IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COIN-FREED APPARATUS

Abstract: A value-checking device for coins or tokens inserted into coin-free apparatus a pathway having a rolling surface (436), side walls (442, 444) extending upwardly and inclinedly from the rolling surface (436), and a plurality of tags (450) above and spaced from the rolling surface (436) by different predetermined distances and each directed away from one of the side walls (442) such that when a tag (450) is impinged by a rolling coin or token (55) it will deflect the coin or token away from that wall (442) towards the other side wall (444).

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COIN-FREED APPARATUS This invention relates to coin-freed apparatus, i.e. apparatus including devices for checking the value and/or validity of coins or tokens inserted therein. Such coin- freed apparatus is often incorporated in vending machines, lockers for public rental, turnstiles, so-called "fruit machines", and in other appliances and structures. The coin-freed apparatus currently in use comprises a series of checking mechanisms that are extremely complex and usually involve mechanical checking of the diameter and/or thickness and/or weight of each inserted coin or token. Nevertheless, such known coin-freed apparatus are often unable to cope satisfactorily with situations such as: (a) the insertion of numerous coins in very fast succession to one another, (b) low value coins made to represent larger diameter and increased value coins by one or more peripheral windings of an adhesive tape, (c) bent coins, (d) imitation coins or tokens made of ferrous metal or of plastics material, (e) the non-operation of an escrow unit by the collection therein of too many coins or tokens - usually a high number of low value coins or tokens. The present invention aims to provide coin-freed apparatus of simple construction and capable of coping with one or more of the above-mentioned and/or other situations. According to one aspect of this invention there is provided coin-freed apparatus having a conduit (preferably downwardly directed) leading from an entrance for coins or tokens, said apparatus being characterised by a snatch mechanism having a part resiliently urged such that the part partially obstructs the entrance and such that the resilient force, when initially overcome by an inserted coin or token, serves to urge that inserted coin or token along the conduit and away from the entrance. The apparatus can thus provide sufficient separation between successively inserted coins or tokens to ensure that they are checked individually in subsequent parts of the apparatus and are not too closely bunched together to prevent such checking or its accuracy. Preferably the snatch mechanism comprises a lever pivoted adjacent one end remote from the entrance and provided adjacent its other end with said part to obstruct partially said entrance. Advantageously the said part comprises a roller. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided coin-freed apparatus having a conduit (preferably downwardly directed) including a lower surface along which the inserted coins or tokens roll, and two substantially parallel upstanding wall portions for laterally guiding coins or tokens, characterised in that the two wall portions, when in a checking position, are spaced apart a predetermined distance and one of said wall portions is laterally movable to permit lateral discharge from the conduit of an item trapped between them, e.g. a bent coin or token of greater width than said predetermined distance. Preferably said one wall portion is mechanically coupled to a coin/token reject mechanism the operation of which effects said one wall portion's lateral movement. Advantageously the said one wall portion is pivoted about a vertical axis (preferably at or adjacent the vertical edge of said wall portion remote from the entrance) and is resiliently urged towards its substantially parallel relationship with the opposite wall portion. According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a value checking device for coins or tokens inserted into coin-freed apparatus, characterised in that the value checking device comprises means responsive to an electrical signal generated by a metallic coin or token bridging across electrical contact points positioned to have a predetermined spacing between them. According to a first main j aspect of this invention there is provided a value checking device for coins or tokens inserted into coin-freed apparatus, characterised in that the value checking device comprises a pathway having a lower rolling surface, a side wall extending upwardly of the lower rolling surface, and a plurality of upper tags spaced from the lower rolling surface by different predetermined distances and each directed away from the first wall such that when a tag is impinged by a rolling coin or token it will deflect the coin or token away from the first wall. In a preferred example, the value checking device comprises a conduit having a lower rolling surface, first and second upstanding side walls which extend progressively laterally away from one another as they extend away from the lower rolling surface, and a plurality of upper tags spaced from the lower rolling surface by different predetermined distances corresponding to the different diameters of the coins or tokens to be checked, each of said tags being directed away from the first wall in a direction both downstream of the conduit and towards the second side wall such that when a tag is impinged by a rolling coin or token it will deflect the latter towards the second side wall. Preferably the lower rolling surface and the tags are each of electrically conductive material (the tags being electrically insulated from one another) such that an electrical connection between a said tag and the surface is momentarily effected when that tag is struck by a metallic coin or token rolling through the device on said lower rolling surface. Advantageously the rolling surface and said tags are connected in an electrical circuit which includes an