US3590833A - Coin-handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Coin sorting and dispensing apparatus which includes a coin magazine having a plurality of coin storage tubes in which coins of different denominations are receivable, each tube having individual coin-dispensing means for moving coins from its lower end and electrically controlled means for individually controlling the operation of the dispensing means. A coin sorter is also mounted above the magazine into which a mixture of coins of different denominations may be deposited which then moves coins of predetermined denominations to the upper ends of appropriate tubes of the magazine.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Paul E. Walton Orlando, Fla. [21] Appl. No. 751,282 [22] Filed Aug. 8. 1968 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 [73] Assignee SWD Machines, Inc.

Dallas, Tex.

[54] COIN-HANDLING APPARATUS 29 Claims, 25 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 133/2, I 133/4 [51] Int. Cl G07d 1/06 [50] Field oISearch 133/3,4,5. 2; 221/237, 258, 259, 266, 277, 129; 194/10 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,936 5/1944 Sprenger 133/3 2.954.037 9/1960 Williams et al. 133/4 3,086,536 4/1963 Klopp 133/3 X 3,334,784 8/1967 Morrison 221/277 FOREIGN PATENTS 45,929 2/1889 Germany 133/3 276.015 11/1927 Great Britain..... 133/3 387,785 2/1933 Great Britain 133/3 Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Attorneys-E. Hastings Ackley and Walter J. Jagmin ABSTRACT: Coin sorting and dispensing apparatus which includes a coin magazine having a plurality of coin storage tubes in which coins of different denominations are receivable, each tube having individual coin-dispensing means for moving coins from its lower end and electrically controlled means for individually controlling the operation of the dispensing means. A coin sorter is also mounted above the magazine into which a mixture of coins of different denominations may be deposited which then moves coins of predetermined denominations to the upper ends of appropriate tubes of the magazine.

PATENIEUJUL sum 3,590,833

sum 010E 11 INVIiNTUR.

Paul E. Walton PATENTEDJUL 6 SHEET [32 0F 1N liNTOR.

- 0 Hon Egan PATENTEDJuL 619?! 3,590,833

sum 05 {1F 11 INVENITHL Poul E.W0lton HZ SmEYQ PATENTED JUL 6 I97! SHEET 08 [1F INVIiNT()R. Paul E. Walton BY ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUL 51971" 3590833 U SHEET 07 0F 11 INVENTUR. Paul E. Walton PATENTEU JUL BIS?! 3,590,833

SHEET 08 [1F 11 @oul E. Walton Figll I M a AT'IORIWEKS' PATENT'EUJUL 6:971 3,590,833

sum USOF 11 iii INVENTOR.

Poul E.Wc1lfon $79 I M W W ATTORNEYS illhl' Ill" PATENTEUJUL s|97| 3 590 33 SHEET mm 11 H-l VEHTOIL Paul E. Walton ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUL 6 1971 SHEET 11 [1F INVENTOR. Paul E. WoHon ATTORNEYS Rm um mm 3 3m 6m BY/ Wm? R2 04 0: NE 4/ :& N new so an COIN-HANDLING APPARATUS This invention relates to coin-handling apparatus and more particularly to the coin apparatus for selectively dispensing coins to make change.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved coin-handling apparatus having a plurality of vertical coin storage tubes and electrically controlled means for selectively dispensing coins from the lower ends of preselected coin storage tubes.

Still another object is to provide a coin-handling apparatus whose operation is controlled by a small number of switches and which dispense coins in any sum from I cents to 99 cents by the operation of only a maximum of four switches.

Still another object is to provide a coin-handling apparatus which has means for sorting and delivering coins of appropriate denominations to the upper ends of the coin storage tubes.

A further object is to provide a coin-handling apparatus having a plurality of dispensing assemblies each operatively associated with a coin storage tube for selectively dispensing predetermined numbers of coins from preselected coin storage tubes.

A still further object is to provide a coin-handling apparatus of the type described wherein'the coin-dispensing assemblies are selectively connectable to a main rotatable shaft for opera tion thereby and which has electrically operable means for selectively connecting selected dispensing assemblies to the main shaft for operation thereby.

A still further object is to provide a coin-handlingapparatus having latch means for permitting only a single cycle operation of each coin-dispensing assembly upon the closure of its control switch.

Another object is to provide a coin-sorting apparatus having a chute provided with a coil delivery slot and a motor driven means for individually delivering coins of different denominations from a receptacle to the chute, the chute having a slot of varying configuration through which coins of different denominations fall at different locations therealong.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to 'the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin-handling apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another manner of mounting a control assembly of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an alternate means for mounting the coin delivery receptacle of the apparatus; 1

FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view, with some parts broken away, of the coin handling apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a drop latch and latch lever of a dispensing assembly of the apparatus showing the latch lever being held in its lower inoperative position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and showing the latch lever locked in its upper operative position by the drop latch;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a view, with some parts broken away, taken on line 12-12 ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken online 14- 14-of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 1515 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view ofa coin dispensing assembly of the apparatus;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the latch lever and positioning lever assembly of a dispensing assembly of the apparatus;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view ofa latch assembly of the apparatus;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom plate on which the lower ends of the coin storage tubes rest;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the coin magazine of the apparatus;

FIG. 23 is a front view of a modified form of the coin magazine;

FIG. 24 is a top view of the coin magazine illustrated in FIG. 23; and,

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatical illustration of the electric control circuit of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, the coin-handling apparatus 30 embodying the invention includes a coin dispenser 31, a control assembly 32 secured to the coin dispenser at its front end having a plurality of operator or pushbuttons 33a-i of switches 340-1 whose actuation controls the selective dispensing of coins from a coin magazine 35, and a coin sorter 36 mounted on the coin dispenser 31 into which a mixture of coins of various denomination, for example, pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters and half dollars may be deposited and which then sorts the coins and delivers them to the top ends of the appropriate coin storage tubes 37ai of the coin magazine.

The coin dispenser includes a housing 38 having a bottom wall 39, left and right sidewalls 40 and 41, and top or cover member 42. The sidewalls are secured to the bottom wall by means of screws 46 which extend into threaded bores of L- shaped brackets 47 secured, as by welding or the like, to the bottom plate or wall 39. The sidewalls are also secured to angle members 48 and 49 of a latch assembly 50 by means of screws 51 which extend into suitable internally threaded sleeves 52 whose inner ends are secured in any suitable manner, as by welding to the rearwardly extending flanges 53 of the angle members 48'and 49. The angle members 48 and 49 are secured to the sideplates 54 and 55 of the latch assembly 50 by bolts 56. The sidewalls are also secured to the sideplates by screws 57 which extend into sleeves 58 secured to the sideplates.

The cover member of the housing is secured to the sideplates 54 and 55 by screws 60 and L-shaped brackets 61, the brackets being secured to the sideplates by rivets 62.

The sideplates are rigidly secured to the bottom wall by means of brackets 67 whose legs 68 are rigidly secured, as by screws 69, to the bottom wall. The brackets are secured to the sideplates by bolts 690 which have suitable washers and nuts thereon.

The latch assembly includes a main drive shaft 70 whose opposite end portions are journaled by suitable bearings on the sideplates 54 and 55. A sprocket 71 is secured to the shaft by a setscrew 72 of the sprocket hub 73. The main drive shaft is rotated by an electric motor 75 whose drive shaft is connected to a suitable speed-reducing transmission 76 whose output shaft 77 has a sprocket 78 rigidly secured thereto by a setscrew 79. A belt 80 having intemal teeth 81 extends about the sprockets.

The assembly of the electric motor and speed-reducing transmission is mounted on the sideplates 54 by means of bolts 84. The output shaft 78 of the speed-reducing transmission, of course, extends outwardly through a suitable aperture in the right side plate 54.

A plurality of coin dispensing assemblies a-i are mounted on the drive shaft below a slot plate 91 which is rigidly secured, as by screws 92, to a U-shaped support member 93 which extends between the sideplates and is secured thereto by means of screws 94. The slot plate 92 has a plurality of spaced slots 95ai whose lower ends are closed by strips 96 of a resilient substance such as nylon, rubber, and the like, having slits 97 at the locations of the slots 95. The strips prevent dirt or dust from falling into the housing through the slots 95.

