GB797152A - Improvements relating to a coin operated pre-payment unit - Google Patents

Abstract

797,152. Coin-freed apparatus. VENNER, Ltd. Feb. 18, 1957 [Feb. 16, 1956]. No 4911/56. Class 27 A prepayment unit for timed operation of a television set or other apparatus comprises a pair of contacts 24, 26 closed by insertion of a coin to initiate operation of a synchronous motor and of the television set and a cam 36 driven by the motor and holding the contacts closed for one revolution on insertion of a smaller coin and for two revolutions on insertion of a larger coin. Twin contacts 24 and a pivoted bridge contact 26 are mounted on jaws 20, 21 pivoted at 22 and the lower jaw has an extension 29 provided with a cam engaging pin 43 and a. pin 30 exteding through a slot 31 into a coin shoot 6. An inserted coin depresses the pin 30 slightly away from the end 32 of the slot 31 and causes the contacts to be closed so that the motor rotates the cam clockwise. The pin 43 then rides out of a depression 37 in the cam on to the circular periphery 36a and engages the tail 44 of one of a pair of "scissors" levers 7, 8 having pins 16, 17 which are swung into the coin shoot to prevent passage of any further coins. At the same time the pin 30 has moved down the slot 31 to the position 30a and if the coin is a sixpence, it can fall past the pin so that when the cam has completed one revolution the pin 43 can move into the depression 37 and cause the contacts 24, 26 to open. If the coin is a shilling, it is urged into engagement with the wall of the chute and the pin 30 by a catch 45 and, on completion of one :revolution of the cam, its presence prevents the pin 43 from entering the depression. However, the pin 43 rides over a release cam 41 at the mouth of the depression and, before falling back into engagement with the periphery 36a for another revolution, it moves the pin 30 to the end 33 of the slot 31 and thus releases' the shilling. When the pin 43 moves into the depression 37, it allows the pins 16 and 17 to move out of the coin shoot and any succeeding coins stored in the chute will maintain operation of the television set and of the motor. If the television set is separately switched off when the pin 43 is riding on the cam periphery and subsequently switched on, the motor will complete its revolution and use up the time paid for. A pivoted lever 51 at an inclined part of the shoot limits the number of coins that can be inserted at a time or, where the shoot extends vertically with an entry slot at its upper end, an unbalanced rotary disc with a cut-away for accepting coins may extend into the shoot, the disc rotating to pass coins until the last one maintains engagement with the cut away portion and holds the disc in a position masking the entry slot.