electrical or electronic counter that counts (up or down) the cumulative value of successive metallic coins or tokens passing along the lower rolling surface of the said conduit and striking one or more of said tags. Preferably the said electrical circuit includes a coin- operable start switch that is located upstream of, or at an entrance zone of, the value checking device and that is operable by the inserted coins or tokens. Advantageously the said electrical circuit includes a coin- operable stop switch that is located downstream of, or at an exit zone of, the value checking device and that is operable by a coin or token leaving the value checking device. Preferably said start and stop switches are connected to a timer circuit which is arranged to trigger a jammed-coin release mechanism if the stop switch is not operated within a predetermined time elapse (e.g. 1 second) from operation of the start switch. Preferably said jammed-coin release mechanism comprises a solenoid-actuated mechanism to move the lower rolling surface of said value checking device laterally and permit a jammed coin in the value checking device to drop onto a still lower track. Preferably said track extends parallel to the said rolling surface and such that a coin rolling thereon can operate the said stop switch. According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided coin-freed apparatus incorporating a value checking device according to said yet another or said first main aspect of this invention. According to a second main aspect of this invention there is provided, for coin-freed apparatus, an escrow unit to retain successive coins or tokens temporarily until discharged through either a cash collection aperture or a cash return aperture, characterised in that said escrow unit comprises: columnar guide means to retain successive coins or tokens received in said escrow unit in a generally columnar array, a pivoted base member closely adjacent and underlying, the base of the columnar guide means, and solenoid-operable means to move the columnar guide means in selectively first or second opposite directions from a central position, the columnar guide means in its central position being symmetrical about the pivotal axis of the base member and restraining the base member against the pivotal motion that is permissible (and is aided by any coins or tokens retained in the columnar guide means) when the columnar guide means is moved in either of said first or second directions. Preferably the columnar guide means comprises a tubular member, e.g. of plastics material, and the base member comprises a metal plate. According to an aspect of this invention there is provided, for coin-freed apparatus, an escrow unit to retain successive coins or tokens temporarily until discharged through either a cash collection aperture or a cash return aperture, characterised in that said escrow unit comprises means to effect said discharge through the cash return aperture, said means being responsive to an electrical signal generated by a plurality of metallic coins or tokens bridging across electrical contact points having a predetermined spacing between them. Preferably the said escrow unit comprises: columnar guide means to retain successive coins or tokens received in said escrow unit in a generally columnar array, said columnar guide means having an internal surface of electrically non-conductive material, means mounting said columnar guide means εlidably on a horizontal rod extending therethrough, said rod having at least its outer surface of electrically conductive material, solenoid-operable first motion imparting means to move the columnar guide means εlidably along the rod from a generally central position towards one end position in which the columnar guide means overlies said cash return aperture, solenoid-operable second motion imparting means to move the columnar guide means slidably along the rod towards the opposite end position in which the columnar guide means overlies said cash collection aperture, and a base member having at least its upper (preferably planar) surface of electrically conductive material disposed below said columnar guide means and, when the latter is positioned generally centrally between the ends of the rod, serving to close the bottom of the columnar guide means, the solenoid-operable first motion imparting means being connected in an electrical circuit that can be closed by metallic coins or tokens bridging across between the base member and the said rod. Advantageously the vertical distance between the base member and the said rod corresponds approximately to the maximum number of coins or tokens it is desired to be held in the escrow unit. In a preferred embodiment, the columnar guide means comprises a tubular member, e.g. of plastics material, and the base member comprises a metal plate. In various tests and experiments with the said preferred embodiment of the said escrow unit it has been found that as coins or tokens fall into the columnar guide means, they tend to be upended by the rod, thus tending to lie flat one upon the other (and supported by the base member) until the space between the rod and the topmost coin or token is too 5small for the next coin or token to topple over completely whereupon the latter bridges across between the rod and the pile of coins or tokens on (and supported by) the base member to close said electrical circuit. Advantageously the solenoid-operable first motion imparting lOmeans is also actuable, e.g. by a mechanical or electrical linkage, by manual operation of a (or the) coin/token reject mechanism. Optionally a coin counter can be provided, preferably operated by each operation of the switch mechanism, to count 15the number of coins inserted into the apparatus, this coin counter being arranged to trip the escrow unit to reject coins when a predetermined coin count has been reached. According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided coin-freed apparatus incorporating an escrow unit 20according to said second main aspect of this invention. According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a