US2250051A - Change maker - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1941. w TZ 2,250,051

CHANGE MAKER Filed Feb. 15, 1940 WILZZz'am/P er Pan er Sol/rte "ENTOR.

i l/5 ATTO Patented July 22, 1941 CHANGE MAKER William Patzer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to A. B. T.

Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 15, 1940, Serial No. 319,022

6 Claims.

This invention has as its object the provision of improvements in automatic change makers adapted for use with vending machines in which coins of different denomination may be deposited to effect delivery of an article for an amount less than the value of the coin, the proper change being automatically returned to the patron.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide in a vending machine including control means arranged to be operated by five, ten or twenty-five cent coins to efiect delivery of a five-cent item, the combination of change making means including a coin storage receptacle, a plurality of coin ejecting slides reciprocable collaterally beneath said receptacle for joint and several operation to eject a different number of coins depending upon whether one or more of the slides are operated simultaneously, together with switch means operated by coins of five, ten or twenty-five cent denomination arranged to operate the vending machine, with the switches for the ten and twenty-five cent denominations being connected to effect actuation of the slides to return the proper change, depending upon the value of the coin deposited.

A further and more particular object is the provision of a change making device including a coin hopper, at least two slides reciprocable collaterally beneath the hopper, one of the same preferably holding one coin while the other holds three, electromagnetic means for effecting reslides for joint movement, and switch means controlled by the electrically operated means uoon coupling of the slides to eiiect energization of the electromagnetic means which moves one of the slides.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of construction as well as the cooperative relationship of the component parts of the illustrative embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of the change making unit;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section along line 33 of Fig. 1 including parts of the vending machine;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram.

As shown in Fig. 1, the change making unit includes a base member III, a coin hopper ll having a base portion l2 mounted in spaced relation to the top of the main base member In, the latter base member, as seen in Fig. 2, being provided with a coin discharge opening l3 which is ofiset with respect to the bottom of the hopper so that the coins indicated at C in the latter are supported on the top of the main base member l0.

Means for ejecting coins in difierent numbers from the hopper includes the provision of at least two collaterally reciprocable slides ll and I5 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are mounted in superposed relation between the hopper base I! and the top of the main base ill to reciprocate independently, this mounting being accomplished by the provision in both slides of short longitudinally extending slots Ma and I511 engageable with rollers l6 turning on spacer lugs l'l upon which the hopper base portion I2 is seated in spaced relation from the top of the main base.

The lower or single coin slide it is provided with an offset arm portion Mb to which is attached one end of a spring l8 having its opposite end anchored conveniently on a relatively stationary part of the assembly so as to urge the slide into a normal position as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The offset arm is also provided with a stud l9 disposed to bear against an end portion 20 of the upper or second slide to urge the latter into normal position also.

Each of the slides l4 and I5 is provided with a coin pocket lie and l5c respectively, these pockets being aligned with the bottom of the hopper I I when the slides are in normal position so as to permit the lowermost coin of the stack to rest on the top surface of the main base portion as heretofore described.

It will be apparent that if the lower slide I l is moved from its normal position toward the right, as seen in Fig. 2. that the lowermost coin C in the pocket or coin opening Me of the slide will be carried into alignment with the coin discharge opening l3 to gravitate through the latter for ejection onto a suitable coin return chute 22, shown in Fig. 3. Likewise, it will be clear that if both slides move together from the normal position seen in Fig. 2, the several coins resting in the pockets thereof will be carried into position above the discharge opening l3 for ejection in a similar manner, there being a leaf spring presser finger 24 provided on the under side of the hopper base to bear against the topmost coin in the pocket of the upper slide as the slides move into register with the discharge opening to facilitate expulsion of the coins.

I It will be observed that the upper and lower three five-cent pieces.

slides are of different thickness, the illustrative arrangement being such that the lower slide will accommodate one coin, preferably a five-cent piece, while the upper slide will accommodate Thus, it will appear that if the lower slide is operated alone, a five-cent coin will be ejected; whereas four coins totaling twenty cents, will be ejected if both slides move together.

Means for effecting reciprocation of the slides jointly or the lower slide |4 alone includes the provision (Fig. 1) of an electrically energized device in the form of a solenoid 25 provided with a plunger 28 having its free end slotted and pivotally connected, as at 21, to one end of a dog leg lever 28 pivoted, as at 29, to the underside of the lower slide I4, this lever having an offset arm 39 extending approximately in parallelism with the slide and having a nose portion 3| positioned to abut an end portion of the base member ID to lock the slide against movement when the same is in normal position and solenoid 25 deenergized. Energization of the solenoid will attract plunger 25 and exert a pull on the lever 28. initially pivoting the latter a limited amount to withdraw the end portion 3| from stopping engagement with respect to the base, movement of the dog leg lever being arrested by a stopping pin 32 on the slide l4, so that after the initial displacement of the lever the remaining stroke of the plunger 26 will draw the slide forward to effect ejection of a coin as aforesaid. Lever 30 locks by action of spring 30a.

