US1934679A - Coin controlled device - Google Patents

Description

1933- A. R. BONORDEN COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1951 lA/l/t/vrok- A. R.BO/VORDEN 5y ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 14, 1933 assists ereics I -1,934,e7 9 V ooINeoN'raoLpEnnEwo AllcnR. Bonordeni Fanwood; N. L, assignor to American Telephone and Telegraph Company,

a corporation of Newjl crlz Application January 15, 1931. Serial n scsssi 10 Claims; '-(o1. 194-16)! amount of money which the calling party has de-' posited by sending signals, usually audible, to the central office to apprise an operator ofthe number of coins deposited and the denomination'of each coin. It is also old to send-impulses of current from the substation to establish a record at the central ofiice which may be interpreted by an operator to determine'the amount of moneydeposited. According to the present invention, the substation coin mechanism is so constructed that tests may be'made from the central oflice' without the assistance of an operatorto determine the amount of any one of a pluralityof sums thatmay-have been deposited by the calling party. This is accomplished by means of a device having two coinoperated contacts, one for calls of one value; such as five-cent calls, andanother for calls of another.

3 value, such as ten-cent calls. These contacts ar'e so arranged with respect to the other parts of the device that when a five-cent piece is deposited it causes the closure of the five-cent contacts, and when a ten-cent piece is deposited it causes the closure of the ten-cent coin contacts. Should,

however, the calling party deposit two 'five-cent pieces in order'to make a ten-cent 'ca1l,'the second piece so deposited will cause the closure or the ten-cent coin contact. Thus a ten-cent call 40 may be made either with a single ten-cent' piece or with two five-cent pieces.

In the drawing accompanying thisspecification, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the essential parts of a coin-controlled mechanism involving the ieatures'of this invention. Figs. 2, 3, a, and 5 are details of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating the application of the coin mechanism to a telephone line. 1 5.0 The present invention is particularly applicable to automatic telephone systems-iin-which it is de sirablefor the calling party at acoin station to obtain calls into both five-cent and ten-cent zones by theuse of the impulse dial and without any 2 assistance onthe part of the central-officeioperator; In. order to determine whether the calling party has deposited a coin,.and if so, whether it is of adenominationsufficientto entitle him'to obtainthe connection for which'he has dialed, the central office'is equipped with registering mechanism 9 for registering the designation of the called line in response to the impulses transmitted by the calling party'and also with testing devices for making a test of the; calling line and for comparing the results of'the test with the registered designation.

can automatic telephone system of the general character referred to is illustrated in the Henry,

Patent No. 1,575,336 of March 2, 1926, in the Kopp Patent No. 1,589A02 of June 22, 1926, and in the Steam et al; Patent No. 1,395,977 of Novemher 1, 1921. Morelspecificallya system employing a central office testing arrangement suitable for cooperation with a coin mechanism of the type,

. disclosed herein isshown and described in the copending application of H. M. Bascom, Serial No. 508,980 filed January. 15, 1931.

-The coin-operated mechanism disclosed herein is in general, of the same type as those shown in the patents to Forsberg No. 1,043,219 of No-; 0 vember 5; 19l2and No. 1,117,485 or" November 17, 1914. i. I Since a. calling party vis'perrnitted to make calls into two differentzones, such as a five-cent; zone and at'en-cent zone; without the assistance 8 of an operatonit becomes desirable to so arrange the coin "mechanism thatthe testing equipment. will be able "not only to distinguish between'a five-cent coin and a ten-cent 'coin, but will also be able to recognize the deposit of two five-cent I pieces in payment for a tencent call. This is accomplished by the structure showing in'the drawingwhich will'now be described in detail;

- This device comprises a coin receptacle or hopper. 1 divided into two campartments 2 and 3 by means of a stationary guide 4, a movable deflecting vane 5', and a hollow partition member 9. The deflecting vane 5 is rotatably supported on the rod 6 and is provided-with an ear "7 which projects through an arcuate slot 8 in one side of the receptacle l. With the vane 5 in its normalposh tion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper edge of said vane lies directly beneath the stationary guide t. 1

The deposited coins'are'conducted by a'coin chute 35 to the opening of the'receptacle l. The

chute35 has two runways 36 and 3'7. Five-cent coins descend the runway36 and, with the vane 5. inits normal position, enter the compartment 2 0f the receptacle 1 and pass downwardly on the right-hand side of the partion 9 as seen in Fig. 2, landing on the trap 33. Ten-cent coins descend the runway 37 and enter the compartment 3 of receptacle 1 passing downward on the left-hand side of the partition 9 and come to rest on the trap 33. The coins thus deposited rest on the trap 33 until subsequently collected or. refunded.

