Improvements in Coin Freed Apparatus for Closing Electric Circuits.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Freed Apparatus for Closing Electric
Circuits.
We, HENRY HUTCHINS BROWN, Electrical Engineer, and ANDERS, ELLIOT
AND CHETHAM-STRODE, LIMITED, Electrical Engineers, all of 10 Bush Lane,
Cannon Street, London, E.C., 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 :-
Our invention relates to a new or improved device to be employed in connection
with automatic machines for use in operating electric circuits by the depositing of
a coin or coins, and the freeing thereof, and has for its object, simplicity of con-
struction, and consequent reduction in the cost of manufacture as compared with
devices for a like purpose bitherto made and used, and may be adapted for use
with and upon any type of automatic machine where an electric current is
employed for giving an equivalent in value for, and upon the insertion of, a given
coin or coins.
In order to render our invention more clear we have filed herewith a sheet of
drawings, but we wish it understood that, we do not confine ourselves to the design
shewn therein as a case or container for our said device but may employ in con-
nection therewith any suits ble surroundings for holding or containing the same, but
in order that our said device may be manufactured in a self contained form, so as to
be capable of easy connection under the coin slot of, or so as to form the coin slot
for, any type of electrical automatic machine, we may prefer to construct it as
shewn by the accompanying drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the said device contained in a wooden case, the front
of which has been removed to shew the mechanism as it would appear when
receiving the coin.
Fig. 2 is the same, shewing the movements of the parts upon the partial
depression of the push, or press button when the coin has been deposited.
Fig. 3 is the same view illustrating how electrical contact is made, and the coin
freed, when the push is fully depressed.
Fig. 4 is a reverse view of the pivotted disc or plate shewn in the previous
figures.
Similar letters of references are used to indicate the same or like parts in each
view.
We
e carry our invention into effect by providing a suitable non-conducting
case A, provided upon its upper surface with a slotted plate B, for the reception
of the coin or coins C, which after passing therethrough enters a guide or shoot
formed by a plate D, and a block of non-conducting material E, placed by means
of screws or the like between D and the back of A, so that sufficient space exists
between D and E for the passage of C. A metallic plate F, is pivotted at a upon
the block E, and is provided with a lug or projection b, with which engages a
suitable spring c, the tension of which serves to keep F in a horizontal position
abutting against the plate D. The back surface of is formed with a projection
or extension of its thickness F¹, shaped to correspond with the circumferential
formation of the coin or coins C, and shewn more particularly by Fig. 4. The
extra thickness of F, at F', provides a space between the back of F, and E, equal
to, or slightly in excess of, the thickness of the coin C. A catch piece G, is also
pivotted upon E, at d, the upper end of which G', is curved to correspond with
the curvature of the upper right hand corner of F, and is of a thickness equal to
the combined thickness of F and F', the lower end G, being about half the
thickness of G', so that an extension e formed thereon may pass freely behind F,

page_text: this like F¹ being curved to correspond with outer formation of C. The end of G,
below d, is connected to a suitable spring, the tension of which serves to keep G
in close contact with a guide plate 9, through which passes a bolt. 1, carrying
a push button i, which passes outwardly through the side of the case A, and
extends there beyond as far as the stop it, will permit, when h is forced outwardly
by G, actuated by the tension of /.
A metallic stud H, passes through and extends beyond the outer surface of E,
the back or unseen end of which is electrically connected to an insulated wire k,
which passes between E, and A, to a terminal I, situated anywhere upon the
case A, connected to one of the poles of a primary battery or other suitable
electrical generator. A spring m is connected to the outer surface of F', behind
the lug b, in electrical connection with an insulated wire ' coming from a second
terminal I, which carries the wire from the opposite pole of the battery or
generator connected to I, and the manner of operation is as follows.
