GB2147133A - Coin controlled lock - Google Patents
Coin controlled lock Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2147133A GB2147133A GB08324963A GB8324963A GB2147133A GB 2147133 A GB2147133 A GB 2147133A GB 08324963 A GB08324963 A GB 08324963A GB 8324963 A GB8324963 A GB 8324963A GB 2147133 A GB2147133 A GB 2147133A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- coin
- bolt
- coins
- control bar
- diameter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/14—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for fastenings for doors; for turnstiles
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Testing Of Coins (AREA)
- Coin-Freed Apparatuses For Hiring Articles (AREA)
Description
1
GB2 147 133A 1
SPECIFICATION Coin controlled lock
5 This invention relates to coin controlled lock mechanisms-used in security lockers or cabinets which provide a secure repository available, for example, to patrons of swimming pools and leisure centres.
10
Background Art.
In some circumstances security lockers are provided as a facility, free to the patron, in which case the coin inserted is, in effect a 1 5 deposit upon the return of the key and when the key is again made captive in the lock, by the unlocking action, then the coin is returned to the patron. In other circumstances the lockers are available as a secure repository to 20 be hired temporarily by the patron, and in this case the coin or coins inserted are in payment of the hire fee and are transferred to a cash box when the locker is locked. Here again the key is held captive in the lock when the locker 25 is unlocked.
Lock mechanisms are sometimes mounted on the door of the locker or cabinet and sometimes in the vertical post of the door frame. It is an advantage if a bank of lockers 30 can be served by a common cash box.
Some lock mechanisms are arranged for single coin operation; others are arranged for two coin operation and there is a third type operable by the insertion of a number of coins 35 of different denominations inserted in a given sequence.
This invention relates to the single coin and two coin types. A lock mechanism of the single coin type is disclosed in Patent Specifi-40 cation Number 1,093,600 and a mechanism of the two coin type is disclosed in Patent Application Number 2,004,400 A.
A lock mechanism of the type described above should preferably be capable of being 45 simply and readily adjusted to be operable by coins of 2p or 5p or lOp or 20p or 50p denominations in both the single coin and two coin requirement; it is the object of this present invention to provide such a mechanism.
50
Technical Considerations.
A lock mechanism of the type above should ensure that the lock is rendered operable only when the requisite coin or coins have been 55 inserted. If the coin or disc inserted is of the correct diameter it is considered to be the requisite coin.
In a mechanism arranged for single coin operation three checks are necessary:— 60 1. Is the coin too large in diameter.
2. Is the coin too small in diameter.
3. Is the coin present in the mechanism, checks 1 and 2 are effected by diameter gauges or "gates" and are easily arranged. At
65 the entrance slot in which the coin is inserted there is a fixed gate of such a size that an oversize coin cannot be inserted. Within the mechanism there is an exit gate of such a size that a coin of the correct size is retained but an undersize coin passes through the gate and is not retained in the mechanism to take part in any operation of the lock.
Check 3 is performed in the earlier of the two patent specifications referred to above by a sensing finger which bears upon the face of the retained coin. If the coin is present, it must be of the correct size, and the lock mechanism can be operated; if the coin is not present the movement of the sensing finger is not obstructed and because of this the lock mechanism is rendered inoperable.
In a mechanism arranged for two coin operation six checks are necessary;—
1. Is the first coin too large in diameter.
2. Is the second coin too large in diameter.
3. Is the first coin too small in diameter.
4. Is the second coin too small in diameter.
5. Is the first coin present.
(The presence of the second coin confirms this.)
6. Is the second coin present.
In the later of the two patent specifications referred to above the checks 1 and 2 are effected by the entrance gate as described above.
Check number 3 is effected by the exit gate also as described above, but if the first coin is of correct size and is retained by the exit gate then the second coin cannot be subjected to the diameter check number 4 by the exit gate. Instead the two checks numbers 4 and 6 have been combined by so arranging the two coins in the coin chute or channel that the sensing finger bears upon the face of a correct second coin at a point so close to the periphery that an undersize second coin would offer no obstruction to the downward movement of the sensing finger whereby the mechanism would be rendered inoperable. The difference in coin diameter to be detected by this means is sometimes quite small. For example the 1p coin is about 1.14 mm. smaller in diameter than the 20p coin which has a septagonal periphery. It has yet to be shown commercially that a sensing finger applied to the coin face can distinguish between these two coins.
