Improvements in Coin-freed Amusement Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left 31st Jan 1895-Accepted. 23rd Mar.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Amusement Machines.
CHARLES INGREY 47 Cannon Street London Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improved apparatus whereby objects or figures
may be put into motion for the purpose of amusement or instruction after the
insertion of a coin.
My invention is particularly suitable for two figures which can imitate the action
of boxing, fencing or fighting and is so arranged that the whole of the motions
necessary for properly shewing in a natural manner, the various movements
required are produced by depressing or raising one or both of the legs of the
figure without shewing the mechanism for obtaining the said movements, by this
arrangement the figures have a natural appearance and are thereby attractive.
When my improved apparatus is used for two figures boxing or fighting-I form
the said figures of metal, wood, papier maché or other suitable material and joint
the body, legs, arms and sometimes the head in proper positions-the joints
at the hips being so arranged that their axes are not in line. I hinge the heel of the
forward boot to a plate or lever which can pass through a small opening in the
platform upon which the figures stand, the said plate is capable of being raised or
depressed by mechanism to be presently described.
To the hindermost foot I connect a thin plate of steel or other material which
passes through a slot in the platform and is connected to mechanism which can
cause it to travel in the said slot, so that the backward leg may be caused to
advance towards the forward leg when required. In the normal position of the
figure the forward heel is slightly raised from the platform but can be drawn down
When the said plate is
by the depression of the plate to which it is attached.
drawn downwards the forward leg is thereby depressed and by reason of the hip
joints not being in line the body of the figure is caused to move forward and the
variation in the relative positions of the legs and the body is utilised to convey
motion by means of rods cords or their equivalents to the moving parts of the
figure. The left arm which is preferably employed to deliver a blow from the
shoulder to the opposing figure, is jointed at the elbow and the lower portion is
connected to the body in such manner that when the upper part is raised or
depressed the lower is caused to be moved in the required direction. The back-
ward leg is capable of advancing towards the forward leg by reason of the plate
sliding in the slot before referred to and when this is done the figure will no longer
be supported and consequently can fall or be caused to fall backwards so as to give
the appearance of having been knocked down by the opponent.
When the sliding plate is restored to its normal position the figure is raised and
"round." The
resumes the attitude of fighting ready for the next operation or
necessary mechanical motions for operating the forward legs of the figures are
produced by the revolution of a shalt upon which are mounted cams so shaped
that they will produce irregular depressing & raising movements to the plate to
which the heel is hinged, so that the legs, body, arms and sometimes the head are
caused to perform the functions of sparring, guarding & hitting in imitation of
nature.
The sliding motion to the backward leg is produced by a cam or cams mounted
on the said shaft and arranged so that at the proper times levers and connecting

page_text: rods can be moved for the purpose of causing the required sliding motion to the
plate to which the forward foot is connected. In order to prolong the operation of
the figures before one or the other is made to fall, I in some cases cause two or
more revolutions to be given to the cams, the levers and connecting rod for
operating the backward leg being meanwhile prevented from acting. To accomplish
this I form the cam or cams for operating the levers for working the backward
legs of the figures, with two paths, one being concentric & the other eccentric and
capable of imparting the required motion to the levers. I employ hinged or
sliding stops or abutments so arranged that they are normally in positions which
retain the said levers on the concentric paths of the cams so that the revolution of
the shaft does not affect them.
When a given number of revolutions of the cam have been given the said sliding
or hinged stops are caused to be removed out of contact with the levers by the
action of proportionate gearing so that the levers are in positious to be operated
by the eccentric paths of the cams.
In order to allow of only one of the figures falling and to render it a matter of
doubt and uncertainty which figure will fall, I employ two props or abutments so
arranged and connected that when one is in a position to prevent one of the levers
from entering the eccentric cam path, the other will be free. The said props are
connected to a weighted lever which can be vibrated or oscillated in either
direction and when moved out of the centre or out of the vertical will fall by its
own weight to one side or the other and produce a corresponding motion to the
said props.
