GB1238997A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,238,997. Receiving and delivering coins. SOC. ANON. FRANCAISE DES APPAREILS AUTOMATIQUES TAXIMETRE-TAXIPHONE. 13 Feb., 1970 [18 Feb., 1969], No. 7089/70. Headings G4V and G4X. Coins inserted into the apparatus fall into the lower part of an arcuate storage channel 17 formed on a vertical plate 1, and periodically are pushed towards a hole in the plate at the top of the channel by a stud 33 on a rotating arm 34, a deflector 36 situated in the hole diverting the coins so that they fall into a coin delivery tube 5. The shaft 35 may be driven by an electric motor energized each time, for example, an article, such as a ticket is vended. If it is required to collect more than one denomination of coin several plates may be used (Fig. 2, not shown) and in this case the delivery tubes are preferably made integral with a magazine (9). The front of the plate may also carry a coin duct 13 which may embody a suitable coin selection mechanism. A coin rejected by the mechanism falls in the direction of arrow f 1 into a passage 14 leading to a refund cup 15. Coins accepted by the mechanism proceed along the duct and fall into the orifice 16 of the storage channel. At this inlet there may be a photo-cell device 21 to count the number of coins received, and associated with it is a pivoting lever 22 adapted so that a nose 24 temporarily closes the channel after the passage of a coin, thereby diverting the second of two coins inserted in close succession and hence preventing the erroneous transmission of only one pulse from the photo-cell. This lever also diverts further coins when the storage channel is full. A lower portion of the channel 17 may be replaced by a segment 26 pivoted at 27 to provide a coin return mechanism. The segment 26 is moved to the dotted.line position by activation of an electric motor which drives a shaft 30 carrying a cam 28, allowing the coins in the channel to fall, guided by a member 32, into the refund cup 15. A device may be provided to divert coins to a cash box when the tube 5 is not in position comprising an arm 39 pivoted at 41 and having a blade 38 pivotally mounted on it. When the tube is not in position the blade diverts coins in the direction of arrow f 4 on to a guide 37 and into a channel leading to the cash-box, see also Fig. 4 (not reproduced). The tube when inserted co-operates with a nose 42 on the arm 39 and removes the blade. When the tube is full, further coins are also directed to the cash-box by the member 37. When change is required a solenoid 43 is activated and an armature 44 acts upon a pawl 45, reciprocated by mechanism 46, forcing the hook-shaped end of the pawl 45a into engagement with a finger 48 on a sliding plate 49, which is normally urged to close the lower end of tube 5 by springs 51. Each reciprocation of the plate 49 corresponds to one coin being given in change and is detected by a photo-cell device 52. When the number of coins paid back reaches the desired value the solenoid 43 is deactivated disengaging the pawl 45. Another photo-cell device (53, 56) may be provided at the lower end of tube 5 to check that the number of coins does not fall below a certain minimum value, and this may activate a signal warning the user to insert the correct amount.