Patent GB-378036-A (GB)
Abstract: 378,036. Ticket issuing and registering apparatus. ERICSSON TELEPHONES, Ltd., 67, Kingsway, London, and ENGBLOM, J. F. T., Villa Tomoana, Elm Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham. April 30, 1931, No. 12714. [Classes 106 (i) and 106 (iii).] Ticket issuing and registering apparatus particularly for use in connection with totalizators comprises holders 1 with compartments for wholly or partially pre-printed tickets for different competitors, the holders being interchangeably placed in the apparatus by unlocking the front cover 2 at 70. The holder rests upon a tray 5 and slides between guide pieces 5a the distance between which may increase towards the front of the apparatus to facilitate insertion of the holder. The stock of tickets in each compartment is positioned on a plate 7 pressed upwards by a plunger 86 controlled by the spring 8 attached to the frame of the apparatus to press the topmost ticket into contact with the under surface of the slide 6. The topmost ticket in a compartment is pushed through the slot 10 when the appropriate slide is pulled out by means of a thin plate 9 on the under part of the slide. The ejection of a ticket on to trays 5 is facilitated by means of the spring 11 on the slide carrier entering the slot 12 when the slide is pulled out and pressing down the ticket, the spring 11 also preventing a ticket from being drawn back on the return of the slide. In order to prevent a second ticket from being gathered before the first has been completely ejected a full stroke pawl 13 acted upon by the spring 14 and coacting with the grooves 17, 18 is provided. When the last ticket of a compartment is issued a spring-pressed plunger 71 enters an aperture 73 in the slide and prevents its actuation. When a slide is withdrawn a spring-controlled fibre trigger 26 pivoted on the slide engages a projection 33 on the armature 65 of an electromagnet 30 and is pressed back, the ends 27, 28 of the trigger engaging projections 24, 23 on bosses 22, 21 of spring contacts 20, 19 to press these into engagement with spring contacts 20a, 19a to register the bet and at the same time prepare the circuit of the electromagnet 30, the operation of which is preferably delayed until a signal is sent back over the same conductor as that used for transmitting the bet signal or over another, to indicate that the bet signal has been received. When the bosses 21, 22 are pressed sideways an extension 25 of the armature 65 which normally rests on top of the bosses is positioned between them under the action of the spring 29. When the electromagnet 30 is operated extension piece 25 is lifted upwards by armature 65 thus allowing the contact springs to open to deenergize the electromagnet 30 and position the extension piece 25 on top of the.bosses 21, 22. If the electromagnet 30 has not operated when the slide reaches its normal position, a latch 34 pivoted on the slide carrier falls into a slot 35 to lock the slide and prevent the issue of a further ticket until the latch is lifted out of the slot 35 through the medium of a flexible member 36 attached to armature 65 by the operation of electromagnet 30 when the bet signal has been received. In order that a slide may return quickly a spring 37 may be provided which passes over the pulley wheel 38, one end being fixed to the slide by screw 39 and the other to the framework above the slide carrier by screw 40. In order to prevent operation of the slides when desired a locking member 41 is provided for each slide for engaging the projections 64, the members 41 being fixed to a rocking shaft 42 which is rocked either remotely through the bar 46 loosely connected to the cores of the solenoids 52, 53, or locally through the handle 59 fixed to the D section shaft 56 engaging the arm 55 adjustably fixed to the rocking shaft 42. Fixed to the shaft 56 are a wheel 58 having teeth round a small arc of its circumference and a member 57 connected to the spring plungers 86 by means of chains 60 passing over pulley wheels 61 so that it is assured that the ticket slides are locked when it is desired to change the ticket holder, the shaft 56 being retained in its rotated position by a pawl 66 engaging with the toothed wheel 58, the pawl projecting through the front of the machine where it can be released. The locking mechanism may be protected by a cover 63 to prevent manual operation. The tickets can be seen before being issued through a window and an aperture 74 in the slide, the plate 7 being marked or painted a distinguishing colour to indicate when the last ticket has been issued. The covering plates of the apparatus are held in position by a lock 78. To facilitate replacement of the apparatus the wired connections may be taken to a plug strip 80. A ball-race is provided to prevent more than one slide being operated at a time. A modification is described in which a signal is sent only after the issue of a given number of tickets. On the other hand a single signal may consist of more than one closure of the contacts in order for example that a slide may be identified according to the number of closures made and in this case the slide may be adapted to make the proper number of closures during its return movement by means of a suitable cam, the rate of movement being controlled by a governor if necessary. The handle 59 and the lock 70 for the part cover 2 may be electrically or locally controlled. All or any of the slides may be provided with mechanical counters. A test key may be provided. The operation of a slide may require the insertion of a coin, suitable known coinfreed mechanism being provided for this purpose. A single slide may be adapted to co-operate with the compartments of a ticket holder arranged radially on a circular plate, the holder being supported on a turntable enclosed in the apparatus and rotated by a handle having a pointer for indicating which compartment is directly underneath the slide at any time. Simultaneously a contact arm or arms rotating with the handle may connect contact springs to the appropriate conductor or conductors. There will be, in this case, a single spring plunger adapted to enter the compartment underneath the slide. Other modifications are mentioned.