An Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for Testing the Force of Blows.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for Testing the Force of Blows.
I, HENRY COOPER, of 938 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, State of New York, U.S.A.
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:-
My invention relates to coin-controlled machines, and especially to such as are
intended to register or indicate the force of power with which a blow may be delivered
a machine of this class
upon the striking-head or buffer, its object being to produce
which shall be simple in construction, effective in operation, and which shall not
only insure that the index-finger be held at the point where driven by the force of
the blow until purposely released, but also that the striking-head or buffer be
prevented from moving until released by a coin; that the repair of such head or
buffer be easily accomplished, and that the registration of the coin deposited be
automatically effected. To accomplish all this and to secure other and further
advantages in the matters of construction, operation and use any improvements
involve certain new and useful arrangements or combinations of parts and pecu-
liarities of construction and principles of operation, all of which will be herein first
fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a
front elevation, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, showing my improved machine standing
ready for use. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view and elevation upon a plane passing
through the supporting-rod for the striking-head or buffer. Fig. 4 is an elevation
and partial vertical section, looking from the rear and showing the general arrange-
ment of the interior mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side view of the supporting-rod for the
striking-head or buffer detached. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of such supporting-rod ;
Fig. 7 a section of the fragment of the end of said rod on the line x x of Fig. 6; and
Fig. 8 a detail of the same, showing the collar thereon. Fig. 9 is a side view of the
returning lever, and Fig. 10 an end elevation of the forked end thereof. Fig. 11 is
an elevation of the rack and weight through which the registering index-shaft is
operated. Fig. 12 is an elevation of such shaft. Fig. 13 is a side view of the lever
carrying the friction pad; Fig. 14, a similar view of the lever which communicates
motion to the rack for operating the index shaft and weight, and Fig. 15 a plan of
the flattened end of said lever. Fig. 16 is an elevation of the sector arm for
actuating the warning plate; Fig. 17 a front view of said plate, and Fig. 18 a side
view thereof with the pinion attached. Fig. 19 is an elevation of the striking-head
or buffer supporting-rod restraining lever; Fig. 20 a perspective view of the bottom.
of the coin-receptacle, and Fig. 21 a plan of the bar and spring through which it is
operated.
In all these figures the same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding
parts.
A is the frame or housing of the machine, the same being constructed in any
approved form or design, and preferably provided with suitable doors in its back and
sides, (not necessary to be shown), through which access to its interior may be had.

page_text: This frame or housing should be of a height sufficient to sustain the striking-head
or buffer at a convenient elevation, and in order that the base may not be too long
and wide, and yet insure the holding of the machine with the proper degree of
stability, it may be perforated and bolted to the floor or other convenient support.
B is the rod which carries the striking-bead or buffer upon which the blow is
delivered. It projects through the front of the frame or housing into the interior
thereof, and has secured to its outer end the striking-head or buffer, while the portion
of it within the housing is connected to the resisting and returning means and with
the train of mechanism through which the index-finger is operated to register the
force of the blow. The striking-head or buffer is of a peculiar construction to
insure at the same time ample elasticity to prevent damage to the hand of the striker,
sufficient rigidity to transmit the force of the stroke in the direction of its supporting-
rod, and facilities for removing and repacking without dismounting the shaft. Of
this striking-head or buffer B is the bottom plate, which may be made of wood or
metal, and is secured upon the supporting-rod by a connecting piece B2, from which
it may be removed when desired, the bottom plate being provided with a central
opening through which the packing may be inserted.
Secured to the circumference of the plate B¹ in any preferred manner, is the outer
or larger end of the receptacle B³, which extending outward from said plate for a
short distance, is introverted, forming a cup-shaped holder for the reception of any
soft yielding and elastic material which may be packed therein, as shown at B².
I prefer, however, to employ shreds of rubber for this packing, as being the most
effective and least liable to mat down and become hard from excessive use, and in
order to maintain it in the holder, as well as to afford a proper surface against which
to deliver the blow, I find it desirable to cover it and the said holder with a sheet
of soft leather B³, the edges of which are secured to the bottom piece B₁, as shown,
by any approved means. The density of the striking-head or buffer may be varied at
any time by simply removing some of the packing or inserting more, as may be
required, which operations may be easily and readily accomplished by detaching the
bottom piece B¹ from the connecting piece B2 and inserting or removing it through
the central opening in the former.
Fixedly secured to the rod B within the frame or housing is a collar a, which is
provided with rounded shoulders a¹ a¹ against which the forked arms c c of the bell-
crank Cabut. This collar instead of being made cylindrical, has its two opposite
sides flattened to adapt it to fit between said forked arms, and thus serves not only to
prevent the withdrawal of the rod from the housing, but also to arrest its backward
movement at the proper point, as well as to prevent its turning or rotating upon
its axis.
