Improvements in Electric Coin-freed Apparatus for Delivering and Stamping Tickets.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Coin-freed Apparatus for Delivering and
Stamping Tickets.
I, JOHANN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH KRULL, of S, Bahnhofstrasse, in the City of
Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer, 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 an electrically actuated coin-freed apparatus, in
which the delivery of the article to be sold takes place owing to the oscillatory
motion of an armature pivotally mounted within the influence of two electro-
magnets, the electric circuit being completed in such a manner that the electric
current flows through the armature, invariably in one and the same direction,
and through the electro magnets also but in each direction alternately for the
purpose of alternately attracting and repelling the armature. This reversal of
the position of the armature takes place according as the coin introduced into
the apparatus, in its passage through the same, closes first one and then the other
of the two paths for the current which are arranged upon or around the said
electro magnets in opposite directions. The poles of the armature therefore in-
variably maintain the same position, whereas the electromagnets alternate their
poles whilst the apparatus is operating, in such a manner that the electro-
magnets have the same pole in the ends lying in the same directions, that is to
say the upper and lower ends, and in consequence of the alternate closing and
breaking of the two paths for the current, their polarity alternates always at the
same time and in the same sense. Owing to this alternation of the electro-
magnet poles whilst the armature poles remain unaltered, the movement or
oscillation of the armature is produced, whilst when the apparatus is not in
use, that is to say, when no current is passing through the same, the remanent
or residual magnetism ensures that the armature shall bear firmly against one
of the electro-magnet cores and consequently that the apparatus shall be in
readiness for immediate use.
The regulation that is to say, the closing and breaking of the circuits surround-
ing the electro-magnets formed by means of the introduction of the coin, takes
place by means of two electric relays inserted in suitable accessory or auxiliary
circuits. The making and breaking of the accessory circuits and the actuation
of the relays is effected by means of a suitable contact making device which is
likewise actuated by the oscillation of the armature.
همر
In the accompanying drawings an electrical automatic railway or similar
ticket delivery apparatus arranged in accordance with this invention is illustrated
by way of example.
Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus.
Figure 2 illustrates the suspension of the armature.
Figures 3 and
are detail views of the slide for delivering the object sold
which is operated by the armature.
Figure 5 illustrates a portion of the apparatus as shewn in Figure 1; the
electro-magnets, the armature and its suspension are omitted, in order that the
arrangement of the relays may be more clearly shown.
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus shewing more
especially the electrical connections.

page_text: Figure 7 shows a somewhat modified form of the delivering apparatus being
provided at the same time with a suitable stamping apparatus.
Figure 8 is a right hand end view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 7.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.
In a suitable casing A the two electromagnets a and 6 having between them
a post c are arranged. At the upper portion of this post is arranged a spindle, c',
which carries an arm provided with an arc shaped armature d capable of
oscillating between the two electro magnets a and b, so that it is in contact
either with the electro magnet a or with the electro magnet b. Upon one
end of the spindle c¹ is provided a lever e to which a suitably shaped slide e²
is attached by means of an intermediate link c¹. This slide works in a suitable
guide e in such a manner that in its displacement from the position illustrated
m Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 4 it pushes the undermost ticket of a
pile of tickets K arranged in a box S out through the opening k of the apparatus.
The lower extremity of the lever e is furnished with a spring contact maker g
which is capable, by means of two contact pieces gl and g arranged upon the
bottom A of the apparatus, of closing the circuit at pre-determined times, as
is hereinafter explained.
Upon the other extremity of the spindle c is arranged an arm f which carries
a plate fentering a slot h in the partition H. This plate f¹ serves, after the
position of the armature has been reversed, to block the admission opening i
or passage for the coin; so that whilst the slide is delivering a ticket which
has been paid for, a fresh coin cannot enter the passage .
Upon the partition H (Figure 5) are arranged two relays consisting of the
electromagnets and m and the armature levers and m belonging thereto.
These latter are furnished with projections 12 and m², which extend into the
passage. through suitable slots in the partition H, that is to say into the path
of the coin M. The armature levers, which are pressed down by springs ³, m³,
rest upon contact screws 1, m².
A coin M falling in the passage is therefore first of all arrested by the
projection so that it rests upon a plate n and forms an electrical connection
between the parts and n, the object of which will be hereinafter explained.
