US3096406A - Selection playing device - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1963 G. J. BROWN SELECTION PLAYING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1960 July 2, 1963 Filed June l5, 1960 G. J. BROWN SELECTION PLAYING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @e0/:ye Jfow/v GM wm July 2, 1963 G. J. BROWN SELECTION PLAYING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13, 1960 ffy.

Il l l 54 55 56 57 July 2, 1963 G. J. BROWN SELECTION PLAYING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 13, 1960 s. Y Nw M wm M W5 .Mi J 6 j WW 6 July 2, 1963 Filed June 13, 1960 G. J. BROWN SELECTION PLAYING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Gofye J.- Brown www United States Patent O 3,096,406 SELECTEN PLAYING DEWCE George J. Brown, 22 Grandview Ave., Waterbury, Conn. Fiied June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,662 14 Claims. (Cl. 20G-38) This invention relates to manually operated program selecting-means such as is used in conjunction with coinoperated record-playing machines, for example.

In such devices the prospective user upon depositing an indicated coin may, by pressing buttons provided for the purpose, select a number `of records to be played. This sets the machine in operation with the result that the records may be played ione after another. However, as at present provided, the mechanism selects .the records according to the relative position of the records 1n the stack.

An object oi the present invention is to providey manually operated selecting means for .a plurality 'of operations in which the opera-tions are performed seriatirn 1n the order in which the selections are made.

Thus, in the case of a record-playing machine, the user can not only select the records to be played, but can also select the order in which they are to be played, that order being the order in which the selecting buttons are depressed.

This is accomplished, according to the present invention in its simpler form, by providing a series of chan acteristically different interposers, each related to one of the selector buttons and released thereby to travel to a collector where it and other or" said interposers released by other buttons accumulate in the row in the order in which they are released. The interposers are released one at a time to initiate the operation of the selecting mechanism according to the individual characteristic. The interposers may be in the form of spheres or balls which cooperate with electric switching means when released trom the collector to close a particular control circuit according to the individual characteristic which may be the respective diameters of the balls.

Preferably there is a plurality of interposers, each of -a different characteristic, and these are stored in a row to be released one at a time when the selector button is operated.

To provide for a larger range of selection without increasing the number of different characteristics of the interposer balls, two banks of selector buttons, each-arranged so that corresponding buttons in ythe two banks will release a ball from the same row of balls. The buttons are interlocked so that the buttons in the banks must be operated alternately, the buttons in one bank making a group selection and those in the other bank selecting one in the group. Thus, with two banks of ve buttons each and iive characteristically different kinds of balls, twenty-tive different selections can be made.

After the interposers have performed their functions they are returned to their starting point where they are segregated into their proper rows.

Another object of the present invention in its broader scope is to provide a mechanism that enables the manual selection of a number of conditions from a plurality of different conditions and then eiects the conditions in the order selected, one condition being initiated after election of the previous condition.

Said conditions may take the form `of electrical impulses so that each conditi-onV may be effected by a num-A ber of pulses. While the selection of the conditions may 3,096,406. Patented July 2, 1963 FIGURE 1 is a view of one embodiment of the present invention shown partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional View .taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 of the manually operated interposer or ball releasing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 3-3- of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram and diagrammatic illustration of the present invention.

IFIG. 5 is a section of the ball returning mechanism taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detail of segregating slots of the ball returning mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail section showing a ball on the segregating slots of the return track.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a locking member in the manually operated ball releasing means.

FIG. 9 is a section taken on teh line 9 9 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views of a further embodiment of the invention, shown mostly in section, with FIG. l0 showing the left hand portion.

FIG. l2 is a sectional view ltaken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10 illustrating a further embodiment of a manu- 7 Ially operated ball releasing mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a detail section taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. l2.

FIG. 14 is a detail of the -switch mechanism employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 through 13.

FIG. 15 is an electrical schematic diagram of the ernbodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 Iand 11.

