US3323719A

US3323719A - Income totalizing device

Info

Publication number: US3323719A
Application number: US469032A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman G Jensen; Harry H Bostrom
Original assignee: Seeburg Corp
Current assignee: Seeburg Corp
Priority date: 1965-06-14
Filing date: 1965-06-14
Publication date: 1967-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-06

Description

f 5 AM? June 6,1967 H, JENSEN ET AL 3,323,719

INCOME TOTALIZING DEVICE Filed June 14, 1965 3 SheetsShee't 5 57 I 65p 1 a 7 I Q I J71 1. 626

94/ 0 I I 82 j /4 76 O O 75 o V3 2 f QT6 O OOOO INVENTORs HERMAN G. JENSEN HQRRY H. BO

United States Patent 3,323,719 INCOME TOTALIZING DEVICE Herman G. Jensen and Harry H. Bostrom, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The Seebnrg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 14, 1%5, Ser. No. 469,032 17 Claims. (Cl. 235-400) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 286,081, filed June 6, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an income totalizing device and more particularly to apparatus for cumulatively totalizing in incremental amounts the value of credits established in a credit responsive mechanism and for recording the totalized values (as on a counter meter or on a permanent recording form).

When a vending machine is installed in a given location, the coins which accumulate therein must be periodically removed. Typically, the coin removal is performed by a route man who services a multiplicity of machines. It is obviously desirable that an accurate and independent system be established to record the value of the coins received in a given machine.

With a cumulative recorder of coin values, one is able to determine the total amount of the coins received in a machine as Well as the incremental amount (by subtraction) received since the last emptying of the cash box. This information not only impedes theft of the receipts but also serves to indicate quickly and reliably how Well a given machine is performing in terms of cash accumulated. The performance indication is useful both with respect to the vending of products and of services and is particularly desirable when an intangible service is dispensed by machine, as, for example, a typical coinoperated phonograph installation, or a coin-operated washing or cleaning machine.

The subject invention comprises an eleetro-mechanical device of the advancing ratchet gear type for indicating the cumulative total value of credits which have been established in a credit responsive mechanism. In the described embodiment, cumulative total values of coins of nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar denominations are recorded upon deposit thereof in a coin sensitive mechanism. The device utilizes an advancing ratchet gear wheel and a pawl actuator which are mounted in a frame housing for rotation with respect to a fixed shaft. Means including the pawl actuator are provided for rotating the ratchet gear wheel by a predetermined degree of angular displacement in response to a coin signal determined by the value of an inserted coin and for transforming the angular displacement of the ratchet wheel into a gear movement which correspondingly registers a money value incremental change on a conventional gear counter mechanism.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention hereinafter described, the pawl actuator is reciprocably rotated from a given rest position by solenoid actuated crank means corresponding to the indicated coin values. On the reverse or return stroke of the pawl actuator, an escapement pawl mechanism (comprising advancing pawl means for rotating the ratchet gear wheel in a given direction and locking pawl means for preventing rotation of the ratchet gear wheel in the opposite direction) actuates the ratchet gear wheel for rotation by a first amount; an amount twice the first said amount; an amount five times the first said amount; and an amount ten times the first said amount in accordance with a nickel, dime, quarter, or half-dollar respective coin signal. As a further feature, adjustable stop means are positioned in the path of movement of the pawl actuator in order to determine the said given rest position and in order to 3,323,719 Patented June 6, 1967 terminate the return rotation of the pawl actuator to the said rest position after the described reciprocable rotation of the pawl actuator by means of the solenoid actuated crank means.

It is an object of this invention to provide for the cumulation and recordation of coin values inserted into a coin-receiving mechanism by a unique income totalizing system which is compact, inexpensive, reliable, accurate, and essentially tamper-proof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an income totalizing system which may be utilized for income evaluations in any one of a variety of currencies, both domestic and foreign, and in fact which may be readily converted by a simple substitution of redimensioned parts for use with one or the other of such currencies.