If the armature lever is lifted by its electro-magnet, the circuit is broken and
the released coin is able to proceed along the passage it, until it is again stopped
by the projection m³, so as to again form the circuit by connecting the armature
lever m² and a second contact plate o. Interruption of the current again takes
place by the rise of the armature lever m¹, whereupon the released coin is able
to fall into a suitable receptacle, not shown in the drawings.
The electrical connection and arrangement of the various parts is clearly shown
in Figure 6. The wire p coming from the source of electricity e.g. a battery Q,
first passes round the armature d, it then passes downwards and around the
cores of the electro-magnets a and b and finally connects with the armature
lever Between the armature d and the electro-magnets ab there branches
off from the wire p a wire p', which is wound around the cores of the electro-
magnets a and b in the opposite direction and passes to the armature lever m¹.
From the other pole of the source of electricity a conductor q proceeds to the
contact piece n and a conductor q¹ to the contact piece o. In addition to this
two wires r and s lead from the source of electricity Q, pass around the electro-
magnets 1, m and proceed to the contact pieces g³g respectively. Corresponding
conductors and s (which in practice are replaced by a single wire) connect
the other side of the source of electricity with the lever e carrying the contact
spring 9.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
.
A coin M introduced into the admission slot first of all forms an electrical
connection between the lever and the plate n; the circuit p q is thereby closed
thus producing by means of the excitation of the electro-magnets a and b an
alternation in the poles of the electro-magnet cores, so that the remanent or

page_text: morun-polarity of, or at the upper portion of, the cores is changed inte
south-polarity. The south magnetism now present in the upper ends of the
electro-magnet cores causes the armature d, the polarity of which does not
change owing to the fact that the current always passes through it in one and
5 the same direction, to oscillate towards the left hand and upon the electro-
magnet a. Owing to the oscillatory motion of the armature d, the blocking
slide fmoves under the admission aperture 2 whilst the lever e swings to
the right-hand and by means of the slide e linked thereto pushes the ticket to
be delivered through the delivery aperture k, the contact spring sliding
0 beyond the contact piece g¹. When the lever e has reached the end of its
travel in the right-hand direction, it comes into contact with the contact
piece and thereby closes the auxiliary circuit r r for the electromagnet 7.
Through the influence of the electromagnet 7 the armature lever is raised for
the purpose of breaking the circuit p and thus releasing the coin M. This
5 coin on being released proceeds along the passage and, retained between the
armature lever m¹ and the plate o, closes the circuit p¹¹. The current thus
caused to flow round the electro-magnets in the opposite direction to that in
which it previously passed, again produces, a change of polarity in the electro-
magnets, and the north magnetism now present in the upper ends of the
electro-magnet cores produces a backward swing of the armature d towards
the right hand on to the electromagnet b.
positions of the armature d and lever e respectively the auxiliary circuit pl
Owing to this reversal of the
is interrupted, the stop f' moves back and opens the passage 2, and at the
same time the delivery slide e is drawn back towards the left hand by means
of the oscillation of the lever e in the same direction. Upon its passage towards
the left hand the lever eg sliding upon the contact piece g¹ closes the second
auxiliary circuits which excites the electro-magnet m with the object of
attracting the armature lever m¹. Owing to the rise of the armature lever m
the circuit p q is again interrupted and the coin released, leaving it free
to traverse the remainder of the passage and fall into the coin receptacle.
Shortly before the lever e reaches the end of its oscillation, i.e. its left hand end
position, the spring g slides off the contact piece g¹, thereby again interrupting
the auxiliary circuits sl. When the armature has attained the extremity of
its right hand travel and the lever e the extremity of its left hand travel
(Figures 1 and 6) the whole of the circuits in the apparatus are interrupted or
opened.
The electric current is thus present in the apparatus only during the time in
which the coin introduced into it is closing the circuits, and consequently the
electro-magnet cores ab and the armature are only magnetised for this short
period. As, however, it is necessary that the apparatus should always be in
a condition for immediate use (Figure 1), that is to say, the armature d must
always rest firmly against the right hand electro-magnet during the time the
apparatus is not operating admitting of no movements or oscillations of the
armature d as a result of shaking or other shocks, the armature should be made
of steel so that the remanent or residual magnetism may hold the armature d
irmly against the core of the electro-magnet also when no current is passing
hrough the apparatus.
