US2031160A - Slug-rejecting coin slide - Google Patents

Description

SLUG REJECTING coIN'sLIDE Filed Feb.' 3, 1934 f 2 Sheets-Sheecl l gmc/Wto@ Feb. 18, 193. L. M. HALL,

SLUG REJECTING COIN SLIDE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1934 zwi M. W #w m H j l. 0, 3 a L l 7% iw @v m s my m. m 0 W A W ud Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES zoniet 2,031,160 SLUG-REJECTING COIN SLIDE Louis M. Hall, Fort Thomas, Ky., assigner to The Monarch Tool & Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 3, 1934, Serial No. '109,621

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a manually operated coin-controlled mechanism for use with various mechanical devices which release one or more objects to the operator upon deposit of a coin and actuation of the device of this invention.

AAn object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which may not be actuated upon insertion therein f a coin of a denomination other than that which the device is made to receive, nor by slugs of cardboard, lead, fiber or other non-magnetic comparatively soft material, nor by slugs, perforate or imperforate, of magnetic material such as iron or steel, even though all of these may be of proper diameter and thickness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described in which an operator who either deliberately or accidentally makes use of a coin of the wrong denomination, must withdraw the coin from the device rather than lose the coin, as in similar mechanisms heretofore constructed.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide a device of the character stated which may be manufactured inexpensively and with a minimum of labor; to provide such a device with means whereby it may easily and inexpensively be converted to receive and operate by the use of coins of different denominations; to provide an effective, simple, and durable ratchet mechanism for Vprecluding recovery of the inserted coin after the coin has been advanced a predetermined distance; and to provide such device with a slug cutter or mutilator which functions to preclude entry of the slug-to the extent necessary for releasing the objects to be dispensed.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the Fig. l device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan View of the coin slide or actuating member.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a double-acting ratchet member or pawl which cooperates with certain notches formed along one side edge of the coin slide.

`Fig. 5 is a plan View, part being broken away, showing the body of the device with the top plate, the coin slide, and the slug detecting magnet removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a sid-e View of the top plate and its associated slug rejecting elements.

' be advanced from the inoperative extended posi- Fig. '1 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the coin slide in a partly advanced position.`

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5 9--9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IIJ-I0 of Fig. 3.

The device of this invention is designed to preclude improper operation of the device and to 10 return to the operator any coin or slug other than the kind which the device is intended to receive, thereby precluding jamming and possible injury to the device and precluding also the likelihood of putting the device out of service. For conl5 venience of description and explanation, the de vice will be set forth as a nickel receiving apparatus, it being understood however, that a simple change in proportions of the coin-receiving and operating parts is all that is necessary to provide for operation of the device by pennies, dimes, quarters or other coins of uniform proportions. It is to be observed that one object of the invention is specifically to provide a construction whereby the changes required for ren'- dering the device properly receptive of diierent coin denominations, may be accomplished with a minimum of labor and expense. The provision of a novel and effective slug cutter which dents or shaves the slug edge is also an important feature of the device about to be described.

In the drawings, I2 indicates a guide member or plate which has suitable longitudinal bearing or guide channels I3 and I4 for slidably receiving the side edges I5 and I6 of a coin slide or coin advancing member I1. The member I'I preferably is in the form of a substantially flat longitudinal strip having the forward handle end I8 and a rear end I9. The coin side is adapted to and a rear end I9. The coin slide is adapted to be described later), at which the handle end is disposed a short distance from the mounting plate 2U, and at which position the coin is de1ivered by the slide to any suitable receiver or till at the right-hand side of the mounting plate. The guide member I2 will be seen to extend both forwardly and rearwardly of the mounting plate 20.

In the normal or inoperative position of the coin slide, (Fig. 1), an aperture 2I therein, for the reception of nickels, registers substantially with an exposed cut-away portion 22 of the part I2 so that such coinmay be ,placed within the aperture ZI and advanced by the slide while resting upon the bottom wall 23 of the guide plate or member I2. A finger hole 24 is provided in the bottom wall 23 to enable the operator to easily remove a coin inadvertently placed in the opening 2 I, before advancement of the slide to an appreciable extent.

It is of importance to note that the aperture 2| of the slide is located OIT-center, (Fig. 3), andV that it has a mouth or cut-out at the edge I6 of the slide bounded by a pair of opposed abutments 25 and 26. Abutment 25 is a dog stop, and is formed in part by the edge I6 of the slide. The abutment 26 is a dog guide, and'is located nwardly of the slide edge I6 but associated therewith, in a sense, by reason of the yconnecting incline or track portion 21. The distance between the abutments 25 and 26 is less than the diameter of aperture 2|. The abutments are adapted to cooperate with the stop end 28 and the chisel or cutter part 29 of a slug intercepting vdog 30, in a mannertobe described later.

