Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Objects, inscriptions, or the like for a short time.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Objects,
inscriptions, or the like for a short time.
I, JACQUES WERTHEIMER, of 52, Rue de l'Arbre sec, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to coin-freed apparatus for displaying objects or devices
such as predictions or prophecies, allegories, emblems, etc., the said apparatus
being designed to be placed in public places and to operate on the introduction
of a coin.
The coin drops into a bucket carried by a lever which sets the mechanism in
motion. A figure shewn in the front of the apparatus uncovers an orifice or
window behind which a device or inscription is seen to appear. The window
remains open for some moments to allow sufficient time for reading or observing
the inscription or the like which appears behind it after which the figure closes
the orifice and the apparatus is ready to receive a second coin.
The figure can also be caused to make other movements as hereinafter described.
In carrying out my invention as applied to apparatus for telling fortunes I
provide a case in the front of which is arranged or represented a picture having
a figure such as a demon arranged to open or close the window across which the
prediction or prophecy is seen by means of a movement which is automatically
communicated to its arm.
Furthermore, the head of this figure is hinged and during the operation of the
mechanism it oscillates thereby appearing to invite the onlookers to regard the
inscription which has just appeared. The scene is completed by the appearance
of the representation of an animal which seems to issue from a cauldron or the
like on the introduction of the coin and which returns into this cauldron as the
mechanism ceases operating.
The coin-freed mechanism for operating the figures and for causing the inscrip-
tion to appear comprises a main pivoted lever carrying at one of its ends a bucket
designed to receive the coin which is introduced through a slit in the front of
the case and which falls into the interior down a chute. A counterweight is
provided for returning the lever to its normal position, that is to say, to hold it
in position to receive the coin.
The predictions, prophecies or the like are inscribed on the front face of a plate
pivoted centrally and the back of which is provided with pins the number of which
is equal to that of the predictions or prophecies inscribed on the plate. This latter
is turned through a certain distance each time that the lever returns to its normal
position by means of a pawl carried by the lever and engaging with the pins.
A spring pawl engaging with a ratchet wheel carried by a plate holds the
latter in each of its positions..

page_text: The right arm of the demon is hinged to the front of the case by a pivot which
passes through the said part and is provided behind it with a lever carrying a
finger or arm against which one end of the main lever strikes at a predetermined
moment.
The other end of the main lever is provided with a spring pawl which at a given
moment engages with a ratchet wheel, the said ratchet wheet operating escape-
ment mechanism of any suitable description for the purpose of retarding for a
predetermined length of time the disappearance of the inscription which is observed
through the orifice or wndow in front of the case.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The main lever being in the position to receive a coin, that is to say, the bucket
being underneath the coin chute and the other end of the lever pressing upon and
holding down the finger or arm of the lever and consequently lifting up the arm
of the demon and closing the window by the cover which is attached to the said
arm, a coin introduced through the slit, drops into the bucket and causes the
main lever to drop. This movement disengages the finger and lever thereby
enabling the arm of the demon to drop under the action of its own weight so as
to uncover the orifice or window and thereby allow one of the inscriptions on the
plate to be seen.
•
At the same time the spring pawl on the end of the main lever engages with
its ratchet wheel thereby holding the lever in position after the coin has fallen
from a bucket into the case of the apparatus. But, under the action of the
counterweight assisted when necessary by a buffer spring, the lever rotates on
its pivot slowly carrying with it the ratchet wheel and thereby causing the escape-
ment apparatus which is connected therewith to operate. This escapement is
regulated so as to retard the fall of the lever for a suitable time whilst the
inscription behind the window is being read.
After a certain interval and as a result of the rotation of the ratchet wheel
the pawl is disengaged, from the ratchet wheel and the main lever drops suddenly
and returns the arm of the figure to its normal position. At the same time the
pawl for turning the plate through a certain distance comes into operation so as
to substitute one inscription for another behind the window.
The movement of one of the parts of the escapement mechanism is also utilized
for communicating a movement of oscillation to the head of the figure. For this
purpose the head is pivoted to the front of the case and the pivot of the said part
of the escapement mechanism passes through the front of the case and is provided
behind the head of the figure with a toothed wheel which acts upon one finger or.
arm of a small lever pivoted to the front of the case behind the head the other arm
of which jerks a pin fixed to the back of the head. When the arm or finger is
freed from the wheel the lever returns to its normal position until the following
tooth again engages with the arm. This movement continues for the whole of the
time during which the escapement mechanism operates thus giving to the head
o: the figure an intermittent oscillating movement.
