Patent GB-190721235-A (GB)
Title: A Novel Apparatus for use in Competitions, combined with Instructional and Educational Purposes.
Inventor: JACKSON ARTHUR JAMES
Filed: 1907-09-25
Granted: 1908-09-10
Abstract: 21,235. Jackson, A. J. Sept. 25. Drawing and writing and question-and-answer and like games.-After payment, a shutter is adapted to be moved to expose a strip of paper on which are written a series of questions, preferably of an educational character, or limericks, of which the last lines are to be supplied, and a second portion of paper, on which the question is to be answered, a definite time being allowed, at the end of which the shutter is returned by clock-work, an alarm bell being rung just prior to the return. The strip is afterwards examined and prizes awarded. The apparatus is adapted to be used as an advertising- medium, answers being sold with packets of goods or advertisements may be displayed on the question &c. strip. The inserted coin enters a slotted carrier j on a pivoted external handle i and a second carrier k on a spindle k<1>, which also carries an arm n bearing a pivoted weighted lever n, the nose of which holds the lever k and coin in position. A competitor operates the handle i, thereby rocking the lever n and moving back the shutter f, which is carried by a bar s working on guides t and engaging slots t<2> in swinging arms q carried by a spindle r, a pin p on one of the arms engaging a slot o<6> in a link o carried by the lever n. A catch plate 38 carried by a lever 36 pivoted to the framework snaps into a.notched plate t<1> on the bar s to retain the shutter in the open position. The question &c. paper passes from a storage roller 5 by tension roller 15, over table 16, beneath aperture e (where the shutter having been withdrawn it is exposed to the operator), and thence by tension roller 17 to winding-up roller 9, the rollers 5, 9 being in frictional engagement with a central delivery drum z, which is also provided with pins near its edges which grip the paper. Simultaneously with the withdrawal of the shutter, the movement of the lever n feeds the strip forwards to expose a fresh question, a link v connecting the lever to a second link v<1>, which is mounted on a spindle wand carries a quadrant v<2> which rotates the drum z through a loose wheel x, pawl 3, and ratchet 2. If only one feed of the paper is to be permitted for each coin inserted, a link q<1> connected to the arm q is attached by a pin q<2> to a crank-arm o<3> on a ratchet-wheel o<2> carried by the link o. With the link q<1> in this position, the ratchet-wheel o<2> is rotated by the movement of the arm q when the shutter is opened, and the extremity o<5> of an arm o' carried by the crank o<3> rocks a detent o' pivoted to the link o so that its nose o <x> engages the pin p, locking the levers n, q in the raised position and permitting the escape of the coin. If, however, the pin q<2> engages a slot 57 or a longer slot 58 in the arm q<1>, the ratchet o<2> is not rotated by the motion of that arm so that the detent o<1> does not engage the pin p, the arms n, q therefore returning, a pawl r<1> attached to the framework by a rod r<3> dropping behind the tooth o<7> or o<8> according as the pin q<2> engages the slot 57 or 58, and a lever r<2> pivoted to the pawl engaging behind the loaded lever m maintaining its point against the receiver k and preventing the escape of the coin. One or two operations of the apparatus are permitted according as the pawl r' engages the the tooth o<7> or o<8>, the wheel o<2> being rotated a tooth at each operation before the pawl o' engages the pin p. The opening of the shutter starts clockwork mechanism, the bar s turning a lever 44 pivoted to the framework so that its finger 47 passes from behind and flicks a projection 48<a> on the pendulum. A shaft 26 of the clock-work carries a pointer c which works in front of a graduated dial, and, just prior to the expiration of the allotted time, the nose 54 of a lever 27 on the shaft 26 escapes from the nose of a pivoted lever 40, when a spring-controlled hammer 42 strikes an alarm bell 43. Shortly after a cam 55 on the lever 27 engages a screw 56 on the lever 36, lifting the retaining catch 38 from the notch t<1>, when a spring w<2> connecting the spindle w to the arm q returns all the parts to the normal position. The pointer c is returned and the mainspring of the clock-work rewound sufficiently for the next operation, the spindle w being connected by rods 21, 22, 24 to the lever 27.