US2535425A - Operating handle interlock and im - Google Patents

Description

5m 5 w r m m 3 q z6 m m a f w v a e 8 a. u a .2 1255B $23 2 RLOCK AND IMPULSE TRANSMISSIO A. F. JULIUS ET AL SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR RACE TOTALIZATORS OPERATINC HANDLE INTE Dec. 26, 1950 Filed June so, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Znv 4.4 1', Juli ms 5 .flfC6Q-5f, L06 L 6 Ezecuflazw M W6.

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Ila/6mm ,6. gl s zzas A. F. JULIUS ET AL 2,535,425 OPERATING HANDLE INTERLOCK AND IMPULSE TRANSMISSION Dec. 26, 1950 SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR RACE TOTALIZATORS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30, 1948 Dec. 26, 1950 A. F. JULIUS ET AL 2,535,425

OPERATING HANDLE INTERLOCK AND IMPULSE TRANSMISSION SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR RACE TOTALIZATORS Filed June 50, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 26, 1950 JULIUS ET AL 2,535,425

OPERATING HANDLE INTERLOCK AND IMPULSE TRANSMISSION SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR RACE TOTALIZATORS Filed June 30, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 26, 1950 A. F. JULIUS EIAL I 2,535,425

OPERATING HANDLE INTERLOCK AND IMPULSE TRANSMISSION swrrcu ASSEMBLY FOR RACE TOTALIZATORS 7 Filed June 30, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 LIZ/U 6227;601 5 ,1 J a, 6 due 6', laczlw aaecea ed 0, Julius Li, FJLOZ 6 $05 2.6 Hi/clcfi zfxecccbom Dec. 26, 1950 A. F. JULIUS ET AL 2,535,425

OPERATING HANDLE INTERLOCK AND IMPULSE TRANSMISSION SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR RACE TOTALIZATORS Filed June 30, 1948 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 1 I Q a 7/ i 52 I 4 I w t {4 i 4/ 75 l -o O E- i 0 T2 70 2 0 35* 0 04 o 0 $0 I 1 a4 as 66 mcjziaas 67 68 '9 .11, ,1", Jccb L06 2 f G 42 c7cllzlzag -zscca seag Patented Dec. 26, 1950 OPERATING HANDLE INTERLOCK AND IM- PULSE TRANSMISSION SWITCH ASSEM- BLY FOR RACE TOTALIZATORS Awdry Francis Julius, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and George Alfred Julius, deceased, late of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, by Eva Dronghsia Odierna Julius, Killara, near Sydney,

New South Wales, Australia,

and

Awdry Francis Julius and Russell Stuart Hicks, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, executors,

' assignors to Automatic Totalisators, Limited,

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Application June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,163 In Australia June 30, 1947 Claims.

This invention is referable to race totalisator ticket issuers of the general type broadly classifiable as incorporating an operating handpiece which on suitable manipulation relative to a dial plate, carrying numbers or numbered holes (for registration therewith of a pointer or pin on the handpiece) respectively corresponding to a number of race competitors, causes a selector switch or brush finger to contact a corresponding selector contact button, and also causes an in terlock switch to be closed, whereby an integrator circuit fora competitor adding unit is energised; thus, by transmission of an electrical impulse to the competitor adding unit, to record a ticket issuing transaction relativeto that competitor. In addition to being instrumental in the recording of each transaction as indicated above, operation of the handpiece also conditions printing or type devices in readiness for printing the ticket which is required to be characteristic of and peculiar to the particular transaction. Operation of the handpiece also actuates mechanical interlock means for locking the handpiece against further manipulation, and holding the interlock switch closed, until the ticket printing cycle is irrevocably in course of completion. The integrator circuit includes a trip coil or solenoid which on closure of the circuit is energised to operate a trip switch whereby the integrator circuit is then -opened and the circuit of a magnetic clutch is closed.- This clutch is associated with the drive shaft of a continuously running 'motor. Closure ofthe clutch circuit, and consequent drive'through the clutch, causes rotation'(through worm'or other gearing) of a cam shaft, which on completion of a single revolution is halted by automatic opening of the clutch circuit.

A revolution of the mentioned cam-shaft (Working through the agency of suitable gearing, cam-followers, bell-cranks, links,'levers, or the like) operates:

(11) A platen or backing pad whereby a ticket portion of a ticket-strip or roll ispressed for printing towards the previously conditioned type devices, an inkedribbon being disposed between the type and the ticket face to be printed:

(b) Friction grip feed rolls or like deviceswhereby a strip or ribbon of ticket paper is fed through a feed chute, and into' and through a ticket printing station.

