Control device for a coin operated mechanism

A control device for a coin operated mechanism wherein the duration of the operating cycle of the mechanism is determined by the number of coins deposited in the device. Restraining structure is provided in the control device to prevent the inadvertent initiation of the operating cycle after the mechanism has completed a cycle of operation, or to prevent the unauthorized initiation of said operating cycle without first depositing the proper number of coins in the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates, generally, to coin operated mechanisms and, more 
particularly, to a control device for preventing the inadvertent or 
unauthorized initiation of the operating cycle of said mechanism. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Coin operated mechanisms of the type commonly referred to as commercial 
appliances, such as, clothes washers and dryers, are usually provided with 
rotary coin meters or coin slide assemblies which require the insertion of 
one or more coins to initiate the operating cycle of the mechaism. The 
length or duration of the operating cycle is controlled by an electrically 
operated timer which is part of the control device. Examples of such prior 
art control devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,915,692; 3,168,947; 
3,172,520 and 3,614,681. 
In one form of such control device, a ratchet wheel and a star wheel are 
rotatably mounted on a common shaft. Each of said wheels carries an 
eccentrically mounted pin located at an equal radial distance from the 
axis of the shaft. The pins project toward one another and are adapted to 
engage upon rotation of one wheel relative to the other. The ratchet wheel 
is driven or stepped by a pawl assembly which, in turn, is operatively 
associated with either a coin slide assembly or solenoid assembly. In 
either case, deposit of a proper coin in the device permits the coin slide 
or solenoid to operatively move the pawl assembly in a manner to stepwise 
rotate the ratchet wheel in one direction a distance of one tooth. Such 
rotation establishes an angular separation between the pins of the ratchet 
wheel and the star wheel. A spring biased arm is provided which 
operatively connects the rachet wheel to a switch. The operation is such 
that rotation of the ratchet wheel effects movement of the arm to a 
position which, in turn, effects movement of the switch to a closed state 
to initiate the operating cycle of the mechanism. 
Movement of the switch to its closed state also serves to energize an 
electrically operated timer which, in turn, effects rotation of a pin 
wheel attached to the timing motor shaft. Rotation of the pin wheel causes 
the pins thereof to engage with the teeth of the star wheel and 
intermittently rotate said star wheel in the same direction of rotation of 
the ratchet wheel. Rotation of the star wheel causes the pin thereof to 
engage with the pin of the ratchet wheel. Continued rotation of the pin 
wheel effects conjoint rotation of the star wheel and the ratchet wheel in 
said one direction, dur to the engagement of said pins, and serves to 
displace the switch operating arm to a position to effect movement of the 
switch to its open state to de-energize the timer and terminate the 
operating cycle of the mechanism. 
In the device as described above, it is possible for the star wheel to 
counterrotate in a direction opposite to said one direction when the 
switch is in its open state. Such counterrotation of the star wheel 
permits the ratchet wheel to similarly counterrotate in said opposite 
direction under the influence of the spring biased switch arm. However, 
the counterrotation of the ratchet wheel due to the movement of the switch 
arm also effects movement of the switch to its closed state to thereby 
inadvertently initiate the operating cycle of the mechanism. Thus, the 
mechanism may be subjected to unauthorized use without first depositing 
the proper coin or coins in the control device. 
The extent to which the star wheel can counterrotate is a function of the 
rotational play of said wheel and the rotational play of the timer pin 
wheel. However, it only takes a slight degree of rotational play to 
inadvertently initiate the operating cycle of the mechanism. In practice, 
it has been found that a slight jar of the control device was all that was 
necessary to initiate the operating cycle. In other instances, the mere 
force being exerted by the spring biased switch arm on the ratchet wheel 
was sufficient to effect the degree of counterrotation necessary of said 
ratchet wheel and said star wheel to initiate said operating cycle. 