Behind the mounting vplate 20, the bottom wall 23 of guide plate I2 is cut away to provide. a coin release aperture 3I, (Figs. 5 and 9), but Ythis aperture is closedY from :its forward end 32` to a point 33, by means of a coin supportingrwall or floor plate 34. It is immaterial whether the member 34 is integral with guide plate I2 orattached thereto bymeans of screws or otherfastening means such as-35, but it is important that the member 34 shall be properly shaped to provide a well or depressed coin supporting surface 36 which lies in a plane below and spaced from the slide or its guides-I3-I4 a distance not less .than the thickness of the coin intended to properkthe proper kind of coin will be pushed along the surface 31, down onto and along the depressed surface 36, and overthe rear edge 381of member 34, whence the coin will fall through the coinreleasing aperture 3I and into a suitable receiver, not shown. The well `or depressed pocket structure just described is set forthV fully in applicants United States Patent of May 16, 1933, numbered 1,908,752.

'I'he upperwall 39 vof guide` plate I2 is cut away in the shape of an ordinary horse-shoe magnet as at 40, to receive and hold stationary-a magnet 4I -in close Yproximity with the upper'surface-of the coin slide. It is to be noted that the poles of the magnet overliethe elevated portion 31` of the pocket-forming or well-forming'member 34. The weight of the magnet advantageouslymay be supported directly by the coin slide, if desired, as this construction avoids the fitting the magnet in yits lholding-socket or aperture 40. Due to the off-center disposition of the coin slide aperture 2I, themagnet poles are required to be disposed to one-side rof the guide plate, nearestthe guide-Way I4, sothat both poles may act effectively to attracta magnetic coin or slug that may be introduced into the device. The oir-center disposition of Vthese partswill be. more fully treated hereinafter, as it is necessary to first describe and explain ythe functions of other parts.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 1,'2 and 6 which show a trigger mechanism that forms part of the invention. The trigger mechanism is supported upon a so-calledtop plate`42 which may necessity of closely allelism with the side edges of the coin slide. VA spring 48 mounted atop the bracket 43, contacts'the nose end of the trigger member for the purpose of yieldingly projecting the nose through the aperture 2I when the slide is advanced Without insertion of a coin into the coin slide aperture 2I. The nose 46 thereby contacts the forward portion of the aperture wall, to preclude further advancement of the coin slide, when the slide is partly advanced without insertion of a coin. The nose 46 may enter also the aperture 32, through the opening 51 of plate 34.

Intermediate the nose end and .the pivot end of the trigger member is a depending lug or projection 49 which .is adapted to ride upon the .coin slide as said slide is moved longitudinally.

Normally, the lug 49 rests atopthe slide, upon an elevated track portion `5I) immediately behind a straight longitudinal'depressed track portion or groove 5I. The grooveI has a bottom wall 52, formed by. a longitudinal off-center strip, rib or guide piece 53 whichextends below the coin slide as indicated in Figs. 8 and 10. The guide piece 53 extends from a point near the rear end o1' the slide, forwardly to the aperture 2I Where it is broken, and it continues forwardly'a short distance from said aperture as shown in Fig. 10. The inclines 54 and 55 provide for-easy movement of the lug 49 and nose 46,'respectively, into and out of the kdepressed track portion or groove 5I Yof the coin slide. It is to be understood that both of the elements 49 and 46 are adapted to ride in the groove, at certain times. 'I'he guide Vstrip 53 has a coin-advancing end or abutment 56, near the forward edge of aperture 2I, which end is adapted to move within a slot or Way-51 of the depressed plate portion 36 of the well, so as to closely overlie the depressed plate portion and thereby dislodge from the well any coin that may fall into the depressed portion when advanced thereto by the coin slide. The opposed end or abutment 56 is provided to abut the coin and preclude retraction of theslide in the event that the abutment 56 fails, due to insufficient slide advancement, to eject the coin from the well.

