US2594422A - Fare register having photoelectric - Google Patents

Description

pl'll 29, 1952 A. M; GORDON 2,594,422

FARE REGISTER HAVING PRoToELEcTRIc FARE sENsING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 1 A TTORNEYS April 29, 1952 A. M. GORDON 2,594,422

FARE REGISTER HAVING PHOTOELEOTRIC f FARE SENSING MECHANISM HT TORNEYS.

VApril 29, 1952 A. M, GQRDON 2,594,422

FARE REGISTER HAVING PHOTOELECTRIC FARE SENSING MECHANISM Filed March 23, 1949 5 *Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. I IVeXa/ea/e M 60116/0141/ A T TORNEYS April 29, 1952 A. M. GORDON 2,594,422

FARE REGISTER HVNG PHOTOELECTRIC FARE SENSING MECHANISM Filed uarcn 23, 1949 5 shegts shee.4

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A INVENTOR. /eza/zv' M @afa/0a BY @www ATTORNEYS.

April 29, 1952 A M GQRDON 2,594,422

FARE REGISTER HAVIALG PHOTOELECTRIC FARE SENSING MECHANISM Filed March 23, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. .J7/49 Xander M @orda/z BY V A TTORNE Ys m M www M mam@ wwwwwm awww" www SWIM SQ E .Sv 1 sw www k Raw www \w .www

,www Smm Wk em Patented Apr. 29', 1.952.

lflUNi-Ti-:D STATES PATE-NT ff'oFFifcE FARE-REGISTER HAVING PHOTOELECTRIC 1 FARE vSENSINGrfMECHANISM j Alexander' M. Gordon, Providence, lR. I.,jas'sig'n`or to Max L. Grant; Providence, R. I.

Application March 23, 1949, serialNo; 83,066

v 4 Claims. 1 This 'in-ventionrelates to. aV machinafor'the collection and registering of fares on cars,Y busses and other Vehicles. l

.Machine'sfor collecting fares on pblic transportation vehicles .are usuallyn of` a construction such as-to register and totalize the coins or tokens deposited'therein. `It isiisualto provide mechanical means for accomplishing the desired functions of the machine.v Usuallysuchrv mechanical means are very intricate in operation and Vmust be of ahigh excellence of-precisiom thus costly to manufacture.

, Thev generalV` object of the Vyini/c 'rition is to provide a machine so constructedthat a(` plurality of coins and the like deposited,V therein will-be separated, identied, registered, totalizedfand sorted i as jto vkindhy mechanicall means electrically controlled vAnother object fof, '-this inventionis to Vprovide a VfareV collecting machine of such a` construction that a-multiple coinfare may be simultaneously 'depositedin the machine.

Another' #object lofrvthe invention is 1tor provide I a machine for collecting Afares offsuch a-con'strucmovement ofthecoins which are next inline.

*Another object ofI this invention. is to provide I a machine for collecting fares so constructed that a selective' audibly vdistinguishable tone will g -be sounded for each different coinor token` registered.

Anotherobject ofthls inventionfis'to provide in a `fare-'collecting machine means for` scavenging deformed coins. and foreign objectsthat would normally jam themachine.

4Another object of'this invention is to provide a fare' collecting'machine'ofv such "a' construction that acor'nple'te'fare; 'whchfmay'con'sist of a plurality of coinsortokens; will bel held spaced from each lotherr 'for' inspection.

Anotherobjectof the invention is Ito" provide -an electrical circltwhlch may be applied to'control the moving mechanism vin a-'i-fare-collec'ting machine.

Another object of the invention isy toprovide a photocell in afarefregisterfor identifying' the coins cfa" multiple fare.

fAnother o'loject`r of the -invention is to `provide 2 die moving mechanism in' ai 'fare iifoileciing' machine with an electrical.circuitf'cntrol Asofconstituted'as to cause a delayedaction 'to b'e'fhad Y ioaiipw' certain .branches "oftheeircuit tdlbecome stabilized.

