US2020865A - Money drawer and safety locker - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1935. A. L. ABBOTT ET AL MONEY DRAWER AND SAFETY LOCKER Filed Sept. 9, 1933' 8 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 12, 1935-. ABBOTT AL 2,020,865

MONEY DRAWER HND SAFETY LOCKER Filed Sept. 9,, 1955 s sheets-sh fl 2 ll L 1 jivezfim Nov. 12; 1935. AL. ABBOTT El Al MONEY DRAWER AND SAFETY LOCKER Filed Sept. 9, 1933 SSheets-Sheet 5 G NM Nov. 12, 1935 v A. L. ABBOTT EI'AL, 2,020,865

MONEY DRAWER AND SAFETY LOCKER w Filed Sept. 9, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 12, .1935.

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Nov. 12, 1935. A. 1.. ABBOTT ET AL MONEY DRAWER AND SAFETY LOCKER I 8 Sheets-Shet Filed Sept. 9, 1953 MtyZnz. w

- Nov. 12, 1935. A AIB Tf E AL 2,020,865

MONEY DRAWER AND SAFETY LOCKER Filed Sept. 9, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 'Jgtz7 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MONEY DRAWER AND SAFETY LOCKER Application September 9, 1933, Serial No. 688,857

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a money drawer and safety locker of a type adapted to be installed in tellers cages of banks, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved drawer and locker construction which may be quickly or automatically closed and locked to protect funds in the drawer and locker, in the event of an attempted robbery. A further object is to provide improved electrically operated means for quickly closing the money drawer and locking it and the locker for a predetermined period. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The improved construction consists broadly of 1 a money drawer withdrawably mounted above a locker chest with a communicating passage between the drawer and chest, power means for quickly moving the drawer into closed and locked position, auxiliary locking means on the locker, and mechanism for maintaining the drawer lock and auxiliary lock in operative locking position until a predetermined time has elapsed, and then freeing the drawer and the auxiliary lock. The invention contemplates the use of a plurality or battery of drawers and lockers, as well as the single drawer and locker construction described. The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a drawer and locker embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken side view in elevation; Fig. 3, a broken plan sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 3-3 of Fig. l, and the drawer being shown in withdrawn position; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a broken sectional detail view, the section being taken as indicated at line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a broken sectional detail view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a broken plan sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line l? of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a sectional detail view of contact members leading to the auxiliary lock of the safety locker; Fig. 9, a broken enlarged detail View of a portion of the rotatable retarding rod; Fig. 10, a detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line HJIB of Fig. 3; Fig. 11, a broken plan View of a portion of the money drawer showing the locking mechanism therefor; Fig. 12, a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line |2l2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a transverse sectional'view, the section being taken as indicated at line l3--l3 of Fig. 11; Fig. 14, a rear View in elevation of the locker door, the rear wall of the locker having been broken away to expose the lock mechanism; Fig. 15, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line l5-l5 of Fig. 14; Fig. 16, a sectional view, the section being taken 5 as indicated at line Iii-4t of Fig. 14; and Fig. 17,

a schematic view of the wiring layout.

In the illustration given, A designates. a casing; B, a money drawer mounted in the upper part of the casing, and C, a locker below the 10 money drawer.

The casing A may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, it comprises a rectangular chest having an open front end, the open end being closed by the front wall ill of 15 drawer B and the door ll of locker C. The door II is secured by hinges l2to one side wall of casing A.

The casing A is provided with a horizontal partition wall I3 separating the drawer compart- 2O ment from the locker compartment, and sup ported upon the partition [3 adjacent the side walls are roller tracks I3 in which are mounted rollers [4. In view of the well known construction of the roller track, a detailed description is 25 believed unnecessary.

