Improvements in Ooin-freed Fortune Telling and similar Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1897-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ooin-freed Fortune Telling and similar Apparatus.
I, DR. FRIEDRICH ADOLF RICHTER, of 65, Schwarzburger Strasse, Rudolstadt,
Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascortained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to coin freed fortune telling and similar apparatus
wherein, upon the apparatus being set for a certain question by the user, a suitable
answer to such question is caused to appear. The object of the invention is to
provide an apparatus which will be simple in construction and which will, at the
same time, operate satisfactorily in that appropriate answers will be given to
the various questions asked and that the answers given in succession to one and the
same question will vary each time, so that the saine answer will not occur twice in
succession.
To this end the apparatus contains two circles or circular groups of questions
and answers (or corresponding figures or characters), the said two circles or
groups being directly or indirectly connected with each other in a manner to be
more fully hereinafter described and explained.
The apparatus is intended to operate in this wise, that, each time upon the one
circle or group having been set for a certain question or character, a different
answer or character of the other circle or group but always adapted to, and be-
fitting, the respective question or character for which the first circle or group has
been set will appear or be indicated at an opening or window provided in the
apparatus. This variety of indication is, according to this present invention,
effected, not by means of any complicated mechanism, but simply by so arranging
the two circles or groups of questions and answers or other characters relatively to
each other that the act itself of setting the one circle or group for a certain
question or character will simultaneously cause the circle or group of answers
to be shifted in such a manner as to thereby alone, and without any auxiliary
means whatever, bring the proper answer or character-and a different one each
time to the respective opening or window. In order, however, to convey upon
the user the impression that the answer or character is made to appear in
consequence of some mysterious operation taking place within the apparatus, and
not by the mere act of setting the apparatus for the respective question and
simultaneously with such setting, I provide in connection with the apparatus
mechanism which will normally keep the opening or window for the answers
covered by a movable plate and will remove such plate to uncover the respective
answer only when a coin has been inserted in the apparatus.
In the drawings illustrating the invention-
Figure 1 is a front elvation of a disc provided on its face with the circular
groups of figures, these being throughout the drawings substituted for the questions
and answers. This disc forms part of the fortune telling apparatus to be more
fully hereinafter described. The outer circle of figures is supposed to represent

page_text: three groups of answers, b, whereas the inner circle is supposed to represent as many
groups of corresponding questions c.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified form of disc, the latter being here
shown as provided with a peripheral rectangular flunge, the groups of answers b
being arranged on the said flange, whereas the corresponding groups of questions c
are provided on the face of the disc.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the entire apparatus or its casing, the latter
having the show openings d and adapted for the form of disc shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus, showing the openings d
and adapted for the form of disc illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the inner mechanism of the apparatus with
certain parts broken away. The disc is here shown as having parts of the material
cut away so as to leave a central hub portion and radial portions in the manner of
the spokes of a wheel a.
Figuro 6 is a side clevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 5, with some of
the parts broken away.
Figures 7 and 8 are details to be described, of the mechanism shown in
Figures 5 and 6.
Figure 9 is a front elevation of a modified construction of apparatus, wherein
the questions are imprinted on a stationary outer disc or dial, whereas the inner
disc or wheel of the apparatus contains a number of groups of answers, that is to
say, three groups of 12 answers each to the one group of 12 questions on the outer
disc or dial.
Figure 11 is a front elevation of the inner mechanism of the apparatus shown
in Figure 9, with certain parts broken away. The disc or wheel a is of a similar
construction to that shown in Figure 5, but it has only the answers and not any
questions imprinted thereon.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 11, with parts
broken away.
Figures 12 and 13 are details to be described of the apparatus shown in
Figures 9, 10 and 11.
