US1685329A - Alarm mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 25, 1928.

C. J. LYNCH ALARM MECHANISM Filed Feb. 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,329

c. J. LYNCH ALARM MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 18, 1925 2 Shets-Sheet 2 m i Inventor:

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UNITED sra'rss PATENT-OFFICE.

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This invention relates to an alarm mechanism for cash drawers, tills and the like, and

rency without' actuating the alarm mecha-- nism, while an unauthorized person attempting to withdraw currency would be fairly certain to actuate the alarm mechanism; and further to provide means whereby analarm will not be given until after a predetermined period of time has lapsed, soas to give an authorized person time to renderthe alarm mechanism ineffective if he should actuate the same by inadvertence, mistake or otherwise.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a ditic view showing the installation of the alarm mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a paper currency till showing a portion of the alarm actuating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the weightcontaining receptacle.

Fig. 4'is a plan view in section showingthe dash-pot and the mechanism v actuated thereby.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the dash-pot and the mechanism actuated thereby.

' Fig. 6 is an end view of the dash-pot.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Aindicates the bottom section of a currency till, such as is used in banks and other institutions of a similar character, 2 indicates the rear end of the same, and 3 a cover section. Formed in the bottom section A is an opening 4 and mount-, ed therein is a thimble-like receptacle 5 which is adapted to receive an actuating ball or weight 6 as will hereinafter be described.

Suitably secured to the end section 2 and disposed in alignment with the opening 5 is a operation of alarm mechanisms of illustrated in F i weight rece tacle B. This receptacle consists of a heli y wound coil' of wire" such as shown at 7, which is soldered or otherwise securedtoasu rtin st' 8 9inchediHaIIJIPQ g np whichmaybe section 2 of the till. The individual coils are merely secured to the strip'8 at one point and their opposite sldes are thus flexible and may a separated a suflicient distance to permit insertlon of a p ece lotzggaper currency, said currency when inse formin a temporary, support for the ball or weig t. shown at 6 and the position of the currency when inserted being shown at 9.

Disposed below the opening 5 is a switch member consisting of two spring-arms l0 and 11 the arm 11 being connected by-a wire 12 with a battery 13, and arm 10 being connected by means of a wire 14 with one terminal of a magnet 15. The other terminal of the magnet is connected by a wire 16 with one contact 17 of a double-throw switch 18, the opposite terminal of the switch being connected with the battery 13 by means of a wire 19. Hence, if the paper currency in the till is withdrawn, weight 6 falls downwardly into the pocket 4 and thereby depresses arm 10, so that a circult is made at the point 20. This circuit energizes the magnet 15, causing the same to attract an armature member 21, which is pivotally supported at the point indicated at 22. The opposite end of the armature closes a contact 23 and this in turn closes a circuit through a buzzer or bell 24, which circuit can be traced throu h wires 25, 26, contacts 23 and battery 27. T e function of the hell or buzzer 24: will hereinafter be described.

Simultaneous with the closing of the contacts 23,a lever 28 is released. This lever is pivotally mounted at the point 29 and assumes the dotted line position indicated at 30 when y suitable manner to the end released (see Figs. 1 and 4) The lever 28 ac- The dash-pot mechanism is perhapsbest 4: and 5. It consists of a cylinder 31 suita' ly secured on a base or support, as indicated at 32. Reciprocally mounted within the cylinder is a piston 33 which is connected to a rod 34. This rod passes throu 'h a head member 35 disposed at one end 0 the cylinder, and it also passes through a guide bearing 36.

The rod 34 is mounted in direct alignment with the button of the switch D and as such closes a circuit through the switch D when the button is depressed.

The piston 33 is driven forwardly 1n the direction of arrow a by means of a. compression spring 37 disposed within the cylinder and interposed between the piston and a head member 38. This head member has a single port formed therein, as shown at 39, and the amount of air passing through the port s re ulated by an exterior valve disk 40. This valve disk has a series of perforations formed therein, as shown at 41. These perforations are graduated in size and by turnin the valve disk, a selected port may be moved into register with the port 39, the disk being secured when adjusted by means of a nut 42.

Mounted within the cylinder is a displacement block or head 43 which serves the function of reducing the quantity of air maintained within the cylinder to a minimum; that is, the head is slightly less in diameter than the interior diameter of the cylinder and as such leaves an annular space for the compression spring 37.

The action of the dash-pot mechanism is as follows: Mounted on the rod 34 is a stop lug 44 which normally engages the trip lever 28. If the trip lever is released and swings to .the dotted line position shown at 30 it can readily be seen that the stop lug will be released and consequently the rod 34 and the iston carried thereby. The pressure exerted by the compression spring 37 will force the piston outwardly in the cylinder in the direction of arrow at, the speed or movement, however, being controlled by the amount of air admitted to the cylinder as the piston advances. For instance, if the head end 38 were entirely closed and no leakage took place around the piston, it is obvious that the piston would only move a short distance as a vacuum would be formed. In this instance a partial vacuum is formed, but it is constantly being relieved by the amount of air entering through the registering ports 39 and 41, and by bringing smaller or larger ports into register, practically any speed desired may be obtained; that is, the piston merely serves the function of a time-lag mechanism, as it is desired that the circuit through the push button D shall not be closed say within a period of six to ten seconds or whatever the case may be, as it sometimes happens that the paying teller or other authorized person mig t release the wei ht 6 through inadvertence or mistake an as a time eriod of six to ten seconds may be obtained y means of the dash-pot mechanism before the final alarm mechanism is actuated, it is possible for an authorized person to render the same inoperative.

