US2691379A - Coin dispenser - Google Patents

Description

R. M. FOUSHEE COIN DISPENSER Oct. 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 INVENTOR. Rose/2r M. FousHEE Oct. 12, 1954 R FOUSHEE 2,691,379

COIN DISPENSER Filed Feb. 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ir-= V II/II/I/IIIIIIIII/II/II/ VIIIIIIIIIIII/III/I/Il I INVENTOR. ROBERT M. F OUSHEE Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE pora'ti'on ofi Missouri A plicationFebruarylo, 195i); SerialNo. 143L581 3 Glaims';

Thisinvention relatesin genera-l to coin handling apparatus and more particularly toaoiiang-e making mechanism for receiving, storing and dispensing coins. I

Coin operated machines utilizing" change making devices previous-to this invention commonly used a vertically" positioned cylindrical tube for storingcoins in stacked seamen The tubes were ordinarily filled b 'directing coins of proper denominatibnintdtheuppeiopenendthereof; This general arrangement has proved" to be trouble some from a: service" standpein't and requires an excessive amount of space in a coin operated machine; Oneof the difficulties of the'top' filling tube resides in thefa'ct that-Whe'ncoins' are'directedthe'rein'by a coin testingor actuatihg'device they must failbygravity'in the'tube different distances; depending upon the number ofc'o'i'ns therein, thus one or more descending coins often come'to rest in vertical position in the tiibe, thereby disablingthe device; Also,- this typ'eo'f storagean'd dispensing device must be positioned under-a coin testing or actuating device and-when the tube is' made *high enough 'to- -retain a reasonable number of change coinsafl excessively large verticalspaceisu'equiredl Furthermdre, theceii ventionel' method of dispensing coins from the bottom of a tuberequireseith'er a" re'eiprbeating means for dispensing" ea clif o'o'in' or means for laterally dispensinga variableplurality' of" coins at "one time: The former method is'fraught-with shock and rebound problemsfand the *latter is-unsatisfactory because ofthe la'rgevariation in the thicknessof coinsin circulation; which results in thep'robability of dispensing an improper number'of" coins orthej arr'iming' of coins-inanejection aperturehaving'fixed dimensions; v

Thep'resent invention overcoines allthe above objections, first by providing a separate coin re ceivingre'ceptacle'of given dimensions resultingin thep'ositive'horizontal positioning of oo'ins' 'de posited: therein; second; coirisaieloa'ded into the storage tube from the bottom; thus=perrnitting a greatsaving in vertieal space and the resultant possibility of storing alarger-nmnber of-change coiI-i's in-e;vertibal stack arid third-ethe dispensing of one" or a predetermined-plurality of coins: is made :bya: continuous movement free from: rebound? and: entirely independent of the normal variation in the thieknessof indivichial coins.

A principalobject ofthe'inventionis'the provision" of a coin: dispensingmechanism having a separate loadingreceptacle and meansfor loading a storage tube from the bottom thereof and pro vision for dispensing one or more of a predeter of arot aryceiwtrans'ier niea'n'sfor simu1tarieous= ly tran'sfer i ing and elvat'ihg coins f-iom afi eh'tr y reeeptacle ifito the bottom? of: a coinstera'g etube and independently dispensing: a predetermined number of coins from the botto'in ofsaid tube cor-responding" to difie'reflt" predetermined move: ment's o'f an actuator.-

These and other objects in one embodiment- 6f th'einventionare described and'slio'Wn -in tlie-ap pe ned speeifi'e'ation and drawings in exhibit Fig; 1 isa' frontelevation ofthe deviee;

Fig 2*" is aside elevatio'n' ofthe device shown Fi 1 is airagmeritary crosswecuomr elevation talien tnrou ii section line |'4--l '4 Figa 3;-

Fig.- 15 1s an ema'r'gee l fragmentary cross-sec: tibnarview ofele'riientssho'wnFig- 10;

Fig: 1"6" the same as- Fig. 15 w-ith elements inehange'dposition.