Extending into the compartment 2 of the hopper 1 is a trip finger 10 pivoted on the rod 11. The tip end of the finger 10 extends through a vertical slot in the side of the compartment 1 and also through a vertical slot in the partition 9. These slots serve to fix and guide the finger as it rotates about the pivot 11. A weight 13 is secured to the opposite end of the finger l0 and serves to hold the finger in its normal position. The contact operating lever 14, which is rotatably mounted on the rod 15, normally rests on the upper surface of a shoulder 12 on the trip finger l0.

In this position of the lever 14 the contact arm,

although urged by the spring 17, is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 4 to permit the coin contacts 18 and 19 to assume their open condition.

The free end 41.0f the lever 14 is turned through a right angle as seen in Fig. 1 and extends to a position where it engages the surface of the cam 39, more clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The cam 39 is securely fixed to the pivot rod 6 such that any movement of said cam about the axis is accompanied by a tilting of the deflecting vane 5. A weighted portion 40 serves tohold the cam 39 and vane 5 in the normal position shown in Fig. 2.

When a five-cent piece descends through the runway 36 and enters the compartment 2, with the vane 5 in its normal position, it strikes the trip finger 10, rotating it to the point where the shoulder 12 slides out from under the contact lever 14, When this occurs, the spring 17 rotates the lever 14 and the contact operating arm 16 moves the contact spring 18 into engagement with the contact spring 19. The closure of contacts 18 and 19 is an indication that a five-cent coin has been deposited. As the extension .41 of the contactlever 14 rotates, it tilts the cam 39 and shifts the vane 5 from its normal to its deflected position as seen in Fig. 3. :Thepurpose of this will be explained hereinafter.

Within the other compartment 3 of the coin hopper 1 is a second trip finger 20. :The trip finger 20 is pivoted on the rod'21, and the free end thereof extends into the hollow partition 9 and thence through opposite arcuate slots 43 and 44,

one of which is cut in the side of the partition" 9 and the other in the Wall of the hopper- .1. These slots serve to guide the trip finger. 20 as it rotates about'its axis. The. trip finger is provided with a weight 23 which normally holds it partment 3 of the hopper 1.

in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A' second contact operating lever 24, also pivoted on the rod 15, has an extension which normally rests on, a shoulder 22 of the trip finger 20. With the lever 24 held in this position, the contact operating arm 25, although urged by the spring 26, is maintained in the position shown .in Fig. 5 with contacts 2? and 29 open and contacts 28 and 29 closed.

A ten-cent piece when deposited in the device descends the runway 37 and enters the corn- As it fallsthrough the trip finger 29, pivot and releasing the compartment 3; it strikes rotating the same about its the lever 24. The lever 24 rotates, and the contact operating arm 25 moves the contact 27 into engagement with contact 29 and moves-contact descending the runway 36 enters the receptacle 1, but, instead of passing into the compartment 2 as did the first five-cent piece, it encounters the deflecting vane 5 which guides it into the ten-centcompartment' 3. Therefore, the second five-cent piece instead of striking the trip finger 10, strikes the trip finger 20, causing it to operate the same as though a ten-cent piece had been deposited.

The deposited coins are disposed of in the usual manner by energizing the polarized magnets 30. The magnets 30 attract the armature 31 to rotate it in one direction or the other to release the trap 33. According to the manner in which the trap 33 is released, coins are either collected or refunded to the calling party. As the armature 31 rotates, the restoring lever 38 engages the arms 16 and 25 to restore the levers 14 and 24 to their normal or latched condition. As soon as lever 41 restores to its normal position, the cam 39 and deflecting vane 5 are returned to normal by the weight 40.

The diagram in Fig. 6 shows the circuit details of a telephone substation equipped with a coin box of this character. The circuit comprises the usual receiver 60, talking transmitter 61, induction coil and impulse dial 62. The tip and ring conductors 63 and 64 extend from the substation to the central office '70. The substation is also equipped with a polarized relay 67 having two normally closed contacts 68 and 69. The Winding ofthis relay is connected across a resistance 66 so that the impedance of the winding does not interferewith voice currents. The contact 69 is connected to ground so that with the relay 67 in its normal position, as shown, ground potential exists on the normally open five-cent contact 19 and on the normally open ten-cent contact 2'7. The deposit of a five-cent piece for the purpose of a five-cent call closes contacts 18 and 19 as already explained. plied to the line 63, 64 from the central offi-ce '70 in such a direction as to move the armature of relay 6'7 to. the right, contacts 68 are opened whereas contacts 69 remain closed. This maintains ground potential on the contact 19 and removes ground potential from the contact 27. Since. contact 19 is now in engagement with contact 18, a five-cent piece having beendeposited, the testing equipment at the central office will detect this ground and recognize it as anindication that a five-cent piece has been deposited.

The deposit of a ten-cent piece closes the contacts 2'7 and 29 and opens contacts 28 and 29 as above explained. If new test current is applied ground potential through contacts 68, 27 and 29 will indicate that a ten-cent posited.

