US1931693A - Coin operated mechanism - Google Patents

Description

c. H. GREEN COIN OPERATED MECHANISM y INVENTOR. l @Jaffa nl H. amen Oct. 24, 1933 c. H. GREEN COIN OPERATED MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i //////V ,04 HM d? l ,uw

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 24, 1933. C, H, GREEN 159151,693

COIN OPEHATED MECHANISM Filed June 272, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l INVENTOR. Cfffo Fol 717. Green 'Mfr-i655.' I Maia WL m Q AnoRNEYs C. H; GREEN coIN OPERATED MECHANISM Filed J-une 22, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l lll-llll t INVENToR. C/ffolfc H 61@ @n ATTORNEY'.

Patented Oct. 2.4, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,931,693 G01N OPERATED MECHANISM Clifford H. Green, Paris Township; Kent County, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Musical Instrument Company, a porporation of Michigan f Application June 22, 1931. ySerial No. 545,983

13 Claims.

'The present invention relates to coin-operated mechanisms; and its object is, generally, to provide an improved mechanism of that character which can be operated only by coins of a par- 5 ticular size, denomination or monetary value;

and more particularly, to provide such an improved mechanism whereby coin-shaped disks ofiron or steel, or mutilated coins, and the like, are ejected from the mechanism when used in an l attempt to operate the same; and further, to provide in such a mechanism means for delaying the operation ofother mechanisms actuated by such coin-operated mechanism, and for purposes hereinafter setaforth; and further, to provide in l other mechanisms or devices.

These and any other objects hereinafter appearing are attained by, and the invention finds'.

preferable embodiment in, the mechanism, mechanical and electric devices and parts, and combinations thereof, particularly described in the body of this specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a coinoperated mechanism and housing therefor;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on line 2-2 of Figure 5; the mechanism being shown in its initial position;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the mechanism, said front plate Lbeing partially broken away to show such'mechanismy in a certain stage of its operation;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View of upper and rearward portions of the mechanism and housing, taken on line 4 4 ofFigure 1;

Figure' is a vertical sectional View of upper and forward portions of the mechanism and housing, taken on said line but viewed in the opposite direction;

Figure 6 is an inner side View of certain parts shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a Dfront elevational view of portions of the mechanism showing means for ejecting iron or steel coin-shaped disks, .certain parts being broken away or shown in vertical section; Figure 8 is a front elevationalview of portions of the mechanism showing means for ejecting mutilated coins;

Figures 9 and 1 0 are top plan views of portions of the mechanism illustrating said means in two other positions respectively; and

Figure 11is a vertical sectional view of certain parts shown in Figures 2 and 3, taken on line 11-11 of said views.

In these drawings is illustrated a coin-operated mechanism contained inA a suitable housing 1v having rear, top, bottom and side walls and a removable face plate 2 adapted to be secured in position'by suitable locking means indicated gencombination with such coin-operated mechanism selective means for operating any one of severalerally at 3. A vertical coin chute 4 has a circularl opening 5 through which a coin 6 may be inserted to fall into, and be retained by, a slot 7 through the rearwardly extending peripheral llange or rib 8 of the circular disk 9 keyed to the shaft or axle 10 journalled in the parallel vertical front plate 11 and rear plate 12 of the mounting frame of the mechanism.

The length of the slot 7 is such that the coin will be retained therein, i. e. the length of said slot isless than the diameter of the coin. The shaft 10 and its circular disk9 are rotated in clockwise direction by the-aligned stub shaft 13 journalled in the housings face plate 2 and having an operating handle 14 and a diametrical rib l5 removably engaging in the kerf 16 in the forward end of said shaft.' This shaft and the disk 9 being thus rotated, the coin is carried thereby into edgewise engagement with the detent 17 pivoted at 18 on the real` plate 12 and swings it against the spring v19 far enough to pass below its lower end 20 to be held thereby against return movement. v

The turning of disk 9 continuing, the edge of the coin engages the lever arm A21 pivoted coaxially with the detent and swings said arm toward the right hand side of Figures 2 and 3 against the pressure of a spring 22, saidlever arm `engagingthe movable leaf 23 of a bellowslike air container designated generally 24 and comprising also the xed other leaf 25 (mounted at 261r on the rear plate 12) and the flexible side and bottom walls 27 tightly fastened to said two y leaves 23, 25 which are connected in swingable relation at 28 adjacent their upper ends.

