Improvements in Automatic Coin Freed Apparatus for Indicating Weight or Force, Supplying Information, Exhibiting Pictures, or the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
Improvements in Automatic Coin Freed Apparatus for Indicating
Weight or Force, Supplying Information, Exhibiting Pictures,
or the like.
I MARIE RENÉ MARELLE of 43 Rue Turbigo, Paris in the Republic of France
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relating to automatic coin freed apparatus for indicating weight or
force, supplying information, exhibiting pictures or the like consists in improved
combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described which are more
particularly applicable to automatic weighing apparatus and have the effect of
maintaining the indication of the weight secret and invisible until the proper feo
has been paid. Means are also provided for registering and recording the payments
made.
In automatic weighing apparatus for example constructed according to my invention.
the act of placing a weight on the platform is caused to operate mechanism whereby
the said weight is indicated on a dial in any ordinary or suitable manner but this
indication is not revealed unless a coin or token of the prescribed value be inserted in
an aperture provided for its reception. With this object according to one arrangement
the dial is placed in a dark chamber which by the act of introducing the proper coin
into the apparatus is illuminated by an electric lamp in such a manner as to enable
the indications to be seen through a window in the front of the case.
According to another arrangement mechanism connected with and operated by the
weighing platform is caused to act upon an electro magnet carried on springs in
proximity to a fixed electro magnet in such a manner as cause the first mentioned
magnet to vibrate and thereby set up electric currents in the coils of the fixed electro
magnet which currents may be caused to pass through the lamp and illuminate the dial.
In place of the electric lamp and dark chamber a screen may be placed in front of the
dial being operated electrically or mechanically by the coin in such a manner as to
disclose the figures. Such screen may be in the form of a disc carried by a lever
oscillating on a pivot at the side of the dial or the screen may consist of a disc or
discs centred on the axes of the dial and having portions removed or cut away in
such a manner that a partial rotation thereof discloses or conceals the figures.

page_text: According to another arrangement the weighing mechanism is arranged to operate
electro magnets at the back of the dial and the act of dropping in or inserting the
coin makes electrical contact in such a manner as to excite these electro magnets in
combination with other electro magnets connected to the hand in front of the dial
and thereby cause the said hand to give the required indication.
When a dark chamber and electric lamp is employed the coin is caused to slide or
roll down a shoot into a balanced. tray on the end of a lever and by its weight
depresses this tray until a hinged catch connected therewith engages with a tooth
on the side of a rocking arm. The hinged catch and tooth are connected with
opposite poles of a battery and by coming in contact close the lamp circuit thus
illuminating the chamber containing the dial. When the weight is removed from the
weighing platform the hand of the dial in returning to zero closes another electric
circuit in which are included the coils of an electro magnet which being thereupon
excited pulls away the rocking arm hereinbefore referred to thus releasing the
balanced tray. The coin having slipped off the said tray in the act of depressing
it the tray and lever are then free to return to their original position in readiness
to receive another coin.
In order that the apparatus may not be caused to act by the introduction of coins
other than that for which it is adjusted the slit through which the coin has to be
inserted is made of such a length as not to admit any coin of larger diameter than
the proper coin say a penny piece for example and an opening is provided in the
bottom of the shoot through which coins of smaller diameter are caused to fall
without acting on the mechanism. The desired effect may also be produced by
causing the coins to roll down a shoot so arranged that the rolling coins incline to
one side where they are supported at their upper edges by a pendent ridge or guide
so arranged that coins of less diameter than the proper coin not being high enough
to reach and be supported by this ridge fall over into a separate shoot or receptacle.
Coins which are lighter than the proper coin cannot operate the lamp as they are
incapable of depressing the balanced tray to the requisite extent and coins which are
too heavy depress the tray. beyond the requisite point so that the catch engages with
a tooth provided for the purpose on the rocking arm but not connected with the
battery and which holds down the tray until the catch is liberated by bringing the
hand back to zero by removing the weight and thus making electric contact for
releasing the catch as hereinbefore explained.
