US1722690A - Coin tester and slug eliminator for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1929. o, w, TIMM 1,722,690

COIN TESTER AND SLUG ELIMINATOR FOR VEXQDING MACHINES Filed Feb. 21, 1927 Patented .luly 3Q, 1929.

UNITED STATES OTTO W. TIME, OF EAGLE ROCK, CALIFORNIA.

COIN TESTER AND SLUG ELIMINATOR FOR VENDING- MACHINEB.

Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,731.

more particularly the provision of a coin slot for nickel machines, particularly inasmuch as slugs and washers of the same or approximatesize and weight of a nickel, are quite commonly encountered.

Usually, in order to correct coins and eliminate them, many and varied testing devices are incorporated in the slot, each of which in itself is often quite delicate and readily damaged. 7

It is therefore another object of the invention to test the weight, size and bounding qualities of a coin, with a small number of parts. I

My invention contemplates the provision of novel but comparatively simple means for testing the size and metal of a coin or slug simultaneously. Such means leaves only the weight untested.

It is another object of the invention to provide for testing the weight of the coin or slug by simple meansin the same chute.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will appear hereinafter.

I have illustrated my invention byv tlie companying drawings, in which Figure 1 1s a view in elevation of my complete chute, a portion of the cover being removed to show underlying parts.

Figure 2 is a view in section on a line-22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2'lying between the numerals 3 and 3 respectively.

, Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in section seen on a line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention in the present embodiment, I provide a thin vertically ranging hollow casing comprising a rear wall 8 and a removable front wall 9; the front wall being shown removed in Fig. 1. Th1 side walls 11 and 12 coact with the other walls detect slugs and inof the casing to provide intercommunicating channel-like spaces 13 and 14, respectively. These spaces are in width only slightly greater than the thickness of the coin, so that the coin falls through the channels edgewise, only. The channel 13 is inclined. slightly from vertical, so that a coin introduced through the opening 15 will roll downwardly along the wall 11. 'In the space 14 there is provided a bumper 16. This bumper is preferably in the form of a hard piece of metal agalnst WhlCh a coin will strike and rebound. Said bumper is placed mainly in a recess 17 of the channel 14 so that its major portion is not in line with a coin rolling down through the channel 13. A small end 18 of said bumper is, however, disposed to project into the path of a coin falling through the channel 13. I The channel, 14 opens broadly from channel 13 away from the bumper so that the coin may travel therethrough along the broken line indicated at 20. The bumper is shown fixed to the rear wall of the casting by a cap screw 21.

From channel 14, there leads downwardly a discard channel 22, which is practically in alignment with the channel 13. Any coin passing the bumper Without being deflected will fall into channel 22 and thus be elimi nated.

To the left of channel 14 there is a final channel 23 leading from the bottom of channel 14. An extension 24, to said rear wall, curves upwardly and forwardly to provide a substantially horizontal surface 24*, for a coin to ride upon. This surface forms a continuation '23 to channel 23, and channel 23 curves so as to direct a coin in a path parallel to the major axis of the casing. The channels 13 and 14 convey the coin edgewise while the channel 23 turns the coin until it travels through the channel 23 flat-wise.

In channel 14 and midway between channels 22 and 23, and toward the lower part of the channel 14, there is provided a sepa-' rator 26, which presents an upwardly dis posed point 26. Said point is disposed practically directly in the path of the line 20. From the point 26, a surface 26" leads in a downwardly inclined path toward channel 22. An opposite surface 26 leads from the point toward the channels 23 and 23". This separator is also in the form of a hard piece of metal secured to the back wall of the casing.

The casing is provided wit-h lugs 28 whereby it may be properly held to some fixed member within a vending machine or the like (not shown). Another lug 27 projects down wardly from the bottom wall 24.

For better understanding of the parts to be described later, the operation of the parts just described will now be explained.