For the purpose of stamping the tickets or the like as they are delivered,
suitable stamping apparatus may be connected with the delivery apparatus in
ny appropriate manner, and may also be electrically operated if so desired.
In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown an electrically operated stamping apparatus
connection with the delivery apparatus, the latter showing some modifications.
n this delivery apparatus the arrangement is that the armature do, somewhat
odified in its shape or form, does not rest against or upon the electromagnet b
uring the time the apparatus is not operating, but upon the electro-magnet a.
The contact plates for the auxiliary circuits of the electric relavs
Figures 1 and 6) are replaced in this case by suitable mercury contact devices GI

page_text: and G2 the construction of which is well known and which essentially consists
of mercury-columns and t with which are connected the wiress and r respec-
tively, and of yielding or spring actuated contact pins and u¹ with which
are in electrical connection the wires and respectively. By bringing
the contact pins u and u¹ in contact with their mercury-columns or the
corresponding auxiliary circuits and will be closed. The alternating
closing of the contact devices G₁ G2 is likewise effected by the oscillating move-
ment of the armature or its shaft c¹ respectively. For this purpose there are
attached to the rocking shaft c¹ or the lever e two arms respectively, preferably
made of one piece. These arms are provided with projecting parts w and w
which when the armature do oscillates, impinge upon the contact pins u u
thereby causing the latter against the pressure of their springs to dip alternately
into the mercury-columns and to close the corresponding auxiliary circuits.
The projecting part w is hinged at we to the arm and is under the influence
of a spring which latter is stronger than the spring acting upon the contact.
pin u, so that the lever w is able to press or move the contact pin u downwards
as soon as the lever o strikes or acts upon the said contact u. Shortly before
the armature do reaches its right hand end position or position of rest (Figure 7),
the lever strikes against a stop which causes the former to turn upwards
into the position shown in Figure 7, and to release the contact pin. Thus
freed the contact pin is then raised by its spring in order to break the
circuits for the purpose already explained above.
The stamping apparatus is composed of an electromagnet 1 attached to the
casing A and of an armature lever 2 pivoted at 3 also to the said casing or to
the ticket box S connected therewith. The lever 2 carries the roller or block 4
having upon its surface the letters, numbers or like figures to be impressed in
or stamped on the tickets to be delivered. The ticket k to be delivered is first
held underneath the letter block 4 by means of the suitable shaped slide e²,
the free edge of which rests upon a cross piece e provided between the guide
pieces of the slide 2 (Fig. 7). Between the stamping block 4 and the
slide or the ticket & supported by it may be provided a colour band or strip 5.
This colour strip leading from the roller 6 to the roller 7 is passed over suitable
guide rollers 8; 8. Attached to the roller 7 is a ratchet wheel 9 with which
works a pawl 10 pivoted to the lever 2 and acted upon a spring 11. By means
of the said ratchet device operated by the oscillations of the stamping lever 2
the colour strip 5 is gradually wound upon the roller 7, that is to say, it is fed
along by steps underneath the stamping block so that the latter, when pressed
down on to the ticket to make the required stamping, will act always on fresh
parts of the said colour strip.
The electro-magnet 1 operating the armature lever 2 may be placed in any
suitable circuit 12, 13. The closing of this circuit 12, 13, may be effected by
the insertion of a coin M into the coin slot i or coin passage ¹. In Figure 7
I have shown such switch device by way of example. 14 is a double armed lever
capable of being turned on its pivot 15. The upper end or arm of the lever 14
projects into the passage i.e. into the path of the coin, whilst the other or
lower arm carries a block or plate 16 having a recess or notch 17 into which
enter the spring contact tongues 18, 19 as shown in Figure 7. The contact
tongues 18, 19 are connected with the wires 12 and 13 respectively.
The operation of the modified apparatus (Figs. 7 and 8) is as follows:
By the introduction of a coin M into the passage the lever 14 is reversed
whereby the tongue 19 is drawn towards the tongue 18 in order to close the
circuit 12, 13 and to excite the electro-magnet 1. Owing to this excitation the
lever 2 is attracted and stamps by means of its downwardly pressed block or
roller 4 and the colour strip 5 respectively the ticket K properly held and
supported by the slide. After the coin inserted has passed the lever 14 the
switch device. 19. 18, 16, 14, automatically breaks or opens the circuit 12, 13
whereupon the released armature lever 2 effects in well known manner by means

page_text: of its pawl 10 a forward rotation of the ratchet roller 7, 9 and a forward feeding
of the colour band or strip 5. As soon as the circuit » (Figure 6) is closed
by the coin proceeding along the passage the electro-magnets a bare excited
and the armature do caused to oscillate towards the left and upon the electro-
magnet b. In consequence of the oscillation of the armature do the lever e,
and with it the slide e, swings to the right hand, whereby the stamped ticket
resting upon the said slide is pushed off said slide by the lowermost ticket
of the pile and thus caused to fall down through the opening between the
guides and cross-piece e.