With these vandother'objects in View. the "n- Vention consists fof certain novel. features of construction, .as will be I'more fully'.describedv and particularly vpointed out'in the f appended. claims.

In theu accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is` an elevational View of a farev collecting machine i mb'OdYing' my invention;

Fig. 2 is. a similar view showing theopposite sideof the machine;

sigle is aside'eievationai view of thelmaciiine; i Fig; 4A isan`elevational'vie`w of a. frgmental .p'ortionof the machine 'looking lin .'the'dirction of the arrows in line4 4;4'of'Fig. 3;

f Fig.'5 is a View similar to that shown Vin Fig. 4 but on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is-an'eleva'tional'view ofafragm'ental portion'of ythe'niachinel showing the counters and totalizer mechanism;

Fig."7'is a viewlof a .construction detail showing the relative position of'coins withr reference to a. scanning opening;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing acoin -in pof "siiin to be identified;

Fig. `9 isV a sectional lv'iew'akensubstantially lalongline 9- 9 of Fig. 1 onan enlarged scale;

' ig. 10 is aside elevational viewof asclenoid showingthe manner of attachingv the same to a Y movingelement of .the machine;

Fig. 1 1. is afviewY of the solenoid 'in' a'- different position than that shown in'Fig, 10;

Fig.Y 12'is an end vieWof thesolenoidlooking V in-the dlrectionfoithe' arrows on line l2-I2` of Fig. 10; and

l Fig..13' illustrates diagrammatioallyan' electrical V circuit for` controlling the (various mechanical functonsofthe' machine.

In proceeding withthe invention as applied to a `rn`ult`iple` three coin fare register, I p'rovide for each coin deposited intothemachine to be passed between' a f photocell! andthe rays of 'its""eiciter Vlamp rin a manner so4 asv to control the Yamount of light falling on thephotocell. To this," 'en`d ,l the rays. of the exciter lamp. are rn'ade l'to 'pass v.through a restricted openi'ngfa'nd' th'ecoins are A passed bforethe opening b'y means of a carriage .or.rotor. The'rotor has Vpocketsvi'lhich are' provided with the `walls designed fin such a manner vth'atfeachc'oin carried thereby 'will beheld/solas tololockV av portion of the exciter,lamprayslpassing. throughV the opening, thereby'varying the photocell conduction. In thepresent instance the pockets are so designed. that awdi'me I vvilfb'lock all the' light passing through lthe opening; a ynickel about onethird'and a token according. to itsparticular diameter. The amount' of curentfilowvchamber 38.

ing through the photocell is amplified by appropriate devices and through proper circuits is employed to operate and control the various motions of the machine whereby the multiple fare may be registered and sorted.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, designates generally a machine for collecting fares and comprises a body designated generally 2| which is provided with a mounting opening 22 at the lower end thereof. The body 2| is mounted upon a pedestal 23 having a base 24 from which there rises a column 25 that is adjustably secured in position, such as by means of screws 26. The

column 25 is provided with an annular recess 21- and is received in the opening 22 to engage with a shoulder 28 formed at the upper end of the opening 22. A'lcck plunger 29 which is manipulated by a lock device 38, the mechanism of which is not shown but which may be of any approved manufacture, extends into the recess 21 so as to prevent relative axial movements between the rbody 2| and the column 25 but to permit turning of the body on the column when desired.

The body 2| is made in two sections, a lower hollow section 3| and an upper cover section 32 which is removably secured to the lower section 3| by means of dowels 33 that project from the cover 32 and are received in openings 34 in the sidewalls 35 of the lower section 3| (see Fig. 9). The cover 32 may be locked in position if desired by means of a lock mechanism indicated generally 36 (Fig. l), the mechanism of which is not illustrated.

