Entering Theatres and other Places.
Year: 1885

page_text: Entering Theatres and other Places.
We, ANDREW CAMPBELL, Gentleman, and JAMES ASH, Naval Architect, both of
36 Pembury Grove, Lower Clapton, in the county of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHECKING
THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING THEATRES AND OTHER PLACES to be as
follows:-
It is well known that a very common means of checking the number of persons
entering theatres and and other public places and thereby the amount of money
received, consists in the issuing of a metallic ticket or check by the money-taker
to each person entering, which ticket or check is subsequently delivered by the
person entering to a check-taker, but it is evident that this system can not prevent
fraud if the money-taker and the check-taker are in collusion. Attempts have
been made to provide mechanical apparatus for the purpose of checking and
registering automatically the number of checks issued by the money-taker and
received by the check-taker, but so far as we are aware these attempts have not
been successful, and the object of our present invention is, to provide a more perfect
and more simple apparatus for this purpose than has been heretofore produced.
For this purpose we place a number of the checks side by side or one on top of
the other in a tube, the cross section of which corresponds more or less to the shape
and size of the said checks which may be round, oval, square, or of other suitable
shape. The tube may be placed in a vertical, horizontal, or inclined position;
when placed vertically, or nearly, so the weight of the checks will be sufficient to
urge them towards the bottom of the tube, but when the latter is placed hori-
zontally, or is inclined beyond a certain angle, a spring or its equivalent is
necessary to assist their motion towards one end of the tube, when the endmost
check is withdrawn for issue as hereafter explained. The end of the tube towards
which the checks are urged by gravity, a spring or its equivalent, as the case may
be, is partly closed, so that the checks cannot fall or be pushed out in the line of
the tube's axis, but sufficient room is left for the money-taker to apply his finger to
the lowermost or endmost check for the purpose of drawing it out of the tube
laterally through a slot left in the side of the tube for that purpose. In some cases
the tube may be provided with an internal guide and the checks notched or other-
wise shaped to take on to the said guide so that they shall all occupy a uniformn

page_text: position in the tube. The checks are each perforated with a hole or holes in a
similar position and a trigger or finger, preferably provided with a spring, is
arranged to project into the said hole in the lower or endmost check when in the
tube, but when the said check is withdrawn laterally, as above described, the said
trigger or finger is drawn aside by the said ticket or check and an electrical con-
nection is thereby made or broken whereby an electric current is caused to operato
a tell-tale or counter in the manager's or other room whenever a check is with-
drawn from the tube. After a check is withdrawn, the trigger or finger springs
into the hole in the next check ready to act again when that check is withdrawn.
The end of the tube opposite to that from which the checks are taken is of course
closed and locked so that the checks cannot be removed at that end. Suitable.
arrangements are also provided to prevent any tampering with the spring trigger
or finger. The tubes containing the checks are secured to a base or table in any
suitable way.
The above described arrangements are those that would be used by the money-
taker; those to be used by the check-taker are as follows
The checks, after being issued by the money-taker, are placed by the check-taker
or by the person to whom the check has been issued, into a hopper, and they fall
on to an endless band operated by clockwork or other suitable motive power. This
endless band takes the checks, one at a time, from the bottom of the hopper and
deposits them, singly, on to a hinged counterbalanced shelf or leaf so adapted that
the weight of a check deposited on it will cause it to tilt so as to allow the check
to fall into a box. The tilting of the shelf or leaf makes or breaks an electric
current whereby a tell-tale or counter is operated in the Manager's office, or other
room, in a manner similar to that used in connection with the apparatus used by
the money-taker.
By these means is effected a complete and automatic registration of the number
of checks issued by the money taker and received or passed by the check-taker
and consequently of the amount of money that should be handed over by the
money-taker.
ANDREW CAMPBELL.
JAMES ASH.
Per W. H. Beck, Agent,
115, Cannon Street, London.

page_text: CLOCUS
Entering Theatres and other Places.
"
We, ANDREW CAMPBELL, Gentleman, and JAMES ASH, Naval Architect, both
of 36 Pembury Grove, Lower Clapton, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of our said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CHECKING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING THEATRES AND OTHER PLACES,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon :-
It is well known that a very common means of checking the number of persons
entering theatres and other public places, and thereby the amount of money
received, consists in the issuing of a metallic ticket or check, by the money-taker,
to each person entering, which ticket or check is subsequently delivered, by the
person entering, to a check taker; but it is evident that this system cannot
prevent fraud if the money taker and check taker are in collusion. Attempts
have been made to provide mechanical apparatus for the purpose of checking and
registering, automatically, the number of checks issued by the money taker and
received by the check taker but, so far as we are aware, these attempts have not
been successful, and the object of our present invention is to provide a more
perfect and more simple apparatus for this purpose than has been heretofore
produced.
For this purpose we place a number of the checks side by side, or one on top of
the other, in a tube A seen in the accompanying Drawings in partial longitudinal
section in Figure 1, in elevation in Figure 2, and in sectional plans X X and Z Z
respectively in Figures 3 and 4. The cross section of this tube A corresponds more
or less to the shape and size of the said checks which may be round, (as in
Figure 5) oval, square, or of other suitable shape. The tube A may be placed in a
vertical, horizontal, or inclined position; when placed vertically, or nearly so, the
weight of the checks B will be sufficient to urge them towards the bottom of the
tube A; but when the latter is placed horizontally, or is inclined beyond a certain
angle, a spring or its equivalent is necessary to assist the motion towards one end
of the tube, when the endmost check B* is withdrawn for issue as hereafter
explained. The end of the tube A towards which the checks B are urged by
gravity, a spring or its equivalent, as the case may be, is partly closed, so that the
checks B cannot fall, or be pushed out in the line of the tube's axis, but sufficient
room is left for the money taker to apply his finger to the lowermost, or endmost,
check, for the purpose of drawing it out of the tube A laterally through a slot D
left in the side of the tube for that purpose. In some cases the tube may be
provided with an internal guide E and the checks B notched (see Figure 5) or
otherwise shaped to take on to the said guide E so that they shall all occupy a
uniform position in the tube A. The checks are each perforated with a hole or
holes C in a similar position, and a trigger or finger F, preferably provided with a
spring, is arranged to project into the said hole in the lower or endmost check B*
when in the tube, but when the said check is withdrawn laterally, as above
described, the said trigger or finger is drawn aside by the said ticket or check B*
and an electrical connection is thereby made or broken, whereby an electric

page_text: current is caused to operate a tell-tale or counter G in the manager's or other room
whenever a check is withdrawn from the tube. After a check is withdrawn, the
trigger or finger springs into the hole in the next check ready to act again when
that check is withdrawn. The end of the tube, opposite to that from which the
checks are taken, is of course closed and locked, so that the checks cannot be
removed at that end. Suitable arrangements, such as a casing H, are also provided
to prevent any tampering with the spring trigger or finger F. The tube A,
containing the checks, is secured to a base or table in any suitable way.
The above described arrangements are those that would be used by the money
taker; those to be used by the check taker are shown in section and plan in
Figures 6 and 7 and are as follows:
The checks, after being issued by the money-taker, are placed, by the check
taker, or by the person to whom the check has been issued, into a hopper I, and
they fall through the passage R on to an endless band J passing over rollers K
operated by clockwork or other suitable motive power placed at L for example.
This endless band J is furnished with pins or pallets M. which take the checks one
at a time, as shown at B, from the bottom of the passage R, and deposit them,
singly, on to a hinged counterbalanced shelf or leaf O, so adapted that the weight
of the check deposited on it will cause it to tilt so as to allow the check to fall into
a box P. The lifting of the shelf or leaf makes or breaks an electric current
whereby a tell-tale or counter Q is operated in the manager's office, or other room,
in a manner similar to that employed in connection with the apparatus used by the
money taker.
By these means is effected a complete and automatic registration of the number
of checks issued by the money taker, and received or passed by the check taker,
and consequently of the amount of money that should be handed over by the
money taker.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
First. In apparatus for checking the number of tickets or checks issued by the
money taker, the employment of a tube containing the checks to be issued, such
checks being urged by gravity, a spring, or its equivalent, towards one end of the
said tube, from which they can be withdrawn, one by one, through a slot in the
side of the tube, the said tube being also provided with a trigger or finger actuated
by the removal of the lowermost or endinost check, and with electrical indicating
or registering apparatus, all arranged, combined, and operating as herein before
described, and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. In apparatus for checking the number of tickets or checks received or
passed by the check taker, the employment of a hopper furnished with an endless
band moved by clockwork, or other suitable motive power, a hinged counter-
balanced shelf or leaf, and electrical indicating or registering apparatus, all
arranged, combined, and operating as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in
Figure 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed.