US3593831A - Wide price range change making coin mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A wide price range, coin mechanism for a merchandising machine in which an electromechanical coin totalizer system responsive to the deposit of coins establishes credit and sets up change making circuits for giving up to four nickels in change over a range of prices from 5 to $1.00 in 5 steps while doing away with base price and price differential cam mechanisms of the prior art in which the range of prices is limited to the narrow range of differentials from the base price.

Description

United States Patent I72] Inventors William Rosenhagen Ossining. N.Y.; 4 Albert Kurimsliy. Rocker/ray, NJ. 121 Appl. No. 826.091 [22] Filed May 20, 1969 [45] Patented July 20, I971 [73] Assignec Rows International, Inc.

Whippany, NJ.

[54] WIDE PRICE RANGE CHANGE MAKING COIN MECHANISM 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[SZI US. Cl 194/10 [51] Int. Cl r 4 r r 1. 607i 11/00 [50] Field 01' Search ,1 194/10 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,242,929 3/1966 Adams 194/10 X 3,191,737 6/1965 James, Sr. et al. M [94/10 X Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Anorney-Sheiner & O'Connor ABSTRACT: A wide price range, coin mechanism for a merchandising machine in which an electromechanical coin totalizer system responsive to the deposit of coins establishes credit and sets up change making circuits for giving up to four nickels in change over a range ofprices from St to $1.00 in S 6 steps while doing away with base price and price differential cam mechanisms of the prior art in which the range of prices is limited to the narrow range of differentials from the base price.

wins PRICE RANGE ctmvcc MAKING com srccru ntsu BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various arrangements are known in the prior art for setting a merchandise machine to dispense articles over a range of prices and to give change when a sum in ettcess of the purchase price of an article has been deposited in the machine. Examples of such arran erncnts are disclosed in Krakauer et a1. U.S. Pat. lip. 3,191 and in Auerbach et al. Application Ser. No. 643,853 flied ll ll'lfi 6. i967 now US. Pat. No. 3,446,327. While the arrangements shown therein operate satisfactorily, they a not adequate under present market conditions. in modern automatic merchandising goods dispensed by a merchandising machine must be sold over an extremely wide range of prices. It is moreover desirable that the machine be capable of making change over the entire range of prices. The mechanisms shown in the patents cited above are not capable of such an operation. First. they permit goods to be sold over only a relatively narrow range of prices. Secondly, they will only give change with reference to a base price for which the machine is set. The range of prices is limited to price differentials from the base price provided by a mechanical price differential cam mechanism which must be driven each time an item is selected which sells at a price which is different from the base price.

We have invented a wide price range. change-making coin mechanism which permits goods to be sold over a much wider range of prices than do coin mechanisms of the prior art. Our mechanism permits change to be given at all prices within the range. it does away with the complicated price differential cam mechanisms employed in those merchandising machines of the prior art which give change. Our mechanism permits articles to be sold over a range of prices from to $l.00 in 5 steps while being capable of giving up to 4 nickels in change at any price within the range.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON One object of our invention is to provide a change-making coin mechanism which permits goods to be sold over a wider range of prices than do coin mechanisms of the prior art.

Another object of our invention is to provide a change-making coin mechanism which is capable of giving change over a wide range of prices.

A further object of our invention is to provide a. wide price range, change-making coin mechanism which does not require the complicated price differential cam mechanisms of coin mechanisms of the prior art.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a wide price range, change-making coin mechanism which permits articles to be sold over a range of prices from St! to SLOO in 5 steps while being able to make up to 4 nickel: in change at each price.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description:

