Patent GB-1271638-A (GB)
Title: Coin totalizing apparatus
IPC: G06M7/00
Filed: 1970-12-04
Abstract: 1,271,638. Coin-freed mechanism. VENDO CO. 4 Dec., 1970 [7 July, 1969], No. 57661/70. Heading G4V. In a mechanism for totalizing deposited coins, a first totalizer member 22 is displaced by an amount proportional to the coin value upon release of a locking element 96 actuated by coinreleased devices 66, 68. A second totalizer member 48 mounted for relative movement on the first member 34 is held by a shiftable retainer 84, during movement of the member 34, against the returning influence of biasing means 60. The mechanism responds to deposition of coins of different values, such as U.S. nickels and quarters, including successive deposition of coins of the largest value handed by the totalizer, such as a quarter. In the embodiment described, the totalizer forms part of a coin acceptor 20 for a vending machine including payout apparatus. As shown in Fig. 1, teeth 36 of the totalizer member 34 are formed on the periphery of a rotor 22 pivoted at 27, biased counterclockwise by a spring 47 and returned to a standby position through gears 40 and a return cam 42 engaging a projection 44. Wipers 30 contact the conductive lands of a printed circuit 28 connected to the vending control circuitry. The movement of the second totalizer member 48, also having teeth 50, Figs. 1 and 4, are limited by pins 56, 58 riding in slots 52, 54. As shown in Figs. 2, 4, the coinreleased escapements 66, 68 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 80. The device 66 is actuated by a nickel falling along channel 74 and striking a feeler 76 connected to a bar 90 carrying a pawl 92 which consequently engages the teeth 36. The quarter-responsive device 68 comprises a hub 82 rotatable on the shaft 80 and having an integral leg 86 carrying a coin feeler 78 and a counterweight 88 to reset the device after passage of a coin. An L-shaped retainer 84 also integral with the hub 82 engages the teeth 50 of the totalizer member 48. When either device 66, 68 is actuated a finger 106 of the locking element 96 is engaged to rotate the element about a pivot 98 against a spring 104 to release the totalizer rotor 22 for rotation. Upon insertion of a first quarter, the retainer 84 falls in the path of member 48, the locking element 96 releases (Fig. 5, not shown), and both members 34, 48 travel in unison until the member 48 is stepped by retainer 84 and the member 24 travels further the length of the slot 52. As the coin feeler 78 returns to its normal position under the action of the counterweight 88, the retainer 84 is raised (Fig. 6, not shown) and the locking element 96 snaps in between the fifth and sixth teeth 36 indicating a credit of 25 cents. Insertion of a further quarter again raises the element 96, but the retainer 84 now falls between the fifth and sixth teeth 50 of the second member 48 and the first member 34 travels until the element 96 returns to engage the eleventh tooth 36 (Figs. 7, 8, not shown). If the coin initially deposited is a nickel, in the slot 74, the pawl 92 of the bar 90 falls between adjacent teeth 36 as the catch 96 is raised to permit the member 34 to move a distance equivalent to one tooth 36, equivalent to 5 cents (Fig. 9, not shown). If a quarter is next inserted the retainer 84 falls after the first tooth 50 and the member 34 then travels until the catch 96 is lowered to engage the seventh tooth 36. The capacity of the totalizer, 55 cents in the present instance, is reached when the nickel pawl 92 engages an end stop 38 to limit movement of the arm 24 (Fig. 11, not shown). An additional coin channel 108, Fig. 2, may be provided for acceptance of a third coin such as a dime, which would require a further coinreleased escapement.