A New or Improved Method of and Means for Inserting a Coin or Coins into an Automatic or Coin-freed Machine, thus Preventing Fraud and the Blocking up of the Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Means for Inserting a Coin or
Coins into an Automatic or Coin-freed Machine, thus Preventing
Fraud and the Blocking up of the Apparatus.
I, JAMES GILBERT CUMMING, of 2 Merchiston Bank Terrace, Edinburgh,
North Britain, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved method of and means for inserting
a coin or coins into an automatic or coin freed machine in such a manner as to
prevent the shoot or channel leading from the inside of the machine to the mechanism
and through which the coin has to pass before engaging with the operating
mechanism, from being blocked by means of paper, tin, or other foreign article,
and so always ensuring the proper operating of the machine. It also prevents
fraud.
The invention consists of a casing the covering of which has a round hole or
aperture of a sufficient diameter to allow the prearranged coin to pass through it
into another hole or opening of a similar diameter in a coin slide which is under the.
cover. This slide is provided with a suitable knob or handle. Underneath
these holes or openings I provide a platform on which the coin rests, and at one
end of this platform there is an opening in which there is a spring or balanced
platform.
The modus operandi is as follows:-The prearranged coin placed through the
openings in the cover and coin slide on to the platform, and the knob or handle is
pulled out. The slide then moves the coin forward on to the spring or balanced
platform which immediately is depressed by means of the weight of the coin, thus
allowing the coin to fall into the shoot leading to the operating mechanism of the
machine. Should any other article than the prearranged coin be inserted-for
instance paste-board, tin, or other light article-the spring or balanced platform
will not be depressed, and so the article will be returned on the slide, and the next
operator is free to remove it and insert the proper coin in its place. Again should
a coin or piece of metal of sufficient weight but not of the proper diameter be
inserted it will run down the shoot and pass down the gauge in the operating
mechanism without operating the machine.
Dated this 28th day of April 1893.
.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Means for Inserting a Coin or
Coins into an Automatic or Coin-freed Machine, thus Preventing
Fraud and the Blocking up of the Apparatus.
I, JAMES GILBERT CUMMING, of 2 Merchiston Bank Terrace, Edinburgh,
North Britain, Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to a new or improved method of and means for inserting a
coin or coins into an automatic or coin freed machine in such a manner as to prevent

page_text: the shoot or channel used in connection with coin freed machines and leading from
the inside of the machine to the mechanism and through which the coin has to pass
before engaging with the operating mechanism from being blocked by means of
paper, tin, or other foreign article, and so always ensuring the proper operating of
the machine. The invention likewise prevents fraud, as no coin other than the
prearranged coin will operate the mechanism.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended three explanatory sheets of drawings showing one
form of coin-freed machine, but it is to be understood that my improvements are
applicable to any coin-freed machines.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine..
Figure 24 is a plan and side view of the front part of the slide or drawer.
Figure 2 is a section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan.
:
Figure 2B is a fragmental view of the working mechanism showing drawer in act
of being pulled out.
:
A is the casing, and B the aperture or recess into which the prearranged coin is
placed. C is the coin slide, the upper part of which in the present case acts as a
drawer for the delivery of the goods, which as will be seen from Figure 2, are
placed one above the other in the partition O of the casing A, so that when one of
the articles has been taken away, the next falls into its place, and so on, till the
machine is empty; a sample of the goods to be sold being shown through
the window P in front of the casing. D is a balanced platform connected to one
end of a lever E, the other end of the lever being pivoted at f.
.
The modus operandi is as follows. The prearranged coin is placed in the aperture
or recess B, and the slide or drawer C pulled out by means of the knob 9 or other
suitable method, and it, the slide or drawer C, by means of its construction seen
more particularly in Figure 24, carries forward the coin with it until it, the coin,
is immediately above the spring or balanced platform D, when it falls on to it, and
thus by means of its weight depresses the platform D and so enables the drawer or
slide C to be still further pulled out, when the projections H come in contact with
the edges of the coin i now lying on the platform D, and carry it forward until
it, the coin, reaches the end of the platform, when it falls over and into the machine,
the platform D returning to its normal position by means of the spring j. When
the drawer or slide C has been pulled out to its full extent the goods now vended
are free to be lifted out from the recess Q in the slide or drawer C, as seen more
particularly in dotted lines Figure 2. The drawer or slide C is then free to be
pushed in again to its normal position, when the machine is again ready for use.