In general our invention contemplate; the provision of a wide price range, change making coin mechanism in which an electromechanical coin totalizc'r establishes credits and sets up change-determining circuits for giving up to 4 niclteIs in change over a range of prices from 5!! to $l.00 without the necessity of providing price ditferential cams of mechanisms of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIQN OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of our wide price range, change making coin mechanism.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the other side of our change making coin mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of our wide price range change making coin mechanism taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of our wide price range, change-making coin mechanism taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the electrical circuitry of our change making coin mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMQODIMENT Referring now to .the drawings our coin mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 10 includes a frame 12 carrying a coin slot l4 through which deposited nickels, dimes and quarters pass to a coin separator and slug rejector assembly indicated by the reference character l6. The slug rejector 16 may be of any suitable type known to the art such for example as that shown in (iabriclscn U.S. Pat. No. 2,975.8 from which all of the coins pass into and through a totalizcr assembly indicated generally by the reference character 18 such for example as that illustrated in Baker US. Pat. No. 2,996,l63. As is described more fully in that patent, as coins pass through the totalizer a quarter actuates a fccler 20, dimes actuate two feelers 22 and 24 while nicltcls actuate only the feeler 22. As the coins actuate the respective feelers a totalizer bar 26 moves downwardly through an aggregate distance which is the analog of the sum in coins passing through the totalizer. While the Baker patent illustrates a mechanism wherein a total movement aggregating only 50 is provided. we arrange our totalizer 18 so as to provide an aggrcgatc movement exceeding $l.00 merely by modifying the escapemcnt rack bars 19 and 21 of the totalizer l8. Bar 26 positions a pin 28 in accordance with the aggregate of coins deposited in the machine. Pin 28 extends through a slot 30 in the frame 12 to a position at which it supports a brush assembly driving rack 32 supported for vertical sliding movement in brackets 34 and 36 on the frame 12. Rack 32 drives a pinion 38 carried by the shaft 40 of the brush assembly indicated schematically by the broken line outline 41 in FIG. 2. Thus, in response to coins deposited in the mechanism the assembly 42 is driven through an angular displacement which is proportional to the aggregate of the sum in coins deposited in the machine.

After coins which have passed through the totaliaer IS in the manner described and have established a credit, they pass through a coin guide structure indicated generally by the reference character 44 and then downwardly into an escrow bucket indicated generally by the reference character 46. As is pointed out more fully in the Auerbach et al. application referred to hereinabove, the guide structure 44 normally holds the first nickel in a position at which it can be directed to a change coin supply tube 48 when the coins are accepted or alternatively it may be directed back to the escrow bucket 46 when the customer actuates the coin return to be described. Moreover, escrow bucket 46 may be actuated either to return all coins to the customer or to direct coins other than c first nickel to the cash box. If the supply of coins in the change tube 48 is full a lever 50 is positioned to direct the first nickel also to the escrow bucket. Since the construction and operation of the coin guide mechanism 44 and the escrow bucket structure 46 does not per se form part of our invention it will not be described in greater detail. The construction and operation is fully described in the Auerbach et al. application ro'ferred to hereinabove.

Once a credit has been established in the manner described above a customer may either make a purchase or he may have his coins returned. To have the coins returned the customer actuates a compound coin return link 52 in any suitable manner known to the art. In response to that operation a pin 54 on the lower part of the link actuates a reset lever 56 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 58 as viewed in FIG. 2 to cause a leaf spring 60 thereon to move pin 28 upwardly to cancel the credit which had been established by the deposit of coins. At the same time the first nickel is driven back towards the escrow bucket 46 and the bucket is operated in the manner described in the Aucrbach et al. application to return all coins to the customer.

Should the customer wish to make a purchase rather than to have his coins returned, he operates a pushbutton or the like to be described. In response to this operation a circuit to be described hereinafter including a brush of assembly 42 completes a circuit to an unlatching solenoid 62 to cause it to pivot an unlatching lever 64 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 around its pivot 66. When that occurs the lever first releases an arm 68 to cause a spring 70 to pivot the arm to a position at which a recess 72 therein locks out the coin return link 52. Further in response to the movement of lever 64 its upper surface engages a pin 74 on one arm ofa bell crank 76 to pivot the bell crank in a clockwise direction around its pivot 78 to release a change determining bar 80. A pin 82 pivotally connects the rod 80 to an arm 84 having a slot 86 which loosely supports arm 84 on a pin 88 on the frame I2. A pin 90 connects the upper end of bent bar 80 to a Hat bar 92.