(c) The inked ribbon is inched or traversed ,turning a winding reel therefor; and,

(d) A guillotine blade or scissors is operated to cut the just printed ticket portion from the ticket strip.

Veeder or other counting mechanism may also be operated as a direct, or indirect, result of the cam shaft revolution to record a total printed ticket output of the issuer.

Immediately following the printing and issue of a ticket due to near completion of a single revolution of the cam shaft, themechanical' in: terlock for the "selector handpiece is released in readiness for re-operation thereof, and the interlock switch (which ceased to be alive when the trip switch opened the integrator circuit) is re-opened. Directly after this re-opening of the interlock switch, another cam-reverts the trip switch into the integrator circuit thus reopening the magnetic clutch' or issuer, circuit and thereby conditioning the issuer as a whole for a nextticket issue transaction. 5

The present invention is primarily directed to what may be called ,the operating handle interlock and impulse transmission switch as sembly or, more shortly, the interlock unit" for a ticket issuer of the general type above indicated. Such -a unit comprises those parts whereby a depressed operating handpiece is locked in depressed position until the ticket issuing transaction is finished, the mentioned interlock and trip switches, means-for manually perfect in two major respects.

releasing the handpiece lock as and when required, and the several levers, cams, springs, magnets and the like for the necessary interaction and interoperation of those parts.

Interlock units as devised heretofore are im- First, in regard to the means for manual release of the handpiece interlock; and, second, the inability for a number of issuers eachissuing tickets of wide:- ly varying values to'feed impulses to a single adding unit without requiring what in many cases in unnecessary complication in the design of the adding unit. Manual release of the handpiece interlock is mainly requiredwhen a selector mis-dialling is made by the issuer operative, by having depressed the handpiece in respect of a dial number in respect of which there is no competitor, For example, when a competitor has been scratched from a'race; J i

To prevent issue of tickets in respect of 3 scratched competitors, the integrator circuit for that competitor is caused to remain open, during the ticket selling period for the particular event, by the opening of control switches, in the main control room for the whole totalisator installation. It follows from this that when depression of a handpiece relative to a scratched. competitor is effected, the issuer will not operate; but, the handpiece having been depressed is caught by its interlock, and, for the time being, cannot, be' released for further ticket selling. To, meet this difiiculty it has been proposed to. provide a push button within reach of the issuer operative, which on being depressed trips the interlock to release the handpiece for further use. This ex- 'p'edient has the fault that. although it enables rapid interlock release when a mis-dialling in respect of a dead integrator circuit has occurred, it also enables the operative to openthe inter-- look when it should not be opened, and this can be gravely inconvenient or even damaging to, the:

' equipment.

As av remedy for the fault, just referred to, it has been further proposed to provide an interlock releaser which may only be. operated with a special. key, this key being given only to a responsible person such as the mechanic incharge of. abattery of issuers. Thispractice practically eliminateserrors butcauses grave delay, because, when the this-dialling has occurred, the operative has to inform the mechanic and wait for him to effectthe. release.

Reverting to. the, second imperfection, referred to above, in existing; interlock units; the mentioned trip switch is usually operated b the rocker armature of an. electromagnet (herein called a. trip magnet) in the integrator circuit. This magnet being in series with escapement. magnets on the adding units sov that the completion; of theinteg-rator circuit operates the escape nentlma net 0n the appropriate competitonaddinggunit and, on the-appropriate grand tovidefortickets of: varying values (for example,

one. monetary unit, two'units, four units, and soon), theissuers are connected (through their trip. magnets and the adding unit magnets) to adding unit escapement wheels with different numbers of teeth. For example, the single unit issuer would; be connected to a forty toothescapement wheel, and, a two unit issuer would be connected to a twenty tooth escapement wheel, so that the issue of a two unit ticket will allow the integrator in the adding unit to move twice as far as for a single-unit ticket, and'so on.

' *The integrators are made up with one or more escapemen-t shafts, each of which has up to six escapement' wheels thereon. The number of escapement shafts dependson the size of the installation and the number of ticket issuers. reqpired. In most installations an extensive range of ticket values. is, required-say, from one unit up to twenty units. This is to say, the maximum ticket. value is twenty times. a minimum ticket value.-

Onany one escapement shaft it is not possible to. have escapement wheels to provide for. this wide,range of values, as forty. teeth. is the maximum practical. number which; can. be. used, and a twenty unit issuer would therefore require an escapement wheelrwith only. two teeth, which is not practicable, as the minimum number of teeth which can be satisfactorily operated is five.

