US2049969A - Bank protecting device - Google Patents

Description

ug- 4, 1936- c. J. MEUNgER ET AL '2,049,969

' BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Sept.. 4, l1954 7 Sheets-Sheet l QWN QNN H. OMBOY HMHWV "17 SheglgAs-Sheet 2 c. J. MEUNIER E- r AL BANK PROTEGTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1934 LEE.-

llllllllllll Aug. 4, 1936.

Aug. 4, 1936. c. J. MEUNIER ET Al. 2,049,959

- BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filed sept. 4', 1954 7 sheets-sheet s c.' J. MEUNIER ET AL BANK 'PRAOTEGTINGV DEVICE Aug. 4, 1936.

Filed Sept. 4, 1934 Fllf '5f 7 SheetS-Sheet 4 Aug- 4, 1935- c. J. MEUNIER ET Al. 2,049,969

BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filled sept. 4, 1934 7 sheets-sheet 5 N\`\ I( o m\,\ v N. Q w

QWN NNN' QNN NWN \NN NNN NNN QWN 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ug 4,- 1936 c. J. MEUNIER ET AL BANK PROTECTING. DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1934 QF N N I l l lull.

lll -III {lli} l l l l ,urL

Aug. 4, 1936. c. J. MEUNIER ET AL.

BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1954 y'7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Aug. 4,y 1936 www BANK PROTECTING DEVICE l Christian J. Meunier and Harold Bomboy,

New Orleans, La.

Application September 4, 1934, Serial No. 742,7 00

Our invention has for an object to protect from robbery banks and other places Where money is kept and handled, as for example, the cashiers departments of counting houses, stores, factories, mills, etc.A

' Further, itis an object of our invention to provide a cashiers counter With means to guard the money and valuables thereon against theft by enclosing the money and/orvaluables so that l access thereto may not again be had save at the Will of someone Who is outside the influence of the bandits. I i

Further, it is anobject toprovide means to stop the bandits from getting the money even l if the cashier, Vfor one reason or another, Wishes tov give it to them and to put it entirely beyond the cashiers control.

Further, our invention has for an objectv to providea money counter with a closure or cover and 2O means operable at a number of different places,

inv and about the building, or even at places remote from thebuilding inwhich the protected counter is located ,for actuating the closuresor cover in a manner to enclose and protect the 25 funds, i Y

Again, it is an object to provideoa counter in the general form ofUa roll-top desk, the top of which is automatically .closed and vlocked upon closing an electric circuit that is arranged .to be "0 closed from a number of places, and in which provision is made to eject from the counter anything which would be in the Way of and likely to prevent the top from closing down and becoming locked; a further objgect is to accomplish this result Without injuring the cashier.

Further, it is an object to provide an auxiliary door for the bank safes, which door may be automatically closed and locked upon the approach of a bandit without necessitating Y the closure of the outer doors of the safes, which outer doors bear the time locks.

Further, it is an object to provide an auxiliary door for the vaultV or safe which is composed of armor plates held rigidly as a unit but spaced apart, the plates being perforated at intervals, the perforations of one plate being located out of register with those of the opposite plate in order to prevent passage of bullets through the perforations and yet permit air to pass through, so if someone becomes imprisoned in the vault when the door is automatically closed he Will not become suifocated. l

A further object is to provide an alarm bell in 55 each cashiers counter and in the safe or vault,

- part be pointed out hereinafter.

with means to setthe bells into operation immediately the operating circuit is closed to begin the closing of the counters and door in order that those in the vicinity maybe warned anda cashier' may remove his hands before the `cover closes 5 completely down on the counter.

Further, it is an object to provide means to permit the covers to close down and lock even though the cashier does not get his hands out of the Way in time, and to do this vWithout injuring the cashiers hands. A

A further object is to provide a bank protecting system in which, after the operating circuit has once been closed and the counters and doors locked, they may vnot be restored to their vnormal positions save by the use of a key or keys in the hands of someone located at a place sufficiently remote as not to be under the control or influence of the bandits. Such a person, for instance, may be the Chief of Police Who retains the keys at some secret location, for example.

Other objects Will in part beY obvious and in To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in.the,25

novel details of construction, combination andA arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichz- Figure lis a plan vieW, largely in diagram, illustrating bank tellers or cashiers cages set up.

. Figure 2 ,is an enlarged front elevation of a single counter unit with the cover open.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the same on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a viewsimilar to Figure 3 With th top or cover closed.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3. Y

Figure 6 is a vertical section on rthe line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective View of a por- 45 tion of the invention. l

Figure 8 is a detail section on the line 8--8 of Figure '4.

