US3162733A - Coin controlled time switch with reset cam - Google Patents

Coin controlled time switch with reset cam Download PDF

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Publication number
US3162733A
US3162733A US232751A US23275162A US3162733A US 3162733 A US3162733 A US 3162733A US 232751 A US232751 A US 232751A US 23275162 A US23275162 A US 23275162A US 3162733 A US3162733 A US 3162733A
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Prior art keywords
time
cam
switch
coin
lever
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US232751A
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Alfred W Gardes
Julius R Rosenski
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International Register Co
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International Register Co
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F15/00Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
    • G07F15/12Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity in which metering is on a time basis
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S200/00Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
    • Y10S200/03Coin operated
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/11Tripping mechanism
    • Y10T74/114Retarded
    • Y10T74/116Clock train

Definitions

  • This invention relates, generally, to time controlled switches and it has particular relation to coin controlled time switch mechanisms. It constitutes an improvement over the construction in U.S. Patent No. 2,147,937, issued February 21, 1939, in the name of Ernest H. Thompson and assigned to the assignee of this application.
  • FIG. 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a time switch mechanism embodying this invention the switch contacts being shown in the open position and the time oif cam being shown in the position to which it is moved at the end of the predetermined time interval.
  • FIG. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the switch mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the metallic case being omitted.
  • FIG. 3 is a view, in rear elevation, of the time switch mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the metallic case being omitted.
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the time switch mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 with the time oilf cam in the initial position and the switch contacts in the closed position and latched in this position.
  • FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing a coin being moved to operate the setting lever at a time during the time interval required for a complete movement of the time off cam from the initial position to the final position at the end of the time interval.
  • the reference character It designates, generally, a coin controlled time switch mechanism embodying this invention. It includes a metallic case 11 only the upper portion of which is shown and which is provided with a suitable locked cover as described in the patent above referred to. In the lower portion of the metallic case 11 there is a coin receiving compartment 12. Extending inwardly from the vertical sides of the metallic case 11 are brackets 13-13 for receiving screws 14-14- that project through a metallic support plate 15 and serve to mount it rigidly within the metallic case 11.
  • Rivets 18-13 extending through the insulating support plate 17 serve to mount stationary switch contacts 19-19 thereon.
  • Terminal screws 20-20 extend through the insulating support plate 17 and through the bottom portions of the stationary switch contacts 19-19 to provide for external connection thereto.
  • the terminal screws 23-26 are threaded into an insulating strip 21 which overlies the bottom portions of the stationary switch contacts 19-19.
  • a bridging switch contact 22 is employed for interconnecting the stationary switch contacts 19-19.
  • the bridging switch contact 22 is shown in the open position in FIG. 1 and in the closed position in FIG. 4. In the claims these positions are referred to as one position and an alternate position respectively.
  • the bridging switch contact 22 is mounted and moves with the lower end of an insulating switch arm 23 that is hinged at 24 to the upper end of a metallic plate 25.
  • a pin 26 extends laterally from the plate 25 and through the insulating switch arm 23.
  • a coil compression spring 27 surrounds the pin 26 and is interposed between the outer side of a metallic plate 28 which is secured to the outer side of the insulating switch arm 23 and a snap washer 29 providing an abutment at the outer end of the pin 26.
  • the plate 25 which serves to move the insulating switch arm 23 and bridging switch contact 22 between the switch closed and switch open position has a tab 31 formed in tegrally therewith on one side and a switch latch arm 32 formed integrally with and extending laterally from the other side in overlying relation to the front surface of metallic support plate 15.
  • the tab 31 and switch latch arm 32 have a stud 33 extending therethrough, the stud 33 being affixed to and extending forwardly from the metallic support plate 15.
  • a coil spring 34 is positioned around the stud 33 and between the tab 31 and the switch latch arm 32. The arrangement is shown more clearly in FIG. 2.
  • One end 35 of the coil spring 34 bears against the lower end of the plate 25 while the other end 36 of the coil spring 34 bears against a tab 37 which is struck from the metallic support plate 15.
  • the tab 37 also provides a stop for limiting the movement of the upper end of the plate 25 and thereby limits the movement of the insulating switch arm 23 toward the open position.
  • the switch latch arm 32 has a downwardly facing latch shoulder 38 that is arranged to be engaged by a latch shoulder 39 on the lower end of a finger it? for holding the switch latch arm 32 and thereby the bridging switch contact 22 in the switch closed position.
  • the finger 40 is an integral depending extension of a switch control lever 41 that is mounted for rotation about a stud 42, FIG. 2, that extends forwardly from the metallic support plate 15.
  • the coil tension spring :3 is employed.
  • the lower end of the coil tension spring 43 is anchored to a tab 44 which is struck from the metallic support plate 15.
  • the movement of the switch control lever 41 in a counterclockwise direction is effected through the provision of a detent 4% which extends forwardly therefrom.