As will be explained in more detail hereinafter the electrical circuit of our coin mechanism sets up circuits for determining the vertical displacement of bar 92 and the corresponding movement of bar 80 proportional to the amount of change which must be given. A U-shaped bracket 94 slidably supports a number of fingers 96, 98, I and I02 for movement between positions shown at which enlarged portions I04 of the fingers rest on the lower edges of lateral slots I06 provided in a flange 108 of the bracket 94. Leaf springs I10 normally urge the fingers into engagement with the lower edges 106 of the slots. The other ends of the finger are connected to the respective cores 112 of a plurality of solenoids II4, 116, N8 and I20. Springs 122 normally urge the cores and the fingers to positions such as that shown in FIG. 4 whereat the enlarged portions of the fingers ride on the surfaces I06. In response to energization of any one of the solenoids I14, I16, I18 and I20 it draws its associated finger to the left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4 until a reduced finger portion I24 falls into the corresponding notch I26 extending below surface I06 to lock the finger in that position. a

We form rod 92 with a plurality of notches I28 having different lengths in the direction of the length of rod 92. In the normal positions of the fingers 96, 98, 100 and 102 the enlarged portions 104 thereof are out of the notches 128. How' ever, when a solenoid moves its associated finger to the broken line position shown in FIG. 4 the enlarged portion is in the corresponding notch. Thus it will limit movement downwardly of bar 92.

From the structure just described it will be appreciated that movement downwardly of bar 92 and the corresponding movement downwardly of bar 80 is determined by which one, if any, of the solenoids I14, II6, I18 or I20 is energized. Moreover, in a manner to be described the number of coins which will be given in change is determined by the downward movement of the lower end of rod 80. We have so arranged our mechanism that energization of solenoid II4 corresponds to no change, energization of solenoid I I6 corresponds to one nickel in change, energization of solenoid I18 corresponds to 2 nickels in change, energization of solenoid I20 corresponds to 3 nickels in change, while energization of no solenoid corresponds to 4 nickels in change. This last operation results from the fact that with no solenoid energized the bar 80 will move through the full limit ofits movement.

The lower end of the change-determining bar 80 carries a projection I30 which extends through an opening I32 in the wall of frame I2 to a position at which it engages a pin 134 on a change-determining cam I36 of the change-dispensing mechanism indicated generally by the reference character I38 of our coin mechanism. The mechanism I38 is shown and described in detail in Krakaucr ct al. US. Pat. No. 3,135,271. The only differences between our change dispensing mechanism and that shown in that patent are the particular manner in which the cam I36 is driven and the fact that an electrical motor drives our mechanism in a manner to be described rather than a manual operation. As is explained more fully in the Krakaucr et al. US. Pat. No. 3,l35,27l the mechanism 138 includes a plurality of slides I40 positioned below the coin tube 48 and adopted selectively to be coupled to a driving slide I42 by a coupling link I44 to withdraw a predetermined number of nickels from the stack in tube 48 and to deliver them to a customer upon movement of slide 142 to the right. An operating Icver I46 driven in a manner to be described is pivotally supported on a pin 148. When the lever moves in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. I a pin I48 on the lower end thereof and located in a slot I50 in a drag link I52 carried by link I44 first tends to drive the coupling link 144 in a clockwise direction around its pivot I54 through a spring 155. The distance through which the coupling link I44 moves in this direction and thus the number of slides engaged thereby is determined by the position of the change-determining cam I36. This cam includes a plurality of steps I56 which selectively are positioned in the path of a stop I58 on the coupling link as the cam 136 is displaced in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. I in response to downward movement of bar as viewed in FIG. 2. By way of example when no change is to be given no rotary displacement of cum I36 results and actuation of link I44 by link I52 does not produce sufficient rotary displacement of the coupling link to engage any slide. When one nickel in change is to be given bar 80 moves downwardly through a sufficicnt distance to cause cam I36 to move to a position at which its first step I56 is in the path of stop I58 and actuation of coupling link I44 results in one slide being engaged. In an analogous manner the second, third and fourth steps 156 can be positioned in the path of stop 158 to dispense 2, 3 or 4 nickels. As is pointed out hereinabovc, the details of the operation of the changemaker are more fully described in the Krakauer et al. patent.