It is a still further object of this invention toprovide a simple system for coin value cumulation in incremental amounts by a solenoid actuation of a one-way rotation ratchet gear wheel which is ordinarily situated in a given rest position and which is rotated from that position in discrete steps corresponding proportionately to a coin value signal sensed by appropriate solenoid means.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the subject invention will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an exemplary embodiment of the subject invention is shown in the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the income totalizing device, as mounted in a tamper-proof receptacle, the cover of which is removed for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is an inverted rear view, taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an inverted side elevational view with a side wall partially removed for clarity, taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a'front view of the device shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is an inverted sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates an income totalizing device produced in accordance with the subject invention. The device 1 comprises a base plate 10 which is adapted to cooperate with a cover box (not shown) in order to form a completely enclosed and tamper-proof receptacle. A conventional lock assembly 9 (see FIGURE 1) engages an appropriate insertion member of the said cover box in order to effectuate the desired closure. Side walls 11 and 13 extend perpendicularly from the base plate 10 and are affixed thereto by conventional means, such as by bolt assemblies generally indicated by the reference letter B. Similarly, an intermediate wall 12 extends perpendicularly from the base plate 10 and is afiixed thereto. The intermediate wall 12 is positioned intermediate the side walls 11 and 13 and relatively closer to the side wall 11,

as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5. A front top plate 14 and a rear top plate 15 bridge the

respective walls

11, 12, and 13, as indicated in FIGURE 1. Upper and lower L-

fianges

16 and 17 respectively are afiixed to the side wall 11. Switch circuitry, generally designated by the reference numeral 18, is mounted intermediate the

flanges

16 and 17 for cooperation with the income totalizing device 1. However, the circuitry as such does not form a part of the instant invention and accordingly is not described or illustrated in detail. The said circuitry 18 coacts with a front terminal board 19 (see FIGURE 2) and with a rear terminal board 20 (see FIGURE 5) in order to effectuate certain electrical signals. A cable aperture 21 is provided in the baseplate 10, and electrical leads generally designated by the reference letter W pass through the aperture 21 in order to send and receive signals from the circuitry 18. The said leads extend into the volume defined between the walls 11 and 12, but are not illustrated in order to promote clarity. A switch mounting plate 8 (fragments of which are shown in FIGURE 5) is mounted between the intermediate wall 12 and the side wall 13. Nickel, dime, quarter, and halfdollar switches indicated respectively by the reference characters N, D, Q, and H are afiixed to the plate 8 (as schematically indicated in FIGURE 5) for a purpose hereinafter described.

An L-flange 22 (see FIGURE 5) is affixed to the intermediate wall 12 on the side thereof facing the side wall 13. The flange 22 supports a counter housing 23, which contains a conventional counter barrel assembly 26. The assembly 26 is mounted on a counter shaft 24, and a pinion gear 25 is aflixed to an exposed end of the counter shaft 24. A window 27 is provided in the counter housing 23 such that, in a conventional manner, rotation of the pinion gear 25 will cause appropriate indicia to be placed beneath the window 27 such that the cumulative total of revolutions of the pinion gear 25 may be expressed in any desired system (e.g., cumulative dollars and cents).

A fixed shaft 30 is mounted between the intermediate wall 12 and the side wall 13. A ratchet gear 31 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 30, and a spur gear 32 is likewise mounted for rotation on the shaft 30 adjacent to ratchet gear 31. The ratchet gear 31 and the spur gear 32 may be connected, or, as best seen in FIGURE 4, the said

gears

31 and 32 may be a one-piece integral construction such as a molded plastic part. As best shown in FIGURE 5, the pinion gear 25 intermeshes with the spur gear 32 such that rotation of the spur gear 32 causes a corresponding rotation of the pinion gear 25.

A bifurcated pawl actuator 33 is also mounted for rotation on the shaft 30. The pawl actuator 33 is provided with two parallelly extending

legs

34 and 35, each of which has a suitable aperture for receiving the shaft 30 therethrough. A shaft 36 is mounted between the

legs

34 and 35 adjacent to the base of the pawl actuator 33. An advancing pawl 37 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 36, and a spring 38 normally urges the advancing pawl 37 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 31.