  • the detent 49 is positioned in the path of movement of a cam surface St on an elongated time off cam 51 which is provided with a slot 52 intermediate its ends that permits both translatory and rotary movement thereof.
  • the time oif cam 51 is mounted for movement relative to the stud 42 and between the outer end of it and the under side of a washer 53 which is held in place by a screw 54.
  • the construction is such that the time off cam Sloan be rotated about an axis extending through the stud 42 and screw 54 and in addition can be moved endwise relative to the screw 54 as permitted by the slot 52.
  • a coil tension spring 55 is employed. One end is secured to a hook 56 that depends from the under side of the time off cam 51. The other end of the spring 55 is secured to a stud 57 that extends forwardly from the metallic support plate 15.
  • the time off cam 51 is spaced slightly in front of the metallic support plate 1.5 and this spacing is maintained in part by the forward end of the stud 42 and in part by a pin S which is secured to the time off cam 51 near the left end and extends therefrom toward the support plate 15 and into engagement therewith.
  • a stud ea extending forwardly from the support plate 15,
  • the translatory movement of the time oif cam 51 in a forward direction or in a direction to tension the coil tension spring 55 and move the cam surface 51 into operative engagement with the detent 49 is effected through the provision of rack teeth tit? along the upper edge of the left end of the time oif cam 51 together with a constant speed pinion 61 that is driven in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow as.
  • the constant speed pinion 61 can rotate at a speed of one revolution each half hour for the purpose of moving the time off cam 51 to the right in the direction indicated by the arrow 63 as seen in FIG. 4.
  • the pinion 61 is in engagement with the rack teeth 60 in what is termed as an initial position while the position shown in FIG.
  • a synchronous motor 64 is provided for this purpose and is mounted on the rear of the metallic support plate 15.
  • the motor 64 drives through a suitable reduction gear train through a shaft as which extends through the support plate 15 and carries the pinion 61 at its outer end.
  • FIG. 1 shows the relative positions of the several parts of the mechanism at the end of the time interval for which the mechanism lid is arranged to be operated as a result of the insertion of a single coin.
  • the insertion of a coin in the manner described hereinafter resets the mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 4' with the time off cam 51 shifted from the final position shown in FIG. 1 to the initial position.
  • a coin operated setting lever 69 is employed. It is located near the lower edge of the support plate 15 and is rotatably mounted on a stud '70 that extends forwardly therefrom. At its distal end the coin operated setting lever 69 carries a switch setting pawl 71 by means of a transversely extending pin/72;.
  • the switch setting pawl 71 is rotatably mounted on the pin 72. It is provided with a relatively short finger '73 the upper edge of which is arranged to engage the under side of the switch latch arm 32 for the purpose of rotating it from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the latched position shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 5 shows the resetting movement of the switch setting pawl 71.
  • the switch setting pawl 71 is provided with a relatively long arm 74 that is arranged to engage the rig t side of the finger it for the purpose of urging it into latching engagement and also for limiting the rotational movement of the switch setting pawl '71 in a counterclockwise direction.
  • a spring 75 surrounds a lug 76 that extends forwardly from the coin operated setting lever 69.
  • One arm 77 of the spring 75 bears against the stud '70 while the other end 78 bears against the lug 79 which extends forwardly from the switch setting pawl 71.
  • the coin operated setting lever 69 is biased in a clockwise direction by a coil tension spring iii
  • One end of the coil tension spring 8t is anchored to the tab 44 while the other end is anchored to the lug 76.
  • switch latch arm 32 and the finger 40 from the switch control lever 41 are in the form of fiat plate material and closely overlie the front surface of the support plate 15.
  • a retaining plate 81 overlies both of them and is suitably secured in stationary spaced relation to the front side of the support plate 15.
  • a central aperture 82 in the retaining plate $1 permits observation of the latch shoulders 38 and 39 to make certain that their relationship is within proper operating tolerances.
  • a coin chute 87 On the rear side of the support plate 15, as shown in FIG. 3, there is provided a coin chute 87 that is arranged to receive a coin 88 such as a quarter.
  • a coin 88 such as a quarter.
  • the opening 911 also extends through a portion of the coin chute 87.
  • the coin 88 is gaged between the coin tab 89 and a coin gaging tab 91 which extends through an opening 91' in the support plate 15 from a lever 92 that is located on the front side of the support plate 15, FIGS.
  • the operating lever 191 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 3 by a spring 193 which extends around the stud 102.
  • One end 104 of the spring 103 is hooked to the under side of the operating lever 101 while the other end 105 reacts against a tab 106 that is struck from the rear side of the support plate 15.
  • Intermediate the ends of the operating lever 101 there is a rearwardly extending stud 191 on which the lower end of an operating bar 107 is pivoted.