The rotation of disk 9 and the swinging movement of arm` 21 and leaf 23 continuing by reason of the pressure of the coin on said arm, air is expelled from container 24 through its outwardlyopening flexible sheet valve indicated at 29, and the inclined end 30 of a spring 31 carried by leaf 23 snaps over the lower end 32 of a spring arm 33 of an electric switch.

As the lever arm 21 swings to the position shown in Figure 3 its lower end 34 slips over the ratchet teeth 35 of a lever arm 36 pivoted at 37 on rear plate 12, so that the arm 21 is held in said shown position until, by the continued rotation of the disk 9, its projection 38 engages the projection 39 of arm 36 and swings it downwardly against the pressure of said spring 22 thus releasing the lever arm` 21 which is now swung by spring 22 (connected to both lever arms 2l, 36) to the position seen in Figure 2 in which its lower end 34 is stopped by tle projection 41 of lever arm 36. I

When lever arm 21 is thus moved from leaf 23 of the air container 24, said leaf is swung by the spring 42 to -the position seen in Figure 2. During this movement, the portion 43 of the spring `arm 46'thus closes the electric circuit 47.

of the spring switch arm 33 exes it tow the left hand side of Figure 3 until its contact' 44 meeting the contact of a second spring switch As this movement of leaf 23 and its spring 31 and the flexing of switch arm 33 continues', the spring switch arm 46 is also ilexed by the meeting or abutting of the contacts 44, 45, until the leaf 23 has swung far enough to cause the portion 43 of its spring 31 to move downwardly and snap off of the lower-end 32 of 'spring switch arm 33, whereupon the two switch arms spring apart and open the electric circuit 47.

The moving of the leaf '23 away from the fixed leaf 25 to expand the air container 24 is retarded andthe maintaining of the electric circuit closed is prolonged by the admission of air very slowly into the expanding container, such admission being through ay restricted air passage governed by a set screw 51.

When the coin 6 passes from edgewise contact with the lever arm 21 it falls into a bag or receptacle 52 in the housing.-

Coins larger than those by which the mechanism is operable cannot be inserted into the opening 5 or pass through the chute 4, and smaller coins willl fall through the slot 7 -instead of being retained therein. Coin-shaped disks 61 of iron or steel passing down the chute are deflected therefrom by theu fixed magnet 53. Mutilated coins 62 having holes as shown .are

removed from the slot 7 by means shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, viz:

A spring lever arm 5 4 pivoted 'at 55 on rear plate 12 presses forwardly riding on the rearwardly extending'cam portion 56 of the circular disks rib or flange 8 in the position of the parts shown in Figure 9. When this circular disks 9 with the mutilated coin 62 in its slot 7 is turned to the position shown in Figure 10, the spring arm 54 rides down from the cam portion 56 and y said arms forwardly extending pin '57 enters the holev 58 in the mutilated coin and holds the same from being carried farther with said disk. VIn this holding operation, the rotation of disk 9 causes this coin to turn about the pin 57 and to be forced out of the slot by the contact of the slots rear end 59 with the coins inner edge, its outer edge engaging and iexing the spring 60 in such movement. The parts are now in the position seen in Figure 8, and the mutilated coin rides forv a short distance on the periphery -of disk 9 in its rotation, until it reachesa groove 61 in said periphery which is inclined backwardly from said disks rear side to its front side, whereupon the spring arm 54 having passed oif of the cam portion 56 presses the mutilated coin for- '-wardly, and the spring 62 swings arm 54 to press the coin downwardly, into this groove so that the rotation of disk 9 carries said coin ofi of the pin 57, whereupon it falls along the forward side of the circular disk 9.

Y After each operation of the `mechanism the circular disk 9 is returned to initial position by the spring 63.