The base of the pawl actuator 33 is provided with an off-set (see FIGURES 4-6) such that the lowermost portion of the leg 35 adjacent the base of pawl actuator 33 is recessed inwardly (relative to the FIGURE 5 disposition) to define an abutment shoulder 39, as compared to the corresponding lowermost portion of the leg 34 which defines an abutment shoulder 41. The base of the pawl actuator 33 is also provided with a recess 40 (see FIG- URE 3) on the side thereof corresponding to the leg 34. The recess 40 defines an abutment shoulder 42 (see FIG- URE 3) in line with the upwardly extending leg 34 of the pawl actuator 33.

Lever arms

44 and 45 extend outwardly in a generally perpendicular fashion from the

respective legs

34 and 35 of the pawl actuator 33.

Four crank lever members (corresponding respectively to four designated coin denominations, such as nickels, dimes, quarters, and half-dollars) are mounted for rotation on the shaft 30', two on either side of the ratchet gear 31 and spur gear 32. As shown in the drawings, these crank levers are the nickel lever 46, the dime lever 47, the quarter lever 48, and the halfdollar lever 49, with the nickel and

quarter levers

46 and 48 respectively being mounted closest to the side wall 13, and with the dime and half-

dollar levers

47 and 49 respectively being mounted closest to the intermediate wall 12.

Collar spacing members

50, 51, 52, and 53 are also mounted on the shaft 30, and retaining rings, generally designated by the reference letter R, serve, in conjunction with the collar spacing members 50 53, to maintain the levers 46-49 and the

legs

34 and 35 of the pawl actuator 33 separate from each other and from the ratchet gear 31 and spur gear 32. Four solenoids corresponding to each of the levers 4649 are mounted within the framework defined by the base plate 10, the intermediate wall 12, the side wall 13, and the

top cover plates

14 and 15. These solenoids are momentarily actuated by the reception of deposited coins of varying denominations in a suitable coin chute (not shown), such that the deposit of a coin will be electromechanically transformed by the device 1 into a cumulatively registered coin value, as indicated by rotation of the counter barrel assembly 26. The said four solenoids are designated as follows: the nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar solenoids are indicated respectively by the

reference numerals

54, 55, 56, and 57. Likewise, the respective plungers of the said solenoids are indicated by the designations 54P57P.

The plunger 54P of the nickel solenoid 54 is attached to the nickel lever 46 by an actuating spring 60. Similarly, the plunger 55P of the dime solenoid 55 is connected to the dime lever 47 by an actuating spring 59. The plunger 56? of the quarter solenoid 56 is connected to the quarter lever 48 by a connecting link 56L (see FIGURE 3), and similarly the plunger 57F of the half-dollar solenoid 57 is connected to the half-dollar lever 49 by a connecting link 57L. A spring 62 (see FIGURE 3) and a spring 63 (see FIGURE 6) normally urge the respective nickel and dime levers 46 and 47 to the respective positions shown.

in FIGURES 3 and 6 (that is, the full line position for the lever 46 shown in FIGURE 3). The

springs

62 and 63 are affixed to a locking pawl housing 64, hereinafter described.

Springs

58 and 61, which are illustrated in FIG- URE 4, similarly are connected to the

respective levers

49 and 48 so as to normally urge these levers to the respective dispositions shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 (again, the full line position for the lever 48 shown in FIGURE 3). The

springs

58 and 61 are affixed to the cover plate 14 (as shown in FIGURE 1).

A locking pawl housing 64 is affixed to the base plate 10 beneath the shaft 36 and between the

solenoids

56 and 57. The housing 64 is generally hollow, and a shaft 65 passes through the opposite walls thereof (see FIGURE 2). A locking pawl 66 is mounted on the shaft 65, and a spring 67 normally urges the locking pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 31. As hereinafter described, the combined interaction of the advancing pawl 37 and the locking pawl 66 operates as an escapernent mechanism to control the movement of the ratchet gear 31.