  • the operating bar 107 extends upwardly past the upper edge of the support plate 15 and above the top wall of the metallic case 11 as shown in FIG. 1. At its upper end it carries a handle 1% to facilitate application of a downward force to the operating bar 1117.
  • the bridging switch contact 22 is in the closed position during the time interval that the pinion 61 is moving the time off cam 51 in a forward direction.
  • the coin 88 is inserted in the coin chute 87 and the operating bar 107 is moved downwardly, there is a remote possibility that the downward movement of the operating bar 107 will be arrested by the coin 88 becoming lodged in the lower end of the coin chute 87 with the coin operated setting lever 69 in the position shown in FIG. 5 where the wipe olf lever 85 has swung the time off cam 51 to disengage the rack teeth 60 from the pinion 61. It is desirable to insure that the bridging switch contact 22 is moved to the open position under these circumstances.
  • a strut bar 109 of insulating material is mounted with a slight degree of rotation on the pin 72 at the distal end of the coin operated setting lever 69.
  • the strut bar 109 has a finger 110 extending therefrom between the stationary switch contacts 19--19 and engages the bridging switch contact 22 to move it to the open position shown in FIG. 5. This makes certain that the circuit will be interrupted should the coin 88 become stuck in the lower end of the coin chute 87 under the circumstances described.
  • an outlet socket 111 for the purpose of making use of the circuit that is controlled by the bridging switch contact 22 an outlet socket 111, FIGS. 2 and 3, can be provided.
  • the outlet socket 111 is arranged to receive a conventional plug that is attached to a cord or two-conductor cable which is connected to a device, such as a hair dryer, whose operation is to be timed.
  • a device such as a hair dryer
  • the circuit as shown in FIG. 14 of the patent above referred to can be employed and arranged to be controlled by the operation of the bridging switch contact 22 in the manner described herein.
  • the outlet socket 111 is mounted on the under side of an outstanding section 112 from the support plate 15.
  • a screw 113 which extends downwardly through the outstanding section 112 and through an insulating plate 114 located above the outlet socket 111.
  • a layer 115 of insulation can be interposed between the upper side of the insulating plate 114 and the under side of the outstanding section 112.
  • the layer 115 of insulation extends downwardly along the rear side of the insulating support plate 17 and the upper screw 21) extends therethrough.
  • Suitable downwardly extending tabs 116-116 along the distal edge of the outstanding section 112 serve to center the outlet socket 111 and hold it securely in place in proper alignment with the support plate 15.
  • FIG. 1 shows the time off cam 51 moved forwardly to the full extent for the given time interval with the latch shoulder 38 having been disengaged from the latch shoulder 39 and the bridging switch contact 22 occupying the one or open position.
  • the time 011 cam 51 remains in the position shown in FIG. 1 until the coin $8 is inserted in the upper end of the coin chute 8'7 and the operating bar 1117 is moved downwardly to cause it to by-pass the coin engaging tab 91 and to effect downward movement of the coin tab 89 in the opening 91) in the support plate 15.
  • a coin controlled time switch mechanism comprising, support means, switch contacts mounted on said support means and normally biased to one position, a latch arm movably mounted on said support means and connected to said switch contacts, a switch control lever movably mounted on said support means and having a latch finger adjacent said latch arm for latching engagement with said latch arm to hold said switch contacts in an alternate position and biased toward such latching engagement, a time ott cam movably mounted on said support means and movable from an initial position to a second position, means on said time off cam and said switch control lever connecting said time off cam in said second position to said switch control lever to cause it to move said latch finger out of latching engagement with said latch arm whereupon said switch contacts are moved to said one position, drive means mounted on said support means, means interconnecting said drive means and said time off cam to cause it to move from said initial position to said second position during a predetermined time interval, a coin operated setting lever movably mounted on said support means, a switch setting pawl movably mounted on said support means, means inter
  • the time otf cam has an elongated surface and is shiftable out of the connection to the drive means
  • the wipe off lever has a detent for engaging said elongated surface to shift said time off cam and interrupt the connection between it and the drive means for each coin that is inserted regardless of the time in the time interval that the coin operated setting lever is operated.
  • the time off cam is an enlongated member having a cam surface for engaging a detent on the switch control lever
  • the drive means includes a constant speed pinion for engaging said rack teeth to drive said time off cam from the initial position toward the second position, and

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Description

Dec. 22, 1964 A. w. GARDES ETAL 3,162,733
COIN CONTROLLED TIME SWITCH WITH RESET CAM Filed 061.. 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l l /"*4 73 25576 25 Ill 7/ INVENTORS L v Gardaq I7 I] I 79 53 75 JzzZamE 5419672992,
Dec. 22, 1964 A. w. GARDES' ETAL I 3,162,733
com CONTROLLED TIME SWITCH WITH RESET CAM Filed Oct. 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I /0/ h g Q /02 125% #5 /6 TiHll 6 I a6 Q (39 90 M U x M J INVENTORS 7Z5 dlfrednf ardeg 9 n A 'BY Jam-6221705622564 United States Patent Ofi ice 3,162,733 Patented Bee. 22, 1964.-
3,162,733 CGEN CQNTROLLED Tim SWITCH WITH RiEEiET CAM Alfred W. Gardes, Wilmette, and .lniius lR. Rosenski,
Chicago, illL, assignors to international Register Company, Chicago, 1111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Get. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 232,751 Claims. (Cl. 230-) This invention relates, generally, to time controlled switches and it has particular relation to coin controlled time switch mechanisms. It constitutes an improvement over the construction in U.S. Patent No. 2,147,937, issued February 21, 1939, in the name of Ernest H. Thompson and assigned to the assignee of this application.
