Patent GB-191321279-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Coin Actuated Machines.
Inventor: BURDICK CHARLES LAURENCE
IPC: G07F9/08
Filed: 1913-09-20
Granted: 1914-09-21
Abstract: 21,279. Burdick, C. L. Sept. 20. Counters for coins with recording-apparatus; transfer mechanism; zeroizing - mechanism. - Prepayment meters, telephone apparatus, &c. are provided with counting-mechanism actuated by each coin inserted and adapted to be operated by the collector to print the total number of coins on two specially-prepared slips, one of which is given to the consumer and the other retained by the collector. In the form of apparatus shown, the slips are stored in the machine in the form of continuous perforated strips, the printing is effected by the withdrawal of the money-box, and the printed slips can only be withdrawn after the counting-mechanism has been zeroized. The invention is shown applied to a prepayment gas-meter. Counting- wheels 17, 17<1>, 17", provided with raised figures on their peripheries, are carried by a spindle 18, and the unit-wheel 17 is advanced the space of one tooth by a pawl 14 on a slide 15 each time the coin-carrier 8 is rotated, after the insertion of a coin, to set the mechanism to supply a further quantity of the commodity. The coin 9, during its rotation in the carrier, rocks the arm 10 of a lever 13 connected to the slide 15. The wheels 17, 17', Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are provided with pins 25, 25<1> which are mounted on spring rings 26 attached to the wheels and are adapted to be projected at the requisite times into one of a series of holes formed in the wheels 17<1>, 17<11> respectively, to effect transfer, the pin 25 being actuated by a fixed cam 27. The counter is zeroized by turning the spindle 18 which is notched to pick up pawls 20 attached to the wheels, the parts being retained in the zero position by the engagement of a lug 29 on a spring-actuated arm 30 in a notch in a disk 28. The perforated strips pass from storage rollers 42, 43 between the printing-wheels and a platen 46, and thence between feed-rollers 31, 32 to the delivery aperture 45. A typing - ribbon 54 passes from a winding-spindle 53 over the type-wheels and the fixed type for printing the number of the machine, round a spring wire 54' and back between the strips to a winding-spindle 52; a bar 55 with a wing-nut 55<1> prevents the spindle from unwinding. The platen 46 is actuated to print the slips when the money-box is withdrawn by means of a member 49 pivoted to the box and disposed in the path of a bevelled extremity of a lever 48 connected to a second lever 47, which operates the platen. The disk 31 cannot be rotated to project the printed slips, being locked by a projection 39 on a pawl 38, until the counter has been zeroized. During the operation of zeroizing, the projection 29 on the arm 30 is moved on to the surface of the disk 28, and a projection 36 on a slide 35 pivoted to the arm simultaneously withdraws the projection 39 by engaging a pin 37 on the pawl, whereupon the disk 31 can be rotated slightly until a projection 41 engages a lug 40 on the slide. The rotation of the disk 31 can only be completed after the counter has been zeroized and the projection has again engaged the notch in the disk 28. A projection 42 on the disk 31 is adapted to engage the pawl 38 and return the projection 39 into locking - engagement. In a simpler form of machine, the collector inserts the slips together with carbon sheets through a slot in the casing and effects the printing by opening the drawer of the money-box, or by other means.