US3592308A

US3592308A - Coin discriminator formed of wire

Info

Publication number: US3592308A
Application number: US836792A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mitchell A Hall
Original assignee: Monarch Tool & Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Monarch Tool & Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1969-06-26
Filing date: 1969-06-26
Publication date: 1971-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-13

Abstract

A magnetic field holds a pivotally mounted arm in a first position whereby the pivotally mounted arm has means to receive coins of a specific diameter and thickness from a wire runway or track. If the coin is of the weight of the coins to be directed to the selected area, the arm pivots away from its receiving position to a position in which the coin is deposited in the selected area. A pivotally mounted retaining means, which has a different pivot axis than the arm, cooperates with the pivotally mounted arm to hold the coin, if it is of the desired weight, on the pivotally mounted arm until the coin is positioned by the arm for release to the selected area. At this time, The pivotally mounted retaining means has moved sufficiently relative to the pivotally mounted arm to cease to retain the coin on the pivotally mounted arm.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Mitchell A. Hall Fort Thomas, Ky.

Appl. No. 836,792

Filed June 26, 1969 Patented July 13, 1971 Assignee Monarch Tool & Manufacturing Company Covington, Ky.

COIN DISCRIMINATOR FORMED OF WIRE 2,118,425 5/1938 Bibicos ACT: A magnetic field holds a pivotally mounted arm in a first position whereby the pivotally mounted arm has means to receive coins of a specific diameter and thickness from a wire runway or track. If the coin is of the weight of the coins to be directed to the selected area, the arm pivots away from its receiving position to a position in which the coin is deposited in the selected area. A pivotally mounted retaining means, which has a different pivot axis than the arm, cooperates with the pivotally mounted arm to hold the coin, if it is of the desired weight, on the pivotally mounted arm until the coin is positioned by the arm for release to the selected area. At this time, The pivotally mounted retaining means has moved sufficiently relative to the pivotally mounted arm to cease to retain the coin on the pivotally mounted arm.

PATENTEDJULHISYI 3 592 308 sum 1 or 4 INVENTOR MITCHELL A. HALL ATTOR EY PATENTEU JUL 1 3 19m 3 7 59? 3 O6 SHEET 2 UP a INVENTOR MITCHELL A. HALL PATENTEU JUL 1 3 I971 SHEET 3 [1F 1 MITCHELL A. HALL FIG-I2 I 5 AT Y PATENTEnJuuaxsn $592,308

SHEET u. 0F 4 94 INVE/VT'OR MITCHELL A. HALL ATTORNE COIN DISCRIMINATOR FORMED OF WIRE In a coin mechanism in which it is desired to advance only coins of a specific monetary value to a selected area, it is necessary to ascertain that any received coin has the required diameter and thickness. This prevents coins of other monetary values or imperfect slugs, for example, from being advanced to the selected area. However, if a slug, for example, is formed of nonmagnetic material with the proper thickness and diameter, it could advance to a selected area in a coin mechanism in which the coins are selected only by diameter and thickness. Likewise, certain foreign coins may have the same diameter and thickness as a U.S. coin even though having a different monetary value.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a coin discriminator in which only coins, which not only have the desired diameter and thickness but also have the weight of the coin of a specific monetary value, are advanced to the selected area. Therefore, any coin or slug which does not meet the weight requirement irrespective of having the specific diameter and thickness is not advanced by the coin discriminator of the present invention to a selected area.

The present invention employs a pivotally mounted arm held in a first position to receive any coins having the specific thickness and diameter of the coin of the specific monetary value that is to be selected. If the weight of the received coin is that of a coin of the specific monetary value to be selected, the pivotally mounted arm of the present invention is moved with the coin against the force of a magnetic field to a position in which the coin is deposited in a selected area.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the coin-discriminator employs magnetic detecting means to determine the metallic content of the coin before it advances along the track or runway sufiiciently to be received by the pivotally mounted arm. In this embodiment, the magnetic detecting means is located so that any coin directed to the selected area can cause the start of a desired timing cycle, for example. Thus, no determination of the metallic content of the coin is made after it reaches the selected area.

