Patent GB-725535-A (GB)
Title: Coin-controlled timing apparatus
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1953-10-21
Abstract: 725,535. Coin-freed apparatus; parking meters. SOLLENBERGER, L. D. Oct. 21, 1953 [April 13, 1953], No. 29119/53. Class 27. A coin-controlled-timing apparatus, particularly suitable for a parking meter but also applicable to radio or television receivers or household appliances, comprises clockwork mechanism 56, a winding handle 14 and a coin carrier 17 adapted to hold a coin of one or more denominations and move the coin along a cam track 97a, 97b or 97c so that the coin is moved to rotate a spring- loaded pawl-operating lever 87 which, through a yielding spring link 91 or other direct mechanical link, rotates a pawl 78 into engagement with a ratchet 77 on the winding means. The lever 87 and the pawl 78 are both pivoted on the coin . carrier and the pivot 86 for the pawl is preferably closer to the position of the coin than the pivot 85 for the lever 87 so that the pawl moves through a greater angle than the lever 87 and, by this multiplication of movement, enables the apparatus to distinguish more accurately between coins differing only very slightly in diameter. Timing and indicator apparatus.-A friction coupling connects the clockwork mechanism 56 to an output shaft 55 on which are secured a cam 46, control wheel 35 and winding wheel 20, the cam driving an indicator needle 41 over a time scale 13 by means of a follower 44, the control wheel having a cam face 33 operating a "time-expired" flag 28 by means of a follower 32 and the ratchet teeth 77 of the winding wheel being engaged by the pawl 78 on the coin carrier. When the handle 14 is in its normal position, the coin carrier 17 rests on a pin 26 on a shaft 27a and holds a "trouble" flag 27, normally coloured red, in retracted position; mating surfaces 36 and 37 on the two flags 28 and 27 ensure that the two flags cannot be raised simultaneously. A link 51 having a slot 53 riding on a pin 54 on the flag 27 is pivoted on the needle 41 so that the needle is pulled to the zero position whenever the "trouble" flag is raised. An ear 79 on the control wheel 20 engages a projection 80 on the frame and prevents the clockwork mechanism, which is pre-wound, from running fully down. Coin mechanism.-The coin carrier 22 is fixed on the shaft 15 of the handle 14 and a coin resting in the appropriate coin-holding slot 22a, 22b or 22c bears on one of three faces on the pawloperating lever 87, the faces being appropriately stepped to suit the coin diameter. The lever 87 is pivoted on the carrier at 85 and the pawl is pivoted at 86, also on the carrier, the two being connected by a spring 91 fitted between lugs 92, 93; the lever 87, which is loaded by a spring 88, bears against a pawl 102 so as to hold it in retracted position. The edges of the coins engage in arcuate cam tracks 97a, 97b and 97c in a front frame panel 10 and each track, at a particular point depending on the denomination of the inserted coin has a raised zone 98; a particular slot may be used for coins of two denominations, the corresponding cam track being provided with two raised zones, the first of which causes the larger coin to move lever 87 but allows passage of the smaller coin. Operation.-In the inoperative position, the needle 41 is at zero-time position and the "timeexpired" flag 28 is up. When a coin is inserted into one of the coin-holding slots and the handle 14 is rotated, the coin rides on to its cam track and the lever 87 is moved slightly backward, allowing the pawl 102 to engage ratchet teeth 76 on the frame member 11 and preventing return movement of the handle before it has been rotated through its full range. At the same time, raising of the coin carrier 17 from the pin 26 allows the "trouble" flag 27 to rise and needle 41 is held at zero by the slotted link 51 and the flag 27 is retracted by the action of the mating faces 36, 37. As the rotation of handle 14 is continued, the coin engages the raised zone 98 of its track and moves the lever 87 further back to engage the pawl 78 with the winding wheel 20 at a tooth 77 appropriate to the denomination of the coin. The remainder of the rotation of the handle turns the wheel 20, control wheel 35, cam 46 and shaft 55 to wind the clockwork by the appropriate amount and to set the cam 46 so that the needle 41 will indicate the appropriate number of minutes. When the handle has been fully turned, the coin falls from the inverted slot, the lever 87 and pawls 78 and 102 are retracted and the handle and coin carrier return to their normal positions under the action of a spring 23. The carrier then presses on the pin 26 to retract the "trouble" flag, the link 51 allows the indicating needle 41 to move until its follower 44 engages the cam 46 and the "time-expired" flag 28 remains retracted, with its follower 32 in engagement with the cam face 33. Shaft 55 is then rotated backwards by the clockwork and cam 46 moves the needle 41 back to zero, after which the cam face 33 moves beyond the follower 32 and allows a spring 30 to pull up the "timeexpired" flag 28.