Improvements in and relating to Calculating Machines or Apparatus Designed to be Set in Condition for Operation by Means of a Coin or like Body.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1889
Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1889
Improvements in and relating to Calculating Machines or Apparatus
Designed to be Set in Condition for Operation by Means of a Coin
or like Body.
I, FRANKLIN WISNER BROOKS, residing at Number 40, Wall Street, in the City,
County and State of New York, one of the United States of America, 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 certain new and useful improvements in calculating
machines or apparatus.
The object of the invention, generically stated is to provide a machine or apparatus,
the parts of which being so arranged or combined as that the weight of a coin shall
act to place the same in condition or readiness to be operated to bring to visual
inspection a set or series of numbers from which the ages of individuals may he
calculated or determined; all as will more fully hereinafter appear when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings wherein―
Figure 1, represents a view in perspective of a calculating machine or apparatus
constructed in accordance with my invention, as it appears from the outside, and
when not in use or operation.
Figure 2, is a similar view of the machine or apparatus as it appears from the outer
side after or in the course of operation.
Figure 3, is a vertical sectional elevation of Figure 1, on the line, x, x.
Figure 4, is a similar view of Figure 2, on the line, y, y; and
Figure 5, is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the interior mechanism
taken on the line, a, a, of Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 6, is a detail of one of the spring bolts.
Figure 7, is a detail of the registering device.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a box or casing for enclosing or
containing the several operative devices, and in the front of said casing or box I form
a series of vertically elongated openings, above each of which is a circular, square, or
other shaped opening.
Interiorly of the machine I arrange a plate of metal or other suitable material, on

page_text: j
one face of which is inscribed or printed a column of numbers corresponding to each
of the vertical openings in the face of the box or casing, and this plate is locked or
held down normally in such position as that the columns of numbers thereon will be
concealed behind the divisions of the openings.
Operating in conjunction with the locking devices for the plate are devices which,
when a coin is deposited in the machine, will act to release such locking devices and
permit of the plate being elevated through the medium of a hand lever to bring its
columns of numbers to view before the vertical openings of the casing. After the
calculation has been effected or determined the plate is drawn down by a spring, and
it again becomes locked as before, automatically
I resort further to the use of a conduit or- chute for the coin, so constructed and
arranged as that it is only until the movable plate has been raised that the coin is
permitted to fall below into the till or receptacle for containing it; and I also employ
suitable guides for directing and maintaining the true plane of movement of said
movable plate.
Further, in connection with the movable plate I employ for the upper openings in
the front of the casing movable spring bolts, each of which is formed or provided
with a spring catch for engaging a corresponding lug on the plate, and has a plate
on which is inscribed or printed a number that is brought before its respective
opening accordingly as either of said bolts are depressed. In the normal position of
the movable plate the spring-bolts are all held or locked against movement, but as
soon as the plate is elevated or raised they are free to be operated for the purpose
intended, and which will be explained more fully hereinafter.
In addition to the features of the invention which give to it the nature of a
calculator for determining the ages of individuals I resort preferably to the employ-
ment of a mechanism for registering each and every coin deposited in the machine, so
that the person in charge or authority can know at all times the number of coins
received, thus rendering it difficult for any one to abstract any of the coins without
trace or detection.
Reference being had to the several parts of the drawings by the letters marked
thereon, A, represents a box or casing, for enclosing or containing the operative
mechanism and having in its face or front the vertically elongated openings, a, above
each of which is another opening, b, of any preferred contour, the several openings, a,
and, 6, communicating with the interior of the box.
