US2517175A - Cash drawer or the like - Google Patents

Description

g- 0 F. J. BREMER 2,517,175

CASH DRAWER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 23, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Aug. 1, 1950 F. J. BREMER 2,517,175

CASH DRAWER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 25, 19,47 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. Heizz'c]: cffiremez" Patented Aug. 1, 1950 CASH DRAWER OR THEv LIKE Fredrick J. Bremer, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor n The Mosler Safe Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a

corporation of New York Application January 23, 1947, Serial No. 723,787

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cash drawers and similar devices-for receiving money and other valuables, and pertains particularly to means-for effecting closing and looking thecash drawer from a remote point. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for temporarily maintaining a cash drawer or the like in open position, said means being releasable for initiating closing of the drawer from a point on or near the drawer, or from a remote point, and for automatically locking the drawer simultaneously with the closing thereof when the closing is effected from said remote point.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for closing and locking cash drawers and the like from a remote point, and means associated therewith for insuring a delay between operation of a releasing means and the actual release of the drawer, whereby valuables maybe effectively safeguarded against unauthorized access.

-A further object is to provide an improved and most effective closing and locking mechanism for a cash drawer or similar device which is simple in construction and effective in operation and by which the cash drawer may be locked by someone remote from the cash drawer and without movement of, or danger to, the cashier.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the means described in the following specifications and illustrated upon the accom panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical form of cash drawer embodying the present invention, the drawer section being withdrawn.

Fig. ,2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the device of Fig. 1, illustrating means for maintaining the drawer in open position for the convenience of the cashier in making change.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the hold-open mechanism as applied to the rear of the cash drawer.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the mechanism for controlling the locking of the drawer, as applied to the rear inner wall of the drawer housing.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the device of the invention, showing the drawer in a normally closed position.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical connections adapted for controlling operation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5.

In order to safeguard cash and other valuables effectively, it is not only necessary to provide cumstances to prevent immediate access to the valuables even by an authorized agent possessing a proper key, as for instance, when the agent as well as the cashiermay be ordered, under threat of bodily harm, to open the cash drawer or safe;

Accordingly, means heretofore have been provided for looking a cash drawer from a remote point, utilizing a push-button switch on the floor or under a counter, operable by the foot ot a clerk remote from the cash drawer, whena bandit enters the premises. Therefore the drawer was locked without movement of the cashier or anyone near the cash drawer, thus lessening the danger of violence from an armed bandit who might be tempted to shoot at the first suspicious move of store attendants. If the cashier was forced to "Z-Zllli; the cash drawer, access was not possible until expiration of a predetermined interval of time, say fifteen to thirty minutes, as determined by a timing device intended to interpose the element of delay in executing the theft or burglary.

Devices operating generally in the manner above recited are covered in U. S. Patent No. 2,145,314, granted January 31, 1939. to J. J. Murtaugh, Jr. In that device, the cash drawer was constantly urged toward the closed position by spring means, so that the cashier was required to hold the drawer open while making change. Some cashiers found it more convenient to wedge the drawer in the open position, than to open it at each change-making operation. As the result of such practice, the function of the remotely controlled locking mechanism was defeated, since the improvised wedge used in holdin the drawer open prevented rapid closing of the drawer in an emergency. Consequently, operation of the locking mechanism while the drawer was open proved inefiectivel In the device of the present invention, for convenience in making change, means have been provided for holding the drawer open against'the pull of the springs which normally urge the drawer to a fully'closed position. After change has been made, the cashier simply manipulates a thumb lever on the front of the drawer, which,

' through associated linkage, elevates a plunger which permits closing of the drawer. In association with the hold-open plunger is electrical means for liftin the plunger simultaneously with the operation of the automatic latch plunger for locking the drawer closed by remote control means. Thusit will be seen that if an unauthor ized person, suchas a bandit, should enter the premises while the cash drawer is held open with the hold-open plunger", a clerk or'other attendant near to or remote from the cash drawer need only to press a; button to automatically release the hold-open plunger to close the drawer and simultaneously engage thelatch plunger to lock the drawer closedv against unauthorized access thereto. In order to release the drawer, the procedure is substantially the same as that outlined in Patent ,No. 2,145,314. The drawer, ,of course, may be provided with ordinary locking means, apart from the automatic electrical lockin means, for locking and unlocking the drawer at will to enable authorized persons to have access thereto without the inconvenience and delay incident to the use of the timing device.