In carrying out the present invention, referring to the lembodiment generally shown in FIG. l, there is provided storage means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and specifically shown `as funnel-shaped slots 2i, 22, 23, 24 and 2S. Within each of the slots there are positioned interposers, specifically balls 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 respectively. Each of the balls 26 through 30 has a different physical characteristic, one that can be sensed, i.e. can be determined by a mechanism, as hereinafter described, and in the specific embodiments of the invention Athe characteristic is the diameter of the spherical ball. Each of the slots 21 through 2.5' has balls having the same characteristic disposed therein, the largest ball being in slot 21 and the smallest ball in slot 25 with the intermediate size balls arranged in the order of their decreasing size in slots 22, 23 and 24 respectively.

To minimize the number of different sizes iof balls required and yet enable a large number of selections there is provided five buttons 31 through 35, each of which,` when operated, controls the release oi` oneball from its associated slot, namely 21-25 respectively and `these butt-ons are hereinafter referred to as group but- .tons and the ball released by operation of the buttons as `a group ball. Further communicating with each of the slots are buttons 36 through 40 which, when operated, release from their associatedr slot 2li-2S respectively a ball and these buttons are referred to as digit buttons and the ball released thereby as the digit ball.

It will thus be appreciated that with only live different sizes of balls and by having ve group buttons and five digit buttons, a total of 25 selections may be made since there are lve vdigit selections within each group. IMoreover, -by varying the number of dierent size balls, group buttons and/or digit buttons, the number of selections may be varied.

Positioned below `the lbuttons is ia receiver 4l which collects the balls released Vby the buttons in the order rey leased and stores them in a track 42 to release them individually and sequentially in the order in which they are received in the track 42. The track terminates at a channel i3 in which is positioned a plunger 44 having an opening 45 i into which each ball is sequentially positioned.

The plunger, as will be hereinafter apparent, is adapted to be moved to the left (FIG. l) and after a selected period returned to the position shown', i.e. the ball receiving position. However, prior to its attaining said latter position after movement, a pivoted trap door 46 in the floor of the channel 43 is operated to cause the ball carried by the plunger to `drop. into a guide 47 which guides lthe ball to the `entrance 49 of a spiral return conveyor 50. The conveyor 511 is indicated as being driven by a rotating gear 51 and is enclosed by a tube 52 such that, when the conveyor is rotated and a ball has been guided into the spiral conveyor it moves the ball upwardly to entrances '53` through 57, inclusive, of the segregating slots 21-25, inclusive and respectively. The entrances, as shown in FIG. 6, are of increasing width such that the balls Si) destined Ifor slot 25, i.e. the smallest balls, will pass through the entrance 57 without the other balls falling therethrough and subsequently the balls 29 will fall through the entrance 56, the balls 28 through the entrance 55, the balls 27 through the entrance 54 and the balls 26 through the entrance 53, thus enabling the balls to be segregated to again be positioned in their own slots in the storage means 211.

The present invention, as herein disclosed, employs the balls as released by the buttons to position a shaft at any on'e of 25 different positions, each position employing suitable structure which may be used to control the playing of a selection lwith the selections being played in the onder that the selections are made by the user as determined by the order that the buttons are pressed and this in turn determines the position of the shaft. The present -invention envisions that the shaft may be used to control a multiple contact rotary switch, an indexing mechanism or other structure wherein a position or condition effects an operation.

ln order to `achieve this result, reference is had to FIG. 4 which is .the electrical schematic and diagrammatic representation of the components of the present invention. The components shown in this diagram include the track 42 having balls therein, and the plunger 44 which operates in the channel 43. Located below the opening 45 in the plunger is a normally opened switch 58. Also included are a ball release solenoid and relay 59 having switches 60 4and 61 that are normally closed with the relay being of the slow release type, a plunger moving relay 62, a shaft moving relay 63` having a switch 64 operated thereby and a cam operated transfer switch gener-ally indicated by the reference numeral 65 having contact arms 66, 67 and 68. The contact arms are connected as indicated by the dotted line 69 to a pivoted lever 70 that is operated by Ia cam 71 to move the contact arms from one position to the other. The cam in turn is operated by a ratchet wheel 72 secured thereto which is rotated by a pall v73 carried on an armature 74 of the plunger moving solenoid 62. Also secured on the plunger 44 is a contact bar 75 4formed of conducting material which rides on a switch generally indicated by the reference numeral 76. Normally opened switches 77 and 78 are operated by Ia projection 79 also carried by the armature 74.

