Year: 1898

page_text: ▲ communication from ADOLPHE BLOCK, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to coin-freed apparatus and more especially to such a
stereoscopic arrangement for the exhibition of a sees of views successively
The stereoscope comprises an endless chain passing over two rollers which
latter are separately mounted on two uprights or supports This chain 18
arranged to receive the series of stereoscopic pictures designed to come succes-
sively and vertically in the ocular focus of the apparatus. The said focus is placed
at a convenient height on the exterior of "the box or case in which the
mechanism is enclosed.
While an apparatus of this kind allows of the convenient observation of views
which are to be shown, it is necessary that it full the following, amongst other,
conditions, Fist, the appearance and disappearance of the views ought to be
operated by the intermittent movement of the chain which carries them and
each of the said views, while making these intermittent movements, ought to
suffer a momentary arrest when it finds itself in the ocular focus in order to
allow of observation Secondly, the progress of the carrier chain of stereo-
scopic views ought to be operated automatically at the moment when à coin 18
introduced and its arrest ought to be equally automatically effected by the
simplest possible arrangement when the passage of the views to the observer has
terminated
These conditions are determined by the following arrangement: At the side
of one of the uprights that support the chain rollers is arranged a clockwork
movement controlled by a powerful spring drum or its equivalent which is fixed
from the exterior of the apparatus by a nut One of the intermediate wheels of
this clockwork movement carries on one of the faces of its toothed crown, some
pin-teeth the function of which will be hereinafter explained One end of the
lower chain roller runs through one of the uprights of supports and carries ou
that part a star-wheel with four or other convenient number of branches the
complete revolution of which star-wheel ought to correspond to the passage in
the ocular focus of four or other predetermined number of stereoscopic views
A catch spring is located above the said star-wheel so shaped as to come between
two branches thereof in order to arrest momentarily its rotary movement. The
pin-teeth of the clockwork train combine and gear with the branches of the star-
wheel in order to turn the chain roller a distance corresponding to the number

page_text: of branches of the said star-wheel In the example given the said star-wheel has
four branches and the chain roller will only turn a quarter of a revolution after
the passing of each pin-tooth.
It will be seen that as soon as the edge of the catch spring has passed over
the branch opposite to that on which the pin-tooth 18 acting for the moment, the
Baid spring will cause by reason of its rapid descent between the two branches of
the star-wheel which present themselves under it a very rapid momentary impulse
which brings the picture into a vertical position in the ocular focus
The picture which 18 in the position of observation at this moment remains in
this position until the succeeding pin-tooth acts on the next branch of the star-
wheel which presents itself on its way; the time during which the picture on
view remains at rest corresponding to the time which the pin-tooth took in
coming in contact with the branch of the star-wheel and acting on it.
The speed of rotation of the engaging mechanism of the clockwork movement
18 regulated by a fler A toothed wheel engages with a pinion on the flier
spindle and such toothed wheel 18 provided with a pin A finger is designed to
move in and out of contact with the said pin and by such means the progress or
arrest of the clockwork movement is determmed This engagement or disengage-
ment is operated by the following arrangement:-On one of the uprights 18
pivoted or supported about an axis a balance lever one of the extremities of which
carries a cup and the other a counterweight The said finger is fixed to the
balance lever at any convenient point and it follows the latter in its oscillatory
movements The bottom of the said cup is pierced with an opening large enough
for the passage of a coin, but this passage is in part obstructed by a suspended
lip pivoted at a convenient point on the balance lever and which is maintained
in contact with the bottom of the cup during the passage of a coin by a spring
which is supported on the opposite branch.
The axle of the chain roller carries a toothed wheel engaging with another
toothed wheel, which latter rotates about a fixed axle placed on one of the
uprights or supports
One of the faces of the last-mentioned toothed wheel
carries a disc the periphery of which 18 cut in a snail-like fashion The balance
lever is provided on its upper side or edge with a projection which presents itself
on the way of the snail wheel.