Fig; 1'7"is a"- fra mentary perspective view of the-1o nefibPdftheeoin rebeptacle shbwn-Fig. 1'5;

;Reieirin to- Figs; 1" and 2; the frame" of the device do'n's'ists of three mainsupportmembers or" plates I; 2" and" a, fixe'd iioritbiita'b sp'ae'ed relation by four spacers 4, four spacers 5, and four spacer'stfi threeserews 1, oneserew 'i wa'nd retained by' fou'r'nuts a. ACo'in' storagereceptaeie or" tube- 9? is secured iii and" supported by plates land 2'; A cUiIi'entrYrec'eptacIeor tube I U is alsoseoured' in and supported p'lat'e's l and" 2; A coin" discharge chute H is positioned under piates a'nd" is retained by earsiiiteg'ral theree with by two of the screws 1 and nuts 3. A coin loading drive shaft i2 is iournaled for rotation about a vertical axis in plates l and 2 and terminates at its upper end in a loading lever 13 normally responsive to the operation of a coin actuator not shown.

The top view Fig. 3 shows the placement of the coin storage and coin entry tubes in plate l with respect to shaft 12 and also shows the range of movement of the lever l3 and shaft 12. A coin dispensing lever 54 is journaled for oscillating movement above screw 'l-a as shown in full and dotted lines.

Referring to the lower portion of Fig. 2 and the bottom view Fig. 4, the coin. dispensing drive mechanism comprises a drive shaft 15 journaled for coaxial rotation with drive shaft I2 in bushing 16 integral with plate 3. A ratchet wheel ll having a plurality of equi-spaced teeth about its pe riphery is concentrically secured with the lower end of shaft 45. A pawl wheel [8 is freely journaled on shaft l5 and provided with a pawl IS pivotally secured by pin 20 to the lower face of the wheel IS. A ratchet spring 2| secured at one end to wheel I8 and at its opposite end to pawl l9 normally urges the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. A pinion 22 con centric and integral with pawl wheel 18 is meshed with a quadrant gear 23, which quadrant is integral with lever Hi and journaled about screw 'l-a and positioned by bushing 24 retained by nut 8.

When lever l4, shown in Fig. 4, is moved in a direction shown by arrow the pinion 22 will be rotated by quadrant gear 23 and by virtue of the pawl !9 in engagement with ratchet wheel I? shaft i5 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction and when lever I4 is moved in the opposite direction the shaft I5 and the ratchet wheel I! will remain stationary and the pawl wheel i8 will move clockwise by virtue of the escapement action of the pawl H9. The discharge of change coins from tube 9 and the loading of like coins from the entrance tube It into the change tube are two separate and distinct functions initiated at predetermined time intervals.

Referring to Fig. 3, the loading of each coin deposited in tube In into the bottom of tube 9 is accomplished by the movement of lever l3 and shaft 12 from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines by virtue of the construction and arrangement of elements shown in detail, Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive. An intermediate support member or plate 25 secured by spacers 5 below and in spaced relation with plate 2 separates the coin loading mechanism from the coin discharging mechanism and referring to Fig. 5 a coin transfer member or disc 26, better shown Figs. 7 and 8, is freely journaled about shaft l2 and adapted to be normally retained in each of three equi-angular positions by the successive engagement of detent lever 27 with each of three notches 238 equi-spaced about the periphery of the disc. A detent lever 21 is iournaled about a fixed stud 29 in plate 25. A spring 39 articulated with lever 21 stud 29 and spacer 5 normally urges the lever into contact with the periphery of disc 26.

Referring to Fig. '7, the disc 26 contains three equi-spaced circular holes or pockets 3i equidistant from the axis of the disc and each pocket having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the predetermined change coin. Three inclined face cams 32 integral with disc 26 are arranged concentric and between pockets 3|, as

shown Figs. 7 and 8. Each cam provides an incline from the upper face of the disc 23 between adjacent pockets 3 I, thus forming an inner vertical wall in one portion of each pocket slightly less than in height than the thickness of two change coins and an abutment above the upper surface of the disc slightly greater than the thickness of a single change coin.

