US3592307A

US3592307A - Coin selecting and separating assembly

Info

Publication number: US3592307A
Application number: US758745A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth E Hammond
Original assignee: Coin Acceptors Inc
Current assignee: Coin Acceptors Inc
Priority date: 1968-09-10
Filing date: 1968-09-10
Publication date: 1971-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-13
Also published as: GB1265351A

Abstract

The selector assembly includes a support plate and a rail adjacent thereto which directs a coin into a serration detector assembly. The serration detector assembly includes a pendulum arm pivoted to the support at one end and having a rotatable balance portion at the other end. A sensing finger, rotatable with the balance portion, engages the serrations of milled coins and rotates the balance portion and the arm selectively, thereby directing milled coins into a different path from that taken by smooth-edged coins. A kick plate below the detector assembly further determines the paths of the coins.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Kenneth E. Hammond Scarborough, Ontario, Canada [2]] Appl. No. 758,745 [22] Filed Sept. 10,!968 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee Coin Acceptors, Inc.

St. Louis, Mo.

[54] COIN SELECTING AND SEP ARATING ASSEMBLY 13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[ U-S- 194/97 [51] Int. G07t 3/02 [50] Fleldolsenrell v 194/97, 102, 99; 133/3 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,497,049 2/1970 Erickson 194/97 FOREIGN PATENTS 292,706 6/ l 928 Great Britain 194/97. 340,189 12/1930 Great Britain 194/97 398, l 88 9/1933 Great Britain 194/97 Primary Examiner$tanley l-l. Tollberg Attorney-Cohn & Powell SHEET 2 OF 2 PATENTED JUL 1 319?:

w 0 M m H E m E N N E K COIN SELECTING AND SEPARATING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to coin selecting and separating devices, and particularly to a selection device for detecting edge surface characteristics.

In the known prior art, the separation of serrated and smooth-edged coins has been primarily effectuated by modifying of the well-known coin cradle described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,l20,300.

Coin cradles, which are basic to coin selection of the type under discussion, are useful for separating coins on a basis of size and weight. Selected coins are then directed into a predetermined path for further tests, such as the magnetic test for metal differentiation.

Modification of the basic coin cradle so that it will accept or reject coins on the basis of whether they have serrated edges, in addition to performing the usual cradle function, obviously has certain disadvantages. Such a modified cradle is, for example, not susceptible to fine adjustment with regard to'its new function of detecting coin serrations except at the risk of affecting the balance of the cradle. This balance is, of course, necessary to perform its original function of size and weight separation adequately. The instant device does not suffer from such disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present device, rather than being embodied in the basic coin cradle, provides a separate stage in a coin-selecting mechanism for performing the function of separating serrated and nonserrated coins. By providing the serration selector as a separate stage, independent of the cradle; balancing adjustment is available which is not available in the modified cradle type.

The selector assembly includes a support, and a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path. Serration detector means are provided which include a body, means mounting the body to the support, and feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body. The feeler means engage selected coins in one guide position and-serrated selected coins rotate the feeler means to another guide position.

Pivot means rotatably mount the body to the support, and the body includes an arm having an outer portion disposed in spaced radial relation from the pivot means. The feeler means is pivotally mounted to the outer arm portion, the feeler means including a balance portion and a finger having a serration-engaging tip, the finger extending from the balance portion.

Stop means between the feeler means and the body limit rotation of the feeler means relative to the body and permit rotation of the feeler means about the pivot means only. The stop means between the feeler means and the body includes opposing stop members attached to the outer arm portion and engageable with shoulders of the balance portion.

Stop means between the arm and the support include and adjustable stop member holding the arm in selective angular relation against gravity, and a second stop member engageable with the arm after coin impact to limit movement of the arm away from the initial position.

Guide means below the detector assembly includes a kicker plate which deflects selected coins into a predetermined path, and a separator assembly which guides selected coins into a predetermined path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detector assembly in initial engagement with a serrated coin;

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the device illustrating FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detector assembly in later engagement with the same serrated coin, and.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view as taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the coin'aeceptor device 10 is shown in detail only to the extent that such detail is necessary for the explanation and description of those parts of the device which are pertinent to the selector assembly for serrated coins. Other portions of the coin acceptor, which perform functions such as separating coins with regard to their metallic content are omitted for clarity.

