US2642496A - Telephone pay station coin box system - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1953 JyR. DEWARl TELEPHONE PAY STATION COIN Boxa SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1950 PORT/0N 0F C ORD C/RCI//T Cow COLLECTO/P R .H Mw w WM s 2 Vw mm z 7; 1.12.5 .J M rlLr. d .I.. NN N n Mm M W m .cnr P causer Ren/mv cn/H750 av cal/v HTTOR/VEY wherein five cent coins will be rejected;

Patented June 16, 1953 TELEPHONE PAY STATION lCOIN BOX SYSTEM J ames Ross Dewar, Rochester, N. Y.

Application February 16, 1950, Serial No. 144,540

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a telephone pay sta-- tion together with means 'controlled from a remote point, for collecting or refunding coins.

In telephone pay stations, it is customary to provide a coin box having a quarter dollar coin slot, a dime `coin slot and a ve cent coin slot.

These coin slots open into coin chutes which lead to mechanism whereby the coins can be collected or refunded under control from ya distant point; It has long been the practice for a person desiring to initiate a call from av telephone pay station, to drop a coin into one of the -slot-s in the pay station coin box, in order to signal the telephone operator or to obtain access to automatic switching 'equipment whereby a call can be extended. -A five cent coin has frequently been used for this purpose because the usual charge for a local pay station call, has been ve cents. However, because of rising costs, many telephone companies have been forced to increase the charge for such local calls, to ten cents. Under this changed economic condition, it becomes necessary to use a ten cent coin or the equivalent, to signal the telephone operator or to gain access to the yautomatic switching equipment. However, the five cent coin slot cannot be permanently closed because five cent coins must be collected together with twentyve cent coins and ten cent coins in paying the toll charges on telephone calls other than local calls.

In accordance with a main feature of the present invention, provision is made for rejecting vfive cent coins until the toll operator or automatic means has selectively `actuated mechanism at the pay station in order to collect five cent coins along with other coins which are necessary to pay for the telephone call.

A further feature of the invention relates to a simple modification in present apparatus whereby th'e thousands of pay stations now in use can be modified with a minimum change in the existing equipment to comply with the new charges so that the expense of modifying existing pay stations can be kept at a minimum and new pay station coin boxes can be manufactured without a substantial increase in cost.

'Ihe various other features :and advantages `of this invention will appear from the detailed description and claims when taken with the drawf ings in which: f

Fig. 1 shows a portion of ya pay station coin added apparatus lshown in its normal condition 1 1916. to fall -on ya coin abeyance trap I3 (Fig. 2), it

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the apparatus is in its operated condition to accept five cent coins and the coin hopper and related mechanism have been indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 `of Fig. 1;`

Fig. 4 is ya sectional view of a fragment of the coin chute structure taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating certain portions of a manual telephone line .and a related pay station together with a portion of an operators cord circuit including means for selectively operating the pay station mechamsm.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a coin box generally designated 5. This box is provided yat its top with coin guides or slots l6, 'I and 8 in which twenty-five cent coins, ten cent coins and five cent coins, respectively, can be inserted. Each of these coin slots yopens into an individual chute for its respective coin. The general arrangement of these coin chutes 9, Ill and II, is more fully disclosed in the patent to Long, 1,206,507, granted November 28, These ycoin chutes lead to a hopper I2 being understood that this trap can be operated electrically from Ia remote point in keeping with conventional telephone practice.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made so that a five cent coin will be automatically rejected when a coin of higher denomination is necessary to initiate a call. It will be understood that conventional coin boxes have their respective coin chutes tilted at such an angle to the vertical (Fig. 3) that Islugs or coins of improper size will fall sideways out of the respective coin chutes, into a return chute (not shown) so that they will be automatically rejected. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, ya portion from a to b (Figs. r1 and 2) of the wall of a conventional five cent coin chute II is removed so that a five cent coin can tip sidewise therethrough and fall yinto the mentioned return chute. In order, that a five cent coin can be accepted Ywhen it is necessary to complete a given toll charge, there is Vprovided a gate I5 pivoted at I6 on a wall ofthe chute. This gate is provided with a flange I1 which in its operated position, completes the five cent coin chute, so that a coin will be guided along this chute rather than to fall outside thereof, to the return chute. The gate I5 is normally held by a spring I8 in its upper or coin-rejecting position (Fig. 1). However when it is desired to accept a five cent coin, the gate I5 is drawn to its lower or coin-accepting position as shown in Fi-g. 2. The gate I5 is moved to this lower position by the energization of the magnet I9, the armature of which is connected by `a link 2l to a lug 22 on the gate.

