US2538358A

US2538358A - Coin-operated time control mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2538358A
Application number: US704737A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Farrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-03-06
Filing date: 1946-10-21
Publication date: 1951-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1968-01-16

Description

1951 w. s. FARRELL 2,53,35

COIN OPERATED TIME CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed March 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1951 W. S. FARRELL COIN OPERATED TIME CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed March 6, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jam 16, 1951 w. s. FARRELL 2,538,353

COIN OPERATED TIME CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed March 6, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ag; A

' 89 SO I l 4 9 ZWMSIW I N VENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1951 COIN-OPERATED TIME CONTROL MECHANISM William S. Farrell, Los Angeles, Calif.

Original application March 6, 1943, Serial No.

478,183, now Patent No. 2,413,?00, dated January 7, 1947. Divided and this application 0ctober 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,737

1 My invention relates to entertainment reproducing systems and has particular reference to a system for reproducing at a plurality of remotely situated control stations entertainment material produced or reproduced at a central source of such entertainment material, such as an automatic phonograph, radio receiver, television or other visual or audible entertainment source which produces. such material, capable of being transmitted over telephone wires and the like, in' which the amount of the entertainment material to be reproduced at each of the control stations is controlled by the number or denomination of coins deposited in that particular control station. v

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 478,183, filed March 6, 1243 which has matured into Patent No. 2, 413,700, issued January 7, 1947. v nFor ready understanding of my invention, the

following description pertains to the embodiment of my invention in a sound reproducing system such as that which may be employed with an automatic phonograph as thecentral source of the material and the type of reproducer of the entertainment material is shown anddescribed as a loud speaker for reproducingat the control station the entertainment in the form of sound. However, it is to be understood that visual types of entertainment may be employed equallywell with my system by substituting a central source of visual entertainment and substituting at the control stations a visual reproducer for such ma terial, and hence wherever the expressions sound reproducing or sound reproduction are used herein, it is so used merely for purposes of conve'nience and is not intended to exclude such substituted visual reproduction. 7

.In my Patent No. 2,352,188., issued June 27, 1944, and entitled Sound Reproducing System and Coin Collecting Actuator Therefor, I have phonograph or entertainment source as a result of coins deposited in other coin collecting mechanisms,

While this system has proved to be eminently satisfactory in practice, it does nevertheless embody certain disadvantages, among which may be enumerated-thefrelative complexity of the 5 Claims. (Cl. 194-9) i? 3, feet the startin and stopping of the reproduc tion abruptly as results from the closing and '5 ing the faintly reproduced orchestral number or,

mechanism and control circuits required to provide for the guarantee of a full musical selection at each coin collecting station and the difficultyof adapting the system to certain particular types of automatic phonographs or sound producing systems.

It has been found that the customer reaction. to a definite time of reproduction as compared with the full selection type of reproduction is en- ,tirely'satisfactory and that a considerable proportion of the complexity of the device disclosed in my above mentioned patent can be avoided by operating the system on a definite time basis.

'It has also been found disadvantageous to efopening of an ordinary control switch. Many times customers fail to realize that they have received the full amount of entertainment for which they have paid by the deposit of the coinin the coincollecting device and are led, by the abruptness with which the-entertainment is discontinued, to believe that the mechanism has failedinsome respect to perform as it should.

I have also discovered that the desire in a custom'er toideposit a coin and have. musical sele c-..

tions and other entertainment reproduced for his benefit can. be heightened if the mechanism is so arranged'as to more or less continuously .reproduce suchentertainment within the hearing of the customer but at such a low level as to be unsatisfactory for entertainment purposes. It

often occurs that a prospective customer under.

these circumstances will be so intrigued by hearsong that he is impelled to deposit a coin in the device in order that he may hear that same selection with sufiicient loudness and clarity as to provide a pleasing result.

It is therefore. an object of my invention to provide a sound reproducing system which overcomes certain of .the above noted disadvantages by operating on a definite time principle wherein the deposit of a coin in the coin collecting mechanism results in the entertainment, music or other material. emanating from a central source being reproduced for a definite period of time and solely at the location of the coin collecting mechanism in which the coin was deposited.

It is also an object of my invention to provide.

a sound reproducing system of 'the character set forth in the preceding paragraph which includes a coin receiving mechanism including means for placing into operation a timing mechanism and wherein the. timing .mechanism in turn places 3 the reproducing system in operation so as to effect the reproduction of previously recorded material at that location and for a predetermined length of time.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a sound reproducing system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph in which two or more coins may be received in the coin collecting mechanism at one time and in which a means is provided for maintaining the system operative for unbroken successive periods of time equal in number to the number of coins deposited in the coin collectin mechanism.

It is additionally an object of my invention to provide in a system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs a means which functions to apprise a customer who has previously deposited coins in the coin collecting mechanism that the period of entertainment paid for by the deposited coins is about to expire.

It is also an object of my invention to pro-. vide a sound reproducing system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs which includes a means for starting and StQpPing the reproduction of entertainment material at the beginning and end, respectively, of a predetermined time period and in which the starting and stopping is so arranged as to smoothly n gradually build up the volume ofthe reproduced entertainment from a substantially inaudible level to a satisfactory audible level and at the conclusion of the predetermined time period gradually and uniformly reduce the level of the reproduced entertainment to a substantially inaudible value.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a sound reproducing system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs which includes an electromagnetic dynamic loud speaker having its voice coil or signal receiving element permanently connected to the source of reproduced entertainment and in which the placing of the loud speaker into and out of operation is accomplished by completing and interrupting the field supply circuit for the loud speaker.