Located and working within the box or casing is a movable plate, B, having
printed or inscribed upon its face contiguous to the openings, a, a column of numbers
corresponding to each of said openings, and having formed with or secured thereto on
its opposite face ai near the top edge, a set of horizontally arranged teats or lugs, c,
while on the same face thereof at a point lower down and near to one of its side
edges is another lug or projection, d. This latter lug or projection, d, is designed
to be engaged by the hooked arm, e, of a bell-crank lever, f, having its fulcrum in a
projection, g, on the inner side of the casing, and the remaining arm of which is
movably connected to the upper end of a rod, h, which in turn is movably connected
to the weighted end of a rocking-lever, i, having knife edge fulcrum, 7, working in
V-shaped bearings, j, located at the bottom of the casing. The longer arm of said
rocking lever, i, extends over to a point beneath the conduit or chute for the coin, and
it is by the weight of the coin that the said lever is depressed to elevate the bell-crank
lever, f, in the manner shown in dotted lines, Figure 3. As soon as the bell-crank
lever is released from its locking connection with the lug, d, on the plate the latter is
free to be moved upward, and this is effected through the medium of a hand lever, C,
having its fulcrum on a projection of the casing, and a link, k, movably connecting
said lever with the plate. The hand-lever is intended to be held down until the
desired calculation has been made, and then on releasing the hold thereon the plate is
drawn downwardly by the action of a spring, m, connecting it with the bottom of
the casing, and, the rounded edge of the hooked arm of the lever, f, moving against
the lug, d, until the latter has passed. the plate will again become locked automatically
in a manner clearly obvious.

page_text: It will be observed that the spring, m, so connects the lower edge of the plate, B,
with the bottom of the casing, A, as that said plate is drawn downwardly in a slightly
diagonal direction, the purpose of which is to have the columns of figures brought.
out of alignment with the openings in the casing when said plate is acted upon by
said spring.
As soon as the coin drops from the end of the rocking-lever, i, the said lever is
restored to its original position, and thus is the locking mechanism always brought
into position to catch and hold the plate when it is drawn down by its spring. The
lower edge of the plate is also movably connected to posts, n, n, through the medium
of links, o, o, such connection being provided for the purpose of limiting the
upward movement of said plate, and also to assist in the proper guidance thereof.
D, represents the conduit or chute for the passage of the coin, and in order to
prevent the coin from passing to its receptacle until the plate, B, has been moved
upwardly I divide the same at its bottom end into two parts, the line of division
beginning a suitable point from the bottom at one of the sides and extending
diagonally downward to or near to the lower edge at the opposite side, thus giving to
the contiguous or meeting faces of the two parts a bevel or incline, as is clearly repre-
sented in the drawings. The main portion of said conduit or chute is supported in
any suitable manner from the top of the casing, but the smaller or separable part, p,
thereof is supported from the inner face of the plate, B, by an arm (not shown) of
just sufficient length to cause the inclined or beveled faces or edges of the two parts to
neatly fit together when the plate is down. From this construction of chute it
follows that when the two parts thereof are together, as represented in Figure 3, the
coin will not be allowed to pass out owing to the distance between the bottom of the
chute and the farthest downward point to which the lever, i, can go being less than
the diameter of the coin. It further follows that when the plate, B, is moved
upwardly the part, 7, of the chute will be carried with it, thereby increasing the space
beneath and permitting the coin of its own weight or gravity to fall off the lever and
drop into the receptacle, E, below.
As before stated the rocking lever, i, has a knife edge fulcrum, 7, which works in
a V-shaped bearing,, and it is well to state here that for the purpose of maintaining
such lever in place I employ a piece of metal, r, split or divided, as shown, so that
one portion shall extend over or around the bearing, while the other portion shall lie
beneath the shorter arm of said lever and serve as a stop to prevent it from being
carried too far downward by its weight.
From the description given thus far it will be understood that when the several
devices are in the positions indicated by Figure 3, the columns of numbers on the
front face of the movable plate will be concealed from view behind the divisions
between the openings, a, giving to the machine the appearance represented by
Figure 1 and that when said operative devices have been brought to the positions
indicated by Figure 4, of the drawings, said columns of figures will be brought before
the openings, thus giving to the machine the appearance represented by Figure 2.
As a further attribute to my invention employ in conjunction with the movable
plate a movable spring bolt, s, for each of the upper openings, b, each of said bolts
working through the top of the casing, A, and carrying a small plate, t, having
inscribed or printed thereon a number designed to be brought before the corre-
sponding openings, b, when said bolts are pushed down or depressed. In the present
instance there are six bolts, with a corresponding number of openings, b, and, a, and
the numbers contained on the plates, t, are 16, 8, 1, 32, 4 and 2, respectively, this
being the preferred arrangement although the results would not be changed were the
numbers in any other order.