A spring 69, one end of which is taffixed to an abutment 68 of the locking pawl housing 64-, is connected to the pawl actuator 33 (as shown in FIGURE 2). The spring 69 serves to retain the pawl actuator 33 in the position show nin FIGURES 3 and 6 (again, the full line position shown in FIGURE 3). An adjusting bolt 70 passes through the locking pawl housing 64 such that an end thereof is disposed adjacent the advancing pawl 37. As hereinafter described, the positioning of the adjustment bolt 70 provides adjustable means for preventing the advancing pawl 37 from overdr-iving the ratchet gear 31 by arresting the movement of the said pawl 37 at a given predetermined position on the return stroke of the mechanism.

A shaft 71 is mounted between the intermediate wall 12 and the side wall 13 in parallel alignment and beneath the shaft 36. Cam stop

members

72 and 73 are mounted for rotation on the shaft 71, and are retained in a predetermined position by retaining rings generally desig nated by the reference letter R. Cam flanges 74 and 75 extend respectively from the

cam stop members

72 and 73 towards the

solenoids

56 and 57. Stop

portions

76 and 77 extend respectively from the

cam stop members

72 and 73 in the opposite direction. The

stop portions

76 and 77 are provided with extending

abutment shoulders

82 and 83, respectively. Return springs 78 and 79 normally bias the

cam stop members

72 and 73 to the positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 (again, the full line position in FIGURE 3). A U-shaped support plate 80, which is affixed to the base plate 10, is disposed beneath the

stop portions

76 and 77 of the respective

cam stop members

72 and 73 such that the

springs

78 and 79 normally bias these members into a rest position atop the said plate 80.

A limit bar 81 (fragments of which are shown in FIG- URE 5) is positioned between the intermediate wall 12 and the side wall 13 between the switch mounting plate 8 and the shaft 71. As hereinafter described, the bar 81 serves to limit the movement of the pawl actuator 33 in order to determine a movement of the ratchet gear 31 corresponding to a half-dollar cumulation in the counter barrel assembly 26.

In operation, the income totalizing device 1 will normally assume the positions shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4-6, as well as the positions shown in full lines in FIG- URE 3, by virtue of the various spring interconnections previously described. When a nickel signal is received (i.e., momentary energization of the nickel solenoid 54), the plunger 54P will be retracted such that the nickel lever 46 will rotate (clockwise in FIGURE 3). This actuation of the lever 46 will cause a corresponding rotation of the pawl actuator 33 as the lever 46 engages the lever arm 44 extending from the leg 34 of the pawl actuator 33. As the combined rotation continues, the extreme right hand portion of the lever 46 (relative to the FIGURE 3 disposition) will engage the cam flange 75 of the cam stop member 73, thereby rotating this member clockwise (relative to the FIGURE 3, disposition). The described rotation of the cam stop member 73 causes the shoulder 83 of the stop portion 77 to be disposed in the path of movement of the shoulder 41 of the pawl actuator 33, thereby impeding further movement thereof; Thus, energization of the nickel solenoid 54 eifects a predetermined degree of movement for the pawl actuator 33.

As the pawl actuator 33 is thereby rotated by the said predetermined degree of movement, the advancing pawl 37, which is carried by the pawl actuator 33, drags past the teeth of the ratchet gear 31 against the biasing force of the spring 38. When the movement of the pawl actuator 33 is arrested, the advancing pawl 37 is urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 31 by the spring 38. When the nickel solenoid 54 is de-energized, the springs 62., 69, and 79 respectively return the nickel lever 46, the pawl actuator 33, and the cam stop member 73 to their respective normal rest dispositions. As the pawl actuator 33 thus returns to its original disposition, the advancing pawl 37 causes a counter-clockwise (relative to the FIGURE 3 disposition) rotation of the ratchet gear 31. The ratchet gear and correspondingly the spur gear 32 and the intermeshed pinion gear 25 are thus rotated by an amount corresponding to the amount of arcuate movement of the nickel lever 46, since the said lever retraces this amount in its return to its original disposition. The ratchet gear 31 drags against the locking pawl 66 as it thus rotates, and the pawl 66 is urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 31 by the spring 67 in order to prevent backlash movement of the ratchet gear 31.