In case two five-cent pieces are deposited for a ten-cent call, contacts 18 and 19 are closed by piece has been de- If now test current is ap the first five-cent piece and contacts 27 and 2e are closed and contacts 28 and 29 are opened by the second five-cent piece as though contacts 18 and 19 are closed, they are disconnected from the line by the open contacts 28 and 29, thus giving the same condition as though a ten-cent piece has been deposited.

What is claimed is: a

l. The combination in a coin controlled device of a coin chute, a set of circuit contacts, means for operating said circuit contacts in response .to the deposit of a coin of a particular denomination in said chute, a second coin chute, a second set of circuit contacts, means for operating said second set of circuit contacts in response to the deposit of a coin of a second denomination in said second chute, and means responsive to the deposit of a coin of said first mentioned denomination in said first chute for rendering said sec- 0nd set of circuit contacts operable by a coin of said first mentioned denomination.

2. In a coin mechanism, a coin receptacle, a pair of chutes for leading coins of two different denominations to the entrance of receptacle, a guide for directing coins of one denomination to one portion of said receptacle and coins of the other denomination through another portion of said receptacle, and means for moving said guide to cause coins of said second denomination to pass through said first mentioned portion of said receptacle.

3. In a coin device, a hopper having two compartments, means for directing coins of two different denominations to the entrance of said hopper, a guide for directing coins of one denomination into one of said compartments and coins of the other denomination into the other of said compartments, means in said compartments actuated by the passage of said coins therethrough, and means for moving said guide to cause a coin of said second mentioned denomination to pass into said first mentioned compartment.

' 4. Ina coin mechanism, a coin hopper having two compartments, a pair of chutes, one for leading coins of one denomination and. the other for leading coins of a second denomination to the entrance of said hopper, a movable vane for directing coins of the first denomination into one compartment and for directing coins of the second denomination into the second compartment of said hopper, a lever in said first compartment actuated by the passage of a coin therethrough, a lever in the second compartment actuated by thepassage of a coin therethrough, and means controlled by the passage through said second compartment of a coin or said second denomination for moving said vane to cause a subsequently deposited coin of said second denomination to pass through said first compartment.

5. In a telephone system, a connection to ground a circuit having two separate paths, and a' co'in controlled mechanism associated t erewith comprising means for receiving the deposit of a single coin of one denomination to connect one path of said circuit to ground, and means for receiving the deposit of a single coin of another denomination for connecting the other path of said circuit to ground and for receiving a second coin of 'said'other denomination for connecting the first-mentioned path of said circuit to ground.

described. Al-

coin controlled device contacts operated in 6. The combination'in a of a coin chute, a set of response to the deposit of a coin of a particular denomination in said chute, a second chute, a second set of contacts operable in response to the deposit of any coin of a second denomination in said second chute, and means operated by the deposit of said coin of a particular first denomination in the first chute for preventing the succeeding coin of said particular first denomination deposited in said first chute from operating the said first set of contacts and for causing such succeeding coin of said particular first denomination if deposited said first chute to operate said second set of contacts instead.

7. The combination in a coin control device of a receptacle for deposited coins, a ground connection, two sets of circuit controlling contacts representing deposited sums of different values, means for operating one set of said contacts by a single deposited coin or" a particular denomination to close a connection to ground, and means operative by a single deposited coin of a second denomination to close a difierent connection to ground through the other of said sets of contacts or by a number 01 deposited coins of said first denomination to first close the connection to ground through said first mentioned set of said contacts and then to open this connection toground and to close said other connection to ground through saidsecond set of contacts.

8. The combination in a coin control device of a receptacle for deposited coins, a ground connection, three sets tacts, one set of posited coin, of acertain denomination, and the other two representing ,a depositedcoin of a different denomination or two coins of the first mentioned denomination, means for connecting the first'set of contacts to ground by the single deposited coin, and means for operating the other two sets of contacts to ground either by a single deposited coin of said other denomination or by a number of deposited coins of said first mentioned denomination to establish a different connection to ground.

9. In a coin mechanism, a coin receptacle, a pair of chutes for leading coins of two difierent denominations to s id receptacle, a guide for directing coins of one denomination to one portion of said receptacle and coins of the other denomination to another portion of said receptacle, a coin operated means guide to cause coins of said second denomination to pass through said first rnentioned portion of said receptacle.

10. In a coin device, a hopper having two compartments, means for directing coins of two different denominationsto the entrance of said hopper, a guide for directing coins of one denomination into one of said compartments, and coins or" the other denomination into the other of said compartments, means in the first-mentioned compartment actuated by the passage of coins thereto, and means in the other compartment of circuit controlling con contacts representing one defor moving said actuated by the passage of a coin thereto for

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