The said spring bolts, s, are formed or provided with depending spring-catchies, u,
which engage with the teats, c, on the plate, B, when said bolts are depressed down-
ward or pushed in, and in this way are said bolts held to a position by which their
numbered plates will remain before the opening til entomatically released by
the plate, B, in its downward movement.

page_text: .in order that the spring bolts, s, shall remain locked when the machine is not in
use, or in other words to prevent them from being operated except when the movable
plate has been operated, I employ a horizontally sliding locking plate, v, supported
within the casing at near the top, and having a series of projections or lugs, w, that
come between the lower ends of the plates, t, and it is evident that said bolts cannot
be depressed until the plate, v, has been moved to one side to carry its lugs away
from said plates.
:
To effect a lengthwise movement of the plate, v, (the length of which it will be
understood is less than the width of the casing) I provide the same with a lug, t,
projecting through and working. in a slot, y, formed in a strip,, extending across
the interior of the casing, and this lug also enters a slot, a', of a sector, G, tightly
fitted to the side of the movable plate, B, by means of a set screw, H, passing
through an additional slot. I, which permits of the adjustment of said sector on said
screw to compensate for wear of the sides of slot, a¹, from contact or friction with
the lug, .
When the movable plato is down the projections e, of the strip v, will, as before
stated, lie beneath the ends of the plates, t, and thus prevent the bolts, s, from
being depressed. When a coin is deposited in the chute, D, the locking connec-
tion of the bell-crank lover, f, with the stud, d, is released, and when the hand lover, C,
is depressed the plate, B, will be drawn to the position shown in Figure 4, and it
is obvious that in the movement the said plate will, from its described connection
with strip, v, carry the latter with it to one side, thus carrying the projections away
from the lower ends of the plates, t, and permit any or all of the spring bolts being
depressed or operated, and when they are so depressed or operated their spring
catches, will engage with the lugs, c, on the plate, and thus be held down to expose
through openings, b, the numbers of plates, t, until pressure on the hand lever is
released. When this latter is done the plate, B, first describes a side movement which
releases catches, u, from lugs, c, and then it moves downwardly and is engaged and
held down by the devices hereinbefore described until again operated in a similar
manner.
As illustrative of the purpose of the invention I will proceed to describe how the
age of an individual may be determined from the within mechanical devices combined
with the columns or combinations of figures shown in the drawings at Figure 2.
After the machine has been operated to bring the columns of numbers before the
openings, to determine one's age the several columns are gone over, beginning with
the first, and in such of the columns as the person's age is found the bolts corre-
sponding therewith are depressed to bring before the openings, b, the respective
numbers which they carry. For instance, a person whose age is 21, will find such
number in the first, third and fifth columns, and the spring bolts corresponding to
these columns will expose through openings, b, the numbers, 16, 1 and 4, the sum
of which added together is 21, the age of the person in question.
In order that an account may be had of every coin deposited within the machine I
resort to the employment of a registering mechanism such as is more clearly repre-
sented in Figure 7. In this Figure will be seen stationary dial, u', having on its face
the proper register, and to the rear of which is a movable ratchet, v', to the spindle
of which is attached the indicator, w¹. The ratchet is operated to turn the distance of
one tooth on each downward movement of the plate, B, by means of a pivoted
pawl, x, that is actuated by a stud or projection, y₁, on said plate. On each upward
movement of the plate the stud y¹ depresses the pawl ¹ so that it will engage and
properly operate the register or indicator on the next downward movement of the plate.
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-
:
First. The combination with the casing having the vertically elongated openings, a;
of the movable plate located in said casing and having columns of figures, thereon

page_text: adapted to align with said openings, and also having the lug, d, and a pivoted bell-
crank lever engaging said lug when the plate is in its downward position, substantially
as described.
Second. The combination with the box or casing having the vertically elongated
openings, of the movable plate located in said casing and having columns of figures
thereon adapted to align with said openings, and the spring, m, connecting the
lower edge of said plate with the bottom of the casing and tending to draw the plate
diagonally downward, substantially as described.