Figures 14 to 18 refer to another modification of the apparatus wherein the
questions are supposed to be imprinted on a stationary outer disc or dial, the same
as in Figure 9, whereas the answers are imprinted on an endless band carried
over suitable rolls A and B mounted within the casing of the apparatus, the said
rolls by their rotation moving the said band along so as to display the questions
or characters thereon behind the show window or opening provided therefor in
a suitable place on the casing.
Figures 14 and 15 are a front and a side elevation, respectively, of the inner
mechanism, with parts broken away.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 are details to be described of the mechanism shown in
Figures 14 and 15.
Figure 19 is a front elevation of another modification of the apparatus, differing
from the one shown in Figure 9 in that the outer disc or dial, instead of being.
stationary, is mounted on an axis to bo rotated.
Figure 20 is an elevation showing the actuating mechanism common to all
the modifications of the apparatus hereinafter described. Parts of this mechanism
are broken away in this Figure. Fig. 20 is a plan view partly in section showing
the parts imparting motion to the fly.
Figure 21 is a detail to be described.
Figures 22 to 26 refer to still another modification of the apparatus, wherein
means are provided for automatically moving the pointer or needle forward one
step after each operation of the apparatus.
Figures 22 and 23 are a front and a side elevation, respectively, of the inner 5
mechanism, with parts broken away.

page_text: Figures 24, 25 and 26 are details to be described of the mechanism shown in
Figures 22 and 23.
In all of the constructional forms of apparatus hereinafter described and shown
in the drawings, the answers, all differing from each other, are arranged in a circle
of two or more groups, these being so adapted that, each time when the respective
disc or wheel or endless band which contains the said groups of answers is moved
forward to such an extent as will correspond with the value representing the length
of a group, a different answer will be given to one and the same question, this
occuring for such
a number of times 118 will correspond with the
number of groups of answers. The circle of questions, instead of
being connected directly with the circle of answers, may be connected
with the latter indirectly by a train of wheels or other means for transmission of
movement, the relative movements being, in such case, adapted in accordance with
the ratio between the number of groups of answers and the number of groups of
questions.
The casing of the apparatus, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, contains an open-
ing or window d for the questions and another one e for the answers, the latter
opening being shown in Figure 3 as provided in the front wall of the casing,
whereas in Figure 4 it is provided in one of the side walls. The opening or
window e is normally kept closed by a inovable plate which thus covers from view
the answer appearing behind the said opening or window. In Figures 3 and 4,
however, the opening or window is shown open. Another opening or slot el
(Figure 4) is provided for the insertion of a coin to operate the inner mechanism
of the apparatus as will hereinafter be described. 9 is a head or button forming
an outer axial extension of the diso or wheel a mounted within the casing of the
apparatus. By turning the said head or button the said disc or wheel may be
rotated to bring any one of the questions thereon behind the opening or window d,
and this will then cause a corresponding answer to appear behind the other opening
or window e
*
Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that the wheel has rigidly
connected with it a ratchet wheel , the number of teeth on the latter corresponding
with the number of answers provided for in the apparatus. n is a lever mounted
to oscillate on the fixed axis and having a flanged upper end portion which, in the
normal position of the said lever, keeps the opening e' for the insertion of coins
(Figure 4) covered from within. A pawl o carried by the said lever engages the
teeth of the ratchet wheel k, the latter being also engaged by another pawl pivoted
at r. The plate h, for normally keeping the opening or window e closed, forms the
enlarged end of a bell-crank lever mounted to oscillate on the body of the
knob 9, the lower arm i of the said bell-crank lever being preferably bent so as to
extend around the lower edge of the wheel a to the rear side thereof as shown.
