Claims
- 1. A coin mechanism device for use with a dispersing machine accessible from the outside for quickly changing the value of coins required to activate the coin mechanism between resetable high, middle, and low values of coins, the coin mechanism having a totalizer that advance from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position as coins are inserted into the coin mechanism, the device comprising:
- rotation means rotatable among a first angular position, a second angular position, and a third angular position, said rotation means being accessible from the outside of said coin mechanism.
- a price control unit comprised of a first ring, a second ring, a third ring, and a release bar in operative association with said rotation means, said rings rotatably mounted to said totalizer and advancing therewith from the non-dispensing position of the dispensing position as coins are inserted into the coin mechanism;
- said release bar having a first end and a second end, said first end being fixed and said second end being movable for positioning against said first ring when said rotation means is in the first angular position, and against said second ring when said rotation means is in the second angular position, and against said third ring when said rotation means is in the third angular position wherein said release bar of said price control unit further comprises a release bar bracket, said release bar bracket attached to a housing of the coin mechanism device and to said first end of said release bar for allowing said release bar to pivot in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said totalizer and also pivot in a plane parallel to the plane of said totalizer;
- said first ring having a first ring slot therein, the position of the first ring slot being changeable with respect to said release bar by rotating said first ring, the position of said first ring slot determining a lower limit of the totalizer;
- said second ring having a second ring slot therein, the position of the second ring slot being changeable with respect to said release bar by rotating said second ring, the position of said second ring slot determining a middle limit of the totalizer;
- said third ring having a third ring slot therein, the position of the third ring slot being changeable with respect to said release bar by rotating said third ring, the position of said third ring slot determining an upper limit of the totalizer;
- wherein said totalizer causes said first ring, said second ring, and said third ring to rotate from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position in response to the insertion of coins into said coin mechanism, said release bar is urged against said first ring when said rotation means is rotated to said first angular position, said second ring when said rotation means is rotated to said second angular position, or said third ring when said rotation means is rotated to said third angular position, said release bar engaging the desired ring slot when the desired ring slot reaches the dispensing position and the engagement releases means which allow access to the dispensing machine.
- 2. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 1 wherein said price control unit further comprises a base plate fixedly attached to said totalizer and rotatable therewith and a stop means integral with said base plate, said stop means for locating the non-dispensing position of the totalizer.
- 3. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 2 wherein said stop means includes a tooth projecting from said base plate and a peg attached to a housing of the coin mechanism device, said peg located to intercept said tooth when said totalizer and said base plate are biased towards said peg, said peg position thereby locating the non-dispensing position of said totalizer.
- 4. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 2 further including a coupling means in operative association with said base plate, said first ring, said second ring, and said third ring so that as coins are inserted into the coin mechanism device, said totalizer, said base plate, said first ring, said second ring and said third ring move simultaneously from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position.
- 5. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 4 wherein said coupling means further comprises a first bitted set, a second bitted set, a third bitted set and a bias means; the first bitted set comprising a first bitted annulus on the top surface of said base plate and a matching second bitted annulus in opposed relation on the bottom surface of said first ring, the second bitted set comprising a third bitted annulus on the top surface of said first ring and a matching fourth bitted annulus in opposed relation on the bottom surface of said second ring; the third bitted set comprising a fifth bitted annulus on the top surface of said second ring and a matching sixth bitted annulus in opposed relation on the bottom surface of said third ring; wherein said bias means locks the bitted sets together and allows said base plate, said first ring, said second ring and said third ring to rotate as a unit simultaneous with the rotation of said totalizer.
- 6. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 5 wherein the planes of said base plate, said first ring, said second ring and said third ring are generally parallel, and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said base plate, said first ring, said second ring, said third ring and said totalizer.
- 7. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 1 wherein said price control unit further comprises release bar stop means and bias means, the bias means for urging the release bar against stop means when the access means is released.
- 8. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 1 further comprising a release bar bias means for urging said release bar against the desired ring while said access means prevents access to the dispensing machine and for retracting release bar from said slot of the desired ring following engagement of said release bar with said slot of the desired ring and access to the dispensing machine.