The cover 32 is provided with a coin slot 31 at the upper edge thereof through which a multiple coin or token fare to be collected may be simultaneously deposited to fall into a coin receiving and separating chamber 38, having a rear wall 39, side walls 49, 4| (Fig. 5)and a front transparent wall 42 (Fig. 9). The walls 39 and 42 extend generally parallel to each other and are inclined at an angle approximately 25 from the vertical. The rear wall 39 has a central opening 43 and elongated openings 44, which extend at a slight angle from the horizontal (see Figs. 1, 9). For convenience in manufacture these several walls areformed by separated plates which are secured to each other in any appropriate manner and are supported in position by side frames 49 `which vrise from the section 3| and are provided with foot portions 41 which rest on the upper edge 48 of the section 3| (see Fig. 5). Bolt and nut fastenings 49 secure the side frames in position on the section 3|. The walls of the chamber 38 are extended to form a second chamber 50 which is positioned immediately beneath the A restricted opening 5| extends between the lower portion of the chamber 38 and the upper portion of the chamber 50 for the passage of coins or tokens from the chamber 38 into .the chamber su.

4 -When a multiple coin or token fare is deposited into the chamber 38 the several coins or tokens are .separated and peel oi through gravityand v arrive at the opening 5| one at a time. This is accomplished .by means of interceptors 52, which in the instant disclosure are in the form of metal strips which extend through the openings 44 in the rear wall 39 to adjacent the front wall 42.

VThe interceptors 52 are inclined from the horizontal and provide tracks on which the coins will roll edgewise in a downward direction. At the lower' end extremity of each interceptor the side walls -4| are recessed as at 53, 54, providing a surface for guiding the coins from the upper interceptor 52 onto the lower interceptor 52 (Fig. 9). The side wall portion 55 adjacent the recess 54 is inclined downwardly towards the opening 5| providing a track for the coins to roll to the opening 5|. The interceptors 52 (Fig. 9) are secured to a plate 5B such as being welded thereto as at 51. rIhe plate 55 is yieldingly supported in spaced relation with the rear wall 39 by means of pins 58 which project from the rear wall 39 through and beyond the plate 55. The free ends of the pins are provided with abutments 59 retained on the pins by means of ring fastenings 89. Spacing collars 3| encircle the pins between the rear wall 39 and the plate 55. Compression springs 5|a encircle the pins between the plate 58 and the abutments 59 to yieldingly hold the plate against the collars 6|. A central ,transparent elongated button 32-is secured to the plate 53, such as by means of a ring fastening 53.. The button extends from the plate 55 through the opening 43 in the rear wall 39 and through a similar aligned opening 55 in the transparent front wall 42. Should it so happen that a coin or coins become wedged between the front and rear wall 39, 42, the button may be pushed to move the interceptors' back and forth to loosen such jammed coins. A lamp 55 may be positioned at the lower edge of the button to illuminate the same.

In order that a token or coins be gauged or identified to be properly registered, an identification station, designated generally 61 (see Figs. 4, 5, 8 and 9) is provided, and comprises providing the rear wall 39 of chamber 50 with a scanning aperture 68 at a location directly beneath the opening 5|. A photocell G9 is mounted to be in position directly in front of the aperture 88 and is properly shielded by a closure 69a. An excitor lamp 10 is mounted at the opposite side of the aperture 88 in such a manner that the rays thereof will project through the aperture onto the photocell. The photocell 89 and lamp 19 are mounted in position by means of a bracket 1| (Fig. 9) which is substantially U-shape providing an arm 12 which carries'contacts 13 properly apertured to receive the end portions of the photocell and insulated from the arm 12 by insulation 14. The other arm 15 extends on the opposite side of the wall 39 and carries a socket 16 for receiving the lamp 18 and an insulated contact carrying bar 11. The bracket 1| is secured in place, such as by means of screws 18 (Fig. 4). A rotor 19 having a central mounting opening 88 is provided with a plurality of similar recesses 8| opening into the peripheral edge of the rotor.