Although the coin box of the present invention is equally well adapted for use with the pay station of a manual telephone line or with the pay station of an automatic telephone line, it is herein illustrated in connection with a manual telephone line although the invention is not so limited.

The operation of the present invention will best be understood by reference-to Fig..5, wherein there is diagrammatically illustrated a pori tion of a manual telephone system. Let it be assumed that the party at the pay station desires to make a call. He drops a dime into the slot 'I, from which the coin rolls Vinto the hopper I I2 and on to the coin trap I3. After depositing ated and at its armature and front contact, closes a lighting circuit for the line lamp 29 at the operators position. The operator then inserts the plug P of her cord circuit into the jack J of the calling line. The sleeve relay 30 of the cord circuit and the cut-off relay 2B of the line are energized in series, the cut-ofi relay serving to release the line relay which extinguishes the line lamp. 'Ihe operators head-set (not shown) is connected to the cord circuit in use and she inquires for the number of the wanted line. If the call is a local call, the calling line is extended in the usual way and at the end of the conversation the coin is collected in the con- Yrelay 28, to ground. The line relay is thus operventional manner by well-known means (notshown).

If on answering the call, the operator learns that the call is a toll call, she actuates the coin return'key 3I. This operates the money relay 33, and applies -110 volt current from key 37, front contact and armature of relay 33, over the tip sides of the cord and of the line, winding of the polarized relay 28, to ground. Relay 28 now operates to tilt the coin trap I3 in a'direction to return the deposited coin. Also when the coinreturn key 31 is operated, the -110 volt current is applied over a portion of the circuit already described, thence through conductor 38, cathode 39 and starter anode 40 of the unidirectional cold cathode tube, resistor 4I, to ground. This tube breaks down and through its main anode 42, conducts current through the low resistance winding of magnet I9, to ground. This magnet is then energized and at its upper armature and of the telephone line. Also when the magnet I9, is energized it attracts its armature 20 which acts through link 2I to pull the gate `I5 into its lower positionv shown in Fig. 2. The operator now instructs the calling partyas to the amount of money to deposit for the toll charge.

If this charge requires a ve cent coin, this coin with others will be deposited in the proper slots of the coin box. With the gate I5 operated, the deposited five cent coin cannot fall into the return chute, but instead will pass on to the coin trap I3. At the close of the conversation, the toll operator actuates the coin collect key 32. The actuation of key 32 completes-aV circuit for relay 33, which extends +110 volt current from this key, through theV armature and front contact of relay 33, through the tip sides of the cord circuit and of the telephone line, through the contacts 24, winding of the polarized relay 28, to

ground. The polarized relay attracts the coinl trap I3 in a direction to collect the coin. It should be pointed out that when +110 volt current is applied through the cord circuit, to the calling telephone line, the unidirectional tube does not pass enough current to release the magnet I9. Consequently the gate I5 will be retained in the position to accept additional ve cent coins. l

When the calling party hangs up, the answering supervisory and battery feed relay 33, which has been energized during conversation, releases. This lights a disconnect lamp (not shown). The operator on noting this lamp, disconnects the plug P from the jack J, which restores all of the equipment to its normal condition.

What I claim is:

1. In a telephone pay station, a coin box having slots of different sizes respectively to receive coins of diierent denominations including a ve cent coin, a support selectively operable to collect or to refund coins thereon, means for selectively operating said support, a coin chute leading from each slot to said support, mechanism associated with the five cent coin chute for normally diverting five cent coins therefrom before their arrival at said support, and means selectively. actuated from a remote point for operating said mechanism to accept ve cent coins.

2. In a telephone pay station, a coin box having slots of diierent sizes respectively to receive coins of different denominations including a ve cent coin, a support selectively operable to collect or refund coins thereon, means for selectively'operating said support, a coin chute leading from each slot to said support, mechanism associated with the five cent coin chute for normally rejecting ve cent coins before their arrival at said support, and means selectively actuated from a remote point for operating said contact, locks itselfioperated over the ring side mechanism to accept ve cent coins.

'3. In a telephone pay station, a coin box having slots of diierent sizes respectively to receive coins of diierent denominations including a tive cent coin, a support selectively operable to collect or to refund coins thereon, means for selectively operatingsaid support, a guide from eachV slot leading to said support, the guide for a liveA cent coin being inclined laterally with respect to the 'vertical and having an` incomplete portion in its Y under lateral wall whereby a ve cent coin will tipl therethrough to a reject location, and mechanism normally ineffective vbut movable to a position to complete said lateral wall wherebya five `cent coin will be accepted and will advance to said support, and means 4selectively operated from a remote point for moving said mechanism. to a position to complete said lateralwall of the guide.

