Claims
- 1. An object comparator, comprising:
- first and second members spaced apart from one another in an initial configuration;
- a third member having the object selectively positioned thereon and being supported by said first and second members with said third member being frictionally engaged by an upper surface of said first and second members;
- means for preventing substantially horizontal movement of said third member;
- means for moving said first and second members toward one another whereby the relative movement of each of the first and second members with respect to the third member corresponds to the weight of the object; and
- means for comparing the relative movement with a reference position.
- 2. The object comparator of claim 1, wherein one end of each of said first and second members is pivotally mounted on a support with the other ends of the first and second members initially spaced apart from one another in said initial configuration.
- 3. The object comparator of claim 1, wherein the means for moving the first and second members toward one another moves the first and second members simultaneously.
- 4. The object comparator of claim 1, wherein the means for moving the first and second members toward one another moves the first and second members with equal force.
- 5. The object comparator of claim 2, wherein said first and second members are rods and wherein said third member is a bar.
- 6. The object comparator of claim 2, wherein said means for moving said first and second members toward one another includes a pneumatic system having inflatable bellows interconnected between a housing and the other ends of the first and second members.
- 7. The object comparator of claim 6, wherein said moving means further comprises a source of pressure directed into the bellows.
- 8. The object comparator of claim 7, wherein the bellows have a resiliency that returns the first and second members to their initial configuration when no pressure is applied to the bellows.
- 9. A coin acceptor for a vending machine, comprising:
- first and second members spaced apart from one another in an initial configuration;
- a third member supported by said first and second members with said third member being frictionally engaged by an upper surface of said first and second members;
- means for preventing substantially horizontal movement of said third member;
- means for selectively positioning a coin on said third member;
- means for moving said first and second members toward one another whereby the relative movement of each of the first and second members with respect to the third member corresponds to the weight of the coin; and
- means for vending an article when said first and second members are displaced to a predetermined position relative to a reference position
- 10. The object comparator of claim 9, wherein the means for moving the first and second members toward one another moves the first and second members simultaneously.
- 11. The object comparator of claim 9, wherein the means for moving the first and second members toward one another moves the first and second members with equal force.
- 12. The coin acceptor of claim 9, wherein one end of each of said first and second members is pivotally mounted on a support with the other ends of the first and second members initially spaced apart from one another in said initial configuration.
- 13. The coin acceptor of claim 9, wherein said first and second members are rods and wherein said third member is a bar.
- 14. The coin acceptor of claim 9, wherein said means for moving said first and second members toward one another includes a pneumatic system having inflatable bellows interconnected between a frame and the other ends of the first and second members.
- 15. The coin acceptor of claim 14, wherein said moving means further comprises a source of pressure directed into the bellows.
- 16. The coin acceptor of claim 14, wherein the bellows have a resiliency that returns the first and second members to their initial configuration when no pressure is applied to the bellows.
- 17. The coin acceptor of claim 9, further comprising a fourth member arranged below the first and second members for supporting the first and second members
- 18. A method for comparing an object, comprising:
- spacing first and second members apart from one another in an initial configuration;
- supporting a third member having the object selectively positioned thereon by said first and second members in said initial configuration with said third member being frictionally engaged by an upper surface of said first and second members;
- preventing substantially horizontal movement of said third member;
- moving said first and second members toward one another whereby the relative movement of each of the first and second members with respect to the third member corresponds to the weight of the object; and
- comparing the relative movement of the first and second members with a reference position.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second members are moved toward one another simultaneously.
- 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second members are moved toward one another with equal force.
- 21. The method of claim 18, wherein said first and second members are moved horizontally toward one another by applying pressure to bellows adjacent each end of the first and second members.
- 22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of vending an article when said first and second members are displaced to a predetermined position relative to said reference position.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said article is vended by releasing a latch.
- 24. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of returning said first and second members to said initial configuration.
- 25. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of removing the object from said third member after comparing the distance which the first and second members have been displaced with said reference position.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 812,506 of Frank J. Koch entitled "Coin Acceptor for Vending Machine", filed on Dec. 23, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,153.
The present invention relates generally to mechanisms for receiving coins in vending machines and more particularly relates to mechanisms for vending machines wherein the weight of the coin is compared against a reference standard.
Numerous devices are known for receiving coins especially for use in vending machines Typically, such devices include slots or passageways within which the coin rolls. If the coin has sufficient mass, the coin can successfully traverse a series of check points in order to permit the vending machine to open or otherwise dispense its contents Representative examples of such coin acceptors for vending machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 494,653 of Smith; 1,442,941 of Grover; 1,798,172 of Seitz; 2,076,299 of Kloess; 2,256,486 of Lindberg; 2,339,823 of Vogel; 2,370,869 of Kay; 2,708,499 of Patzer; and 4,190,145 of Paret. More recently, such mechanisms have become increasingly complex and costly with many current mechanisms including complicated electronic circuitry and sensing devices.
In addition to the coin acceptors for vending machines, devices have been created for testing coins by way of gravity as on a balance beam. Examples of such devices include U.S. Pat. Nos. 13,840 of Allender and 216,184 of Hoag.
The need remains, however, for a coin acceptor especially for use in a vending machine which is simple in design and construction, dependable in operation and relatively inexpensive. For example, vending machines which dispense somewhat more expensive items such as cigarettes, must be durable yet relatively inexpensive in order to profitably permit the wide distribution of such vending machines Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coin acceptor especially for use in a vending machine which is relatively simple in configuration yet durable and reliable in operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin acceptor for a vending machine which utilizes sliding friction in order to determine whether a proper coin or coins have been deposited
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coin acceptor for a vending machine which utilizes sliding friction in order to compare the weight of the coin or coins deposited in the vending machine with a reference standard.
These and other objects of the present invention are realized by the apparatus and method according to the present invention wherein a coin acceptor includes first and second members which frictionally carry a third member. Means are provided for moving the first and second members toward one another. The weight of the coin or coins deposited on the third member causes the third member to be displaced a distance corresponding to the weight of the coin. In a first preferred embodiment, if the third member has been displaced a predetermined amount, the coin acceptor will permit the vending machine or similar device to be opened or to otherwise dispense the contents of the vending machine.
In a second preferred embodiment, the third member is braced to prevent horizontal movement thereof and forces are applied to the first and second members for moving them toward one another. By comparing the relative displacement of each of the first and second members with respect to the third member, the coin acceptor will be able to determine if the coin being tested is of a proper weight.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 6863 |
Jan 1890 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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| Parent |
812506 |
Dec 1985 |
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Patent Grant
4741426