Other objects and advantages of' my invention will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating dia-- grammatically the manner of installation of the component parts of my sound reproducing sys-.

tem and the manner in which these parts are interconnected with each other;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the con-. trol units illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 illustrating the appearance of the control unit. when the cover portion thereof is removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the coin collecting and controlling mechanism comprising a part of the control unit. illustrated in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 illustrating the relative positions of the various parts when the system is idle and before coins are deposited in the coin mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the relative positions of the parts immediately subsequent to deposit of one or more coins in the coin collecting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrate ing the relative positions of the parts at a time subsequent to the deposit of the coins in the. coin collecting mechanism and illustrating the 4 manner in which a deposited coin is conveyed to a coin receiver;

Fig. 6 is also a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the relative positions of the parts at the conclusion of the next to the last period of entertainment reproduction paid for by the deposit of coins in the coin collecting mechanism;

Fig. 7 is likewise a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the relative positions of the parts a few seconds prior to the expiration of the final time period paid for by the deposit of coins in the coin collecting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken through the timer shaft and control cam hub illustrated in Figs. 3 through '7 and illustrating a novel form of friction clutch which is employed in the timing mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating the component parts and the manner of interconnection of certain auxiliary equipment associated with the system of my invention; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical connections employed in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a plurality of control units I asv being interconnected with each other and with a suitable, central source of entertainment which for purposes of illustration herein is shown as an automatic phonograph 2 as by means of a multiple conductor electric cable 3. The units I are each illustrated as being mounted at convenient intervals along a counter or bar 4 and it will be ap-' preciated that this is but one of the many modes of installation to which my invention is sus-l' to which the phonograph 2 is illustrated as being connected as by means of an attachment cord 6. The system also includes an adaptor unit 1 which is connected between the phonograph 2 and the control units l and which serves the purpose of controlling the operation of the phonograph 2 in accordance with the operation of the various control units 1. l 7

Each of the control units l is preferably constructed along the lines illustrated in Fig. 2', and includes a base structure 8 upon which the various control instrumentalities are mounted, which base structure is adapted to be enclosed by a suitable cover 9. The cover 9 preferably includes a means l0. which defines a coin slot ll into which coins may be inserted by a customer. The cover 9 may be secured to, the base structure 8 in any suitable manner and the attaching means is preferably provided with a, lock IE to prevent unauthorized entry intov the mechanism.

The front portion of .the cover 9 is provided with a translucent or transparent window l .'f adapted to be suitably illuminated as. by means of lamps l4 and I5 mounted on the supporting structure 8. The front portion of the cover 9 is similarly provided with a grill [6 or other suitably decorated opening adapted to register with an electrodynamic loud speaker I1 mounted on the base unit 8.

The base member 8 may also carry a suitable terminal board 18 to facilitate the electrical connections to the device and preferably also mounts a suitable structure I!) for defining a coin re= ivin hannel, a sw tch mecha sm 29. and a 5. timing mechanism 2| which may include a timing motor 80 and a time controlled cam dish '22." "The coin chute, switch and timing control mechanism above referred to are illustrated in more detail in Figs. 3 through '7, each of which comprises an elevational view of that portion of the base structure 8 upon which these mecha nisms are mounted, the coin chute defining structure l9 being illustrated with the cover portion thereof removed to show the configuration of the coin chute. v

- As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the coin chute is preferably defined by a pair of

thin members

25 and 24 which are spaced from each other and secured to the base member 3 as by means of screws or other attaching means25. The configuration of the

members

23 and 24 is such as to define a coin chute 26 which is' so positioned as to register with the coin slot H when the cover 9 is placed over the base member 8 and which extends downwardly through the first part of its length and then turns to the right along an angular surface 21.

The angular portion 21 of the chute communicates with a vertically disposed portion 28 situated between a shaft 29 of the timing mechanism 2| and a switch arm 39 of the multi-pole switch structure so that a coin, such as'the coin 31, illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 passing downwardly through the straight portion of the chute 28 will wedge between the switch arm 39 and a suitable spacer 32 which surrounds the shaft 29.

The normal distance between the switch arm 30 and the spacer 32 is made somewhat less than the diameter of the coin with which the device is to be used so that as the coin moves downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the switch arm 30 will be displaced to the left as illustrated by the change in its position from Fig. 3 to Fig. 4. The switch arm 3!! may be pivotally supported as at 33 and include a bell crank portion 34 which carries an insulating roller '35 bearing against a lower spring member 36 of the switch 20.

" The switch 20 includes a three contact switch structure including the member 35 and a pair of adjacently disposed

members

31 and 38 so arranged that as the member 36 is moved upwardly, an electrical circuit is established between the member 36 and the

members

31 and 38. The switch structurelll also includes a double-throw switch structure comprising a normally closed stationary contact 39 and a normally open stationary contact 49 between which is positioned a movable contact member 4|. The member-4 1 is connected to the upper spring contact member 38 as by means of an insulating connecting member 42 so that upward movement of the member 38 will result in the opening of the normally closed contacts 39' and the closing of the normally open contact 40.

