Patent Publication Number: US-7708129-B1

Title: Multiple coin actuation mechanism having pivotal latch preventing coin removal from carrier wheel recess

Description:
This patent application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/062,721 filed Jan. 29, 2008. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to vending machines and, more particularly, is concerned with a multiple coin actuation mechanism having a pivotal latch preventing coin removal from a carrier wheel recess. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,657,848 and 5,924,542 to Schwarzli disclose a prior art multiple coin actuation mechanism for a vending machine. The coin actuation mechanism has a front cover plate with first and second coin slots, a rotatable coin carrier wheel with first and second coin recesses angularly spaced apart on one face of the carrier wheel and aligned with the first and second coin slots of the cover plate when the carrier wheel is in a home position for the user to deposit a coin into each of the coin recesses, a rear retainer plate overlying the carrier wheel and fixedly attached to the front cover plate, and a rocker bar fixedly mounted on the rear retainer plate and having an end stop which normally extends through a hole in the rear retainer plate to adjacent a slot on the cover plate but not extended from the slot so as to intersect with the path of any coin moved into or removed from the first coin slot of the front cover plate which blocks movement or removal of the coin. When the carrier wheel is turned a cam on a ratchet wheel, which rotates with the carrier wheel, engages the rocker bar and causes it to deflect so as to project its end stop through the slot on the cover plate and across the coin path thereby blocking removal of the coin from the second coin recess of the carrier wheel through the first coin slot of the front cover plate. This action of the rocker bar and its end stop is synchronized by the cam to only occur when the coin in the second coin recess is aligned with the first coin slot. At all other times the rocker bar is undeflected and thus its end stop is withdrawn from extension through the slot. However, a problem with this design in that the use of the rocker bar coin blocking device increases the complexity and cost of the design over that of the conventional prior art coin actuation mechanisms. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,711 to Chang, the inventor herein, seeks to avoid the problem of the cited Schwarzli patents by employing a multiple coin actuation mechanism design that introduces a minimum of additions or modifications thereto. This patent employs a pivotal coin removal blocking latch and provides an edge notch defined adjacent to one side of the first coin recess in the carrier wheel which allows initial insertion of the first coin through the first coin slot into the first coin recess while preventing removal of the second coin from the second coin recess through the first coin slot when the carrier wheel is turned sufficiently to align the second coin recess with the first coin slot. However, the latch is normally in an outer initial home position in which it extends across the path movement of first coin insertion into the first coin slot. Thus, the latch will be contacted by the first coin and must be deflected out of the way by the first coin in order to achieve insertion of the first coin through the first coin slot into the first coin recess. Frequently, users inserting the first coin will think the latch is an obstruction that needs to be dealt with and some users may damage the machine in attempting to force the coin against the latch. 
   Consequently, the approach of neither of these above cited patents seems to provide the optimum solution for the problem at hand with respect to the general type of vending machine multiple coin actuation mechanism described above. Therefore, a need still exists for an approach which will provide a solution to the aforementioned problem in the prior art without introducing any new problems in place thereof. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a vending machine coin actuation mechanism and method designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The approach of the present invention provides for the positioning and operation of a coin removal blocking latch that offers no obstruction to the first coin as it is inserted through the first coin slot into the first coin recess on the carrier wheel. Also, rather than blocking the first coin slot as the second coin recess becomes aligned with the first coin slot, the latch is biased toward the carrier wheel so as to yieldably ride over the second coin while still engaging and pressing against the second coin so as to retain it in the second coin recess as the rotating carrier wheel approaches and passes the first coin slot. As the second coin recess passes the first coin slot the latch remains in alignment with the second coin recess so as to prevents removal of the second coin from the second coin recess on the carrier wheel. Hence, the latch does not actually directly block access to the first coin slot but instead prevents removal of the second coin from the second coin recess on the carrier wheel. 
