US2744603A - Coin separators - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 1955 M. P. HAvERsTlcK 2,744,603

COIN SEPARATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10 195] INVENTOR. MERRAL F. HAVERSTICK BY ATTORNE Y May 8, 1955 M. P. HAvERsTlcK 2,744,603

coIlN sEPARAToRs' Filed Sept. 10 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, BYMERRAL F? HAVERSTICK United States Patent f O COIN SEPARATORS Merral P. Haverstck, St. Louis County, Mo., assignor to National Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri This invent-ion relates to improvements in coin separators. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in coin separators which can gauge and test coins of different types.

It is therefore an objectof the present invention to pro vide an improved coin separator which can gauge and test coins of diierenttypes.

'In the art lof coin-operated machines, =it has become desirable to have coin separators which can gauge and test coins of different types. For example, it is frequently desirable to have coin separators that lcan gauge andtest nickels, dimes and quarters. To be practical and commercially acceptable, such coin separators must be compact and must be inexpensive. The problem of making such a coin separator is dicult, and it usually requ-ires coins of diierent types to move through the same passageway. This fact raises the possibility of coins `of one type lodging in and obstructing the path of coins of the other type; and any such lodging in or lobstructing of that -path would be objectionable.

If the coins of the one type would lodge in andobstructhe path of the other type `of coin for just a moment `and would thereafter clear the path for that other type of coin, the coin separator could operate with little or no diliiculty. However, in some coin separators that `receive nickels, dimesand quarters, the quarters have been known to lodge in and obstruct the nickel path; requiring a scavengingfoperation to Vclear them. This, of course, is objectionable. The present invention obviates this objection by providing a coin separator with agate that will accept one type of coin and will reject other types of coins; and will keep those other coins vfrom lodging in and obstructing the path for the one type of coin. It is therefore .an object of the present invention to provide a coin vseparator with a gate lthat .can receive and pass `one type of coin and will reject other types of coins, and will keep vthe other types of coins from lodging in and vobstructing the path for theone `type of coin.

The `present invention does `this by providing a bifurcated gate which is pivotally mounted in the path of the one coin. Projections or fingers on the arms of that gate extend into that path and they define an opening just large enough to receive coins of theorie type. The `opening in that Agate could not always accommodate coins of that one type if the gate was stationary, -because even authentic coins of the one type will vary sutliciently in size', weight, resilience and conductance to cause them to trace Acourses through the Lcoin separator that are suii'iciently different to cause those coins to vstrike the yprojections and not the opening in that gate. However, the present invention mounts the `gate on a pivot and thus enables the lgate to receive Iand pass coins of the one type; the gate rotating automatically into alignment With'coins of the one type as those coins -strike that gate. The pivoting action -of the gate enables the small actual opening 4in Lthe gate to .provide a larger virtual opening; thus Aenabling vthe gate to accept the coins of the one ytype even though they follow slightly different courses. It istherefpre an object vof the 2,744,603 Patented May 8, 1956 2 present invention to provide a coin separator with a gate that has a small actual yopening but that is movable t'o pro= vide a larger Virtual opening. A

Thevirtual opening provided by the gate of the present invention is as large as the entrance vto the accepted coin duct 4although the actual opening in the gate is smaller than that entrance. Moreover, while vthe virtual opening provided by the movement of the gate is larger than coins of the other type, the actual opening in the gate is not; hence, when coins of rthe other type strike the gate they will not be able to pass through the opening therein. Moreover, the opening in the `gate is actually-so small that the coins of the other type will be unable to-lodge `in Vthat opening; instead they will fall backwardly toward a rejected coin duct. In this way, the pivoted gate provided by the present invention keeps coins of the kother type .from entering and lodging in the accepted coin .duct for coins of the one type.