coin/token reject mechanism for coin-freed apparatus, comprising first and second members 2 5interconnected by a compression spring, the first member being manually displaceable to compress the spring whilst the second member is restrained by magnet means against displacement by the compression spring until the compressive force in the latter exceeds the magnetic force of said 30magnet means. Advantageously said magnet means is a permanent magnet. In one preferred embodiment the coin-freed apparatus is provided with a conduit (preferably downwardly directed) which includes a lower surface along which the inserted coins or tokens roll, and two substantially parallel upstanding wall portions for laterally guiding the coins or tokens, one of said wall portions being provided with an aperture. The said apparatus is further provided with magnet means (preferably a permanent bar magnet) adjacent the upstream edge of the aperture to deflect ferrous imitations of coins or tokens laterally through said aperture and out of the conduit. Preferably the magnet means is arranged to effect said deflection without causing the deflected item to adhere magnetically to the magnet means. This avoids the need to provide a stripping mechanism to strip off from the magnet means any ferrous items adhering magnetically thereto. Advantageously low force resilient means, e.g. a light leaf spring, is mounted in the other of said wall portions and opposite the said aperture. This low force resilient means may aid the deflection force of the said magnet means, .and/or may operate to deflect or eject lightweight tokens of plastics material out of the conduit through said aperture. By way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation (from the left) of coin-freed apparatus embodying the present invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged and more detailed view of an upper portion of Fig.1 , Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line III-III of Fig.2, Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig.2, Figure 5 is an enlarged, partly broken and detailed view of a lowe portion of Fig. 7, as well as that of part of Fig.6, Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI of Fig.5, Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line VII-VII of Fig.5, and Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative value checking device for apparatus according to this invention. 0As shown most clearly in Figs.1, 2 and 5, the coin freed apparatus 10 comprises an entrance 20 for coins, this entrance forming the starting point of a downwardly directed conduit 30. The entrance 20 is defined by a generally upright, slightly sloping slot located in use in the front 5wall of a machine, e.g. a vending machine, or other appliance. The conduit 30 extends therefrom progressively through a plurality of checking or sensing zones in which the coins are subjected sequentially to: 1. a snatch operation by a coin-snatch mechanism 100 that 0 is operable on coins inserted through the entrance 20, 2. bent-coin testing and, if failed, rejection by a bent- coin reject mechanism 200, 3. ferrous-coin testing and, if failed, rejection by a ferrous-coin reject device 300, and 5 4. coin value checking by a value checking device 400, before they enter an escrow unit 500 that holds the coins temporarily until the transaction is either completed satisfactorily (whereupon the coins are passed on to a cash box) or is aborted by operation of the said reject mechanism 30200 or some other separate reject mechanism (whereupon the coins are returned to the operator, e.g. the vending machine customer). The coin-snatch mechanism 100 (see Fig. 2) comprises an elongate lever 102 extending to the right-hand side of the 35apparatus 10 from adjacent the entrance 20 towards the rear of the apparatus 10. Adjacent its rearward end, the lever 102 is pivoted, as at 104, to the right-hand wall of the apparatus. A roller 105 is pivotally attached to the entrance-adjacent forward end of lever 102 and extends through an arcuate slot or aperture 103 in the right-hand wall of the conduit 30 to project into the path of coins or tokens inserted into conduit 30 through the entrance 20. A coiled tension spring 106 is connected between a fixed part of the apparatus 10 and an intermediate part of lever 102 to urge roller 105 downwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig.2 in which it partially obstructs entrance 20. The limits to pivotal movement of the lever 102 are provided by appropriate stops, e.g. the ends of the arcuate slot 103, the upper limit being commensurate with the maximum diameter of a coin or token that is to be acceptable to the apparatus 10. When a coin or token 50 is inserted into the entrance 20 it engages roller 105 and urges it upwardly against the resilient force of spring 106. As soon as coin 50 has half- passed the roller 105, it is urged forcibly (by the force of spring 106) inwardly of the conduit 30. The effect upon the user is that of the coin 50 being "snatched" in by the apparatus 10. This "snatch" operation tends to avoid bunching up of coins that might otherwise occur if a user attemps to insert successive coins too rapidly into the apparatus. The lever 102 is also mechanically linked to an electrical device (not shown) which electrically counts the number of times lever 102 is actuated thereby to count the number of coins inserted into the apparatus. This counter is arranged to trip an escrow unit, e.g. the escrow unit 500 described below, such that it returns inserted coins to the user when a predetermined coin count has been reached. Inserted coins or tokens which descend conduit 30 from the "snatch" mechanism 100 pass into a bent-coin test and reject mechanism 200 (see Figs.2 and 4). In the zone of mechanism 200 the conduit 30 comprises an inclined lower surface 210 along which the coins or tokens are to roll, and two 5 substantially parallel upstanding wall portions 212, 214 for laterally guiding the rolling coins or tokens. The inclined lower surface 210 is formed by a downwardly and leftwardly directed limb of a generally L-shaped