Disclosure of Invention.
According to the present invention there is provided a coin controlled lock mechanism, for both one coin and two coin operation, in which the intrinsic characteristics of the mechanism are prescribed by one easily exchanged element, referred to herein as the control bar, which is exchanged to alter the characteristics or mode of operation of the lock mechanism. To change the mode of the lock mechanism no adjustment is necessary to any element of the mechanism, apart from the exchange of the control bar.
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For example, if the mechanism is set for operation by a 10p coin which is ultimately refunded to the patron, an appropriate exchange of control bars will set the mechanism 5 for operation by two 20p coins which are transferred to the cash box.
Where there is a check on the coin diameter it is made across the diameter of the coin from edge to edge either by "gates" or by a 10 "feeler" blade applied to the edge of the coin.
A further feature of the invention is the formation of channels in the surface of the bolt whereby the coins are released at the 1 5 appropriate time when the bolt is in the appropriate position.
To illustrate the invention one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-20 Figure 7 is a patron's view of the lock mechanism mounted in the vertical post of the door frame of a locker.
Figure 2 shows the general arrangement of the principal elements.
25 Figure 3 is a cross section on the line AA in Fig. 2.
Figure 4 shows one example of a control bar.
Figure 5 shows the bolt and its operation. 30 Figures 6, 7 and 8 shows three stages in the passage of two 20p coins through the mechanism to the cash box.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 shows three stage in the passage of a single 20p coin which is 35 refunded to the patron.
In Fig. 1 the lock mechanism 1 is shown mounted in the vertical post of a locker door frame and in broken line is shown the bolt 2 in the locked position. The mechanism is 40 operated by the rotation of the key in the lock 3 which can be rotated from the unlocked to the locked position after the requisite coin or coins have been inserted in the upper coin slot 4.
45 If the coin is to be refunded to the patron, the coin issues from the lower coin slot 5,
after the lock has been rotated to the unlocked position and the key rendered captive in the lock.
50 The principal elements of the mechanism are disposed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in which the frame 6 provides for the mounting of the lock 3, for the pivoted location of the bolt 2 and of the pawl 8 and for the accom-55 modation of the control bar 9.
The lock 3 is so arranged that the rotation of the key 10 imparts an equal rotation to the sleeve 11 which is rotatably mounted upon the barrel of the lock. Fixed to the sleeve 11 60 is the arm 12 and the cam 13. The cam 13 cooperates with the pawl 8 and, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the arm 12 transmits motion to the bolt. There is a channel 20 in the face of the bolt and this channel connects 65 at one end with an area 21 which has the same depth from the face of the bolt as the channel 20. This area connects with a deeper channel 22 which becomes coincident with the edge of a coin in the control bar when the bolt is in the fully withdrawn and unlocked position.
These channels provide for the movement of the coin or coins in the control bar, from one position to another in the operation of the lock as described below.
The movement of a coin from one position to another is, in every case, a movement induced by the force of gravity, and is therefore always downward through the mechanism.
Reverting to Fig. 2, the pawl 8 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 19, and slides upon the face of the bolt 2. The pawl is constrained by the spring 7 to bear on the periphery of the cam 1 3.
The pawl has a feeler blade extension 18 which is bevelled on the edge 22 to enable the blade readily to enter such space as may exist between the surface of the bolt and the periphery of a coin, in the control bar, detained in the position for check inspection.
When the cam is rotated in the direction of the arrow the consequent movement of the pawl causes the feeler blade 18 to enter the coin space provided in the control bar. If there is no coin present, or if the coin present is under size, the pawl follows the cam to the lowest point of the periphery where the face 23 of the pawl abuts the face 24 of the cam and further rotation of the cam is prevented. If a coin of the correct size is present, there is not sufficiant space between the periphery of the coin and the face of the bolt for the feeler blade to enter and the motion of the pawl is arrested before the lowest point of the cam peripherty is reached. The point at which the motion is arrested is such that the face 23 of the pawl and the face 24 of the cam do not abut so that the rotation of the cam can continue. Such continued rotation of the cam lifts the pawl and retracts the feeler blade from the coin space in the control bar.
