US867707A - Coin-collector. - Google Patents

Description

PATENT-ED 00T. a, 1907.

'a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. B. CRAFT. COIN' COLLECTOR. APPLIoATrois `Hmm 1113.11. 1901.

yNo. 867,707,4

PATBNTED 00T.' s,- 1907;

1:. B. CRAFT. com COLLECTOR-.- APPLICATION FILED P BB. 11, 1907.

e SHEETS-'SHEET 2'.

No. 867,707'. PATBNTED o'cT.. a, 1901'.-

' lE. is. CRAFT. f com' COLLECTOR'. 'APPLICATION FILED 113.11. 190'11. A

No. 867,707. PATENTBD 001". '8, 1907.

E. B. CRAFT.

COIN COLLECTOR. APPLIoATzoN FILED PEB. 11. 1907.

a SHEETS-s111121 5.

No. 867,707. PATENTED OCT. s, 1907.

E. B. CRAFT. G01N GOLLECTUR. APPLICATION FILED PEB.11, 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

" UNrrnD; s'rarns a'rngnfr' Iarmeni,

EDWARD B. CRAFT, OF WILMEIIIE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY7 OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, INCORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

corn-COLLECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. s, 190'?.`

To all whom t'tmqy concern: t Beit known that I, EDwARD B. CRAFT, a citizen of the United. States, residing at `Wlmette, in the county 0i Cook andState of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useiul Improvement in Coin-Collectors, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. l

v My invention relates to a. coin collector for telephone paystations, and its objcct is to provide apparatus 10 which will be adapted orA use as leither a local or a toll coin-collector. i f A More particularly,- myinvention is applicable to coin collectors where the deposit of a 'coin of predetermined size is required o a subscriber in order to signal the central of'lice. I 4the call is for a local connection, the coin will be deposited in the cash box or refunded in the usual manner; if the call is for a-toll connection, means are provided ior operatingv signals to inlorni the central office operator ol the character ol the coin deposited in payment for such toll connection.

My invention, therefore, broadly contemplates. in combination. coin .actuated mechanism I'or signaling to the central oiice that a. connection, either local or toll, is desired. and means for operating signals to in- 4form the central olIice operator ol the character of the coin deposited in response to the request of the central oilice operator. l

More specifically my invention consists in the com,- bination oi two mechanismsv which are in general similar to those disclosed respectively in patent to Charles E. Scribner, No. 728,309. issued May I9th,I903,

and vin the patent to Frank It. Mclerty and HowardA B. Holmes, No. 846,500, issued March lI2, 1907.

I will describe my invention by reference tothe accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof, and the particular parts, improvements or combinations which I consider as novel, and of which I am the inventor, will be set forth inlthe appended claims. 4'0 Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations, respec- "tively, of the coin collector of my invention, with the cover in section; Fig. 3 isa side elevation, with the cover insection, showing the side oppositel that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view showing the coin chute in 45 elevatiornportions o'f the casing upon which the chute is supported, and the polarized electromagnet for dis.

' posing of the coin, -being shown in section; Figs. 'rand t 6 are fragmentary detail `views of the mechanisinfior controllingthe operation of a step or guide whichfprojectsA into the coin chute; Fig. 7 is a detail View of the Icoin chiite, with its front Wall removed; Figf 8 is a partial detail View of one of the parts; and 9 is a diagram` of. the circuits which may be employed in connect-ion with the-coin box of my invention.y

A ne'ction is desire Similarreference characters designate the same parts in each of the Iigures ol' the'drawings. v The temporary coin-receiver or carrier I is mounted upon a rockingfshait 2, which is adapted to be actuated through the medium oi the operai ing handle l, to move 'the'coin-receiver forward, so that a coin held in said coin-carrier will be dropped into the mouth or'opening 4 ol' thc coin chute l Referring more particularly to Figs.. l and 7. the coin cliute has a passage or chamber' ti. tbe-opening into which is in alinement with the lmouth l of the coin chute. The entrance Vto the channel i is normally blocked by an obliquelydisposed stop or guide 7. so

