US2899622A - Greenwald - Google Patents

Description

2 Aug. 11, 1959 H. GREENWALD COIN-ACTUATED SWITCH CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1958 INVENTOR HARRY GREENWA M vs af ATTORNEY5 11, 1959 HIGREENWALD 2,899,622

COIN-ACTUATED SWITCH CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES Filed Jan. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Shae t 2 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR HARRY GREEN WAL D ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,899,622 P en e All r COIN-ACTUATED SWITCH CONTROL MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES Harry Greenwald, Flushing, N.Y., assignor to H. Greenwald Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application January '24, 1958, Serial No. 710,965 11 Claims. c1. sis-470) This invention relates to improvements in coinactuated control devices for electrical appliances such as a washing machine, and inpa'rticular relates to a novel and improved switch arrangement and electrical circuit for control devices of this type.

In conventional coin-actuated washing machines, a coin-released slide plate engages one or more switches to energize the washing machine timer and commence the washing operation. The timer then controls the washing machine operation, bringing it through the various operational cycles, such as the washing cycle, rinse cycle, etc. and finally arrivesat a terminating position in which it stops the washing machine motor to complete the washing operation. It is necessary, however, to supply energizing current to the timer after it has reached its terminating position in order to bring it to its original starting position inpreparation for the next washing operation. For this purpose, a holding relay is conventionally employed for holding closed the switch controlling the timer energizing circuit until the timer has arrived at its starting position, at which time the holding relay is released and the washing machine is completely de-activated.

Since the holding relay is entirely electrically operated, diiiiculties arise in the'case of a power failure or accidental disconnection of the plug for the lead-in wire. An interruption of electrical supply current opens the holding relay, thus interrupting the circuit of the washing machine timer. When the supply current is resumed, the holding relay remainsopen, and the machine cannot again be placed in operation until a coin or coins is again deposited in the coin slot. Thus, the user must pay an additional operating charge if the line current is interrupted. lnaddition, if the user removes the clothes from the washing machine when the power is interrupted, the next user on depositing coins for operating the machine, will find that the washing operation begins at the middle or end of the operational cycles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved switch arrangement and electrical circuit for coin-operated control devices of the character described in which a pair of micro-switches are used to control the circuit of the washing machine timer, and a mechanical latch member is used for holding one of the switches closed during the entire washing operation, so that even if the electrical supply current is interrupted, the switch will remain closed and the washing machine timer will be energized upon resumption of the supply current. The latch member is opened at the end of the Washing operation by a relay which is controlled by the timer itself, a second circuit being then closed through the second micro-switch to bring the timer back to its starting position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control device of the character described which can be easily and conveniently installed in a conventional washing machine without interfering with or altering the existing electrical wiring of the timer circuit.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the followingspecification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: I e V Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the coin-operated device shown in inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of thecoin-operated device shown in inoperative position, as viewed from the right-hand side thereof pwith portions thereof broken away and shown in section to reveal inner structural details; 7 v Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device as viewed from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2, namely from the left hand side of the device, show ing the device in an operative position with the slide plate thereof fully depressed, and with portions thereof broken away and shown in section to reveal inner constructional detail;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuit for the device, showing the timer motor and pen tions of the control device schematically, with the latter in the inoperative position shown in Fig. l; V I W V Fig. 5 is a partial diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 4, showing the control device in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig.3 with the slide plate in fully inserted position and the micro-switches depressed; and

Fig. 6 is a partial diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the slide plate withdrawn and the switches in operative position for operating the timer.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 through 3 a coin-actuated slide assembly of conventional construction, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. ,The slide assembly 10 includes a body member 12 adapted to be secured within a suitably-sized openingin the body of a washing machine or the like. Integral with the body member 12, and projecting laterally from the front wall thereof, is an elongated bracket 14 which slidably receives a slide plate 16. The slide member has a terminal handle portion 18 and a coin slot 20, shown in Fig. 1.

A flat housing 22 projects from theinner surface of the body member ,12, the housing 22 having an. elongated bottomwall 24 which projects therefrom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and which 'acts asa guide surface for sliding movement of the plate 16. The housing 22 contains blocking mechanism which prevents the slide plate 16 from being slid inwardly to its operative position unlessa coin is inserted in the coin slot 20. This releasable blocking. mechanism is conventional and wellknown, and is not shown in detail in the drawings since it forms no part of thepresent invention. It will be appreciated, however, that when a coin is deposited in the coin slot 20 and the handle portion 18 is pressed inwardly, the coin releases the blocking mechanism and enables the handle portion 18 to be moved from the fullline position of Fig. 1 to the broken-line position shown at 18a. This movement of the handle portion slides the inner end of the slide plate 16 to the broken line position shown at 1611 in Fig. 1.

