Coin metering apparatus for multiple machine installations

Claim 1

IN A DEVICE FOR USE IN A COIN-OPERATED LAUNDRY, OR THE LIKE, OF THE TYPE HAVING A CENTRAL CONSOLE, A PLURALITY OF LAUNDRY MACHINES, A SELECTIVE FIRST SWITCH AT SAID CONSOLE TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CONSOLE AND A SELECTED MACHINE, EACH SAID MACHINE PROVIDED WITH A TIMER MOTOR, A SECOND SWITCH MECHANISM HAVING A SOLENOID, AND A COIN-OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM AT SAID CONSOLE, SAID LAST-NAMED MECHANISM COMPRISING A COIN DEPOSIT SLOT, MANUALLY OPERATED MEANS, AND A THIRD SWITCH ARRANGED TO BE CLOSED UPON ACTUATION OF SAID MANUALLY OPERATED MEANS WHEN A COIN HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN SAID SLOT, SAID FIRST AND THIRD SWITCHES WIRED IN SERIES TO CONTROL ENERGIZING SAID SOLENOID, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A CAM, MEANS FOR TURNING SAID CAM, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS INCLUDING A SHAFT ON WHICH SAID CAM IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT AND A LOSTMOTION CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID CAM, SAID LOST-MOTION CONNECTION TURNING SAID CAM IN ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT AND PERMITTING ROTATION OF SAID CAM RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AHEAD THE ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, A LINKAGE ATTACHED TO SAID SOLENOID ARRANGED TO TURN SAID CAM IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AHEAD OF SAID SHAFT, AND SAID SECOND SWITCH CONTROLLED BY SAID CAM AND CONTROLLING ENERGIZATION OF SAID TIMER MOTOR, SAID SHAFT DRIVEN BY SAID TIMER MOTOR, SAID THIRD SWITCH WHEN CLOSED BY THE MANUALLY-OPERATED MEANS WHEN A COIN HAS BEEN DEPOSITED ENERGIZING THE SOLENOID AT THE PARTICULAR MACHINE SELECTED BY SAID FIRST SWITCH TO ADVANCE SAID CAM IN SAID ONE DIRECTION TO CLOSE SAID SECOND SWITCH AND ENERGIZE SAID TIMER MOTOR, SAID TIMER MOTOR CONTINUING ENERGIZED FOR AN ENTIRE CYCLE DESPITE POSITION OF SAID CAM, SAID IMPROVEMENT CHARACTERIZED BY ABSENCE OF POSITIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SOLENOID AND SAID TIMER SHAFT TO DIRECTLY ADVANCE SAID TIMER SHAFT FROM SAID SOLENOID.