US3054492A

US3054492A - Timing unit adapter for the meter of a coin-operated machine

Info

Publication number: US3054492A
Application number: US676572A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maurice A Michaels
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-06
Filing date: 1957-08-06
Publication date: 1962-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-09-18

Description

Sept. 18, 1962 M. A. MlcHAELs 3,054,492

TIA/:ING UNIT ADAPTER FOR TEE METER 0E A coTN-oPEEATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 6. 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8s BLORE ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 M. A. MlcHAELs TIMING UNIT ADAPTER FOR THE METER OF A COIN-OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 6. 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/VVE/WOl?` MAURICE A. MICHAELS BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8\ BLORE A TTORNE YS Sept. 18, 1962 M. A. MlcHAELs 3,054,492

TIMING UNIT ADAPTER FOR THE METER OF A COIN-OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 /NVE/VTOR. v

MAURICE A. MICHAELS BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8 BLORE Arron/vers Sept. 18, 1962 M. A. MlcHAl-:Ls

TIMING UNIT ADAPTER FOR THE METER oF A coIN-oPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. e. 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NVE/VTOR.

MAURICE A. MICHAELS BY BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8T BLORE' ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 M. A. MlcHAELs 3,054,492

TIMING UNIT ADAPTER FOR THE METER oF A COIN-OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 6. 195'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 MAURICE A. MICHAELS BUCKHORN, CHEATHANI 8\ BLORE ArroRA'Ys SePt- 18, 1952 M. A. MICHAr-:Ls 3,054,492

TIMING UNIT ADAPTER FOR THE METER OF' A COIN-OPERATED MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 195'? 6 Sheets-Shea?l 6 INVENTOR. MAURICE A. MICHAELS 24d BY BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM &BLORE ATTORNEYS FIG. I8

3,054 492 TIIVIING UNIT ADAPTER FOR THE METER F A COIN-OPERATED MACHINE Maurice A. Michaels, Box 538, Oak Grove, Oreg. Filed Aug. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 676,572 8 Claims. (Cl. 194-1) This invention relates to coin-operated machines of the type which operate for various periods of time depending on the amount inserted, and the invention particularly relates to improvements in certain assemblies of the meters of such machines. Machines of this type include radios, television sets, washing machines, drying machines, etc., commonly installed in motels, hotels, apartments and various commercial establishments.

With the conventional coin-operated machine of the character under consideration, the duration of operation is directly proportional to the value of the coin or coins inserted. Thus, there is little incentive for the user to insert any more coins than appears absolutely necessary for the moment.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a timing unit for a coin-operated machine which is operable to give a disproportionately greater time of operation in return for the insertion of an extra coin or coins after a predetermined number of coins have been inserted. Thus, the user is encouraged to deposit more coins than he ordinarily would and receives a considerably longer time of operation from the machine in return.

Another object is to provide a dial assembly which may be substituted in a conventional meter of such a machine for the dial assembly already present to achieve the above advantages.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a meter embodying my invention mounted in a suitable casing, the door of the casing being in open position;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the meter removed from the casing;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the meter taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE 1, parts being shown in elevation;

FIGURE 4 is a back view of the meter removed from the casing, parts being omitted for clearness of illustration',

FIGURE 5 is a detail perspective View of the setting lever;

FIGURE 6 is a detail perspective view of the switch setting pawl;

FIGURE 7 is a detail fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 7 -7 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an outer side view of the lower portion of the switch arm and associated parts;

FIGURE 9 is a detail perspective View of the switch control lever;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective detail view of the latch arm of the movable switch arm;

`FIGURE 11 is a front view, on a reduced scale, of a meter embodying my invention with the door of the casing closed, the meter being mounted on a coin-operated machine which is fragmentarily disclosed;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the meter of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary side view of the meter, disposed in its casing;

FIGUIRE 14 is a circuit diagram of the electrical connections of the meter and the mechanism controlled thereby;

FIGURE 15 is a section taken substantially on line 15-15 of FIGURE 1;

aired States arent C FIG. 16 is an enlarged framentary front view of the dial assembly of my invention with parts broken awayr to show certain details of construction, the dotted lines showing a different operating position of certain of the parts;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16, but showing a subsequent operative position of the parts; and

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary front view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring particularly to FIG. 11, a meter of conventional construction, except for the dial assembly to be presently described, is shown as being mounted on a coin-operated machine A. The features of the meter, except for the dial assembly, are shown in United States Letters Patent 2,147,937, and thus a description of this meter will be given in order to make the present invention clear.

In FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, the meter is illustrated as approximately one and one-half times its actual size, for clearness of illustration. The mechanism of the meter is disposed within a suitable casing 1, the front of which is normally closed by a hingedly mounted door 2 provided with a window 3 for observation of the dial of the meter mechanism, as will be explained, The door is further provided with a key operated cylinder lock 4 of known type having an element disposed to engage in back of the forward arm 5aI of a U-shaped bracket 5 spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to one side wall of the casing. Inner arm 5b of bracket 5 projects inwardly of casing 1 beyond arm 5a, and a bracket 6 is secured to the inner face of the other side Wall of the casing. A supporting plate 7 fits within casing 1 and seats upon bracket 6 and arm 5b of bracket 5, this plate being secured to the brackets by screws 8, or in any other suitable manner. The lower portion of plate 7 is cut away to accommodate a plate 9 of approximately L-shape in front view, this plate 9 defining, with the adjacent portions of the bottom and side walls of the casing, a coin receptacle which receives the coins inserted into the meter, as will be later described.

A clockwork assembly 10 is suitably mounted on plate 7 at the back thereof. This assembly comprises a selfstarting synchronous motor 11 of known type, which, through a gear train 12, drives a pinion 13 at constant speed. This pinion projects through an opening 14 in plate 7, and the front of the pinion is flush with the front face of a gear 15- with which the pinion meshes. Gear 15' is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 16 secured in plate 7, and is disposed in front of a switch control lever 17 mounted for free turning movement on the stub shaft and confined between plate 7 and a slotted lock member 18 of known type which engages into a circumferential groove in the stub shaft. A gear 19 is secured on hub 20 of gear 15, in front of and spaced from the latter gear. Gear 19 meshes with a gear 21 rotatably mounted on a pin 22 carried by lever 17 and disposed remote from the stub shaft 16. A pinion 23, secured to gear 21 at the front face thereof, meshes with a relatively large gear 24, rotatably mounted on stub shaft 16 in front of hub 20 of gears 1S and 19. Gear 21 and pinion 23 are driven in a counterclockwise direction, pinion 23 normally driving gear 24 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1.

Gear 24 is provided with a forwardly extending hub 25 on which is rotatably mounted a hub 26 upon which is secured a toothed wheel 27. A suitably graduated dial 28 is secured on the outer end of hub 26, and a pointer 29 is secured on the outer end of hub 25 of gear 24, in front of and closely adjacent the outer end of hub 26,

hubs

25 and 26 being thus held against appreciable relative endwise movement. A retaining member, conveniently a screw 30, is secured in the outer end of stub shaft 16 and overlies the forward end of hub 25, normally holding the latter against movement lengthwise of stub shaft 16 toward the forward or outer end thereof. The gear 24 and wheel 27 and associated parts constitute a setting and controlling assembly normally held upon the stub shaft 16 by screw 3i), which assembly can be removed from the stub shaft endwise thereof upon removal of the screw. Normally, gear 24 overlies gear 21, as in FIGURE 1, and prevents outward movement of the latter on pin 22 while also preventing movement of gears and 19 lengthwise of stub shaft 16 toward the outer or forward end of the latter. By removing the setting and controlling assembly from stub shaft 16, ready .access is had to gears 21 and 19 and 15, which may then be removed and replaced with facility. In order to vary the timing of the mechanism, the unit comprising gears 15 and 19, and the unit comprising gear 21 and pinion 23, may be replaced by similar units in which the ratio between gears 19 and 21 is different from the ratio between these gears of the replaced units and of proper value to give the desired timing of the mechanism. After this adjustment has been effected, the controlling and setting assembly is replaced upon stub shaft 16. This provides extremely simple means for adjusting the timing of the mechanism to suit requirements.