Each of the dispenser assemblies 90a-i includes a disc 110 rotatably mounted on the enlarged portion 112 of the main shaft 70 by means of a bushing 114 which extends inwardly into the bushing ring 115 whose flange 116 is adapted to abut one side of the disc 110 and be secured thereto by means of pins 117 whose reduced inner ends extend through the apertures 118 of the flange 116 into the diametrically opposed apertures 119 of the ring and may be press fitted therein. The bushing is provided with .an external annular flange 121 which limits its inward movement in one direction relative to the disc 110. A clutch gear 124 has an internal annular recess 125 in which the outer end of the bushing and its flange 121 are receivable and a central aperture 126 of the same configuration as the enlarged portion 112 of the shaft so that the clutch gear rotates with the shaft due to the provision of the diametrically opposed flat surfaces 128 of the shaft and correspondingly shaped flat surfaces 129 of the clutch gear. It will be apparent, therefore, that while the shaft 70 may rotate relative to the disc 110, it can not rotate relative to the clutch gear 124.

The disc 110 is caused to rotate with the shaft by the clutch lever or pawl 130 when it is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 11, about the axis of its shaft 132 to the posi' tion wherein its tooth or lug 133 enters into a recess or slot between a pair of the teeth 134 of the clutch gear 124. The shaft 132, FIG. 17, has an outer flange 135 which abuts the outer surface of the clutch lever to limit outward movement of the lever and a reduced endportion 136 which may be press fitted or threaded in anaperture 138 of the disc. A washer 139 is interposed between the lever and the disc.

The clutch lever is biased toward its operative position by a spring 141, one of whose hooked end portions is received in the recess 142 of the clutch lever and whose other hooked end portion is received in an external annular groove of a retainer pin 143 whose reduced end portion is press fitted in the aperture 144 of the disc. As will be explained in greater detail below, the clutch lever is held in its inoperative position, illustrated in FIG. 11, by latch lever 150 when it is in its operative position illustrated in FIG. 11, wherein its inwardly extending lug 151 is in engagement with the end surface 152 of the clutch lever.

Each of the discs 110 of the dispenser assemblies 90 has at least one ejector assembly 155 mounted thereon, each ejector assembly including a lever 156 in whose intermediate aperture 157 is received the reduced end portion 158 ofa spacer 159. The lever is rotatable about the reduced portion 158. The spacer and the lever are secured to the disc 110 by a screw 160 which extends through the spacer 159 into a threaded aperture 162 of the disc. counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever 156 is limited by a stop pin 163. An ejector 164 is pivotably mounted on one end of the lever 156 by means of a screw 165 which extends through an eccentric 166, the central aperture 168 of a nylon ring 169 and a nut 170 whose reduced cylindrical portion extends through the aperture of the ejector 164. The eccentric 166 has a cylindrical portion 178 whose central axis is parallel to, but displaced from, the central axis of its aperture 177 and which is received in the aperture 168 of the ring 169. It will be apparent that the rotation and the degree to which the peripheral edge portion of the nylon ring 169 can extend outwardly of the disc 110 will depend on its axial orientation relative to the eccentric 166.

The ejector 164 is biased in a clockwise direction, FIG. 10, about the axis of the screw 165 by a spring 180 one of whose hooked end portions is received in an aperture 181 of the lever 156 and whose other hooked end portion is received in the recess or slot 182 of the ejector. Clockwise rotation of the ejector relative to the lever is limited by the engagement of its stop lug 184 with the edge surface 185 of the lever. It will be apparent, therefore, that the ejector may pivot in a counterclockwise direction against the resistance of the spring 180 relative to the lever 156 should its ejector end portion 174 oncounter an obstacle during the clockwise rotation of the disc 110, FIG. 10.

The lever 156 itself is biased in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the screw 160 by a spring 187 one of whose hooked end portions is received in an aperture 188 of the lever and whose other hooked'end portion is received in an external annular slot of one of the pins 117 of the dispensing assembly.

The dispensing assemblies a iare held in properly spaced relationship on the main shaft in positions wherein their ejectors are properly vertically aligned with the slits 97 of the strips 96 and the slots 'ofthe slot plate 90 by spacer collars 189, which maybe secured to the shaft by set screws.

The clutch levers of the dispensing assemblies 90ai are selectively held in and released from their operative and inoperative positions by the latch levers l50ai and lock assemblies 1900-1, respectively, which are operable by the armatures 191a-i of the solenoids 192a-i. Each of the lock assemblies includes a lock bar 194 mounted on a horizontal rod 195 which extends through the aligned apertures in its parallel arms 196. The rod 195 extends through suitable apertures in the sideplates 55 and 54 and is held against displaccment by lock rings 196a received in appropriate annular recesses of the rod outwardly of the sideplates.

The lock assemblies ai are held in properly spaced relationship to each other and in operative relationship to their associated dispensing assemblies 90a-i, respectively, by means of spacer sleeves or collars 198 mounted on the rod 195. The top end surface 201 of the lock bar is adapted to engage an end portion 202 of the latch lever to hold the latch lever in its upper operative position illustrated in F IGS. 10 and 11.

The lock bars of each lock assembly is biased in a clockwise direction, FIG. 11, by a spring 204 whose upper hooked end portion is hooked about a rod 207 which extends between the end plates 54 and 55 and is held against lateral displacement by lock rings 208 which are received in suitable external annular recesses of the rod. The lower hooked end of the spring 204 is received in the aperture 210 of a strap 211 which is secured to a forwardly extending lug 212 of the lock bar 194 and to the solenoid armature 191 of its associated solenoid 192 by a pin 213 which extends through the apertures 214 in the top arms 215 of the armature 191 of its associated solenoid 192, the aperture 216 of the strap 211 and the slot 217 of the lug 212. The strap and the lug, of course, are received between the arms 215. The pin is held against displacement by a lock ring 218 which is received in an external annular recess of the pin 213.

Each lock assembly 190 includes a drop latch 220 pivotally mounted on the rod between the arms 196 of the lock bar. A spacer ring 221 is also disposed on the rod between the drop latch and one of the lock bar arms 296 to limit longitudinal movement of the drop latch between the arms. The drop latch is biased in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 11) on the rod and toward the lock bar by a spring 224 one of whose hooked ends extends through an aperture in a lateral lug 226 of the drop latch and whose other end extends through an aperture of a lateral lug 228 of the lock bar. Clockwise pivotal movement of the drop latch relative to the lock bar is limited by the engagement of the lateral stop lugs 229 and 230 of the drop latch and lock bar, respectively.

Assuming now, that the solenoid 192, FIG. 11, is in its unenergized condition the armature is in its upper position by the spring 204 and the edge surface 232 of the drop latch is engaged by the lug 233 of its associated latch lever 150. The lug 151 is now in position engaging the shoulder or surface 152 of the clutch lever 130. If the solenoid 192 is now energized, its armature is moved downwardly causing the lock bar 194 to be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction. The top end of the lock bar moves out of engagement with a forward end portion 234 of the latch lever 150 permitting the latch l ver to be pulled downwardly by a spring 236 whose upper h okcd end portion extends through the aperture 237 of the la ch lever and whose other hooked end portion extends about a 0d 249 mounted on the sideplates 54 and 55. The rod, of

course, extends through suitable aligned apertures in the sideplates.