Thus, the advancing pawl 37 and the locking pawl 6-6 act as an escapement mechanism to control the rotation of the ratchet gear 31 to a predetermined extent. The adjusting bolt 78, the exposed end of which is disposed in the path of the advancing pawl 37, serves to lock the advancing pawl 37 in the teeth of the ratchet gear 31 at a predetermined location, thereby to prevent overdriving of the ratchet gear 31. The disposition of the adjustment bolt 70 relative to the ratchet gear 31 determines the original disposition of the advancing pawl 37 (and therefore of the pawl actuator 33), since the spring 69 will bias the pawl actuator 33 such that the advancing pawl 37 is impeded by the end of the adjusting bolt and is thereby cammed into locking engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 31. While the income totalizing device 1 is calibrated by the inherent dimensions of its respective components so as to effectuate a rotation of the pinion gear 25, it is apparent that the adjusting bolt 70 may be utilized for fine calibration of one or two units of revolution corresponding to the arcute length of a tooth segment of the ratchet gear 31.

When a dime signal is sensed by the income totalizing device 1 (i.e., momentary energization of the dime solenoid 55), a corresponding series of events is observed. In this instance, the dime lever 47 (see FIGURE 6) is caused to rotate counter-clockwise (relative to the FIG- URE 6 disposition) and to engage the lever arm 45 extending from the leg 35 of the pawl actuator 33. The dime lever 47 continues to advance while pushing the pawl actuator 33 until the extreme tip of the lever 47 engages the cam flange 74 of the cam stop member 72, thereby causing this member to rotate counterclockwise (relative to the FIGURE 6 disposition). This rotation continues until the shoulder 39 of the pawl actuator 33 is impeded by the shoulder 82 of the cam stop member 72. Since the shoulder 39 is recessed relative to the shoulder 41, it is apparent that the pawl actuator 33 will be rotated by a greater extent than the amount of rotation induced by actuation of the nickel lever 46. In fact, the pawl actuator 33 is calibrated such that the oifset between the

shoulders

41 and 39 is suificiently large so as to cause twice as much movement of the rachet gear 31. In this manner, a ten cent registry is indicated by the counter barrel assembly 26, via the induced rotation of the pinion gear 2 5 intermeshing with the spur gear 32.

When a quarter signal is sensed by the income totalizing device 1 (i.e., momentary energization of the quarter solenoid 56), the quarter lever '48 causes the pawl actuator 33 to rotate in the same direction as did activation of the nickel lever 46. In this instance, however, the quarter lever 48 does not touch the cam stop member 72 until the shoulder 41 of the pawl actuator 33 has already rotated past the shoulder 83 of the cam stop member 73 (i.e., the extreme tip of the quarter lever 48 is disposed counter-clockwise from the extreme tip of the nickel lever 46, as best seen in FIGURE 3). When the quarter lever 48 does touch the cam flange 75, the shoulder 83 of the cam stop member 73 is disposed in the path of the shoulder 42 of the pawl actuator 33, and eventually movement of the pawl actuator 33 is impeded by interengagement of the

shoulders

83 and 42. The amount of movement thus induced in the pawl actuator 33 is five times as great as the amount of movement induced in the pawl actuator 33 by actuation of the nickel lever 46, whereby return movement of the pawl actuator 33 causes the rachet gear '31 to rotate five times as much as when the nickel lever 46 was actuated. In this manner, the counter barrel assembly 26 registers a twenty-five cent incremental change.

