Patent GB-367348-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin freed apparatus
IPC: H04M17/02
Filed: 1930-11-12
Abstract: 367,348. Coin - freed apparatus. TELEPHON - APPARAT - F A B R I K E. ZWIETUSCH & CO., GES., 6, Salzufer, Charlottenburg, Berlin. Nov. 12, 1930, No. 34122. Convention date, June 30. [Class 27.] Telephone apparatus ; coin action, with stationary coin forming abutments and multiplecoin.-In order to provide in coin-freed apparatus, particularly telephone pay stations, adapted for operation by a number of coins of different denomination, an arrangement necessitating only slight alterations instead of replacement of the whole mechanism, when the apparatus is to be adjusted for a different charge, a number of coin-contacting levers are provided in positions corresponding to alternative ways of making up the required fee, and these levers are coupled to a common movable member controlling the freeing of the apparatus in such a manner that this member is only effective to block the apparatus if less than the correct number of the different coins are inserted. As applied to a telephone pay station, the movable member comprises a U-shaped lever 4 loosely mounted on a shaft 5, Fig. 1, in a supporting arch 6. When dialling takes place, the lever 4 is released by a lever 20 and closes contacts 21 thereby preventing the transmission of current impulses if it has not been held up by the insertion of the proper fee. The holding-up means comprises coincontacting levers 1, 3 adjustably and loosely mounted on the shaft 5 by plates 7, 8, and projecting into the coin shoots 16, 17 for pennies and halfpennies respectively. The levers 1, 3 pass through holes 9, 10 in lugs 12, 13 on the lever 4, and are actuated by pull springs 18, 19, when coins are not inserted, to cause the lever 4 to close the contacts 21. If a penny or two halfpennies are inserted, the lever 1 engages the edges of the penny or the lever 3 the edge of the second halfpenny, so that these levers are prevented from moving and hold up the lever 4. When the required fee is three halfpence, requiring the insertion of a penny and a halfpenny or three halfpennies, the lever 3 is arranged to engage the first halfpenny, Fig. 2, and another lever 2, without a spring, is added to project into the halfpenny shoot 17 in a position to engage the third coin. In this case the lever 2 alone passes through the hole in its lug on the lever 4, the levers 1, 3 being loosely coupled to the lever 4 by engaging under the lugs 12, 13. If only a penny or two halfpennies are inserted, only one of the springs 18, 19 is prevented from acting to close the contacts 21. When three halfpennies are inserted, the lever 4 is held up against the action of the springs 18, 19 by the rigid coupling between it and the lever 2. When the fee is twopence and can be paid by inserting two pennies, four halfpennies, or one penny and two halfpennies, the lever 2 is forked and extends into both shoots 16, 17 to engage the second penny or the fourth halfpenny. It is rigidly coupled to the lever 4, while the levers 1, 3 are loosely coupled and are influenced by the springs 18, 19. The lever 3 is arranged to engage the second halfpenny in the shoot 17.