It has not been. practicable, therefore, to provide issuers for the sale of single unit and twenty unit tickets in relation to a single adding unit escapement shaft, and, where this range of values is required it hasbeen necessary to use two or more escapement shafts in each adding unit, the lower value issuers being connected to one esca-pement shaft andthe higher value issuers to another. This is. not particularly detrimental where the totalisatcr installation is a large one which of necessity requires more than one escapement shaft, but it is a serious disadvantage in the casev of av small installation which could be accommodated with one escapement shaft except. for the fact. that the range of ticket values is too great.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the mentioned shortcomings in a simple manner, by the provision of an interlock unit in a ticket issuer wherein; an interlock release is provided which may be used by an operative only when a mis-dialling, in respect of a dial plate position for which there is no competitor, has occurred, and is inoperative when misused; and wherein by simple modification of the unit it may be employed for issue of tickets of any selectedhigh' value, in conjunction with other issuers for tickets of any selected low or other values, in connection with standard adding units containing only one escapeinent shaft.

In the following description,,the nature of the present invention is set forth. with. reference to certain known.elementsinandrelating to a ticket issuer; but descriptionof known elements. is introduced only insofar as. it is. necessary clearly to describe the invention and, the parts necessary for carryingit intopnactical effect;

The invention may be summarised as primarily consistinginaninterlockunit for a racetotalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever ableto assume either. a locking position or an unlocking position, loading. devices. which influence the interlock lever to assume and. remain in its lockingposition, means operable on.depression ofthe ticket. issuer handpiece. to allow the interlock lever to. assume its locking position and thereby hold the. handpiece depressed, a. thrust rod whiclris movable towards the interlock lever (butis unablev to-bear directly thereon) a. movable.- packing member, able to. assume a. work.- ing? position directly between the thrust rod-and the-interlock lever, an interlock switch which is closed by-the inter-lock, lever when in its looking position, andelectriqally operable means which on closure: of the interlockswitch and; contingently uponv current-flow therethrough displace the packing member from: its working position, revert theinterlock lever to its unlocking position, and then revert the packing member to its working. position.

An example of the-invention illustrated by the drawings-herewith.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of. aninterlock unit;

Figure-.2'is a sideelevationof the interlock unit shown in Figure 1 but looking on the reverse sideof the unit.

Figure3ris a-plan projected from Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a: schematic, perspective view showing the main. working. parts. of. the. unit showninFiguresl to 3. V

Figure; 5 is asimilar, viewv to Figure 2. illustrating a modification.

Figure 6, is a. sectional. elevation taken sub- -stantially along line 6--6 in Figure 5 (or Figure 7).

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 1-1 in Figure 6.

- Figure 8 is a plan projected from Figure 5.

' I Figure 9 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical arrangements for the interlock units illustrated by Figures 1 to-8 and parts co-operative therewith.

' Referring mainly to Figures 1 to 4, the handpiece [0 (Figure 4) of a ticket issuer of the kind briefly identified herein, has a dropper H depending therefrom. When the handpiece is depressed in initiation of a ticket issue cycle, the dropper is lowered. The dropper has one arm I2 of an initial lever pivotally coupled thereto. The initial lever is preferably in the form of a bell crank l3 which is fulcrumed at l4, on the interlock unit frame 15. This frame is mounted on the ticket issuer chassis or base indicated by [6. The second arm I! of the bell crank projects upwardly, and the end face [8 of this second arm has an interlock step [9 formed therein.

An interlock lever is fulcrumed on a pin 2| mounted on the unit frame 15. This lever is preferably three-armed as shown. One arm 22 of the lever is adapted to rest upon the upper end face, or the stepped portion of the upper end face, of the second arm ll of the initial lever l3, thus defining the unlocking position of the interlock lever. The second arm 23 of the interlock lever has a cam-follower block 24 and an abutment peg 25 thereon. The follower block lies inthe path of a release cam 26 which is keyed on the issuer main drive shaft 21 (that is,

the shaft adapted to be driven through the magnetic clutch of the issuer). When the interlock lever moves intoits locking position, in which the end of arm 22 is resting on the step i9 (instead of the end face [8) the peg 25 bears against a spring contact arm 28 forming one leg of the interlock switch 29, and thus closes that switch. The third arm of the interlock lever has its outer end portion aligned below a push-rod 3|. The interlock lever is furnished with a loading spring 32, the effect whereof is to influence the lever to assume or remain in its locking position; that is, with its first arm 22 bearing firmly against'the step l9.