In this embodiment, the pivotally mounted arm also may be held in a position in which no additional coins can cause movement of the pivotally mounted arm or be deposited into the selected area until a timing cycle has expired. Thus, this arrangement allows control of the timing cycle by the coin discriminator.

Furthermore, the present invention forms the runway or track along which the coins roll or advance of wires rather than plates. As a result, there is no buildup of dirt along the track or runway so that the coin will have the desired momenturn when it leaves the terminal end of the track or runway to enter a cradle or reception area of the pivotally mounted arm.

An object of this invention is to provide a coin discriminator that allows only a coin of a specific weight to be moved to a selected area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin discriminator in which a second coin cannot be advanced to the selected area for a predetermined time period after a first coin has been advanced to the selected area for a predetermined time period after a first coin has been advanced to the selected area.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin discriminator in which all determinations as to the coin being of the specific monetary value are completed when the coin reaches the selected area.

Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the following description, claims, and drawings. The attached drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the coin discriminator of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the coin discriminator of FIG. 1 with various elements removed from their support;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the-coin discriminator of FIG. 1 with a coin being inserted into the coin discriminator; I

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, showing the coin about to enter the orifice of the coin discriminator;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, ofa portion of the coin discriminator of FIG. 4 showing the coin supported on the track and taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 4, showing the coin advancing along the track or runway of the coin discriminator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 6, with the coin being received in the pivotally mounted arm of the coin dis criminator;

' FIG. 8 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 7, but showing the coin being advanced to the selected area;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 7'ofthe coin discriminator of FIG. 1 but showing a slug of less weight than the weight of the coin of the specific monetary value being received by the pivotally mounted arm;

. FIG. 10 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 9, but showing the coin of FIG. 9 falling fromthe pivotally mounted arm into a rejected area;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the coin discriminator of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the coin discriminator of FIG. 1] with various elements removed from their support;

FIG. 13 is an-elevational view of the coin discriminator of FIG. 11 with a coin being inserted into the coin discriminator;

FIG. 14 isan elevational view, similar to FIG. 13, but showing the coin about to enter the orifice of the coin discriminator;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the coin supported on the track and taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an elevational view, similar'to FIG. 14, but showing the coin advanced along the track or runway;

FIG. 17 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 16, and showing a coin of the desired specific weight being received by the pivotally mounted arm;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 17, but showing the pivotally mounted arm directing the coin into the selected area;

FIG. 19 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 13, in which a coin or nonmagnetic slug of less weight than the weight of the coin of the specific monetary value is received by the coindiscriminator and its path of movement to a rejected area;

FIG. 20 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 13, showing a metallic slug being received by the coin discriminator and its path to a rejected area; and

FIG. 21 is-a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken along line 21-21of FIG. 20 to show the falling path of the slug. Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a support housing 10 for the coin discriminator of the present invention. The coin discriminator includes an inclined track or runway 12 which is mounted'on a wall 14 of the housingl0 by a screw 16.

The runway or tack 12 comprises a single continuous wire having a pair of substantially parallel portions 18- and 20 spaced from each other a'sufficient distance to allow only a coin of a specific diameter to be supported thereby as the coin rolls along a portion 22 of the 'wire forming the track 12. The diameterof the wire is selected so that the portion 22 supports only coins of the desired thickness. Coins, which are of the specific diameter but too thick or too thin, will fall to one side or the otherof the'portion 22 of the track of runway 12.

The wire, which forms the track or runway 12, has 'the upper endof the portion 18 formed with a downwardly depending loop portion 24. The screw 16 passes through the loop portion 24 to fix the runway or.track 12 to the wall 14 of the support housing 10.

The portion 18'has a pair of wires 26 and-28 fix'ed thereto andspacedfrom each other to form an area into which'a-coin may be'deposited. The wire -28'has a portion =30 for'cooperation with the portion 22 of the track 12 to form an orifice for the track or runway 12. This orifice prevents coins of-a larger diameter than desired from entering the track or runway 12.