In order to give an uncertain movement or number of movements to
the said weighted lever, I employ in some cases a wheel which can be revolved
when the handle or knot of the coin freed mechanism is pulled or operated the
number of revolutions being dependent on the force employed and as it is
doubtful whether precisely the same force can be imparted consecutively the
number of times the wheel will revolve is unknown. The said wheel is provided
with a crank, cam, eccentric, or their equivalent, and transmits motion to the said
weighted lever. In some cases I operate the said weighted lever by the action of
the coin. This is accomplished by forming two passages or channels thro' which
the coin can pass but through which channel or passage it passes is dependent upon
which side of a knife edge it falls. The said knife edge is placed in such a position
that when the coin falls it strikes the same and is compelled to fall one side or the
other, the weight of the coin when passing down one or the other of the channels
operates on an arm and gives motion in one direction or the other to the weighted
lever.
The motive power for operating my improved apparatus may be produced from
a falling weight or spring which can be wound when the coin freed gear is put
into action or it may be previously wound and arranged to give a number of
opurations when the coins are employed to liberate the coin freed mechanism
or the apparatus may be worked by a handle or crank or by electric or other
motor.
Deted this 31st day of March 1891
I, CHARLES INGREY, of 47, Cannon Street, in the City of London, 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 5
statement:-
My invention has reference to improvements in that class of coin-freed machines
in which, on the insertion of a coin, mechanism is set in operation co as to cause a

page_text: figure or figures to move or work for a given time, and it consists in a novel
arrangement of mechanism more particularly applicable for actuating two figures
which are caused to imitate the action of fighting, boxing or fencing, one of such
figures being caused to fall at or near the end of the performance so as to give the
appearance of having been knocked down by the other; the mechanism subsequently
restoring the figure to a standing position ready for the next operation.
The mechanism is so arranged that, upon the user of the machine inserting the
coin and working a handle or push-kuob, motion will be communicated to a
mechanical device which can vibrate or oscillate or work for a longer or shorter
period according to the degree of force applied to operate the handle or push-knob.
When the said device comes to rest it withdraws a stop or abutment from one or
the other of the mechanisms employed for causing the figures to fall so that the
falling of either is a matter of chance or uncertainty.
In the accompanying drawings,—
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an apparatns constructed according
to my invention.
Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the lower part of the apparatus shewing the
weight for operating the same:
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section looking from the left of the
apparatus:
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3, Figure 2:
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4, Figure 1:
Figure 5 is a front elevation of part of the apparatus shewn in Figure 1 but
shewing some of the parts in a different position :
Figures 6 to 12 are details hereinafter described:
Figure 13 is a horizontal section shewing a modification of the apparatus:
Figure 14 is a front elevation; and,
Figure 15 is a detail of the same.
A and B indicate the pugilists formed of wood, gutta-percha or other suitable
material arranged facing one another upon a table a* and of similar construction.
Each pugilist has the legs, arms and head jointed to the body at a, b and c
respectively, the left arm of each pugilist being also jointed at the elbow at d to
enable it to be straightened when delivering a blow and the head is retained in a
forward position by a spring e or its equivalent. The toe of the left foot of each
pugilist is normally resting upon the table a* and the heel raised as indicated by
the pugilist A. Each right leg which is maintained stationary during the major
part of the boxing operation is connected by a suitable spring f to the body so as
to maintain the latter normally in an upright position, the right leg having the
left arm connected to it by a crank g and rod and the right arm by a connecting
rod i. It will thus be seen that any alteration of the relative position of the body
and the right leg will be communicated to the arms and cause them to move.
In order to operate the elbow-joint of each left arm I employ a rod j jointed to
the fore arm k and to the body in such a manner that when the shoulder part 1 of
the arm is raised, the said connecting-rodj causes the fore arm to be extended. It
will be seen that the joints a between the legs and the body are not in alignment
but one in advance of the other so that when the left heel is drawn down from the
position shewn by pugilist A to the position shewn by pugilist B in dotted lines the
left toe will act as a fulcrum and cause the upper part of the left leg to move back-
wards, thereby producing a forward movement of the body and at the same time the
left arm will be extended by the rod h, crank g and rod j as in the action of
delivering a blow from the shoulder at the head of the opponent, the spring e
allowing the head to give way to the blow in, a natural manner. The right arm is
also caused by the said movement of the left leg to drop. This position of the
parts is clearly shewn by the pugilist B in dotted lines in Figure 1. By raising
the left leg the parts will resume the position assumed by A and by varying the
degree of movement of the said leg greater or less movement will be given to the
arms and body of each pugilist, whereby a sparring or boxing action is produced.