Lever 17 is provided, adjacent its free end, with a tongue 31, struck rearwardly therefrom and projecting into an opening 32 in plate 7 (FIGURE 7), this tongue cooperating with the bottom edge of opening 32 for limiting turning movement lof the lever 17 in clockwise direction on stub shaft 16. Normally the lever 17 is held in its extreme position in a clockwise direction about the stub shaft, which is its operative position, with tongue 31 in contact with the lower edge of opening 32, by a `tension spring 33, the upper end lof which is hooked through a tab 34 extending downward from the outer end of lever 17, the lower end of this spring being hooked through a tab 35 struck from plate 7 and projecting forwardly thereof. Lever 17 is further provided with an arm 36 extending therefrom at an inclination downward and away from the outer end of the lever, the lower end of this arm being shaped to provide an upwardly projecting latch element 37. Arm 17 is provided, at its lower edge, with a forwardly offset element 38 which forms with plate 7 a pocket for reception of an element of a setting pawl, hereinafter described in detail.

A setting lever 39, shaped as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, is secured upon the reduced rearward end of a sleeve 40, mounted for turning movement on a post 41 secured in plate 7 below arm 36 of lever 17. A washer 42 is interposed `between lever 39 and plate l7. A timer setting pawl 43 is mounted for turning movement on post 41 and is confined between the forward end of sleeve 40 and a lwasher 44 confined between lever 43 and a lock member 45 of known type engaging into a circumferen- -tial groove 46 in the post. Setting pawl 43 is provided, at the end lthereof adjacent gear 21, with two tabs 47 which project forward from the pawl and converge toward wheel '27, these tabs defining a tooth element adapted for engagement between the teeth of the wheel. Pawl 43 is further provided, at its other end, with a forwardly projecting tab 48 disposed to contact the following edges of the teeth of wheel 27, and cooperating with the tooth defined by tabs 47 for imparting clockwise rotation to wheel 27 in the operation of setting the mechanism for a predetermined time period of operation. Pawl 43 is provided with a stop finger 50 disposed to contact the lower face of a tab 51 projecting forwardly of lever 39 at the upper edge thereof. The central part of tab 51 is struck upwardly to provide a stud 52 which extends into the lower end of a compression coil spring 53, confined between tab 51 and a tab 54 projecting rearwardly from the timer setting pawl 43 at the lower edge thereof. The central portion of tab 54 is struck downward to provide a stud 5S which extends into the upper end portion of spring 53. A tension spring 56 is attached at its upper end to tab 35 of plate 7, and has its lower end hooked through a tab 57 projecting forwardly from lever 39 at the lower edge thereof. This tension spring normally holds lever 39 in such position that tab 51 thereof contacts the upper edge of finger 50 of the timer setting pawl 43, and retains the latter in such position that the tooth element defined by tabs 47 engages ybetween two adjacent teeth of toothed wheel 27 and locks the latter against rotation in either direction.

In Patent 2,147,937, previously mentioned, the wheel 27 is provided with a pin for engaging a pin on the gear 24. My construction is different from this. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 16, the wheel 27 has a stop pin 141 secured therein and projecting rearwardly therefrom. This pin is disposed in advance of, and in the path of travel of, a stop lug 143 on an arcuate cam 145. The cam is fixed to the free end `of an arm 147 which carries a second arcuate cam 149 which is located intermediate the length of the arm. The arm is pivoted by a pin 151 on the gear 24 and the pin provides frictional resistance to movement of the arm 147 so that the arm will remain in any position to which it is swung, against the force of gravity.

The stop lug 143, the cam 145 and the arm 147 travel clockwise with the gear 24 when the latter is driven. By operation of the timer setting pawl 43, wheel 27 is rotated step by step in a clockwise direction so as to advance pin 141 relative to lug 143, thus predetermining the time period of operation of the mechanism controlled by the meter. Dial 2S turns with wheel 27 so as to move a suitably graduated scale 62 on the front face of the dial beneath pointer 29. Each graduation of this scale corresponds to the rotary movement of wheel 27 during one actuation of the pawl 43, due to insertion of a coin, so that the pointer and the scale indicate the number of coins which have been inserted. A coil spring 65, disposed about

hubs

25 and 26, is confined under cornpression between gear 24 and wheel 27. This spring serves to prevent any objectionable endwise play between the parts of the controlling and setting mechanism, and also provides friction means for retarding rotation of wheel 27 so as to assure proper movement thereof in accordance with the operation of the timer setting pawl 43.

