US2839172A - Calendar bank - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1958 J, o s ETAL 2,839,172

CALENDAR BANK Filed March 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 t 25 J -7 i: 3 1 32 7g IN V T0 5.

June 17, 1958 Filed March 16, 1954 A. J. KOLSKY ET AL CALENDAR BANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 119 i8 7 J18 J20 5 12 iii 38 22 INVENTO S- zszg CALENDAR BANK Anton J. Kolsky, Berwyn, and Walter L. Bllger,

. Melrose Park, Ill.

. Application March 16, 1954, Serial No. 416,536

9 cro or. 194-1 I Our invention relates to calendarbanks and includes among its objects and advantages increased simplicity, cheapness, and durability'in the well knowntype of calendar bank in which the coin must be deposited daily to change the calendar showing to the correct day and month.

In the accompanying drawings: v

"Figure 1 is an isometric viewof a calendar bank, which may be according to the invention;

I Figure 2 is a section principally on line 2-2 of Figure 4;

a Figure 3 .is a rear elevation of the device with the cover plate and partition both removed to show the actuating and indicator mechanisms;

.Figure4 is a..view similar to Figure 3 with the day dial removed;

' Figure 5 is aplan viewv of the day dial on the face car rying indicia;.

Figure6 is a plan view carrying indicia;

Figure 7 is a partial section on line 7'7 of Figure 3; "Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the top wall employed for dimes; Figure. 9 is a similar plan view of a top wall for nickels; Figure 10 is a similar plan view of a top wall for quarters;

Figure 11 is a detailed 3 and 4; and

Figure 12 is a detail as on line 12-12 of'Figure 4, with the arm 86moved to its lowest position.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention the device is conventional to the extent that it includes a main'housing subdivided by a partition into a coin storage""'space and a smaller space housing the actuating and indicating mechanisms.

of the month dial on the face section on line 11-11 of Figures Housing The plastic housing includes a front wall 10, a bottom wall 12, a near end wall 14, a far end wall 16, and a top wall 18, all molded as one single integral plastic body, defining a space having substantially the configuration of a rectangular parallelepipedon.

Thewalls 12, 14, 16 and 18 are rabbettedv around their tops'remote from the front plate 10 as indicated at 20 in Figure 2. 1 The outer cover plate 22 has its peripheral edges seated in these rabbets and is held in assembled position by'a latch 24 entering an aperture 26 in a tension spanner 28. We have indicated the latch 24 as part of a" conventional lock 30 provided with a key 32 by means of which the latchmany be withdrawn to permit removal of the cover plate 22.

"Parallel to and spaced from the front plate 10 is the metal partition 34. This extends substantially to all the wall 12, 14 and 16, except for a small cutaway portion near the top defined by a first notch 38 (see Figures 4 a'nd7) and a second notch 40, to leave clearance for certimguiding and actuating parts.

Because this cut-away portion is at the extreme top,

adjacent to the coin slot, and is too small to permit a coin to work through into the mechanism compartment, the entire major coin storage space between the partitions 22 and 34 can receive coins until they are piled up so close to the coin-slot that there is no room to insert any more coins.

The partition 34 has a boss 42 co-axial with the main pivot stud 44, and the tension spanner 28 is mechanically connected to theboss, as by-means of an axial rivet 46; As additional precaution ,againstrelative rotation, we prefer to notch the remote end of the extension 50'and to strike up from the partition 34 a small tongue 5240 be received in the notch. 7

Indicator mechanism has a central aperture at 58 to receive the stud 44'and' guide the movement of the plate. The month dial carries indicia at 60 indicating the months of the year in.

natural order and because it is more convenient to divide the dial into twenty-four portions than twelve, this indicia includes two years. Between the peripheral portion carrying the indicia and the central opening 58, the dial has an annular portion 62 depressed slightly into a plane farther removed from the front plate 10. In this depressed portion are 24 registry holes 64. The front plate 10 carries three equally spaced detents 66 positioned to enter the holes 64. Spring means in the nature of a triangular plate 68 normally presses the month dial toward the front plate 10, but the detents 66 may be so shaped that the holes64 engage them and limit the axial movement of the month dial so that it does not rub on the front plate, but lies with its indicia-bearing surface spaced only a few thousandths of an inch from the front plate.

