Improvements in or relating to prepayment mechanisms particularly for use in connection with electric meters

摘要

492,649. Prepayment mechanism for meters. BRITISH SANGAMO CO., Ltd., BUTHERUS, F. R., and WESTON, G. E. Feb. 16, 1937, Nos. 4683 and 14989. [Class 27] A prepayment meter is adapted to receive any one of a plurality of predetermined coins and is operated independently of the user by auxiliary power and in dependence upon the value of the coin inserted. Coin-action, with delivery proportionate to value of coin; coin-discharging mechanism.-As shown, a coin inserted through a front slot 31 is transferred by a laterally movable pivoted carrier 25 to a coin pocket 44 arranged beneath and in which it is supported by a sector element 51 : the carrier 25 and pocket 44 may be of moulded insulating-material. In this position, the coin completes a circuit between fixed and pivoted contact elements 49, 50 in the pocket and a contact 52 on the element 51 to energize an electric motor 67. This motor has an oscillating armature operating through ratchet-and-pawl mechanism 73, 74 and gearing 77, 78, and 79 to drive a pair of operating shafts 61, 80 in opposite directions through one revolution for each coin inserted, the motor circuit being maintained after discharge of the coin by contacts 59 operated by a cam 60 on shaft 61. During rotation of shaft 61, a snail cam 81 thereon releases a follower 82 flexibly connected by a spring 105 to a lever pivoted on a vertical shaft 84, one arm 86 of this lever moving forward a slide 88 to gauge the diameter of the coin in the pocket. The other arm 87 is connected with a multi-toothed pinion 89 and an apertured disc 106 slidable on a squared portion of shaft 80, the pinion and disc being therefore displaced to a position determined by the diameter of the coin, and the section of the pinion appropriate to the value of the coin being brought into register with a gear 90. The disc 106 co-operates with a slotted gate plate 107, clearing a slot therein if the coin is of a correct diameter. The rotation of gear 90, which is proportionate to the value of the coin, is transmitted through a pinion 93 and a differential mechanism 102, by which the drive of a basic charge motor is introduced, to an epicyclic differential quantity mechanism the planet carrier of which drives a toothed wheel working on a threaded shaft and controlling the switch tripping mechanism as described in Specification 414,070. A pin 143 on the gear 78 on shaft 61 rocks a forked arm 54 on a shaft 53 carrying the coin-support. ing element 51 which is displaced to the right (Fig. 3) so that the coin is discharged to the left of element 51 into the cash-box. The electric motor 67 may be replaced by a spring wound by an electric motor, or manually, e.g. by the movement of a flap covering the insertion slot. The first Provisional Specification refers to the application of the invention to the mechanism described in Specification 445,546, a spring replacing the handle in that mechanism. Fraud, preventing; coin-slit closing-devices.- The insertion slot 31 is normally closed by a pivoted flap 33, and the entrance slot 29 of the coin transferring carrier 25 is out of register with the slot. On opening the flap 33, a forked arm 34 displaces the carrier 25 to bring slots 31 and 29 into register. In this position of the carrier, a fixed plate 39 enters a side aperture of the carrier and restricts its width, so that, if an attempt is made to introduce a coin of excessive thickness or a plurality of thin coins, the carrier moves to the left against the action of a spring 35 connecting it with arm 34 and the coin slots 29 and 31 pass out of register. A recess 40 is provided at the front of the fixed plate 39 to accommodate thick coins of small diameter such as a threepenny piece. On release of the flap 33, the carrier 25 returns and the coin therein falls into the pocket 44. A shutter 141 closes the entrance to the pocket 44 whilst a previous coin i s being dealt with ; it is secured to a lever 139 having an armature 140 operated by the magnet of the motor 67. Testing coins; returning coins.-A coin in the pocket 44 is tested for both thickness and diameter. The thickness gauging element 125 is carried by a lever 123 pivoted at 124 and provided with a follower 122 engaging a cam 120 on shaft 61. The cam releases the lever during the revolution of the shaft causing the gauging element 125 to enter the coin pocket until it is arrested by the face of the coin. If the coin is too thin or is of easily penetrable material, the lower end of lever 123 depresses a catch 129 and turns a shaft 130 having an arm 131 which lowers a pivoted bar 110. This bar releases the arm 64 fast with the coin support 51, and the latter is turned to the left (Fig. 3) by a spring 112 so that the coin falls to the right of the support and is returned. If a coin of incorrect diameter has been inserted, the apertured disc 106 controlled by the diameter gauging slide 88 (see above) engages an unslotted part of the gate 107, rotating it so that a trip 117 on its shaft 108 depresses bar 110 to return the coin, the trip 117 also interrupting the driving connection between gear 79 and shaft 80 so that no credit is registered. Discs of nonconducting material do not close the circuit of the driving motor 67, and are discharged from the pocket and returned when a coin is next inserted, the displacement of carrier 25 operating the coin support 51 through a lever 138. An alternative arrangement is referred to in which the operation of the mechanism is arrested when unsuitable coins or discs are inserted, the mechanism being reset and the coin or disc released by operation of a handle. Indicators.-A credit and debit indicator is driven from the planet shaft of the quantity mechanism. Credit is indicated in " units unused," and debit in " shillings arrears," for which purpose a unit price change-gear, interposed between the quantity mechanism and the differential receiving the opposite drives of the coin and basic charge mechanisms, is uncoupled and a direct drive effected when the switch is tripped and arrears are registered due to the running of the basic charge motor. Switch-closing mechanism ; Warning devices.- The mechanism for closing and tripping the supply switch, and interrupting the supply to warn the consumer when credit is nearly exhausted, is as described in Specification 490,827.