US1205150A - Coin-collector for telephone systems. - Google Patents

Description

1.1. BROWNRIGG, H. HENDERSON & A. E. CAS. COIN COLLECTOR FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION HLED mns, 1914.

1,205,150. n Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1..1.BROW.NRIGG, H. HENDERSON & A. E. CASE. COIN COLLECTOR FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

' APPLICATION FILED IAN.26. 1914.

1.205,150. Y Ptented Nov. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1.). BROWNRKSG, H. HENDERSON @L A. E. CASE. com COLLECTOR FoR TELEPHUNE SYSTEMS.

APPUCAUON FILED .|AN.25,1914. Y1,205,150, Patented NOV. 2l, 1916 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.1.1. BROWNRIGG, H. HENDERSON & A..E. CASE. G01N COLLECTOR FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FAILED 1AN.26.1914.

1,205,1 50. Pmenfe Nov. 21, 11116.

` 5 SHEETS-SHEET.4.

1.1. BROWNRLGG, H. HENDERSON & A. E. CASE.

COIN COLLECTOR FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26. |914.

Patented Nov. 2L, l916 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

JOHN J'. BROWNRIGG, HARRY HENDERSON, AND ARTHUR E. CASE, 0F MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO'DELTA' ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF MARION, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known 4that we, JOHN J. BROWN- moo, HARRY HENDERSON, and ARTHUR E. CASE, residents of Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana,l have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Collectors for Telephone Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to coin-collectors for telephone systems. w

One object of the invention .is to provide -an improved coincollector which is adapted to receive coins of different denominations and to signal the deposit of the same to the exchange-oflioe S Anotherobject of the invention is to provide improved inimitable coincontrolled electrical signaling means whereby the exchange-operator will be notified ofthe de posit of a coin and the denomination thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide improved coin-collecting apparatus which is locked against release except by a therein being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a- -front view of the coin-collector, the case beh ing shown 1u section.

Fig. 4 is a side elevatlon, the case being shown 1n section. Flg.

` 5 is a front elevation, the inclosing case being vshown in section and the refunding I,chute *being removed.

tion taken on line 66 of Fig. 5, the parts- Fig. 6 is a 4transverse secbeing shown in position assumed when a coin has been deposited, but before the -coml shifter has been operated to actuate the signailing-mechanism. Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a transverse.

section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 3, `the parts being shown in position assumed wlien the coin-shifter has been pushed rearwardly to deposit a coin to operate the signaling- COIN-COLLECTOR FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed January 26, 1914. Serial No. 814,588.

mechanism. Fig. 9 is a section taken on line.

9-9 of Fig. 3, parts being shown in normal position. Fig. lOs a side elevation opposite vto thatshown in Fig. l, the inclosing case being shown in section.

The sub-station toll-collecting apparatuscomprises a back plate 12, on the lower portion of which, a coin compartment 14 is formed. An inclosing case 15, which is Secured to the back-plate on top of the coin-4 compartment, senves to inclose the operatingmechanism of, and the connections for, the collector. The apparatus illustrated is adapted to receive coins of three denominations and the case 15 is provided with coinslots 16 through whichcoins may be deposited in payment of toll, there being a separateslot forv coins of each denomination. 'A supporting frame 17 comprising sides 18 and 19, is secured to the'back plate 12 by screws 12. The operating partsof the collector are sustained by frame 17.