Heretofore, restraining means have been proposed to prevent the inadvertent 
initiation of the operating cycle of the mechanism. For example, in U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,915,692, the means for stepping the ratchet wheel comprised an 
oscillatably mounted spring biased operating arm having a spring wire that 
was positioned to slip over one tooth of the wheel upon advanced movement 
of said arm. The movement of the operating arm was effected by the 
projected movement of the coin slide to its operate position. The 
arrangement was such that, upon retracted movement of the coin slide, the 
arm returned to its original position which, in turn, caused the bent end 
of the wire to rotate the ratchet wheel by a distance of one tooth. 
In order to prevent forceful turning of the timer control knob with the 
resulting damage to the spring wire, a bracket was provided having a 
portion overlying the surface of the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The 
bracket was positioned such that, in the spring retracted position of the 
operating arm, the bracket engaged the bent wire end and reinforced it in 
a manner to block or prevent counterrotation of the ratchet wheel. While 
such restraining means proved satisfactory for the specific structure 
disclosed in said patent, the arrangement is not suitable for newer 
control devices incorporating different means for stepping the ratchet 
wheel. The present invention provides improved restraining means, as 
hereinafter disclosed, to prevent the counterrotation of the star wheel 
and the ratchet wheel when the switch is in its open state. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The control device of the present invention is similar to that previously 
disclosed in connection with the description of the prior art. The 
improved device herein incorporates a spring biased lever which is 
constructed having a finger portion projecting outwardly from the lever 
and positioned in the path of rotation of the star wheel. The finger 
portion is formed having a camming surface and a shoulder abutment 
surface. The arrangement is such that one side of a star wheel tooth 
engages the camming surface of the finger portion upon rotation of the 
star wheel in the same direction of rotation of the ratchet wheel. Such 
rotation of the star wheel serves to displace the lever to a position 
which permits the finger portion thereof to ride over the apex of said 
tooth whereupon the spring biased lever moves back to a position to locate 
the shoulder abutment surface of the finger portion in contact with the 
opposite side of said star wheel tooth. The finger portion, thus, 
represents restraining means which is positioned to block or prevent 
counterrotation of the star wheel in the opposite direction. This, in 
turn, prevents counterrotation of the ratchet wheel in said opposite 
direction due to the engagement of the star wheel pin and the ratchet 
wheel pin, whereby the switch operating arm is held in its displaced 
position to prevent the inadvertent movement of the switch to its closed 
state. 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
control device for a coin operated mechanism having restraining means to 
prevent the inadvertent initiation of the operating cycle of the mechanism 
after the mechanism has completed a cycle of operation. 
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following 
detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, numeral 10 represents a control device for a 
coin operated mechanism constructed in accordance with the present 
invention. In this regard, it will be assumed that the coin operated 
mechanism is of the type commonly referred to as a commercial appliance, 
such as, a clothes washer. In operation, upon the insertion of a 
preselected number of coins in the control device, the mechanism will 
operate through a conventional cycle. 
Control device 10 is illustrated as including a mounting plate 12 having a 
fixed shaft 14 projecting outwardly therefrom. Rotatably mounted on shaft 
14, in axially spaced relation, is a ratchet wheel 16 and a star wheel 18. 
A pin 20 projects outwardly from the front surface of ratchet wheel 16 and 
another similar pin 22 projects outwardly from the back surface of star 
wheel 18. Pins 20, 22 project toward one another and are located at equal 
radial distances from the axis of the shaft. The arrangement is such that 
pins 20, 22 are adapted to engage with one another at the end of the 
operating cycle of the mechanism in the manner hereinafter described. 
