A New or Improved Apparatus for Automatically Exhibiting Pictures and the like upon Receipt of a Coin.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Automatically Exhibiting
Pictures and the like upon Receipt of a Coin.
I, CARL LAUTZ of Hainstrasse No. 5 Leipzig in the Empire of Germany Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a machine or apparatus which upon receipt
of the necessary coin may enable a person looking through the window or eye hole.
or holes to see a picture or series of pictures, transparent or otherwise, for a certain
space of time or each for a certain space of time.
A further object is to construct such apparatus that several persons may simulta-
neously view the series or panorama of pictures through several windows or eye holes,
each on payment of a several coin.
Such a machine may be constructed as follows. In a suitable case, accessible on all
sides, for instance an hexagonal prism shaped case, is a revolvable drum or holder for
the pictures, under which term I intend to include any object of pleasure or interest
to the eye capable of being exhibited in such machines. I prefer that the said drum
should be continually revolved, but in an intermittent manner if for separate pictures,
so that the separate pictures are brought successively in position to be viewed through
the eye hole or eye. holes in the case and remain each for a certain space of time in
the field of view If the drum revolve in a horizontal plane and different eye holes be
arranged around the case, the same series of pictures may be simultaneously viewed
by several persons as they are successively presented in the fields of view of the
several eye holes, provided said eyeholes be opened as hereinafter described by inser-
tion of the requisite coins.
Behind each of the eye holes or binocular eye holes is a shutter adapted to be
removed upon insertion of the coin and there is combined therewith mechanism by
which the eye hole is again closed upon completion of one revolution of the picture
drum computed from the commencement of the opening of the said eye hole.
To this end the following construction may be employed-On the picture drum is a
spur: wheel revolving therewith, and for each eyehole there is provided the following
mechanism, a sliding rod carrying a revolvable spur wheel is normally held out of
action by a lever adapted to be released by the advent of the coin-Upon release of
the lever the said rod is automatically, or may be by hand thrust inwards so that
the spur wheel thereon engages with that on the drum and is revolved thereby-This
movement operates also to unclose the shutter from the eye hole-A disc on the rod
also arrives behind a spring hook and the rod is held inward thereby until upon com-
pleting one revolution the said hook arrives before a gap in the disc and the rod is
free to be automatically thrust outward by a spring or otherwise and the eyo hole is
again closed,
To prevent the said rod being held inward and causing thereby a continued exhibi-
tion of the pictures, there may be provided on the rod a second rotary disc in connection,
as the first disc, with the spur wheel on the rod-This second disc engages a hook on
the rod which opens, or holds open the shutter-Upon completion of one revolution
this hook arrives in front of a gap in the disc and the shutter is free to close by a
weight or spring, even though the rod be still held with its spur wheel in engagement
with that on the drum.
The coin having fallen from the lever the latter rises, and, when the rod is again
thrust out, falls into its position as detent for said rod.
For exhibition of transparencies, a lamp may be placed in the centre of the
Irum.
When such machine is designed to only exhibit the series of pictures to one person

page_text: at a time, it may be constructed to occupy less space as follows;-The picture carrier
is a horizontally journalled rotary disc revolved by a weight or by independent clock-
work A pawl periodically released by a clockwork when such is in action permits
the drum to be revolve at each release for a distance sufficient to expose the next
picture of the series. Such clockwork is however only released upon advent of the
coin, which presses down a lever, uncovering the eyehole, and releases a pawl from a
notch in a rotary disc on the clockwork-The coin having fallen off the lever the
latter will tend to rise into its first position and upon completion of one revolution will
be enabled to do so by the pawl thereof falling again into the notch' in the disc of the
clockwork, whereby also the latter is stopped and the shutter replaced behind the eye
hole; or by another pawl thereon engaging in a notch in the picture disc.
