US1246608A - Registering fare-box. - Google Patents

Description

F. B. KENNEDY.

REGISTERING FARE BOX. APPLlcATloN msn Jun'z 19.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

f..KENNEnY.

REGISTERING FARE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI-:19. 1913.

Patented Nov. v13, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. Y I1/wem@- fraU/C. Kenne@ WHW/ogm Mum( F. B. KENNEDY. REGISTERING FARE BOX.

APPLICATION` msn :uns 19. ma.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lF. B. KENNEDY.

REGISTERING FARE BOX.

APPLICATION r1Lfv1uNE19,|s|3.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SEEE? 4.

oNiTEn erarias PATENT oEEroE.

FRANK E. KENNEDY, oENEw HAvEN, coNNEc'rIcu'r, AssIGNoE To THE RECORDING REGISTER & FARE BOX COIVIPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPOBATION 0E CONNECTICUT. i

' EEGIsTEEING FARE-Box.

To all fr0/tom t may concern Be it known that I, FRANK B. KENNEDY, a citizen ci the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Registering Fare-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to registering fare boxes and is in the nature'oi an improvement upon the fare box shown and described in the application for patent filed by me April 21st, 1913, Serial No. 762,506. In the machine ofthat application the' selective actuating device orpinion for the register was driven by a plurality or" reciprocating racks, with any one of which it could be moved into alinement. the several racks were arranged in substantially vertical alinement and constituted a lock to prevent the' overthrow of the actuating pinion. The pinion lremained in engagement withone of these teeth until it had cleared the lowermost rack. Under normal conditions this mechanism operated in an entirely satisfactory manner but it was possible under abnormal conditions `for the racks to begin their return movement before the actuating pinion had cleared the lowermost rack, thereby imparting a rearward movement to the pinion and setting the counters back, thus destroying the accuracy oi the count.

The object of the present invention is to provide a registering t'are box of this type in which all possibility of reverse movement being imparted to the pinion and the registering device is eliminated and in'which the pinion will be locked against movement at all imes when it is not in operative engagement with one of vthe racks, thus not only preventing the backward movement of the pinion under any circumstance but also preventing the overthrow of the pinion and the registering device when the machine is being operated at a high speed.vl It is a further Aobject of the invention to provide an actuating mechanism' for a machine of this kind which will be simple and durable, and highly mechanical in its construction. To this end I have so constructed and arranged the operating racks that they'will pass the Specification of Letters Patent.

The last teeth ofv Patented N ov. l, 191 *7.

Application iled June 19, 1913. Serial No. 774,599.

actuating pinion but once, thus allowing ample time for the pinion to return to its normal or idle position; and further, I have' `mounted the several racks upon a cylinder, the periphery of which acts as a lock and an overthrow prevented for` the pinion. Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a rotary actuating device with a resilient tooth so constructed vand arranged that it will actuate the pinion a single space and lock the same against yfurther movement. f

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevati'onof a :tare box embodying i my invention, with the casing and the front wall of the hopper removed; Fig. 2 is a top, plan view of thesame; Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view` of such a fare box; Fig. a is a top, plan view of the actuating racks and their cooperating mechanism; Fig. 5 is a detail view of vthe resilient tooth constituting one of the racks; F ig.l6 is an elevation showing in detail the cylindrical support for the racks and the actuating pinion; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6. i

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to a fare box, the main features of construction of which are similar to those shown and described in the above-mentioned application. The manner of handling the coins and operating the selective actuating device for the register need not be described in detail but it will suffice to state that the mechanism as a whole comprises a .trame l on which is mounted a coin receptacle comprising a movable meinber' to move the coins out of the receptacle` As here shown, this receptacle comprises a front wall Zand a rotaryl inclined disk 3 provided on its face with a series'of pockets formed by lugs 4i which cooperate with an outwardly extending fixed iiange 5 to move the coins out of the hopper. A suitable time.` Arranged near the top of the in clined disk is a fixed fingerl or support 7 carried by a plateA 8 extending inwardly' from the main frame in front of the disk.

