Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Receiving the Charges for Telephone Conversations and Telegrams.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1898-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
COMPLEIE DIEUITIGATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Receiving the Charges
for Telephone Conversations and Telegrams.
We, LARS MAGNUS ERICSSON, of 5, Thulegatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, Managing Director, and SOPHUS RITTER, of 43, Gamle Kongevej, Copen-
hagen, in the Kingdom of Denmark, Managing Director, 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 an arrangement of automatic telephone-apparatus
whereby the exchange cannot be called until the fee for using the telephone has
been deposited in the coin-controlled apparatus. When a reply has been received
from the exchange to the effect that the connection asked for can be obtained,
the fee is deposited in the cash-drawer of the apparatus by pressing a button or
turning a handle. In dropping into the cash-drawer the coin strikes against a
bell or gong. The sound thus produced is transmitted by means of the micro-
phone of the automatic apparatus to the telephone-operator at the exchange who
does not make the connection until this sound is heard. If the number asked for
is engaged, the automatic apparatus will return the fee if another button be pressed
or the said handle be turned in the opposite direction. The advantages of this
apparatus over other automatic apparatus of the same kind are that the fee must
be paid before the exchange can be called, thereby preventing the time of the
telephone-operators being wasted in case the fee is not ready at hand when the
connection is to be made, and that the fee is returned in case the desired connection
cannot be effected.
Besides its use as an ordinary automatic telephone-apparatus, the apparatus can
be employed to receive payments in certain specified kinds of coin in such a manner
that the coins are made to produce different sounds according as they strike
against different bells or springs, the said sounds or tones being transmitted
through the microphone of the apparatus to the telephone-operator who is thus
able to ascertain the amount paid. The latter arrangement is intended to be
used for the payment of charges for telegrams which are telephoned to a telegraph-
station by means of the automatic apparatus. The charge is paid on learning the
amount from the telegraph-clerk. The telegram-charges and telephone-fees are
collected in two different cash-drawers.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement for the deposit of the fee
in the coin-controlled apparatus. A coin of the predetermined value is introduced
through the slot A¹ into the chute R¹ and passes through the latter down into the
pocket B consisting of two metal-plates S1 and S2 which can turn on their
hinges O and 02 and are insulated from each other. When the coin drops into
the pocket B (Figures 3 and 4), it establishes a metallic connection between S¹
and S3 and in this manner closes the circuit leading from the inductor I of the
automatic apparatus to the telephone-exchange, so that the latter can be called.
When the telephone-operator has responded that the line wanted is clear, the user

page_text: of the telephone presses the button k', thereby causing the plate S¹ to turn on its
hinge O and occupy the position indicated by the dotted line. The coin con-
sequently slides down the chute R2, strikes on the edge of the bell K and finally
falls into the cash-drawer B2. The sound of the bell K is transmitted by means of
the microphone m of the automatic apparatus to the operator at the exchange who
is thus apprised that the fee has been deposited in the cash-drawer. On the other
hand, if the operator responds that the line is engaged, the user presses the button
and thus brings the plate S2 into the dotted position on the right hand of Figure 1.
The coin then slides into the chute R³ and drops into the small receiver B³ attached-
to the outside of the apparatus. The slot A¹ is made to suit a coin of a certain
value and the chute R¹ is open at its underside, so that if a smaller coin is inserted
it will fall out through the opening and never reach the pocket B¹.
Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of the arrangement for the payment of
charges with coins of different specified values, 5 and 10-cent. pieces, for instance.
Through the slot A* and chute R4 coins of one of the said values (10-cent pieces)
drop on to the bell K and thence into the cash-drawer 134. Coins of the other
value (5-cent pieces) are inserted in the slot A5 and drop through the chute R³
into the cash-drawer B. When a coin slides down the chute R5, it raises the
hammer H which subsequently strikes the spring gong F. The sounds of the
bell K and spring gong F are transmitted in the manner before mentioned by
the microphone m of the automatic apparatus to the operator at the exchange. The
latter is thus able from the different sounds and the number of times they are
repeated to ascertain what amount has been deposited in the apparatus. The
chutes R and R5 are open at their undersides, so that coins of smaller size than
those fixed upon will fall out through the openings and never reach the bell K
or gong F.
