Patent GB-511285-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to automatic coin actuated ticket issuing machines
IPC: G07F17/42
Filed: 1938-02-10
Abstract: 511,285. Coin-freed article-delivery apparatus. WESTINGHOUSE TICKET MACHINE CO., Ltd., and ROBINSON, M. H. Feb. 10, 1938, No. 4252. [Class 27] In a coin actuated machine for delivering tickets together with such change as may be necessary, the insertion of coins effects a progressive movement of a stepping rotary selector switch which controls the ticket and change delivery mechanism at certain steps in its movement and is returned to its initial position or an equivalent one by further rotation in the same direction. An electrically actuated indicator is preferably provided for indicating the coin or coins inserted, the issue of the ticket and delivery of change, the indicator remaining energised until the operation is properly completed, so that disputes in the event of a breakdown are avoided In the accompanying drawing, of which Fig 1A is a lower continuation of Fig. 1, the stepping selector comprises five double contact arms 1, 2 rigidly connected together and working over fixed contact banks upon successive energisations of an operating magnet PSM. The apparatus is adapted to deliver threepenny tickets and to receive halfpennies, pennies, threepenny-pieces, sixpences, and shillings, the latter three coins momentarily closing insertion contacts 3C, 6C, and SC respectively to energise self-holding insertion relays 3CR, 6CR, and SCR, whilst halfpennies and pennies on insertion close contacts PC once or twice respectively. Delivery of a ticket is effected by energisation of a relay OR connected to a contact segment 7 of selector arm I and controlling a clutch between the delivery mechanism and a driving motor. Indicator relays 3IR, 6IR, and SIR are energised upon insertion of a threepence, sixpence, and shilling respectively, relay 3IR being controlled by the delivery relay OR, and relays 6IR and SIR by the sixpenny and shilling insertion relays 6CR and SCR. An indicator K shows the coins inserted, and is controlled by the selector contact arm III for amounts less than threepence, and by the indicator relays for amounts of threepence and over. An indicator DK indicates the delivery of a ticket and the amount of change if any. Assuming that threepence, the value of the ticket, is inserted in pennies and halfpennies, six impulses are transmitted by contacts PC to the selector operating magnet PSM, and the selector will be rotated by six steps during which a ticket deflector relay DR is operated provided BTI and PBI are closed which is the case as long as the ticket strip is unbroken and the ticket is not buckled. At the sixth step relay OR is energised through segment 7 and the motor clutch engaged to deliver a ticket. Relay OR, through contacts OR1, also completes a circuit through an interrupter IC to the operating magnet PSM which thereupon advances the selector a further step to engage contact arm I with segment 13 which maintains the circuit of the operating magnet through the interrupter until the contact arm I reaches a " proving " contact 28. Current is then supplied to the operating magnet PSM through back contacts 6CR4, SCR4, and 3CR3 of the insertion relays and front contacts 3IR3 of the indicator relay 3IR provided only threepence has been inserted. This brings the contact arm I to contact 15 and thence through a further step to complete half a revolution when the selector is ready for a further operation. During the final stage the selector contact arm III engages a segment 16 to' energise the " T element of indicator DK to show that a ticket has been delivered. If a threepenny piece is inserted the action is similar, the closure of insertion contacts 3C energising insertion relay 3CR whose contacts 3CR1 complete the circuit of the operating magnet through the interrupter IC, a ticket being delivered when clutch relay OR is energised as before. In the case of a sixpence the action is again similar, but threepence in change is also delivered. The sixpence indicator relay 6IR, which is energised' through contacts 6CR2 of the sixpence insertion relay 6CR, closes contacts 6IR5 to energise, through contact segment 22 of selector arm V, a magnet 3D which delivers a threepenny piece from a storage tube. If, however, the supply of threepenny pieces is exhausted, contacts 3SR1 and 3SR3 change over and three pennies are delivered instead from a pence tube by a magnet PD. In a similar manner, if the coin inserted is a shilling, contacts SIR4 and SIR5 of the shilling indicator relay close so that a sixpence is delivered by a magnet 6D and a threepence or three pennies by either of magnets 3D and PD. Whenever change is delivered the amount is shown on indicator DK by the closure of contacts through relays controlled by the change delivery magnets. Deflector magnets 6DM and SDM prevent the insertion of sixpences and shillings when change is not available. Deflectors prevent the insertion of all coins if the ticket strip is broken or a ticket buckled.