Untitled record

Sheets—Sheet 1.

G. BETTINI.

NICKLE IN THE SLOT MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No. 497,906.

Patented May 23, 1893.

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ATTORNEYS

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO . WASHINGTON. O. C.

(No Model.)

Sheets—Sheet 2.

G. BETTINI.

NICKLE INTHE SLOT MACHINE.

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ATTORNEY J⁷

THE NORRIS PETERS CO . PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. O. C.

Sheets—Sheet 3.

G. BETTINI.

NICKLE IN THE SLOT MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No. 497,906.

Patented May 23, 1893.

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ATTORNEYS

THE NORRtS PETERS CO. PHOTO-UTHO- WASHINGTON. O. C.

Sheets—Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

G. bettini.

NICKLE IN THE SLOT MACHINE.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHO- WASHINGTON. DC.

United States Patent Office.

GIANNI BETTINI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NICKEL-IN-TH E-S LOT MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,906, dated May 23,1893.

application filed November 3,1891. Serial No, 410,785. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gianni Bettini, a sub ject of the King of Italy, at present residing in the city and State of New York, have in5 vented a new and useful machine or apparatus which may be used for recreation and amusement in various ways, of which the following is a specification.

The subject matter of my invention perio tains to the dropping of a ball upon a revolving table and the mechanisms are so arranged that the parts are normally non-operative until a nickel coin or check is dropped into a slot.

The class of machines to which my invention refers is usually known by the name of nickel-in-slot-machine.

The following is a full description and the accompanying drawings illustrate the inven2c tion, in which—

Figure 1, is an upright view partly in section of the upper part of the machine, showing the balls and their conduit as they approach the revolving table, with means for 25 letting them out seriatim, and the drum upon which the cord is wound to store power in the spring which revolves the table, and also showing the mechanism by which the apparatus is made operative by the insertion of a 30 nickel, penny, check, or other device of proper form or size. Fig. 2, is a top view of the mechanism for the reception of the check, or nickel, and the ball retaining slot. Fig. 3, is a sectional view of the apparatus showing 35 the conduit tube a³ for the ball, and mechanism by which it is released; the revolving disk seated within a turning table, and the discharge tubes for the balls; and the mechanism to prevent the operation of the turn40 ing table by hand until the machine is properly prepared therefor. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of the turning table and the revolving disk within. Fig; 5, is a top view of the revolving table and its outlets for the escape 45 of the ball. Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the apparatus when inclosed in its casing. Fig. 7, is a top view of the device partly broken away. Fig. 8, is a sectional view of the lower part of the machinery in which is shown 50 the discharge tubes of the ball and mechanism by which they are delivered, also one of the check tubes. Fig. 9, is a perspective view of the check tubes and device for releasing them. Fig. 10, is an enlarged sectional view of mechanism for delivering the balls. Figs. 55 11, 12 and 13, are views of details.

Upon suitable frame work, the operating devices of the machine are supported and arranged.

Viewing Fig. 1, a hopper or receptacle A, 60 contains a series of balls a', and a conduit tube a³ for the balls. A bar a⁴, passes below the outlet of the tube; an enlargement of the bar at this point, permits of an opening therethrough, as at a⁵, in which one of the balls 65 may drop and rest upon the projection a⁶, below the bar, while the ball is held within the walls of the opening in the bar. Immediately behind this opening the solid portion of the bar is somewhat inclined as at a⁷, and beyond 70 and at the other side of this opening is the opening in the tube or conduit a³, enlarged or beveled at its top so as to receive the ball when it drops and allow it to fall down the tube and rest against the catch a⁸, from which 75 it is released by devices which will hereinafter be described. It will be seen therefore, that when the ball is within the opening in the bar, as shown in Fig. 1, if the bar be pushed forward, the ball will drop into the mouth of 80 the tube and the succeeding ball will be prevented from falling by the solid portion of the bar a⁷. It will also be seen, that when the bar is again restored to normal position, another ball will drop into the opening in the bar and 85 be held in the same way as the one just described. If the opening in the bar be large enough, it may retain more than one ball. The spring a⁹, one end of which is in contact with a pin in the bar a⁴, and the other end in 90 contact witty a stationary projection as a¹⁰, is the means which I have employed to restore the bar to normal position. In order therefore, to accomplish these movements, I have made arrangements by which this bar may be 95 shoved forward bj’ hand to be restored by the spring when the hand is released. But it is desired that this bar be non-operative until the device is properly prepared.