Figure 9\ is a detail section through one of the back check latches. V n

Figure 10 is a detail vieW illustrating how the` switch 53 is operated on to open the circuit.

Figure 11 is a detail View showing the spring means for holding the flap down. n 55 Figure 12 is a front elevation of a vault or safe equipped with our safety door.

Figure 13 is a section on the line I3--I3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail horizontal section on the line Ill-I4 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail of the catch releasing mechanism for the safe door.

Figure 16 is a detail sectional view of a rolltop` or curtain construction which may be used Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits employed.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in all the figures, I represents the usual cashiers cages and 2 indicates the counters of which there may be any number desired and which may be constructed and operated as separate units or as one. In Figure 17 I have diagrammatically illustrated the operating shafts for the covers of the several counters in the several cashiers cages arranged for operation as one by a single motor, but as the construction of each counter is substantially the same we'shall in the further description of our invention describe in detail only a unit counter which is best illustrated in Figures 2-5 inclusive, by reference to which it will be observed that the counters are securely mounted on supports 3 which are preferably firmly embedded in a suitable foundation or base 4 of concrete or other suitable material.

The counter in its entirety is preferably constructed of metal adapted to resist explosives, such as armor plate or the like, and it may be of any desired form and contain any of Vthe usual details such as partitions, money recesses, etc., as are found in cashiers furniture. As these details, per se, form no part of our invention, we have not disclosed them specifically nor shall we refer to them in detail herein.

In its general aspect a counter comprises a chambered bed 5, a chambered back wall 6, a chambered top wall 1 and chambered sides 8. The spaces within the chamber portions are utilized to contain the operating machinery and the roll-top or curtain which constitute portions of our invention.

As will be seen particularly by reference to Figure 3, the numeral 9 indicates the roll-top or curtain which is preferably formed of interlocking steel bars constituting a flexible structure, the forward end of which is connected to va front cross bar IEI that carries a rubber strip I I, the purpose of which will later appear.

Suitable roller guides I2 are provided over which the roll-top or curtain 9 passes. The inner end of the curtain carries a cross bar 3| which cooperates with a stop 32 to limit the outward movement of the inner end of the curtain and prevent the same from being pulled out from beneath the top 1 when in the closed position. The inner end of the roll-top or apron 9 beyond the bar 3| carries a section 9a: which is adapted to be rolled up on a drum 33 that is carried by a shaft 28, the purpose of which will soon appear.

The sides 8 are provided with grooves I3 in which the ends of the cross bar Iii slide. Other grooves |311: are provided in which the side edges of the roll-topor flexible curtain 9 ride.

Arranged ,at suitable intervals within the grooves I3 are spring latches I4 (constituting reverse movement checking means) shown in detail in Figure 9, these latches having beveled ends so that the cross bar lil can slide by in pass- Y turn the shaft I1.

ing downwardly but cannot pass upwardly. The spring latches I4 are designed to be withdrawn to permit the upward movement of the cross bar I0 as the roll-top or curtain 9 is wound up and to this end a bell crank lever I5 is provided for each latch. The bell cranks I5 of all latches are connected by flexible cables I6 to an arm I8 on the shaft I1 of the lock 23. The lock 2|! is of such construction that when the key 2| is inserted and turned the lock shaft turning wheel I9 will be connected with the shaft I1, but when the key is out the wheel I9 cannotV function to The lock may be of the general type of those employed on automobile door handles or of the so-called coincidental types used in locking the gears and ignition circuits of automobiles. Since the general construction Vof the lock is of a well known type, a detailed illustration of the same is thought to be unnecessary in this case.

Referring again-to Figures 3 and 7, it will be observed that 22 represents the counter closing shaft which is provided with a back check device comprising a ratchet 23 engaged by a pawl 24 for the purpose of preventing the shaft 22 from turning backward while permitting it to turn forward when drawing down or closing the rolltop or curtain 9. The pawl 24, however, is arranged to be released when the key 2| is placed in the lock 2G and turned, by means of a flexible cable 25Y which is attached to a second arm 26 on the shaft I1.

The shaft 22 carries a gear 21, while the shaft 28 carries Va similar gear 29. Between these gears, but arranged to engage only one of them at a time, is the pinion 3S on the shaft of the motor 31 that effects the closing action of the roll-top or curtain 9. This closing action is transmitted to the roll-top or curtain 9 by means of one or more arms 33 secured to the shaft 22 and the cross bar Ill and located preferably adjacent the side wall or walls 8.