When'the coin falls into the area between the

portions

26 and 28, it engages a part 29 of the portion 20 and a part 31 of the portion 22 of the track or runway 12. The

parts

29 and 31 are secured to each other and are free to vibrate with respect to the remainder of the wire forming the track 12. As a result, the speed of the coin upon its entrance into the track 12 is controlled by this vibration so that the coin becomes static before entering the track or runway 12. Accordingly, the speed with which the coin rolls or advances along the track or runway 12 is regulated irrespective of the speed with which it is dropped into the coin discriminator ofthe present invention.

The

parts

29 and 31 of the

portions

20 and 22, respectively, are disposed between the

wires

26 and 28. Thus, this arrangement insures that the coin engages the

parts

29 and 31 of the

portions

20 and 22, respectively, to have its speed controlled before it enters the orifice.

The wall 14 of the support housing It) has a support bracket 32 fixed thereto by a screw 34. An arm 36, which is a single continuous wire, is pivotally mounted on the support bracket 32 by a pin 38, which has a portion of the arm 36 fixed thereto by suitable means such as soldering, for example. Ac cordingly, the arm 36 pivots about the axis of the pin 38.

The arm 36 has a curved portion 40 extending in one direction from the pivot pin 38 and carrying a magnetic element 42 on its end. The arm 36 has a portion 44 extending from the pivot pin 38 in the opposite direction from the portion 40. The

portions

40 and 44 are joined to each other by the portion fixed to the pivot pin 38.

The arm 36 has a portion 46 extending upwardly from the portion 44. The wire, which forms the arm 36, has a portion 48 extending substantially horizontally from the upwardly extending portion 46 and cooperating with another substantially horizontal portion 50 to form a cradle or receptacle in the arm 36 within which a coin may be received from the terminal end of the inclined track or runway 12.

The arm 36 has a portion 52 extending downwardly from the horizontal portion 50. The arm 36 has a terminal portion 54 extending upwardly from the lower end of the portion 52.

A wire 56 is attached to the

portions

46 and 52 of the arm 36. The wire 56 is disposed beneath the

horizontal portions

48 and 50 and in front of the upwardly extending terminal portion 54.

When a coin of the desired weight is received within the cradle formed between the

horizontal portions

48 and 50 of the pivotally mounted arm 36, the wire 56 cooperates with a pivotally mounted retaining member 58, which is a single continuous wire, to retain the coin on the arm 36 during pivoting of the arm 36. The retaining member 58 is pivotally mounted on the support bracket 32 by a pivot pin 60 to which the member 58 is fixed by suitable means such as soldering, for example.

The retaining member 58 has a loop portion 62 surrounding the terminal portion 54 of the pivot arm 36 in sliding relation thereto whereby the terminal portion 54 functions as a guide for the retaining member 58 during pivoting of the arm 36. Accordingly, as the arm 36 pivots clockwise about the pin 38, the retaining member 58 also pivots clockwise and is moved relative to the wire 56 because of the different pivot axis for the retaining member 58 in comparison with the pivot axis for the arm 36 and the terminal portion 54 acting on the loop portion 62- of the retaining member 58 whereby the distance between the retaining member 58 and the wire 56 eventually increases sufficiently to release the coin from the pivotally mounted arm 36.

The arm 36 is normally held in the position shown in FIG. 3 by a magnetic element 64, which exerts a repelling force against the magnet 42. The magnetic element 64 is mounted on a sidewall 66 of the support housing by a mounting wire 68.

The mounting wire 68 is preferably formed of spring steel;

magnetic element 42 may be adjusted. This arrangement permits the force required to pivot the arm 36 clockwise to be variable. As a result, the pivotal arm 36 may be finely tuned to a specific desired weight so that very small discretions in the weight ofa coin may be discerned by the coin discriminator of the present invention. As the magnetic element 64 is moved closer to the magnetic element 42 in the position of FIG. 3, the force exerted on the arm 36 is increased whereby the coin must have a greater weight to pivot the arm 36 clockwise.

