GB443598A - Improvements in or relating to coin freed mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

443,598. Prepayment mechanism for meters. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS CO., Ltd., BARBOUR, R. H., and NOBLE, H. F., Vauxhall Works, South Lambeth Road, London. Sept. 17, 1934, Nos. 26640 and 28176. [Class 27] Returning coin ; coin action, mechanical connection, with delivery proportionate to value of coin.-The invention provides, in meter prepayment mechanism, means operable by the 'user for the purpose of recovering coins of incorrect denomination which have failed to free the mechanism. The invention is described applied to a mechanism in which a hand shaft 19 is first moved axially inwards to an extent determined by the diameter of a coin received in a pocket 29, so that a toothed wheel 21 is brought into mesh with one of a series of toothed wheels having different operative connections with the quantity mechanism, which is consequently set forward, during the subsequent rotation of the shaft, by an amount appropriate to the value of the coin. The coin pocket comprises spaced plates 27 supported between end plates 28 carried within a sleeve 26 rotatable within a fixed outer drum 10. The sleeve 26 has a slot 30, normally registering with the coin pocket 27 and an insertion slot 12 in the drum 10, and a second slot 31 which is normally out of register with the lower end of the pocket. The coin pocket and shaft 19 turn together by reason of the squared end of the shaft. The pocket is normally locked against rotation by engagement of a pin 16 with apertures in a pair of fixed adjacent annular plates 14, 15, whilst the shaft is normally locked against rotation by engagement of a slot in a disc 25, secured to the shaft, with a slotted plate 23. An inserted coin forms an axial connection between the coin pocket and shaft 19 which, when thrust in, moves the coin pocket axially against a spring 41 to disengage the pin 16 from the plates 14, 15. If the coin is of a suitable diameter, the plate 25 registers with one or other of a pair of slots 46, 47 in the plate 23, so that the shaft 19 is freed for rotation to set the apparatus, the coin pocket turning with the shaft 19 and discharging the coin through a slot 13 in the drum 11 into a cash receptacle. If a coin of incorrect diameter is inserted, the plate 25 is locked by the plate 23 and rotation of the shaft 19 is prevented. The means for recovering such a coin comprises a push-button 37 having a pin 35 engaging a cam 36 on the end of the sleeve 26, depression of the button causing rotation of the sleeve 26 relative to the coin pocket against the action of a spring 32 whereby the slot 31 is brought into register with the lower end of the coin pocket so as to permit the coin to fall into a return coin passage 38. Specifications 443,599 and 443,600 are referred to. Coin-discharging mechanism.-Towards the completion of rotation of the shaft 19, the pin 16 on the pocket engages a raised cam part 48 on the plate 15, which displaces the pocket axially away from the shaft 19 so as to relax the pressure on the coin and enable it to fall out as the pocket is inverted. Fraud preventing.-In order to prevent continued rotation of the shaft 19 if the coin should fail to fall out of the pocket, a pin 53 is provided in the pocket which locks against an abutment on a fixed end plate 51 at the completion of the setting stroke if the coin has not fallen out and allowed the pocket to return to its normal position. The pin 53 can be retracted against a spring 57 to free the pocket again by means of a tool inserted by an official to engage a cut-away part 56 in the pin. Coin-slit closing-devices.-The coin pocket 29 is inclined to the insertion shoot so that a coin in the pocket prevents a second coin being inserted.