The shaft 29 of the timing mechanism is arranged to be driven at a constant speed by a suitber 22 as by means of screws 5|.

- entertaimnent reproduction.

The time controlled cam 22 which is secured to the shaft 29 is accordingly provided with three switch controlling notches 43 spaced equally about the periphery of the cam member 22, which cam member preferably comprises a flat circular disk so disposed as to lie closely adjacent the outer surface of the

members

23 and 24 and under the switch arm 30. The lower, end of the switch arm 30 is turned inwardly to extend across the path of a coin travelling along the straight portion 28 of the coin chute.

Each of the notches 43 comprise cam, control surfaces adapted to control the movement of the switch arm 30 by the rotary movement of the cam member 22. Each of the notches 43 include a relatively deep portion 44 defined by a substantially radial surface 45 and a sloping surface 46 which is-preferably rounded as at 41 at the junction of the surface 46 with the outer periphery of the member 22. The notches 43 each include a shallower notch portion contiguous to the deep portion 44 and including a circumferential surface 48 and a substantially radial surface 49 extended between the surface 48 and the outer circumference of the member 22.

Since in the form of the invention illustrated the cam member 22 embraces three time periods, it also carries three actuating pins 59 illustrated as axially extending sleeves secured to the mem- The members 59 are likewise spaced equidistant about the center of rotation of the cam member 22 and are arranged to successively engage an overlying trigger portion 52 of a coin arresting control member 53 which is pivotally secured to the base member 8 as by means of a pivot screw 54.

The coin control member 53 is normally urged a counter-clockwise direction to a non-operated position bearing against a stop 55 as by means of atension spring 58. The coin control member 53 includes an upper coin engaging portion 51 and a lower coin engaging portion 58, these portions being so disposed as to extend be neath the cam member 22 and into the straight portion 28 of the coin chute. The portions 5? and 58 are made of such length that one or the other but not both of these portions may extend into the coin chute a distance sufficient to engage a coin and arrest its passage through the coin chute, the one which so engages the coin depending upon the position then occupied by the coin control member 53.

As is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the coin engaging portions E'land 58 are spaced from each other a distance such that when the member 53 is moved from its non-operated position which is illustrated in Fig. 4 to its operated position which is illustrated in Fig. 5, the lower coin engaging portion 58 will be withdrawn a distance sufficient to-allow the coin 3! to proceed downwardly past the portion 58 while at the same time the portion 51 will be projected into the chute in a position to pass beneath a subsequently deposited coin 59 resting upon the previous coin 3i so that the coin 59 will be held against further downward movement as is illustrated in Fig. 5 until the coin control member 53 is returned to its nonoperated position.

Reference has been had hereinbefore to the adaptor unit 7. This unit is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 9 as including a field supply unit area-see Mounted on the support 64 I provide :a control transformer 55 adapted to supply low voltage alternating current for control purposes, an audionatching transformer 61 employed for the purpose of matching the transmission line impedance to the output impedance of the automatic phonograph 2 or other central source of entertainment and a control relay indicated generally at ca. Power for operating the system is conveyed over the attachment cord 5 which is preferably connected to the adaptor unit :1 and a cable 69 may supply such power to the field supply unit 60, the rectified direct current output of which is conveyed to the terminal boards 55 as by means of a cable 10.

When the system is used to reproduce entertainment from an automatic phonograph, the adaptor unit may be so arranged as to furnish power for operating the phonograph as by supplying the power from the adaptor unit 1 by means of a cable ll, and a pair of conductors comprising a cable l3 may be employed to establish a control connection between the adaptor and a bump-switch incorporated in the phonograph 2 and employed in a manner to be described hereinafter. The music or reproduced entertainment is conveyed from the automatic phonograph 2 or other entertainment source to the transformer '67 by means of acable 12.

The manner in which the above described instrumentalities are interconnected and the .manner in which they cooperate to achieve the stated objects of the invention can perhaps best be had by having reference to the wiring diagram Fig. and describing the operation of the device with reference to that diagram while carrying the description of the electrical connections along concurrently therewith.

.As is shown in Fig. 10, power for operating the system is conveyed to the auxiliary unit 1 through the attachment cord 5, conductors I4 and of which are connected to a primary winding 76 of the control power transformer 66. One terminal of a secondary winding ll of this transformer is preferably grounded and is extended by means of a grounded conductor 18 included in the interconnecting cable 3 to each of the control units I. Two of such control units are illustrated in Fig. 10 and the mechanism associatedtherewith is illustrated as being enclosed in the dot-dash rectangles IA and IB.

Prior to the deposit of a coin in the coin slot H the parts of each of the control units i will occupy the position shown in Fig. 3. When a coin is deposited it will pass down through the vertical portion 26 of the coin chute and then along the angled portion thereof until it arrives at a position at which it becomes wedged between the spacer 32 on the timer shaft 29 and the inturned end of the switch arm 30. This wedging action will cause the switch arm 39 to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, which movement will move the contact spring 36 a distance suflicient to electrically interconnect the

springs

38, 31 and 3B. This movement will also move the spring 4.! a sufficient distance upwardly to contact the spring 49, the resilience of the spring 39 beingsuflicient to follow the movement of the spring 41 to maintain contact between the springs 39 and 4| even after the initial contact between the springs 41 and 4E.