When a half-dollar signal is received in the income totalizing device 1 (i.e., momentary energization of the half-dollar solenoid 57), a slightly different operation is evidenced. For half-dollar registry, neither of the

cam stop members

72 and 73 is utilized. Rather, the halfdollar lever 49 engages the lever arm 45 extending from the leg 35 of the pawl actuator 33 and causes rotation of the pawl actuator 33 completely past the

cam stop members

72 and 73 until the shoulder 41 of the pawl actuator 33 engages the limit bar 81 disposed between the

walls

12 and 13. Thus, the limit bar 81 serves the same functions as the

shoulders

82 and 83 of the

cam stop members

72 and 73 respectively in that a predetermined extent of movement of the pawl actuator 33 is determined by the positioning of the limit bar 81. In this manner, the ratchet gear 31 is induced to rotate by an amount ten times as great as the amount of rotation induced by acuation of the nickel lever 46 (via return of the pawl actuator 33). In

this manner, the counter barrel assembly 26 registers a fifty-cent incremental change.

While the description and operation herein has referred to a conventional nickel, dime, quarter, and halfdollar operation for United States currency coins, it should be understood that many variations are possible based upon the principles of the subject invention. For example, in certain instances, it may be desirable to cumulatively totalize successive signals of coin deposits for less than the four species of coins enumerated. To achieve this end, it is only necessary to disconnect or remove a given solenoid, either electrically or mechanically. Also, it may be desired to cumulatively totalize coin values of other species of coin denominations as, for example, pennies. To effectuate this end, it is only necessary to re-dimension the relative positioning of the extreme ends of the coin levers, of the cam stop members, and of the pawl actuator, in order to achieve the desired calibrated and predetermined extent of rotation for the ratchet gear 31. In practice, a simple substitution of parts could be utilized to effectuate the indicated conversions. It should also be understood that the income totalizing device 1 described herein can be readily adapted to the cumulative totalization of coin values of relative coin ratios other than the 1:225 ratio described for nickels, dimes, quarters, and half-dollars. For example, it may be desirable to calibrate the income totalizing device for the -l:2:5: 10 relative coin ratios of the Netherlands-type coin systems or for the 1:2:4z8 relative coin ratios for the English-type coin systems.

Moreover, an income totalizing device of the general type described herein is readily adaptable to utilization for permanent recording (as by imprinting on a permanent data recording form, such as the form disclosed and claimed in a copending United States patent application entitled Data Recording Form Ser. No. 463,824, filed of even date herewith in the names of Albinus G. Bodoh and Jacob C. Kiefer and having the same asignee). This adaptation can be accomplished by substituting for the counter barrel assembly 26 a corresponding counter barrel assembly that provides exposable indicia die surfaces and by providing suitable mechanism for pressing the data recording form against exposed die surfaces in order to imprint totalization information on the form (such as the recording income totalizing arrangement described and claimed in a copending United States patent application entitled Income Totalizing Device and Method, Ser. No. 472,382, filed of even date herewith in the names of Herman G. Jensen and Joseph E. Wright, J r. and having the same assignee).

It should also be understood that various other changes and modifications may effected in the details of construction and arrangements of the various elements, without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An income totalizing device for totalizing in incremental amounts the cumulative value of coins deposited in a coin-receiving mechanism. comprising:

a shaft;

a first rotatable member mounted on the shaft;

a second rotatable member mounted on the shaft;

means normally retaining the said members in a given relative angular orientation;

coin signal means selectively responsive to the denomination of a coin deposited in the coin receiving mechanism;

means responsive to the coin signal means for rotating the first rotatable member relative to the second rotatable member by a predetermined angular increment in a given direction;

a plurality of independent stop means, each of the stop means being adapted to engage the first rotatable member to limit the extent of rotation thereof to the said angular increment, and each of the stop means 8 being adapted to function separately of the other stop means;

means responsive to deviation of the said members from the said orientation for reversedly rotating both the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member by the said angular increment; and

means responsive to rotation of the second rotatable member for indicating the value of the deposited corn.

2. An income totalizing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the stop means corresponds to a particular coin denomination and comprises an individual stop member located adjacent the first rotatable member and adapted to engage a corresponding individual shoulder portion located on the first rotatable member.