Coin-channels for directing the deposited coins to a coin shifter 20, are formed between a-pivoted wall 21 and a cross-wall 22 which is fixed to the sides of frame 17. yall 21\is pivoted on a cross-lod 22 which is secured in frame-sides 187 19. Lugs 23 `on pivoted wall 21 serve as guides for directing the coins deposited into slots 16. into corr/aff sponding pockets 25 formed in 4the coin-"ff" Shifter 20 is sel' shifter 20, respectively. cured -to a push-rod 26 which is slidably mounted in the guides 27 on frame-side 18 and the shifter is Vadapted to slide with said rod. A spring 28 serves to retract the shifter. The push-rod 26 extendsthrough the front of case 15 so that it can bel pushed inwardly by the depositor. A lug 29 on l'the shifter 20, through which rod 26 extends and to which itis secured, Ais adapted to engage the front guide 27 in frame-side 18 to arrest and normally hold the shifter in position to receive the -deposited coins from the channels between plates- 21 'and 22. This coin-shifter serves to move 'the coins to a point above a channel or duct 30 so that they'willbe discharged into the coin-compartment 14. Av stationary table or plate 31, having ribs 32.thereon, is dis-` To prevent deposit of one coin before a previously deposited one has been displaced and has operated the signaling mechanism, provision is made for refunding` any coins that may be deposited while a coin is suspended inthe coin-shifter. -For vthis pur- Y pose, the pivoted gate 21 is provided with 'l so arms 3,3 which normally extend into the pockets in the coin-shifter and which will be engaged by a coin in any of the pockets respectively, to hold wall 21 '(Fig. 6) into position to prevent coins, deposited through any of the slots 16, :troni passing into the coin-channels between plates 21 and 22. It

a coin should be deposited through any of the coin-slots while the pivoted wall 21 is closed against wall 22, such coin will be defiected by wall 21 and will fall into a refunding-chute 34 and be conducted to a refunding-cup `To keep the coin-channels between walls 21 and 22 closed, to cause coins to be refunded during the transit of the coin and while the coin-shifter is out of its normal position, a spring 36, which is secured to the wall of the refunding-chute 34, is normally held away from an abutment 37 on pivoted wall 21 by alug 38 on the coin-shifter, so that while the shifter is in normal position, the pivoted wall will be free to be shifted by a coin engaging one of the arms 33 and when the shifter is pushed backwardly, lug 3S will release spring 36 `so it will bear against lug 37 on defiectorplate 21 and hold said plate closed until the coin-shifter has been restored\to its normal position.

One object of the invention is to dispense with the use of audible signals at the substation which are transmitted through the' transmitter and over the line by means of a resonant connection between the signalingr device and the transmitter. For this purpose, mechanism is provided for characteristically opening and closing a signaling circuit at contacts 4l and 43'to signal the deposit of a coin to the exchange-operator and to indicate thednomination of the coin deposited. In the machine shown as an exemplification of the invention, a twentyfive cent coin is adapted to cause said con- -tacts to be operated three times; a dime is adapted to operate the contacts twice, and a five-cent piece is adapted to operate the contacts once, thus signaling to the exchange the denon'iination of the deposited coin. Contact 41 is resilient and is operated so it will be caused to vibrate by mechanism hereinafter set forth to produce a distinctive signal and one clearly distinguishable from an ordinary n'lake-and-ln'eak of the its movementtoward contact 41 by a stop.

\ strip 42. Stop-screw 43 is provided for contact 41. This stop screw is disposed adjacent the fixed end of resilient contact-strip 41 so that the contact point on said strip will be free to vibrate adjacent the contact 40 as the contact 41 is released. The contacts 40 and 41 are insulated froml each otherand are secured to a lug 44 on frameside 19.

An escapement wheel 45 is mounted to rotate on a shaft 46 which is journaled in the supporting frame 17 and the teeth of said wheel are 'pointed and formed So that they will alternately strike and release the strip of insulation 47 on contact-strip 41 which will be alternately pressed against contacts 40 and 43 and release to vibrate in proxlmity to contact 40 and produce a peculiar signal. i

Mechanism is .provided for rotating the escapement'wheel 45 according to the denomination of the coin deposited. Shaft 46 has secured thereto, three arms 48 for the coins in the coin-pockets in shifter 20.