C is a bell-crank pivoted at a convenient point b, the forked arms cc of which bear
against the shoulders a¹, and the opposite ends of which is connected with a returning
spring d, anchored upon some convenient projection or ledge within the housing, as
by use of a bolt d¹ and nut d², by which the tension of spring d may be regulated.
The bell-crank C and spring & operate to maintain the striking-head or buffer in
normal position at the point where it should receive the blow and to return it and the
shaft after any displacement thereof.
Near the inner end of the rod B is connected, as at e, one end of a bell-crank
lever D, the same being pivoted in the housings at a convenient point, as f, its
projecting or free arm being flattened or smoothed as at g so as to accommodate or
receive the lower end of a rack E, which rack is provided at its upper end with a
suitable weight E¹. This rack is guided in any suitable manner in an interior box or
frame F, and meshes with a pinion G¹ upon a shaft G, the inner end of which shaft is
suitably stepped in the frame F, and the outer end of which projects through the front
of the housings and carries a pointer or index G³, which may travel over the face of a
suitably-graduated dial-plate G³, which is intended to be covered, as by a glass
plate G. Under this arrangement it is apparent that when a blow is delivered upon
the striking head or buffer the rack E will be elevated in proportion to the force of
the blow and the pointer moved accordingly. The downward movement of the

page_text: rack E, through the gravity of the weight E', will carry the pointer back to its initial
station.
To hold the rack E for a time at its highest point and thus prevent backward
movement of the pointer until the reading of the dial may be satisfactorily
accomplished, I provide the shaft G with a cylindrical surface Go, upon which rides
a friction block H¹ of any suitable material, as felt or rubber, the same being mounted
upon a lever H, pivoted in the casing, as at h, and resting lightly upon the surface G
provided for it. This will not interfere with the proper turning of the shaft G under
the influence of the blow upon the striking-head or buffer, but it bears with sufficient
friction to prevent the weight E' from returning the pointer to its initial station until
the friction is removed. The pointer will thus be maintained in the position to which
it has been driven as long as may be desired. To release it, a simple cam-block as H³,
mounted upon a shaft H³, which projects through the casing, may be turned in either
direction from the exterior, suitable stops, as H* H*, preventing the cam from being
turned too far.
The machine being intended for use without the presence of an attendant, should
be incapable of being operated before a coin has been deposited in it. I therefore
provide a balance-lever L', which turns upon a pivot i, and against which, when in its
normal position, the end of the rod B will abut, thus preventing this rod from being
moved forward. The lever L can be moved from the path of the shaft B only by the
weight of a coin, which, being passed through an opening K provided for it, follows
down a chute or director K' and drops into a receptacle L upon the end of a balanced
lever L', which is pivoted, as at i. The weights kk used for balancing this lever are
in the form of nuts, one of which will set the other, so that they may be
moved and set as may be required for operation with one coin or another.
As thus constructed and arranged, provision is made for locking the rod B against
longitudinal movement from a blow delivered upon the striking-head or buffer, or
from other causes, as well as for releasing the same, when required to permit of such
movement, by the gravity of a coin, for instance, when dropped through the
opening K-and in order to hold the lever L' from lateral movement when in its
normal position, and against the force of a blow against the striking-head or buffer,
if delivered while in that position I provide the frame or housing A with hooked
lugs or keepers 1, with which it engages at that time, as shown by the dotted lines in
Fig. 4.
M indicates a sector, which meshes with a pinion I on a shaft I' to operate it, and is
mounted on an arm M¹, pivoted at m and connected to the lever L', substantially as
shown. When the lever L is depressed by the weight of a proper coin, the sector
will be thereby turned on its pivot, and through the pinion I with which it meshes,
rotate the shaft !'. The blow may be then struck and the force or power thereof
indicated upon the dial.
To warn persons against striking the head or buffer when the rod B is rendered
immovable by the interposition of the lever L' in its path, the shaft I' is carried
through the frame or housings, and upon its outer end is mounted a disk 1' the same
being suitably protected against interference and bearing legends, as "Strike now"
and Do not strike," or other indications such as may be appropriate. One of these
being visible, the other should be concealed, as by a screen 13. The warning legend
will remain exposed until the coin-lever has been depressed, when it will disappear
and the other (if another be used) will be brought around to view, as will be
apparent.