The longitudinal strip forming the coin dislodging abutment 56 is slidable in a relatively wide groove 58 formed in the bottom wall 23 of the guide plate I2, this groove being extended both forwardly and rearwardly of the finger hole 24. The groove is formed olf-center of the guide plate, like the opening 24, so as to receive the off-center coin pushing element 56 of the coin slide. The purpose of off-centering the elements 58, 24, 56, 52, 2I and magnet 4I, and of providing the wide slot 58, is to enable the manufacturer to transform the device into a dime, quarter, cr penny receiving device by simply enlarging or decreasing the diameter of the coin slide aperture 2I and furnishing a differently slotted plate 34. No part of the entire guide plate I2 need be changed. other than the removable well member 34, to effect the transformation necessary to adapt the device for reception of coins of dlierent denominations. As will be understood, the longitudinal coin pusher element 53 of Fig. 8 will assume different positions within the wide guide slot 58 according as the coin-receiving aperture 2| ofthe coin slide is drilled larger or made smaller to receive coins of different diameters; YWhen the coin slide is thus altered to receive coins of different diameters, proper care is taken to drill the holes such as 2| in order that there will be provided on the coin slide edge I6 the various abutments 25, 26 and 2'I (Fig. 3), to cooperate with the cutting or chiseling dog.30, in `a manner about to be described.

.As is clearly seen'v from the disclosure of Fig. 1, the cutter portion 29 normally rests with its fiat portion 59 against the edge I6 of the coin slide, whereby to hold the stop end 28 thereof spaced from the coin slide edge I6. As the slide is advanced, however, the dog element 59 slides'inwardly over the incline 21, due tothe yielding action of a spring 60, to place the abutment 28 of the dog in position to engage the abutment 25 of the coin slide and to thereby effectively arrest further advancing movement of the coin slide in the manner illustrated in Fig. '7. The foregoing described action results when no coin is placed in the coin slide aperture 2 I. It may be remarked at this time that the nose 46 of the trigger member 45 will also move down into position within the aperture 2| to enter the coin slide aperture 2|. The trigger nose may strike the abutment 56 before the dog end 28 abuts the projection 25, if desired, to relieve the dog of the function of stopping the slide, however, the real function of the trigger nose Vis to enter the central openings of washers or perforated slugs or coins. It is in fact immaterial whether the advancing movement of the coin slide is arrested by the trigger nose 46 or by the dog end 28, in the event that a coin is absent from the coin slide aperture 2|. The dog 30 is pivoted upon the guide plate I2 as at 6|, to lie in the plane of the coin slide member I1 adjacent to its side edge I6, as will be apparent Vfrom Fig. 2.

The element indicated by the character 62 (Figs. 2 and 6), is a fixed stop carried by the top plate 42 and arranged to depend always into the groove 5I of the coin slide at a location slightly forwardly of the trigger actuator 49, and above the well or depressed portion 36 of plate 34. The stop element 62 and its function is set forth in combination with the well or depressed pocket structure in applicants United States patent of May 16, 1933, No. 1,908,752. As is apparent by referring to Fig. 2, any coin or slug remaining in the plane of the coin slide while disposed over the well, will have its advancing edge to contact the stop 62, whereby to limit the advancement of the slide. The foregoing will result when a slug of magnetic material is precluded, by magnet 4|, from dropping into the well at 36. Such a slug, being held within the coin slide aperture 2| by the attraction of magnet 4|, obviously will be returned to the operator when the Vcoin slide is retracted by him. The complete operation of the mechanism will not be set forth in detail, however, until completion of the description.

Means are provided for precluding retraction of the coin slide after it has been advanced a predetermined distance, or the distance necessary to operate a dispensing device such as is customarily associated with coin control devices. Said means comprises a jamb plate or member 63 (Figs. 4 and 9), having an upper lobe or'ear pivoted loosely as at B4 upon an upwardly directed extension 65 of the guide plate, said guide plate being apertured at 66, above the coin slide edge I5, to permit the jamb plate to depend vertically into one'or the other of a pair of enlarged notches 6l or 68 in the-coin slide. The coin slide is provided, intermediate the notches 6l and 63 and along the edge I5, with a series of short notches 69 into which the corners l!) or 1| of the jamb plate may engage according as the slide is advanced or retracted in an improper manner to secure repeated delivery of articles from the dispenser with the use of a single coin. As will be understood by referring to Figs. 3, 5 and 9, advancement of the slide I5 will'cause the edge 'I2 of notch 68 to strike the sliding face 'I3 of the jamb plate, whereby to slightly rotate the plate and cause its corner I to slide atop the edge portion of the coin slide. As the corner l@ passes over the series of notches 69 and falls into each of them, any attempt to retract the coin slide results in a binding or jambing action between Va notch 69 'and the lower jambing surface 14 of the jamb plate. However, when the slide is advanced sufliciently to dispose the forward notch l in registry with the jamb plate, the jamb plate assumes a vertical position, at which the coin slide is free to be retracted. Upon retracting the coin slide, the other sliding surface 'l5 of the jamb plate bumps over the notches 59, leaving the pointsrll always in readiness to jamb the slide upon an attempt to improperly reverse the movement of the coin slide while the notches G3 Vare disposed in the vicinity of the jamb plate. The characters l5 indicate seats on the jamb plate for reception of a pair of spring arms l1 (Fig. 1) which serve to yieldingly hold the jamb plate always in the vertical or normal position shown in Fig. 9. The spring just mentioned may be secured to the top plate 42 as indicated at 18.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that there is no coin within the coin slide aperture 2|, and that the slide I5 be advanced by an operator of the device, by referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be observed that the slide will advance until the stud 49 descends the incline 54 and thereby lowers the forward end or nose 46 downwardly through the aperture 2|, thereby causing the'abutment 56 to strike the forward surface of nose 46 and consequently terminate inward advancement of the coin slide member. The slight movement afforded the slide under the conditions just mentioned is insufcient to actuate a dispensing device with which the coin control device is associated. A slide partially advanced as above explained, may be retracted to the original or inoperative position, during which retractile movement the incline 54 will act upon the lug 49 of the trigger member to elevate the nose 46 to the non-intercepting position of, Fig. 2.