The push rod 31 carries a press button 33 which is finger accessible to the issuer operative, through'a hole 34 in the issuer cover plate 35. The push rod is mounted for endwise movement in a suitable bracket, such as 36, and is equipped with a spring 31 which at all times influences the push rod to assume or remain in its fully raised position. The range'of movement of which the push rod is capable is such that at no time is it able to bear directly upon the third arm 3!! of the interlock lever. When push rod pressure is required upon the third arm it may only take'place through the agency of a movable packing member 38, when that member is positioned directly between the third arm and the adjacent end of the push rod. The operation of this packing member will be dealt with later herein. f

When the handpiece dropper II is lowered, to

start a ticket issue cycle, the initiating lever I3 is turned through a few degrees so that the first "arm 22 of the spring-loaded interlock lever, in

stead of resting on the top end surface l8 of bell-crank arm [1, slips on to the lower level of what may be called the tread surface of the ste 19 Because of this, returi movement of and one (its issuer position) the bell-crank is now prevented by reason of the riser surface (39) of the step being abutted with the end face of the arm 22, and hence the issuer handpiece is locked in its depressed position, and is therefore immovable, until the interlock lever is later moved to lift its arm 22 clear of the step 19.

The initial turn of the interlock lever closes the interlock switch 29 and thus completes the integrator circuit for recording the transaction in respect of which a ticket is in course of production.

The integrator circuit includes a pair of contacts 4B in the trip switch 4|. These integrator contacts are, at this stage of the cycle, held closed by a peg 42 on a trip lever 43 (re-- ferred to more fully later herein). The trip lever is fulcrumed on pin'2l, and peg 42 bears against a spring leg 44 on which one of the integrator contacts is carried.

' Closure of the integrator circuit energises the trip magnet 45. This turns a rocker lever 43 (through a few degrees) which is in armature relation to the magnet. This turning of the rocker lever is effected in opposition to the influence of a loading spring 41. The rocker lever has an end face step 48. While the rocker lever is -unattracted by the trip magnet, the trip lever (due to the influence of loading spring 49) bears against the outermost end face 50 of the rocker lever and thus holds the contacts closed. When the trip magnet attracts the rocker'lever 46 the trip lever slips on to the tread step 48, thus causing the peg 42 to leave the integrator contacts 411 which then move apart to open the trip lever has two significant positions, one

(which may be called its integrator position) in which the integrator contacts are held closed, in which the issuer contacts 52 are closed.

As previously stated, closure of the clutch 'circuit results in a single revolution of the main drive shaft 21. This shaft carries the first release cam 26, and a second release cam 53 which similarly co-operates with a second follower block 54 on the trip lever 43.

The trip lever has a striker limb 55 thereon which bears against the tail 56 of a packing lever, which on its other arm 51 carries the packing member 38. The packing member may be in the form of a roller able to run on the upper surface of the interlock lever arm 30. The packing lever is secured on a fulcrum bush 58 which is rotatable to enable running of the packing mem- "ber on the interlock lever but is loaded by a 7 contacts (I, 2, 3;, of the several i suers are respectivel connected to. the competitor adding units (64, B5, 56. Ea h competitor adding unit. circuit is completed by- Way of a control switch (61, 618, 69' These switches are located in the control room for the entire installation. They are all closed during normal opera .tion excepting these corresponding to competitor adding units not .to be used. For example, if competitor No. 2 is scratched, then control switch 68 is left open, so that adding unit 65 is dead and the No. 2 selector contacts in all the ticket issuers are also dead.

When a transaction is to be recorded, and a ticket issued therefor, (in respect .of competitor No. 1, for example) the handpiece In (of any one of the issuers) is turned to No. 1 on its dial plate,

so that the selector brush finger it! (Figure 9) is similarl brought to No. 1 selector contact. Control switch 61 has previously been closed in the control room. The integrator contacts 40 are, at this stage, still closed. The handpiece is then depressed. This action, operating through the dropper H, turns the initial lever [3 through a few degrees, so that arm 22 of the spring-loaded interlock lever slips on to the step l9 and thus the handpiece is (for the time being) held immovable in its depressed position. The slip motion of the interlock lever closes the interlock switch 29 through the agency of peg 25. The integrator circuit is thus conditioned to record a transaction for No. I competitor, and completion of the circuit occurs when the distributor arm 62 reaches contact 6|. Completion of the integrator circuit "sends an impulse through the grand total adding unit 63 and the competitor adding unit 64, thus to record the transaction in both places.