The motor 31, as best indicated in Figure 5 and Figure 6, is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis as at 35 to a support 34, and the motor has an arm 36 by means of which it may be turned on its'pivot to bring the pinion 38 into mesh with either the gear 21 or 29.V Normally the pinion 38 is in mesh with the gear 21 but when the key 2| is inserted in the lock 2li and the wheel I9 is turned, the motor is rocked to put the pinion out of mesh with the gear 21 and into mesh with the gear 29. This movement may be accomplished by means of connecting rods 39 and 4I, and a suitable bell crank 40 as best indicated in Figure 7. The connecting rod 4I from the bell crank 4)V is attached to the arm 26 on the lock shaft I1 so that when the lock shaft is turned for the purpose of withdrawing the latches I4 and releasing the pawl 24 it will at the same time effect the shifting of the motor from the operative connection with the shaft 22 to the operative connection with shaft 28.

In order to throw off any obstructions on the edge of the counter which might prevent the bar I0 reaching its lowermost locked position we provide a hinged flap 50 that is hinged on a shaft 5| and ts within an opening in the bed 5 so that it will normally lie with its upper face ush with the upper face of the bed. When, however, the electric circuit is closed (as will hereinafter more clearly appear) to energize the motor 31 which operates the shaft 22, the hinged ap 50 will be raised before the bar I0 comes into'its proximity. The flap 50 which is normally held relay 66.

down'by suitable means, as'rqr instance@ vente springm?, is raised by cams 48 on a shaft 41V which is operated by a mutilatedv worm gear 46' that meshes with another worm gear' 45 on an I. of the cams 48 a suitable light spring, such as a volute spring 48, may be provided. 4

53 designates a circuit opening switch. This switch is of a well known type, suchV as is frequently used in closets for automatically turning on the light when a closet door is opened and which, when the closet door is closed, will auto-K.

matically open the circuit. The switch 53 is ar'- ranged, however, to operate in a reverse manner to that of the closet door switch referred to;

That is to say, the spring action tends to keep the'circuit closed instead of opening it'. The switch 53is so positioned that a inger 54 on one of theV arms 33 will'moverthe switch to open the circuit just as the bar I8 reaches its lowermost position.

Referring now especially to Figure 17, it will be seen that weV provide a main relay 55 having amagnet 56 connected in the circuit 63 which contains the source of electrical energy '(preferablya storage battery) 62 and which contains the circuit closers 64. The circuit closers 64 are distributed at different points" in and about the bankv or other building which is to be'protected in order that theyV may be operated by any of a lnumber of persons at different places. lThe circuit closers 64 may be of any type, some push buttons, some switches and vothers may be actuated by sound waves. i Y

- Thus it will be seen that whena circuit closer S4 Yis operated the magnet 56 of relay 54 will.

AstopV 58' limits the upward movement of'the armature 51.

65 'is the operating circuit. This circuit ,in-

cludes the battery 62, magnet 56, armature'; fixed contact 6I and the magnet 310i' a second The circuit 55'is provided with master fuses 11 in box 14 for opening the circuit in event of Va -dangerous overload on the wires.

The relay 66 is provided for the purpose of closing a power circuit 10-1I which contains one or more sirens 12 and gongs 13 which may be located on the outside of the building being protected and/or at the office of the Chief of Police of the city or the omce of the captain of the precinct in which the protected building is located. The signals 12 and 13 are preferably operated from the outside power lines 1I! which supply the electricity for lighting and other purposes. So far as described, it will be seen that when a circuit closer 64 is operated relay 55 closes and locks, and at the same time relay 6B becomes energized to close the circuit 18-1I and operate the distant signals.

Inr Figure 17 we have illustrated diagrammatically the invention as applied to three counter units and one bank vault auxiliary door unit. It is obvious, however, that if all of the counters of the bank are operated from a single motor, only one motor need be provided, such as 31. Each counter units circuit opening switch' 53 is con-v nected in series in the sub-circuit 16 of the motor 31,v thesub-circuit '|6"incl`u ding the fuses 18 in thesub-circuit fuse box 15. By'referring new more particularly to Figures l2`A andj13, the construction of the auxiliary door forthe vault or safe will be clearly understood. The wall of the safe lis built to enclose an operating motor 19 which is geared down through a reducing gear train ||l5-|0`|01|88 to engage the teeth |28 of the rackbarA |89; the rack bar being secured'to the sliding door I I0.

