US1652919A - Coin-controlled apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1927.

-H. WALKER COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Nov. 27, 1925 @Wome- H. WALKER COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, -1,925 3 Sheets-Sheet? I 1,652,919 H. WALKER COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Filed Nov. 27. 1925 I to said blade. The ratchet wheel is rotated Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. V

HARRY WALKER, OF OIL CITY, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS- SIGNMEN TS, TO NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF OIL CITY, LOUISIANA, A CORPORATION DELAWARE.

COIN -CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Application filed November 27, 1925. Serial No. 71,816.

This invention-relates to an improved coin controlled'apparatus which is especially, although not necessarily, designed for use in association with electric player pianos, sound reproducing machines, or other similar coin actuated musical instruments.

My principal aim is to generally improve upon structures of this character by providing one possessing substantially all ofthe features of known marketed and patented structures, of this class, together with a novel arrangement of details and parts serving to produce a construction which is a decided improvement upon such structures.

Briefly, the invention comprises a comparatively small casing forming a housing for an electric switch which is adapted to start and stop an electric motor at predetermined intervals. ablyv of the knife type and the pivoted blade thereof is actuated by a ratchet wheel which is rotatably mounted in the casing adjacent in a forward direction by a spring. The wheel is returned, however, through the medium of a novel intermittently operable resetting mechanism. A pivoted spring held dog serves to hold the wheelstationary.

In addition to these parts there is a highlypractical and exceptionally novel-multiple coin actuating device associated with the ratchet wheel in a manner for controlling the degree of forward movement of this wheel, this device being constructed in a manner to accommodate a plurality of different denominations of coins, and the structure being such that it serves to limit the movement of the ratchet wheel so that it is only allowed to travel a distance propor tionate to the aggregate value of the coins utilized.

I am aware of the fact that it is not new in a structure of this class to provide a con- In the improved arrangement herein specilically described, the construction is such "quarter. r This switch is prefer-- that it allows a reasonable number of different denommations of coins to be utilized in succession, and permits the coins to be inthe aggregate value ofthe coins inserted,

regardless of the order of insertion of the coins. I provide, therefore a structure,

which permits the' playing of a single selection for a single nickel,'two selections for a dime, and if desired, six selectlons for a The foregoing is accomplished, as before intimated, by a novel arrangement of details wherein the details themselves are of new construction to insure the provision of a practical, positive, and highly successful apparatus.

The various other features and advantages derived from the new. construction,

will become apparent from the following description and drawings. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application andvin which llke numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:-

Figure 1 1s a side view 'ofthe casing with the cover plate removed as showin the internal structure, the parts being in t eir-normal positions with the electric switch shown open. i

Fig. 2 'is a horizontal section taken approx mately upon the plane of the line 2-2 of Flg. 1, looking downwardly.

Fig. .3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing one of the parts of the multiple coin controlled device in action.

Fig. 4 is a view very much like Fig. 3 with the portion of the ratchetwheel broken away,

with thepart of the coin controlled device trip ed and one ofthe details thereof in a furt er stage'in its operation.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are similar views of details of the coin controlled device.

Fig. 8 is a reverse side view of the structure shown in Fig, 7. i i

Fi 9 is a vertical section taken approximate y upon the plane of the line 9 -'9- of Fig. 10 is a view in section and elevation of the spring rotated ratchet wheel. i

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a port on of one ofthe arms of the coin control device,

I and commodate' a removable closing plate (not shown). As before indicated, there is a special ratchet wheel 2 rotatably mounted in this casing at a predetermined point. Although this ratchet wheel can be constructed otherwise,'it is preferably inthe form of a metal stamping (see Fig. 10), including a disk. having right angularly extending peripheral teeth 3. These teeth are preferably bent to extend somewhat radially with respect to the axis of rotation. Moreover, the

teeth are comparatively wide in order to serve a purpose to be hereinafter described. Removably held against the inner side of the disk of the ratchet wheel is a metal cup 4 in which a flat spring 5 is housed. The spring is anchored upon the'hub and diskas shown in Fig. lso that it tends to normally rotate the ratchet wheel in a direction from right to left. As plainly evident from Figs.

