US1922358A - Coin controlled mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 15, 1933. Q DQANE 1,922,358

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Nov. 30, 1929 v 2 1' I f: A 109/ I //7 I03,

24 i '32; III I,

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INVENTOR Leroy C. Doarzc ATTORN EY m member; l

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 bmrso srArss P ATENr OFFICE Application November 30, 1929 l Serial No. 410,681

28 claims. (01. 194-1) The present invention relates to coin controlled mechanisms, and is more particularly directed towardmechanisms suitable for use with a dispensing machine to release the'same so that it may function to vend an article.

The present invention contemplates a coin controlled mechanism adapted to receive any one of several coins and manually operable to release the dispensing machine, so that it may be carried through an operating cycle, whereupon the machine is automatically stoppedin position to receive .anothercoin. I

The illustrative example of the inventionto be described herein hasbeen developed more par ticularly for use with a paper cutting machine adapted to form and vend toilet seat covers,'and shown in'myPatent No. 1,844,884, granted February 9, 1932. Vending machines for this purpose utilize a large roll of paper for forming the seat covers and requireinspection and renewal'of thepaper supply. "Ihisis necessarily performed in location wherein it 'is inconvenient l to make repaira'and the mechanism, therefore, has, been so designed that substantially all of the parts of the coin control mechanism are embodied A in a sub-assembly which can be quickly attached to or removed from. thefi'aine without disassema bling any of the otherparts" of theinachine.

The invention also contemplatesa locked coin receptacle having fitCOiIl receiving opening and whichmay be inserted in place in the machine so as topermit coins tofbe .received through the opening. Theplacin g of this receptacle in the casing acts ,:,to releasea closure member which,

upon removal of the coin box, acts to close the.

opening through which the coin is passed, so that tampering with thereceipts from the machineit being understood that the drawing is illustrativeof the'inventionrather than limiting the .3 l

nthe drawing: 1 in Figure. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a. seat forming and ven'c'lhig'machine, showing the coin control mechanism and coin receptacle,

the lowering of thecoin bo being indicated in.

dot and dash linesyn Figure 2 is an elevationalwiew taken inthe direction opposite to Figure 1 and showing the coin control mechanism, coin' receptacle. and

rassiciated P t the s pp tin frame being omitted; I v V Figure 3 is an elevational viewtaken in the sarnedirection as Figure 1 and showing the frame one of which is shown at 31;

.ceived in the Figure is a horizontal sectional view on the line 44iof Figure 2 Figure 5 is a section taken on theline 55 of Figure 2 showing part of the coin receptacle; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the front ofthe machine.

The sanitary toilet seat cover dispensing machine shown herein is designed to be mounted on a wall or on a suitable support to the rear of the toilet and is made of such size as to be capable of being fitted in place without incon veniencea The entire mechanism is enclosed in a lockable box or housing. This box may have a back wall lo -side walls 12, and a bottom wall, not shown. It' is covered at .the front by a cover wall 18,. and hinged at 19.

The lower front part of the box has an apron V 21, while the lower front partofthecover has a return bentportion 22 separated from the apron and adapted to form a passage way for the delivery of the seat cover. 7 This housing supports all of the mechanism of thepaper handlingand dispensing machine as well as control mechanism and a coin receptacle. The cover formingand V i dispensing mechanism, together with the coin control'mechanism, are supported on bracketZfl.

The cover forming and dispensing mechanism may be carried between two frameplates,;on1y This frame plate carries the coin control mechanism. The other frame plate resembles it exceptfor the provisions for the coin control mechanism. The plates are secured together by a rod 32 which may be reclips. 24 and; secured in place by screws 25.

Near the upper part of theframe'suitable bearings'are provided, to receivea' rod- 36, passing through the center of a roll of paper 3'7. The

paper is passed from the roll 37 around the front of a presser roll 38, revolvably mounted on a tie rod or tube 38' secured to the frame members by screws passing through holes 38".

