Patent GB-190821463-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Totalisator Apparatus.
Inventor: DONALDSON MARK
Filed: 1908-10-10
Granted: 1909-03-18
Abstract: 21,463. Donaldson, M., Williams, W. G., and Statter, J. G. Oct. 10. Receipts, checking and recording; counting-apparatus.-Relates to totalizer apparatus used in connexion with horseracing or otherwise, for registering the number of tickets issued, or the number of coins taken in exchange for tickets, and it comprises ticket-perforating machines as described in Specification No. 9325, A.D. 1907, used in conjunction with registering - machines for adding the amounts of the bets laid on any horse, any or all of the perforating machines being adapted to give indications on the registering - machine for the particular horse. The registering-machine is actuated by balls, which are released by an operation of the hand-lever of the perforating- machine, a further operation being necessary to cause the released ball to pass on to the actuating- mechanism of the register, or to be rejected if the apparatus has been wrongly actuated. The balls are stored in a tray b with an opening leading to a number of sloping channels c<1>, each of a width equal to the diameter of the ball. The lower end of each channel c<1> has an opening c<2> leading to a funnel d and covered by a gate e, which can be locked in either of its extreme positions by a pin engaging in perforations in the tray c. Opposite the funnel d is a hod f with a pocket f<1> to receive the released ball, which, when the hod is tilted by exciting the solenoid h, passes on to the tripping- shoot g closed at one end by the shutter g<1> having an arm attached by a rod g<4> to the core of the solenoid h<2>. The shoot g gives a pause to the ball and affords the attendant time to correct any error he may have made by rejecting that ball ; for such, a pair of magnets i is energized to attract the armature i<1> attached to the shoot g, tilt the shoot, and allow the ball to fall into a receptacle k<1>. When correctly actuated. the solenoid h<2> lifts the shutter g<1> and the ball falls into the trough l which slopes towards a platform m resting on two rollers m' carried by bell-crank levers n with adjustable weights n<1>. The platform m is lowered by the ball falling thereon, whereupon the longer arms of the levers n come together to prevent more than one ball depressing the platform ; at the same time the ball releases a catch lever o<2> normally holding the driving-wheel o, and enters one of the pockets o<1> in the wheel, turning the wheel far enough to bring the next pocket to the platform m, while the ball itself drops from its pocket. The driving- wheel is connected by spur gearing to the first counting-wheel p, which makes one revolution for every ten balls entering the pockets of the driving- wheel. The counting-wheels are free on a common spindle, the higher wheels being held in position, until required to move at transfer, by locking arms u having stops u<1> engaging holes in these wheels, which are released by shoes p<3> secured to the spokes and depress rollers u<3> carried by the arms u forcing the stop out of the holes. A sliding rod u<4> is provided to disengage the stops when the wheels require to be set. Transfer is effected by a lever s having a roller s<2> engaging a snail cam t on the axes of the lower wheel, and a pawl s<3> attached to the lever is adapted to actuate the ratchet-wheel q<1> on the next wheel, moving the wheel through one unit when the roller passes the point t<1> of the cam. Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically the totalisator system, including the ticket-perforating machine v and the two registering-machines x, y, for two different horses or the like. In operating the apparatus, the attendant on receiving a bet adjusts the switch 1, which controls the several registering- machines, to the particular horse, then pulls down the hand-lever v<1> which closes the circuit through the contact x<1> or y', the wires x' or y<2>, and the solenoid h, which causes a ball to be transferred to the trough g. This circuit contains the magnet 4, which is for releasing the locking-bolt v<2> of the lever v<1>, and returning the lever to its normal position, in which it is locked to prevent further operation until the attendant observes if any mistake has been made. If a mistake has been made, he depresses the key 6, which closes the circuit of the magnets i and causes the ball to he rejected. If the bet is right, he depresses the key 5, thereby exciting the solenoid h', and the ball falls into the trough l and on to the driving-wheel o actuating the counting-wheels. When the key 5 is depressed, the withdrawing-magnet 3 is energized to release the bolt v<2> so that the lever v<1> can be actuated. After the race has started, the switch z is operated to close the contacts 7, short-circuit the withdrawing-magnet, and excite the magnets 4, whereby the lever v<1> is locked to prevent further issue of tickets.