As the lock bar thus pivots toward the position illustrated in FIG. 8 and the latch lever is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft 249 on which it is mounted, its lug 151 moves out of engagement with the shoulder 152 of its as sociated clutch lever 130 which is then pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 11, by its spring 141 and its pawl 132 moves between a pair of the teeth 134 of the clutch gear. If the main shaft is now rotating in a counterclockwise direction the disc 110 rotates with the shaft. As the disc rotates through substantially 180, a cam 250 secured to the disc 110 by rivets 251 moves to such position that its cam surface 252 engages the lug 151 of the latch lever and moves the latch lever upwardly against the resistance of the spring 236 to position wherein its lug 233 moves out of engagement with the drop latch. Once the cam moves out of engagement with the lug 151, the latch lever will again be pivoted in a clockwise direction about the shaft 249 but even if the solenoid is still held energized the latch lever cannot pivot to a position wherein its lug 151 will not be in position to engage the shoulder 152 of the clutch lever 130 since its lug 233 will now engage the top surface of the drop latch. As the disc 110 completes a full 360 rotation with the main shaft and if the solenoid is deenergized, the latch lever lug 151 will again engage the shoulder 152 of the clutch lever and the clutch lever will be pivoted in a clockwise direction so that its pawl 132 will disengage from the clutch gear 121 and will not again remain in operative position until the solenoid is again energized. When the solenoid is deenergized the spring 204 is effective to pull up the solenoid and rotate the lock bar back to the position illustrated in FIG. 11 against the resistance of the spring 236 of the latch lever until the lug 233 of the latch lever rides over the top edge surface of the drop latch and it is then pivoted downwardly relative to the latch bar to the latch bar to the position illustrated in FIG. 11 whereupon the engagement of the forward end portion 234 of the latch lever with the top edge of the lock bar prevents further downward movement of the latch lever.

It will be apparent therefore that even should the solenoid be held energized after the disc has rotated through a full 360, the drop latch will prevent operation of the clutch lever again until the solenoid is first deenergized.

The disc 110 of each dispensing assembly 90ai has operatively associated therewith a brake lever 260 which is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 249 and which is biased for clockwise pivotal movement about the shaft by a spring 261 whose upper hooked end portion is received in an aperture 262 of the brake lever and whose lower end portion extends about a rod 264. The rod 264 is mounted on the sideplate 54 and a bracket 266 whose bottom leg is secured to the bottom wall 39 of the housing by bolts 267. The latch lever and brake lever associated with each disc 110 are separated by a washer 269 and from latch and brake levers of adjacent dispensing assemblies by spacer sleeves 270 mounted on the shaft 249.

The brake lever is provided with a lateral pin 272 which may be provided with a resilient ring 273 of nylon or similar substance which is adapted to enter into the peripheral arcuate recess 275 of its associated disc 110. The pin is adapted to enter into the recess and brake any further rotation of the disc 110 as the clutch lever disengages from the clutch ring of the disc upon the completion ofa 260 rotation of the disc 110.

A bail 280 whose end arms 281 are also pivotedly mounted on the shaft 249 extend above and rearwardly of the latch and brake levers of the dispensing assemblies 90a-i and is pivoted upwardly in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 11) about the axis of the shaft 249 by any one of the brake or latch levers when it is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 11) about about the shaft 249 from its position illustrated in FIG. 11. The bail has an arm 285 rigidly secured thereto which, when the bail is in its lowermost position illustrated in FIGS. and 11, presses the spring 286 of a switch 287 to cause its operator button 288 to be depressed. The switch is a normally closed switch when its button 288 is depressed, opens and when its button is free to move upwardly closes. The switch 287 controls the operation of the motor 75. The switch 287 may be mounted by suitable studs 290 to the sideplate 55.

Referring now to FIG. 25, the motor 75 is connected across the main conductors 291 and 292 of an alternating-current input circuit 293 by means of a conductor 295, the switch 287, the conductor 296, and a conductor 297. The main conductor 291 may have a manual on and off switch 298 and a fuse 299 connected in series therein.

The normally open switches 34ai, which are closable when their pushbuttons 33a-i, respectively, are depressed, control the energization of the lock assemblies 190a-i which control the operation respectively of the dispensing assemblies a-i to permit the dispensing of any preselected combination of coins in any denominational sum between I and 99 cents.

The ejector disc of the dispensing assembly 900, whose ejector disc 110 is provided with a single ejector 164, dispenses a single IO-cent coin from the dime storage tube 37a during each cycle of its operation, the next coin-dispensing assembly 90b has two ejectors 164 and during each cycle of its operation dispenses two IO-cent coins from the dime coin storage tube 37b, the dispensing assembly 900 has a single ejector and dispenses a single penny from the penny storage tube 37c, the dispensing assembly 90d has two ejectors and dispenses 2 cents from penny coin storage tube 370', the dispensing assembly 90a has two ejectors and dispenses 2 cents from the storage tube 37c, the dispensing assembly 90] has a single ejector and dispenses a single nickel coin from the nickel coin storage tube 37f, the dispensing assembly 903 has a single ejector and dispenses a single quarter coin from the quarter storage tube 37g, the dispensing assembly 90h has two ejectors and dispenses two quarter coins from the coin storage tube 37h, and finally, the coin dispensing assembly 901' has a single ejector and dispenses a single half-dollar coin from the coin storage tube 371'.

A switch 34a, each time it is closed, connects the solenoid 192a of the lock assembly a which controls the operation of the dispensing assembly 90a across the secondary winding 300 of a transformer 301, whose primary winding 302 is conneeted across the main conductors 291 and 292, by the conductors 305,306, 308, 309 and 310, to cause a single cycle of operation of the dispensing assembly 90a and the dispensing ofa single dime from the coin storage tube 370.

The switch 34b, each time it is closed, connects the solenoid 192b of the lock assembly 1901; across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 311, 312, 309 and 310, to similarly cause the dispensing of two dimes from the coin storage tube 37b by the dispensing assembly 90b.

The solenoid winding 192a of the lock assembly 1900 is connectable across the secondary winding by the conductors 305, 314, 315, either the single contact switch 340 or the contact 316 of the double-contact switch 34e, and the conductor 310. The solenoid 1920 will be connected across the secondary winding when either the switch 34c or the switch 34e is closed and the dispensing assembly 90c will, therefore, in either case dispense a single penny coin from the coin storage tube 370.

The solenoid 192d of the lock assembly 190d is connectable across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 318 and 319, the switch 34d and the conductor 310, and also through the conductors 305, 318 and 319, the contact 320 of the two-contact switch 34f and the conductors 308, 309 and 310. The dispensing assembly 9011, therefore, will dispense 2 cents from the penny coin storage tube 37d whenever either the switch 34d or the switch 34fis closed.

The solenoid 192s of the lock assembly 190e is connectable across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 322 and 323, the other contact 324 of the switch 34e and the conductor 310. It is also connectable across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 322, 323 and 327, the other contact 328 of the double contact switch 34f and the conductors 308, 309, and 310. The dispensing assembly 902,

therefore, will dispense 2 cents from the coin storage tube 37e whenever either the switch 34e or the switch 34fis closed.

The solenoid 192fof the lock assembly 190i is connectable across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 331 and 332, the switch 34g and the conductors 308, 309 and 310 so that the dispensing assembly 90f will dispense a single nickel coin from the nickel coin storage tube 37f when the switch 34g is closed.

The solenoid 192g of the lock assembly 190g is connectable across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 334 and 335, the switch 34h and the conductors 309 and 310 and the dispensing assembly 90g will, therefore, dispense a single quarter coin from the quarter coin storage tube 37g each time the switch 34h is closed.

The solenoid 19211 of the lock assembly 190k is connectable across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 338 and 339, the contact 340 of a two-contact switch 341 when it is in its upper position in contact with the stationary contact 342, the conductor 345, the switch 34i and the conductors 309 and 310. It will thus be apparent when the switch 341 is in the position illustrated in FIG. and switch 341 is closed, the solenoid 192h will be energized and the dispensing assembly 90h will dispense two quarter coins from the quarter coin storage tube 37h. When the switch, however, is moved to its opposite position wherein its contact 340 is in its lower position engaging the stationary contact 346, closure of the switch 34i will not cause encrgization of the solenoid 192k and, therefore, operation of the dispensing assembly 90h.