Stepping means, represented generally by numeral 24, is provided for 
rotating ratchet wheel 16, in a step-like manner, in a clockwise direction 
as viewed in FIG. 1. Stepping means 24 is illustrated as including an arm 
26 oscillatably mounted on shaft 14 and operatively associated to the coin 
operated mechanism. In this regard, arm 26 is disposed for movement in a 
counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, upon projected movement 
of a coin slide 28 to its operate position. Projected movement of coin 
slide 28 is in a direction represented by the arrow in FIG. 1. Arm 26 is 
spring biased for movement in a clockwise direction by a spring 30 having 
one end connected to arm 26 and the opposite end connected to a post 32 on 
plate 12. The connection of spring 30 to arm 26 is effected by means of a 
suitable opening in the arm which accommodates or receives the said one 
end of the spring. Arm 26 is also formed having a bent leg portion 34 
disposed in the path of movement of coin slide 28 as illustrated more 
clearly in FIG. 2. pp Stepping means 24 further comprises a pawl assembly, 
represented generally by numeral 36, which is illustrated as including a 
pawl 38 pivotally mounted on arm 26 by means of pivot pin 40. Pawl 38 is 
spring biased in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, by a spring 
42 having one end connected to a post 44 on pawl 38 and the opposite end 
connected to a post 46 on arm 26. The arrangement is such as to locate the 
distant end of pawl 38 in engagement with the teeth 48 of ratchet wheel 
16. 
It will now be appreciated that upon projected movement of coin slide 28 to 
its operate position, arm 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction 
which causes the tooth engaging end of pawl 38 to ride on the surface of a 
ratchet wheel tooth 48. This effects a camming action of pawl 38 as it 
pivots about pin 40 against the force of spring 42. This action continues 
until the tooth engaging end of pawl 38 is positioned behind the next 
adjacent tooth 48 of the ratchet wheel 16. Then, upon retracted movement 
of coin slide 28, the arm 26 rotates in a clockwise direction, under 
influence of spring 30, and returns to its original position. Such 
rotation of arm 26 causes the pawl 38 to engage the ratchet wheel tooth 48 
in a manner to effect clockwise rotation of ratchet wheel 16, in step-like 
manner, a distance of one tooth. 
Rotation of ratchet wheel 16 establishes an angular separation between 
ratchet wheel pin 20 and star wheel pin 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The 
extent of such separation will depend on the number of times that coin 
slide 28 is reciprocally operated which, in turn, is dependent on the 
number of proper coins necessary to operate the mechanism. In other words, 
the angular distance through which ratchet wheel 16 is advanced is 
translated into the operating cycle duration of the mechanism, as 
hereinafter described. 
It will be further appreciated that stepping means 24 can be operatively 
connected to a solenoid assembly rather than a coin slide assembly to 
effect step-like rotation of ratchet wheel 16. An example of the use of a 
solenoid assembly to effect such rotation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,172,520. Accordingly, the use of a coin slide assembly to effect 
operation of the stepping means herein is merely for purposes of 
describing a complete operation of the control device, and is not to be 
deemed a limitation on the invention. 
Another arm 50 is pivotally mounted on plate 12 and is formed having a 
follower portion 52 engageable with the teeth 48 of ratchet wheel 16. Arm 
50 is spring biased for movement in a clockwise direction, as viewed in 
FIG. 1, by a spring 54 having one end connected to arm 50 and the opposite 
end connected to a post 56 on plate 12. The connection of spring 54 to arm 
50 is effected by means of a suitable opening 58 formed in the distant end 
portion of the arm which accommodates or receives the said one end of the 
spring. The arrangement is such that follower portion 52 rides over the 
teeth 48 of ratchet wheel 16 under the influence of spring 54. Arm 50 is 
further formed having a leg portion 60 operatively associated with a 
switch mechanism as hereinafter described. 
Mounted on the plate 12 and spaced from arm 50 is a switch 62 having a 
pivotally mounted armature 64 engageable with the leg portion 60 of arm 
50. Switch 62 is provided with an operating button 66 which is normally 
biased outwardly by an appropriate spring (not shown). The button is 
adapted to be depressed against the force exerted by the biasing spring to 
change the state of the switch. In other words, if the switch is connected 
to be normally closed when the button is biased outwardly, then the switch 
will be moved to an open state when the button is depressed. Switch 62 is 
adapted to be connected in circuit to initiate the operating cycle of the 
mechanism when the switch button is displaced outwardly to render the 
switch in its closed state. 