The coin C to be deposited is placed in the slot B in the usual way, as shewn
at Fig. 1 which falls behind D and F, and is there retained by F' and e, as shewn
by the dotted outline thereof. To close the electric circuit the push button i is
pressed inwardly, which by means of the bolt h tilts the catch G, and causes the
projection e to press the coin C against F¹, which depresses the plate F. This is
more clearly shewn by Fig. 2 which illustrates the position of the parts when i has
performed half its journey, the completion of which is attained when the stop is
against g, and in arriving at this point the catch G has become further tilted and
the plate F further depressed, until the point of the curve of G' impinges upon C,
and the coin falls as in Fig. 3, but immediately before the release of C, contact has
been made between m and H and the electric circuit thereby closed, which may by
the employment of suitable electro magnets be caused to close other circuits or
operate upon mechanism within the automatic machine.
In all electrically operated automatic machines the local current is closed by the
depositing and release of a predetermined coin or coins, and many and various ways
have been devised of utilizing the current thus closed for operating certain
mechanism within the machine for giving off an equivalent value for the coin or
coins deposited. Our invention does not in any way relate to the construction of
the automatic machine, nor the mechanism contained therein, but to a method and
ineans of constructing the coin receptacle of such machines, so that the depositing
of the necessary coin, and the release thereof, closes an electric circuit for operating
the electric or other mechanism contained in the machine, and when the circuit is
closed and the coin released in the manner described, the apparatus forming the
subject of our invention has performed its work, and the pressure upon i may be
removed, when the catch G, and the plate F, would return to their original
positions by the agency of the springs c and f, and the apparatus would then be
again ready for the reception of the next coin or in other words be ready for the
next customer.
Upon all automatic machines of the kind to which we refer, is displayed within
view of the customer, the rules to be observed for obtaining the value offered in
return for the coin deposited, and the machine upon which our said invention would
be employed would have a notice stating that the coin must be dropped into the
slot, and the button i be pushed in as far as it would go, and then released, when
by pulling out a drawer or touching a certain indicated knob, or by lifting a certain
lid, or other contrivance the value offered could be obtained.
In order that no person may fraudulently obtain said value without depositing the
necessary coin, we have provided that the pushing in of i when the coin is absent,
causes the point of the curve on G¹ to engage with a curved indent o in the
plate F, without any degree of depression occurring to the plate F, and as the
electrical circuit cannot be closed except by the contact of m and H, and as this
can only occur by the depression of F in the manner described and shown, the coin
must be first deposited before the value offered can be obtained. We may if
necessary extend the depth of the shoot D, and arrange it so that the coin travels

page_text: downward in a zigzag manner to guard against the possible insertion of a wire or
the like to reach and operate upon F', instead of depositing a coin. By these
combined means we render fraud impossible.
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.
1st. In combination with an automatic machine for giving off electrical value
by the depositing of a coin or coins, the construction and use of the several parts
herein described, connected and operating in the manner specified substantially as
and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a new or improved coin freed device for closing electric circuits in com-
bination with an electric automatic machine the construction and use of a case or
container A of any desired shape and of any suitable material, provided with coin
reception slot B, and a straight or zigzag shoot formed by a suitable arrangement
of the plate D, and block E. The plate or disc F, with extension or projection F³,
formed as shewn by Fig. 4, pivotted at a upon E, and retained in a horizontal
position by the tension of a suitable spring o, engaging with the lug b. The catch G
with curved point G', and pivotted upon É at d, and by the tension of a suitable
spring retained abutting against a guide plate o carrying a bolt hand press
button with stop i", which when pressed inwardly tilts the catch G, thereby
imparting a like pressure upon the deposited coin C, and the projection F¹, causing
the depression of the plate F, and contact to be made by the spring m and stud H
for closing an electric circuit substantially as herein described and shewn by the
drawings hereunto appended.
3rd. In a new or improved coin freed device for closing electric circuits in com-
bination with any type of electrical automatic machines the manner of guarding
against fraud by the herein described operation of the point of G' coming into
locking contact with the indent o on F, should the button i be pressed in without
depositing a coin C, in the manner set forth, substantially as herein provided.
Dated this 5th day of December 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.