Considering the operation of the coin discriminator of the present invention, a coin 70, which is shown as a dime, of a specific weight, diameter, and thickness is deposited between the

wires

26 and 28 as shown in FIG. 3. When the coin 70 falls to the phantom line position of FIG. 3, it engages the attached

parts

29 and 31 of the

portions

20 and 22, respectively, to cause vibration thereof whereby the speed of the coin is appropriately controlled before it enters the orifice, which is between the portion 30 of the wire 28 and the portion 22 of the track 12.

After the speed of the coin 70 has been controlled, it passes through the orifice and rides along the portion 22 of the track or runway I2. The coin 70 is supported by the vertically spaced

portions

18 and 20 of the track or runway 12 as shown in FIG. 6.

When the coin 70 reaches the terminal end of the inclined track or runway 12, it falls into the cradle or receptacte formed between the substantially horizontal cooperating

portions

48 and 50 of the pivotally mounted arm 36. If the coin is of the specific weight that is to be advanced to the selected area, its momentum is sufficient to overcome the repellitlg force between the

magnetic elements

42 and 64 to cause clockwise pivoting of the arm 36 about the axis of the pin 38. As shown in FIG. 7, the coin 70 is supported by the retaining member 58 and the cradle or receptacle, which is formed between the horizontal portions 48 and S0 of the arm 36.

As the arm 36 pivots from the position of FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, the retaining member 58 is moved away from the wire 56 until the phantom line position of FIG. 8 is reached. At this time, there is sufficient space between the retaining member 58 and the wire 56 to allow the coin 70 to fall from the pivotally mounted arm 36 and be directed into a chute 72, which defines the selected area. The coin 70 is then directed by the chute 72 to an area in which its metallic content is determined by a magnet.

Upon release of the coin 70 from the pivotally mounted arm 36, the weight of the magnetic element 42 is suificient to cause counterclockwise pivoting of the arm 36 from the position of FIG. 8 back to the position of FIG. 3. The momentum of the arm 36 is sufficient that the magnetic element 42 will move past the magnetic element 64 and not be repulsed by the magnetic element 64 prior to passing it.

It should be understood that the movement of the pivotally mounted arm 36 from the position of FIG. 7 to the solid line position of FIG. 8 is aided by the repulsive magnetic force between the

magnetic elements

42 and 64 after the magnetic element 42 has been moved above the magnetic element 64 by the coin 70 being supported on the arm 36. Thus, the repulsive forces between the

magnetic elements

42 and 64 not only serve to require a predetermined momentum by the coin so that only a coin of the specific weight can overcome this repelling force to cause clockwise pivoting of the arm 36 but this repelling force also functions to aid in causing clockwise pivoting of the arm 36 after the magnetic element 42 has been moved about the magnetic element 64.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a slug 74 falling from the inclined track or runway I2 into the cradle or receptacle defined by the

portions

48 and 50 of the pivotally mounted arm 36. However, because the weight of the slug 74 is less than the weight of the coin of the specific monetary value, it will not overcome the repelling force between the

magnetic elements

42 and 64 even though it will cause some slight movement of the pivotally mounted arm 36 as indicated by the phantom line position. Since the repelling force between the

magnetic elements

42 and 64 is not overcome, the arm 36 cannot pivot so that the slug 74 falls downwardly between the

portions

44 and 52 of the arm 36 as shown in FIG. 10. This results in the slug 74 falling into a rejected area and not entering the chute 72.

It should be understood that the slug 74 could only reach the position shown in FIG. 9 if it were of the correct thickness and diameter. If its diameter were not correct, it would not be able to enter the track 12. lfits thickness were wrong, it would fall off of the track 12 and into the rejected area.

Referring to FIGS. ll13, there is shown another form of the coin discriminator of the present invention. The coin discriminator includes a support housing 80 having an inclined track or runway 82 supported on a sidewall 84 of the support housing 80. The track 82 includes an upper wire 88 extending from a bracket 90, which is secured to a sidewall 84 of the support wall 80 by a screw 86 (see FIG. 12), and a pair of

lower wires

92 and 94, which also extend from the bracket 90. A coin has its edge riding only on the wire 94 of the track 82 while it is supported by the

wires

88 and 92 of the track 82 during advancement of the coin along the track 82.

