Patent GB-400952-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin-freed apparatus such as telephone paystations
IPC: H04M17/02
Filed: 1932-04-23
Abstract: 400,952. Automatic exchange systems. POLLAK, J. E., 20, Holborn, London.- (Associated Telephone & Telegraph Co.; 1033, West Van Buren Street, Chicago, U.S.A.) April 23, 1932, No. 11756. [Class 40 (iv).] Apparatus in a telephone pay-station for operating contact springs in response to the insertion of a predetermined fee which may be made up in different ways, comprises a number of members actuated one at a time in response to successive operations of a common member which is operated one or more times by the insertion of a coin in accordance with its value. A similar device is employed for operating further springs when a predetermined number of digits has been dialled. The coinoperated mechanism and the dial are mounted on the cover of the set. A separately locked cover is provided for the coin container. General operation. When the handset is removed the hook switch SH, Fig. 5, is operated after a time interval imposed by a mechanical delay device and, in the case of local calls, the insertion of the correct fee, which may be made up in a variety of ways, controls counting apparatus which operates springs MC1, MC2. The number of digits dialled is counted by similar apparatus controlled by axial movement of the governor shaft so that the correct number is registered even if dialling is effected improperly by retarding the finger-hold plate so as to send more than one digit with a single setting. When a predetermined number of digits has been dialled, springs DC1, DC2 are operated, and if the correct fee has not been inserted a short-circuit is made across the impulse springs. If the fee has been inserted, a short-circuit, which is subsequently removed by operation of the collecting button, is made across the microphone. If the subscriber is busy, the fee is returned on restoration of the handset. In the case of long-distance calls the value of the coins is signalled to the operator under control of contacts M1 .. M4 which send one or two impulses from differently tuned buzzers B1, B2. A further buzzer signal is given by contact PB when the collecting button is operated, the contact remaining closed until the button, the return of which is delayed, is completely restored. Coin action. The insertion of a coin rocks a common bar 19, Fig. 4, to move a pawl 26 driving a ratchet-wheel 27 to tension a spring 28. A worm wheel 29 on the ratchet-wheel shaft engages a worm wheel 30 on another shaft which is geared to the main driving wheel and is moved axially as the spring is wound up until its end projects into the path of the pawl 26 and prevents its engagement with the next tooth. As the spring unwinds, the second shaft is rotated by the main driving wheel and so is again moved to the left. The coin passes down the shoot 32 and after being tested for size strikes one of the counterweighted levers 43, 50, 51<1>, 58, Fig. 4. This lever, e.g. 58, Fig. 6, then, by removing projection 59 from the path of a pivoted member 61, allows the latter to be rotated clockwise by a lever 63 under the influence of the longer of the two contact springs M4 which are thus allowed to close. The member 61 lifts a common bar 69 to operate the escapement mechanism, Fig. 7, which allows the cam-shaft 44 to be turned through half a revolution by the spring 28. Rotation of cam 57 momentarily restores member 61 almost to its initial position, opening springs M4, then allows it to move to the position indicated by the chain dotted line with the springs closed and finally restores it to its initial position where it is held by the lever 58, springs M4 remaining open. The lever 58 is held in its operated position until the final restoration of the member 61 by engagement of the upper edge of the projection 59 with the lower edge of the member 61. The other cams and levers operate in a similar manner except that the cams 45, 56 give only a single impulse to the spring-controlling levers and that these levers in the mechanisms controlled from slots 14, 15 have extensions 46, 48 which engage the common actuating member of the apparatus for checking the value of the coins. This apparatus comprises a number of pivoted vanes mounted between fixed vanes and latched against spring action by detents 82, Figs. 8, 9 and 12. A common actuating member 76 carries on a pivot 79 a number of pawls 78. The first vane 80 is normally held up by the resetting bar 55 and holds the first pawl clear, but shortly after the handset is removed,.the bar 55 moves away and the vane 80 falls forward so that when the member 76 is first moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 12, the first pawl drops into the position shown by the chain dotted lines. The other pawls are unable to drop because their lower ends are engaged by the unoperated vanes. When the member 76 is moved back by its spring the pawl tilts the detent lever to release the vane 85 so that the next pawl may come into operation on a further actuation of member 76. The last vane 87 changes over contact springs MC1, MC2 through the pivoted bar 86 and pin 94. An additional vane 88, pivoted about the same axis as the bar 86 and normally latched by a detent 93, is released by the collecting button 18, Fig. 4, and restores the bar 86 and springs MC1, MC2. Coin collecting and refunding. Button 18, through lever 105, Figs. 14 and 16, moves a bar 107 to the left to release lever 111, Fig. 14, and so allow lever 108 to be moved bv the spring 110. A pin 118 on lever 108 tilts a lever 119, Fig. 15, to release a flap 120 on which the fee is resting to deliver the latter into the coin box. During the forward movement a pin rocks a plate carrying a pawl 117, Fig. 15, which rides over the teeth of a ratchet wheel geared to mechanism (not shown) for delaying the return movement. A plate 122 with a pin-and-slot connection with the bar 107 allows springs PB to close at the end of the forward movement and does not open them until the end of the return movement. The flap 120 is restored by a pin 125 on lever 111. The collecting button also, as previously described, restores the springs actuated by the moneycounting apparatus. Restoration of the handset rotates a plate carrying a pawl 133, Fig. 15, which rides over the teeth of a ratchet-wheel geared to the delay mechanism. A pin 134 on the plate moves a bar 97, Fig. 13, to the right. This through .pin 100 and forked lever 101 moves a bar 102 to the left to rock a lever 103, Fig. 16, which controls the contact springs SH and shifts the bar 55, Fig. 4, to reset the counting apparatus. A further pin 135 on bar 97 rocks a plate 128 which allows a lever 127 carrying a retaining pin 129 to fall and, by means of a pin 136, tilts a latch 137, Fig. 15, to allow a flap 126 to fall and deliver any waiting coins into the refund chamber. The bar 102 remains held by engagement with a flat on the forked lever 101 until nearly the end of the delayed upward movement of the cradle when the handset is removed. This arrangement makes dialling with the hook switch impossible and prevents prematurely inserted coins (which pass into the refund chamber) from operating the counting apparatus.