As will more fully be pointed out hereinafter in connection with the electrical circuit of our coin mechanism each time a purchase is made the coin mechanism drive motor is energized to rotate its shaft I62. Shaft I62 carries a cam plate I64 adapted to actuate a switch arm 166 to operate a switch I68 to hold the motor circuit for one revolution of shaft 162. Plate I64 also carries an eccentric pin I70 supporting a link I72 which is pivotally connected to an operating arm I74 pivotally supported on a pin 176. It will readily be appreciated that in the course of a revolution of shaft 162 link I72 actuates arm I74 to oscillate it once. Oscillation of arm I74 accomplishes a number of results. First, a roller I78 on the arm engages a surface I80 of the reset arm to reset the coin totalizer I8. Another roller or pin I82 on the upper end of arm I74 engages the undersurface of arm 84 to reset bars 92 and 80 and to permit bell crank 76 to relatch bar 80.

Arm I74 also carries a pin or roller 184 which extends through a slot 185 in the frame wall to a position between bifurcations I86 and 188 on the upper end of arm 146. It will be seen that as arm I74 oscillates pin 184 moves first to the right and then to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 or first to the left and then to the right as viewed in FIG. I. As a result, arm I46 first rotates in a counterclockwise and then in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. I. This movement of the arm 146 causes the first nickel to be delivered to the coin tube and actuates the bucket mechanism 46 to accept coins therein as described in detail in the Auerbach et al. application referred to hereinabove. The movement of arm 146 further actuatcs link 152 to position coupler 144 as determined by the position of cam 136 to engage the required number of slides I40 and then operates the slide driver 142 to deliver the required sum in change to the customer.

We provide our coin mechanism with means for disabling the change making system when the supply of nickels in the tube 48 is exhausted. A feeler, the action of which is more fully described in the Krakauer et al. US. Pat. No. 3,135,27l referred to above, positions an arm I90 in one of two positions depending upon the presence of nickels or the absence of nickels above a predetermined point in the tube 48. When a sufficient supply of coins is present, arm I90 occupies the position shown in FIG. 2 and through the medium of a spring I92 moves another arm 194 carrying a normally closed switch I96 to a position at which the switch is opened by a lug I98 on the frame 12.

We further provide our mechanism with means for enabling a serviceman to deliver coins from the coin tube 48 when the supply of coins therein is more than that which might be expected to be used in normal operation of the machine and considering the automatic replenishing feature or when for any other reason he wishes to empty tube 48. For this purpose a pushbutton switch 200. the action of which will be described hereinbelow, is mounted on the frame 12. A switch I97 is adapted to be opened in response to actuation of the coin return mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 5 the brush support 42 on shaft 40 carries a first plurality of brushes b,,, b,, 1),, b,, and b, positioned on the locus of a circle passing through a plurality of price line contacts 202 corresponding to prices of from St: to $1.00 in S steps. The brushes b, to b, are spaced by distance between successive contacts 202.

We provide the switch assembly with a plurality of other brushes b to b connected respectively to brushes b, to b, and adapted to engage respective commutator segments C, to C, corresponding to from no change to 4 nickels in change. In response to rotation of shaft 40 in the direction of the arrow 1: in FIG. 5, brushes b, to b, successively move onto the price contacts 202 and brushes b to 1;, move onto their respective commutator segments C to C to set up the necessary change -making circuits. The lengths of segments C to C, which are provided to set up the correct change making circuits can readily be seen by considering extreme conditions under which change in all amounts must be given. This will not happen until a quarter has been deposited to move the assembly to a position at which brush b, engages the 25 price contact 202. We so arrange the switch that at this time all brushes have moved onto their associated commutator segments and all change circuits are set up to give change in accordance with the selection made. At the other extreme when four quarters have been deposited we ensure that all change circuits are set up by making segments C, to C. sufliciently long that the brushes b to b, have not yet left their associated segments.

A plurality of respective price lines 204 connect the various contacts 202 to a price board 206. A typical merchandising machine with which our coin mechanism is employed may include a plurality of two-position switches indicated generally by the reference characters 208, 210, 212, 2 and 216 each of which includes a contact arm 2l8 and respective contacts 220 and 222. Each contact 222 is connected in series with a respective selecting solenoid 224, 226, 228, 230 or 232 by means of an empty switch 234 associated with a particular machine section. Respective pricing conductors 236 lead to the price board 206. Price board 206 may be of any suitable type known to the art. The arrangement is such that the conductors 236 may be on one side of the board while lines 204 are on the other side of the board with all of the lines 204 intersecting all of the conductors 236. Any machine section may be set to dispense an article at any price within the range of prices provided by lines 204 merely by connecting its conductor 236 to a particular line 204 corresponding to the desired price at the point of intersection. This may be done in any convenient manner such as by inserting a conductive pin 238 through the board 206 at the point of intersection to connect a conductor 236 to a line 204. By way of example, we have shown the section corresponding to solenoid 224 as being set to sell articles at the section corresponding to solenoid 226 being set to sell at 80, the section corresponding to solenoid 228 to sell at 65, the section 230 being set to sell at 75, and the section corresponding to solenoid 232 as being set to sell at 35, While we have illustrated our mechanism in connection with only five merchandising units it will readily be appreciated that we might provide a great many more units selling articles of merchandise at other various prices.