Assuming now that a perforated coin or washer be inserted in the coin slide aperture 2 advancement of the coin slide member will result in lowering the trigger nose 45 into the perforation of such apertured coin or washer, thereby likewise precluding appreciable advancing movement of the slide. The rearmost edge of nose 45 being inclined upwardly, there will be no tendency of the trigger nose to hold the perforated coin or slug, wherefore the slide may be withdrawn to the initial position and the improper coin or slug removed.

When the proper coin is deposited in the coin slide aperture 2|, the slide will advance freely, the nose 46 riding over the top surface of the coin and permitting the coin to pass onto the elevated portion 3`| of. the plate 34, whereupon further movement of the slide and coin results in dropping of the coin through the aperture 2| and onto the depressed or lowered supporting wall 36 of plate 34. When the coin isthus deposited upon the surface 36, the coin is no longer under the iniiuence of the advancing action of aperture 2|, but the coin pushing projection 56 0n the bottom of the coin slide then completes the rearward movement of the coin by moving it rearwardly along surface 38 until it drops over the edge 38 and through the coin releasing aperture 3|. During the early part of the coinadvancing movement just explained, the chisel or cutting-part 29 of dog 30 had, under the inuence of spring 60, moved down the incline 21 of. the coin slide member 5 so as to place the abutting end 29 of the dog in position to strike the abutment 25 of the coin slide, but the periphery of the coin as it rested in the opening 2| struck the extension 29 of the dog and moved its end 28 from alignment with the abutment'25, in suflicient time to allow the'abutment 25 to pass the Ydog 30.

The above described action of dog 30 is diiTerent, however, when a slug of cardboard, lead, or other comparatively soft material of the proper size is inserted in the coin-receiving aperture 2| of the slide member. Assuming that a soft lead slug be placed in the aperture 2|, and that the slug be of the same diameter as a nickel, the chisel or cutter-point'or edge 29 will dig into or indent the soft metal edge of the slug and thereby permit the stop end 28 of dog 30 to move into engagement with the abutment 25 ofthe coin slide member. Thus, there is precluded all further advancement of the slide member. The same action results when a slug of cardboard or other soft material of proper coin diameter is placed within the coin-receiving aperture 2| in an attempt to operate the mechanism for delivery of an article to be dispensed.

If a coin or slug of smaller diameter than the intended coin be inserted into the receiving aperture 2|, the extending lug 29 of the dog willnot be acted upon by such smaller coin or slug to remove the abutting end 28 of the dog from the path of movement of. the slide abutment 25, wherefore, the advancing movement of the slide will be terminated when the elements 28 and 25 abut, or in other Words, prior to Van appreciable advancement of the slide member.

It is to be observed that in each of the above circumstances, where the slug or coin was either too small, too soft, or perforated through its central portion, it was imperative that such slug or coin of improper proportion or shape be retracted by the slide member rather than retained within the mechanism. Ihe necessary withdrawal of the improper coin or slug obviously precluded all possibility of jamming'the mechanism and putting the device out of service.