This presser roll,38 preferably has a rubber surfaceand it acts to hold. the paper against a female roller 39'. The pape flpasses about the back or rear. side (a; the femaleroll'er'39 and against a male roller 40. f The rolls 39and 4'0 have suitable configuration to form the toilet seat cover in the desired shapeand size] I The rolls j 39and 40 are connected together by 7 gears 41. and 42Jhavm a ,tWato pnej relation; so that thesmallerj female r611. 39 "makesxtwo revolutions ,to one revolution of the larger male T011110. The machine is, therefore, arranged for making a toilet seat cover whose length equal's twice the circumference of the smaller female roll. The femalenroll is provided with grooves 42b to receive the edges 52 of paper tearing devices carried by discs 46 on the male roll 40.

The female roll 39 is supported in bearings formed by holes 39 in the frame and may be driven by a handle, not shown. A pawl 84 prevents turning the mechanism backward.

The frame also carries guiding rolls 60 and 61 for directing the seat cover into the delivery chute. The roll 60 has rubber squeeze rollers and is driven by a gear 63, while the front roll 61 is removable from open bearings 64. 7

The coin control mechanism is carried by and associated with the right hand frame member 31. The inner face of the frame member 31 is provided with a vertical recess adapted to guide a coin. This recess 100 is covered by a plate 101, detachably secured in place by screws 102 and 103, passing through holes 102 and 103 in the plate 101 and threaded into the frame member 31. The plate 101 extends upwardly to be above the upper end of the frame member 31, as indicated at 104. It carries two pins 105 and 106 which act as guides for a sliding member 107, slotted as indicated at 107. The lower end of this slot 107 has a return portion 107", adapted to be hooked over the pin 106 to hold the sliding member in an elevated position. The front of the slider 107 has a forward extension, as indicated at 108, for a purpose to be described, and the upper end of the sliding member 107 extends rearwardly, as indicated at 109 for a purpose to be described.

The lower rear part of the plate 101 is offset, as indicated at 110, and this offset portion carries a stop arm 111 pivoted, as indicated at 112. The lower end of this stop arm has a hook 113 engageable with a pin 114, carried by the gear wheel 42 to stop the apparatus in the proper position. The upper end 115 has a slot 116 to receive a guide pin 117, so that it has a limited freedom of movement. It extends forwardly, as indicated at 118, to be opposite a coin pusher 119 and is designedso as to remain in either extreme posi-. tion, gravity holding it in the dotted line or release position (Figure 2). Gravity and/or friction between the hook 113 and pin 114 holds it in the full line or arresting position.

This coin pushing device 119 may be made in the form of a folded piece of sheet metal slotted. as indicated at 120, to receive a finger 121, folded out of the material of the plate 101. The inner end of the pusher may be bent laterally, as indicated at 122, and passed through a slot 123 in the member 101. A coiled spring 124 acts to hold the coin pushing device in the outer position. The coin pushing device 119 is received in a horizontal slot or recess 124 in the inner face of the frame member 31 and extends out through a hole 119' in the cover 15.

The upper guide pin 105 also pivotally supports an indicator 125. This indicator extends upwardly, as shown in the drawing, and carries an arcuate flange 125 provided with indicia Empty andT'ull, visible through an opening 136 in the cover 15. It also has a projection 127 passing through a slot 127 in the plate 101 and engageable with the edge 1108 of the vertically movabl'ebar 107. This holds the indicating member in the elevated position, as shown in Figure 2 in full lines. When it is inthisposition, it is possible to insert a coin through the coin opening 128,'Figure 6; The coin then passes down between the plate 101 and the frame member 31, a groove or channel 129 being provided for this purpose. "The coin is stopped by the bottom wall of the horizontal channel or groove 124', resting in the position indicated at C of Figure 2. One can then push on the coin pusher 119, pressing the coin rearwardly so that it acts on the forward extension 118 of the lever 111, pushing this lever to the dot and dash line position of Figure 2, and releasing the hook 113 from the pin 114. The coin then drops down the chute provided by the vertical groove or slot 100.

The seat forming mechanism being now released, the machine may be carried through a cycle of operation by the crank and a sheet cover formed. Just before the completion of the form ing of a cover, the pin 114 on the gear wheel 42 strikesthe rear edge 111a of the arm 111 and moves it to a position to arrest the pin. The stop arm 111 may be manually pushed to release the pin 114 by pushing against the front edge of the offset'part indicated by the vertical shade lines in Figure 2.