4. In a telephone pay station, a coin box having slots of diiTerent sizes respectively to receive coins ofdiferent denominations including a five cent coin, a coin chute fromeach slot leading to a place from which the coins can be selectively collected or refunded at will, the chute for a live cent coin being inclined laterally with respectl to the vertical andhaving a portion of the under lateral wall thereof incomplete whereby a ve cent coin can tip therethrough to a reject location, a normally retracted gate movable in a path generally parallel to said lateral wall to a position to complete said wall whereby a five cent coin will not be rejected but will mov-e to said place, and

p means selectively operated from a remote point kfor moving said gate to a position to complete said lateral wall of the chute.

5. In a telephone pay station system, a coin box having slots of different sizes respectively to receive coins of different denominations including a ve cent coin, a coin chute from each slot leading to a place from which the coins can be selectively collected or refunded at will, the chute for a five cent coin being inclined laterally with respect to the vertical and having a portion .of the under lateral wall thereof incomplete whereby a five cent coin can tip therethrough to a reject location, a gate normally ineiective but movable to a position to comp-lete saidlateral Wall whereby a five cent coin will be accepted and will move to said place, means including a magnet for moving said gate to a position to complete said lateral wall, and means including a source of current of a given polarity at a remote point for operating said magnet at will.

5. In a telephone pay station system, a coin box having slots of diiferent sizes respectively to receive coins of different denominations including a five cent coin, a coin chute from each slot lead*- ing to a place from which the coins can be selec'- tively collected or refunded at will, the chute for a five cent coin being inclined laterally with respect to the vertical and having a portion of the under lateral wall thereof incomplete whereby a five cent coin can tip therethrough to a reject location, a gate normally retracted but movable to a position to complete said lateral Wall whereby a ve cent coin will be accepted and will move to said place, means including a magnet for moving said gate to a position to complete said lateral wall, a circuit including a uni-directional current device for controlling the operation of the magnet, a source of current of a given polarity at a remote point, and means at the remote point and operated under predetermined conditions for lconnecting said source in said circuit.

7. In a telephone system, a telephone line provided with a pay station having a coin box equipped with slots of different sizes respectively to receive coins of diierent denominations including a five cent coin, a coin chute from each slot leading to a place from which the coins can be selectively collected or refunded at will, means including the ve cent coin chute for normally diverting a iive cent coin to a reject location, mechanism including a magnet for conditioning said means to allow a ve cent coin to proceed to said place, a circuit including a uni-directional current device for controlling the operation of the magnet, said uni-directional device including a cathode, a starter ranode and a main anode, a source of current of a given polarity at a remote point, means at the remote point selectively operated for connecting said source in said circuit, and a locking circuit for said magnet including at least a portion of said telephone line.

8. In a telephone system, a telephone line provided with a pay station having a coin box equipped with slots of different sizes respectively to receive coins of different denominations including a ve cent coin, a coin chute from each slot leading to a place from which the coins can be selectively collected or refunded at will, the chute for a ve cent coin being inclined laterally with respect to the vertical and having a portion of the under lateral wall thereof incomplete whereby a ve cent coin can tip therethrough to a reject location, a gate movable to a position to complete said lateral wall whereby a ve cent coin will be accepted and will move to said place, means including a magnet for moving said gate to a position to complete said lateral wall, a circuit inciuding a uni-directional current device for controlling the operation of the magnet, said uni' directional device including a cathode, a starter anode and a main anode, a source of current of a given polarity at a remote point, means at the remote point selectively operated at will for connecting said source in said circuit, and a locking circuit for said magnet including a portion of said telephone line. y Y

9. In a telephone pay station, a coin box hav- Y ing slots of different sizes respectively to receive coins of different denominations including a five cent coin, a coin chute leading downward from each slot, a coin hopper into which said chutes discharge their coins, a selectively operable coin abeyance trap to which coins are delivered by said hopper, means for operating said trap, mechanism associated with the five cent coin chute for normally diverting a five cent coin therefrom prior to its arrival at said hopper, and means actuated from a remote point for operating said mechanism to enable a five cent coin to travel along the rive cent coin chute to said coin hopper.

JAMES ROSS DEWAR.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,312,680 Stone Mar. 2, 1943 2,327,154 Osborne Aug. 17, 1943 2,370,239 Friend Feb. 27, 1945' 2,375,066 Avery Aug. 1, 1945 2,509,477 Carson May 30, 1950 2,555,486 Harris June 5, 1951

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