The drawer B may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, it is provided with a front wall Iii adapted to close the drawer compartment and with bottom and side walls and 30 with a plurality of compartment walls [5 dividing the drawer into a number of money tills. In the rear left hand corner, there is provided a compartment. l6 having a hinged or trap door bottom H. The trap door is adapted to swing 5 through an opening H5 in the partition wall I3 when the door ll becomes aligned therewith, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. A centrally dis-' posedguide track I8 is supported so as to engage the central portion of door I7 and maintain it 40 closed when the drawer is in open position. Near its rear end, the track I8 is inclined downwardly at HP, and rollers l8 are mounted in the section Ed to facilitate the lowering and raising of trap door H. The drawer B is supported on the 5 rollers [4 by the flange extensions l9, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

' Any suitable means'may be employed for locking the drawer. As shown more clearly in Fig. 11,

a key-controlled spindle 20 is equipped with a 5 bar 2! to the ends of which are secured draw- 1 arms 22.j The arms 22 extend through openings in the side walls of the drawer and engage front walls A of the casing A. The turning of the spindle 20 by the key causes the bar 2| to swing 7 also to prevent rotation of disk 26'.

in a rotary movement and moves the locking rods 22 to-closed or open position. A handle 23 is 7 provided for the drawer B.

The locker C may also be of'any suitable con struction. As shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and '7, the locker compartment is provided on one side-with a partition wall 24 providing a compartment for the batteries, switches and other mechanism which will be described hereinafter. A floor 25 for the locker compartment is provided a short distance above the bottom wall of the locker and provides a wiring compartment 25 immediately below the floor 25. I

Any suitable locking mechanism may be provided for the locker door l I. In the illustration given, the'door is provided with a rotary disk 26 provided on opposite sides with looking teeth 25 and 25 Pivotally connected to opposite sides of the disk are looking bolts 2? equipped with springs 21 A combination lock 28 controls a bolt128 adapted toengage the projection 25 on disk 25 to prevent rotation of-the disk. An auxiliary lock 25 engages the tooth 26 of disk 25,.and serves The auxiliary locking bolt 25 is controlled bya solenoid 3i equipped with wires leading to contact members 3|. A handle-equipped shaft 32 is connected to locking disk 25 and extends through the front wall of thedoor C. 7

Our invention includes the use of mechanism which, when actuated, quicklyand. silently closes the drawer and locks the drawer in closed position until a predetermined time has elapsed. The specific mechanism illustrated for this purpose will now be described. The mechanism is preferably mounted in the space between drawer B and the horizontal partition i3, and at the rear of. drawer B. A guide rod 33 and a retarding rod 34. are supported. by brackets 35 and .35 longitudinally of the compartment and provide a track for the carriage member 35. Secured to r the carriage is a flexible strap 37, which is wound upon a drum 38. .The drum 3B is mounted upon shaft 38 rotatably supported in bracket members 38 "A coil or power spring is secured to one end of the shaft 38 and housed within casing 39. Also secured to shaft 38* i'sca ratchet wheel 55. Adjacent the wheelfill is a spring-held pawl 4! adapted to be actuated by solenoid 32. A

V engaged by nut 45. Between the members 45 and 45, is a leather washer 41. With the arrangement shown, the friction on rotatable rod 35 may be increased ordiminished according to the adjust- 'ment of nut ifi. The rotatable rod 34. is provided with a spiral groove 48 adapted to be engaged by a finger 49 carried by carriage 35. The rotation of'the rod, as the carriage moves rearwardly,

causes the drawer to move silently and with reduced speedtoclosed position.

The carriage member 36 is provided with an upwardly extending rear wall adapted to engage a downwardly turned flange 55 secured 'to the a drawer B. As the carriage moves inwardly, it

strikes the flange 50 on the drawer, and causes the drawer to be carried to the inner position.

In order to render the drawer-retracting mechanism inoperative except when an emergency exists, we provide a catch construction which engages the carriage 36 and maintains it in forward position until an actuating button is :pressed, In the illustration given, a latch member 5| is pivotally secured at Fil and is provided with a catch 5l engaging the front wall 35* of the carriage. Secured to an outer arm of the latch member 5|. is arod 52. The rod is secured to one end of the pivoted bar' 53 which is urged upwardly by spring member 56. The bar;-

53 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3, above the breaker switch 54,.by a pivoted trigger 55 which engages a recess 53 in the bar. 53. Thespring'55 engages the members 53 and 55 and tends to urge them toward the position shown in Fig. 3. The spring breaker switch 54 is normally held closed by engagement with member 53, as shown in Fig. 3, but opens to break the circuit after member 53 has been tripped,

thusstopping the further flow of current to solenoid 58. A plunger 51 is slidably. mounted within solenoid 58 and adapted to be urged forward thereby when the solenoid is energized, to

push the upper end of trigger 55 in a forward direction. This movement releases the bar 53 which is urged upwardly: by spring .56 so as to necting the various parts are omitted, but the.