We connect the switch arm 2!! of the first switch 208 to a conductor 240 leading to one terminal 242 of a suitable source of electrical energy having another terminal 244 connected to a conductor 246. The normally engaged contact 220 of switch 208 is connected to the arm 218 of switch 210 and so forth down the line of selecting switches so that only one of the switches can be operated at a time. We connect one terminal of the motor 160 to conductor 240 and connect the other terminal to one contact 248 of the unlatching switch having an arm 250 which normally engages another contact 252. The motor driven switch I68 normally engages a contact 254 connected to arm 250 and is adapted to engage another contact 256 connected to contact 248. The normally closed switch 197 connects arm I68 to conductor 246.

We connect a relay winding 258 in series with switch I96 between conductors 240 and 246. When energized when the supply of coins is below a predetermined level winding 258 closes a normally open switch 260 to light a lamp 263 to indicate that the exact amount must be deposited to make a purchase. At that time winding 258 also opens a normally closed switch 262 to disable the change-making circuit in a manner to be described.

We connect the solenoid winding! l4 corresponding to no change between segment C, and one terminal of the unlatching relay winding 62 the other terminal of which is con nected to contact 252. We connect the other solenoid windings I16, I18, I20 and resistor 264 respectively between segments C,, C,. C and C. and the switch 262 which is connected to winding 62. The normally open push button switch 200 is connected between segment C and conductor 240' thus effectively to bypass the change-setting switch.

The manner in which our coin mechanism operates can best be understood by considering a number of examples. As has been pointed out hereinabovc our mechanism permits articles to be sold at any price of from 5 to 8|.00 in steps. Under these conditions and assuming that the totalizcr mechanism receives nickels, dimes and quarters, the mechanism must be capable of giving change as follows. For articles selling at 5 30, 55 or either one or four nickels must be able to be given in change. For articles selling at 10 or 60 the mechanism must be able to give 3 nickels in change. For articles selling at 15 or 65y the mechanism must be able to give either I or 2 nickels in change. For articles selling at 35 or at it must be able to give either I or 3 nickels in change. The mechanism must be able to give 2 nickels in change for articles selling at 40 or At all other prices the mechanism need be able to give only a single nickel in change. Our mechanism satisfies all of these conditions while at the same time preventing selection of an article at a price lower than or a price higher than the set price.

We have so set the various merchandising sections of the machine as to exemplify some of the conditions required above. Assuming for example that a customer wishes to buy an article from the section of the machine corresponding to switch 208 which section is set to sell the article for a dime and the customer deposits a quarter in the machine. In response to that deposit the totalizer mechanism 18 steps brush carrier 42 from the home position shown to a position at which the leading brush b, is on the contact 202 which corresponds to the sum deposited. If now the customer actuate: switch 208 to move its contact arm 218 into engagement with switch 222 the corresponding selecting solenoid 224 is ener ind and a circuit is complete from conductor 240 to the [0 price line 204. With the brush assembly in the position indicated brush b, is in engagement with the l0 price line to provide a circuit to brush b, which is in engagement with segment C, to complete the circuit to the 3 nickels change solenoid I20 and from that solenoid through switch 262 to unlatch switch 62. From winding 262 a circuit is complete through contact 250 arm 262 contact 254 arm 168 and coin return switch l9! to conductor 264. As a result winding 62 is energized momentarily to move arm 250 into engagement with contact 248 momentarily to complete the circuit of motor I60 through contact 254 and arm 16!! to line 246. As soon as the motor starts. to drive arm I68 moves into engagement with contact 256 to hold the motor circuit for one revolution.