3. A device for totalizing in incremental amounts the cumulative value of coins having respective coin denominations of C and C which comprises:

'a shaft;

a first rotatable member mounted on the shaft;

a second rotatable member mounted on the shaft;

coin signal means responsive to the said coin denominations;

means responsive to the coin signal means for rotating the first rotatable member relative to the second rotatable member by D in a given direction from the said orientation;

a plurality of independent stop means, each of the stop means being adapted to engage the first rotatable member to limit the extent of rotation thereof to D, and each of the stop means being adapted to function separately of the other stop means;

means responsive to deviation of the said members from the said. orientation for reversedly rotating both the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member by D"; and

'means responsive to rotation of the second rotatable member for indicating the coin values,

where D equals a given angular incremental amount and (C /C times the said incremental amount for the respective C and C signaled denominations.

4. device for totalizing cumulative income values comprislngz a frame;

rotatable actuator means;

rotatable ratchet means;

means normally retaining the said rotatable actuator and ratchet means in respective given initial dispositions; credit signal means adapted to be actuated in selective response to the value of an income increment to i be credited; means responsive to the credit signal means for effecting reciprocal rotation of the rotatable actuator means away from and back to its initial disposition; a plurality of independent stop means, each of the stop means being adapted to engage the rotatable actuator means to limit the extent of rotation thereof to an amount representative of a particular income value associated with the particular stop means, and each of the stop means being adapted to function separately of the other stop means in response to crediting of the particular income value associated therewith; driving pawl means responsive to rotation of the rotatable actuator means in one of its directions of rotation for effecting rotation of the rotatable ratchet means away from its initial disposition in the same direction and to the same extent as the rotation of the rotatableactuator means; and means responsive to the extent of rotation of the rotatable ratchet means for indicating the signaled 7 income value.

9 5. A device for cumulatively totalizing in incremental amounts the value of coins of a first C and of a second C denomination which are deposited in a coin-receiving mechanism, which comprises:

a housing; a shaft fixedly positioned in the housing; a ratchet gear means rotatably mounted on the shaft; first C denomination crank means rotatably journaled on the shaft and normally biased to a given rest position; second C denomination crank means rotatably journaled on the shaft and normally biased to a given rest position; first solenoid actuated means responsive to the deposit of a C coin for effecting rotation of the first crank means from its given rest position; second solenoid actuated means responsive to the deposit of a C coin for effecting rotation of the second crank means from its given rest position; advancing pawl means responsive to rotation of either of the crank means for rotating the ratchet gear means by a given amount when the first crank means is rotated and by an amount (C /C times as great as the said given amount when the second crank means is rotated; first stop means normally stationed in a inoperative position and operatively responsive to the deposit of a C coin to move to an operative position to engage the advancing pawl means and thereby limit the rotation of the ratchet gear to the said given amount; second stop means normally stationed in an inoperative position and operatively responsive to the deposit of a C coin to move to an operative position to engage the advancing pawl means and thereby limit the rotation of the ratchet gear means to an amount (C /C times as great as the said given amount, the first stop means remaining in its normal inoperative position during operation of the second stop means and the second stop means remaining in its normal inoperative position during operation of the first stop means; and

gear registry means responsive to rotation of the ratchet gear means for cumulatively totalizing in incremental amounts either the C or C coin denominations.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said advancing pawl means comprises:

a pawl actuator mounted for rotation on the shaft;

a spring biased advancing pawl carried by the pawl actuator and normally urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear means;

a first and a second lever portion extending from the pawl actuator in the respective paths of movement of the first and the second crank means; and

a driving spring connected to the housing and to the pawl actuator and normally urging the pawl actuator into agiven rest position relative to the shaft,

whereiby rotation of either of the first and the second crank means effects a corresponding rotation of the pawl actuator against the force of the driving spring so that the driving spring may return the pawl actu ator to the said rest position, thereby driving the ratchet gear means on the return movement of the pawl actuator.

7. A. device as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the first and second stop means comprises an individual stop member located adjacent the, pawl actuator and adapted to engage a corresponding individual shoulder portion located on the pawl actuator.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the stop members of the first and second stop means are adjustable in response to contact with the first C crank means and the second C crank means respectively.