A coin loading member 33 is secured to the lower end of shaft !2 and adapted for rotation thereby directly above cam disc 28 and is shown in normal position, Figs. 1 and 5. The member 33 contains a concentric channel 34 (shown Fig. l) in its lower face to permit the free relative movement of the cams 32. The leading edge 35 of the member 33 has a circular contour adapted to engage the edge of a said change coin as shown Figs. 2 and 5. The range of movement required for the transfer of a coin from the coin entry tube it to the coin storage tube 9 is shown Fig. 6, the operation of which will be hereinafter described.

The plate 25, shown Fig. 9, contains a circular discharge aperture 43 slightly larger than the diameter of said change coin and is positioned coaaially with the axis of tube 9. A coin guide lip 43 projects upwardly a predetermined distance from the inner periphery of the aperture 43 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. A circular rib 45 is formed in plate 25 concentric with shaft i2 and serves as a bearing for disc 2'6.

The coin dispensing elements are shown in detail in Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive and referring to Figs. 12 and 14, a dispensing member or disc 36 is secured concentric to the upper end of shaft if: and positioned for rotation directly above and parallel with plate 3 and is provided with four circular pockets 31' equal in diameter to pockets 3! in disc '26.

Four equi-spaced notches 28 provide ratchet abutments 38 about the periphery of the disc 36. A pawl 33 pivoted about screw 'I-a is normally urged into contact with the periphery of the disc 38 by a spring 40 coacting with the pawl and a fixed pin M in plate 3. It is now apparent that the disc shown Fig. 12 may be rotated in a clockwise direction to successively register each pocket 3'! coaxially with the tube 9 and the aperture 43 and maintain this successive register by virtue of the simultaneous registration of the pawl with successive abutments 33, thus preventing reverse movement of disc 36. The position of the fixed coin storage tube 9 with respect to the pockets 31 in the disc 35 is indicated in dotted lines.

The plate 3, Fig. 13, contains a discharge aperture 42 positioned to one side of the coin tube 9 as shown in dotted lines. The aperture is positioned directly above the enlarged upper opening of the coin chute H, shown Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of the tube 9 has a semi-circular stop extension 45, shown Figs. 15 and 17, which extension includes a clearance pathway No for the free passage of the cams 32, and to provide lateral stops for the fourth and fifth lowermost coins retained in the tube.

Referring to Fig. 11, the full line position of lever i4 and quadrant 23 with respect to the pinion 22 corresponds with the normal rest position of the dispensing disc 36, shown Fig. 12. The dotted line position of lever l4 and quadrant 23 corresponds with one complete 360 degree r0- tation of dispensing disc 3'6, which movement is required for the dispensing of four said change coins. It is apparent that one quarter movement of" lever P4 will rotate the dispensing disc 90 de grees' for the discharge of a single; change: coin.

mnormal operation and assuming 'thatthe coin storage'tube- 9'--ispartially: filled with; change coins, the lowermostcoin in the stack will rest upon" tlie'npper'surface of plate 3 and in pocket 3T- of disc 33" in' coaxial position-"with respect to storage tube 9; as shown Figsil z and: 15". The second lowermost'coin rests upon the-upper face of the first' coin and is retained in aperture of plate-2 5 coaxial with storage I tube 9} shown-Figs. 9' 10- and 15 Thethird' lower-mostcoin':rests upon the upperfaceof-the second' coin and is positioned in'a pocket t' l of thedisc 2 6 also' coaxial withstorage tube-9 Thefourthlowermost' coin-is coaxially positioned on theupper face of the third coin with its edge adjacent to theabutment form'ed by the upper edge of cam 32" and in close proximity to-t-he stop extension. 4'6; The fifth lewermostcoin rests upon the upper face'of -the fourth coinand is also retained coaxially within the coin' tube by the-extension 4-6 of the tube;the remainingstackof change coins'restsupon the upper-surface of the fifth' coin and is retained within the wall'of the coin tube.