Other andfurther objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but itis to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for .the purpose of illustration only and do not limit -the .invention and that the nvention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a partially' broken .away side elevational View of a coin separator that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invennon,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional end View of a portion-of the coin separator of Fig. l, and it is taken along the planes 'indicated by. the line 2 2 .in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is cross sectional end view of another portion of the coin separator of Fig. l and it is taken along the planes indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a partially broken away side elevational View of just the lower Aportion of the coin separator of Fig. l, Fig. 5 is a cross sectional end view of the coin separator of Figs. 1 and 4 and it is taken along the planes indicated by the line 5 5 on Fig. l, and

VFig 6 is a cross sectional vend view of the coin separator of Figs. l and 4 and it is taken along the planes indicated by the line 6-6 yinl-iig. 4.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, the numeralv 10 denotes the frame of the ycoin separator provided by the present invention. Two ears 12 are formed on the frame 10 adjacent the right hand side thereof, and those ears support a pivot pin 14. A wall 16, which is smaller in areathan the frame 10, is provided with ears 18; and those ears are perforated to receive the pivot pin 14. The wall 1'6 ycan rotate about the pivot pin 14 relative to the frame 10, but is itnormally -held in spaced, parallel relation with the frame 10 by the magnetic vforce of permanent magnets, not shown, which are secured to the .frame 10. These permanent magnets underlie the wall 16 and they'provide powerful magnetic ilux lines that extend to the wall 16. These magnetic iiux lines normally hold the wall 16 adjacent the frame 10, but theywill permit the wall 1'6 tobe rotated vaway from the frame 10. The wall 16 has ilanges 20 thereon which extend at ninety degrees to the plane of that wall.

A generally rectangular dislodging plate 22 is provided with ears 24. These ears extend rearwardly of the plane of the dislodging plate 22, and they have openings therethrough which can receive the pivot pin 14. A spring 26 encircles the pivot pin 14 and has one end thereof bearing against frame 10 and has the other end thereof disposed in an opening 25 of the dislodging plate. The spring 26 is a helical spring and it is distorted so it provides a force on the -dislodging plate 22 which holds that plate in parallel relation with the frame 10. The left hand end of the dislodging plate 22 bears against the flanges 20 on the movable wall 16 and those flanges limit the rotation of the dislodging plate 22 toward the frame 10. The dislodging frame 22 has projections thereon, not shown, which extend rearwardly of the plane of that plate and which act to dislodge coins held by the coin-separator n during the scavenging of the coin separator.

The numeral 28 denotes a second movable wall which has elongated arms extending to and encircling the pivot pin 14. This movable Wall is normally held in parallel relation to the frame by the action of a spring 29 that encircles the pivot pin 14. One end of the spring bears against the frame 10, and the other end of the spring bears against a vertically directed strut 31 of the movable wall 28. The spring 29 is distorted so it tends to hold the movable wall 28 in parallel relation with the frame 10, but that spring, like spring 26, can have its resilient forces overcome to permit opening of the movable wall 28 and the dislodging plate 22 respectively. By opening of the movable wall 28 and the dislodging plate 22 is meant the rotation of those elements around the pivot pin 14 relative to the frame 10.

A ared coin entrance 30 is formed on the movable wall 28, and that ared coin entrance guides coins into the coin separator. A pivot 34 is secured to the movable wall 28 at a point below the coin entrance 30, and that pivot supports a coin-sizing gauge 32. This coin-sizing gauge has two spaced projections which extend through cut-a-way portions 36 and 38 in the movable wall 28. Those projections thus extend into a coin passageway defined by the movable wall 28 and the frame 10 and will intercept coins introduced into that passageway. A stop 40 is secured to the movable wall 28, and it holds the coin-sizing gauge 32 in the position shown in Fig. l during normal conditions of operation. A weight is provided on the coin-sizing gauge 32 to rotate it in a counterclockwise direction against the stop 40. When a coin of the proper size and proper weight enters the passageway through the entrance 30 and engages the projections on the coin-sizing gauge 32, the weight of that coin will cause the gauge 32 to rotate in a clockwise direction away from the stop 40. The gauge 32 will continue to rotate with the coin until the coin can fall freely from the projections of that gauge, whereupon the weight on the gauge 32 will rotate that gauge in a counter-clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 1.

A runway 42 is provided on the movable wall 28 and that runway will receive coins from the sizing gauge 32. The runway extends to one of the permanent magnets which underlies the movable wall 16, and that magnet will induce eddy currents in the coin. Depending upon the conductivity of the material in the coin, the eddy currents will create a secondary magnetic field which will interact with the magnetic eld from the said one permanent magnet to retard the rate of movement of the coin. Consequently, coins can roll oi of the lower end of the runway 42 at different rates of speed.

