Patent GB-447411-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to coin controlled mechanisms
IPC: G07F9/00
Filed: 1934-11-14
Abstract: 447,411. Coin - freed amusement apparatus. TRIGGS, W. W., 57, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.-(Watling Manufacturing Co. ; 4650, Fulton Street, Chicago, U.S.A.) Nov. 14, 1934, No. 32812. [Class 27] In a coin-controlled mechanism, applicable for use with amusement apparatus of the kind known as " Fruit machines," which may be actuated after the insertion of solid coins or apertured tokens, the coins and tokens are inserted in an aperture 10, Fig. 1, and travel edgewise down a shoot 7 to a display portion 5, where the coins &c. 4 are fed intermittently in a circular path by a conveyor wheel to a vertical discharge shoot from which the solid coins and apertured tokens may be delivered to separate receptacles. Testing coins ; clearing-apparatus ; returning coins.-Near the inlet 10, the shoot 7 has an aperture 12 closed by a pivoted spring-pressed gate 13, Fig. 9, which is opened at each operation of the coin-controlled machine to allow any bent coins or tokens that may have lodged in the shoot to fall out to a return shoot. The gate is opened by a roller 21 on an extension 20 thereof being engaged by a cam incline 22, Fig. 3, on a vertically reciprocable bar 23 pivoted to a link 24 which is depressed on the slightest movement of an operating handle. The bottom of the shoot 7 branches into a return shoot 29 and a shoot 30. This junction is closed by a second gate 33 having two ledges 38, 39 forming three runways for the coins in the branches 29, 30 respectively, and a finger 40 for guiding coins from the branch 30 into a position in the display portion 5 opposite a plunger 61. The gate 33 is opened to discharge any coins, jammed in the lower portion of the shoot, by a lug 51 on the link 24 engaging a cam 50 on the gate. When a coin is in the position 61, it engages the end 47 of one arm 44 of a counterweighted deflector 43 pivoted to the gate 33 at 42 to cause the end 48 of the other arm 45 to project into the shoot and deflect any subsequently inserted coins to the return shoot 29, while a coin is in the position 61. Iron counterfeits are deflected into the shoot 29 by a magnet 32. Actuating-mechanism ; coin action, with stationary coin forming abutment.-The actuating means for the amusement apparatus comprises a hand-operated lever 137, Fig. 6, normally held against a stop 142 by a spring. It has a lug 154 which engages a notch 153 in a locking-lever 62 if a coin or token is not pressed to be engaged by the plunger 61 on the end of the lever 62. A second lever 71 having a roller 73 coacting with a member 74 of a vending-machine in known manner, is provided so that if a solid coin is used and has been fed to a position opposite a plunger 70 on the lever 71, the operator may obtain a stick of gum or candy from the vending machine. The plunger 61 engages a coin or token at its edge, while the plunger 70 engages a coin at its centre. Thus the amusement apparatus is operated by both coins and apertured tokens, while the vending-apparatus is freed by coins only. Exhibiting coins.-The coins and tokens are received from the shoot 30 between the teeth 78 of a feeding wheel 6. At each actuation of the machine, the wheel 6 is moved one step by a pawl 82 on the reciprocating bar 23, Fig. 9. The coins &c. are conveyed from position 61 to position 70 and thence around the display portion 5 along a guideway 59 in which they are visible. Coin-discharging mechanism ; money-boxes &c.-After passing round the guideway, the coins &c. are detached by two pins and drop to a vertical channel where each one is detained by a lug 93, Fig. 1, on a retractable bar 94 in position to be engaged by a selector pin 95 carried by the upper end of a lever 96, Fig. 6. The bar 94 is reciprocated at each actuation of the machine. Solid coins are pushed by the pin 95 and are deflected by plates 122, 124 of a pivoted deflector to a magazine 115. Apertured tokens are impaled on the pin 95 and, when this is withdrawn, are deflected by the plate 123 to the magazine 117. Surplus coins in the magazine 115 are pushed by a reciprocable pusher 136 into the magazine 116.