The machine may also be so constructed that the spectator is required also to press
or move a button and wind the clockwork for the working of the whole system-In
this case the eye hole or holes is or are covered by two slides or shutters, one of which
is a sliding shutter to be operated by the moving of the button aforesaid which also
winds the clock and which is normally held fixed by a pawl and lever until the advent
of the coin enables it to be moved. The other shutter is a pivoted sliding shutter
which by moving the other shutter downwards as described, is also opened, a hook
thereon being brought into engagement with a hook near the shaft of the picture
holder or elsewhere so that when one revolution of the picture holder is completed a
cam thereon releases the hooks and the pivoted shutter falls back to cover the eyehole-
The coin falls onto a tray where it is visible from outside the machine through a
window, so that it may be seen if a false coin etc. has been put in, on the revolution
of the picture holder, the tray is tilted and the coin drops into the receiver.
Dated this 29th day of March 1889.
HERBERT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Automatically Exhibiting
Pictures and the like upon Receipt of a Coin.
I, CARL LAUTZ of Hainstrasse No. 5 Leipzig in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, 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 a new or improved apparatus, intended for public places
or thoroughfares, which upon receipt of a coin exhibits a picture or pictures or any
other fit object or objects to the view of a person, or of several persons simultaneously.
The apparatus is operated automatically by uncovering, upon receipt of a coin, an
eye hole or holes and allowing a person or persons to behold for a certain time one
picture or other exhibit, or a number thereof. Several persons using separate eye
holes may view simultaneously the same panorama or series of pictures or objects,
each eye hole or pair of binocular holes however being independent of the rest and
uncovered only on advent of the requisite coin. The apparatus is provided with a
peculiar device for re-covering the eye hole or holes after the exhibit or series thereof
has passed the field of view in return for the requisite coin.
-
Referring to the accompanying drawings sheets I to V,
Fig. 1 is an elevational section, and
Fig. 2 a plan of the improved apparatus, so constructed as to admit of its use by
several persons simultaneously.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side view and plan of the mechanism when
disengaged, upon an enlarged scale.
Fig. 5 is a front view of the disengaging disk or plate with notch for the passage of
the detent.
Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of the mechanism when engaged:
Fig. 7 is a front view of the disengaging disk showing the detent as engaged.

page_text: Fig. 8 is an outer view of the eye hole, coin slot and sliding rod knob.
Figs. 9 and 10 are a sectional side view and front view respectively of an apparatus
constructed for the use of one person only.
Figs. 11 and 12 represent, on an enlarged scale, the mechanism of the latter
apparatus in front view and plan respectively, when disengaged.
Figs. 13 and 14 show the said mechanism respectively in a state of operation and
when at rest after the revolution of the holder for the exhibits is completed.
Figs. 15, 16 and 17 respectively a front view, plan and side view of the same as
provided with self-acting winding device and contrivance for preventing further
exhibition after the coin is forfeited.
Figs. 18 and 19 are front views of the latter mechanism respectively when
inoperative and when engaged.
Fig. 20 is a sectional lateral view of the mechanism of an apparatus, having a
modified arrangement for revolving the picture carrier and devices for closing
the shutters, receiving the coin, regulating the movement and illuminating the
exhibits.
Fig. 21 is a plan, and
Fig. 22 a partial rear view and section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 20, along
line ZZ of the same.
Fig. 23 illustrates the same nechanism when disengaged.
Fig. 24 is a section along line za Fig. 26 of a device for producing a present, the
latter being shown as delivered.
Fig. 25 a section along line as of the same device shown as ready for the delivery
of a present.
Fig. 26 is a plan of the said delivery mechanism.
Fig. 27 an inner front view thereof, and
Fig. 28 an outer view of that part of the apparatus, showing the external parts of
the delivery mechanism.
The improved apparatus essentially consists of a casing A containing a revoluble
carrier B for holding pictures or other exhibits, which is operated by means of a
suitable winding mechanism constructed to cause intermittent revolution of the
carrier so as to admit of sufficient inspection of each exhibit. The case is provided
with internal eye hole shutters D and coin slots E, below which lies the extremity of
a lever F pivoted at a and capable of descending, by the dropping in of the requisite
coin, to an extent indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 in which position it bears on a
detent 1 rigidly connected with rod G. The lever F carries a pin adapted to
engage with the notch d of the disengaging rod G and detain the latter, while the
lever occupies its normal position. When released by the introduction of the requisite
coin, i.e. by the ascent of the rear arm of lever F carrying pin & the rod G can be
pushed in as shown in Fig. 6; thereby the shutter D is at the same time removed
from the eyehole by means of rod P, and the plate J engaged by springhook or
detent H the lever F descending so as to discharge the coin. Consequently the
spurwheel K is placed into gear with the mainwheel L, which is so determined as
to make a complete revolution at the same time with spurwheel K. The revolution
of the wheels being completed the springhook H releases the plate J by entering
into a recess or helical gap f (Figs. 5 and 7) thereby allowing plate J and rod G
to resume their normal position by the action of spring M, the shutter D to be
re-closed by aid of a poise or equivalent device and the weighted lever F to regain its
original position ready to receive the next coin, while the pin b which was bearing at e
on rod G (Fig. 3) re-enters the notch d of this rod.
In order to prevent the eye hole shutters from being kept open during more than
one revolution of the picture carrier by holding back the rod G at the end of each
evolution, the following peculiar contrivance is provided in the apparatus.
On the tube or nave carrying the spurwheel K and plate J is mounted a second
late N behind which engages the hook of rod P, connected with the shutter. Said
od P is displaced together with rod G, by the plate N, seizing and taking along the
ook O. The plate Ñ being provided with a recess or helical gap, similar but radially

page_text: displaced relatively to that in plate J, the rod P is released after the completion of one
revolution of spurwheel K and carrier L, and the shutter D, actuated by a spring or
weight, re-closes, also when the rod G is detained.
Owing to the relative position of the two gaps, hook O is released slightly before
hook H releases plate J. Consequently, when rod G springs forward, the gap of
plate N occupies such a position as not to prevent hook O from catching behind
plate N.
Each eye hole is severally provided with the above described mechanism and the
apparatus may according to its size and shape be fitted with any suitable number of
single or binocular holes.
The modification shown in Figs. 9 to 14 represents an apparatus made on a reduced
scale and intended for the use of one person at a time.
The carrier B is placed on a horizontal shaft which is revolved intermittently
by any suitable clockwork, whereby the single exhibits successively pass the field of
view of the eye hole R, the operation of carrier B and uncovering of eye hole R
being likewise initiated by the action of a coin, supplied at i which causes the lever Fl.
to swing downwards, uncovering the eye hole or holes by displacing the shutter S.
At the same time the click or hook T is disengaged and the clock work comes into
operation causing the carrier to revolve in periods, the number of which corresponds
to the number of holes in the circumference of the carrier into which the click / is
caused to catch successively by the action of the clockwork, to which is connected
a rotary disk, carrying a pin y which, by depressing the rear arm of lever h, lifts
the hook of the latter out of the said holes*
The carrier having completed its revolution, the click T of lever F₁catches into the
disk V, while the lever resumes its original position, thereby replacing the shutter S;
the latter keeps the eye holes covered until by the introduction of the next coin the
whole operation is repeated.
As shown in Fig. 14 the lever F¹ may be provided with a peg k, which enters into
the recess in the rim of the carrier B, and causes the latter to be stopped.
The lever in that case does not act upon the clockwork and click T and disk V are
dispensed with.
Figs. 15 to 19 (Sheet III) illustrate a mechanically acting apparatus having the
characteristic, that in order to remove the shutter, the mechanism after the coin is
delivered into the apparatus, must first be wound up by the respective person
depressing the knob, provision being made to prevent a repeated use of the apparatus
in return for one coin of predetermined value.