In the operation of the device with the parts positioned as shown in FIG. 4 and la group ball having been released from its slot by operation of its button, and presupposing it is a ball 28 from the slot 23 released by oper-ation of the button 33, the ball falls into the opening `45 in the plunger 44 and closes the start switch 5S which energizes a circuit from one side 3d of a source of electrical energy through the switches 61 and 58 to the plunger moving solenoid 62. This in turn causes the plunger 74 to move to the left and as the plunger starts moving, the contact bar 75 of the switch 76 engages con ducting links 81 and `82 of the switch 76. A circuit is thus established through the contact arm 66 that is also connected to one side of a source of electrical energy as indicated by the reference numeral `83 through a lead 84, conducting link 82, the bar 75, conducting link 81, through the switches 611 and 64 to the solenoid 63. This in turn energizes the solenoid 63 moving its armature 85 which `in turn actuates a pall 86 that drives a ratchet wheel 87 fastened to a shaft S8.

The switch 64 is operated by the solenoid 63 and causes intermittent enerigization of the solenoid and hence advancement of the shaft 88 by it. The shaft 88 carries a contact arm 89 that moves in a circular path to engage contacts 95494 disposed in equispaced relation in the path. While the solenoid 63 is continued to be intermittently energized, the solenoid 62 has moved the plunger '74 and hence the contact bar 75 on the switch 76 until it stops on one of the contacts 95 through 99 as will be hereinafter apparent. rPhe contacts 95-99 of the switch 76 are connected by leads `16d-1114 to contacts 9ti-94 respectively engageable by the contact arm $9.

Since the ball in the plunger has been presupposed to be from the slot 23, the contact bar will stop on the contact 97 and remain there while the solenoid 63 is being intermittently energized until the Contact arm 89 engages the contact 92 at which time a circuit is established from the contact arm. 66, through the lead 84 to a conducting link 32 on the switch 76, then .through the contact bar 75, the contact 97, lead 1112, contact 93, contact arm 89, a lead 105, contact arm 68, switch 7S, contact to the ball releasing relay 59 which, upon eneugization, opens the switches 611 and 61 and pivots the trap door 46. Opening of lthe switch 61 deenergizes the relay 62 and a spring 1116 (FlG. l) returns the plunger 44 to its initial position, the ball, of course, dropping down through the return chute 47.

The next ball, i.e. the digit ball, then falls into the opening in the plunger 44, closes the switch 58 and initiates movement of the shaft 88 to a position according to the size of the 4digit ball from the setting of the shaft as determined by the previous ball which was a group ball. The circuit with the digit ball in the plunger is the same as shown in FlG. 4 and previously described except that the transfer switch 65 has its contact arms shifted to the dotted line position -by reason of the pall 73 moving the ratchet 72 to cause a movement of the cam 71 to the dotted line position. Thus the closing of the switch 58 by the digit ball will energize the plunger moving relay 62 through the switch 61 and switch 58. This will cause movement of the plunger 74 andrmovement of the contact bar along the conducting links 81 and 82. `Disposed above the conducting link 81 is a segmented contact bar 167 which has segments 10S-112 inclusive that momentarily contact the Contact bar 75 as the bar moves .over the switch. Movement of the Contact bar 75 to be in contact with the inst-mentioned segment 108, energizes a circuit through the switch arm 66, segment 108, contact bar 75, conducting link 81, switch 60, switch arm 67 and solenoid 63 to energize the solenoid and advance the shaft 88 one movement of its ratchet 87. Presupposing that the digit ball is from the slot 24 (next to smallest ball) which would position the shaft so that the contact bar 89 is in the dotted line position, the contact bar will continue to move until it passes segments '108, 1119, 110 and 111 and stop its movement between the segments 111 and 112. Intermittent energization will thus be given the relay 63 each time as the contact bar engages each segment 108, 109, i and 111.