Suspended from the housing 22 is a switch assembly 26 incorporating the invention'herein. This switch assembly 26 includes a housing 28 having mounting posts 30 secured to the under surface of housing 22 by screws 32.

Mounted on the switch assembly housing 'in side-byries on its opposite faces a pair of movable contacts 50 and 52. The flexible contacts arm 46 is connected to a flexible actuator 54 by a bent metal spring 56 in the well-known manner so that when the actuator 54 is depressed, the upper pair of contacts 42 and 50 snap closed. The flexibility of the actuator 54 normally retains it in a raised position in which the lower pair of contacts 42 and 52 are biased closed.

'The micro-switch 36, shown in detail in Fig. 2, is of identical construction. The switch 36 has a pair of fixed contact arms 58 and 60 carrying contacts 62 and 64, and a flexible contact arm 66 carrying contacts 68 and 70. Snap-action is imparted to the flexible contact arm 66 by a flexible actuator 72 which is coupled to the flexible contact arm 66 by a bent spring 74. The flexible contact arm 66 is normally biased to the lowered position shown in-Fig. 2, in which the contact pair 64, 70 are closed. When the actuator 72 is depressed, the upper pair of contacts 62, 68 are snapped closed.

The micro-switches 34 and 36 are controlled by a pair of respective cams 76 and 7 8, which in turn are controlled by movement of the slide plate 16. The earns 76 and 78 are rigid with respective collars 80 and 82 which are immovably fixed to a shaft 84 journalled between the side walls of housing 28. An actuating plate 86 is rigid with a collar 88 which is also fixed immovably to the shaft 84 between the earns 76 and 78. The actuating plate 86 has a rounded portion 90 and a flat portion 92, the latter being positioned for engagement by the end of the slide plate 16 for rotation of the actuating plate 86 and consequent rotation of the shaft 84 and the earns 76 and 78 carried thereby.

A tension spring 94 attached at one end to the actuating plate 86 and at the other end to the bottom wall of housing 28, as shown in Fig. 3, normally biases the actuating plate 86 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the flat portion 92 faces the slide plate 16. When the slide plate 16 is pressed inwardly by means of its handle portion 18, it engages the flat portion 92 of the actuating plate 86, as shown in broken line at 16a in Fig. 2. Further' inward sliding movement of the slide plate 16 rotates the actuating plate 86 through an angle of 90, or until the flat portion 92 is horizontally disposed and facing upwardly, the end of the slide plate 16 sliding along the flat portion 92 to its fully inserted position shown in broken line as 16b in Fig. 2. In this position, shown in greater detail in Fig. 3, the slide plate 16 rests flush against the flat portion 92 of the actuator plate 86 and the latter cannot turn past its 90 rotated position even though the slide plate 16 may be slid further inwardly.

' The cams 76 and 7 8 have cam surfaces which comprise respective dwell portions 76a, 78a, and rise portions 76b, 78b. The rise portions 761) and 78b of the cams 76 and 78 are in the opposite direction from the flat portion 92 of the actuating plate 86, so that when the latter is turned to its position of Fig. 3, the cam rise portions 76b and 78b are directed downwardly. The ends of the actuator 54 and 72 of the micro-switches 34 and 36 carry respective insulating pieces 96 and 98 which are in engagementwith the cams 76 and 78 and serve as cam followers. When the cams are turned to their position of Fig. 3, the rise portions 76b, 78b come into engagement with and depress the insulating pieces 96 and 98, flexing the micro-switch actuators 54 and 72 downwardly, and closing the normally open pairs of'contacts 42,50 and 62, 68.

When the slide plate 16 is withdrawn to its original extended position, it moves out of contact with the actuating plate 86, and the latter is biased by spring 94 to its normal position of Fig. 2, turning the earns 76, 78 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the cam'dwell portions 76a, 78a are in contact with the insulating switch pieces 96, 98, and the switch actuators 54 and 72 are permitted to flex upwardly, closing the contact pairs 44, 52, and 64, 70.