A coin-sizing gauge 44 is secured to the movable wall 28 by being mounted on a pivot 46 carried by that wall. This coin-sizing gauge has projections thereon which extend through cut- a-way portions 48 and 50 of the movable wall 28. The coin-sizing gauge 44 is disposed below and to the left of the coin-sizing gauge 32, and it will receive and test coins which were too small in diameter to be intercepted and momentarily held by the projections on the coin-testing gauge 32, and then delivered to runway 42. The gauge 44 has a weight thereon that normally holds the gauge in the position shown in Fig. l; but whenever a coin of proper size and proper weight engages and is held by the projections of the gauge 44, that coin will cause that gauge to rotate in a clockwise direction. The gauge will continue to rotate in a clockwise direction until the coin held by the projections of that gauge can fall free and permit the weight of the gauge to rotate the gauge to the position shown in Fig. 1.

A pivot bracket 52 is secured to the wall 28 at a point almost immediately below the gauge 44; and a feeler wire 54 is pivotally secured to that bracket. A weight 56 is secured to the feeler wire 54, and that weight biases the upper end of the feeler wire into the passageway between the movable wall 28 and the frame 10 adjacent the gauge 44. This feeler wire is intended to intercept and hold coins which have openings therethrough or which have abnormal surface deformations.

A runway 58 is provided on the movable wall 28 adjacent and to the right of the coin-sizing gauge 44. This runway will receive coins intercepted and sized by the projections on the gauge 44, and will direct those coins past a permanent magnet which underlies the movable wall 16. This permanent magnet will induce eddy currents in the coins and those eddy currents will generate a magnetic field which will interact with the magnetic field from the permanent magnets to apply retarding forces to the coin. With such an arrangement, coins will fall from the lower end of the runway 58 with various speeds of movement.

A guide 60 is secured to the frame 10 and projects outwardly from that frame adjacent the left hand edge of the coin entrance 30. A guide 62 is secured to the frame 10 and projects out from that frame adjacent the right hand edge of the coin entrance 30 on the movable wall 28. The two guides 60 and 62 coact with the frame and with the coin entrance 30 to provide an entrance, for coins, of an aligning character. Coins which may enter that entrance with a tilt will be guided into complete parallelism with the frame 10 and be directed to the coinsizing gauge 32.

A pivot 64 is secured to the frame 10 adjacent the top of that frame, and that pivot rotatably supports a scavenging lever 66. This lever has an elongated lower end which is disposed at one side of the passageway defined by the frame 10 and the movable wall 16 but which is movable through that passageway to clear out any coins which are held in that passageway, as for example, iron coins that are held by the magnetic eld of the magnet. A cam 68 is riveted to the scavenging lever 66 and that cam has a plate thereon which can be used as a pressure plate to facilitate rotation of the lever 66. A spring 70 encircles the pivot 64 and bears against the cam 68; that spring urging the cam to the right hand side of the passageway between the movable wall 16 and the frame l0. The cam 68 is adjacent and can act upon a cam follower 72 which is secured to the movable wall 28. With such a construction, rotation of the scavenging lever 66 in a clockwise direction is accompanied by an outward movement of the wall 28 and the various elements secured to that wall. This outward movement of the wall 28 permits the scavenging lever 66 to move through its scavenging path and clear out any coins held between the walls 16 and 28 and the frame 10. At the conclusion of the scavenging operation, the spring 70 will return the scavenging lever 66 to the position shown in Figs. l and 4 and the spring 29 will restore the movable wall 28 to the position shown in Figs. l and 4. During the initial movement of the movable wall 28, the dislodging plate 22 will remain immovable and the projections thereon will extend through the cut- a-way portions 38, 48 and 50 of the movable wall 28 to dislodge any coins held by the coinsizing gauges 32 and 44. If the outward movement of the movable wall 28 requires it, the dislodging plate 22 can move outwardly also; that plate returning to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 under the inuence of spring 26 after the scavenging operation is completed.