A coin, such as a nickel for instance, for which it is assumed the device is designed, is introduced to the slot so that it falls through channel 13. This coin enters the upper end of channel 13 on an approximately horizontal plane so that it cannot be introduced to the channel 13 at any excess impetus. Thus the coin is impelled downwardly through the channel 13 only by gravity, which invariably accelerates all coins at the same speed through the channel 13. The size of the nickel is such that one edge strikes the bumper and causes the coin to be deflected through the path 20. The combined deflection and rebound caused by the bumper causes a good nickel to reach the separator in such position that it strikes slightly to the left of the separator and on surface 26. From here the nickel continues on to channel 23". If the nickel is badly damaged so that a fiat edge strikes the bumper it may not reach the correct side of the separator and may fall into the discard channel. If it does not fall into the discard channel, if underweight, it will be discarded by means to be described later. A very worn nickel may reach channel 23, but if it is worn so thin as to be underweight and not suited for circulation, it too will be discarded by means to be described later. I An undersized coin or slug rolling on wall 11 will miss the bumper and will fall directly into the discard chute. If the slug or incorrect coin is ever so slightly undersize it will not be given the proper deflection to reach the eft hand sile of the point of the separator and will accordingly reach the discard channel. A slug of the right size, but of less resilient character than the nickel, will not bounce from the bumper far enough to reach the correct position on the. separator and will also be discarded.

In practice, I have found that practically the only bogus coin or slug the size of a nickel which will reach the channel 23*", is

' one of a diflerent weight, either by reason of its having a hole in it or by reason of being of different metal so close in character .to the nickel as to pass the bumper test. The top surface of bumper 16 is of course correctly inclined to give the desired results.

"Anycoin reaching channel 23 is of the correct diameter. It cannot be appreciabl thicker than the nickel because the cha fore lighter. Therefore,practically all bogus coins or slugs reaching the channel 23 are lighter than the nickel.

To eliminate light slugs I provide a channeled member 30 having a lug 31 attached to lug 28 and providing a continuation 23 to channel 23*. member is open as at 31 and from there on to its forward end 32, where the channel curves outwardly andopens into a discard channel 32. Where the bottom wall is open there is placed a balanced trap door 33 hung to the channel members on pivots 34, carried by said channeled member. Said trap door forms a movable continuation to the bottom wall of the channeled member, and the channeled member is inclined so that a coin'will slide through it on to the door. Rearwardly of the pivots of the door is a downwardly ranging extension 35 below the channeled member. This extension has a screw threaded stem 36 on which is loosely threaded a nut 37, having a depending weight portion 38. This nut is adjusted longitudinally of the stem to correct position, and although loosely threaded thereon cannot be torn b vibra tion because of the weight 38. Just orwardly of the door is a hardened metal strike 39 in the form of a flat plate underlying the forward open end of the channeled member and forming a further continuation to the bottom wall thereof so that a coin sliding over the door will slide on to the strike 39. The

strike 39 presents a striking edge 40 toward the door.

Below the door and the strike there is located an open top chute 41. This chute is provided with lugs 42 aligned with corre- The bottom wall 30 of this.

open top. also holding the striker plate Ill If the coin is heavy enough, that is of correct weight, it will depress the trap door before it passes over it. sufiiciently to cause the coin to bump the striking edge of the strike. This arrests the coin and allows it to drop through the trap door. If the object reaching the door is other than a nickel, it is almost invariably lighter, for the reason given and will slide over the door into the discai which a coin, will roll edgewise meaeeo channel. The chute continues on from the last mentioned means to deliver the legiti mate coin to'the coin controlled mechanism which it serves. 3

I claim: In a coin tester, a casing providing a channel having spaced guiding walls on one of by gravity vvithoint contact with the other wall, a bumper disposed adjacent the other well to deflect 10 a. normal size disc while permitting a smaller disc to pass, and a deflector disposed in the normal-path of rebound of a normal size coin from said bumper OTTO W. TIMM.

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