The mechanism for producing the above effect consists of the following parts:
The
The single or double eye hole or opening A', in whose range of vision revolves the
exhibit carrier, is covered by two slides or flaps, one of which, D¹ is connected by
means of arm a with the sliding knob E' movable up and down in the slit b', while
the second flap G' is secured to the lever H' having its fulcrum in d. The knob E
and arm a are detained by check lever J¹ which is controlled by a pin /² provided on
the coin lever . On the latter being made to oscillate by introducing the requisite
coin the check J leoses its support assuming the position shown in Fig. 19-the
knob, being thereby released, can now be pulled downwards in slot b₁, and, owing to
the arm a being connected with the clockwork, the latter is wound up.
shutter D with arm a¹ connected to knob E', i.e. the piece composed of these parts, is
placed by any suitable arrangement in such relation to lever H'; that by the down-
ward movement of knob E, lever H¹ is depressed with its lower portion so as to
catch under and be detained by the spring e thus leaving the eye holes A¹ uncovered.
Through the pulling down of knob E¹ and slide D', the clockwork is wound up, and
further, by returning the slide D¹ to its highest position (which may be effected by
hand or by means of poiso K¹ or of a spring) the clockwork is started and the eye
hole kept uncovered until the carrier has completed its revolution.
Subsequently the click o' of lever F" engages and stops the clockwork. At the
same time also the hook e¹ detaining the slide lever His raised by pin a, provided
on the hub of the carrier, after the latter has completed its revolution and slide

page_text: lever H resumes its normal position, so as to cover the eye hole. The coin lever F1,
immediately after delivering the coin into the collecting receptacle, has resumed its
normal position and replaced its pin or peg h¹ below the stop lever J, whereby a
repeated winding of the mechanism is prevented till a further coin is supplied to the
machine.
In the lower portion of the apparatus a box L' for collecting the coin and a
corresponding spy window fare provided, the latter serving to admit of a control of
the coins received as to their number and correctness.,
After completion of the revolution the coin receiver is tilted by means of a pin
connected therewith, and the coins are transferred to the collecting box L, the money
being thus allowed to remain visible during the whole of the time required for the
revolution of the carrier.
The shoot K serves to lead coins inferior in size, or other objects passing through
without actuating the mechanism, before the spy window, where they remain until
thrown down by tilting the plane i¹.
In Figs. 20 to 23, Sheet IV some arrangements are represented, which have for,
their purpose to improve the disengaging device, in order to prevent it from
injuriously affecting the clockwork, further to allow the progress and illumination of
the exhibits to be controlled by preventing useless running off of the winding gear
and reduce wear and tear of the iluminator, to prevent premature dropping in of the
coin and to cause the separation of correct coin from any spurious objects introduced.
To obviate the friction produced by the plates N and J (Figs. 1 to 8 Sheet 1) two
spikes N and J" are substituted therefor in the modification shown by Figs. 20
to 23. These spikes revolve together with the spurwheel K and are so placed
that N first lifts the rod P from out of its guide rest g₁ thereby causing the
shutter D Fig. 23 to be closed by means of a spring or other suitable contrivance,
P being connected with D through a cord ", a chain or in any other suitable
manner. Immediately afterwards the spike J" disengages the detent H", which is
provided with two catchhooks" and ", Figs. 20 to 23.
As soon as the book H is completely raised by J", which is revolving, k
releases, which does not revolve and can only be displaced together with the
rod G, and H remains raised as long as J" is in contact therewith and consequently.
the spike J, as long as it is detained by ", can neither be itself displaced nor allow
wheel K, rod G and click to be displaced in the direction of the rod G.
When however the lifting surface of J" leaves the hook i i.e. when J" has turned
so far forward as to be out of contact with H", i.e. ", it moves forward with ¹ and
rod G with appurtenances by the spring M" pulling through cord m" the rod G":
forward, that is to say bringing said rod from the position Fig. 20 into the position
shown in Fig. 23, whereby the apparatus is disengaged.
