US2711243A - Apparatus for rejecting apertured coins - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1955 J. GOTTFRIED 2,711,243

APPARATUS FOR REJECTING APERTURED coms Filed March 14, 1951 ATTORNEY United States f 2,111,243 s APPARATUS FOR REJECTNG APRTURD v Y COINS John Gottfried, si. Louis, Mo., assigner o Nettowinsjectors, Inc., Si. Louis, Mo., a corporation or l Application March 14, 1951, Se'ial Nori-215,436

6 orsi-ins.' (ci. 194;9"7)'` More particularly, this invention relates to n'iprovide an improved feeler which 'can be used with' coin separator Yto detect and restrain' coinsv which have openings therethrough or have appreciable surfcendeformations. l

In the operation of coin separators, coins are' introduced into the coin slots of those separators,` and theeafter those coins work their way toward the' coinbos of those separators, Asthey move toward the coin boites of 'the coin separators, the coins are customarily tested 'in a number of wa`ys to determine their auth'etieltyi For example, 'the coins arel tested as-'t'o the electricalfednductivity of the metals of which they Aare composed.: The diameters and the thicknesses 'of the coins also're tested. In addition, the coins are tested for the prsence of openings therethough or appreciable surfacedeforniation's.

In the event Aa coinis tested and found wanting,` that-coin must be directedY immediately toward the rejected' coin chute or must be restrained untilt a clearing: lever can free it for movement toward the rejected coin chute.

A number of prior coin separators have beenie ipped with feelers which were intended p coins which had openings therethr'oiigh or' hd appreciable surface deformations. However, the feles'of those coin separators were not, either trom the stndpoint of cost, eniciency, uncertainty of;operation;l 'ornpletely satisfactory. The improved feeler, for coinfspar'ators, that is provided by the presentinve'r'ition islow in cost, high in eicienc`y, and certain of'opr''tioni.

To be eicient, the feeler of a coin separator mustertgage an dexplore a considerable portion of the area'of each coin introduced into the coin sepai'ptolg'andyet that feeler must not'appreciably impede'thernvefnentof authentic coins to the coin boxes of those coin sprtjs'. The improved feeler provided by the' present invention does this by limiting the instantaneous eoitct'ibetween andl by having v the feeler and the coin to point contact, the points of contact between feeler and ytioin define a bent path. The point contact limits the frictional 'forces which could retard movementl ofthe coin1toward the coin box, and the bent path assures the exploration of a greater proportion of the area of the path could assure. In thisway the feeler` provided by the present invention assures the desired exploration of the surface of the coin and yet does not impede 'the movement of authentic coins toward-the coinliox.` vIt to detect and? restrain coin thanv a straight is therefore an object of the present invention' to provide a feeler, for coin separators, which has pointl contact with each coin introduced into the separator, and which explores a bent path on the surface of eachsuch coin,

To be certain of operation, a feeler foreoin separators must either direct impropergcgins tov thelrejeeted i'eoin chute or must restrain those coins until a clearing lever yto moverelative to thc feelci; v

engages' coins that are Vmoving relative to the coin en-Y coins until those' c oins 'are ICC centree thorn forin'ovcment 'to the rejected coin chute. This is not easily done since the persons who introduce thecoins intothe coin sepaiators'rnay, in the belief that those. separators are otope'rating properly, nudge the coin separators or may even strike them sharply. Such nndgingor striking of the coin separators could tend to loosen the restraining forces which the fcelers apply to proper coins; and it might possibly free those coins from the felers and permit -thorn to pass to the coin boxes of the coin separators. This, of course, would beobjectionable. lTheprsent invention obvistes these objectionsr by providing a feeler, for a coin separator, which maintains ltsrstrainingforce on' impropercoins irrespective of any nuages or'blows that are Aapplied to the coin separator. It is therefore an-object of the present invention to provide a feeler,'for alco sparator, that is not Adisabled by thenudging or striking of the coin separator. y,