In Figures 12 and 13 the number |00 designates the '-'vault (whichfmay be of Athe ordinary constructionl and,"pe'r`s'e, constitutes no part of our invention)` and |83 indicates the vault door frame to' which the usual doors `I|i| (which carry the time locks ,etc.) are hinged. The frame |83 is recessed at H12-|82 for the'reception of the subframe or casing H3 in which the door' I I8 operates. The casing I3 includes grooved trackways |84 Vin which the door slides. The sliding door I I8 is vpreferably formed witha'chamber or space I'II. The side plates'of the door are provided with air holes H2, those of one side plate being out of register with those of the other so that the banditmay not vby ring through the holes in the outer face of the door cause the bullets to pass through holes in the inner face of the door. Y s

The sub-frame' I I3 is provided with fixed rods H4. These rods I I4 serve as ay holding means for cooperating with the pivot catches H5. These catches are pivoted on xed pivotsV I I6, and normally rest against stops I I1, theyl being held against the stops by suitable means, as for ex' ample volute springs H8 (seeFigure l5). `The pivoted catches H5 have beveled' ends |25 and catch rod receiving recesses H9, the latter lying` over the catch rods I'I4 when the door is closed.

' Suitable meansV are provided for unlatching the door when desired. We prefer to arrange the latches |`I5in two groups, an upper and a lower group. "When this is'thecase the means for releasing the'latches may consist of connecting rods 2| and |22 for the'Y respective groups, the coni n'ecting rods at their adjacent" ends being pro- The door is recessed at |23 and inrthis recessV is mounted the latch `releasing ordisengaging wheel |38' and the lock |32 which cooperates therewith. The lock is of a construction whereby when the key |33 is inserted and turned the wheel |38 will be connected with the shaft of a pinion I3| so thatbyturning the whel |38 the pinion I3! is turnedrto move the wedge operating bar |25 in a direction to force the wedges |23 apart and thereby rock the catches H5 so as to disengage the rods I I4, it being understood that the bar |25 has rack teeth |31 for meshing with the pinion I3I.

Returning now to a further examination of the diagram, Figure I1, it will be noted that the safe door operating motor 19 is preferably actuated by an auxiliary battery S8 through the medium of relay 8| one winding of the magnet 82 of which is connected in the circuit 65. 'Ihe relay 8| has its armature 83 connected through a second winding of the'magnet 82 to battery 88.

84 designates the xed contact of the relay 8| which is connected by one of the wires 92 of the sub-circuit to a pole 'changing switch controlled by a suitable lock 88.

and 86 designate circuit opening switches 75 which normally hold the circuit closed, but which are actuated by the door for opening the circuit. For instance, when the sliding door is in the closed or locked position it will have engaged4 the Vbutton of the switch 85, pushed it in and opened the circuit at that place, Whereas as the sliding door reaches the fully opened position the rack bar 99 will push the button of switch 86 in and open the circuit at that point.

81 designates generally' the lock controlled reversing or pole changing switch, which includes a sha-it 89 that carries the pole changers 99, the latter cooperating with the contact groups 93-99 and @fl-95. The wire 92 from the contact 84 runs to the left hand contact 95 and the right hand contact 95 of the switch 81, while the other wire 92 from battery 89 runs to the right hand Contact 95 and the left hand contact 96 of the switch 91. One of the wires 9| from the "Emotor 19 is connected directly tothe right hand Contact 93 and indirectly through switch 85 to the left hand contact 93 of the reversing switch 81; the other wire 9i lfrom motor 19 connects directly to the leit hand Contact 99 of the switch '-81 and indirectly through switch 86 to the right hand contact 99, see Figure 1'7. When the key 91 is inserted in the lock 88 the shaft 89 may be turned to-reverse the connections of switch 8l and thereby effect a reversal of the motor Normally when the key 91 is out of the lock 98, the parts are positioned asrshown in diagram in Figure l1 so that the motor 19 is ready at all times to move the open door ||ll to the closed position.

Each counter unit is provided with a signal bell 39 connected to ring whenever the motor 31 of that unit is energized. Each counter unit is also provided with a circuit closer consisting of a fixed contact 98 and a movable contact 99.

These contacts 98 and 99 are associated with the lock 28 so that when the key 2| is inserted'to enable the shaft I1 to be turned, as soon as the shaft has been turned to its maximum degree, the circuit'between contact 98 and 99 will be closed temporarily to short-circuit the switches 5S and enable the current to flow to the moter 91 for resetting purposes.

