to receive a coin;

(3) means defining a coin deposit channel for delivering coins to said coin compartments;

(4) means defining a coin return channel for the return of coins; and

(5) drive means for forwardly rotatably indexing said magazine plate through one coin compartment before receiving a coin from said coin deposit channel and for rearwardly rotata bly indexing said magazine plate through one coin compartment before the removal of a coin for transferring the latter to said coin return channel.

2. A coin changer as defined in claim 1, wherein said coin deposit channel and said coin return channel each possess a respective opening disposed in confronting relation with respect to said rim of uniformly distributed coin compartments, said respective openings of said coin deposit channel and said coin return channel being spaced from one another by substantially the amount of the spacing between each two neighboring coin compartments, so that each coin compartment during forward rotation of said magazine plate is initially disposed opposite said opening of said coin return channel and thereafter is disposed opposite said opening of said coin deposit channel.

3. A coin changer as defined in claim 1, further including means defining a surplus coin removal channel, and means for the removal of coins from said magazine plate and for transferring the removed coins to said surplus coin removal channel, said coin removal means being operable after each rotatable forward indexing of said magazine plate.

4. A coin changer as defined in claim 3, said coin removal means including an axially displaceable rod member, a slide having a depending coin-engaging finger carried by said rod member, and means for selectively displacing said rod member.

5. A coin changer as defined in claim 4, said displacing means for said rod member incorporating a rotatable magnet.

6. A coin changer as defined in claim 3, wherein said coin deposit channel and said coin return channel each possess a respective opening disposed in confronting relation with respect to said rim of uniformly distributed coin compartments, said surplus coin removal channel being provided with an opening confronting said rim of uniformly distributed coin compartments, said opening of said surplus coin removal channel being disposed at the side of said opening of said coin return channel which is facing away from said opening of said deposit channel, said opening of said surplus coin removal channel being spaced from said opening of said coin return channel by substantially the amount of the spacing between each two neighboring coin compartments.

7. A coin changer as defined in claim 1, further including means for selectively transferring a coin from a coin compartment to said coin return channel.

8. A coin changer as defined in' claim 7, said coin transferring means including an axially displaceable rod member, a slide having a depending coin-engaging finger carried by said rod member, and means for selectively displacing sa-id rod member.

9. A coin changer as defined in claim 8, said displacing means for said rod member incorporating a rotatable magnet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,279 3/1904 Dement 133-2 1,245,472 11/1917 Lattig et a1 l332 X 1,515,549 11/1924 Chick l33-l 2,251,755 8/1941 Peters 1332 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.