The backward swing of the armature effected by another change of the
polarity in the electro-magnets a b (as fully explained above) causes the lever e
to swing to the left hand and to push or carry forward by means of its slide e³
another ticket of the pile K, which ticket is retained in the position shown in
Figure 7 until another coin is inserted in the coin slot in order to operate again
the stamping device and the delivery apparatus proper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:--
1. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
a pair of electro-magnets having coils wound in opposite directions, an oscillating
armature having its coil wound in one direction, said armature operating said
carrier, a main electric circuit including the armature coil and one of the coils
of each of the electro-magnet circuit closing devices, comprising a fixed
and a movable contact interposed in said circuit, a branch from said main
circuit including the second coil of each electro-magnet, and circuit closing
devices comprising likewise a movable and a fixed contact interposed in said
branch circuit; of a coin guide for guiding a coin first to the main circuit
contacts, then to the branch circuit contacts to successively close said circuits
through said coin, and means operated by the aforesaid armature for obstructing
the coin guide-way in advance of the main circuit contacts, for the purpose set
forth
2. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
a pair of electro-magnets having coils wound in opposite directions, an oscillating
armature having its coil wound in one direction, said armature operating said
carrier, a main electric circuit including the armature coil and one of the coils
of each of said electro-magnets, circuit-closing devices comprising a fixed
and a movable contact interposed in said circuit, a branch from the latter circuit
including the second coil of each of the electro-magnets, and circuit closing
devices likewise comprising a movable and a fixed contact interposed in said
branch circuit; in combination with a coin guide for guiding a coin first to
the contacts in the main circuit, then to the contacts in the branch circuit to
close said circuits successively through the coin, a stop on the movable contact
of each pair of such operating to prevent the coin from moving out of the
armature for successively displacing the movable contacts and thereby releasing
the coin, for the purpose set forth.
3. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
a pair of electro-magnets having coils wound in opposite directions, an oscillating
armature having its coil wound in one direction, said armature operating said
carrier, a main electric circuit including the armature coil and one of the coils
of each of the electro-magnets, circuit closing devices comprising a fixed
and a movable contact interposed in said circuit, a branch from the latter
circuit including the second coil of each of the electro-magnets, and circuit
closing devices likewise comprising a movable and a fixed contact interposed in
said branch circuit; in combination with a coin guide for guiding a coin first
to the contacts in the main circuit, then to the contacts in the branch circuit
to close said circuits successively through the coin, a stop on the movable

page_text: contact on each pair of such operating to prevent the coin from moving out of
contact therewith, an electro-magnet for each of the aforesaid movable contacts,
auxiliary circuits including said electro-magnets, and a circuit closer controlled
by the movements of the armature to first close the auxiliary circuit through
the electro-magnet for the movable contact in the main circuit after said
circuit has been closed, and then close the circuit through the electro-magnet
for the movable contact in the branch circuit after said circuit has been closed,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
electrically controlled appliances for operating said carrier, a suitable electric
circuit including said appliances, circuit closing devices comprising a fixed and
a movable contact interposed in said circuit, and a coin guide for guiding a
coin to said contacts, of electrically operating stamping devices, a suitable electric
circuit including said devices, a circuit closer comprising a fixed contact and
a co-operating movable contact interposed in said circuit, said movable contact
in the path of a coin moving along the aforesaid coin guide-way, whereby the
last named movable contact is moved to its fixed contact to close such circuit,
for the purpose set forth.
5. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
electrically controlled appliances for operating said carrier, a suitable electric
circuit including said appliances, circuit-closing devices comprising a fixed and
a movable contact interposed in said circuit, and a coin guide for guiding a
coin to said contacts: of stamping devices for stamping the article on the
carrier, consisting of an electro-magnet, a two-armed rock lever armature carrying
a stamp on one of its arms, an electric circuit including said electro-magnet,
a circuit closer consisting of a fixed and a movable contact normally held apart,
said movable contact in the path of a coin moving along the aforesaid coin
guide, whereby said movable contact is moved to the fixed contact to close the
electric circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
electrically controlled appliances for operating said carrier, a suitable electric
circuit including said appliances, circuit closing devices comprising a fixed and
a movable contact interposed in said circuit, and a coin guide for guiding a
coin to said contacts; of stamping devices for stamping the articles on the
carrier, consisting of an electro-magnet, a two-armed rock lever armature carrying
a stamp on one of its arms, an electric circuit including said electro-magnet, a
circuit closer consisting of a fixed and a movable contact normally held apart,
said movable contact in the path of a coin moving along the aforesaid coin guide,
whereby said movable contact is moved to the fixed contact to close the electric
circuit, and an ink ribbon having motion over the printing face of the stamp,
and ribbon-feeding devices operated by the aforesaid armature lever to feed the
ribbon along at each closure of the electric circuit, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
7. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
a rock shaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate the same, a radial arm
on said shaft, a segmental armature secured to said arm and having its coil
wound in one direction, a pair of electro-magnets having their coils wound
in opposite directions, a main electric circuit including the armature coil and
one of the coils of each electro-magnet, circuit closing devices comprising a
fixed and a movable contact interposed in said main circuit, a branch from
the latter circuit including the second coil or each of the aforesaid electro-
magnets, and circuit closing devices comprising likewise a fixed and a movable
contact interposed in said branch circuit: in combination with a coin guide for
guiding a coin first to the contacts in the main circuit, then to the contacts in
the branch circuit and through said coins closing said circuits successively, for
the purpose set forth.
8. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,

page_text: a rock shaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate the same, a radial arm
on said shaft, a segmental armature secured to said arm, the coil of which
armature is wound in one direction, a pair of electro-magnets having coils
wound in opposite directions, a main electric circuit including the armature coil
and one of the coils of each electro-magnet, circuit closing devices comprising
a fixed and a movable contact interposed in said main circuit, a branch from
said main circuit including the other coil of each of said electro-magnets, and
circuit closing devices comprising likewise a fixed and a movable contact inter-
posed in said branch circuit; in combination with a coin guide for guiding a
coin first to the main contacts, then to the branch circuit contacts, and through
said coins closing circuits successively, and a second radial arm on the afore-
said rock shaft provided with a projection adapted to obstruct the coin guide-
way in advance of the main circuit contacts when the aforesaid shaft is rocked
in one direction by the closure of said circuit, for the purpose set forth.
9. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
a rock shaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate the same, means for
feeding the objects to the carrier one at a time when said carrier is moved in
one direction, a radial arm on the rock shaft, a segmental armature secured
to said arm, and having its coil wound in one direction, a pair of electro-
magnets having coils wound in opposite directions, a main electric circuit
including the armature coil and one of the coils of each electromagnet, circuit
closing devices comprising a fixed and a movable contact interposed in said
main circuit, a branch from the latter circuit including the second coil of each
of the aforesaid electro-magnets, and circuit closing devices comprising like-
wise a fixed and a movable contact interposed in each branch circuit; in com-
bination with a coin guide for guiding a coin first to the contacts in the main
circuit, then to the contacts in the branch circuit through said coins closing
said circuits successively, for the purpose set forth.
10. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered,
a rock shaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate the same, a radial arm
on said shaft, a segmental armature secured to said arm and having its coil
wound in one direction, a pair of electro-magnets having coils wound in opposite
directions, a main electric circuit including the armature coil and one of the
coils of each electro-magnet, circuit closing devices comprising a fixed and a
movable contact interposed in said circuit, a branch from the main circuit
including the other coil of each of said electro-magnets, circuit closing devices
comprising likewise a fixed and a movable contact interposed in said branch
circuit, a coin guide for guiding a coin first to the main circuit contacts, then
to the branch circuit contacts to successively close said circuits through such
coin, and stop devices operating to prevent the coin from moving clear of the
aforementioned contacts; of an electro-magnet for each of the described movable
contacts, auxiliary circuits including said electro-magnets, and circuit closing
devices comprising a contact in each of said circuits and a contact lever co-
operating therewith, said lever secured to the aforementioned rock shaft and
rocking synchronously with the armature on said shaft for the purpose set
forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.