Third. The combination with the box or casing having the vertically elongated
openings, a, of the movable plate, B, having columns of figures thereon adapted to
align with said openings, a hand lever having its fulcrum in one side of the casing,
and a link connecting said lever and plate whereby when the lever is depressed the
plate will be caused to move slightly to one side and then upwardly, substantially is
shown and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the box or casing having the vertically elongated
openings, a, of the movable plate, B, having thereon columns of figures adapted to
align with said openings, and also provided with the lug, d, of the pivoted bell crank
lever engaging said lug when the plate is down, and the spring, m, connecting the
lower edge of said plate with the bottom of the casing at diagonally opposite points,
substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with the box or casing having the vertically elongated
openings, a, of the movable plate located in said casing and having thereon columns
of figures adapted to align with said openings, and also provided with lug, d, the
pivoted bell-crank lever engaging said lugs when the plate is down, the spring, m,
connecting the lower edge of the plate with the bottom of the casing, the hand lever
having its fulcrum in one side of the casing, and a link connecting said lever and
plate, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.
Sixth. The combination with the box or casing having the vertical openings, a, of a
movable plate located in said casing and having thereon columns of figures adapted
to align with said openings, a spring tending to draw said plate diagonally downward,
a lock for maintaining the plate in such downward position, and a hand lever and link
connection for operating said plate, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination with the box or casing having the vertically-elongated==
openings, a, of the movable plate, B, having the lug, d, and provided with columns of
figures adapted to align
ign with said openings, a pivoted bell-crank lever for engaging
said lug when the plate is drawn downwardly, a rod connected to said lever, and a
weighted rocking lever connected to said rod, substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with the weighted rocking-lever, i, mounted in V-shaped
bearings, of the metal strip, r, formed to overlap the lever and retain it in its bearing
and having a portion turned under said lover to act as a stop therefor, substantially as
shown and described.
Ninth. The combination with the casing having in its bottom the post, n, n, of the
movable plate, B, and the links, o, o, connecting said plate to said posts, substantially
as described.
Tenth. The coin-chute or conduit, D, constructed in two parts, the line of separa-
tion beginning a suitable distance from the bottom at one of the sides, and extending
diagonally downward to or near to the lower edge at the opposite side, substantially as
described.
Eleventh. The combination with the box or casing, A, and the movable plate, B, of
the coin chute, D, constructed of two parts, the lower part, (p) of which is con-
nected to said plate by which to be carried therewith when the same is moved,
substantially as described.
Twelfth. The combination with the casing, A, and movable plate, B, having the stud
or projection, y and spring, m, drawing the plate downward diagonally, of pawl, c³,
operated by said stud, and the indicator and ratchet wheel, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. The combination with the casing, A, having the upper openings, b, and
the movable plate provided with the series of lugs or teats, c, of the spring-bolts, s,

page_text: provided with spring catches for engaging said lugs or teats when the plate is up
and said bolts are depressed, the same being also provided with the plates, t, having
numbers thereon for registering the said openings, 6, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. The combination with the box or casing, A, having the vertical
openings, a, and the upper openings, b, of the movable plate, B, provided with columns
of figures adapted to align with said vertical openings, having the series of teats, c,
the spring-bolts, s, having the spring-catches, u, and numbered plates, t, and a hand
lever and link for moving said plate upward, substantially as described.
Fifteenth. The combination with the box or casing having the vertical openings, a,
and upper openings, b, of the movable plate, B, having the lug, d, and the series, of
teats, c, and also provided with columns of figures adapted to align with said vertical
openings, the spring bolts having the spring catches and numbered plates, a hand lever
and link for moving the plate upwardly and a lever for engaging lug, d, to maintain
the plate locked in its downward position, substantially as described.
Sixteenth. The combination with the movable plate, B, having lug, d, of the lever, f,
engaging said lug, the rod, h, and the weighted rocking lever, i, connected to the
rod and adapted to release said lever, f, from lug, d, when depressed, substantially as
shown and described.
Seventeenth. The combination with the spring bolts, s, having. the plates, t, of the
movable locking strip, v, having the projections, w, which rest beneath the lower ends
of said plates when the parts are in their normal positions, substantially as
shown and for the purpose described.
Eighteenth. The combination with the casing having strips, z, provided with
slot, y, and the spring bolts having the plates, t, of the movable plate, B, the strip, v,
having projections, w, and provided with pin, a, and the sector, G, formed with
slot, a', working on pin, x, and secured to the movable plate, substantially as shown
and described.