The coin acceptor 10 includes a plate 11 constituting a support which mounts various structural parts of the selector assembly. A flared coin slot 12 directs a coin into the opposing arms of a cradle 13. The cradle 13 accepts or rejects the coin according to weight and diameter and accepted coins are transferred from the cradle 13, by tilting of cradle 13, onto a rail 14 which is adapted to receive and direct the coinsin a predetermined path For the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that accepted coins from the cradle 13 to the rail 14 are divided into two types, vix. coin 15, which includes a serrated edge characteristic, and coin 16 which has a substantially smoothedge characteristic.

. The rail 14 is sloped so that the coins 15-16 roll or. slide downwardly toward the serration detector assembly which is generally indicated by numeral 20. The serration detector assembly 20 includes an arm assembly 21 constituting a body, and a serration detector subassembly 22 constituting a feeler means, disposed at the end of the rail 14. Thus, relative to the predetermined path of the coin, the serration detector 22 is downpath of the rail 14.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be understood that the detector arm 21 is rotatively mounted to the rear of the support plate 11 by a shoulder screw 23 constituting a pivot means. The detector arm 21 is mounted at an angle to the vertical by means of an adjusting lever 24, which is also pivoted to the support plate 11' by means of the shoulder screw 23. The adjusting lever 24 provides a stop means between the pendulum detector arm 21 and the support plate 1l, and engages the arm 21 in selective angular relation againstgravity. This angular relationship of the detector. arm 21 is achieved by means of a shoulder 25, which forms the bottom leg of an integral L- shaped retaining plate 28 and provides the stop means, and by an arcuate slot 26 which is disposed in radial relation from the shoulder screw 23. A set screw 27 located in the arcuate slot 26 connects the lever 24 to the support plate 11. Pivotal movement of the lever 24 about the shoulder'screw 23 permits selective movement of the shoulder 25 whereby to hold the arm 21 in adjustable angular relation.

The detector arm 21 includes an outer end portion 30 disposed in spaced relation to the shoulder screw 23. The outer end portion 30 is received by a slot 31 provided in the support plate 11- so that it is accessible from the front of the support plate. (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The outer limit of the slot 31, defined by the curved margin 32 constitutes a second stop means limiting movement of the detector arm 21 away from the shoulder 25 of the adjusting lever 24. Thus, movement of the pendulum arm 21 about the shoulder screw 23 is defined by stop means in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

The outer end portion 30 of the detectorarm 21 provides a seat for the serration detector subassembly 22. This subas sembly-22, which constitutes a feeler means,includes a substantially sector-shaped balanceportion 33 and a:flat, spring finger 34 having a serration-engaging tip 35. The finger 34 exto the a shoulder portion 40. A second and complementary shoulder 41 is providedby one of the radii of the sector-shaped balance portion 33.

The outer end portion 30 includes a pair of circum ferentially disposed

stop members

42 and 43 having abutment faces 44 and 45 respectively. These

stop members

42 and 43 define the rotational limits of the balance portion 33, and hence define the angle of rotation through which the tip 35 of the pivot axis defined by the pintle 36.

In particular, and with reference to FlGS. 5 and 6, the stop member 42 limits clockwise rotation of the balance portion 33, and the stop member 43 limits counterclockwise rotation -of the balance portion 33. These limits are reached respectively, when the shoulder 40 engages the abutment face 44 and when the shoulder 41 engages the abutment face 45.

The serration detector assembly 20 reacts differently on engagement by a serrated coin than it does when engaged by a smooth-edged coin 16. In the case of a smooth-edged coin 16, the trajectory 38 (FIG. 1) is relatively unaffected after engagement with the finger 34, and hence such a coin 16 reaches and strikes a kicker plate 46 disposed below the serration detector assembly20, and the coin 16 is rebounded or deflected into a particular predetermined path. The kicker plate 46 is adjustable within a slot 47 by means of a set screw 48, and

' hence the predetermined path may be selectively changed.

The effectof the serration detector assembly on a serrated-edge coin 15 is to change the trajectory 39 sufficiently so that, relatively speaking, the serrated coin 15 falls in a more vertical path than the smooth-edged coin 16 and hence misses, or is relatively unaffected by the kicker plate 46.

A serrated coin 15 is further guided in its predetermined path by a separator assembly 50 which includes a guide bar 51. The guide bar 51 projects through a slot 53 and the separator assembly 50 is adjustably connected to the support plate 11 by means of a setscrew 52. Thus, the guide bar 51 may be adjusted to selectively change the predetermined path of a se rrated coin 15.

It is thought that the functional advantages of this selector assembly have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the

Y operation of the device and particularly of the serration detector assembly will be briefly described.

Obviously, the aim of the detector assembly is to distinguish slugs or alien coins from coins of legal tender: to reject the former and accept the latter. lt' will be understood that generally speaking, slugs are without serrations and hence will be rejected by the instant device.