The upper rearwardly extending portion 109 of the slider 107 is apertured, as indicated at 130, to receive a pin carried on the end of presser bar 131. The other end of this presser bar 131 may be slidably mounted in suitable guides provided in the left frame member. It will thus be seen that the presser bar moves down as the roll of paper is depleted, this being indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 2. When the paper has been used down far enough to carry the vertical side edge 108 of the vertically moving bar below the finger 127, this finger will travel along the bevelled surface 134 until it drops into the notch indicated at 135. This allows the indicator 125 to drop to the dot and dash line position there shown and to carry the indicator to such a position that the word Empty appears behind the indicator opening 136. This will also cause the indicator to close the coin opening so that one cannot insert a coin into the machine. I

, While it might be possible to merely provide a receptacle below the coin chute to receive the coins, the construction herein shown is designed to provide a lockable coin box which may be freely inserted in place and removed with the collection of coins. It is so designed, however, that the removal of the box brings about a closing of the coin passage, so that the box must be unlocked to obtain access to the coins.

The lower end'140 of the frame member 31 supports a coin guide 141. This coin guide may be made of sheet metal and secured in place by screws 142. This sheet metal guide has a strap 143 to receive the lower end of the plate 101. The portion 141 extends downwardly, as indicated in the drawing, and has a curved front flange 144. These parts enter into a coin box to guide the coin into it. This coin box 150 may be a metal box with a removable cover 151 adapted to be locked in place by hooks 152 and a key controlled lock 153. The box cover v151 is provided with a slot 154 adapted to receive the lower end of the coin guide; slidableplate 155 is carried by prongs 156 and 157 and a pin 158. It is adapted to be locked in the position shown in full lines by a trigger 159, pivoted on the pin 158 and held against the lug 160 by a spring 161, the other end of which is connected to the plate 155. The free end 162' of this trigger arm extends over to be underneath the opening 154.

The lower wall of the housing is provided with a hinged plate 163 having side flanges 164 adapted to receive the coin receptacle 150 and with a front flange 165 provided with pins 166 adapted on the under side of the box cover and is guided When one desires toplace an empty coin re-.

ceptacle in place, the trap door 163 is unlocked and lowered, as shown in Figure 1, and a previously prepared coin receptacle is inserted in place with the pins 166 entering the holes, 50, as to properly align the coin box. The'trap door and box are then raised up toward the full line position, and this causesthe lower end 141 of the coin chute to enter into the hole 154 and brings this coin chute against the end 162 of the trigger,

thereby releasing the plate 155 so that the spring 161 will urge it toward closed position. It, how-- ever, cannot'close as the coin guide interferes with such movement. When, however, one unlocks the trap door 163 and lowers the coin re-- ceptacle, the sliding plate 155 immediately closes and prevents access to the interior of the device. i From the foregoing it will be apparent that a very simple and easily serviced form of coin con- 7 trolled mechanism has been provided. The fixed frame 31 has suitableigrooves to receive appropriate parts carried by the sub-assembly embodying plate 101 so that the coin chute is provided by themere assembly of the parts. All the movable parts are carried so that theymay be removed asa unit. Furthermore, the machine is I so arrangedthat the service man may operate it Without the coin receptacle in place. The entire receipts of the machine arein the locked box, thus removing temptation and making it unnecessary to. employ a counter for the seat forming machine.