'-It-'is tobe -not'ed-that a change-coinis' normally retained in each of-the remaining two pockets 3 I in-tlie disc Z-G, shown-Fig. 7'. 'Iqiusa change'coin under the influence of gr-avity deposited in the acceptance tube It, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig: 2; will descend and" come to rest "iir parallel stacked relatiomupon-rthe. face of a previously deposited. coin held in a pocket-3l in the. disc, 25 with its'edge positioned adjacent to the leading edge 35.of.tlie member 33', shown Fig. 5. The first incrementof motion ofthe loading lever l3 will begin .the'. rotation ofthe coin loading member 33, shown Fig. 5, and'move its leading edge 35. into contact with the coin. Continued movement of member 33. will'move the coins opposite edge into engagement with the abutting surface of a cam 32 and thus impart clockwise motion to the disc 26, shown Figs. 5 and 6. This movement will cause cam 32 to engage the lower face of the fourth lowermost coin and raise it and all coins stacked thereabove in the tube sufiiciently far to permit the transferred coin to be moved into coaxial stacked alignment with the coins in the tube with its leading edge against the stop extension 46. At this point of movement the detent lever 21 will engage one of the notches 28 in the disc 26 and the transfer and loading cycle of a single coin is completed. The lever 13 and the member 33 are then returned to their normal position, shown Fig. 5, by the actuator means, not shown, and are in position for the transfer and loading of a subsequently deposited coin.

Referring to Fig. 6, it is to be noted that the semi-circular opening in the receptacle 9 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the coin to provide a detent action when a coin is inserted thus preventing coin displacement from the lower end of the tube when the device is subjected to shock. This cycle of movement is indicated by the upper arrow in Fig. 16, which illustrates the relative position of the coins immediately following the raising of the stack and the partial insertion of the coin being transferred by member 33. During the previously described transfer cycle the third uppermost coin retained in a pocket 31 will engage lip 44 and slightly rise in its pocket 3| to prevent the possibility of engagement and jamming with the edge of the second lowermost coin. This expedient is provided to compensate for the difference in thickness of like coins in circulation.

' Referring: to Fig; 11,, the? discharge of: ai single coin from the device: requires the transmission of movement: to" lever M by; actuator; means,. not shown, ofisufficientirange to:rotate:disc;:36; shown Fig. I2ninety-"degrees in order to displace the low-'- ermost' coinin the.stack,.shown Fig,,15-,.to a position where. it willifall'by gravity: from aperture 42;. in plate: 3 andithence through the-chute H as indicated in Fig. 2.

Fig; 16 indicates by lower. arrow a partial .movementrappliedato disc "3 Gin transferring; the lowermost'coin towardithe'discharge aperture. Upon the. completion .of a ninety degree'movement of disc 36 paw1.39 willlhavesregistered' withone of the; corresponding: ratchet abutments- 38,, thus permittingzthalever Mz-to be. returned to its. normah. position,, shown full: lines-Fig. 1'1-, by virtue of I the. ratchet means previously described and shown Fig; 4.

It is: now apparent. that the action of gravity uponthe stackzofzcoins willamovethe nextalowere most. coin downwardrfromrits previous-position in apertures43 in plate 25 and inposition on the upper surface of.plate3iforsubsequent discharge andiitis alsoapparent that the entire stack will move downwarda distance equal tothe thickness of'one. coin throughthe registered pocket 3:]; in disc. 2.6, thusconditioning the mechanism for either the transfer and. loading. of asubsequent coin ortherdischarge of.one.-or;.more coinsfrom the bottom of the stack.