When the solenoid 62 is energized it actuates bell crank 76 to release bar 80. At the same time energization of winding I20 pulls finger 102 to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 to permit bar 92 to drop through a distance such as will cause the lug [30 on bar 80 to move cam 136 to a position at which three slides 140 are engaged by link I44 as arm 146 is driven in response to operation of motor 160. In the course of the cycle of operation of the motor the various mechanisms will be reset as described above.

The other various operations of my system can be followed through in the same manner. If a person deposits a dime and selects the article corresponding to switch 208 then brush b, is in engagement with the IOL price line 202 to complete a circuit to the no change solenoid "4 through brush b, and segment C,. Similarly if a person deposits 4 quarters to purchase an 80 item corresponding to switch 210 then contact b, moves into engagement with the dollar price line 204. Upon actuation of switch 210 brush b completes a circuit to the resistor 264 through brush b. and segment C to permit bar 92 to move to the limit of its movement to cause 4 nickels in change to be dispensed. When the supply of nickels is exhausted switch 196 closes to energize winding 258 to close switch 260 to light the exact change lamp 263 and to open switch 262 to disable the change making mechanism. Moreover, if before making a purchase the customer desires to have his money returned he actuates the coin return link 52 to open switch 197 to disable the unlatching solenoid circuit. A serviceman may readily empty the coin tube 48 or he may remove any number of nickels therefrom by operating button 200 to energize the unlatching solenoid 62 to cause the machine to deliver 4 nickels at a time.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided awide price range, change making coin mechanism which permits articles to be sold over a relatively wide range while at the same time giving change at any of the various prices. Our mechanism does away with the need for a price differential mechanism such as is incorporated in coin mechanisms of the prior art.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A coin mechanism for a merchandising machine adapted to dispense various articles of merchandise over a wide range of prices including in combination a plurality of selecting means corresponding respectively to the articles to be dispensed, a totalizer switch assembly comprising a plurality of price contacts corresponding to the prices within said range, means variously connecting said selecting means to said price contacts, a brush assembly operatively associated with said price contacts, means responsive to the deposit of coins in said machine for moving said brush assembly through an aggregate displacement from an initial position corresponding to the sum in coins deposited in said machine, change'making means comprising a coin tube holding a supply of coins adapted to be given in change, a plurality of coin delivery members associated with said coin tube, a drive member, and means adapted to be actuated selectively to couple said coin delivery members to said drive member selectively to give respective sums in change, respective means adapted to be energized to set said coupling means to give respective sums in change, means responsive to displacement of said brush assembly relative to said price contacts for conditioning all of said setting means for energization and means responsive to operation of a selecting means for energizing one of said setting means.

2. A coin mechanism as in claim I in which said coupling means comprises a change-determining cam and means responsive to energization of said setting means for driving said cam through distances corresponding to various sums in change.

3. A coin mechanism as in claim I in which said coupling means comprises a change-determining cam, said setting mechanism comprising an actuating bar operatively coupled to said cam, means normally locking said bar and means responsive to operation of a selecting means for releasing said locking means.

4. A coin mechanism as in claim I in which said coupling means comprises a change-determining cam, said setting means comprising an operating bar, means normally locking said bar, means responsive to operation of a selecting means for releasing said locking bar, respective energizable elements for limiting the movement of said bar after release of said locking means and means responsive to operation of said selecting means for selectively energizing one ofsaid energizablc elements.

5. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 in which said coupling means comprises a change determining cam, an actuating bar biased for movement in a direction to drive said cam, means normally locking said bar against movement in said direction, means responsive to positioning of a selecting means for releasing said locking means to permit said bar to drive said cam, a plurality of slides, interengageable means on the respective slides and on said bar, means mounting said slides for movement between inactive positions at which said intercngageable means will not engage and active positions at which said intercngageable means may engage, said interengageable means in the active positions of said slides adapted to engage upon respective movements of said bar corresponding to different sums in change, means biasing said slides to inactive positions, and means responsive to actuation of said selecting means for moving one of said slides to active position.

6. A coin mechanism as in claim 5 including means responsive to movement of a slide from inactive position to active position for latching said slide in active position and means for unlatching said slide.

7. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 including a manually operable switch for energizing said change-making means independently of said totalizer switch assembly.

8. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 in which each pair of successive price contacts are spaced by a distance corresponding to the value of a coin ofa certain denomination, and in which said brush assembly comprises a plurality of brushes associated with said contacts, said brushes having an intcrbrush spacing corresponding to that of said contacts.

9. A coin mechanism as in claim 8 in which said changemaking means is adapted to give change in coins of said certain denomination, and in which said means for setting said coupling means comprises respective solenoids adapted to be energized to set said mechanism to give from none to three coins of said denomination in change, said brush assembly including a leading brush and following brushes, means responsive to engagement of said leading brush with one of said contacts for energizing the solenoid corresponding to no change and means responsive to engagement of said contact by successive following brushes for energizing the respective solenoids corresponding to from one to three coins in change.

10. A coin mechanism as in claim 9 in which said means responsive to displacement of said brush assembly comprise slip segment means connecting the respective slip segments to said solenoids, respective auxiliary brushes engaging said slip segments and means connecting said auxiliary brushes respectively to the brushes associated with said contacts.

1]. A coin mechanism for a merchandising machine adapted to dispense various articles of merchandise over a range of prices from 5 cents to $1.00 in 5 cent steps including in combination, change-making means adapted to be set to give from none to 4 nickels in change, a totalizer switch assembly comprising a plurality of spaced contacts corresponding respectively to the prices within said range, a brush assembly comprising a series of brushes associated with said plurality of contacts, said each pair of adjacent brushes having a spacing corresponding to that of said contacts, means responsive to the deposit of coins in said machine for moving said brush assembly from an initial position through an aggregate displacement corresponding to the sum in coins deposited in said machine, respective means adapted to be energized to set said change-making means to give from none to 4 nickels in change, and means responsive to engagement of the respective brushes of said series with the first contact of said plurality for successively conditioning said change-making means setting means.

12. In a coin mechanism, a change-making means comprising a change-detennining bar, means mounting said bar for movement over a range of movement from a home position to a limit position at which said change-making means is set to give 4 nickels in change, means biasing said bar for movement from said home position to said limit position, releasable means for normally holding said bar in said home position and respective means adapted to be actuated to limit movement of said bar to intermediate positions within said range after release of said releasable means to set said change-making means to give from 1 to 3 nickels in change.

13. A coin mechanism for a merchandising machine adapted to dispense various articles of merchandise over a range of prices including in combination, change-making means adapted to be set to give from none to a plurality of coins in change, a totalizer switch assembly comprising a plurality of spaced contacts corresponding respectively to the prices within said range, a brush assembly comprising a series of brushes associated with said plurality of contacts, said brushes having a spacing corresponding to that of said contacts, means responsive to the deposit of coins in said machine for moving said brush assembly from an initial position through an aggregate displacement corresponding to the sum in coins deposited in said machine, respective means adapted to be energized to set said change making means to give from none to said plurality of coins in change, and means responsive to engagement of the respective brushes of said series with the first contact of said plurality for successively conditioning said change-making means setting means.

Claims (13)

1. A coin mechanism for a merchandising machine adapted to dispense various articles of merchandise over a wide range of prices including in combination a plurality of selecting means corresponding respectively to the articles to be dispensed, a totalizer switch assembly comprising a plurality of price contacts corresponding to the prices within said range, means variously connecting said selecting means to said price contacts, a brush assembly operatively associated with said price contacts, means responsive to the deposit of coins in said machine for moving said brush assembly through an aggregate displacement from an initial position corresponding to the sum in coins deposited in said machine, change-making means comprising a coin tube holding a supply of coins adapted to be given in change, a plurality of coin delivery members associated with said coin tube, a drive member, and means adapted to be actuated selectively to couple said coin delivery members to said drive member selectively to give respective sums in change, respective means adapted to be energized to set said coupling means to give respective sums in change, means responsive to displacement of said brush assembly relative to said price contacts for conditioning all of said setting means for energization and means responsive to operation of a selecting means for energizing one of said setting means.

2. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 in which said coupling means comprises a change-determining cam and means responsive to energization of said setting means for driving said cam through distances corresponding to various sums in change.

3. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 in which said coupling means comprises a change-determining cam, said setting mechanism comprising an actuating bar operatively coupled to said cam, means normally locking said bar and means responsive to operation of a selecting means for releasing said locking means.

