Improvements in Means and Devices for Electrically Lighting Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Pictures.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Devices for Electrically Lighting
Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Pictures.
We, ARNOLD WILLIAM WITT and MERVYN WALTER STIKEMAN, both of 290,
High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Merchants, 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, and
accompanying drawing, that is to say:-
This invention relates to coin-freed apparatus of the well-known kind, in which,
after the insertion of a pre-determined coin, a number of transparent or other
pictures can be seen in succession, by pressing a knob or handle, the pictures
being no longer visible after a certain predetermined number of them have been
exposed, until a fresh coin has been inserted.
Apparatus of the kind described has usually been exhibited by means of
artificial light; a lighted lamp, for example, being arranged in such a position
that it lights up the pictures (either directly, or as transparencies). Such method
of. lighting the pictures is, however, very objectionable, as the lamps require
constant attention and regulation, and, moreover, the expense is considerable, as
the lamp has to be kept constantly burning, even when the pictures are not
exposed to view.
The present invention has for its object improved methods of lighting the
pictures, in apparatus of the kind described, by means of an electric lamp,
arrangements being provided by which a current of electricity is supplied to the
lamp, only when a coin has been introduced into the apparatus, and the pictures
are in a position to be seen by the observer.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, Figure 1 being
a vertical longitudinal section through the box containing the apparatus, and
Figure 2 a front view of the electric lamp and reflector.
Figure 3 shows the electric connections to the lamp in a different position to
that shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a modified form of construction and
arrangement.
In Figure 1, a is an external wooden or other case. b is a base plate carrying
the entire apparatus for displaying the pictures, and sliding into the lower part
of the case. c is one of a pair of upright standards between which the pictures
are carried upon endless links passing round toothed pinions upon corresponding
spindles turning in bearings in the frames at d and e. The links carry wire
frames into which the picture g can be easily inserted and held, or removed and
changed.
In the figure, the pictures are supposed to be transparencies, and are viewed
through eyepieces at h, which are preferably double and provided with stereo-
scopic. lenses, for viewing stereoscopic pictures. The spindle d has at one end a
disc i provided with four pins j, at equal distances apart, and a bar k pivotted at
its lower end to a lever is provided at its upper end with a hook m, which, when
the bar is drawn down, catches one of the pins ; and turns the spindles through a

page_text: quarter of a circle, substituting a fresh picture for the one which has been dis-
played in front of the eyepieces. The bark when released is raised by a spring n.
A flat horizontal plate o upon a vertical spindle working in guides, is pressed con-
stantly up by a spring p, and by pressing against the two lower pins ; ensures the
vertical position of the picture which is being displayed.
The lever forms one arm of a bell-crank pivotted at r, the other arm being
jointed to a rod s connected to a sliding bar t, the outer end of which passes
through the front of the box and is provided with a knob or button u by which it
can be pushed in. By pushing in the knob and then releasing it, the pictures are
successively changed.
A light balanced lever v, pivotted at w, is provided at one end with a holder a
to receive a coin dropped into it through a slot in the box in the usual way. The
lever has formed on or fixed to it, an arm or detent z, which, when the outer end
of the lever is raised by the balance weight 1, engages with a recess cut in the
edge of the bark and prevents the latter from being depressed by pressing the
knob u.
A separate disc 2, provided with six projecting pins 3, turns upon a
pivot at 4, its object being to allow the whole eighteen pictures to be seen before
the detent prevents the further movement of the arm k. For this purpose the
lisc 2 has a notch on its circumference at 5 into which, when it is at its lowest
point, a detent 6 upon the lever enters, allowing the lever to rise and the detent =
to engage with the bar k.
The disc 2 is turned by a light bar 7 pivotted at 8
to the bar k, and having at its upper end a hook 9 which catches the pins 3 in
succession and causes the disc to revolve by steps. Each time, therefore, that the
knob u is pressed, the disc 2 is turned through one-sixth of its circumference, and
as there are eighteen pictures to be displayed, it is necessary that the disc should
make three complete revolutions before it is stopped by the detent 6. For this
purpose the notch 5 is closed by a small disc 10 pivotted upon the disc 2 at 11,
and having a notch corresponding with the notch 5, at one point of its circum-
ference. The small disc 10 has fixed upon its side three ratchet arms or teeth
which, as the disc 2 turns, come into contact with a fixed cam 12, which causes
the small disc to turn through one-third of a revolution. The two notches only
coincide after the dise 2 has made three complete revolutions, when the detent i
enters them, and the knob can then be no longer pushed in.