The shoot may be provided with balanced trays whereby coins of excessive weight
are diverted into a second shoot, coins of the proper weight sliding over the first trap
and falling through a second trap into a third shoot whilst light coins slide over both
traps and pass on into a fourth shoot.
When a screen is employed to conceal the dial until the proper coin has acted on
the apparatus the screen is operated by any suitable arrangement of Electro Magnets
in a circuit which is closed by the action of a coin on mechanism arranged and
operating as hereinbefore described with reference to the lamp circuit. In some
cases the catches may be caused to engage or be disengaged by the action of
mechanism directly connected with the weighing apparatus such as the vertical rod
of the platform or the counterweight which may act on bell mechanism or other
levers or wires.
When the hand is operated by means of magnets placed at the back of the dial and
called into action by the introduction of the coin the same arrangements are employed
for completing the circuit or circuits of the magnets as in the case of the lamp or
according to another arrangement permanent magnets may be employed in which
case the band is held at zero by a catch or pin which releases the hand when by the
introduction of the coin the circuit of an electro magnet operating the said catch or
pin (by means of a lever with an inclined slot for example) is closed as aforesaid
whereupon the hand and the magnets attached thereto immediately move to the
position corresponding to the position of the magnets operated by the weighing
mechanism at the back of the dial. In place of employing electro magnets to release
the band 1 may employ mechanical means consisting of various combinations of

page_text: slotted or other levers and springs or cams slides or the like whereby the coin is
enabled to operate the said catch and such mechanical arrangements may also be
employed in combination with the screens hereinbefore referred to. When such
mechanical arrangements are employed in place of the electrical arrangements
hereinbefore described the catches and other parts are returned to their original
position by the action of levers or their equivalents brought into operation by the
removal of the weight from the weighing platform being connected with any suitable
moving part operated by the said platform.
In order to register the number of coins passing through the apparatus the balanced
tray herein before described is arranged to operate a suitable counter at each oscillation
or the shoot may be provided with metal slides or contact makers over which the
coin is caused to slide thus momentarily closing an electric circuit and operating
the counting mechanism by a suitable arrangement of olectro magnets acting on
levers toothed segments pawls and ratchets or the like.
:
"Dated this 30th day of March 1887.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London,
Agents for the said Marie Réné Marelle.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Coin Freed Apparatus for Indicating
Weight or Force, Supplying Information, Exhibiting Pictures,
or the like.
I MARIE RENÉ MARELLE of 43 Rue Turbigo Paris in the Republic of France
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 :—
more
My Invention relating to automatic coin freed apparatus for indicating weight or
force, supplying information, exhibiting pictures or the like consists in 'improved
combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described which are
particularly applicable to automatic weighing apparatus and have the effect of
concealing the indication of the weight until the proper fee has been paid-Means
are also provided for registering and recording the payments made-In an automatic
weighing apparatus for example constructed according to my Invention the act of
placing a weight on the platform is caused to operate mechanism whereby the said
weight is indicated on a dial in any ordinary or suitable manner but this indication is
not revealed until a coin or token of the prescribed value has been inserted in an
aperture provided for its reception.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the corresponding figures.
The drawings hereinafter described illustrate various arrangements of parts according
to this Invention applied to automatic weighing machines by way of example and it
is evident that the principles embodied in these arrangements may also be applied to
automatic machines for measuring the force of a blow for example and other purposes
such as exhibiting views or the like.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation of an automatic weighing
machine constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 2 represents a horizontal section of the same on the line 1-2 figures 1
and 3 and figure 3 represents a vertical section of the machine. Figures 4 to 7 drawn
to a larger scale illustrate details as hereinafter explained.
