US2285748A - Coin controlled attachment - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1942- J. w. SRODULSKI 2,285,748

' COIN CONTROLLED ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l HIS ATTORN June 9, 1942;

J. w. SRODULSKI COIN CONTROLLED ATTACHMENT 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 20, 1937 H15 ATTORN June 9, 1942. J. w. SRODULSKI I COIN CONTROLLED ATTACHMENT Filed Sept.. 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Shed 4 m h wa P? 1: g ah i 2 I Jofse vfi I Mai/Z? Patented June 9, 1942 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROLLED ATTACHMENT Joseph w. Srodulski, Chicago, 111.

Application September 20, 1937, Serial No. 164,661

6 Claims.

This invention pertains tov control devices for coin operated machines and more particularly to an improved control unit adapted for use as an attachment to various kinds of coin operated vending machines including dispensers of bottled beverages and the like.

A further object is the provision of a compact control unit including a mounting plate for ready attachment to a vending machine, slidable cover sections receivable on the mounting plate to enclose the mechanism, and operating mechanism including a manually operable control, dispensing mechanism and intermediate driving means between the operating lever and thedispensing mechanism, and including an automatic overload clutch to prevent forced operation of the device, and a coin operated latch mechanism to free the device for a single operation.

It is a further object 'to provide a coin controlled attachment having an' operating lever controlled by coin-freed means, means for directing a deposited coin into the coin-freed means, indicating mechanism to show the number of operations of the device, and automatic means for blocking the coin directing means when the device has been operated a predetermined number of times.

It is a further object to provide dispenser actuating means having a normal or return spring arrangement and novel damping or braking means to relieve the strain when the mechanism is restored to normal.

A further object is the provision of improved overload clutch means for the prevention of forced operation of a device without deposit of a coin.

Yet another object is the provision of a rugged, compact structure including a housing therefor divisible into two sections slidably received in grooves formed on the attachment mounting plate.

Other objects and novel aspects both in the construction and operation of the attachment will become apparent as the following description proceeds in view of the several drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical side section through the control mechanism and housing;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front vertical section showing the control mechanism largely in elevation; the view being taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical side section 7 clutch seen in the direction of lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the coin latch mechanism as viewed'along lines.66 of Fig. 3;.

Fig. '7 shows the dispenser operating and brake means as viewed in rear elevation along lines 'l! of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal section through the dispensr operating mechanism as'seen along lines 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective fragment of the casing flange means;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail of the coin testing device as seen along line I0l0 in Fig. 11-; while Fig. 11 is'a horizontal sectional plan view of the coin testing device as seen along line ll-ll of Fig. 10. v

The present control mechanism is adapted for use with vending machines of all kinds and is particularly designed for cooperation with a coin control device of the general type shown in United States Patent 2,073,392, such device being in the nature of a cartridge or unit readily installed in the control mechanism of this type and having coin operated latch releasing mechanism arranged for cooperation with the control mechanism to behereinafter described.

The device of the present disclosure is preferably intended as an attachment and in one embodiment includes a substantially rectangular mounting plate [I] (Fig; 1) provided along its edge portions with a groove or channel formation ll provided by narrow plate members I2 extended around the marginal portions of the mounting plate and spaced therefrom by spacers I3. This mounting plate is adapted for attachment to the wall of a dispersing cabinet or the like in which there is usually provided an opening communicating with the dispensing mechanism.

The attachment is completed as a unit by the provision of a cover or housing in two separable sliding sections [4 and I5, having edgewise turned-in flange formations It on the top section-l4, and shorter flange tabs IS on the bottom sectidn l5 (Figs. 2 and 9). Upper section I4 is positioned by sliding its flanges IS in the grooves II and the bottom section 'is provided with an easy slip-on feature including laterally cut-out notched or slot portions It" in the base plate It], dimensioned to receive the flange tabs 16 on the casing so that the latter may be directly or'laterally worked or slipped into the grooves ll instead of having to feed the leading edge of the flange into the beginning of the groove II, as is'done in the case of the upper section I' l. The lower casing section I5 is provided with a suitable key lock means (not shown) for preventing unauthorized removal, while the upper section is screwed (not seen) into place since it is less frequently removed. Also, the top housing section I4 is provided with an entrance opening ll (Fig. 3) into which coins are fed to actuate the latch releasing means.

