Patent GB-1257424-A (GB)
IPC: G07F5/08
Filed: 1970-04-17
Abstract: 1,257,424. Coin testing device. PYRAMID MFG. CO. 17 April, 1970 [12 Nov., 1969], No. 18541/40. Heading G4V. General operation.-In a device for accepting a coin of preselected diameter, a coin 308 (Fig. 9) is moved into a housing 10 by a slide 144, and co-operates with a pin 302 depending from a control rotor 300, to rotate the latter. The coin 308 is guided along an arcuate path by a depending flange 182. After a given length of movement of the slide 144, an abutment 156 arrives adjacent and coacts with a post 154 depending from a rotor 102. Rotor 102 is normally locked to a stator 208 by locking rollers 222, 226 that co-operate with matching indentations, and further slide insertion is thereby prevented by the post 154 if the coin 308 is not acceptable in diameter. However, if the coin 308 is of acceptable diameter, the rotor 102 is freed from the stator 208 by movement of the locking rollers 222, 226, the abutment 156 of slide 144 cams against the post 154, and the rotor 102 and control rotor 300 are both rotated. Such movement of the locking rollers 222, 226 and rotation of the rotor and control rotor occurs only when indentations 304, 306 in the control rotor 300 reach a position adjacent the rollers 222, 226 simultaneously with the camming action between abutment 156 and post 154. The simultaneity is dependent on the coin diameter. On full insertion, the slide 144 operates a mechanical or light-responsive switch to free a vending machine. Coin acceptance.-Following simultaneous actuation, as described above, by an acceptable coin, the rotation of the rotor 102 pivots a coin trap door 94 (Fig. 6) to uncover a coin acceptance aperture 54. As the camming action between abutment 156 (Fig. 9) and post 154 ceases, the control rotor indentations 304, 306 arrive adjacent an indentation 218 and a spring-biased roller 234 respectively in the stator 208. The locking rollers 222, 226 are forced outwards to once more lock the rotor 102 to the stator 208, and the control rotor 300 continues to be rotated by the coin 308 until the coin drops through the acceptance aperture 54 (Fig. 6) into a coin box or escrow device. The inward movement of the slide 144 (Fig. 4) is limited by a notch and slide-stop (278) (see Fig. 1, not reproduced) and a full-stroke pawl- and-ratchet mechanism is provided. After coin acceptance, the slide 144 is pulled out manually, and moves an attached return plate (258) (Fig. 1) to rotate control rotor 300 to its starting position. The rotor 102 and coin trap door 94 (Fig. 6) are spring-returned. Coin ejection.-A rejected coin is returned to the operator with the slide 144 by an ejector plate (106) (Fig. 1). More than one coin.-The device shown in Fig. 9 will accept either a quarter or a line of coins formed from two dimes and a nickel. In the latter case, the abutment 156 of the slide 144 arrives adjacent the post 154 when the control rotor indentation 304 arrives adjacent the locking roller 226, whereafter the rotor 102 and control rotor 300 are locked together and further action occurs as described above. The device can be adapted to accept different single coins or coin combination, by exchanging the control rotor 300 for an alternative (316) (318) or (320) (see Figs. 13A-13C, not reproduced) having different configurations of indentations 304, 306 and depending pin 302.  Additional testing and safety devices.-Coin diameter is additionally tested by a coin sensor 60 (Fig. 6); the or each coin co-operates with an arm 72 on slide insertion to rotate the coin sensor 60 from the path of a slide locking notch 174. The sensor 60 is held rotated by a lock plate 124, in a position dependent on the diameter of coin or coins inserted. Different acceptable diameters can be catered for by interchanging slides 144 having different length notches 174. A safety lock 284 is provided for preventing further use of the device if jammed by a slug; the lock 284 is operated by the coin sensor 60.