   In the present invention, the latch in an inner home position is disposed alongside the path of insertion the first coin such that there is no interfering-type contact of the latch with the first coin as the latter is inserted through the first coin slot into the first coin recess of the coin carrier wheel. The user inserting the first coin will not even realize the latch is present since the latch makes no interfering-type contact with the coin. Thus, a user is not apt to cause any damage to the machine in reaction to non-existent latch interference. The change in the action of a spring upon the latch, from that utilized in the prior art actuation mechanism, is to one that now biases movement of the latch such that users no longer perceive the latch as a barrier or interference to insertion of the coin. This change in the perception of users inserting the coin is the intended outcome of the modification. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a multiple coin actuation mechanism for a vending machine. The actuation mechanism includes: (a) a front cover plate adapted to fixedly attach to a vending machine, the front cover plate having a peripheral portion and first and second coin slots defined in and open at the peripheral portion at locations angularly spaced apart from one another; (b) a carrier wheel mounted for rotation in a predetermined direction relative to the front cover plate and having a front side facing toward the front cover plate and a rear side facing away from the front cover plate, the carrier wheel also having a peripheral edge and first and second coin recesses defined on the rear side of the carrier wheel at positions angularly spaced apart from one another and open at the peripheral edge of the carrier wheel for alignment with the first and second coin slots of the cover plate when the carrier wheel is in an initial home position at which a user can initially deposit first and second coins into the first and second coin recesses through the first and second coin slots, the carrier wheel being rotatable from the initial home position in the predetermined direction past a final coin dispensing position before returning to the initial home position upon completion of a dispensing cycle of operation of the coin actuation mechanism; (c) a rear retainer plate fixedly attached to the front cover plate and at least partially overlying the carrier wheel at the rear side thereof to assist retention of the first and second coins in the first and second coin recesses of the carrier wheel as the carrier wheel is rotated in the predetermined direction through the dispensing cycle of operation; and (d) means for allowing unobstructed insertion of the first coin through the first coin slot and into the first coin recess, the means including a latch biased to an inward home position in which an inner end of the latch extends through an upstream side of the first coin slot of the front cover plate, relative to the predetermined direction of rotation of the carrier wheel, generally alongside a path for insertion of the first coin through the first coin slot and into the first coin recess of the carrier wheel for allowing the unobstructed insertion of the first coin through the first coin slot into the first coin recess, the latch also pivotally yieldably movable away from the inward home position toward the first coin slot due to engagement with the second coin as the second coin recess of the carrier wheel is brought into alignment with the first coin slot of the front cover plate to allow the second coin in the second coin recess of the carrier wheel to pass under the latch and the latch to ride over the second coin while the latch remains in contact with the second coin and prevents removal of the second coin from the second coin recess of the carrier wheel as the carrier wheel is rotated in the predetermined direction through the complete dispensing cycle that results in the deposited first and second coins successively exiting from the carrier wheel at the discharge location. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a multiple coin actuation mechanism of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the actuation mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the actuation mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the actuation mechanism similar to that of  FIG. 3  except with the rear retainer plate and one-way ratchet device removed to expose a rear side of a coin carrier wheel and now showing depositing of first and second coins through first and second coin slots in a front cover plate and into first and second coin recesses in the carrier wheel. 
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view similar to that of  FIG. 4  but now showing the first and second coins resting in the first and second coin recesses of the carrier wheel. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view similar to that of  FIG. 5  but now showing the carrier wheel rotating in a counterclockwise direction such that the first coin has reached a discharge location as the second coin is passing the location of the first coin slot. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , there is illustrated a multiple coin actuation mechanism, generally designated  10 , of the present invention. It will be referred to hereinafter as the “improved” actuation mechanism  10 . The improved actuation mechanism  10  retains the structural components of a prior art multiple coin actuation mechanism, as is substantially disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,711, by the same inventor as herein. The improved actuation mechanism  10 , however, introduces modifications in relationships between components of the prior art actuation mechanism which, though seeming small, achieve a relatively large improvement in the ease of operation of the improved actuation mechanism  10  over that of the prior art actuation mechanism. These modifications and the resulting improvement in ease of operation will become clear hereinafter. However, the structural components of the prior art actuation mechanism retained by improved actuation mechanism  10  will first be described. 
   The improved actuation mechanism  10  includes a front cover plate  12  adapted to be mounted and thus fixedly attached to a housing of a vending machine (not shown). The front cover plate  12  has a peripheral portion  12 A and first and second coin slots  14 ,  16  defined in and open to the exterior of the plate  12  at the peripheral portion  12 A thereof at locations angularly spaced apart from one another. The first and second coin slots  14 ,  16  also open into a recess  12 B defined at the rear side  12 C of the front cover plate  12  by its peripheral portion  12 A. 
   The improved actuation mechanism  10  also includes a carrier wheel  18  mounted for rotation in a predetermined direction, as indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 4 , relative to the front cover plate  12  and within the rear recess  12 B thereof. The carrier wheel  18  has a front side (not seen) facing toward the front cover plate  12  and a rear side  18 A facing away from the front cover plate  12 . The carrier wheel  18  also has a peripheral edge  18 B and first and second coin recesses  20 ,  22  defined on the rear side  18 A of the carrier wheel  18  at positions angularly spaced apart from one another. The first and second coin recesses  20 ,  22  of the carrier wheel  18  open at the peripheral edge  18 B thereof and are aligned with the first and second coin slots  14 ,  16  of the cover plate  12  when the carrier wheel  18  is in an initial home position, as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . With the carrier wheel  18  in such position, the user is enabled to deposit first and second coins C 1 , C 2  through the first and second coin slots  14 ,  16  of the front cover plate  12  into the respective coin recesses  20 ,  22  of the carrier wheel  18 , an operation that is shown in progress in  FIG. 4  and after completion in  FIG. 5 . The carrier wheel  18  is rotatable from the initial home position of  FIGS. 4 and 5  in the predetermined direction A past a final coin discharge location  23 , as also seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and in  FIG. 6 , before returning to the initial home position upon completion of a complete dispensing cycle of operation of the improved actuation mechanism  10 . 
   The improved actuation mechanism  10  further includes a rear retainer plate  24  fixedly attached to the peripheral portion  12 A of the front cover plate  12  at the rear side  12 C thereof so as to overlying both the rear recess  12 B of the front cover plate  12  and the carrier wheel  18  at the rear side  18 A thereof. The rear retainer plate  24  assists the retention of the first and second coins C 1 , C 2  in the first and second coin recesses  20 ,  22  of the carrier wheel  18  as the carrier wheel  18  is rotated in the predetermined direction A, which is counterclockwise as viewed in  FIGS. 4-6 , through the dispensing cycle of operation. 
   The improved actuation mechanism  10  still further has first and second pairs of spring-biased detents  26 ,  27  and  28 ,  29  mounted respectively to the front cover plate  12  and the rear retainer plate  24  for sensing the presence or absence of the correct first and second coins C 1 , C 2  in the first and second coin recesses  20 ,  22  on the carrier wheel  18 . Due to their spring bias, they will deflect so as to engage the carrier wheel  18  and become engaged with a corresponding one of the first and second coin recesses  20 ,  22  thereon should there be no coins in the corresponding one of the coin recesses  20 ,  22  or even if there is a coin present if it is not of the correct thickness or diameter. The detents  26 - 29  thus function to prevent rotation of the carrier wheel  18  in the predetermined direction A through a complete dispensing cycle unless the correct first and second coins C 1 , C 2  have been deposited into the first and second coin recesses  20 ,  22 . 
   The improved actuation mechanism  10  additionally includes a handle  30  and an elongate shaft  32  having the handle  30  fixed on its forward end  32 A disposed adjacent to and exterior of the front cover plate  12 . The shaft  30  extends from its forward end  32 A through the front cover plate  12 , carrier wheel  18  and rear retainer plate  24  to a rearward end  32 B located rearwardly of the rear retainer plate  24 . 
