US851282A - Means for controlling the admission of coins to coin-receptacles. - Google Patents

Description

No. 851.282. PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

0. S.-ELLIS & P. D. POWELL.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ADMISSION 0F COINS TO GOIN REGEPTAGLES.

APPLICATION FILED Armiza. 1904.

/9 26 I .1. I 2/ I .31 14 2g /\3 5 79 3 ,1 20 79 24 25 27 22 I UNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. ELLIS AND FRANK D. POW ELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN COIN REGISTER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed August 25, 1904. Serial No- 223,301.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES S. ELLis and FRANK D. POWELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new, useful, and Improved Means for Controlling the Admission of Coins to Coin-Receptacles, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the TO accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

In the use of coin receptacles adapted to I5 receive coins of different values, it'often occurs through carelessness, or otherwise, that a coin is placed in the wrong passageway or that two or more coins are inserted in the same slot, thereby clogging the mechanism and causing confusion and expense.

The object of our invention is to overcome this difficulty and to provide means whereby the placing of a coin in a given slot may serve to block all of the other passages so that no coin can be introduced into another slot until that placed in a given one is passed into the coin receptacle.

A further object is to provide means for Withholding the passage to the coin receptaole of a second coin introduced into a given slot until the final discharge of a. preceding coin from the same slot or way.

To these ends our invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is an elevation of the mechanism adapted to receive and con vey the coin to the receptacle, said mechanism being enclosed within a suitable case, a portion of which is shown in section, Fig. 2, is a like view showing the controller or regulator in a different position, Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 3-, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown, Fig. 1, is a like view showing certain movable parts in different positions, Fig. 5, is a detached view of the secondary coin controller, and Fig. 6, is a bottom view of the main coin controller.

Referring to the drawings 1. represents a portion of the enclosing case or wall of the re ceptaele which may be of any predetermined size or shape; and, inasmuch as our invention relates to the means for controlling the introduction of the coins into the coin slots and chutes and their movements from thence until their final discharge from the intermediate mechanism into the receptacle, we have not deemed it necessary to show more of said receptacle than that in which the coin slots are formed. WVithin said receptacle or case is rigidly secured in any approved way, a frame 2, in which may be mounted any Well known means for arbitrarily engaging and passing the coin from the coin-chutes into the receptacle. In the example shown we have illustrated two co-aoting rollers 3, I, which are j ournaled in said frame and adapted to be operated from without the casing in a manner well known Attached to and supported by the frame 2 above the coin rollers, is an inclined plate 5, which is ex.

tended downwardly into the bight of the rollers 3, 4, to form coin-chutes as hereinafter described. Said plate is provided with upturned flanges 6, 6, which are connected at their upper ends by means of a horizontal cross-bar 7. A guard, generally designated by S, is rigidly attached to and extended upwardly from the flanges 6, said guard being provided with a series of intermediate curves 9,10 and 1 1, the arcs of which correspond substantially in degree to those of the circumferences of the several coins provided for. The lower edges of said guards are of a sufficient height above the plate 5 to permit the passage of coins between the two. A sliding guard or movable controller, generally designated by 12, is placed loosely upon the inclined plate 5, said controller being provided at its upper end with upwardly extended lugs 13, 13 having bores therein for the passage of a guide rod 14, the ends of which are secured at 15, 15, respectively, in the stationary guard 8. Parallel ribs 16, 16, form portions of the part 12 the bottom of which are adapted to lie flatly upon the plate 5 and to form divisions, as hereinafter described, between the coin-chutes. The lower ends 17, 17, of said ribs or divisions project loosely beneath a rod 18 the ends of which are attached to the flanges 6, 6, above the plate 5. Said controller is provided with a flat portion 19 which is adapted to lie beneath the bar 7 with suIIicient space between the two for the passage of a coin. The upper face of the part 19 is flush with the lower edges of the several coin- slots 20, 21 and 22, Figs. 1 and 2,

formed in the case 1. The depth of the division ribs 16 corresponds to the thickness of the coin and a flat guard-plate 23, preferably integral with the parts 16, is located above said parts to prevent the coins from being thrown out of the coin chutes.