A partition 74 is spaced from the lower portion of the frame 10 to detne two coin passageways; one of those passageways being for coins which are intercepted and sized by the coin-sizing gauge 32 and the other of those passageways being for coins intercepted and sized by the mageos coin-sizing gauge 44. The partition 74 has an opening 76 therein. This opening is slightly above and slightly yto the left of the geometric center of the partition 74, and an inclined projection 78 on the partition 74 extends through the opening 76. This inclined portion 78 acts as an inclined plane and will intercept and deliect rejected coins out of the passageways defined by the partition 74 and the frame 10.

A notch 80 is provided in the upper edge of the partition 74, and that notch is located generally `to the left of the opening 76 in that partition. The notch is V- shaped in configuration and has the apex thereof spaced inwardly from the upper edge of the partition 74. A pivot 82 is secured to the partition 74, and a bifurcated gate 84 is rotatably mounted on that pivot. Coin-engaging projections 86 are formed on the ends of the arms of the gate 84, and those projections extend into the passagew'a'y defined by the partition 74 and the frame 10. The projections 86 are spaced apart to define a coin-receiving opening for the gate 84 which is large enough to receive and pass the coins which lare intercepted and sized by the gauge 44 but which is too small to receive and pass the coins which are intercepted and sized by the gauge 32;

the coins that do pass through the opening in gate 84 doing so freely and without the interception and momentary holding provided by the coin-testing gauges 32 and 44. The left hand edge of the notch 80 will act as the upper stop for the gate 84 and the bottom of the opening 76 will also act as the lower stop for the gate 84; and these stops will act to define the bounds of the virtual opening provided by the gate 84. The gate 84 will normally rest against the lower stop but it will be able to rotate upwardly with rapidity and ease.

An anvil 88 is secured between the partition 74 and the frame 10 and it is disposed below and to the right of the lower end of the runway 58. This anvil will receive coins which have conductivity of the proper degree and will cause those coins to rebound 'to the `left toward the gate 84. If the coins happen to follow a path which enables the coins to pass between the coin-receiving projection 86 of that gate, those coins will then 'follow the accepted coin duct 90 and be directed to the accepted coin chute. However, if the coins are authentic but follow a path which does not take them neatly between the coinengaging projections 86 of the gate 84, those coins will strike those projections and force the bifurcated gate S4 to rotate until those coins can pass between the projections 86 of that gate. Thereafter, those coins will enter the accepted coin duct 90 and be directed to the accepted coin chute. Theoretically it might seem possible for all authentic coins of the proper size and type to follow a `pathway just slightly wider than the diameter of the coins, but practically this is not possible. The slight variations lin weight, thickness, resilience and electrical conductivity of coins of the same type is great enough to cause those coins to rebound from 'the anvil 88 at slightly different angles. Accordingly, if the gate 84 were held stationary, or if the entrance to the accepted coin duct 90 was made just slightly larger than the diameter of coins intercepted and held by the gauge 44, many authentic coins would be unable to enter that duct but instead would be reflected backwardly from -that duct. Any such backwardly reflected coins will fall downwardly against the `inclined plane 78 and be directed toward the rejected coin duct 92 and thus led tothe rejected coin chute. Accordingly, to receive and pass substantially all authentic coins, it is necessary that the gate 84 rotate and that it rotate freely enough that the coins can move that gate into coinaccepting position. This is done in the present case by making the gate 84 of bifurcated form and pivoting it loosely on the pivot 82. Moreover, by having the stops for that gate so spaced that the gate is close to the average path followed by authentic coins, the gate does not have to move -far to accomodate all authentic coins.

A partition 94 is spaced behind the frame'10 so'the partition74 and the partition 94 are oppositely disposed of the frame 1`0. The partition 94 and the frame '10 define a passageway for coins which are tested by a gauge, not shown, on the rear wall of the frame 10. In lthe particular construction shown inthe drawing, those coins would successively pass between the projections or fingers of the gauges 32 and 44 without causing those gauges to rotate and would `then be directed through an opening, not shown, in the frame 10 to a gauge on the rear of that frame. Thereafter, those coins would be suitably tested and directed to the ductbetween partition 94 and 'frame 10.

