US227038A - Automatic coin-counting device - Google Patents

Description

K 38heets-Sheet 1. W. C. MORISON. Automatic Goin-Counting Device.

No. 227,038. 'Patented April 27, 1880.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. C. MOR'ISON. Automatic Coin-Counting Device.

Nb. 227,038. Patented Aprn 27, 188.0.

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-4 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. OMORISON. Automatic Coin-Counting Device.

N. 221,038. Patented Aprii 27, 1880.

PLFETERS, PNpTO-LITHOGEAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. t:4

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'UNITED STATES PA'TENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. MORISON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC COIN-COUNTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION fcrmng part Of Letters Patent NO. 227,038, dated April 27, 1880.

Application filed September 15, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. MoRrsoN, ofthe city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented anew and useful Automatic Coin Counting Machine, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to automatic coi n-counting machines.

The object of said invention is to enable coins of any given denomination to be automatically and rapidly counted by causing each piece of coin, in turn, to operate a register as it is being passed out ofthe machine. The said coins, having been dropped into a hopper, are led by a chute to the central portion of a revolving disk, whence they are carried outward by centrifu galforce. The coins, inpassing outward, pass under a ring which is adjusted to permit but one thickness of coin to pass under it at a time. The coins, being thus separated into one thickness or layer, are guided eccentrically toward the outer edge of said disk and into the outlet-channel, where each piece of coin, in turn, is,by a revolving wheel with a yielding periphery, brought in contact with and caused to rotate a registering arrangement through a cer- To prevent registration when the register is not acted upon bythe passing coins, the register is provided with a check-piece, which is acted upon alternately, first, by a piece of coin immediately before said coin touches the registering arrangement, then by a portion of the registering arrange ment itself. In the interval of time between each piece of coin acting upon the check-piece the registering arrangement not only places it in position to be acted upon by the succeeding coin, but also in position to prevent the farther movement of the register after the last piece of coin has passed.' When the said check-piece is again acted upon by an approaching coin the said register is again free to move.

I'y means of this invention, fitted with a suitable register, any number of coins of any given denomination may be automatically counted with rapidity and certainty, as fully explained in the following description and accompanying drawings, in which the letters of reference indicate like parts, and of which- AFigure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2is an end elevation with a small portion broken out. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of some details in position on the machine, with a small portion broken out.

The present model machine, illustrating my invention, is too small for counting larger coins than quarter-dollars, for which denomination of coins it is adjusted; but the said machine, suitably enlarged, may readily be adapted for counting coins of any denomination. As the register is provided with only one dialplate, with six numbers (l to 6) on its face, and with one pointer, it cannot register more than six pieces of coin; but by connecting the shaft of the said register with suitable wheels, dial-plates, and pointers, in the usual manner known to mechanics, it may be rendered capable of registering any number of coins.

The disk A is iixed to the shaft B, which is supported in the piece C by the friction-disks D E and the set-screw F, C being fixed to G, the rigid frame of the machine. The shaft B is steadied at its upper end by its bearing l,}'-3

itted to a suitable journal connected with the frame G. To the shaft Bis fixed the pinion I,

which gears with the wheel K, which latter is fixed to the inner end and the wheel L to the outer end of the shaft M, which, by means of its bearings N N, works in suitable journals connected with the frame G. The lower end of each of the uprights O O O 0 terminates in the form of a bolt, which passes through A equally distant from the center of A, and by means of a nut on each of said bolts the said uprights are secured to A. Each of said uprights is provided with a recess and a projection, the iirst to receive the ring P, which is thu's supported, and the last to t into a corresponding space in the lower edge of the ring Q, so that the ring P may be turned and maintained at the same level, while the ring Q may be moved vertically,though not horizontally, within the ringP. The ring` Q is supported by means of the countersunk headed screws T T and the pieces R R. Said screws, passing through suitable holes in the ring P and tapped into the pieces R It', retain said pieces in the inclined slots S S', to which they are respectivelytted in the ring Q. One end of the Vcheck-piece R is fixed to the upright IOO O, while the free end, which is elastic, fits between teeth or notches formed in the upper edge of the ring` P, so as to retain Pin the position desired. By raising R from said notches the ring P may readily be turned, and by means of the pieces It R', fitted to the inclined slots S S, the ring Q in ay be raised or lowered and the space between the lower edge of Q, and the disk A be regulated as desired,to permit but one thickness of coin to pass under Q at a time.

' The chute b is attached to a piece fixed to the rigid piece W. By means of the handle B", fixed to the wheel L, the said wheel is caused to revolve, and thus a rotary movement is imparted to the shaft M, the wheel K, the pinion I, and the disk A.

By means of the belt L and the tighteningpulley M motion is impartedby the wheel L to the pulley P and the wheel U, respectively xed to the outer and inner end of the shaft V, which revolves in the journal-boxes V V said boxes being fixed to the piece XV, which last is capable of sliding on W between guides fixed to WV', the piece W being fixed to the frame Gr.