A Figures 1. 2 and 3 is the platform of the machine. Ba handrail. The pressure
exerted on the platform A is transmitted to the indicating mechanism by the medium
of a tension bar C figures 2 and 3 suitably connected to one or more hands or
pointers H shewing the weight on a dial D placed in a dark case or chamber so that
it is impossible to read the dial except when it is illuminated by an electric light E
figure 3, this lamp is connected by convenient wires to an electric battery F placed
in the body of the machine the circuit being broken when the apparatus is out of use
..but when a penny or other piece of money of the required weight and dimensions

page_text: has been introduced into a slot S the circuit is completed or closed and the dial D is
illuminated by the lamp E. The penny or coin descends a shoot G figures 3 and 7
and falls into a tray I (figures 3 and 4) on the end of a lever L which is balanced by
adjustable weights K K seen in figure 4 and oscillated on a knife edge M-The
weight of the coin depresses this tray until a catch a hinged to the side of the tray I
(figure 6) engages with a tooth b on the side of a rocking arm e figures 3 and 6. The
catch a is arranged to slide over the incline on the tooth 6 when the tray I descends
and abuts against a stop a' which causes it to engage with the under side of the
tooth b when the tray rises as indicated in Figure 6.
When the coin has passed down the tray sufficiently to cause the catch a to engage
with the tooth bit slips off the tray falling into a receptacle N and the lover L
immediately tends to return to its original position under the action of the counter
weights thus pressing the catch a against the projection b which is provided with a
contact making stud or plate connected with a binding screw e and thus closes the
circuit the said binding screw being connected with the positive pole of the battery
and the catch a with the conductor leading to the lamp.
The lamp circuit being thus closed the lamp E illuminates the dial D and enables
the person using the machine to read the indications given by the hand H.
When the weight is removed from the weighing platform the hand of the dial in
returning to zero but before it reaches that point makes a momentary contact at f
and h figure 3 and closes another electric circuit in which are included the coils of an
electro magnet P (figure 3) which being thereupon excited pulls over the rocking
arm e which is centred at d and releases the balanced tray I and lever L after which
the arm e is returned to its original position by a spring R.
The coin having slipped off the said tray I as hereinbefore described, the tray and
lever are free to return to their original position in readiness to receive another
coin.
In order that the apparatus may not be caused to act by the introduction of coins
other than that for which it is adjusted the slot S through which the coin has to be
inserted is made of such a length as not to admit any coin of larger diameter than
the proper coin and which would be liable to stick in the shoot G and an opening r
figures 45 and 7 is provided in the bottom of the shoot G through which opening
coins of smaller diameter are caused to fall being discharged at m so as to fall into
the receiver N without acting on the mechanism. Coins of the proper size cannot
fall through this opening being supported at one side on a plate forming part of
the bottom of the shoot G (figures 4 and 5)-The desired effect may also be produced
by arranging the money slot in a vertical or inclined position and causing the coins
to roll down a shoot so arranged that the rolling coins (A) incline to one side (as
indicated in figure 26) where they are supported at their upper edges by a pendent
ridge or guidoh so that coins of less diameter that the proper coin not being high
enough to reach and be supported by this ridge fall over as indicated by dotted lines
at and may be received in a separate shoot or receptacle. Coins which are lighter
than the proper coin cannot operate the lamp as they are incapable of depressing the
tray I and operating the lever L to the requisite extent and coins which are too heavy
depress the tray beyond the requisite point so that the catch a engages with a
tooth provided for the purpose on the rocking arme but not connected with the
battery and which holds down the tray until the catch is liberated by bringing the
hand back to zero by removing the weight and thus making an electric contact which.
releases the catch a by means of the magnet P as hereinbefore explained.
According to another arrangement illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 any suitable
mechanism connected with and operated by the weighing platform is caused to act
upon a magnet A carried on a spring in proximity to a fixed electro magnet Lin
such a manner as to cause the magnet A to vibrate and thereby set up electric currents
in the coils of the fixed electro magnet L and complete a circuit through the lamp E.
and thereby illuminate the dial.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate two arrangements employed in order to register the
number of coins passing through the apparatus-With this object the coins on falling.