An arm 67 is pivotally mounted on a stud 68 secured in plate 7 and projecting forwardly therefrom adjacent ratchet wheel 27 and at the opposite side thereof from stud 41. Stud 68 passes through arm 67 and through a tab 69 parallel with arm 67 and projecting from the forward edge of a base plate 70 integral with the outer end of the arm. A T-shaped finger 71 projects from the upper end of plate 70 oppositely to arm 67. A pin 72 is secured through the lower end of plate 70 and extends loosely through an opening 73 in member 74 of a movable switch arm 75. Member 74 is conveniently formed of strip metal and has its upper end slotted and loosely inserted beneath the head of the 'i' element 71 to permit of relative rocking movement between member 74 and element 71. A compression coil spring 76 is disposed about pin 72 and confined between a flanged collar 77 seating against the outer face of member 74 and an abutment member 78 of a known type, in the form of a slotted locking member which engages into a circumferential groove in the pin. Arm 75 comprises a lower member 79, conveniently in the form of a strip of fiber, riveted or otherwise suitably secured to member 74. A bridging contact member is suitably mounted on the lower end of member 79 for limited rocking movement on an axis extending transversely thereof. The contact member 80 carries two Contact points 81 disposed for contact with points 82 of cooperating

contact members

83 and 84, when the switch arm is in switch closing position.

Members

83 and 84 are mounted on a supporting plate 85 of insulating material suitably secured to plate 7 and projecting downward therefrom. Binding

posts

86 and 87 are suitably secured to the

contact members

83 and 84, respectively, and project rearwardly from the supporting plate 85.

A suitable electrical connecting device 85a, in the form of a plug socket of known type, is mounted in a suitable manner in the lower portion of casing 1 adjacent and below the insulating supporting plate 85. An electrical cord or cable 3S extends into casing 1 through a suitable opening in the side wall thereof adjacent socket 35a, and is secured by a clamping device 89 of suitable type. This cord contains two

wires

90 and 91 which may be connected into the local or house circuit in a suitable manner, as by means of a plug cap of known type cooperating -with a plug socket member of the same general type as member 85a. The motor 11, for driving the gear train 12 and the timing mechanism, is, as previously noted, of known type and includes a field winding or coil 95. The member 85a cooperates with a plug cap 96 (FIGURE 14) having prongs 97 for insertion into member 85a for engagement with the contacts therein in a known manner. The cap member 96 is attached to one end of a cord 98 which extends into casing 1 through the same side thereof as cord 88. This provides simple and efficient means for establishing electrical connections between the control switch and a motor M of the machine A.

In FIGURE 14 I have shown diagrammatically the connections for the control switch, the field winding of the motor 11, and a motor M, which may be considered as the motor which drives the machine A. Referring to this ligure, wire 91 of cord 88 is shown as connected to one terminal of member 85a, the other terminal of which is connected by a lead 99 to contact member 84. Wire 90 of cord 88 is connected to the other contact member 83, one end of winding 95 of motor 11 is connected by lead 100 to contact member 84, and the other terminal of winding 95 is connected by a lead 101 to the terminal of member 85a to which wire 91 is connected. Wires 98a and 98h of cord 98 connect the prongs 97 to the poles of motor M. These connections are effected by attaching

wires

99 and 100 to binding post 87, wire 90 being attached to binding post S6, and lead 99 and wire 91 being attached in the usual manner to the terminals of the socket member 85a. It will be seen that, when switch arm 75 is in closed position and the prongs 97 of plug cap 96 are inserted into plug member 85a, the circuit of field winding 95 of motor 11 is closed and this motor is continuously driven, and the circuit of motor M of the controlled mechanism is closed, and that the circuits of both motors are opened when the switch arm 75 is in the open position of FIGURE 14. The field winding of motor 11 is preferably connected in shunt across the circuit of motor M, as shown.