In the end of the bar α⁴,1 have placed a 100 socket a¹¹, so that the end of the spindle a¹³, will pass therein freely. This latter spindle a¹³, is operated by pressure upon the thumb button at its outer end, to give it a forward movement, and Its return movement is im- 105 parted by the spring a¹³, one end of which is

497,908 in contact with the stationary projection, and the other with a suitable collar on the spindle, so that in the drawings, as the device is shown in Fig. 1, the spindle a¹², may be thrust for5 ward and retracted at pleasure without moving the bar a⁴, as the end of the spindle would play in the socket in the bar a⁴, without giving movement thereto. It will be readily seen that it makes no difference whether the spinio dies plays in a socket in the bar, or the bar has a movement within a collar on the spindle, the device would be non-operative in both cases until made operative by the insertion of an obstruction between the ends of the bar 15 and spindle.

Just at the end of the spindle, I provide a stationary box a¹⁴, having two sides and open at the top and bottom, as shown more clearly at a¹⁴, Fig. 2; and so arranged that between 20 the ends of the bar a⁴, and the spindle a¹², there is a space a¹³, of sufficient size to admit a penny, nickle, check or other suitable device, and above this opening is a tube a¹⁰, into which this check is dropped; when it 25 reaches the bottom it constitutes a solid obstruction between the ends of the bar a⁴ and the spindle a¹². The bar a⁴, may now be advanced by pressure upon the thumb button which moves forward the bar and check to30 gether until they pass the end of collar a¹⁴. The thumb button is then released, and the bar a⁴, returns to its place, the check or penny drops into the box a¹⁷, and the bar a⁴, remains caught and held by devices which I will now 35 explain.

On the end of bar a⁴, is the hook or detent catch a¹⁸. When the bar is pushed forward, this hook or catch drops into a notch b', cut into one arm of the pivoted lever b²; this 40 pivoted lever has attached to the end of its arm b², a rod b^s, whose weight supplies the force to keep the notch b', pressed into the hook a¹⁸ until released by other devices.

The aforegoing description it will be seen 45 contains the mechanism which delivers the ball to the obstruction a⁸, and drops the check or nickel into the box a¹⁷, preparatory to the other operations of the machine.

Before describing the mechanism which re50 leases the ball in the tube a³, at the point α⁸,1 will describe that portion of the machine which receives the ball when it comes out of the tube. Upon a suitable support B, (Fig. 8,) is erected the spindle b⁴, whose upper and lower 55 ends are formed into cone-shaped pivots; through the support B, a set screw b³, serves to adjust the spindle b⁴; upon the top of this spindle is set the revolving table b^s, the pointed end of the spindle entering a step in 60 the center of the revolving table so that it may revolve easily thereon. The revolving table is supplied with pegs or pins b⁷, and a rim b^s, having suitable openings b⁹, (see Fig. 5.) The table as shown is slightly convex 65 upon its upper surface, so that the balls may roll down and through these openings b⁹, and off the edge of the table, Spiral spring b¹¹, with one end attached to the spindle b⁴, and the other end to a rigid part of the frame work, serves to revolve the spindle when the 70 spring is either wound or unwound to store up its force. Projecting from the lower side of the table as shown in Fig. 8, is a loop of wire or other suitable material b¹³, and projecting from the upper end of the spindle and 75 revolving with it is an arm b¹³; to which is pivoted a lever arranged so as to fall when the spindle b⁴ is turned by hand to store up the force of the spring b¹¹, and to remain rigid and turn the table when the spring re-acts; 80 so that while the table is turned to store up force in the spring, the arm b¹³ may pass the loop b¹² several times in its revolutions without affecting the table, but as soon as released and turned in the opposite direction, 85 it will strike the loop b¹² and revolve the table. The mechanism for accomplishing this purpose I will now describe.