that when said stop is in position. a coin will bedelected into a channelor ypassage 8 leadingT into the cash box ll. Thechannel 0 has a branch t3" leadingv into the cash box anda refund chute 6" loading to the ll. Said arniaturc is norm-.illy hold in its central position by two similar spring-actuated pivoted levers l2 which engage the armature upon opposite sides.-of its pivotod point. 'lhestructure and function of these parts are woll-known,` and are substantially the same as those shown .in thc above-mentioned patent to Scribner, and hence a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. It is sutlicicnt to say briefly that when a coin is in position on the stops 9, 9, it operates a lever I3 in the usual way toy close Contact springs I4. The armature I0 is adapted, as usual, to be tilted vto one side or the other, according to the direction ol the 'current'iin the coils vof the polarized electromagnet, andl `thus the pin 9 or 9, as the case may be, is withdrawn to refund the coin k thijoughthe channel 6b orto Adeposit it in the cash box thiouglithe,

channel l6". 'll understood, therefore, ,that;

vosition, resting upon stops 9, 9*1

it is designed vto "closea signaling circuit andindicate to the central om l vthefiisual mannerpthatacon-y `all is for a local conVxioctitm,`

lor efunded, in theusnalman-- the co'in kis dep() `ner'. Ii toll connec on is desired, the coinjeis refunded, and the subscriber informed later by the` toll operator as to the amount to be deposited in the c oin 'box in payment foinsuch servico. This tolli-should pass directly from the temporary coin-receiver, through the passage 8 of thc coin chute, into the cash box. 'It

will be seen, therefore,A that it is necessary that under certain conditions, the stop 7 shall be withdrawn in order that a coin of a predeterminedcha'racter may pass into the channel G 'to-signal the central office; and l In the structure thus far described, all coins'cxcept,

that under A`other conditions the stop 7 shall remain in its normal position for the Apurpose of guiding the deposited coin directly into the cash box. i

The stop 7 vprojects through an opening in the casing of the coin chute 5. Said stop forms the free end of a bent lever 15, which is pivoted'at its opposite end, as at 16. The lever l5 carries a cam plate 17, which pro. j'lo'cts rearwardly from the same. (See particularly Figs; 3, 5, 6 and 8). A spring 18 tends to operate the lever so as to withdraw the stop 7, but ,such movement of the lever is normally blocked by the engagement of the cam surface of the plate 17 with an eXtension 19 of a caliper lever 20. l v

I will now describe the means and the conditions under which the removal of the stop 7 is effected. The toll signal mechanism shown in the drawings is sub- 'y stantially the same as that fully shown and described i ,in the before-mentioned patent of Mcerty and Holmes, and hence I shall only describe :so much of the same as may be necessary to fully disclose the modification and additions which forma part of the present invention. l

The `(.oin-carrier l has an opening 2l in one of its side Walls, through vwhich a c oin held -in said receiver may project. Said coin during the advance move.

.are showny in dotted and full'lines, respectively. A

coin held in thefcarrier is 'not releasedthrefrom until it has passed beyond the ,lower end of the a'rm 22, that '.is it is not released untilthe caliper lever 20 ismoved to the :utmost extent that a coin of such diameter will operate the same. l 7

As before stated, the plate 17 is spring-pressed into engagement with the vextension-1910i the lever 20. As the` lever 20 is moved t v cam `face of the plateA permits sidplate and lever 15 rectly fromtlie carrier 1l into the passage 6.` Coins 'ofA to spring backwardly, thus withdrawing 'the stop 7 from the coin chute. v (SeefFig. 5).. -If the vcoin is of such denomination, as forez'am'ple, a five cent piece; as will set theflever in the position Vthat will permit such.;-withdrawal ofthe stop 7 as shown in Fig. 5, and, `if the retraction ofthe lever 15 is n ot otherwise blocked, as will hereinafter be set forth, the-coin lc will falldi- *lesser or greater diameter will not so set the lever 20,

andlrence such coins will bede'ected into the cashv hb'zn It is evident,l therefore, that 1 have devised means wherebyin initiating a call for-a connection,4 a

ycoin of predetermined size will be deposited from the carrier l into the; coin cliute' to be arrested by the stops 9, 9, in .position tp signal the central office and that 4any coin 'of a different diameter will be automaticallyl prevented fromV entering the passage 6. There are other features of novelty shown in the drawdescribed, as they increase 4the efficiency of the comto the operator in theusual manner.

o the leftfa depression 23 on the ings, which vthough notinvented by me willnowY be for example,a nickel, are deposited from the carrier l4 through the passage 8 into the cash box, a nickel, however, falling into the passage G.A In case a toll connection is desired, coins other than a nickel vwould have to be deposited and the denomination of the coin signaled 1t would be udvantageous,-as well as less confusing, if coins of any or of different denominations could. be used in payment for toll. For example, if the toll required is twenty'- five cents, it is desirable that a'single coin of that dcnominatiomor acombination of dimes and nickels, or five nickels may be used. Accordingly, a stop or barrier 24 is provided which, after the central/office opera tor has plugged in in answer to a. call, blocks thc retraction of the lever 15 and of the stop 7 and hence guides all deposited coms whatever their denominations, into this passage 8. The stop 24 forms the downturncd end of the armature 25 of a blocking magnet 2G, which has its circuit completed only wheirthe central office operator has plugged in and the subscriber has also placcd a other point of control is at'the normally-open switch springs 27, 28.y An arm 30 carried bythe lever 20 normally holds the spring 3l in such position that said has plugged in, the circuit through the blocking magnet 2G is completed and its armature attracted, thus inserting the stop 24 in the path of movement of the arm 32' ofthe' plate 17 and blocking the movement of said plate. Another feature shown in the drawing, but which is l not my vparticular invention, is means for preventing fraudulent operation of the toll mechanism. For instance, with thc mechanism thus far described, it is posited a nickel tosignal the central office with a view to asking'for a toll connection, the calling party could hold down the handle 3. The operator upon learning'l that a toll connection was desired would refund thc nickel. When the toll operator had secured thc desired connection, she would tcll thc calling party to.

deposit thc required toll. The calling party would thereupon release the handle 3, and thc signal mechanism in returning to normal position"would. for c ample, give one st rokc on thc gong. such signal indicating to the central oflcc operator the deposit of a nickel, which nickel, however, is thc onc which has been refunded.' In order to prevent such fraudulent operatiomthc signal circuit is open through thc springs 28 and 29, as above described, whilc the signal mcchanism is set,- and hence it is impossible to signal thc ccntral office except by rtl-leasing t'hry handle 3.

. l I will now briefly describe the opcration of the coin collector, in this connection also referring to thc circuit. diagram shown in Fig. 9; The subscriber desiring a connection, either local or toll, deposits a nickel into the opening in the casing leading to the carrier 1 and then pulls down'the lever 3, .thereby tilting the carrier into position to deposit the coin into the mouth 4 of the coin chute 5. In the initial movement of the carrier, the coin moves the lever 20, and the contacts of. springs 5 27and 28 are `closed and those of l28 and 29 are opened.

.The extension 19 oi the lever 20 being moved and held in the position shown in Fig. 5, the stop 7 is Withdrawn from the entrance to the passage 6, sinc'e, although the circuit through the blocking magnet 26 has been closed at 27, 28, it Ais still open at the"central ofiice. The nickel., therefore, falls in position on the stops 9, 9

and closes the contacts-14, 14. Upon the handle 3 being released', the carrier 1 returns to its initial position, and the contacts oi springs 28 and-29 are closed'. A signalinglcircuitis. then closed from ground through contacts 14, 14, the polarizedl electromagnet 11, contacts of springs 28, 29, over the line L, through the line relay R, battery Bf 'to ground. The line lamp 1 is thus lighted, in a manner well understood. Theioperator at the central oiiice plugs in and inquires as to the wishes of the calling party. If a local connection is desired, no further depositoi coin is required, and the coin k held on the stops 9, 9n is deposited or refunded, as the casemay be, in the usual manner,