   Also, the improved actuation mechanism  10  has a one-way ratchet device  33  which includes a ratchet wheel  34  and a gear  36  fixedly mounted to the rearward end of the shaft  32 . The handle  30  may be turned by a user to rotation the shaft  32  and the carrier wheel  18 , ratchet wheel  34  and gear  36  therewith such that when the first and second coins C 1 , C 2  have been deposited into the first and second coin recesses  20 ,  22  on the carrier wheel  18  the detents  26 - 29  will ride over the deposited coins C 1 , C 2  and not engage in the coin recesses  20 ,  22 . Such rotation of the carrier wheel  18  causes the deposited coins C 1 , C 2  to exit the carrier wheel  18  at the final coin discharge location  23  into a coin collection box (not shown) and such rotation of the gear  36  actuates a dispensing mechanism (not shown) to cause an item to be dispensed from the vending machine to the user. Further, the one-way ratchet device  33  has a pawl  38  biased by a spring  40  and pivotally mounted to the rear retainer plate  24  adjacent to the ratchet wheel  34  so as to engage the ratchet wheel  34 . The spring  40  so forcefully biases the pawl  38  toward the ratchet wheel  34  that the ratchet wheel  34  and the gear  36 , shaft  32  and handle  30  therewith can only be turned in the one predetermined direction A once the pawl  38  has engaged in a leading one of the notches  34 A in the row thereof defined in the ratchet wheel  34 . Hence, it is understood now why the device  33  is called a one-way ratchet device. 
   Turning now to FIGS.  1  and  4 - 6 , the improved actuation mechanism  10  further includes a mounting stud  42 , a latch  44 , an edge notch portion  46  and a coil spring  48 . The mounting stud  42  is fixedly attached on and extends rearwardly from the rear side  12 C of the front cover plate  12  radially outwardly from an upstream side  14 A of the first coin slot  14  relative to the predetermined direction A of rotation of the carrier wheel  18 . The latch  44  is pivotally mounted on the stud  42  for undergoing pivotal movement about the stud  42 . The edge notch portion  46  is defined by a cutaway section of the peripheral edge  18 B of the carrier wheel  18  adjacent to the upstream side  20 A of the first coin recess  20  in the carrier wheel  18  relative to the predetermined direction A of rotation of the carrier wheel  18  so as to create a clearance sufficient in depth to position an inner end  44 A of the latch  44  adjacent to the carrier plate  18  at the location of the edge notch portion  46  such that the latch  44  can assume a position in which the latch  44  points inwardly toward the carrier wheel  18  and extends alongside, but outside of, the path of insertion of the first coin C 1  through the first coin slot  14  in the front cover plate  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The coil spring  48  seats over and fits around the mounting stud  42  rearwardly of the latch  44  and has opposite ends  48 A,  48 B engaging and anchored to respective adjacent portions of the front cover plate  12  and the latch  44  so as place the coil spring  48  in a condition relative to the latch  44  in which it imposes a biasing force upon and thus holds the latch  44  toward and at a home position thereof (however, heretofore, the home position was not the same as the one shown in FIGS.  1  and  4 - 6 ). A cover  50 , partially broken away as seen in  FIG. 1 , fits over and is fastened on the front cover plate  12  so as to retain the coil spring  48  in its desired condition on the stud  42 . A stop ledge  12 D is formed on the front cover plate  12  adjacent to but spaced from the stud  42  which limits the outward pivoting of the latch  44 . 
   These same components as described above and their cooperative relationships per se are present in the prior art actuation mechanism and substantially shown in the cited patent (only the latch is shaped slightly differently in the cited patent than in the actual prior art actuation mechanism which is identical in shape to that of the latch  44  of the improved actuation mechanism  44 ). However, the difference reside in modifications introduced to relationships between the coil spring  48  and the latch  44 . In the improved actuation mechanism  10 , the coil spring  48  is now preset differently with respect to the latch  44  than the spring was in the cited patent and actual prior art actuation mechanism, which are basically the same. This change provides the latch  44  with a different home position and different pivotal movement and thus different blocking action with respect to the second coin C 2  in the second coin recess  22  on the carrier wheel  18  than the latch had in the cited patent and actual prior art actuation mechanism. 