A wall 96 is disposed rearwardly of the partition 94, and partition 94 is disposed between `the frame 10 and the wall 96. The wall 96 and the partition '94 define the accepted coin chute for coins which are intercepted and sized by the coin-sizing gauge 32. Those coins will be delivered by the gauge 32 to the runway 42 and will vfall downwardly toward the momentum-absorbing lever 102 which extends through an opening 100 in the frame 10 and through an opening 98 in the partition 74. This lever spans the passageway between the partition '74 and the frame 10, and coins falling from the runway 42 will strike that lever. The lever is provided with a weight, not shown, and the momentum of the coins which strike that lever are absorbed to some extent by the raising of that weight. Thereafter, the coins will, if they are authentic coins, fall downwardly and strike an inclined surface 103 which is formed on the partition 74. This inclined surface extends through an opening 104 which is formed Vin the frame 10 and it directs coins through that opening. Any such coins will pass through and be guided by the accepted coin chute between partition 94 and wall 96. If the coins which strike the lever 102 are not authentic, they will bound to the left and fall against the inclined plane 78 and be directed to the rejected coin duct '92. Other coins which are intercepted and held by the projections on the gauge 32 can roll along the runway 42 with suiiicient speed to strike the lower end of the scavenging lever 66 and rebound to the left past the lever 102. Whether the coins rebound from the lower end ofthe scavenging lever 66 or from the lever 102, those coins are passing through a portion of the ,passageway through which coins gauged by the coin-testing gauge -44 must pass. In fact, the coins which rebound from the scavenging lever 66 or the lever 102 can move sufficiently far vto the left in that passageway as to attempt to enter the yaccepted coin duct 90. If those coins were to enter that duct, they could not pass completely through that duct because its width is smaller than the diameter of such coins; and instead those coins would lodge in that passageway and interfere with proper 'operation of the coin separator. It is to keep such coins out of the accepted coin duct that the bifurcated gate 84 is provided. if a coin rebounds from the lower end of the scavenging lever 66 or from the momentum-absorbing lever 102 and attempts to enter the accepted coin duct 90, that coin will engage and be held by the projections 86 lon the gate 84 because those projections define an opening which is smaller than the diameter of such coins. In `fact, the opening defined by the projections 86 on the gate 84 Iis so small that the coins cannot enter that opening sufticiently to lodge within it. Instead, they can enter vonly part way and must then Vfall backwardly toward the 1inclined plane 78. This plane will then direct those coins to the rejected coin duct 92.

The path of a normal authentic coin of one type is shown by the dashed line to the left of the center ofthe coin entrance 30 of wall 28 in Fig. l; that path lextending downwardly through the gauge 32 and inclining to the left past the left hand end of runway 42 and tothe gauge 44. This coin will be intercepted and sized by that gauge until the gauge rotates in a clockwise direction and delivers the coins to the runway 58. The coin will vfall from the lower end of the runway 58 until it strikes the anvil`88 and'rebounds 'to the Ileft between 'the'projections 7 86 on the gate 84 and then enters the accepted coin duct 90. The two dashed lines leading from the anvil 88 and extending between the projections of the gate 84 indicate generally the approximate variation in path experienced by authentic coins as they rebound from the anvil 8S.

The path for an authentic coin of another type which can be accomodated by the coin separator of the present invention is indicated by the dashed line at the approximate center of the coin entrance 30; that path extending into the coin-sizing gauge 32 and along the runway 42 until it drops to the right of the momentum-absorbing level 102 and then through the opening 104 to the chute between partition 94 and wall 96. Coins which have the same size and the same weight as the coins of the other type but which do not have the proper conductivity will either leave the runway 42 with sufficient speed to carry them against the lower end of the scavenging lever 66 or will leave that runway with insufficient speed to carry those coins to the right of the motion-absorbing lever 102. In either case, the coins are likely to rebound far enough to the left that they pass over the inclined surface 78 and move toward the entrance of the accepted coin duct 90. This is indicated by the dashed line in Fig. 4; that particular coin striking and rebounding from the lower end of the scavenging lever 66. That coin cannot enter the accepted coin duct 90 because the bifureated gate 84 is interposed between the passageway for coins gauged by the gauge 44 and the passageway for the coins gauged by the gauge 32. Consequently, the coins will strike the projections on the bifurcated gate 84 and be promptly refiected backwardly toward the inclined plane 78. This inclined plane will then direct the coins to rejected coin duct 92.