The basic cradle mechanism used with the serration detector assembly 20 is designed primarily to distinguish coins on a basis of size and weight. Therefore, slugs which are of the same size and weight as the value of the coins for which the vending machine is intended, will be transferred by the cradle 13 onto the rail 14 without rejection. Thus, any coin which proceeds in a downward path along the rail 14 will be of appropriate size and weight whether serrated (15) or smoothedged (16).

It will be presumed in the first instance that the coin 16 proceeding down the rail 14 is one having a smooth edge, namely, a slug. In its initial position, the detector arm 21 is the finger 34 may pass as the balance portion 33 rotates about held at an angle to the vertical by means ofthe adjustable lever 24. The serration detector subassmbly 22, by virtue of has its trajectory altered only slightly, if at all, on engagement u with the finger 34 and proceeds alonga virtually unaltered trajectory path toward the kicker plate .46. On strikingthe kicker 46,.the coin 16 rebounds away from the vicinity of the separator assembly 50 and follows a predetermined path tive engagement with the tip 35 of the finger 34. The tip 35 en- V gages a serration of the serrated coin l5 irrthe manner of a gear tooth engaging a mating gear, and the finger 34 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (FIGS. 5 and 6) by downward I movement of the serrated coin 15 under gravity. In the sequence of events, it is probably that, as the detector subassembly 22 rotates and the shoulder 41 is brought into engagement with the abutment face 45, the detector arm 21 and the serration detector subassembly 22 will be rotated together about the shoulder screw 23. Thus, momentum from the'coin 15 will be transferred to the detector arm 21 and serration detector subassembly 22. In consequence of this transfer, the coin 15 loses momentum and is, therefore, slowed. Concurrently, the finger 34 achives a second guide position which directs the coin 15 into its predetermined, acceptance path toward theseparator assembly 50.

It will be understood that the initial angular disposition from the vertical of the detector arm 21 provides the arm 21 with an initial resistance to movement. This resistance is greater than would be the case if the impact from the coin occurred when the pendulum'arm 21 was vertical.

The movement of the detector arm 21 in a counterclockwise direction is, of course, limited by the existence of the margin 32'which acts as a stop means limiting such movement. After-reaching its counterclockwise limit, the detector arm 21 returns to its initial position of support by the adjusting lever 24, and the finger 34 likewise returns to its initial position: the balance portion 33 rotates in a clockwise direction, there being no resistance to this return when the coin 16 is dis engaged from the tip 35 of the finger 34. t

It will be observed that the initial disposition of the tip 35 and the finger 34 is the same at the instant of engagementwith any coin regardless of whether or not such coin is serrated.

Because of the unique arrangement of the detector arm 21 and the adjusting lever 24 which permits fine adjustment of the position of the tip 35 by adjusting the angular disposition of the detector arm 21, it is'possible to transfer some of the momentum of even a smooth-edged coin 16 to the detector arm 21, if this be desired. The primary adjustment defining the predetermined path of such a slug, coin 16, is, however, more positively made by adjusting the location of the kicker 4.6.

The detector subassembly 22 is pivoted with respect to the detector arm 21, and the arm 21 is pivoted with respect to the support plate 11. It will be understood that this dual pivoting capability provides the finger tip 35 with a compound range of movement and permits movement of the tip 35 in the same general direction as a serrated coin 15, while at the same time retarding said movement.

I claim as my invention:

1. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising:

a. a support,

b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path,

c. serration detector means i. a body, 2. means mounting the body to the support,

including:

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally' mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means. being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means into the path of said serrated coin to another guide position, the mounting of the feeler means being adapted to provide sufficient unobstructed movement of said feeler means away from the rail to permit serrated and nonserrated coins to pass automatically and oftheir own accord out of engagement with said feeler means, and d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path. 2. A selector assembly as defined in claim I, in which: e. pivot means rotatively mounts the body to the support, f. the feeler means is pivotally mounted to the body in spaced radial relation to the pivot means, and g. stop means between the feeler means and the body limits rotation of the feeler means relative to the body in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and permits rotation of the feeler means about the pivot means only.

3. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor comprising:

a. a support,

b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path,

c. a serration detector means including:

1. a body including an arm having an outer portion,

2. pivot means mounting the body to the support,

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the outer portion of the arm in spaced radial relation to the pivot means, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position, the mounting of the feeler means being translational and rotational to provide sufficient unobstructed movement of said feeler means away from the rail to permit serrated and nonserrated coins to pass automatically out of engagement with said feeler means, and

d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path.

