GB2123195A - Rotary coin holder mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotary coin holder mechanism is adapted for use with the new <5>1 coins by having a thickness gauge (20) protruding into a coin pocket (15). The gauge is pivoted about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of a coin into the pocket so that a correct- thickness coin pushes the gauge around its pivot. A stop (23) on the gauge extends into stationary structure to prevent rotation of the mechanism until it is pivoted out of engagement therewith by the said movement of the gauge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotary coin holder mechanism This invention relates to rotary coin holder mechanisms such as are used in prepayment meters for providing pre-paid supplies of commodities such as gas, electricity or water, or pre-paid timed use of apparatus such as television or radio receivers, washing or drying machines, billiard tables, or the like.

Changes in U.K. coinage are in the process of providing coins of different face value of rather similar diameters, but with very different thicknesses. For instance, the 1 coin which has been issued has a diameter similar to the overall dimension of the 20p coin but of the order of twice its thickness.

These new coins present difficulties in differentiation forcoin-operated devices.

The invention provides a rotary coin holder mechanism including a coin pocket of a size allowing end-on entry to a coin of known nominal thickness, a gauge pivoted about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of a coin into the pocket and having a part thereof extending partially across the path of the coin such that a coin of said known thickness contacts said gauge and pivots it about its axis out of said path against spring resistance while a thinner coin slip past it, and a stop member associated with said gauge iocking the coin holder mechanism against rotation until released by said pivoting movement of the gauge.

The coin holder mechanism may also have a coin retaining pawl engaging a coin in the pocket to hold it therein.

Specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa top view of the mechanism of a rotary coin mechanism, Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow II of the mechanism of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow Ill of the mechanism of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a representation of a different form of retaining pawl for use in the mechanism of Figures 1 and 3.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the coin mechanism comprises a price change plate (11) having a coin slot (12), a coin pocket (15) and a handle (13) secured to one end of a shaft (14). In use, the coin mechanism is attached to the front of a gas meter, or other commodity meter, a coin is inserted into slot (12) and handle (13) is rotated clockwise, so turning the coin pocket into a discharge position at which the coin is discharged from the pocket into a cash box (not shown). At the same time quantity wheels (not shown) are engaged by a pivoted striker (16) which also turns with the handle, in which movement a volume of gas, related to the value of the coin, is freed for use as desired. Only part of the coin mechanism is shown in the drawings, the remainder of the parts being generally similar to those described in Patent No. 1,077,622 (PM96).

The coin mechanism shown is designed for use with the new 1 coin, which has a nominal dimension of 22.5 mm diameter3.1 mm thickness. When such a coin is inserted into slot (12) it enters the coin pocket (15), first encountering one end of a coin retaining pawl (17) seen best in Figures 1 and 3, which end protrudes into the upper part of the coin pocket. The coin pushes pawl (17) out of its path pivoting it about pivot (18), spring (19) urging the pawl clockwise as viewed in Figure 3 into frictional engagement with the edge of the coin.

On further movement into the coin pocket, the coin encounters thickness gauge (20) shown crosshatched in Figure 1 for the purpose of clarity. Gauge (20) is pivoted about axis (21) to rotate about a member (21') secured to striker (16) and is spring urged in the sense that a nose (22) of the gauge protrudes through an opening in striker (16) into the coin pocket. When this nose is engaged by a coin the gauge is urged around against the spring resistance about its pivot. In this movement a stop (23) on the other side of the axis (21) from the nose also moves around the pivot. The distance the nose protrudes into the coin pocket is chosen so that a coin of approximately the nominal thickness 3.1 mm will contact it and move it, while a thin coin will slip past it, not moving the gauge.

Stop (23) extends into an opening in a stationary plate (25), and normally prevents movement of the striker on which the gauge is mounted about the pivot point (26). When a coin rotates the gauge (20) stop (23) moves out of the opening and frees the striker. Spring (27) urges the striker anti-clockwise about its pivot as viewed in Figure 2.