A transparent disk 82 of a diameter substantially that of the rotor is positioned to engage the rotor and forms with the walls of the recesses 8| coin receiving pockets 83 which may be moved into register with the scanning aperture 88. The bottom edge of each pocket 83 when in register with the scanning aperture E8 is directly in line with the lower edge thereof (see Fig. '1). The walls of the pockets are so shaped that different size coins and the like lodging therein will block a portion of the light passing through the aperture 68 in accordance with the diameter of the coin lodged in the pocket 83 in register with the scanning aperture.

By way of example' (see Fig. 7) a dime, indicated 84, will block substantially all light passing through the aperture 68, a nickel, indicated 85.

w'11). The disk |88 is provided |05 projecting from the disk about one-third, and a token fare 99 according to the particular diameter thereof.

The rotor 19 is iixed to a rotatable cylindrical support-81 (see Figs. 9, 10). The support is provided `at one end extremity thereof with radially extending ratchet-like teeth 38. The other end of the support 81 is reduced in diameter in step lformation providing a neck portion 89. a spindle 98, andshoulders 9|, 92. The neck portion 89 is journalled in a bearing openingT 93 in the rear wall 39 with the shoulder 9| abutting against Ythe stock about the bearing opening 93 on the rear side of the wall 39. The neck 89 is of a length slightly greater than the thickness of the rear wall 39. A spacing and retaining collar94 encircles the spindle 98 and extends about the edges of the opening 93 on the front side of the rear wall 39.A The spindle extends through the opening-30 -(Fig. 9) in the rotor 19 and through a similar aligned opening in the transparent disk 382 which is providedwith an annular recess 9&5 (Fig. 10) in which is positioned a reinforced disk `96. Screws 91 extend through the disk 95, the 'rotor 19, the collar 94, and threadingly engage the support 81. Thus the support 91 is rotatably mounted by the rear wall 39 and the rotor 19 fastened thereto so as to move therewith.

Thesupport 81 may be moved to index a pocket Yin register'with the scanning aperture 69 in any 'suitable manner.

In the instant disclosure, a solenoid 98 'is provided. The solenoid 98 is of a Vconstruction whereby the linear movement of the vcore 99 thereof is vtransferred to rotary motion.

This-is-accomplished by means of a cam disk |89 which -is made fast to the core 99 (see Figs. 16, with a plurality of equally spaced recesses with inclined bottom walls. e Similarly spaced recesses 92 are provided von'the adjacent side of the solenoid in alignment -circumferentially with the recesses 59| but with the bottom walls thereof inclined in the opposite direction. A spherical member |83 is positioned -to engagethe walls of a recess i 9| in the disk and the walls of an adjacent recess |82 in the sole noidbody. Upon the solenoid 98 being activated the pull of the core 99 will cause the disk |89 to ride on the spherical'member |33 in a helical `fashion, thereby partially turning the core S9 about its axis. The core 99 is moved in the opposite direction by means of a yielding force which may take the form of a pull spring |94 (see Fig. l2),y one end of which is anchored to a pin |90 and the other end anchored to a suitable support |96 by means of `a screw |81.

l The opposite end of the core 98 extends beyond the end of the solenoid body and is provided with Va ratchet wheel I 33 which engages with the teeth 88 on the member 81, whereupon axial and rotary movement of the core 99 will move the -wheel |88 in engagement with the teeth 31 and turn'or index the rotor 19. The solenoid is atk'.tached to the wall 39 by means of brackets' |99 f fixed to the solenoid 99 such as by screw and'nut `fastening, H8 and to the wall 39 by a similar .fastening I l.