Switch arm 75 is yieldingly urged into switch opening position by a wire spring 105 coiled about stud 68, one arm of this spring bearing against the inner face of plate 70 adjacent the lower end thereof, and the other arm of this spring bearing against a tab 106 struck from plate 7 and projecting forwardly therefrom. Tab 106 also serves as a stop element for limiting the opening movement of arm 75, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Arm 67 is provided, at its inner end, with a notch 107 defining a latch element 108 adapted for cooperation with latch element 37 of arm 36 of lever 17, and is further provided, at its lower edge, with a notch forming an inclined edge 109. A switch setting pawl 110 is pivoted at its lower end, at 111, on the inner end of the setting lever 39. This pawl is provided, at its upper end, with a relatively long finger 112 and a short finger 113, the latter being disposed to contact edge 109 of arm 67 upon upward movement of pawl 110, when lever 17 is in its normal lowered position. Finger 112 extends into the pocket defined by element 38 of arm 36 and plate 7, and is yieldingly held in contact with the lower edge of arm 36 by a wire spring 115 disposed about tab 57, one

arm of which spring contacts the lower edge of a tab 116 projecting forwardly from the outer edge of pawl 110, the other arm of spring engaging about sleeve 40.

Setting lever 39 is provided, at its outer end, with a rearwardly extending tab 120 which projects through an an opening 121 in plate 7, and a corresponding opening opening 122, in a coin chute 123 secured to the back of plate 7 (FIG. 4), the tab 120 extending across the chute from front to back thereof so as to intercept a coin passing through the chute. Coin chute 123 is preferably tiared at its upper end, as shown, and is disposed in register with slot 124 of a plate 125 (FIG. l2) suitably secured to the top wall of casing 1. The coin chute is of suitable size for reception of 25 pieces or quarters, and is provided, intermediate its ends, with an inwardly offset portion 126 disposed to direct a coin c into contact with tab 120 upon which the coin rests edgewise, at which time the coin is disposed mainly above tab 120 and is confined between this tab and the remote side wall of chute 123.

An operating lever 128 is pivoted at one end, at 129, on the back of supporting plate 7. At its other end lever 123 is Provided with a forwardly projecting pin 130 which projects through an arcuate slot 131 extending downward and across portion 126 of coin chute 123 and intersecting coin c, this slot 131 being aligned with a similar slot 132 in plate 7 (FIG. l). An operating rod 133 (FIG. 4) is provided adjacent its lower end with a bend, forming an element 134 which is inserted through a corresponding opening in lever 128. The other end of rod 133 extends into an elongated button 135, slidable through the top wall of casing 1 and provided at its lower end with a flange 136 `which cooperates with this wall for limiting upward movement of the rod. Lever 12S is urged in a clockwise direction about its pivot 129, as viewed in FIGURE 4, by a wire spring 137, one arm of which engages the lower edge of the lever, and the other arm of which contacts an element of the supporting structure of the clockwork 10.

In FIGURE 1, pointer 29 is at the Zero position on scale 62, gear 24 is locked against rotation by contact of pin 141 with lug 143, and lever 17 has been raised by the planetary action of pinion 23 travelling around ground gear 24, releasing arm 67 and permitting movement of switch arm 75 into its open position by spring 105.

In order to close the control switch, a coin c (FIG- URE 4) is inserted into the coin chute 123, after which the button is depressed, thus swinging the operating lever 128 downward so as to bring pin 130 into contact with the coin and force the latter downward in the chute from the lower end of which it passes through a slot 9a in member 9 into the coin receptacle. This downward movement of the coin swings the outer end of setting lever 39 downward with resulting upward movement of the inner end of this lever and turning movement of the setting pawl 43 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE l. In this movement of pawl 43 finger 48 thereof -is positioned in advance of one of the teeth of wheel 27 and the tooth defined by tabs 47 of this pawl is then disengaged from the wheel. This permits turning by spring 33 of the setting and controlling assembly a short distance in a clockwise direction s-ucent to return lever 17 to its normal lowered or operative position.