74 18 a vertical shaft journalled in suitable bearings and carrying an upper cam
disc and a lower cam disc (Figures 7 and 8), the former engaging the lower arm p
of the lever n, whereas the lower cam disc v, by means of a cam groove provided
therein, positively operates the lever, said lever being movably connected with
the lower arm of the bell-crank lever ii. The vertical shaft u, in the preferred
construction of this mechanism as shown in Figures 20 and 20* receives rotary
movement from a spring enclosed in the stationary spring box 1 and operating the
vertical shaft 2 having the pinion 5 and the ratchet wheel 4, the said movement
being transmitted by the pinion 5 engaging the pinion 6 of the shaft u.
shown in Figs. 20, 20 and 21, the ratchet wheel 4 is engaged by a pawl pivoted
to the pinion 3 which is loosely mounted on the vertical shaft 2. The pinion 3
engages a pinion 7 on the same shaft with the worm wheel 7 and imparting
rotary motion to the worm 8 on the shaft carying the fly 9 Figures 20 and 20*.
The latter, and with it the entire mechanism, is normally prevented from moving
by a wire 11 which, in the position shown in Figure 20, extends into the line
of movement of the wings of the fly. The said wire being attached to the releasing
As

page_text: lever y near one end, the other end of the latter being arranged below the discharge
end of the coin duct 10, the inlet end of the said coin duct being immediately below
the opening or slot e¹ shown in Figure 4. Immediately above the pinion 6 on the
vertical shaft u is secured a cam z, having a gradually ascending and descending
cam face upon which the lowermost arm of the releasing lever y rests with a
suitable lug or projection.
The pawl and the ratchet wheels 4 should be arranged so that the pawl will
slide over the teeth of the said wheel if the latter and the shaft 2 are revolved
in a direction to wind up the spring in the box 1 rotary movement being thus
not imparted to the pinion 3. But if the said spring turns the ratchet wheel 4 in
the opposite direction then this wheel will act upon the said pawl so as to revolve
the pinion 3 loosely mounted on the shaft 2, thereby operating the pinion 7
and the fly mechanisın.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-By turning the button or head g
to the right the disc or wheel a is rotated until the respective question to be
answered appears at the opening or window d. As the ratchet wheel participates
in the rotation, the pawl o is pushed out of engagement therewith, so that the
lever n will be swung to one side, thereby withdrawing its flanged upper end ¹
from the coin opening e' (Figure 4), so that a coin may now be inserted therein.
At the same time, the respective answer corresponding with the question for which
the diso or wheel a has been set, will have arrived behind the opening or window e.
A coin having now been inserted and conveyed by the coin duct 10 (Figure 20)
to the lever y so as to depress the one and lift the other end of the same, the fly 9
is released, from engagement with the wire 11, and the actuating mechanism best
shown in Figures 20 und 20' is started, the rotary movement of the shaft 2 being
transmitted by the pinions 5 and 6 to the shaft 14. The cam discs and are thus
rotated, the cam groove of the said disc acting on the short arm of the angular
lever (Figures 6 and 8), said short arm having a vertical projection entering said
groove, whilst the other arm of the lever is connected by means of a link j to
the lever arm i of the bell-crank lever. The cam disc v partaking of the motion
of the shaft will during each revolution cause the lever to move the bell-crank
lever i both in a lateral and downward direction, so that the plate / forming the
outer end of the lever arm will be removed from behind the opening or show
window e and will allow the respective answer to be seen and read from without.
At the same time, the cam disc will have acted upon the lower arm p of the
lever n so as to cause its flanged upper end to again close the opening or slot e¹,
and the pawl o carried by the lever n will by this movement of the latter have been
brought into engagement with the ratchet wheel k, thus preventing the head or
button g from being turned to the right during the rotary movement of the shaft u,
whereas the turning of the same to the left is, at the same time prevented by the
engagement of the pawls with the ratchet wheel.
Upon the shaft having completed one rotation, the releasing lever y, one arm of
which will in the meantime have been gradually lifted by the ascending portion
of tlie cam z, will, when the said lever arm again descends from the highest point
of the said cam, act on the wire 11 (Figure 20) so that the fly 9, and with it the
entire actuating mechanism, will be stopped. The lower arm p of the lever n
will then be again opposite the cut away portion of the cam disc t (see Figure 7)
and will not be restricted in its movements, but will keep the coin opening closed
until the head or button g will have again been turned to the right, the object of
this arrangement being to prevent the same answer being given to one question
a number of times in succession.