Coins deposited in the chamber 38 will, asjpre- Vvlously described, arrive at the opening one at a time and drop into an empty pocket 83 in register with the scanning aperture 68 to be gauged or identified by the photocell B9 which controls an 3, and ||4 which-extend through the wa'll 33 of the chamber 50. These openings are arranged 'in a progressive order with the smaller of the openings positioned to -be first in line to be passed by a coin in a pocket 83. The diameter of the openings are such that the smaller opening |2 will permit a dime but not a larger coin to i'all therethrough and the opening ||3 a nickel 'but not a larger coin. Each opening is provided with a conduit H5, H6, ||1 respectively, which extends to a separate compartment H8, ||9, and |20 respectively in the lower section 3| ofthe machine. Each compartment Ais provided with a swinging closure |2| hingedlysecured in place as at |22 to be swung'inwardly whereby coins guided into the compartments maybe taken from the compartments through an opening |23 inthe section '3| opposite each'closure |2|.

Each coin or token gaugedris registered. To

`this end a mechanical operable counter, which in the present disclosure is a well-known iive digit rotary counter |24, is provided for the coins and a similar counter |25 is provided for the tokens. The counter |24 is mounted between brackets "I 26, |21 with the shaft |28 thereof journaled in vsuitable openings in the brackets. One end of the shaft |28 is provided with a ratchet wheel |29. A solenoid |39 which is identical in construction to the indexing solenoid 98 above described is mounted by the bracket |21 with the ratchet wheel I3! thereof in line to be moved into engagement with the ratchet wheel |29 to index the counter for each nickel gauged.

In the present instance, the other end |32 of the shaft |28 is provided with a similarratchet wheel |33 which is engaged and turned by a simiiar solenoid |34 having a ratchet wheel |35 movable into engagement with the wheel |33. The solenoid |34 is provided with sufficient movement to index the first digit wheel |36 two divisions, thus providing for indexing of dimes.

The counter |25 for the tokens is also mounted between the brackets |26, |21 and the shaft |31 thereof is also provided with a ratchet wheel |38 ,which is engaged and turned by the ratchet wheel |39 on the solenoid |49 which is also similar in construction to those above described. Each solenoid is biased to the inactive position by means of pull springs 4|, |32, and |43 attached at one end to the solenoid |39, |34, and |49 respectively. The other ends of the springs are attached to the brackets |28, |21by means of pins |44, |45, and |46 'projecting therefrom. The side of the section 32, as seen in Fig. 2, is provided with a window |43 through which the counter |24 may be viewed and a window |49 through which the counter |25 may be viewed.

A mutilated coin may be deposited in the machine and in order toprevent such a coin, or other foreign articles, from jamming the machine,'a scavenger plate |58 is provided (see Figs. 5 and 9). The plate |53 is locatedin the plane of the wall 39 and is attached to the plate 55 in vspaced relation therewith to move therewith by means of a spacingcollar |5| and a screw |52. When'ainutilated coin or other foreign article is deposited in the machine the operator will see the `same through the opening |53 in the cover, whereupon the button 62 may be pushed to Ypermit the mutilated coin o1` foreign articles to drop into a chute or conduit |54 leading to a drawer |55 in the lower section 3| of the machine.

The electric circuit for operating the fare collecting machine above described'is indicated generally'l'l (see Figure 13). The photo-cellr'p'roof greater value so as vate a specic solenoid, which in turn operates the particular counter to register the value of the coin gaged.

A coin lodging into the rotor pocket 83 in the manner previously described interrupts some or vall of the light from the exciter lamp 18 falling on the cathode of the cell 89. This reduces the 4 ilowof current in the closed circuit comprising themcell 89, potential source |18 and photo-cell load resistor |11. rThe reduced iiow of current reduces the voltage across the load resistor |11, which is shunted across the anode of the cell 89 Aandthe positive of the potential |18 and reduces the negative voltage applied to the grid of the photo-cell amplier tube |19. The grid of tube |19 is connected to the negative of potential |88,

, the positive of which potential is connected to the anode of the photo-cell 89. The plate of tube |19 through lead |8| is connected to the positive of potential |82, the negative of which potential is connected through lead |83, contacts |84 of relay |85, lead |86 to junction point |81, thence through resistor |88 and junction point |89 to the cathode of tube |19. The potential |98 places a bias on the grid of tube |19 so that under static conditions, as when there is no coin in front ol the scanning aperture 88, the tube |19 will not pass any current. Thus there is no drain through tube |19 from the potential |82.