The solenoid 1921 of the lock assembly 1901 is connectable across the secondary winding, when the contact 340 of the switch 341 is in its lower position engaging the stationary contact 346, by the conductors 305, 347, 348, and 345, the switch 341', and the conductors 309 and 310. It will thus be apparent I that, when the contact 340 is engaged with the stationary contact 346, closure of the switch 341' will cause the dispensing assembly 901' to dispense a single half-dollar coin from the halfdollar coin storage tube 341, When the contact 340, however, is in its upper position illustrated in FIG. 25, closure of the switch 34i will not cause operation of the dispensing assembly 901.

It will thus be apparent that if no quarter coins are present in the quarter coin storage tube 37h and the half-dollars are present in the half-dollar coin storage tube 37i, the switch 341 is moved to its lower position so that a half-dollar coin will be dispensed from the half-dollar coin storage tube 371' each time the switch 341 is closed and, alternatively, if half-dollars are not present in the coin storage tube 371' and quarters are present in the storage tube 37h, the switch 341 is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 25 and closure of the switch 341 will then result in the dispensing of two quarters from the quarter storage tube 37h.

Since, as was explained above, the energization of the solenoid of any lock causes its associated latch lever 150 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction and the bail 280 also to be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction to permit the normally open motor switch 287 to close, any time any one of the switches 340-1' is closed, the switch 287 will also close as a latch lever pivots in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 11, and connects the motor 75 across the main conductors 291 and 292. The motor 75 will thus start rotating the main shaft 70 and, as the clutch lever 130 of such dispensing assembly is also simultaneously released for movement in a clockwise direction about its shaft, FIG. 11, to engage its clutch gear, the disc of such dispensing assembly will then be caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 11, with the shaft. This rotation of the disc immediately causes the brake lever 260 of such dispensing assembly to also pivot in a counterclockwise direction as it is moved out of the recess 275 of the disc 110 and the rear end of such brake lever will now hold the bail 280 in its upper position and prevent downward clockwise movement of the bail 280 so that the switch 287 will stay in its closed position until the disc 110 of such dispensing assembly has rotated through a full 360 and the pin 272 of its brake lever has again entered into the peripheral recess 275 allowing the bail to again move downwardly to its closed position.

It will thus be seen that even if the operator who has closed a particular switch 3411-1, by depressing its associated button 33a-i, releases the button and causes opening of such switch 34 before the disc has completed a full 360 rotation with the shaft 70, the motor will continue to be energized and the disc 110 be held rigid with the shaft 70 until the disc has been rotated through a full 360 and the brake lever pin has again entered into the peripheral recess 275 of the disc thus causing the opening of the switch 287. The weight of the bail is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring 286. If desired, of course, suitable spring means may be used to bias the bail 280 downwardly in a clockwise direction.

The coin magazine 35 includes a bottom plate 400 which is adapted to rest on the slot plate 91 and which has a slot 401 at the lower end of each tube 37 and above and aligned with the slots 95 of the plate 91, end plates 403 and 404 which are secured, as by welding, to the vertical upwardly extending end flanges 406 and 407 of the bottom plate, as by welding, and a backplate 408 which extends between the end plates rearwardly thereof and is secured to their rear edges, as by welding. The backplate has outwardly extending flanges or tongues 411 and 412 which extend laterally outwardly of the end walls and which are slidably receivable in the longitudinal slots 414 and 415, respectively, of the magazine retainer members 416 and 417, respectively, secured to the angle members 48 and 49 of the latch assembly 50 by screws 418. The retainer members 416 and 417 are preferably formed of a suitable substance of a low coefficient of friction, such as nylon. Handles 422 and 423, respectively, are secured to the end plates 403 and 404, respectively, as by welding, so that the magazine may be easily mounted on the coin dispenser 31 merely by moving the magazine downwardly after its tongues or flanges 411 and 412 have been positioned above the upper open ends of the slots 414 and 415, respectively, and is removed therefrom by merely lifting it upwardly.

The coin storage tubes 37 may have front vertical slots 425 through which the coins in the storage tubes are visible and have forwardly and downwardly opening discharge recesses 426 of approximately 180 of angular width, through which the coins may be slid off the bottom plate and outwardly from the bottom end of each coin respectively, The bottom semicircular edge surfaces 427 of the tubes rearwardly of the tube discharge slots thereof rest upon the bottom plate of the magazine. The rear surfaces of the coin storage tubes which abut the front surface of the backwall 408 of the coin magazine may be rigidly secured thereto, as by welding. In addition, a retainer bracket 429 has forwardly and downwardly extending hook portions 430 which extend into each coin storage tube. The retainer bracket 429 may, of course, be welded to the back plate if desired. The upper ends of the coin storage tubes have forwardly and upwardly opening recesses 432 to facilitate the insertion of the coins into their upper ends.

Coin sensor levers 450a-i are pivotedly mounted on a shaft 451 which extends rearwardly of the backplate 408 of the coin magazine. The opposite ends of the shaft are secured to suitable brackets 452 which extend rearwardly from the rear wall and are secured thereto. The lower noses 453 of the sensor levers are adapted to extend into the lower ends of the coin storage tubes through vertical slots 456 and 457 of the backplate and the tubes, respectively. The rear arms 460 of the levers extend rearwardly through the slots 461 of an L- shaped support plate 464 which extends between the sideplates 54 and 55 and is held against movement by brackets 465 secured to the end sideplates 54 and 55. The bottom edge of the support plate may rest on the upper surface of the U- shaped bracket 93. The rear edges of the brackets rest on the upwardly and rearwardly inclined lower front surface of the support plate. The outer end of each sensor lever 450 is provided with a weight 461 which tends to pivot it in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 10. The sensor levers are held in appropriately spaced locations on the shaft 451 by suitable spacers or lock rings 467.

The coin sensor levers 450ai are adapted to close the switches 468ai respectively. Each of the switches 468 is used to connect a signal lamp 470 across the secondary winding whenever coins in its associated tube drops below a predetermined number. The switch 468k will connect the lamp 470 across the secondary winding of the transformer only ifthe second contact 471 of the switch 341 is in its upper position engaging the stationary contact 472 and the switch 468i will cause connection of the lamp 470 across a secondary winding only if the contact 471 is in its lower position engaging the contact 473 in order that the lamp 470 not be lit in the event that 50 cents in change is being provided by two quarters if the half-dollar tube is empty (37i), or if 50 cents in change is being dispensed from the tube 371' if the storage tube 37!: is empty.

The switches 468 are mounted on a switchplate 478 which is pivotedly secured by brackets 480 on a shaft 481 whose opposite ends are secured to the sideplates 54 and 55. Each of the switches includes a movable contact member 483 which is movable into engagement with a stationary contact 484, if the movable contact is moved rearwardly relative to the stationary contact member.

The switchplate 478 is biased in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 11) about the axis of the shaft 487 by a spring 490 one of whose hooked ends is secured to a pin 49] secured to the sideplate 54 and whose other end is connected to a lever 492 rigidly secured to the switchplate, as by screws and the like. The switchplate also has a pivot lever 495 secured to the switchplate whose lower end 496 is engageable by a roller 497 mounted on a lever 498. The lever 498 is pivotedly mounted, as by a pin 501, on a bracket 502 secured, as by screws 503, to a reinforcing and support channel member 505 whose opposite ends are secured by bolts 507 and end flanges 508 to the sideplates 54 and 55. The lever 498 in turn is biased in a counterclockwise direction (FIG, by a spring 509 whose upper hooked end extends through a suitable aperture in the lever and whose lower end extends about the rod 264.

