Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Stereoscopic Transparencies.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Stereoscopic
Transparencies.
I, JOHN ROSE, of 135, Regent Street, London, W., Mechanic, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for displaying stereoscopic
transparencies and the like, which is preferably combined with a coin-freed
apparatus whereby on the insertion of the requisite coin the transparencies are
caused to revolve" before the eyes of the beholder, whilst at the same time the
electric lighting is turned on, and the pictures are illuminated.
Inventions designed to display stereoscopic views by means of a revolving
mechanism are already known. But such apparatuses are lighted either by
light transmitted through apertures or windows in the outer casing of the
apparatus, or they are lighted by lamps electric or otherwise placed within the
casing but outside of the views which they illuminate. Consequently the views
are seen by reflected light only.
By my invention I provide means for displaying views by light transmitted
from the interior of the mechanism through the views or the like, thus render-
ing them illuminated transparencies.
My invention may obviously be carried into effect in a large number of modi-
fications, and I regard such modifications as within the scope of my invention.
By way of example I will now set forth one construction of my apparatus:-
The apparatus consists essentially of a revolving drum constructed of two discs
connected by three or more bars so disposed as to form ribs or supports over
which the pictures to be illuminated pass in the form of an endless band, similar
to a Jacquard card mechanism. The interior of the hollow drum or frame,
thus formed is illuminated by a convenient source of light, such as an electric
glow lamp.
The apparatus is enclosed in a casing provided with the usual orifices for
beholding the views. The drum is caused to revolve by a gear wheel mechanism
actuated either by the turning of a wheel or handle by the spectator, or in any
other convenient way.
The coin controlled mechanism consists essentially of a lever, bearing at its
end a hopper, which hopper is placed normally beneath the end of the coin
shoot. When the coin drops into this hopper it depresses the lever, and releases
the mechanism which thereupon revolves until a catch on the gear wheel or
other equivalent apparatus causes the hopper to open against the pressure of a
spring, and thereby to drop the coin through it. As soon as the hopper has
released the coin the lever rises and stops the mechanism.
I do not limit myself to this construction of coin-freed mechanism. The
pictures to be displayed are preferably specially prepared to give the best

page_text: results with internal illumination. If desired the effect may be heightened
by the addition of white or coloured light thrown on them from the outside in
the usual manner, but the essential illumination is that arranged within the
drum, substantially as above described.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for Displaying Stereoscopic
Transparencies.
I, JOHN ROSE, of 135, Regent Street, London, W., Mechanic, 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 an improved apparatus for displaying stereoscopic
transparencies. It comprises a coin-freed apparatus, whereby on the insertion
of the requisite coin the transparencies are caused to revolve before the eyes
of the beholder, an electric lighting device operated by the motion of the
apparatus, and of the coin-freed mechanism, means for revolving the drum and
preventing it from over-running, and if found desirable special devices for
additional illumination.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same, partly in section and partly in elevation.
Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the line 1-1, Figure 1.
Figures 5 and G are sections of the coin hopper on the line 2-2, Figure 1.
Certain parts hidden by the side support are shewn in dotted lines.
The outer casing of the apparatus and the lenses or the like through which
the beholder views the transparencies within are not illustrated in the drawing,
as they form no distinctive portion of the apparatus.
The apparatus consists essentially of a revolving drum composed of two discs A
connected together by four parallel bars a arranged to form a quadrilateral. The
discs A are rigidly secured to pivots BB¹.
as hereinafter set forth.
The pivot B (Figure 1) is insulated
The pivot B passes through the outer casing, and is
continued to form a shaft to which a handle, wheel, or the like is attached for
the purpose of causing the apparatus to revolve. On the said shaft B₁ within
the apparatus is keyed the small gear wheel C actuating the large gear wheel D,
which wheel has integral with it the smooth wheel or pulley D. This latter has
a portion of its periphery cut away, so that a lever travelling on the surface
thereof will fall into the aperture thus formed at each revolution, and act as a
stop to its further motion.
The picture cards or transparencies are formed as an endless band (not shewn
in the drawing) connected together by hinged joints in any convenient manner,
preferably somewhat in the same way as the pattern cards of a Jacquard loom
mechanism, and the size of such transparency corresponds to the distance between
the cross bars a, so that each complete revolution of the apparatus will display
four of the transparencies.
The edge of one of the discs A is provided with four notches E placed exactly
90° apart, and devised to engage in the spring bolt or catch F for the purpose

