US514418A - Coin-operated fortune-telling machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 6, 1894.

\A/I NEEEEEE ml mmcun u'mmanuume UNITED STATES PATENT FRED F. DENNIS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

COIN-OPERATED FORTUNE-TELLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,418,- dated February 6, 1894.

Application filed October 30, 1893 Serial No. 489,509. (No model.)

To (all whom, zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED F. DENNIS, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Operated Fortune-Telling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to coin-controlled machines, and has for its object the production of a simple and inexpensive device whereby a fortune or wheel -of-fate wheel may be operated by the gravity of a coin, and stop at an uncertain point or stage in its revolution to display a phrase or motto.

The invention consists of the improved machine or contrivance which I will now proceed to describe and claim. A

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they may occur.

Of the drawings: Figure 1, is a front view of the invention parts being shown in section, and parts being represented as broken out. Fig. 2, is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same.

In the drawings: a, designates a case of any suitable form and size in which is journaled a wheel 5, so that it may revolve freely.

The wheel b, is provided on its periphery with a series ofbuckets or receptacles c, from each of which there extends an inclined chute or guide d. Above the wheel but to one side of j the center of gravity thereof there is arranged a chute e, communicating with a slot f, formed in the case said chute being so arranged that when a coin is placed in the slot f, it will be directed into one of the buckets c, of the wheel, and by its gravity turn said wheel, the coin being thrown out or discharged when the bucket reaches the lowest point in its travel. On the wheel at a suitable point there is arranged a card-board or plate containing a series of fortune or other phrases, one for each bucket, which are adapted to be displayed at an opening g, in the easing said opening being sufficiently extensive only, so that a single phrase can be seen therethrough.

The operator having put a coin in the slot f, the wheel will be turned an indefinite number of times and when it comes to a full stop the phrase seen through the opening will be the operators fortune.

In order to insure the wheel stopping so as to fully display one of the phrases or mottoes at the opening g, I have provided a magnet h, which is so arranged as that the projecting end of the inclined guide or chute d, will pass in close proximity thereto. When the wheel is about to stop if its momentum is barely sufficient to carry the approaching end. of the chute d, past the magnet the force will be suiiicient to bring the next following up to the magnet which will stop it, with the projecting end directly opposite the pole of the magnet, as shown in Fig. 1. In this way I am enabled to stop the wheel at regular intervals though at unpredetermined points. This magnet, which by the way, might be an electro-magnet or a permanent magnet, is an important feature of the invention.

The operation of the invention has been so fully set forth in connection with an explanation of its construct-ion, as not to need further description.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a Way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, it is declared that what is claimed is 1. A coin-operated machine comprising in its construction a wheel provided with a series of buckets on its periphery each of the buckets being provided with a projecting chute, a magnet arranged in close proximity to the projecting parts of the buckets,a motto bearing plate or card secured to the wheel, an opaque covering for said plate or card, provided with an opening through which inscriptions on the card or plate may be displayed, as set forth.

2. A coin'operated machine comprising in its construction a wheel provided with a series of buckets on its periphery each of the buckets being provided With a projecting,

chute and a, magnet arranged in close prox- '5 imityto theprojecting parts of thebuckets as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of October, A. D. 1893'.

" FRED F. DENNIS Witnesses:

, LOUISE C. DEARDEN,

ALICE E. DENNIS.

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