The connections established by the interconnection of the

springs

36 and 31 will close the circuit to a synchronous electric motor comprising the timing element connected to the timing shaft 29. The connections established by the interconnection of the

springs

31 and 38 will supply current through the field winding of the speaker in the control unit I in which the coin has been deposited while the interconnection ofsprings 4| and 40 will complete circuit through the voice coil of the speaker. Thus upon the initial deposit of the coin the speaker of the con-- trol system will be instantly connected for active reproduction of the entertainment emanating from the automatic phonograph or other central source of entertainment with which the control units may be associated.

The circuit thus established for the synchronous motor Bll extends from one terminal of the transformer Ti .by way of a conductor 18 which extends as a line conductor to each of the control units vI, at each of which units a branch 18a extends to the contact spring '37. Thence the circuit extends through the contact spring 36 and conductor 19, through the windings 80 of the synchronous .motor 80 and thence by way oi conductor 8i to a line conductor 82, which line conductor 82 extends from the opposite terminal of the transformer T1 to connection with each of the control units l employed in the system.

Thus the initial deposit of the coin causes the timing motor 8:! to slowly rotate the timing cam 22 in a counter-clockwise direction. Where the control units are associated with an automatic phonograph such as that shown in Fig. 2, the initial closing of the contact springs 40 and M to establish connection therebetween may be utilized to complete a circuit starting the automatic phonograph into operation, this circuit extending from the line conductor 18 through conductor 18a and a branch conductor 83 to the contact spring 41, thence to the contact spring 40 and through conductor 84 which extends to a relay coil 85 in the adaptor unit, and thence through conductor 86 to the ungrounded terminal of the control power secondary winding TI. The closing of the normally open contacts 40 thus serves to energize the control relay coil 85 to close each of its normally

open contacts

85a and 85b. The normally open contact 85b is included in a circuit comprising a conductor 81 (connected to the conductor .15) and a conductor 8 8. The conductor 88 is one of the two conductors com prising the cable 11 previously referred to as supplying power to the mechanism of the automatic phonograph 2, the other conductor of the cable 71 comprising a conductor 89 which is con nected to the conductor I4 of the power supply circuit 6. Conductors '88 and 89 are shown as cable H in Fig. 9. The energization of the relay 85 resulting in the closing of the contacts 85!) thus serves to energize the electrical mechanism included in the automatic phonograph 2 and so places the phonograph .in operation. At the same time the closing of the contacts 851) completes a circuit extending between the conductor 81 and a conductor 90 which is connected to the input side of the field supply unit 60, the other input 9; terminal of the unit 60 being connected as by means of a conductor 9| to the conductor 14.

The output of the field supply unit is conveyed to the balance of the system through the cable 79', one conductor 92 of which is connected to the grounded line conductor I8 and the other conductor of which is connectedto a line conductor 93 included in the interconnecting cable 3 and extended into connection with all of the control units I as indicated in Fig. 10.

Conductors

92 and 93 are indicated as cable HI in Fig. 9.

In each of the control units I the conductor 93 is connected as by means of a conductor 94 to. one terminal of a field winding 95 comprising the magnet portion of the electrodynamic loud speaker I I previously referred to. The other terminal of the fieldpwinding 95 is connected as by means of a conductor 9B-to the aforementioned contact; spring 38 which, itwill: be recalledis upon the initial deposit of a coinmoved into engagement with the contact spring 31 to which is connected the grounded conductor I8. The closing of the circuit between the switch contact springs 3'1 and 39 thus serves to connect the field winding 95 across the output of the field supply unit 60 so as to place the loud speaker I! in an operative condition.

The voice coil or signal receiving element of the loud speaker I1 ,is illustrated in Fig. as comprising a coil 91. Thiscoil is connected to a, secondary winding.98 of. an impedancematching transformer 99. The primary winding of the transformer 99-has one terminal connected as by means of a conductor I 99 to the aforementioned grounded line conductor I8 and the other terminal is connected I to a fifth line conductor Hll included the interconnecting cable 3.

Within theadaptorunit I the conductor IBI is connected to a secondary winding I02 of the impedance matching transformer 61 previously referred to, the other terminal of the secondary I92 being connected as by means of a-conductor I93 to-the grounded line conductor I8. Conductors Inland I93 areshown as cable 3 in Fig. 9. It is thus apparent that any signalvoltages generated in the-secondaryIiI-Z are impressed across conductors IEI'I and-I8 and are thus applied to the'primary winding of the matching transformer 99 and from there to the voice coil 91 of the speaker I'I'so-that these signal currents are reproduced as corresponding sounds at the location of the control unit.

The impedance matching transformer 6'! is provided witha primary winding 94 which is connectedby means of conductors I95 and I96 to the signal output terminals of the reproducing apparatus comprising the automatic phonograph 2. Thus any music or other entertainment which is-reproduced by the placing of the automatic phonograph 2 in operation is reproduced as sound at the location of the control unit in whichthe coin was deposited. Conductors I95 and I95-are shown as cable I2 in Fig.- 9; 1

When the timing motor is started and the cam I 22. begins to rotate, the curved portion 41 of the notch 43 will press against the inturned end of I the switch arm or lever 39 and cause the lever to be moved slightly further to the left, which in turn moves the several contact springs to the position shown in Fig. 5, obtaining contact be tween the switch springs 49 and II but separating the contact springs M and 39. This additional flexing of the contact springs performs two func- :tions; first, the opening of the circuit to the lights 65' and, second, causing the contact points on the springs to slide somewhatmelative to each other to provide a- Wiping action between them.