The control bar 9 shown in Fig. 4 is accommodated in the space 14 between the edge flange of the frame and the adjacent partition as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in which Fig. 3 shows the juxtaposition of the bolt 2, and the control bar 9, and the feeler blade extension of the pawl 8. When the control bar is in position in the mechanism the apeture D in Fig. 4 is positioned to accept coins inserted in the upper coin slot 4 in Fig. 2.
When the requisite coin or coins are inserted in the upper coin slot 4 they pass into a suitably formed channel or coin chute in the control bar as will be seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The insertion of an oversize coin is prevented by an entrance gate formed by a pin in hole 16 which is so positioned that the distance D is greater than the diameter of the requisite
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GB2147 133A 3
coin but smaller than the diameter of the next larger coin. In passing down the chute an edge of each inserted coin passes across the surface of the surface of the bolt. In the single 5 coin mode, which will now be described, an inserted coin of the correct size, is detained at the exit gate formed by a pin in hole 1 7. The pin 17 is so positioned that an undersize coin passes through the gate and out of the 10 mechanism whilst a correct size coin is detained in the gate between the pin in hole 1 7 and the surface of the bolt.
When the key 10 is turned to lock the cabinet the feeler blade extension 18 of the 15 pawl 8 checks the presence of the coin, and, if the coin is present, the inward motion of the pawl, permitted by the cam, is arrested so that the key can continue to be turned to the fully locked condition. When this condition is 20 reached, and the bolt is fully extended, the channel 20, provided in the surface of the bolt, is coincident with the edge of the coin. The depth of the channel 20 from the surface of the bolt is such that the distance between 25 the bottom of the channel and the gating pin in hole 1 7 is greater than the diameter of the coin which is therefore no longer retained and passes down the chute in the control bar 9 and out of the mechanism into the cash box 30 below.
In the above mode or sequence of operations a single coin of a given denomination freed the mechanism and was transferred to the cash box. This mode was prescribed by 35 the control bar shown in Fig. 4. The exchange of this control bar for the one shown in Fig. 6 would prescribe a different mode wherein the mechanism would be rendered operable by the insertion of two 20p coins which would 40 then be transferred to the cash box.
The two coin mode requires the application of an additional check, namely, a minimum diameter check on the second coin. The first coin is checked for maximum and minimum 45 diameter by the entrance and exit gates, in the manner previously described for the single coin mode, but the second coin is not checked for the minimum diameter by the exit gate because the first coin is already in the 50 exit gate and retained thereby as shown in Fig. 6 in which 9 is the control bar, 2 is the bolt in section and 25 is the pin which, in conjunction with the surface of the bolt, forms the exit gate. The minimum diameter check 55 on the second coin is carried out by the feeler blade 1 8 as previously described and as shown in Fig. 7. If the second coin is undersize, as shown in broken line, the movement of the feeler blade is not obstructed and the 60 mechanism is thereby rendered inoperative. If the second coin is of the correct diameter the feeler blade is withdrawn and the operation of the mechanism is continued until the bolt is fully extended and the cabinet is locked. 65 With the bolt fully extended the channel 20
in the face of the bolt 2 in Fig. 5, coincides with the edges of both coins and, by virtue of the increased space made available by the channel in the bolt, the coins pass through the exit gate and into the cash box below.
It will be noted that in the two coin mode the dual function of the feeler blade in checking both the diameter and the presence of the second coin is essential to the correct operation of the mechanism whereas, in the single coin mode, the essential check is for the presence of the coin only, as the diameter check is effected by the exit gate.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show three stages in the passage, through the mechanism, of a 20p coin which is refunded to the patron. In those modes where the coin is refunded to the patron, the return of the coin is made when the mechanism is fully unlocked and the key is captive in the lock.
In the first stage, shown in Fig. 9, a coin of the correct size has been inserted and is retained at the exit gate between the pin 26 and the face of the bolt 2. The edge of the coin is in contact with the surface of the bolt at the point A shown in the upper view.