Among the objects of this invention are: To provide a time switch construction in which switch contacts are operated from one position or an open position to an alternate or closed position at the beginning of a given time interval, for example thirty minutes, in response to the insertion of a coin and are operated from the alternate or closed position to the one position either at the end of the time interval or any time during the time interval on the insertion of a second coin to insure that the full time interval will be available for each coin that is inserted; to employ for this purpose a time off cam that is driven at a constant speed and is arranged at the end of the time interval to disengage a latch and permit a spring to move the contacts to the one or open position; to bias the time olf cam to an initial position to start the time interval; to release the time off cam for movement to its initial position for each coin that is inserted; to
mount the time off cam for both translatory and rotary movement with the translatory movement being under the control of a spring for returning it to the initial position and under the control of a constant speed pinion engaging rack teeth on the time off cam for moving it in a forward direction during the time interval and tensioning the spring; to rotate the rack teeth out of driving engagement with the pinion each time that a coin is inserted; and to employ a wipe off lever operated in response to the insertion of a coin for rotating the time off cam to disengage the driving connection between the pinion and the rack teeth.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a time switch mechanism embodying this invention the switch contacts being shown in the open position and the time oif cam being shown in the position to which it is moved at the end of the predetermined time interval.
FIG. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the switch mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the metallic case being omitted.
FIG. 3 is a view, in rear elevation, of the time switch mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the metallic case being omitted.
FIG. 4 is a view of the time switch mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 with the time oilf cam in the initial position and the switch contacts in the closed position and latched in this position.
FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing a coin being moved to operate the setting lever at a time during the time interval required for a complete movement of the time off cam from the initial position to the final position at the end of the time interval.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character It designates, generally, a coin controlled time switch mechanism embodying this invention. It includes a metallic case 11 only the upper portion of which is shown and which is provided with a suitable locked cover as described in the patent above referred to. In the lower portion of the metallic case 11 there is a coin receiving compartment 12. Extending inwardly from the vertical sides of the metallic case 11 are brackets 13-13 for receiving screws 14-14- that project through a metallic support plate 15 and serve to mount it rigidly within the metallic case 11.
At the lower left corner of the metallic support plate 15 and secured by rivets 16-16 is an insulating support plate 17. Rivets 18-13 extending through the insulating support plate 17 serve to mount stationary switch contacts 19-19 thereon. Terminal screws 20-20 extend through the insulating support plate 17 and through the bottom portions of the stationary switch contacts 19-19 to provide for external connection thereto. The terminal screws 23-26 are threaded into an insulating strip 21 which overlies the bottom portions of the stationary switch contacts 19-19. A bridging switch contact 22 is employed for interconnecting the stationary switch contacts 19-19. The bridging switch contact 22 is shown in the open position in FIG. 1 and in the closed position in FIG. 4. In the claims these positions are referred to as one position and an alternate position respectively. The bridging switch contact 22 is mounted and moves with the lower end of an insulating switch arm 23 that is hinged at 24 to the upper end of a metallic plate 25. A pin 26 extends laterally from the plate 25 and through the insulating switch arm 23. A coil compression spring 27 surrounds the pin 26 and is interposed between the outer side of a metallic plate 28 which is secured to the outer side of the insulating switch arm 23 and a snap washer 29 providing an abutment at the outer end of the pin 26. This construction provides a limited degree of relative movement of the switch arm 23 with respect to the plate 25 through which it is moved between the open and closed positions.
The plate 25 which serves to move the insulating switch arm 23 and bridging switch contact 22 between the switch closed and switch open position has a tab 31 formed in tegrally therewith on one side and a switch latch arm 32 formed integrally with and extending laterally from the other side in overlying relation to the front surface of metallic support plate 15. The tab 31 and switch latch arm 32 have a stud 33 extending therethrough, the stud 33 being affixed to and extending forwardly from the metallic support plate 15. In order to bias the switch latch arm 32 and the insulating switch arm 23 carrying the bridging switch contact 22 to the open position a coil spring 34 is positioned around the stud 33 and between the tab 31 and the switch latch arm 32. The arrangement is shown more clearly in FIG. 2. One end 35 of the coil spring 34 bears against the lower end of the plate 25 while the other end 36 of the coil spring 34 bears against a tab 37 which is struck from the metallic support plate 15. The tab 37 also provides a stop for limiting the movement of the upper end of the plate 25 and thereby limits the movement of the insulating switch arm 23 toward the open position.