.The purpose of-extinguishing the lights I5 will be made more apparent hereinafter.

Assuming now that two or more coins such as the coins 3| and 159 have-been deposited in the coin chute II, I have shown how the mechanism is placed in operation by the engagement of the first coin with the switch arm 39 so as to I effect the reproduction of the recorded material at the location of that one of the control units in which the coin was inserted. As the cam member 22 continues to rotate as a result of the 4 energization of the motor 80, one of the actuating members 59 is brought into engagement with the trigger arm 52 of the coin control member 53 so as to move that member from its normal position illustrated in Figs. 3 and '4 to a coin releasing position such as'that illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that the coin 3I- is held in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 by the lower coin engagingportion 58 of the member 53 when that member is in its normal position. Upon movement of the member to a coin releasing position such-as is illustrated in Fig. 5, the portion 58 is retracted a distance sufficient to allow the coin .3I to fall into the coin receiver comprising the unoccupied space defined within the base mem: her 8-: Theretractingmovement of the portion 58 is accompanied by an inward movement of the portion 51 which extends into the coin chute at-a point disposed between the coins 3| and 59 so as to pass beneath the coin 59 and hold the samewithin the chute until the member 53' is I restored to its initial position.

It will be notedthatduring this movement of the-coin control member 53, the switch arm 30 is held in its fully operated position by engage.-

: mentof the inturned end portion thereof with the outer periphery of the cam 22.. As soon as the actuating member 59 ismoved a distance sufficient to clearthe end of the trigger 52, the springili will restore the member 53 to its normal position as is il1ustrated in-Figs.'-4 and 6. This "Reference has been had heretofore to the elec socket 5;- Thelights 15 are pr ferab y included serves to withdraw the coin engaging portion 5! and re-insert the coinengaging-portion 58, al, lowing the coin 59. to drop to the position initially occupied by the coin 3|, all as indicated in Figs.

I fiand- 6.

;In order to prevent possible jamming of the mechanism bythe insertion of an under-sized coin, which might make the next following coin to be disposed too far down relative to the coin engaging portion 51, the trigger 52 may be formed as a piece separate from the member 53 and may be pivoted theretoby means of. a screw as indicated at 52c, the trigger 52 being held against movement relative to the member 53 as by means of a spring 5212 which is wound about the screw 52c and has its opposite ends engaged, respectively, below the actuating member 53 and the trigger 52. The strength of the spring 52c should be such that it will not yield except upon the exertion of abnormal force on the spring 52 which would be occasioned by the jamming of the finger against the side of the next uppermost coin.

Upon the completion of the first period of entertainment reproduction period paid for by the deposit of the coin 3|, the cammember 22 will have moved to a position bringing the next notch therein adjacent the inturned end portion of the arm 39. It will be noted by'having reference to Fig. 6 that movement of the switch structure 28 to a normal position is, however, prevented by the presence of the coin 59, the switch arm 33 being permitted only a slight amount of inward movement sufiicient to bring it into engagement with the periphery of the coin 59.

The circuits established by the switch structure 20 upon the deposit of the coin 3| are thus maintained by the coin 59 so that the cam member 22 continues to rotate as before described. Thereafter the next actuating member 50 is brought into engagement with the trigger 52 and the above described operation of the coin control member 53 is repeated so as to drop the coin 59 into the coin receiver in the same manner as previousl described in connection with the coin 3|. Here again the switch arm 30 is maintained in its fully operated position by its engagement with the outer periphery of the cam member 22. A few seconds before reaching the end of the second period of reproduction; namely, the period which has been paid for by the deposit of the second coin 59, the cam member 22 will have been moved to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. '7', bringing the. shallow notch portion 48 adjacent the switch arm 30 so as to allow the arm 30 to move inwardly to an intermediate position such as that illustrated in Fig. 7.

This movement of the switch arm serves to move the various contact elements of the switch structure 20 a distance sufficient to close the normally closed contact 39 but not suflicient to open the contact between contacts 40 and 4|, without, however, interrupting the circuits established through the

switch fingers

36, 31 and 38.

Th s movement of the switch will cause reestablishment of the circuit through the lights I 5 constituting a warning that the time period of entertainment purchased by the last deposited coin is about to end so that the customer may, if he desires, deposit a new coin or coins without interrupting his listening to the entertainment. 7 It is intended that the translucent or transparent window [3 be provided with suitable baffies' or barriers within the interior of the housing 9 so as to limit the illumination afforded by the lamps I5 to a relatively small area of the window 13. For example, in a commercial model of my invention, I have so arranged the window l3 that the portion which is continuously illuminated by the lamps I4 glows with a pleasing color such as blue and isinscribed with the legend Deposit one to five pennies. The limited area which is illuminated bythe lamps I5 is colored a contrasting color such as a bright red and bears the large inscription Now. Thus during the normal operation of the device the lighted window [3 merely urges a customer to de 12' posit one to' five pennies, Upon. arrival at. the point where the switch arm 3.0. moves into the shallow notch 44 the remainder of the legend is illuminated and the customer is urged to deposithis money Now.