Upon the passage of a com introduced into the apparatus through a suitable
conduit, the said coin falls into the cup and 18 anested in its passage by the
suspended lip. Its weight lowers the lever until the extremity of the lip oppo-
site to the part which airests the coin comes to rest on a stop fixed on one of
the uprights or supports, a spring acting on the lip preventing the latter from
oscillating on contact with the last-mentioned stop. The finger which is con-
nected to the balance lever oscillates therewith and the tooth of the flier wheel
is thereby freed, which liberates the clockwork movement which then starts to
turn effectually, by the rotation of the pin-teeth of the clock-work train herein-
before referred to in combination with the said star wheel, the intermittent move-
ment of the chain carrying the stereoscopic views.
When the said views have successively passed in desired number into the ocular
focus the disc operated by the wheel and pinion herein before mentioned, will
have made a complete revolution, but a short time before the revolution of the
disc 18 completed, the projecting part of the snail presents itself to the project-
ing part on the balance lever and compels this latter to lower itself. During
this last operation, the lip which is supported by one of its extremities on the
stop herein before mentioned oscillates a sufficient amount to separate itself from
the bottom of the cup and let the coin pass, which thereupon falla and 18
received in the interior of the apparatus The disc, continuing to turn, its pro-
jection will soon come in contact with the projection on the balance lever and
this latter, leaving the said stop will return to its initial position by reason of
the counterweight aided by the spring of the lip, which returns under the cup.
During the next raising of the cup, the finger hereinbefore described re-engages

page_text: itself with the said pin, arresting the clockwork movement, and, in this way the
movement of the chain of stereoscopio views.
It is necessary now to again introduce into the apparatus a coin to obtain anew
the successive appearance of views in the ocular focus.
The apparatus is completed by a mirror placed in the line of sight and facili-
tating the observation of the pictures.
A communication from ADOLPHE BLOCK, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer.
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 coin-freed apparatus and more especially to such a
stereoscopic arrangement for the exhibition of a series of views successively
In the accompanying diawings;
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, the side of the casing being
removed in order to permit of the interior mechanism being seen
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line y Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 are detail views, and
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views to Figures 1 and 2, illustrating a modi-
fication of the invention.
The stereoscope comprises an endless chain A passing over two rollers B and C
which latter are separately mounted on two uprights or supports D and E. This
chain A 18 arranged to receive the series of stereoscopic pictures designed to come
successively and vertically in the ocular focus O₁ of the apparatus The said
focus O is placed at a convenient height on the exterior of the box or case in
which the mechanism is enclosed
While an apparatus of this kind allows of the convenient observation of views
which are to be shown, it is necessary that it fulfil the following, amongst other,
conditions:-First, the appearance and disappearance of the views ought to be
operated by the intermittent movement of the chain which carries them and
each of the said views, while making these intermittent movements, ought to
Buffer a momentary arrest when it finds itself in the ocular focus in order to
allow of observation. Secondly, the progress of the carrier chain of stereo-
scopic views ought to be operated automatically at the moment when a com is
introduced and its arrest ought to be equally automatically effected by the
simplest possible arrangement when the passage of the views to the observer has
terminated.
These conditions are determined by the following arrangement:-At the side
of the upright E which supports the chain rollers is arranged a clockwork move-
ment controlled by a powerful spring drum or its equivalent R which is fixed
from the exterior of the apparatus by a nut R¹. One of the intermediate
wheels G of this clockwork movement carries on one of the faces of its toothed
crown, some pin-teeth g the function of which will be hereinafter explained.
One end of the lower chain roller C runs through the upright or support Ę and

page_text: carries on that part a star-wheel I with four or other convenient number of
branches the complete revolution of which star-wheel ought to correspond to the
passage in the ocular focus of four or other predetermined number of stereoscopio
Views. A catch spring J is located above the said star-wheel I so shaped as to
come between two branches thereof in order to arrest momentarily its rotary
movement. The pin-teeth g of the wheel G gear with the branches of the star-
wheel I in order to turn the chain roller C a distance corresponding to the number
of branches of the said star-wheel I. In the example given the said star-wheel I
has four branches and the chain roller C will only turn a quarter of a revolution
after the passing of each pin-tooth g.