Viewing Fig. 1, C is a shaft suitably journaled within the frame; C' is another shaft 90 also properly journaled in the frame to be in line with the shaft C; when at rest the couplingc², practically makesone continuous shaft of C and C'. The crank X with its handle, enables this shaft to be turned by hand. Af- 95 fixed to a rigid support is the cam or eccentric c³, shown more clearly in Fig. 12, and surrounds the shaft C' like a sleeve. A roller or pin c⁴, (Figs. 1 and 7) is attached to the shaft; as the shaft is revolved by the crank, this pin 100 comes in contact with the cam; the shaft c' is moved backward and away from the shaft C, but continues to revolve the latter until the coupling c² has separated; it is returned back again to its place by the spring c³. On the 105 shaft C is an eccentric or cam c⁶, shown in side view in Fig. 3, into the notch of which the end of the weighted arm b³ drops, and when in position, holds the shaft and prevents it from turning, but when the rod a⁴ has been no pushed forward as heretofore explained and the hook a¹⁸ is caught in the notch of the lever b², the rod b³ is lifted from the cam and leaves the shafts C and C' in condition to be turned by the crank X; on the shaft C, is also 115 affixed a drum c⁷; by turning crank X, the drum c⁷is revolved, winding thereon therope or cord c⁸ whose other end being attached to the inner arm of lever b², disengages the hook a¹⁸ from the notch b', and this allows the bar 12c a⁴ to be restored by its spring to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1, to receive another ball in the socket a³, and another check or nickel in front of the spindle a¹². The ball having, as already described, passed through 125 the aperture is now resting at the obstruction a^a and is ready to be released. On the outer end of the shaft C is mounted the drum pulley c⁹ and revolution of this pulley serves the purpose of releasing the ball at the point a^s 130 and storing up power in the spring b⁴, as follows: Just where the tube a^s is broken, I have placed a pivoted plate or rod a¹⁹, the lower end of which is shaped into the form of a

497,906 bell crank as shown in Fig. 1. On one side of the drum pulley c⁹,1 have placed the pivoted lever c¹⁰ so that it may strike against the bent arm of the rod or plate a¹⁹. Behind the 5 lower arm of the lever c¹⁰,1 have placed the stop c¹¹, so that when the drum pulley c⁹ is revolved by the crank, the lever c¹⁰, will touch against the bent arm a¹⁹ without affecting it, but when turned in the opposite direction io will open the aperture closed by the plate a¹⁹in tube a³, and allow the ball to pass out of the tube and fall upon the center of the revolving table δ⁶. On the spindle δ⁴ is secured the drum δ¹⁴ around which passes the rope or 15 cord c¹³ whose other end is attached to the drum pulley c⁹ and is wound thereon by turning the crank X, thus storing a power in the spring δ¹¹. It will be seen from this arrangement that while the drum pulley c⁹ is revolving 20 to release the bar a⁴ and to store up power in the spring δ¹¹, the coupling c² is graduallj’ parting until it separates the two shafts entirely. At this point the spring δ¹¹ begins to re-act, revolving the arm δ¹³ which contacts with the 25 loop δ¹² on the inner side of the revolving table and gives the revolving table a momentum. The ball drops upon the table and iskept thereon, roaming about among the pins, until the momentum of the table ceases, when it rolls 30 out of one of the openings δ⁹ and off of the edge of the table δ¹⁰. At the same time the pin c⁴passes the extremity of cam c³ when the spring c⁵ forces the coupling c³ back to its place, the weighted rod δ³ falls behind the 35 projection on the cam c⁶ and the machine is restored to normal position. It is clear therefore, that no ball can fall into the tube a^s below the bar a⁴, nor can the bar a⁴ be pushed forward, until a check or coin is dropped into 40 the tube a¹⁶, and it is also clear that the shafts

C and C'are prevented from being turned until the bar a⁴ is pushed forward, those shafts being locked by the weighted arm δ³ behind the projection on the cam c⁶.

