US2735438A - rogier - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1956 c. F. ROGIER 2,735,438

FARE BOX Filed Feb. 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 g CLnRENczE RoeuaR o O INVENTOR.

fi 5'3 ATTORNEY Feb. 21,- 1956 c. F. ROGIER 2,735,438

HTTORNEY Unite rates FARE BOX Clarence F. Rogier, Chicago, EL, assignor to Johnson Fare Box (10., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to fare boxes for public transit vehicles. More specifically, it relates to a fare box in which the checks are counted, registered, sorted and placed into a changer.

An object of the invention is to provide means for readily locking up the changer.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for locking the check ejecting mechanisms of the changer.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means for returing checks which overflow from the changer tubes to a receptacle or tray which is accessible to the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking up the tray and the upper ends of the changer tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for simultaneously locking the check ejectors, the tube gates and the tray in its closed position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide key operated means for preventing unauthorized access to the checks contained in the changer of a fare box.

These and other objects will become apparent from a study of this specification and the drawings which are attached hereto, made a part hereof and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of the fare boX.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the changer portion of the machine showing the locking mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the sorting machine and changer taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1 showing the sorter, changer and tray.

Figure 4 is a detail of the tray locking means.

The fare box comprises an upper receptacle 1 for receiving the coins or tokens (hereinafter referred to as checks) which are deposited by the customer and which fall on a dump gate (not shown) which is periodically tilted by means of a lever 3 to deposit the checks in a counting mechanism to total the value thereof on registers. Neither the mechanism nor the registers are shown since these are well known in the art. One form of such gate, counting and registering mechanism is shown in the patent to J. M. Johnson, No. 1,295,900, issued March 4, 1919.

The checks, after they are counted, pass to a sorter 5 which is shown in detail in the application of Harold D. Edmonds, Serial Number 33,527, filed June 17, 1948, now abandoned, and the checks of each denomination drop from the sorter through a predetermined opening or gate 7 in the sorter. The worm 9 or" the sorter is driven by a chain 11 from an electric motor (not shown) which is energized for operation for a predetermined length of time each time the lever 3 is operated.

In this case four gates 7 are provided and each is positioned above an opening 13 in the changer frame 15 which is fixed to the frame 17 of the fare box. The frame has fixed to it a housing, indicated generally by 18, which defines an opening 20 through which checks may be removed from the tray, to be described later.

Four changer mechanisms 19, 21, 23 and 25 are 335,438 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 mounted in the frame 15 to receive dimes, pennies, nickels and tokens respectively. Each of these mechanisms has the same general construction shown in the patent issued to H. J. Bauer, Number 1,465,409, on August 21, 1923. The primary differences between them reside in the diameters of the barrels or tubes 27 and the effective thickness of the slides used to eject the checks from the tubes, consequently it is believed that the description of one will sufiice.

It will be noted that the changer frame 15 has a bore 29 which runs at an angle to the vertical and is counterbored at 31 to receive the upper end of the change tube which is coaxial therewith. The upper surface 33 of frame 15 also extends at a greater angle from the vertical but in the same general direction as the bore so that it constitutes an outwardly and downwardly inclined shelf. The opening 13 is therefore elliptical to assist in guiding the checks into the bore and tube.

The check ejecting slide 35 is mounted for movement perpendicular to the axis of the tube. A lever 36, pivotally mounted at 37, engages the inner end of the slide and a bell crank lever 39, which is pivotally mounted at 41 carries a pin 43 which works in a slot 45 in the lever so that as the bell crank is depressed by its finger piece 47, the slide will move to the dashed line position (Figure 3) to eject the required number of coins into the hand of the operator.

The slide is preferably made of laminations, the lowermost one of which has a rearwardly extending tab 49 which is provided with a transverse slot 51.

An unloading gate 53 is mounted in the frame underneath and parallel to the slide for motion to the right as shown by dashed lines in Figure 3. It is provided with a depending car 55 at one end and a half-moon notch 57 at the other end. The gate is provided with a transverse slot 59 which is in alignment with the slot 51 when the slide and gate occupy their normal positions.

At latch slide 63 is mounted on screws 65, 65 and spacers 67 which are supported by the frame 15 by means of longitudinally elongated slots 69 which receive the screws. A spring '71 is mounted on one screw 65 and on a pin 73 fixed in the latch slide 63 above the screw so that it tends to draw the slide into the path of the unloading gate to prevent the gate from moving to a position in which the corresponding tube will be emptied.

Slide 63 has its lower end bent downwardly and rearwardly to form a finger piece.

Thus it will be seen that the latch normally occupies its full line position (Figure 3) under the action of spring 71 and must be raised to its dashed line position before the gate 53 can be moved to its dashed line position to empty its tube.

