Improvements in Coin-controlled Mechanism.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-controlled Mechanism.
I, HORACE ALBERT MANLEY, of No. 22 Follen Street, in the City of Boston,
in the County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Printer, 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 has reference to improvements in machines in which the operating
mechanism may be unlocked for the purpose of operation by means of a coin or
its equivalent.
The object of the invention is to so construct a machine of this nature that it is
more particularly adapted for the uses of an information machine, than those
heretofore constructed.
Another object of the invention, is to so construct a visual machine of this nature
that the device through which the information or other matter may be viewed, is
movable with reference to such matter.
Another object of the invention, is to so construct a coin operated mechanism
that while the device in which the viewing slot is formed, is movable over the
matter to be disclosed by the opening of said slot, means are provided for hiding
the remainder of such matter or objects from view.
Another object of the invention is to so construct a coin operated mechanism
that the operating mechanism adapted to be released by the weight of a coin, can
be moved without disclosing the matter or objects supported behind the same.
Another object of the invention is to so construct a device of this nature, that
the movable operating mechanism may be automatically locked against movement
during its operation.
Another object of the invention is to so construct a coin operated machine in
the nature of an information device, that the questions and answers may be printed
on one piece of material, and so used in the machine.
The invention consists in the combination with a suitable case, of a device in
which a viewing opening is formed, traversably mounted on the case, together
with means extending from the case for traversing the same, and a shutter adapted
to close said opening.
The invention also consists in the combination with a series of questions and
answers, of a coin operated mechanism traversably mounted over said answers and
having an opening through which the same may be viewed, and a shutter for
closing the opening.
The invention also consists in the combination with the case and the series of
answers therein, of the disclosing device, and a belt extending from the disclosing
device, adapted to cover the answers not covered by such device.
The invention also consists in the peculiar construction of the coin controlled
mechanism, the manner in which the same is mounted, and in the means for
automatically locking the same from movement while under operation.
The invention also consists in the peculiar coin controlled mechanism, the belts
for hiding the answers, and in the means for operating these belts.
The invention still further consists in the peculiar locking mechanism whereby,
when in position to prevent the opening of the shutter, it is not subjected to
frictional strain from the part with which it locks, and is extremely sensitive to

page_text: the action of the coin to release the shutter operating mechanism without allowing
the coin to pass.
The invention also consists in such other novel features of construction and
combination of parts, as may hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out
in the claims.
Figure 1, represents a front elevation of the improved machine in its duplex
form, portions of the belts being broken away to show the answers behind the
same.
Figure 2, represents an enlarged end view of portions of the same partly in
section.
Figure 3, represents an enlarged face view of portions of the machine with the
front or cover removed.
Figure 4, represents a cross sectional view taken on a line a-a, Figure 3.
Figure 5, represents a vertical sectional view taken on a line b-b, Figure 4,
showing the coin lever in two positions.
Figure 6, represents a view of the coin controlled mechanism removed from the
machine, the shutter and its operating mechanism being shown in the closed position
in full lines, their respective locations in the open positions being indicated in broken
lines.
Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.
In carrying my invention into practice, I construct a box or case, having the
front formed of a frame 7, furnished with a glass 8, and having recesses 9-9
and 10-10, each pair of which is connected by a vertical recess 11-11. In the
back surfaces of the frame and parallel with the recesses 11-11, are the
grooves 12-12, the outer rear portions of which are widened to form coin-
chutes 13-13, which are partially covered by slotted plates as 14, and are connected
at the upper ends with coin-slots 15-15 and at their lower ends with any suitable
coin receptacle. The side frames of the front have vertical slots which are
protected by the strips 16 and 17, the strips 17 having a serrated edge 171, and
oh its back a longitudinally extending rib 18.
The back 19 of the case, has
vertical recesses as 20, and is furnished with a top 21 and a bottom 22 between
which the front is pivotally secured by bolts as 23.
In the case is mounted a card 24, having a series of advertisements, questions,
and the like etc., printed on its central portion and answers or addresses of the
advertisers printed at the sides. Where more than a single column of answers is
necessary, I so arrange them that the horizontal centre of one space will lie
opposite the lower and upper edges of the adjoining spaces in the next column, as
is shown on the left-hand side of Figure 1. Where a single column of questions
and a corresponding column of answers is used, as is shown at the right-hand side
of Figure 1, the spaces for the answers are preferably opposite those of the
questions. In the drawing a duplex machine is shown; but it is obvious that both
sides of the card may correspond, or that, with proper arrangements of the
apparatus, a machine with but one series of questions and answers may be used.