If the additional coins are deposited as re.- quested, the first of. such additional coins will fall to the position occupied by coin 3| in Fig. 4 and so hold. the. switch arm in its operative position and maintainv the circuit completed through the timing motor 80-. This will serve to bring the curved nose portion 41 of the cam. notch 45 into engagement with the switch arm 30 and move the switch sufficiently to reopen the normally closed contacts 39 and the: word Now again becomes. obscured.

If, on the other hand, the additional. coins: are not deposited, the movement of the switch arm 30 into the deep: notch 46: will restore the switch structure to. itsv non-operative position. such as is illustrated in Fig. 3, thus. deenergizing the tim ing motor opening contacts Hand 38 to disconnect the field of the speaker in that control unit and opening contacts 40 and M to deenergize the circuit between the. control unit. and the relay 85.

Deenergizing the circuit for the relay would stop the phonograph 2 but in view of the fact that the end of the time period for which the last penny paid for may not. coincide with the end of the record which had been. playing on thephonograph 2, the immediate stopping of the phonograph with the reproducerneedle resting on the record might result in perforation or injury to the phonograph record disk. It is therefore desirable that irrespective of the operation of the switch structure 20 to: its non-operativev position, the phonograph mechanism should. be continued in operation until the end of the record is reached and the reproducer is separated from the record beforev the phonograph is actually stopped. To insure this continued operation of the phonograph until the end of the record is reached, I connect the normally open contacts 850; of the relay 85 in a self-holding" circuit extended by means of a conductor ['08 from conductor 84 through the. normally open contact 85a and by means of a conductor I09 embodied in the aforementioned cable 13 to a bumpswitch i It provided on the automatic phonograph 2. From the bump-switch H0 the circuit returns via conductor HI also embraced within the cable 13 and into connection with the grounded line conductor 18.

The bump-switch H0 is a normally closed switch so positioned as to be momentarily opened upon arrival of the reproducing head at the end of each recording. It will thus be seen that when the relay 85 is initially energized, a self-holding circuit is established through the contacts 85a.

If a sufficient number of coins is deposited to maintain the phonograph 2 in operation for a period of time longer than that required to reproduce one full recording, the bump-switch l'fll will be momentarily opened at the time the recordings are automatically changed by the phonograph mechanism. This will not, however, serve to deenergize the relay 85 because the initial energizing circuit thereto is completed by way of conductor 84 and the normally open contacts 40 included in the switch structure 20. However, upon the opening of the circuit 84 as at the end of the time period paid for by the deposit of coins in the control station I, the relay as will be maintained energized through the self-holding circuit until the record then being reproduced is finally completed, at which time the momentary opening of the bump-switch I ID will deenergize the relay 85 and subsequently stop the operation of the automatic phonograph. It will be noted, however, that even though the automatic phonograph is by this means maintained in operation, the reproduction of the recorded entertainment at the location of the control unit I is arrested at the time the switch structure 20 is moved to its non-operated position by the opening of the circuit between the

switch fingers

31 and 38. The interruption of this circuit serves to deenergize the field structure95, whereupon the loud speaker I7 is rendered substantially non-operating. r The connections above described with respect to the control unit Ia are duplicated in all of the control units I embraced within the system and it will be noted that since each of the instrumentalities are connected in parallel with each of the corresponding instrumentalities in the other control units, the automatic phonograph 2 will be placed in operation by the, deposit of the first coin in any one of the control units I and will thereafter be maintained in operation a length of time sufficient to supply the reproduced entertainment which is paid for by the subsequent deposit of coins in any of the other control stations.

-Attention is directed particularly to the manner in which the loud speakers i! are each connected to the system and the manner in which these loud speakers are controlled. It will be noted first that'the signal circuits for each of the loud speakers are connected in parallel across the signal supply lines and that the loud speakers are rendered operative or inoperative by the ener gization or de-energization of the field windings thereof. Thus the load impedance which is connected across the signal circuit remains substantially constant irrespective of the number of loud speakers I l which are inoperative condition so that it is possible to accurately match the various transmission impedances to insure high fidelity of the reproduction at eachand every control station irrespective of the number of control stations at which the recorded entertainment is actually being reproduced. A second very advantageous feature which results from this arrangement is the fact that those of the loud speakers I! which are rendered inoperative by the de-energization of the field structure 95 are actually operative to a very slight extent because of the residual magnet sm of their field structures. Thus when the reproducing system is placed in operation by the 'deposit of a coin in one o'f'the control units I, the reproduced entertainment will be reproduced as sound at the location of that control station, the intensity of such sound being preferably adjusted to provide an adequate volume for those persons situated immediately adjacentthat control station but absolutely inadequate to provide satisof the entertainment at such a low..'volume' as to be unsatisfactory for entertainment purposes but at a sufiicient volume to make them conscious of the fact that there is a particular musical selection, song or other entertainment being reproduced, thereby inducing a desire in such persons to deposit coins in the control units so that the entertainment maybe reproduced at a volume adequate for entertainment purposes.

Still a third advantage resides in the employment of the loud speaker arrangement being discussed. This advantage resides in the fact that the field flux which is generated by the field windings builds up relatively slowly upon the completion of the field winding circuit and similarly collapses relatively slowly upon the interruption of this circuit due, of course, to the relatively high inductance of the field windings. This serves to brin the loud speakers smoothly into operation and to cause their operation to cease gradually upon the deenergization of the field windings in contra-distinction to the abrupt turning off and on of the device which results from the conventional circuit arrangements in which the signal circuit itself is closed and opened by an ordinary switch or relay structure.