page_text: of ensuring the exact register of the apparatus, and indicating to the person
causing the same to revolve, the exact position at which each successive trans-
parency should be stopped.
This
The coin-freed mechanism consists of the pivoted lever G provided with a
counterweight g, and having at its other end the spring coin hopper H.
hopper consists of two parts h and h. The part h is rigidly fastened to the
lever G, and the part his pivoted to it, and is normally held closed by means
of a leaf spring or other convenient device Figs. 1, 2 and 5. To the lower
part of the said piece there is attached a bar " projecting backwards, and
devised to come in contact with the smooth wheel D₁ attached to the gear
wheel D. There is also attached to the piece a projecting lever i which is
devised, when the said hopper H is depressed by the insertion of a coin, to come
in contact with a stop or bar I.
The electric lighting system is as follows:-
A battery P is placed at any convenient position in the apparatus; the
connecting wire M makes connection with the outer metal support K of the
frame, and through it and the connecting bar L with the central pivot B. The
bar L rides on the pivot B or a wheel placed thereon, which wheel may suitably
be formed as a ratchet to prevent the apparatus being turned the wrong way.
The pivot of the bar L is preferably provided with an insulating washer of
rubber or the like at its inner end to prevent accidental contact with the disc A.
The disc A is insulated from the pivot B by means of an insulating washer and
collar o.
From the pivot 13 the current passes through m to the electric lamp Z.
The other wire N N makes connection with the moving parts of the apparatus
when the same is operated as follows:-
The connection is through the wire N N¹ to the spring Q, which may be an
ordinary leaf spring or the like, and is so placed as to be in contact with the
edge of the wheels D¹ as far as this extends. When the cut-out portion of the
wheel comes opposite to the spring the contact is broken between the wheel and
the spring Q.
The apparatus is operated as follows:-
:-
When the apparatus is out of action the parts are in the position shewn in
Figures 2 and 3 with the counter-weighted end g of the balanced lever G resting
on the pin gl.
Whilst the apparatus is in this position the shaft cannot be revolved, because
the projection g¹ upon the disc A engages with the stop g" on the rocking bar G
and locks the apparatus against motion in the forward direction whilst motion
backwards is prevented by the ratchet bar L.
As soon as an operator places a suitable coin in the slot of the machine and
the same falls into the hopper H, it over-balances the lever G, and causes the
projection to rest upon the projection I. This motion of the lever G and
with it the stop releases the projection gl, and allows the disc A and the
gear wheels C, D and wheel D' to revolve, and at the same time the electrical
circuit is completed by the contact of Q with D', Figure 4. This causes the
lamp Z to illuminate the apparatus, and the electric current will flow until the
wheel D has completed its revolution, and the parts again fall into the position
shewn in Figure 2.
The coin which has fallen into H is discharged therefrom into the coin drawer
as soon as the bar has risen upon the wheel D' and thereby caused the coin
hopper to open Fig. G. In order to cause the apparatus to repeat the display
another coin must be inserted in the slot, and the handle again turned, where-
upon the operation will be again repeated.
In addition to the central illumination herein described I may if desired
attain special pleasing effects by additional illumination reflected upon the
transparencies. This light or lights may be coloured and can be controlled
by push buttons or other convenient devices within the reach of the beholder,
enabling various light effects to be produced at will.

page_text: 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:-
1. In an apparatus for displaying a series of illuminated transparencies, a
revolving frame consisting of the discs A connected by four parallel bars a, a
series of hinged transparencies connected to form an endless band passing over
the said bars a, a check stop F under spring pressure engaging in notches E in
the periphery of one of the said discs A, a coin hopper H on a counter balanced
lever G, a train of gearing connected to an outer wheel or handle, and impart-
ing motion to the smooth wheel D', a central incandescent lamp Z, a source of
electrical current P, and connecting wires conveying the current through the
mechanism on the one hand, and through the hinder pivot B of the mechanism
through intermediate organs as hereinbefore set forth on the other hand; the
whole substantially as, and for the purposes described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
2. In combination with the apparatus set forth in Claim 1, the use of an
additional light or lights reflected upon the transparency under observation, and
controllable at the will of the beholder, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of March 1899
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.