US2687793A - Coin-controlled actuating device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1954 R. J. GALLAGHER ETAL Filed Jan. 11, 1950 QUARTER 5 Sheets-Sheet l .LINE

"P I9 20 ILITE Q 34 fi 29 :CKI

l l I 24 2| I6 v22 I I I U1 5 H 33 I "T'- J flr-a INVENTORs. RAY JOHN GALLAGHER THOMAS E CASSIDY JR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 R. J. GALLAGHER ETAL 2,687,793

COIN-CONTROLLED ACTUATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1950 IN VEN TORS. RAY JOHN GALLAGHER THOMAS F CASSIDY JR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 R. J. GALLAGHER ET AL 2,637,793

COIWCONTROLLED ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. RAY JOHN GALLAGHER THOMAS F. CASSIDY JR.

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Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENIT OFFICE accrues COIN-CONTROLLED ACTUATING DEVICE Ray John Gallagher, River Forest, and Thomas F. Cassidy, Jr., Evanston, 111., assignors to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Qhicago,

a. co por on of l war Application January 11, 1950, $erial No. 137,991 7 Claims. (Cl. 1941-9) This invention relate in general to coin controlled actuating devices and more particularly to coin controlled actuating devices which require more than a single coin of a given denomination to effect actuation.

One form of a device embodying our invention is particularly adapted to telephone paystations wherein it is desired to require an increased basic rate for actuation. This particular embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

An objector this invention is to provide means necessitating the deposit of two coins or a given denomination before the device is actuated.

Another object is to prevent actuation of the device by a single nickel but to require the deposit of at least ten cents for actuation.

In keeping with the above objects of the invention it is a further object to provide a purely mechanical means necessitating deposit of two coins of the given denominational value for actuation. Still anotherobject of the invention is toprovide a simple, effective and inexpensive means for accomplishing the objects enumerated above which is readily adaptable to conversion of existing telephone paystations and yet being of such sound principe as to be capable of incorporation into an entirenewly designed telephone paystation.

These and other objects and features of the invention Will be more particularly pointed out in the ensuing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an isometric view of the coin controlled actuating device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved coin operated actuating trigger mechanism.

Figures 3 thru 6 are side elevations of the improved actuating trigger mechanism showing consecutive positions of the mechanism due to passage of two coins.

Figure '7 is a schematic view of a paystation circuit into which the present invention is incor porated;

Figure 8 discloses the conventional coin chute having two micro-switches mounted thereon and with the coin exit of the chute beingpositioned directly over the mouth of the coin hopper.

Themechanism shown in the drawings is an improvement of the coin trigger mechanism of a.- coin controlled actuating device as disclosed in U. S. Patents #1,886,409 and 1,383,472 issued to G. A. Long, November 8, 1932 and July 5, 1921 respectively; and the circuit disclosed is substantially as shown and described in U. S. Patent #23214g259to Harold C. Pye issued September 10,

1940 with the exception that coin springs and coin disposal magnets have been inserted to adapt the substation circuit therein disclosed to a paystation while the dial has been shunted thru these coin springs and a relay with microswitch shunt which forms part of the instant invention is placed within the circuit in series with the line. Reference is directed to these patents for a more complete understanding of the operation or related parts subsequent to tripping of the coin operated actuating trigger.

It will be understood that while our improved device finds ready adaptation in coin controlled telephone apparatusit is not limited in its use or application to a mechanism of any particular type.

Telephone paystations in the past have been capable of actuation upon deposit of a single coin from the nickel, dime and quarter denominations. The present invention provides a mechanism whereby such actuation may occur upon deposit of two coins from a given denomination of the group of denominationsenumerated supra. In order to eliminate the necessity of a person having to deposit two dimes or two quarters to actue ate the device, micro switches are provided in the dime and quarter chutes which upon passage of only one coin of those denominations cause the actuating trigger to be tripped. No. such switch is provided within the nickel chute however, so that at least two nickels are required to aotuate a call. This effectively provides means to DIG: vent actuation of calls for less than ten cents while not adding a greater inconvenience upon a customerby requiring him to initially deposit two dimes or two quarters should he perchance not have two nickels available. Therefore, ex-.- cept for increasing the basic rate for actuation, the customer need find no other change in the procedure for actuating a call to which he has become accustomed.