The lever 498 is pivotable in a clockwise direction, FIG. 10, about the axis of the pin501 by the bail 280 each time its rear end is raised upwardly by a latch lever I50 and then is held in such pivoted position by the bail until the dispensing operation of a dispensing assembly is completed. Each time a latch lever 150 is pivoted upon the energization of its associated solenoid 192, the clockwise pivotal motion of the lever 498 and the engagement of its roller 497 with the pivot lever 495 causes the switch plate to pivot in a counterclockwise manner and all the movable contact members of the switches 468 move rearwardly of the rear ends of their sensor levers. The sensor levers are thus freed to pivot in a counterclockwise manner and their noses 453 to move into the lower ends of the storage tubes if the storage tubes do not have sufficient coins at the level of the location of the sensor lever noses 453. After the dispensing of a coin from a tube, if a number of coins to the level or above the level of the sensor lever nose 453 are still present in a sensor tube, counterclockwise pivotal movement of the sensor lever associated with the tube cannot take place and the rear ends of such sensor lever remains in the positions illustrated in the drawing. On the completion of a dispensing operation, therefore, the spring 490 will be effective to move the switchplate back to the position illustrated in FIG. 10, the upper end of the contact member 483 of the switch 468 associated with such sensor lever will not engage the upper end of the sensor lever and the switches will remain open. If, however, as the coin or coins are dispensed from such tube the level of the remaining coins drops below the level of the sensor lever nose 453, the sensor lever, due to its weight 461, will pivot in a counterclockwise manner, FIG. 10, immediately upon the movement of the coins from the lower end of the storage tube, and, when the dispensing operation is finished and the switch plate again pivots in a clockwise direction, the engagement of the weight 461 with the contact member 483 will cause its associated switch 468 to close and the lamp 470 to light Referring now to FIG. 25, if any one of the switches 468ag is in its closed position, it connects the lamp 470 across the secondary winding 300 through the conductors 305, 520, 521, and 310. If the contacts of switch 341 are in the position illustrated in FIG. 25, the closure of the switch 468k will connect the lamp 470 across the secondary winding through the conductors 305, 520 and 523, the contacts 471 and 472, and the conductors 524, 521, 522 and 310. Closure of the switch 468]: when the lower contact is not in engagement with the contact 472, will not result in the connection of the lamp 470 across the secondary winding through the switch 468k. If the switch contact 371 is in its lowermost position, closure of the switch 468i will connect the lamp 470 across the secondary winding through the conductors 305 and 528, the contacts 473 and 471 of the switch 341, and the conductors 524, 521, 522 and 310.

A second signal lamp 530 connected across the secondary winding 300 by the conductors 531 and 532 lights whenever the main switch 298 is closed to show that the coin-handling apparatus is operable. t

The solenoids 192 are mounted in channel shaped mounts 540 which are secured by screws 541a to a channel member 541 which extends between the sideplates 54 and 55 and is secured thereto by means of bolts or screws 542 which extend through apertures in its end flanges 543 which abut the sideplates 53 and 54. A retainer plate 545 has a forward edge engaging the upper ends of the solenoids to hold them against rearward movement from their channel mounts also extends between the sideplates 54 and 55 and is secured thereto by brackets 546 and bolts or screws 548.

The coin dispenser 31 also includes a chute assembly 550 having inner and outer walls 551 and 552, respectively, between which is secured a plastic slide member 554 by means of screws 556. The outer wall has side sections 558 which extend outwardly of the sideplates 54 and 55 and are secured thereto by means of screws or bolts 559. The upper portion 560 of the inner chute wall 551 curves upwardly and terminates just below the front edge of the bottom plate of the coin magazine while the upper portion 561 of the outer chute plate wall 552 similarly curves upwardly but terminates short of the magazine. The top accurately curved surface 564 of the chute member slopes downwardly to the aperture 566 provided in the sidewall 557 and slides outwardly therefrom to an open top delivery receptacle 566 securablc to the front wall 552 in any suitable manner as by screws 568 which may extend into suitable lugs of the front wall. The wall 558 is also provided with an aperture 566a so that upon reversal of the position of the chute member 554 the dispensed coins may be caused to slide or roll to a receptacle 556a secured to the coin dispenser at its right side. The aperture 566a is closed by suitable cover plate 570 if the receptacle 556 is employed. Similarly a cover plate is used to cover the aperture 556 in the event the receptacle 566a is connected to the dispensing device 31.

The control assembly 32 in which the switches 34a-i, are mounted and which are operable by the pushbuttons 33a-i, may be secured to the coin dispenser by means of the angle bracket 575 whose bottom horizontal leg may be secured by screws to the bottom wall of the housing. Alternatively, the control assembly may be connected to the bracket 576 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 at a location spaced from the coin dispenser in which case its horizontal leg 576 is connected to a support, such as a counter top 577, by screws 578.

Assuming now that each of the coin storage tubes of the magazine 35 is filled to a substantial height with coins of appropriate denominations and that each of the sensor levers 450 is now in the position illustrated in FIGS. 10 and II wherein it does not hold the switches 468 closed, and it is now desired to dispense or make change of one penny, the pushbutton 33c is depressed, the switch 34 is closed and causes energization of the solenoid [92c of the lock assembly 1900.

Energization of the solenoid 1920 causes the latch lever of the lock assembly 1900 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, FIGS. 8, 9 and 11, from the position illustrated in FIG. 11 to the position illustrated in FIG. 8. The latch lever pivots the bail 280 upwardly and the switch 287 closes causing the main shaft 70 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. During this counterclockwise pivotal movement of the latch lever, its lug 151 moves out of engagement with the clutch lever 130 and the force of its spring 131 causes the latch lever to pivot in a counterclockwise direction and its pawl 133 to move between a pair of the teeth of the clutch gear 124. The disc 110 of the dispensing assembly 900 then rotates with the shaft and since it has only one ejector 164 mounted thereon, the ejector end portion 174 moves upwardly through the slit 97 of the resilient strip 96, the slot 95 of the slot plate 91, and the slot 427 of the bottom plate of the coin magazine into and upwardly and forwardly through the lower end of the storage tube 37c. The nylon ring 169 of this dispensing assembly 90c is so oriented on the eccentric 166 that the ejector end portion 174 projects upwardly into the coin register a distance sufficient to engage the rear edge of only the bottommost penny in the storage tube 37c. The engagement of the peripheral surface of the nylon ring with the resilient strip 96 or the bottom of the slot plate 9|, causes the lever 156 to pivot against the resistance of the spring 180 to permit the nylon ring to move past the slot plate 91 and then move forwardly and downwardly. The lowermost penny is thus moved forwardly through the discharge slot 426 at the bottom end of the storage tube 370 and is moved into the upper end of the chute assembly 550 and then rolls or slides down the arcuate surface of the chute member 554 to the receptacle 556. During the rotation of the disc 110 of the dispensing assembly 90c, the cam member 250 of the disc lifts the latch lever, as shown in FIG. 9, to its operative position wherein the latch lever lug 151 will again be in position to engage the stop surface 132 of the clutch lever 130, as illustrated in FIG. 9, and the drop latch 220 will then prevent counterclockwise movement of the latch lever from this operative position even if the operator holds the pushbutton 33c depressed, and the solenoid 1920 energized. Once the operator releases the pushbutton 330, the switch 340 will close, solenoid 192C will become deenergized, and the latch lever will again assume the position illustrated in FIG. 10. The bail 280, however, will remain held in its upper position until the brake lever 260 of the locking assembly 190C pivots back to its normal locking position as its pin 272 enter the peripheral recess 275 of the disc 110 of the dispensing assembly 90c. If no other clutch, latch lever, or brake lever is now being held in its actuated position due to the energization of some other solenoid 192, the motor will become deenergized as the disc 110 completes its full revolution of 360 and its brake lever pivots again in a counterclockwise direction and opens the switch 287.

If it is desired to dispense 2 cents in change the pushbutton 33d is depressed, the switch 34d is closed and the solenoid 192d of the lock assembly 90d is energized causing rotation of the disc 110 of the dispensing assembly 90d with the shaft 70, and since the disc 110 of the lock assembly of the dispensing assembly 90d has two ejectors 164 mounted thereon, during the 360 rotation of the disc 110 of the lock assembly 90d, first one penny and then another penny are moved forwardly through the discharge opening of the storage tube 37d and into the chute assembly 550.

If 3 cents in change are to be dispensed or delivered, the pushbutton 33e is depressed, the two contacts of the switch 34c are closed and the solenoid windings 192a and 19212 are energized so that the dispensing assemblies 90c and 90e are If a cent coin is to be dispensed, the pushbutton 33g is depressed thus closing the switch 34;; and causing energization of the solenoid winding 192f so that the dispensing assembly 90f moves the lowermost nickel from the coin storage tube 37fto the chute assembly.

