Patent GB-1287711-A (GB)
Title: Coin-actuated parking meter
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1971-01-19
Abstract: 1287711 Parking meter KIENZLE APPARATE GmbH 19 Jan 1971 [21 Jan 1970] 2505/71 Heading G4V A coin-controlled parking meter of the kind in which a pointer is displaced with respect to a time scale on coin insertion and returned to its starting position by clockwork, comprises means for automatically effecting a tariff change at preselected times or times of the day. Setting.-An inserted coin 16 (Fig. 2) pivots a detent 9 to free a plate 3 and a parallel, relatively spaced gear-wheel 2 for rotation through 120 degrees by a spring motor. The coin 16 is carried by a segment 6 to a about a pin 34 and rotate a toothed lever 18 an amount dependent on the coin diameter. The movement is transmitted to a spring-urged disc 23 to position one of three adjustable lugs 25, 26, 27 associated with different coin diameters adjacent a pin 32 mounted on a sensing lever 33. Simultaneously, a cam 42 is rotated to co-operate with a first arm 40 of a catching lever 38 and pivots the lever to catch a projection of the lug 25, 26 or 27 with a hook 37, and so hold the disc 23 stationary. Simultaneously, a cam (46) (see Fig. 1, not reproduced) co-operating with a pin 47 on sensing lever 33 is rotated; when the above-described catching operation has occurred, cam (46) allows sensing lever 33 to rotate counterclockwise until stopped by cooperation between pin 32 and lug 25, 26 or 27. The rotation allowed depends on coin diameter, and is transmitted by a toothed portion 49 through a gear to the pointer (56) (see Fig. 3, not reproduced) of the parking meter, cooperating with a time scale (57). On further rotation, the cam 42 co-operates with a second arm 41 of catching lever 38 to release the hook 37 ; the disc 23 in returned to its starting position by a spring 29. Several embodiments are described for adjusting the tariff: (1) Returning pointer at different speeds.-In a first embodiment, the pointer 56 (Fig. 6) is returned to its starting position at different speeds for different tariff periods and the same value of inserted coin. During normal and high tariff periods, the same value coin purcheses sixty and thirty minutes parking time respectively, as indicated on adjacent time scales (58), (59) (see Fig. 5, not reproduced). A disc 67 carrying a circular time scale from zero to twenty-four hours, has an annular groove 68 in which are mounted projecting elements 69. The elements 69 are positioned adjacent high tariff periods of the circular time scale. Disc 67 is continuously rotated by a time piece 62, and the annular groove 68 swept by a lever 70. During a normal tariff period, the pointer 56 is returned to its starting position by the time piece 62 through a gear chain 82, 83, 85, 87, 78, 81 and 92. During a high tariff period, a projecting element 69 is sensed by the lever 70, which pivots (see also Fig. 7, not reproduced) to urge a spring-pressed rod 73 to the right (in Fig. 6) to slide gear-wheels 78, 79 to the right by an arm 76. In this case, pointer 56 is returned through a gear chain 82, 83, 85, 87, 89, 79, 81 and 92. The transmission ratio varies between the two cases by one: two. (2) Pointer setting limited.-In a second embodiment, the setting of pointer 56 is limited during a high tariff period for the same value of coin that produces full setting in a low tariff period. A disc 67 (Fig. 8), continuously driven by a timepiece, carries a cam 100 having reduced portions 102 corresponding to high tariff periods. A reduced portion 102 pivots a cam follower 104 to position a stop 107 adjacent a slide 109 adjacent a slide 109 attached to sensing lever 33. As lever 33 rotates to set the pointer, the rotation is reduced by one half by cooperation between the slide 109 and stop 107 (before pin 32 reaches lug 25, 26, or 27). Alternatively (see Fig. 9, not reproduced) a reduced portion 102 is sensed by an arm to close a microswitch (110). A battery circuit is then completed by a second microswitch (111) closed by a pin (114) on the disc 23 (Fig. 8), to activate an electromagnet (112) which positions its armature (116) adjacent the slide 109 (Fig. 8). Slide movement can be adjusted by a bolt 117. (3) Low value coins rejected.-In a third embodiment, only high value coins cause pointer setting during a high tariff period, and purchase the same length of time as a low value coin during a low tariff period. A high tariff period is sensed as described in (2) above by a lever 122 (Fig. 10), which rotates an arm 125 to position a lever 129 in the path of a pin 132 on the disc 23. An inserted 5-penny coin rotates disc 23 to position a lug 26 that limits the pointer movement appropriately. However, an inserted 2- penny coin positions a lug 25 for limiting pointer movement; simultaneous with the catching of lug 25 by catching lever 38, the pin 132 reaches and flicks the lever 129 to kick the catching lever 38 with the pin 126. This action prevents the catching operation, and disc 23 is returned to its starting position, to prevent pointer setting by holding the sensing lever 33 (Fig. 2) stationary with a projecting lug (30) (see Fig. 1, not reproduced). The catching lever 38 may alternatively be kicked by an arm set by an electromagnet (142) (see Fig. 11, not reproduced). French Specification 1,397,660 and USA Specification 2,329,926 are referred to.