US1802044A - Money-counting machine - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1931.

'W'tneasest G. BOCK MONEY COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lili/lll Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT oFFlce j GEORG BUCK, 0F KKELSTERBACH-ON-THE-MAN, GERMANY MounY-coUN'rING MACHINE Application filed December 26, 1929, Serial No. 416,584, and in Germany December 2, 192'?.

The subject matter-of the present invention is a money-counting machine for coins, by

means of which the' loose coins are poured into a container and thereupon automatically counted.

Money-counting machines for coins are alpossesses the advantage that avdefinite sortl of coin can be automatically counted out in a fixed quantity as wellas in any other quantity.

The essence of the invention is that the known feed funnel, into which the loose coins f are poured, possesses an automatic pouringA trap-door andthe channel or conduit arranged beneath this funnel is jointed, movable andV hanging freely, the :lower end of the jointed channel or conduit leading into a stationary Vchannel-or conduit portion which has a small interspace Vbetween litself and the counting plate upon whichthe coins `are piled. The feed of the-coinsinto the channel or conduitfis automatically regulated by the height to which the coins are piled, whilstthe lowest coin on the counting plate is drawn away .by

catch claws of a conveying chain and by `means of the'displacement of the coin a count- Y ing mechanism is operated which, when the coin drops, indicates the counted amount on a v'number strip.

:Duringthe working of themoney-counting 'machina the pouring trap-door in `the feed funnel is moved mechanically so as to Veffect the uniform delivery of the coins .through the trap-door into the jointed channel or conduit. The catch claws are passed over ,the counting plate by theconveying chain in a horizontal direction.

On counting a-definite quantity of money,

the maximum amount of which is fixed in the case of the number strip, the driving gear is,

together with the counting mechanism, automatically stopped on the appearance of the maximum amount in the peep-hole, so that the counting operation'is interrupted; this is done by a coupling which is automatically" disengaged. XVhenthe counting operation is thus interrupted, the number stripv remains `with the maximum number at the peep hole and is kept in the stretched' condition .by a spring drum. By pressing` with a finger on a lever the Anumber strip is released and automatically rolls up and runs b'aclrto the Zero position on account of the spring action, whilst the coupling at the same time again, becomes engaged. On counting any desired amount which is less vthan the maximum number fixed on the Vnumber strip, the rotation of the crank is stopped and the number strip comes to rest without the coupling becoming disengaged.

The invention is illustrated by way of example by the accompanying drawings of which Fig. -1 is a side elevation of the moneycounting machine, u

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is a frontview ofthe counting plate with the conveying chain-and claws,

4 is a plan corresponding to Fig. 3. .Y Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe casting onwhich the counting plate, the conveying `chain and the cog wheels pertaining thereto are' secured, i Y Fig. 6 shows the upper end of thenumber. stripk located in the counting mechanism,

Fig. y7 shows the'lower end of this number 1 strip, and

Fig. 8 Vis a front view of the engaging and ydisengaging coupling in the disengaged position.

In the lupper part of the casing l (or fitted on the outside of the casing) there is located the container 2 which may be of any desired size and `into which the coins are loosely poured. The walls and the bottom of the container are inclined to such an extent that no coin can remain 'therein but the whole of its contents must pass through the bottom discharge opening. i v

`On the latter, which has an almost horizontal position, there is located a trap-door 3 which delivers the coins downwards in uniform distribution on account of its continual up and down movement produced in the operation hereinafter described.

The common drive (a hand drive in Fig. 2 of the drawings) is located in a special casing 4.

By rotating the crank 5, the driving pinion 6 fixed thereto is set in motion. Fixed on the same axle is the ratchet wheel 7 with a pawl 8 and spring 9 to prevent it from rotating backwards.

The driving pinion 6 engages in the cogwheel 10 which is fixed to the large cogwheel 11. The large cogwheel 11 drives the cog- Wheel 12 at the head of the shaft 13 for the common drive, another wheel 14 being interposed between the wheels 1l and 12.

Inside the casing 1 an engaging and disengaging coupling 15 and 16 (Fig. 8) is located in each section on the common driving shaft 13 passing through all the sections. One half, 15, of the coupling consists of a disc with engaging and disengaging sockets 17 and fitted with a number of round pins. This disc is connected, by means of a groove and feather, so as to be freely displaceable, with the shaft 13.