. If a single -cent piece is to be dispensed, the operator pushes the button 33h, closes the switch 34h, the solenoid winding 192;; is energized and the dispensing assembly 90g now dispenses a single quarter from the storage tube 37g.

If the two contacts of the switch 341arc in the upper positions illustrated in FIG. 25, and it is desired to dispense 50 cents in change, the pushbutton 331' is depressed closing the switch 34:, the solenoid winding 192k is energized and two quarters are dispensed from the tube 37h. If the contacts of the switch 341 are in their lower positions, closure of the switch 341' and the energization of the solenoid 1921', thus causing the dispensing of a 50-cent piece from the storage tube 37: by the dispensing assembly 90i.

If the operator wishes to dispense a single dime, he presses pushbutton 33a, the switch 34a is closed, the solenoid 192a is energized and the dispensing assembly 9011 moves a single dime from the storage tube 37a.

caused to operate through a full cycle with a single coin being dispensed from the storage tube 37c and two pennies from the storage tube 37e. lf four cents are to be dispensed, the pushbutton 33fis depressed, the two contacts of the switch 34/ are moved to their closed positions the solenoids 192d and 1922 are energized and during the cycles of operation of the dispensing assemblies 90:! and 900, the two pennies are disposed from each of the storage tuhes 37d and 37e.

lf;2() cents in change are to be dispensed, the operator depresses the button 33h, the switch 34b is closed, the solenoid winding 192!) is energized and the dispensing assembly 190!) moves two dimes from the storage tube 3712 into the chute.

It will be apparent, of course, that during each operation of any one of the dispensing assemblies, the switch plate 478 is pivoted in a counterclockwise manner, FIG. 10, to allow all sensor levers 450 to be free to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 10, to allow their lower noses 453 to enter into the tubes if the dispensing of the coin from any one of the storage tubes causes the top coin in such tube to be at such low level that the coins no longer prevent such counterclockwise pivotal movement of the sensor lever. When the dispensing operation is completed and the switchplate pivots back in a counterclockwise manner, of anysuch sensor lever associated with a tube in which the number of coins has dropped to such level the nose of its associated sensor lever enters into the tube, the weight 461 engages the contact member 483 of the switch 468 associated therewith thus causing the lamp 470 to light up and the operator will now perceive that a storage tube should be refilled with coins. The operator, of course, does not know merely from the lighting of the lamp 470 which storage tube needs to be refilled, but the operator can easily ascertain which tube it is by glancing at the vertical slots of the tubes.

The operator, of course, can make change in any manner, for example, if he wishes to make change of 73 cents he may push the buttons 331', 33d, and 33a. If the pushbutton 331' is pushed first it will, of course, complete its cycle of operation before the dispensing assemblies d and 33e do so, but the motor will continue to be energized until the completion of the full cycle of operation of the dispensing assembly 90e since its cycle of operation was initiated last.

The coin sorter 36 includes a base plate 601 having an enlarged right-hand mount section 602 and elongate slot section 603 which extends downwardly and to the left and which also slopes downwardly and forwardly from the upper portion of the mount section, the dependent leg 604 which extends downwardly from the inner edge of the main portion and to which an angle bracket 605 is welded, and a rearwardly extending flange 607 at the left end of the slide section 603 to which an angle bracket 608 is welded. A support bar 610 extends between the brackets 605 and 608 and is welded to their horizontal flanges on which its opposite portions rest. The rear end portions of the brackets 605 and 608 extend inwardly into the upper end of the housing through slots 612 and 613 of the housing and are pivotedly mounted on a rod 615 which extends through aligned apertures in the sideplates 54 and 55 and the brackets 605 and 608. The rod 615 is retained in place by two pairs of collars 616 disposed on opposite sides of the sideplates and the brackets and rigidly secured to the shaft by setscrews.

Downward and forward pivotal movement of the coin sorter relative to the coin magazine is limited by the engagement of the edge surfaces 620 defining the inner ends of the longitudinal slots 621 of the support bar 610, with the forward edges of the coin magazine end plates 603 and 604 which are adapted to be received in the slot 621. The coin sorter is pivotable upwardly about the axis of the shaft 615 to a position where it is spaced rearwardly of the coin magazine to per' mit removal or installation of the coin magazine on the coin dispenser.

The slide section 603 of the base plate 602 has a top forwardly extending flange 624 integral therewith and a roll strip 625 is secured by screws 626 on the front surface of the slide section 603. The top surface 627 of the strip supports the coins as they roll downwardly therealong while the rear surfaces of the coins slide upon the downwardly and forwardly inclined front surface of the slide section 603. The slide sec tion has a longitudinal slot 628 therein whose lower end is defined by its edge surface 629 which extends parallel to and is spaced above the top surface of the roll strip 625 a distance so short that the center of gravity of the coins rolling on the roll strip and sliding on the slide section will be above the edge surface 629. The extreme right end portion 630 of the slot 628 which is defined by the top edge surface 630 is of narrowest width so that the upper edge of a dime coin rolling on the roll strip 625 will be located below the top edge 629 and such dime will fall downwardly and rearwardly through the reduced portion as soon as its rear edge passes the arcuate surface 632 ofa slide section defining the right end of the slot 628.

The next portion 633 of the slot whose upper end is defined by the edge surface 634 is of such size that the upper edge ofa penny rolling along the roll strip 625 will be spaced below the edge 634 so that when the rear edge portion of the penny moves downwardly past the surface 636 which extends between the surfaces 630 and 634, it will fall rearwardly and downwardly through the slot portion 633.

The next further enlarged portion 638 of the slot defined by the edge surface 639 is of such width that the upper edge of a nickel rolling on the roll strip will be located below the edge surface 639 so that the nickel will fall downwardly and rearwardly therethrough when the rear edge of the nickel moves past the surface 640 extending between the ends of the surfaces 634 and 639.

The next lower portion 642 of the slot defined by the edge surface 643 is of such width that the upper edge of a quarter rolling along the roll strip 625 will be spaced downwardly thereof so that when it passes the edge surface 644 extending between the adjacent ends of the surfaces 639 and 643, it will fall downwardly and rearwardly through the slot.

Finally, the bottom portion 646 of the slot defined by the edge surface 647 is of such width that a half-dollar coin rolling along the roll strip 625 will have its upper edge spaced below the surface 647 and the half-dollar coin will fall downwardly through the portion 646 of the slot when the rear edge of the half-dollar move downwardly and to the left of the surface 648 extending between the adjacent ends of the surfaces 643 and 647.

The dime coins falling rearwardly through the extreme right-hand portion 629 are directed selectively into the upper end of either the tube 37a or 37b by a guide 650 which includes a pair of vertical plates 651 and 652 connected by a U- shaped bracket 563 to which the vertical plates are welded. The front portion of the plate 651 extends into an upwardly opening slot of the shaft 655 and is secured thereto by rivets or pins 656. The shaft extends downwardly through a washer 657 and a bushing 658 disposed in a suitable aperture of the support bar 610 and has a handle 659 secured to its lower end portion by a setscrew 660. The guide 650 is releasably held in either the full line or the broken line positions illustrated in FIG. 12 by a ball detent 662 biased upwardly in an upwardly opening bore 663 of the handle 659 by a spring 664. The bottom surface is provided with a pair of downwardly opening recesses or indentations 666 in one ofwhich the upper portion of the ball detent is received when the guide is in the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 12 and wherein the guide directs the dimes falling downwardly through the right end portion 629 of the slot into the upper end of the coin storage tube 37a and is received in the other of these indentations when the guide is moved to the position in broken lines in FIG. 12 and wherein the guide directs the dimes falling through the righthand position 629 of the slot 27 into the upper end of the storage tube 37b.