This finger is pointed and has its point arranged just above the path of the innermost lug '-1. Thus, as the coin is moved upward in the pocket formed by the lugs it will be lifted from the innermost lug and caused to ride over the fixed finger or support 7, remaining, however, in .engagement with the outer lug 4. Movably mounted above the support or finger 7 is a differentially movable member, such as a pivoted lever 9, connected with the selective actuating device and arranged to be engaged by the peripheries of the coins as they are moved over the fixed support and thus move the lever, and consequently, the selective actuating device, different distances according to the diameters of the coins. The end of the lever is preferably toothed, as shown at 10, and a spring-pressed pawl 11 is provided to engage the teeth and retain the lever in its adjusted position until the register has been actuated, when the device is automatically released and the lever returned to its lowermost or normal position by a spring 12. In the present machine, as in the machine of the application above-mentioned,- the register actuating device comprises al slidable pinion 13. This pinion is here shown as rigidly secured to a shaft 14.- which ismounted in suitable bearings 15 and 16 for both sliding and rotary movement and has at its upper end a bevel pinion 17 mounted to rotate with the shaft but held against axial movement. The pinion 17 meshes with a bevel gear 1S mounted on a shaft 19 of the registering device or counter 20. Thus, it will be apparent that the rotation of the pinion 13 different distances will advance the registering device or counter different distances. The actuating` pinion 13 is connected with the differentially movablemember or lever 9 by means of a yoke 21 engaging a grooved collar secured to the shaft, and connected with theL lever. The line of movement of the lever is substantially parallel with the shaft 141 and the yoke connection between the lever and the pinion has suiiicient play to compensate for the curvature of the path in which the lever moves about its axis.

The diiferential movements imparted to the pinion, by the coins of different denominations, move the pinion into positions to be engaged by different operating racks arranged in such relation one to the other that the pinion can be successively moved into operative relation thereto. In order that the pinion may have ample time to return from its highest position to its lowermost or idle position without being again engaged by one of the racks I have so arranged the racks in the present instance that they will pass the pinion but once lfor each registering operation. To this end I have mounted the racks upon a rotary support and have arranged means for tripping the differential lever and permitting the pinion to return to its idle position after the longest rack has passed the pinion. This longest rack is of a length much less than the circumference of the rotary supporting device and, consequently, an appreciable period of time will lapse before the racks will again approach the pinion. lVhile the character of the racks and their support may be varied I have, in the present instance, shown the several racks, which are indicated at 22, as mounted upon a cylinder 23. In the present device there are three of the racks,` to take care of pennies, five cent pieces and ten cent pieces, but obviously any number of racks may be provided to take care of any desired variety of fares. Preferably, the racks are arranged one above the other on the cylinder in accordance with the diameters of the coins which they are to register. This arrangement brings the longest rack, for the ten cent piece, in the lowermost position, the single tooth rack for the penny in middle position and the rack for the five cent piece in the uppermost position. In the present arrangement the longest rack is only about one-fourth the circumference of the cylinder. The periphery of the cylinder is so arranged with relation to the pinion that when the pinion is not in engagement with the teeth of one of the racks two of its teeth will be in engagement with the surface of the cylinder and the pinion will, therefore, be locked against movement in either direction. In order to permit the pinion to rotate when engaged by the teeth the teeth are countersunk or recesses are formed between them of a depth suiiieient to receive the teeth of the pinion when the latter rotates. Inasmuch as the rear wall of the last recess in effect constitutes a tooth and moves the pinion it will be noted that the iive and. ten cent racks contain but four and nine teeth, respectihf'ely. The cylinder is of such a length that its lower portion will engage the pinion when the latter is in its idle position and, consequently, the pinion is locked at all times, whether it is in alinement with one of the racks or in its idle position, excepting only when it is in actual engagement with the teeth,V of one ofthe racks. In this manner, when the machine is operated to register a coin, the pinion will be moved upward, always in engagement with the cylinder and thus held against rotary movement, until it is in alinement with the selected one of the racks. After the rack Vhas engaged andV operated the pinion and passed beyond the same the teeth of the pinion again engage the surface of the cylinder and the pinion is locked against movement while it is` in alinement with the rack, during its downward movement and` while in its idle position. If a single tooth of ordinary construction were provided for actuating the counter to register a penny the yrecess in the y rear of the one tooth would actas a second tooth and the pinion would be advanced two spaces instead of one. In order to overcome this diiiiculty I have provided a special tooth for advancing the pinion a single point. To this end the cylinder is provided in the space between the five and ten cent racks with an openingv or slot in which is mounted al resilient tooth adapted to yield to permit the rotary support for the rack to move past the pinion when the latter has been advancedthe space of one tooth. In the present construction this tooth is in the form of a plate 24 which is pivotally mounted in the slot and the forward portion of which is adapted to move outward under the tension of the spring 25 until it is substantially flush with the outer ends of the teeth of the other racks. The forward edge of the plate extends at substantially right angles to the periphery thereof'so as to enthe pinionafter the manner of a tooth of one of the racks and rotate the same. As the pinion rotates, the tooth following the tooth which has been engaged by the single tooth or plate 24 will engage the outer edge of this plate and move the same inward against the tension'of the spring, thus shortening the tooth and causing it to clear the end of the tooth on` the pinion sooner than it would otherwise do, thus moving the pinion a less distance than if it retained its full length throughout its movement. As the end of the plate clears the tooth on the pinion this tooth'will engage the outer edge of the plate with which the following tooth is already in engagement, thus locking the pinion against further rotary movement and preventing overthrow.

