638,980. Coin-freed apparatus. FERRANTI, Ltd., SPENCER, V. W., and SINKIN- :SON, C. Oct. 4, 1946, No. 29594. [Class 27] Coin action, mechanicalconnection and multiplecoin with delivery proportionate to value of coin.- Mechanism operable by any one of several coins and comprising separate coin carriers rotatable about a parallel axis, is characterized by an operating member overlapping and surrounding the coin carriers, so as to engage a coin in its carrier to rotate the carrier, and by each carrier imparting appropriate movement to the credit mechanism. The prepayment meter mechanism shown takes pennies or shillings which are inserted through separate slots 11b 11c leading to side by side carriers formed by spaced plates 24, 24 and 25, 25 secured between end discs 24', 24<SP>1</SP> and 25<SP>1</SP>, 25<SP>1</SP> rotatable on a shaft 14. Axial slots in the shaft 14 form lower extensions of the carriers in their normal positions, a penny being supported in its carrier 24 and slot by rivets 14e spanning the slot, and a shilling in its carrier and slot by sloping end walls to the carrier (Fig. 1). The operating handle 22 is coaxial with the shaft 14, but turns independently of it, and carries a part cylindrical shield 23 with a leading edge normally just clear of the penny carrier 24 and a slot 23b in register with the shilling carrier 25 (Fig. 2). The inner end disc 24<SP>1</SP> of the penny carrier has a pawl 28 (Fig. 4) for driving engagement with a tooth 20c of a star wheel 20 loose on shaft 14, and the shilling carrier has similar driving engagement with the star wheel by means of a pawl 27 and a tooth 20b. On turning the handle 22 (clockwise, Figs. 2 and 4) with a penny in the carrier 24, the leading edge of the shield engages the projecting upper part of the penny and turns both the carrier 24 and shaft 14 until half a revolution has been made when the penny falls out through a discharge slot 10c in the casing 10. The first part of this movement is conveyed by the pawl 28 to the star wheel 20, a fixed stop 10b engaging a tail 28a of the pawl to trip it out of engagement with the star wheel when the latter has been turned an amount appropriate to a penny. The action is similar with a shilling in its carrier 25, the slot 23b in the shield engaging the shilling to drive it and its carrier forward. The penny carrier 24 is also carried idly forward by the shilling carrier which drives the star wheel by its pawl 27 until tripped by the same stop 10b, the period of engagement being longer than with a penny owing to the relative positions of the two pawls 27 and 28, and appropriate to the value of a shilling. The movements of the star wheel are conveyed to the quantity mechanism through a gear 18 fast with it and a reciprocating rack 19. The shaft 14 is correctly indexed after successive half revolutions by engagement of a spring-actuated switch setting plunger with an S-shaped cam 15 secured to the shaft. A pawl on a toothed wheel 16 fast with the cam 15 engages a fixed ratchet disc 12 to prevent reverse rotation of the shaft 14 and also of the handle prior to discharge of the coin. When the handle is returned a pin (not shown) on the inside of the shield 23 turns back the two carriers 24 and 25, whilst a pin 26 on the shilling carrier engages a reverse tooth 20a on the star wheel to restore it and the rack 19. Coin-slit closing-devices. - A slotted shaft 30 beneath the coin slots 11b, 11c is geared to the shaft 14. Normally its slots register with the coin slots but, whilst a coin is being credited, it blocks the slots 11b, 11c to prevent insertion of another coin. There is an additional closure for the coin slots in the form of a slotted insulating sleeve 32 surrounding the shaft 30 and rocked to close the slots when the handle is turned by engagement of the shield 23 with a lug 32a on the sleeve.