US495557A - Coin-operated mechanism for phonographs - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. J H. LING. GOIN OPERATED MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS. No. 495,557.

Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

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J. H. LING. COIN OPERATED MECHANISM FOR- PHONOGRAPHS. No. 495,557. Patented Apr. 18, 1893'.

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J. H. LING. (JOIN OPERATED MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS. No. 495,557. 7 -P atented Apr. 18, 1893.

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J. H. LING. 00m OPERATED MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAP'HS. No. 495,557. Patented Apr. 18 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB H. LING, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COIN-OPERATED MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,557, dated April 18, 1893. Application filed June 4,1891. $eria1No. 395,137. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB II. LING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Operated Mechanism for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in coin operated mechanism and especially designed for use in connection with phonographs, &c., in which there is a movable part designed to be returned to a definite point.

The invention relates first to the peculiar construction of the coin chutes whereby the operation of the machine with coins of improper dimensions or with slugs is prevented. Second, in the peculiar construction of the mechanism for setting the motor in operation. Third, in the peculiar construction of the return mechanism, and fourth, in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, I have shown my machine applied to aphonograph for which I have especially designed it.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a phonograph to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a detached elevation of the slotted chute. Fig. 5 is a cross section on line :0 0c of the balanced chute. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section through the discharge chute and trip mechanism showing the contact making device in elevation. Fig. 7 is a section on line y y, Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a detached perspective view of the return mechanism. Fig. 9 is a cross section thereof on line z-z, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the adjustable guide plates detached. Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section on line o-c Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the guide finger and cap of the phonograph carriage, showing the finger turned at right angles to its normal position. Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the spring supporting post.

A is the casing divided by the lateral partitions B B intothe three chambers O G and In the upper chamber is a phonograph of ordinary construction, comprising a cylinder a, a carriage b and a motor 0. The n10- tor is connected with any suitable battery having a make and break connection in the circuit controlled by my improved device.

I will now describe the construction of the coin chutes: D is a plate adapted to be sunk flush with the face of the casing, as plainly shown in Fig. 3 and provided with the diagonal aperture E of substantially the size of the coin by which the machine is designed to be operated. Upon the inner face of this plate and preferably formed integral therewith is the downwardly extending inclined chute D, more plainly shown in Fig. 4:, consisting of the lower bar E having the flat face F and the flange or ledge F forming the notch for the lower edge of the coin to roll on. The upper edge of the coin is supported on the upper bar G which has simply a flat face G. Between the two is an open slot H. This construction of chute causes the coin to rest partially upon its flat face and partially upon its edge, getting a sufficient amount of friction to prevent its moving at too great speed, and at the same time not giving a sufficient amount of friction to cause a sticky or moist coin to stop and clog it up. The slot H designed for an abrupt right angle nickel machine is of slightly less width than the width of that coin, so that any coin of smaller size will fall through this slot and be prevented from passing into the operating part of the machine. At the foot of this chute is arranged a balanced or weighing chute I inclined longitudinally and laterally, and provided upon its lower edge with the flange I to cause the nickel to roll in substantially the manner previously described. At its lower end this chute is provided with a flange J extending across the entire width of the chute and across the end of a lateral delivery chute J formed at the lower end of the chute. By providing a transverse flange or stop, at the lower end of this chute so that the coin will be discharged from the side instead of the end, the coin is checked in its movement and the chute made to act more correctly and accurately. This chute is pivoted in the bifurcated bracket K which is adjustably secured by means of a set screw or other suitable device upon a standard K, these parts being so arranged that the bracket and chute may be adjusted rotatably as well as vertically. If desired, however, the vertical adjustment may be taken up in the base plate L by the means shown in Fig. 3. The chute I is provided with the stem L preferably circular in cross section and screw threaded to receive the counter balancing weight L which may be adjusted thereon by turning it to the right or left and thus balancing the chute with the utmost delicacy. Opposite the end of the chute D I secure the guard plate M to prevent the coin from jumping out of the chute I. I also, preferably separate the chute D and the upper edge of the chute I a sufficient distance to cause the coin to jump in going from one chute to the other. This is to prevent the operation of the machine by a nickel or other coin tied to a string. The slow movement of such an article would not carry it across the space and it would fall into the cabinet without operating the mechanism. Opposite the mouth of the discharge spout J is the mouth of a vertical chute M having the upper bent portion M so arranged that the upper edge of the chute would be at substantially right angles to the path of the discharge spout J. This chute is secured at its lower end to the walls of the chamber N formed integral with the base plate, and extending above the same. This chamber N is preferably of semi-globular shape and of suitable size to allow a coin to be moved freely therein at any point around the trip bar N which is hinged at O on the base plate," and extending across the base of the chute M within the chamber N, as plainly shown in Fig. 6. Below the chamber N is acorresponding chamber P of semi-globular shape formed within the flanged cup P andhaving a discharge nipple I? centrally secured to its lower edge and provided with a suitable screw thread to receive the nut P, which not only clamps the cup I? in position, but also clamps asafe or receptacle Q to the under side of the partition B, as plainly shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen from this description that a coin or slug of less diameter than a nickel will fall through the slot 11; that a slow moving coin will fall between the chute D and the chute I; that acoin of proper size but of lightweight will fall upon the chute I, but will not be of sufficient weight to move it downward a sufficient distance to bring the lateral discharge spout J opposite the mouth of the chute 1W while if it were too heavy to move it below the month of said chute it would fail to deliver it therein. If it be of the weight and size of a' nickel, or is a nickel itself, it will enter the mouth of the chute M passing therethrough, will strike the latch N and depress the same, thus being free to fall into the safe Q.