4. A coin meChanism as in claim 1 in which said coupling means comprises a change-determining cam, said setting means comprising an operating bar, means normally locking said bar, means responsive to operation of a selecting means for releasing said locking bar, respective energizable elements for limiting the movement of said bar after release of said locking means and means responsive to operation of said selecting means for selectively energizing one of said energizable elements.

5. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 in which said coupling means comprises a change-determining cam, an actuating bar biased for movement in a direction to drive said cam, means normally locking said bar against movement in said direction, means responsive to positioning of a selecting means for releasing said locking means to permit said bar to drive said cam, a plurality of slides, interengageable means on the respective slides and on said bar, means mounting said slides for movement between inactive positions at which said interengageable means will not engage and active positions at which said interengageable means may engage, said interengageable means in the active positions of said slides adapted to engage upon respective movements of said bar corresponding to different sums in change, means biasing said slides to inactive positions, and means responsive to actuation of said selecting means for moving one of said slides to active position.

6. A coin mechanism as in claim 5 including means responsive to movement of a slide from inactive position to active position for latching said slide in active position and means for unlatching said slide.

7. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 including a manually operable switch for energizing said change-making means independently of said totalizer switch assembly.

8. A coin mechanism as in claim 1 in which each pair of successive price contacts are spaced by a distance corresponding to the value of a coin of a certain denomination, and in which said brush assembly comprises a plurality of brushes associated with said contacts, said brushes having an interbrush spacing corresponding to that of said contacts.

9. A coin mechanism as in claim 8 in which said change-making means is adapted to give change in coins of said certain denomination, and in which said means for setting said coupling means comprises respective solenoids adapted to be energized to set said mechanism to give from none to three coins of said denomination in change, said brush assembly including a leading brush and following brushes, means responsive to engagement of said leading brush with one of said contacts for energizing the solenoid corresponding to no change and means responsive to engagement of said contact by successive following brushes for energizing the respective solenoids corresponding to from one to three coins in change.

10. A coin mechanism as in claim 9 in which said means responsive to displacement of said brush assembly comprise slip segment means connecting the respective slip segments to said solenoids, respective auxiliary brushes engaging said slip segments and means connecting said auxiliary brushes respectively to the brushes associated with said contacts.

11. A coin mechanism for a merchandising machine adapted to dispense various articles of merchandise over a range of prices from 5 cents to $1.00 in 5 cent steps including in combination, change-making means adapted to be set to give from none to 4 nickels in change, a totalizer switch assembly comprising a plurality of spaced contacts corresponding respectively to the prices within said range, a brush assembly comprising a series of 5 brushes associated with said plurality of contacts, said each pair of adjacent brushes having a spacing corresponding to that of said contacts, means responsive to the deposit of coins in said machine for moving said brush assembly from an initial position through an aggregate displacement corresponding to the sum in coins deposited in said maChine, respective means adapted to be energized to set said change-making means to give from none to 4 nickels in change, and means responsive to engagement of the respective brushes of said series with the first contact of said plurality for successively conditioning said change-making means setting means.

12. In a coin mechanism, a change-making means comprising a change-determining bar, means mounting said bar for movement over a range of movement from a home position to a limit position at which said change-making means is set to give 4 nickels in change, means biasing said bar for movement from said home position to said limit position, releasable means for normally holding said bar in said home position and respective means adapted to be actuated to limit movement of said bar to intermediate positions within said range after release of said releasable means to set said change-making means to give from 1 to 3 nickels in change.

13. A coin mechanism for a merchandising machine adapted to dispense various articles of merchandise over a range of prices including in combination, change-making means adapted to be set to give from none to a plurality of coins in change, a totalizer switch assembly comprising a plurality of spaced contacts corresponding respectively to the prices within said range, a brush assembly comprising a series of brushes associated with said plurality of contacts, said brushes having a spacing corresponding to that of said contacts, means responsive to the deposit of coins in said machine for moving said brush assembly from an initial position through an aggregate displacement corresponding to the sum in coins deposited in said machine, respective means adapted to be energized to set said change making means to give from none to said plurality of coins in change, and means responsive to engagement of the respective brushes of said series with the first contact of said plurality for successively conditioning said change-making means setting means.

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