2'and 9, the disk of the wheel is provided with an outstanding pin 6. This pin is adapted to engage the beveled lower endof a depending part 7 on a, pivotally mounted switch blade 8. As before indicated, thisblade cooperates with an appropriate socket 9, which, together with the blade forms a.

substantially conventional knife switch. Both parts 8 and 9 are formed with binding posts 10 and 11 with which electricwires (not shown) are adapted to be connected. These wires are included in a motor circuit. As the device is preferably used in association with an electric player piano, it will be seen that this motor is the one which serves to operate the recording paper roll. To those .skilled in the art. it is well known that the recordroll travels over a common tracker bar and appropriate i'neansis provided on the roll and bar to control the number of selecftions to be played.

Hence. the motor is intermittently operated thru the action of the switch'and the switch'is operated according to the amount of money deposited in the apparatus.

Normally, the ratchet wheel is in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the pin engaged with the part 7, thus holding the switch 12 open. A coiled spring 13 controls the switch when it is released. In close cooperative re-' 'fraud preventing device,

lation with the ratchet wheel is a retaining pawl 14. Thisis of the construction plainly shown in Fig. 12. 1 Referring to Fig. 12 it will be seen that it comprises a strip having an especially constructed end portion 15 pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 16. The strip is disposed vertically, and is provided with'a tooth 17 and a stop 18. A spring 19 is connected with the pawl and anchored at a suitable place to normally move the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. I As shown more plainlyin Fig. 1, the resetting mechanism for returning the ratchet wheel in a direction from left to right to its normal position, comprises a pneumatic in the form of a conventional bellows 20 arranged in the casing and carrying an upstanding bracket 21. This bracket in turn, is provided with a horizontally disposed arm .22 having its free end portion fashioned to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. A suitable spring 28 is connected with the parts -21 and 22 and a stop pin 24 is also provided. An air pipe 25 is connected to the neumatic. It is obviousithat when suction is produced through the pipe 25, the bellows is collapsed moving the upper hinged leaf downwardly and acting to project the arm 22 in a manner to engage it with the ratchet teeth and to impart a rotary'thrust to the ratchet wheel. In connection with this reset mechanism, it should be known that the pneumatic device is not an essential feature.

Instead, a manually; controlled device of suitable desi nmay e utilized.

Disposed inside of the casing adjacent the top are three coin chutes 26, 27 and 28. The coins are adapted to gravitate downwardly through the chutes and into the passageway 29, from where they enter a suitable deposit box, (not shown). It will be noted that the chutes are of different sizes to accommodate. different. sized coins. In the present instance, I prefer to utilize a nickel, a dime, and quarter as the coin actuating means. In this connection. I might state that a special i'rand preventing entrance or depository is used in association with the structure herein shown and described, and this serves to assort and deliver the coins to the proper chute. This iowever, constitutes .no art of the present invention, but is made t e subject matter of a eo-pending application Serial No. 71.815.filed November 29, 1925. As previously indicated. -anioutstanding feature of the present structure is a novel multiple coin controlled device which serves to control the action of the ratchet wheel. Broadly, this device is constructed in a manner to gi-zcommodate a plurality of different denominations of coins, and it embodies a plurality of separate parts which are mounted for indeso that when a plurality of coins. are inserted in succession into the chute, they will gravitate down through the chute, and

actuate these parts in quick succession to allow the ratchetwheel to travel a distance which is ,measured according to the total value of all of the coins inserted. Specifically, the device comprises three substantially duplicate arms indicated by the reference characters 30, 31,.and 32 respectively. These arms are pivoted intermediate their ends upon the pivot pin 33 and the left hand ends of the arms are directed upwardly on an arcuate line and terminate in heads. Also extending upwardly into the depression for the arms are pawl releasing extensions 34.

- The end portions of the arm indicated at 35 terminate in what may be designated as coin receiving pockets 36. All of the pockets .are of duplicate design. Thesepockets terminate directly beneath the several coin chutes and operate in guideways formed in the guide member 37 (see Fig. 1). Referring now to the opposite end of the arms, it will be seen that these operate in slots formed in an especial inclined guide bracket indicated generally at 38. Also, mounted on the headed ends of the arm are separate and independent checks 39, 40 and 41, (see Figs. 5, 6 and*7). These checks are somewhat in the form of toothed segments or disks which are pivotally mounted on the headed arm as shown. Each one is provided with an appropriate stop 42. The check carried by the-arm 30 is provided with one tooth, the check 40 is provided with two teeth, and the remaining check 41 is provided with six teeth. In this connection it will be noticedthat each one of the checks includes a tooth which actually meshes with, the teeth of the ratchet wheel during the bperation of the device, and also ineludes what may be designated as an imitation tooth. This also meshes with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, but its function is to literally kick the check over to a position to permit it to be readily released from the ratchet wheel to drop, by gravity, down to normal ineffective position. In Fig. 3, this relationship of parts is shown, and in Fig. 4, we see the ratchet wheel engaged with the imitationtooth on the check 39 as it just about to become disengaged from the'ratchet wheel. The first named check 39 cooper-' from the ratchet wheel.' In fact, these twochecks are themselves'weighted so that when not in operation, they assume the position in Figs. 5 and 6. As the check 41 has a greater distance to rotate in its action, grav- 'ity alone is not depended upon and a speengaged with the depending part7 and that the other parts of the device are in the posi tion shown, it will be seen that in order to close the switch, it is necessary for the ratchet wheel to turn in a direction from right to left to disengage the pin 6 from the part 7. This will allow the'spring 13 to pull the.

switch arm downwardly to engage it with .the socket 9. Should it be desired to permit the playing of a single selection on a into the coin receiving pocket 36 carried by the arm 30. The impact and weight of the nickel will swing, this arm about the pivot 23 and will bring the check segment 39 into engagement with an adjacent tooth on the ratchet wheel. -At the .same time, that the,

check is so engaged with the ratchet wheel, the extension 34 carried by this arm will engage'the stop-18 on the retaining pawl 14, thus simultaneously disengaging the pawl .for the time being. t y

With the parts in this relation, the action of the spring for rotating the ratchet wheel will serve to turn thetoothed rotatable segment 39 in a direction from right to left. This segment, owing to the stop 42, is only allowed to swing or rotate a very slight. distance, With this arrangement, it will be seen that the ratchet wheel will be limited in its movement so that it rotates a single step or a distance of one tooth. Now, in order that the switch may be again opened after the single selection has been played, it will be necessary that the resetting mechanism come into play, This is done by the vac- 'uum created in the pneumatic bellows 20.

switch up and opens the switch 10. As the check, 40 isprovided with two teeth instead of a single tooth like check 39, it will be: seen that this. contrivance moves substan-' tially twice as far as the check 39. Ohviously, then, if a dime is dropped into the chute 27, the ratchet wheel will, be allowed to travel two steps or twov teeth and it I will thereby require two operations of the intermittent reset mechanism to return the ratchet wheel. In this way, two selections may be had for a dime. The remaining check is' formed with six teeth so that by inserting a quarter into the remaining chute p and operating the arm 32, and its respective segment or check, the ratchet wheel will be allowed to travel six steps, thereby giving six selections for a quarter. Bymultiplying this structure, coins of additional denominations might be accommodated, but it is believed that the three coins mentioned will in operation, foras each coin is dropped .in the quarter slot.

through its respective chute, it operates on the part of the multiple coin support device to allow the ratchet to travel a distance proportionate to the value of that particular coin. The outstanding advantage of the arrangement is that it is not necessary to operate the reset mechanism after insertion of a single coin. Instead, one may insert a nickel in the nickel slot, a dime in the dime slot in quick succession, and a quarter Therefore, instead of obtainin only six selections, nine selections will be played. Attention is directed to the fact that with the mechanism described, the operation is positive and only a single impact-is required to operate each part of the coin controlled device. It is not necessary to insert coins in any orderly fashion according to their denominations.

The quarter might be dropped first, the dime" second, and thenickel third, or in any order.

At the same time the proper number of selections will be automatically played according to the aggregate amount of money insertedQ Not only this, under the arrange ment specified, the ratchet Wheel travels substantiall and continuously in the direction from right to left. It travels one tooth for a nickel, two teeth for a dime, and six teeth for a quarter. Thus, instead of the switch continuously opening and closing such as is the ease with known devices of this kind; the switch opens when the first nickel is inserted and stays open until all of the money'has been utilized in playing of proper number of selections.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will no doubt be plain to those skilled in the art to which the inven-' tion relates. Moreover the accuracy and ;.-ract1cability of a structure of this kind will be appreciated by such persons, In yiew Havingthus described the invention, what I claim as new is': r

1. In-al device of the class des'cribed,'1n combination, a spring rotated ratchet-wheel adapted to rotate in a forward direction, a

holding dog'for said wheel, an electric circuit closing switch, means carried by the j mined intervals, an intermittently operated resetting mechanism for returning the ratchet-wheel to a normal position at a 'predetermined time, and a multiple coin actuated device for controlling the degree of forward movement of the ratchet wheel, said device being constructed in a manner .to accommodate and receive a plurality of different denominations of coins in succession, whereby said ratchet wheel is allowed to turn almost continuously a distance proportionate to the aggregate value of coins cuit closing switch, means carried by the wheel for operating the-switch at predetermined intervals, an intermittently operated resetting mechanism for returning the ratchet-Wheel to a normal position at a predetermined time, and a multiple coin actuated device for controlling the degree of forward movement of the ratchet wheel, said device being constructed in a manner to accommodate and receive a plurality of difi'erent denominations of coins in succession, said device embodying a plurality of separate parts mounted for independent operation in quick succession, and each part limiting the movement of the ratchet wheel to a predetermined distance of travel, whereb said ratchet .wheel is allowed to turn ahnost continuously a distance proportionate to the aggregate value of coins utilized.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a spring rotated ratchet wheel adapted torotate in a forward direction, a retaining dogfor said wheel, an electric circuit closing switch, means carried by the wheel for operating the switch at predetermined intervals, an intermittently operated resetting mechanism for returning the ratchet wheel in a step-by-step manner to a normal position at a predetermined time, and a multiple coin actuated device for controlling the degree of forward movement of the ratchet wheel, said device being provided with a plurality of independent coin chutes for predetermined sizes of coins, and also including a plurality of separate parts mounted for independent operation in quick succession, said parts cooperating with said chutes and with said ratchet wheel for limiting the rotation of the latter a redetermined distance upon operation of eac part, wherewheel for operating the switch at predetercoins, a knife-switch in said casing, a rotatably mounted ratchet wheel mounted in the casin adjacent the swingable blade of. the

,switc i, said wheel being provided with a pin for opening said switch, means for rotating. the ratchet wheel n a forward dlrection. a

retainingpawl cooperable with the wheel for holding it in a set position, an intermittently operable resetting mechanism for returning the ratchet wheel to a normal position, and a plurality of coin actuated members pivotally mounted in the casing adjacent said ratchet wheel for independent operation,

said members being, rovided with coin re ceiving seats located 1n alignment with said chutes, and being further provided with means cooperable with the ratchet wheel for limiting the degree of forward rotation thereof.

5. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a casing, a plurality of coin ing chutes of various sizes located in said casing, an, electric switch in the casing, a rotatably mounted ratchet wheel including a spring for rotating it in a forward direction, a spring pressed pawl cooperable with the ratchet wheel for maintaining it normally stationary, an intermittently operable resetting mechanism for returning the ratchet wheel in a step-by-step manner to a normal switch opening position, and a multiple coin actuated device in said casing, said device comprising a plurality of arms pivotally mounted between their ends in said casing, the arms being formed at one end with coin receiving pockets located in alignment with said chutes, beingprovided at their opposite ends with means cooperable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel for limiting the degree of rotation of thelatter in a forward direction, and being provided between their ends with release means cooperable with said 6. In a structure of the class described, a special ratchet-wheel for use'in association with a check controlled apparatus of the kind specified, said ratchet wheel comprising a hub portion constructed to formulate a .spring housing, and a toothed whee said pawl being provided with an angular extension, a pivotally mounted arm, a,

v v I awl cooperable with the'teeth of the pivotally mounted check carried by one end of the arm and cooperable with the teeth of: the ratchet, a coin pocket on the opposite end of the arm, and a'release extension carried by the intermediate portion of the arm and cooperable with the aforesaid extension.

8. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a rotatably mounted ratchet; wheel provided with right angularly extending comparatively long teeth, a plurality of: pivotally mounted arms disposed in side-by-v side relation adjacent said ratchet wheel, and

check elements carried by corresponding ends 'of the arms, and capable of being brought into operative engagement with the teeth of the ratchet Wheel.

9. In a structure'of the class described, a multiple coin actuated-device adapted for cooperation with a single toothed ratchet wheel, said device embodying an arm pivotally mounted between its ends, a toothed segnient on one end of the arm cooperable with the teeth of the ratchet, a coin pocket on the opposite end of the arm, and an upstanding releasing extension on the intermediate portion of the arm.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing, a knife switch in the casing, a rotatably mounted ratchet Wheel inthe casing located adjacent said switchand provided with a switch controllingpin, a spring cooperable with the ratchet wheel for rotating it in one direction, a pivotally mounted spring pressed pawl cooperablewith the ratchet wheel for. hol ing it in a set position.

a plurality of different sized chutes located adjacent the pawl, a resetting mechanism separate and'independent from the pawl and cooperable with the latter, and a multiple coin actuated device cooperable with the ratchet wheel for limiting the degree of movement in one direction and for simultaneously disengaging said pawl.

11. In a coin controlled apparatus of the character designed, a make and break device adapted to control an electric circuit, an element movable step by step in opposite directions to and from a predetermined position, said element bein normally positioned to break the circuits in said predetermined position, meansv for automatically moving said element in one of said directions, co n tripped means for checking the element 1n said one direction, said last means being constructed to accommodate a plurality of differentdenominations of coins in succession, .whereby said element 1s allowed to move in said one direction a distance proportionate to the aggregate value of coins utilized, and means forreturnmg sa1d element to circuit breaking position after a predetermined uninterrupted period of circuit act1v1ty.-

. 12. In a coin controlled apparatus of the character, defined, a make and break device adapted to control an electric circuit, an 'elellll ment movable step-by-step in opposite directions to and from circuit closing position, a member carried by said element and cooperable with said make and break'device to actuate the latter to open the circuit in a predetermined position beyond said circuit closing position, said element being normally positioned to break the circuit in said predetermined position, means for automatically moving said element in one of said directions, coin tripped means for checking the movement of the element in said one direction, said coin tripping means embodying. a plurality of separate coin actuated parts constructed in a manner toreceive a plurality of difl'erent de-.

nominations of coins in succession in order to. allow said element to move substantially 'uninterruptedly in said one direction a distance proportionate to the aggregate value of coins utilized. and mechanism for-returning said element in a step by step manner to said predetermined position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY WALKER.

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