The pulley M works on a pin fixed to the forked piece X, which is maintained in posi` tion by means of the skeins Y Z and the bolt a', with its nut connecting with the frame G. The periphery of the wheel U is covered with leather or other suitable yielding` material, that may, without injury to the coins, enable U to force said coins (which are iinpelled to it by and from the revolving disk A) past the registering' arrangement and out of the machine, thus causing the said coins to operate the said register.

The piece a is formed ecceiitrically, and is fixed to the frame C with its lower edge projecting below C and nearly touching the disk A. A portion of a is elastic and free, and extends into the channel b, where it iits and presses into a recess in the side of the piece mf, so that it may guide the coins fairly into said channel. The frame C is fixed to the frame G.

At the entrance ofthe outlet-channel b, which is on a level with the face of the disk A, is placed the upright piece d, capable of sliding between guides on the side of the frame C, and suitably raised above A to permit but one thickness of coin to pass under it at the same time. The side pieces, 11m/,prevent more than one width of coins entering the said channel at the same time, and also guide the coins to the projection g on the check-piece j', the piece h, and the wheel U. The piece 1^ is capable of sliding upon a part of both A and b, while the piece m slides upon b alone.

The piece which is fixed to and projects from one ofthe sides of the frame C, fits a recess formed in the Lipper surface of r, and serves as a guide for r, at the saine time preventing r from rising.

A piece xed to one of the sides of the frame C forms a guide for the inner end of m', while the other required guide is supplied .by the piece m', (partly broken out in Fig. 4,) fixed to and projecting over the frame G, and fitted to the side of a projection on the top of m', w at the same time preventing m from rising.

The piece h has six similar recesses, into one of which nearly half the diameter of each coin in turn enters and fits after said coin has passed the projection g, thus enabling the wheel U, in forcing the coin past the register, to cause said coin to rotate h and thus operate the register.

rlhe piece h has six numbers (l to 6) on its face, and by means of the pointer i" serves as the recording portion of the register. rI he pcinter i" is fitted to the smooth portion of a suitable screw tapped into the end of a curved piece, which sustains it over h. The lower end of said piece is a plain upright shaft connected with the frame G, and capable of being turned to enable the nut m and It to be removed. Said screw, being placed over the center of h, enables the pointer to be turned so as to cover any desired number on h.

rlhe lower end of the shaft t' is fitted to the journal-box i', which is fixed to G. To the shaft fi, above said box t', is fixed the circular piece k,- also, on said shaft, above L', the following pieces are held in position laterally by two pins connecting with k: first, on the upper side of 7c the piece l, by a pin fitted into it and fixed in 7.", the plain circular piece a', then the piece It. A pin passing through and iixed in n project-s on both the under and upper side of u', fitting respectively into l and li,.all being held down upon 7a by the nut m, fitted to a screwthread on the upper end of t'. The piece m maintains a space for the insertion of the plate a on the inner side of a', to enable 7L and Zto revolve, the form er on the upper and the latter on the under side of said plate. The check-piecef works in arecess formed in the under part of the plate u, and on a pin and supportin g-piece suitably fixed to u, and has the projection g at one end on its upper surface, which extends above n, and the projection p at the otherend on its under surface. The projection gis moved by each coin in turn out of its path as said coin passes on to U. The projection p is pushed by one of six similar projections on the piece l into one of the spaces between six similar upright projections on the edge of the circular piece 7c, which action at the same time causes g to be moved into the path of the approaching coin. The said coin moves g aside, and in doing so moves p out of the space in 7c and into position to be again acted upon by l. In that manner the check-piecef is acted upon alternately by the passing coins, and by the projections in turn on l.

When the last piece of coin has passed'and acted upon g and the register the nearest approaching projection on 7c strikes p and stops the further movement of said register until g is again acted upon.

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lhe plate n, which is formed with raised pieces to guide the coins outward, ts a space in the frame G, and is there retained by the piece q, which is connected to G by means of a screw, and may be turned aside to enable n to be withdrawn.

For each size of coins to be counted the position of the wheel U and the pieces r m' must be altered in the channel b, and also the piece d must be adjusted. The said wheel U and the pieces r m', and also d, are moved as required by one movement of the lever s, which works on the upper end and smooth portion of a suitable screw, s', the lower end of which is fixed in the rigid piece W. The lever s has on its upper surface at its outer end the projection s", which enables it to be readily moved, but is retained in position by the piece 1', connected to the rigid piece W by means of a screw. By means of said lever s and the pin t, the upper end of which is ixed in the movable piece W, while the lower end of said pin is fitted to a slot in s, the piece W and the wheel U are moved. The lever s is also connected to the shaft u by means of the piece a working on the upper end and smooth portion of a suitable screw, the lower end of which is tapped vertically into the upper side of the lever S. Said piece carries a pin, which forms the horizontal journal for the piece t', which is formed of two pieces screwed together, and which is connected with the shaft u by means of a ball-and-socket joint, a, at the end of the arm e, iixed to the said shaft, which last works in the journal-box t fixed to the frame C.