Another pair of contacts |34 and |35 are provided in the circuit 65 in parallel with contacts and these contacts i3d-|35 are associated with the lock 29 similarly to the contacts 98 and 99 and are adapted to be closed at the saine time. Y

Operation Assume the parts to be positioned as diagrammaticaliy illustrated in Figure 1'1, and that a bandit or bandits have entered the bank for the purpose of robbing it. Anyone seeing or knowing of the presence of the bandits, and being adjacent a circuit closer 99, will close the circuit 63'. Circuit 98 being closed by the circuit closer, current will then iiow from battery 62 through circuit to energize magnet 5570i relay 55. This causes armature 51 of that relay to be pulled tors31 of the respective counter units. As the motors 31 are in driving engagement with the shafts 22 of the respective units they will thus begin to draw down the roll-tops or curtains 9 to close the counters as hereinbefore described. As Vsoon Vas the curtain of a counter has been closed down, switch 53 is opened and held open by the finger 54thus breaking the motor circuit. As soon as circuit 85 has been energized current will alsoflow through the alarm bell |36 of the unit and warn the cashier to get his hands out of the way. When the circuit 65 is closed by relay 55 the current also iiows through one of the windings of magnet` 82 of the relay 8|, thereby closing the circuit between contacts 83 and 84 of relay 8|. Current then flows from battery 80 through the sub-circuit 92,l further energizing magnet 82;to hold the armature 83 down. (A latch |38 similar to latch 58 of Figure 17 may be used if desired.)

Current now flows from battery 80 through motor -19 via the pole changing switch. This starts motor 19 to turning for the purpose of closing the door H0. As soon as the door H shall have reached its closed position the circuit of themotor 19 will be opened by switch 85 as before described. All of the counters and the" safe or vault have now been protected against the bandits. Alarms 12 and 13 are still ringing, but current has been shut 01T from motors 31 and 19.

In order to restore the parts'to their normal positions after the trouble is over, someone releases the armature 51 of relay 55 by moving latch 58 manually out of engagement with armature 51, thereby opening circuit 65 and consequently relay 66 opens the sub-circuit 1|, stopping the signals 12 and 13. He next inserts the key 2| into the lock 29 and turns wheel I9 to release latches i4', pawl 24 and shift motor 31 to a position to drive shaft 28 of the respectve counter unit. As soon as these parts shall have been shifted contacts |34 and |35 will be closed and contacts 98 and 99 closed, thereby re-energizing circuitY 65 to permit current to flow around the switches 53 to the motors 31, thereby raising or winding up the roll-tops or curtains 9 of the respeotive units. As soon as these curtains shall have been raised the wheel I9 is turned back and contacts i3d-35 and 98-99, respectively, open up to de-energize the circuit 65.

During this time the circuit of motor 19 remains closed at relay 8|. The key |33l is inserted into the lock |39 and the catches ||5 released. The key 91 is nowfinserted into the lock 88 and shaft 89 vis rocked to change the polarity of the current to the motor 19, thereby reversing Y it and moving the door back to the open position under the power of the motor. The door ||0 may be mounted on roller bearings |39 so that if desired it may be moved to the open position manually. After the door starts to open key |33 is Withdrawn so as to free the catches I and allow them to assume their normal positions.

Having opened the door, the shaft'89 is turned back torestore the switch 81 to the lposition shown in Figure 17, after which the key 91 is removed as is also key 2|. Latch |38 in relay 8| is now moved to release armature 83, whereupon the parts will be restored to the normal position, as shown` in Figure 17, and the cycle of operation will have been completed.

The fuse boxes 14 and 15 are provided for the usual safety purposes, it being understood that under normal operating conditions these fuses do hot blow, but if for any reason an overload on the lines should occur, one or more of the fuses will blow to protect the circuits. It should also be understood that the circuit closers 64 are normally open and when not engaged remain open.

A suitable signal |45 (see Figure 17) may be located in the vault at any convenient place to be set into operation when motor 'I9 is energized, thereby warning persons within the vault that the door is being closed.

By including the magnet 56 of the relay 55 in the local motor operating circuit 65, as well as in the circuit 63 (the magnet being double wound if desired), the latch 58 may be dispensed with and the relay 55 become self-operating when circuit 65 is opened, the magnet 56 when energized by closed circuit 55 serving to keep that circuit closed between armature 51 and contact 6l.

The latches 58 and 138 are in the nature of safety devices to obtain a positive closing of the circuits even Vthough the operating magnets should, accidentally or otherwise, become de-en- Y ergized before the cycles of operations of the remaining mechanisms are completed; or if the magnets 55 and 82 should be single-wound magnets, then the latches would be necessary, Darticularly if the circuit closures 64 are of the selfopening type.