The main control element is in the form of a manually operable handle |8 (Fig. 1) having an offset shaft portion |9 which extends through the housing and the mounting plate In for attachment at its inner end to the dispensing mechanism. Near its outer end this shaft I9 is provided with a collar keyed thereto by means of a pin 2| and providing a bearing seated in a cross support 22 supported on spacer legs 23 (Fig. 6) attached to the mounting plate. At its inner end the collar 28 is keyed as at 24 to one member 25 of an overload release clutch to be described in detail hereafter. The companion member 26 of this clutch floats on the shaft I9 and has connected therewith a latch member 21 including a lateral pin 28 (Fig. 8) which extends through an arcuate slot 29 (Fig. 7) in the mounting plate for engagement with an operating arm 30 of the dispensing mechanism.

When the handle I8 is manipulated and the member 21 is not latched by the coin control means, the operating arm 30 is pivoted correspondingly and the same is provided with an angularly oiTset arm brake 3| and a smaller offset portion 32 from which extends a lateral pin 33 engageable in an arcuate slot 34 in a dispensing arm '35 which floats on the shaft |9. At one end the arm 35 is provided with a swivel connection 36 which is attached to a dispensing member or cord 31 adapted to pass over pulley means 38 for connection with certain dispensing mechanism, it being understood, however, that the dispensing arm 35 can be connected with any desired form of dispensing apparatus.

It will be apparent from Fig. '7 that when the principal operating arm 30 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction the pin means 33 will engage the left-hand extremity of the slot 34 and pivot the arm 35 in the same direction to actuate the dispensing member 31. This movement,

is limited by the connecting stud or pin 28 in its arcuate slot 29 in the mounting plate 10.

The main operating arm 30 is urged in a clockwise direction into an initial or normal position by means of a strong spring 39 attached by stud means 40 and anchored by a stud 4| (Fig. 8) on the mounting plate I9. Should the handle |8 be released with the spring 39 under tension, the

return movement of the dispensing member 31 is dampened or relieved by means of a special cam brake including a member 42 pivoted between its ends as at 43 on the back of the mounting plate and having one end 44 enlarged to provide a weight constituting an inertia member, while at its other end there is a laterally extending cam roller 45 'engageable with an edge portion 46 of the ofiset arm 3| of the main operating arm 38. The normal positions of the dispensing and braking mechanism are shown in full line in Fig. "7. But when the main operating handle I8 is freed by the coin testing device, the main operating arm 30 and the brake arm 3| mov anticlockwise into the dotted line position with the dispensing arm 35 disposed in the dotted line position in the upper left quadrant, at which time the upper end portion of the dispensing arm adjacent the swivel connection 36 bears against the roller 45 on the cam brake member 42 and causes the latter to be moved somewhat in an anticlockwise direction as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, this fact being pointed out to explain why the pendulum or weight is not in a perfectly upright position which it would otherwise occupy. If the patron of the machine restores the operating handle [8 gradually to its normal position, the brake does not necessarily come into play. However, if the operating handle I8 is entirely released while the spring means 39 is tensioned the edge 46 of the cam brake 42 will strike the roller 45 on the pendulum or inertia member and the latter will be rocked in a clockwise direction back into the full line position, the initial impact between the arm 3| and the roller 45, due to inertia of the member 42, immediately slowing up the return movement of the operating arm 38, and the camming action of the roller working along the edge 46 thereafter limiting the rate of return movement of the dispensing mechanism to normal position.