Supported by the frame work of the machine is a circular frame D, (Figs. 3 and 8) provided with a groove d' within which are placed a number of balls d². Upon these balls is placed the circular plate d³. The 50 inner edge of this plate projects under the outer edge of the revolving table to receive the ball and direct its course outwardly. Near the outer edge of this plate are cut a number of openings d⁴, as many as may be desired, 55 and on its inner edge is cut one or more openings, so that when a ball has rolled off of the revolving table, it will drop through one of the inner or outer openings in this plate. Beneath these openings is supported a frame 60 having two circular grooves d^s and d⁶, into one of which the ball drops when it rolls from the revolving table. The grooves are inclined downwardly and terminate at the bottom in openings, to which are attached the tubes d⁷65 and d⁸, into which the ball falls down until it is stopped by one of the weighted levers d⁹. One end of this lever d⁹ is hooked and the weight of the ball forces it down and over the hooked end of the bar d¹³ for a purpose which will be more fully explained. 70

Upon the circular plate d⁴ is arranged a glass plate d¹¹ supported by suitable posts, so that the whole device is in the form of a circular box supported upon the rollers d², and is turned by the handle d¹²/ an opening in 75 the center of the glass plate admits the end of the tube a³, through which the balls pass to drop upon the revolving table. Upon the face of the glass plate may be put an arrow or index finger in such position that it stands 80 directly over the inner opening (if there be but one) in the plate d³; and upon the box and surrounding the glass plate, are placed a series of blocks which may be ornamented with different figures as desired; so that a 85 party desiring to operate the device may select any one of the surrounding figures and turn the circular box until the index points to the figure of his choice. If the selection be a good one and the ball should respond, it 90 will drop into the single inner opening and down into its corresponding tube; should it fail, it will drop through one of the outer openings and its tube in either case to be finally stopped by one of the weighted levers 95 d⁹. Immediately below one hooked end of the weighted lever d⁹ is the hooked end of a spindle d¹² which may be pulled outwardly by a button on the end of the spindle and is returned to its place again by the spring d¹³, 100 and in the end of the tube immediately above the arm d⁹, is a door d¹⁴ hinged to open outwardly. The lever d⁹ is pivoted to a shaft d¹⁵which has a reciprocating movement impelled in one direction by a spring d¹⁶ and in the 105 other when pulled by the spindle d¹². Upon the hooked arm of the lever d⁹ is arranged an upward projection d¹⁷ and the pipe is cut away to allow this projection to contact with the rear edge of the ball, and when the lever no d⁹ is forced down, the ball resting thereon, the projection d¹⁷ will, when pulled, strike against the ball, open the door at d¹⁴, allow the ball to escape and fall into the box d^ls. It will thus be seen that the shaft d¹⁵ can only 115 be pulled out when one of the balls has run through its course and has hooked the shaft d¹⁵ to the spindle d¹²; when the ball has dropped and the spindle is released, the parts return again to their original position and no 120 movement of the spindle d¹³ will operate the shaft d¹⁵. An enlarged view of this portion of the device is shown in Fig. 10. In connection with this device I have arranged two tubes E, E', into which are placed checks. 125 In one of the check tubes the checks are of different character than in the other or in both tubes the checks may be mixed, and beneath each of the tubes is one of the shafts d¹⁵ provided each with a box as d¹⁹ and d²⁰ 130 into which the checks are dropped when one of the spindles d¹² is caught and pulled by one of the shafts d¹⁵. Fig. 9 will illustrate this. The checks in the tubes rest upon a

497,906 solid part of the box d²¹. As the shaft d¹⁵ is pulled forward and the box with it, the rear edge of the box pulls off the lower check which drops through the opening d²², and out 5 through the pipe d²³. It is evident from this arrangement that no check can be extracted from either of the tubes until a ball passing down its tube has hooked one of the shafts d¹⁵ to its appropriate spindle.