Should any other coin or article than the prearranged coin be placed in the
aperture B; for instance pasteboard, tin or other light article of the same diameter
as the prearranged coin, with the view of defrauding the machine, such other
coin or article is prevented from being carried along with the slide C and operating
the mechanism by means of the spring L, which is powerful enough to press.
against the face of such article, and retains it against the underside of the frame-
work or casing while the sharp edges c of the slide C, as in the case of lead or
other soft material, cut into it, so that the slide or drawer C can only be pulled
out a certain distance, as the catch M which engages with the notch in the
lever E, prevents the slide or drawer C from being pulled out the entire distance,
and. so no goods can be delivered, and the foreign coin or other article will be
retained in the aperture B, and the next operator is free to remove it and insert
the proper coin in its place.
Again, should an article of the proper weight, size and thickness be placed in
the aperture B, for instance an iron washer, which is so commonly used for
defrauding existing machines, it will be carried away in a similar manner to that
described with reference to the prearranged coin, but when it reaches that point 5
immediately above the platform it will not fall on to it, being attracted by the
magnet N placed on the under surface of the cover of the casing.

page_text: I also provide a pawl S* and ratchet T to ensure the drawer or slide C, when:
the proper coin has been inserted, being pulled out its full length, and the goods.
delivered before it, the slide C, can be returned again to its normal position.
The construction of the said pawl and ratchet arrangement is as follows. Fixed
to the sole plate or framework of the apparatus the said pawl S* is pivoted, while
the ratchet T is fixed to the slide or drawer C and is free to move with it. AB.
the slide C is drawn out a certain distance the pawl S will engage the teeth
of the ratchet T until the slide has been drawn out the full distance. To disengage
the pawl from the ratchet in order to return the slide to its normal position.
after the article has been delivered I fix a stud D¹ to the underside of the pawl,.
which works in a slot or recess formed in a slide bar T¹. A pin t¹ fixed to the
end of the slide C forces the pawl S" out of the teeth of the ratchet T when the
slide C is drawn out its full length, by moving the slide bar T' along a short distance.
and thereby causing the stud D' to mount the incline surface formed in the said slot
or recess, and when it, the slide C, is pushed in the pawl S* falls into a position.
ready to engage again the teeth of the ratchet T.
In order to indicate when the machine is empty I have a weighted lever R
pivoted at r. I have also a curved lever S pivoted at s. When the machine is
full the goods press against the arms of the curved lever S. This causes the
other arms of the curved lever S to press against the weight R₁ of the lever R,.
and so keeps this lever R in a raised position as seen in hard lines Figure 2..
When the machine is empty the weighted lever R falls, and the notch t on this
lever engages with the end of the slide or drawer C and so the drawer or slide C
cannot be pushed in, as seen in dotted lines Figure 2, and the aperture being
covered up no coin can be placed in it.
As an alternative method for indicating when the machine is empty, I provide
a block which also acts as a weight to keep the goods in position. To the bottom.
of this block I have two metal projections which, as the last of the goods has
been sold, fit into two slots on the back portion of the slide or drawer, and this
prevents the drawer from being returned, and thus the aperture is covered over
and so no coin can be placed in the machine.
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. The method of and means for inserting or placing a coin or coins into an.
automatic or coin-freed machine, substantially as and for the purposes herein before.
described and shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
2. In coin-freed machines, the combination of the aperture or recess B and coin
slide or drawer C, operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
3. In coin-freed machines, the general arrangement, combination and operation
of the parts for preventing any coin or article other than the prearranged coin
from operating the mechanism and so delivering goods, substantially as herein--
before described and shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 27th day of January 1894.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow Applicant's Agents..