At its distal end the switch latch arm 32 has a downwardly facing latch shoulder 38 that is arranged to be engaged by a latch shoulder 39 on the lower end of a finger it? for holding the switch latch arm 32 and thereby the bridging switch contact 22 in the switch closed position. The finger 40 is an integral depending extension of a switch control lever 41 that is mounted for rotation about a stud 42, FIG. 2, that extends forwardly from the metallic support plate 15. In order to bias the switch control lever 41 in a clockwise direction the coil tension spring :3 is employed. The lower end of the coil tension spring 43 is anchored to a tab 44 which is struck from the metallic support plate 15. The other end of the coil tension spring 43 is anchored in an eye 45 at the distal end 'of the switch control lever 41. Movement of the switch control lever 41 in a clockwise direction under the influence of the coil tension spring 43 is 3 limited by engagement of a tab as struck from the switch control lever 41 and arranged to engage a lower edge 47 of an opening 48 in the metallic support plate 15.
The movement of the switch control lever 41 in a counterclockwise direction is effected through the provision of a detent 4% which extends forwardly therefrom. The detent 49 is positioned in the path of movement of a cam surface St on an elongated time off cam 51 which is provided with a slot 52 intermediate its ends that permits both translatory and rotary movement thereof. The time oif cam 51 is mounted for movement relative to the stud 42 and between the outer end of it and the under side of a washer 53 which is held in place by a screw 54. The construction is such that the time off cam Sloan be rotated about an axis extending through the stud 42 and screw 54 and in addition can be moved endwise relative to the screw 54 as permitted by the slot 52. In order to bias the time off cam 51 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 a coil tension spring 55 is employed. One end is secured to a hook 56 that depends from the under side of the time off cam 51. The other end of the spring 55 is secured to a stud 57 that extends forwardly from the metallic support plate 15. The time off cam 51 is spaced slightly in front of the metallic support plate 1.5 and this spacing is maintained in part by the forward end of the stud 42 and in part by a pin S which is secured to the time off cam 51 near the left end and extends therefrom toward the support plate 15 and into engagement therewith. A stud ea, extending forwardly from the support plate 15,
' overlies the upper edge of the time off cam 51 close to the left end thereof for limiting upward movement of this end and thereby guiding the time off cam 51 in its translatory movement while permitting rotary movement in a counterclockwise direction for a purpose that will be set forth presently.
The translatory movement of the time oif cam 51 in a forward direction or in a direction to tension the coil tension spring 55 and move the cam surface 51 into operative engagement with the detent 49 is effected through the provision of rack teeth tit? along the upper edge of the left end of the time oif cam 51 together with a constant speed pinion 61 that is driven in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow as. For illustrative purposes it is pointed out that the constant speed pinion 61 can rotate at a speed of one revolution each half hour for the purpose of moving the time off cam 51 to the right in the direction indicated by the arrow 63 as seen in FIG. 4. Here the pinion 61 is in engagement with the rack teeth 60 in what is termed as an initial position while the position shown in FIG. 1 can be termed a final position which is reached at the end of the predetermined time interval, for example one-half hour, at which time the detent 49 has been engaged to rotate the switch control lever 41 in a counterclockwise direction sufficiently far to move the latch shoulder 39 on the finger 40' out of latching engagement with the latch shoulder 38. This permits the switch latch arm 32 to rotate in a clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 34 and swing the insulating switch arm 23 and bridging switch contact 22 to the open position as shown in FIG. 1.
Any suitable means can be employed for rotating the pinion 61 at constant speed. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings a synchronous motor 64 is provided for this purpose and is mounted on the rear of the metallic support plate 15. The motor 64 drives through a suitable reduction gear train through a shaft as which extends through the support plate 15 and carries the pinion 61 at its outer end.
FIG. 1 shows the relative positions of the several parts of the mechanism at the end of the time interval for which the mechanism lid is arranged to be operated as a result of the insertion of a single coin. The insertion of a coin in the manner described hereinafter resets the mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 4' with the time off cam 51 shifted from the final position shown in FIG. 1 to the initial position. For this purpose a coin operated setting lever 69 is employed. It is located near the lower edge of the support plate 15 and is rotatably mounted on a stud '70 that extends forwardly therefrom. At its distal end the coin operated setting lever 69 carries a switch setting pawl 71 by means of a transversely extending pin/72;. It will be understood that the switch setting pawl 71 is rotatably mounted on the pin 72. it is provided with a relatively short finger '73 the upper edge of which is arranged to engage the under side of the switch latch arm 32 for the purpose of rotating it from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the latched position shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows the resetting movement of the switch setting pawl 71. Also the switch setting pawl 71 is provided with a relatively long arm 74 that is arranged to engage the rig t side of the finger it for the purpose of urging it into latching engagement and also for limiting the rotational movement of the switch setting pawl '71 in a counterclockwise direction. A spring 75 surrounds a lug 76 that extends forwardly from the coin operated setting lever 69. One arm 77 of the spring 75 bears against the stud '70 while the other end 78 bears against the lug 79 which extends forwardly from the switch setting pawl 71.