The extent of movement of the plunger is controlled to prevent the contact bar from stopping in engagement with one of the segments 10S-112 (referring to FIG. `l) by a wedge surface 1113 that reduces the size of the channel 43 in which the plunger operates and hence while the plunger moving relay remains energized, the plunger will only move `as far into the channel as determined by the size of the ball in the opening 45. Further movement of the plunger is taken up by a telescoping connection 114 between the plunger tand a bar 115 that is attached to the armature `of the solenoid 62, thus enabling the armature to move to its final position where it operates the switches 77 and 78 irrespective of the stopping position of the plunger.

Switches 77 and 78 are maintained closed by maintaining the solenoid 62. energized rand a circuit is established through the contact arm 66, switch '77 to 1a relay 116 that is energized to a switch 1-1'7. This switch in fturn is employed to prevent the manually operated program selecting means from accepting the next bail until the selection is completed and accordingly there is schematically shown, as when the present invention is ernployed in a coin operated record playing machine, a turntable motor 11d having a playing arm 119 that as the selection is being played advances until at the iinal position when the selection is iinished it engages a contact y1120.

It will be appreciated that the contact 1201 is only in engagement with the arm after .the record has been played or other conditions affected, at which time a circuit is established that deenergizes the solenoid 62 and energizes the solenoid 59 .tov prepare the apparatus for playing the next selection. This circuit is from the one side of a source of electrical energy through the arm 119, Contact 124i, switch arm 68, switch 78 to the solenoid 5i?. Energization of the solenoid 59 opens switch 61 which deenergizes solenoid 62 to cause the plunger 7d to move back `to its initial position and also causes the trap door 46 to open to exit the ball from the plunger into the return chute 47. Also movement of the plunger to its normal position serves to advance the cam ,'71, to the full line position shown in FIG. 4 and position the contact arms 66, 67 and 68 in their solid line position.

The mechanism of the present invention is thus in position to be Ioperated for the next group ball at which time the operations will proceed as above outlined and the mechanism will continue until all the selections as determined by a group ball and a digit ball have been played, at which time if no ball is in the opening in the plunger the switch 5S will remain open. As shown in FlG. l, the electrical parts above referred to are mounted on the support 20a and have been given the same reference numerals.

It is contemplated that the return conveyor Will be continuously operated though if desired, ldepending upon the number of balls in the mechanism, it may be intermittently operated.

The mechanism requires that a group ball be employed l.and then a digit and then a group, etc., alternately and to this end reference is had to FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9 showing the manually operated buttons and mechanism for effecting such operation. Each of the buttons is identical and referring to the button 31 specifically, it has a substantially rectangular in cross-section shaft 121 formed with a through aperture 122 which aligns with the opening in the slot 21 in its normal outward position so that normally a ball is in the aperture.

The buttons lio-4t? for the digit balls are each identical and are disposed below and slightly offset to the right and have a track communicating therewith from their respective slots so that also a ball is disclosed within the aperture formed in the shaft. The shaft 121 of each button is disposed in a support 123 to enable the shaft to move inwardly upon the button being pushed (such as shown by the shaft operated by button 35) to a position wherein the aperture with the ball is positioned aligned with an opening `121ithat leads to the receiver 41.

In order to prevent releasing of more than one group ball at la time, there is provided below the row oi group buttons a cross-extending slot 125 in which are positioned blocks 126 having the shape shown in FIG. 8. There are six blocks and they are mounted in the slot 125 for movement caused by wing portions 127 formed on either side of the shaft 121 that engage the upper portion of Ithe block and separate the blocks so that a gap exists in the blocks, as shown in FIG. 9 and indicated by the reference numeral 128. With the blocks positioned as shown in FIG. 9 none of the other buttons in the group may be positioned in view of the wings abutting .the displaced blocks. The row of blocks are resiliently urged against each other by springs y129 located at each end of the slot 125.