Finger 113 of pawl 110 then contacts edge 109 of arm 67 so as to move this arm upward and, at about the same time, finger 48 of pawl 43 contacts the following edge of a tooth of ratchet wheel 27 so as to rotate the same a slight distance in a clockwise direction. In the continued upward movement of pawl 110, arm 67 is raised, thus moving the switch arm 75 into switch closing position, and the inner end of arm 67 contacts the lower end of arm 36, swinging lever 17 a short distance in a counterclockwise direction against the tension of spring 33 until latch element 103 of arm 67 passes above latch element 37 of arm 36, at which time lever 17 is again returned to its lowermost position with a snap action by tension spring 33 so as to engage latch element 37 beneath latch element 168, thus locking the switch arm 75' in closed position. If thereafter lever 39 is actuated to move pawl 110 upward, arm 67 may be raised slightly, this being permitted by the loose and resilient connections between

arms

67 and 75, previously referred to, but arm 67 is retained in switch closing position so long as lever 17 remains in its lowered position. This closes the circuit of motor 11, setting the meter in operation and the motor M in operation.

When the coin c passes beyond tab 120 of lever 39, this lever is returned to its normal position by tension spring 56. In the return movement of the lever 39, the tabs 47 of pawl 43 engage between two adjacent teeth of wheel Z7, advancing the wheel the remaining one-half of a space of the scale 62, and then locking wheel 27 against rotation. In this manner, wheel 27 is advanced one full space of the scale upon insertion of a coin. Likewise, wheel 27 is advanced a corresponding distance for the insertion of each additional coin. The arrangement is such that if one, two or three quarters are inserted and the button 135 depressed, after each quarter is inserted, the dial '2S will be advanced in a clockwise direction, as the parts are shown in FIG. l, amounts proportional to the number of the coins inserted to bring the stop pin 141 toward the upper end of the inner face of the cam 149. However, the stop pin will not engage the cam during any one of these operations, or at least only engage the cam an cxtent not causing any undesired movement of the arm 147.

If four quarters are inserted, however, the pin 141 will be moved into engagement with the inner face of the cam 149 to swing the arm 147 in a clockwise direction to the dotted line position shown and against a limit pin 153. This movement of the arm locates the stop lug 143 so that its path of travel is outwardly of the pin 141. As mentioned previously, the electric motor 11 of the meter will drive the gear 24 in a clockwise direction so that it tends to follow the movement of the dial 28 and `thus the gear will be driven around in a clockwise direction but the stop lug 143 will pass above or outwardly of the pin 141.

As the gear 24 continues to rotate, the cam 149 will eventually be carried around until the outer face thereof engages the pin 141 to cam the arm 147 inwardly to a position against a limit pin 155, as shown in FiG. 17. This position is inwardly of the full line position shown in FIG. 16. As the gear continues in its clockwise movement, the pin 141 will engage the inner face orf the cam 145 intermediate the ends thereof. The center of the `arc of the cam 145 is located to the right of `the shaft 16 as the parts are shown in FIG. 16. Thus, as the gear rotates farther, the stop pin pushes outwardly against the cam to swing the arm outwardly slightly to the FIG. 16 full line position until the stop lug 143 engages the pin to dispose the dial and gear in their rest positions.

The slight outward movement of the lever, mentioned above, is necessary in order that the cam 149 be so positioned relative to the pin 141 that `the pin will engage the inner face of the cam when the pin is moved clockwise an extent to bring the pin into contact with the cam, rather than pass over the outer face of the cam, as it would otherwise do.

It is pointed out that when the cycle of operation above described is completed, the pin 141 is left in its FIG. 17 position so that the graduation on the dial is disposed in a position clockwise of its FIG. l position, and will so remain until the machine is subsequently operated.

The machine has now completed its cycle of operation and vfor four quarters, the machine has operated for a period of time greatly in excess of that which results from inserting three quarters. This large time period may run the machine for the entire day or for whatever period of time is desired, whether it be minutes, hours, days, weeks or months.

FIG. 1S shows a modified for-m of the invention in which the cams 1455: and 149@ are iixed to the gear 24a while the stop pin 141g is carried on an arm 147a pivoted at 151a on ya gear like gear 27, not shown, but which is disposed just behind the dial 23a. The operation of this form of the invention is very similar to `that of the previous form except that it is the stop pin which is shifted back and forth because of its engagement with the cams instead of the came being shifted.