The coin operated setting lever 69 is biased in a clockwise direction by a coil tension spring iii One end of the coil tension spring 8t is anchored to the tab 44 while the other end is anchored to the lug 76. Normally the coin operated setting lever 6% occupies the position in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings and it is moved therefrom in a clockwise direction against the biasing action of the spring dtl only when a coin is inserted.
It will be observed that the switch latch arm 32 and the finger 40 from the switch control lever 41 are in the form of fiat plate material and closely overlie the front surface of the support plate 15. In order to maintain them in this position and in alignment so that the latch shoulders 33 and 39 will move into engagement, a retaining plate 81 overlies both of them and is suitably secured in stationary spaced relation to the front side of the support plate 15. A central aperture 82 in the retaining plate $1 permits observation of the latch shoulders 38 and 39 to make certain that their relationship is within proper operating tolerances.
When a coin is inserted during the interval that the time off cam 51 is being moved forwardly by the pinion 61, it is desirable that it be returned to the initial position shown in FIG. 4 in order to make certain that the full time interval is available in response to the insertion of the coin. In addition it is desirable that the time otf cam 51 be returned to the initial position from its position as shown in FIG. 1 at the end of the time interval. For this purpose provision is made for rotating the time off cam 51 a slight amount in a counterclockwise direction in order to disengage the rack teeth 66 from the teeth of the pinion 61. This is accomplished through the provision of an upstanding tab 83 on the coin operated setting lever 69 which interfits with a slot 84 that is located near the lower end of a wipe off lever 85 that is rotatably mounted on the stud 76. At its upper end the wipe off lever 85 carries a detent 86 that extends toward the support plate 15 and engages the under side 51' of the time off cam 51. When the coin operated setting lever 69 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 5 as a result of the insertion of a coin, the wipe off lever 85 is rotated therewith. This causes the detent 86 to swing in an arc in engagement with the under side 51 of the time off cam 51 and causes it to rotate about the axis of the screw 54 sufiiciently far to move the rack teeth 60 downwardly and out of engagement with the teeth of the pinion 61. As soon as this takes place the time off cam 51 is moved promptly to the left under the influence of the coil tension spring 55 which has been further tensioned as a result of the movement of the time off cam 51 to the right or in the direction indicated by the arrow 63, FIG. 4, as a result of rotation of the pinion 61.
On the rear side of the support plate 15, as shown in FIG. 3, there is provided a coin chute 87 that is arranged to receive a coin 88 such as a quarter. When the coin 88 is dropped into the upper end of the coin chute 87 it falls downwardly therethrough until it engages a coin tab 89 that is carried by the coin operated setting lever 69 and extends rearwardly therefrom through an opening 99 in the support plate 15. The opening 911 also extends through a portion of the coin chute 87. The coin 88 is gaged between the coin tab 89 and a coin gaging tab 91 which extends through an opening 91' in the support plate 15 from a lever 92 that is located on the front side of the support plate 15, FIGS. 1 and 4, and is pivoted on a stud 93 that extends forwardly therefrom. At its opposite end the lever 92 has a tab 94 against which one end 95 of a coil spring 96 reacts. The spring 96 is positioned around the stud 93 and its other end 97 reacts against a tab 98 that is struck forwardly from the support plate 15.
It will be understood that the coin 38 dropped into the coin chute 87 comes to rest against the coin tab 89 on the coin operated setting lever 69 and against the coin gaging tab 91. Now it is necessary to apply a downward force to the coin 88 in order to complete its downward movement through the coin chute 87. In so doing it carries with it the coin tab 89 and thereby rotates the coin operated setting lever 69 from its position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4- to the position shown in FIG. 5. This is accomplished by means of a tab 99 that extends through an arcuate slot 100 in the support plate 15. The tab 99 is carried at the distal end of an operating lever 101, FIG. 3, which is pivotally mounted on a stud 102 that extends rearwardly from the support plate 15. Normally the operating lever 191 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 3 by a spring 193 which extends around the stud 102. One end 104 of the spring 103 is hooked to the under side of the operating lever 101 while the other end 105 reacts against a tab 106 that is struck from the rear side of the support plate 15. Intermediate the ends of the operating lever 101 there is a rearwardly extending stud 191 on which the lower end of an operating bar 107 is pivoted. The operating bar 107 extends upwardly past the upper edge of the support plate 15 and above the top wall of the metallic case 11 as shown in FIG. 1. At its upper end it carries a handle 1% to facilitate application of a downward force to the operating bar 1117. It will be understood that, after the coin 88 has been inserted in the upper end of the slot 87 through a suitable slot (not shown) in the top wall of the metallic case 11, the handle 1118 is manually depressed to complete the downward movement of the coin 83 through the lower end of the coin chute 87 and into the coin receiving compartment 12. In so doing the coin operated setting lever 69 is rotated in the manner described to effect the resetting of the mechanism and reclosure of the bridging switch contact 22.
It will be understood that the bridging switch contact 22 is in the closed position during the time interval that the pinion 61 is moving the time off cam 51 in a forward direction. During this interval, if the coin 88 is inserted in the coin chute 87 and the operating bar 107 is moved downwardly, there is a remote possibility that the downward movement of the operating bar 107 will be arrested by the coin 88 becoming lodged in the lower end of the coin chute 87 with the coin operated setting lever 69 in the position shown in FIG. 5 where the wipe olf lever 85 has swung the time off cam 51 to disengage the rack teeth 60 from the pinion 61. It is desirable to insure that the bridging switch contact 22 is moved to the open position under these circumstances. For this purpose a strut bar 109 of insulating material is mounted with a slight degree of rotation on the pin 72 at the distal end of the coin operated setting lever 69. The strut bar 109 has a finger 110 extending therefrom between the stationary switch contacts 19--19 and engages the bridging switch contact 22 to move it to the open position shown in FIG. 5. This makes certain that the circuit will be interrupted should the coin 88 become stuck in the lower end of the coin chute 87 under the circumstances described.
For the purpose of making use of the circuit that is controlled by the bridging switch contact 22 an outlet socket 111, FIGS. 2 and 3, can be provided. The outlet socket 111 is arranged to receive a conventional plug that is attached to a cord or two-conductor cable which is connected to a device, such as a hair dryer, whose operation is to be timed. For example, the circuit as shown in FIG. 14 of the patent above referred to can be employed and arranged to be controlled by the operation of the bridging switch contact 22 in the manner described herein. The outlet socket 111 is mounted on the under side of an outstanding section 112 from the support plate 15. It is secured in position thereon by a screw 113 which extends downwardly through the outstanding section 112 and through an insulating plate 114 located above the outlet socket 111. A layer 115 of insulation can be interposed between the upper side of the insulating plate 114 and the under side of the outstanding section 112. The layer 115 of insulation extends downwardly along the rear side of the insulating support plate 17 and the upper screw 21) extends therethrough. Suitable downwardly extending tabs 116-116 along the distal edge of the outstanding section 112 serve to center the outlet socket 111 and hold it securely in place in proper alignment with the support plate 15.
As pointed out hereinbefore FIG. 1 shows the time off cam 51 moved forwardly to the full extent for the given time interval with the latch shoulder 38 having been disengaged from the latch shoulder 39 and the bridging switch contact 22 occupying the one or open position. It will be understood that the operation of the switch contacts can be reversed but, for illustrative purposes, their sequence of operation as outlined hereinbefore is the only one shown. The time 011 cam 51 remains in the position shown in FIG. 1 until the coin $8 is inserted in the upper end of the coin chute 8'7 and the operating bar 1117 is moved downwardly to cause it to by-pass the coin engaging tab 91 and to effect downward movement of the coin tab 89 in the opening 91) in the support plate 15. This causes the coin operated setting lever 69 to rotate from its position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5. This is accompanied by rotation of the wipe off lever and the detent do at its upper end engages the lower edge 51' of the time 011 cam 51 to rotate it slightly in a counterclockwise direction and disengage the rack teeth 60 from the teeth of the pinion 61. The time off cam 51 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 117 under the influence of the coil tension spring 55 to the initial position shown in FIG. 4. This action takes place whether the coin ES has been inserted at or after the end of the time interval or at any time during the time interval. If the coin 88 is inserted at or after the end of the time interval where the latch shoulder 39 has been moved out of engagement with the latch shoulder 38, the action is accompanied by restoration of the switch latch arm 32 as the result of engagement of its under side by the upper end of the short finger 73 on the switch setting pawl 71. This action resets the mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 4 where the bridging switch contacts 22 are in the closed or alternate position. As soon as the coin 88 moves past the tab 99, the coin operated setting lever 69 no longer is restrained. The coil tension spring S1) then acts to rotate it in a counterclockwise direction carrying with it the wipe off lever 85 and returning them to the positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings.