Referring to FIG. 3, it is to be noted that when switch 62 is in its closed 
state, the follower portion 52 of switch operating arm 50 is located in 
the space between adjacent teeth 48 of ratchet wheel 16. It thus follows 
that in order to effect movement of switch 62 to its open state, switch 
operating arm 50 must be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to effect 
similar counterclockwise rotation of armature 64 due to its engagement 
with the leg portion 60 of said arm to effect inner displacement of button 
66. Such movement of button 66 effects movement of switch 62 to its open 
state to terminate the operating cycle of the mechanism. 
The length or duration of the operating cycle is controlled by an 
electrically operated timer mechanism 68 mounted on plate 12. The timer 
mechanism has an energizing circuit that is controlled by switch 62. In 
other words, movement of switch 62 to its closed state also serves to 
energize timer mechanism 68. The timer mechanism has a motor which turns 
at a uniform rate of speed and is provided with an output shaft. Fixedly 
connected to the timing motor shaft is a pin wheel 70 having a specific 
number of pins 72 spaced equidistant along its periphery. The number and 
location of pins 72 is selected in accordance with the desired time of 
operation of the coin operated mechanism for each coin insertion into 
slide 28. 
The arrangement is such that as pin wheel 70 rotates in a counterclockwise 
direction, the pins 72 engage with the teeth 74 of star wheel 18 to 
intermittently rotate said star wheel in the same clockwise direction of 
rotation as ratchet wheel 16. In other words, each time a pin 72 engages a 
tooth of star wheel 18, the wheel is advanced one tooth in a clockwise 
direction. Pin wheel 70 thus represents stepping means operable when 
switch 62 is in its closed state for rotating star wheel 18. When the 
number of such periodic advances equal the total advance of ratchet wheel 
16 by stepping means 24, then star wheel 22 engages with the ratchet wheel 
pin 20, as shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter, on the next engagement of a pin 72 
with a star wheel tooth 74, star wheel 18 and ratchet wheel 16 are rotated 
conjointly in said clockwise direction due to the engagement of pins 20, 
22. Such rotation of ratchet wheel 16 serves to rotate switch operating 
arm 50 in a counterclockwise direction whereby follower portion 52 is 
displaced to the outer end of a ratchet wheel tooth 48, as shown in FIG. 
6. Such rotational movement of switch operating arm 50 serves to effect 
movement of switch 62 to its open state, in the manner heretofore 
described, to de-energize the timer 68 and terminate the operating cycle 
of the mechanism. 
It will now be appreciated that if star wheel 18 is permitted to rotate in 
a counterclockwise direction when switch 62 is in its open state, then 
ratchet wheel 16 will also be permitted to similarly rotate in a 
counterclockwise direction under the influence of the spring biased switch 
operating arm 50. Such movement of the switch operating arm 50 will also 
permit movement of switch 62 to its closed state to thereby inadvertently 
initiate the operating cycle of the mechanism. Thus, the mechanism may be 
subjected to unauthorized use without first depositing the proper coin or 
coins in the control device. It will be further appreciated that it only 
takes a slight degree of rotational play of pin wheel 70 and star wheel 18 
to inadvertently initiate the operating cycle of the mechanism. 
In accordance with the teachings of the prevent invention, a lever 76 is 
pivotally mounted on plate 12 having restraining means, represented 
generally by numeral 78, located to engage one of the teeth 74 of star 
wheel 18 to prevent rotation of said wheel in a counterclockwise direction 
when switch 62 is in its open state. Restraining means 74 comprises a 
finger portion 80 projecting outwardly from lever 76 and positioned in the 
path of rotation of star wheel 18. In the preferred embodiment, lever 76 
has a front surface lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the 
axis of the shaft 14. The lever is formed having a raised portion 82 
projecting outwardly from its front surface and extending longitudinally 
thereof. From the viewpoint of manufacturing the lever, finger portion 80 
is formed integrally with the projecting portion 82. 