Briefly, when the gear on which pin 141a is mounted is rotated an extent to bring the pin 141:1 into engagement with the inner face of the cam 14951, the arm 147er and thus the pin 141er are shifted inwardly so that when the gear 24a is rotated to follow the pin, the stop lug 143a passes over the pin and allows the machine to run for one full revolution plus four graduations of the dial. Before the lug 143a again engages the pin 141er, the outer face of the cam 149e pushes the -pin outwardly and the inner face of the cam 14551 pushes the pin slightly inwardly properly to position the pin for engagement with the inner face of the cam 149a when the machine is operated subsequently.

Although the invention has been illustrated to indicate that it is `four quarters that will cause the long period of operation of the machine, obviously, this is merely illus- -trative both as to the coin referred to and as to the quantity of coins. Also, in the form of the invention described, the dial is allowed to rotate a full revolution after the stop lug 143 misses the stop pin 141, but the dial may be equipped with multiple stop pins if desired, particularly whent he gear ratio of the gears in the gear train causes only very slow movement of the gear 24. It is further pointed out that the pointer 29 and the graduations on the dial may be eliminated if desired. Also, while the conventional machine to which the present invention is applied has an electric motor, obviously, the present invention can be applied to machines having spring motors and other types of motors if desired. It is further pointed `out that the limit pins 15S and 153 can be eliminated if desired since they are actually only a safety factor.

The dial 28, the gear 27, the gear 24 and the special stop means therebetween constitute a dial assembly which may be substituted for the corresponding dial, two gears and stop means of the conventional meter of the type shown in the Thompson Patent 2,147,937. It is pointed out that the later stop means is of simple form in which the gear has a fixed stop which engages a fixed stop on the dial to give purely proportional time periods in return for the value of the coins inserted.

While the invention has been described with the assumption that dropping coins in the chtite 123 and depressing the button initiates Operation of the machine A, some machines have control switches of their own which must also be closed to initiate operation of the machine. In this latter type of machine, depression of the button l135 conditions the machine for operation. The switch in the machine would also control the operation of the motor 11, so that the motor would not be energized until both switch 81, S2 and the machine switch were closed.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be the preferred embodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the invention is not to be limited other than yby the provisions of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bargain type timing unit for determining the duration of operation of a coin-controlled device, comprising a first member, a second movable member disposed in cooperative relation to said first member and having a predetermined rest position relative to said rst member, means for moving said first member from such rest position an amount proportional to the number of the coins inserted into said coin-controlled device and for simultaneously initiating operation of said coin-controlled device, means for causing said second member to move at a predetermined rate in the same direction as said first member, stop means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said first member, means responsive to the stopping of said second member for terminating operation of said coin-controlled device, and means responsive to the insertion in said device of coins of a predetermined number greater than the lowest number necessary to initiate operation of said unit for temporarily inactivating said stop means to permit movement of said second member past such rest position and give a substantially greater time of operation for such predetermined number of coins than for a lesser number of coins.

2. A bargain type timing unit for determining the duration of operation of a coin-controlled device, comprising a first member, a second movable member disposed in cooperative relation to said first member and having a predetermined rest position relative to said first member, means for moving said first member from such rest position an amount proportional to the number of the coins inserted into said coin-controlled device and for simultaneously initiating `operation of said coin-controlled device, means for causing said second member to move at a predetermined rate in the same direction as said first member, stop means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said first member, means responsive to the stopping of said second member for terminating operation of said coincontrolled device, and means responsive to the insertion in said device of a predetermined number of coins greater than the lowest number necessary to initiate operation of said unit for temporarily inactivating said stop means to permit movement of said second member past such rest position and give a substantially greater time of operation for such predetermined number of coins than for a lesser number of coins, and then operable to reactivate said stop means.

3. A timing unit for determining the duration of operation of a coin-controlled device, comprising a first rotary member, a second rotary member disposed in cooperative relation to said first member and having a predetermined rest position relative to said first member, means for moving said first member from such rest position an amount proportional to the number of the coins inserted into said coin-controlled device and for simultaneously initiating operation of said coin-controlled device, means responsive to movement of said rst member from such rest position for causing said second member to move at a predetermined rate in the same direction as said first member, stop means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said first member, means responsive to the stopping of said second member for terminating operation of said coincontrolled device, and means responsive to the insertion in said device of a predetermined number of coins greater than the lowest number necessary to initiate operation of said unit for temporarily inactivating said stop means to permit movement of said second member past such rest position and give 4a substantially greater time of operation for such predetermined number of coins than for a lesser number of coins.