What is claimed as new is:
l. A coin controlled time switch mechanism comprising, support means, switch contacts mounted on said support means and normally biased to one position, a latch arm movably mounted on said support means and connected to said switch contacts, a switch control lever movably mounted on said support means and having a latch finger adjacent said latch arm for latching engagement with said latch arm to hold said switch contacts in an alternate position and biased toward such latching engagement, a time ott cam movably mounted on said support means and movable from an initial position to a second position, means on said time off cam and said switch control lever connecting said time off cam in said second position to said switch control lever to cause it to move said latch finger out of latching engagement with said latch arm whereupon said switch contacts are moved to said one position, drive means mounted on said support means, means interconnecting said drive means and said time off cam to cause it to move from said initial position to said second position during a predetermined time interval, a coin operated setting lever movably mounted on said support means, a switch setting pawl movably mounted on said support means, means interconnecting said switch setting pawl and coin operated setting lever for engaging said latch arm to move it into latching engagement with said latch finger and to return said switch contacts to said alternate position, a wipe off lever movably mounted on said support means to cooperate with said time oh cam, means interconnecting said wipe oi? lever and said coin operated lever for intcrrupting the connection between said drive means and said time off cam, and means connected to said time off cam for biasing said time off cam to said initial position on interruption of said connection. 1
2. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
(a) the time otf cam has an elongated surface and is shiftable out of the connection to the drive means, and
(b) the wipe off lever has a detent for engaging said elongated surface to shift said time off cam and interrupt the connection between it and the drive means for each coin that is inserted regardless of the time in the time interval that the coin operated setting lever is operated.
3. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
(a) the time off cam is an enlongated member having a cam surface for engaging a detent on the switch control lever,
(b) support means mount said time ofi; cam for both translatory and rotary movement, and
(c) the wipe off lever cooperates with said time off cam to rotate it and interrupt the connection to the driving means.
4. The invention, as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
(a) the elongated member forming the time oh cam carries rack teeth,
(b) the drive means includes a constant speed pinion for engaging said rack teeth to drive said time off cam from the initial position toward the second position, and
(c) the wipe off lever rotates said time off cam to move said rack teeth out of driving engagement with said pinion when the coin operated setting lever is 0perated.
5. The invention, as set forth in claim 1, wherein means interconnect the coin operated setting lever and the switch contacts, said means being arranged and adapted to move said switch contacts to the said one position while said coin operated setting lever is being operated.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,583,333 Greenwald Jan. 22, 1952

Claims (1)

1. A COIN CONTROLLED TIME SWITCH MECHANISM COMPRISING, SUPPORT MEANS, SWITCH CONTACTS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND NORMALLY BIASED TO ONE POSITION, LATCH ARM MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND CONNECTED TO SAID SWITCH CONTACTS, A SWITCH CONTROL LEVER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A LATCH FINGER ADJACENT SAID LATCH ARM FOR LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH TO HOLD SAID SWITCH CONTACTS IN AN ALTERNATE POSITION AND BIASED TOWARD SUCH LATCHING ENGAGEMENT, A TIME OFF CAN MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND MOVABLE FROM AN INITIAL POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION, MEANS ON SAID TIME OFF CAM AND SAID SWITCH CONTROL LEVER CONNECTING SAID TIME OFF CAM IN SAID SECOND POSITION TO SAID SWITCH CONTROL LEVER TO CAUSE IT TO MOVE SAID LATCH FINGER OUT OF LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH ARM WHEREUPON SAID SWITCH CONTACTS ARE MOVED TO SAID ONE POSITION, DRIVE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID DRIVE MEANS AND SAID TIME OFF CAM TO CAUSE IT TO MOVE FROM SAID INITIAL POSITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION DURING A PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVAL, A COIN OPERATED SETTING LEVER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A SWITCH SETTING PAWL MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SWITCH SETTING PAWL AND COIN OPERATED SETTING LEVER FOR ENGAGING SAID LATCH ARM TO MOVE IT INTO LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH FINGER AND TO RETURN SAID SWITCH CONTACTS TO SAID ALTERNATE POSITION, A WIPE OFF LEVER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO COOPERATE WITH SAID TIME OFF CAM, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID WIPE OFF LEVER AND SAID COIN OPERATED LEVER FOR INTERRUPTING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID DRIVE MEANS AND SAID TIME OFF CAM, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TIME OFF CAM FOR BIASING SAID TIME OFF CAM TO SAID INITIAL POSITION ON INTERRUPTION OF SAID CONNECTION.
US232751A 1962-10-24 1962-10-24 Coin controlled time switch with reset cam Expired - Lifetime US3162733A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3431432A (en) * 1965-11-12 1969-03-04 Cons Electronics Ind Timer

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2583333A (en) * 1950-03-07 1952-01-22 Robco Corp Coin meter with reset switch cam

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2583333A (en) * 1950-03-07 1952-01-22 Robco Corp Coin meter with reset switch cam

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3431432A (en) * 1965-11-12 1969-03-04 Cons Electronics Ind Timer

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