Change dispenser anti-jam device

A change dispensing apparatus including:

• a. a constantly rotating drive shaft;
• b. a rotatably mounted driven shaft engaging a change dispensing mechanism for actuating said mechanism when operated;
• c. a laterally extending support member secured to the end of said driven shaft;
• d. a cam member secured to the end of said drive shaft and positioned adjacent said support member;
• e. a plurality of oppositely disposed cam follower arms rotatably mounted on said support member for movement towards and away from said cam member;
• f. and a plurality of resilient actuating members each engaging one of said arms and mounted on said support member for normally rotating said arms towards said cam member into an actuated position on said cam member to apply a first torsional force on said cam member thereby transmitting the movement of said drive shaft to said driven shaft to operate said change dispensing mechanism, said cam member, upon the stopping of said change dispensing mechanism and said support member, rotating said follower arms outwardly to an extended position against the action of said actuating member, the arms in said extended position forming an angle with said cam member for releasing the actuating member whereby said actuating members will apply a second torsional force on said arms and said cam member which is greater than and opposite to said first torsional force to rotate said arms and said support member in a direction opposite to the movement of said cam member to return the arms to said actuated position on said cam member.

A change dispensing mechanism comprising

• a. a driving member for exerting a torque about an axis in an operating direction;
• b. means for operating the dispensing mechanism when moved in said operating direction;
• c. means for relieving the jamming of the dispensing mechanism including support means secured to said operating means;
• d. and spring actuated coupling members rotatably mounted on said support means for movement in a direction perpendicular to said axis, said coupling means engaging said driving member for transmitting the torque of said driving member to said operating means, said driving member rotating said coupling members away from said axis to a position on said support means against the action of the springs upon the stopping of the support means to exert a torque on said support means which is greater than and is reverse to the torque exerted by said driving member whereby said support means is moved by said coupling members in a direction opposite to said operating direction to relieve the jamming of the change dispensing mechanism.

A method for releasing the jam condition of a change dispensing mechanism comprising the steps of:

• a. rotating the drive shaft of a change dispensing mechanism and a support member secured thereto in an operating direction;
• b. moving a pair of spring urged coupling members rotatably mounted on the support member in said operating direction;
• c. rotating the coupling members against the action of their springs to a cocked position on the support member upon the stopping of the support member;
• d. and rotating the coupling members and the support member under the action of the springs in a direction opposite to said operating direction to rotate the drive shaft in a jam releasing direction.

A method for relieving the jam condition of a change dispensing mechanism comprising the steps of:

• a. rotating an input drive shaft having an actuating member secured thereto in an operating direction;
• b. moving a pair of spring urged coupling members rotatably mounted on a support member secured to a change dispensing mechanism drive shaft into engagement with the actuating member, to rotate the dispensing mechanism drive shaft in said operating direction;
• c. stopping the support member upon the occurrence of a jam condition in the dispensing mechanism;
• d. further rotating said actuating member upon the stopping of the support member;
• e. rotating the coupling members against the action of their springs to a cocked position on said support member upon the stopping of said support member;
• f. releasing the coupling members to the action of the springs when in said cocked position;
• g. and rotating said coupling members and said support member in a direction opposite to the direction of the actuating member to rotate the dispensing mechanism drive shaft in a jam releasing direction.

A change dispensing apparatus, including:

• a. driving means movable in a first direction;
• b. driven means movable in said first direction to operate the dispensing apparatus;
• c. means for transmitting the movement of said driving means to said driven means to operate the dispensing apparatus including support means secured to said driven means;
• d. a cam member secured to said driving means, said cam member having a first engaging surface extending along a first axis and a second engaging surface extending along a second axis;
• e. a connecting member rotatably mounted on said support means, said connecting member having an engaging surface;
• f. and a spring member secured to said support means and engaging said connecting member for rotating said connecting member into a first engaging position on said cam member to transmit the movement of said cam member to said support means wherein the engaging surface of said connecting member is parallel to said first engaging surface of the cam member, said cam member rotating said connecting member to a second engaging position on said cam member against the action of said spring member upon the stopping of said support means wherein the engaging surface of said connecting member is parallel to said second engaging surface of the cam member whereby further movement of the cam member will allow the spring member to move the connecting member and the support means in a direction reverse to the first direction of said driven means to position said first engaging surface of said cam member adjacent the engaging surface of said connecting member.

A change dispensing apparatus including:

• a. a constantly rotating drive shaft;
• b. a rotatably mounted driven shaft engaging a change dispensing mechanism for actuating said mechanism when operated;
• c. a support member secured to the end of said driven shaft;
• d. a cam member secured to the end of said drive shaft and positioned adjacent said support member, said cam member having a first engaging surface extending along a first axis and a second engaging surface extending along a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, said first engaging surface being longer than said second engaging surface;
• e. a plurality of cam follower arms rotatably mounted on said support member;
• f. and a plurality of resilient actuating members each engaging one of said arms and mounted on said support member for normally urging said arms into an actuated position on said cam member wherein said first engaging surface of the cam member engages said arm member to transmit the movement of said drive shaft to said driven shaft to operate said change dispensing mechanism, said cam member, upon the stopping of said change dispensing mechanism and said driven shaft, rotating said follower arms to an extended position against the action of said actuating member wherein said second engaging surface will engage said arm members, the arms in said extended position forming an angle with said cam member whereby further rotation of said cam member will allow said actuating members to rotate said arms and said support member in a direction opposite to the movement of said cam member to position the arms in said actuated position on said cam member.