page_text: Pugilist B is shewn in a recumbent position, it having, at a given time, been caused
to fall after the delivery of a blow by its opponent A.
I will now describe the mechanism whereby the necessary movements are
imparted to both pugilists. Each right leg is provided with a runner or slotted
plate m passing through a guide or slot n in the table a*, the said slot enabling the
said foot to be moved forward as hereinafter described for the purpose of enabling
the pugilist to fall. Each left leg is jointed at o to the end of a weighted bell-
crank lever P which passes through a suitable opening q in the table a* and is
capable of being raised or lowered by the action of a cam connected to a shaft *.
The cams one of which is shewn detached in Figure 6 are each formed with a
number of projections of different heights which engage with the lower end of
one of the bell-crank levers p, the said end being formed with a roller or pin s
bearing against its respective cam. Each right leg is operated by means of a
connecting-rod t and lever u, the said lever being pivotted loose on a shaft v and
operated by a cam w shewn detached at Figure 7. This cam is formed with
concentric paths * on each side, one serving to operate A and the other B, the
said paths engaging with rollers x on the levers . An opening y or by-path is
formed in each path w* so that at the proper time its roller can pass therein and
allow the lever u to be drawn in towards the shaft by a spring, thereby
drawing the right leg of the connected pugilist forward and causing the same to
fall backwards into the position assumed by pugilist B. As the cam w continues
to revolve a path a' formed thereon comes into contact with the roller and restores
the lever u to the concentric path w*, thereby moving the lever u and raising the
pugilist to its standing position.
In order that the cam w may revolve several times before allowing either of the
pugilists A, B to fall I provide on the end of each lever u a plate or projection b
(shewn clearly in Figure 3) which can be supported by a strut c', the two struts
being connected together, as shewn in Figure 3, and pivotted at di to brackets e¹.
These struts are adapted to be moved by a cam f¹ loose on the shaft v and shewn
detached at Figure 8, which cam engages with a projection g' formed on the said
struts c', a spring being employed to keep the said projection against the cam.
When the struts are heneath the plates or projections & it will be seen that notwith-
standing the fact of the roller a on either lever a being opposite its opening y, the
said lever will be prevented from falling inwards, and until such time as the struts
are removed the cam r can be revolved without affecting the levers u. In the
arrangement shewn, three revolutions of the shaft * are allowed before the
struts el are removed and consequently before either of the pugilists can fall, and
for this purpose the cam is formed on a gear-wheel which gears into a
pinion attached to the shaft and has three times as many teeth.
In order that only one of the pugilists A, B shall be allowel to fall, I provide
two arms or abutments shewn clearly in Figure 3 pivotted at and cou-
nected together by a link in such a manner that when one is moved into
position beneath one of the plates the other one is removed from beneath
the other plate whereby one of the levers u is prevented from falling inwards
when the struts are removed from beneath the plates while the other lever
is free to fall inwards.
In order to render it a matter of uncertainty as to which of the said abut-
ments shall allow the corresponding lever u to fall inwards and so allow its
connected pugilist A or B to fall, I employ two coin-receptacles or buckets 1, 1
at the ends of levers m', the bucket corresponding with pugilist A while the
bucket corresponds with pugilist B. The levers m' are attached to shafts n¹
upon which are fixed cranks o', p'. The said crauks are both connected to one
of the abutments by connecting-rods q', respectively but are in opposite
positions on their shafts so that when one coin-bucket is depressed by the weight
of the coin the abutments are moved to enable one of the levers u to fall and when
the other money-bucket is employed the abutments are moved to enable the ofer
lever to fall.