page_text: from the balanced tray I are received in a spoon B on a lever. T connected directly to
the axis or spindle P of a suitable counter F and provided with a counterweight P¹
as.in figure 10 or operating the counting mechanism by means of a toothed segment R
on an axis 12 as in figure 11 at each oscillation or the shoot may be provided with
metal studs or contact makers CC Figure 27 over which the coin is caused to slide
thus momentarily closing an electric circuit and operating the counting mechanism
by a suitable arrangement of electro magnets acting on levers toothed segments and
pawls and ratchets or the like.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section and Figure 16 a front elevation partly in
section of another arrangement of indicating mechanism for automatic weighing
machines.
According to this arrangement the dial is always visible but the hand or pointer
does not move until the proper coin has been introduced into the money slot so as to
close an electric circuit. The parts operated by the coin are the same as in the
arrangement hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 but the clectric
current in place of acting on a lamp is caused to operate the hand or pointer on the
dial. With this object two electro magnets A B Figure 15 are arranged at the back
of the dial being carried by a spindle M. connected with the weighing mechanism so
that when the platform is depressed the spindle is rotated to an extent proportionate
to the weight on the platform. The hand or pointer H is not rigidly connected to
this spindle being carried by a short loose arbor N forming a prolongation of the
spindle M as indicated in Figure 15.
The spindle N carries two electro magnets A and B similarly arranged to the two
electro magnets A B. These four magnets are connected with the battery in such a
manner that unlike poles face one another so that when the electro magnets A and B
at the back of the dial are displaced by the action of the weighing mechanism on the
spindle M and a current is caused to pass in the electro magnets A B A B¹ by the
insertion of a certain coin closing the electric circuit as herein before described
or otherwise the magnets attract one another so that the magnets in front of the dial
place themselves opposite the magnets at the back of the dial thus rotating the
loose arbor N and displacing the hand or pointer to a corresponding extent.
When the weight is removed from the platform the electro magnets A Bat
the back of the dial return to their original position and thereby cause a spring arm J
to connect two studs I and K and close the circuit of an electro magnet which
restores the other parts of the mechanisin to their original position as hereinbefore
described with reference to the electro magnet P Figure 3. The poles of the electro
magnets A B A B¹ are preferably spread out in the form of segments of flat rings as
indicated in Figure 16 in order to enable them to attract one another more
effectually.
Figure 17 illustrates an arrangement in which permanent magnets are employed
in place of the electro magnets before and behind the dial. In this case the hand or
pointer H is prevented from moving by pins or stops Z until by the introduction
of the coin an electric contact has been made whereby an electro magnet or solenoid L
Figure 18 is excited and caused to suck in its core and move the stops Z out of the
path of the hand H. A spring R returns the stops to their original position when
the current ceases to pass.
Figure 19 illustrates a modification in which the magnet L acts on the stops
through a slotted lever S the action of which will be readily understood by referring
to the drawing.
Figure 23 illustrates an arrangement in which the dial is concealed by a circular
screen E working excentrically upon an axis c and connected to a lever carrying
a coin tray B and counterweight D. When the proper coin is introduced into a coin
slot S it slides down a shoot K into the tray B.and causes the lever to oscillate.so as
to uncover the dial. The screen returns automatically to its original position in front
of the dial when the coin slips off the tray. Figure 24 illustrates a modification.
of this arrangement the screen being provided with radial openings and caused
to rotate on the centre of the dial so as to cause the openings to coincide with:

page_text: and uncover the Figures on the dial when the coin is inserted as herein before
described. Figure 25 illustrates in vertical section a coin sorting or separating shoot
operated by the difference in the weights of the coins. This shoot is provided with a
balanced trap A which is unaffected by the weight of small coins such as half pence
for example which pass on and at D enter a shoot E but the trap A is so balanced as
to yield under the weight of a penny which consequently falls through the bottom of
the shoot A into a shoot F which delivers it at G into the balanced tray I hereinbefore
described. The shoot F is provided with a tray B which yields to the weight of any
coin heavier than a penny and allows it to fall through the bottom of the shoot F on
to a plate H from which the heavy coin drops into the shoot E.