It will be seen that as soon as the edge of the catch spring J has passed over
the branch opposite to that on which the pin-tooth g is acting for the moment,
the said spring will cause, by reason of its rapid descent between the two branches
of the star-wheel which present themselves under it, a very rapid momentary
impulse which brings the picture into a vertical position in the ocular focus.
The picture which 18 in the position of observation at this moment remains
in this position until the succeeding pin-tooth g acts on the next bianch of the
star-wheel I which presents itself on its way; the time during which the picture
on view remains at rest corresponding to the time which the pin-tooth 9 took in
coming in contact with the branch of the star-wheel and acting on it
The speed of rotation of the engaging mechanism of the clockwork movement
18 regulated by a flier P A toothed wheel K engages with a pinion on the fer
spindle and suoh toothed wheel is provided with a pin k A finger at the
extremity of the lever is designed to move in and out of contact with the said
pink and by such means the progress or arrest of the clockwork movement 18
determined This engagement or disengagement is operated by the following
arrangement.-On the upright E is pivoted or supported about an axis L' a
balance lever L one of the extremities of which carries a cup M and the other a
counterweight N The lever is fixed to the balance lever L at any convenient point
and it follows the latter in its oscillatory movements The bottom of the said
cup M is pierced with an opening large enough for the passage of a coin, but
this passage is in part obstructed by a suspended lip b pivoted at 6 on the balance
lever L and which is maintained in contact with the bottom of the cup M during
the passage of a coin by a spring p which is supported on the opposite branch
The axle of the chain roller C carries a toothed wheel O engaging with another
wheel Q, which latter rotates about a fixed axle placed on the upright E. One
of the faces of the wheel Q carries a disc S the periphery of which is cut in a
snail-like fashion. The balance lever L is provided on its upper side or edge
with a projection m which presents itself on the way of the snail wheel S
Upon the passage of a coin introduced into the apparatus through a suitable
conduit T, the said coin falls into the cup M and is arrested in its passage by the
suspended lip b. The weight of the coin lowers the lever L until the extremity
of the lip 6 opposite to the part which arrests the coin comes to rest on a stop n
fixed on the upright E, the spring p acting on the lip b preventing the latter
from oscillating on contact with the stop n The lever connected to the balance
lever Loscillates therewith and abandoned by the finger at the extremity of the
said lever, the tooth of the wheel K is thereby freed, which liberates the
clockwork movement which then starts to turn effectually, by the rotation of the
pin-teeth g of the wheel G in combination with the said star wheel I, the inter-
mittent movement of the chain A carrying the stereoscopic views.
When the said views have successively passed in desired number into the ocular
focus, the disc S operated by the wheel and pinion O herein before mentioned,
will have made a complete revolution; but a short time before the revolution
of the disc S 18 completed, the projecting part of the anail presents itself to the
projecting part m on the balance lever L and compels this latter to lower itself.
During this last operation, the lip 6 which 18 supported by one of its extremities
on the stop n oscillates a sufficient amount to separate itself from the bottom of

page_text: the cup M and let the coin pass, which thereupon falls and is received in the
interior of the apparatus The disc S, continuing to tuin, its projection will soon
come in contact with the projection m on the balance lever L and this latter,
leaving the said stop n will return to its initial position by reason of the counter-
weight N aided by the spring p of the lip b which returns under the cup M
During the next raising of the cup M the finger at the extremity of the lever!
re-engages itself with the said tooth anesting the clockwork movement, and,
in this way the movement of the chain of stereoscopic views
It is necessary now to again introduce into the apparatus a coin to obtain anew
the successive appearance of views in the ocular focus
The apparatus is completed by a mirror U placed in the line of sight and
facilitating the observation of the pictures
Figures 5 and 6 show a modification of the releasing mechanism operating as
before through the oscillation of the lever L to which is united the small lever!
with its finger by the releasing oi arresting of the corresponding tooth & of the
wheel K of the clockwork movement, but in this case the said lever L receives
the coin flat in a rectangular cup M of such a kind that, under the effect of the
weight of the said coin, the lever L oscillates sufficiently to operate the release of
the tooth through the finger at the extremity of the lever l
This sufficient oscillation 18 1egulated by the fact that the edge of the coin
situated outside the cup M, presses itself against an abutment plate M¹ thus
causing resistance to, and arresting the oscillation of, the lever L, whilst the
oscillation can only then be completed by the intervention of a more considerable
effort which is operated at the desired moment, as hereafter explained.
The lever L caries, on the upper side, a projection L" designed to contact
with abutment pins A¹, carried by a toothed disc Bi gearing with the clockwork
mechanism and operating through the action of the latter
The number of pins A¹ corespond to the number of the series of views for
which the apparatus is designed, in the drawing these pins are shown as two,
arranged diametrically opposite on the disc B¹, the apparatus which carries them
being arranged for the observation of two series of views
The passage of the views is operated as has been described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 through the wheel G by pins g directing the star-wheel I
carried by the roller C
With this arrangement, it results that, when the coin drops into the cup M,
the lever L oscillates to a sufficient extent, regulated by the pressure of the edge
of the said con against the abutment plate M, to release the finger at the
extremity of the lever from the corresponding pin of the wheel K and the
apparatus 18 set in motion, operating, as has been explained with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, a little before the end of the passage of the series of views
in observation, the corresponding pin A¹ of the toothed disc B₁ comes into con-
tact with the projection I of the lever L completing the oscillation of the said
lever until the coin 18 able to diop from the cup M, the said coin being no more
arrested by the abutment plate (see the position shown in dotted lines on
Figure 6 of the diawings).
At the moment when the fall of the coin is produced, the pin A¹ which has
operated, escapes the projection L", in such a way as to allow the lever L, aided
by a plate spring C₁ acting on it, to return to its original position which corre-
sponds to the arrest of the apparatus
Again, this modification allows of the possibility of regulating the tension of
the chains carrying the views between the two rollers B and C which support
them, for this purpose the roller B is mounted in vertical grooves D formed in
the corresponding upper parts of the uprights D, E of the apparatus; a winged
nut G¹ facilitates the regulation and fixing in exact position of the roller B.
Finally, the arrest of each of the views in an exact position of observation 18
assured by the frictional contact of a steel spring G¹¹ on the extremity of the
roller C.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saad
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim 18:-
1. In a coin-freed automatic stereoscopic apparatus, the combination with a
starting mechanism, of the chain carrying the views, a wheel G controlled by the
clockwork movement and provided on one of its faces with teeth g actuating a
star-wheel I the rotation of which effects the passage of the views, a coin releas-
ing and arresting mechanism comprising a lever L with cup if open at the
bottom, counterpoise weight N and for releasing the clockwork movement,
the bottom of said cup M being in part obstructed by a projecting lip Bup-
ported on the lever L, and which, under the action of a spring p, arrests the
coin in such a way that, by the fact of the oscillation of the said lever L produced
by the weight of the coin, on the one hand, the lever releases the clockwork
train and on the other hand the lip comes to rest on a fixed pin n so as
through the action of a snail S moved by the clockwork train and which rests
in tuining and gliding on the lever L in order to continue slowly the oscillation―
to operate the oscillation of the said lip b corresponding to the freeing of the coin,
which falling from the cup M frees the mechanism, the parts of which return to
their normal position and arrest the clockwork movement substantially as set
forth
2 The modification of the arrangement, referred to in the preceding claim,
consisting in the combination of the lever L with a rectangular cup M receiving
the coin flat and combined in such a way with an abutment plate N that the
edge of the said coin presses against the said plate M¹ causing resistance and thus
arresting the oscillation of the lever L, which oscillation can only be completed
by the intervention of a greater effort operating at the desired moment through
a corresponding pin A' of a toothed disc B¹ which pin, coming in contact with a
projection L with which the lever L 18 provided completes the oscillation of the
said lever L until the coin 18 able to drop from the cup M being no longer
arrested by the abutment plate M¹ substantially as set forth
3. The coin-freed apparatus constructed and operating substantially as set forth
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Dated this 6th day of Pantamba 1900