The other half 16 is a cogwheel which is likewise loosely mounted on the shaft 13 and is secured against lateral movement by a set collar 19. This cogwheel 16 is perforated with as many holes as the disc 15 has pins which engage in these holes on coupling the halves 15 and 16. Rotation of this cogwheel 16, when the other half is running idly is prevented by the engagement of its teeth in the teeth of the next wheel 20. The latter, as well as both the chain wheels 21 and 22 are located on a shaft 23.

The chain wheel 21 drives Vthe chain wheel 25 by means of the chain drive 24. The chain wheel 25 is fixed on the shaft 27 which passes through the funnel-shaped container 26. 0n the two ends respectively of this shaft 27 there are fixed outside the funnel, cam plates 28 and 29 which are adapted, on each rotation, to effect two raisings of a rod 3l running transversely of the funnel, protruding through vertical slots 30 formed in the sides of the funnel, and lying on the cam plates. The rod 31 may, for the purpose of easy running over the cam plates, be provided on its ends with rollers.

Hanging freely on the middle of the rod 31 and secured against lateral slipping is a piston 32 which, in order to obviate to and fr0 oscillation, embraces the shaft 27. The piston 32 at each stroke raises the trap-door 3 and allows it to drop back again when it has passed over the highest point of the cam plates 28 and 29. The coins are, in consequence of this regular up and down movement of the trap-door, delivered downwards in as uniform a distribution as possible.

The coins arrive from the container 26, through a conduit 33 consisting of separate funnel-shaped parts, which are movably interconnected, on a smooth counting plate 34 (Fig. 3) upon which they pile up flat one above the other within the shaft.

The bottom end of the conduit 33 consists of a suitably shaped casting 35 which is rigidly connected at the bottom on its left-hand side with the counting plate 34 or its support. The separate parts of the conduit 33 hang on small chains or wires, are interconnected and, slightly overlapping each other, are suspended on the container 26; at the bottom they are anchored to the casting 35. The 0bj ect of this freely suspended arrangement in short pieces is to avoid stopping up of the conduit 33 by wrongly placed coins. In order to attain this object perfectly, a shaking device is also arranged which keeps the conduit 33 in short rapidshaking movement by means of which an oblique or upright placing of the coins in the shaft is prevented.

This shaking device consists of an iron hoop 36 which embraces a conduit portion and on one end of which a compression spring 37 (helical spring) is fitted. The latter, and the other end of the hoop 36 with roller 38 are provided with guides 40 and 39 respectively. The hoop 36 is pressed back somewhat by means of a cam plate 41, which likewise gives two strokes on each rotation, and is again pressed forward by the compression spring 37. In this way the whole conduit 33 is continually kept in rapid oscillation and consequently an upright placing of the dropping coins or a breakdown is prevented. A narrow slot may advantageously be formed in the rear side of the casting 35, through which access to the interior can be gained when necessary with a small rod.

The cam plate 41 is rigidly connected with the shaft 42 and the chain wheel 43. The latter is driven round by the chain drive 24. 44 and 45 are at the same time guide and chain-stretching wheels.

For the purpose of preventing over-filling of the container 26 by a too-rapid supply of money, the piston 32 has a stamped shaped enlargement on its bottom end. Now if the conduit 33 is filled with coins up to the top and these reach the piston enlargement 46, the fall of the piston diminishes as the quantity of money increases until finally the piston remains entirely at the top and keeps the trap-door 3 closed. The piston 32 again begins to operate when space for the further supply of money is again created below it.

The chain wheel 22 drives, by means of the chain drive 47, the chain wheel 48 together with the cogwheel 50 which is fixed on the same shaft 49. The tensioning wheel 51 7 5),. l the tensioning device 61 with which the chain serves for regulating the tension of the Vchain 47.

The cogwheel lin turn drives cogwheel 52 which is fixed on a shaft together with a chain wheel 53. Qnthechain wheels 53 and 54 there runs a speciallyconstructed ychain 55 in which there is inserted, after each second, third or fourth .link and so on, in accordance with the size and quantity of coins to be delivered, a link provided with a claw .56 (Figs. 2 and 3). These'claws -niust be adapted to the particular diameter and thickness of the kinds of money being dealt with.

The wheels 52, 53 and 54 are mounted on a suitably shaped casting (Fig. 5) which tis suitably recessed in front for receivingthe chain wheels 53 and 54. The hole 58 ,serves for receiving the shaft vof thewheel 54. The casting (Fig. 5) is itself rigidly connected by its rear portion and screws 59 with the side wall of the casing 1.