An electrical relay 100 is mounted on the switch assembly housing 28 beneath the micro-switch 36. This relay 100 has a relay coil 102 and an armature 104 pivoted at 106 to a fixed portion of the relay body and normally urged by a spring 108 to a position spaced from the relay coil 102. The free end of the armature 104 has fixed thereto latch means in the form of a hook member 110 which extends upwardly through an opening 120 in the bottom wall of the housing 28 in position to engage and grasp the insulating piece 98 of micro-switch 36. It will be observed that the rearward pressure exerted by by spring 108 upon the armature 104 beneath its pivot point 106, urges the hook member 110 in a forward direction. When the cam 78 is turned until its rise portion 78b engages and depresses the insulating piece 98, the latter is grasped and retained by the forwardly urged hook member 110, as shown in broken line in Fig. 2. The latch means thus continues to retain the insulating piece 98 in its lowered position, even after the cam 78 is again turned to its normal position in which its dwell portion 78a is opposite the insulating piece 98. When the relay coil 102 is energized, however, it draws the armature 104 toward it in a rearward direction against tension of spring 108, moving the hook member 110 rearwardly and releasing the insulating piece 98.

The micro-switches 34 and 36 are connected to the electrical timer element of a washing machine in such a manner as to start operation of the timer element through the various washing cycles upon insertion of a coin in the slot 20 and inward depression of the slide plate 16. The electrical circuit connecting the micro-switches is shown in Fig. 4, and will presently be described in de- 7 tail.

In Fig. 4, there is shown schematically a portion of the electrical washing machine timer 112 which includes an electrical motor 114 driving a series of cams 116. The cams 116 operate a series of switches which control the various operational cycles of the washing machine and its accessories, and which are not shown herein since they will be familiar to those skilled in the art. One of the cams 116 has a rise portion 116:: which engages and closes a normally open switch 118. This switch 118 is inserted in series with an energizing circuit for the relay coil 102, the switch 118 being connected by lead 122 to one terminal 128 of an electrical power source and by lead 124 to one end of the relay coil 102, the other end of relay coil 102 being connected by lead 126 to the other power source terminal 130. The lead 132 connects the switch 118 through lead 124 to the fixed contact 64 of the microswitch 36. The other fixed contact 62 of micro switch 36 is connected by lead 134 to the fixed contact 44 of micro-switch 34.

The flexible contact arm 46 of micro-switch 34 (and its movable contacts 50, 52 which are not shown in Fig. 4) is connected by lead 136 to the power terminal 128. The flexible contact arm 66 of micro-switch 36 is connected by lead 138 to one terminal 140 of the timer motor 114, the other terminal 142 of which is connected to the power terminal through lead 144.

It-will be apparent that the circuit shown in Fig. 4 provides two possible current paths. The first path is from power terminal 128 through leads 122 and 132 over switches 118 and 36 and through lead 138 to the timer motor 114 and thence along terminal 144 to power terminal 130.

The second current path is from power source terminal 128 through lead 136, over switch .34, lead 134, switch 36, and through lead 138 to the timer motor 114, thence through lead 144 to power source terminal 130'.

Fig. 4 shows the inoperative position of the circuit and the washing machine in which all of the switches 34, 36 and'118 are open, no current is flowing. and the timer motor 114 is de-energized. Switch 118 in open position is interrupting the first current path and micro switch 36 in open position is interrupting the second current path.

In operation, a coin is deposited in the coin slot 20, and the slide plate 16 is pressed inwardly, The slide plate contacts and turns the actuating plate 86, causing both earns 76 and 78 to turn until their rise portions 76b and 78b engage and depress the insulated pieces of the micro-switch contact arms 46 and 66. This position is shown in Fig. 5, the contact 62 of microswitch 36 being closed and the contact 64 being open, and the contact 44; o f micro-switch 34 being open. The micro-switch 36 is now closed in operative position, but micro-switch 34 is holding the second current path open and no current is flowing through the circuit. The micro-switch 34 thus serves to insure that the washing machine will not be energized while the slide plate 16 is pressed inwardly. This is an important feature in coin-actuated washing machines, since otherwise, the slide plate 16 could be fastened in its depressed position and the washing machine would continue to run indefinitely on the insertion of a single coin.