llhe entire operation of themechanism' will now be described. The paying teller in filling the till with paper currency will insert a mounted within the paying tellers cagg,

few bills, for instance, up to the point indicated at 50. He will then slip a single bill in between the coils 7 so that it will form a false bottom within the coil, as indicated at 9. He will then place the weight 6 on top of this false bottom or temporary support and will finally place the hills which he intends to use on top of the inserted bill, as indicated at 51. During the day, bills will obviously be removed and replaced from time to time and the entire stack of currency may increase or decrease in height. It is therefore possible that the paying teller might withdraw the hill 9 Without noticing that it happens to be the one which supports the weight 6. If this should happen, the weight 6 would drop and enter the thimble 5. It would here exert a pressure on the arms 10 and 11 and therefore close the circuit through the switch 18, battel-y 13, and magnet 15. The magnet when energized would attract the armature 21 and this would in turn release the tri lever 28 and at the same time close a circuit through the contacts 23 and the buzzer or bell 24. This would, therefore, sound and the paying teller would immediately know that he withdrew the weight-retaining bill by mistake. Hence to prevent actuation of the main alarm bell E, he would merely open the switch 18. This would break the circuit to the alarm bell E and no final alarm would be given even though the push button should become depressed. However, with the bill 9 properly inserted, it can readily be seen that if someone not familiar with the alarm would attempt to rob the bank and pull all of the currency out of the till, weight 6 would then drop and close a circuit through the armslO and 11; the

v magnet 15 would be energized; the armature attracted; buzzer 24 would sound; the trip arm 28 would be released and similarly the dash-pot mechanism.

The piston rod 34 when released would, therefore, travel forwardly until it engaged the push button D, and it would then close the circuit through the main alarm bell E, as this is connected by wires 60 and 61 with the push button D, the switch 18 and a battery 62. An alarm would thus be given and the proper authorities would be notified that the bank was being robbed. On the other hand, if the circuits were closed by falling of the weight 6 and it was merely a mistake on the part of an authorized indlvidual, it is obvious that switch 18 could be opened, as six to ten seconds would lapse before the circuit through the switch D was closed.

, It should be understood that the only parts of the mechanism illustrated, which are are the currency till, the weight receptacle the switch armslO and 11. and switch 18. The magnet 15 and the dash-pot mechanism may be located in an entirely different part of the bank or institution employing the same,

only familiar to the teller or other authorized person. In fact, it might be located exteriorly of the cage but it should at least be placed at a point where it can be reached within the time limit given.

The stop member 44 is provided with a lever extension 44:. This merely serves the function of returning the piston of the dashpot mechanism to normal position. The upper end of the trip lever 28 is provided with a pin 28. This enters a notch or recess in the armature arm and as such is locked thereby when the armature 21 assumes a depressed position.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less s cifically illustrated, I wish it understood t at various changes in form and proportion may be resortedto within the scope of the appended claims. I similarly wish it understood that the materials and finishof the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination with an electric circuit making mechanism, of a ma net adapted to be energized thereby, a movable armature actuated by the magnet, means actuated by the armature for closin an alarm circuit, and other means control ed by the armature for closing a second alarm circuit after a predetermined interval, said other means including a (tilash-pot comprising a c linder, a piston an piston, and a pivoted trip lever for ho ding means for automatica ly actuatin the the piston against movement, said tri lever being engageable with and adapted to held t e movable armature and to be released when the armature is actuated b the magnet. 2. The combination with an e ectric circuit making mechanism, of a magnet adapted to be actuated thereby, a pivotally mounted armature actuated by the magnet, means actuated by the armature for closing an alarm circuit, and other means actuated by the armature for closing a second alarm circuit after a predetermined interval, said other means including a dash-pot comprising a cylinder, a piston and means for automatically actuatin the piston, and a pivoted trip lever for hol ing the piston against movement, said trip lever being enga cable with and held by the armature and re eased from such engagement when the armature is actuated by the magnet.

3. The combination with an electric circuit making mechanism, of a magnet adapted to be actuated thereby, a pivotally mounted armature actuated by the magnet, means actuated by the armature for closin an alarm ci rcuit, and other means actuated by the armature for closing a second alarm circuit after a predetermined interval, said other means including a dash-pot comp a cylinder, a piston operating in the cylin er, a spring for actuating the piston, and means for controlling the speed of the piston, a stop carried by thepiston and having a manually operable member for returning the piston to initial position after the piston has been actuated by the spring, and a pivoted trip lever movable into and out of engagement with the stop and adapted to hold t e piston in a retracted position, said trip lever being enga cable with and held by the pivotall moun armature, the latter being weigh and normally maintained by gravity in engagement with the trl lever and the latter being released from an engagement when the armature is actuated by the magnet.

CHARLES J. LYNCH.

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