The operating handle l8 and the intermediate clutch mechanism 2621 are normally latched against movement by means of a latch dog 41 pivoted as at 48 on the front side of the mounting plate and having an ofiset nose 49 normally disposed in a segmental slot 50 provided in the periphery of the intermediate drive member 21 (Figs.'2, 3 and 6). The dog 4! is normally urged into latching position by means of a pin connection 5| with a coin controlled arm 52 having a horizontally disposed portion and a pair of upstanding portions adapted to deflect coins to either accept or reject the same dependent upon the test made by the mechanism comprising the testing cartridge or unit 53 (Figs. 3, 6 and 10) which arm 52 is mounted for pivotal movement within the unit 53 as at I10 and is freed for actuation by the deposit of a proper coin into the testing cartridge or unit 53 to raise the dog 41 out of latching position relative to the intermediate drive member 21 so that the latter can make a full stroke movement, there being'normall an idle stroke movement equivalent to the length of the slot 50.

The foregoing idle stroke movement is utilized to efiect operation of an arcuate arm 54 (Fig. 2) pivoted as at 55 on a bracket 56 secured to the mounting plate, this arm being normally urged 1n an upward or clockwise direction by means of a spring 51 connected to a lateral pin 58 extending therefrom near a reentrant nose 59 thereon, the upper end of this spring 51 being anchored to a tail 60 on a scavenger plate 6| pivoted as at 6| and having an ofiset inclined edge portion 63 directed toward the coin entrance 64 in the testing cartridge or unit 53 and cooperable with a stationary scavenger plate 65 to provide a short coin chute having its upper entrance end 66 disposed below the coin entrance I1.

In addition to normally closing the scavenger plate 6|, the spring 51 urges the reentrant nose 59 of the arcuate arm 54 upwardly in its engagement in the slotted end of the vertically movable slide bar 61 of the testing cartridge or unit 53. There is a roller 68 on the intermediate clutch plate or member 2! which rides in the inner arcuate edge portion of the arm 54 and is effective when moved in a clockwise direction to depress the arm 54 and move the coin testing unit slide bar 61 downwardly against the tenslon of spring 51, a distance adequate to initiate the coin testing operation; and if the coin is accepted, the latch operating pin 5| (see also Figsv 3 and 6) will be raised upwardly by the testing cartridge or unit 53 so as to withdraw the latch dog 41 from the segmental slot 50 (in a manner later to be explained), thus permitting full stroke movement of the intermediate clutch mechanism 28-21.

Each time the arcuate arm 54 moves downwardly, the movable scavenger plate 61 is Pivoted into open (anti-clockwise) position by means of an angled arm 62 pivotally connected at its upper end to the scavenger plate as at 62 and having a slot connection at its lower end with the lateral pin 58 on arm 54. Thus, the scavenger is operated automatically upon each actuation of the intermediate drive and clutch mechanism 2621.

The mechanism embodied in the coin testing cartridge or unit 50 is illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and fragmentarily in Fig. 6. This cartridge or unit is well described and explained in the aforementioned patent to Knee, No. 2,073,392, dated March 9, 1937. stitutes a housing having a suitable covering Within which is positioned a frame to provide a coin passage at one side thereof '(Fig. 10) adapted to receive coins deposited in the entrance I1.