Completion of the integrator circuit also energises the trip magnet 45. This actuates the rocker lever 46 so that the spring-loaded trip lever slips from end face 50 into the step 48. This movement of the trip lever causes its striker limb 55 to recede from the tailpiece 55, thus allowing the spring 59 to move the packing member 38 from between the push rod 3| and the third arm 30 of the interlock lever. Under these circumstances of normal transaction recording, the push rod is thus rendered ineffective and consequently pressure on the button 33 will not affect the interlock because the push rod cannot reach it.

This means that (for the time being) the push rod cannot be used for releasing the .handpiece interlock.

The movement of the trip lever responsive to energisation of the trip magnet, causes the peg 4-2 to recede from the trip switch leg 44 and then bear against leg I, thus separating the integrator contacts 54!! and closing the issuer contacts 52.

Separation of contacts '40 re-opens the integrator circuit. Meeting of contacts 52 closes the issuer to revert the interlock lever to its unlocking positicn shown in Figure 1. This re-opens the interlock switch 29 and releases the initial lever 13 "so that the issuer handpiece is freed (for subsequent operation) b its usual loading spring .(not

shown) unless, .of course, it is deliberately held depressed because another transaction the same as that nearing completion is to be handled.

When he-s a t" has u ned thras ans-:12 nearly equal to one revolution, the second release cam 53 engages the trip lever follower block 54, thus (a) sep rat n h issu r c n a t ,2. t9 deenergise the magnetic clutch and there y halt shaft 2. (,b.) re ins th n e r tor ntact 40 in readiness for a next n ction .3 01 (c) lvwins t o e ever .6 o ie-assume it p sition shown, in Figure 2 thereby to hold theinte grator contacts closed, and (d) causing the striker limb- ,5. bybe rine a a n t e ailpi ce. 561' to br n h p cking member 3 1M 5 int n s iqn directly between the push rod 3| and the third arm 30 of the interlock lever.

As the shaft 21 executesa singlerevolution for each transaction, it may be employed-to OP? erate a transaction counter by way of (for example) a heart, shaped cam 1:2, which fixed on the shaft, and a follower lever 13 fulc med on pinzl.

When an adding unitcircuit is dead-because a control switch such as 68 is open, the trip magnet remains dead notwithstanding the fact that the interlock switch 29 and the in.- tegrator contacts Mare closed, and therefore the rocker lever 45 is not operated. Consequently the trip lever is similarly not operated. This means that the striker limb does not cause any movement of the packing member 38, which therefore remains in .its usual position of direct alignment between the push rod .3! and the third arm 30 of the interlock lever. Under these cire cumstances finger pressure on the push rod, act.- ing through the interposed packing member,.-will bear upon and depress the third arm of the. interlock lever, thus releasing the handpiece inter:- look.

In the interlock unit as described above it will be recalled that for each transaction there is .a single closure of an integrator circuitfor each operation of a competitor adding unit. This is immediately followed by an issuer circuit closure for production of a ticket characteristic of the transaction. It will thus be appreciated that where it is required to use an issuer for the production of high value tickets which are to be recorded in an adding unit by way of an escapement shaft also having small value transactions fed thereto from other issuers, it will only be necessary for the integrator circuit of the high value ticket issuer to be closed and re-opened some selected plural number of times for each single closure of its issuer circuit, for the high value transactions to be readily handled by the adding unit escapement shaft, simply by the use of an escapement wheel thereon, wherein the number of teeth (say two teeth) which would otherwise be necessary for the integration of the high value transaction is multiplied by the selected plural number referred .to above.

To carry out this function (plural closure of integrator circuit for each single closure of issuer circuit) it is only necessary todefer closure of the issuer contacts 52 until such time as the requisite number of separate impulses have been sent through the integrator circuit. It follows. that postponement of the closure of contacts 52 may be effected by deferring actuation of the trip lever, and to dothat it is necessary toalter the above described arrangement in which the trip lever is actuated in direct response to every energisation of the trip magnet (which is enerr gised by each integrator impulse) by rendering each single actuation of the trip lever responsive to the selected plural number of trip magnet keep in touch with cam 33.

energisations. Simple means to this end are readily capable of incorporation in the interlock unit subject hereof.

These means comprise a multi-impulse switch which is normally closed, and is opened and re-closed for each energisation of the trip magnet, and cam and follower devices which as a result of a selected plural number of multiimpulse switch openings and re-closures, operates the trip lever (as already described herein) to then open the integrator contacts 40 and close the issuer contacts 52.

The multi-impulse switch 14 is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 9. It may be connected across any two convenient points in the integrator circuit as indicated by lines 15 in that figure. When the multi-impulse switch is connected in the integrator circuit, that circuit is,

of course, broken between the points of connection (that is to say, it is not left intact between the connection points as shown in Figure 9).