With this construction, the coins gauged by the gauge 32 and the coins gauged by the gauge 44 can occupy portions of the same passageway without any danger of the coins blocking the accepted coin ducts. This permits full economy of space and cost while assuring full efficiency of operation.

Whereas a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in the drawing and accompanying description, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

l. ln a coin separator that can receive and separate coins of different types and that comprises a passageway for one type of coin, a second passageway for another type of coin, said passageway being at least partially disposed between two spaced walls and being in communication with each other whereby coins of said other type can move into the first said passageway, a pivot adjacent the first said passageway, a bifurcated gate rotatably mounted on said pivot, projections on the ends of the arms of said gate that extend into the first said passageway and define an opening for said gate, said opening of said gate being larger than coins of said one type but being smaller than coins of said other type, said projections on said gate intercepting coins of said other type which are passing through the first said passageway, said second passageway normally directing said coins of said other type so they do not engage said gate, said projections being spaced from said pivot whereby a line defined by said projections is radially spaced from said pivot, said line coacting with lines between said pivot and said projections to define a triangle that has an apex at said pivot which is substantially smaller than one hundred and eighty degrees, said first said passageway normally directing authentic coins of said one type toward the opening of said gate, and stops to limit movement of said gate, said gate being movable between said stops to enable said opening of said gate to define a virtual opening which is larger than said opening of said gate and which can accept and pass substantially all authentic coins of said one type,

said virtual opening being larger than a coin of said other type, said gate normally resting against one of said stops, and thereby normally being adjacent one end of said virtual opening, said gate being positioned to intercept, and to be rotated to a coin-accepting position by, said coins of said one type, which are not in register with said opening of said gate, whereby said coins can pass through said opening of said gate.

2. In a coin separator that can receive and separate coins of different types and that comprises a passageway for one type of coin, a second passageway for another type of coin, said passageways being at least partially disposed between two spaced walls and being in communication with each other whereby coins of said other type can move into the first said passageway, a pivot adjacent the first said passageway, a bifurcated gate rotatably mounted on said pivot, projections on the ends of the arms of said gate that extend into the first said passageway and define an opening for said gate, said opening of said gate being larger than coins of said one type but being smaller than coins of said other type, said projections on said gate intercepting coins of said other type which are passing through the first said passageway, said projections being spaced from said pivot whereby a line defined by said projections is radially spaced from said pivot, said line coacting with lines between said pivot and said projections to define a triangle that has an apex at said pivot which is substantially smaller than one hundred and eighty degrees, and stops to limit movement of said gate to a path wherein said line between said projections is always substantially vertical, said gate being movable between said stops to enable said opening of said gate to define a virtual opening which is larger than said opening of said gate and which can accept and pass coins of said one type, the first said passageway normally directing authentic coins of the said one type through substantially horizontal paths toward the opening of said gate, said gate being positioned to intercept, and to be rotated to a coin-accepting position by said coins of said one type which are not in register with said opening of said gate, whereby said coins can pass through said opening of said gate.

3. In a coin separator that can receive and separate coins of different types and that comprises a passageway for one type of coin, a second passageway for another type of coin, said passageways being at least partially disposed between two spaced walls and being in communication with each other whereby coins of said other type can move into the first said passageway, a gate intermediate the ends of the first said passageway with an opening therein that can receive and pass coins of said one type but can reject coins of said other type, said second passageway normally directing said coins of said other type so they do not engage said gate, the first said passageway having a portion thereof that is larger than said opening of said gate and that is large enough to receive coins of both types, said gate being pivotally mounted adjacent said portion of the first said coin passageway, said gate having coin-intercepting fingers thereon which are spaced from the pivot for said gate and which dene said opening and coact with said pivot to define an angle at said pivot which is substantially smaller than one hundred and eighty degrees, said lingers being movable about said pivot through an infinite number of positions in register with said portion of the first said passageway, and stops adjacent said gate, said stops being spaced apart to permit movement of said gate but confining said fingers to positions in register with said portion of the first said passageway, said opening of said gate coacting with the movement of said gate between said stops to dene a virtual opening for said portion of the first said passageway which is larger than said opening of said gate and which can accept and pass authentic coins of said one type, said coin-accepting position by said coins of said one type which are not in register with said opening of said gate, whereby the said coins can pass through said opening.