The various coins or coin-shaped disks entering the housing through the chute 4 and failing to operate the mechanism fall into an inclined trough 64 and pass out of the housing through an opening 65 and into an outside receptacle 66.

In this structure is shown selective mec whereby the coin-operated mechanism maybe employed for any selected one of several purposes or to operate any one of a plurality of .31 being in engagement with the lo 33 devices or the like, as the placing of a selected record disk on the turntable of a graphophone,

etc. Y

This selective mechanism comprises circularly disposed spaced electric contact points 67, and an electric contact plate 68, all mounted on they front plate 11 of the structure. A switch member 'I1 is turnable by its handle 70 around the stub shaft 13 and carries the electric switch' 69 whose arms 72, 73 contact the plate 68 and the desired contact point 67 to close the electric cir'- cuit 74 and the branch 741 thereof leading to the device selected for operation or for accomplishing the desired purpose. This handle has a pointer 75 turned into registration with the index numeral shown on' the face plate 2 which indicates the selected branch-circuit 741 to be' closed when the pointer is insuch registration.

The retarded opening of the switch 33, 46 is desirable where the electric circuit controlled thereby contains a solenoid or the like .instrument requiring some time for its complete operation.

' The coin is carried by the rotation of disk 9 into engagement with the stationary pin on the plate 12 and is thereby 'forced out of the slot before the disks projection 38 strikes the projection 39 of the catch 36.

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims, is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the,particu1ar embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings or hereinbefore described.

l claim: I

1. In an organization of vthe character described: a wheel having a fpocket receiving a coin in one position of the`whee1 and holding the same partly extending therefrom but permitting the same to fall therefrom in another position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement of the coin therewith in an intermediate position of the wheel, includinga fluid container with a restricted fluid passage thereinto for its s1ow` operation and `having a movement to expanded and to contracted positions being movable to'- one of its positions by said engagement, means for returning the container to its other-position, and an electric switch mov-V able to circuit-opening and to circuit-closing positions being movable to one of said positions by the movement of the container to one 'of its positions. u

2. In an organization of the character described: a'. wheel having a pocket receiving a coin in one fposition of the wheel and holding the same partly extending therefrom but permitting the same to falltherefrom in another position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement of the coin therewith inA an intermediate position of the wheel, including va iiuid container with a restricted fluid passage thereinto for its slow operation and having a wall movable by said engagement to container-contracting position and having means for returning said wall to container-expanding position, and an electric switch comprising arms movable -to circuit-closing position, said wall having a catch engaging in its container-contracting movement one of said arms and moving the same to circuit-closing contact with the other arm during coin in one position of the wheel and holding the same partly extending therefrom but permitting the same to fall therefrom in another position of the-Wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement of the coin therewith in an intermediate position of the Wheel, including a uid container with a restricted fluid passage thereinto for its slow operation and having a wall movable by said engagement to container-contracting position and having a spring for returning said wall to container-expanding position and an electric switch comprising spring arms mov-,

able to circuit-closing position, said wall` having a spring catch engaging in its container-oontracting movement one of said arms and moving the same to circuit-closing contact with the other `arm during a portion of said walls opposite movement and releasing said arm in a farther portion of its said opposite movement.

4. In an organization of the character described: a wheel having a pocket receiving a coin in one position of the Wheel and holding the same partly extending therefrom but permitting the same to fall therefrom in another position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement of the coin therewith in an intermediate position of the wheel, including a fluid container with a restricted fluid passage thereinto for its slow operation and having a wall movable to `container-contracting position and having means for returning said wall to container-expanding position, a lever arm swingable by said engagement to engage and move said wall to its said position, an electric switch, said wall having a catch engaging in said walls said position the switch and moving the same to circuit-closing position during a portion of said walls movement from its said position and releasing the switch in a farther portion of said walls said opposite movement, and a catch holding the lever arm in its swung position wherein it has moved said Wall to its said position the second-mentioned catch being released by the Wheel in a farther turned position thereof.