These arms are so disposed and of such length that each will be shifted by coins of the proper denomination, respectively, one or more steps according to vthe denomination of the coin. Normally, these arms are disposed in the path of the coins in the coinshifter 20 and are adapted to be swung upwardly by the coins to rock shaft 46. Coinshifter 20 is cut away, as at 50, to permit the coins to engage arms 48 and to the shifter to pass under said arms w ien no coin .is present. A lever 51 is secured to one end of shaft 46, and is provided with an arm 52, which is adapted, when in normal position (Fig. 4), to engage the insulating strip 47 on contact 41v to firmly hold said contact against contact 40 and to break the circuit between contacts 43 and 41. Lever 51 is also provided with an arm 53 which carries a pawl 54 for stepping up the escapement wheel 45 according to the denomination of the coin deposited. Pawl 54 is pivoted, as at 55, to the vouter end of e'rmit coin in the coin-shifter 20. This movement may vary according to the Yforce applied by the depositor' to the push-rod 26, and to overcome variation in and prevent ltoo rapid operation of the escapement-wheel during the signaling operation, pawl 54 slips over the teeth on escapement wheel 45 when'the coin is manually shifted and the lever 51 is shifted by a coin, and thefretractile move- I impulses caused by the making and break- 5 so that there will be sufficient pauses between the operations of contact 41 to distinguish the impulses or signals. from one another, anv escapement dog 57 has teeth 58 and 59 which are adapted to alternately. engage the teeth ot' the escapementwheel 45 and lretard the stepping-up movement of said wheel by the pawl 54 and lever 51. Dog 57 is secured to a crossshai`t 60 which is journaled in the frame 17 and has a retarding or fly-wheel 61 secured. thereto. This wheel` and the dog, which must be vibrated as the escapement-wheel 45 is stepped up, thus serve to regulate the retraction of lever 51 and the operation lof the escapement-wheel, to time the spaces between the ing of the circuit at contacts 43 and 41.

The escapement-ivheel 45 is normally locked against'movement in either direction by a locking-dog `63 which engages' with escapement 45 which isv sedn'ed to a short "shaft 64 which is journftl'el in the frameside 19 and said dog isfnormally 'held to lock the wheel by an armv-65 on lever 51 side 19, at 70, and is provided with an abutment 71 adapted to be engaged bythe back` d 40- .of the coin-shifter 20 to swing hook 68 away' from a stud 72 which projects inwardly and v is secured to d'og 63. Resultantly, no sigp naling can be eti'ected by escapement-Wheel 45 until the coin-shifter has been operated a' full stroke. A spring 74, connected to dog 63 and to arm 69, serves to lift dog 63 out of engagement with the escapement-Wheel 45 whenvthe hook 68 is operated to release the dog 'andlever 51 has been shifted to cause `arm 65 to release lug 66, the force of spring .74. beii1g insufficient to overcome` the force appliedl to lever 51 by spring 56., When dog (i3-'has been raised, which occurs after a 'coin has .shifted lever 51 and the coin shifter has .struck abutment 71 on arm 69, the side of hook 68 will rest on stud 72 and .'be held .so that the arm 69 will not be restored to normal position and operative to lock dog 63 until lever 51 has' completed its 60 full retractile stro-ke, and arm P65 has en gaged lug 66 'on dog 63 and shifted the latter intoflocking position. Resultantly, the

. escapement-wheel which effects the signalfing cannot be operated unless lever 51 has 65- beenoperated by a, coin in the shifter 20 andthe shifter with the coin therein 4has which engages a luv 66l on said dog. Re'

been-shifted to discharge the coin into the cash-compartment. d

In Fig. 1, the improved signaling device is shown connected to a telephone-system of usual construction. The central exchange A is provided with the usual cord-loop a terminating in an answering plug g and a calling plug 7L. The equipment at the exchange comprises the usual listening-key n and an operators telephone-set comprising a transmitter T and receiver R, supervisory signals m, m', supervisory-relays Z, Z', and a battery a, all suitably connected together in manner well understood in the art. The exchange equipment also comprises a springjack b, a line-signal c, a line-signal relay d and a cut-out relay e which are connected to the line-conductors f, f, in the usual manner. i

The equipment at the sub-station comprises a receiver 80, transmitter 81, a switchhook 82, and a ringer 83 which are connected to the line-conductors, as shown, and as well understood in the art.