connections are clearly shown in the wiring lay: out in Fig. 17, which will be later described. The

contact members 3! on the locker door 0 are adapted to be broughtagainst the fixed contact members 59, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The con tact members 59 are supported by wall 25 which forms with the casing in the lower compartment of the safe, a battery compartment 24*. Within i compartment 25 are arranged dry cells 50. The

battery is connected, as shown in the wiring layout, with a dash-pot relay 6|, a make-and-break relay S2, and with a reset switch 63. 'From compartment 25 lead wires 58 and 75 pass downwardly through the bottom of the compartment into the narrow wiring compartment 25 Referring more specifically to the wiring layout in Fig. '17, it will be observed that a closed circuit is employed. A wire 58 leads from the make-and-break relay 62 to a series of switches 67!. It will be understood that the switches may be located at any convenient point in the bank or other building. A line 15 joins the switches at the other end with contact member l2. The relay 62 actuates armaturelil which, by means of 7 links, tends to swing the switch arm ll into con- I tact-with contact arm' 12. When the magnet 62 is released, the arm ll falls into engagement. with contact arm E3. Line 14 leads from the contact point l3 to the dash-pot relay El. From the switch H line 16 leads ,to a vertical'line ll connecting with battery 55 on one side and with the reset button 63 on the other side. Line 58 leads from battery 55 to the solenoid 52. Line it leads from line 69 to solenoid 35 on the safe door and return line silconnects solenoid with line it.

The solenoids 52 and are connected in parallel by lines 8| and 82, the line 82 join-J ing line 83 which connects solenoid 42 to line it.

Adjacent the dash-pot'relay 5! is an armature point 86 is connected to line H, while switch 85 is connected to line 81. Line 81 extends between the reset switch 63 and contact point 12:

In operation, the current flows normally from battery 6i] through line '58, the coil of relay 62, energizing same, through line 68, switches or circuit closing devices 6'1, thence returning through line 15, contacts 72 and ii, and through lines it and Tl, back to battery 69. Under this normal operation, no current flows through any of the other devices.

Opening any part of the circuit between lines 68 and it, as by manipulating one of the switches 67, deenergizes the make-and-break relay 62, allowing a contact to be set up between contacts H and 13. The current then flows from battery 6%, through line 78, ratchet magnet 42, line at, line "it, contact points '53 and ii, and then through it and ll back to battery 56. The release magnet 58, being connected in multiples through lines 8i and 32, and through lines it and 83, leading to ratchet magnet 42, become energized at the same time as solenoid i2 is energized, but as soon as the release magnet functions, it opens switch 5 5, thus stopping the current flow and releasing magnet 53.

The door magnet 35 is also multiple-connected through lines it and 383 and lines 69 and id and it is energized at the same time as release magnets 22 and 58.

Also connected in multiples to the magnets til, 42 and $58, is the time delay solenoid 6 l. The energizing of the coils of the solenoids causes, after a predetermined time, contacts 85 and St to close. These contacts shunt contacts?! and l? of the make-and-break relay so that a current (provid ing the circuit containing the circuit opening device has been put in order) is set up in the make-and-break relay energizing coil and causes a break between H and i3, thus releasing the various locking magnets and restoring a normal circuit through contacts H and F2.

The push button 63 is provided so that the restoration of current through the 1nakeand-break relay can be established without waiting for the action of the time delay solenoid. Thus, while the mechanism is being repaired and the door is open, the button 63 may be pressed to release the latch members without requiring the mechanic to wait until the time mechanism has run.