A thin flexible member 96 is wrapped around the

wires

92 and 94 and has

portions

98 and 100 extending upwardly from a bottom portion that is fixed to the

wires

92 and 94. The

portions

98 and 100 form a funnel into which coins may be deposited for discerning whether they are of the correct diameter.

The portion 98 of the member 96 is limited in its movement away from the portion 100 by the wire 88 of the track 82 while the portion 100 is limited in its movement away from the portion 98 by a wire 102, which also is attached to the bracket 90. A wire 104, which also is carried by the bracket 90, cooperates with the

portions

98 and 100 of the member 96 to limit the diameter of the coins that are allowed to enter the track 82.

When a coin 106, which is a dime, having the specific weight, diameter, and thickness that is to be directed to a selected area, is inserted between the

portions

98 and 100 of the member 96, the coin 106 engages against the

lower wires

92 and 94, which are free to vibrate through their mounting on the bracket 90. As a result, the coin 106 becomes static before entering the track 82 so that the speed with which the coin 106 rolls along the track 82 is controlled.

An arm 108 is pivotally mounted on a support block 110 through having a portion of the arm 108, which is a wire, bent to extend through the support block 110. The arm 108 is a single continuous wire.

The support block 110 is attached by a screw 112 (see FIG. 12) to a wall 114 of the support housing 80. The screw 112 cooperates with a spacer 116 of the support block 110 to dispose the pivotally mounted arm 108 in a desired position relative to the track 82. The arm 108 includes a pair of por tions 118 and 120 cooperating with each other to form a cradle or receptacle into which the coin 106 on the track 82 may fall when the coin 106 leaves the terminal end of the track 82. A magnetic element 122 is mounted on the arm 108 at the junction ofthe

portions

118 and 120.

The

wires

92 and 94 have their free ends spaced from each other as shown in FIGS. 11 and .12. This allows the

portions

118 and 120 of the arm 108 to fit therebetween to receive the coin 106 as it falls off the free end of the wire 94 of the track 82.

A retaining member 124, which cooperates with the

portions

118 and 120 to retain the coin 106 on the pivotally mounted arm 108 during counterclockwise pivoting of the arm 108 when the coin is of the specific monetary value, is pivotally mounted on the support block 110 above the pivot axis of the arm 108. The retaining member 124, which is a single continuous wire, has a loop portion 126 slidably mounted on a terminal guide portion 128 of the arm 108. Thus, when the arm 108 pivots counterclockwise, the engagement of the portion 128 with the loop portion 126 of the retaining member 124 causes the retaining member 124 to also pivot counter clockwise in such a manner that a retaining portion 130 of the retaining member 124 is moved away from the

portions

118 and 120 of the arm 108 to allow the coin 106 to cease to be supported by the arm 108 and to be directed into a selected area.

The pivotally mounted arm 108 is urged clockwise due to an attractive magnetic element 132, which is supported by a resilient wire 134. The wire 134 is adjustably mounted on the sidewall 136 of the support housing to position the pivotally mounted arm 108 to receive the coin 106 when it leaves the terminal end of the inclined track or runway 82.

The sidewall 136 of the support housing 80 has a magnetic element 138, which is repulsive to the magnetic element 122 on the arm 108, adjustably mounted thereon by means of a resilient wire 140. By properly positioning the magnetic element 138, the force that must be overcome by the coin 106 when it falls onto the arm 108 is adjustable.

In addition toovercoming the force exerted by the repulsive force between the

magnetic elements

122 and 138, the coin 106 also must overcome the effective force exerted by a weight 139 on the

portions

141 and 142 of the arm 108. The weight 139 isadjustably mounted on the

portions

141 and 142 of the arm 108 to provide additional tuning of the arm 108 to the weight of the coin of the specific monetary value.

Thus, if a slug of the same diameter and thickness but lighter weight were to be received by the coin discriminator of the present invention, it would not be capable of overcoming the repulsive force between the

magnetic elements

122 and 138 and the effective force of the weight 139 to cause counterclockwise pivoting of the arm 108.