lLine-conductor f is connected by a branch-conductor 84 to spring-contact. 40 and contact 41 is connected by a conductor 85 to line-conductor f. A branch-conductor 86, connects contact-screws 43 to the lineconductor f. Contact 41 is connected by conductor 85 to line-conductor f to which the primary coil I and a transmitter 81 are connected by conductor 87 and which terminates in a contact at the switch-hook 82. Switch-hook 82 is connected to the lineconductors 87, 85, will be included in the circuit for speech-transmission When 41 con-A tacts with Then switch-hook 82 i's raised, the line will be closed at the switchhook and current from the exchange passing over line-conductor f will pass through transmitter 81, primary coil 88, conductors 87, 85, conductor 86 and line-conductor f back to the `exchange. When the resilient contact 41 is vibrated by the esca-pementwheel 45, it will, by reason of its own resilience, vibrate rapidly between contact 43 and spring 40, producing a characteristic signal which will .be transmitted over the `telephone-.line to the operators telephone set at the exchange, in manner well understood in the art,lthe operators telephone-set being at that time connected to the line in the usual manner.

The operation Aofthe tollfcollector will be as follows: When the patron removes the receiver 80 from the switchhook 82, the -line signal at the exchange will be actuated in usual manner, and when the exchange-oper ator inserts the switch-plug f/ into the spring-jack b and operates the listening key n to connect her set with: the calling substation, connection for speech-transmission will be established between the exchange operator and the patron at the sub-station, so that the exchange-operator may ascertain the connection desired. When the exchangeoperator has ascertained that the desired service can be given, the patron is directed to deposit a coin or'coins, singly into the collector. When a coin is deposited through one of the coin-slots 16, it will fall into the channel between plates 21 and 22 and be guided thereby into one of the subjacent pockets in the coin-shifter 20, as shown in Fig. 6, being held therein by table 31. The coin, in passing into the shifter, will strike.

one of the arms 33 on pivoted plate 21 and swing the upper end of this plate into position to close the coin-channels between plates; whereupon any further coin deposited into either of the slots 1G will fall into the refunding-channel at the front of plate 21 and be discharged into the refunding-cup 35. The depositor will next push the plunger 26 inwardly, which will cause the coin suspended in the coin-shifter to move backwardly under and to lift one of the arms 48 on shaft 46', and after it has shifted said arm, and is moved ott table 31, it will fall through channel 30 into the cashdrawer. The rotation of shaft 16, resulting from engagement of the coin with one of the arms 48, will cause arm on lever 51 to be operated to release contact 41 and its insulating strip 4:7 so that said Contact will spring away from contact 4() and into the path of the teeth ot' escapenlent wheel l5. Such operation of lever 51 will also movc escapement-operating pawl 54 backwardly and move arm (i5 away from lug G6 on locking-dog (S3. The extent of shift ot' the lever and rotation ot' shaft 46 are determined by the denomination of the coin which has been deposited. Lever 51 will remain in the po ksition to which it is shifted by the coin until sullicient backward movement has been imparted to the coin-shifter to discharge the. coin. At the end of its inward or baclnvard movement, the coin-shifter .20 will strike abutment 7l on the locking arm (3S) and swing hook (5S backwardly to release stud 72 on the locking dog (S3, whereupon spring 74 will cause dog'63 to swingr upwardly clear of the escapement-wheel 45. 'l`herenpon, the retracting spring 56', under the regulation of the escapemcnt-dog 57 .and the ilywheel 61, will operate lever 51 to operate escapement-wheel 45 by means ot' pawl .'i-l. As each tooth of escapement-wheel l5 rides over, the insulating strip 47 on contact 4l, it'wifl alternately press said contact against contact 40, and then release contact 41 so its inherent resiliency will vibrate. it. lf the esca-pement wheel has been shifted a distance corresponding to three teeth by a coin, it will produce three separate signals by operating the Contact 41 three times. \Vhen thc lever 51 reaches its normal position, arm

52 'will press against strip 47 and force'contact 41 firmly against contact 40 to cause the circuit for speech-transmission to be kept closed at said contacts. Simultaneously, arm 65 on lever 51 will engage lug 66 and force dog 63 into engagement with the escapement-wheel `v15k and lock the latter tion thereofv to the exchange-operator; also mechanism for causin the signal-operating device to operate regu arly and without being varied by rapid or slmvoperation of the coin-shifting apparatus; and also a tollcollector which need not be secured to or movable with the sub-station telephone-set, because a resonant connection for conducting the signals to the sub-station transmitter is not used.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, Since these may be modified within the seopeof the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is v 1. In toll collecting apparatus for telephones. the combination of signaling means,

a toothed wheel adapted' to operate the signaling device by consecutive shifts in the same direction, coin-controlled means for rotating the wheel in one direction only, and means for constantly preventing rotation of the wheel in theA opposite direction.