To the shaft u are also fixed two arms, o, (only one shown,) each connected by means of pins with a long and a short link, the two short links being at the extremities of said arms, while the long links are nearer the sh aft.

The two short links y' (only one shown) are connected by means of pins to the piece i", and the twolong links e c are connected by means of pins to the piece m. The said pieces 1' m are maintained parallel one to the other by the said links.

To the inner end of the shaft u is xed the cam y, by which the lever w is supported and worked. Said lever works on a pin, x, xed to a piece attached to C, and is furnished with a horizontal slot, to which is fitted the smooth portion of a suitable screw, which is fixed in and projects from the piece d sliding between its guides fixed to C, thus enabling the said lever to support and work d. rlhe inner end of the lever S, being moved toward the-center of the disk A, moves the pieces r m outward, at the same time reducing` the space between said pieces, lowering the piece d, thus diminishing the space between it and the disk A, and also at the same time the wheel U is moved toward the register.

Vhen, on account of the size and weight of the disk A and its shaft B, it is desired to reduce the friction at the end of said shaft and facilitate the operation of the machine, the disk A may be furnished on its under side with a suitable surface, to which suitable conical wheels may be fitted, said wheels working on pins fixed to the frame G, or as frictionrollers rnnniiig on a suitable surface con nected with G.

I prefer to cover the face of the wheel U with leather or other suitable yielding material fixed to said wheel, without the use of metallic springs; but should it be desired to increase the elasticity of' said covering, metallic or other suitable springs may be inserted and retained in position between the face of the wheel and said covering, pressing the latter outward to the extent desired.

To enable the register to operate, the pointer if" must be set over the number in advance ot' 1, so that the first piece of coin passing' out of the machine will move the figure l under the pointer.

The ring Q being suitably adjusted, the disk A revolved in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 3, and at a proper speed, and the coins being properly supplied to A, the said coins will readily pass underQ and outward, as required but if desired, to guard against any possibility of said coins jamming between the lower edge of Q and the face of the disk A, three or more tlexible arms may be lixed to Q, suitably raised above A and pointing toward the center ot' Q, and having fixed to their inner ends a short distance from and concentrically with Q, outside of the space within which the coins are supplied to A, one or more plain rings, in thickness and depth similar to Q, or three or more sections of such rings, the lower edges of said rings or sections being suitably raised above A.

When the inner edge of a coin rests upon one or more coins, and the outer edge of said coin, incliniiig downward, is inserted between Q and A, both of which latter being unyielding and the centrifugal action exerted upon I the coins being in one direction, the said coins cannot but become jammed.

The object of the above rings or sections of rings supported by flexible arms is to present a somewhat yielding resistance to the outward passing coins when they are in disorder and of more than one thickness or layer, so that the lowest and level coin, upon which the centrifugal action is greatest, may be enabled to raise and pass under the upper coin or coins, and either reach Q alone or with one or more coins lying` level upon it, in which last case it will readily free itself and pass under Q and outward.

It being desired to count coins of any given denomination, the machine must be supplied with the following pieces of suitable sizes-viz, the plate n, with the check-piecef, the pieces k, t, and h, and thering Q. The wheelU and the pieces d, r, and m must be properly adjusted. The disk A is then caused to revolve. Coins of said given denomination being placed in a hopper suitably connected with the chute b', the said coins Will duly slide down said chute and drop upon the central portion of the disk A within the'ring` Q. The said coins will then be carried outward by centrifugal action under the ring Q to the eccentrically-formed piece a, which will direct them into the channel When each coin in turn passes the projection g, part of said coin enters and fits one of the six similar recesses in h, and thus enables the Wheel U, in urging itoutward and past '/L, to cause tbe said coin to revolve h, land therefore the register, through an arc of sixty degrees, thus operating the register as required.

A machine may be furnished, if desired, with two or more eccentrically-formed pieces somewhat similar to a, though not, like a, carried over a full circle, each of said pieces leading to a separate outlet channel and register, thus proportionally increasing the capacity of the machine.

Having described m yinvention, What Ielaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The revolving disk A, in combination the' ring Q, the piece d, and the registering,

arrangement, consisting of the shaft il, the

pieces lc, Z, and h, with the check-piecef, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The registering arrangement, consisting of the shaft t', the pieces lc l li, and the checkpiece f, with the plate n, in combination with the Wheel substantially as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM C. MORISON.

Witnesses:

WM. S. PHnLrs, WM. H. PHELPs.

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