page_text: The coin is inserted through a slot s', Figure 2, and falls into a chute t', the said
chute being divided at by a knife-edged plate or division v arranged parallel
with the longer sides of the chute so that when the coin falls down the said chute
it is a matter of chance upon which side of the said knife-edge it will pass an
consequently which coin-bucket will be operated.
In order that when one coin-bucket is depressed its movements shall not be
communicated to the other bucket, I form slots in the ends of the connecting-
rods, engaging the cranks o', as shewn clearly in Figure 3.
My improved apparatus is most advantageously operated by a falling weight a
as shewn clearly at Figures 1 and 2. The weight a² is wound up by the
movement of a hand-lever w' attached to a shaft carrying a pulley y' around
which a chain or cord carrying the weight passes, the winding being effected
by moving the lever w¹ from the position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1 to the
position shewn in dotted lines in Figure 5 but is normally locked and prevented
from being operated until after the insertion of a coin by means of a pivotted
tumbler or stop 2 which engages with an arm c² attached to the lever was
indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. The said arm is shewn detached in
elevation and plan in Figures 9 and 10 and is formed with a projection d2 which
engages with a slot e formed in a toothed quadrant f2, shewn detached in
elevation and plan in Figures 11 and 12 respectively. The said quadrant is loose
on the shaft, is normally in the position shewn in Figure 1 and is prevente
from being moved until after the insertion of a coiu by means of the tumbler
engaging with a notch 2 in the quadrant.
is a pin formed on a projection on the tumbler 2 and bearing normally
against both the bent down ends g² of the levers m' so that when either of the
levers m', is depressed by a coin its end 92 moves the pin 2 and turns the said
tumbler upon its pivot 2 out of engagement with the arm 2 and the notch k² of the
quadrant. The hand-lever w¹ is thus free to be moved to the position shewn in
Figure 5 to wind up the weight a², and carrying with it the quadrant 2 revolves a
pinion gearing with the said quadrant and loose upon the shaft v and having
upon its side a flange m² having a notch m* engaging with a spring-pawl n² which
is attached to the wheel f*. This arrangement of notched flange and pawl enables
the weight a² to be wound up without giving motion to the pugilists A, B. Whilst
the said quadrant is being operated to raise the weight a² by the lever w¹ a pawl o²
engages with ratchet teeth p² on the quadrant and prevents the latter moving back
until such time as the arm c² is nearly returned to its normal position when the
curved end q2 of the said arm comes into contact with the said pawl and forces it
out of engagement with the teeth p², thereby allowing the quadrant to be free to
be moved by the falling of the weight a² so as to give motion to the mechanism
operating the pugilists A, B. The slot e² enables the arm c² to move back without
moving the quadrant. As the arm c² is returned to its normal position it forces
back the tumbler 62 and allows the latter again to come forward whereby the said
arm is locked and prevented from being again used until another coin is inserted.
The arm e² is provided with a pin which when the said arm is raised impinges
against whichever of the coin-bucket levers m' is depressed and restores it to its
normal position.
Each coin-bucket is open at the front 1* as shewn clearly in Figure 5 and is
provided with a hinged strap having a tail-piece t. This strap which bridges
across the open front 1 retains the coin in position in the bucket until such time as
it is raised into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, whereupon the
coin being no longer supported falls into a suitable coiu receptacle C. The
movement for operating either of the said hinged straps when its bucket is
depressed is obtained by a pin u2 upon the quadrant f so that when the quadrant
is moved in the act of winding up the weight a² the said pin comes into contact
with the tail-piece 2 and so raises the strap. are balance weights which are
employed to assist the return of the coin-bucket levers m' into their normal
positions.

page_text: ², are stops for limiting the movement of the arm c² and consequently of the
lever zo¹.
In using my apparatus a coin is inserted in the money slot s' and passes to either
of the coin-buckets or which thereupon depresses its lever m¹ and removes the
tumbler out of engagement with the arın c² and quadrant f³, at the same time
moving one or the other of the abutments. The apparatus is then wound up by
moving the hand-lever w' as before described and the falling of the weight a* gives
motion to the cam-shaft through the medium of the quadrant f, pinion 12,
flange m², pawl ², gear-wheel f" and pinion h¹, the said motion being transmitted
to the pugilists A, B by the cans through the medium of the levers p. The
cams continue to revolve until such time as the quadrant f2 has been returned to
its normal position.