The frame 15 is formed with a flange 77 which forms an extension of the surface 33 and has fixed to it one wing of a piano hinge 79.

A tray 81 having a bottom 83, a front wall 85 and end walls 86 disposed substantially at right angles to the bottom and a rear wall 87 disposed at an obtuse angle to the bottom. The top of this wall is fixed to the other wing of the hinge.

A lever 89, 91 projects through a slot 93 in the frame 15 and is pivotally mounted on the frame at 95. The arm 89 is pivotally mounted at 97 on a link 99 which is in turn pivotally mounted at 191 on an ear 193 which depends from the exterior of wall 87. Link 99 extends beyond the pivot 97 and has a stop which is bent underneath the arm 89 to prevent the passage of the pivot 97 past the line connecting centers 95401.

Thus the tray may be moved from a locked up position shown in full lines (Figure 3) in which access to the checks in the tray and tubes is prevented to the dashed 3 line position in which the operator has access to the checks in the tray for sorting them and placing them in the tubes. This position is determined by the contact of arm 89 with the bottom of slot 93.

I prefer to use at least two of the levers S9, 91 and associated linkage to the'tray.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, each of the screws 65, 65' enters a circular boss 107, 107' respectively. i

A locking pawl 109 is oscillatably mounted on each boss 107 and has on one end a projection 111 which in the vertical, full line position of the pawl, enters the slots 51 and 59 to lock the associated slide and gate against movement.

An actuating projection 113 extends from the side of the pawl opposite 111 and is received in a recess 115 in the locking slide or bolt 117 which is slidably mounted by means of slots 119 on the bosses 107 for movement in a direction substantially normal to the direction of motion of latches 63.

Thus as the bolt moves from the full to the dashed line position (Figure 2) the pawls 109 are tilted and the projections 111 are withdrawn from the slots.

A pair of stepped fingers 121 project upwardly from the bolt. Each has joined to it at the step, a lug 123 which extends away from the finger, to the left thereof (Figures 2 and 4), parallel to the direction of motion of the bolt. The inner end of the lug is cut away from the upper edge 126 to form a rounded cam 125.

A second lug 127 extends from the tip of the finger parallel to and in the same direction as the lug 123. This lug has its lower edge 128 at the free end rounded to form a cam 129. The lower edge of the lever 91 is bevelled as at 90 The edge 128 is disposed so that it is aligned with the top edge of the arm 91 when the tray occupies the locked position. The distance between the edges 126 and 128 is less than the vertical width of the arm 91. The cam 125 must be slightly to the right of arm 129 as viewed in Figure 2 so that the arm 91 may be shifted up and down by the cams as the bolt moves laterally.

Thus as the bolt moves to the right (Figure 2), cam 125 will shift the arm 91 upwardly and this movement will be possible because the arm clears cam 129. Similarly, when the bolt moves leftward (Figure 2), cam 129 will urge the arm downwardly and in this motion, the arm clears cam 125.

A11 upwardly extending post 131 is fixed to the bolt and has connected to it one end of a spring 133, the other end of which is attached to a screw 135 supported in the frame. The spring acts normally to shift the bolt to the right so as to free arm 91, the slide 35 and gate 53.

A key operated lock 137 is mounted on the frame and includes a lever 139 which is connected by link 141 to the bolt for actuating it.

Operation In the operation of the device, fares are deposited by the cu stomer in the compartment 1 and the operator periodically operates the lever 3 to pass the checks to the counting mechanism which is automatically energized for a predetermined operation. The checks are registered and are passed to the sorter from which they are discharged directly into the tubes 27 of the changer. Each denomination of checks is discharged into the particular tube 27 reserved for such checks. The upper openings in the tubes are elliptical by reason of the fact that the plane or surface 33 intersects the axis of the tube at other than a right angle. This elliptical shape of the inlet opening materially assists in properly receiving and guiding the check into the tube without disturbing the lateral spacing of the tubes from one another.

Any check which fails to enter a tube, either because it misses the mouth of its tube or because the tube is full,

etc., will move down the inclined surface 33 and enter the tray. It may later be placed by hand in the proper tube.

Should the operator have to leave the vehicle he cannot detach the changer as is the usual custom. Instead, he throws the tray up to the full line position, which prevents removal of checks from the tray and the top ends of the tubes, and turns the key (not shown). This operates lever 139, link 141 and bolt 117 to the left (Figure 2) to the full line position. The bolt moves the pawls 1419 to their upright positions so that projections 111 enter slots 51, 59 and lock the ejector slide 35 and the gate 53 against movement so that none of the checks can be withdrawn from the tubes.

Further, the cam 129 on lug 127 engages arm 91, cams it down and positions edge 128 so as to lock the tray in its full line position (Figure 3).