The voltage appearing across resistor |88 is applied in a positive direction to the grids of amplier tubes |98, |9|, |92, |93, and |94 through the potentials |95, the positives of which potentials connect through lead |98 to junction point |89. The potentials |95vcomprise a C battery providing taps at various points to provide differ ent xed values of negative bias voltage to each of the grids of the ampliers |99 to |94 respectively. Thus, the amplified voltage across resistor..

|88 is applied in series with xed negative bias voltages to the grids of tubes |98 to |99. The voltage across resistor |88 opposes the fixed bias voltages on the tube grids. The xed bias voltages on these tubes cut off or beyond, such that a signal voltage made by a coin or token interrupting the least light falling on the photo-cell 89 will produce a signal voltage only sufficient to overcome the negative bias voltage of tubes |98, |9| whereupon these.

two tubes will be conductive of current to operate the relays associated therewith, there being a relay for each amplifier tube. A coin of smaller diameter (a nickel) will interrupt more light falling on photo-cell 89 and produce a signal of greater value than a token which signal will overcome the bias voltage of tubes |98, |9|, and .|92 and place these three tubes |99, |9|, and |92 in current conductive condition. A penny or cent being of a smaller diameter than a nickel will interupt a greater amount of light falling on the photo-cell so as to produce a signal voltage to overcome the bias voltage of tubes |98, |9|, |92, and |93 so as to place these four tubes in current conductive condition. The signal voltage made by a dime, the smallest of the coins, will be of the greatest value and overcome the negative bias of all the amplier tubes |98 to |94 respectively so that all the tubes -w1l1 conduct currenttherethroush, For simare suicient to keep them plicity, the connections from a power source for heating the filaments of the amplier tubes have not been shown. Y

The cathodes of amplifiers |98 to |99 respectively are connected through a common lead l|91 to junction point |81. The plates of tubes |98 to |98 are connected to the terminals |99 to 282 inclusive to the relays 283 to 281 respectively. The terminal |98 is connected through a lead 288, capacitor 289, lead 2 |8, normally closed contacts 2| thence through junction point 2l2, lead '2|3 to terminal 2|4 of relay 283. A capacitor 2|5 is shunted across the terminals |98 and 2|8 of relay 283. The terminal |98 is also connected through a lead 216, resistor 211 to normally open contact 218.` Y

The terminal 2|8 of relay 288 is connected through lead 2|1, junction point 218 to normally closed contacts 2|9, 223 of relay 285, thence through relay holding capacitor 22|, lead 222, junction point 223 and lead 228 to terminal |99 Terminal |99 is connected through lead 224|, junction point 223 and resistor 225 to normally open contact 228 of relay 235. Terminal 221 of relay 285 is similarly connected through lead 228, junction point 229 to closed contacts 238, 23| of relay 289, thence through relay holding capacitor 232, junction point 233 and lead 234 to terminal 289 of relay 285. Terminal 288 is connected through lead 234, junction point 233, resistor 234 to contact 235 of relay 28B. Terminal 239 of relay 285 is also similarly connected through lead 231, junction point 238 to normally closed contacts 239, 248 of relayA 281, thence through capacitor 24|, junction point 2:22 and lead 243 to terminal 28 I. Terminal 28| is connected throughA lead 243, junction 282, resistor 288 to contact 285.

