Patent GB-739503-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin-controlled devices
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1953-11-09
Abstract: 739,503. Parking meters. MILLER METERS, Inc. Nov. 9, 1953, No. 30991/53. Class 27. [Also in Group XXIV] Coin-freed apparatus, particularly a parking meter, has a manually-operated coin inductor 41, Fig. 11, which is pressed in to rotate a power plate 48 and wind both a primary spring 51 and a secondary timing spring 122 and, on return movement of the power plate by means of the primary spring, it is latched to a coin carrier 66 to move the carrier to a coin-discharge position, during which movement the carrier sets a time indicator 35, Fig. 1, according to the value of the Inserted coin. The meter mechanism M is located by interengaging formations on the housing 10 and on a locating plate 18 and by a resilient keeper 20 that bears against the sloping internal surface of the housing. On insertion of a coin in a slit 40 in the coin inductor 41 and pressing in the inductor, a spring- loaded pusher 46 engages a roller 54 on the lower plate 48 and rotates the plate, thus winding the ribbon spring 51, until the pusher 46 is disengaged from the roller 54 by the camming action of a pin 56, Fig. 16, on the power plate. As the pusher 46 disengages, a pivoted spring- loaded latch 60 on the power plate engages behind a roller 83 on the coin carrier 66 and couples the carrier and plate together so that, as the plate is rotated back to normal position by the primary spring 51, the carrier is rotated to the coin-discharge position. At this position, the latch 60 is released by a stop 57 to allow the carrier to return to normal position under the action of the spring 73. An escapement 76 having pallets 78, 79 engaging teeth 69a on the carrier prevents too rapid movement of the carrier under the action of the spring 51 or 73. A major coin carried round by the carrier in engagement with the upper part 85a, Fig. 20, of a coin track 85 moves an arm 91 of a two-piece coin gauge 90, 91 so that an ear 91b engages a tooth 132 on a time control plate 128 adjustably secured to a gear 113 driving the indicator 35 through a gear sector 124 and sets the indicator for a major unit of time, usually one hour. A second major coin inserted immediately after the first coin causes the ear 91b to engage a second tooth 133 and sets the indicator for a second hour. A minor coin does not move the arm 91 sufficiently for the ear 91b to engage the tooth 132 or 133 but moves it to engage a notch 136, Fig. 13, on a pawl 135 and place a lug 135a between two teeth of a ratchet sector 114 on the gear 113, so that the gear is rotated to a proportionally smaller extent than it is rotated by a major coin. The minor coin actuates the ear 91b when the coin is in the lower part 85b of the coin track and this part is at a greater distance from the coin carrier axis than the upper part so that the diameter difference between major and minor coins is accentuated. If part of the time set by one or two major coins has expired before another major coin is inserted, the tooth 132 or the tooth 133 is in the lower part 85b of the coin track and the ear 9 1 b would not be moved inwardly sufficiently to engage the tooth. However, a notch 129c on a bell crank 129 receives the ear 91b while the ear 91b is in the upper part 85a of the track and maintains it in position to engage a tooth so that. the time control plate is set by the expired time interval. A second major coin can still be inserted when the tooth 133 is in a position to prevent full inward movement of the ear 91b as the second arm 90 of the coin gauge is free to move inwardly. As the inductor is pressed in, another pusher 47 engages an ear 121c, Fig. 11, on a winding disc 121 and, after taking up lost motion between the disc 121 and another disc 120, winds up the timing spring 122. A second coin will cause the pusher 47 to engage another ear 121d and further wind the spring but additional coins do not cause overwinding as ear 121d is out of reach of the pusher 47. The spring 122 is connected by flexible coupling members 104, 105, 106 to an escapement mechanism 99 and as it unwinds under the time control of the escapement, it drives the gear 113 through a one-way clutch 96 and slipping clutch 117, the latter permitting initial setting of the meter, and returns the indicator to zero position. Indicators; fraud-preventing; coin-slit closing. The time indicator 35 is positioned between a pair of dial plates 165 so that it is visible from both sides of the meter and is mounted on a hub 16, Fig. 20, by means of a pair of friction washers 169, 170 so that it can be adjusted on its operating gear sector 124 for setting relative to the time scales 37 on the plates 165. A trouble flag 160c, Figs. 16 and 25, is raised by a cam surface 162c on the power plate 48 when the latter is fully rotated by the pusher 46 and will indicate failure of the power plate to return to its normal position. During the movement of the coin carrier to discharge position and back, an arm 160b on the trouble flag rests on a surface 68b, Fig. 27, of the carrier and the flag is held raised until the coin carrier also returns to its normal position. To prevent fraudulent actuation of the coin carrier by rotating it without releasing the power plate 48, the carrier is locked by the arm 160b on the trouble flag 160c engaging in a notch 68a on the carrier until the trouble flag is raised as the power plate reaches its fully rotated position. Any attempts to "see-saw" the inductor with a minor coin inserted, or to lock the inductor before the coin-release position is reached, are prevented by a cam surface 66a, Fig. 16, on the coin-carrier contacting a lip 46b on the pusher plate 46 and ensuring its disengagement from the roller 54. A violation flag 166b is raised, so that it is hidden between the two dial plates 165 when the power plate is rotated, by a pin 161 on the trouble flag arm 160b engaging a rocker member 172 and raising it from a notch 114a, Fig. 29, on the ratchet sector 114 to bear on the arms 166d of the violation flag. The pin 161 is withdrawn as the power plate returns to its normal position but the ratchet sector 114 has now been rotated so that a surface 114b supports the rocker 172 and maintains the violation flag elevated. The surface 114b may be sufficiently extended to support the rocker 172 throughout the entire movement of the time indicator 35 but, alternatively, the arm 166d may rest on the indicator hub 168 until, when the indicator has returned to zero, the arm 166d is no longer supported owing to a flat 168a on the hub. The actuation of the violation flag by other members coupled indirectly to the coin inductor 41, rather than by direct coupling to the inductor, prevents the flag being moved to its hidden position by fraudulent manipulation of the coin inductor. For trapping washers, a rocker plate 175, Fig. 11, bent along a line 176 is secured to the side of the coin carrier 66 and is pressed by a spring 181 so that a finger 175c on a lug 175b is withdrawn from the coin pocket 75 through a notch 184. After the power plate is rotated to some extent from its normal position, a leaf spring 185 on it engages the leg 175b and, if there is no coin or only a washer in the pocket, the finger 175c moves into the pocket and the other leg 175a is moved towards the power plate so that it engages a pin 186 on the power plate and prevents further rotation of the plate. If there is a coin in the pocket, the finger 175c is prevented from being depressed and the leaf spring 185 moves beyond the inner edge of the rocker plate 175. This release is delayed until just before the power plate is latched to the coin carrier so that it is not possible to insert a coin, partially depress the coin inductor and thereafter withdraw the coin and replace it by a washer. The latter fraudulent action is also prevented by a U-shaped barrier 188, Fig. 14, which is pivoted by a cam surface 41a on the coin inductor so that, as the inductor is depressed, the barrier lies across the coin slit 40. A spring-loaded member 190 pivoted on the conductor has a slot which provides lateral support for inserted coins and also prevents any attempts at fraudulent actuation by pushing the coin upwards or sideways. The locating plate 18 carries a pair of rigid fingers that reinforce the arms 87a and 88a, Fig. 13, on either side of the coin track 85 and prevent overthick. coins from being forced into the meter. A bent-over part 198, Fig. 1, on the locating plate closes the top of the coin opening 22 and prevents the meter from being tampered with through this opening. Counting coins. Major coins are counted by the ear 91b on the coin gauge 91 engaging the notch 129c on the bell crank 129 which, through a link 149, rotates a rocker 148, Fig. 13, and the latter, through a pawl 151, rotates a ratchet wheel 150 on a gear 147 connected to a counter 145. Minor coins are counted by the arm 138 carrying the pawl 135 engaging an ear 152b, Fig. 22, on a rocker 152 and the latter, through a pawl 153, rotates the wheel 150. A spring dog 154 prevents reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel. Exhibiting coins. In the coin-discharge position of the carrier, a major coin L falls by gravity and is deflected by a stop 158 on to an ear 148c on the rocker 148 in registration with an opening 156, Fig. 14, where it can be seen through a window in the meter. Insertion of a second major coin L<SP>1</SP> moves the rocker 148 and ear 148c to the position shown in Fig. 20 thus releasing the first coin but another ear 148b holds up the second coin until the return movement of the coin carrier 66 restores the ear 148c to its normal position. A minor coin S, Fig: 22, falling from the carrier is deflected by the major coin L to rest on an ear 152d on the rocker 152, where it is visible through the window and an opening 157. The rocker 152 is not displaced from its normal position until the coin carrier is near the end of its rotation to the discharge position and consequently returns to its normal posit