The pennies falling downwardly and rearwardly through the portion 633 of the slot are selectively directed into the upper ends of the tubes 37 by rigid guide plate 669 secured to and extending between the support bar and the slide section 670 and a movable guide which includes a single plate 671, mounted on a shaft 672 in the same manner as the plate 651 is mounted on a shaft 672 in the same manner as the plate 651 is mounted on the shaft 655, which is movable between three positions by a handle 674 connected to the bottom of the shaft. The handle 674, of course, has a detent of the same type as the handle 659 which is receivable in any one of three radially spaced downwardly opening recesses or indentations in the support bar 610. The guide 670, when it is pivoted in a counterclockwise manner, FIG. 4, to its extreme forward position, directs the pennies falling through the section 633 of the slot into the top end ofthe storage tube 370, when it is pivoted rearwardly to an intermediate position it directs the pennies into the upper end of the tube 37b, and when rotated to its extreme rearward position it directs the pennies to the top end of the tube 37s.

The nickels falling downwardly and rearwardly through the section 638 of the slot are directed into the upper end of the tube 37f by the rigid guide plates 675 and 676 which extend between the support bar 610, the slide section of the base plate and are rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by welding.

The quarters which fall rearwardly and downwardly through the portion 642 are directed to either the tube 37g or 37h by the rigid guide 675 and guide 678 mounted on a shaft 679 whose handle 680 is provided with a detent of the same type as the handle 659 and which is received in two spaced indentations or recesses in the bottom surface of the support bar 610 to releasably hold the guide 678 in either a position where it directs the quarters falling through the portion 642 into the upper end of the tube 37g or in its other position into the top of the tube 37h.

Finally, half-dollars which fall downwardly and rearwardly through the portion 646 of the slideplate are directed into the top end of the tube 37i by the rearwardly curved flange 607 of the base plate 601 and the rigid guide which extends between the support bar and the slideplate. The sideplate may preferably also have a forwardly extending stop flange 680.

A mixture of coins of various denominations which is to be sorted by the coin sorter and delivered to the top ends of appropriate coin storage tubes includes a receptacle 690 having a semicylindrical wall 691 whose inner edge abuts the top surface of the section 602 of the base plate 601 and which is secured thereto by means of one or more brackets 692 welded to the semicylindrical wall whose leg abuts the top surface of the base plate section 602 and is rigidly secured thereto by a screw 693. The receptacle 690 also includes semicircular wall 695 which is secured to the semicylindrical wall by brackets 696 welded to the semicylindrical wall whose legs abut the semicircular wall and are secured thereto by screws 697.

The coins to be sorted are deposited on a receptor plate 700 which has an outer stiffener flange 701, a downwardly and rearwardly sloping section 702, a central section 703, a downwardly and rearwardly extending slide portion 704, and a bottom presser portion 705. The receptor plate directs the coins deposited thereon downwardly into the rear end of the receptacle 690 defined by the top surface of the base plate section 602 in substantially vertical positions and its bottom presser portion biases them toward the section 602 in position to be received in the recesses 708 of a rotatable coin mover 707 defined by its four arms 709. The recesses are of sufficient depth to receive therein the upper portion of a SO-cent coin whose edge is rolling along the inner surface of the semicylindrical wall.

The receptor plate 700 is pivotally mounted on a lever 710, which includes a pair of bars 711 connected intermediate their ends by a bar 712, by means of a shaft 715 which extends through aligned apertures in the upper ends of the bars 711 and the downturned arms 716 of a bracket 718 welded or otherwise secured to the lower end of the section 703 of the receptor plate. Counterclockwise pivotal movement of the receptor plate about the axis of the shaft 715, FIG. 13, is limited by the engagement of the bottom surface of the receptor plate section 703 with the top portion 720 of a bar 721 whose lower end is rigidly secured, as by welding, to the bar 712 of the lever 710.

The lever 710 is pivotally mounted on the upper ends of a pair of brackets 724, whose leg portions are secured to the semicylindrical wall by bolts 725, by means of a shaft 727 which extends through aligned apertures in the upper ends of the bracket 724 and the bars 711. The lever 710 is biased in a clockwise direction, FIG. 13, about the axis of the shaft 727 by a pair of springs 730. Each of the springs 730 has one end received in a recess 731 of an arm 711 and its other end bears against the rear surface of the adjacent bracket 724. Clockwise pivotal movement of the lever 710 is limited by the engagement of the lower rear surface of one of the bars 711 with a laterally projecting lug 732 of one of the brackets 724.

The center of gravity of the receptor plate 700 is located forwardly or outwardly of the axis of the shaft 715 so that the receptor plate is biased by gravity in a counterclockwise direction about its shaft 715 and held in the position illustrated in FIG. 13 by the stop 710.

The coin mover 707 is rigidly secured to the output shaft 740 of a speed reducing transmission 741, driven by an electric motor 742, by means of its hub 743 which extends rearwardly through a suitable aperture of the base plate section 602 into the motor housing 745. The motor housing 745 includes an annular wall 746 to which a circular end wall 747 is secured by brackets 748 and screws 749. The motor housing is secured to the rear of the base plate section 602 by a pair of posts 752 whose forward ends are rigidly secured, by any suitable means, to the base plate section and screws 753 which extend through suitable apertures in the wall 747 into threaded bores of the posts. The speed-reducing transmission and electric motor, which are available commercially as a unit, are securable to the base plate section 602 by screws 755 which extend through suitable apertures in the base plate section 602 into threaded posts 756 rigid with the speed-reducing transmission and electric motor housing.

An electric cable having the electrical conductors for connecting the motor to a source of current extends into the housing through a suitable aperture in the annular wall 746 and a grommet 758. The switch 759 for controlling the operation of electric motor 742 is also mounted on the annular wall 746 and its operator handle 759 extends outwardly of the housing.

The motor 742, FIG. 25, may be of any suitable single-phase self-starting motor, such as a capacitor start motor whose starter winding, not shown, is connected in series with a current-limiting resistance 761 and a capacitor 762 across the main conductors 291 and 292 by means of the conductors 295, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770 and 297. The running winding of the motor 742 is also connectable across the main conductors 291 and 292 by the conductors 295, 297, 772, 773, 768 and 769, the switch 759, and the conductors 770 and 297. It will therefore be apparent that each time the main switch 298 is closed and the switch 759 is closed, the motor 742 will be energized and will rotate the coin mover 709.

A shield for the upper portion of the coin mover above the receptacle 690 is provided by an extension 780 and the semicylindrical wall 691 and a plate 782 secured to the upper portion of the extension by a bracket 783. One or more brackets 784 which are secured to the base plate section 602 by screws 785 project forwardly therefrom and engage the extension 780 to help support the coin receptacle on the base plate section 602.

When a number of coins of different denominations are to be sorted, the operator moves the guides 678, 670 and 650 as required to direct the quarters, pennies and dimes to ap' propriate tubes of the coin magazine which have the least number of such coins therein. The switches 298 and 759 are closed, the motor 742 is energized and rotates the coin mover 709, and the coins are deposited on the receptor plate 700. Since the portions 703, 704 and 705 thereof are inclined downwardly at progressively greater angles, as the coins slide downwardly thereover they are moved into substantially vertical positions and then tilt rearwardly as their lower edges en- J gage the semicylindrical wall and move into parallel relationship against an arm of the coin mover on the base plate section 602. The receptor plate pivots against the force of gravity in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 715 as required by the number of coins. The lever 710 itself may also pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 727 against the resistance of the springs 730 depending on the number of coins which are deposited on the receptor plate. The coins are held in such positions parallel to the base plate section 602 by the pressor portion 705.

