US1621230A - Automatic coin-operated machine - Google Patents

Description

192 March 15 7 e. R. BARR AUTOMATIC COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 12. 1922 4 sheets-sheet 1 1,621 230 I March 15 9 G. R. BARR AUTOMATIC COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1'621230' March 15 1927. I 6' R. BARR 1 AUTOMATIC COIN OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 12. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 7 49 74 i 2 g 73 n: n 70 2 47 v 62 '46 5o l l I 6| 3? 34 67 1927. March 15 I G R BARR AUTOMATIC Com OPERATED umcawa 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 12, 1922 lw/ernbr Ear! Patented Mar, 15, 1927.

UNITED :STATES 1,621,230; PATENT OF'FIC enonen mcnenn Benn, or HACKNEY, noNnoN, mtoLAiin.

AUTOMATIC COIN-OBERATED MACHINE.

Application filed August 12, 1922, Serial No. 581,403, and in Great Britain Novemper 22, 1921.

' My invention relates to an automatic machine for playing a game, representingfootball or the like, and comprises a construction of the kindfhavinga series of figures distributed over-a field or playing ground at each end of which 'is provided a goal, the figures being associated with operating levers through which a ball is impelled over the playing surface toward one or other of the goals. Coin-released mechanism is usually provided to enable a ball to be released to be played with, and mechanism is arranged to return a coin if the ball is projected into either goal. In the apparatus hitherto proposed, however a single coin is employed which forms part of a train of gearing, the operation of which enables a ball to be delivered at the centre of the playing surface. In a cricket game apparatus it has also been proposed to release the mechanism by the insertion of two Separate coins into' a single coin chute one of said coins beingreturned at the end ofthe game and the other retained.

According to this invention I construct my machine of'a suitable frame, having an upper surface which acts as the playing ground upon which the game ,is placed and 1 upon which a-series of figures are mounted in' suitable positions tov formv two opposing teams substantially as in a game of football or the like. Thesefiguresare-arranged in groups to represent forwards, half-backs,

backs and a goal keeper for each side, or any other suitable arrangement] Each figure is provided with a movable limb, such as one leg which is pivoted and'adapted to be op-'. erated to impelor kickthe ball toward theoppositeend of the field, with the object of sending it-into the 'opponents. goal. Each group of figures isjconnected to an operating lever of which a series are provided upon the outside of the machine and adapted to be actuated by each of the two competitors play- I ing the game. Each lever is mounted upon the end of a transverse pivoted rod so as to move the limb or leg of. the figures when, it is turned about its axis. v

' Each figure is mounted in a depression'in the field'sothat the ball will roll down to theffeet of one of the players ready to be impelled toward the opposite goal when the foot of that figure is actuated. The goal at each end-is formed-witha sloping surface leading to a hole through which the ball passeswhen a goal is scored. Both :these holes lead to a common channel alongwhich the ball rolls and down a chute to the bottom of a column of balls ready to be again mechanism to allow the uppermost of a column of balls to be passed out through a suitable aperture into ',the centre of the field. The other coin is held in-a position ready to bereleased when a goal is scored, and the competitor whoscores the goal will receive the returned coin.

One of the coins inserted into the machine is adapted to release mechanism which enables one of a series of balls arranged in a pile to be delivered onto the playing surface, and when a goal is scored 'by either player, the ball is returned through a chute to the bottom of the pile, and means are providedin the path of the returning. ball to operate mechanism which will release the other coin and deliver the same to the person scoring the goal.

In'order that my invention may be readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example a construction of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus- Figure 2 is a plan view of the field or playing'surface. Y

Figure 3 is a. view to an enlarged'scale showing one of the layers and the mechanism. for operating t e same for manipulatingthe ball over the playing surface.

Figures 4 and 5 are planview and underplan respectively of one of the shutter like members with which the playing figures are associated.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken immediately below the playlng surface. 7 W

Figure 7 is avertical section on the line A-B of Fig. 6. v Figure 8 is a detail View of the'releasing pawl for enabling one of the balls. to be de'-' livered onto the playing surface.

Figure 9 is a sectional ,vifiw to a larger shown to a larger scale.