In the fully-depressed position of the slide plate 16, shown in Fig. 5, the hook member 110 has locked the flexible contact arm 66 of micro-switch 36 so that the contact arm 66 is physically held in engagement with the hired switch contact 62.

When the slide plate 16 is slid reaiwardly andwithdrawn from contact with the actuating plate 86, as shown in Fig. 6, the actuating plate is biased by spring 94 back to' its original position, turning the cams 76 and 78 until their rise portions 761) and 781; are out of contact with the micro-switches 34 and 36. The contact arm 46 of micro-switch 34 is then freed to flex back to its normal position in which it engages the fixed contact 44. The contact arm 46 of micro-switch 36, however, is held by hook member 110 in engagement with the fixed contact 62; Thus; the second current path is completed, and current flows from power source terminal 128 over micro-switches 34 and 36 to the timer motor 114 and back to power source terminal 130, the timer motor being energized and running through the various washing cycles.

At the completion of the washing operation, the rise portion 116a of one of the timer cams 116, which has been turning in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, engages and closes the switch 118. This energizes the circuit from the power source terminals 128 and 130 through leads 122, 124 and 126 to the relay coil 102, energizing said relay coil which attracts the relay armature 104 and disengages the hook member 110 from the micro-switch 36. The flexible contact arm 66 is then freed to return to its normal position outof engagement with contact 62, and breaking the second current path to the timer motor. Ordinarily, this would de-energize the timer motor 114, However, the timer cam 116 must be returned to its original starting position. The circuit shown inFig. 4 has thus been devised to cause the timer motor 114 to operate for a short time after the washing operation is completed and the micro-switches have been returned to their normal inoperative positions. The first current path now comes into operation.

Closing of switch 118 and the consequent releaseof micro-switch 66 enables current to. travel in the first current path, that is to say, from power source terminal 128 over switch 118 and micro-switch 36 through the timer motor 114 and back to power source terminal 130. The timer motor 114 thus continues to run until the cam rise portion 116a is clear of the switch 113 and is back at its original starting position shown in full line in Fig. 4. The switch 118 is then biased open and the timer motor is fully de-energized and remains so until another coin is deposited in the coin slot and the slide plate 16 again de pressed to commence a new washing operation.

The physical closing of micro-switch 36 by the hook member 110 and the release thereof only through energizing of the relay coil 102 by thetirner cam. 116, provides the advantage of permitting the entire washing machine to be disconnected from the power source and later re-connected without interfering with the washing cycles. In conventional coin-actuated washing machines Where a holding relay is utilized to control the main switches, a power failure or accidental detachment of the line cord from the power socket would de-energize the holding relay and open the main switches. When the power was again restored the timer motor circuit would be interrupted by the open switches and the washing operation could not be recommended except by insertion of an additional coin or coins. In the arrangement of the present invention, the micro-switch 36 is maintained in operative position by the hook member even if the power current is interrupted, so that when power is resumed the timer motor merely continues its operation.

The arrangement of the invention has the additional advantage of being capable of being inserted into conventional washing machines without changing the existing electrical wiring. Thus, the conversion of an ordinary washing machineinto a coin-actuated machine can be accomplished easily and economically.

The arrangement illustrated herein by way of an operative embodiment of the invention is constructed to operate upon the insertion of a single coin in the coin slot. Other conventional coin-actuated machines are designed to operate upon the successive insertion of several coins in the coin slot, it being then necessary to press in and withdraw the slide plate 16 several times before the cams 76 and 78 are turned to their operative positions in which they drepress the micro-switch actuators. This is accomplished by the provision of a ratchet arrangement through which a ratchet wheel is turned in increments by successive depression of the slide plate, the arrangement being conventional and well-known, and therefore not being shown herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be equally well applied to such type of coin-actuated mechanism in which several coins must be deposited before the slide plate is effective to turn the cams to their operative positions.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in this embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance including a timer device for operating said appliancethrough an operating cycle and having an electrical energizing circuit, said control device comprising a coin-releasable actuating member manually movable through an operating cycle upon release by insertion of a coin in said device, a switch controlling the energizing circuit of said timer device, biasing means normally urging said switch to a circuit-opening position, means operatively connecting said actuating member with said switch, the operating cycle of said switch comprising an actuating stroke in a direction to bring said switch to a circuit-closing position against the action of said biasing means and complete the energization circuit of said timer device, and a return stroke releasing said switch, latch means for physically holding said switch in circuit-closing position upon the return stroke of said actuating membar, and electrical relay means for releasing the latch means for movement of the switch to its circuit-opening position by said biasing means, said electrical relay means being controlled by said timer device for operation at the end of said operating cycle.

2. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance including timer device for operating said appliance through an operating cycle and having an'electrical energizing circuit, said control device comprising a coin-releasable slide member, a switch controlling the electrical circuit of said timer device, biasing means normally urging saidv switch to a circuit-opening position,

means operatively connecting said slide member with said switch said slide member being movable through an operating cycle upon release by a coin deposited in said device, said operating cycle comprising an actuating stroke in a direction to bring said switch to a circuit-closing position against the action of said biasing means and complete the energizing circuit of said timer device, and a return stroke releasing said switch, latch means for physically holding said switch in closed position upon the return stroke of said slide member, and electrical relay means for releasing the latch means whereby the biasing means brings said switch to its circuit-opening position, said electrical relay means being controlled by said timer device for operation at the end of said operating cycle.

3. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance including a timer device for operating said appliance through an operating cycle and having an electrical energizing circuit, said control device comprising a coin-releasable actuating member, a switch controlling the electrical circuit of said timer device, biasing means normally urging said switch to an open position, means operatively connecting said actuating member with said switch for closing said switch to complete the energizing circuit of said timer device when said actuating member is operated, latch means for physically holding said switch in closed position, and electrical relay means for releasing the latch means whereby the biasing means opens said switch, said electrical relay means being controlled by said timer device for operation at the end of said operating cycle, said switch having a fixed contact, a fieX- ible contact arm carrying a movable contact and a movable actuator for flexing the contact arm, said latch means comprising a hook member for engaging said actuator, said relay means comprising an armature carrying said hook means, a relay coil for attracting said armature, and spring means normally urging said armature to a position in which the hook member is located to engage the armature.

4. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance including a timer device for operating said appliance through an operating cycle and having an electrical energizing circuit, said control device comprising a coin-releasable actuating member, a first and second switch controlling the electrical circuit of said timer device, biasing means normally urging said first switch to a circuit-opening position and said second switch to a circuit closing position, means operatively connecting said actuating member with said switches, said actuating member being movable through an operating cycle comprising a first motion phase in a direction to bring said first switch to a circuit closing position and said second switch to a circuit opening position against the action of said biasing means, and a return motion phase in the opposite direction in which it releases both switches, latch means for physically holding said first switch in its circuit closing position when said actuating member is moved in said return motion phase, said second switch being brought to its circuit closing position by said biasing means during said return motion phase, whereby said timer circuit is completed through both switches, and electrical relay means for releasing the latch means for movement of said first switch to its circuit opening position by said biasing means, said electrical relay means being controlled by said timer device for operation at the end of said operating cycle.

5. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance including a timer device for operating said appliance through an operating cycle and having an electrical energizing circuit, said control device comprising a coinreleasable slide member movable between an operative and an inoperative position, a normally open switch controlling the electrical circuit of said timer device, cam means operable by said slide member and engaged with said switch for closing said switch to complete the ener:

6. A control device according to claim 5 in which saidtimer device has a second energizing circuit including a normally-open switch means, said timer having an actuating cam controlling said switch means for closure thereof at the end of said operating cycle, said second energizing circuit operating said timer device at the end of the operating cycle until said actuating cam permits said third switch to return to its normally-open position in which it interrupts said second energizing circuit.

7. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance having an electrical timer for operation thereof through an operating cycle, said control device comprising a first energizing electrical circuit for said timer, a second energizing electrical circuit for said timer, a first and second switch connected in series with said energizing circuits, said first switch having a first pair of contacts in series with said second circuit and being normally biased to a position in which said second pair of contacts are closed, said second switch being in series with said first circuit and normally biased to an open position, a third switch in said second energizing circuit, said third switch being normally biased to an open position and being operatively associated with said timer device for closure of said third switch by said timer device, coinactuated means for momentarily closing the first pair of contacts of said first switch and opening said second switch, latch means for engaging and retaining said first switch in a position in which its first contact pair is closed, relay means associated with said latch means for disengaging the latter from said first switch and releasing the first switch to return to its normal position in which its first contact pair is opened and its second contact pair is closed, an energizing circuit for said relay, said third switch being in series with said relay energizing circuit, said timer actuating said third switch at the end of the operating cycle to energize the relay, release the latch member, open the first circuit and close the second circuit.

8. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance having an electrical timer for operation thereof through an operating cycle, said control device comprising a coin-releasable actuating member movable upon insertion of a coin from an inoperative to an operative position, a first energizing electrical circuit for said timer, a second energizing electrical circuit for said timer, a first and second switch connected in series with said energizing circuits, said first switchhaving a first pair of contacts in series with said first circuit and a second pair of contacts in series with said second circuit and being normally biased to a position in which said second pair of contacts are closed, said second switch being in series with said first circuit and normally biased to an open position, a third switch in said second energizing circuit, said third switch being normally biased to an open position and being operatively associated with said timer device for closure of said third switch by said timer device, cam means operable by movement of said actuating member to its operative position and engageable with said first and second switches for closing said first pair of contacts of the first switch and opening said second switch, latch means for engaging and retaining said first switch in a position in which its first contact pair is closed upon movement or" said actuating member back to its inoperative position, relay means associated with said latch means for disengaging the latter from said first switch and releasing the first switch to return to its normal position in which its first contact pair is opened and its second contact pair is closed, an energizing circuit for said relay, said third switch being in series with said relay energizing circuit, said timer actuating said third switch at the end of the operating cycle to energize the relay, release the latch member, open the first circuit and close the second circuit.

9. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance having an electrical timer for operation thereof through an operating cycle, said control device comprising a coin-releasable slide member movable between a depressed and an extended position, a first energizing electrical circuit for said timer, a second energizing electrical circuit for said timer, a first and second switch connected in series with said energizing circuits, said first switch having a first pair of contacts in series with said first circuit and a second pair of contacts in series with said second circuit and being normally biased to a position in which said second pair of contacts are closed, said second switch being in series with said first circuit and normally biased to an open position, a third switch in said second energizing circuit, said third switch being normally biased to an open position and being operatively associated with said timer device for closure of said third switch by said timer device, cam means operable by said slide member and engageable with said first and second switches for closing said first pair of contacts of the first switch and opening said second switch when said slide member is depressed, latch means for engaging and retaining said first switch in a position in which its first contact pair is closed upon movement of said slide member to its extended position, relay means associated with said latch means for disengaging the latter from said first switch and releasing the first switch for return to its normal position in which its second contact pair is closed, an energizing circuit for said relay, said third switch being in series with said relay energizing circuit, said timer closing said third switch at the end of the operating cycle to energize the relay, release the latch member, open the first circuit and close the second circuit.

10. A control device according to claim 9 in which said timer device has a starting position for commencing the operating cycle and an end position at the conclusion of said operating cycle, said timer device also including a cam contacting said third switch and having a rise portion sized to close said third switch, the cam rise portion engaging and closing said third switch at the end of the operating cycle, the second energizing circuit being then completed until the cam rise portion moves out of engagement with said third switch and permits said third switch to open, the timer device being then in its starting position.

11. A control device for a coin-actuated electrical appliance including a timer device for operating said appliance through an operating cycle and having an electrical energizing circuit, said control device comprising a coinreleasable actuating member, a first and second switch controlling the electrical circuit of said timer device, biasing means normally urging said first switch to an open position and said second switch to a closed position, means operatively connecting said actuating member with said switches for closing said first switch and opening said second switch when said actuating member is moved to an actuating position, whereby the timer circuit is interrupted by said second switch, latch means for physically holding said first switch in closed position when said actuating member is withdrawn from its actuating position, whereby said second switch is closed by said biasing means and said timer circuit is completed and electrical relay means for releasing the latch means and opening said first switch, said electrical relay means being controlled by said timer device for operation at the end of said operating cycle, said electrical relay means including a relay, an energizing circuit for said relay and a third switch controlling said energizing circuit, said timer being operatively associated with said third switch for closing the latter and completing the relay circuit at the end of the operating cycle, said timer having a second energizing circuit including said third switch, the second energizing timer circuit being completed by said third switch at the end of said operating cycle to operate said timer device for a sufiicient period to permit it to re-open said third switch and de-activate said second energizing timer circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,121 Bonine Apr. 16, 1912 1,998,787 Nyhagen Apr. 23, 1935 2,427,396 Farny u Sept. 16, 1947 2,748,653 Pollan et al. June 5, 1956

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