The buttons 36-4 for the digit balls are identical to each other and to the group 'buttons in that they have a shaft and an aperture. These buttons are disposed below land slightly loilse-t fto the right and there `are formed in the support, runways which enable the ball carried by the :shaft to @be released finto the receiver 41. In both embodiments of the invention a spring surrounds the shaft to normally urge the shaft and buttons outwardly to its ball receiving position., Similarly as with the structure of the group ball buttons, there is provided a slot 130 termed in the support in which blocks 1.26 are positioned to prevent releasing of more than one digit ball.y

In order to make certain that a group ball is released and .then a digit ball, reference is had to FIG. 3 in which the shaft of each of the buttons is shown having a beveled Surface 131 nor the group buttons and 13'2 `for the digit buttons. Movement `of the shaft toits ball releasing posi- `tion cau-ses the bevel surface 1.311 to engage a bar 133, torce the bar upwardly `and ythen to 1a position in which the bar sits within `a slot 13d formed in the shaft. in thispositi-on the shaft of .the group button is thus locked in position and is released by movement of the Contact ibutton whose bevel surface 132 engages a second bar 135 to force `the same upwardly and tinto a slot 136 into the shaft of the digit button. The bars 133 and 1135 are mounted Ion a pair of posts 137 Ithat are spring urged downwardly as by a spring 138 such that when the bevel surface 132 engages the bar 135 to move it upwardly the bar 133l is removed from the slot 134 and the spring that encircles the shaft causes the shaft to move to its normal outward position. It will thus be geen that with the structure of the ball releasing mechanism that only one group or digit button may be depressed at a time and that alternately group and digit buttons can only be pressed.

In the embodiment shown and previously described the ball is contained within the plunger and hence is not freely moved. However, in the embodiment shown in the invention starting with FIGS. l() and hereinafter described, the balli is freely movable rather than being contained.

As shown in FIGS. l0 and '11, there is provided a support on which is mounted a left return spiral conveyor 292 and la right return spiral conveyor 203. Retum conveyors have entrances 2M formed there-in leading into slots 2165 in which the balls tare segregated as to size. This 'structure is similar to the previously described structure and includes a motor 2% for driving VVthe return conveyors. As lshown in FIG. 12, which is a section taken through the group buttons 207, Ztl-8, 209, 216` and 2211, each lof the buttons are identical and include a shaft portion 212 speciiically referring to the button 207 having an laperture 21%` which aligns with a release track 214 leading :to a receiver 2.15. The buttons are mounted in channels .216 formed in the support for movement from its normal ball accepting position :to its ball releasing position, the latter being shown by the button 210. Exytending across the back of the row of button-s and mounted to be engaged by the back end of the buttons is |a tape 217 secured as Iby a screw 218 .to 4the support tand having its other end connected to a link 219. Mounted on the link is a stop 220 that engages a spring 221 contained between the stop 2520 and an abutment 222 such that movement of a button -to its :bal-l releasing position causes rthe link 219 to move to the left in order to have its notched portion 223 engage within a key 2124. 1l-he group buttons 22d-2,29 inclusive are identical and 7 are connected to -a link 23d and is also provided wit-h a not-ch 231 that engages la key 232. The two keys 224 and 232 are mounted `on a movable plate member 233 that is spring urged downwardly `as by a spring 234.

With the above construction it will be clear that movement of a group button from its normal outwardly position to its ball releasing position causes .the link 23@ to move .to the left `and the key 232 to engage the notch 231. Subsequently movement of a digit button will cause the link 2119 to move to .the right and have a beveled surface 235 engage the key 224 moving :the support 233 and keys 224 and i232, upwardly such that the link 236 is released and returned by the spring 234. yContinued movement of the 'button will cause the key 224 to engage the notch 223 and hold the link 219 in position. Subsequent operation of 1a group button will release the connection between the notch 223 and key 224 by reason of the cam surface 237 engaging the key 232. With this vstructure it will be seen that la group ball and a digit ball are alternately released.