In the modified construction shown in Figures 9 to 13 the questions are
imprinted on a fixed plate or dial provided on the outside of the apparatus, as
shown in Figure 9, the dial or plate bere having twelve questions which are in this
figure supposed to be represented by the Roman figures of the dial. The disc or 6
wheel a of the inner mechanism, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, contains three
groups of 12 answers each and is rotatably mounted on the fixed axis f. A pointer

page_text: or needle g, adapted to be rotated by hand and to be thus set for any one of the
questions on the dial, is rigid on the projecting outer end of an axis journalled
in an angular bracket r, the latter being rigid on the fixed axis f. is a ratchet
wheel and a pinion, both rigid with the pointer or needle so as to always inove with
the latter. The number of teeth of the ratchet wheel corresponds with the
number of questions provided for. s is a retaining pawl pivotally mounted on the
end of the angular bracket r and normally engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
n is a lever mounted to oscillate on the fixed axis f and having a flanged upper end
portion which, in the normal position of the said lever, keeps the opening for
the insertion of coins covered from within, as already explained with reference to
the apparatus previously described. Rigidly connected with the said lever n by a
hub portion is the pawl ol, the latter engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel k¹.
m is a pinion rigidly connected with the wheel a by a collar or hub and engaging
with the pinion 1, the relative number of teeth of the two pinions being adapted
in accordance with the ratio between the number of groups of answers on the
wheel and the number of groups of questions on the outer dial, or in other
words, according as two or three or four different answers are provided for each
question, the ratio of the numbers of teeth on the pinons land m will be
as 12, or 1: 3, or 1:4. In order to allow of suitably mounting in front of the
wheel a that part of the mechanism which transmits movement from the pointer
or needle to the wheel a, the central portion of the latter is curved inwardly or
dished as shown in Figure 10.
All the other parts of the mechanism are the same as already described with
reference to Figures 5, 6, 20, 20 and 21, and the details shown in Figures 12
and 13 correspond, essentially, with those shown in Figures 7 and 8, respectively,
as will be understood without requiring to be more fully explained.
The operation of this apparatus is as follows:-By rotating the pointer or
needle g to the right the same is set opposite any desired question on the dial. As
the ratchet wheel participates in the rotation, the retaining pawl o', by reason
of its curved shape, is pushed out of engagement with the said wheel, so that the
lever will be swung to one side, thereby withdrawing its flanged upper end n¹
from the coin opening e¹ (Figure 4), so that a coin may now be inserted therein.
The rotary movement imparted to the needle or pointer g¹, and hence to its
connected pinion 7, causes the pinion m and with it the wheel a, in accordance with
the ratio of the transmission of the two pinions, to be rotated to such extent that a
proper answer, adapted to the respective question indicated by the needle or pointer
on the dial, will arrive behind the window or opening e of the apparatus. A coin
having now been inserted and conveyed by the coin duct 10 (Figuro 20) to the
lever y to depress the one and lift the other end of the latter, the fly 9 is released
from engagement with the wire 11, and the actuating mechanism is started, the
rotary movement of the shaft 2 being transmitted by the pinions 5 and 6 to the
shaft u.
The cam lisest and rare thus rotated, and the latter, acting by its cam
groove and pin upon the lever a, causes the lower arm i of the bell-crank lever ii'
to be swung to one side, so that the plate h forming the outer end of the lever
arm will be removed from behind the opening or show windows and will allow
the respective question to be seen and read from without. At the same time, the
cam disc t will have acted upon the lower arm p of the lever n, so as to cause its
flanged upper end n' to again close the opening or slot e¹, and the pawl o' will by
this movement of the said lever n have been brought into engagement with the
ratchet wheel, thus preventing the pointer or needle g¹ from being turned to the
right during the rotary movement of the shaft u, whereas the turning of the same
to the left is, at the same time, prevented by the engagement of the pawls with
the ratchet wheel.
