US2471617A - Coin-operated typewriter control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y J. B. GRAH AM 7 r COIN OPERATEB TYPEWRITER CONTROL APPARATUS I Filed Nov. 15, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JESSE B. GRAHAM A T TOR/VE Y y 1949. J. B. GRAHAM 2,471,617

COIN OPERATED TYPEWRITER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1944 3 She'ets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. 45555 B. 6564 HA M A 7' TORNE Y Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE COIN-OPERATED TYPEWRITER CONTROL APPARATUS 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a coin operated typewriter control apparatus, more particularly to an a paratus for limiting the use of a typewriter over certain periods of time with the insertion of coins therein, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an apparatus of this class with a coin slide which is pressed inwardly with a coin therein and returned for automatically releasing the typewriter keys and starting an escapement timing device which controls the use interval of the typewriter;

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class which is so arranged that the use of the typewriter cannot be had without considerable tampering which could not ordinarily be carried on in a public place;

Third, to provide an apparatus of this class which is very reliable and accurate in operation;

Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which a register tabulates the individual use intervals during the operation of said apparatus;

Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is readily adaptable for use in connection with various makes of typewriters;

Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which a register provides the owner with an accurate check on the use of said apparatus in comparison with the number of coins deposited therein; and

Seventh, to provide an apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, efficient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and. particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference there on which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the typewriter control apparatus showing by dash lines varying positions of parts and portions thereof taken from the line l-I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken from the line 33 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken from the line 44 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the mechanism taken from the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings:

The table top I, table top side members 2 and 3, table bottom member 4, table top lock 5, mechanism casing 6, mechanism supporting plates 1, cam supporting arm 8, cam 9, latch l0, trip lever ll, typewriter control levers I2 and I3, lever lock member l4, coin slide engaging member I5, retaining link It, springs I'I, I8, I9, 20 and 22, coin receiver assembly 23, coin receiver slide 24 timing mechanism 25, latch control lever 26, register 2'1, and the link 28 constitute the principal parts and portions of my typewriter control apparatus.

The table top I is a flat plate-like member having a substantially horizontal upper surface la on which a typewriter, as indicated by dash line A is positioned. This typewriter A is se-.- cured on the table top I by means of the bolt lb, as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This table top I at its one side edge is provided with a hinge to which maintains the table top I in hinged connected relation with the table side member 3. The opposite side edge of the table top I is connected with the table top side mem+ her 2 by means of the table top lock 5. This lock 5 is a conventional tumbler lock and is pro-v vided with a shiftable arm 5a, which engages a slotted portion 2a in the metal plate 2?) secured in connection with the table top side member 2', all as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Con! nected with the table top side members 2 and 3 in opposed relation to the table top I is the table bottom member 4 forming an enclosed casing in which the mechanism casing 6 is positioned. This mechanism casing 6 is a rectangular boxlike structure in which the mechanism supporting plate 1 is enclosed. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the top portion 6a, of the mechanism casing 6 is provided with a slotted portion 51) therein through which the typewriter control lever extends. The mechanism supporting plate 1 is a fiat member preferably made of sheet metal or the like, and this mechanism supporting plate 8 retains the principal operating mechanism of my coin operated typewriter control apparatus. Secured on the lower side of this mechanism supporting plate 1 is the timing mechanism 25 which consists of substantially conventional clockworks parts. This timing mechanism 25 is provided with a main operating shaft 250. on which the cam supporting arm 8 is rigidly secured by means of the collar 25b and set screw 25c. Secu ed n e. ppo te en of the operating shaft 25 is a disk 25d provided with a notch 25a in its periphery engaged by a pin 29a of the latch control lever 26 which is pivoted on the pin 25?) in connection with the timing mechanism 25. "it will be here noted that the conventional clockworks mechanism in the casing 25 controls the movement of the operating shaft 25a. Secured on the opposite end of the cam supporting arm 8 is the cam 9 which extends downwardly toward the plate I, as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The trip lever I! is pivotally mounted on the pin II b in connection with the plate I and is provided with an upwardly extending pin lid to which is connected the tension spring I9 which is secured at its opposite end by the pin I911 in connection with the plate I, tending to hold the trip lever II in the dash line position as shown in Fig, 4 of the drawing. The trip lever II is maintained in the solid line position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings by the latch II] which is pivotally mounted on a bracket I a. in connection with the plate I, as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This latch I9 is provided with a notch portion I91) and an opposed tooth portion Illc which engages the trip lever I I through the slot 'ia in the plate I, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The latch control lever 26 is provided with an extending edge portion 260 engageable with the notch portion Iilb of the latch III, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. The extending end of the trip lever II is arranged to engage the lower end of the typewriter control lever I2, as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The register 21 is secured on the plate 'I and. is a conventional numerical register arranged to register the number of times the trip lever II is forced from the dash line position to the solid line position indicating the number of time intervals occurring during the use of my typewriter control apparatus.