4. A selector assembly as defined in claim 3, in which:

e. the outer portion of the arm includes stop means engaging the feeler means to limit rotation of the feeler means relative to the arm and permit rotation of the feeler means about the pivot means only.

5. A selector assembly as defined in claim 3, in which:

e. stop means between the arm and the support engage and hold the arm intermediate the pivot means and the outer portion in selective angular relation against gravity.

6. A selector assembly as defined in claim 5, in which:

f. the stop means is disposed in adjustable relation to the support whereby to vary the position of the feeler means.

7. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor,

comprising:

a. a support,

b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path,

c. serration detector means including:

1. a body,

2. means mounting the body to the support,

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position,

d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path,

e. the body including an arm having an outer portion,

f. pivot means rotatively mounting the arm to the support,

g. the feeler means being pivotally mounted to the outer portion of the arm in spaced radial relation to the pivot means,

h. an adjustable stop means between the arm and the support engaging and holding the arm in initial selective angular relation against gravity, and 1 i. a second stop means between the arm and the support engaging the arm to limit movementof'the arm away from the initial position, the two stop means defining the range of movement of the arm about the pivot means.

8. A selector assembly as defined in claim 1, in which:

e. the body includes an arm having an outer portion,

f. pivot means rotatively mounts the arm to the support,

g. the feeler means includes:

1. abalance portion, pivotally mounted to the outer portion in spaced radial relation to the pivot means, and 2. a finger, the finger having a serration-engaging tip, and

h. stop means, between the balance portion and the arm, including a pair of spaced stops, engages the balance portion to limit rotation of the finger relative to the arm to a predetermined range of angular movement.

9. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor,

comprising:

a. a support,

b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path,

c. serration detector means including:

1. a body,

2. means mounting the body to the support,

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means'being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position,

e. the body including an arm having an outer portion,

f. pivot means rotatively mounting the arm to the support,

g. the feeler means including:

1. a balance portion, pivotally mounted to the outer portion in spaced radial relation to the pivot means,

2. a finger, the finger having a serration-engaging tip,

h. stop means, between the balance portion and the arm engaging the balance portion to limit rotation of the finger relative to the arm to a predetermined range of angular movement,

i. an adjustable stop means between the arm and the support engaging and holding the arm in initial selective angular relation against gravity, and

j. a second stop means between the arm and the support limiting movement of the arm away from the initial positron.

l0. A selector assembly as defined in claim 9, in which:

k. the stop means between the balance portion and the arm includes a pair of stop members attached to the outer arm portion and a pair of shoulder portions on the balance portion engaging the stop members in opposed angular relation.

11. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising:

mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position,

(1. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path, and

e. the-guide means being adapted to direct a substantially smooth-edged coin and a serrated coin intodifferent paths and including kicker means mounted to the support 12. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin accep tor, comprising:

a. a support,

b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path,

c. serration detector means including:

I. a body,

2. means mounting the body to the support,

e. the guide means being adapted to direct a substantially smooth-edged coin and a serrated. coin into different paths and including kicker means deflecting one of said coins into a predetermined path, and

-f. the kicker means including an adjustable kicker plate selectively movable relative to the support. 13. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising:

a. a support, t b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, d. serration detector means including:

7 I. an arm having an outer end portion,

2. pivot means mounting the arm to the support, and 3. feeler means downpath of the rail, including l. a balance portion pivotally mounted to the outer end portion of the arm at a pivot axis, and ll. a finger, having a serration-engaging tip, extending from the balance portion, the finger being adapted to engage a coin in one guide position, and adapted to engage a serrated coin to rotate the finger to another guide position, 4. the arm includes stop means limiting rotational movement of the balance portion about its own pivot axis, 7 and f 5. stop means between the support and the arm defining the rotational movement of the arm, the stop means including an adjustable stop member engaging and holding the arm in an initial selective angular relation against gravity, and e. guide means, including a kicker member adapted to direct a selected coin into a predetermined path.

Claims

1. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising: a. a support, b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, c. serration detector means including: 1. a body, 2. means mounting the body to the support, 3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means into the path of said serrated coin to another guide position, the mounting of the feeler means being adapted to provide sufficient unobstructed movement of said feeler means away from the rail to permit serrated and nonserrated coins to pass automatically and of their own accord out of engagement with said feeler means, and d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path.

2. means mounting the body to the support,

2. a finger, the finger having a serration-engaging tip, h. stop means, between the balance portion and the arm engaging the balance portion to limit rotation of the finger relative to the arm to a predetermined range of angular movement, i. an adjustable stop means between the arm and the support engaging and holding the arm in initial selective angular relation against gravity, and j. a second stop means between the arm and the support limiting movement of the arm away from the initial position.