In Figure 1 it will be observed that the coin-bucket has been depressed
and the abutment j¹ to which it is connected moved from beneath the plate or
projection above it so that the lever u in connection with pugilist B has,
when the opening y in the cam to was in proper position, moved so as to allow B to
fall as indicated.
In some cases, instead of employing the device I have described for rendering it
a matter of chance which pugilist is allowed to fall, I employ the mechanism shewn
in Figures 13, 14 and 15. In this arrangement a knob y2 connected with a pull-
bar is employed to wind up the weight a through the medium of the lever w¹ to
which it is connected by a cord or chain a³ passing around a pulley 63, the said
lever being weighted as shewn to return it and the pull-bar to their normal
positions. This return motion of the said pull-bar gives motion to a fly-wheel c³ by
means of rack teeth d³ on the said bar, a pinion e³, a ratchet wheel f³ and a pawl g³.
The fly-wheel is provided with a crank pin or its equivalent so that when it is
revolved it reciprocates a bell-crank 3 and rod j³ to which it is connected, the said
rod being provided with two pins k³ forming a fork adapted to operate a tumbling
lever 13 keyed on a shaft m³. The shaft m³ is provided with a slotted lever n³
engaging a pin o³ on the rod k* connecting the two abutments j₁. By this arrange-
ment it will be seen that when the pull-bar is pulled out to wind up the weight a²
the ratchet wheel f³ will move under the pawl g³ without affecting the fly-wheel
which is loose upon the shaft carrying the said ratchet wheel. When, however,
the pull-bar is released or pushed back, the fly-wheel c³ will be caused to revolve
by the ratchet wheel f engaging with the pawl 23 and will continue to revolve
even after the bar is back in position. The number of such revolutions of the
fly-wheel will depend upon the force exerted by the pull-bar and as it is doubtful
whether the same amount of force would be consecutively exerted it is a matter of
chance as to what position the fly-wheel will assume when it stops revolving and
consequently the position of the abutments will be similarly determined.
Although I have described my apparatus as being operated by a weight it will be
obvious that a spring or other motive power may be employed or the pugilists may
be worked by means of a crank or wheel connected by gearing to the shaft » such
crank or wheel being turned by the user of the apparatus,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a coin-freed machine in which two figures are caused to imitate the action
of boxing the use of figures in which the legs are jointed to the body one of the
legs of each figure being supported while the other is hinged at the heel in such a
manner that when the heel is lowered the toe acts as a fulcrum and causes the body
to move forward substantially as described.
2. In a coin-freed machine having figures of the kind described in the preceding
claiming clause the arrangement of mechani-a connecting the arm to the body an 1
one of the legs substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a coin-freed machine of the kind described the combination of the weighted

page_text: bell crank levers p, p and cams r, r for operating the heel of the left foot of each
figure substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In a coin-freed machine of the kind described the combination of the
levers n, n and cam o for causing either of the figures to fall and to be raised
substantially as described.
5. In a coin-freed machine of the kind described the combination with the
levers n, n of the projections b', 6' thereon, struts c', c¹ and cam f¹ substantially as
described.
6. In a coin-freed machine of the kind described the combination with the
levers n, n of the projections b', arms or abutments j', j¹ and coin receptacle
levers m', m' the arms or abutments being so arranged that only one of thein can
act in conjunction with one of the levers u at a time substantially as described.
7. In a coin-freed machine of the kind described a coin chute provided with a
knife edged plate or division arranged parallel with the longer sides of the chute
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a coin-freed machine adapted to be operated by a weight or spring the
combination with a coin receptacle lever of a hinged stop such as b², a toothed
quadrant, pawl o², ratchet teeth p² and hand lever ' arranged and operating
substantially as described.
9. In a coin-freed machine of the kind described the modified mechanism for
rendering it a matter of chance which figure is allowed to fall substantially as
described with reference to Figures 13, 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
10. The combination of parts forming the improved coin-freed machine herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 31st day of January 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.