The link 28 is connected to the arm 21a on the register 21, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. This register .2! is the conventional device arranged to register numbers from zero to 99,999.

The typewriter control lever I2 is pivotally mounted on a bracket IEa which is secured on the upper side of the mechanism casing t as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The lower end of this typewriter control lever I2 eX- tends through the slotted opening 'Ib in the mechanism supporting plate I, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The lower end of the typewriter control lever I2 is engageable with the lever lock member I4 which is a pivotally mounted member pivotally supported on the pin I tea, as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The upper end of the typewriter control lever I2 is provided with an angularly disposed edge portion I 2b which engages an outwardly extending angular portion I3a of the typewriter control lever I3. This typewriter control lever is is pivotally mounted on a pin I317 in connection with a bracket I30 which is secured on the upper side of the table top I, all as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the typewriter control lever I2- extends through a slotted portion Id in the table top 'I and the bracket I30 is mounted at one side thereof. Enclosing the bracket I30 and the lower portion of the typewriter control lever I3 is a box-like casing I301. This casing I301 is provided with a slotted opening in its upper side designated I3e through which the typewriter control lever I3 on the pin I la. in connection with the mechanism supporting plate I and is pivotally mounted over the slotted portion lb in the mechanism supporting plate I, as shown best in Fig. 4 or the drawings. This lever lock member I4 is provided with opposed latch portions Mb and Me, which are formed on the radius described from the axis of the pin I la. These latch portions Mb and. I40 are spaced suificiently to permit the lever I2 to pass therebetween, all as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The pin Md rigidly connected to the lever lock member It is positioned in the slotted portion I60; of the retaining link It and the spring I'I engages this pin Md and is connected at its opposite end to the pin Ifib in connection with the retaining link I6. This retaining link I6 is pivotally mounted by means of the pin I60 to the coin slide engaging member I5, all as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This coin slide engaging member I5 is L-shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and is pivotally mounted on a pin 65a in connection with the plate I. The stop I5!) is secured to the plate i and is engageable with the lower edge of the coin slide engaging member I 5, all as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The retaining link I6 is provided with a notched portion IBd arranged to clear the pin I5a when in the dash line position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The spring I8 is secured on the plate I at one end by means of the pin Isa and is connected at its opposite end to the coin slide engaging member I5 tending to hold the same in the solid line position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the typewriter control lever I2 is connected with the tension spring 22. This tension spring .22 is secured to a pin 22a which extends from the lower side of the top portion Ea of the mechanism casing 6. This tension spring 22 tends to force the lower end of the typewriter control lever I2 away from the lever lock member "I4.

The coin receiver 23 is the conventional coin receiver and selecting device provided with a coin receiver slide 24, which is of the reciprocably mounted type having a coin conveying portion 24a therein, as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This coin receiver 23 is also provided with a selection magnet 23a for use in detecting spurious coins of metal subject to magnetic attraction. The outer end portion 24b of the coin receiver slide 24 forms a handle for the manual reciprocable operation thereof when a coin is positioned in the conveyer portion 240,, all as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This coin receiver 23 is provided with a flange 232) which is secured to the table top side member 2 all as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As indicated by dash lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the coin receiver slide 24 is arranged to engage the coin slide engaging member I5 and the cam 9 for shifting the cam supporting arm 3, all as indicated by ash lines in Figs. 4 and 5 of the dr w g The operation of my coin operated typewriter control apparatus is substantially as follows: When a person desires to use and operate the typewriter, as shown by dash lines A in Fig. 1 of the drawings, he may proceed as follows:

A .proper coin must be inserted in the conveyor portion 24a of the coin receiver slide 24. Then the coin receiver slide 24 is pressed inwardly to the limit of its travel, as indicated by clash lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The coin positioned in the conveyer portion 24a is ejected from the coin receiver 24 and falls into the inner side of the table on the table bottom member Q. As the coin receiver slide 2% passes inwardly to the dash line position E, it engages the coin slide engaging member l5 and pivots the same on the pin ltd to the dash line position as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. This coin slide engaging member forces the retaining link It into the dash line position, as shown in Fig. i of the drawings, shifting the lever lock member it into the dash line position maintaining the lower end of the typewriter control member !2 by means of the latch portion Mb. Thus the typewriter control member i2 is maintained in the dash line position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings limiting the use of the typewriter.