plate 238 attached to the right-hand side wall portion 212. The wall portions 10212, 21 are in normal use spaced apart a pre-determined distance commensurate with the greatest thickness (i.e. width) of a coin or token that is to be acceptable to the apparatus 10. Right-hand side wall portion 212 is fixed, but left-hand side wall portion 21 is provided by part of a 1 5 metal plate 215 that is pivoted about a vertical axis. The pivot axis is defined by a pair of lef wardly-directed stubs 213 located rearwardly of the apparatus 10, the stubs having springs 239 coiled about them that urge the plate 215 resiliently towards its substantially parallel relationship 20 with wall portion 212. The left-hand face of metal plate 215 is provided with a rigid metal tag 216 directed at an angle thereto so as to extend rearwards and rightwards of the apparatus 10. This tag 216 extends through the right-hand side wall 212 and 25 into an elongate slot 218 in a rearward slide bar 22.0 that is mounted for fore-and-aft sliding motion on the right-hand face of side wall 212. Rearward slide bar 220 is of steel or other ferrous metal and is provided at its front and rear ends with outwardly-directed limbs 222 and 224. An electric 30 on/off switch 226 is positioned rearwardly of limb 224 in the path of its rearward motion, switch 226 being electrically connected in a circuit operable on an escrow unit, e.g. the escrow unit 500 described below. The reject mechanism 200 also comprises a forward slide bar 35 230 similarly mounted for fore-and-aft sliding motion and in line with the rearward slide bar 220. The forward slide bar is likewise provided at its front and rear ends with outwardly directed limbs 232, 234. The mutually adjacent limbs 222 and 2.34 are provided with short stubs directed towards one another, these stubs supporting the ends of a compression spring 235 that acts between the two limbs 222 and 234 to urge apart the slide bars 220, 230. Nevertheless, in normal non-operative condition of reject mechanism 200, the force of compression spring 235 is resisted by the magnetic attractive force of a permanent magnet 225 engaged by the rearward slide bar's rear limb 224, and (optionally) of a tension return spring 236 acting on the rearward slide bar 220. If a bent , coin or other item of width greater than the predetermined spacing between walls 212, 214 becomes trapped between them, the reject mechanism 200 is operated by manually pushing inwardly the front limb 232 of forward slide bar 230. This motion progressively compresses spring 235 until the compression force therein and acting on rearward slide bar 220 is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attractive force of permanent magnet 225 (and, optionally, the tensile force of return spring 236). The effect of this is that rearward slide bar 220 will move suddenly and sharply towards the rear - even if forward slide bar 230 had been moved forwards very gradually and/or slowly - and will thus cause a sudden camming engagement and relative movement between the rigid metal tag 216 and the forward end of slot 218. Such relative movement causes wall 215 to move suddenly outwardly by pivoting about its rearward vertical axis. The sudden lateral movement of wall 214 away from wall 212 permits release of the item trapped between these walls and its deflection laterally out of the conduit 30 by the downwardly and leftwardly inclined limb 210 of the L- shaped plate 238. The sudden rearward motion of slide bar 220 also actuates electric switch 226 such that the escrow unit releases coins or tokens held therein to a coin/token return zone of the apparatus. Upon release of manual pressure on front limb 232, the forward slide bar 230 returns to its initial position by the action of compressed spring 235, the rearward slide bar 220 returns to its initial position by the action of tensioned spring 236, and the laterally movable wall 214 (plate 215) returns to its initial position (from that shown in chain- dot outline in Fig.3) by the springs 239 coiled about the pivot axis-defining stubs 213. In a modified form of the bent coin test/reject mechanism 200, the tag 216 is omitted and the parts 220 to 235 are all mounted on a fixed plate attached in spaced relation to the left-hand face of wall 212 so as to overlie the plate 215. The coiled return spring 236 interconnects slide bar 220 and a fixed point on wall 21 adjacent the front of the mechanism. An additional coiled tension spring is connected between slide bar 220 and the metal plate 21E. If slide bar 230 is moved rearwardly by pushing front limb 232 manually, it causes compression of spring 235 until compression force overcomes the attractive force of magnet 225 whereupon slide bar 220 moves suddenly towards the rear. Such movement is effective, via said additional coiled tension spring, to pull open the lateral flap or "trap door" provided by plate 21 and thereby permit release of the bent coin or other item trapped between walls 212,214 and its deflection laterally out of the conduit 30 by the downwardly and leftwardly inclined limb 210 of the L-shaped plate 238. Coins or tokens which descend conduit 30 past the bent-coin test/reject mechanism 200 (in either its illustrated form or its above-described modified form), enter a zone 305 in which reject device 300 ejects ferrous coins or tokens from the conduit. The conduit in zone 305 comprises a lower rolling surface 310, a right-hand side wall 312 and a left hand side wall 314 that has a large aperture 315 therein extending down to the lower surface 310. A permanent magnet 316 is attached to the outer face of left-hand side wall 314 adjacent the upstream edge of aperture 315. It will be appreciated that, in use, any fake or imitation coin or token of ferrous metal that rolls down surface 310 between the lateral guiding walls 312, 314 will be attracted by the magnet 316 and be deflected laterally through the aperture 315. Optionally, to assist such deflection, a low-force leaf spring may be mounted on wall 312 opposite the aperture 315 and to project internally of conduit 30. The arrangement is such that