In the practical use of our invention it is the intention that the master key or keys be kept outside of the bank at some source where they will not be under the control or influence of the bandits, as hereinbefore mentioned, and furthermore in order to prevent the bandits from interfering with the operations of the safety devices, all wiring, the fuse boxes and switches contained in the system will be well protected by embedding the same in suitable armor or concrete and locating the fuse boxes and relays in concealed places. Since the only wireswhich enter or leave the building are the power wires 7l) and signaling sub-circuit wires 1l, it matters little if these wires are cut, since that would not interfere with the proper functioning of the counter and vault protecting instrumentalities.

By locating the control switches at various places about the bank at convenient locations to the employees and officers of the bank, anyone knowing of the presence of robberscan throw the switch to set the system into operation, thereby shutting offV access to the money in the tellers cages and in thevault so that no matter what else the bandits may do they will notv be able to get any money. As the obtaining of money is the thing that bandits hold up a bank for, the fact that they are thus prevented from getting the funds will stop them and other bandits knowing thereof from holding up banks so protected. f As the cashier is the one whoY is usually molested and whose life is usually indanger, the fact that he cannot open the counters or vaults even under duress will cause all bandits, when they come to know this, to leave all places protected by our invention entirely alone.

Not only may the circuit closing switches be located within the bank proper, but they may be located in public places where anyone seeing a bank held up may operate the,y switch to setI the safety system into operation. y Therefore if a bank is held up by a number of bandits and all of the bank clerks and executives are underv duress so that none of them can operate the secret switches, nevertheless an outsider seeing the holdup can close one of the public switches and effect the operation of the safety system.

While we Yprefer to us a roll-top closure in our invention, the design or form of the counter may be such that a cylindrical segment or rigid closure may be used. Other modifications of the structure will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.y 4While we have disclosed the roll-top operated by two arms, one at each side, it is obvious that We do not wish to be limited to any particular number of arms employed for this purpose In, disclosing our invention in this application we have endeavored to disclose a preferred workable embodiment, as illustration thereof, and it is not our intention to be understood as limiting the invention to the specic details of construction and arrangement of parts shown, save in so far as those limitations may be included in the appended'claims.

While we have described our inventionA as 20 adapted for use in banks, counting housesand other xed places where money is handled over the counter, we do not desire to be limited to these particular uses as the invention may be used wherever it Ymay be found to be adaptable. 25

For instance, the auxiliary safe door may be employed as an auxiliary door for armored cars which carry money and valuables.

While in this application we have disclosed our invention as including a protecting mechanism 30 for a vault (see Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15) we do not in this application make claim to thevault feature specifically, as that constitutes the subject-matter of our divisional application led January 31, 1935, Serial No. 4396.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the complete construction, operation and advantages of our inventionV will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

What we claim is:

1. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a'money counter, said mechanism comprising means including an electric motor for closing and opening the same, means to hold the closure against opening movement after it has started on `its closing movement, a master lock mechanism, an electric circuit for actuating saidmotor, at least one circuit closer for eifecting a closing of said circuit to operate the motor to move the movable closure to close the counter, and means cooperative with said master lock mechanism for releasing said closure holding means and effecting the action of said motor to reopen the counter.

2. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement Y of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising means including an electric motor for closing and opening the counter, means to hold the closure against opening movement `after it has started on its closing movement, a master lock mechanism, an electric circuit for actuating said motor, at least one circuit closer for effecting a closing of said circuit to operate the motor to move said movable closure to close the counter, and means cooperative with said master lock mechanism for releasing said closure holding means and eifecting the action of said motor to reopen the counter, and means for throwing off from the counter obstructions to the complete closing of said movable closure. c

3. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising means in- 'cluding a closure closing shaft, a closure opening shaft and an electric motor to operate said shafts, gear connections between said motor and said shafts, said motor being shiftably mounted for connection with one shaft at a time, means normally maintaining said motor connected to said closure closing shaft, a back check device cooperative with closure closing shaft, an electric circuit for said moto-r, a lock' cooperating with said means for the purposes described, at least one circuit closer for closing said electric circuit to actuate the motor and close said closure, and means cooperative with said lock for shifting said motor from said closing shaft to said opening shaft to effect the reopening of the counter.

4.' Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising means including a closure closingpshaft, a closureopening shaft and an electric motor to operate said shafts, gear connections between said motor and said shafts, said motor being-shiftably Vmounted for connection With one shaft at a time, means normally maintaining said motor connected to said closure f closing shaft, a back check device cooperative with closure closing shaft, an electric circuit for said motor, a lock cooperating with said means for the purposes described, at least one circuit closure for closing said electric circuitto actuate the motor and close said closure, means for opening the motor circuit when the counter is closed, and means cooperative with said lock for shifting said motor from said closing shaft to said opening shaft and for again closing the circuit to energize said motor.