Referring to FIG. 10, the balls released by the group button are fed into `a receiver ythat terminates in a plunger 238 having 4an aperture 239. The plunger is yoperated by a solenoid 240 and upon energization of the solenoid, as will be hereinafter explained, the plunger lmoves to the right Ialigning the aperture 239 with a chute 241 that has a switch formed therein composed of iive segments 242-, 243, 244, '245 and 246 mounted in :an insulated panel 247. Disposed opposite the :switch member is a movable contact plate 248 that is connected by `a link 2149 to the plunger 238 of the solenoid 240 to be moved, to the right therewith whenever the solenoid is energized thereby permitting Ia lball contained between the switch member and the contact plate 248 to be released through a chute 250 .fto an entrance 251 of the return chute 262.

As shown in FIG. 11, the group balls similarly have -a track 252 that terminates `in an .aperture 253 of a plunger 254 operated by a `solenoid 255. Energization of the solenoid against the action of the spring 256 aligns the opening 253 with a chute 257 that leads to a switch generally i-ndicated by the reference numeral 258. As shown in FIG. 14, the switch includes a contact plate 259l spaced from a second contact plate 260 with the opposing surfaces of the :two plates being increasingly spaced apart. The contact plate 26u' has insulating segments 261, 262, 263, 264 and 265. With this construction it will be appreciated that a ball rolling down the chute 257 will bridge 'the contact bars 259 and 260 and whenever it engages the two plates, Contact will be made between them. Moreover, it will be clear, depending upon the size of the ball, that the ball will fall through the two contact plates and thus, tor example, with .a smallest bal-l there will only be an electrical contact 'between the plates 259 and 260l in 'the area between the segments 2.6i and 2612 since the ball will fall through the two plates in the area of the insulating segment therebetween. While the langest ball contact will be made live times between the plates, namely when the ball is between the segments 261 and 262, 262 and 263, 263 and 264, l264 and 265 and 265 and 266 before dropping through the conducting plates into a chute 5268 leading to lthe return track 203.

As shown in the electrical schematic and diagrammatic representation of the invention (FIG. l5), there is a shaft 269 carrying a contact arm 270 and the shaft is operated by energization of a relay 271 in a manner similarly disclosed with respect to Ithe other embodiment of the invention. There is :also provided a time delay switch 272 of the .type having a dri-ving coil 273 land a .contact arm 274 engageable with contacts 275 and 276. From a source of electrical energy 277, current is fed to the coil 273 through an initiating switch 278 which switch may be actuated manually or by a coin if the invention is ernployed in a coin operated record player. Closing of the switch 278 starts movement of the contact arm 274 which initially engages a contact 275 and a circuit is established from 4the source of electrical energy'through contact arm 274, contact 275, a lead 279 to the solenoid 240 and to the contact plate 24S.

This will cause energization of the solenoid 240' which will move its plunger 23S to align the aperture 239 with the chute 241 and permit a ball to be introduced into the switch. rl`he ball, depending upon i-ts size and because of the inclination and tapering between the plate 248 and the segments 242 through 246 will come to rest in engagement between the Contact plate 248 and one of the conacts and as shown there is a ball engaging the contact 243.

The contact arm 27h is moved by the shaft in a circular path and equally spaced apart the path are con- tact points 239, 281, 282, 283 and 234 that are connected respectively to contact segments 242 through 246. While the solenoid 24u is energized, the shaft moving solenoid 271 is also energized through its switch 285 from the contact arm 274 and Contact 275 and this solenoid 271 provides in-termittent operation to advance the contact arm 270 until a time when the contact arm engages, in the specific example being described, wherein the ball is in engagement with the contact 243, the contact 231 which then completes a circuit of lower resistance that parallels the circuit energizing the rel-ay 271 to cause stopping of .the advancement of the shaft.-

This circuit is through the contact arm 274, contact 275, contact arm 270, contact 281, contact 243, the ball, contact plate 248. This circuit is broken by the continued maintenance of the driving coil 273 being energized and las 4the contact arm 274 breaks the connect-ion with the i Contact 275, the solenoid 240 is deenergized as is the shunting or lower resistance cir-cuit thereby releasing the ball.