Figure 27 illustrates a coin shoot provided with two insulated contact pieces CC₁
connected with an electric circuit. As the coin slides over these contact pieces
it momentarily closes the circuit and enables the current to excite an electro magnet
such as L Figure 28 or a solenoid I. Figure 29 operating a counter which registers
the number of coins passed through the slot as hereinbefore described with reference
to figures 10 and 11 for example. Figure 30 illustrates in vertical section a double
coin shoot operating in a similar manner to the shoot illustrated in Figure 27 and
provided with 2 pairs of contact pieces D, D and E E whereby the apparatus is
enabled to register the number of coins passing through each shoot.
Figures 31 and 32 are side and end elevations partly in section of another
arrangement for extinguishing the lamp immediately when the platform begins to
rise. With this object the tension rod C is provided with a hinged catch J which
engages with one of a series of teeth or pins el on a lever connected to the arm e
so that a relatively small upward movement of the tension rod causes the arm e to turn
on its centre or hinge and liberate the catch on the coin tray I (figure 6) thus
opening the circuit and extinguishing the lamp.
Figures 33 and 34 represent respectively side and end views of an arrangement in
which the coin tray carried by a lever L connected to the tension rod is made of
triangular form in section one of its sides marked P being hinged and maintained
closed by a counterweight K. The side P is provided with a lever J carrying a
hinged catch capable of engaging with a series of stationary teeth or pins e¹.
When the tension rod rises it raises with it the lever T thereby causing the side P of
the tray to open and allow the coin to fall. The lever I carrying the coin tray then
returns to its original position and the lamp is extinguished.
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 In automatic coin freed apparatus for measuring and indicating weight
or force and other similar purposes the combination of parts operating under the
influence of mechanical or physical force and arranged in such a manner as to be
brought into operation solely by the action of a coin or equivalent object of
predetermined weight and dimensions substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second: In an automatic weighing machine and in combination with parts giving
indications of the weight a balanced coin tray and lever operated by a coin and
working an incandescent electric lamp connected with any suitable generator of
electricity substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference
to figure 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Third: In combination with the essential parts of the improved automatic weighing
machine hereinbefore described the arrangement in which a hinged catch is employed.
to open and close an electric circuit the said catch being released by the action of an
electro magnet excited by means of a contact maker or commutator operated by the
hand on the dial substantially as hereinbefor edescribed with reference to figures 3, & 6,
of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth In combination with the essential parts of the improved automatic
weighing machine hereinbefore described a compound coin shoot with a double

page_text: bottom for sorting or separating the coins substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to figures 3, 4, 5, 7, 25 and 26 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth In combination with the essential parts of the improved automatic weighing
machine herein before described, a system of electro magnets, whose excitation is
controlled by the said parts, causing a hand or pointer suspended loosely in front of a
dial to move to the position corresponding with the amount of the weight on the
platform, of the machine substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 15 and 16 of the accompanying drawings.
+
Sixth: In combination with the essential parts of the improved automatic weighing
machine hereinbefore described the arrangements employed with hands or pointers
controlled by magnets or whose action is dependent on mechanism actuated by means
of a coin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 17, 18
and 19, of the accompanying drawings.
Seventh In combination with the essential parts of the improved automatic
weighing machine hereinbefore described a system of electric or other counters
or registering apparatus recording the number of coins introduced into the machine
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in figures 10, 11, 27, 28, 29
and 30 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth In combination with the improved automatic weighing machine herein-
before described the arrangements of discs or screens with or without openings
and suspended excentrically or otherwise so as to conceal the indications on the dial
or its equivalent until the mechanism is operated by the introduction of a certain
coin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 23 and 24 of the
accompanying drawings.
Ninth In combination with the improved automatic weighing machine herinbefore
described the arrangements of parts for immediately extinguishing the incandescent
lamp when the weight or load ceases to act on the platform and on the tension rod
and causing the mechanism to return to its original position with the parts in
readiness for another operation substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in figures 31 to 34 of the accompanying drawings.
Did the 20th d.... at Donombor 1887