Where one desires to provide a free dispenser,

instead of a vendor, substantially all the parts may be employed without change, except that the parts 118 and 119 are arranged so that the release of the seat formingvmechanism may be efiected without acoin. i

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within driven device interconnected with the stopping means tofibe thereby reset in position for actuaa tion by a a coin chute formed of two. membersone relatively fixed with respect to said mechanism to be stoppedthe other being detachably. secured to it, the members being shaped to provide coin guiding passages between theircontiguous feces, said passages includinga coin retaining portion adjacent the coin driven device,- and' a normally retracted coin pushing device supported from one of. the members. for pushing a coin againstthe coin driven device to release the 9 stopping means, the coin driven .device and the coin pushing device being secured to the detachable chute forming member. 2. The'combination with a ,m'echanismhaving a predetermined cycle of operations and including apivoted lever having a hook engageable with i a pin carrledby the mechanism for stopping it at the-endpf the cycle, of a coin controlled: mechanism'inc-luding a coin driven device secured to? the pivoted stop lever and movable therewithand interconnected with the stopping means to be.

thereby reset in position for actuation by a coin, a coin chute having a coin retaining portion adjacent. the coin driven device, and a normally retracted coin pushing device for pushing a coin against the coin driven device to release the stopping means. i v .3. The combination with a mechanism having a predetermined cycle of operations and including a pivoted lever having a hook engageable with a bin carried by the mechanism for stopping it at the end of the cycle, of a coin .controlledmechanism including a coin driven device secured to the pivoted stop lever and movable therewith and interconnected with the stopping means to be thereby reset in position for actuation by a coin, a coin chute formed of two members detachably secured together and shaped to provide coin guiding passages between their contiguous faces, said passages including a coin retaining portion adjacent the coin driven device, and a normally retractedcoin pushingdevice. for pushing a coin against the coin driven device to release the stopping means. j i

'41 In combination, a, frame member, a plate detachably securedto the frame member, said parts being formed on their contiguous faces to provide a coin chute having a coin receiving portion and a coin retaining portion, a normally retracted coin pushing device carried by the plate in a position to push a coin across the coin' retaining portion of the chute, a coin driven device pivotally carried by the plate, said coin driven device having limited movement with respect to theplate, and being operable in one direction by the pushing of a coin, means "for shifting the coin driven device in the other direction, and means for keeping the coin driven device in either position.

5. In combination, a machine having a frame memberyand a detachable sub-assembly which, when in position on the frame member, forms a coin chute with coin receiving, coin retaining and coin guiding portions, the detachable sub-as sembly comprising a unit including a mounting.

plate on which are secured coin pushing means, coin driven means, and a shutter for closing the V 6. In-combination, a machine having a frame member, and a detachable sub-assembly which,

when position on the frame member, forms a coin chute with coin receiving, *coin retaining and coin guiding portions, the-detachable subassembly comprising a unit including a mounting plate on which are secured coin pushing means, coindriven means, a shutter for closing the coin chute to prevent the insertion of a coin, and a slidable member for holding the shutter open or for allowingit to close.

- T.'In a coin controlled mechanism, a unitary sub-assembly comprising a mounting plate, a reciprocable coin pusher carried bythe mounting plate, a coin driven device movably carried by the mountingfplatje and having a pin and slotconnection therewith to limit its motion, the coin driven device being opposite the coin pusher, a shutter pivotedto, the mounting plate, and a movable adapted to be mounted in a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocable coin pusher carried by the plate, a lever pivoted to the plate and having a slotted extension on its upper arm opposite the coin pusher adapted to act as a coin driven device when a coin is interposed between the lever and said upper arm, and a pin on said plate engaging the slot in said extension to limit its movement, the lower arm of said lever facing in a direction for releasing an object when the lever is actuated by the coin pusher.

9. In a coin controlled mechanism, a unitary sub-assembly comprising a mounting plate adapted to be mounted in a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocable coin pusher carried by the plate, a lever pivotedto the plate and having an upper slotted extension opposite the coin pusher and adapted to act as a coin driven device, the lever being balanced in either of its extreme posi tions and having a hook at its lower end, a movable member carried by the plate, and a gravity controlled shutter held in either of two positions dependent upon the position of the movable member. 1

10. In a coin controlled mechanism, a vertical frame plate having onv one face a horizontal channel, a vertical channel leading downwardly from the rear of the horizontal channel anda'forward upwardly extending channel, a cover plate secured to the frame plate, the cover plate carrying a coin pusher movablein the front part of the horizontal channel and a pivoted lever having a coin driven extension occupying the rear part of the horizontal channel, the remaining channels forming a coin chute adapted to guide a coin to be between the coin pusher and coin driven extension and to guide the coin after actuation of the lever, and a shutter for closing the coin chute, the shutter being. carried on an arm pivoted to the cover plate and disposed in the same side as the frame plate.