Vertically movable in the slot between the strips 16 and 17 of each side of the
front, is a plate 25 or 26, which carries the coin controlled mechanism, the con-
struction of which is similar on both plates except that that carried by the plate 25
is adapted for a double column, while that of the plate 26 is designed for use over
a single column. For the present purpose the construction of the plate 25 and its
mechanism, will be sufficient. This plate extends inwardly over the face of the
card 24, sufficiently to cover the columns of addresses having slots 27 and 28,
through the opposite ends of which the numbers of the advertisements may be
seen. This plate 25, has also the slots 29 and 30 and 31 and 32, and an opening 33,
the edges of which form guides. Between this opening and the name slots is a
vertical slot 34, the lower end of which is open, the outer end of the plate is. bent
at right angles with the main body to form the bearing flange 35, and adjacent to
this lip, on the opposite side of the plate 25, is secured the L-shaped lip 36, which
engages the rib 18 on the plate 17 and slides thereon. On the back of the plate 25

page_text: is pivoted the shutter arm 37 having the slot 38¹ and the shutters 39 and 40 of a
length to close the slots 27 and 28, except at their end portions, through which the
members of the addresses, etc., may be viewed at all times. To the lower bent end of
the shutter arm, is pivoted the plate 41 reciprocally mounted between the edges of
the opening 33, and having the horizontal knife-bolt 42 and the operating grip 43;
to this plate 41 and to the plate 25, is secured the spring 44, which tends to throw
the plate 41 outward and to hold the shutters in the depressed position. In the
slot 34 is pivoted the bent coin-lever 45, extending into the groove 12, having a
counterweight 46 and a locking shoulder 47, above which is the inclined end 48.
The locking shoulder extends through the slot 38 in the shutter arm, and when in
its normal position, prevents the upward movement of the shutter arm, by resting
against the lower edge of said slot.
In the recesses 9-9 and 10-10 are secured the elliptic springs 49 and 50 between
the ends of which the rollers 51 and 52 are journaled. At the outer ends of these
rollers are sprockets 53 and 54, and with these sprockets are engaged sprocket
belts 55 and 56, the ends of which are secured in the slots 31 aud 32 of the
respective plates 25 at the sides of the machine, so that by the traversing of the
plates 25, the rollers are caused to rotate. To the main portions of these rollers
are secured the ends of the belts 57 and 58, the opposite ends of which are secured
in the slots 29 and 30 of the respective plates 25; thus the traversing of the
plate 25 upward, will cause the rollers, through the sprocket belts, to rotate to
take the belt 57, while the belt 58 is let out from its roller. These belts, being
as wide as the column or columns of answers, will hide the same from view above
and below the plates 25.
up
To operate the machine, the grip 43 is traversed upward or downward, as is
necessary to bring the number of the address or answer in view through the
address slot where the left-hand side of the machine is to be used, or to bring this
slot opposite the question, as on the right side of the machine. In doing this,
the rollers 51 and 52 are rotated by means of the trolley belt, to take up one of
the belts 57 or 58 while letting out the other belt. As either of these last
mentioned belts is wound on its roller, it will increase the diameter of the same,
and to allow for this, the rollers are mounted in the springs so that these will give
to the strain.
When the coin controlled mechanism has been shifted to the proper location, a
coin is dropped into the coin slot 15, and, passing down through the coin-chute 13,
rests on the bent end of the coin lever 45, which extends through the chute and
enters the groove 12 beyond. The weight of the coin on the lever depresses the
lower end of the same, and the upper inclined end acting at the same time, moves
towards the inclined upper edge of the slot 38 in the shutter arms, thus freeing
the arms from the shoulder 47 of the lever, the lever thus assuming the position
shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 of the drawings, and still holding the coin from
dropping, as the inclined end of the coin lever bearing against the inclined upper
edge 381 of the slot 38 in the shutter arm, prevents further movement. The grip 43
is now pushed inward, the first result being to engage the knife-bolt 42 between
two of the serrations or teeth on the strip 17, thus preventing the traversing of
the mechanism in the vertical direction. As the plate 41 moves inward, the
shutter arm 37 pivoted thereto, will be thrown upward and the shutter or shutters
will be raised, disclosing the address or other matter hidden behind the same, the
inclined end 48 of the coin lever, will now be allowed to move further inward until
the coin is released, the lever then swings back, and when the grip is released and
the plate 41 is pushed into its normal position, after note has been made of the
address, the shoulder 47 again engages the lower end of the slot 38 in the shutter
lever and locks the same.