Considering the operation of this embodiment of the coin discriminator, the coin 106 is shown in FIG. 13 deposited within the funnel formed between the portions 98 and of the flexible member 96. When the coin drops to the bottom of the funnel, it engages the

wires

92 and 94 whereby the speed of the coin 106 is regulated prior to its entering the track 12. As shown in H6. 15, the edge of the coin 106 rests on the wire 94 and has its surface rolling against the wire 92. As shown in FlGS. 14 and 16, the coin 106 has its surface, which is engaging the wire 92, also engaging the wire 88.

As the coin 106 moves along the track 82 as shown in FIG. 16, it picks up sufficient momentum because of being of the weight of the coin-of the specific monetary value so that when it enters the cradle or receptacle between the portions 118' and of the arm 108, it exerts a sufficient force on the pivotally mounted arm 108 to overcome the repulsive force between the

magnetic elements

122 and 138 and the effective force of the weight 139. This results in the arm 108 pivoting counterclockwise from the solid line position of P10. 17 to the solid line position of FlG. 18.

As the arm 108 pivots counterclockwise from the position of FIG. 17 to the position of FIG. 18, the retaining member 124 also is pivoted counterclockwise due to the loop portion 126 riding along the terminal portion 128 of the arm 108. This pivoting of the retaining member 124 pulls the retaining portion of the retaining member 124 away from the cradle or receptacle of the arm 108 so that the coin 106 may fall therefrom as shown in phantom in FIG. 18.

The coin 106 drops through a slot 143 in an element 144, which is carried bythe wall 114 of the support housing 80. The element144 is preferably formed of a nonmetallic material so that an attracting magnetic element 146 for the magnetic element 122 may be supported thereby to hold the pivotally mounted arm 108 in the position of FIG. 18 until a timing cycle, which is started by the coin 106 falling through the slot 143, is completed.

When the cycle has been completed, a solenoid (not shown), which could be mounted on the support block 110, could engage one of the

portions

141 and 142 of the pivotally mounted arm 108 to return it to the positionofFlG. 13. This prevents another coin'from being received by the arm 108 until the timing cycle is completed.

If desired, the attractive magnetic element 146 could be eliminated whereby the arm 108 would be returned to the position of FIG. 13 as soon as the coin 106 is released from the arm 108 for deposit in the slot 143. In this arrangement, the weight 139 would be effective to return the arm 108 to the position of FIG. 13 so that no solenoid would be required. Of course, this arrangement would allow the arm I08 to receive another coin immediately. Thus, without the attractive magnetic element 146, this embodiment operates in the same manner as the coin discriminator of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 19, there is shown a coin 148 being received by the coin discriminator in which the coin 148 is not of the specific desired weight. The coin 148 also could be a nonmagnetic slug, for example, of less weight than the coin to be selected.

Accordingly, when the coin 148 of less than the specific weight enters the track 82, its momentum due to its lower weight is not sufficient to overcome the repelling force between the magnets I22 and 138 whereby the coin falls off of the retaining portion 130 of the retaining member I24 and takes the path indicated by the various phantom positions of the coin in FIG. 19. Thus, the coin I48 falls to the right of the element 144 whereby the coin is directed to the rejected area. Furthermore, since the arm I08 does not pivot, the coin discriminator is capable of immediately receiving another coin having the desired specific weight, specific diameter, and specific thickness of the coin to be selected.

The coin discriminator also has a magnetic detecting element 150 mounted on a wire 152, which is supported by the support block 110. The wire 152 has a spacer sleeve 154 mounted thereon to position the magnetic element I50 ad jacent the track 82. The upper end of the wire 152 is arcuate so as to be supported on the wire 102.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. and 21, when a slug 156, which would have the desired specific weight, specific thickness, and specific diameter of the coin that the coin discriminator would normally direct to the selected area, enters the track 82, the magnetic attraction between the magnetic element 150 and the material of the slug I56 pulls the slug 156 off of the wire 94 so that the slug I56 falls into the rejected area as indicated by the phantom line position ofthe slug 156 in FIG. 20.