The rotation of the key to the locked position moves the bolt until the channel 20 is coincident with the edge of the coin as shown in Fig. 10, upper view, where the point of edge contact between the coin and the surface of the bolt has moved from A to B. The increased space provided by the depth of the channel permits the coin to pass the pin 26, as shown in broken line and to proceed along the channel until it is obstructed by the second pin 27 as shown in full line. Here the point of edge contact between the coin and the bottom of the channel has moved from B to C as shown in the upper view Fig. 10.
When the mechanism is unlocked, and the bolt fully withdrawn, the deeper channel 21 Fig. 11 is brought coincident with the edge of the coin and the point of edge contact of the coin is moved from C to D as shown in the upper view Fig. 11. The increased space provided by the deeper channel permits the coin to pass the pin 27, as shown in broken line, and to proceed to the final position,
shown in full line, to the coin return slot 5 where it is available to the patron.
Claims (5)
1. A coin controlled lock mechanism of the type used in security locker installations, said mechanism being readily adjustable to be operable by any single coin in the present currency or by two such coins of the same denomination, said coin or coins being delivered to a cash box after passing through the lock mechanism or, if such a mode is required, said coin being returned to the patron, the desired mode being prescribed by one exchangeable element referred to herein as the control bar, through which the coin or
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GB2147133A
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coins fall in their passage through the lock mechanism which has a moving bolt which co-operates with the control bar in such a manner that the coin or coins in the control 5 bar are detained for checking at the beginning of the locking action and then released as the locking action is completed, said bolt and control bar being appropriately fashioned, as described, to co-operate in the detention or 10 release of the coin or coins according to the position of the bolt.
2. An exchangeable control bar which prescribes the mode of operation of the coin controlled lock to which it is fitted; has a
15 channel or passage way in which the coin or coins can move and be controlled, and applies, or co-operates with another element of the mechanism, in applying, the checks necessary to ensure that the lock mechanism 20 is free to be operated only when the requirements of the checks have been met, said checks including a maximum diameter of coin or disc check by means of a fixed gate at the point of coin or disc insertion, a minimum 25 diameter of coin or disc check by a gate at the point of detention of a coin or disc, and a combined check upon the presence and diameter of the coin or disc, effected by a cam controlled element of the mechanism in co-30 operation with the control bar in which the aforesaid channel or passageway is fashioned in each bar to meet the requirements of the mode for which it is intended, as described and exemplified in reference to figures 6. 7. 8 35 and figures 9. 10. 11. of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a coin controlled mechanism of the type used in security locker installations, a bolt which co-operates with a control bar as
40 claimed in claim 2, and is enabled so to cooperate by channels or grooves formed in the face of the bolt, said channels or grooves formed in the face of the bolt, said channels or grooves being so disposed that at the 45 beginning of the locking action the edge of the coin in the control bar is in contact with the plain or ungrooved area of the face of the bolt and is detained, and at the end of the locking action the groove or channel in the 50 bolt is co-incident with the edge of the coin which falls into the groove and is released from the means of its detention and is free to continue its passage through the mechanism either to the cash box or to further detention 55 and release for return to the patron as described and exemplified in reference to figures 5. 9. 