Patent GB-643617-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin computing devices for coin controlled apparatus
IPC: G07F5/20
Filed: 1948-05-13
Abstract: 643,617. Coin-freed apparatus. BRECKNELL, MUNRO, & ROGERS, Ltd., and DOLMAN, H. J. May 13, 1948, Nos. 13090/48 and 14889/49. [Class 27] Coin totalising mechanism controlling coin-freed apparatus comprises holding mechanism that normally neutralises a driving effect transmitted through a friction clutch from a driven member, but is rendered inoperative for a suitable interval or intervals by the insertion of a coin so that the friction clutch then operates to impart to the totaliser the appropriate displacement. A totaliser wheel 33, Figs. 1 and 8, is releasably (for zeroizing) connected to an intermediate wheel 19 adapted to be driven through a slipping friction clutch 29 from a motordriven shaft 1. Normally the intermediate wheel is held by a pawl 78, Fig. 7, engaging ratchet teeth thereon, insertion of a coin releasing the pawl so that a part rotation of the shaft is transmitted to the totaliser wheel dependent on the value of the coin. The several denominations of coin release the pawl at different non-overlapping parts of the shaft rotation, so that coins inserted in a bunch are added in succession and the full amount is credited. Pennies and halfpennies are inserted through a chute 12, Fig. 1, and are picked up in turn, as indicated at 88, 89, Fig. 6, by a rotary pocketed disc 11 which carries them in sequence past a finger 93 which they rock a commensurate amount. The movements of the finger 93 are communicated, through a rock shaft 94, to an arm 96, Fig. 7, terminating in a pawl 97 adapted to wipe over a pair of ratchet teeth 99, 100 on an arm 74 of the totaliser holding pawl 78. Halfpennies cause the pawl 97 to wipe over the first ratchet tooth 99 only causing a momentary release of the intermediate wheel 19 for rotation through one tooth spacing. With pennies, both ratchet teeth 99 and 100 are engaged by the pawl 97 and two such movements of the intermediate wheel occur in succession. These movements of the intermediate wheel pass directly to the totaliser wheel 33. Threepenny pieces and sixpences are inserted through separate chutes and cause momentary energization of respective solenoids 58, Fig. 1. The solenoid and associated mechanism for sixpences is shown in Fig. 2. The solenoid armature is connected to a trigger 53 whose upper end normally engages under the tail of a pivoted spring-loaded pawl 50 carried by a rotary governing member 45 loose on the shaft 1. When the trigger is rocked, the pawl 50 is released and is turned by its spring 55 to engage its nose 51 with a ratchet wheel 17 secured to the shaft 1. The governing member is thus clutched to the shaft for one revolution when the pawl 50 re-engages the now restored trigger 53 and the drive is interrupted. The governing member 45 has a projection 65 normally holding a pivoted bell-crank 67 so that a roller 66 just clears the periphery of a disc 42 secured to the shaft 1. During the rotation of the governing member, the bell-crank is released to engage its roller 66 with the disc 42. At a timed moment in the rotation of the shaft 1, a recess 69 comes up to the roller causing further movement of the bellcrank 67 at a moment relative to the shaft rotation and for a period dependent on the length of the recess 69. This movement of the bell-crank is transferred through a tappet 72 to a rock-shaft 71 and thence through a further tappet 75, Fig. 7, to the totaliser holding pawl 78. The totaliser wheel is thus released for movement by an amount corresponding to the length of the recess 69 and corresponding to the value of a sixpence. The mechanism associated with the other solenoid 58 for threepenny pieces is similar but the recess 69 is corrspondingly shorter. This latter recess is indicated at 169 in Fig. 6 where it will be seen that the two recesses do not overlap, either with one another or with the penny and halfpenny coin positions 88 and 89 in the rotary disc 11. Thus the several coins are always credited during different parts of a revolution of the shaft 1. Brief intervals occur between these parts to allow the totaliser to be zeroized: this is effected by a solenoid 108, Fig. 1, energized when the associated coin-freed apparatus operates and which temporarily breaks the driving connection from the intermediate wheel 19, Fig. 8, to the totaliser wheel 33, so that the latter is returned by a spring 38. The totaliser controls the associated coin-freed apparatus by means of contacts 119, Fig. 7, which are closed by an arm 103 on the totaliser wheel 33 when the appropriate money has been inserted. The location of the contacts 119 may be adjustable in order to vary the amount required and this adjustment may be made by the customer in selecting the article. Further contacts may be located beyond the contacts 119 for operating change-delivery mechanism. The circuits from both contacts are broken at contacts 122, controlled by totaliser pawl 78, whilst money is in course of being credited so as to ensure that surplus coins will be credited to the next transaction. The motor driving the shaft 1 is only energized when there are coins to be credited. Specification 498,145 is referred to.