I have found that this gradual building up of volume upon the deposit of a coin in the control units and the gradual fading out Of the sound at the conclusion of the time period paid for by the deposit of such coin is of definite value in a definite. time system such as is herein disclosed for the reason that almost invariably the starting and stopping of the actual reproduction occurs at'some time other than the actual beginning or end of the musical selection or other entertainment which is reproduced during the period paid for. of the operation of the device at the beginning and end of the period paid for is abrupt as in the ordinary switching arrangements, the customer for some reason immediately draws the conclusion that the device has failed to operate asintended and similarly feels that this failure can be cured by hammering on the control unit with whatever instrument is at hand. The disastrous results of such conduct appear to be almost entirely avoided by causing the starting and terminatingof the operation to be accomplished in a smooth and gradual manner as above described.

The coin slot I I which is provided in the upper portion of the housing 9 is preferably sized to correspond rather closely to the size of the coin which it is intended to be deposited in the device so as to automatically prevent the deposit of larger coins than intended. It occasionally happens, however, that a customer will inadvertently deposit a smaller sized coin in the slot II. For example, if the device is arranged to be operated by nickels, a customer will occasionally deposit a penny, and similarly if the device is arranged for operation by the deposit of pennies, a customer will occasionally deposit a dime. This tends to jam the .coin control mechanism.

It willbe noted by having reference to Fig. 4 that if the coin 3| and/or the coin 59 is of a lesser diameter than indicated inFig. 4, the in;- 1ward movement of the upper coin engaging portion 51 upon movement of the coin control member 53 will be very apt to bring the end of the projection 5'! into engagement with the side of the uppermost coin rather than to cause the sameto pass under the'coin as is illustrated in Fig. 5. As this condition prevents further move-- ment of the coincontrol? member 53,,the'. trigger 52"by .itsLengagement with the actuating memi- If the starting and terminating her so will tend to stop the rotation. of the cam member 22.

Because of the high gear ratio between the timing motor Bi] and the shaft 29, it is found that such a jamming oi the mechanism. does not in fact stall the motor 3G but instead results in either the twisting off of the shaft 29 or the stripping of the gears in the gear reduction unit. I have provided against this disastrous consequence by employing at the lower end of the coin chute a spring member H2 which may be of hairpin 01m having one end secured to the base structure 8 as by means of a screw H3 and having the other end coiled as indicated at H4 and: normally disposed in such position that the innermost edge of the coiled portionv H4 defines a continuation of the. lower portion of the chute Thisv disposition of the spring H2 is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 through '7. With this ar 'rangement if for any reason the coin engaging projection 51 engages the side of the upper coin 59 rather than passing underneath such coin as intended, the coin is permitted to move laterally to flex the spring H2 and thereby permit sufficient movement of the coin control-member '53 as to allow the actuating member 50 to pass beyond the end of and clear the trigger 52.

However, in addition to the above provision, I prefer to secure the cam member 22 to the shaft 29 through a friction drive or slip clutch arrangement so that in the extremely unlikely event that the mechanism will become jammed and further rotation of the cam member 22 will be prevented, the shaft 29 may continuev in its rotation to thus prevent the twisting off of the shaft 29 or the stripping of the gears in the gear reduction unit.

I have illustrated in Fig. 8 a novel and simple form of construction for providing such a friction drive or slip clutch arrangement. As is illustrated in Fig. 8 the cam member 222 preferably comprises a flat disk to which is securely affixed by any suitable means a hub portion "1 I5. The hub portion 55 is bored as indicated to receive the shaft 29 and is provided also with a laterally extending bore H6 suitably threaded to receive a set screw in by means of which the hub H may be secured to the shaft 29. In assembling the device the set screw ii! is removed and a pelletor small cylinder H3 of suitable friction material such as leather (preferably sole leathersuch as is used in the manufacture of shoes) is inserted into the bore Ht before the set screw H"! is screwed therein. The set screw H! is then tightened very securely with the result that the leather H8 is compressed between the set screw i ii and the shaft 29.

Ihave found that this provides a sufficient frictional engagement between the cam member 22 and the shaft 29 to accomplish the normal intended operation of the device. intact, the slip connection thus provided will not. slip until a restraining torque is applied to the cam member 22' which is substantially three times the normal restraining torque effected by the switch. arm 30 and the coin controi member It will thus be seenthat irrespective of the. size or type of coins or slugs which may be deposited in the device, the twisting off of the shaft 29, the stripping of the gears in the reduction gear unit, and the burning out of the motor 88 as a result of the stalling of that motor are avoided.

- In the. foregoing description the timing disk '22: and. the location of the triggerengaging memhers 50 adapt the time period for each coin deposited for a 4-minute length of entertainment. The time period may be readily altered by substituting a. difierent timing disk 22 having notches 43 spaced at different intervals about its periphery; for example, the disk 22 may be substituted for by a disk containing four equally spaced notches to divide the total time period of rotation of the shaft 29 (12 minutes) into four intervals of three minutes each, or a disk 22 having two notches might be substituted dividing the time interval of twelve minutes into two periods of six minutes each. The hub H5 may be initially bored with a plurality of extra threaded holes distributed as shown in Fig. 8 so that upon the substitution of a timing disk 22 with a different number of notches a number of trigger engaging members 50 may be used in place of the three members 50 employed with a 3-notch disk. By properly locating the threaded bores I20, the hub may be. adapted for one, two, three or four equal divisions of the total time period of twelve minutes for each rotation of the shaft From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a sound reproducing system which is simple in construction and which may be readily and easily installed in substantially any desired location.