Lever 76 is spring biased for movement in a clockwise direction by a spring 
84 having one end connected to lever 76 and the opposite end connected to 
the post 56 on plate 12. The connection of spring 84 to lever 76 is 
effected by means of a suitable opening 86 formed in the distant end 
portion of the lever which accommodates or receives the said one end of 
the spring. The arrangement is such that lever 76 is disposed for movement 
from a rest position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a displaced position which 
permits the finger portion 80 to be moved to a position to block or 
prevent counterrotation of star wheel 18 in the manner hereinafter 
described. 
Finger portion 80 is formed having a camming surface 88 and a shoulder 
abutment surface 90. In operation, rotation of star wheel 18 in a 
clockwise direction by means of the stepping pin wheel 70 causes one side 
of a star wheel tooth 74 to engage the camming surface 88 of finger 
portion 80 to effect rotation of lever 76 in a counterclockwise direction. 
Such rotation is tantamount to movement of lever 76 to a displaced 
position which permits finger portion 80 to ride over the apex of said 
star wheel tooth 74, whereupon lever 76 moves back to its rest position, 
as shown in FIG. 1, under influence of spring 84. Such movement of lever 
76 is snap-like in its action which results in a force being exerted on 
the opposite side of said star wheel tooth 74 to effect continued 
clockwise rotation of star wheel 18 in a rapid-like fashion. This, in 
turn, effects clockwise rotation of ratchet wheel 16, in rapid-like 
fashion, due to the engagement of pins 20, 22. The rotation of ratchet 
wheel 16 in the manner described serves to effect movement of switch 62 to 
its open state, in snap-like fashion. 
Movement of lever 76 in the manner described also serves to locate the 
shoulder abutment surface 90 of finger portion 80 in position relative to 
the opposite side of said star wheel tooth 74 to prevent rotation of said 
star wheel in a counterclockwise direction when switch 62 is in its open 
state. In this regard, any significant counterclockwise rotation of star 
wheel 18 serves to locate the opposite side of said star wheel tooth 74 in 
contact with the shoulder abutment surface 90 of finger portion 80. It 
thus follows that ratchet wheel 16 will also be prevented from rotating in 
a counterclockwise direction by means of the engagement of ratchet wheel 
pin 16 and star wheel pin 18. This, in turn, results in the follower 
portion 52 of switch operating arm 50 being held in its displaced position 
on the outer end of a ratchet wheel tooth 48 when switch 62 is in its open 
state to prevent the inadvertent movement of said switch to its closed 
state. 
The projecting portion 82 of lever 76 is formed having a recessed surface 
92 located to provide clearance for the star wheel teeth 74 and to permit 
unobstructed rotation of star wheel 18 in a clockwise direction. Lever 76 
is further formed having an outwardly projecting portion 94 disposed to 
continuously overlie a segment of the back surface of star wheel 18, as 
shown in FIG. 7, in all positions in the path of pivotal movement of lever 
76 from its rest position to its displaced position. The overlying portion 
94 serves to prevent lateral displacement of lever 76 in a direction away 
from plate 12. In other words, vertical alignment of lever 76 with star 
wheel 18 is maintained to assure that finger portion 80 properly engages 
with the teeth 74 of said wheel. 
There is thus provided an improved control device for a coin operated 
mechanism having novel restraining means to prevent the inadvertent 
initiation of the operating cycle of the mechanism after the mechanism has 
completed a cycle of operation. While a preferred embodiment of the 
invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be readily 
understood and appreciated that numerous omissions, changes and additions 
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention.