US1880484A - Coin-controlled exhibition apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Gate 4;, 1932. 1.. c. RATHBUN COIN CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS Filed March 27,. 1951 :5 SheQtS-Sheet Fig, 4?.

Snventor Louis Cifiazfhun,

Oct. 4, 1932. L... c. RATHBUN 1,330,484

COIN CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1931 (5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Louis C.Ra7z5un,

| c. RATHBUN 1,880,484

COIN CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Get. 4, 1932.

Filed March 2'7, 1951 INVENTOR Lama's (lfia ZzEzZn,

Bif L ATT NEY

Patented Get. t, 13 32 we see tease LOUIS c. RATIEIBUN, or onriwnlmiowe COIN-CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS;

Application filed March 7, 1931. Serial n senses.

objects or figures in rotation or at any determined selection by mechanism under the initial control of the operator.

Another ob ect of my improvements 1s to include in the mechanism electro-ma netical ly actuated devices and a timer for the use thereof, with object illuminating means, all in a suitable-circuit with a source of electrical current, and a switch for initiating the control thereof for the use of the operator.

Another object of my improvements is to provide releasable interlocking devices for controlling the rotary object-displaying means, and actuated by an electro-magnet within the train of said electro-magnetically actuated devices.

I have accomplished these objects in a successful reduction of this invention to practice, by the means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the cabinet inclosing my apparatus, with a portion broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cabinet, showing the starter device and coin chute face plate. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, on a larger scale, of the inclined front part of the glazed chamber containing the apparatus, and showing the selector dial with the rotatable manually operable hand-wheel or disk therefor, part of the glazing of the chamber in the rear being broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the elements shown in Fig. 3 with the operatively connected mechanism associated therewith, including the display-disk gearing, and the optical device with the means for illuminating the spec imen under examination. Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the under face of the displaydisk with its gearing, and the electro-magnetically controlled locking device for said disk. Fig. dis a like detail of the locking means only, in another relative position to that shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the mounting of the locking roller on thebell-crank lever of said locking means.

My invention is particularly designed and appropriated for use as a coin-controlled apparatus including a display element having oa anumber ofjsmall objects of different kinds removably, mounted thereon and of an interesting character, and the apparatus also inchides a magnifying eye-piece or microscope positioned to afford magnified views ofsaid 60.

objects intur'n assaid display element is moved to properly position a selected one of said objects into the field of sight of the magnifier. There is also included means whereby the observer may initiate a train of mechanical, movements in coordination, in the selecting of such an object for observation as magnified, and. then by deposition ofa coin or other body may cause the actuation of a timer adapted tooperate an electricalmaka. and-break device in' a circuit including an electromagnet and a locking device controlled thereby to lock the display element at periodicintervals,or unlock the same.

The principal mechanisms of this inven- 7n tion are inclosed in a cabinet 1 having superposed compar tments,of which the upper one is separated from thelower by a horizontal partition 4, and is glazed at top, front and sides, to permit a view'of the contained mechanism, the upper part of the glazed top 2 being preferably inclined forwardly and downwardly to the vertical front glazing 3. Thefront wall of the cabinet is apertured to receive a boxed timer 5, which may be of any desired type, containing clock-controlled means for making and breaking an electrical circuit, for instance, derived from an electric lighting equipment and socket not shown.

The boxing or front part 7' of the timer is shaped with a deposit slot 8 and interior 1 chute to receive and'carry a coin into the timer to engage a movable element of the timer in causing a starting of the clock and in making a switch closing in said circuit to energize an electromagnet 37 with which conductors 9 and 10 are to be parts of the circuit and which, conductors are-also carried to the terminals ofa, lamp 35 in a box or case 33 having a Wall aperture 34 directed 100 ion 30 in mesh with toward a marginal part of the rotary display disk 19 to be alined with one of the circular openings 20 therein. However, nothlng 1s claimed herein specifically as to the tlmer mechanism itself.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the marginally apertured rotary disk 19 is mounted upon a shaft 15 within the glazed compartment of the housing and in a bearing member 26 at its lower end, its upper end traversing the glazing 2 and an elliptical face-plate 12, mounted upon the outer face of said glazing and having a depressed seat thereon to receive a circular dial 13 rigidly, the outer termination of the shaft 15 above the dial having fixed thereon a short index 14 to rotate in either of opposite directions to ndicate numerals around the dial. Upon said shaft 15 immediately below the rotary disk-19 is secured a relatively large spur gear 24, and

beneath the latter on said shaft is also secured a smaller spur gear 25, the latter having the same number of teeth as the number of the numerals displayed on sa d dial. A bracket member 27 on the bearlng body 26 carries two step-bearings 28 and 32, the bearing 28 seating the lower end of a rotary shaft 18 on which is secured a relatively small p nan idler gear 31 wh1ch latter is in mesh with the large gear 24. The short shaft of the idler gear 31 1s stepped in the bearing 32. The numeral 29 denotes a pair of contacting friction disks, one secured on the step-bearing 28, and the other on the shaft 18, and serveto produce some dragging resistance to rotation of the shaft 18, the upper part of which traverses an aperture in the glazing 2 and the plate 12 and is supplied with a circular terminal knob 17 for manual operation.

The rotary disk 19 has as many circular marginal holes in an annular concentrlc arrangement thereon as the number of the numerals on said dial 13. As shown 1n said Fig. 4, paired object- glasses 21 and 22 may be removably mounted over each hole 20 and secured by clips 23. The under glass 21 may have any small object to be magnified mounted thereon beneath the cover glass 22. The numeral 16 denotes a microscope of a simple character mounted in registering apertures of the face-plate 12 and the glazing 2 so as to be alined with any of the holes 20 in the disk 19 in turn as the latter is rotated to effect such an alinement. Beneath the disk 19 and having its opening 34 positioned to also aline with any of the holes 20 in the disk 19 in the same way, is a small boxed lamp 33, whose lamp 35 is in circuit with the conductors 9 and 10.

Referring to said Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, 1

have shown therein an electromagnetically controlled locking device for the display disk 19. This device includes an electromagnet 37 in series circuit by means of the conductors 9 and 10 with said lamp 35 and with the timer 5. On the casing of the electromagnet is a bracket 38 upon which is pivoted at 39 the angle of a bell-crank lever having members 40 and 43 at approximately a right angle to each other, the member 40 having an anti-friction roller 41 at its end mounted on a pintle 53 and positioned to be held in elastically contacting engagement with the teeth of the gear wheel 25, under traction of a spring 42 connected to said member, and which spring may be anchored to the bearing 26 adjacent thereto. An armature arm 52 has its rectangular boss opposite the magnet end, and the arm is pivoted at 51 on a fixed arm on the magnet casing. The arm 52 has a finger part 50 adapted to be reecived into a rectangular notch 44 in the outer end part of the member 43 of the bell-crank lever at times, engagingly. Thearm 52 also has near its pivot and extending oppositely from the electromagnet a short apertured projection 49. An arm 46 has one end pivoted at 45 to the end of the member 43 and its free end traverses the aperture in the projection 49 loosely, the arm 46 having an annular flange spaced from its termination, and a small relatively weak coiled spring 48 is mounted on the arm 46 between said flange and the projection 49.

0pe1at2'0n.-This invention is designed to be placed in some place frequented by the public, such as a hotel lobby, and to be accompanied by a printed and illustrated prospectus displayed thereon or near by, explaining the apparatus generally, and the character of the objects displayed therein for examination singly, or in any desired rotation. A person or operator may drop a coin of designated value in the chute mouth 8 of the timer 7, after first turning the knob 17 to, by means of the above described gearing, rotate the display disk 19 to locate one of the objects between the object glasses 21 and 22 in alinement with the lamp 35, this adjustment being shown by the index 14 on the disk-shaft 15 pointing then to a numeral on the dial 13 which relates to the particular object. It will be understood that the disk 19 is initially in unlocked condition.

Fig. 6 shows the locking means in unlocked condition, with the roller 41 held just out of engagement with teeth of the gear wheel 25 because of the engagement of the finger 50 of the armature 52 with the notch 44 of the bell- crank lever 40 and 43. The disk 19 .is thus freely rotatable by the use of the knob 17 and said gearing by the observer. The microscope 16 will be alined with the object- glasses 21 and 22 as selected by the observer and when he has appropriately rotated the disk 19 therefor. However, it will be useless for the observer to look through the microscope at the object beneath, for the latter is yet unlighted and cannot be distinctly seen.

coin-controlled actuation.

open, the spring 42 stresses the incense,

In order 'for'him. to see the selected object;

servation, for instance one minute before operating to open the circuit, and also so that the closing of the circuit through the elec tromagnet in energizing it, may attract the armature 52 to the contact with it shownin Fig. 5,,wherein the shifting armature with its projection 49 acts upon the spring 48 and arm 46 to trip the member43 to disengage its notch 44 from the finger. 50. Traction o1 the stronger spring 42 then returns the member 40 to engage the roller 41 with teeth of the gear 25 as in Fig. 5, so that the said gear and the disk 19 are locked against rotation for the space of one minute of permitted observation of the selected object. The clock acting at the end of the minute by suitable means of a make-and-break kind to open the circuit, the electroniagnet 37 becomes deenergized, so that the smaller spring 48 which is always under some tension, thrusts upon the projection 49 rocking the armature away from the pole of the magnet and the finger 50 reengages the notch 44 in the bell-crank lever member 43, holding the roller out of engagement with the teeth of gear 25. The lamp on opening of the circuit is simultaneously extinguished, so that the apparatus is re stored to its first condition, ready for another The coin passes through the timer after its operating contact, and into a receptacle 11 below.

It should be noted, that the timer, electromagnet and the lamp are in series circuit -with an alternating electric current, as a lighting circuit including the usual plugged in conductors. Such a circuit is found everywhere in electric lighting, so that it is most convenient for my apparatus. However, the

alternating current being intermittent in character, when the circuit is closed through the electromagnet 3?, the released armature 52 being attracted toward the armature pole, is alternately brought into contact therewith and withdrawn rapidly which creates a disagreeable continuous buzz or hum. To revent this noise, I have provided the above described train of elements consisting of the bell-crank lever 43, its spring connection 42, the engaging the projection 49 on the arm 50. si hen this train of elements is in position relatively to the gear 25 and the electromagnet- 37 as shown in Fig. 6, with the circuit lighter spring 48, the la ter being always under light tension, and the train is held with the armature held by its finger engaged with the notch 44 in the lever member 43, and thus the armature is locked out of contact with the arm 46 with light spring 48 thereon pole of'the elcctromagnet, while the lever arm 40 l1as its end roller 41 out of engagement with the teeth of the gear 25. The observer can then initially rotate the disk 19 to place the selected object to be viewed under the. magnifier. The observer having then dropped a coin into the chute 8, the timer is started, closing simultaneously the series circuit through the lamp 35, and the electromagnet. The latter attracts the armature, which attraction together with the stress of the compressedspring 48, overcomes the spring 42, so the lever 4043 isrocked to engage its roller 41 with the gear 25, and as the lever arm 43', rocks upwardly, the finger 50 is allowed to swing away from-the electromagnet and into engagement with the notch 44 aided by the reacting spring48, so at-the first the armature is thus locked-when the gear 25 is locked, andrthe disk is-held locked during the predetermined period of-observation of the obect,-.asshown in Fig. 5. Atthe'expira tion of this period, the timer opens the circuit, so that the roller is disengaged fromthe gear 25,- and the apparatus cleared for another action by coin deposit.

Having, described my invention, what" I claim as new, and" desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is w V 1. In apparatus of the character described, embodying a rotatable-carriertor a pluralityof objects displayed upon it concentrically, amagnifier fixedly positioned for observation" of selected ones of said objects, manually operable mechanism forrotating thecarrier toselectively place any of said objects forfobe servation by use of the magnifier, an electric lamp, ,a coin. controlled timer, an electrical circuit containing saidlamp and timer inseries thetimer being adapted to make andbreakthe circuit atdetermined time intervals, and means for initiating actuation of the timer, consistingof the combination with the timer and the carrier rotating mechanism, of means electrically controlled by said timer, including coacting resiliently controlled elements, adapted to lock said carrier during the said predetermined period of observation of an object and to unlock the carrierat the termination of said period. 7

, 2. In apparatus of the character described, embodying. a carrier movable to exhibit selectively objects mountedthereon, a magnifier positioned to viewany of such objects selected, illuminating means for-the selectedobject, analternating electrical circuit in-- cludingsaid illuminating means, a make and breakdevice in said circuit, the combination of an electromagnet in said circuit, an armature movably supportedto be attracted by the electromagnet core when said circuit is closed, a lockingdevice associated with said armature, means-for moving said carrier said locking device being composed of a train of movable elements intermediate said armature and the means for moving said carrier including a pair of differentially powered springs interlinked separately with others of said elements and coacting with the armature, said train of elements and springs coacting to eliminate noisy vibrations of the armature while the circuit is closed due to the intermittent cycles of said circuit, and said train also operating to lock the carrier during a predetermined time period ofobservation. 3., In an apparatus of the class described, embodying a movable carrier and a coin-controlled timer in an alternating electrical circuit, the combination of an electromagnet in said circuit, a movable armature for said electromagnet, coacting devices operatively associated movably with said armature and including a braking element releasably engageable with said carrier, and differentially powered oppositely acting resilient means, one connected with said braking element, and the other loosely engaged between a part of I said armature and an intermediate one of said coacting devices.

4:, In an apparatus of the class described, embodying a rotatable carrierhaving a gearwheel fixed thereon coaxially, the combination with an alternating electrical circuit containing a coin-controlledmake-and-break device and an electromagnet, including releasable braking means for said gear-wheel in a train of movable elements connected to the I armature of the electromagnet, said train con-' sisting of a pivoted swinging armature having projections spaced angularly apart, one being terminally apertured the other serving as a detent finger, a bell-crank lever pivoted at its medial angle and having a terminal roller to engage teeth of said gear-wheel on one arm and resilient means connected to said arm tending to yieldingly retain said roller in such engagement, the other arm of said'leverhaving a recessed seat for engagement at times by said detent finger of the armature, an arm pivoted at one end to the termination of said recessed arm and having spaced from its other end a stop collar, this end of the swinging arm loosely traversing the aperture in the other arm of the armature, and a coiled spring compressibly loosely mounted between the last-mentioned arm and the collar on the said swinging arm, whereby buzzing vibrations of the armature caused by the alternating current in the electromagnet are dampened and substantially prevented, the resilient means connected to the braking arm of the bell-crank lever being more powerful than the power of the said coiled spring.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, embodying a movable carrier having a coaxial gear-wheel fiXed thereon, the combination with a coin-controlled timer, an alternating electrical circuit controlled by said:

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