The outer shaft bearing for the wheelsV 52, 53 and 54 is screwed on the `casting (Fig. On the rear portionof 60 there is located wheel 54 vand chain are regulated.

Directly upon the casting (Fig. 5) there is fiXedthe smooth'counting plate 34 which has its .prolonged frontend bentsteeply downwards -to serve `as Va slip off surface for-the coins, whilst its shorter rear -end is bent slightly downwards to enable the chain claws to run on to it freely.

rlhe depressions Z of the casting c (Fig. 5)

lserve for receiving the conveying chain .wheels 53 and 54 forthe sprocket `chain 5.5. The hole 57 serves for receiving the saft for the conveying chain wheel53, whilst the slot 58 is provided for receiving the displaceable'shaft forthe conveying chain wheel 54; Ac are screw holes for securing the outer shaft bearing 60 for 4.the cogwheel 52 and for the conveying chain wheels 53 and 54. The up- 'Vper surface of the casting bears the rsmooth counting plate 34 the front end of which is prolonged and bent steeply downwards Vand acts as a slip oil' surface for thecoms, whilst the rear end is shorter andbent down kt0 a smaller extent.VV rlhe :rounded :portion f yof,-

the lcasting c serves for .thefrunning onand the rounded portion g serves for the running off of the conveying chain 55 with vthe `catch claws which move over the: vcounting plate. Y

The chain 55 with the catch claws 56 rims over this counting plate 34 on which the coins pile up insidethe casting 35. Above the catch claws 56 there is located a cover plate 62 with a slot 63, so that the catch claws 56push the coins forward between the counting `plate 34 and the cover plate 62. c

The catch claws 56 are so shaped that they embrace the single coin for about three-quarters of its diameter. The small portion of the claw that is not embraced remains free for operating the lever mechanism for the counting apparatus.

The Slipping surface of the counting plate .34 should be only wide enough to allow such freedomto the coins as to prevent lthem from lateral displacement.

The casting 35, the cover plate 62 and the `counting kplate 34 are screwed one above the .Thisnumber strip may be a thin strip yof steel or of some other suitable material.

lVhen the tension of theclockspring 66v is to be increased, `the thumb-nut-69 is given ,a few revolutions in the clockwise direction after the locking screw 71 next to the anchor .70 hasbeen removed. To slacken the tension, the anchor7 0 is .moved rapidly up and'down a few times. Thelocking screw 71 must-then be screwedin again. The thumb nut 69 and the ratchet lwheel 72 Aare rigidly .connected with ythe shaft 64.

The numberstrip 68 is provided with guide :1

holes, after the manner .of film-strips, and bears Yfromithe'beginning to the end thenumbers of the amounts corresponding to every Goin counted out; thus, forexample, in the* case of 10 pfennig pieces 0.10020, 0.30,1

0.40, .1.1.00, 1:10, 1.20, etc.; in the case of mark ' piecesRmk 1,2, 3, 45, etc-.,and inthe case of 3 mark piecesflRmk .3, 6, 9, A12, 15, 18, etc.

In the drawings there is shown a number strip for 100 one .mark pieces vRink 100.

- The number strip 68 runs from the drum y65 yover the guide roller 73, ythence vertically downwards'under the roller 74and over'the counting drum 75 and thence again downwards on =to the winding-on drum 7 6.v Y'The beginning of the numberV strip is secured -to the winding-on drum 76 and its end is secured to tliedrum'65. i

The counting drinn 75 has on both sides Velevations which -it into the guide holes of the number strip 68 and the roller 74 has depressions fitting these elevations; in this way the numberstrip is firmly guided. In addition the roller 74 is somewhat recessed in the middle for the purposeof preserving the numbers on the number strip.

The counting drum 7 5 has on each extreme end a conveying ring of teeth 77, the two rings having equal tooth divisions, and, on each end of its shaft, and movably fitted thereon,

a lever of a lever mechanism 78, 79, 80. On

each of the levers 78 there is located a movable pawl 81 which engages in the corresponding conveying ring of teeth 77.

iso

The right-angled lever 80, which has its fulcrum at 82, carries on its short end a wheel 84 (Fig. 3), which is adjustable in a slot 83 and which projects into the slot 63 of the cover plate 62. By raising or lowering the wheel the stroke of the lever mechanism can be accurately regulated.