A small light lever 13 is pivotted at 14 to the lever e, and one end of it projects
under the end of the coin holder . This lever also has a lateral pin or projection P
which normally rests upon the top of a projecting lug 15, and an arm of the
lever carries a flat spring 16, which, when the lever is depressed as shown, comes
in contact with a stop 17 upon the lever v.
When a coin falls into the holder, its weight is sufficient to depress the end of
the lever 13, withdrawing the lateral projection from the lug 15, and bringing the
spring 16 into contact with the stop 17, the weight not, however, being sufficient
to bend the spring 16 and allow the coin to drop out of the holder before the
handle has been pushed in.
In this position the detent 6 is not quite removed from the notch 5, but when the
knob u is pushed in (the lateral projection being free from the support or lug 15)
the bevelled edge of the notch 5 forces down the detent 6, depressing the lever
somewhat further, sufficiently to bring the arm upon it in contact with the fixed
stud 18, and bending the spring 16, until the coin is able to drop out (as shown
in the figure) into the money drawer A.
In order that apparatus of the kind described, or of a like kind, for the display
of illuminated pictures, may be lighted by electric light, an incandescent lamp of
suitable size and power is arranged at 19, in a reflector 20 fixed to a support 21
which is fitted with a plate of ground glass 22 in order to diffuse the light. The
back of the box is closed by a door 23, and in its lower part (or in other con-
venient position) is arranged an electric storage battery or accumulator 24, the
poles of which are connected with the lamp by conducting wires 25, 26.
In Figure 1 these wires are shown connected (between the battery and the lamp)

page_text: with contact pieces 27, 28, separated by an insulating material 29. A conducting
contact piece 30 is connected with the moveable handle and knob u, in such
manner that when the handle is in its normal position (as shown in Figure 1) the
connection between the wires is broken and the lamp 19 extinguished, whilst, when
the handle is pushed in sufficiently far, the circuit through the wires is completed
(as shown in Figure 3) and the lamp rendered incandescent.
The electricity, therefore, is only consumed and a picture displayed, when the
handle has been pressed in and so long as it is held in its pressed-in position for
the display of a picture.
The method of making and breaking the electrical circuit may be varied in
many ways. For instance, as illustrated in Figure 4, a segmental piece 31 may be
fixed upon the bell-crank 1, the electric contact pieces 27 and 28 communicating
with the conducting wires, pressing against the curved surface of 31, one part
of which is of non-conducting material whilst the remainder at 32 is of metal.
It will be easily understood that, when the handle is in its normal position, the
circuit through the conducting wires is broken, as shown in the figure, whilst
when the handle is pushed in the circuit is complete and the lamp set in action.
In addition to the electric lighting devices described and shown, a shutter of
the usual kind may be used, connected to the handle or to the bar k, so that it is
opened when the handle is pushed in, but is closed automatically after any deter-
mined period by means of a dashpot" or of clockwork, in the well-known
manner, when the handle is released.
The application of electric lighting may be applied to other apparatus in which
pictures are displayed by pushing or pulling a handle after the insertion of a coin,
as well as to the apparatus described and shewn; to the exact details of which we
make no claim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. The combination with apparatus for displaying pictures after the insertion
of a pre-determined coin, of an electric lamp to which electric current is admitted
or cut off by the movement of the handle which changes the pictures viewed,
substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for displaying and changing pictures by moving a handle which
can only be operated after the insertion of a pre-determined coin, the combination
with such apparatus of an electric storage battery, and incandescent electric lamp,
conducting wires, and contact pieces by which the electric current is supplied to
the lamp when the handle is moved in one direction, and is cut off when the
handle is moved in the other direction, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 29th day of April 1898
EDWARDS AND Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.