5. In an organization of the character described: a base frame having a,coin chute; a wheel having a pocket in its periphery with a mouth shorter in the wheels circumferential direction than the diameter of the coin, receiving in one position of the wheel the coin falling from the chute and holding the same partly extending radially therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a turned position of the wheel, the wheel also having in its vperiphery a groove behind the pocket extending inclnedly between the opposite sides of the wheel; means for yieldingly holding the coin in the pocket in an intermediate turned position of the wheel; a pin carried in connection with the frame springpressed into engagement in a hole in the adjacent side of the coin in the pocket at a turned intermediate position of theA wheel and. moving by the wheels rotation the coin from the pocket andinto the groove and then releasing the same by said rotation and the engagement of the coin with the inclined groove; means for holding the pin from engagement in said hole between the rst-mentioned position and said intermediate position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement therewith of a coin l in the pocket in another turned -intermediate position of the wheel for holding the wheel against reverse turning movement.

6, In an organization of the character described: a base frame having a coin chute; a

wheel having a pocket in its periphery with a mouth shorter in the wheels circumferential direction than the diameter of the coin, receiving in one position of the wheel the coin falling from the lchute and holding the same partly extending radially therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a turned position of the wheel, a spring yieldingly holding the coin in the pocket in an intermediate turned position of the wheel the Wheel also having in its periphery a groove behind the pocket extendving inclnedly between the opposite sides of the wheel; a leaf spring on the frame having 'at its free end a pin pressed thereby in contact with the adjacent side of the coin in the pocket dur- 'ing the wheels rotation to an intermediate position and at a point in such rotation pressed into engagement with a hole in said side and moving by the wheels rotation the coin from the pocket and into the groove and then releasing the same by said rotation and the engagement of the coin with the inclined groove; means for holding the pin from engagement in said hole between the first-mentioned position and said intermediate position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagementtherewith of a coin in the pocket in another turned intermediate position of the wheel for holding the wheel against reverse turning movement.

7. In an organization of the character described: a base frame having a coinpchute; a wheel having a pocket in its periphery with a mouth shorter in the wheels circumferential direction than the diameter of the coin, receiving in one position of the wheel the coin falling from the chute and holding .the same partly extending radially therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a turned position of the wheel, a spring yieldingly holding the coin in the pocket in an intermediate turned position of thewheel the wheel also having in its periphery a groove behind the pocket extending inclnedly between the opposite sides of the wheel; a leaf spring pivotally mounted on the frame having at its free end a pin pressed thereby in y contact with the adjacent side of the coin in the pocket during the wheels rotation to an intermediate position and at a point in such rotation pressedinto engagement with a hole in,

said side and moving by the wheels rotation the coin from the pocket and into the groove and then releasing the same by said rotation and the engagement of the coin with the inclined groove, the leaf spring being spring pressed about its pivotal mounting to turn its ree end toward the wheels peripheryf means for holding the pin from vengagement in said hole between the rstmentioned -position of the wheel and said point; mechanism actuated by the engagement therewith of a coin in the pocket in another turned intermediate position of the wheel holding thev Wheel against reverse turning movement.

8. In an organization of the character described: a. base frame havinga` coin chute; a Wheel having a pocket in its periphery with a mouth shorter in the wheels circumferential direction than the diameter'of the coin, receiving in one position of the wheel the coin falling from the chute and holding the same partly extending radially therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a turned position of the wheel. the wheel also having in its periphery a groove behind the pocket extending inclnedly between the opposite sides of 'the wheel; a pin carried in connection with the frame spring-pressed into env the groove, mechanism actuated by the `engagement therewith of a coin in the pocket in another turned intermediate position of the wheel for holding the wheel against reverse turning ement. .i

9. In an organization of the character described: a base frame having a coin chute; a wheel having a cam on its side and a pocket in its periphery with a mouth shorter in the wheels circumferential direction than the' diameter'of the coin, receiving in one position' of the wheel a coin falling from the chute and holding the same partly extending radially therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefromA in a turned position of thefwheel, a spring yieldingly holding` the coin inthe pocket in Yan intermediate 'turned position ofthe wheel the wheel also having in its periphery a groove behind the pocket extending inclinedly between the opposite sides of the'wheel;

a leaf spring on the frame riding on the cam and having at its free end a pin pressed thereby, in the springs position ofi of the cam, into engagement in a hole in the adjacent side of the coin 'in the pocket at a turned intermediate position of the'wheel and moving by the wheels rotation the coin from the pocket and'into the groove and then releasing the same by said rotation and the engagement of the coin with the inclined groove; mechanism actuated by the engagement therewith of a coin in the pocket'in another turned intermediate position 'of the wheel for holding the Wheel against reverse turning movement.