The' fee'lcr provided by the present invention 'is enabled tov dothis' because the coin-engaging 'portion' thereof kis inclined transversely of the passageway in thercoin sepa- 'tI" fO' -tlle and it is directed Opp'OSit'ely'of the noinslfdirefstion of moi/ornent of the coins in that passageway. :'Consequently, when the coin-'engaging portion 'of the feeler engags' and restrain'san improper coin, it wedges that coin against the side ofthe passageway. If the soin separator is nudged or struck, the feele'r will not freek the'coinf; instead, it willonly wedge it more tightly ngirist'tlie side ofpv the passageway. In this way, the fdelr provided by the present invention positively 'restrainsiinpropor coins. It is thpre'fore an object of the presiit invention fofprovide'a feder, forY a coin separ'ator,"whichl has the coin-engaging portion thereof ineline'd transverselyof the coinpassa'g'eway and directed oppositely of the norrnl coins irrtttatA passageway. y The feeler provided by thepresent invention is held by 'affixed pivot, 'and it is provided with a weight that biases its-` coiii=ei1gag`ing portion for movement into the coin passageway of the' coin separator. The fixed pivot for the feieler is-Vdesirble since it confines the weight to a path throughout which the weight can provide a sub'- stntially" uniform bias for the feeler. With this arrangem'e'litytli vvegltis 'able' to provide the coin-'restraining force well as the force which moves the kcoin-engaging portion of the'feelr into the passageway. It is therefore an' obieetoftlio present invention to 'provide a ixed pivot forA the Weighted feeler of a coin separator. --I'Ihefeel providdby the'vpr'esent invention is positioned adjacent the cradle which receives the'v coins and tests their diameters; that 'cradle responding to thcsweig'ht @properly-sized'coins to inove and thus permit those insto advance thro'iigh the passageways The cradle holdsrthe coin-engaging' portion of the feeler out of the passageway until 'coin 'rigagesvthe cradle and causes it As a result, the feeler gaging'potion of that feeler; and this is desirable since dynamic frictionl forces are smaller than static yfrictional forces. Thismakes it possible to use larger biasing fSOl th fli' Wth unduly lmpdillg llCuTIOVE- menti ofp'oper" coins to the coin box'. It is therefore anv objectief the present invention to provide a feslor, forl n coin separator, that isheld out of engagement with the moving yrelative to the coinlengagingportion 'of that feel'r.'

-0th`andfrthe objects and advantages of the present-invention should'bscorne' apparent from an examina'- tioniof the drawing and accompanying description. y .-tfIn thedrawing and accompanying description a preferrdf, en1bodiment ofthe present invsntionis shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying descriptionk are for the purpose of Patented June k21', 1 955 direction of movement of the illustration only and do not limit the invention and .that the invention will be defined by the appended cla1ms.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a partially broken-away, side elevational View of a coin separator embodying the feeler provided by the present invention, .i

Fig. 2 is a partially-sectioned plan view of the coin separator shown in Fig. l, and it is taken along the planes indicated by the line 2--2 in Fig. l, 1

Fig. 3 is a larger view of the cradle and feeler of the coin separator shown in Figs. l and 2, and it. shows that cradle in coin-transferring position, v

Fig. 4 is a view of the cradle and feeler of Fig. 3, and it shows that cradle in coin-receiving position,

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a coin, andthe dashed line thereon indicates the line whichis explored by the feeler of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 generally denotes the frame of a coin separator that ,is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. A gate, which is movablerelative to the frame 10, is denoted by the` numeral 12; and it is held for swinging movement relative tothe frame 10 by the pivot 14. A helical spring 16 encircles the Vpivot 14 and biases the gate 12 for movement into` parallel relation with the frame 10. A spacer 18 is formed on the inner face of the gate 1 2, and that .spacer bears against the frame 10 and maintains a minimum distance of predetermined size between the gate,12 and the frame 10. An entrance 20 is provided on the gate 12, and that entrance guides the coins into the coin passageway of the coin separator provided by the present invention.