Upon the shaft u having completed one rotation, the releasing lever y, one arm
of which will, in the meantime, have become gradually lifted by the ascending
portion of the cam z, will, when the said lever arm again descends from the highest

page_text: point of the said cam, act on the wire 11 (Figure 20), so that the fly 9, and with it
the entire actuating mechanism, will be stopped. The lower arm p of the lever n
will then be again opposite the cut away portion of the cam disc t (see Figure 12)
and will not be restricted in its movements, but will keep the coin opening closed,
until the pointer or needle g' will have been turned to the right again, the object
of this arrangement being to prevent the same answer being given to one question
a number of times in succession.
In the modified construction of the apparatus shown in Figures 14 to 18 the
questions are, likewise, arranged on a stationary outer disc or dial, the same as in
the construction herein before described, whereas the answers are printed on an
endless band a¹, the latter being, preferably carried over rolls A and B, as shown.
In order to provide for a proper guiding of the endless band and, hence, for an
exact adjustinent of the answers thereon, the said endless band is formed with
equidistant apertures in its longitudinal centre or near the two edges, the said
apertures registering with, and being entered by, corresponding pegs provided on
one or both of the two rolls. As shown in Figure 14, the answers are made to
appear on the same side of the apparatus on which the pointer or needle and the
dial or disc containing the questions are mounted. To this end the transmission
of movement between the pointer or needle and the roll A is effected by means of
bevel pinions. If it should be preferred to construct the mechanism so as to have
the answers appear on one of the sides of the apparatus at a right angle to the dial
or disc for the questions, then bevel gears may be dispensed with and the usual
pinions employed in their place.
The lever carrying the plate h for normally keeping the opening or window e
closed and the lever n, provided with the upper flanged portion n' for closing the
coin opening and carrying the pawl o are, in this construction likewise, mounted to
oscillate on the axis f, and the latter has secured to it the angular portion carry-
ing at or near its end the retaining pawls. The pinion 1, rigid with the ratchet
wheel and with the pointer or needle g', is mounted on the stationary axis ",
whereas the bevel pinion m', which meshes with the bevel pinion p¹, is mounted on
the axis q. The number of teeth on the ratchet wheel corresponds with the
number of questions provided for, and the ration of transmission from the pinion!
to the roll A is adapted in accordance with the number of groups of answers on
the endless band a. Thus, assuming the said endless band to contain three
groups of various answers, the ratio of transmission will be such that, upon the
pointer or needle gl, and with it the pinion rigid therewith, having been moved
around the first time, an answer of the first group of answers, and befitting the re-
spective question put, will appear behind the window or opening e, whereas, upon
the pointer or needle having been moved around a second time, a befitting answer
of the second group and differing from the previous answer will appear behind the
window or opening e, and so forth. All the other parts of the mechanism are
the same as already described with reference to the apparatus shown in Figures 9
to 12 and to the mechanism illustrated in Figures 20 20 and 21.
The operation is as follows:-By rotating the pointer or needle g' to the right,
the same is set opposite any desired question on the dial. The pawl o on the
lever n, is thereby pushed out of engagement with the ratchet wheel ', so that the
lever n will be swung to one side, thereby withdrawing its flanged upper end n'
from the opening for the coins, so that a coin may now be inserted. At the same
time the roll A will have been rotated and the endless band a' thereby moved along
to such an extent as to bring a corresponding answer in position behind the window
or opening e, where it will be visible from without when the plate h is
subsequently removed as hereinafter described. A coin having now been inserted,
it is conveyed by the coin duct 10 (Figure 20) to the lever y so as to depress
the one and lift the other end of the same. The fly 9 is released from engagement
with the wire 11, and the actuating mechanism, best shown in Figure 20, is started,
the rotary movement of the shaft 2 being transmitted by the pinions 5 and 6

page_text: to the shaft u. The cam disc and v are thus rotated, and the latter, acting
through its cam groovo and pin upon the arm z, causes the lower arm of the boll-
crank lever to be swung to one side, so that the plate h forming the outer end
of the lover arm will be removed from behind the opening or show window
and will allow the respective answer to be seen and read from without.
