An Improved Method of Actuating Figures in Coin Freed Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan.,
1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Actuating Figures in Coin Freed
Apparatus.
JOHN MEURICE Maker of Automatic Machines 20 Bidborough Street Burton
Crescent London W.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A coin placed in the apparatus releases a drawer allowing it to be pulled
forward. A portion of one side of the drawer is cut away and into the indentation
so made one end of a lever is allowed to work. The other end of the lever is fixed
to a wheel working on a pivot by the side of the drawer.
The action of pulling forward the drawer moves the lever and causes the wheel
to describe a portion of a circle thereby winding up a weight attached to the wheel
by a cord. The falling of the weight when the drawer is released conveys the
necessary motion to the figures. The speed at which the weight shall fall, can be
regulated by a train of wheels.
Thin 21th day of January 1895
An Improved Method of Actuating Figures in Coin Freed
Apparatus.
I, JOHN MEURICE, Maker of Automatic Machines, 20 Bidborough Street,
Burton Crescent, London W.C., do. hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved method of actuating figures
in coin freed apparatus, whereby the mechanism required for operating such figures
is simplified and the cost of production greatly reduced.
According to my invention, I provide the usual slot in the case communicating
with means for releasing the drawer, whereby the weight of the coin inserted
in such slot throws a catch out of action, permitting the drawer to be pulled
forward.
A portion of one side of the drawer is cut away to accommodate one end of a
lever attached to a drum working on a pivot by the side of the drawer. The action
of pulling forward the drawer moves the lever and causes the drum to describe
a portion of a revolution, thereby winding up a weight by a cord attached to the
drum. The falling of the weight, when the drawer is returned, conveys the
necessary motion to the figures, the speed of descension of the weight being
regulated by a suitable train of wheels.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the drawer releasing mechanism.
Fig. 2 is a side view and Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the drawer.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan and Fig. 5 is a back view of the mechanism for operating
the figures.
a is the case, in which a slot 6 is formed communicating, by means of the trough
or channel c, with a coin carrier d fitted to one end of a lever e pivoted at f to the
false bottom as shown. The other end of the lever e is fitted with a catch piece or
projection g, which normally rests in a slot formed in the side of the drawer i
whereby the drawer is locked, until a coin is inserted in the slot. This causes the
projection 9 to leave the slot h and thereby release the drawer, the coin remaining
in the carrier d until the drawer is pulled forward, when the inclined plane or
wedge coming in contact with the projection g raises the latter and with it, the
weighted lever and causes the coin to drop out of the carrier into the money box m.
An inclined surface n is also formed in the side of the drawer to prevent what is
known as <<
pumping "and insure that the drawer is pushed quite home before
the mechanism can again be operated.
Referring to Fig. 4, the drawer i is shown partly in section and cut away at o to
accommodate the lever p fixed to the drum r mounted on a pivot s as shown. One
end of a cord t is attached to this drum, this cord passing over a pulley and secured
to a drum or reel u as shown in Fig. 5. The reel u and another reel v are both
fixed on the first spindle of a train of wheels, the diameter of the reel v being larger
than that of the reel u. A cord w attached at one end to the reel v passes
over a pulley and is secured at the other end to a weight a as shown.
The drawer, being released as before described, is pulled forward, partly
revolving the drum by means of the lever p. This causes the cord t to unwind
from the reel u and wind up the cord w thereby suspending the weight. The weight
sets the train of wheels in motion whereby the figures are actuated by any of the
ordinary means, such as a crank and rod as shown in Fig. 5.
Suitable stops y y are fitted where found necessary to limit the range of action.
It is obvious that the mechanism may be actuated by pushing a knob instead
of pulling the drawer, the difference in the preliminary motion being counteracted
by a lever or other suitable device. A spring may also be inserted in the train of
wheels to act instead of a weight.
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. The improved method of actuating figures in coin freed apparatus, substantially
as specified.
2. In apparatus of the description aforesaid, the combination and arrangement of
a drawer or knob operating upon a lever and drum which are caused to raise a
weight or wind a spring, the speed of descension of the weight or action of the
spring being governed by a train of wheels severally operating as, and for the
purposes, herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
:
3. In apparatus of the description aforesaid, the combination with the figure
actuating mechanism claimed in Claim 2 of the arrangement of drawer or knob
releasing mechanism, consisting of a coin levere having a projection 9 fitting a slot h
in the drawer, inclined faces k and n, and a weighted lever / severally operating as,
and for the purposes, herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of
the drawings.