io An arrangement as shown in Fig. 9,maybe made by which a sliding frame as b²³ may be made to operate either of the checks in their proper tubes, or a ball in its appropriate tube with but one handle as d²ⁱ. It will be seen 15 by this arrangement that the frame when pulled by d²ⁱ will carry both of the spindles cZ¹², but only one of the balls and one of the checks as governed by the ball in the tube which has connected a shaft and spindle to20 gether. In addition to this arrangement, I have placed a device which will prevent the party operating the apparatus from discovering the course which the ball is about to take as the momentum of the revolving table comes 25 to an end and by turning a handle cZ¹², enable him to direct the ball into an inner opening which represents the highest denomination of check. A weighted or spring lever F, suitably pivoted to a portion of the frame is op30 erated by a button f² secured to the cord c^lswhich passes around the drum c⁹. The upper end of this lever when the drum c⁹ is turned drops between the pins f³ secured to the circular plate d³, locks this wheel, and 35 prevents it from being turned by its crank; this lever is locked and held by a spring lever f' shown in Fig. 3, in two positions represented by dotted and full lines. The lower end of this lever has attached a cord ft, (see 40 Figs. 3 and 7) which branches and passes around suitable pulleys and the ends of the branches are attached to the bars cZ¹⁵; the spring bar/' keeps the turning table locked until one of the bars d^iS is pulled, releasing 45 the lock lever from lever F, and lever F from the pegs on the frame, and the table is free to be turned by its crank when the other parts of the apparatus are at normal position and ready to be operated.

It will be seen that the blocks around the top plate d¹¹, may be made to represent any kind of characters, historical or comical or they may be simply numbers or figu res. The check to be dropped into the slot may be of 55 any material, form or size, the balls of any material or configuration adapted to roll off the tables.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: A party takes hold of the crank of the 60 upper plate and turns the pointer to any of the figures on the surrounding blocks; he then drops a penny, dime, nickel or check of suitable form into the tube a¹⁶, which falls between the ends of the spindle a¹², and the 65 bar a⁴, and makes operative the bar a⁴ by pushing the spindle a¹²; as it is pushed, the lower ball in the upper tube drops into the lower tube a³, and falls therethrough until stopped by the check rod or plate a⁸, while the other balls in the upper tube are retained 70 by the solid part of the bar d¹; the rod a⁴, when thus pushed, advances and operates the lever δ², to release the locking bar δ³from the check or cam c⁶ and holds it in this position making the shaft C operative by 75 turning the crank X; the spindle a¹² is then released and is returned by its spring to starting point allowing the check, nickel or penny to drop in the box a¹⁷. The bar a⁴ does not return but is caught and held by the de- 80 tent a¹⁸ and hook δ'. The operator now turns the crank X, which performs several operations. It turns at first both shafts C and C', winds the cord on the drum c⁷, releases the bar a⁴, whose spring returns it to placeallow- 85 ing another ball to be dropped into its opening and be retained therein for another operation. It winds the cord on the drum c¹³, storing a force in the spring δ¹¹; it drops a pawl between the pegs of the turning table and 90 holds it locked until afterward released; it releases the ball held by the rod a⁸, and allows it to drop upon the revolving table and pursue its course through one of the tubes cZ⁷cZ⁸, and lock one of the bars d¹⁵ to the spindle 95 d¹², in position to draw out a ball and check by the same movement, and finally it separates the shafts C and C', allowing the revolving table to be turned by the reaction of its spring and receives the released ball while 100 revolving and returns the coupling c² to its normal position. The operator now pulls the spindle d¹², draws out a check and ball and releases the lever F from the pegs on the turning table. 105

The device may be applied to numberless uses. A parlor game for children may be played to reward a successful guess. One of the party turns the pointer to one of the figures of the surrounding blocks; one of the no checks in the tube may also contain the same figure. If such check be drawn, the drawer may be selected as queen or king of the game or a book, print or other reward may be given.

It may also be used for charity. 115

The different hospitals may be represented by the checks and the nickel or penny given to the one corresponding with the check drawn out; the uses of the device may be multiplied.