The day dial 70 is shown in rear elevation in Figure 3 and separately in front elevation in Figure 5. It is a shallow cup, housing the circular flange 54 and the month dial 56.and the spring plate 68, and guided by engagement of a central aperture 72 with the stud 44. The peripheral lip 74 carries day indicia indicated in Figure 5 as 1 to 30 inclusive. On the opposite, or rear, face, this same lip 74 is cut away to define notches, indicated generically by the reference character 76, for actuation of the day dial by the actuating mechanism. Within the lip 74 the fiat bottom of the cup is provided with three sets of spaced driving pins 78 adapted to straddle three drive arms 80 on the spring 68. In this way the spring 68, when parts are in operating position, is compelled to rotate at all times with the day dial. We provide peep holes 82 to see the tips of the drive arms 80 to make sure that the parts are in proper relative position with the pins 78 straddling the drive arms 80. An additional convenience in this operation is the relatively large window 84 which straddles the month dial drive arm 86 with considerably larger clearance. clearance for the axial movement of the arm 86.

g The spring 68 is made up with its drive arms 80 curving away from the month dial and when the parts are assembled, the partition 34 limits axial movement of the day dial 70 away from the front plate 10 and keeps the spring 68 under stress. This causes the day dial 70 to have frictional bearing against the partition 34 while the month dial is always engaged with the detents 66 and receives the axial thrust of the spring stress where the center of .the spring presses against the month dial close to the stud 44. To actuate the month dial through one indexing movement at the end of each complete This window also provides mechanical r 3 revolution of the day dial which extends out over the month dial and radially across a series of spaced notches 88 facing axially away from the front plate. The arm 86 goes beyond the notches 88 and its outer end rides on the flange 54, which normally holds the arm 86 out of the plane of the notches 88, so that the month dial remains undisturbed during successive actuations of the day dial, and spring 68. As indicated in Figures 4 and 12, the flange 54, at one point, has a short notch 90 which extends down far enough to let the arm 86 drop down into one of the notches 88. The parts are designed so that this happens at the end of the movement of the day dial which exposes the number 30 on that dial. On the next actuation of the day dial, the month dial is compelled to turn with the day dial because the drive arm 86 is in one of the notches 88 and remains there until its contact with the exit cam surface 92 (see Figures 4 and 12) lifts the arm 86 out of driving engagement again. It is easy to design the parts so this disengagement takes place when the monthdial has" been moved substantially 11 degrees and the bos'ses' 66 are each almost in register with" the 'next' hole '64. This transfers the month dial to'show the next month and it'will' remain there, held against rotation or axial movement by the bosses 66 and by theaxial pressure of the spring 68 until the day dial has been moved step by step to'go back to number 30 again, at which time the parts will be back in the position of Figure'lZ ready for a second actuation of the month dial. When the month contains 31 days, the user has one day of respite. When it contains 29 or 28, hemust make one or two extra deposits to catch up.

A's' conventional in devices of this type, the front plate is provided with'suitably placed apertures 94 for the month dial and 96'for the day dial. It will be obvious that the front plate 10 and the entire external surface of the device can be lithographed, engraved, plated or otherwise ornamented as may be desired by the user.

Actuating mechanism We have provided actuating mechanism of great simplicity embodying one movable part. The escapement lever-9s is pivoted at 100 on the boss or stud 101' integral with the front plate 10. On this boss it pivots with complete freedom of rotation, being guided in such movement in a plane parallel to the front plate 10 as by three spacer studs 102, 104, and 106. These studs end a few thousandths of an inch short of the partition 34 so that'light sliding contact between them and the restraining parts provides maximum freedom of pivotal movement with minimum guiding friction on partition 34 and front wall 10. i i

The escapement layer 98 carries a major terminal portion or pallet 108 and a minor terminal portion or pallet 110. As clearly indicated in Figure 3, the tension spring 111 holds the escapement lever in the position illustrated, restrained from further clockwise rotation by engagement of the toe of the pallet 110 with the face of the tooth 76-2. In this position the pallet 108 lies where it will move into the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 and engage the tooth 76-4, and after engagement force the tooth 76-4 further to the dotteed line position, thus rotating the day dial through about 80 or 90 percent of the displacement necessary to complete one indexing movement of twelve degrees. During this counter clockwise movement of the indexing lever 98 the minor pallet 110 will have moved back to the dotted line position.

When the force causing the counter-clockwise movement is gone the spring 111 will bring the lever 98 back to the full line position. The final portion of this returning movement will cause the cam surface 110-2 on the lower face of the pallet 110 to ride over the corner of the tooth 76-2, and the parts come to rest with the tooth 76-2 occupying the position indicated in Figure 3 we provide a driving arm 86 for the tooth 76-6. This completes the indexing movement.

The last portion of this movement caused by the pallet has also moved the tooth 7 6-8 forward into the position formerly occupied bytooth 76-4, where it is properly located to receive the actuating thrust of the pallet 108 when the next actuation occurs.