10. In ,an organization of the character described: a base frame having a coin chute; a wheel having a pocket with an open bottom and a mouth shorter in the wheels circumferential direction than the diameter of the coin, receiving in one position of the wheel' the coin falling from the chute and holding the same partly extending radially therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a'turned position of -the wheel, a spring yieldingly holding the coin in the pocket in an intermediate turned position of the wheel the wheel also having in its periphery a groove behind the pocket extending inclinedly between the opposite sides of the wheel; a pin carried in connection with the frame spring-pressed into engagement in a hole in the adjacent side of the coin in the pocket at a turned intermediate position of the wheel and moving by the wheels rotation the coin from the pocket and into the groove and .releasing the same by said rotation and the engagement ofthe coin with the inclined groove; means for holding the pin from engagement in said hole between the first-mentioned position and said intermediate position of Athe wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagementr of a non-mutilated coin therewith lin a position of the wheel turned farther from said intermediateposition, said pocket permitting a coin of less diameter than the length of the mouth of thepocket to fall throughV its open bottom.

l1. In an organizationof the character described: a base vframe having a coin chute; a wheel testata having a pocket with an open bottom and a mouth shorter in the wheels circumferential direction than the diameter of the coin, receiving in one. position of the wheel the coin falling from the chute and holding the same partly extending radially therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a turned position of the wheel, a spring yieldingly holding the coin in tlie pocket in an intermediate turned position o f the wheel the wheel also having in its periphery a groove behind the pocket extending inclinedly between the opposite sides of the wheel; a pin carried in connection with the frame spring-pressed into' engagement in a hole in the adjacent side of the coin in the pocket at a turned intermediate position of the wheel and moving bythe wheels rotation the coin from the vpocket and into the groove and releasing the same by said rotation and the engagement of the coin with the inclined groove; means for holding the pin from engagement in said hole between the first-mentioned position and said intermediate position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement of a non mutilated coin therewith in a position of the wheel turned farther from said intermediate position, said pocket permitting a coin of less diameter than the length of the mouth of the pocket to fall through its open bottom; a magnet adjacent the lower end of the chute for attracting iron and steel coin-shaped disks and preventing the same from entering the pocket.

12. In an organization of the character described: a base frame having a coin chute; a wheel having a pocket receiving in one position of the'wheel a coin falling from the chute and holding the same partly extending'therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a turned position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement of the coin therewith in a turned intermediate position of the wheel, including a 115 switch provided with means for retarding the operation thereof in an electric circuit; a plurality of electric circuits having contacts on the frame spaced circularly about the wheels axis; a switch arm turnable about said axis into circuit- 120 closing contact with said contacts respectively,l said switch and said switch arm in circuit closing, position coacting to maintain the circuits closed for a period governed by. the retarding means.

13. In an organization ofthe character described: a hollow base frame having a coin chute and a removable cover; a wheel journalled on the frame having an axle with a socket in its end ico and' having a pocket receiving in one position of 13( the wheel acoin falling from the chute and holding the same partly extending therefrom but permitting the coin to fall therefrom in a turned position of the wheel; mechanism actuated by the engagement'of the coin therewith in a turned 13E intermediate position of the wheel, including a switch provided with means for retarding thel operation thereof in an electric circuit; a plurality of electric circuits having contacts on the frame spaced circularly about said axle; a switch arm mounted in the cover turnably concentrically with said axle into circuit-closing contact with said contacts respectively; a stub axle mountedon the cover concentric with the wheels axle and having at its end a projection removably seated in said socket for turning the wheel, said switch and said switch arm in circuit-closing position coacting to maintain the circuits closed for a period governed by the retarding means.

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