magnet 316 not only deflects ferrous items towards aperture 316 but reduces somewhat their speed of descent so that the optional low-force leaf spring can more usefully aid the magnetic attractive force and provide a resultant force directed laterally and of sufficient magnitude to eject the ferrous item through aperture 315. Although the optional low-force leaf spring on its own is not sufficiently strong to eject a metal coin through aperture 315, it is strong enough to eject a lightweight token of plastics material through aperture 315. Thus a non-ferrous item, which is not attracted to or slowed down by the magnet 316, will roll past the optional leaf spring and continue down conduit 30 to leave the zone 305. It will be appreciated that by locating magnet 316 at the upstream end of the ferrous item test/eject zone 305, intended deflection of ferrous items can be effected without causing them to adhere magnetically to the magnet 316. Thus there is no need to provide a separate "stripping" mechanism to strip off from the magnet any magnetically adherent ferrous items. Coins or tokens which descend conduit 30 past the ferrous item deflection device 300 may be subjected in a zone 350 to a test to ascertain whether or not the descending item is of metal, e.g. brass, lead, steel or aluminium. This test and the device for effecting it are optional and, in general, not considered essential^ particularly since non- metallic items will not actuate the coin-value checking device 400 now to be described. At the entrance to the coin-value checking device 400, the conduit 30 has its left-hand side wall 414 provided with an angled cut-out 416 (Fig.1 ) in which rests one limb 418 of a generally L-shaped lever 420. The -shaped lever 420 is pivoted at its elbow or corner 422, and its other limb 424 is arranged to operate an electrical on/off switch 425. The arrangement is such that a coin 55 descending the illustrated vertical portion of conduit 30 (Fig.2) will, in passing, deflect lever 420 and cause it to switch ON the'circuitWAKE UP" switch 425. The descending coin 55 then impinges on a shock absorber 430 comprising a plate 432 that is spring-urged upwardly. Plate 432 has an inclined upper edge 433 that deflects coins 55 from the vertical portion of conduit 30 to an inclined pathway 435 through the coin-value checking and evaluating device 400. The pathway 435 comprises a laterally movable metal plate 436 inclined downwardly and forwardly of the apparatus, and first and second side walls 442, 444 that extend away from one another as they extend upwardly away from plate 436 and define a generally V-shaped channel. The right-hand side wall 442 is formed of plastics material (or other electrically non-conductive material). The orientation of side walls 442 and 444 is such that coins entering pathway 435 rest on plate metal 436 and also, partially, on side wall 442. A plurality of slotted metal limbs 445 are mounted by screws 446 on the side wall 442 so as to be disposed generally vertically in mutually spaced side-by- side relation. The limbs 445 have lower tags 450 directed downwardly of the pathway 435 and away from side wall 442 towards side wall 444. The lower edges of tags 450 are parallel to plate 436 and spaced from the metal plate 436 by different predetermined distances corresponding to the different diameters of the coins (or tokens) 55 to be checked. The positions of the tags 450 can be adjusted by means of the mounting screws 446 and the slots in limbs 445, and are set such that they define a sequence of progressively smaller plate-to-tag distances as the plate 436 descends downwardly and forwardly of the apparatus. These distances are set to correspond to the diameters of the different coins which the device 400 is to sense, the actual distance in each case being fractionally less than the actual, diameter to be tested. The upper ends of limbs 445 are electrically connected in a circuit which includes a count display device. The value of the display is arranged to be changed in response to an electric signal generated when a coin or metallic token bridges across the metal plate 436 and one of the metal tags 450, the change corresponding with the value of the coin or token and being determined in accord with the distance between that tag and the plate 436. The plate 436 is formed by the laterally-projecting limb of an L-section metal bracket 438 (see Fig.6). The upstanding limb 437 of bracket 438 is hingedly connected to the armature 439 of a solenoid 440 such that when the solenoid 440 is electrically energised the armature rises and causes limb 436 to withdraw inwardly of the side wall 442 (rightwards of the apparatus 10). Below plate 436, the pathway 435 is provided by a lowermost bottom track 446 formed by a laterally stepped part of side wall 442. This lowermost bottom track 446 descends downwardly and forwardly of the apparatus in parallel to plate 436. The distance betwen track 446 and the nearest (i.e. lowermost) tag 450 is greater than the distance between plate 436 and the furthest (i.e. uppermost) tag 450. This ensures that any coin or token rolling along track 446 when plate 436 is withdrawn (see below), will not engage any of the tags 450. Adjacent the lowermost end of plate 436 and track 446 there is provided an upstanding lever 460. The lower region of the lever 460 extends partially through the right-hand side wall 442 and into the pathway 435. The lever 460 is pivoted intermediate its ends and its upper region is arranged to operate an electrical on/off switch 465. The arrangement is such that any coin or token descending pathway 435, along either the plate 436 or, when the latter is withdrawn to the chain-dot position of Fig.6, along the track 446, will impinge upon lever 460 and cause it to operate switch 465. In operation, a tag 450 is impinged by a coin or metal token 55 at an angle ( momentarily to close the electrical circuit, as already described), whereby the tag 450 will physically deflect that coin or token away from side wall 442 to an extent that the coin or token is 'flipped over' from its inclination from the vertical to