Any checks contained in the tray gravitate to the region of the hinge by reason of the inclined wall 87 and the surface 33 so that none of them will be moved into the tubes.

The key is, of course, withdrawn from the lock and carried away by the operator.

When the changer is unlocked, the spring 133 draws the bolt 117 to the right (Figure 2) and cam will cam the arm 91 upwardly slightly as it passes the arm, returning to the dashed line position. The levers 109 are tilted to the dashed line positions, Figure 2, so that the ejector slides and gates will be unlocked so that checks may be ejected from the tubes by operating the finger pieces 47 or the tubes may be unloaded by raising the latches 63 and withdrawing the gates 53 to the dashed line positions.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fare box, a check sorter mounted on the fare box to receive checks therefrom and to discharge checks of the same denomination downwardly at a predetermined station, a changer having a frame mounted on the fare box, tubes mounted on the frame adjacent the stations to receive the checks from the sorter, the improvement which comprises means for mounting said check tubes with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other, said frame having a surface disposed at a downward angle with respect to the vertical, said tubes terminating in said frame and communicating with said surface through bores in the frame, the ends of said bores being disposed below the respective stations and terminating in openings which are larger in area than the checks, a housing on said frame defining an opening adjacent the sorter and said surface, and a tray hingedly attached to the frame, adjacent the lower portion of said surface, said tray being rotatable on said hinge to a position in which it substantially closes said opening.

2. In a fare box, a check sorter mounted on the fare box to receive checks therefrom and to discharge checks of the same denomination downwardly at a predetermined station, a changer having a frame mounted on the fare box, tubes mounted on the frame adjacent the stations to receive the checks from the sorter, the improvement which comprises means for mounting said check tubes with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other, said frame having a surface disposed at a downward angle with respect to the vertical, said tubes terminating in said frame and communicating with said surface through bores in the frame, the ends of said bores being disposed below the respective stations and terminating in openings which are largerin area than the checks. a

housing on said frame defining an opening adjacent the sorter and said surface, and a tray hingedly attached to the frame, adjacent the lower portion of said surface, said tray being rotatable on said hinge to a position in which it substantially closes said opening and means for locking said tray in said closing position.

3. In a fare box, a check sorter mounted on the fare box to receive checks therefrom and to discharge checks of the same denomination downwardly at a predetermined station, a changer having a frame mounted on the fare box, tubes mounted on the frame adjacent the stations to receive the checks from the sorter, the improvement which comprises means for mounting said check tubes with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other, said frame having a surface disposed at a downward angle with respect to the vertical, said tubes terminating in said frame and communicating with said surface through bores in the frame, the ends of said bores being disposed below the respective stations and terminating in openings which are larger in area than the checks, a housing on said frame defining an opening adjacent the sorter and said surface, and a tray hingedly attached to the frame, adjacent the lower portion of said surface, said tray being rotatable on said hinge to a position in which it substantially closes said opening and means for locking said tray in said closing position comprising means movable by the tray to first and second positions as said tray is moved to and from closing position, and key operated means for locking said movable means in said first position.

4. In a fare box having a sorter, a changer mounted on the fare box relative to said sorter so as to receive checks therefrom, said changer comprising check storage tubes, check ejecting means for each tube and an unloading gate for each tube, said fare box having a housing defining an opening adjacent the sorter and the changer, a tray, the improvement which comprises means for mounting said tray adjacent the top of the changer for movement to and from a position closing said opening, and means for directing checks spilling from the tubes into said tray.

5. In a fare box having a sorter, a changer mounted on the fare box relative to said sorter so as to receive checks therefrom, said changer comprising check storage tubes, check ejecting means for each tube and an unloading gate for each tube, said fare box having means defining an opening adjacent the sorter and the changer, a tray, means for mounting said tray adjacent the top of the changer for movement to and from a position closing said opening, means for directing checks spilling from the tubes into said tray, means movable to and from a position for locking said ejecting means and gates, means movable to and from a position locking said tray in closing position, and means for simultaneously actuating said locking means to said positions.

6. In a fare box having a sorter, a changer mounted on the fare box relative to said sorter so as to receive checks therefrom, said changer comprising check storage tubes, check ejecting means for each tube, and an unloading gate for each tube, said fare box having means defining an opening adjacent the sorter and the changer, a tray, means for mounting said tray adjacent the top of the changer for movement to and from a position closing said opening, means for directing checks spilling from the tubes into said tray, means movable to and from a position for locking said ejecting means and gates, means movable to and from a position locking said tray in closing position, and key actuated means for simultaneously actuating said locking means to said positions.

7. In a fare box, a check sorter mounted on the fare box to receive checks therefrom and to discharge checks of the same denomination downwardly at a predetermined station, a changer having a frame mounted on the fare box, tubes mounted on the frame at said positions to receive the checks from the sorter, the improvement which comprises said frame having a surface disposed at a downward angle with respect to the vertical, said tubes terminating in said frame and communicating with said surface adjacent the respective stations, a housing on said frame defining an opening adjacent the sorter and said surface, and a tray hingedly attached to the frame, adjacent the lower portion of said surface, said tray being rotatable on said hinge to a position in which it substantially closes said opening.

8. In a fare box, a check sorter mounted on the fare box to receive checks therefrom and to discharge checks of the same denomination downwardly at a predetermined station, a changer having a frame mounted on the fare box, tubes mounted on the frame at said positions to receive the checks from the sorter, the improvement which comprises said frame having a surface disposed at a downward angle with respect to the vertical, said tubes terminating in said frame and communicating with said surface adjacent the respective stations, a housing on said frame defining an opening adjacent the sorter and said surface, and a tray hingedly attached to the frame, adjacent the lower portion of said surface, said tray being rotatable on said hinge to a position in which it substantially closes said opening and means for locking said tray in said closing position.

9. In a fare box having a sorter, a changer mounted on the fare box relative to said sorter so as to receive checks therefrom, said changer comprising checks storage tubes, check ejecting means for each tube, and an unloading gate for each tube, said fare box having means defining an opening adjacent the sorter and the changer, a tray and means for mounting said tray adjacent the top of the changer for movement between an open position and a position in which it closes said opening, means for stopping the tray in the open position and means for directing checks spilling from the tubes into said tray.

10. In a fare box having a sorter, a changer mounted on the fare box relative to said sorter so as to receive checks therefrom, said changer comprising check storage tubes, check ejecting means for each tube, and an unloading gate for each tube, said fare box having means defining an opening adjacent the sorter and the changer, a tray, means for mounting said tray adjacent the top of the changer for movement to and from a position closing said opening, means for directing checks spilling from the tubes into said tray, aligned slots in said ejecting mechanism and gate, a pawl, means mounting said pawl for movement into and out of said slots, a lever mechanism connected with said tray and movable from a first to a second position as said tray moves to said closing position, a bolt, means mounting said bolt for movement to and from effective positions, means on said bolt for moving said pawls into said slots and additional means on said bolt for locking said lever mechanism in said second position when said bolt occupies its effective position.

11. In a fare box having a sorter, a changer mounted on the fare box relative to said sorter so as to receive checks therefrom, said changer comprising check storage tubes, check ejecting means for each tube, and an unloading gate for each tube, said fare box having means defining an opening adjacent the sorter and the changer, a tray, means for mounting said tray adjacent the top of the changer for movement to and from a position closing said opening, means for directing checks spilling from the tubes into said tray, aligned slots in said ejecting mechanism and gate, a pawl, means mounting said pawl for movement into and out of said slots, a lever mechanism connected with said tray and movable from a first to a second position as said tray moves to said closing position, a bolt, means mounting said bolt for move ment to and from effective positions and key operated means for locking it in its effective position, means on said bolt for moving said pawls into said slots and additional means on said bolt for locking said lever mechanism in said second position when said bolt occupies its efiective position.

12. In a fare box having a sorter, a changer mounted on the fare box relative to said sorter so as to receive checks therefrom, said changer comprising check storage tubes, check ejecting means for each tube, and an unloading gate for each tube, said fare box having means defining an opening adjacent the sorter and the changer, a tray, means for mounting said tray adjacent the top of the changer for movement to and from a position closing said opening, means for directing checks spilling from the tubes into said tray, aligned slots in said ejecting mechanism and gate, a pawl, means mounting said pawl for movement into and out of said slots, a lever mechanism connected with said tray and movable from a first to a second position as said tray moves to said closing position, a bolt, means mounting said bolt for movement to and from effective positions, means on said bolt for moving said pawls into said slots and additional means on said bolt for locking said lever mechanism in said second position when said bolt occupies its effective position, said last named means including cam means for moving said lever mechanism and tray-so as to completely close said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,453 Carney July 24, 1888 540,701 Taylor June 11, 1895 1,185,045 Barili May 30, 1916 1,371,383 Lewis Mar. 15, 1921 1,673,709 Reid June 12, 1928 1,718,801 Reid June 25, 1929 1,895,975 Daugherty Jan. 31, 1933 2,075,247 Wheeler Mar. 30, 1937 2,109,354 Kennedy Feb. 22, 1938 2,338,576 Daugherty Jan. 4, 1944 2,547,102 Wallach Apr. 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,579 Norway Feb. 1, 1909 143,609 Great Britain May 25, 1920 296,432 Italy May 16, 1932

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