When the contact arm 274 engages the contact 276 a circuit is established through the elements 274 and 276 to energize a relay 256 which releases a digit ball to enable it to enter the switch 258. The contact plate 260 of this switch 253 is connected to the contact 276 while there a contact plate 259 is connected to a second coil on the relay 271. Thus as the digit ball rolls between the contacts plates 260 yand 259 it will provide impulses whenever i-t electrically bridges these to bars and each impulse will provide one energization of the relay 271 and hence one advancement of the shaft 269.

The solenoid 256 and `the contact plates are deenergized by the continued energization of the time switch 272 unl the contact yarm 274 moves off the contact 276 and as the driving coil 273 is maintained energized the contact arm 274 is moved clockwise until it maintains the position shown in this ligure wherein the cycle of a group ball and a digit ball is again repeated. The closing of the switch 273, if desired, may be opened by the contact arm in this position by any well known mechanical interconnection such as found in time switches :of constructions well known to a man skilled in the art.

'llhe present invention also enables the continuous rcpeating of a group ball or digit ball or sequence thereof, if desired, without manual operations of the buttons. Thus, as `shown in FIG. 10, the left return spiral conveyor 202 has an opening 230 thereon located before the entrances 204 and which opening 280 is large enough to enable the largest ball to pass therethrough. The opening is normally closed by a slide 231 which has an aperture 282 that when positioned in alignment with the opening 280 to enable repeating, permits balls in the conveyor 204 to pass into a conduit 283 `that leads to the receiver that terminates in the aperture 239 formed inthe plunger 238. The right return spiral conveyor similarly has the same structure which is indicated by the same reference numerals.

It will accordingly be appreciated ythat there has been disclosed a device which enables manual selection of a number of different conditions with the conditions being played in the order selected. Further, each condition is completed prior to the initiating of `the next condition 9 and thus -the present invention has an inherent time delay which permits selection of the conditions more rapidly than the playing thereof. While the instant embodiment of the invention has been disclosed with respect to a rotating switch it will be clear that other devices operable by electrical impulses may be employed.

Variations and modieations may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A manually operated program selecting means for enabling the performing of selections in the order chosen comprising means having a plurality of more than two distinct conditions, each for the performing of a selection; a plurality of more than two interposers, each having a different sensible characteristic; means for storing the interposers; means for manually releasing an interposer for each selection as each selection is made; means for collecting the released interposers; and means for individually accepting said interposers one at a time in the order released from the collecting means and adjusting the means having a plurality of conditions to the distinct condition determined by the characteristic thereof.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the means having a plurality of distinct conditions includes a shaft with each condition being a position of the shaft.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there is more Ithan one interposer having the same sensible characteristic and the means for storing the plurality of interposers includes a plurality of individual compartments with each compartment storing only interposers having the same sensible characteristic.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 in which there are means for receiving interposers from the accepting and adjusting means and segregating them in the individual compartments.

5. The invention as `defined in claim 1 in which the accepting and adjusting means includes means for discharging the interposer after the condition mean-s has been adjusted to the characteristic of the interposer thereof.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which said means for discharging includes switch means operated after the performing of the selection.

7. A manually oper-ated program selecting means for enabling the performing of selections in the order chosen comprising means having a plurality of more than two distinct conditions, each for the performing of a selection; a plurality of more than two interposers, each having a different sensible characteristic; means for storing the interposers; means for manually releasing an interposer for each selection as each selection is made; means for collecting the released interposers; means for individually accepting said interposers one at a time in the order released from the collecting means and adjusting the means having a plurality of conditions to the distinct condi-tion determined by the characteristic thereof; said last-named means including means for discharging the interposer after the means having a plurality of conditions has been adjusted to the characteristic thereof and preparing the accepting and adjusting means for acceptance of the next released interposer.