Referring to the mechanical parts, the operation is as follows: In the ordinary or everyday use of the money drawer, the operator closes and opens the drawer just as the ordinary drawer is opened and closed. The locking bolts 22 are manipulated by the turning of the key stem 26 by the tellers key. In the event of an attempted robbery, the button, which is near the teller or near some ofificer of the bank, is pressed so as to energize the solenoids 58, 42 and 36 As the solenoid 58 is energized, plunger 51 is pushed forward against trigger 55 to release the pivoted member 53. The spring 56 then urges the free end of lever 53 upwardly and depresses rod 52. Rod 52, in turn, releases catch 5! from interlocking connection with the carriage 36. The carriage is drawn rearwardly by strap 3? connected to drum and carried by shaft 38 The power is supplied by the wound coil spring in casing 39. The rearward movement of carriage 36 is slightly retarded and rendered noiseless by the engagement of finger 49 with the spiral groove 48 of the rotatable rod 35, friction being supplied to the rod 34 by means of washer 4'! and adjustable nut 46. The rearward movement of carriage 36 brings its vertical extension 36 into contact with the depending flange 50 which is fixed to drawer B. Drawer B is thereby retracted with the carriage into the drawer compartment. The energizing of solenoid 42 causes the pawl 4| to be 5 drawn forward into contact with ratchet 40. However, as the ratchet revolves with shaft 38 during the closing of the drawer, the teeth slip over the pawl 4|. When the drawer has been closed, the engagement of pawl 4| with the ratchet 1 4B prevents counter-movement of shaft 38 and locks the drawer against withdrawal. At the same time, the solenoid 30 on the door of the locker is energized and forces the auxiliary looking bolt 29 forward to engage the lug 26 of lock- 15 ing disk 26. Rotation of the locking disk is thus prevented until the solenoid has been released.

Release of the auxiliary lock 29 and of the pawl $5 is effected after the dash-pot has operated for a predetermined period, as has been described. Instead of a dash-pot, it will be understood that other timing mechanism may be employed to effect release of the locked parts. After the solenoids have been de-energized, the drawer B may be withdrawn, and the door of the locker may be unlocked by simply manipulating the combination 23. In the withdrawal of the drawer, however, the safety apparatus is reset, the flange 5% of the drawer engaging flange 36 of the carriage and drawing stripIZl to the extended position shown in Fig. 3. This movement serves to wind the spring in casing 39, and at the same time, catch 5| snaps into locking engagement with carriage 36, and the parts 53 and 55 assume their position shown in Fig. 3.

While we have described the mechanism as being electrically operated by current supplied from dry cells, it will be obvious that current may come from an external source; also, it will be obvious that mechanical timing and other mechanism 40 may be employed for the automatic locking and unlocking operations.

In the construction illustrated, we have shown the timing release mechanism housed within the unit. It will be obvious that the release may be effected positively upon the manipulation of a switch outside of the unit. For example, the switch might be located in a safe controlled by time-lock mechanism of the type shown in Miller and Kuenzel application, Serial No. 613,954, or by other suitable delayed time-lock mechanism.

The .foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

We claim:

1. In apparatus of the character set forth, a casing providing a drawer compartment, a drawer slidably mounted therein, power means within said casing for closing said drawer, means associated with said drawer for automatically charging said power means when the drawer is withdrawn, means outside of said drawer for actuating said power means to close the drawer, and rotatable friction means for retarding the closing of the drawer.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, a casing providing a drawer compartment, 2. drawer 7i withdrawably mounted in said compartment, power means of variable intensity within said casing for closing said drawer, a rotatable rod member provided with a spiral groove associated with said power means, means carried by said 75.

drawer and engaging said groove to rotate said rod for cushioning the closing movement of said drawer, and means for actuating said power means. i

3. In apparatus of the character set forth,a casing providing a drawer compartment, a drawer slidably mounted therein, a carriage member of said drawer, and means for'cushioning and retarding the closing movement of said drawer.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, a casing providing a drawer compartment, a drawer slidably mounted therein, 'a track running longi: tudinally of said compartment, a carriage on said track, interlocking elements carried by said oarria'ge. and said drawer, a fiexible strap member secured to said carriage and to a rotatably mounted drum, spring power means for rotating said drum, latch means maintaining said carriage in forward position against the tension of said spring, release means adapted to be actuated to release said latch means, locking means adapted to prevent withdrawal of said drawer, and means for releasing said locking means after a predetermined time.