The slide bar 61 is formed as a part of this coin testing unit 53 and is arranged within the latter on the frame for vertically slidable movement and is normally urged upwardly by spring means 519 suitably anchored to the upper end of a yoke E53 which has its parallelly arranged leg members disposed in an annular groove formed in a collar member I54 slidably mounted for horizontal movement on a hub I40 formed as a part of the frame. When the slide bar 61 is urged downwardly in the manner above described by operation of the handle I8 and associated mechanism, a beveled portion I65 formed on the bar 91 bears against a beveled formation of a plate I99. This plate I90 is pivotally arranged on the frame and is disposed between the slide bar 61 and the legs of the yoke I58 such that the descending movement of the beveled portion I65 will urge the plate I90 to the right. An arm I89 has one end portion thereof formed to provide a tongue and adjacent shoulders, which tongue is disposed in a slot formed in the plate I90 whereby the arm I89 is loosely carried by the plate I90, there being a spring associated with the arm I89 to urge the latter in a general direction toward the plate 299. through the spring and tongue connection therewith, are urged in a clockwise direction by a spring member I94 and the free end of the arm i853 has a slot formation which is normally adapted to engage a cross bar I88 extending between a pair of laterally disposed legs formed as a part of a presser member 260 disposed adjacent the aforesaid coin passage and having its lower end pivotally arranged on the frameas at I10. The rocking movement of the plate I90 and the arm 89 draws the presser member 260 in a clockwise direction about its pivot mounting against the action of a resilient tongue formed as a part of one wall of the coin passage and having its free end bearing against the upper end of the presser member 2553. Assuming that a coin has previously been inserted and stopped at the point A by horizontally sliding pins (not shown), a presser pin carried by the member 260 in axial alignment with the hub I49, will be urged against the deposited coin so as to urge the latter against the end portions of feeler members I49. These feeler members are arranged to rock on an annular ring- I59 mounted coaxially with respect to the hub structure I40, with the elongated oppositely dis- Generally the cartridge 53 con- The arm I89 and the plate I99,

posed free ends of the feelers I49 disposed normally to abut a shoulder formation on.the sliding collar I54 by action of a spring element I'5'I surrounding the feeler members I49 in their assembled relation,

The arrangement is such that the short ends (left ends) of the feelers I49 are adapted to engage the face of the deposited coin to make a facial reading thereof. If there are no configurations on the right-hand surface of the coin, the feelers will pivot uniformly upon the annular ring I50 so that the elongated end portions of the feelers will swing away from the hub structure and beyond the shoulder formation on the collar I54, freeing the latter and the yoke I58 linked thereto for movement to the left.

The coin controlled arm 52 likewise mounted on the pivot I10, has a pair of upstanding portions I8I disposed in the coin passage below the testing point A so as to deflect coins toward a reject or acceptance opening determined upon the test made by the feeler members. This arm 52' is normally urged counterclockwise (Fig. 10) by spring means 268 extending between a horizontal portion of the arm 52 and the lower end portion of the yoke I58. The arm 52 and de-' flector portions thereof IBI are normally held in thepos'ition shown by a toggle arrangement 288 which is broken only when the slide bar 81 reaches its maximum lowered position. Therefore, the arm 52 and deflector portions I8I are held in coin returning condition until the entire testing operation has been performed.

A strut I98 is pivotally arranged at'its upper end as at I99 on the frame of the unit 53 and has its lower end adapted to block normal movement of the arm 52 when the toggle 208 is broken. The strut I98 is employed to gauge the thickness of the coin being tested, and this is accomplished by a pin I91 carried by the arm I 85- and movable therewith when the presser member 26 is swung as aforesaid. Thus, the pin I 91 causes the strut I98 to swing at I99, and if the coin is of a proper thickness the end of the strut I98 will stop at a point adjacent the arm 52 where an opening I19 is formed in the arm 52 so as not to abut the latter but permit movement thereof when the toggle 208 is broken.

The feelers I49 having by facial reading of the coin assumed the aforesaid position beyond engagement with the sliding collar I54, the slide bar 61 continuing in its downward movement until an oblique extension I66, formed as a part of slide I81, bears down upon the arm I89 to pivot the latter and the plate I98 against the action of the spring I94, thus moving the free end of the arm I89 to disengage the cross bar I88 whereby the latter and the arms I86, pin I91, and presser member 268 are free to swing back to their normal position by the resilient tongue aforementioned. Simultaneously with the foregoing movement of the presser member 268, the slide bar 61 will have engaged the upper link of the toggle 208 to break the latter and free the arm 52 for pivotal movement just prior to the release of the coin from pressing engagement by the pin 210.