Having thus briefly sketched the invention, a detailed description of the apparatus and operation thereof follows.

The coin operated actuating trigger mechanism is somewhat similar to the coin trigger mecha nism shown in the Long Patent 1,886,469 but has been modified and now comprises three parts, a frame 2, a lock pin 3 and the trigger finger 4. The frame portion 2 of the mechanism is pivotally mounted onto post I about pin 5. This mounting arrangement is commonly employed in apparatus of this sort and a more detailed description thereof will therefore be omitted. The greater mass of the frame 2 is positioned rearward of pin and acts as a counter-balance. Extending forward of pin 5 from frame 2 are two extensions 6 and I. To extension 6 is pivotally attached the trigger finger 4. Trigger finger 4 extends forwardly into coin hopper 9 thru slot I0. Rearward of its pivot 4a, trigger finger 4 has rigidly attached thereto a notched arm II having a notch Ila. Arm II comprises a greater mass than the trigger finger. For this reason trigger finger 4 is normally urged upward due to this mass rearward of pivot 4a where it is held by stop I2. Above notched arm II and also rotatably mounted on pin 5 is look pin 3. This lock pin 3 is of very light mass and a slight flick causes it to easily rotate completely around pin 5. Above pin 5 and rigidly connected to frame 2 is a trip I3 for lever I4 and roller I5. The trip, lever I4 and roller I5 are shown and function as described in reference Patent #1,886,409 wherein they appear as lever 11 and roller 16 and will not here be further detailed.

A relay I6 is provided adjacent the mechanism described having an armature I1 and arm I8 rigidly connected thereto. Arm I8 is positioned above and in contact with extension I of frame 2. This relay is normally shunted thru closed micro-switch contacts I9 and 25 which are operated by elements M and 4E placed respectively in the quarter and dime coin chutes as indicated in Fig. 8.

A more complete description and understanding of our invention using a coin chute such as disclosed in the aforementioned reference patent 1,383,472 will follow. Referring in particular to Figure 3 of the above-mentioned reference patcut, it will be seen that the coin chute disclosed therein contains three different sized coin channels for accommodating the deposited corresponding different denominational coins. It will further be seen that while each of the deposited different denominational coins follow separate channelsin the chute, their exit from the chute is at a common point. Further, it will be noted that this common exit point is directly above the mouth of the coin hopper. Fig. 8 of our disclosure represents a similar arrangement but modified as hereafter described. Two micro-switches are provided in the present disclosure and may be of any well-known rotary type, each having an actuator which upon being rotated slightly away from normal position will open the contacts which are represented by the reference characters I9 and 23 in our disclosure. Referring in particular to Figure 8 of our disclosure it will be seen that these two micro-switches 45 and 45 are secured to a mounting plate 55 which in turn is mounted on the coin chute 53 with the actuator 4| of microswitch 45 projecting into the quarter channel and actuator 45 of the other micro-switch 45 projecting into the dime channel so that a deposited quarter or dime will strike and rotate the corresponding actuator to open contacts I9 or 23.

Referring again to the drawings, the operation of the device is as follows:

A party desiring to make a call lifts the telephone receiver 24 from the switch-hook 25. This closes the switch- hook contacts 26 and 21 and opens contact 28. The switch-hook and its contacts are shown in talking position in Fig. '7. A circuit is thereby closed from ground thru the lower winding of the line relay 33 over the +L line thru coin transmitter 3|, talking transmitter 32, micro-switch contacts 23 and I9, induction coil winding 33, hook-switch contact 26, break contact 2311 of coin springs 23, over the L line 4 and thru upper winding of line relay 30 to battery. It will be noted that altho a loop circuit is thus established, the caller cannot effectively dial because the pulsing contacts 31 of dial 35 are shunted by the break contact 2311 of the coin springs.