5. In apparatus of the character'set forth, a

casing providing a drawer compartment, a drawer slidably mounted therein, a track running longitudinally of said compartment, a carriage on said track, interlocking elements carried by said carriage and said drawer, a flexible strap member secured to said carriage and to a rotatably mounted drum, spring power means for rotating said drum, latch means maintaining said carriage in forward position against the tension of said spring, release means adapted to be actuated to release said latch means, locking means adapted to prevent withdrawal of said drawer for apredetermined time, said locking means comprising a ratchet associated with said power spring and a solenoid-controlled pawl permitting rotation of said ratchet in one direction but not in the other, and means for releasing said solenoid and retracting said pawl. i

6. In, apparatus of the character set forth, a casing providing a drawer compartment, a drawer slidably mounted therein, a track running longitudinally of said compartment, a carriage on said track, means carried by said carriage adapted to engage said drawer to retract it when the carriage is retracted, a flexible strap member secured to said carriage. and to a rotatably mounted drum,

power meansfor rotating said drum, latch means gage said drawer to retract it when said carriage member is retracted, means slidably supporting said carriage member longitudinally of said compartment, releasable latch means for supporting said carriage member in the forward end of said drawer compartment and out of engagement with said drawer, power means associated with said carriage for withdrawing said carriage toward the 'rearwall of said compartment, and locking means for preventing withdrawal of said drawer. i

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, a casing providing a drawer compartment, a drawer slidably mounted therein, a" carriage member mounted within said compartment for longitudinal movement therein, means associated with said 10 casing providing adrawer compartment, a drawer 0' slidably mounted therein, slidably mounted means within said compartment provided with an interlockingmember adaptedto engage said drawer to .efiect simultaneously the retraction of said drawer with said slidably mounted means, power 5 means associated therewith for withdrawing said slidably mounted means and thereby said drawer, and time-controlled locking means for preventing withdrawal of said drawer through-a predetermined period. 10. In apparatus of the character set forth, a casing providing a drawer compartment, a drawer slidably mounted therein, guide means within said compartment, a slide member engaging said guide means. and guided thereby i or longitudinal movement, interlocking means carried b said slide member normally not engaging said drawer but adapted to engage said drawer to effect its retraction when said slide member is retracted,

power means associated with said slide member for efiecting its withdrawal, and locking means for preventing withdrawal of said drawer.

l1. In combination: a casing,' a drawer slidably mounted therein; extensible drawer-closing means rendered potentially operative by initial- 1y opening the drawer; a latch-device for holding said means in extended position, while the drawer is left free for closing and opening at, will; and means for releasing said latch-device to permit said drawer-closing means to function to automatically close the drawer. V

12. In combination: a casing; a drawer slidably mounted therein; extensible drawer-closing means rendered potentially operative by initially opening the drawer; a latch-device for holding said means in extended position, while the drawer is left free for closing and opening at will and' electrically controlled means for releasing said latch-device to permit said drawer-closing means to function to automatically close the drawer.

13. In combination: a casing; a drawer slidably mounted therein; extensible drawer-closing means'rendered potentially operative by initially opening the drawer; a latch-device for holding said means in extended position, while the drawer is left free for closing and opening at will; means for releasing said latch-device to permit said drawer-closing means to function to;automatically close the drawer; and a locking-device serving automatically to lock the drawer in closed position. r 14; A structure as specified-in claim llyin which said drawer-closing means comprises a slide adapted to actuate the drawer, a flexible member for retracting said slide, and means for Winding said flexible member to effect closing of the drawer.

15. In combination a casing, a drawer slidably mounted therein; extensible drawer-closing means rendered potentially operative by initially opening the drawer; a latch-device for holding said means in extended position, while the drawer is left free for closing and opening at will; electrically controlled means for releasing said latchdevice to permit said drawer-closing means to function to automatically close the drawer; a locking-device serving'automatically to lock the drawer in closed position; and means for preventing for a predetermined period unlocking of the drawer.

16. A structure as specified in c laim 15, in combination with a locker beneath the drawer which has a door equipped with a lock subject to control by the means which prevents unlocking of the drawer for a predetermined period, and means carried by the drawer for automatically dumping money or the like into the locker when the drawer moves to closed position.

1'7. In combination: a casing; a drawer slidably mounted therein; extensible drawer-closing means rendered potentially operative by initially opening the drawer; a latch-device for holding said means in extended position while the drawer is left free for closing and opening at will; electrically controlled means for releasing said latchdevice to permit said drawer-closing means to function to automatically close the drawer; and means for retarding the drawer-closing operation.

WILLIAM C. MILLER. ALBERT L. ABBOTT.

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