' In casca toll connection is desired, the nickel use-,dto signal the central oiiiceis returned, and the toll operatorflater informs the calling party of the amount rethrough the blocking magnet 26 which is bridged across the lines L. and L2, the contacts of said bridge being closed at springs 27,. 28. The blocking electromagnet thereupon attracts its armature 25 and the barrier 24 is moved down back of the arm 32 of the plate 17, thus blocking the withdrawal of the stop-7 Whatever may be the character ofthe deposited coin. Such coin is then directed by the stop 7 through the channel 8 into the cash box, Upon the release of the handle 3, the denomination o the deposited coin is indicated to the central otlice operator through thetoll-signal mechanism in a well-known mannei, and as fully described in the before-mentioned patent of` McBerty and Holmes. l Y Having' thus vfully described my invention,y I claim: 1. In a coin collector for a telephone system, the combination with coin-act'riated toll indicating mechanism constructed and arranged to receive a coin deposited in said,

coin collector, a line signaling mechanism and means conbination' `with coin-actuated vtoll indicating'mechanism constructed andai-ranged to receive a coin deposited in said coin collector, of coin-actuated line signaling mechanism, a

- coin chute having a channel leading from said indicating mechanism to said signaling mechanism, a guide normally. closing said channel, and means controlled by a deposited coin of predetermined size, in the operation of said rstnamed mechanism, for withdrawing said guide, and thereby directing said c-'Jin'to said line signal mechanism.

3, In a coin collectory for a telephone system,.a movable temporary coin-receiver, toll indicating mechanism controlled by a coin in the movement of said coinreceiver, a coin chute arranged to receive a kcoin from said temporary receiver, said chute having a plurality of channels for directing the inal disposition-of said coin, line signaling mechanism arranged to he operated by a coin directed into one of said channels, and means controlled by\a deposited 'coin i-n the movement of said temporary receiver for directing said coin into one or the other of said channels;

4. In a coin collector for a telephone system, a rotatable temporary coin-receiver, toll indicating mechanism controlled by a coin in the rotationor" said coin-receiver, a coin chute arranged to receive a coin from said temporary recel/ver, said chute having a .plurality of channelsior directing the final vdeposition of said coin, line signaling mechanism arranged tobe operated by a coin directed into one of said channels, and a guide normally preventing the entrance of a coin into said cha'nnel, and means controlled bya deposited coin 'o' predetermined size, in the forward movement 0f said rotatable receiver, for operating said guide to transfer a coin from said rotatable coin-receiver to said line signaling mechanism. I 5. In a combined local and toll coin collector-for` a telephone, a coin' receptacle, toll-indicating mechanism arranged to be operated by a coin deposited in said receptacle, a cash box, a coin chute arranged to receive a coin from said coin-receptacle, said chute having two channels one of which leads directly to said cash box, additional signal- 6. In a coin collector for a telephone system, the com-f,

bination with coin-actuated toll indicating mechanism constructed and arranged to receive a coin deposited -in said coin collector, of coin-ac tuated line signaling mech- Y anism, a coin chute having `a channel leading from said indicating mechanism to said signaling mechanism,..a guide normally closing said channel, a spring tending to vvlth-V draw said guide,'a lever normally blocking the withdrawal of said guide, and means controlled by a deposited coin o f a predetermined size, in the operation of said toll indi-' eating mechanism, for moving said lever into position to pei-init the' automatic withdrawal of said guide from the channel, whereby said coin is directed to said 4line signaling mechanism.

7. In a coin collector for a telephone, the combinationl with coin-actuated line-signaling mechanism, of a coin chute having a channel leading to said signaling'mechanism, a pivoted lever provided vwith a guide normally closing the entrance to said channel, a spring tending to move roo IOo

said lever backward, to withdraw said guide, a laterally moving blocking lever normally preventing the withdrawal of said stop, and a movable coin-receiver arranged to receive a coin deposited in the collector and to transfer it to said coin chute, said coin receiver and lever being so relatively located tlia't a coinof predetermined Sizne inv said receptacle will move said blockingr lever laterally into position to permitthe backward movement of said guide-carry lng lever.

In witness whereof, I, hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of February A. D., 1907.

f EDWARD B. CRAFT.

Witnesses Roi' T. ALLowAY, x RALPH G. JoHANsnN;

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