In order to prevent-when H descends more rapidly than is drawn forward-
from being again seized and detained by and the rod held back, the sliding
surface of J which moves along is inclined backwardly, for the purpose of
producing already during the forward sliding of J" along a slight displacement of
the rod and of the click in order to prevent the latter from being seized by kl
which can at most fall on the inclined upper surface of and therefore.not impede
the outward movement of rod G".
The rod Gis pulled out by spring M" and cord m, said spring carrying the
slide n, which, on the engaging of rod G₁ closes the slot E, for the purpose of
preventing premature introduction of coins and re-opens the slot only when
spring M rises by the recession of rod G. Said spring also acts in the further
arrangement for separating the coins and is for this purpose connected by cord o¹
with Rap R". The latter is situated in the receiving funnel, in which the oscillating
lever Fin deposits the proper coins (Fig. 20) as soon as it is released from pin p¹¹ on
rod G", said pin no longer supporting the plate ql, provided on rod F, but allowing
the latter to swing further downwards. Before this takes place the spring M" has
been drawn down and consequently the flap R" inclines. Thereby the coin falls on
bridges", Fig. 20 and 23, which turns back to the rearside of the receiving funnel,

page_text: Fig. 20. The coin remains visible through a spy-hole until M" raises the flap R
and the coin is thrown into the box, Fig. 23. Any coin smaller than the required
piece introduced at El passes through an opening provided in the coin receiver
(Fig. 21). The lever F consequently does not descend, but allows the rejected coin
or other object to fall behind the upright plane s", as shown in Fig. 23, where it remains
until, on introducing a proper coin and thereby engaging the device, R assumes the
position illustrated in Fig. 20, and deposits the rejected coin or object behind the coin
collecting box.
Before the rod G₁ can be pushed in, it must be released by the oscillating
lever F, from a detent S against which the lever Fabuts when first descending,
thereby lifting S¹ out of the recess " of rod G", which it had entered on the latter
being moved outwardly i.e. the apparatus disengaged. The detent S rests, after Fi
has resumed its original position, on the rod G₁, and when the latter recedes, returns
to its position in d
The engaging and disengaging of the motive mechanism and of the illuminating
device through the pushing rod G is effected by aid of plate T, the rim of which
is so shaped as to allow the inner end of rod G", when being pressed back to move
said plate downward, while, in the reverse case, the plate is raised through the inter-
mediary of line t¹ by lever V", which is operated by spring u".
The lever V¹ is provided with a tooth wl, gearing into, and serving to arrest the
motive mechanism Un fig. 23, while the spring u", on the disk T being released
from its depressed position, that is to say on the rod G being pushed forward, causes
the illumination to be discontinued by removing the contact v. In the reverse case
however, illustrated in Fig. 20, that is to say when G is pushed in and T" depressed,
the tooth w releases the winding gear U₁, thereby establishing an electric contact
at and causing the motive mechanism and an electric lamp to be operated.
It may be seen from the description of the above improvements on the previously
described devices, that, by working the pushing rod G", a complete self-acting
operation of the entire apparatus is effected in the requisite manner.
In order to allow a cake of chocolate or other suitable present to be offered to the
user of the apparatus on the termination of inspection, the rod G Fig. 24 & 25 is
connected with the two-armed lever W, one extremity of which is guided between
pins of said rod G. The other end of lever W, which has its fulcrum in c carries
a pusher y, which slides on plane z, Figs. 24 and 25, and delivers a present on the
machine being disengaged.