4. In a coin separator that can receive and separate coins of different types and that comprises a passageway for one type of coin, a second passageway for another type of coin, said passageways being at least partially disposed between two spaced walls and being in communication with each other whereby coins of said other type can move into the first said passageway, and a gate intermediate the ends of the first said passageway with a substantially vertically-disposed opening therein that can receive and pass coins of said one type but can reject coins of' said other type, said second passageway normally directing said coins of said other type so they do not engage said gate, the first said passageway normally directing coins of said one type toward the opening of said gate through substantially horizontal paths, the first said passageway having a portion thereof that is larger than said opening of said gate and that is large enough to receive coins of both types, said gate being mounted adjacent said portion of the first said passageway, said gate being movable through an infinite number of positions in register with said portion of said passageway, said opening coacting with said movement of said gate to define a virtual opening that is larger than a coin of said other type, said gate being positioned to intercept, and to be moved to coin-accepting position by, coins of the said one type whose paths are not in register with said opening of said gate, whereby said coins can pass through said opening.

5. In a coin separator that can receive and separate coins of different types and that comprises a passageway for one type of coin, a rebounding surface adjacent said passageway, a portion of said passageway that receives coins from said rebounding surface, a gate that is positioned horizontally between said rebounding surface and said portion of said passageway, said gate having coinintercepting fingers that define an opening which is transverse of a substantially horizontally disposed line between said rebounding surface and said portion of said passageway, said coin-intercepting fingers being movable transversely of said substantially horizontally disposed line, and stops that are adjacent said gate and thatlimit movement of said gate, said opening of said gate being just large enough to receive and pass coins of said one type, said stops coacting with said opening in said gate to define a virtual opening for said portion of said passageway which is larger than said opening of said gate and which can pass authentic coins of said one type rebounding from said rebounding surface, said gate normally resting against one of said stops, said gate being positioned to intercept, and to be moved toward said other stop and thus to a coin-accepting position by said coins of said one type whose rebound paths are outiof register with said opening of said gate, whereby said coins can pass through said opening.

UJI

6. A coin separator that can receive and separate coins of different types and that comprises a passageway for/ 10 intercepting fingers that dene a substantially vertical opening for said gate and that are movable transversely of a substantially horizontally disposed line between said rebounding surface and said portion of said passageway, said opening of said gate receiving and passing coins of said one type but rejecting larger coins and deflecting said larger coins backward toward said rejected coin duct, said gate being positioned to intercept, and to be moved to coin-accepting position by said coins of the said one type, which are not in register with said opening of said gate, whereby said coins can pass through said opening.

7. ln a coin separator that can receive and separate coins of different types and that comprises a passageway substantially smaller than one hundred and eighty degrees, said opening receiving and passing coins of said one type but rejecting larger coins, said gate being positioned to intercept, and to be rotated to coin-accepting position by, said coins of said one type which are notv in register with said opening of said gate, whereby said coins can pass through said opening.

8. A coin separator of the type wherein coins of at least two different denominations and sizes move along paths defined between spaced parallel walls of the sepr arator, the path of' the smaller type coins leading to a coin duct having an entrance opening that is larger than the diameter of the smaller type coin and large enough for a larger type coin to pass through, the path of the larger type coins normally being spaced from said entrance opening but said entrance opening being in communication with said path of the larger type coins whereby the larger type coins can sometimes move toward said entrance opening, characterized by a gate arranged in the path of the smaller `type coins between said entrance opening and the path of said larger size coins, said gate having an opening therein of a size passing the smaller type coins but not the larger type coins, said gate being movably mounted so as to permit smaller type coins striking said gate to move said gate and thereby displace the gate opening a substantial distance transversely of the path which the smaller type coins travel immediately ahead of said gate, thereby to compensate for variations in the trajectory of authentic coins of the smaller type.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,104 Wurzbach Nov. 27, 1928 2,138,055 Smith Nov. 29, 1938 2,292,628 Fry Aug. 1l, 1942 2,376,357 Hokanson May 22, 1946 2,502,212 Foushee Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 625,291 Germany Feb. 6, 1936

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