A fixed pivot 22 is formed on the gate 12,y and that v pivot rotatablysupports a cradle 24. The cradle 24 has projections 26 thereon which are spaced apart a distance just slightly less than the diameter of a properly sized coin which is to be accepted by the coin separator. This spacing of projections 26 enables cradle 24 to act as a coin-sizing gauge. A weight 28 is mounted on the cradle 24, and that weight biases the cradle 24 forrotation to the position shown in Figs. l and 4. Spaced slots 30 are provided in the gate 12 to permit the projections 26 on the cradle 24 to extend into the coin passageway of the coin separator. The projections 26gare so disposed relative to the pivot 22 that they will hold a properly sized coin with its center of gravity to the right of pivot 22; and such coin will, if of the proper weight, be able to overcome the force applied to cradle 24,by.the weight 28 and thus cause that cradle to rotate in a clockwise direction. The slots 3l) are elongated to permitthe projections 26 to move freely as the cradle 24 moves to the coin-transferring position shown in Fig-.3.; A camming edge 32 is provided on the cradle 24.inter mediate the right hand projection 26 and the pivot 22.

A generally vertical slot 34 is formed in the gate 12 adjacent the cradle 24.v A fixed pivot 36 is .disposed below and to the left of the slot 34, and that fixed pivot ysupports a feeler 37. This feeler has a portion which spans the two arms of the fixed pivot 136, it has a weightcarrying portion at the lower end thereof that carries a weight 40, and it has a coin-engaging portion 38 at the upper end thereof. The weight on the weight-carrying portion of the feeler 37 biases that feeler for rotation in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. y5. Such biasing action tends to force the coin-engaging` portion 38 of feeler 37 into engagement with a coin `in `the passageway of the coin separator. That coin-engaging portion of feeler 37 is arcuate and it has a small radius of.. curvature; hence it will experience point contact with any (such coin. vPoint contact is more desirablethan line contact because it reduces the frictional forces applied .to the coin by the feeler, and thus avoids needless slowing: down of the coin.

' coin-'engaging portion 38'of feeler 37 is adjacent" the cammng edge 32 of cradle 24. When the cradle24 is in the coin-receiving position shown in Figs. 1 and 4,` the camming edge 32 of that cradle will underlie` the.

coin-engaging portion'38 of feeler 37 and hold that coinengaging portion out of the coin passageway. As a result, the cradle 24 is not only a coin-sizing gauge and a weight-tester, but it is a detent; serving to hold the coinengaging portion 38 of feelerk 37 out of the coin passageway. Y

When the cradle 24 rotates inclockwise direction to its coin-transferring position, as it will do whenever it receives a coin of the proper size and weight, the camming edge 32.of that cradle will move out of engagement with the coin-engaging portion 380i feeler 37. Thereupon,`

that portion will respond to the action of weight 40 and move inwardly through slot 34 into the coin passageway.

Whenever the cradle 24 returns to its coin-receiving position, the camming edge 32 .of that cradle will engage the coin-engaging -portion 38 of feeler 37. and out of the-.coin passageway.

A runway 42 is formed on the rear 12 adjacent the lower endof the right hand slotv 30.

This runway will receive coins which are sized-and vweighed by cradle 24y and are then rotated past feeler 37 ,to a pointimmediately adjacent the upper end of runway 42. Those coinsV roll. off of the Vright hand projeci Vtion 30 of cradle 24 and will roll along runway 42.'- vIn rollingalong that runway, the coins will be acted ,upon by a permanent magnet 44 which is disposed on frame 10 adjacent the runwayy 42. 'A bent plate 14S-is secured to the magnet 44, and the lowerfpart thereof is spaced from that magnet toprovide a passage for coins; and that plate completes the magnetic. circuit oflthe. magnet 44. `The magnet 44 will generate eddy currents within the coin, and the resulting magnetic field willy interact with the magnets lield to retard the rate of movement of the-coins. The exact retardation applied toi any L coin by the interacting magnetic fields will be proportional yto the electrical conductivity of the 'metals of whichthe coin is composed. VIf .a coin has the desired conductivity, it will leave the runway 42 withsufiicient speed to strike anvil 45 and rebound across theframe.A