At the same time, the cam disc will have acted upon the lower arm p of the
lever n so as to cause its flauged upper end ¹ to again close the opening or slot c',
and the pawl o will, by this movenient of the said lever n have been brought into
engagement with the ratchet wheel k', thus preventing the pointer or needle g' from
being turned to the right during the rotary movement of the shaft u, whereas the
turning of the same to the left is, at the same time, prevented by the engagement
of the pawls with the ratchet wheel.
Upon the shaft having completed one rotation, the releasing lever y, one arm
of which will, in the meantime, have become gradually lifted by the ascending
portion of the cam 2¹ will, when the said lever arm again descends from the highest
point of the said cam, put the wire 11 (Figure 20), in engagement with the fly 9
so that said fly, and with it the entire actuating mechanism, will be stopped. The
lower arin 7 of the lever n will then be again opposite the cut away portion of the
cam disc (see Figure 16) and will not be restricted in its movements, but will
keep the coin opening closed, until the pointer or needle g¹ will have been turned
to the right again, the object of this arrangement being to prevent the same
answer being given to one question a number of times in succession.
If it should be desired to arrange the endless band a', so as to move in a horizontal
direction and to provide for the answers being visible at a point corresponding to
the location of the letter B in Figure 18, then two shafts of smaller diameter may
be substituted for one of the rolls, as indicated in the detail plan view or diagram
Figure 18, the said shafts, in that case, being provided on opposite sides of the
opening or window e and sufficiently far apart from each other to guide that
portion of the said band, which is to be displayed at the point B', in a
straight line.
In the modified construction of the apparatus shown in Figures 22 to 26 the
means for normally keeping the coin opening closed and thereby preventing the
operation of the apparatus until the pointer or needle has been moved again, are
dispensed with. As already explained, the object of the respective arrangement
described in connection with the forms of apparatus herein before referred to is to
provent the same answer being given to one question a number of times in
succession.
In the modified construction to be hereinafter described the same object is
attained by mechanism being provided which will automatically move the pointer
or needle g¹ (or its equivalent) forward one step each time the apparatus is operated.
As will be seen from Figures 22 and 23, the general construction of the mechanism
is similar to that shown in Figures 10 to 13, but the lover and connected parts are
dispensed with.
The axis rigidly connecting the pointer or needle g¹ with the pinion 7 is
journalled in an opening provided in the arm r, the latter being rigid on the
stationary axis f. Mounted to oscillate on the same axis is the boll-crank lever, ii',
its lower arm being bent so as to extend around the wheel a below and its other
arm i carrying at its end the plate h. m and m¹ are pinions mounted on a common
axis, the one in front and the other in the rear of the wheel a, the latter correspond.
ing with that shown in Figures 10 and 11. The front pinion mmeshes with a
pinion and the rear portion m³ meshes with a pinion 1, the latter being rigid with
a ratchet wheel . It will be seen from the above that the pinions 1, m and m
and the ratchet wheel will always rotate the one with the other and with the
pointer or needle gl. The number of teeth on the ratchet wheel corresponds
with the number of questions provided for.
The wheel a, having the answers imprinted thereon, is rigidly connected by a hub

page_text: or collar with the pinions m and m³, the ratio of transmission of movement between
the pinions and , on the one part, and the pinions m aud m³, on the other part,
being adapted in accordance with the ratio between the number of groups of
questions and the number of groups of answers, as already explained with
reference to the forms of apparatus hereinbefore described.