Referring to Fig. 1, the character'il2:indicates a cash drawer which is supported in a housing I3 which may be of any suitable construction and may comprise part of a safe, counter, orother structure, if desired. The housing shown em'- bodies a top 15, sides l6 and IT, a bottom IS, a back [9, and a front 20. fiupporting means on e. t 9m m rh' irre ae indicated b the metal strips 2| and 22 adjacent-the front and back-respectively; of the housing. The corners of the housing maybe reinforced by angle memb ers 23 extending along the marginal portions of said housin to provide a sturdy theft-resistant FQWUW iQH- a PET-he drawer l2 issupported withinthe housing onrollers-25 mounted on fixed-studs 26 projecting inwardly from the sidewalls l and H. 3191 18]: bearings 2'! may be provided insuring smoothsliding movementof the drawer so that it willclose readily and-move easily to'its fully closed position-5 Plates '28, in abutting engagement with the lnner f aces of .the side walls It and- H, and suitably/attached "thereto, as by welding provide arigid mounting for the studs ga f- Supporting rails 29 extend-along the sides 30-and3l of the 'draw'er l2 and bear upon the rollers 25 to support saiddrawer, whereas. angle bars, project frpmithe sides of the cash drawer beneath the rollers 25 for guiding the drawer in its sliding movement. Thedrawer itself may be oi a'ny usual construction and may be divided inte sections by partitions 33 or the like for reeeiving coin and bills, or may be otherwise arranged for-the purpose ofreceivin other valuable matter, such as jewelry land'precious stones. i: Outward movement of thedrawer islimited by aycatchst. pivoted at 24 011 each side of the drawer; and positioned to engage a fixed stop membe'r'35, inwardlyfprojecting from the walls l6 and I! nearthe front of the housing, while nward inovernent of the drawer is limited by a projecting flange 36; on the drawer front 31 which engages a downwardly projecting bolt enga ing fiange-33 adjacentthe front of the houspas shown in Fig. 2f. 'I he drawer is normally urged to the fully closed position "bymeans of springs 39 which are anchored at one end to-in- Wardly projectingrlugs40.:secured to the housing back I 9, and anchored at the; opposite end to snnilar lugs 4| secured to the 'laterally extendmg flanges 42 ofthedrawer'front 3-1. Guards 43-may beprovided for the springs, said guards estending along the sides of the drawer asin d 1cated,-and adapted to enclose the sprin in dust-proof relationjtherewithq To remove the drawer bodily from the .housing, it is necessary tQdlSCOllIlQCt thesprings 39 and to depress the ends 44 of thepivotedcatches 34, to release them from the stops 35. s

:f IlLOrder-17011181111636: cushioned closing of the drawer at all times. against'the force of springs 39, anair check 4'5fhas been provided. As shown 1 Fig. 5,; the cylinder 46-01 the air check is suitably secured to the inner wall of side I! as at 54,. while the rod4l. thereof is secured to the flange 42 of the drawer'front. 31., The air check 45 may be of any standard type available on themarket. V I