Remembering that the basic rate for actuating a call is a minimum of ten cents, assume that the caller wishes to deposit two nickels. The first nickel is placed in the nickel opening of the well known coin gauge atop the paystation. The coin then proceeds down the nickel chute thru sizing apparatus and arrives at hopper 9 in equally well known manner. Passing thru hopper 9, this first coin, here assumed to be a nickel, strikes trigger finger 4 as shown in Fig. 3 pressing it downward. Trigger 4 rotates downward about pivot 4a and notched arm II flicks light lock pin 3 normally positioned to the left thereof (Fig. 2) causing it to rotate completely about pin 5 as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The coin then proceeds past the trigger finger and finally comes to rest onthe coin trap, not shown. The greater mass of notched arm I I causes the coin trigger to restore to the substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4, where in so doing, lock pin 3 is positioned within the notch Ila rigidly connecting the frame and trigger for counter-clockwise rotation. A second nickel upon being deposited proceeds to the hopper where it strikes the trig? ger finger 4. However, at this time, because of the position of lock pin 3 in the notch IIa, the trigger finger 4 is no longer free to rotate about pivot 4a but now must rotate itself and frame '2 rigidly locked thereto by lock pin 3 about pin 5 as shown in Fig. 5. As trigger 4 is depressed, frame 2 rises moving trip I3 from beneath roller I5 on lever I4. This operates coin springs 23. For a more detailed description thereof, attention is directed to the first mentioned reference patent. As the second coin passes on to the coin trap, the greater mass of notched arm II moves downward freeing lock pin 3 from the notch l Ia. The coin springs in operating open contact 23a thereby removing the shunt across the pulsing contact 31 of the dial 36. The call may then be placed as dialing will now be effective.

After the call has been completed, collection of the coins is effected either automatically or manually in well known manner by application of high collect potential to the -L line which thru closed contact 23b of the coin springs 23 operates the coin magnets 29. Operation of the coin magnets raises arm I4 and roller I5, thereby permitting frame 2 to restore to normal and replace the trip I3 beneath roller I5 as described in said first reference. Again at normal, lock pin 3 is out of the notch Ha in the notched arm II and to the left thereof (Fig. 2) so that the next nickel will repeat the cycle. g

The same restoration occurs if for any reason the coins are refunded as refund potential operates magnets 29 in the same manner as described above.

If on the other hand the caller after raising the receiver desires to deposit a dime initially, the actuator arm 46 of micro-switch 45, placed in the dim chute, is encountered. The dime in passing operates the micro-switch 45 momentarily opening contacts 20. This removes the shunt across series relay I6 causing it to momentarily energize. The circuit therefor is easily traced from ground thru lower winding of line relay 3!! over +L line, thru coin transmitter 3|, talking transmitter 32, series relay I6, induction downward thereby depressing extension 1 of frame 2. This moves trip [3 from beneath roller I5 of arm 14 again operating th coin springs 23. Deposit of a quarter energizes series magnet It in the same manner by momentarily operating micro-switch 40 to open contacts IS in the quarter chute for removing the shunt from and energizing relay Hi, to move the frame 2 andopcrate coin springs 23. l

Deposit of additional coins, say for overtime charges, does not affect the mechanism, as in any case, after actuation, the trigger is no longer within the hopper (Fig. 6) and since the counterbalance is up, any energizing of the series relay [6 by dimes and quarters is of no effect.

Further details of the circuit disclosed in Fig. 7 may be found in the last of the mentioned reference patents.

Having described our invention and its operation in detail, what we claim and desire to be protected by issuance of Letters Patent of the United States is: i

1. In a coin controlled actuating device, a coin hopper, a rotatably mounted frame having a trip portion thereon, a lever operably associated with said trip, contact springs operable by said lever, a trigger pivotally mounted on said frame and having one end projecting into said hopper, said trigger partially rotated about said pivot when a first deposited coin is received in said hopper and strikes one end of said trigger, a lock pin rotatably mounted at one end to said frame, a locking finger on the opposite end of said trigger, said trigger returned to its normal position by the gravitational effect on said trigger, said locking finger striking said lock pin during said partial rotation of said trigger for imparting motion to said pin, said lock pin thereafter engaging said locking finger of said trigger when said trigger has returned to normal for rigidly locking said trigger and said frame as a unitary structure, whereby said trigger and said frame move as a single unit when a second deposited coin is received in said hopper and strikes said one end of said trigger, and said movement of said trigger and said frame operating said trip to operate said lever, whereby said contact springs are operated.