The terminal 249 of relay 281 is connected through lead 241 to a tie point 283, normally closed contacts 289, 258 of relay 281, thence to a tie point 25|, closed contacts 252, 253 of relay 285, lead 254 to a tie point 255, closed contacts 253, 251 of relay 295 and lead 258 to junction 2|8. A lead 259 extends from tie point 255 to junction 229 and a similar lead 288 extends from tie point 25| to junction 239. A capacitor 29| is shunted across terminal 292 and 289,01" relay 281.

-A lead 282 extends from junction point 299 to junction point 2|2, thence through contacts of switch 263, lead 259, and contacts of switch 265 to the positive of potential |82. A

The index and counter solenoids 98, |89, |39, and |34 of the apparatus are placed in a branch circuit designated generally 288 with the terminals 28|, 282, 283, and 288 thereof, respectively, connected to a common lead 285 extending to the normally closed contacts 288, through lead 281 to the terminal 289 of a potential source 289. The other terminal 298 of the potential 289 extends through lead 29| to the contacts of switch 292, thence through junction 293, lead 298 through normally open contacts 295 of relay 283 to common lead 298 connecting to normally open contacts 291, 298, and 299, of relays 298, 285, and 281, respectively. The terminals 389, 38|, 382, and 383 of solenoids 99, |88, |38, andl |34, respectively, are connected to the contacts 295, 291, 298, and 299 of relays 283, 284, 285, and 281, respectively. A capacitor and resistor designated generally as 295A are shunted across contacts 295 to suppress the sparking of the same.

The terminal 388 of'a buzzer 385 is connected through lead 398, normally open contacts 381, lead 388 to junction 293... The terminal 389 is connected through lead 8|8 tol normally open.

contactf3|`| of relay 206. An indicator lamp 3|2 is shlinted*across the terminals 304 and-`305 of conneote'dfin shunt with the `solenoid l 46 through i leads 3|4, 3|5. Similar sounding devices SIS and 3|1 are similarly connected to the solenoids |90, |34 through leads 3|3, 3|9, and 320, 32|, respectively, whereuon the energizing of a counter solenoid will'siinilarlyenergize the sounding device associated therewith.

Relay |85 is connected through lead 322 to terminal 288 and through lead 323 to exciter lamp 10, thence through lead 324 to switch 292, thus placing the relay |85 in series with the exciter lamp, upon failure of which the relay |85 will become de-energized to open contacts IM and disconnect plate voltage to all tubes. c

The index solenoid 98 is mechanically linked to switch 265 by means of a cam 219 which is fixed to rotate with the shaft 99 of the solenoid 98 (see Figures 9 and 10).

Fixed bias voltages provided by potential source |95 on tubes |98, |9|, |92, |93 and |94 are sulicient to keep them at out off or beyond. These tubes conduct enough to operate the relays 209, 204, 205, 206, and 201, respectively, only when the voltage across resistor |88 is suflicient to cancel the bias voltage. Tubes |90 and I'9I require at least the signal produced by a token to operate their respective relays. They will, however, also operate for all smaller coins and to prevent misregistration the contacts 256, 251 of relay 205, contacts 252, 253 of relay 206, contacts 244 of relay 201 are interconnected so as to provide an interlock system. For example, the signal produced by a nickel will operate in turn relay 204 and 205, but as soon as relay 205 operates, normally closed : contacts 256, 251 open, disconnecting the plate supply voltage from potential source |82 to tube I 9|, causing relay 204 to be de-energized and the contacts 291 to return to their normally open position before relay 203 operates after an interval by reason of the capacitor 209 connected in shunt across its coil. When relay 203 operates after the delay period, contacts 295 close, causing index solenoid 98, nickel solenoid |30, and nickel bell solenoid 3|6 to be energized and operated simultaneously, effecting registration of the nickel and indexing of rotor in position to receive another coin.