By the use of the knife-bolt 42 engaging the serrated edge of the strip 17, the
moving of the coin controlled mechanism over the columns of addresses, is prevented
while the shutter is raised, and when this locking mechanism is released sufficiently
to allow the moving of the device over said addresses, the aoin lever operates to

page_text: +
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lock the shutter, and can be actuated only by the introduction of another coin, the
lip 36, bearing on the rib 18 of the serrated strip 17, prevents the spreading of the
parts to disengage the knife-bolt from the serrations.
It is obvious that any other suitable belts may be used in place of those herein
shown, and that the plates 25 may be furnished with one or two name slots, as is
shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.
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:
Claim 1. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case, of a coin
controlled mechanism traversably mounted therein.
2. In a coin controlled machine, a plate traversably mounted therein and having
a viewing slot, a shutter for closing the slot, and a coin controlled mechanism for
operating the shutter.
3. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a plate traversably
mounted therein and having a viewing slot, of a shutter pivoted on said plate, and
a coin controlled lever co-operating with the shutter to lock the same against
operation.
4. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case containing matter
to be viewed, a plate traversably mounted before said matter and furuished with a
viewing slot, and a shutter for closing the slot, of shields connected with the plate
for hiding that portion of the matter not covered by the traversable plate.
5. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case, and a plate
traversably mounted therein and furnished with a viewing slot, of a shutter for
closing the slot, a device for operating the shutter, and means for automatically
locking the plate in position when the shutter is operated.
6. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case, a plate traversably
mounted therein and furnished with a slot, and a shutter pivoted to the plate and
adapted to close the slot, of a coin lever pivoted to said plate and adapted to lock
the shutter, a device for operating the shutter when unlocked, and means for
automatically locking the plate in position when the shutter is operated.
7. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case, a plate traversably
mounted therein and having a coin slot, a shutter pivoted to said plate and adapted:
to close the slot, of a device reciprocally mounted on the plate to which a portion
of the shutter is pivoted, and a coin lever adaped to engage the shutter to lock
the same.
8. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case, and a tooth rack
secured thereto, of a plate traversably mounted over the rack and having an
opening, a shutter pivoted to the plate for closing the opening, a second plate
reciprocally mounted on the first plate and pivoted to the shutter, and means
carried by the reciprocal plate for engaging the rack.
9. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case containing matter
to be viewed, a plate traversably mounted in the case before such matter and
having an opening through which such matter may be viewed, and a shutter for
clearing the opening, of belts in the nature of shields secured to said plate, rollers
on which these belts may be wound, and means connected with said plate for
actuating the rollers during the reciprocation of the plate.
10. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a case, and a serrated
strip secured thereto and having a longitudinal rib, of a plate traversable in the case
over said rack and having a slot, an L-shaped lip secured to the plate and adapted
to traverse along the rib of the serrated strip, a shutter pivoted to said plate, for
closing the slot, a second plate reciprocally mounted on the first plate being pivotally
connected with the shutter and carrying a locking bolt adapted to be engaged
between the serrations of the strip.
11. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with means for supporting
matter to be viewed, of a plate movable before such matter and having a viewing

page_text: slot, and a coin controlled mechanism mounted on said plate and including a coin
lever and a shutter co-operating with the lever and adapted to close the viewing
slot.
12. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination with means for supporting
matter to be viewed, of a shield mounted to move before such matter, a traversable
coin controlled mechanism connected with the shield, and means for locking the
mechanism and shield in position.
13. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a case, spring bearings
secured at the upper and lower portions thereof, the rollers 51 and 52 journaled in
the bearings and having the sprockets 53 and 54, belts secured to the main bodies
of said rollers, and a sprocket belt engaging the sprockets, of a plate as 25,
traversably mounted in the case between the rollers to which the ends of the
respective belts are secured, said plate having a name slot, and a coin controlled
shutter mechanism mounted on the plate.
Dhin Tan Good don
Aument A D 100%
HORACE ALBERT MANLEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.