   In other words, as specifically seen in  FIG. 1 , the anchor arrangement of the opposite ends  48 A,  48 B of the coin spring  48  against the outside of a fixed tab  12 E on the front cover plate  12  and to a hole  44 B in the latch  44  causes the coil spring  48  to assume a slightly expanded condition such that the biasing force it imparts on the latch  44  holds the latch  44  at an inner home or rest position, as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , in which the latch  44  points inwardly toward the carrier wheel  18  and the shaft  32  and extends through the upstream side  14 A of the first coin slot  14  but substantially outside of the path of insertion of the first coin C 1  through the first coin slot  14  in the front cover plate  12 . The latch  44  will only undergo pivotal movement in a clockwise direction through a sequence of angularly displaced positions, as seen in  FIG. 6 , away from the inner home position, when forced to pivotally move due to contact by the peripheral edge  18 B of the carrier wheel  18 , at section  18 C thereof, after the carrier wheel  18  has moved its edge notch portion  46  past the inner end  44 A of the latch  44  and also when contacted by the second coin C 2  residing in the second coin recess  22  on the carrier wheel  18  as it approaches the first coin slot  14 . 
   As readily seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , the result of the modification is that the latch  44  of the improved actuation mechanism  10  normally held by the coil spring  48  at the inner home position offers no obstruction or interfering-type contact to the user inserting the first coin C 1  through the first coin slot  14  of the front cover plate  12  into the first coin recess  20  on the carrier wheel  18 . The user is not even aware of the presence of the latch  44  and so the ease of operation of improved actuation mechanism  10  is greatly improved. Also, instead of blocking the first coin slot  14  as the second coin recess  22  becomes aligned with the first coin slot  14  as seen in  FIG. 6 , the latch  44  is only pivotally displaced clockwise in the predetermined direction A, by engagement with the second coin C 2  in the second coin recess  22  as the carrier wheel  18  is rotated, through a distance sufficient to allow the second coin C 2  in the second coin recess  22  to pass under it and for the latch  44  to ride over the second coin C 2 , to the position seen in  FIG. 6 . Upon the second coin C 2  passing the latch  44 , the latch  44  can then return to an intermediate position in which its inner end  44 A extends into the space between the second coin C 2  and the trailing edge  22 A of the second coin recess  22  in which it obstructs any device inserted through the first coin slot  14  from dislodging the second coin C 2  by reducing the width of the entrance to the second coin recess  22  and thus preventing exit of the second coin C 2  out of the second coin recess  22 . Thus, in all of its positions shown in  FIG. 6  away from its initial home position, the latch  44  prevents removal of the second coin C 2  from the second coin recess  22  on the carrier wheel  18  without actually directly needing to positively block access to the first coin slot  14  from the exterior of the front cover plate  12 . 
   Only rotation of the carrier wheel  18  in the predetermined direction A away from its initial home position which moves the edge notch portion  46  of the carrier wheel  18  past the inner end  44 A of the latch  44  and brings the peripheral edge  18 B of the carrier wheel  18  and eventually the outer portion of the second coin C 2  into interference and thus engagement with the inner end  44 A of the latch  44 , causes the latch  44  to pivot in the direction A against the biasing force of the coil spring  48 , causing further expansion of the coil spring  48 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the latch  44  then pivotally moves through the sequence of angularly displaced positions in which its inner end  44 A continues to engage the second coin C 2  and to prevent its removal from the second coin recess  22  toward the first coin slot  14 . Once the second coin C 2  in the second coin recess  22  of the carrier wheel  18  has passed the latch  44  and a flat section  18 D of the peripheral edge  18 B has reached the latch  44 , there is then sufficient clearance such that the coil spring  48  can contract and cause the latch  44  to then undergo pivotal movement in the opposite direction and return back to the initial inner home position seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Contrary to the operation of these components in the prior art actuation mechanism, these same components in the improved actuation mechanism  10  thus comprise means for allowing unobstructed insertion of the first coin C 1  inwardly through the first coin slot  14  of the front cover plate  12  into the first coin recess  20  of the carrier wheel  18 . Also, these same components further comprise means for preventing removal of the second coin C 2  from the second coin recess  22  of the carrier wheel  18  outwardly through the first coin slot  22  of the front cover plate  12  as the second coin recess  22  of the carrier wheel  18  is brought into alignment with the first coin slot  14  of the front cover plate  12  upon rotation of the carrier wheel  18  in the predetermined direction A through the complete dispensing cycle that results in the deposited first and second coins C 1 , C 2  successively exiting from the carrier wheel  18  at the final coin discharge location  23 . 