The scene is completed by the appearance, at the moment that the coin drops,
of the representation of an animal which appears to issue from a cauldron repres-
sented or arranged at the base of the picture by means of the following device.
The animal is suspended to a cord passing through the groove of a loose pulley
and being attached to the groove of a second pulley keyed to a pivot which
passes through the front of the case. These two pulleys are hidden by a portion
of the picture placed in front of them, such for instance as the representation of a
cloud.
The pivot of the fast pulley carries a third pulley also keyed to it and in the
groove of which the end of a second cord is fixed the other end of the said cord
being connected to one of the arms of the main lever.
It will therefore be obvious that when the lever oscillates it pulls on the second
cord which unrolls and causes its pulley to rotate. This rotation causes the third

page_text: pulley to revolve thus winding up the cord attached to it and causing the animal
to suddenly leap from the cauldron.
The return movement of the main lever effects the return movement of the
animal which descends to its normal position and is hidden behind the cauldron.
It will be obvious that the movements of the figures represented in the picture
can be varied as desired and also that the picture can be varied and modified
to suit the taste and curiosity of the public.
Dated the 21st day of October 1896
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Objects,
Inscriptions, or the like for a short time.
1, JACQUES WERTHEIMER, of 52, Rue de l'Arbre sec, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what-
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to coin-freed apparatus for displaying objects or devices
such as predictions or prophecies, allegories, emblems, etc., the said apparatus
being designed to be placed in public places and to operate on the introduction
of a coin.
The coin drops into a bucket carried by a lever which sets the mechanism in
motion. A figure shewn in the front of the apparatus uncovers an orifice or
window behind which a device or inscription is seen to appear. The window
remains open for some moments to allow sufficient time for reading or observing
the inscription or the like which appears behind it after which the figure closes the
orifice and the apparatus is ready to receive, a second coin.
The figure can also be caused to make other movements as hereinafter described.
In carrying out my invention as applied to apparatus for telling fortunes I
provide a case in the front of which is arranged or represented a picture having
a figure such as a demon arranged to open or close the window across which the
prediction or prophecy is seen by means of a movement which is automatically
communicated to its arm.
Furthermore, the head of this figure is hinged and during the operation of the
mechanism it oscillates thereby appearing to invite the onlookers to regard the
inscription which has just appeared. The scene is completed by the appearance
of the representation of an animal which seems to issue from a cauldron or the
like on the introduction of the coin and which returns into this cauldron as the
inechanism ceases operating.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it by reference
to the accompanying drawing which as an example illustrates a fortune telling
apparatus made according to my invention.
In the said drawing:-
Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus, a portion of the front thereof being
removed:
Figure 2 is a rear view of the same shewing the casing opened:.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus; and,
Figures 4 and 5 are views of details."
The coin-freed mechanism for operating the figures and for causing the inscrip-
tion to appear comprises a main lever a pivoted at b and carrying at one of its

page_text: A
ends a bucket e designed to receive the coin which is introduced through a slit d,
in the front of the case and which falls into the interior down a chute e.
counterweight is provided for returning the lever to its normal position, that
is to say, to the position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2 to hold it in position
to receive a con.
The predictions, prophecies or the like are inscribed on the front face of a disc
or plate g pivoted at & and the back of which is provided with pins i, i the number
of which is equal to that of the predictions or prophecies inscribed on the plate
This latter is turned through a certain distance each time that the lever a returns
to its normal position by means of a pawl j carried by the lever and engaging
with the pins i, i.
The pawl jis pivoted upon the arm a and is provided with a notch or groove
which engages with one of the pins i on the plate g when the lever a swings back
into its normal position or position of rest. The said pawl turns slightly upon its
pivot and one of its arms comes in contact with a pin upon the arm a as she.vn
in Figure 2 so that it is held during the upward movement of the lever a in such
a position that its notch can engage a pin i and effect the sudden movement of the
plate g.
During this movement of the lever the finger j, fixed upon the arm a under-
neath the pawlj, passes inside the circle of pins i and allows the plate to rotate;
when the lever a has returned to its position of rest this finger has entered between
two pins and holds the plate in position.
When under the action of the weight of a coin the lever a swings downwards
the finger is disengaged from the pins i and the pawl takes the position indicated
in the drawing to avoid striking one of the pins and consequently of displacing
the plate g.