2. In a coin controlled actuating device, a movably mounted frame having a trip formed thereon, a lever included in said device and operatively engageable by said trip for movement thereof, a trigger pivotally mounted on said frame and partially rotated by a first deposited coin, a lock pin rotatably mountedon said frame, a locking finger on said trigger and engageable by said lock pin, said locking finger moving said lock pin to an off-normal position when said trigger is operated in response to said deposit of said first deposited coin, said trigger returned to its normal position responsive to the gravitational effect on said looking finger and said trigger, said lock pin in its off-normal position engaging said locking finger as it returns to normal position for rigidly looking said trigger with said frame, said trigger and said frame moved as a single unit by a second deposited coin, whereby said trip is also moved, said movement of said trip operating said lever, and contact springs operated by said operation of said lever.

3. A coin controlled actuating device such as claimed in claim 2, including means on said trip 6 engageable with said lever in said operated position for maintaining said frame in said lastmentioned operated position, and said gravitational eiTect thereafter causing said trigger to partially rotate and disengage said locking finger from said lock pin.

4. In a telephone paystationwherein a coin chute comprising a plurality-of different-dimensional coin channels for accommodating respective sized coins of different denominations is mounted with the coin exit of said chute directly over a coin hopper anda plurality of circuit controllers are mounted on said chute with each having an actuator projecting into different certain ones of said channels for operation thereof by corresponding deposited coins, the combina tion therewith of a coincontrolled actuating device including a rotatably mounted frame having a trip formed thereon, a lever included in said device and operatively engageable by said trip for movement thereof, a trigger rotatably mounted on said frame and projecting into said hopper, said trigger firststruck and rotated independently of said frame by a first deposited coin of a certain denomination, a lock Din rotatably mounted on said frame, means on said trigger for moving said pin when said first deposited coin operates said trigger, said trigger returned to its normal position responsive to the gravitational effect on said trigger, said lock pin thereafter rigidly locking said trigger with said frame so that a second deposited coin is effective to move said trigger, said frame and said trip as a single unit to cause operation of said lever, means on said trip engageable with said lever in said operated position for maintaining said frame in said last-mentioned operated position, said gravitational effect thereafter causing said trigger to partially rotate and disengage said trigger from said lock pin, contact springs operatively controlled by said lever, said movement of said trip operating said lever for operating said contact springs, coin disposal magnets, circuit means for energizing said magnets and including certain of said operated contact springs, means controlled by the operation of either of said magnets when energized for resetting said frame and said trigger so that said trigger is again first rotatable independent of said frame, said means on said trigger moving said locking pin back to its original position on said resetting of said frame and said trigger by said magnets, a relay, energizing said relay, means including said plurality of controllers normally shunting said relay, both of said circuit controllers operated by de posited coins of certain denominations other than said trigger operating denomination for removing said shunt to complete said relay energlzing circuit to operate said relay, and means controlled by the armature of said operated relay for rotating said frame independent of said trigger.

5. A telephone paystation such as claimed in claim 4, wherein said circuit controllers comprise micro-switches having actuators positioned in the coin channels corresponding to coins of dime and quarter denominations, and in which the said first operation of said trigger and subsequently said second operation of said trigger, said frame and said trip as a single unit are controlled by the deposit of nickels in the five cent coin channel.

6. In a telephone paystation wherein a coin chute comprising a plurality of different dian armature for said relay, a circuit for mensional coin channels for'accommodatingrespective sized coins of different denominations is mounted with the coin exit of said chute directly over a coin hopper and a plurality of circuit controllers are mounted on said chute with each having an actuator projecting into difierent certain ones of said channels for operation thereof by corresponding deposited coins, the combination therewith of a coin controlled actuating device including contact springs, a magnet, a circuit for energizing said magnet, a rotatably mounted contact closer, said plurality of circuit controllers normally shunting said magnet circuit, said control actuators operated by coins of certain denominations deposited in said .difierent certain ones of said channels for reother 01 said channels, a locking device, said locking device operated by said first operation of said trigger to lock the trigger and closer rigidly together as a unit, the deposit of a second coin of said certain different denomination causing a second operation of said trigger to cause the unitary operation of both the trigger and the closer and the consequent operation of said springs.

7. In a. telephone paystation such as claimed in claim 6, the combination further including means controlled by said magnet when operated for preventing subsequent operation of said looking device by said trigger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,934,679 Bonorden Nov. 14, 1933 2,204,083 Hoyt June 11, 1940 2,251,073 Shann July 29, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 687 Great Britain of 1912

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