The coin- slots 20, 21 and 22 are made of sizes to receive nickels, dimes and quarters respectively, the slot 2]., for dimes, being located between the other two. The space be tween the ribs 16, 16 is sufficient to permit the passage of a dime, but the width of the divisions 16, 16, is considerably greater than that of the divisions 24 and 25 between the coin slots while the width of the entire controller is considerably'less than that of the plate 5 between the flanges 6, 6, the inner edges of which register with the outer edges of the coin- slots 20 and 22. Upon the upper face of the part 19 of the controller at the up per end, are formed divisions 26, 27, which are in alignment with the divisions 16 and of the same width. Said parts are so placed that when the controller is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the opposite faces thereof will register as-shown with the opposite faces of the divisions 24 and 25 of the dime-slot. When so adjusted a dime may be passed through the slot 21 into the passage 28, between the bar 7 and part 19, when, striking against the uard 10, it falls upon the upper end of the plate 5 and slides down the chute beneath the part 23 into the bight of the roller as shown in Fig. 3, in which 29 indicates the coin. When the controller is set to permit the passage of a dime, a portion of the part 26 extends past the division 24 opposite the coin-slot 20 and the part 27 projects in an opposite direction past the division 25, thereby covering a portion of the coin-slot 22. It will thus be seen that while the dime-slot is open, the other two are blocked by the controller. It is essential that the controller should be locked in position until after the final discharge of a coin from any one of the slots. This we are enabled to accomplish by means of the lugs 30, 30," formed upon the lower end of the plate 5 in alignment with the separating parts 24, 25. A dime being placed in the slot 21 descends until its edge is brought into contact with the rollers 3, 4, as shown in Fig. 3, when it is held between the lugs 30 and also between the lower ends of the parts 16. It is obvious that the controller mustbe locked by means of the intervening coin against lateral movement until the coin is discharged; but, until such discharge occurs, it is impossible to introduce a coin into either of the other slots. As soon, however, as the coin is discharged, then the proper coin may be introduced into anyone of the several slots. Assuming the coin to have been discharged and the controller to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the introduction of a quarter into slot 22 will, upon being brought into contact with the part 27, cause the controller to be moved laterally to the position shown in Fig. 2, when the coin is free to pass into the chute. In that case one edge of the coin is in contact with the lug 30 and the other against the flange 6. It is obvious, therefore, that the controller cannot be moved until the discharge of the coin and hence the slots 20 and 21 will be blocked until such discharge occurs. Vere a nickel to be introduced into the slot 20 the slots 21 and 22 would be obstructed until its discharge.

It is, of course, understood that wherever a coin is introduced it can only be discharged into the receptacle proper by actuating the rollers which, obviously, may be connected with any well known form of registering mechanism. Vhile, however, it is impossible to introduce a coin into but one slot at a time, there is nothing to prevent the insertion of two or more coins in succession in any given slot; and, in order to prevent the machine from becoming clogged, as well as to separate the successive coins to enable them to be registered, if desired, we provide means for withholding a secondary coin until the discharge of that'preceding it. Pivoted to lugs 31, Figs. 3 and 4, upon the bottom of the plate 5 is an U-shaped guard 32, a top view of which is shown in Fig. 5. The object in making it U-shaped is to enable the open portion to register with the opening 33 in the plate 5 beneath the dime-chutewhich is intended to divert, in the usual way, improper coins or slugs. Corresponding openings 34,

35, are also shown in said plate for the nickel and quarter chutes. Upon the lower end of the guard 32 is formed an extension 36 which is adapted to project into a notch 37 formed in the roller 4, which, when the roller is in its initial position, as shown in Fig. 3, enables the guard 32 to fall away from the plate in the manner represented, which is its normal position. Upon turning the roller, as shown in Fig. 4, the part 36 is throvm out of the notch with its end resting upon the periphery of the roller, thus raising said guard to the position shown in said figure. Upon the upper face of said guard, near its lower end is formed a series of bosses or upwardly projectin pins 38, 39 and 40, which pins are of such a iength and so positioned that when the guard is lifted, they will project respectively into the chutes 20, 21 and 22, into'the pathway of the coins immediately above a coin which may be in contact with the rollers and below the next succeeding coin in the chute, as shown in Fig. 3, in which a second ,coin 41 is shown lying in the chute above the coin 29. In Fig. 4, said coin is shown as being withheld by the pin 39, while the coin 29 is represented in the act of passing between the rollers. Then the roller 4 is rotated sufficiently to permit the projection 36 to fall into the notch 37, the coin 29 will have been discharged and the guard 32 will have fallen to permit the coin l1 to pass over the pin 39 into the bight of the rollers.