11. In a coin controlled mechanism, a vertical frame plate having on one face a horizontal channel, a vertical channel leading downwardly from the rear of the horizontal channel and a forward upwardly extending channel, a cover plate secured to the frame plate, the cover plate carrying a coin pusher movable in thefront part of the horizontal channel and a pivoted lever having a coin driven extension occupying the part of. the horizontal channel, the remaining channels forming a coin chute adapted to guide a coin to be between the coin pusher and coin driven extension and to guide the coin after actuation of the lever, a shutter for closing the coin chute, the shutter being carried on an arm pivoted to the cover plate and disposed in the same side as the frame plate, and a slidable shutter support carried on the other side of the cover plate and connected with the shutter for operating the same.

12. The combination with a machine for forming paper articles from a web and vending the same, of coin controlled mechanism for controlling the operation of the vending machine comprisinglone of the frame members of the machine a sub-assembly detachably carried ing paper articles from a web and vending the same, of coin controlled mechanism for controlling the operation of the vending machine comprising one of the frame members of the machine and a sub-assembly detachably carried thereby and readily removable from the machine, the sub-assembly together with the frame member providing a coin chute, the sub-assembly including a plate carrying the movable parts of the coin operating mechanism and the coin driven mechanism for releasing the machine, the plate also carrying a shutter for closing the coin chute and shutter opening means responsive to the supply of paper.

14. In a coin controlled mechanism, a unitary sub-assembly comprising a mounting plate adapted to be mounted in a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocable coin pusher carried by the plate, a plate supported, gravity actuated shutter, and a vertically movable slider, the slider holding the shuter elevated while in a certain range of positions, gradually allowing it to lower as it is lowered and then allowing it to drop on further movement.

15. In combination, a coin controlled mechanism having a coin chute, a shutter for closing the coin chute through which the coin passes, and a vertically slidable member having a slot to receive guiding pins and a vertical edge to engage an extension from the shutter to hold the shutter in position to permit access to the coin chute, the slidable member having a bevelled edge to receive the shutter extension and allow limited movement of the shutter, and a notch to receive the extension and allow the shutter to close the chute on further movement of the slidable memher.

16. In combination, a coin controlled mechanism having a coin chute, a shutter for closing the coin chute through which the coin passes, and a vertically slidable member having a slot to receive guiding pins and a vertical edge to engage an extension from the shutter to hold the shutter in position to permit access to the coin chute, the slidable member having an edge to engage the shutter extension and hold the shutter open, and a notch to receive the extension and allow the shutter to close the chute on further movement, the slot having a return portion to receive one of the guiding pins and hold the slidable member in an elevated position.

17. A device for showing the depletion of a supply of material comprising a movable member havinga position which varies according to the amount of said material and having three indicator actuating portions, and an indicator controlled thereby, the indicator having a position of rest until the material is depleted to a predetermined amount as determined by one portion of the movable member, then being moved gradually as more of said material is used under the control of another portion and then being suddenly moved under the control of the remaining portion.

18. A device for showingthe depletion of a supply of material comprising a vertically slidable member having a position which varies according to the amount of said material, and an indicator, the sliding member having a front edge against which the indicator bears, a. portion of the edge being vertical so that the indicator is stationary, the upper portion of the=frontedge sloping rearwardly to allow the indicator to move as the sliding member is lowered further.

19. A slot closer for coin controlled machines comprising a movable gravity controlled member 241. A slot closer and indicator for coin controlled machines for dispensing material from a roll, comprising a gravity actuated slider having a position in accordance with the amount of material remaining in the roll, a shutterfor closing the slotof the coin controlled machine, said shutter bearing indicia and being under the control of the slider, the slider having a portion which holds the shutter stationary until the slider has lowered to a predetermined point, a succeeding por-- tion which effects a movement of the shutter to present different indicia to indicate the emptying of the roll without closing the slot, and a third portion which releases the shutter so that it closes the slot.