The receptacle L should hold the coin after it has been received, and the coin-lever
depressed by it until such time as the blow has been struck. For this reason I provide
the coin-receptacle with a sliding bottom N, the imperforate half or portion of which
is held beneath the lower mouth of the receptacle by light springs, as nn, until such
time as it is so moved as to uncover the lower mouth or delivery end; and thus
permit the coin to drop out, and the coin-lever to return under the influence of its
balancing-weights. The end of the rod B is slightly cut away or beveled off as shown
at Figs. 6 and 7, and against the surface so formed one end of a spring-actuated

page_text: sliding bar is made to bear, the other end being so situated that when the
receptacle L. is depressed to its limit of travel it will bring one portion of the movable
'bottom nearly or quite in contact therewith. The bar O being suitably guided, as in
the ways o o, as soon as the shaft B is forced inwardly the inclined portion of its inner
end will crowd the bar O in the direction of its length, and this will force the sliding
bottom N against the action of its springs, uncovering the delivery end of
receptacle L and permitting the coin to drop therefrom, when the arm L' and the
rod B will immediately resume their normal positions. From the receptacle L the coin
proceeds to the box P, following down a chute or conductor R' provided for it.
It is desirable for obvious reasons, to register the number of coins deposited in the
machine. I therefore cause the coins as they leave chute P¹ to drop into a second
receptacle Q, which is mounted on the end of an arm Q¹, the inner end of which
actuates any suitable registering mechanism. (Indicated at Q2.) The receptacle Q
is open at the top and outer side, but is closed at the other sides and bottom. A
suitable stationary are R is opposed to the open side of the receptacle, keeping the
side closed until such time as the receptacle is carried down below its lower end, which
is the point at which registration will take place and the lower outer side be
unobstructed, so that the coin will drop out, and the lever or arm Q₁ freed to return
to its original position.
The machine thus constructed and arranged will be found of few and simple parts,
which may be easily kept in working order, safe and reliable, and generally well
adapted to answer all the requirements of a machine of its class.
Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to
secure by Letters Patent, is :-
1. In combination with the movable rod, the striking-head or buffer mounted
thereon, said striking-head being packed with shreds of rubber; substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
2. In combination with the movable rod, the striking-head or buffer having a
centrally-perforated back piece removably secured upon the extremity of the rod, sub-
.stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The herein described striking head or buffer, composed of the back piece, a
receptacle of elastic material, or packing or filling of rubber shreds for such receptacle,
and a cover, combined and arranged substantially as explained.
4. The combination, with the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer, of a collar
on said shaft, a bell-crank lever, and a tension spring connected with said lever,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. The combination, with the rod, a lever connected thereto, a rack resting on
said lever and carrying a weight, the index-shaft, and a pinion thereon for engage-
ment with said rack, of a friction-pad for preventing the backward movement of said
shaft and a lever carrying such pad, substantially as described.
6. The index-shaft, the friction-bearing thereon, the pivoted lever carrying said
pad and a cam for moving said lever and releasing said shaft combined and arranged
substantially as shown and described.
7. The combination, with the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer, of a hinged
lever adapted to be moved by the weight of a coin and keepers or lugs for co-opera-
tion therewith, substantially as described.
8. The combination, with the coin-receptacle mounted on the end of a hinged lever,
a sliding bottom consisting of a perforate and imperforate part, and springs for
holding the bottom, substantially as shown and described.
9. The combination, with the coin-receptacle and its sliding bottom mounted upon
a hinged lever, of an opener-bar arranged to move said bottom, and the rod carrying
the striking-head or buffer for operating said opener-rod, substantially in the manner
shown and described.
10. The combination, as before set forth, of the rod carrying the striking-head or
. buffer, the spring opener-bar bearing against an incline on said rod, a hinged lever,
and the coin-receptacle with its movable bottom mounted thereon, said lever being

page_text: arranged to carry the bottom into position to be moved by the opener-bar at the time
and under the conditions essentially as explained.
11. The combination, as before set forth, of the rod carrying the striking-head or
buffer, the index or pointer shaft connected with such rod, and operated thereby, the
hinged lever and the coin-receptacle mounted thereon and provided with the movable
bottom, and the opener-bar arranged to be moved and to operate, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes explained.
12. The combination, with the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer, the bell-
crank lever connected thereto, the rack and weight resting upon said lever, and the
pointer and pointer-shaft operated from said rack, of a second bell-crank engaging
said rod, a resisting and returning spring connected to such last mentioned bell-crank,
a hinged lever carrying a coin-receptacle, keepers or lugs therefor, a sector and sector-
arm, and a warning plate, substantially as described.
1
1
1000
253
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, Agents for the Applicant.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, Agents for the Applicant.