The change making unit is illustrated herein in an arrangement intended to cooperate with a vending machine actuated by five, ten and twenty five cent coins, it being therefore desirable that change shall be made for ten and twenty-five cent coins, so that one five-cent coin will be returned for each ten-cent coin deposited, and four five-cent coins returned for each twentyfive cent coin deposited. To this end the slide I4 is arranged to move independently and the slides I4 and I5 arranged to move jointly, slide |4 moving alone to return the single coin carried thereby, and slide l5 moving simultaneously with the latter slide M to eject the three coins carried thereby along with the single coin carried by the latter slide, thus returning change in the amount of twenty cents.

The joint movement of the two slides is preferably eflected by interconnecting the two slides for movement together under the driving action of the electromagnetic means which reciprocates the lower slide. This interconnecting means, as shown in Fig. 1, includes a coupling lever 35 pivoted as at 36 on the upper slide I5. At one end the coupling lever is provided with a notch 31 adapted to be engaged by a coupling bar 38 fixed on slide I4. A spring 39 tends to urge the coupling lever into the lowered dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to dispose the notched pornotch 31 is out of alignment with the coupling bar 38, such positioning of the coupling lever being eifected by the provision on the lever 35 of a laterally projecting pin 42 which underlies the armature 43 of an electromagnet 44 mounted on the hopper base. A relatively strong spring 45 on the electromagnet urges the armature into the dropped position seen in Fig. 2, causing the same to bear against the pin 42 and rock lever 35 against the tension of its spring 39 into the full line normal position shown. Armature 43 has a cam portion 43a for engagement with the pin 42 under certain operating conditions to be explained. The pin 42 being guided by extension 43b of armature 43.

When the electromagnet 44 is energized, armature 43 is attracted, thus relieving pressure from the coupling lever 35 so that the latter may be rocked by spring 39 into position for engagement of the notch 31 with coupling bar 38, so that if the solenoid 25 is then energized, the slides will move together.

Energization of the electro-magnetic main slidc moving means or solenoid 25 is effected for movement of both slides by energization of electromagnet 44 to cause operation of the coupling means and thereafter to connect solenoid 25 with a source of power, this connecting being effected by the provision of a pair of contacts 46 and 41 closed by pulling up of the armature 43 and connected in a power circuit for solenoid 25 in a manner to be explained in view of Fig. 4.

As depicted schematically in Fig. 4, the change making unit is incorporated in a vending machine adapted to receive five. ten and twenty-five cent coins directed respectively into engagement with corresponding switch means, operation of any of which sets into motion certain vending mechanism including, f or example, an electric motor 50 arranged for a cycle of operation to effect the vending of one five-cent item if any of the coin switches is operated. The five-cent coin switch includes a contact 5| connected to one common power lead 52, and a companion contact 53 connected by conductor 54 to one terminal of a holding relay winding 55, the remaining terminal of which relay is connected by conductor 56 to the common return conductor 51 on the other side of the power line. Conductor 54 extends also to one contact 58 of a holding switch operated by cam means driven by the vending machine motor, so that contact 58 is held into closed circuit engagement with its companion contact 59 connected via conductor 60 to the common power lead 52.

If an initial impulse be given to the motor 50, the holding contacts 58 and 59 will be closed for the duration of one cycle of operation and theretion thereof into alignment with the coupling bar ting against a notch portion 4| of the coin hop- I per base so as to lock the upper or second slide against accidental displacement resulting from frictional coupling between the. two slides when the lower slide moves.

The coupling lever 35 is pivoted against the tension of spring 39 into a normal position shown after automatically be opened. The initial impulse is accomplished by closing contacts 53 and 5| of the five-cent switch, which causes holding relay 55 to pull up and lock its own circuit through its switch 55a which connects power from the common conductor 56 via conductor 56a to the motor, thus giving the latter the initial starting impulse which will cause the cyclically operable or holding switch means 58-59 to close for a cycl of operation; opening of the latter switch means at the completion of the cycle of operation deenergizes the holding relay 55, thus stopping the motor.

The circuit connections for the ten-cent switch are such that the solenoid 25 will be energized to operate the lower coin ejecting slide and return a nickel to the patron, initial energization of the infull lines in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the coupling motor and the holding relay being efiected in the same manner as described in conjunction with the operation of the five-cent switch. To this end, the ten-cent switch includes a pair of contacts BI and 62 respectively connected to conductors 60 and 54 to energize holding relay 55 in the manner described in explaining the operation of the five-cent switch contacts |53. The ten-cent switch includes a second set of contacts 63 and 64, the former of which is connected to the power conductor branch 60 and the latter of which is connected by conductor 65 to one terminal of the solenoid 25, the other terminal of which is connected to the remaining power conductor 51. Thus, whenthe' ten-cent switch is operated, contacts GI and 62 cause the holding relay to pull up and lock, while contacts 63 and 64 cause solenoid to reciprocat the lower or nickel slide to return the required nickel to the patron.

As seen in Fig. 3 each of th coin operated switches 5I53, etc. are normally disposed in open circuit or ineiTectiVe condition. One contact of each of the switches is engaged by a nonconductive arm 80 on a coin drop lever 8| pivotally mounted adjacent the switches as at 82 with a portion of said lever extending into a discharge exit 1! of the coin chute in such a manner that a coin passing through said discharge exit will effect rotation of the lever 8| counter-clockwise and cause th arm 80 to urge the outermost contact into engagement with its associate contact. While the closing of the coin switches is but momentary, the leverage provided by th lever 8| as well as the proportionate swing of the lever by action of a coin assures a reasonably positive contact, as for instance the closing of contacts 63B4 will be of sufiicient duration to energize the coil 25 to effect movement of its armatur 26. This operation of the armature 26 and the slide I4 is for but a relatively short stroke as will be observed in Fig. 2 and is so spontaneous with the switch 6364 that a complete reciprocation of the slide l4 in ejecting operation and its return to normal position is accomplished before the lever 8| has returned to its normal position.

Operation of the vending machine, in the event that a quarter is deposited, is effected in exactly the same manner as described in conjunction with the operation of the five-cent switch, so far as the energization of the holding relay is concerned, there being a pair of contacts 10 and H respectively connected to the power branch conductors 60 and conductor 54 for energizing holding relay 55, and the quarter switch further including a second pair of contacts 12 and 13, the former of which is connected to the power branch conductor 60, while the latter contact is connected by conductor 14 to on terminal of the coupling electromagnet 44', the remaining terminal of the latter being connected by conductors l5 and 56 to the remaining side of the power line. Thus, operation of the quarter switch in addition to energizing the holding relay by closing of contacts ML-H, also energizes the coupling magnet 44 by closing of contacts 12-13.

Energization of the coupling magnet 44 pulls up the armature 43, thus releasing thecoupling lever for movement into coupling position and almost simultaneously closing contacts 46 and 41, the former of which is connected to one side of the power line 52, while the companion contact 41 is connected by conductor 16 to a terminal of the solenoid 25. Thus, energization of the coupling magnet 44 first effects a mechan1cal.cou pling between the two slides and then effects energization of the operating solenoid 25 for the lower slide, resulting in the joint movement of the two slides and ejection of four nickels. The ejecting movement of slides l4-I5 by solenoid 25 is instantaneous with the pulling up of armature 43, the pin 42 carried on lever 35 of slide l5 returning into th yoke provided between cam 43a and guide 43b prior to a complete releasing of armature 43 by the coil 44.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig? 3, the change making unit is mounted so that the mouth of the hopper II is situated beneath the discharge exit 11 of the five-cent .coin chute, there being a guiding apron l8 surrounding the mouth of the hopper tube for the purpose of directing five-cent coins into the hopper to keep the latter supplied with nickels for chang making, the overflow from the hopper being guided into a suitable receptacle by the apron 18.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular embodiment described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

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

1. In a change making device, the combination with a coin hopper, of a pair of collateral reciprocable slides beneath said hopper and each provided with a coin pocket adapted to receive a certain number of coins from said hopper, said slides being normally disposed with said pockets in alignment with the hopper to receive coins therefrom and being further arranged to eject coins from said pockets upon reciprocation, electromagnetic means for reciprocating a first one of said slides to effect ejection of a certain number of coins, mechanism for coupling said first slide with the other slide whereby the latter will be reciprocated jointly with the former upon energization of said electromagnetic means, a second electromagnetic means coacting with said coupling mechanism to couple said slides, switch means associated with the second electromagnctic means and adapted to be eifective, when said second electromagnetic means is operated to couple the slides as aforesaid, to energize said first-named electromagnetic means.