The trip bar or latch N is adapted to close the circuit by means of mechanism of the following construction: R is a connecting cord or wire extending from the free end of the trip bar N to the outer end of the-spring hook R, as shown in Fig. 6. This spring hook engages with the lower end of the spring jack R whichcarries the contact block R The spring hook R normally holds this block out of engagement with the contacts S, (Figs. 6 and 7) which are connected respectively to the terminals of the electric circuits, secured in the binding posts S. This circuit extends from the electric battery to the motor of the phonograph. The striking of the coin upon the spring latch N depresses that latch releasing the spring jack which is moved into engagement with the contacts by means of the spring S starting the motor in operation, which moves the phonograph carriage forwardly causing it to reproduce whatever is upon the cylinder.

The mechanism which I employ for automatically returning the phonograph carriage when it has reached the end of its movement is preferably of the following construction: 2 is a standard having the curved arm 3 at its lower end, and the jaw 4 adapted to engage with the frame of the phonograph, as plainly shown in Fig. 3, being clamped thereto by the set screws 5. The standard 2 is screw threaded at its upper end to receive the adjusting screws 6. Atthetop of this standard are secured by means of the screw 7, the two plates 8 and 9. a slot 10 in which the pins 11 engage, these pins being secured in the top of the standard, all so arranged that these plates may be adj usted vertically by means of the screws 6 and 7, and may vbe adjusted in relation to each other to a greater or less length by loosening the screw 7 and sliding them upon each other. At the forward edge these plates are provided with depending flanges 12 and 13 respectively. The under-edge 14 of this flange forms a guide rail for the forward movement of the arm 24 on the phonograph carriage,while the upper edge 15 forms a return rail upon which this arm rides. At the outer end of the flange 13 is formed an incline 16, which acts as a switch rail to guide the arm 24 from the rail let to the rail 15, a spring 17 acting to lift the arm 2a upon the switch rail as soon as it has passed beyond the end of the rail 14. At the outer end of the flange 12 is formed a stop 18 having the vertical guide face 19 extending down beneath the return rail. In the plate 9, beside this stop, and in the line of the return rail 15 is formed a well 20 of sufficient depth to allow of the arm 24 to pass therethrough. It is evident that as the motor moves the carriage forward the counter motor or spring 21 will be put under tension, and when the carriage has reached the end of the rail 14: it will be switched upon the return rail 15. In this position the reproducing needle of the carriage will be raised above the path of the phonogram blank, and the counter motor will return it to its initial position. When it reaches the end of the return rail,itwill strike the stop 18 and be guided by the vertical face Each plate is provided with 19 in a line at right angles to the phonogram blank, thereby preventing any possibility of cutting or marring the blank as would be the case if the needle were allowed to scrape along the blank. In this return movement an arm 22 attached to the carriage strikes the rock arm 23 of the spring jack, and withdraws it from the contacts S allowing the spring hook R to re-engage therewith and hold it out of contact, thereby breaking the circuit and stopping the motor.