Since the coin 106 can start a timing cycle upon entering the slot 143, the magnetic detecting element I150 eliminates the possibility of any slug entering the slot I43. Thus, the coin discriminator of FIG. 11 can be employed to start a timing cycle upon receipt ofa coin in the slot 143.

Accordingly, with the coin discriminator utilizing the pivotally mounted arm 108, only coins having the desired specific weight, specific diameter, and specific thickness can reach the slot 143 in the element I44. Furthermore, any slug having the same diameter, thickness, and weight as the coin to be selected is prevented from reaching the selected area because of the magnetic detecting element 150 Additionally, any coin not having the desired weight or any nonmetallic slug not having the desired weight such as a slug made of plastic, for example, is incapable of causing pivoting of the pivotally mounted arm 108. As a result, a coin or slug of less than specific weight is directed to the rejected area.

Instead of having the timing cycle started by the coin I06 entering the slot 143 in the element 144, the coin discriminator could have the timing cycle started by one of the

portions

141 and 142 of the arm 108 engaging a timer switch (not shown) on the support block 110. The force created by the magnetic element 146 attracting the magnetic element 122 on the arm 108 would insure that the

portion

141 or 142 of the arm 108 makes positive contact with the timer switch.

It should be understood that the coin discriminators of the present invention are capable of only selecting a coin of one specific monetary value. While the coin has been shown as being a dime to be selected by the coin discriminators, it should be understood that the coin discriminators could be designed to selected any other coin of a specific monetary value. It would be necessary to utilize a different orifice and track to support coins of different diameter and thickness. Furthermore, the magnetic elements and the adjustable weight 139 would have to be differently positioned in accordance with the weight ofthe coin.

An advantage of this invention is that it does not permit a slug of the same diameter and thickness as the coin to be selected to pass to the selected area. Another advantage of this invention is that it is capable of being adjusted within very fine limits as to the weight ofthe coin to be selected.

I claim:

I. A coin discriminator for directing a coin having a predetermined value and having a specific weight andspecific diameter and thickness to a selected area comprising:

track means formed of wire and having means to receive a coin for movement thcrealong from one end toward the other end under its own momentum;

said track means including means to allow only a coin of a specific diameter and thickness to advance from one end of said track means to the other end of said track means; and

weight responsive means disposed adjacent the other end of said track means to receive from said track means any coin reaching the other end of said track means, said weight responsive means advancing said coin to the selected area only when the coin received from said track means is of the specific weight and causing said coin to move to a rejected area when said coin is not of the specific weight.

2. The coin discriminator according to claim I wherein said weight responsive means comprises movable means, means exerting a predetermined force on said movable means to maintain said movable means in a first position; said movable means being movable from the first position to a second position in which the coin is removed from said movable means to the selected area only when the coin received from said track means is of the specific weight; and said exerting means preventing said movable means from being movable to the second position when the coin received from said track means is not of the specific weight whereby the coin moves from said movable means to a rejected area.

3. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which said movable means is pivotally mounted.

4. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which the predetermined force of said exerting means is variable in accordance with the desired specific weight ofthe coin.

5. The coin discriminator according to claim 3 in which the predetermined force of said exerting means is variable in accordance with the desired specific weight of the coin.

6. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which said force exerting means comprises magnetic repulsion means.

7. The coin discriminator according to claim 6 in which the force of said magnetic repulsion means is variable in accordance with the desired specific weight of the coin.

8. The coin discriminator according to claim 7 in which:

said movable means is pivotally mounted;

and said exerting means includes adjustable weight means mounted on said movable means.

9. The coin discriminator according to claim I in which said track means is formed ofa single wire.

10. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 including:

means to hold said movable means in the second position after said movable means is moved to the second position due to reception by said movable means of a coin of the specific weight;

and means to return said movable means to the first position after a predetermined period of time.

117 The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which:

said movable means has means cooperating therewith to retain the coin on said movable means during movement of said movable means from the first position to the second position;

and said retaining means releases the coin when said movable means has moved to the second position to direct the coin to the selected area.