2. means mounting the body to the support,

2. a finger, the finger having a serration-engaging tip, and h. stop means, between the balance portion and the arm, including a pair of spaced stops, engages the balance portion to limit rotation of the finger relative to the arm to a predetermined range of angular movement.

2. means mounting the body to the support,

2. pivot means mounting the body to the support,

2. A selector assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: e. pivot means rotatively mounts the body to the support, f. the feeler means is pivotally mounted to the body in spaced radial relation to the pivot means, and g. stop means between the feeler means and the body limits rotation of the feeler means relative to the body in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions and permits rotation of the feeler means about the pivot means only.

2. pivot means mounting the arm to the support, and

3. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor comprising: a. a support, b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, c. a serration detector means including:

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feelEr means to another guide position, d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path, e. the body including an arm having an outer portion, f. pivot means rotatively mounting the arm to the support, g. the feeler means being pivotally mounted to the outer portion of the arm in spaced radial relation to the pivot means, h. an adjustable stop means between the arm and the support engaging and holding the arm in initial selective angular relation against gravity, and i. a second stop means between the arm and the support engaging the arm to limit movement of the arm away from the initial position, the two stop means defining the range of movement of the arm about the pivot means.

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position, d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path, e. the guide means being adapted to direct a substantially smooth-edged coin and a serrated coin into different paths and including kicker means deflecting one of said coins into a predetermined path, and f. the kicker means including an adjustable kicker plate selectively movable relative to the support.

3. feeler means downpath of the rail, including I. a balance portion pivotally mounted to the outer end portion of the arm at a pivot axis, and II. a finger, having a serration-engaging tip, extending from the balance portion, the finger being adapted to engage a coin in one guide position, and adapted to engage a serrated coin to rotate the finger to another guide position,

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the outer portion of the arm in spaced radial relation to the pivot means, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position, the mounting of the feeler means being translational and rotational to provide sufficient unobstructed movement of said feeler means away from the rail to permit serrated and nonserrated coins to pass automatically out of engagement with said feeler means, and d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path.

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position, d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path, e. the body including an arm having an outer portion, f. pivot means rotatively mounting the arm to the support, g. the feeler means including:

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means to another guide position, d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path, and e. the guide means being adapted to direct a substantially smooth-edged coin and a serrated coin into different paths And including kicker means mounted to the support independently of the serration detector means, deflecting one of said coins into a predetermined path.

3. feeler means downpath of the rail and pivotally mounted to the body, the feeler means being adapted to engage the coin in one guide position, the feeler means being adapted to engage the serrations of a serrated coin to rotate the feeler means into the path of said serrated coin to another guide position, the mounting of the feeler means being adapted to provide sufficient unobstructed movement of said feeler means away from the rail to permit serrated and nonserrated coins to pass automatically and of their own accord out of engagement with said feeler means, and d. guide means downpath of the serration detector means adapted to further guide the coins in a predetermined path.

4. the arm includes stop means limiting rotational movement of the balance portion about its own pivot axis, and

4. A selector assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: e. the outer portion of the arm includes stop means engaging the feeler means to limit rotation of the feeler means relative to the arm and permit rotation of the feeler means about the pivot means only.

5. A selector assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: e. stop means between the arm and the support engage and hold the arm intermediate the pivot means and the outer portion in selective angular relation against gravity.

5. stop means between the support and the arm defining the rotational movement of the arm, the stop means including an adjustable stop member engaging and holding the arm in an initial selective angular relation against gravity, and e. guide means, including a kicker member adapted to direct a selected coin into a predetermined path.

6. A selector assembly as defined in claim 5, in which: f. the stop means is disposed in adjustable relation to the support whereby to vary the position of the feeler means.

7. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising: a. a support, b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, c. serration detector means including:

8. A selector assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: e. the body includes an arm having an outer portion, f. pivot means rotatively mounts the arm to the support, g. the feeler means includes:

9. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising: a. a support, b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, c. serration detector means including:

10. A selector assembly as defined in claim 9, in which: k. the stop means between the balance portion and the arm includes a pair of stop members attached to the outer arm portion and a pair of shoulder portions on the balance portion engaging the stop members in opposed angular relation.

11. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising: a. a support, b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, c. serration detector means including:

12. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising: a. a support, b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, c. serration detector means including:

13. A selector assembly for serrated coins in a coin acceptor, comprising: a. a support, b. a rail adapted to receive and direct a coin in a predetermined path, d. serration detector means including: