Patent GB-553127-A (GB)
Title: Coin controlled facsimile system
IPC: G07F17/26
Filed: 1942-04-28
Abstract: 553,127. Coin-freed apparatus. CREED & CO., Ltd. April 28, 1942, No. 5678. Convention date, April 18, 1941. [Class 27] [Also in Group XL] A facsimile telegraph transmission system comprises a transmitter and a receiver connected by a communication circuit, the transmitter including a scanning device and coin controlled means for preparing the scanning device for operation. The operation is started under control from the receiver. Operation of apparatus shown.-A customer desiring to transmit a message he has prepared on a sheet 42, Fig. 2, places the required coin in a coin opening 63, Fig: 5, of a slide 61 in the front of the transmitter casing 10 and pushes the slide in to bring the coin against a switch arm 83 and under a switch arm 81. If the coin is connected in both diameter and thickness, both switches operate causing energization of relay 191 of transmitting system, Fig. 8, operating a multi-contact switch 193. This switches power to various parts of the transmitter. A carrier current is produced by the photo-electric scanning system 23 25 22 and passed through lines L1, L2 to a central receiving station, Fig. 9, where it is fed through a line jack 197 to a line amplifier 196 which operates a relay 198. This lights a lamp 199 to attract the attention of the operator, lights another lamp 201 indicating the particular transmitting station making the call and puts positive potential on line L2 whereby a relay 182 at the transmitter is set to "marking" contact M. This causes a magnet 202 to lock the switch 193 in operated position, a magnet 37 to withdraw a shutter 35 to open the top of the message chute 15, or a magnet 68 to lock the coin slide in the inward position, and a "deposit message" lamp to light up to inform the customer. The customer then inserts the message 42 in the chute 15 leading to the transmitting drum 17 on which the message is wrapped, causing the opening of contacts 46, whereupon the deposit message lamp is switched off, the shutter 35 closes the top of the message chute 15, and a relay 221 is released to cause its contact to maintain the power connections of the transmitting system. The coin slide locking magnet 68 remains in action through a thermally closed contact. The central station operator seeing the lamps 199, 201 alight places the plug 223 in the jack 197 thereby disconnecting the line amplifier 196 and connecting a recording amplifier 225. He then turns the multiple rotary switch 224 from position No. 1 to position No. 2. This applies positive potential to lines L1, L2. The positive potential on line L1 acts on relay 181 at transmitter to cause a "message being transmitted" lamp to light up and the scanning operation to start; and this in turn causes receiver to operate in synchronism. When the transmission is completed, a contact is closed by the carriage of the receiver, causing a buzzer 246 to operate to attract the attention of the operator, who then turns the rotary switch 224 to position No. 3, thereby causing the scanning devices of the receiver and transmitter to be disconnected and returned to starting position, a fresh recording drum to be loaded in the receiver, and the "message being transmitted" lamp to be switched off. If the record is satisfactory, the operator turns the rotary switch 224 from position No. 3 to position No. 4 to cause the message 42 to be stripped from the transmitter drum. Then he turns the rotary switch to position No. 9, and this causes a "message accepted "lamp to light up at the transmitter, a coin acceptor magnet 74 to operate to withdraw a coin supporting lever to allow the coin to fall from the slide 61 into a receptacle 77, and the magnet 68 to be released by a thermal relay to allow the slide 61 to be drawn out by a spring. If the record is unsatisfactory, the operator may, after making adjustments of his recording circuits, return the rotary switch from position No. 3 to position No. 2 to make a fresh record. Or if the unsatisfactory record indicates that the original message is illegible, the operator turns the rotary switch 224 from position No. 3 to position No. 7 causing a "please rewrite" lamp to light up at the transmitter. A buzzer may also be operated to attract the customer's attention. In addition the coin slide is released and the coin returned. The rotary switch 224 is then turned to the off position No. 8 and the plug 223 removed from the jack 197. When a fresh message is to be received, the rotary switch is turned to No. 1 position, and the operation proceeds as before. If a coin of improper diameter is inserted in the slide, the switch 83, fails to operate and the system remains inactive. If the coin is of correct diameter but insufficient thickness, or if a washer of the correct diameter is used instead of a solid coin, the switch 83 operates but not the switch 81, this causes a "bad coin" lamp to light up or an equivalent signal given to warn the customer. A plurality of transmitters may be connected in a single communication pair of lines L1, L2. Then, if one transmitter is in operation, the magnets 202 of the idle transmitters will lock their multiple switches 193 against operation and at the same time a "line busy" lamp will light up. The apparatus described apart from the features relating to the coin freed devices is similar to the apparatus described in Specifications 538,928 and 543,037, [both in Group XL], and U.S.A. Specification 2,158,391.