If, as before stated, the facial reading was such as to swing the feelers I49 out of engagement with the sliding collar I 54, the yoke I58 by action of the spring 2'56 will pivot on its legs so that the lower end of the yoke will abut the bight portion of the arm 52 and no movement of the latter will result. In that event, the coin will be returned to the depositor. However, if the configurations on the mm were of a proper contour, the facial readwill abut the shoulder formation on the sliding collar I54, thus preventing pivotal movement of the yoke member I58 and permitting counterclockwise movement of the arm 52, together with the deflector portions I8I, to collect the coin. This pivotal movement of the arm 52 causes the pin 51 by its connection therewith to move upwardly (Fig. 6), thereby swinging the dog 41 counterclockwise about its pivot 48 to disengage the offset nose 49 of the dog from latching engagement wtih respect to the intermediate clutch member 21, thus freeing the latter for normal dispensing operation.

Should the slide bar 61 be restrained upon idle stroke operation of the clutch means, the arcuate arm 54 is arranged to yield by the provision of a slot I35 at its opposite end and embracing the pivot 55, spring means 93' suitably anchored to the plate I and normally holding the arm 54 up against the pivot 55 to fulcrum on the latter when the opposite end is free to move.

In order to prevent retrograde movement of the intermediate clutch mechanism 26--21 when its full stroke movement has begun, there is provided a full stroke-dog (Fig. 2) pivoted as at 1| to the mounting plate and normally positioned as seen in'Fig. 2' by a spring 12 anchored on the mounting plate I0, and with its nose disposed in a small segmental notch 13 in the intermediate clutch member 21. There are provided a plurality of notches 14 between the segmental notches 50 and 13 and in which the nose of the dog 10 rides to prevent reverse movement of the clutch member 21 until the notch 59 is turned (clockwise) so as to permit the dog-10 to project its nose therein, whereupon the dog will be pivoted in a clockwise direction upon the return (anti-clockwise) movement of the clutch member 21.

In order to prevent the loss of the deposited coin by failure of the operator to continue the operating movement of lever I8, there is provided a safety latch 15 (Fig. 2) also pivoted at 1| and having a lateral nose 16 automatically positionable by gravity in front of an offset nose portion 11 on the the latch dog 41 to block return of the nose 49 of the latch dog 41 into the notch 50 until the member 21 has made a complete operative movement. This safety latch 15 is automatically pivoted out of blocking position by means of a tail 18 on the dog 10 and which is engageable with an offset ear 19 on the safety latch 15 such that when the full stroke dog 10 pivots in a clockwise direction responsive to the return movement of the clutch member 21, the safety latch 15 will likewise be pivoted in a clockwise direction to raise the lateral nose 16 thereof out of the path of the latch dog 41, this being effected through engagement of the tail 18 on the full stroke dog with the offset ear 19 on the safety latch.

Indicating mechanism is provided in the form of a ratchet wheel 80 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) having a number of teeth corresponding generally to the quantity or number of articles of merchandise with which the machine can be loaded at one time, provided on its outer surface with indicia characters 8| corresponding in this instance to every five teeth. This ratchet wheel 80 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 82' extended from the mounting plate and is provided with a spring 83 anchored on a stud 84 normally urging the ratchet in an anti-clockwise direction into norml or initial position- Step by step advancing ing effected by the feeler members I49 is such' that the elongated end portions of the feelers I49 movement of this ratchet is effected throu h a gravity-positioned dog 85 pivoted as at 86 on an elongated ratchet drive arm 81 also pivoted on the stud 82.

The ratchet arm 81 has a lower manually engageable end 88 which protrudes below the bottom margin of the top half of the housing section, such that when the lower half is removed, the attendant may manipulate the lever 81 to reset the device. Each full stroke (clockwise) movement of the intermediate drive member 21 effects a reciprocation of the ratchet arm 81 by means of a lateral roller 89 on the intermediate member 21 which engages with the lower lefthand edge portion 90 of the lever 81 and pivots the latter against the tension of a return spring 91 in an anti-clockwise direction, thus moving the ratchet dog 85 a distance of one tooth so that when the spring 9I restores arm 81, the ratchet wheel 80 will move a distance to indicate the dispensation of one article. Retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel is prevented by means of a dog 92 normally positioned by means of a spring 93 to project an edge portion 94 against the teeth.