5. Mechanism for op-erating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising means including a closure closing shaft, a closure opening shaft and an electric motor to operate said shafts, gear connections between said motor and said I shafts, said motor being shiftabl-y mounted for connection with one shaft at a time, means normally maintaining said motor connected to said closure closing shaft, a back check device cooperative with closure closing shaft, an electric circuit for said motor, a lock cooperating with Said means for the purposes described, at least one circuit closer for closing said electric circuit to actuate the motor and close said closure, means cooperative with said lock for shifting saidmotor from said closing shaft to said opening shaft to effect the reopening of the counter, reverse move'- ment checking means cooperating directly with said closure, .and means also cooperative with said lock for releasing said back check device and said reverse movement checking means to permit the motor to reopen thecou-nter.

6, Mechanism for Voperating and controlling theV movement of a movable closure of amoney counter, said mechanism comprising means i'ncludingra closure closing shaft, a closure opening shaft and an electric motor to operate said shafts, gear connections between said motor andsaid shafts, said motor being shiftably mounted for connection with one shaft at a time, means nor- VInally maintaining said motor connectedto said closure closing shaft, a back check device cooperative with closure closing shaft, an electric circuit for said moto-r, a lock cooperating with said means for the purposes described,. at least one circuit closer for closing `said electric circuit to actuate the motor and close said closure, means vfor opening the motor circuit when the counter closed, means cooperative with said lock for shifting vsaid motor from said closing shaft to said opening shaft and for again closing the circuit Vto energize said motor, reverse movement checking means cooperating directly with said closure, means also cooperative with said lock for 5 releasing said back check device and said reverse movement checking means to permit the motor to reopen the counter.

7. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising electrically operated means` to close and open the counter, said means including an electric motor, a closure moving mechanism including a pair of operating Shafts, one for closing the counter and the other for opening it, an electric motor normally operatively connected to said counter closing shaft, means including a lock device for effecting the operative relations between said motor and said shafts and having means in virtue of which when said lock device is unlocked said motor may be shifted into operative connection with either shaft, and an electric circuit for said motor which includes circuit closers.

8. Mechanism for operating and controlling 2 the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising electrically operated means to close and open the counter, said means including an electric motor, a closure moving mechanism including a pair of operating 30 shafts, one for closing the counterrand the other for opening it, an electric motor normally operatively connected to said counter' closing shaft, means including a lock device for effecting the operative relations between said motor and said shafts and having means in virtue of which when saidlock device is unlocked said motor may be shifted into operative connection with either shaft", an electric circuit for said motor which includes circuit closers for closing the motor circuit, and means including said lock device for controlling the opening action of said motor.

9. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising means for actuating the closure and including a motor and operative connections between said motor and the closure, means including alock device for normallly maintaining said motor connected for moving the closure to close the counter, closure latches, an electric circuit including said motor and at least one circuit closer for effecting operation of said motor, means to open the circuit to cut out said motor when the counter has become closed, and means cooperative with said lock device when unlocked for shifting the motor connections and' reclosing the circuit to move the closure toreopen the coun-ter.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a cashiers counter having a movable closure, (50l means for actuating said closure and including a motor and operative connections betweenI said motor and' said closure, means including a lock device for normally maintaining said motor connected' for closing the counter, closure back check 6,5l latches, an electric circuit including said motor and at least one circuit closer for' effecting op'- eration of said motor, means toopen the circuit to cut out said'v motor when the counter has become closed, andv means cooperativel with said 70 lock device when unlocked' for shifting the motor connectionsrand reclosing the circuit to reopen the counter said movable closure having; a yeldable edge-strip' for purposes'v described.