An ordinary key lock'll8 may be carried by the drawer for upwardly projecting a bolt 49 against the inner face 58 of the bolt engaging flange 38 on the housing front 29. Any suitable lock construction may be used in this location or elsewhere for enabling the cashier or other authorized agent to lock and unlock the drawer at will so that it may be instantly available for use under ordinary circumstances, as for instance, the cashier may look the cash drawer during the lunch period. However, in order to further safeguard the contents of the drawer under unusual circumstances, as in the event of ahold-up, suppleme'i'ital locking means are provided which are operable to prevent'opening of the drawer and which may preferably be actuated from a remote point for locking the drawer, as will be hereinafter described. In the construction illustrated, the bottom 48f" of the cash drawer 12 is provided with a rearwardly extending shelf portion 49' having a latch receiving aperture 58 positioned to receive a latch plunger 5i depending from the vertical armature 52 of a solenoid'53. A mounting plate 55, which maybe anchored to the rear wall IQ of thec'asing by means of screws 56 or otherwise, serves to maintain the solenoid 53 in a vertical position. Projecting from the mounting plate 55 is the latch plunger guidebracket 51, bor ed as at 58 for the freely slidable reception {of I the latchplunger 5i,- wh-ich is gravity actuated to drop into the aperture 56 when released, thereby to lockthedrawerclosed. v The latch plunger Sl' is supported or'held out of -its latching position by means of a horizontal pin or dog 59, which is urged toward the notch 60 of the latch plunger 5| bythe springfil. The pin or dog 59 is attached at one end to the forward end of the armature 62 of solenoid 63, said solenoid being horizontally mounted on the mounting plate 55, A lateral extension 55 of the guide bracket 51 is bored as at 6,3 for the slidablereception of the retainer pin or dog 59. Thus it will be seen that the latch plunger 5! is held out of engagement with the latch receiving aperture 50' as lon as the'pin -59-is urged forward into the latch plunger notch 69 by the force of spring G'II' When the coil of solenoid 33 is enerf gized, it serves to retract its associated armature 62, carrying with it the attached retaining pm or dog 59, permitting the latch plunger 5i to drop into locking engagement with the latch receiving aperture 50'. v .-The' cas h drawer will thus be locked against opening even though the bolt 49 of lock 48 is withdrawn. Furthermore, any efforts to force the drawer open will cause only a forward pull on the lowermost portion of the latch plunger. 51 which is firmly held in the rigid latch plunger guide bracket 57, Thus it is apparent thatno strain will be placed upon the latch operating mechanism or the solenoids which actuate it, so that these parts will be not be damaged by tampering with the drawer.

- In order to effect opening of the cash drawer, it .is necessary to energize the coil of the solenoid 53. When this takes place, the associated armature 52 is retracted into the solenoid, at the same time elevating the latch plunger 5| out of engagement with the aperture 50' in the drawerv portion :33. As the plunger 5| is elevated-the retainer pin 59 is urged into the latch plunger notchfi!) by the force of spring 3|.

hired to a rotary shaft 12 of the clock mechanism H for horizontal movement thereon. Upon retraction of the lock bolt 69, arm is released and slowly rotated clockwise by the clock mechanism, for ultimately closing an electric switch 13. As illustrated by Fig. 5, the arm ill in its rotat ng movement first engages the insulated member 15 and thereafter moves this member into engagement with a movable electric contact 16 which in turn strikes the fixed contact TI to complete a circuit through the solenoid 53. When this solenoid is energized, the latch plunger Si is elevated out of engagement with the aperture by reason of its connection with the armature 52, thus releasing the drawer.

to open position, the clerk or cashier reaches up within the housing, grasps the radial arm 10 and restores it to the normal position, shown in Figs. 2 and 5, at which position it is held ready for subsequent action, by means of the lock bolt 59. In so moving the arm Hi to the normal position of restraint, the operating spring of the clockwork is re-wound. It should be understood that the time required for arm ll) to move from the normal position of Fig. 5, to the position at which it closes the switch contacts 16-11, may be governed in accordance with the wishes of the manufacturer or user of the device. The delay period usually will consume some fractional part of an hour, or sufiicient time to discourage a bandit from waiting until the time lock releases the drawer.

In addition to the two solenoids 53 and 63 which actuate the emergency locking mechanism, a third solenoid l8 has been introduced for actuating a mechanism which automatically releases the drawer for movement from a forciblyheld open position, to a closed position, said solenoid 18 being preferably connected to the same electrical circuit which energizes solenoid 63, so that the action of closing the cash drawer and looking it is simultaneous.