The actuating mechanism mounted in the lower part of the apparatus is,
essentially, similarly to that of the forms of apparatus herein before described, but
the upper cam disc on the shaft is formed as shown in Figures 24 and 25 and
it is provided with an extra cam portion adapted to act on an extension of a
pawls which normally engages the pinion 4, whereas the other cam portion of the
said disc acts on the lower arm p' of a retaining pawl o¹ likewise normally in
engagement with the said ratchet wheel.
The operation of this apparatus is as follows:-By rotating the pointer or
needle to the right the same is set opposite any desired question on the dial.
The ratchet wheel is thereby rotated, the retaining pawl o' sliding over the teeth of
the ratchet wheel, and the wheel a is, in accordance with the ratio of transmission
of movement, rotated to such an extent, that a proper answer, adapted to the
respective question, will arrive behind the window or opening provided for the
purpose. A coin having now been inserted, the actuating mechanism is started
in the manner already described in connection with the other forms of the
apparatus and more particularly with reference to Figures 20 and 20 of the draw-
inge. The shaft u is thus rotated, and with it the cam discs t and v, the latter,
acting by its cam groove and pin upon the lever r, causes the lower arm i of the
bell-crank lever is to be swung to one side, so that the plate h forming the outer
end of the lever arm it will be removed from behind the opening or window e and will
allow the respective answer to be seen and read from without: At the same time,
the cam disc will have assumed a position wherein it bears against the lower
orm or extension of the pawl o¹, thereby firmly holding the latter in engagement
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, thus preventing the pointer or needle g¹ from
being turned to the right during the rotary movement of the shaft u, whereas the
turning of the same to the left is, at the same time, prevented by the engagement
of the pawls with the ratchet wheel.
Upon the shaft u having completed one rotation, the releasing lever y, one arın
of which will in the meantime have been gradually lifted by the ascending portion
of the cam z, will; when the said lever arin again descends from the highest point of
the said cam, move the wire 11 (Figure 20), into engagement with the fly so that
the latter, and with it the entire actuating mechanism, will be stopped. Just
before this happens the cam disc will have acted on the lever to cause the
plate at the end of the lever arm to be brought in position behind the window
or opening so as to again cover from view the respective answer, and the cam disc
will have arrived in the position shown in Figure 25, with its recessed portion
immediately opposite the arm or extension 2' of the retaining pawl o¹, so that the
latter will not bo restricted in its movements any more. At the same time, the
extra cam portion of the disc t, acting upon the lower arm or extension of
the pawls, will have moved the said pawl so as to rotate the ratchet wheel to.
the extent of one, tooth, thereby moving the pointer or needle g away from the
question previously indicated. Thus, if it should be intended to again set the
pointer or needle for the same question, it will have to be moved completely around.
It will be seen that this arrangement prevents the same answer being given to
one question & number of times in succession.
It is obvious that, instead of a movable pointer or needle g' and a stationary plate
or dial for the questions being provided, this arrangement may be reversed, as
indicated in Figure 19, by mounting the plate or dial so as to be rotated
by means of a head or button g relatively to a fixed arrow or other suitable mark,
as shown, the latter in this case being substituted for the movable pointer or necille.
This modification is applicable to all those forms of the apparatus herein before

page_text: described, where in a separate plate or dial is provided for the questions. I also
wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details
of construction or arrangement described and shown, as these admit of various
modifications and variations within the scope of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
-
I. In a fortune telling apparatus the combination of a movable surface having a
series of questions and a series of answers imprinted thereon, a casing having an
opening or window in the line of movement of the series of questions, to allow one
question at a time to be seen therethrough, and having another opening or window
in the line of movement of the series of answers, to allow one corresponding answer
at a time to be seen therethrough, a movable plate normally covering from view
the answer behind the respective opening or window, and means for automatically
removing the said plate from behind the said opening or window at times to
display the answer behind it, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a fortune telling apparatus the combination of a disc or wheel having a
series of questions imprinted on its surface and a series of answers on its rim
portion, a casing having an opening or window in the line of movement of the
series of questions, to allow one question at a time to be seen therethrough and
having another opening or window in the line of movement of the series of answers,
to allow one corresponding answer at a time to be seen therethrough, a movable
plate normally covering from view the answer behind the respective opening or
window, and means for automatically removing the said plate from behind the
said opening or window at times to display the answer behind it, substantially as
and for the purposo described.