As has been pointed out hereinbefore, the device operates on a definite time principle whereby a customer is provided with'continuous entertainment over a number of uninterrupted time periods corresponding to the number of coins which are deposited in the coin unit.

Each and every one of the various contro stations operates independently of the other as regards the reproduction of entertainment at the. location of such control units but operates in a dependent manner with respect to the control or operation of the automatic phonograph unit.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin control unit for a sound reproducing system, the combination of: means defining a coin channel; control means including an operating member extending into said channel and. engageable by a coin in said channel to move said control means to an operating position; a. timing means including a. member movable in response to movement of said control means to an operating position for defining a time period of predetermined duration; means mounting said movable member in a position to be moved into engagement with said operating member to there'- by hold said control. means in said operating position until the expiration of said time period; movable stop means in said channel normally disposed in a. position to arrest said coin in a location engaging said operating member; and means on said stop means positioned to be engaged by said movable member before the ex.- piration of. said time period and move said stop means to a position permitting said coin to pass through said channel.

2. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coin chute for receiving a coin and. including a channel for guiding the coin along a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted for rotary movement and.

17 disposed adjacent said channel; means for rotating said disk at a predetermined speed to define intervals of time; a multi-pole switch biased to assume a normal position; a switch operating lever for moving said switch from the normal position to an intermediate position and to an extreme position; means mounting said lever adjacent said coin channel to dispose said lever in the path of a coin passing through said channel whereby the switch is moved to its extreme position by the coin; means actuated by said switch when in either its intermediate position or extreme position for actuating said disk rotating means; and lever engaging means on said disk for holding said lever in the extreme switch operating position for a predetermined interval of time measured by the rotation of said disk and for holding said lever in said intermediate switch operating position for another predetermined. interval of time measured by the rotation of said disk, said multiple switch including a plurality of circuit controlling contacts arranged to be actuated to one circuit controlling position when said switch is in said intermediate position and to be actuated to another circuit controlling position when said switch is in said extreme position.

3. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coin chute for receivin a coin and including a channel for guiding the coin along a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted for rotary movement and disposed adjacent said channel; means for rtating said disk at a predetermined speed to define intervals of time; an electric switch biased to assume a normal position; a switch operating lever for moving said switch from the normal position to an operating position upon movement of said lever; means mounting said lever adjacent said coin channel to dispose said lever in the path of a coin passing through said channel whereby the switch is moved to its operating position by the coin; means actuated by the movement of said switch operating lever for starting said disk rotating means; means on said disk engageable with said switch operating lever for holding said switch in operating position through a predetermined interval of rotation of said disk independent of the position of the coin; coin arresting mean disposed adjacent said channel and projecting therein to arrest a coin in switch operating position; and means on said disk for engaging said coin arresting means at some time within the interval of time measured by said disk for moving said arresting means out of the path of a coin prior to the expiration of said time interval.

4. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coin chute for receivin a coin and includin a channel for guiding the coin along a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted for rotary movement and disposed adjacent said channel; means for rotating said disk at a predetermined speed to define intervals of time; an electric switch biased to assume a normal position; a switch operating lever for moving said switch from the normal position to an operating position upon movement of said lever; means mounting said lever adjacent said coin channel to dispose said lever in the path of a coin passing through said channel whereby the switch is moved to its operating position by the coin; means actuated by the movement of said switch operating lever for starting said disk rotating means; means on said disk engageable with said switch operating lever for holding said switch in operating position through a predetermined interval of rotation of said disk independent of the position of the coin; coin arresting means disposed adjacent said channel and projecting therein to arrest a coin in switch operating position; means on said disk for engaging said coin arresting means at some time within the interval of time measured by said disk for moving said arresting means out of the path of a coin prior to the'expiration of said time interval; and means on said coin arresting means projectable into said channel above the position of a coin in switch operating position to engage and hold higher coin in said channel when the first coin is released by said arrestin means.

5. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coin chute for receiving a coin and includin a channel for guiding the coin along a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted for rotary movement and disposed adjacent said channel; means for rotating said disk at a predetermined speed to define intervals of time; a multi-pole electric switch including a plurality of contact bearing springs biased to assume a normally open position for at least two sets of its contacts; a switch operating lever for moving said switch springs from the normal position to an intermediate position closing at least one pair of its contacts, and to an extreme position closing all of its contacts; means mounting said lever adjacent said coin channel to dispose said lever in the path of a coin passing through said channel whereby the switch is moved to at least its intermediate position by the coin; means actuated by the closing of the said one pair of switch contacts for actuating the disk rotating means; and lever engaging means on said disk for actuating said lever to extreme switch operating position, said last named means including a portion for forcing the lever toward said switch operating position and another portion for holding said lever in said position during an interval of time measured by the rotation of said disk. WILLIAM S. FARRELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,864,649 Hansen June 28, 1932 2,097,456 Green Nov. 2, 1937