In order to restore the ratchet wheel 80 to normal position, it is merely necessary to engage the lower end 88 of the ratchet arm 81 and pivot the latter in an anti-clockwise direction so as to dispose the hooked end 85' of the ratchet dog 85 against the offset end 95 of the stopping dog 92 so as to pivot the latter out of engagement with the teeth of the disc whereupon the clock spring 83 will restore the ratchet wheel to initial position.

The upper housing section I4 is provided with a sight opening 96 (Fig. 1) and a sighting sleeve 91 having a lens 98 at its inner end in position to read the indicia 8I on the ratchet disc so that the attendant may know the condition of the stock in the machine.

In order to prevent deposit of coins in the device when the article magazine is empty, there is provided an automatic blocking plate I00 (Fig. 4) shiftably or slidably mounted on pin means IIJI extending through parallel slots I02 therein into bracket means I03 supported on the mounting plate. The blocking member is further provided with an offset blocking arm I04 movable into blocking position beneath the coin deposit opening I1 above the coin passage 04 provided by the scavenger plates 63-65. The spring I05 normally urges the blocking member I00 toward the right (Fig. 4) into blocking position, such movement being prevented, however, by means of a latch or release arm I 06 (Fig. 2) pivoted on the mounting plate as at I01 and having a nose portion I08 normally in a lowered position to block the edge portion I09 of the member I09 and thus prevent movement of the latter by the spring I05. The release arm I09 has a depending portion IIO provided with an offset end III positioned behind the ratchet wheel 80 and engageable by a pin II2 on the back of the latter so as to pivot the release arm I06 in a clockwise direction to dispose the blocking end or nose I06 thereof out of the way of the blocking plate I00 when the disc 80 has been rotated substantially through 360 degrees where the pin I I2 will be disposed as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2 (the pin being shown in two positions therein). When the ratchet wheel 80 is restored to its initial position, the pin H2 will engage the offset end III on the opposite side and assure the return of the releasing arm I06 to blocking position.

Movement of the ratchet arm 81 toward the right (Fig. 2) to release the stopping dog 92 will cause the upper end I30 of the ratchet arm 81 to bear against a depending lug I3I on the blocking plate I00, thus shifting the latter (left) into opening position wherein it will be locked by the substantially simultaneous release of the release arm I06.

It may be observed here that the release plate I06 is provided with pin means I32 extending from the base plate into a slot I33 in the plate I06 such that the latter can drop only a short distance when released.

Means is provided in the form of an overload clutch of especial design for preventing forced operation of the mechanism to avoid deposit of a coin. This overload clutch, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5 particularly, includes a front disc member 25 rotatable with the shaft portion I9 of the operating lever I8 while the companion plate or disc 26 floats on the shaft I9, but is normally keyed to the member 25 by means of an ear II5 having cammed edge portions II6 receivable in a segmental slot II! in the keyed member 25. The extension H5 is provided on the inner arouate edge portion of a yoke arm II8 pivotally mounted as at H9 on a portion of the float disc 26 and normally urged in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 5) by means of a spring I anchored at one end to an ear I2I on the floating member 26 and at its other end to an ear Briefly, the operation of the device is as follows: The operator of the machine facing the control unit with the parts disposed as in Fig. 2, deposits a coin in the entrance H, such coin In case the handle I8 is manipulated without deposit of a coin, the intermediate operating disc 21 has a limited idle stroke freedom of movement corresponding to the arc of the slot 50, and this movement is sufficient to cause the roller 68 to bear down on the actuating arm 54, the latter pivoting on its compound pivotal mounting 55I35 While the opposite end of the arm which is attached to the coin tester shifts downwardly and operates the coin tester without, however, freeing the disc 21 for full movement, and when the intermediate disc 21 is restored to normal the spring 51 will shift the arm 54 and its pivot 58 up to normal position in the slot at the bottom of arm 62.