2. In a change making device, the combination with a coin hopper, of a pair of collateral reciprocable slides beneath said hopper and each provided with a coin pocket adapted to receive a certain number of coins from said hopper, said slides being normally disposed with said pockets in alignment with the hopper to receive coins therefrom and being further arranged to eject coins from said pockets upon reciprocation, electromagnetic means for reciprocating a first one of said slides to effect ejection of a certain number of coins, mechanism for coupling said first slide with the other slide whereby the latter will be reciprocated jointly with the former upon energization of said electromagnetic means, a second electromagnetic means coacting with said coupling mechanism to couple said slides, and means for maintaining said coupling mechanism in coupling condition for the duration of one reciprocation responsive to energization of the second electromagnetic means as aforesaid, together with switch means operably controlled by said second electromagnetic means for energizing said first-mentioned electromagnetic means following actuation of said coupling mechanism.

3. In a coin changing device including a gravity feed hopper, ejecting means comprising, in combination with said hopper, a first coin slide mounted for reciprocation beneath said hopper and including a coin pocket dimensioned to receive one coin from the hopper when said slide is in a normal position of alignment therewith, means for maintaining said coin in said pocket for a predetermined portion of movement of said slide away from normal position, means providing a discharge exit through which said coin may pass from said pocket when the slide is moved beyond said predetermined amount, a second slide above said first slide similarly provided with a coin receiving pocket dimensioned to receive a plurality of coins from said hopper, the coins in the pockets of both slides being discharged through said exit when said slides are moved jointly .beyond said predetermined amount, means for reciprocating said first slide, a coupling device mounted on said second slide, spring means normally urging said coupling device into coupling cooperation with said first slide, an electromagnetic device including an armature having a slot formation at one end thereof, pin means extending from said coupling device into said slot and spring means normally urging said armature, in a normal condition of cooperation with said coupling device, to maintain the latter into inefiective position, 'said electromagnetic device when energized attracting said armature to permit movement of the coupling device into coupling position, and means engaged by said coupling device when said slides have moved a predetermined amount out of a normal position for maintaining said coupling device in effective condition notwithstanding deenergization of said electromagnetic device.

4. In a change making device of the class described and including a pair of reciprocable coin ejecting slides, actuating mechanism including an electromagnetic and spring means operable to eilect reciprocation of a first one of said slides,

a coupling lever carried by a second one of said' slides and operable to couple said slides for joint movement upon energization of said first-mentioned electromagnetic means, a second electromagnetic means including a coasting spring and armature cooperable with said coupling lever to maintain the latter in ineffective position when said second electromagnetic means is not energized, Spring means for urging said lever into coupling position when said armature is attracted upon energization of said second electromagnetic means, means engaged by said coupling lever when said slides are moved a predetermined amount out of normal position to hold said lever in coupling condition independently of said second electromagnetic means, together with switch means closed by said armature when attracted to effect coupling operation of said lever upon energization of said second electromagnetic means, whereby to close an energizing circuit for said first electromagnetic means, so that energization of the second electromagnetic means will effect a coupling of the slides as well as energization of the electromagnetic means to efiect reciprocation of the first slide and the slide coupled with it.

5. In a coin changing device including a pair of superposed collateral reciprocable coin ejecting slides with one of said slides adapted to move alone or both of said slides adapted to be moved jointly to efi'ect ejection of different numbers of coins, the combination of means for eifecting reciprocation ot a first one of said slides.

a coupling lever mounted on the second one or said slides and arranged to be moved into coupling position with respect to means on said first slide to couple said slides for joint movement, means yieldably urging said coupling lever into coupling position, means releasably holding said coupling lever out of coupling position, relatively stationary means with respect to which said slides move. and means on said coupling lever arranged to engage means on said relatively stationary means to prevent movement of said second slide when said coupling lever is in ineffective or non-coupling position as aforesaid, whereby to lock said second slide against movement when the same is not coupled with said first slide.

6. In a coin changing device of the type including a hopper and a plurality of collateral reciprocablecoin ejecting slides cooperable with i said hopper to receive coins from said hopper for delivery to a discharge chute, the combination of actuating means including electromagnetic means arranged for operation to effect reciprocation of a first one of said slides, a coupling lever mounted on a second one of said slides, spring means normally urging said lever into coupling engagement with the first one of said slides,, second electromagnetic means mounted in relatively stationary condition relative to said slides and including an armature having a slot formation therein, pin means on said coupling lever and extending into said slot formation, and spring means for said armature normally urging the same into engagement with said coupling lever normally to urge the latter into ineffective position, switch means actuated by said armature when the latter is attracted to close an energizing circuit for said first mentioned electromagnetic means and the attraction of the armature simultaneously permitting movement of said coupling lever into effective position prior to the actuation of said switch means, together with means engaged by said coupling lever when said slides are moved a predetermined distance from normal position to hold the coupling lever in coupling condition until said slides are restored to said normal position.

WILLIAM PATZER.

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