To attain this purpose the appliances shown in Figs. 25 and 26 are employed. The
rod Goccupying the position indicated, the scoopy is caused to recede from under
the cakes C, which are kept in position in channel C, and the lowermost of the cakes
rests upon the plane Z. On the outward thrust of the rod G¹ the scoop y again.
passes under the cakes C, thereby pushing off the plane Z. the lowermost cake, thereby
causing it to fall through the box Z into the projecting box, or holder Z¹. The
pusher y now supports the following cake, until the latter is placed upon plane Z by
the retrogression of the pusher and pushed off by the next forward movement of the
lever W. This procedure is repeated with every forward and backward movement of
the rod G
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I:
claim is:
1) A mechanical show box for disclosing pictures or other objects to the view of a
person or persons, and having the characteristic that eye hole shutter or shutters D is or
are opened by the introduction into the apparatus of a coin or coins of predetermined
value for each eye hole or pair of eye holes, and by the action of a lever mechanism,
the shutter remaining open, until the whole of the exhibits carried by a revoluble
holder B have passed before the range of vision of the single or binocular sight
opening when it mechanically recloses by the action of a disengaging mechanism,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2) In the apparatus referred to in claim 1) a device for preventing repeated use of
an eye hole in return for a single requisite coin, consisting in the connection of each
of the shutters, which are acted upon by a poise Qor a spring, with a rod P having
a hook O which catches behind a disk or plate N, displaceable by a disengaging rod G
and after one revolution of said plate, corresponding to one revolution of the carrier B,
passes through the recess or gap of plate N, whereby the shutter D is closed by the
action of said poise or spring, substantially as set forth.
3) A modification of the apparatus referred to in claim 1) consisting in a show
box which has one single or binocular eye opening R, behind which the shutter S,
attached to lever F¹ is provided, said shutter being moved downward by lever F¹ on
the introduction, into the apparatus, of a proper coin, the click T being at the same
time brought out of gear with V on the pivot k receding from out the rest (, while the
winding mechanism U produces one revolution of the exhibit carrier B' mounted on a
horizontal shaft g, substantially as set forth.
4) In the show apparatus referred to in claims 1, 2 and 3 the appliances for causing,
on the introduction of a coin of predetermined value, a knob E serving for winding
up a winding mechanism is freed by lever F" and click J' and the shutter lever H
to be so turned and held by the downward movement of said knob as to uncover the
eye opening and operate the winding mechanism, until the object carrier B has com-
pleted its revolution whereby the shutter lever H¹ is released and the winding
imechanism stopped by click lever g', the knob E¹ being connected with slide D₁,
which wholly uncovers the shutter after the winding mechanism has been wound up
and the knob E¹ brought into its highest winding-up position, substantially as set
forth.
5) In the automatic coin-receiving show device referred to in claims 1 to 4 the
modification of the mechanism for engaging or disengaging the drum or carrier B",
in which the rod P₁ is lifted out by a spike N, whereby the tooth 011 is
brought out of gear with the guide rest ", while the disengaging of rod G
is produced by a spike J" which lifts out the hook H", having two teeth
and k whereby the rod engager is released for the return, through spring M",
of rod G, the coin slot E" being simultaneously opened or closed with the
slide n" by the action of spring M", and the shutter R being caused to separate
proper coins from incorrect coins or any other objects and to lay the coins or objects
introduced open to view through a controlling spy-hole, substantially as set forth.
6) In the show box device referred to in claim 5) the arrangement for detaining
the rod G" by means of a bow or click S" acted upon by the oscillating lever Fill
and catching into the indent d", substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7) In the show box device referred to in claim 5) the appliances for engaging and
disengaging of the winding mechanism and of the illuminating device by means of the
pushing rod G, which so moves with its extremity 1 the disk or plate T¹¹ connected
with lever V and lifted by spring u as to cause the winding gear and illumina-
ting device to be respectively operated by the lifting out of tooth w" of V and
establishing the contact ", which effect is produced by pushing in the rod G",
substantially as set forth.
8) For the purpose of allowing the user of the show apparatus referred to in claims 1)
to 7) to be offered a present after viewing the exhibits, the application of pins.c
provided on rod G₁, lever W, pusher y whereby the presents are moved from
plane Z into box Z" by the outward thrust of rod G, while the next article C is laid
on plane Z ready to be delivered to the next user of the apparatus substantially as set
forth.
CARL LAUTZ.
Per Huelser & Co.,
Attorneys.