The coin receiver slide 24 when passing inwardly to the dash line position E also engages the cam 9 shifting the cam supporting arm 8 to the dash line position H and carrying with it the trip lever H which is caught by the latch it, all as shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. During the passage of the cam 9 from the solid line position to the dash line position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the timing mechanism shaft 25a rotates carrying with it the plate 2503 and shifting the latch control lever 26 to the dash line position, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, whereby the portion 250 thereof passes from the notch lilb of the latch member Ill to the full line position, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, holding the latch member It in engagement with the trip lever M. It will be here noted that when the cam member 9 is shifted to the dash line position, as shown in Fig. 4, the rotation of the main shaft 25a cooks the main spring in the timing mechanism 25 which runs for approximately 30 minutes during which time the cam supporting lever 8 passes from the dash line position to the solid line position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. After the coin receiver slide 24 is pressed inwardly, it is retracted by the spring 240 permitting the coin slide engaging member it together with the retaining link it and the lever lock member M to shift backwardly toward the solid line position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As the latch portion lab of the lever look member M passes backwardly it releases the lower end of the typewriter control lever I2 whereby the type control bar B and the lever l3 shift to the solid line position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings permitting the operation of the typewriter A. When the cam supporting lever 8 shifts backwardly toward the solid line position, it is controlled by the timing device 25 in connection with the shaft 25a. When thirty minutes have passed the plate 25d, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings turns with the shaft 25a shifting the notched portion 25c and permitting the pin Zta of the lever 2'5 to fall therein. The spring forces the latch control lever 26 to the solid line position in which the portion 260 of the latch control lever 26 rests over the notch lllb of the latch l0. It will be obvious that the tension of the spring l9 in connection with the trip lever l l acts on a moment arm extending from the axis of the latch H] to the plane of the trip lever H which positively aids gravity and shifts the latch I!) out of engagement with the trip lever l-l whereby the end portion of the trip lever H engages the typewriter control lever 12 forcing the same into the lever lock member M in engagement with the latch portion I40 thereof whereby the typewriter control levers I2 and I3 together with the type control bar B are shifted to the dash line position, as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings limiting the use of the typewriter until another coin is deposited in the coin slide 24.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coin operated typewriter control apparatus of the class described, the combination consisting of a reciprocably mounted coin receiving slide, a pivotally mounted arm having cam means in connection therewith near the end thereof and in the path of said coin receiving slide at its one end arranged to shift said arm with the inward movement of said coin receiving slide, a shaft connected with and forming the aXis of said arm, escapement timing mechanism in connection with said shaft and operable therewith, a pivotally mounted trip lever in the path of said pivotally mounted arm engageable with the cam means thereof, a latch in the path of said trip lever and arranged to engage the same, a spring tending to hold said trip lever in engagement with said latch, and a latch control lever operated by said timing mechanism arranged to relieve said latch.

2. In a coin operated typewriter control apparatus of the class described, the combination consisting of a reciprocably mounted coin receiving slide, a pivotally mounted arm having cam means in connection therewith near the end thereof and in the path of said coin receiving slide at its one end arranged to shift said arm with the inward movement of said coin receiving slide, a shaft connected with and forming the axis of said arm, escapement timing mechanism in connection with said shaft and operable therewith, a pivotally mounted trip lever in the path of said pivotally mounted arm engageable with the cam means thereof, a latch in the path of said trip lever and arranged to engage the same, a spring tending to hold said trip lever in engagement with said latch, a latch control lever operated by said timing mechanism arranged to relieve said latch, a typewriter control lever in the path of said trip lever and a lever lock member in the path of said typewriter control lever having opposed latch portions pivotally mounted relatively to said typewriter control lever and arranged to engage the same.

3. In a coin operated typewriter control apparatus of the class described, the combination consisting of a reciprocably mounted coin receiving slide, a pivotally mounted arm havin cam means in connection therewith near the end thereof and in the path of said coin receiving slide at its one end arranged to shift said arm with the inward movement of said coin receiving slide, a shaft connected with and forming the axis of said arm, escapement timing mechanism in connection with said shaft and operable therewith, a pivotally mounted trip lever in the path of said pivotally mounted arm engageable with the cam means thereof, a latch in the path of said trip lever and arranged to engage the same, a spring tending to hold said trip lever in engagement With said latch, a latch control lever operated by said timing mechanism arranged to relieve said latch, a typewriter control lever in the path of said trip lever, a lever lock member in the path of said typewriter control lever having opposed latch portions pivotally mounted relatively to said typewriter control lever and arranged to engage the same, a longitudinally yieldable retaining link in connection With said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 876,126 Yocum Jan. 7, 1908 990,112 Corcoran Apr. 18, 1911 2,325,244. Graham July 27, 1943 2,357,324 Graham Sept. 5, 1944'

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