Energizing of solenoid 9S will open the switch 265 which is normally closed. With the switch 265 open, no conduction of current will be had through tube |19 and solenoid 98 will operate to index rotor 19 and then mechanically return to initial position and close switch 295 to again place tube |19 in current conducting condition. Also upon the opening of switch 265 relays 203 to 201, inclusive, will be disconnected from source |82; however, the charged capacitor 232 will discharge through closed contacts 230, 23| and lead 228 to coil of relay 265 to hold the same energized to operate, as above stated, simultaneously with the index solenoid 93.

Upon energizing of the relays 295, 298, and 291, the contacts 226, 245, and 249 will close and provide paths for the discharge of the capacitors 22|', 232, and 24|, through resistors 225, 234, and 245.

The buzzer 395 and lamp 3|2 are provided as a means for indicating to the operator the depositing of a penny into the machine, and this operates in a manner similar to that described above for the nickel through the tube |93 and 10 its relay 206. The signal produced by the penny will energize the relay 206 to open contacts 286 and close contacts 3||, thereby connecting one side of bell and buzzer to potential 289. Upon the operation of relay 203, contacts 301 will close, energizing Ythe buzzer 305 and lamp 3|2 through potential 289, the index solenoid being prevented from operating through the nowV open 'con'- tact 286.` Also'upon the operation of -relay 1203,

contacts'218 will'be'closed, providing a path for the discharge of Ycapacitor 209 through theresistor 2.11. Upon the de-energizing of relay 203. the contact 218 will be open through mechanical means, not shown, placing the capacitor discharge circuit again into condition to provide the delay action for the relay 203.

The entire circuit is opened by manually operated switches 292 and 203 which are mechanically linked together.

I claim:

1. A fare registering machine comprising a casing, means in said casing operable for registering a multiple fare deposited therein, an electric circuit for controlling said means, said casing having an aperture therein, a photocell in said circuit positioned on one sideof said aperture, an exciter lamp positioned on the other side of said aperture whereby the rays of said exciter lamp will pass through said aperture and fall on said photocell, a carrier for moving a fare in register with said aperture comprising a plate having generally V-shape notches in its edge providing pockets for receiving and supporting a fare at varying distances in said V pockets in accordance with the diameter thereof to vary the eifective light transmitting area of said aperture according to the size of the fare in register therewith to said photocell, a plurality of electronic valves responsive to various degrees of conduction of said photocell, each valve operating a counting solenoid.

2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier is a rotor having a plurality of equally spaced coin receiving pockets opening in the periphery thereof.

3. In a machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rotor is indexed by means of a solenoid, said solenoid being responsive to the operation of a counting solenoid.

i A fare registering machine comprising a casing having a multiple fare receiving chamber therein, a gauging station to gauge individual parts of the fare according to the diameter thereof, said station comprising a well having an aperture therein, a photocell positioned on one side of said aperture, an exciter lamp positioned on the other side of said aperture, a carrier for moving individual parts of the fare between the rays of the lamp and the photocell, said carrier comprising a plate having a plurality of V-shape notches therein providing pockets for receiving a fare, said pocket edges being uniformly angled to hold specific diameter fares at the same relative position in each pocket, said fare partially blocking the rays of the lamp falling on the photocell in accord with its diameter to vary the effective light transmitting area of said aperture according to the fare in register therewith, and means for registering the individual parts comprising a plurality of solenoids responsive to degrees of conduction of said photocell, each solenoid operating a registering counter.

ALEXANDER M. GORDON.

(References on following page) 1 1 REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the le of thls patent. 9721449 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,237,132 Number Name Date 2366882 1,096,171 Johnson May 12, 1914 1,355,873 Whistler Oct. 19, 1920 Number 1,722,751 JODGS July 30, 1929 lo 790,265 1,894,071 Thompson J an. 10, 1933 Name Date Thompson Feb. 7, 1933 Frankford Oct. 24, 1933 Johnson Sept. 4, 1934 Christensen Apr. 1, 1941 Thompson Jan. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Nov. 16, 1935

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