A diagram of the wire-connections of the automatic apparatus when adapted
for outgoing communications only is shown in Figure 3. When the apparatus
is not in use the telephone-receiver hangs on the forked lever N, and the contact
at a² and a³ is closed. One terminal of the inductor I is directly connected with
the line L' while the line-circuit L2 is open between the plates S1 and S2. If a
coin be deposited in the manner described above, between the plates S1 and S2,
the circuit of the inductor will be closed over 0¹, S¹, the coin, S2, O2, the contact-
screw a¹, the fork N, and the contact-pieces a², and a³ to the line L2. The central
exchange is now connected by means of the double line L1, L2 with the coin-
controlled telephone-apparatus from which the exchange, consequently, can be
called in the usual manner. When the receiver is subsequently lifted from the
fork N, the contact will be interrupted at a² and a³ but closed at a6 and a', and the
apparatus will now occupy its speaking position. Conversation now takes place
as in an ordinary telephone-apparatus. As the ringing-off signal cannot be
given by means of the inductor on the conclusion of the conversation the line L³
is connected to the ground, when the receiver is hung on the fork N, by means of
the contact-pieces a¹ and a5. Ringing off will then be performed automatically
at the central exchange which should be arranged according to the "ringing-
through" system.
Figure 4 shews the diagram of connections for an apparatus intended to be used
for both outgoing and incoming communications. When the apparatus is not
in use the fork N₁ bears against the contact-piece c¹ and a signal from the exchange
will pass from the line L' through the fork N¹ and contact c¹ to the switch of the
inductor where it passes through the springs c and to the balanced bell K¹ and
then out over the line L³ to the exchange. When the exchange is to be called
from the coin-controlled apparatus, the fee must have been deposited in the
apparatus, as before. When the inductor-handle is rotated, the shaft P is shifted
in the direction of the arrow, and the current now passes from the left hand
terminal through the springs c6 and 7 to the contact c¹ corresponding to rest,
and the fork N₁ out over the line L¹. From the right hand terminal c, on the
other hand, connection is. made over 02, S3, the coin S1 and 02 with the bell K'

page_text: and with the line L³. When conversation is going on, the apparatus operates in
the same manner as that described in Figure 3, the ringing-off, however, being
slightly modified in that the ground-connection of the line L issues from the middle
of the balanced bell K. As before, it is closed automatically by means of the
springs and when the receiver is hung up on the fork N¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
1. An automatic apparatus for receiving the charges for telephonic conversations
and telegrams telephoned to a central exchange, consisting of two or more hinged
plates or disos (S1, S2) separated from each other, said plates being located in the
circuit between the inductor of the telephone-apparatus and the central-exchange
in such a manner that a coin of predetermined value which is inserted in a chute
forms contact between them in order to make the calling of the exchange possible,
substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus of the kind claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement comprising
two chutes (R³ and R³) extending from the space beneath the plates (S1, S2), one
of the said chutes conducting the coin into contact with a bell (K), spring gong,
or the like, before it drops into the cash-drawer (B2) and the other conducting the
coin out of the case of the apparatus, for the purposes respectively of
making the dropping of the coin into the cash-drawer audible in the receiver
of the operator at the exchange, and restoring the coin in case the telephonic
connection cannot be obtained, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination with an apparatus such as is claimed in Claims 1 and 2, an
apparatus for receiving charges in several sizes of coin, when a specified charge for
a telegram for example is to be paid, consisting of two or more chutes (R+, R³) for
the introduction of the coins into the case of the apparatus, which chutes are so
placed in relation to a bell (K), a spring gong (F), or the like, that the coins
cannot slide through the chutes on their way to the cash-drawers without striking
against bells or actuating a hammer for striking on a spring, the object being to
enable the operator to check the payments from the different sounds and their
number, substantially as set forth.
Datel the 0th
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.