Means are provided for actuating the lever 98 directly by inserting a coin. The top wall 18 carries the thrust abutment 112 and the lever 98 carries the thrust pin 114 (see Figures 3 and 7). It will be noted that the pin 114 extends over past the plane of the partition 34 and into the plane of the slot 116 through which the coin is to be inserted. To keep the coin effectively guided in a plane parallel to the front plate 10 we provide lateral guide abutments 113 and 120 integral with the top wall 18. It will be apparent upon reference to Figure 3 that if a coin of the right size is pushed down through the slot 116 between the abutment 112 and the pin 114, the pin 114 will be forced back to the dotted line position and the first 80 or 90 percent of the next indexing movement will take place before the coin can slip out of contact with the abutments and fall down into the storage chamber. As soon as the coin escapes, the spring 111 will bring the lever back promptly and complete the indexing movement of the day dial, or of the day and month dials if this particular indexing happens to move the day dial from position 30 to position 1.

The construction disclosed lends itself to extreme ease and cheapnes s in using almost entirely identical parts from devices made up to be actuated by coins of any size. Thus in Figure 9 We illustrate a top wall 18-2 identical with Figure 8 except that the thrust abutment 112-2 is cut back'far enough so that a dime is too small to force the escapement lever into the dotted line position of Figure 3, but a twenty-five cent piece is still too large to get through the slot 116-2, while a five cent piece works perfectly. Similarly, the plate 18-4 of Figure 10 has its abutment 112-4 and slot 116-,4 of the right dimensions to cooperate with quarters but not with any smaller coin or with half dollars. Thus the top wall 18 is the only element that needs to be changed to change the entire equipment to co-operate with any desired size of coin or slug. This change requires only a substitute insert in a set of conventional dies, so that the same main die can mold any top wall, depending on the insert assembled with it.

The partition 34 is rigidly fastened in place by suitable means such as three fastening screws 122 engaging integral bosses 124 carried by the front plate 10.

The spring 111 has a conventional hook at its right end hooked into a simple hole 126 in the escapement lever 98. But at the left end the coiled portion is provided with an axial extension 128 and an end portion turned through a little more than ninety degrees so that it runs at an angle back toward the body of the spring at 130 (see Figure 11). 10 is counterbored at 134 and its upper half is cut away, as best indicated in Figure 3 to leave guide faces 138 defining a wedge shaped receiving space so that the assembler need only poke the hook 130 almost at random between the guide faces 138 to get it into the assembled position of Figure 11, where the spring tension will hold it reliably in place. Further convenience in assembling is best indicated in Figure 4 where it will be seen that the guide abutment 124 is in mechanical engagement at the contact point 140 with the escapement lever 98. This limits the clockwise rotation of the lever to a position where the spring 111 still carries a fair tension, and prevents rattling or accidental displacement of the parts. With the tip of the hook 130 of harder material than the boss 132, the hook tends to embed itself slightly, and accidental displacement is avoided.

In operation, because the position of rest is the full line position of Figure 3, the next coin can be arrested with The boss 132 on the plate sufficient force to sustain the weight of the coin, at a point where it projects into the slot about half its own radius or a little less. This is just far enough to provide proper guidance when the user lets go of the sides of the coin and begins to push on the edge at the top. Thereafter, a little more than half of the counter-clockwise stroke is against the relatively light force of the spring 111. It is only after the coin has descended far enough to get a strong wedging action between the abutment 112 and the pin 114, that the friction load of the day dial is encountered.

In the position of rest, the day dial is held by the pallet 110 against movement in either direction, up to the force of spring 111. This holding force is in addition to-the friction against partition 34, and the two togetherare ample to prevent inching of the day dial, as by a lead pencil eraser pushed against the day dial through the opening 96.

It will be obvious that the housing could be of diecast metal identical in shape with the plastic housing disclosed. With the housing of stamped sheet metal, it becomes a matter of. relative cost, which of the two parts involved carry such elements as the studs 102, which could be struck up in the partition and front wall, or formed on the lever 98. Studs 124 could be drawn from the partition 34, or the front wall, or formed of separate bits of tubing.

The use of a single movable element to actuate the large dial, and of only three elements for the complete indicator and the drive from one dial to the next contributes greatly to simplicity and cheapness. Also, the partition 34 holds all four parts from slipping off their pivots and no other fastening means is needed.

It is important to have the indicia register accurately with the window. If they are materially offset, the discrepancy is an annoyance to the user. In many prior art devices the speed with which the coin is inserted makes a difference in the position of the shifted dial when it comes to rest. As best indicated in Figure 3, the return of the pallet 110 to the full-line position is terminated by head-on abutment of the end of the pallet with the face of the tooth 76-2. The force of this contact is substantially the same under all conditions of actuation; but at the time the contract occurs the end of the cam surface 1104. has traveled a substantial distance along the face of tooth 76-6, and the final condition is with two positive contacts, with faces at right angles to each other, which contacts jointly receive the pressure of the spring 111. Therefore, whether the coin is inched in as slowly as possible, or slammed in as quickly as possible, or even driven in with a light blow, the final position of the shifted dial is kept the same with a high degree of precision.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof.

As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of our invention we desire to claim the following subject matter:

1. In a step by step registering device of the type having indicator means comprising a plurality of interconnected movable indicator elements arranged to be mechanically displaced one step at a time in a predetermined sequence in response to energy delivered by the insertion of a coin or the like; and a primary oscillating displacement member positioned to engage the inserted coin and to be displaced through a predetermined advance stroke during insertion of the coin, and through a subsequent return stroke to initial position; the novel combination of a transmission from said primary displacement member for moving one element of said indicator means through the major part of a complete step during the advance stroke of said primary displacement member, and for completing the step during the return stroke of said displacement member; and energy storing means '6 in the nature of a spring tensioned by the advance stroke of said prirnarydisplacement member and storing only sufiicient energy to assure completion of the return stroke;

whereby the force and energy required to be delivered by the user in inserting the coin are each reduced to a minimum.

a 2. A combination according to claim 1 in which said primary displacement member has spaced pallets remote from its axis of rotation; the driven indicator element having notches to receive said pallets; the pallet operative during the advance stroke moving said indicator element through approximately ninety percent of a step; the pallet operative during the return stroke moving the indicator element through the remainder of the step.

3. A combination according to claim 1 in which the primary displacement member carries spaced advance and return actuating pallets; the driven indicator element having V-shaped serrations to receive said pallets; the advance pallet operating during the advance stroke and having an end contact actuating face approximately normal to its direction of movement for striking the adjacent side of a projecting serration to move said driven indicator element; the return pallet operating during the return stroke and having an end contact stop face approximately normal to its direction of movement for engaging the adjacent side of one projecting serration to end the movement; said pallet having also a side contact face at an acute angle to its direction of movement to slide on the edge of the remote face of a projecting serration and move said indicator element into final stop position.

4. A combination according to claim 3 in which said serrations are V-shaped notches with sharp points and bottoms and plane side faces between said points and bottoms.

5. A combination according to claim 3 in which said return pallet side contact face continues to engage a ser' ration after movement ends; whereby said energy storing means restrains said indicator element from movement in either direction during inactive periods.

6. A combination according to claim 5 in which said return pallet end face engages one side of one serration and said side contact face engages the adjacent side of an adjacent serration.

7. In a step-by-step registering and indicating mechanism, in combination: a support; a pivot projecting from said support in a direction normal to the adjacent surface of said support; an indicator dial freely rotatable with minimum friction on said pivot; pallet and serration means for holding said dial normally locked against displacement in either direction, and for engaging said dial to drive it from one locked position to the next locked position; a resilient plate journaled on said pivot; said dial lying between said support and said plate; and stop means having axial thrust contact with said resilient plate to press said plate toward said dial and said dial toward said support; whereby a light surface friction between said dial and support prevents rattling or random movement of said dial; said resilient plate having a plurality of resilient arms; the ends of said arms engaging irregularities in said dial to compel said plate and dial to rotate in unison.

8. A combination according to claim 7 in which said resilient plate has an additional arm; said additional arm being resilient under axial force and substantially unyielding against rotational force; in combination with a second indicator dial; and stationary cam means for guiding said additional arm to permit it to move axially into rotary driving engagement with said second indicator dial during a predetermined minor fraction of each revolution of said first dial.

9. A combination according to claim 8 in which said second dial is coaxial with said first dial and said resilient plate, and freely rotatable on said pivot; said plate lying between said dials and resiliently pressing said dials axially away from each other; and a fixed abutment for References'Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shaw Jan. 18, 1898 Orr Sept. 20, 1898 Anderson Ian. 24, 1905 '8 Messiter Ian. 1, 1918 Ewart Oct. 30, 1934' Hopkins Ian. 31, 1939 Ferris Dec. 26, 1939 Woodrnark f Nov. 25, 1941 Aronson "Jan. 6, 1942 Schnabolk Mar. 1, 1949 Neidhart-Locher Aug. 15, 1950

Images