As hereinbefore explained, it was formerly the practice of clerks or cashiers to wedge a drawer of this type open against the pull of the springs 39 in order to be able to use both hands in making change, the wedging means being a stick of wood, a piece of cardboard, or whatever material was convenient to serve the purpose. This practice, of course, made the locking mechanism ineffective in case of emergency. The present invention definitely provides means for holding the drawer open against the pull of the springs 39, without impairing the emergency locking function. Such means may comprise a riding plunger 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, vertically mounted on the rear wall 8| 0f the drawer. Normallythis plunger l9- rides on the bottom wall "I87 of the drawer casing or housing is as the drawer is opened and closed. When the drawer is withdrawn by means of the'handle 82 to its full extent, plunger l9 gravitationally drops into the aperture 843 bored through the bottom wall l3 and its contiguous support member 2 5, thereby to held open the cash drawer against the pull of the springs 39. When the clerk or cashier wishes to close the drawer, he merely manipulates the thumb lever 83 on the front of the drawer which, through link 85, bell crank lever 86, and pin 87 in the plunger '19, elevates the said plunger to permit closing of the drawer. Extending along one side of the drawer is the rod one end of which protrudes through a lateral flange 42 of the drawer front. Fixed to the forward end of the rod is the thumb lever The opposite end of the rod is bent downwardly and outwardly to form a crank 39, the outward horizontal end 90 being pivotally associated with one end of the link 85. The opposite end of the link 85 is piv otally joined to the upper end of the Vertical bell crank arm 9!. A clamp 52, suitably secured to the side wall of the cash drawer, is provided for supporting the lever rod 83 adjacent the crank end 89.

Abutting against the outer face of the drawer back 5! and substantially centrally thereof is the plunger guide plate including a vertical por tion 35. which may be fixed to the drawer back by suitable means, such. as welds, screws, or the like. The plate 93 is bent outwardly, downwardly and inwardly at substantial right angles, to form upper and lower plunger guide portions 85 and 91 respectively, and a vertical bell-crank pivot plate support 98. The lower plunger guide portion 9'! may be welded or otherwise secured to the drawer bottom extension 49.- The bell' crank pivot plate, which is indicated at 95 and which may be bolted or otherwise fixed to the pivot plate support portion 9 3 of the plunger guide plate 93, extends beyond the vertical edge of the support portion 98 sufficient amount to support the bell-crank pivot ltd. Guide holes 15!! for the plunger "it! are bored through the horizontal portions 85 and 81 of the plunger guide plate 33 and through the drawer bottom extension 6d, said holes being in axial alignment and in register with the aperture lid when the drawer is withdrawn to its full extent.

As shown in Fig. 3, the horizontal arm I02 of the bell crank 86 abuts the plunger pin l9v at its lower side when the plunger is withinth-e. aperture 86, so that when. the link 85 is shifted to the left, as viewed in 3, by means of the thumb lever 83, the bell crank Bii will elevate the plunger 19 out of engagement with aperture 80, thereby causing the drawer to close through the pulling action of springs 35. As pointed out earlier, the lower tip of the plunger l9 rides on the bottom wall 13 or the housing as the drawer is opened and closed.

As indicated upon Fig. 3, the solenoid "l8 is vertically supported against the plunger guide plate 33, the axis of the solenoid coil being in alignment with. the guide holes Elli. The upper end 182 of the vertical plunger "if? is connected to the lower end of the solenoid armature I03. A stop N15 is provided on plunger '39 to limit its downward travel, said step abutting the upper horizontal portion 9B of the plunger guide plate 93 when the cash drawer is in open position. When the coil of solenoid "i8 is not energized, the armature H33- is adapted for free vertical 1,3-is closed by the, clockmechanism ll. ,ductors H3 and H5 supply current to the solel noids 63 and 18 when any one of the push button -a push-button energizes the solenoid E8 to release the drawer for rapid movement to closed position,

'time by the means hereinbefore disclosed.