- 9. A coin control mechanism for use with a dispensing machine having latch means, the coin control mechanism comprising:
- a housing;
- coin chute means for receiving the coins therein;
- activator means movably attached to said housing to lockingly engage the latch means;
- totalizer means movable between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position disposed relative to said coin chute to advance from the non-dispersing position to the dispensing position in response to coins fed through said coin chute means;
- multiprice setting means for setting the non-dispensing position of the totalizer means and for quickly changing the dispensing position of the totalizer means between an upper, a middle and a lower limit, wherein said multiprice setting means comprises a first ring with a first slot therein, a second ring with a second slot therein and a third ring with a third slot therein and a release bar, which, when located in a first position is movable against the first ring, when located in a second position is movable against the second ring, when located in a third position is movable against the third ring, and when located in a retracted position is away from the rings, wherein the plane of said first ring, the plane of said second ring, the plane of said third ring and all plane of said totalizer means are generally parallel, said multiprice setting means further including a release bar bracket, and wherein said release bar contains a first end and a second end, the first end connected to said release bar bracket and capable of allowing said release bar to move in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said totalizer means and also in a plane parallel to the plane of said totalizer means;
- adjustable price setter means in operative association with said multiprice setter means for selecting the dispensing position of the totalizer means from among the upper limit, the middle limit and the lower limit by selectively locating the release bar at the first position, the second position, or the third position.
- means coupled to said adjustable price setter means to select said adjustable price setter means from among a first angular position, a second angular position and a third angular position;
- wherein said coupling means when locating said adjustable price setter means at the first angular position thereby locates said release bar in the first position, movable against the first ring, for engagement therewith, when locating said adjustable price setter means at the second angular position thereby locates said release bar in the second position, movable against the second ring for engagement therewith, and when locating said adjustable price setter means at the third angular position thereby locates said release bar in the third position, movable against the third ring for engagement therewith, said totalizer means for advancing from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position in response to coins inserted into the coin chute means, said release bar, being urged against the desired ring, for engagement with the desired slot, such engagement causing said activator means to disengage the latch means and thereby allow access to the dispensing machine.
- 10. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 9 wherein said multiprice setting means further includes a base plate with a tooth, the tooth being integral with said base plate and projecting therefrom and a peg stop, the peg stop being fixedly mounted on said housing to engage said base plate, said totalizer means being located at the nondispensing position when the tooth of said base plate is contacting the peg.
- 11. The coin mechanism device as described in claim 10 further including an interlock set means in operative association with said multiprice setting means to permit said first ring, said second ring, said third ring and said base plate to move synchronously with one another and with said totalizer means as said totalizer means advances from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position in response to coins inserted into said coin chute means.
- 12. The coin mechanism as described in claim 11 wherein said interlock set means further comprises a spring with a spring detain means, a first ring lock means, a second ring lock means and a third ring lock means, wherein the spring urges said third ring against said second ring, said second ring against said first ring and said first ring against said base plate, the urging causing engagement of said third ring lock means to fix the angular slot position of said third ring with respect to said second ring, said second ring lock means to fix the angular slot position of said second ring with respect to said first ring and also causing engagement of said first ring lock means to fix the angular slot position of said first ring with respect to said base plate, the angular slot position of said rings determining the dispensing position of said totalizer means and capable to being changed by disengaging the desired ring lock means and rotating the desired ring until the ring slot is in the desired position, such desired position determining the dispensing position of said totalizer means.
- 13. The coin mechanism as described in claim 9 wherein said multiprice setting means further includes a base plate with a tooth, the tooth being integral with said base plate and projecting therefrom and a peg stop, the peg stop being fixedly mounted on said housing to engage said base plate, said totalizer means being located at the non-dispensing position when the tooth of said base plate is contacting the peg; and further including an interlock set means in operative association with said multiprice setting means to permit said first ring, said second ring, said third ring and said base plate to move synchronously with one another and with said totalizer means as said totalizer means advances from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position in response to coins inserted into said coin chute means.
- 14. The coin mechanism as described in claim 13 wherein the interlock set means further comprises a spring with a spring detain means, a first ring lock means, a second ring lock means and a third ring lock means, wherein the spring urges said third ring against said second ring, said second ring against said first ring and said first ring against said base plate, the urging causing engagement of said third ring lock means to fix the angular slot position of said third ring with respect to said second ring, said second ring lock means to fix the angular slot position of said second ring with respect to said first ring and also causing engagement of said first ring lock means to fix the angular slot position of said first ring with respect to said base plate, the angular slot position of said rings determining the dispensing position of said totalizer means and capable to being changed by disengaging the desired ring lock means and rotating the desired ring until the ring slot is in the desired position, such desired position determining the dispensing position of said totalizer means.