When the counting disc 80 has made a predetermined number of steps constituting substantially one revolution, the pin II2 on the back of the disc will engage the release arm I06 to move the latter upwardly and unlatch the coin blocking plate I00, so that the latter will be moved by its springs to block the coin opening H.

The counting disc 80 may be restored to normal by the attendant, who will grasp the handle portion 88 of the lever 81 and pivot the latter in an anticlockwise direction until the offset nose 85 of the ratchet dog 85 bears against the offset ear 95 of the dog 92 to pivot the latter out of engagement with the teeth of the disc so that the now tensioned spring means of the ratchet disc will rapidly turn the latter back to its normal position. At the same time, the upper end I30 of the lever 01 will bear against the lug I3! on the coin blocking plate I00 and shift the latter back into inelfective position, the latch plate I66, meanwhile, being raised by the restored ratchet plate pin II 2 into latching position, so that theblocking plate is held open.

passing through the scavenger device 63-65 into the coin testing mechanism of the cartridge 53 where the coin is held until the testing device is actuated by turning the operating handle I8 which turns the shaft I9 in a clockwise direction, thus causing the roller 68 on the intermediate operating disc to bear down on the actuat-= ing arm 54 and pivot the latter about the point 55 so as to draw the vertically movable slide bar 61 down into the dotted line position. If the coin be a proper one, the latch dog 41 will be pivoted in a clockwise direction into ineffective position out of the notch 50 in the intermediate operating disc, whereupon the latter is freed for completion of its clockwise rotative movement by the operator with the result that the pin 28 will pivot the dispensing arm 30 (in an anticlockwise direction as seen in Fig. '7), which in turn moves a dispenser arm in a similar direction into the dotted line position shown in the latter figure and which position corresponds I, to the movement of the operating handle to its limit. Should the operator release the handle in this position for any reason, the spring 39 will tend quickly to return the dispensing lever 30 to its full line position; however, such return movement will be limited by the .brake pendulum 42-45, as heretofore described.

Meanwhile, the intermediate operating disc 21 (Fig. 2) will have been turned to its limit in a clockwise direction so as to cause the roller 09 to bear against the ratchet operating lever- 81 and pivot the latter in an anticlockwise direction to step the counting disc 80 a distance equivalent to the counting of one article of merchandise.

In summary, the invention herein provides for an improved coin control unit preferably in the form of an attachment adapted for mounting on any vending machine, the unit housing being of a novel construction comprising two separable casing sections slidable on a base plate and further providing a coin deposit and a sight opening,

and operating mechanism including a handle connected through an overload clutch with intermediate driving means normally latched by coin operated means adapted to receive coins, step by step indicating mechanism arranged for viewing through the sight opening, automatic blocking means to prevent further deposit of coins when the supply of merchandise is exhausted, together with dispensing mechanism and novel braking means therefor, all arranged to provide a compact, rugged and fool-proof attachment, the form and arrangement of the several parts of which are subject to modification, all of which modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the call of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In dispensing machines, operating mechanism including a driven shaft, a dispenser arm floating on said shaft and having a radial cam edge, spring means normally urging said arm into an initial position, means on said arm operatively connected with dispensing mechanism and adapted to move with said arm to effect operation of said dispensing mechanism, and brake means including a brake arm pivotally mounted between its ends eccentrically of said shaft near said dispenser arm and having lateral pin means engageable with said radial cam edge, said brake arm being provided with means normally disposing the same to position said lateral pin means thereon near the radial extremity of said cam edge, together with means on said shaft and connecting the latter with said dispensing arm for turning said dispenser arm against the tension of said spring means.

2. In combination, a movable operating element, releasable latch means normally preventing effective movement of said operating element but permitting limited idle stroke movement thereof, coin testing means operable to release said latch means upon deposit of a proper coin therein, a counting device'arranged to count the efiective operations of said. operating element, means actuated by said operating element when the same moves in idle stroke movement to operate said testing means, and means actuated by said operating element when the same is moved responsive to release of said latch means for operating said counting device.