The diiferentiallymovable lever 9 is released bythe action of the cylindrical support for the racks after the longest rack has passed the pinion. To this end the pawl ll is provided with a pin 26 extending through an opening inthe plate 27 ,ont

which the pawl is pivoted and has Secured thereto an inwardly extending bar or finger 28, the inner end of which rests normally upon the end of the cylinder. Mounted upon the end of the cylinder some distance from the 'cylindrical surface thereof is an inclined projection or cam 29. This cam is circumferentially located just beyond the last tooth of the longest rack'and as it passes the linger 27 it will force the same outward against the tension of a spring 8O and thus move the pawl out of engagement with the lever and permit the latter to move downward. As soon as the projection has passed the iinger the latter moves inwardt/o return the pawl to a position to again engage the toothed end of the lever. However, the length of the cam is such that it will remain in engagement with the finger for an appreciable time, thus retaining the pawl in its inoperative position for aperiodample to permit the return of the lever toits normal position even though the actuating spring or springs may have become sluggish from use.

c The cylindrical support for therack may be rotated inlanyv suitable manner. In the present instance lit is mountedupon a shaft 3l havingnear its lower end a' bevel gear 32 meshing witha similar gear 33 ona shaft 34, the outer end of' which is connected with a crank 35. It will be understood, however, that other actuating devices may be substituted for the same or that rotary 'movement may be imparted to the support for the racks in any desired manner. v

The operation of the machine will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that in addition toaccomplishing the functions ascribed to the various parts I have produced a machine which is very simple and durable in its construction, positive in itsoperation and which further is of a highly mechanical construction.

'While I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention it will be understood that thishas been chosen for the purposes vof illustration only and that I do not desire tobelimited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person'skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure kby Letters Patent, is

`l. In a kcoin registering mechanism, a hopper comprisingfan inclined rotatable disk to lift the coins therefrom, a register, a differential operating mechanism for said register comprising a selective device, a movable member operativelyr connected with said selective device and arranged to be engaged by the coins, as theyl are moved by said disk, to impart movement tosaid selective device, and a plurality of devices'rotatable about a common aXis and arranged to coperate respectively with said selective device when it is in different positions to cause said register to [be actuated in accordance with the value of each coin.

2. In a ycoin registering mechanism, ar hopper comprising an inclined rotatable disk to lift the coins therefrom, a register, a differential operating mechanism' for said register comprising a pinion movable linto different positions, a' movable member operatively connected with said pinion and arrangedto be engaged by the coins, as they` are moved by said disk, to move said pinion into a position corresponding with the de'- nomination of the coin which is in 'engagement with `said movable member, and a plu# rality of rotaryracks of different lengths arranged to coperatef, respectively, with c said pinion when it is in different positions to cause saidV register to be actuated in accordance with the value of each coin.