12. The coin discriminator according to claim 11 in which said retaining means is movable relative to said movable means during movement of said movable means from the first position to the second position, said retaining means being movable in response to movement of said movable means from the first position to the second position.

13. The coin discriminator according to claim 11 in which:

said movable means is pivotally mounted on a first axis;

and said retaining means is pivotally mounted on a second axis.

14. The coin discriminator according to claim 1 including means to remove any metallic slug of the specific diameter and thickness from said track means before the slug reaches the other end of said track means.

15. The coin discriminator according to claim 6 in which said magnetic repulsion meansaids in moving said movable means from the first position to the second position when a coin of the specific weight is received by said movable means after said movable means has been moved sufficiently to overcome the initial force of said magnetic repulsion means.

16. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which:

said movable means has a magnet mounted thereon;

said force exerting means includes a repulsion magnet cooperating with said magnet mounted on said movable means;

and an attracting magnet for said magnet mounted on said movable means is disposed to cooperate with said magnet mounted on said movable means to position said movable means in the first position.

17. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which:

said track means is inclined;

and said movable means is disposed beneath said track means.

18. The coin discriminator according to claim 16 in which:

a second attracting magnet is disposed to cooperate with said magnet mounted on said movable means to hold said movable means in the second position after said movable means is moved to the second position due to reception by said movable means ofa coin of the specific weight;

Claims

1. A coin discriminator for directing a coin having a predetermined value and having a specific weight and specific diameter and thickness to a selected area comprising: track means formed of wire and having means to receive a coin for movement therealong from one end toward the other end under its own momentum; said track means including means to allow only a coin of a specific diameter and thickness to advance from one end of said track means to the other end of said track means; and weight responsive means disposed adjacent the other end of said track means to receive from said track means any coin reaching the other end of said track means, said weight responsive means advancing said coin to the selected area only when the coin received from said track means is of the specific weight and causing said coin to move to a rejected area when said coin is not of the specific weight.

2. The coin discriminator according to claim 1 wherein said weight responsive means comprises movable means, means exerting a prEdetermined force on said movable means to maintain said movable means in a first position; said movable means being movable from the first position to a second position in which the coin is removed from said movable means to the selected area only when the coin received from said track means is of the specific weight; and said exerting means preventing said movable means from being movable to the second position when the coin received from said track means is not of the specific weight whereby the coin moves from said movable means to a rejected area.

4. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which the predetermined force of said exerting means is variable in accordance with the desired specific weight of the coin.

8. The coin discriminator according to claim 7 in which: said movable means is pivotally mounted; and said exerting means includes adjustable weight means mounted on said movable means.

9. The coin discriminator according to claim 1 in which said track means is formed of a single wire.

10. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 including: means to hold said movable means in the second position after said movable means is moved to the second position due to reception by said movable means of a coin of the specific weight; and means to return said movable means to the first position after a predetermined period of time.

11. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which: said movable means has means cooperating therewith to retain the coin on said movable means during movement of said movable means from the first position to the second position; and said retaining means releases the coin when said movable means has moved to the second position to direct the coin to the selected area.

13. The coin discriminator according to claim 11 in which: said movable means is pivotally mounted on a first axis; and said retaining means is pivotally mounted on a second axis.

15. The coin discriminator according to claim 6 in which said magnetic repulsion means aids in moving said movable means from the first position to the second position when a coin of the specific weight is received by said movable means after said movable means has been moved sufficiently to overcome the initial force of said magnetic repulsion means.

16. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which: said movable means has a magnet mounted thereon; said force exerting means includes a repulsion magnet cooperating with said magnet mounted on said movable means; and an attracting magnet for said magnet mounted on said movable means is disposed to cooperate with said magnet mounted on said movable means to position said movable means in the first position.

17. The coin discriminator according to claim 2 in which: said track means is inclined; and said movable means is disposed beneatH said track means.

18. The coin discriminator according to claim 16 in which: a second attracting magnet is disposed to cooperate with said magnet mounted on said movable means to hold said movable means in the second position after said movable means is moved to the second position due to reception by said movable means of a coin of the specific weight; and means to return said movable means to the first position after a predetermined period of time.