Since the two solenoids which act to close and lock the cash drawer are on the same electrical circuit, means for maintaining this circuit is provided by the flexible electric cord H36, suspended between suitable connections, such as "the outlet receptacle [Iii on the rear wall of the housing l3 and a similar receptacle H38 on the d rear wall M of the drawer, as shown in Fig. 5.

Thus the circuit between the two solenoids 63 and 18 is maintained as the coiled cord we expands and contracts upon opening and closing of the drawer.

The electrical wiring diagram is shown in Fig.

:6. Push button switches, any number of which may be used in connection with the device and -located at suitable points remote from the cash "drawer, are indicated at I239. The feed wires -.which furnish the current for energizing the solenoids are indicated at H and N2, the solenoid 53 being energized when the timer switch Conswitches I09 is closed, the characters H6 and HI indicating the wires to which the push buttons may be connected. Conductors H3 and H9 con- .-nect the coil of solenoid $3 to wires H3 and H within the receptacle Nil, whereas those at I28 .and I2! connect the coil of solenoid 18 in the same circuit, by way of receptacle 198. As shown upon Fig. 5, the necessary wires may enter the housing [3 through an outlet box or receptacle H8 attached to the rear wall Q9 of the housing. While the construction herein illustrated and described is designed particularly for use in connection with cash drawers and similar devices,

.it will be apparent that the invention may be embodied in other types of apparatus or mecha-= nism, and that various forms of plunger operating means may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be apparent that the switches M9 may be used to actuate the plunger controlling solenoids associated with any number of cash drawers and the like so that all of the drawers in a bank or other institution may be closed and locked simultaneously by an operator at a remote pointand ment to closed position within the housing, and

to' ope'n' position paruy outside the housing,

means operative to propel the drawer to the closed position, means to hold the drawer in open position affording free access to the interior of the drawer, means for actuating said holding means to release the drawer, emergency means remotely controlled for releasing said holding means and placing the drawer under the control of the propelling means, to return the drawer to closed position, and a latch operative only upon actuation of the emergency means, to fix the drawer in said closed position.

-2.'In combination with a drawer, a-housing movement to closed. position within the housing,

and to open position partly outside the housing,

means operative to propel the drawer to the closed position, means to hold the drawer in open position afiording free access to the interior of the drawer, means for actuating said holding means to release the drawer, emergency means remotely controlled for releasing said' holding means and placing the drawer under the control of the propelling means, to return the drawerto closed position, a latch operative only upon actuation of the emergency means, to fix the drawer in said closed position, and time-delay means precluding normalizing of said latch until expiration of a predetermined time interval.

3. In combination with a drawer, a housing including means supporting the drawer for movement to closed position within the housing, and to open position partly outside the housing, spring means tending always to restore the drawer to the closed position, a latch to hold the drawer in open position against the force of the spring means, manually operated means for actuating said latch to release the drawer, electric means remotely controlled for actuating said latch and thereby releasing the drawer for movement to closed position under the power of said spring means, and a second latch normally inoperative, and means operative simultaneously with operation of said electric means for placing the second latch in conditionto lock the drawer tin'the closed position upon return of the drawer thereby releasing the drawer for movement to closed position under the power of said spring means, a second latch normally inoperative, and means operative simultaneously with operation of said electricmeans for placing the second latch in condition to lock the drawer in the closed position upon return of the drawer to the'closed position following operation of said electric means, and time-delay means precluding return of the second latch to its aforesaid normally inoperative position' 5. In combination with a cash drawer, a housing'including means supporting the drawer'for movement to open and closed positions, means for constantly urging the drawer to closed position, a latch for holding the drawer in'flop'en position against the force of the urging means,

a second latch for locking the drawer in closed position, manually operated means for actuating the first mentioned latch to release the drawer whereby the urging means closes the drawer, and electrically operable means for actuating said first mentioned latch to drawer release position and positioning said second mentioned latch to effect locking of said drawer when the drawer reaches closed position.