Each coin, which is now pushed forward by a catch claw 56 of the chain 55 between the counting plate 34 and the cover plate 62, presses the wheel 84 projecting into the slot 63 forwards and upwards so that the lever mechanism is raised and rotates the counting drum 75 through one stroke by means of the pawl 81.

As soon as a catch claw 56 has brought a coin so far forward that the wheel 84 can run with it, the coin slips down the front bend of the counting plate 34 from which it passes out through the channel 85. At the same time the number strip 68 shows on the counting drum 75 the counted amount which is visible through the peep-hole 86 and the lever mechanism 78, 79, 80 drops back by gravity into its original position. This process is repeated in rapid succession. Should it happen that a claw 56 does notcatch a coin, probably because the supply of coins from above is not sufiiciently fast, then the lever wheel 84 will not be raised and the number strip 68 will not be moved further.

When the number strip 68 is wound to the fullest extent on the drum 65, the clock spring 66 has no tension or only a very small one. When the number strip 68 runs off step by step in the operation just described, the clock spring 66 is brought into tension also in a step by step manner.

The winding-on drum 76 runs with its lateral cheeks on the cheeks of a roller 87 which is inserted for the purpose of left-hand winding up of the number strip, and the roller 87 is in turn rotated by the smooth surfaces 88 lying next to and behind the conveying ring 0f teeth 77 of the counting drum 7 The cheeks of 76 and 87 and the surfaces 88 co-operate as friction discs. The drum 6 and the roller 87 are each mounted with their axles. so as to be adapted to be raised and lowered, in a slot 89 of the carriage walls. the drum 76 being also mounted en two bearings 90 that are adapted to be raised and lowered and are located inside the carrier walls. The bearings 90 are movably connected with a two-armed lever, the fulcrum of which is at 92. Below the lever there is located. in freut a compression spring 93, which causes the winding-on drum 76 and the roller 87 to be pressed upwards against the counting drum 75 and thus to derive their rotation from the latter.

The counting drum 75 gives up the number strip 68 to the winding-on drum 76 and the l latter rolls it up freely and unchecked.

If now by turning the crank 5 the desired amountof money, which is under 100 pieces (or under some other maximum amount fixed on the number strip) has been counted out, the rotation of the crank is stopped immediately upon the appearance of thc corresponding amount number in the peep-hole 86. The number strip 68 is then allowed to return to zero, by lightly pressing with a finger on the lrey 94 of the lever 91. rl`his causes the drum 76 and the roller 87 to lower somewhat and to free the counting drum 75 from the pressure from below. At the same time the lever 91 raises the rod 95 which hangs vertically on the connecting rod of the pawls 81, so that the pawls 81 are moved out of their locking position and release the counting drum 75 for its return movement. The clock spring 66 which has been put into tension by pulling off the number strip 68 is again released and turns the drinn back and the latter again winds the number strip 68 on to itself.

For the purpose of keeping the number strip in the peep-hole 86 with an exact zero adjustment, the former is provided at a suitable distance below 0 with a small aperture 96 (F ig. 7) that is engaged by a hook 97 which holds the strip still. )When the strip runs downwards, the hook is automatically pressed back owing to its bevelled surface.

The rod 95 has at its bottom a slot 98 for the pur ose of enabling it to take part in the up and c own movements of the pawls 81. By means of the depending rod 95 the pawls 81 are weighted downwardly and are thus prevented from falling backward.

When the numbers of the whole number strip 68 have been counted through, and the hundredth coin (or the last coin in accorciance with the maximum fixed on the number strip) has dropped into the channel 85, the corresponding compartment is automatically disengaged in the following manner:

In the same manner as below zero, the number strip 68 is also provided beyond the maximum figure with an aperture 99 (Fig. 6), which, when this maximum number appears in the peep-hole 86, is engaged by a lever 100, which is pressed down by the number strip on to the stop 101. The lever 100 is bevelled in front and carries in front a slightly protruding wheel 102 for the purpose of obviating wearing away of the strip by the lever. The rear end of the lever 100 is rigidly connected through the shaft 103 with a wheel 104. The wheel 104 has a wire cable 105 passing round a groove thereon; this cable 105 leads downwards to a lever 106 and is connected to its front end. ln order to allow the wheel of the lever 100 to run continually on the rear side of the number strip 68 and the lever to engage in the aperture 99 immediately upon its appearance, the lever should be given play for a very small rotation on its shaft 103 or the wire cable 105 should be somewhat 'slackened The lever 106 rests with its front end on a base 107, has its fulcrum at 108, is bent off laterally at right angles at its rear end, and terminates in a catch 109 with a downwardly inclined gliding surface.