   To summarize, the difference resides in the different relationships between the coil spring  48  and the pivotal latch  44  and the different home position of the pivotal latch  44  as a result thereof. The coil spring  48  is now preset differently with respect to the latch  44  than in the cited patent. This change provides the latch  44  with a different home position and a different pivotal movement and thus different blocking action with respect to the second coin C 2  in the second coin recess  22  on the carrier wheel  18 . In other words, the anchoring arrangement of the opposite ends  48 A,  48 B of the coil spring  48  on the front cover plate  12  and the latch  42  and thus the biasing force it imparts on the latch  44  are different from that of the cited patent. The result is that the latch  44  in the improved actuation mechanism  10  offers no obstruction to the first coin C 1  as it is inserted through the first coin slot  14  into the first coin recess  20  on the carrier wheel  18 . Also, instead of blocking the first coin slot  14  as the second coin recess  22  becomes aligned with the first coin slot  14 , the latch  44  is angularly displaced by engagement with the second coin C 2  in the second coin recess  22  as the carrier wheel  18  is rotated in the direction A of movement of the second coin C 2  on the carrier wheel  18  and thereby prevents removal of the second coin C 2  from the second coin recess  22  on the carrier wheel  18  and does not actually directly block access to the first coin slot  14 . 
   It should be realized that what is really involved in the changes or modifications that have been implemented here by the present invention is NOT a mere reversal of the functioning of the latch  44  by way of a reversal of the biasing force imposed by the coil spring  48  on the latch  44 , even though generally speaking both before and after these changes or modifications, the first coin C 1  can be inserted through the first coin slot  14  into the first coin recess  20  but the second coin C 2  cannot be removed from the second coin recess  22  through the first coin slot  14 . If it were a mere reversal of parts there would be no change in outcome. Such is not the case here. Here, the outcome is not the same either way: with the latch in an outer initial home position across the path of movement of the first coin C 1  for its insertion through the first coin slot, as in the case of the actual prior art actuation mechanism and as disclosed in the cited patent, the latch is contacted by the first coin such that the latch has to be deflected out of the way by the first coin in order to achieve its insertion through the first coin slot. This obstruction is perceived by all users and in the case of some they become confused sufficiently that they might end up damaging the vending machine. On the other hand, in the improved actuation mechanism  10 , the latch  44  in the inner home position, where it is disposed alongside but substantially outside of the path of movement of the first coin C 1  for its insertion through the first coin slot  14 , thus does not make obstructive or interfering-type contact with the first coin C 1  when the first coin C 1  is inserted through the first coin slot  14 . While in the case of the prior art actuation mechanism where the user inserting the first coin will perceive and thus think that the latch is an obstruction that needs to be dealt with forcefully and may damage the vending machine by pushing the coin against the latch in an inappropriate way, by contrast thereto, when using the improved actuation mechanism  10 , the user inserting the first coin C 1  will not even realize that the latch  44  is present since the coin C 1  makes no contact with the latch  44  as it is inserted through the first coin slot  14  and thus the user will not be motivated to take any inappropriate action that might cause damage to the vending machine. Thus, the change in the action of the coil spring  48  against the latch  44  which brings about the change in the initial position of the latch  46  does not amount to a mere reversal of the parts without any change in outcome since the change in the perception of the person inserting the coin which is accomplished is the intended outcome of the changes or modifications. 
   It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.