US593919A - Electrical switchboard for coin-operated machines - Google Patents

Description

{No Model.)

J. L. BLODGBTT.

ELECTRICAL SW-ITGHBOARD FOR COIN OPERATED MACHINES. No.. 593,919. Patented Nova 16, 1897. @993. Q

Prion.

ATENT JERRY L. BLoDeETnoF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH-BOARD FO'R COIN-OPERATED MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 593,919, dated November 16, 1897. Application filed July 20, 1897. Serial No. 645,279. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 7 Be it known that I, JERRY L. BLODGETT,a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of LosiAngeles and State of California, have invented anew and useful Electrical Switchboard for Coin-Operated- Machines, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention is designed for use on coinoperated machines for delivering articles or,

" giving service to persons depositing coins therein, and is applicable for telephones, phonographs, kinetoscopes, and vending-ma chines of various'kinds.

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic absolutely accurate device for supplying to the depositor of the coin the article or service for which the coin is deposited and to prevent any fraudulent manipulation vented electrical switchboard with operative parts which go to make up a vending-machine. -Fig.'2 is a plan of a fragment of a vending-machine embodying my invention adapted for delivering any one of various articles at the option of the one by whom the coin is deposited. Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional elevation on line 3 3, Fig. l.

A indicates a vulcanized-rubber plate with horizontal channels 1 2 for slideways and with vertical channels 3 4 5 6 7 forcoin-slotways, with their lower open ends at the top of the upper slideway 1.

B indicates a circuit-closing coin-carrying slide in such upper slideway and" provided with coin-receptacles 3 4, 850. to receive coins from the slotways 3 4, &c., respectively, and also provided with lever-operating stops 1) 1). Suitable means-such, for instance, as the crank O with arms 0 c and the pin bare provided for moving-the coin-slide. Electrical contact-points D D are provided below the slideway 1 and arranged two beneath each slotway to support a coin dropped through such slotw'ay into the receptacle 3, &c., and

.tacts. slideways with one end betweenthe stops b b I bethereby electrically connected to make a circuit. Ooinways 3 4", &c., are provided of contacts.

E indicates stationary contacts, one at the side of each coinway.

F indicates pivoted contacts, one for each coinway at the side opposite the contactpoint E. g

G indicates a contact-moving slide in the lower slideway to operate the pivoted con- A lever H is pivoted between the of the coin-slide and the other end operatively connected with the contact-slide to move the same and thereby move the pivoted contacts into the coinways to intercept the coin when the receptacle is above the coinways, thereby to hold the coin between the contacts to form a second circuit.

I indicates a magnet for operating any suitable means for delivering the article desired or to operate mechanism for performing a desired service, and it" indicate electrical contacts, the connection between which is made by the slide B when the same is in position to drop the coin into the coinways below the slide B.

J indicates a spring for automatically returning the slide B to its normal position to again bring the coin-receptacles beneath their respective coin-slots. This spring is shown arranged to throw the crank into its returned position K indicates a battery for furnishing the requisite electrical energy.

L indicates a lock for the crank C, and M a magnet for releasing such lock.

- When the circuit is closed between the contact-points D D,- this connects the magnet M with the battery and the magnet M will be energized and the lock-catch thrown into the position indicated in dotted lines, and the lever 0 is thus released, so that it can be turned in the direction of the arrow to throw the broken by the removal of the coin, so that I the arm 0 or some other suitable part conthe magnet M is no longer energized and the lock is therefore allowed to return to position to lock the lever upon its return to normal position. lVhen the coin-carrying slide B is in position to drop the coin into anyone of the coinways, the stops Z) I) will have thrown the lever H into position to move the contact-slide G, so as to move the movable contacts F to intercept the coin in any of the coinways. The coin then closes the circuit between the contacts E F, thus to connect the battery to energize the magnets I I, &c., which operate suitable mechanisms N N, &c., for delivering the desired article.

N is a latch for holding the slide N in its retracted position against the tension of the spring n.

H indicates a spring to hold the latch N to catch the slide N.

N is a bar for simultaneously moving all the slides N to the catches N, one catch being provided for each slide. The bar N engages a shoulder n on the slide when actuated by the arm 0 of the lever O.

n is a connecting-bar which extends from the bar N to be operated by the arm 0.

In practical operation when the lever C is drawn to the right this throws the arm a to the left and releases the bar I so that the slides are held by their respective latches N, and the coin which falls into the coinway causes an electric current through the appropriate magnet I to draw down the armaturelateh N, thus to release the appropriate slide N, and the spring n thereof actuates the slide to deliver the package which has fallen down from the chute N.

it indicate electrical contacts to be 0011- nected by the cireuit-closing coin-carrying slide B when the same is thrown out to deposit the coin into the coinway. This makes and breaks the circuit between the battery and the magnets I, which are connected with the contact-points E F and operated by the coin in the coinway. \Vhcn the lever is thrown to deposit a coin in a coinway, the circuit between the battery and the contactpoints E F of all the coinways will be closed, so that the coin in any coinway will complete the circuit and energize the magnet I I, &c., pertaining to that coinway. \Vhen the lever is thrown back, the circuit, which was closed by the coin in the coinway, will be open, regardless of the connection made by the coin, so that if a coin should stick in the coinway and continue to make the connection between the contact-points E F of the coinway the battery will not be exhausted, because the circuit is opened by the withdrawal of the slide B.

The arms 0 c, which are connected with the lever for the purpose of acting upon the pin Z) for operating the slide B, are at a suitable distance apart to operate the pin 1) to throw theslide B in opposite directions when the lever is appropriately turned for that purpose.

The catch of the lever-lock L hooks over nected with the lever to lock the lever in its normal position. This catch is so placed that before the lever moves the slide B to return it to normal position the catch locks the lever against any return of the same, so that after the slide 13 is started back toward its normal position the lever cannot be again thrown to move the slide B outward until such slide has been fully returned to its coinreceiving position, and the contact-points it" are so arranged with relation to the slide that immediately after the slide moves it breaks the circuit, and the catch of the lock has locked the lever C before the stop I; has engaged the lever II to return the pivoted contact-points and release the coin. This effectually prevents any manipulation of the machine to obtain articles or service except by dropping the coin into the slot, as intended.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a slide with a coinreceptacle therein beneath a coin-slot; electrical contacts beneath the receptacle to support a coin in the receptacle and be thereby electrically connected to make a circuit; means for moving the slide; a coinway below the slide, and at one side of a vertical line drawn from said contacts, to receive the coin when the slide has moved it from beneath the coin-slot; an electrical contact on one side of the coinway; a movable electrical contact on the opposite side of such way and operatively connected with the slide to movein to the coinway when the receptacle is above the 'coinway, thereby to hold the coin between the contacts to form a second circuit.

2. The combination of a coin-slide with a coin -receptaele therein beneath a coin-slot; electrical contacts beneath the receptacle to support a coin in the receptacle and be thereby electrically connected to make a circuit; means for moving the slide; a coinway below the slide, and at one side of a vertical line drawn from said contacts, to receive the coin when the slide has moved it from beneath the coin-slot; an electrical contact on one side of the coinway; a movable electrical contact on the opposite side of such way; a contact-operating slide connected with such movable contact to operate the same; a lever arranged to operate the contact-slide and arranged in the path of stops on the coin-slide to be operated thereby.

3. The combination of a vulcanized-rubber plate with horizontal channels for slideways and with vertical channels for coin-slots with their lower open ends at the top of the upper slideway; a circuit-closing coin-carryin g slide in such slideway and provided with a coinreceptacle to receive coins from the slotways respectively, and also provided with leveroperating stops; means for moving the coinslide; electrical contact-points below the slideway and arranged two beneath each slotway, to support a coin dropped through such slotway into the receptacle therefor; coinways below the slide, one at the side of each pair of said contacts; stationary contacts, one at the side of each coinway; pivoted contacts, one at the opposite side of each coinway; a contact-moving slide in the lower slideway to operate the pivoted contact; a lever pivoted between the slideways, with one end between the stops of the coin-slide and other end operatively connected with the contact. v

4. The combination of a slide with a coinreceptacle therein beneath a coin-slot; electrical contacts beneath the receptacle to support a coin in the receptacle and be thereby electrically connected to make a circuit; a'

lever for moving the slide; and a lock for locking such lever and arranged to be released by said magnet.

5. 'l he combination of the slide provided with Mcoin-receptacle a-ndhaving a projecting pin; a lever with two arms to operate upon opposite sides of the pin to move the slide in opposite directions; a lock for locking the lever; a magnet for unlocking such lock; an electrical circuit 'for energizing the magnet; and contactpoints in such circuit and arranged to be electrically connected by a coin in the receptacle of the slide.

JERRY L. BLODGET'D, Witnesses JAMES R. TOWNSEND, F. M. TOWNSEND.

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