the opposite inclination to the vertical against the other side wall 444, whereby to ensure that it cannot thereafter touch another tag 450. This occurs s multaneously with the value change in the up (or down) count displayed by the count display. If the coin or token becomes jammed between tag and plate and fails to be 'flipped over', then it can be released by electrically energising the solenoid 440 to effect withdrawal of plate 436 and thus permit the jammed coin or token to drop on the lowermost track 446 of device 4Q0. The solenoid 440 is connected in an electrical circuit including a switch (e.g. the above-mentioned switch 226) operated by a coin reject mechanism (e.g. mechanism 200), and also in a parallel timing circuit including the ON/OFF switches 425 and 465. The arrangement is such that the solenoid 440 can be energised by manual operation of the coin reject mechanism or can be automatically energised if a predetermined time interval (e.g. 1 sec.) elapses from operation of "start" switch 425 without "stop" switch 465 being operated (i.e. a jamming indication). It will be appreciated that the count display circuit is arranged to be responsive to only one momentary signal following operation of the "wake up" or start switch 425. This is to avoid false counting in the event that a coin becomes jammed between a tag and plate 436. The count is stored for a predetermined time interval, e.g. 15 sees, pending arrival of the next count signal due to a subsequently inserted coin. When the desired total count is reached, the operator, e.g. vending machine customer, actuates a switch to vend the desired article appropriate to that count value. If the predetermined time interval elapses without switch 425 being again actuated by insertion of a further coin, the count circuit is de-energised and any coins already inserted and held in an escrow unit (such as escrow unit 500 described below) can be automatically rejected, i.e. returned to the user, by the escrow unit. This arrangement also ensures that any non-metallic blank or fake coin or token, e.g. a blank of plastics material or a coin that has been edge-wound with adhesive tape to increase its diameter (and apparent value), will fail to generate a signal and, after elapse of this last-mentioned predetermined time interval (e.g. of 15 sees), will pass to the escrow unit without affecting the the total value count. To avoid a false count being derived from any foreign coins, blanks, or other fake coins or tokens that are slightly oversize (as compared with the size of authentic coins or tokens), each of the tags 450 - that are correctly set and are connected in the count circuit - may be positioned immediately downstream of a similar tag that is not connected in the circuit and is set to provide a distance fractionally greater than the coin diameter to be checked. Thus an oversize blank will be deflected, without generating a count signal, before it can reach the correctly set and connected tag 450. It will be appreciated that, due to the screws 446 in the slots in limbs 445, the positions of the tags 450 can be simply and easily adjusted and set to suit the device 400 for different coins or tokens and/or for coins of different currencies. The switch 465 may be replaced by an infrared light 'gate' in circuit with the WAKE-UP switch 425, the circuit including means to ensure that once a tag 450 has been contacted by a coin or token 55 another tag cannot be activated without resetting the WAKE-UP switch 425. Coins or tokens which descend the pathway 435 past the stop switch 465, enter a conduit 60 which leads to the top of an escrow unit 500. The escrow unit 500 retains successive coins or tokens temporarily until they are discharged from the unit through either a cash collection aperture 510 or a cash return aperture 512. The unit comprises a tubular member 515 of plastics material into which fall the coins or tokens from conduit 60 so as to be guided by member 515 into a columnar array. The tubular member 515 is mounted immediately above a base member 520 that, in a rest position (the full-line position shown in Fig.5), serves to close off the bottom of tubular member 515. The base member 520 is generally concave or V-shaped, and is pivoted for angular movement about an axis 522 extending diametrically of the tubular member 515. The member 515 is itself pivoted for angular movement about an axis 530, and is connected by a pin 532 (above axis 516) to the common armature 535 of two aligned solenoid actuators 540, 542. In addition, two metal blades 536,538 are mounted one each side of the pin 532, the blades being mutually inclined and normally contacting one another to form a normally closed electrical switch that is connected in the coin value counting circuit of the value checking device 400. The arrangement is such that energisation of one or other of the solenoid actuators 540, 542 causes their common armature 535 to move horizontally in one or other of two opposite directions (a) to open the switch formed by blades 536,538 to reset the coin value counter to zero, and (b) to pivot the tubular member 515 away from its rest position - in which it is symmetric with respect to the base member's pivotal axis 522 and restrains the base member 520 against pivotal motion. Such solenoid-actuated pivotal movement of the tubular member 515 moves laterally the column of coins or tokens held within tubular member 515 and simultaneously de-restrains the base member 520 so as to permit the letter's pivotal movement about axis 522. The column of coins or tokens requires only little movement to become asymmetrically located with respect to the aforesaid pivotal axis 522 and, as soon as such a condition is obtained, the weight of the column of coins provides a gravitational force aiding the desired pivotal motion of the base member 520. Further, as the latter pivots, its upswinging edge portion pushes the adjacent bottom edge portion of tubular member 515 to assist the initial pivotal movement of the tubular member 515. By thus using the weight of the coins or tokens held within the escrow unit, the power required for actuation of the solenoids 540, 542 is minimised. It will be apparent that energisation of solenoid actuator 540 to move the common armature 535 towards the front of the apparatus (rightwards as viewed in Figs.1 , 5 and 7) will cause tubular member 515 to pivot clockwise (as viewed in Fig.5), base member 520 to pivot anti-clockwise (as viewed in Fig.5), and the coins or tokens resting thereon to drop through the cash collection aperture 510 for retention in a cash box (not shown) housed within the apparatus. Conversely, energisation of solenoid actuator 542 to move the common armature 535 towards the rear of the apparatus (leftwards as viewed in Figs.1 , 5 and 7) will cause tubular member 515 to pivot anti-clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 5), base member 520 to pivot clockwise (as viewed in Fig.5), and the coins or tokens resting thereon to drop through the cash return aperture 512 for collection by the user of the apparatus through an opening in a front wall of the apparatus. It will be appreciated that for effecting cash return, the solenoid of actuator 542 is connected in an electrical circuit including a switch (e.g. the above-mentioned switch 226) operated by a coin reject mechanism (e.g. mechanism 200). That circuit may also include an on/off switch (connected in parallel with the last-mentioned switch) to be switched ON when the number of coins or tokens entering the escrow unit 500 exceeds a predetermined number. Such coin number counting may be effected by the above-described electrical device that is mechanically linked to the lever 102 of the "snatch" mechanism 100. The provision of such coin number triggering prevents the escrow unit 500 becoming full, e.g. by receiving too many low-denomination coins. It will be appreciated that this on/off switch may be alternatively electrically triggered, e.g. in a coin- counting part of the value-counting circuit associated with coin-value checking device 400. It will also be appreciated that the solenoid of actuator 540 is connected in an electrical circuit (e.g. the value- counting circuit associated with the coin-value checking device 400) so as to be operated when coins of sufficient aggregate value have entered the escrow unit 500. From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the units and devices 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 need not all be provided in the sequence described above and, indeed, need not all be incorporated in one apparatus as in the preferred embodiment described and illustrated - but any one of them can be used individually with other or conventional units performing similar functions. For example, in one modified embodiment, the coin freed apparatus may comprise one or more of devices 100, 300, 400 and 500 in use with a bent-coin reject mechanism modified by the provision of a solenoid actuator which, when energised 5by closure of an electrical on/off switch (such as switch 226) located for example on the front wall of the apparatus, will move the metal plate 215 sideways in a manner equivalent to the sideways movement effected by the camming action between tag 216 and slot 218 in the illustrated embodiment. 10 in another exemplary embodiment, coin-freed apparatus comprising one or more devices 100, 200, 300 and 500 can be used with a different coin-value checking device, e.g. the device 600 shown schematically in Fig.8. As shown, device 600 comprises a layered structure or stack 645 composed of 15 alternating metal plates 650 and insulating members 651. Each of the plates 650 may be approximately 0.25 mm (0.001 inch) thick and the insulating members 651 may be of varying thicknesses commensurate with the differences in diameter of the coins to be checked. All the plates and members 650, 20651 may be of disc-like circular outline or may be provided with a straight edge. In either event, the plates and members 650, * 651 are in edge alignment in the wall of a conduit along which coins such as 55 are to roll. The conduit has a metal bottom wall and is arranged to ensure 25that the coins roll past the stack 645 at an angle thereto and such that each coin's upper edge portion contacts the stack as it rolls past. The dimensions of the conduit and its incline, and the dimensions of the metal plates and insulating members of the 30 stack 645, are all arranged such that a genuine-size coin will contact one of the metal plates 650 as it rolls past the stack. The plates 650 are electrically connected in a circuit which includes a count display device and such that the device 600 can function electrically in a manner equivalent to device 400 described above, in particular in that it will respond to an electric signal generated by a metallic coin or token bridging across electrical contact points (the conduit bottom and one of the plates 650) positioned to have a predetermined spacing between them. It will be appreciated that by insertion of insulating spacers 651 of appropriate height the stack 645 can be readily altered to provide different spacings between plates 650 to suit the device 600 for different coins or tokens and/or for coins of different currencies. In yet another exemplary embodiment, coin-freed apparatus comprising one or more of devices 100, 200, 300 and 400 or 600 can be used with a different escrow unit. Such an escrow unit, for example, may comprise means to effect discharge of the coins or tokens through the cash return aperture, which means are responsive to an electrical signal generated when a plurality of coins or tokens bridge across electrical contact points having a predetermined spacing between them. Preferably such an escrow unit can comprise columnar guide means (such as tubular member 515) of electrically non- conductive material, and (instead of being mounted pivotally) being mounted slidably on a horizontal rod extending therethrough. The horizontal rod has at least its outer surface of electrically conductive material. Solenoid- operable motion imparting means are then provided to move the columnar guide means slidably along the rod from a generally central position either towards one