.2.' In a toll-collectingapparatus for telephones. the combination of a switch for controlling a signaling circuit, a toothed wheel for mechanically vibrating a member of said switch. said wheel being adapted to operate said member by consecutive shifts in the same direction, and means for constantly preventing rotation of the wheel in the 0pposite, direction.

3. In toll collecting apparatus for telephones, the con'lbination of a switch for controllinga signaling circuit. a toothed wheel for mechanically vibrating a member of said switch and having means to operate said member by consecutive shifts in the same direction. coin-controlled means for operating the wheel in one direction-and means for constantly preventingrotation of the wheel in the opposite direction.

-4. In a toll collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of signaling means, coin-controlled mechanism for operating said signaling means, an escapement` device for controlling the operation of the signaling means, comprising a dog and a shaft, and a fly-Wheel connected to said shaft.

5. In toll collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of signaling means, a Wheel having teeth thereon to operate the signaling means by consecutive movements in one direction, a coin-shifter, mechanism operable by a. coin in the shifter for operating said Wheel in one'direction, means for constantly locking the wheel against -rotationin the reverse direction, and means for normally locking the wheel against rotation in the first mentioned direction, operable by the shifter. ,l

6. In toll collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of, asignaling device, coin-controlled means for operating said device, a refunding channel in the, case, a coin deiector fol` diverting a coin in to the refunding channel, and means for operating the deec'tor when a coin is deposited to di- Y rect a coin into the refunding channel when the coin-controlled operating means is in an abnormal position. y

7. In toll-collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of a signaling device, coin-controlled means for operating said device, a case having coin-receiving slots therein, a refunding channel in the CaSe, cooperating with said del'lector to guide the coin to said coin-controlled means, and means for operating the deiector when a coin is deposited to direct a second coin into the refunding channel.

8. In toll-collecting apparatus for telephones, the combinationy of a signaling device, a case having a` coin-receiving slot therein, a coin-detector in the case, a coinshifter, mechanism operated by a coin in the shifter for operating the signaling device, the case having a refunding channel therein, and means for causing the defiector to deflect the coins into the refunding-channel when the shifter is out of its normal coin receiving position.

9. `In toll-collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of a signaling device, a, case having coin-receiving slots therein, a coin-shifter in the case, mechaa pivoted coin-defie'ctor, a fixed wall` nism operated by a coin in the shifter for operating the signaling device, the case having a refunding channel therein, a deflector, means on the delector for causing it to be Ishifted by a coin to deflect a second coin into the refunding channel, and a spring for holding the defiector in position to refund 'coins when the shifter is out of its normalcoin-receiving position.

10. In toll-collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of a signaling-device, a case having coin-receiving slots therein, a coin-shifter in the case, mechanism operated by a coin in the shifter for operating the signaling-device, the case having a refunding channel therein, a pivoted deflector Wall, a fixed Wall coperating with said pivoted wall to guide coins to the shifter, means on said pivoted wall for shifting the defiector when a coin is deposited to defiect a second coin into thel refunding channel, and a spring controlled by the shifter for operating said detiector to refund vcoins when the shifter is out of its normal coin-receiving position.

1l. In toll collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of signaling means, a toothed wheel for operating the signaling means and rotatable in one direction only, mechanism for imparting consecutive step by step movements to the wheel in said direction to operate the signaling means, and coin-controlled mechanism for operating the stepping-up mechanism.

l2. In toll collecting apparatus for telephones, the combination of signaling means, a toothed whee for operating the signaling means, movable in. one direction only, a. lever and pawl for imparting consecutive step by step movements to the wheel in, one direction, coin-controlled means for operating the lever, and a lock for normally securing said wheel against rotation in its operative direction, and means operated by the lever for releasing said locking means.

JOHN J. BROWNRIGG. HARRY HENDERSON. ARTHUR E. CASE. `Witnesses laan LENrns'rnY, THELMA BAILEY.

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