6. In combination with a cash drawer, a housing includin means supporting the drawer for movement to open and closed positions, means for constantly urging the drawer to closed position, a latch for holding the drawer in open position against the force of the urging means, a second latch for locking the drawer in closed position, manually operated means for actuating the first mentioned latch to release the drawer, whereby the urging means closes the drawer, electrically operable means for actuating said first mentioned latch to drawer release position and positioning said second mentioned latch to eifect locking of said drawer when the drawer reaches closed position, and means for actuating the second latch to drawer unlocking position when the drawer is to be opened.

7. In combination with a cash drawer, a housing including means supporting the drawer for movement to open and closed positions, means for constantly urging the drawer to closed position,

mechanism for actuating said second mentioned tion against the force of the urging means, a

second latch for locking the drawer in closed position, manually operated means for actuating the first mentioned latch to release said drawer to closed position, electrically operable means for actuating said first mentioned latch to drawer release position and positioning said second mentioned latch to effect locking of said drawer when said drawer reaches closed position, a lock, time delay mechanism under control of said lock for actuating said second mentioned latch to drawer unlocking position when a predetermined length of time has elapsed after operation thereof has been initiated, and means for initiating operation of said time delay mechanism by operation of said lock.

9. In combination with a cash drawer, a housing including means supporting the drawer for movement to open and closed positions, springs constantly urging the drawer to the closed position, a latch for holding the drawer in open position against the force of the springs, a second latch for locking the drawer in closed position, manually operated means for actuating the first 10 mentioned latch to release the drawer, whereby the springs close the drawer, a catch for holding said second mentioned latch in disengaged position, a solenoid adapted to actuate said first mentioned latch to drawer release position, a second solenoid adapted to actuate said catch to position the second mentioned latch to effect locking of the drawer when the drawer reaches closed position, means for energizing said solenoids for actuating said first mentioned latch and said catch, whereby the drawer is released to close and is latched shut upon energizing of said solenoids, a third solenoid inside said housing and adapted to disengage said second menr tioned latch and re-energize said catch, time delay mechanism energizing said third mentioned solenoid, when a predetermined length of time has elapsed after operating thereof has been initiated, and means for initiating operation of said time delay mechanism.

10. In combination with a cash drawer, a housing including means supporting the drawer for movement to open and closed positions, means for constantly urging the drawer to closed position, a latch for holding the drawer in open position against the force of the urging means, manually operated means for actuating said latch to release the drawer to closed position, a second latch for locking said drawer in closed position, means for holding said locking latch in drawer unlocking position, and emergency latch control means which actuates the first mentioned latch to release the drawer to closed position and conditions the locking latch to lock the drawer when the drawer reaches closed position if the drawer is open and actuates the locking latch to locking position if the drawer is closed.

11. In combination with a cash drawer, a housing including means supporting the drawer for movement to open and closed positions, means for constantly urging the drawer to closed position, a latch for holding the drawer in open position against the force of the urging means, manually operated means for actuating said latch to release the drawer to closed position, a second latch for locking said drawer in closed position, means for holding said locking latch in drawer unlocking position, emergency latch control means which actuates the first mentioned latch to release the drawer to closed position and conditions the locking latch to lock the drawer when the drawer reaches closed position if the drawer is open and actuates the locking latch to looking position if the drawer is closed, time delay mechanism for actuating said locking latch to open position when a predetermined length of time has elapsed after operation thereof has been initiated, and means for initiating operation of said time delay mechanism.

FREDRICK J. BREMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,241,093 Collings Sept. 25, 1917 1,774,442 Kramer Aug. 26, 1930 2,031,543 Meunier et al Feb. 18, 1936 2,145,314 Murtaugh Jan. 31, 1939 2,171,263 Bremer Aug. 29, 1939 Certificate of Correction Patent N 0. 2,517,175 August 1, 1950 FREDRICK J. BREMER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

f Columnd8k line 42, strike out the word and before a; column 9, line 48,

or his rea as;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of November, A. D. 1950.

[REAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,517,175 August 1, 1950 FREDRICK J. BREMER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 42, strike out the Word and before a; column 9, line 43, for his reed has;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of November, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

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