In order to provide for the upward movement of the pins well as for the lateral movement of the controller, we lorm. depressions 42, 43, Figs. 3, i and 6, in the under face of the part The relative positions of the pins 38, 39 and 40 with respect to the several coin chutes, are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It will thus be seen that While the coin controller is adapted to be moved laterally with respect to the coin chutes, the pins upon the guard 32 sustain fixed relation thereto except in their up and down movement.

From the foregoing it will be seen that if the coin chutes are free, a coin adapted thereto may be deposited in any one ol the coin chutes regardless of the position of the controller, inasmuch as the lateral pressure of the proper coin will move the controller to a registering position; that it will be locked in such registering position by the coin deposited until the discharge of the coin, and while so locked no coin can be inserted in either of the other slots, and that other coins deposited in the same slot will be automatically and successively withheld until the discharge of the preceding coin.

\Ve do not confine ourselves to the means shown for discharging the coin nor to that described for moving the guard. 32, as it is obvious that such means may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1 1. The combination with a receptacle having coin slots for coins of dill'erent values, of an inclined plate in operative proximity thereto and a laterally movable element arranged to slide thereon to open any predetermined coin-slot and obstruct the others. The combination wi h a receptacle having coin slots of varying size for the reception of coins of d'i'l'l'crent values, of a laterally movable coin controlled element having coin guides for directing the dill'erent coins from the slots to the receptacle, said guides being so arranged with respect to said slots that but one can register with a given slot during the introduction and passage of a coin.

3. The combination with a receptacle having coin-slots ct varying size or the reception of coins of dillerent values, oi a laterally movable element having coin guides, one cl. which is adapted to register with one ol? said slots while the others are out of registration therewith, and means for limiting the lateral movement of said element.

4. The combinz'rtion with the receiving slots of a coin-receptacle, ol'- a coin way com mon to all of said slots, said way leading therefrom to said receptacle and a laterally movable coin guide located within said way, said guide being arranged. to register with any predetermined. one oil said slots while blocking the others, and means for locking said guide in a prciletermined position by the action of a coin .lrom the time of its introduction until it is discharged.

The combination with the receiving slots and, ways of a coin receptacle having a plurality ol" coin slots, ol a movable element adapted to register with any predetermined one oi said coin-slots while blocking the others, and means for locking said element in. position by means of an inserted coin until the discharge of said coin into the receptacle.

6. The combination with the receiving slots and ways oi a coin receptacle lfor coins of dillerent values, of a movable element arranged to register with any predetermined one of said slots while blocking the others, means for arbitrarily discharging said coin from the way into said receptacle, and means for withholding a second coin until the discharge of the first.

7. The combination with the receiving slots and ways of a coin receptacle for coins of different denominations, of a laterally movable coin controller interposed in the paths of the coins, said controller being movable into registration with a given slotby the action ol" a coin introduced therein, while the remaining portions are moved out of registration with the other slots, means for positively discharging coins from the ways into the receptacle and means controlled by said discharging means, for withholding all but the foremost coin in a given way until the discharge of said foremost coin.

S. The combination with a receiving slot and way ol a coin receptacle, ot' means [for positively discharging a coin from said way into the receptacle, and means, actuated by said controlling means tor automatically withholding a subsequently deposited coin in said way until the discharge of a preceding coin therelrom.

9. The combination with a receiving slot and ways of a coin rraxeptacle, of rollers for positively engaging and discharging .a coin from said way into said receptacle and a pivoted guard having a projection adapted to extend into said way to engage a coin, but normally out of the path of rid coin, and means upon one oi said rollers for actuating said guard to withhold a subsequent coin during the discharge ot a preceding one.

In testimony whereof, we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 20th. day of August, 1904i.

CHARLES S. ELLIS FRANK l). POVIELL.

\Vitnesses:

D. ll. Ftrrrennn, C. E. JORDAN.

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