- 15. The coin mechanism as described in claim 9 herein said multiprice setting means further includes a release bar bracket, and wherein said release bar contains a first end and a second end, the first end connected to said release bar bracket and capable of allowing said release bar to move in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said totalizer means and also in a plane parallel to the plane of said totalizer means; and wherein said multiprice setting means further includes a base plate with a tooth, the tooth being integral with said base plate and projecting therefrom and a peg stop, the peg stop being fixedly mounted on said housing to engage said plate, said totalizer means being located at the non-dispensing position when the tooth of said base plate is contacting the peg.
- 16. The coin mechanism as described in claim 15 further including an interlock set means in operative association with said multiprice setting means to permit said first ring, said second ring, said third ring and said base plate to move synchronously with one another and with said totalizer means as said totalizer means advances from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position in response to coins inserted into said coin chute means.
- 17. A coin mechanism device for use with a dispensing machine accessible from the outside for quickly changing the value of coins required to activate the coin mechanism between resetable high and low values of coins, the coin mechanism having a totalizer that advances from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position as coins are inserted into the coin mechanism, the device comprising:
- rotation means rotatable between a first angular position, a second angular position, and a third angular position, said rotation means being accessible from the outside of said coin mechanism;
- a price control unit comprised of a first ring, a second ring, a third ring, a base plate, a coupling means, a release bar, a release bar bracket, a release bar stop means and a release bar bias means, said first ring, said second ring, said third ring and said base plates rotatable mounted to the totalizer and advancing therewith from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position as coins are inserted into the coin mechanism, wherein the planes of said first ring, said second ring, said third ring, said base plate and the totalizer are generally parallel and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first ring, said second ring, said third ring, said base plate and the totalizer;
- said release bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to said release bar bracket, which is in turn attached to a housing of the coin mechanism device, the second end of said release bar being free, the attachment of the first end for allowing said release bar to pivot therefrom in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said totalizer and also in a plane parallel to the totalizer;
- said base plate, fixedly attached to the totalizer and rotatable therewith, further including a tooth projecting from said base plate for intercepting a peg attached to the housing of the coin mechanism and thereby locating the non-dispensing position of the totalizer;
- said first ring having a first ring slot therein, the position of the first ring slot changeable with respect to the position of said release bar by rotating said first ring, the position of said first ring slot determining a lower limit of the totalizer;
- said second ring having a second ring slot therein, the position of the second ring slot changeable with respect to the position of said release bar by rotating said second ring, the position of said second ring slot determining an upper limit of the totalizer;
- said third ring having a third ring slot therein, the position of the third ring slot changeable with respect to the position of said release bar by rotating said third ring, the position of said third ring slot determining an middle limit of the totalizer;
- said coupling means comprising a first bitted set, a second bitted set, a third bitted set and a bias means; the first bitted set comprising a first bitted annulus on said base plate and a matching interlockable second bitted annulus in opposed relation on the bottom surface of said first ring, the second bitted set comprised of a third bitted annulus on the top surface of said first ring and a matching interlockable fourth bitted annulus in opposed relation on the bottom surface of said second ring, the third bitted set comprising a fifth bitted annulus on the top surface of the second ring and a matching, interlockable sixth bitted annulus in opposed relation on the bottom surface of said third ring; wherein said bias means locks the bitted sets together and allows said base plate, said first ring, said second ring and said third ring to rotate as a group simultaneously with the rotation of the totalizer, wherein the vendor may change the position of the desired ring slot by unlocking the appropriate bitted set and rotating the desired ring such that the desired ring slot is in the desired position, such position representing the dispensing position;
- wherein the totalizer causes said first ring, said second ring, and said third ring to rotate from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position in response to the insertion of coins into said coin mechanism, said release bar is urged against said first ring when said rotation means is rotated to said first angular position, said second ring when said rotation means is rotated to said second angular position, or said third ring when said rotation means is rotated to said third angular position, wherein said release bar engages the desired ring slot when the desired ring slot reaches the dispensing position and the engagement releases means which allow access to the dispensing machine.
Parent Case Info
This application incorporates by reference the specification and drawings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,701 ('701) patent, Knickerbocker 1977, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/200,076 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,206 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/154,870 (now U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,097) which also incorporates by reference the '701 patent. For sake of clarification, all the new structure added to the preceding applications begins with 600.
US Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
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4747478 |
Friedman et al. |
May 1988 |
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4844229 |
Friedman et al. |
Jul 1989 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
200076 |
May 1988 |
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| Parent |
154870 |
Feb 1988 |
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Patent Grant
5025908