A correct thickness coin on being inserted into the coin pocket will move pawl (17) and nose (22), will free stop (23) from plate (25) and will then engage a stop (29) on striker (16). At this point, the coin will no longer protrude from the slot (12). Further movement of the coin into the coin pocket is carried out by a coin injector (not shown) which is operated when handle (13) is rotated and pushes the coin against stop (29),thus rotating striker (16) about pivot (26). In this movement a tooth (30) (Figure 2) on the end of the striker engages in a quantity wheel, so that the subsequent rotation of handle (13) also rotates the quantity wheel. If a coin which is too thin to move nose (22) has been inserted, then stop (23) will not be freed from plate (25), and will prevent the pivotal movement of striker (16) required to engage the quantity wheel.

When the coin pocket is rotated into the discharge position a hook (31) on a shutter member is engaged to open the shutter and allow the coin to fall out of the pocket releasing the gauge (20). The striker then returns to its initial position, disengaging the quantity wheel, and the handle may be turned back ready for the next coin.

The coin retaining pawl (17) drops to engage the edge of a coin in the pocket and applies pressure to the coin, tending to hold it in the pocket, so preventing the coin being pushed out should the coin injector be incorrectly used, e.g. by being moved back and forth.

In a modification of this arrangement, a further stationary plate (not shown) defines the side of the coin pocket adjacent the striker (16), with appropri ate openings for nose (22) and stop (29) to pass therethrough into the pocket. The coin therefore does not touch the striker (16) except through the nose (22) and stop (29) and frictional effects on the coin are reduced.

An alternative pawl to the pawl (17) is shown in Figure 4. This pawl is fitted inside the coin pocket (15) pivoted at (32) to a stationary plate member near the back of the pocket. A coin (33) when pushed into the pocket in the direction of arrow A, contacts the lip (34) of the pawl liftiny it against spring resistance.

When the coin (33) is fully home in the pocket, the lip (34) drops to the position shown, engaging the edge of the coin adjacent the coin slot. The pressure of a spring (35) holds the lip in contact with the coin and keeps the coin in the pocket during the insertion movement of the coin. The fully inserted coin contacts stop (29) and pivots the striker as described above.

Claims (8)

1. A rotary coin holder mechanism including a coin pocket of a size allowing end-on entry to a coin of known nominal thickness, a gauge pivoted about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of a coin into the pocket and having a part thereof extending partially across the path of the coin such that a coin of said known thickness contacts said gauge and pivots it about its axis out of said path against spring resistance while a thinner coin can slip past it, and a stop member associated with said gauge locking the coin holder mechanism against rotation until released by said pivoting movement of the gauge.

2. A coin holder mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stop member is integral with or mounted on said gauge on the side of its axis opposite from the said part.

3. A coin holder mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stop member extends into an opening in stationary structure thus preventing rotation of the mechanism, said pivoting movement of the gauge removing the stop member from the opening.

4. A coin holder mechanism as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said gauge is mounted on a striker adapted to be pivoted by further movement of the coin into the pocket so as to complete a drive path, said stop member also locking said striker against said movement to complete said drive path until released by said pivoting movement of the gauge.

5. A coin holder mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said striker comprises one wall of said coin pocket and is pivoted about an axis transverse to said direction of movement of the coin.

6. A coin holder mechanism as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, comprising also a coin-retaining pawl normally extending into the coin pocket adjacent its entrance to engage behind a coin in the pocket, and pivotally mounted so as to allow entry to a coin.

7. A coin holder mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said coin-retaining pawl is pivoted about an axis transverse of said pocket such that it may b pushed by a coin entering the pocket about its pivotal axis and thus moved out of the path of the coin, and when the coins entered the pocket may drop back to engage an edge of the coin.

8. A rotary coin holder mechanism substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1 to 3 orto Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.