4. A timing unit for determining the duration of operation of a coin-controlled device, comprising a rst rotary member, a second rotary member disposed in cooperative relation to said first member and having a predetermined rest position relative to said first member, means for moving said first member from such rest position an amount proportional to the number of the coins inserted into said coin-controlled device and for simultaneously initiating operation of said coin-controlled device, means responsive to movement of said first member from such rest position for causing said second member to move at a predetermined rate in the same direction as said first member, stop means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said first member, means responsive to the stopping of said second member for terminating operation of said coin-controlled device, and means responsive to the insertion in said device of a predetermined number of coins greater than the lowest number necessary to initiate operation of said unit for temporarily inactivating said stop means to permit movement of said second member past such rest position and give a substantially greater time of operation for such predetermined number of coins than for a lesser number of coins, and then being operable to reactivate said stop means before said second member again reaches said rest position.

5. In combination, a first movable member, a second movable member disposed in cooperative relation to said first member and having a predetermined rest position relative to said first member, actuatable means, means responsive to one or more actuations of said actuatable means `for moving said first member from such rest position an amount proportional to the number of actuations of said actuatable means, means responsive to movement of said first member from such rest position for causing said second member to move at a predetermined rate in the same direction as said first member, stop means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said first member, and means responsive to a predetermined number of actuations of said actuatable means greater than the lowest number necessary to initiate operation of said unit for temporarily inactivating said stop means to permit movement of said second member past such rest position and give a substantially greater time of movement of said second member for such predetermined number of actuations than for lesser numbers of actuations.

6. In combination, a first rotary member, a second rotary member disposed in cooperative relation to said first member and having a predetermined rest position relative to said first member, actuatable means, means responsive to one or more actuations of said actuatable means for moving said first member from such rest position an Vamount proportional to the number of actuations of said actuatable means, means responsive to movement of said first member from such rest position for causing said second member to move at a predetermined rate in the same direction as said first member, stop means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said first member, and means responsive to a predetermined number of actuations of said actuatable means greater than the lowest number necessary to initiate operation of said unit for temporarily inactivating said stop means to permit movement of said second member past such rest position and give a substantially greater time of movement of said second member for such predetermined number of actuations than for lesser numbers of actuations.

7. A timing unit for determining the dur-ation of operation of a coin-operated device, comprising a first rotary member, a second rotary member having a predetermined rest position relative to said first member, means for moving said first member from such rest position an amount proportional to the number of the coins inserted into said coin-operated device and for simultaneously initiating operation of said coin-operated device, means for causing said second member to move at a predetermined rate in the same direction as said rst member, stop means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said first member, means responsive to the stopping of said second member for terminating operation of said coin-operated device, said stop means including a pin on one member and a stop on the other member, cam means on said other member in fixed relation to said stop, said pin constituting one part of a movement control system and said cam means and stop constituting another part, one of such parts being 1 il mounted on its member for movement with respect thereto, said cam means being engaged by said pin when said iirst member is moved beyond a predetermined point to shift said pin and stop relative to one another so that they are out of register to permit said first member to move past said rest position.

8. in a machine of the type including a timing unit assembly having a rst rotary member adapted to be incrementally advanced to commence the operation of a machine, a second rotary member to be driven at a predetermined rate in the same direction as the movement of the first rotary member to determine the period of operation of the machine, and means responsive to the stopping of said second mem-ber to terminate operation of said machine, the improvement comprising stop `means between said members for normally stopping said second member after it has duplicated the movement of said rst member, and means responsive to the movement of said rst member an amount greater than a predetermined amount for temporarily inactivating said stop means to permit movement of said second member past the position where it would duplicate the movement of said first member thereby to increase the period of operation of said machine.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,952 Larson Aug. 25, 1936 2,147,937 Thompson Feb. 21, 1939 2,147,941 Woodward Feb. 21, 1939 2,217,845 Mueller Oct. l5, 1940 2,612,975 Gallagher Oct. 7, 1952 2,635,731 Dolman Apr. 21, 1953