It is apparent. thatzf'orr each .ninety:degree:rota tion of disc 36 by lever [4 a single change coin will be discharged and it is also" apparent: that azfullthree hundredzand sixty degree: rotationof the disc. 33- will consecutively discharge four change-coins.

It is to beun'derstood"thatiiFigglfi is. usedzto illustrate both. the loading: and discharge cycles, which" cycles -mustv occur at: different. intervals aslpreviouslyspointedzoutz It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that many modifications of the device are possible, including the use of different numbers of pockets in the transfer members and dilferent arrangement and means employed for independently driving the loading and discharge members without departing from the intent and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In a coin storage and transport device means forming a frame said frame including a horizontal support member, a vertical coin storage receptacle secured in said frame having its lower open end spaced from said support member, said storage receptacle adapted to retain a vertical column of like coins resting on said support member, a coin retainer in said frame for temporarily holding a coin in said column in horizontal position between said supporting member and the end of said storage receptacle, a coin transport means journaled for rotation about a fixed vertical axis in said frame, said transport means having a plurality of equispaced holes for independently receiving a horizontally positioned said coin, said holes positioned equidistant from said axis and adapted to successively register with the open end of said storage receptacle when said transport means is successively rotated, a like plurality of cam means on said transport means positioned between said holes, each of said cam means adapted to successively move in a path under the open end of said storage receptacle to raise the portion of said column positioned above said transport means when said transport means is rotated, a coin loading means in said frame journaled for rotation abouta vertical axis, said loading means adapted to successively oscillate over the upper surface of said transport means through a predetermined path to engage and drive a deposited coin in each of said holes and move said coin from a position adjacent said storage receptacle to a position in said column when oscillated.

2. In a coin storage and transport device means forming a frame and a horizontal support including a vertical coin storage receptacle having its lower open end spaced from said support, said lower end shaped to provide a concentric coin stop on one side thereof and a pathway therebetween, said receptacle adapted to retain a vertical column of like coins resting on said support, a coin transport means journalled for rotation about a fixed vertical axis in said frame and adapted for movement through said column, said transport means having a plurality of holes therein for independently receiving coins in horizontal position including a like plurality of upward projecting cams positioned between said holes, said transport means adapted to move in a unidirectional path under the open lower end of said receptacle and said cams adapted to move through said pathway, a coin loading member journalled in said frame for oscillation about a vertical axis and adapted to move over a predetermined portion of said transport means for simultaneously driving each said coin and said transport means whereby each of said cams on said transport means will successively move through said column of coins and raise said column and successively insert coaxially therein against said stop 'a like coin carried in each of said holes when said coin loading member is oscillated.

3. In a coin storage and transport device means forming a frame and a horizontal support including a vertical coin storage receptacle having Cir its lower open end spaced from said support, said lower end shaped to provide a concentric coin stop projection on one side thereof and a pathway through said projection, said receptacle adapted to retain a vertical column or like coins resting on said support, a coin transport means journalled for rotation about a fixed vertical axis in said frame and adapted for movement through said column a predetermined distance above the lowermost coin in said column, said transport means having a plurality of holes therein for independently receiving coins in horizontal position and including a like plurality of upward projecting inclined cams positioned between said holes, said transport means adapted to move in a uni-directional path under the open lower end of said receptacle with each of said cams positioned to move through said column of coins and said pathway to raise a predetermined portion of said column when operated, a coin loading means having a leading edge positioned for movement in said frame, said leading edge adapted to oscillate over the upper surface of said transport means whereby each coin carried in each of said holes in said transport means will be engaged by the said leading edge of said loading means and moved in coaxial relation with said column against said projection by said transport means when said loading means is oscillated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 757,362 Sumner Apr. 12, 1904 1,260,382 Hosking Mar. 26, 1918 1,278,349 Hosking Sept. 10, 1918 1,801,800 Chalmers Apr. 21, 1931 1,868,272 Brandt July 19, 1932 2,208,515 Mills July 16, 1940 2,239,435 Wahl Apr. 22, 1941

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