3. In a fortune telling apparatus the combination of a casing, an outer plate
or dial having a number of questions imprinted thereon, a disc or wheel rotatably
mounted within said oasing and having a multiple number of groups of answers
imprinted thereon, the number of answers in each group corresponding with the
total number of questions on the said outer plate or dial, a window or opening
in the said casing arranged in the line of movement of the answers on the said
rotatable disc or wheel and allowing one answer at a time to be seen therethrough,
a movable plate normally covering from view the answer behind the window or
opening, a pointer or needle adapted to be rotated over the questions on the said outer
plate or dial, means for so transmitting rotary movement from the said pointer or
needle to the said disc or wheel that for each complete rotation of the said pointer
or needle the said disc or wheel will be rotated to the extent of one group of
answers, and coin-actuated mechanism for automatically removing the said plate
from behind the said window or opening, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. In a fortune telling apparatus the combination of a casing, an outer plate or
dial having a number of questions imprinted thereon, an endless travelling band
mounted within the said casing and having a multiple number of groups of answers
imprinted thereon, the number of answers in each group corresponding with the
total number of questions on the said outer plate or dial, a window or opening in
the said casing arranged in the line of movement of the answers on the said
travelling band and allowing one answer at a time to be seen therethrough, a
movable plate normally covering from view the answer behind the said window or
opening, a pointer or needle adapted to be rotated over the questions on the said
outer plate or dial, means for so transmitting movement from the said pointer or
needle to the said travelling hand that for each complete rotation of the said
pointer or needle the said band will be caused to travel forward to the extent of
one group of answers, and coin-actuated mechanism for automatically removing

page_text: the said plate from behind the said window or opening, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
5. In a fortune telling apparatus the combination of a casing, a surface having
a number of questions imprinted thereon and another surface having a multiple
numbers of groups of answers imprinted thereon, the number of questions in each
group corresponding with the total number of questions, means for producing
relative adjusting movement of the one surface with regard to the other, pro-
portionate in extent to the relative numbers of questions and answers, as described,
a window or opening in the said casing arranged in the line of movement of the
answers on the one surface and allowing one answer at a time to be seen there-
through, a movable plate normally covering from view the answer behind the
said window or opening, coin-actuated mechanism for automatically removing
the said plate from behind the said window or opening, a movable
arm normally closing an opening for the insertion of coins in the casing,
and mechanism for moving the said arm to uncover the said opening by the said
adjusting movement, substantially as and for the purpose described.
a
6. In a fortune telling apparatus the combination of a casing, a surface having
number of questions imprinted thereon and another surface having
a multiple number of groups of answers imprinted thereon, the number of questions
in each group corresponding with the total number of questions, means for produc-
ing relative adjusting movement of the one surface with regard to the other,
proportionate in extent to the relative numbers of questions and answers, as
described, an indicating device for determining the extent of the adjusting move-
ment, a window or opening in the said casing arranged in the line of movement of
the answers on the one surface and allowing one answer at a time to be seen there-
through, a movable plate normally covering from view the answer behind the said
window or opening, mechanism for automatically removing the said plate from
behind the said window or opening and means, operated from the said mechanism,
for automatically altering the position of the indicating device relatively to the
surface having the questions thereon, or vice versa, substantially as and for tho
purpose described.
7. The combination of parts and details of construction as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated thi 0 1 100%
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.