8. In a coin registering mechanism, a hopper comprising an inclined rotatable disk to lift the coins therefrom, a register, a differential operating mechanism for said register comprising a rotary cylindrical supporting device, a plurality of racks of different lengths carried by said cylindrical supporting device, and arranged in parallel planes, a pinion opera-tively connected with said register and movable into the plane of any one of said racks and means actuated by the coins as they are lmoved by said disk for causing said pinion to be moved into operative relation with a selected one of said racks.

4. In a coin registering mechanism, a hopper comprising an inclined rotatable disk to lift the coins therefrom, a register, a differential operating mechanism for said register comprising a rotary cylindrical supporting device, a plurality of racks of different lengths carried by said cylindrical supporting device and arranged in parallel planes, a pinion operatively connected with said register and movable into the plane of any one of said racks and means controlled by the coins as they aremoved by said disk for causing said pinion to be moved into operative relation with a selected one of said racks.

5. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins of different diameters from said receptacle, a register, a pinion operatively connected with said register and capable of bodily movement7 a cylinder rotatably mounted adjacent to said pinion and spaced from the axis of said pinion a distance less than the length of the radius thereof, a plurality of racks carried byv said cylinder on the surface thereof, the teeth of said racks having recesses between the same, and means controlled by the coins for causing said pinion to move into operative relation with a selected one of said racks. Y

6. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins from said receptacle, a register, 'a plurality of rotary racksV of diiferent lengths, a pinion operatively connected with said register and capable of axial movement, means actuated by the coins to move said pinion into operative relation with a selected one of said rotary racks, and a cylindrical surface arranged beneath the lowermost of said racks and spaced from the axis of said pinion a distance less than the radius of said pinion, whereby when said pinion is in its lowermost position it will be locked against movement in either direction.

7. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member tov move coins from said receptacle, a register, a pinion operatively connected with said register and capable of axial movement, a plurality of `rotary racks, each of said racks having a cylindrical portion extending beyond the sameand spaced from. the axis of said pinion a distance less than the radius of said pinion, whereby when said pinion passes out of engagement with one of said racks, said cylindrical surface will engage between two of its teeth and lock it against movement, and means controlled by said coins to move said pinion into operative relation with one of said racks.

8. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins from said receptacle, a register, a pinion operatively connected with said register, means actuated by said coins for imparting axial movement to said pinion, a rotary support mounted adjacent to said pinion, and a rack carried by said support and comprising a single tooth yieldingly mounted on said support and having a curved vportion extending rearwardly from the face thereof.

9. In acoin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins from said receptacle, a register, a pinion operatively connected with said register, means actuated by said coins for imparting axial movement to said pinion, a cylindrical support rotatably mounted adj acent to said pinion and having a circumferential slot in the periphery thereof, a segmentalplate mounted in said slot and pivotally connected to said support at one end thereof, a spring to hold the other end of said plate beyond the surface of said cylinder, whereby the end of said segmental plate will constitute a tooth to engage one of the teeth of said pinion and the edge of said plate will be engaged by the succeeding tooth of said pinion to move the plate out of engagement with the first-mentioned tooth.

10. In, a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins therefrom, a register, a plurality of rotary racks of different lengths, a pinion operatively connected with said register and capable of axial movement, means controlled by said coin for moving said pinion into operative relation with a selected one of said racks, means for holding said pinion in its adjusted position while it is in engagement with said rack, and means controlled by the rotation of said racks to release said holding device.

11. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable mem ber to move coins therefrom, a register, a rotary support having a plurality of racks of different lengths, a pinion operatively connected to said register and capable of axial movement,` means controlled the coins for moving said pinion axially to bring it into operative relation with a selected kone of said racks, means for holding said pinion in its adjusted positionwhile it isl being actuated by said rack, said means comprising a finger having one end arranged adjacent to said rotary support, and a projection carried by said support and adapted to engage said iinger to release said holding means after said rack has passed out of engagement with said pinion.

12. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins therefrom, a register, a rotary support having a plurality of racks of dilierent lengths, a pinion operatively connected to said register and capable of axial movement, means controlled by the coins for moving said pinion axially to bring it into operative relation with a selected one of said racks, means for holding said pinion in adjusted position while it is being actuated by said rack, said means comprising a iinger having one end arranged adjacent to said rotary support, and a projection carried by said support and adapted to engage said linger to release said holding means after said rack has passed ont of engagement with said pinion, said rotary support having a cylindrical surface arranged in the rear of said racks to engage said pinion and hold the same against rotation daring its return movement.v

13. In a coin registering mechanism, a register, a pinion operatively connected with said register, and a rotary rack mounted ad- `iacent to said pinion and comprising a resiliently supported tooth arranged to engage one tooth of said pinion to actuate the pinion and having a part arranged to be engaged. by another tooth of said pinion to check the movement of said pinion, said resiliently mounted tooth being arranged to yield to permit said rack to continue its movement.

14. In a coin registering mechanism, a register, a pinion operatively connected with said register, and a rotary rack mounted adjacent to said pinion and comprising a yieldable tooth arranged to engage one tooth of said pinion to actnate the same and having a rearwardly extending portion arranged to be engaged by the following tooth of said pinion to check the movement of said pinion and adapted to yield to permit said yieldable tooth to pass the first-mentioned tooth of said pinion.

15. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins from said receptacle, a register, a pinion operatively connected with said register, means actuated by said coins for imparting aXial movement to said `pinion, a rotary support mounted "adjacent to said pinion, and a rack carried by said sup-I port and comprising a tooth yieldingly mounted on said support and having a portion Varranged to be engaged by. aftooth of said pinion to check the movement of said pinionand to cause said tooth of saidi support to yieldto permit said support to continue its movement. V y, ,y v 4 16.v In a coin registering mechanism, a register, a pinion operably connected with said register and capable of axial movement, a plurality of rotary racks, each of said racks having a cylindrical portion projecting beyond the same and spaced vfrom the axis of the pinion a distance less than the radius of said pinion, whereby when said pinion passes out of engagement with one of said racks, said cylindrical surface will engage with two oi' its teeth and lock it against further rotary movement.

17. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins from said receptacle, a register, coin controlled mechanism to actuate said register, said actuating mechanism comprising a rotary rack, and a pinion adapted to mesh with said rack, said rack having a cylindrical extension projecting beyond the same and arranged to engage the teeth of said pinion when said rack passes out of engagement therewith to lock said pinion against further rotary movement.

18. In a. coin registering mechanism.I a coin receptacle comprising a movable member to move coins from said receptacle, a register, and coin controlled selective actuating mechanism for said register, said actuating mechanism comprising a rack and a pinion, said rack having a smooth portion projecting beyond the same and arranged to engage teeth of said pinion when said rack passes out of engagement therewith and hold said pinion against further rotary movement.

19. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle having means to move coins therefrom, a register, coin controlled actuating mechanism for said register comprising a series of rotary racks, a pinion, means to move said pinion into operative relation with a selected one of said racks, a device to retain said pinion in operative relation with said selected rack during the operation of said register, and means controlled by the movement of said rack to move said retaining device into an inoperative position and hold it in such inoperative position for a period sufficient to permit said pinion to return to its normal position.

20. In a coin registering mechanism, a coin receptacle having means to move coins therefrom, a register, a plurality of rotary racks, a pinion operatively connected With said register and capable of axial movement, aeoinoontrolled lever for moving said pinion into operative relation with a selected one of said racks,k a detent arranged to engage said 'lever to hold. said pinion in an adjusted position, a linger connected with said detent, and a cam connected with said rotary raoksand arranged to engage said finger to move said detentinto an inopera- 10 tive position and hold the same in suoli position for a predetermined period of time.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK B. KENNEDY. Witnesses:

F. W. SGHAEFER, EDWARD S. REED.

Copies;y of this patent mayv be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G.

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