11. In apparatusI of` the character described,

a cashiers counterhaving a downwardly closing movable closure, means for actuating said closure and including a motor and operative connections between said motor and said closure, means including a lock device fo-r normally maintaining said motor connected for closing the counter, closure back check latches, an electric circuit including said motor and at leas-t one circuit closer for effecting operation of said motor, means to open the circuit to cut out said motor when the counter has become closed, means cooperative with said lock device when unlocked for shifting the motor connections and reclosing the circuit to reopen the counter, and means to throw off any obstructing articles from the counter which might be in the way of said closure as it is being closed.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary counter having a downwardly closing closure, means to move said closure to its closed and open positions, and means to throw off from the counter any articles which may obstruct the full closing of the closure.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a

stationary counter having a downwardly closing closure, means to move said closure to its closed and open positions, and means to throw off from the counter any articles which may obstruct the full closing of the closure, said throwing off means comprising a hinged flap and means to operate it in time before the closure reaches its close-d position and to restore it after the closure has started to move to its open position.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a stationary counter having a downwardly closing closure, means to move said closure to its closed and open positions, means to throw off from the counter any articles which may obstruct the'full closing of the closure, and locked means for hol-ding the closure against reverse movement after it has started to close.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a counter having a downwardly closing closure, means to move said closure to its closed and open positions, means to throw oi from the counter any articles which may obstruct the full closing of the closure, said throwing off means comprising a hinged flap and means to operate it in time before the closure reaches its closed position and to restore it after the closure has started to move to its open position, and locked means for holding the closure against reverse movement after it has started to close.

16. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising a motor for closing and opening the counter, an electric circuit for said motor, means to lock said closure in the closed position, means controlled by said closure for opening the motor circuit when the closure has become locked, and means cooperative with said circuit and including a key-controlled lock device for effecting a reverse action by the motor and for releasing said closure lock.

17. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of a movable closure of a money counter, said mechanism comprising means including an electric motor for moving the closure, a primary electric circuit including at least one circuit closer and a source of energy an-d a magnet of a first relay, a motor circuit including an armature and a xed contact of said relay and including a source of energy, whereby when a circuit closer is closed said relay will close the motor circuit, said relay including means to hold and a key releasable lock mechanism having f means to recloseV the motor circuit around said switch and having means to reverse the action of the motor to open the counter when the lock mechanism is unlocke-d by its key.

18. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movement of av movable closure of va money counter, said mechanism comprising a power line circuit, a motor for operating the closure, a local circuit for said motor and including a source of energy, an actuating circuit Vincluding circuit closers at diierent locations and including a source of energy, a relay whose magnet is connected in said actuating circuit and whose armature and xed contact are connected in said local circuit, means cooperative with the closure for opening the motor circuit thereof when the closure is fully closed, a key-controlled vlock device for the motor and its circuit which device when unlocked will cause the motor to move the closure to open the counter.

19. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movements of a movable closure of a money counter and giving an alarm in cooperation with the closing movement thereof, comprising a power line circuit; alarm signals; an alarm signal circuit in which said signals are contained; a motor for operating the closure; a local circuit for said motor and including a source of energy; an actuating circuit including circuit closures at different locations and including a source of energy, a first relay whose magnet is connected in said actuating circuit and whose armature and fixed contact are connected in said local circuit; a second relay whose magnet is connected to said local circuit to be energized when said local circuit is closed by said rst relay and whose armature and fixed contact are connected in sai-d alarm signal circuit; means cooperative with the closure for opening said local circuit when the closure is. fully closed; a key controlled lock device for the motor, which device when unlocked will effect the motor to set it to a position for moving the counter to its open position; said second relay being adapted to open the alarm circuit when the local circuit is open and said iirst relay being adapted to open the circuit through the magnet of said second relay when the magnet of said first relay is de-energized; and means for again closing said local circuit to actuate said motor to open the counter Without again closing said alarm circuit.

20. Mechanism for operating and controlling the movements of a movable closure of a money counter and giving an alarm in cooperation with the closing movement thereof, comprising a power line circuit; alarm signals; an alarm signal circuit in which said signals are contained; a motor for operating the closure; a local circuit for said motor and including a source of energy; an actuating circuit including circuit closures at -xh'fferent locations and including a source of energy, a iirst relay whose magnet is connected in said actuating circuit and whose armature and fixed contact are connected in said local circuit; a second relay whose magnet is connected to said local circuit to be energized when said local circuit is closed by said'rst relay and whose armature and xed contact are connected in said alarm signal circuit; means cooperative with the closure for opening said local circuit when the closure is fully closed; a key controlled lock device for the motor,

which device when unlocked will effect the'motr to set it to a position Vforrxm'ving'the counter to its open -position; Vsaid second relay 'being adapted to open the Valarm circuit when the local circuit is open and said rst relay being adapted to open the circuit through the magnet of vsaid sec` `ond relay when the magnet of said rst relay `is HQB' `de'er1e1"gized; and means cperative with said "lock device for again lclosing said local circuit to a'ctuate said 'moto'r `to pen the counter with'- out again closing said alarm'circuit.

CHRISTIAN JQMEUNIER. HAROLD BQMBOY.

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