10 and 11. of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a coin controlled mechanism of the 60 type used in security locker installations, in which said mechanism there is in all single coin modes, a coin presence check, and a second check upon the coin diameter; and in all two coin modes a coin presence check and 65 a first check upon the diameter of the second coin, a means whereby these checks are performed, characterised in that a sensing feeler blade, appropriately bevelled at its edge, and attached to, or forming part of, a cam oper-70 ated and spring biased pawl, said sensing feeler blade being presented tangentially to the outside diameter edge of the coin being checked in such a manner that the blade can enter readily into such space as may exist 75 between the periphery of the coin and the surface of the bolt whereupon, if the said space is of the order of that made available by the insertion of an undersized coin, the locking action of the mechanism is arrested, as 80 described and exemplified in reference to Figs. 2 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A coin controlled lock mechanism of the type used in security locker installations, for one or two coin operation, constructed and 85 arranged substantially as described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Printed in the United Kingdom for
Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Dd 8818935. 1985, 4235. Published at The Patent Office. 25 Southampton Buildings,
London. WC2A 1AY. from which copies may be obtained.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08324963A GB2147133A (en) | 1983-09-19 | 1983-09-19 | Coin controlled lock |
| EP84306369A EP0138405A1 (en) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-09-18 | Coin controlled lock |
| GB08423526A GB2147724B (en) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-09-18 | Coin controlled lock |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08324963A GB2147133A (en) | 1983-09-19 | 1983-09-19 | Coin controlled lock |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8324963D0 GB8324963D0 (en) | 1983-10-19 |
| GB2147133A true GB2147133A (en) | 1985-05-01 |
Family
ID=10548960
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08324963A Withdrawn GB2147133A (en) | 1983-09-19 | 1983-09-19 | Coin controlled lock |
| GB08423526A Expired GB2147724B (en) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-09-18 | Coin controlled lock |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08423526A Expired GB2147724B (en) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-09-18 | Coin controlled lock |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0138405A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB2147133A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2209421B (en) * | 1987-09-03 | 1991-03-20 | Michael Taylor | Coin-freed lock mechanism |
Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB710961A (en) * | 1951-09-04 | 1954-06-23 | Edward Whitfield Illingworth | Improvements in coin released door lock mechanism |
| GB1093600A (en) * | 1965-06-15 | 1967-12-06 | American Locker Co | Coin controlled locks |
| GB1105517A (en) * | 1964-05-28 | 1968-03-06 | Joseph Austen Smith | Improvements in or relating to coin operated locks |
| GB1376724A (en) * | 1970-11-10 | 1974-12-11 | Glory Kogyo Kk | Rental locker system |
| GB1406779A (en) * | 1972-02-24 | 1975-09-17 | Glory Kogyo Kk | Rental locker system |
| GB1503146A (en) * | 1975-05-02 | 1978-03-08 | Green James E | Lock apparatus |
| GB1509266A (en) * | 1975-03-05 | 1978-05-04 | American Locker Co | Coin operated lock |
| GB2004400A (en) * | 1977-09-19 | 1979-03-28 | American Locker Security Syst | Coin operated lock |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE212233C (en) * | ||||
| DE6915727U (en) * | 1969-04-19 | 1969-10-09 | Schulte Schlagbaum Schlossfab | COIN LOCK. |
| DE2017192C3 (en) * | 1970-04-10 | 1978-11-23 | Schulte-Schlagbaum Ag, 5620 Velbert | Lock with a lock function that can be operated by inserting a coin |
-
1983
- 1983-09-19 GB GB08324963A patent/GB2147133A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1984
- 1984-09-18 GB GB08423526A patent/GB2147724B/en not_active Expired
- 1984-09-18 EP EP84306369A patent/EP0138405A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB710961A (en) * | 1951-09-04 | 1954-06-23 | Edward Whitfield Illingworth | Improvements in coin released door lock mechanism |
| GB1105517A (en) * | 1964-05-28 | 1968-03-06 | Joseph Austen Smith | Improvements in or relating to coin operated locks |
| GB1093600A (en) * | 1965-06-15 | 1967-12-06 | American Locker Co | Coin controlled locks |
| GB1376724A (en) * | 1970-11-10 | 1974-12-11 | Glory Kogyo Kk | Rental locker system |
| GB1406779A (en) * | 1972-02-24 | 1975-09-17 | Glory Kogyo Kk | Rental locker system |
| GB1509266A (en) * | 1975-03-05 | 1978-05-04 | American Locker Co | Coin operated lock |
| GB1503146A (en) * | 1975-05-02 | 1978-03-08 | Green James E | Lock apparatus |
| GB2004400A (en) * | 1977-09-19 | 1979-03-28 | American Locker Security Syst | Coin operated lock |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8324963D0 (en) | 1983-10-19 |
| GB2147724A (en) | 1985-05-15 |
| EP0138405A1 (en) | 1985-04-24 |
| GB2147724B (en) | 1987-01-28 |
| GB8423526D0 (en) | 1984-10-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |