Patent GB-753266-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to coin releases for vending machines
IPC: G07F5/08
Filed: 1954-04-26
Abstract: 753,266. Coin-freeing mechanisms. AKTIESELSKABET SOREN WISTOFT & CO'S FABRIKER. April 26, 1954 [April 25, 1953], No. 12063/54. Class 27 In a coin-release mechanism for vending machines operable with combinations of coins of the same or different values a coin chamber is provided for each type of coin and an operating member controlled, for example, by an article drawer, is provided for each total amount for which the release is designed to function; each operating arm is connected to coupling members that co-operate with the coins to establish a coin coupling and, for each coin combination, the coins are arranged in the chambers in such a manner that the coupling is not effective to produce a release movement until the last coin of the required combination has been inserted. The operative coin may act as a direct connection between a coupling member and a release member or as a stop for the coupling member, thus operating another member connected between the coupling member and a release member. The coin release of Fig. 2 functions for 21 different combinations of 2-kroner, 1- krone and 25-ore coins to total one, two or three kroner. Two coin chambers 50, 52 are provided for 2-kroner coins, four chambers 54, 56, 58, 60 for 1-krone coins and four chambers 62, 64, 66, 68 for 25-ore coins, the latter chambers each having a side chamber 63, 65, 67 or 69 into which each fourth 25-ore coin enters. For each total amount of one, two, three or four kroner, an operating arm (not shown) is provided and they are connected to coupling members corresponding to each of the 21 different combinations and correspondingly numbered 1-21. Members 1-9 are mounted on the operating member corresponding to the four-kroner total and members 10-15, 16-19 and 20, 21 on the operating members corresponding to totals of three, two and one krone, respectively; it should be noticed, however, that members 3 and 5, 2 and 4 and 12 and 14 .are combined together since the coin on which they are operative has the same position in two combinations. Where the total is made up exclusively by one type of coin, the corresponding coupling members are located opposite the position taken up by the operative coin after insertion, for example, for a total price of four kroner composed of two 2-kroner coins or four 1-krone coins or sixteen 25- ore coins, the last coin of each combination will block the coupling member 9, 8 or 7 respectively; the remaining members 1-6 for 4-kroner totalled by mixed combinations are not blocked because the coins in chambers corresponding to those members are held up clear of the members by stopping members such as 72 or 80. The stopping members influence the position of lower-value coins in dependence on the higher-value coins that have been inserted. For example, when four kroner is totalled by either three 1-krone and four 25-ore coins or one 2-krone, one 1-krone and four 25-ore coins, the coupling member 3, 5 must be blocked by withdrawing the stopping members 78, 88, 94 so as to allow the fourth 25-ore coin to fall to its lowest position in the side chamber 63, while the remaining coupling members 1, 2 and 6-9 are free. When three 1-krone coins are used to make up four kroner, they act in succession on control members 86, 95 and 98 to remove the stops 78, 88, 94: if a 2-kroner coin is used instead of the two first 1-krone coins, it acts on a control member 76 having a one-way interconnec-  tion with-the other control members and the member 76 removes the stop 70 in the first 1-krorie chamber 54 and the stops 78 and 88 in the 25-ore' chamber 63; the removal of the stop 70 releases the 1-krone coin to actuate a control member 100 and thus remove the stop 94. The control members may act directly on the stops to remove them from the coin chambers or release them for retraction by springs. The order in which the coins are inserted is immaterial. In the alternative stepped and inclined coin chamber shown in Fig. 3, the stopping members 78, 80 and 82 are replaced by a single member and when this is removed by the insertion of a higher-value coin, the first twelve out of sixteen 25-ore coins fall on to a second member replacing the stopping members 88, 90. Subsequent removal of the member 88, 90 allows eight coins to fall on to a member 94 and removal of this member deposits the remaining four on the last step of the chamber, with the fourth coin blocking the coupling member 3, 5. Additional coupling members may be provided for fractional amounts, for example, the member 114 operates for an amount of 1.50 krone. In a further modification in which the coins pile on top of each other in definite positions in three vertical chambers, operating members for each total value are connected directly to the coupling members operative when the total value is composed only of one type of coin but, if two or more different coins make up the total, are indirectly connected through yielding or tilting devices to the two or more operative coupling members. In Fig. 5 there is shown an operating member 194 connected by a cascade of centrally-pivoted levers 196, 199, 200, 202, 204, 206 to seven coupling members 208. Considering only the lever 202 and assuming it to be connected directly to an operating arm, if one of the two necessary coins is missing, one coupling member 208 will be able to move past the coin position, the lever will tilt and the release member will not be operated. The full cascade operates similarly and will yield if any one of the seven necessary coins is missing. A combination of the mechanisms of Figs. 2 and 5 is also described, the coin chamber of 25- ore coins being a single long sloping chamber without stopping members, the coin chamber for 1-krone and 2-krone coins being as in Fig. 2, the former having stopping members 70 and 72, and tilting or yielding devices being provided between the operating member and coupling member for combinations composed of 25-ore coins with 1-krone or 2-krone coins. The construction of coin release shown in Figs. 7 and 8 corresponds to the diagrammatic. mechanism of Fig. 3 but is described only for 1- and 2-kroner coins and comprises two coin compartments 218, 220 rigidly connected to a pivoted release shaft 30. The bottom of compartment 218 and the end of compartment 220 are formed by a plate 224 mounted on an arm 226 which can be pivoted about the release shaft so that the coins drop into a coin box and the bottom of the compartment 220 is formed by a bar 228. A pivoted plate 222 carries the control member 76 (see also Fig. 2) which projects into the compartment. 220 for 2-kroner coins and also the stopping members 70, 72 which project into the 1-krone compartment 218 until removed by the first 2-kroner coin engaging the member 76. Four operating arms 231. 232, 233 and 234 corresponding to the amounts of one. two. three and four kroner are pivoted on the release shaft and are moved, for example, by pulling out an article drawer corresponding to the appropriate total amount. The coupling member 9 is fitted on the arm 234 opposite an incision 238 in the compartment and. when a second 2-kroner coin is present, it can engage the coin and swing the whole coin compartment so that. a mechanism for full release of the drawer is operated. In the absence of a second 2-kroner coin, the member 9 will move through the incision 238 without establishing a coin coupling. The. arm 234 has also an extension carrying the coupling member 8, which engages a fourth 1-krone coin supported in correct position by the third 1-krone coin, the two first 1-krone coins resting on the stopping members 70 and 72. In order to operate when the amount of 4-krone is composed by one 2-kroner coin and two 1-krone coins, the arm 234 is connected by a bar 238 to an arm 236 carrying the coupling member 6, for engaging the second 1-krone coin which, released by the 2-krone coin acting on the member 76 to move the stop 70, is in its lower position. The coupling member 13 is operative for three 1-krone coins, the member 15 for one 2-krone coin and one 1-krone coin, the member 19 for one 2- krone coin and the member 21 for one 1-krone coin. The coupling- members are arranged so that they do not lie in the path of movement of the coins through the coin compartments to their final positions. thus avoiding the possibility of fraudulent operation on insertion of only single coins' where more than one coin is required. The coin release shown in Fig. 9 is similar to that of Figs. 7 and 8 but incorporates yielding devices as described in connection with Fig. 5 and does not require the stops 70, 72. The operating arm 251 corresponding to an amount of one kroner carries a coupling member 21<SP>1</SP> arranged opposite the first 1-krone coin. The operating arm 254, correspondinng to four kroner and formed as a plate, carries a coupling member 8<SP>1</SP>, 9<SP>1</SP> lying opposite the positions of the fourth 1-krone and second 2-kroner coins. Also on the arm 254 is a centrally-pivoted lever 266 having coupling members 268, 270 projectable through incisions 272 and 274 in the coin compartment 250; if both the first 2-krone coin and the second 1-krone coin are in position opposite these incisions, the coin compartment will be given a release movement but if one of them is missing, the lever 266 will pivot and no release movement will be given. The operating arm 253 corresponding to 3-krone has a coupling member 13<SP>1</SP> engaging the third 1-krone coin and also, on an extension 15<SP>1</SP>. a lever 276, 278 of which the arm 278 has a projection 280 engaging the first 2-krone coin; the arm 268 abuts the 1-krone arm 251 and, if both coins are present, the lever 276, 278 does not yield so that a release movement is given to the coin compartment. The operating arm 252 corresponding to two kroner abuts an upright projection on each arm of the lever 266 and, throug