8. A manually operated program selecting means for enabling the performing of selections in the order chosen comprising means having a plurality of more than two distinct conditions divided into a plurality of group conditions with each group having a plurality of digit conditions, each .digit condition being Ifor .the performing of Ia selection; a plurality of tmore than two interposers, each having a different sensible characteristic; means for storing the interposers; means for releasing a first interposer yfor a group selection of the selection made; means for releasing a -second interposer yfor a digit selection of the selection made; means for collecting the interposers in the order released; means for individually accepting said first interposer released `from the collecting means and adjusting the condition means to the group condition characteristic thereof; and means 'for accepting said second intenposer and adjusting the condition means to the digit condition characteristic thereof in .the group condition determined by the first interposer.

9. The invention as defined in claim `8 in which there are interlocking means between the means for releasing the first interposer and the means 4for releasing the sec-` ond interposer to cause alternating operation of these means.

10. A condition selection and setting dev-ice comprising means yfor enabling the selection to be made and including a plurality of more than two interposers, each having an individual sensi-ble characteristic `and one of said interposers being released upon making of a selection; means for storing each released interposer in the order released; means having a plurality of more than `two conditions, each selectable by said first named means; and means for releasing interposers from the storage means in the order stored and causing Va plurality of condition means to be conditioned to the condition selected by operation of the `first named means.

l1. A manually operated progra-m selecting means comprising electrically operated means for selecting operations to be performed which include a series of more than two switches, a plurality of more than two characteristically different interposers, each causing `operation of one only of said switches; means for separately storing said interposers; manually operated means for releasing said interposers selectively; means for collecting said interposers in the order in which they are released; and means lfor releasing said intenposers `from said collecting means one at a time and causing the same to operate one of said switches.

I12. A manually operated selecting and playing device for enabling the selecting of the sequence of playing more than two conditions from a plurality of more than two different conditions with each condition constituting a number of electrical impulses comprising a plurality of interposers, each having a different characteristic and representing a dierent condition; means for storing said inteiposers; means for releasing said -interposers one at a time; means for receiving the released interposers and maintaining them in the order released; and means including a switch tfor taking'ifrom the receiving means the most prior released interposer and sensing the characteristie thereof to cause said switch to create a number of electrical impulses corresponding to the characteristic of the interposer.

13. The invention as defined in claim l12. in which the lastnamed means includes means for freeing said interposer a-fter the number of electrical impulses has been completed and means lfor taking the next most prior released interposer after the freeing of said interposer.

`14. The invention as defined in claim 12 in which the last named means includes means for Ifreeing said interposer a-fter the number of electrical impulses has been completed and means for causing said freed interposer to be guided to the receiving means to enable repetition of the same condition without selection thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. A MANUALLY OPERATED PROGRAM SELECTING MEANS FOR ENABLING THE PERFORMING OF SELECTIONS IN THE ORDER CHOSEN COMPRISING MEANS HAVING A PLURALTIY OF MORE THAN TWO DISTINCT CONDITIONS, EACH FOR THE PERFORMING OF A SELECTION; A PLURALITY OF MORE THAN TWO INTERPOSERS, EACH HAVING A DIFFERENT SENSIBLE CHARACTERISTIC; MEANS FOR STORING THE INTERPOSERS; MEANS FOR MANUALLY RELEASING AN INTERPOSER FOR EACH SELECTION AS EACH SELECTION IS MADE; MEANS FOR COLLECTING THE RELEASED INTERPOSERS; AND MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALLY ACCEPTING SAID INTERPOSERS ONE AT A TIME IN THE ORDER RELEASED FROM THE COLLECTING MEANS AND ADJUSTING THE MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SONDITIONS TO THE DISTINCT CONDITION DETERMINED BY THE CHARACTERISTIC THEREOF.

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