Referring to Figures 5 to 9, the trip magnet 45 has an escapement rocker lever 16 in armature association therewith. This lever is loaded by tension spring 11 and has two escapement stops l8 thereon. These stops are engageable in known manner with the teeth of an escapement wheel 19 which is freely mounted on the issuer main drive shaft 21. Escapement wheel 19 has the selected plural number (say five) of teeth thereon, in correspondence with the plurality of integrator circuit closures required to each issuer circuit closure.

The multi-impulse switch 14 has two contacts 80. These contacts are mounted on spring arms, one of which (3|) is movable for closure or separation of contacts 80. The spring setting of arm 8| is such that it always tends to keep the contacts separated. Arm 8| may b pressed against for closure of contacts 80, directly by the teeth of escapement wheel 19, but for preference, closures of contacts 80 are effected by a cam 82 having the same number of throws (83) as the escapement Wheel has teeth. The multiimpulse cam 82 is fixed to the escapement wheel, and is so phased relative thereto that whenever the escapement wheel is held (by one of its teeth) by the rocker lever 16, as shown in Figure 5, one of the cam throws 83 is bearing against arm 8! to hold the contacts 80 closed. Thus, contacts 80 are normally closed. The escapement wheel is, of course, constantly urged to rotate (in thedirection of arrow 84-Figure 5) by a conventional motor spring, such as 85 (Figure 8), the rewinding of which is referred to later herein.

Escapement wheel 19 and multi-impulse cam 82 have a single throw cam 85 fixed relative thereto. A follower lever 81 (of cam 86) is fulcrumed at 88, and is loaded by spring 89 to This cam has a step 99 which is able to co-act with the trip lever 43 in the same manner as the step 48 of rocker lever 46 (Figures 2 and 4) When a high value transaction is to be re corded (as a plurality of lower value transactions) and a single ticket issued therefor, through the agency of the interlock unit illustrated by Figures 5 to 8; the integrator circuit is completed (except that it may be waiting for -final closure by the distributor switch 62) by closure of the interlock switch 29 as already described herein. At this stage the integrator contacts 40, and the related control switch Such as 61 are already closed as previously explained, and the'multi-impulse switch 14 is similarly preclosed by reason of the cam 82 having one of its teeth 83 bearing against the spring arm 8|.

Closure of the integrator circuit energises the trip magnet so that the escapement pawl is activated to allow the spring driven escapement wheel to start turning through one tooth space. In doing this the resulting movement of cam 82 causes the switch 14 to open, thereby breaking the integrator circuit, and thus de-energising the trip magnet. This releases the spring-loaded rocker lever 16 which then allows the escape- 'ment wheel to complete its turn through one tooth space. This causes re-closure of the switch 74 and the process is thus repeated. Each time the integrator circuit and hence the trip magnet is energised, the escapement magnet on the competitor adding unit is similarly energised, and thus for each circuit closure a transaction (which is a selected fraction of the full high value transaction for which a ticket is to be issued) is recorded.

Again, assuming that the escapement wheel has five teeth so that five competitor adding unit impulses are given for the issue of one ticket; as the escapement wheel passes through its fifth tooth space turn the single throw cam 86 operates the cam follower lever 81, which in turn trips the trip lever 43. This opens the integrator circuit and closes the issuer circuit, and so starts the issuer printing the ticket. As the contacts 4!! will have been opened by this action the trip magnet will not then be energised when the switch 14 is reclosed and thus there will be no further operation of the trip magnet until the issuer has printed the ticket and the trip lever has been reset by its cam 53 in the same manner as previously described herein. The motion of cam 53 is due to the turning of shaft 21, and this shaft movement is employed to rewind the motor spring 85.

It will be seen that for each one-fifth part (or other selected fraction) of each transaction, the multi-impulse switch its first opened and then re-closed, and will remain closed until the trip magnet 45 is again energised. This re-energ'isation of the magnet is, of course, contingent upon the distributor switch 62 making with the appropriate contact such as 6|. In order to save time in waiting for distributor switch operation (and bearing in mind that, as a rule, only a few ticket issuers would be required for production of high value tickets) each ticket issuer may be connected to more than one of the distributor contacts, provided, of course, that no contact (such as 6|) is made common to a plurality of issuers.

What we claim is: 1. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever able to assume either a locking position or an unlock- 'ing position, a biasing spring which influences packing member to assume a working position directly between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, an interlock switch which is closed by said interlock lever when in its locking position.

and elegl liighlly operable means which on closure of said interlock switch and contingently upon current flow therethrough releases said spring biasing means to displace said packing member from its working position, and separate means controlled by said electrically operable means to revert said interlock lever to its unlocking position, and then revert saidpacking member to its working position.

2. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever able to assume either a locking position or an unlocking position, a biasing spring which influences said interlock lever to assume and remain in its locking position, a ticket issuer hand piece means operable on depression of the ticket issuer handpiece to allow said interlock lever to assume its locking position and thereby hold said handpiece depressed, a thrust rod which is movable towards said interlock lever, a movable packing member spring biased to assume a working position directly between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, a lever having said packing member mounted thereon, a trip lever able to assume either an integrator position or an issuer position, biasing means which influence said trip leverv to assume and remain in its issuer position, means for keeping said packing member lever in touch with said trip lever, an interlock switch which is closed by said interlock lever when in its locking position, and electrically operable latch means which on closure of said interlock switch and contingently upon current flow therethrough, allow said biasing means to move said trip lever into its issuer position, and separate electrical means controlled by said electrically operable latch means to revert said interlock lever to its unlocking position, and then revert said trip lever to its integrator position.

3. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever able to assume either a locking position or anunlocking position, a biasing spring which influences said interlock lever to assume and remain in its locking position, a ticket issuer hand piece means operable on depression of the ticket issuer hand- 1 piece to allow said interlock lever to assume its locking position and thereby hold said handpiece depressed, a thrust rod which is movable towards said interlock lever, a movable packing member able to assume a working position directly between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, a lever having said packing member mounted thereon, a trip lever able to assume either an integrator position or an issuer position, biasing means which influence said trip lever to assume and remain in its issuer position, means for keeping said packing member lever in touch with said trip lever, an interlock switch which is closed by said interlock lever when in its locking position, a trip magnet in series with said interlock switch, a spring-loaded rock lever which is in armature relation to said trip magnet and is engageable with said trip lever to define the integrator and issuer positions thereof, a pair of self-opening integrator contacts which are in series with said interlock switch and are closed by said trip lever when in its integrator position, a pair of selfopening issuer contacts which are closed by said trip leverwhenin its issuer position, and cam and follower devices which on closure of said issuer contacts consequent upon energisation of said trip magnet are able to place said interlock lever inlits unlocking position and then place said trip Jeverin its integrator position.

4. .An interlock unit for a race totali eter iii) ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever able to assumeeither a locking position or an unlocking position, spring biasing means which infiuence said interlock lever to assume and remain in its locking position, an initiating lever engageable with said interlock lever to define the lockingand unlocking positions thereof, a ticket issuer hand piece, a dropper connected to said initiating lever and to the ticket issuer handpiece, a thrust rod which is movable towards said interlock lever, a movable packing member able to assume a working position directly between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, an interlock switch which is closed by said interlock lever when in its locking position, and electrically operable means which on closure of said interlock switch and contingently upon current flow therethr-ough releases said spring biasing means to displace said packing member from its working position, and separate means controlled by said electrically operable means to'revert said interlock lever to its unlocking position. and then revert said packing member to its working position.

5. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever able to assume either a locking position or an unlocking position, a biasing spring which influences said interlock lever to assume and remain in its locking position, an initiating lever engageable with said interlock lever to define the locking and unlocking positions thereof, a ticket issuer hand piece, a dropper connected to said initiating lever and to the ticket issuer handpiece, a thrust rod which is movable towards said interlock lever, a movable packing member able to assume a working position directly between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, a lever having said packing member mounted thereon, a trip lever able to assume either an integrator position or an issuer position, spring biasing means which influence said trip lever to assume and remain in its issuer position, spring biasing means for keeping said packing member lever in touch with said trip lever, an interlock switch which is closed by said interlock lever when in its locking position, and electrically operable latch means which on closure of said interlock switch andcontingently upon current flow therethrough, allows said trip lever to move into its issuer position under the influence of said spring biasing means, and separate means controlled by said electrically operable latch means to revert said interlock lever to its unlocking position, and then revert said trip lever to its integrator position.

6. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever able to assume either a locking position or an unlocking position, spring biasing means which influence said interlock lever to assume and remain in its locking position, an initiating lever engageable with said interlock lever to define the locking and unlocking positions thereof, a ticket issuer hand piece a dropper connected to said initiating lever and to the ticket issuer handpiece, a thrust rod which is movable towards said interlock lever, a movable packing member able to assume a working positiondirectly between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, a lever having said packing member mounted thereon, a trip lever able to assume either an integrator position or an issuer position, spring biasing means which influsaid pa kin member lever in touch with said t p lev r, an interlock switch which is closed by said WWW interlock lever when in its locking position, a trip magnet in series with said interlock switch, a spring-biased rocker lever which is in armature relation to said trip magnet and is engageable with said trip lever to define the integrator and issuer positions thereofga pair of self-openin integrator contacts which are in series with said interlock switch and are closed by said trip lever when in its integrator position, a pair of selfopening issuer contacts which are closed by said trip lever when in its issuer position, and cam and follower devices which on closure of said issuer contacts consequent upon energisation of said trip magnet are able to place said interlock lever in its unlocking position and then place said trip lever in its integrator position.

'7. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever, a biasing spring for said interlock lever, an initiating lever having a ticket issuer hand piece stepped portion engageable with said interlock lever, a dropper connected to said initial lever and to the ticket issuer handpiece, a spring-biased thrust rod movable towards said interlock lever, a packing member able to lie between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, a spring-biased lever whereon said packing member is mounted, an interlock switch closable by said interlock lever, a trip magnet connected in series with said interlock switch, a spring-biased rocker lever in arrnawherein said electrically operable means include a multi-impulse switch in series with said interlock switch, and means enabling repetitive opening and closing of said multi-impulse switch subsequent to closure of said interlock switch and prior to movement of said trip lever into its issuer position.

9. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever able to assume either a locking position or an unlocking position, spring biasing means which influence said interlock lever to assume and remain in its locking position. a ticket issuer hand piece, means operable on depression of the ticket issuer handpiece to allow said interlock lever to assume its locking position and thereby hold said handpiece depressed, a thrust rod which is movable towards said interlock lever, a movable packing member able to assume a working position directly between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, a lever having said packing member mounted thereon, a trip lever able to assume either an integrator position or an issuer position, spring biasing means which influence said trip lever to assume and remain in its issuer position, spring biasing means for keeping said packing member lever in touch with said trip lever, an interlock switch which is closed by said interlock lever when in its locking position, a trip magnet in series with said interlock switch, a spring-biased escapement lever in armature relation to said trip magnet, an escapement wheel in operative association with said escapement lever, a motor spring for said escapement wheel, a pair of multi-impulse contacts in series with said interlock switch, means enabling repetitive opening and closing of said multi-impulse switch in consonance with step-by-ste rotation of said escapement wheel, a single throw cam fixed relative to said escapement wheel, a spring-biased follower lever which is associated with said single-throw cam and is engageable with said trip lever to define the integrator and issuer positions thereof, a pair of self-opening integrator contacts which are in series with said interlock switch and are closed by said trip lever when in its integrator position, a pair of self-opening issuer contacts which are closed by said trip lever when in its issuer position, and cam and follower devices which on closure oi. said issuer contacts place said interlock lever in its unlocking position and then place said trip lever in its integrator position.

10. An interlock unit for a race totalisator ticket issuer, comprising, an interlock lever, a biasing spring for said interlock lever, an initiating lever having a stepped portion engageable with said interlock lever, a ticket issuer hand piece, a dropper connected to said initiating lever and to the ticket issuer handpiece, a spring-biased thrust rod movable towards said interlock lever, a packing member able to lie between said thrust rod and said interlock lever, a spring-biased lever whereon said packing member is mounted, an interlock switch closable by said interlock lever, a trip magnet in series with said interlock switch, a spring-biased escapement lever in armature relation to said trip magnet, an escapement wheel in operative association with said escapement lever, a motor spring for said escapement wheel, a cam which is fixed to said escapement wheel and has the same number of throws as said escapement wheel has teeth, a self opening multiimpulse switch connected in series with said interlock switch and in follower relationship with said cam, a single throw cam fixed relative to said escapement wheel, a spring-biased follower lever which is associated with said single-throw cam, a spring-biased trip lever engageable with a stepped portion of said follower lever and with said packing member lever, a pairof integrator contacts in series with said interlock switch and a pair of issuer contacts alternatively closable by said trip lever, two fol'ower blocks respectively mounted on said interlock lever and said trip lever, two release cams respectively associated with said follower blocks, and means operable in response to closure of said issuer contacts for turning said release cams.

AWDRY FRANCIS JULIUS. EVA DRONGHSIA ODIERNA JULIUS, AWDRY FRANCIS JULIUS, RUSSELL STUART HICKS, Emecutors of the Estate of George Alfred Julius,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 2,014,572 Julius Sept. 1'7, 1935 2,150,761 Craig et al Mar. 14, 1939 2,299,396 Keen Oct. 20, 1942 2,335,122 Julius Nov. 23, 1943

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