As the coin mover rotates, a coin nearest the section 602 moves into a recess 708 between a pair of arms 709 and moves further rearwardly and into sliding contact with the base plate section 602, and then is moved by the forwardly moving edge 790 of such arm upwardly towards the discharge slot 792 of the annular semicylindrical wall 691 which is in alignment with the roll strip 625. The coin, of course, slides on the section 602 of the base plate and rolls along the semicylindrical wall 691 until it is moved upwardly through the discharge opening 792 and onto the roll strip 725. The arms are of sufficient radius that at the time of the movement of the smallest coin onto the upper end of the roll strip, the edge of the smallest coin, and therefore also the largest coin, is engaged by the arm at a location between its central axis' and the periphery thereof engaging the roll strip 625. As seen in FIG. 15, if the coin mover is rotated in a clockwise direction, the coins are moved upwardly and to the left along the semicylindrical wall 691. If desired, the direction of rotation of the coin mover may be reversed and the coins would then be moved upwardly and to the right and would roll off the outer edges 794 of the arms as such edges move downwardly and incline towards the roll strip 625. If desired, such trailing edges of the arms may be given the configuration 794a to cause the coins to roll off the arms with greater velocity onto the roll strip 625. The thickness of the opposite edges of the arms of the coin mover which engage the edges of the coins, are equal to or less than the thickness of the smallest coin, in this case a dime, to be sorted in order that each arm move only a single coin. If the coin mover is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, there is less likelihood of a coin which may be struck to a second coin in a recess between the arms of the coin mover moving with such second coin and being discharged onto the roll strip since it is moved a greater distance therewith and subjected to greater gravitational forces.

Due to the mounting of the receptor plate 700 for movement about two different spaced axes, the position of the receptor plate will adjust to any reasonable number of coins which may be deposited thereon without causing any jamming thereof. The coin mover 707 thus moves the coins sequentially, one by one, from the receptacle 690 onto the upper edge of the roll strip 625 and these coins then move down the strip and fall through the slot of the slide section into appropriate storage tubes.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 23 and 24 of the drawing, the coin magazine 350 may be used in place of the coin magazine 35 and installations where it is not necessary to use a coin sorter as, for example, where the operator receives the coins to be dispensed in the usual paper rolls. The coin magazine 350 being similar to the coin magazine 35, its elements have been provided with the same reference numerals,

Claims (29)

1. A coin-handling apparatus including: a plurality of coin storage tubes; stop means at the bottom ends of said tubes limiting downward movement of coins in said tubes, each of said coin storage tubes having a discharge aperture at its lower end above said stop means through which the lowermost coin in the tube may be ejected; a plurality of dispensing means each operatively associated with an associated tube and having means movable through the bottom end of a tube for individually and selectively engaging and ejecting the lowermost coin from the tube through said discharge opening; drive means for operating said dispensing means; and a plurality of lock means each operatively associated with an associated dispensing means for causing connection of its associated dispensing means selectively to said drive means and causing a single cycle of operation of its associated dispensing means on each actuation of said lock means, each of said lock means including latch means having electrically operable operator means and a plurality of switch means for selectively energizing said operator means, said drive means including a drive shaft, said dispensing means being mounted on said drive shaft and including clutch means for connecting said dispensing means to said drive shaft to cause rotation of said dispensing means with said drive shaft, each of said lock means including a latch lever for the clutch means of its associated dispensing means having operative position wherein it holds the clutch means of its associated dispensing means in inoperative position and latch means for holding said latch lever in its operative position.

2. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said operator means are operatively associated with said latch means and cause said latch means to free said latch lever for movement from its operative position upon energization of said operator means.

3. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said operator means comprises a solenoid.

4. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of said latch means includes means for preventing movement of its associated latch lever to its operative position until the associated solenoid has been deenergized.

5. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of said lock means includes means for moving said latch lever out of engagement with said latch means when said clutch lever is in its inoperative position and into operative position upon rotation of the dispensing means with said drive means through a predetermined angle.

6. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 5, wherein said drive means includes an electric motor for rotating said drive shaft, and motor switch means operatively associated with said dispensing means for energizing said motor whenever the latch lever of any one of said lock means is in its inoperative position and during a cycle of operation of any of said dispensing means.

7. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 6, and individual brake means cooperable with each of said dispensing means for stopping said dispensing means in predetermined position relative to said drive shaft upon completion of each cycle of operation of the dispensing means.

8. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 7, and means cooperable with said latch levers and brake means of said dispensing means and with said motor switch means for causing said switch means to connect said motor across an input circuit whenever any latch lever and brake means is in its inoperative position.

9. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of said dispensing means includes a main member rotatably mounted on said drive shaft and connectable to said drive shaft for rotation therewith by said clutch means; an ejector lever pivotally mounted on said lever; and an ejector pivotally mounted on said lever and having an ejector end portion extending outwardly of said main member; and individual means biasing said ejector lever and said ejector to position wherein said ejector will move into and through the bottom end of a tube when said rotatable member is rotated by said shaft.

10. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 9, wherein said coin storage tubes comprise a magazine removably positionable over said dispensing means.

11. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 10, and a coin sorter disposed over the top ends of said tubes and having an inclined chute means provided with a longitudinal slot of downwardly and incrementally increasing height through which coins of predetermined denominations moving on the chute means fall into predetermined tubes.

12. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 11, wherein said coin sorter includes a receptacle at the upper end of said chute means and coin moving means in said receptacle for moving coins individually from said receptacles to the upper ends of said chute means.

13. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 12, wherein said coin moving means comprises a rotatable member having a plurality of arms providing radially outwardly opening recesses in which the coins in the receptacle are receivable and engageable at their edges by said arms.

14. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 13, and a positioning plate in said receptacle on which coins are depositable and over which the coins slide toward said rotatable member and into substantially parallel relation therewith.

15. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 14, wherein said plate has portions of progressively greater angular inclination from the horizontal and towaRd said moving means.

16. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plate is biased toward said moving means.

17. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 16, and drive means for rotating said moving member.

18. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 1, and a coin sorter disposed over the top ends of said tubes and having an inclined chute means provided with a longitudinal slot of downwardly and incrementally increasing height through which coins of predetermined denominations moving on the chute means fall into predetermined tubes.

19. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 18, wherein said coin sorter includes a receptacle at the upper end of said chute means and coin-moving means in said receptacle for moving coins individually from said receptacles to the upper ends of said chute means.

20. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 19, wherein said coin-moving means comprises a rotatable member having a plurality of arms providing radially outwardly opening recesses in which the coins in the receptacle are receivable and engageable at their edges by said arms.

21. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 24, and a positioning plate in said receptacle on which coins are depositable and over which the coins slide toward said rotatable member and into substantially parallel relation therewith.

22. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 21, wherein said plate has portions of progressively greater angular inclination from the horizontal and toward said moving means.

23. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plate is biased toward said moving means.

24. The coin-handling apparatus of claim 23, and drive means for rotating said moving member.

25. In a coin-handling apparatus, a dispensing means for ejecting the lowermost coin from a coin storage tube through a discharge aperture of said tube, said dispensing means including: a drive shaft; a base member rotatably mounted on said rotatable drive shaft; clutch means on said shaft and said base member for connecting said base member to said drive shaft for rotation therewith; and ejector means mounted on said base member and movable through the bottom end of a coin storage tube for engaging the lowermost coin in the tube and moving it out of the tube through said discharge aperture, said ejector means including a lever pivotally mounted on said base member; and an ejector pivotally mounted on said lever and having an end portion movable through the lower end of a coin storage tube.

26. The dispensing means of claim 25, and biasing means for biasing said lever relative to said base member in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said shaft, and means biasing said ejector relative to said lever in the direction of rotation of said shaft.

27. The dispensing apparatus of claim 26, wherein the axes of pivotal movement of said ejector and said lever are spaced from one another and parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft.

28. The dispensing apparatus of claim 27, adjustably mounted on said lever for varying the length of said end portion extending outwardly of the periphery of said disc.

29. In a coin sorter: a receptacle positionable at the upper end of an inclined chute means to which coins from the receptacle are movable; coin-moving means in said receptacle for moving coins individually from said receptacle to the upper end of said chute means, said coin-moving means comprising a rotatable member having a plurality of arms providing outwardly opening recesses in which the coins in the receptacle are receivable and engageable at their edges by said arms; and a positioning plate in said receptacle on which coins are depositable and on which the coins slide toward said rotatable member and into substantially parallel relationship therewith, said plate having portions of progressively greater inclination from the horizontal and inclined toward said moving means, said plate having a lowermost portion extending at a slight angle relative to the plane of rOtation of said moving means, means biasing said plate to a position wherein said lowermost portion is near said moving means; and drive means for rotating said moving member.

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