25 is a finger engaging under the rail 1a in the return movement of the carriage, to prevent the tipping of the carriage by tipping the cabinet or casing.

26 is a standard secured to the shaft of one of the grooved wheels for driving the carriage, to which one end of the spring 22 is attached.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a coin operated device an inclined balanced chute having an abrupt right angled lateral stop at its lower end, substantially as described.

2. In a coin operated mechanism, a chute inclined longitudinally and transversely, a ledge at the lower edge thereof upon which the edge of the coin is adapted to run, an abrupt right angled stop at the end of the chute, a lateral spout on and extending beyond the edge of the chute and a delivery spout across which the lateral spout oscillates, substantially as described.

3. In a coin operated mechanism an inclined counterbalanced chute, a lateral spout thereon, extending outfrom and beyond the edge of the chute and a delivery spout across the open end of which the lateral spout oscillates, substantially as described.

4. In a coin operated device, the combination with a casing, of a plate in the casing having an oblique slot therein, a grooved extension on the plate at the lower end of the slot, an extension on the plate at the upper end of the slot, a swinging obliquely arranged chute at the end of and at an angle to the extension, a stop at the end of the chute and a delivery spout having its mouth arranged laterally beyond the chute adjacent to the stop, substantially as described.

5. In a coin operated device, the combination with the slotted plate and guide leading therefrom, of a swinging chute having a counter weight thereon, a stop at the lower end of the chute, and a delivery spout having its mouth arranged at the side of the chute adjacent to the stop, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the phonograph carriage, the guide rail having a continuous contact surface with which said carriage engages, the switch at the end of said guide rail, a well at the opposite end, a vertical stop extending across the end of the rail beyond the well and a spring for causing the carriage to engage with the switch, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the phonograph carriage, a motor and a return mechanism, rails with which the carriage engages in its forward and return movement, a switch at one end and a stop at the other end of said rail forming a vertical guide for the carriage, substantially as described.

8. In a coin operated phonograph,the combination with a phonograph of a standard having a threaded upper end a slotted plate, a nut below the plate engaging the threaded end of the standard and means for adjustably securing the plate to the standard, substantially as described.

9. In a coin operated phonograph, the combination with the phonograph, of the standard provided with pins 11, nut (3 threaded upon the standard,plates S andtlhaving slots 10 therein and provided with flanges 12 and 13 respectively and screw 7 for securing the plates to the standard, substantially as described.

10. In a coin operated mechanism, a receiving chute inclined transversely and longitudinally, a ledge at the lower side thereof upon which the edge of the coin is adapted to run,

a longitudinally and transversely inclined balanced chute at the foot thereof separated therefrom a distance sufficient to allow a coin to pass between, and a spout located to one side of and beyond the lower end of the balance chute a distance sufficient to permit the passage of a coin,substantially as described.

11. In a coin operated device, the combination with the casing, of an open sided chute, a laterally and vertically inclined chute below the same at a point to form an intervening space between, an adjustable support, a pivotal connection between the same and said inclined chute, an adjustable counterweight on the inclined chute, a laterally arranged stop on the lower end of the inclined chute and a delivery spout, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB H. LING. Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, N. L. Lrnnor.

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