Patent GB-486224-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to coin-actuated amusement devices
IPC: G07F17/32
Filed: 1937-02-01
Abstract: 486,224. Coin-freed amusement apparatus. TOMLINSON, A. V. (Apex Akt.-Ges. fur Verwertung von Apparaten) Feb. 1, 1937, No. 2910. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, July 31, 1937.] [Class 27] . [Also in Group XV] A coin - freed amusement apparatus comprises a tray 11 carrying prize articles rotatable about a stationary central member 7 having a ramp 7a leading to an eccentric discharge opening 8, and a pusher 32b operable under the control of the user for ejecting a selected article. through the opening 8, the tray being stopped when the pusher is operated. As shown the tray 11 is driven by an electric motor 14. The pusher 32b is secured to a vertical rod 32, Fig. 3a, running on a guide rail 49 and connected by links 47 with a carriage 46 running on rails 45. The carriage 46 is connected by an endless chain 43 with a motor 31. In operation, an inserted coin falls down a shoot 18 and depresses a counterweighted lever 19, the latter, through a rod 20, withdrawing a catch 21, Fig. 5, from a weighted lever 21b fast with a disc 23 on a shaft 25. The consequent rotation of the disc 23 brings a gap therein under a roller 22 of a tilting mercury switch 21a which closes the circuit of the motor 14 driving the tray 11. When the desired article is opposite the ramp 7a, the user depresses a push-button 33, which, through an off-set arm 34, Fig. 6, lowers a flap 36 and turns a spring-loaded arm 37 loose on the shaft 25. The rotation of arm 37 is communicated through a pawl and ratchet to a second notched disc 39 fast on the shaft 25, this disc causing a second mercury switch 40 to close the circuit of the motor 31 operating the pusher 32b. This further rotation of the shaft 25 causes sufficient further rotation of' the disc 23 to return the mercury switch 21a to break the circuit of the motor 14 driving the tray 11, which consequently comes to rest. The motor 31 drives the carriage 46 along the rails 45, (to the right in Fig. 3a), and with it, the rod 32 of the pusher along the rail 49. A rising part 49a of the rail 49 causes the pusher to rise with the ramp 7a ; engagement of a pendulum lever 52 with a pin 53 on the upper link 47 holds the pusher in raised position so as to be clear of the articles on the tray during its return movement under the continued operation of the chain 43 in the same direction. When the pusher has returned, a fixed stop 50 disengages the pendulum 52 from the pin so that the pusher falls back to its operative position. Moreover, a pin on the carriage 46 pivots a spring-actuated shaft 56 which, through a connection 60, Fig. 1, and a further pawl and ratchet mechanism on the shaft 25, turns back the shaft 25 to its initial position in which the switches 21a and 40 are open. To prevent unlimited rotation of the tray 11 when the push-button is not actuated, a tensioned cord 27b is wound up on a drum on the shaft of the motor 14 to bring a stop 27f on the cord against a lever 30 loose on the shaft 25. The lever 30 is thus ultimately displaced and, through a pawl and ratchet 30a turns the shaft 25 to operate the pusher 32b in the same manner as by the push-button 33. Coin action weight and multiple coin.- In Fig. 1, the weight of the coin descending shoot 18 depresses the lever 19 controlling the switch 21a. In Fig. 11, two or more coins are required to operate the apparatus. Each coin in turn acts by weight to oscillate a cranked spring-loaded lever c loose on a shaft 25, a pawl e on the lever stepping-up a ratchet wheel f fast with a disc 23 on the shaft 25 until, when the required number of coins have been inserted, a gap 23a in the disc releases a roller 22 on the mercury switch 21a to close the circuit.