The coupling and uncoupling lever 110 with its fulcrum at 111 has in front outside the casing a handle 112 and terminates rearwardly with a fork 113 which, in addition to a guide ring 114e, embraces the coupling and uncoupling sleeve 17 and moves the latter. On the front portion ofthe coupling and uncoupling lever 110, and approximately midway between the fulcrum andthe handle, there is fixed a tension spring 115 which tends to pull the lever to the left.

If the handle 112 is pushedVv to the right, the coupling half 15 moves to the left and engages the other half 16, the catch 109 snaps in and holds the coupling and uncoupling lever 110 fast in its position.

vWhen the maximum number (for example, the number 100,) is reached on the number strip 68, on its appearing in the peep-hole 8.6 the lever 100 engages in the aperture 99 and is pressed down and the wheel 104i pulls the front of the lever 106 upwards to such an extent that the descending catch 109 on the rear of the lever liberates the lever 110, the latter is drawn forward to the left by the tension spring 115 and consequently disengages the coupling half 15 by moving it to the right.

ln order to set the coin-counting section again into operation it is only necessary, as stated above, to allow 'the number strip 68 to run back by pressure of a hnger on the key 94, and the levers 100 and 106 return to their original position, whereupon the coupling 15, 16 is again engaged by moving the handle 112 towards the right.

1n order to deaden the noise of the dropping coins, the parts concerned-especially the containers 2 and 26 as well as in the chanV- nel 85-may be lined with sound-deadening means. l

The coins dropping through the channel 85 are caught as required in suitable containers bags, devices for packing the coins into rolls, and the like). f

I claimz- 1. A money-counting machine for coins, comprising a counting plate, a feed funnel,

ing means for operating said trap-door to regulate the feed-of coins" into"V said jointed shaft@l I 2i' Aimoneycounting machine according to claiml 1, whereinsaid regulating means comprise'scam plates adapted on rotationtov raise said trapdoor regularly, apiston embracing" the cam plate axle like a fork'and adapted to enable the raisingV movements to said trapdoor to be effected by said cam plates, thel fork-like prongs of said piston extending beyond said cam plate axle to such an extent the velocity of the coin-conveying device be-v neath said shaft.

V8. A money-counting machine comprising a bell-c`rank lever provided with a roller on one arm and having its other arm adapted to operate the counting mechanism, a stationary conduit portion, a sprocket chain with catch claws thereon `and arranged so as, on running round, to draw the coins to be counted from beneath said stationary conduit portion in a straight line and to cause each cointo raise said bell-crank lever by means of said roller.

1. A money-counting machine comprising a bell-crank lever provided with a roller on onearm and having its other arm adapted to operate the counting mechanism, a conduit portion, a sprocket chain with catch claws thereon and arranged so as, in running round, to draw the coins to be counted' from beneath a. conduit portion in a straight line and to cause each coin to raise said bell-crank lever by means of said roller, said roller being adjustable on the firstmentioned lever arm for the' purpose of regulating the stroke of said bell-crank lever in accordance with different thicknesses of coin.

5. A money-counting machine comprising a counting drum, a winding-on drum, a numbei' strip adapted to be moved forward from said counting drum and at the same time to be wound on -said winding-on drum and to indicate the particular amount counted, a roller interposed between said counting drum and said winding-on drum, a spring-controlled lever adapted to press said winding-on drum and said roller against said counting drum, a ratchet wheel adapted to engage and be disengaged from said counting drum and Von being disengaged from said counting drum to allow it to run back, said spring-controlled lever being adapted, on being operated, to disengage said ratchet wheel from said counting drum.

6. A money-counting machine comprising a coupling for the driving shaft of the niachine, a number strip adapted to indicate the counted amount in a peep-hole in the machine casing, a lever with its free end in contact with said number strip and adapted, when a suitable length of number strip has been run off, tO snap into an aperture in said number strip and to be taken along thereby, and a. cable, adapted when said lever is taken along as aforesaid, to enable said lever to disenv'age said couplinfr.

t l GEORG BOOK.

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