It will now be assumed that a slug of the proper diameter, but of a magnetic material such as iron or steel, is inserted into the coin-receiving aperture 2| in the attempt to actuate the device. Under these conditions, the magnetic slug of proper diameter will be advanced when the slide is advanced, and the slug, being of proper size and of, hard material, will actuate the dog 30 just as a nickel would move the dog to prevent engagement of the abutments'28 and 25. However, as the magnetic slug moved over the elevated portion 31 of plate 34, and toward the well or depressed portion 36 of the plate, the

magnet would attract the rmagnetic slug and preclude its falling on the depressed surface`36. The magnetic slug,. being maintained in an elevated position by the action of the magnet, would necessarily have its advancing edge come into contact withthe depending stop 62 (Figs. 2 and 6), thereby precluding complete advancement of the slide member. Inasmuch as the magnet thereby retains the magnetic slug within the coin aperture 2| of the slide, it is imperative that the slug be returned to the operator upon withdrawal of the slide member. It will be understood,.of course, that a coin of non-magnetic material, with whichthe device is adapted to operate, would never strike the stop 62 because such proper coin would have to drop into the well portion 36 before reaching the stop 62. As will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, any suitable'type of actuating member 8D would be associated with the coin slide and with a dispensing device, so as to dispense articles only upon advancement of the coin'slide to the fully extended position. As all types of, slugs and improper coins have the effect of precluding complete advancement of the coin'slide member, it therefore follows that'no articles would be dispensed with the use of slugs or coins of irnproper diameter or of comparatively 'soft material.

The action oi the jamb plate 63'for precluding improper manipulation of the coin slide member has been fully set forth in a preceding paragraph,

Attention is directed particularly to the offset or ofi-center disposition of the'various parts of the coin slide and associated mechanism, whereby the parts 25, 26, and 2'| which are necessary complements for the noses 28and 29 of dog 30, may easily'and inexpensively be formed regardless of the size of coin aperture 2| to be provided, without changing the location of any of the guide plate elements excepting the easily replaceable plate 34. Thus, the same guide plate structure is used in making coin control devices operating by the use of nickels, dimes, quarters, pennies or any other denomination of coin. Heretofore it was necessary to use many different dies and different machine settings in manufacturing coin control devices for nickel, dime, penny and quarter machines, but most of this has been eliminated by utilizing the orf-center construction and the edgewise disposed dog 30. It is noteworthy also that any and all slugs, or coins of the wrong diameter, are returned to the operator, thereby precluding jamming of'the mechanism and putting the device out of service. The provision of a slug edge cutting or denting dog also is considered a novel and very desirable feature of the device.

It is to be understood that various modications and changes in the structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guide plate providing a slide guide, a coin slide receivable in said guide for sliding advancement and retraction longitudinally, said slide having one longitudinal side edge cut away to provide an open-sided coin receiving aperture through which a part of the periphery of a coin or soft slug resting in said aperture is exposed in the plane of the slide, means operating upon advancement of the slide to indent a soft slug and arrest the advancing movement of the slide, a narrow off-center depending strip on the slide the major axis of which strip passes approximately through a diameter of the coin receiving aperture, a relatively wide cooperative groove in the guide plate for reception of said off-center depending strip, and a horse-shoe magnet supported over the coin slide with its poles disposed in off-center relationship relative to the coin slide so that the poles will overlie the offcenter coin receiving aperture when the slide is advanced, whereby the location of the magnet, the guide plate channel, and the slug indenting and slide arresting means, may remain in the aforesaid cooperative positions and still perform their respective functions although the opensided coin receiving aperture be enlarged or reduced in diameter for reception of coins of different denominations.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guide plate providing a slide guiding means and having in its upper face a longitudinal groove, a coin slide received in said guiding means for sliding advancement and retraction longitudinally, said slide having one longitudinal side edge out away to provide an opensided coin receiving aperture through which a part of the periphery of a coin or soft slug resting in said aperture is exposed in the plane of the slide, means operating upon advancement of the slide to indent a soft slug placed within the aperture, means for precluding full advancement of said slide upon operation of the indenting means, an oif -center depending rib on the slide the major axis of which rib passes approximately along a diameter of the coin receiving aperture, said rib being considerably narrower than the longitudinal groove in the upper face of the guide plate so as to be received in said groove with abnormal lateral clearance, a magnet supported over the coin slide with its poles substantially straddling the axis of the aforesaid rib, and a Well-carrying plate fixed beneath the slide, said plate having a longitudinal Way therein of approximately the Width of the guide plate groove and substantially in alignment with said groove, to permit movement of the depending rib therein, the aforesaid arrangement being for the purpose of rendering all the parts operatively related even though the coin slide aperture be changed in diameter to receive coins of different sizes.

LOUIS M. HALL.

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