Patent GB-775509-A (GB)
Title: A coin operated device such as a parking meter
Inventor: BALLMAN ROBERT JOHN
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1955-02-08
Abstract: 775,509. Coin-freed apparatus. HERSCHEDE HALL CLOCK CO. Feb. 8, 1955, No. 3744/55. Class 27. The coin shoot 72, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, of a coin-operated device such as a parking meter is fitted with a gate 41 which is actuable by the coin as it is inserted through the entry slot and then closes upon the coin so as to move it towards a stop finger 78 disposed in the shoot at a position at which the coin is adapted to actuate a trigger 99 to set the time-registering mechanism 131 of the device; the trigger 99 is movably mounted on a carrier 98 which, when the gate is opened by the coin, is displaced so as to move the trigger from coin-actuated position and held in this position until, when the gate closes, it is released and advanced so as to force the trigger into coin-actuated position. The invention is described as applied to a parking meter in which, by the insertion of a coin in a slot 38, Fig. 2, an index hand 37 is moved over a dial 36 and the timing mechanism 131 is then set to operate until it returns the index hand to its zero position. The coin when it enters the slot swings upwardly in succession the gate 41, Fig. 4, saddle 44 in which the gate is pivoted, and, by contact with this saddle, a second saddle 46. A pin 47, Figs. 2 and 3, on the saddle 46 then slides upwardly in a slot 48 in a drive link 49 so that a pawl 50 pivoted on the pin 47 engages a stop 51 on the link whereby a spring 53, which is connected to the pin and tensioned by its upward movement, urges a gear segment 54 in counterclockwise direction. The gear segment is prevented from rotating by a pawl locking lever 64 acting on a gear train 57 ... 61 meshing with the gear segment until, by the action of a lever 103, Fig. 3, engaging the coin, the segment is released. The gear segment then acts through a link 66a, Fig. 2, pawl 67 and ratchet 67' to rotate a shaft 37a 109 carrying the index hand 37 of the timing mechanism 131 under the restraint provided by the gear train 57 ... 61 together with an escapement 62. The timing mechanism is then effective to return the index hand to zero position and a spring 68' acts to return the segment to its initial position, the pawl 50 having been disengaged from the stop 51 by contact with a screw 68. When the coin has passed through the slot 38, the gate 41 is closed upon it by a spring 124 acting upon the saddle 44 and it is thereby urged downwardly until caught by the stop finger 78, Fig. 3, in position for engagement by the lever 103. The finger 78 is carried by a member 76 which can be swung about its axis by means of a pivoted bar 83' coacting with a lever 86 having a slotted engagement with a pin 88 on the segment 54 in order to position the finger for catching or releasing the coin; the finger is moved to release position by the return movement of the segment so that the coin falls to the position 42a, Fig. 3, where it is caught by an arm 86c on the lever 86 and released when the latter is swung by the action of the next coin on the segment. The coin-engaging lever 103 is pivoted in the shoot and rides in a slot 102' in a member 102 carried by the trigger member 99 which is pivoted at 101 on the carrier 98 which is itself mounted to swing about its upper end. The carrier 98 is swung inwardly upon the insertion of a coin in the slot by the engagement of a lug 97 on the saddle 44 with the carrier, and, when the coin has been caught by the stop finger 78, a spring 106, Fig. 2, swings the carrier back until the lever 103 engages the coin and the resultant swing of the trigger member 99 about its pivot actuates a lever 108, Fig. 4, and link 109 to release the locking lever 64. The locking lever 64 cannot be released as long as the saddle 44 is raised because a shoulder 109a, Fig. 4, on the latter then prevents operative movement of the lever 108, and a second shoulder 109b on the saddle engages the lever 108 to lock the saddle in its lowered position and then prevent opening of the gate. An undersize coin on the finger 78 would not be engaged by the member 103 to release the locking lever 64 for a cycle of the timing mechanism. Such a coin would be retained by the finger until the insertion of the next coin causes the saddle 44 to actuate a resilient member 113, Fig. 4, and so open a door 110 in the shoot 72 and permit ejection of the undersize coin through an opening 112 by a U-shaped ejector 121 carried by the door. The gear train in the spring clockwork timing mechanism 131 (Fig. 12, not shown) includes an output pinion meshing with a gear segment on the shaft 37a, a clutch permitting the pinion to be driven in one direction by the gear segment 54 but preventing its return movement except by the main spring of the mechanism, and variable gearing in the gear train providing for two drive ratios permitting the return of the index hand at either of two speeds; further variation in the speed of return may be provided by varying the sizes of the meshing pinion and gear segment or of the gears in the train. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 21 and 23, the insertion of a coin acts as before to raise a gate 221 and saddles 224, 226 and cause a spring-urged drive link 229 to urge a gear segment (234, Fig. 22, not shown) in a direction to set the timing mechanism. Rotation of the gear segment cannot, however, occur until a pawl locking lever 242, Fig. 23, controlling the segment is released by a lever 244 contacting the coin and causing counterclockwise movement of a trigger member 243 engaging a lug 244c on a lever 244b connected by a link 244a with the locking lever. The trigger member 243 is pivoted at 244e adjacent the coin shoot on a swinging carrier 252 and mounts at its lower end a slotted member 243' engaging the lever 244. With the gate 221 and saddle 224 raised by the insertion of a coin, the carrier 252 and trigger member 243 are swung inwardly by a roller 260' on the saddle engaging the lever 252. When the coin has passed through the slot, the gate is closed upon it by a spring 251 and urges it downwardly to triggering position on a stop 246. As the saddle 224 then descends, the return swing of the carrier 252 by a spring 261 is limited by a latch lever 267 engaging a pin 268 on the trigger member 243 which is thereby kept away from triggering position until, as the saddle reaches its fully closed position, a lug on the saddle disengages the latch lever; the carrier 252 then continues its return swing until the finger 244 engages the coin and so swings the trigger member about its pivot 244e to effect release of the locking lever 242 and permit a cycle of the timing mechanism. The lever 244b is locked against releasing movement of the lever 242 by a shoulder 244f on the saddle when the latter is raised, but freed when the saddle is lowered because the lug 244c is then opposite a notch 244g on the saddle.