21. A dispensing machine having a closed housing for enclosing a supply of material to be dispensed and provided with a window, a gravity controlled follower for pressing down on the supply of material and having a position varying with the amount of undispensed material, a member suspended from the follower and carried in guides which determine the path of movement of the member and follower, and a gravity actuated shutter adjacent the window, the shutter having an extension. bearing on the suspended member and normally held thereby in open position, the suspended member having a notch into which the extension drops to closethe window.

22. A dispensing machine having a closed housing for enclosing a supply of material to be dispensed and provided with a window, a gravity controlled follower. for pressing down on the supjply of material and having a position varying with the amount of undispensed material, a member suspended from the follower and having a vertically extending slot, guides entering the slot to determine the path of movement of the member and follower, and a gravity actuated shutter adjacent the window, the shutter having an extension bearing on the suspended member and normally held therebyin open position, the suspended member having a notch into which the extension drops to close the window.

' 23. A dispensing machine having a closed housing for enclosing a supply of material to be dispensed and provided with a window, a gravity controlled follower for pressing down on the supply of material and having a position varying with the amount of undispensed material, a

member suspended from the follower and carried in guides which determine the path of movement of the member and follower, means acting on the suspended member for holding the follower and suspended member in an elevated fixed position, and a gravity actuated shutter adjacent the window, the shutter having an extension bearing on the suspended member and normally held thereby in open position, the suspended gravity controlled follower for pressing down on the supply of material and having a position varying with the amountof undispensed material, a member suspended from the follower adjacent the plate and carried in guide pins secured to the plate to fixthe path of movement of the member and follower, and a gravity actuated shutter pivoted to the plate and carried adjacent the window, the shutter having an extension bearing on the suspended member and normally held thereby in open position, the suspended memberv having a notch into which the extension drops to close the window. 1

25. A stop and release mechanism for dispensingmachines comprising a rotary member carried in a frame and having a stop pin, a plate detachably carried by the frame, a lever arm pivotally carried by the plate and havinga hook engageable with the stop pin to stop the rotary member, a reciprocatory plunger slidably carried by the plate, a spring normally holding the plunger out of contact with the lever arm, the plunger being movable to actuate the lever arm to release the stop pin, the stop pin being engageable with the lever arm to restore it to stopping position before the stoppin arrives opposite the hook, the plunger, plate and lever arm being detachable as a unit from the frame.

26. A stop and release mechanism for dispensing machines comprisinga rotary member carried in a frame and having a stop pin, a plate detachably carried by the frame, a lever arm pivotally carried by the plate and having a hook engageable with the stop pin to stop the rotary member, a pin and slot connection between thelever arm and plate to limit the movement of the arm, a reciprocatory plunger slidably carried by the plate, a spring normally holding the plunger out of contact with the lever arm, the plunger being movable to actuate the lever arm to release the stop pin, the stop pin being engageable with the lever arm to restore it to stopping position before the stop pin arrives opposite the hook, the plunger, plate and-lever arm being detachable as a unit from the frame. 2'7. An indicator for dispensing machines comprising a vertical supporting plate, a slidable member guided for vertical reciprocation along one sideface of the plate and having a vertical edge and a notch above the vertical edge, a shutter plate pivoted to the supporting plate on the opposite side and having an extension passing through an aperture in the supporting plate to bear on the edge of the slidable member, the shutter plate extending forwardly from the pivot so that the shutter plate is sustained in position by the extension and may lower when the extension reaches the notch.

28. An indicator for dispensing machines comprising a vertical supporting plate, a slidable member guidedfor vertical reciprocation along one side face of the plate and having a vertical edge and a notch above the vertical edge, a shutter plate pivoted to the supporting plate on the opposite side and having an extension passing through an aperture in the supporting plate to bear on the edge of the slidable member, the shutter plate extending forwardly from the pivot so that the shutter plate is sustained in position by the extension and 'may'lower when the extension reaches the notch, the shutter having a laterally extending arcuate face bearing indicia and movable up or down to present the same behind a window.

' LEROY C.-DOANE.

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