end position in which the columnar guide means overlies the cash return aperture or towards the opposite end position in which the columnar guide means overlies the cash collection aperture. The escrow unit also has a base member having at least its upper (preferably planar) surface of electrically conductive material and disposed below the columnar guide means such that, when the latter is positioned generally centrally between the ends of the rod, the base member serves to close the bottom of the columnar guide means. The solenoid- 5 operable motion imparting means is connected in an electrical circuit that can be closed by metallic coins or tokens bridging across between the base member and the said rod and effect the columnar guide means' sliding movement in the said one direction. lOOther modifications, combinations and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art and the present invention is not to be deemed restricted to the particular preferred embodiments described above and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A value-checking device for coins or tokens (55) inserted into coin-freed apparatus (10), comprising a pathway having a rolling surface (436), characterised in that a pair of mutually relatively inclined side walls (442, 444) extend above and flank the said rolling surface (436), and a plurality of tags (450) are disposed above the said rolling surface (436) and are spaced therefrom by different predetermined distances in a stepped configuration corresponding to the different diameters of the coins or tokens to be checked each tag (450) being directed away from one of said side walls (442) such that when a said tag (450) is hit by a rolling coin or token (55) it will deflect the latter (55) away from the said one wall (442) towards the said other wall (444) . 2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rolling surface (436) and at least some of the tags (450) are of electrically conductive material, the conductive tags (45) being electrically insulated from one another. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the rolling surface (436) and said tags (450) are connected in an electrical circuit which includes an electrical or electronic counter that counts the cumulative value of successive metallic coins or tokens (55) passing along the rolling surface (436), the said electrical circuit including a coin-actuated start switch (425) that is located upsteam of, or at an entrance zone of, the value checking device and a coin-actuated stop switch (465) that is located downstream of, or at an exit zone of, the value checking device. 4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that said start and stop switches (425, 465) are connected to a timer circuit which is arranged to trigger a jammed-coin release mechanism if the stop switch ( 465) is net operated within a predetermined time elapse (e.g. 1 second) from operation of the start switch (425). 5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said jammed-coin release mechanism comprises a solenoid- actuated mechanism (439, 440) to move the rolling surface (436) laterally and permit a jammed coin (55) in the value checking device to drop out therefrom. 6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that, for catching a released, previously jammed coin (55) an escrow unit (500) is positioned beneath said rolling surface (436) to retain successive coins or tokens temporarily until discharged through either a cash collection aperture (510) or a cash return aperture (512), further characterised in that said escrow unit (550) comprises: tubular guide means (515) to regain successive coins or tokens received in said escrow unit in a generally columnar array, a pivoted base member (520) closely adjacent and underlying, the base of the tubular guide means (515); and solenoid-operable means (540, 542, 535) selectably to move the said guide means (515) in first or second opposite directions from a central position, the said guide means (515) in its central position being symmetrical about the pivotal axis (530) of the base member (520) and effective to restrain the base member (520) against the pivotal motion that is permissible (and is aided by any coins or tokens retained in the said guide means) when the said guide means (515) is moved in either of said first or second directions. 7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that said guide means (515) has an internal surface of electrically non-conductive material, and further characterised in that there are means (532, 536, 53S) mounting said guide means (515) slidably on a horizontal conductive pin (532) extending therethrough, solenoid-operable first and second motion imparting means (540, 542) to move the said guide means (515) from a generally central position towards one cf two end positions in which, respectively, said guide means overlies said rash return aperture (512; or said cash collection aperture (510;, and said base member (520) serving to close the bottom of the said guide means when the latter is positioned generally centrally the solenoid-operable first motion imparting means (542) being connected in an electrical circuit that can be closed 5 by metallic coins or tokens (55) bridging across between the base member (520) and the said pin. 8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that the vertical distance between the base member (520) and the said pin (530) corresponds approximately to the maximum L0 number of coins or tokens it is desired to be held in the escrow unit (500). 9. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that first and second members interconnected by a compression spring, the first member being manually displaceable to compress 15 the spring whilst the second member is restrained by magnet means against displacement by the compression spring until the compressive force in the latter exceeds the magnetic force of said magnet means (Fig. 1).

Inventors: RATZKER HERMAN BERTHOLD, RATZKER, HERMAN, BERTHOLD
Applicants: ADVANCED VENDING SERVICES
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G07F3
IPC codes: G07D3