A spring pawl k engaging with a ratchet wheel I carried by the plate y holds the
latter in each of its positions.
The right arm of the demon is hinged at m to the front of the case by a pin m
which passes through the said part and is provided behind it with a lever n
carrying a finger or arm o against which one end of the levar a strikes at a
predetermined moment.
2.
The opposite end of the lever a to that carrying the bucket e is provided with
a spring pawl p which at a given moment engages with a ratched wheel the
said ratchet wheel operating escapement mechanism of any suitable description
for the purpose of retarding for a predetermined length of time the aisappearance
of the inscription which is observed through the orifice or window r in the front
of the case.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
The lever a being in the position to receive a coin (the position shewn in broken
lines Figure 2) that is to say, the bucket c being underneath the coin chute e and
the other end of the lever a pressing upon and holding down the finger or arm o
of the lever n and consequently lifting up the arm of the demon and closing the
window by the cover which is attached to the said arm, a coin introduced through
the slit d drops into the bucket c and causes the lever a to drop into the position
shewn in full lines Figure 2. This movement disengages the finger o and lever n
thereby enabling the arm of the demon to drop under the action of its own weight
so as to uncover the orifice or window r and allow one of the inscriptions on the
plate g to be seen.
At the same time the spring pawl p on the end of the lever a engages with
its ratchet wheel thereby holding the lever in position after the coin has fallen
from the bucket c into the case of the apparatus. But, under the acn of the
counter weight assisted when necessary by a buffer spring s, the lever rotates
on its pivot b slowly carrying with it the ratchet wheel 7 and thereby causing
the escapement apparatus which is connected therewith to operate. This escap
ment is regulated so as to retard the fall of the lever a for a suitable time whilst
the inscription behind the window is being read.

page_text: After a certain, interval and as a result of the rotation of the ratchet wheel q the
Fawl p is disengaged from the ratchet wheel and the lever a drops suddenly d
returns the arm of the figure to its normal position. At the same time the pawl j
for turning the plate 9 through a certain distance comes into operation so as to
substitute one inscription for another behind the window r.
The movement of one of the parts of the escapement mechanism is also utilized
for communicating a movement of oscillation to the head u of the figure. For
this purpose the head is pivoted at t to the front of the case (see Figures 4 and 5)
and the pivot of the said part of the escapement mechanism passes through the
front of the case and is provided behind the head of the figure with a toothed
wheel which acts upon one finger or arm of a small lever 21 pivoted to the
front of the case behind the head, the other arm of which lever jerks a pin y.
fixed to the back of the head u. When the arm or finger a is freed from the
wheel the lever returns to its normal position until the following tooth again
engages with the arm. This movement continues for the whole of the time during
which the escapement mechanism operates thus giving to the head of the figure an
intermittent oscillating movement.
The scene is completed by the appearance, at the moment that the coin drops,
of the representation z of an animal which appears to issue from a cauldron a',
represented or arranged at the base of the picture, by means of the following
device. The animal z is suspended to a cord 61 passing through the groove of
a loose pulley c¹ and being attached to the groove of a second pulley keyed to
a pivot el which passes through the front of the case. These two pulleys c¹ and d¹
are hidden by a portion of the picture placed in front of them, such for instance
as the representation of a cloud.
The pivot el of the pulley d carries a pulley f¹ also keyed to it and in the
groove of which the end of a second cord g¹ is fixed, the other end of the said
cord being connected to one of the arms of the lever a.
It will, therefore, bie obvious that when the lever a oscillates it pulls the cord g
which unrolls and causes its pulley f¹ to rotate. The pulley f rotates the pulley d¹
thus winding up the cord b attached to the latter and causing the animal z to
suddenly leap from the cauldron a¹.
The return movement of the lever a effects the return movement of the animal
which descends to its normal position and is hidden behind the cauldron a¹.
It will be obvious that the movements of the figures represented in the picture
can be varied as desired and also that the picture can be varied and modified to
suit the taste and curiosity of the public.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In coin-freed apparatus for displaying objects, inscriptions or the like for
a short time the employment of a figure (or of several figures) to which suitable
movements are imparted and which displays or conceals (or display or conceal)
objects, inscriptions or the like arranged around a disc or plate which is auto-
matically revolved through the medium of a lever operated by the weight of a coin
inserted in the apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved coin-feed
apparatus for displaying objects, inscriptions and the like for a short time herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.