The apparatus illustrated in thedrawings the parts being shows the application of the invention to a football game and comprisesa casing? 15 of ers. At each end of the field is a goal 17 hereinafter referred to. i

In the construction shown in the drawings, the pivotal shutters 18 are of rectangular shape, and the figures 19 representing the players are rigidly fixed to the playing surface, and preferably in such a manner that they are suported by one leg 20 on a portion of the stationary playing surface, whilst the opposite leg 21 is pivoted to the body of the figure. The shutter like devices 18 are each a loose fit in the corresponding recesses 18 formed in the playing surface, I

surface at a point located at the centre there-' of. The mechanism for feeding the ball so as to ensure free movement thereof. Preferably the shutters 18. are pivoted along one of their longitudinal sides, that is the side opposite to that adjacent which the playing figures 19 are fixed so that during the1r movement, the pivotal legs of the playing figures are moved to imitate as far as possible the movement of a player kicking a ball. The shutters 18 are preferably provided with a weighted under surface 22 to' ensure their returning to the normal posi tion. a

.The playing surface is formed with an irregular up er surface, that is to say the ortions of t e playing surface surroun ing each of the recesses. in which the shutters are located and around the mouth of the goals, is dished or inclined towards the edges of said recesses, so that the ball has a natural tendency to roll onto the shutters when being played. This is clearly shownin Figures 1 and 3.

Beneath each of the recesses 18*} for the 'shutters is a supporting bracket 23,011 which is pivotally mounted a two armed lever 24,

' one arm of said lever engaging the undersurface of the weighted portlon of the shutter whilst the opposite arm is connected by a r0d '25 to an arm 26 rigidly fixed to one of a series of horizontal rods 27. extending across the casing 15 from the front. wall towards the rear wall. These rods or shafts 27 are located at s aced intervals apart and are provided at t eir forward ends which extend through the front wall of the casing 15, with operating handles or thumb pieces 28 which enable the same to be oscilla'ted 'in their bearings. I prefer to provide three such rods or shafts 27 for each team, that is six in all and two of the shafts of each team whilst the remaining shaft controls three playing figures. It will thus be seen that by rotating the shafts 27 by means of the thumb pieces 28, the shutters are lifted, and in so doing the ball for the time being resting upon a shutter is flicked or impelled over the playing surface and may come to rest on any of the other shutters, and each player has to exercise his skill in manipulating the shafts 27 in such amanner that the ball is impelled towards and into the goal mouth of the opposing player. The movement of the shutters 18 in an upward direction is caused by the rotation of the shafts 27 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, and in so moving, the upper surface of the shutters come into contact withfthe. free end of the pivotal leg of the playing. figures and move the same in a very realistic manner and the movement of the movable legs of the playing figures assists to a certain extent in the flicking of the ball over the playonto the playing surface comprises a vertically disposed tubular chute 30, twoop'positely disposed walls of which are slidable with relation to the remaining walls. The chute is preferably rectangular in shape and the stationary walls are adapted to form guides for the movable walls. One or both of the movable walls of the chute is provided with a gravity or spring operated trigger or the like 41 located near the base of the chute. Within the chute are arranged a series of' balls superimposed upon one another, and beneath the pile of balls is a platform 32 which is adapted to be raised by means of a rod 33 pivotally connected at itslower end 34 to the platform 32 and connected at its upper end to apin 35 car'- ried-by a disc 36 fixed to a rotatable shaft "37 extending transversely from front to back of the casing 15. The forwardiend of theshaft 37 carries a knob or button 38 to enable the same to be rotated, and the said shaft is preferablylocated centrally beneath the playing surface 17. 53 is a rod or link the lower -end of which is pivoted to the movable or slidable sides of theball chute whilst its upper'end is provided with a 1011- gitudinal slot engaging 'thepin 35 on the disc 36. By this means when the shaft- 37 is r0- tated by the knob '38, the disc carrying the in 35 rotates and raises the rod 33 and with it the latform 32 with a ball resting 'thereon. During the preliminary upwardmove- 'ment of the platform 32, the vertically slidable walls of the; ball chute remainstatio'nary and when the ball resting on the platform 32 reaches a height to be engaged by the pivotal trigger 41 the pin on the disc 36 engages the upper end of the slot inthe link i 53 and during the further rotation of thesha-ft 37, the link 53'is also, raised and carries with it the columnfof balls, and the height through which this column of balls is raised is equal to or'sliEhtly greater than the 1 diameterof one of the alls. By this means,

' theuppermost ball of the pile is raised to such a position that it is able to rollonto the into one of. the goals andthence through the chutes now about to be descr bed.

playing surface. When the column of balls is again lowered, thetrigger ll supports the column of balls and theplatform 32 returns to its lowermost" sition ready to receive the ball previously e'livered "onto the playing surface, after the same has been mpelled Within each of the goals .17 is anaperture 42 leading to a chute 43,- and each of the chutes 43 extends towards the centre and beneath the playing surface and communicates with a common chute or passageway 44 (Flgs. 2 and 7 The lower end of the chute 44 is provided with a lateral extension 45 leading to the bottom of the tubular member which -is suitably apertured for that purpose, and when the ball is impelled into either goal, it rolls into the aperture 42 along the corresponding chutes 43, 44 and an d ultimatelv comes" to rest on the platform 32,

i the column of balls injthe tubular member-"3O being supported by the trigger or the like 41, so that when the column of balls isagain raised .by the platform 32, the ball last de-f livered through the return'chutes 43, 44 and '45 is raised and becomes the lowermost of the column of balls.

Towards the lower end of the chute 44-folthe return balls is a pivotal weighted lever 46 which is adapted to be rotated about its pivo't'by the assage of a ball through said chute, and this lever operates through a a coin releasing pin hereafter de scribed.

Located within the casing are two coin chutes I48 and 49 respectively each of which terminates in the front wall of the casing at -the coin slots '48 and '49, whlle one of said chutes leads to a return delivery chute 50 terminating at51 (Figs.,1 and 7) in-a receptacle pocket or the like into which one of thecoins; that is the coin inserted into the chute 48, is delivered at appropriate times. The other coin chute 49 leads to a container (not shown) located Within the interior of the casing, Towards the lower end of the coinchute 48 is slidably mounted a pin or rod 52 extending transversely into the coin nhute so as to retain a coin passingthrough said chute, and this pin is connected to one. end of the rod 47 which as previouslydei scribed'is connected to the pivotal lever 46,

'so that when a ball passes through the return ball chutes 43.44 and 45, this lever will be operated to withdraw said pin 52 from the coin chute 48 to allow the coi'n'to pass on and 'be delivered through thechute 50 to the receptacle.

The rotatable shaft 37 has-fixed thereto on "the inner side of the front wall; of the casing 15, a ratchet wheel 55, a disc 56, and

a brake disc 57. The ratchet wheel 56 (Fig.

8) has co-operating therewith a spring operated' pawl 58 located to prevent at all times rotation of the shaft 37 in one direction.

and the forward end, that is the leading end in the direction of rotationindica'ted by the arrow is adapted to form a tooth with which engages one end of a pivotal lever 59 mounted on.-a pivot 60. The opposite end of the lever 59 is pivotally connected to a rod 61 the lower end of which is pivoted to a piv- Iotal counterbalanced lever 62 rotating about a pivot carried by a bracket 63. One end of .the lever 62 extends into the coin chute 49 (see Figures 6, 7 and 10) in such a manner that thecominserted into said chute depresses said lever and rotates the same to a limitedextent about its axis but with-' out releasing the coin. This movement oftial rotation of-the lever 59 and consequently a depression of the rod 61, which causes a further partial rotation of the pivotal counterbalanced lever 62.

'Theodisc 56 has a portion of its periphery cut away toform a clrcumferentlal recess Mounted adjacent the pivotal lever 62 is an inclined stationary bracket 66 provided with an elongated vertically disposed 3101:

through which the weighted end of the lever 62extends and in which its is adapted to- Mounted slidably on this Inclined move. bracket is a sliding member 67 the lower endof which is weighted andthis sliding member is also providedwith a longitudinal slot through which the lever 62 extends. The lengthv of the slot is such that when the lever 62 is given its initial rotary movement, said sliding member 67 remains-Sta tionary, the and of the slot-therein acting as a stop to limit the rotary movement of the lever 62 and hence prevent the operatmg coin in the chute 49 being released. \Vhen however the shaft 37 has been rotated through a sufficient distance to bring the pin 64 into contact with the extension .65 of lever 59,- the downward movement {of the rod 61-causes.further rotary movement to be imparted to the counterbalanced .-lever 62 and duringthis secondary movement thev sliding member 67 is raised in its bracket,

and the coin in'the chute 49 is released and fall s downwardly into a receptacle herein before referred to provided for the coins. Extending into and through the coin chute 48 is one arm 70 of a weighted lever 70 mounted to pivot about a pin 71 carried by a bracket 72. This lever 70 is provided with three arms, one of which 7 0 extends into the coin chute 48 and carries an adjustable weight 7 3, the second arm 7O extends downwardly into close proximity to the lever 62, whilst the third arm has pivotally connected to the end thereof a shutter 74 mounted in guides at the base of the return ball chute 44, at the junction of the latter with the chute 43 leading to the platform 32. The arm 70 of the lever 70 which extends into the coin chute 48 is normally above a pivotal sector shaped member 75 supported on a pin 76, and this member acts under its own weight to normally prevent more than a limited rotation of the lever 70. 77 is a depending rod mounted on a pin 78 the lower end of which carries an extension 79 which, when said rod is swung in a vertical plane about its pivot 78 is adapted to contact with the sector shaped member 75 and move the same out of the path of the pivotal threearmed lever 70. The depending rod77 is adapted to be so moved by a pin 64 on a disc 56 which when the shaft 37 is rotated, moves said rod to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10 thus disengaging the member'7 5 from the lever 7 0 and allowing the latter to be rotated a further amount under the of the coin in the chute 48. The is suitably bent to clear the exten- 59. The dependmg arm weight pin 64 sion 65 of the lever 7 0 of the lever 70 normally extends into the path of movement of the lever 62 but when a coin is inserted into the coin chute 48 the lever is rotated about its pivot so that the arm 70 is moved outof the path of the lever 62 at the same time raising the shutter 74 and allowing a ball in the bottom of the chute 44 to pass into the chute 45 and onto the platform 32. On the coin being released by the lever 70, it falls downwardly and is retained by the pin 52 as previously described, while the pivotal'lever 7 O, returns to its normal position. When the shaft has been rotated through a suflieient distance to allow the depending rod 77 to return to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10, the sector shaped member 7 5 returns to its normal position. The weighted lever 62 which has also been moved to a position to release the coin in the chute 49 will also return to its normal position, and as this lever is connected by the rod 61 to the lever 59, the latter will, engage the end of the cut away portion of the disc 56 as soon as the shaft 37 has been rotated through a complete revolution.

The apparatus is inoperative unless a coin is inserted into each of the chutes 48 and 49. For instance if a coin is placed in the slot 48 and not in the slot 49, the coin will depress the arm 70 on to the sector plate 75 and since the lever 59 will prevent rotation-of the shaft 37, the depending rod 77 cannot be operated to disengage the sector shaped member 75 from the lever 70. If a coin is inserted into the chute 49 and not in the coin chute 48, the shaft 37 will be released by the pawl but cannot be rotated since the pivotal three armed lever 70 is in a position to prevent movement of the lever 62 and furthermore the shutter 74 at the base of the return ball chute 44 cannot open to allow a ball to pass through the chute 45 onto the platform 32, so that even if the platform 32 is raised, no ball will be delivered onto the playing surface.

' Referring now to disc 57, this disc is also cut away over a portion of its periphery, and the remaining portion is adapted to be engaged, when the shaft 37 is rotated, by one end of a pivotal lever 80 (see Fig. 10) which is under the control of a relatively powerful spring 81, and the periphery of the disc 57 engages the end of the lever 80 and rotates the same about its pivot against the tension of the 'spring,'so that too rapid rotation of the shaft 37 is prevented.

The whole mechanism is suitably enclosed in the casing 15 provided with suitable doors to enable access to the mechanism to be obtained. The shafts 27 by which the shutters 18 are operated to impel the ball over the playing surface are provided with a lateral lug or pin (Fig. 10) which cooperate with stops 86 to limit the oscillatory motion thereof.

The playing field is provided with figures 87 which represent linesmen and with a figure 88 representing the referee. The figure 88 may be mounted to be rotated by suitable means by one or more of the shafts 27.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described the apparatus as applied to a miniature football game, the apparatus may be constructed for other games such as hockey, cricket or like, suitable modifications, being made in the operating mechanism.

I claim:' c

1. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball, said machine being provided with a playing surface and means to project a ball on to said surface, two separate coin chutes, a series of playing balls mounted in pile formation beneath said playing surface, a rotatable shaft, a member beneath said pile of balls connected to said shaft by link mechanism, so as .to raise the pile of balls and deliver the uppermost ball on to the playing surface when said shaft is rotated, and means associated with said coin chutes whereby the rotatable shaft is'- released forv manual rotation on the passage of coins through said chutes.

2. A coin operated machine for playing gamesby means of a ball, said machine being provided with. a playing surfaceiand.

means to project a ball on to said surface, two coin'chutes, means associated with said coin chutes "for releasing the mechanism for delivering the ball onto the playing surface, means associated with one of said coin chutes for retaining the coin therein until the ball has been placed in a predetermined position, means for then releasing the coin,

and means operated by the release of said coin for rendering. the whole mechanism inoperative.

3; A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a'ball, said machine .being provided with a playing surface and means to project a ball on to said surface,

coin chutes for the reception of a plurality of coins, mechanism operated by the passage of the coins through said chutes for releasing the delivering mechanism for the ball,

means in said coin chutes for arresting the means to project a ball on to said surface,

two coin chutes, said ball projecting means being controlled by the insertion of a com in each chute, a ball tube beneath said playing surface, said tube having two slidable sides, a trigger carried by said slidable sides, means for raising said sides, a platform beneath said tube, a return ball chute leading from the playing surface to said platform, means for raising said platform, and operating means for first raising the platform and subsequently raising the ball tube.

5. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball, said machine being provided with a playing surface and means to project a ball on to said surface, two coin chutes, said ball projecting means being controlled by the insertion of a coin in each chute, a ball tube beneath said playing surface, saidtube having two slidable sides, a

trigger carried by said slidable sides, a link for raising said sides, a platform beneath said tube, a return ball chute leading from.

the playing surface to said platform, a rod for raising said platform, an operating shaft, and a crank pin associated with said shaft and engaging a. slot in said link and also engaging said fod;

61A 'coin operated machine-for playing games by means of a ball, said machine being provided with aplaying surface and means to project a ball on to said surface, a ball tube beneath said playing surface, a platform beneath said'tube, a return ball chute leading from the playing surface to said platform, means for raising said plat! form, two coin chutes, a shutter in said return ballchute, an operating lever for said shutter, a retaining device for said lever, and

means associated with one coin chute for releasing said retaining device, said operating' lever projecting into the other coin chute so as to be moved by a coin therein after said retaining means has been released.

7. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball, saidmaehine being provided with aa-playing surface and means to project a ball on to said surface, a ball tube beneath said playing surface, said tube having two slidable sides, a trigger carried by said slidable sides, a link for raising said sid.es,-a platform beneath said tube, a return ball chute leading from the playing surface to said platform, a rod for raisifilg said'platform, an operating shaft, a era pin associated with said shaft and engaging a slot in said link and also engaging sai rod, two coin chutes, a shutter in said return ball chute, an operating lever for said shutter, a retaining device for said lever, a stop for said operating shaft, means associated with one coin chute for releasing said stop, and. means associated with the operating shaft for releasing said retaining device, said operating lever roj ecting into the other com chute so as to be moved by a coin therein after said retaining meanshas been released.

8. A coin operated machine for playing games by means of a ball, said machine being provided with a playing: surface and means to project a ball on to said surface, a ball tube beneath said playing surface, a

'platfdrm beneath'said tube, a return ball chute leading from the playing surface tosaid platform, means for raising said platform, an operating shaft controlling said raising means, a stop for said operating shaft, a lever projecting into one coin chute and operable b a coin therein, said lever controlling sai stop, a stop for said lever,

and means associated with the other coin chute for releasing said lever stop to permit a further movement of said lever'to allow the coin to pass it.

. GEORGE RICHARD BARR.

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