10 andinto the gap between stop 46 and deectorg47; that coin following-a generally horizontal arcuate path.V VDeflector 47 will then direct the coin downwardly along the arcuate runway 49 to coin exit 50. Thereafter-that .coin ca nbedirected toward switches or actuators of-suit x able coin-operated devicesby guides, not shown. Those` guidesfwillnally direct the coin to .the coinboxip-A If the coin has too low=a conductivity, its speed wil not be retarded appreciably. That coinfwill, therefore, roll ofof Atherunway 42 with vsuiiieient speed to strike anvilAS andnrebound across and upwardly into engage- -`ment withthe stop 48. Engagement of suchcoinwith stop 48 will force thatcoin to bound downwardly and to the vright where it will strike deiiector 51`andv will-be directedonto runway 52; It will then roll along runway 52 to the rejected coin chute V53. The cut-away partition v54 separates the anvil 45 and defiectorf47 andrunway' 49 from the runway 52; deflector 51 extending through the cut-away portion of that partition to underlie the path between anvil 45 and defiector 47.

. If the-coin has too high a conductivity, its speed vwill be retarded to such an extent that the coin will eitherfiall` toward deflector 51 without reaching anvil 45 Vor'will strike anvil 45 and rebound with insufficient force to A pusher bracket 56 is supported on the gate 12"bylugs 58 which extend into openings in the gate 12, and by a spring '-60 which urges the bracket 56 against a spacer`62 carried by the frame 10. The end of the bracket 56 is normally held out of the coin passageway by the spacer 62 but it serves, whenever the gate 12 is moved away from the frame 16, to strip any coins from the coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler 3 7. v I n Y When a coin of the proper size, weight and electrical conductivity is introduced through'the entrance 20, that coin will fall downwardly and engage the projection 26 of the cradle 24. That coin will be held'byth'ose projections and will cause that cradle to rotate in a clockwise direction. As soon as the cradle 24 starts' to move, the camming edge 32 of that cradlewill move out. of engagement with the coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler 37.; per'- mitting the weight 40 to rotate thatfeeler until the coinengaging portion 38 thereof enters the passageway. The cradle 24 and the feelerk 37 are disposed in close juxtaposition, so the cradle will place a coin in register with v permits the-feeler the coin-engaging portion 38 before it 37 to move. In this way, undesired interruption of movement of proper coins is prevented; the coinpassageway being kept clear, as by holding the feeler 37 back, until the coin is in register with the coin-engaging'portion 38 of that feeler, whereby the leading edge o f a coin can not strike and jam against lthe feeler 37.

When the coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler 37 moves into engagement with'the coin inthepassageway, that coin will be held byy the cradle 24. If that coin does not have an openingtherethrough and if itdoes not have an appreciable surface deformation, thezcoinengaging portion 38 of feeler 37 will slide along the sur.- face of that coin; that coin following the rotative path of cradle 24. It will be noted that the coin and the cradle 24 were in motion relative to the `feeler 37, before the coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler 37 engaged the coin; hence there is only dynamicfriction ratherv than; static friction between the coin and the coin-engagingportion 38 of feeler 37. This is desirable since dynamicfrictional forces are less than static frictional forcestand the gate 12 outwardly away from the 'frame 10. The 'pusher bracket 56 rwillnot move outwardly with the gate 130 but I instead will remain closely adjacent the frame landact tos'trip coins off ofthe end of the coin-engagingportion 38 of feeler 37. Any such coinswill be actedA upon by a clearing lever 68 whichis pivoted on the spacer62'. Coins acted upon by the lever 68 will be directed toward the rejected coinchute 53. Y, .i The coin passageway for authentie'coins :extends downwardly from entrance 20 to the cradle 24, through the rotativeipositionsof cradle l way past magnet 44, and past anvil 45 and-deiiector, 47 to runway 49 and coin exit 50. For spurious coins the coin passageways can be vdirected downwardly between projections 26on cradle 24 to rejected coin chute 53,por can be .from the cradle 24 to therunway 42 andpast anvil 45 to stop 46 or 48 and then past deector 51 and runway 52to rejected coin chute 53, or Vcan be from the entrance 20 tothe cradle 24 where the feeler'37 will intercept them and'then from the feeler 37 to the rrejected lcoinchute withtheassistance of clearing lever 68. Y v The weight 40 is thepreferred biasing device for feeler 37. However, if desired, va spring or a magnetic attractive force could be substitutedfor the weight .40. Whereas a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention hasbeen shown and describedin thedrawing and accompanying description it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschangeslrnay bemadein the .form of the invention without aiecting the scope thereof. l Y v Whatlclairnisz- .l 1.. In a coin separator which comprises a frame, passageway for coins,

and an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through whichcoins can be introengagement of the feeler 37 with authentic coins will not unduly impede the movement of such coins.

The coin will continue to rotatewiththe cradle 24 without appreciable impedance until it reaches a point where the center of gravity of the coin is disposed to the right of the line connecting theprojections 260i cradle 24. At such time, the cradle will be in the coin-transferring position shown in Fig. 3; and the coin will fall onto the runway 42. The coin willthen roll past magnet 44 and nd its way to the coin exit 50. In dropping from the cradle 24 to the runway .42,.the coin follows an approximately straight path. Consequently, the points of engagement between the coin and the coin-engagingportion 38 of feeler 37 define a bent path, v asf shownin-Fig. 6.

If, on the other hand, the coin has an opening therethrough or has appreciable surface deformatiomth'at coin will be caught and held bythe coin-engaging portion-38 of feeler 37. The coin will be held by the cradle 24 and will be rotated past the coin-engaging portion 38; that coin-engaging portion responding to the action of weight 40 to enter the opening or the surface' deformation. Thereupon, the coin will be restrained. Y s

Gravitational forces will act upon the coin and tend to cause it to move downwardly and to the right, but the coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler37 is inclined transversely of the coin passageway and is directed oppositely of the normal direction of movement of thecin. A s a result, the coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler 37 will wedge that coin against the right hand side of the coin passageway and completely prevent further movement'of that coin. If anyone were to nudge or strike the coin separator, in an elort to dislodge the coin and c ause it to pass to the coin box, the nudging or striking would merely act to wedge the coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler 37 into even tighter engagement with the coin.

The coin-engaging portion 38 of feeler v37v will thus restrain coins which have openingsV therethrough or have lexteriorly of said passageway and havingL passageway, and a movable detent that d ucedrinto said passageway, theimprovement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a feeler that i s rotatably mounted on said pivot, said feeler being located a coin-engaging portion that is selectively movablel into and out of said passageway, a weight on said feeler that biases'said coinengaging portion of saidfeeler for movement into said is adjacent to said passageway. and is adjacent to said feeler but that is located exteriorly of said passageway, said detent having' a coin-receiving portion, that extends into'said passageway whenever said detent is in its, initial position vand having a feeler-engaging portion that is interposed between saidpassageway andsaid feeler to engage another portion'of said feeler and thereby hold said coinengag'ing portion of said feeler out of said passageway whenever said detent is in its said initial position, Vsaid other portion of said feeler being spaced away from `said coin-engaging portion of saidfeeler, said coin-receiving portion of said detent being movable by coinsin said passageway to move said detent out of its said initial position Vand thereby move said feeler-engaging portion of said detent away from said other portion of said feeler to. permit said coin-engaging portion of said feeler t'o move into said passageway, a weight "biasing said detent for movement toward its said initial position, said feeler and said detent being so positioned that when a coin engages and moves said coin-receiving lportion o f s'aid detent the said coin is in register with and will be engaged by said coin-engaging portion of said feeler, said weight on said detent generating a moment of force that is greater than the moment of force generated by the weight on said feeler.

2. In a coin separator which comprises a frame, a passageway for coins,v and an opening adjacent oneend of said passageway through which coins canbefintroduced into said passageway, the improvement which comprises'I 24 to runway 42, along that run- A coin-engaging portion thereof into said passageway,

a pivot adjacent said passageway, a feeler that isrotat- 'ably mounted 'on said pivot, said feeler being located 'exteriorly of said passageway andhaving a coin-engaging portion that is selectively movable into and out of said passageway, said feeler being biased to move the said and a movable detent that is adjacent to said passageway and is adjacent to said t'eeler but that is located exteriorly of said passageway, said detent having a coinreceiving portion that extends into said passageway whenever said detent is in its initial position and having a feder-engaging portion that is interposed between said passageway and said feeler to engage another portion of said feeler'and thereby hold said coin-engaging portion of said feeler out of said passageway whenever said detentris vin its said initial position, said other portion of said feeler being spaced away from said coin-engaging portion of said feeler, said coin-receiving portion of said detent being movable by coins in said passageway to move said detent out of its said` initial position and thereby move said feeler-engaging portion of said detent away from said other portion of said feeler to permit said coin-engaging portion of said feeler to move into said passageway, said detent being biased for movement towardv its initial position; said feeler and said detent being so positioned that when a coin engages and'moves said coin-receiving portion of said detent the said coin is inregister with and will be engaged by said coinengaging portion of said feeler.

3,. In a coin separator which comprises a frame, a passageway forcoins, and an opening adjacent one end of saidy passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a feeler that is rotatably mounted on said pivot, said feeler being located exteriorly of said passageway and having a coin-engaging portion that is selectively movable into and out of said passageway, said feeler being biased to move the said coin-engaging portion thereof into said passageway,` and 'a movable coin-sizing gauge that is adjacent to said passageway and is adjacent to said feeler but that is located Vexteriorly of said passageway, said coin-sizing gauge having a coin-receiving portion that extends into said passageway whenever said coin-sizing gauge isV in its initial positionand having a feeler-cngaging portion that is interposed between said .passageway and said feeler to engage another portion of said feeler and thereby hold said coin-engaging portion of said feeler out of said passageway whenever said coin-sizing gauge is in its said initial position, said other portion of said feeler being spaced away from said coin-engaging portion of said feeler, said coin-receiving portionof said coin-sizing gauge being movable by coins in said passageway to move said coin-sizing gauge out of its said initial position and thereby move said feeler-engaging portion of said coin-sizing gauge away from said other portion of said feeler to permit said coin-engaging portion of said feeler to move into said passageway, said coin-sizing gauge being biased for movement toward its initial position; said feeler and said coin-sizing gauge being so positioned that when a coin engages and moves said coin` receiving portion of said coin-sizing gauge the said coin is in register with and will be engaged by said coin-engaging portion of said feeler.

' 4. ln a coin separator which comprises a frame, a passageway for coins, and an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be introduced into said passageway, the improvement which comprises a pivot adjacent said passageway, a ieeler that is rotat- Vably mounted on said pivot, said feeler being located extcriorly of said passageway and having a coin-engaging portion that is selectively movable into and out of said passageway, said feeler-being biased to move the said coin-engaging portion thereofinto said passageway, and Va movable detent that is adjacent to said passageway andis adjacent to said feeler but thatis locatedrexteriorly' of said passageway, said' detent having a portion that extends into" said passageway kto receive coins in Vthat'passageway whenever said detent is in its initial posi tion and having a feeler-engaging portion that can engage Vr another portion of said feeler to hold said coin-engaging portion of saidfeeler out of said passagewayk whenever said detent is in its said'initial position, biased for movement toward its said initial position, said other portionrof said feeler being spaced away from rsaid coin-engaging portion of said feeler, said coin-receiving portion of said detent being movable by coins in said passageway 'to move said detent out of its said initialV position and thereby move said feeler-engaging portion of said detent away from said other portion of said feeler to permit said coin-engagingV portion of said feeier to move into said passageway, said feeler and said detentj being so positioned that said coin-engaging portionofv said feeler is held out of said passageway until after a ,t coin strikes and moves said coin-receiving portion of said detent, said coin-engaging portion of said feeler being inclined of said passageway in all moved positions of said feeler. t

5. `In a'coin separator which comprises a frame, a passageway for coins, and an opening adjacent one end of said passageway through which coins can be intro-.v

duced into said passageway, vthe improvement which corn-Y prises a pivot adjacent said passageway,v a feeler that is rotatably mounted on said pivot, said fereierV being located exteriorly of saidpassageway and having a coin-engaging portion that is selectively movable into and out of said passageway, said feeler being biased to move the said Vcoin-engaging portion thereof into said passageway, `a`

second pivotadjacent said passageway and adjacent said feeler, andla coin-sizing cradle that is rotatably mounted, on saidsecond pivot and that is located exteriorly of said.

, passageway, a coin-receiving surface on said cradle that extends" into said passageway to intercept coins whenever said cradle is in its initial position and to free those coins ywheneverV saidcradle has'rotated to coin-freeing position, said cradle having a feeler-engaging portion that can engage another `portion of said feeler to hold said coin-engaging portion of said feeler out of said passage# Y way whenever saidV cradle is in its said initial position,

said cradle being baised' for movement toward its said initial position,said `otherfportion of said feeler being spaced away from said coin-engaging portion of said feeler, said coin-receiving surface of said` cradle being movableby coins in saidV passageway to move said cradle toward coin-freeing position and thereby move said feelerengaging portion of said cradle away from said other, Yportion of said feeler to permit said lcoin-engaging portion of said feeler to move into said passageway, said'v feeler-and said cradle being so positioned that said coinengaging portion of said feeler is held out of said passage-V way until after a coinstrikes'and moves said coin-receiving surface of said cradle, the movement of said cradle from its said initial position tosaid coin-freeing position -While said coin-engaging portion of said feeler is in reg-V ister with said coin enabling said coin-engaging portiony of said feeler to explore a bent path on the surface of said coin. f g Y` which comprises a fratrie,L a passageway for coins, and an opening adjacent one end of said passageway 'through which coins can be intro--- duced into said' passageway, the improvement which cornprises a pivot adjacent `said passageway, a feeler that is lrotat'ably mounted on said pivot, said feeler being located exteriorly ot said passageway and having a coinengaging portion that is selectively movable into and out". of said passageway, a n said coin-engaging portion of said feeler for movementweight on said eeler that biases into said passageway, and a movable detent that is Kad-v jacent to said passageway and is adjacent to said feeler but Y that is located exteriorly of said passageway, said detent said detent beingk i having a coin-receiving portion that extends into said passageway whenever said detent is in its initial position and having a feder-engaging portion that can engage another portion of said feeler to hold said coin-engaging portion of said feeler out of said passageway whenever said detent is in its said intial position, said other portion of said feeler being spaced away from said coinengaging portion of said feeler, said coin-receiving portion of said detent being movable by coins in said passageway to move said detent out of its said initial position and thereby move said feder-engaging portion of said detent away from said other portion of said feeler to permit said coin-engaging portion of said feeler to move into said passageway, a weight biasing said detent for movement toward its said initial position, said feeler and said detent being so positioned that said coin-engaging portion of said feeler is held out of said passageway until 1G after a coin strikes and moves said coin-receiving portion of said detent, said coin-engaging portion of said feeler being inclined of said passageway and being directed oppositely of the path of movement of coins in said passageway in all moved positions of said feeler.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,192,301 Grover July 25, 1916 1,730,339 Giles Oct. 1, 1929 1,889,212 Mihalek Nov. 29, 1932 2,292,628 Fry Aug. 11, 1942 2,326,211 Fry Aug. 10, 1943 2,339,823 Vogel Jan. 25, 1944 2,374,007 Fry Apr. 11, 1945 2,503,232 Gottfried Apr. 4, 1950

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