3. In combination, a coin testing device including a reciprocable actuating member, releasable latch means released by said testing means responsive to operation of said actuating member when a proper coin is deposited in the testing device, a control member mounted for rotative movement, said latch means being arranged normally to limit the movement of said control member and releasable to permit free movement thereof, pivot means and means in-' cluding an arcuate lever arm operatively connected near one end with said actuating member of the testing device and having slotted engagement with said pivot means near its opposite end so as to be shiftable laterally of said pivot means as well as pivotable relative thereto, spring means engageable with said opposite end of the lever arm and urging the latter into one of its shiftable limits for pivotal movement relative to said pivot means, means carried by said control member and extending therefrom and adapted to move rotatively therewith in a plane substantially parallel to that in which said arcuate lever arm moves and being arranged on said control member with respect to said arcuate lever arm to engage the latter between its ends to pivot said arm about said pivot means by limited movement of the control member as aforesaid in a particular direction, whereby to move said actuating member to effect release of said latch means and permit continued movement of the control member in said direction, said lever arm shifting relative to said pivot means to permit such continued movement of the control member.

4. In combination, a coin testing device having an actuating member, a control member arranged for rotative movement, latch means normally limiting the rotative movement of the control member and releasable by said coin testing device to permit free movement of 'the' control member, and an arcuate lever arm operatively connected near one end with said actuating member and having support at its opposite end for both pivotal and translating movement, yieldable means normally restraining the translating movement of said arm, roller means carried by said control member for movement therewith and disposed to move in a path traversed by said arcuate lever arm, said arm being engaged between its ends by said roller means and pivoted thereby to move said actuating member when said control member is limitedly moved; said lever arm pivoting in the region of said actuating member of the testing device and translatingin' the-region of its end opposite thereto when said control member is freely moved upon release of said latch means, together with yieldable means normally urging the end portion of the lever arm connected with the actuating member in a direction opposite to its direction of movement by said control member.

5. In a device of the'class' described, means for operating a coin testing device including a reciprocable actuating member said means including a control member arranged for rotative movement, an arcuate arm disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said control member, means pivotally mounting said arcuate arm near one of its ends, an elongated slot formed at one end of said arcuate arm and cooperating with said pivotal mounting to render the arcuate arm shiftable relative to said pivotal mounting means, said arcuate arm having its opposite end operatively connected with said actuating member, spring means connected with each of said ends of the arcuate arm and urging the same in a direction toward said pivotal mounting means and in a direction to move said actuating member toward one of its reciprocable limits respectively, cam means on said control member and extending into the plane of movement of said arcuate arm, said control member and said cam means being movable in a particular direction with the latter adapted to bear against said arcuate arm between its ends to effect movement of said actuating member upon movement of the control member a predetermined distance in said particular direction, said arcuate arm subsequently shifting relative to said pivotal mounting means upon continued movement of the control member in said particular direction.

6. In a device of the class described including a coin testing unit having a reciprocable actuating member, means for operating said reciprocable actuating member, said means including an arcuate arm having pivotal support at its opposite ends and being arranged to shift relative to said pivotal support at both ends, spring means engaging said opposite'ends of the arcuate arm to shift thesame in a particular direction to the limit of their shifting movement, means at one of said ends of the arcuate'arm operatively engaging said actuating member, a control member arranged for rotative movement a predetermined amount 'in one direction, means on said control member and arranged to move in a path traversed by the mid section of said arcuate arm and adapted to engage said arcuate arm between its ends and pivot the same about its end opposite the connection with said actuating member to effect shifting movement at said'last-mentioned end and urge the actuating member inadirection opposite to .said aforementioned particular direction. said arm subsequently shifting at its end opposite the actuating member uponcontinued movement of the control member in said direction.

J OSEPI-I W. SRODULSKI.

Images