9. A device for cumulatively totalizing the incremental amounts the value of nickels, dimes, quarters, and halfdollars which are deposited in a coin-receiving mechanism which comprises:

a housing;

a shaft fixedly positioned in the housing;

ratchet gear means rotatably mounted on the shaft;

nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar crank means rotatably journaled on the shaft and each normally baised to a given rest position;

nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar solenoid actuated means responsive to the deposit of nickels, dimes, quarters, and half-dollars respectively for effecting rotation of the corresponding crank means from the respective rest positions;

advancing pawl means responsive to rotation of any one of the crank means for rotating the ratchet gear means by a given amount; twice the said given amount; five times the said given amount; and ten times the said given amount when the respective nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar crank means are rotated by the corresponding solenoid actuated means;

independent nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar stop members mounted in the housing adjacent the advancing pawl means;

nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar shoulder portions located on the advancing pawl means for cooperation respectively with the nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar stop members, each combination of a stop member and its associated shoulder portion being adapted to function separately of the other combinations of a stop member and an associated shoulder portion; and

gear registry means responsive to rotation of the ratchet gear means for cumulatively totalizing in incremental amounts either the nickel, dime, quarter, or halfdollar denominations.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the stop members of the nickel, dime, and quarter stop means are independently adjustable respectively in response to rotation of the nickel, dime, and quarter crank means to limit the extent of rotation of the advancing pawl means to an amount corresponding to the value accorded to the income increments represented by the associated coins. 11. A device for cumulatively totalizing in incremental amounts the .values of nickels, dimes, quarters, and halfdollars which are deposited in a coin-receiving mechanism, which comprises:

a housing;

a shaft fixedly positioned in the housing;

a ratchet gear rotatably mounted on the shaft;

a nickel, a dime, a quarter, and a half-dollar crank lever, each rotatably mounted on the shaft and each being spring biased to a given rest position;

nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar solenoid means for rotating each of the respective crank levers away from their respective given rest positions;

a pawl actuator rotatably mounted on the shaft and spring biased to a given rest position;

an advancing pawl carried by the pawl actuator and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet gear;

lever means carried by the pawl actuator and extending in the respective paths of movement of the crank levers;

stop means comprising nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar stop members mounted in the housing and adapted to engage respectively nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar shoulder portions on the pawl actuator for arresting the respective movements of the nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar crank levers after any one of the said crank levers has rotated the pawl actuator by a given amount; twice the said given amount; five times the said given amount; or ten times the said given amount respectively; the nickel, dime, and quarter stop members each including a cam flange to be engaged by an actuating tip on the corresponding crank lever to cam the respec tive stop member to an operative position, and the Fhalf-dollar stop member being an immovable bar;

12 a pawl ac tuator rotatably mounted on the shaft and biased to a given rest position; advancing pawl means adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet gear;

and 5 means carried by the pawl actuator and extending in counter gear means controlled by the extent of rotathe respective paths of movement of the crank levers tion of the ratchet gear, to engage the respective crank levers and thereby whereby energization of the respective nickel, dime, cause rotation of the pawl actuator;

quarter, and half-dollar solenoid means actuates the independent nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar stop 'corresponding crank lever so as to reciprocate the means for limiting the respective rotatable movelpawl actuator through a predetermined extent of rotation and thereby to rotate the ratchet gear by a corresponding extent,

12. A device for cumulatively totalizing in incremental ments of the nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar crank levers to a given amount; twice the said given amount; five times the said given amount; or ten times the said given amount, respectively, the nickel,

'amounts the values of nickels, dimes, quarters, and halfdollars which are deposited in a coin-receiving mechanism, which comprises:

dime, and quarter stop means comprising adjustable stop members mounted in the housing and adapted to engage corresponding respective shoulder pora housing; a first shaft fixedly positioned in the housing;

a ratchet gear rotatably mounted on the shaft;

a nickel, a dime, a quarter, and a half-dollar crank lever, each parallelly mounted on the shaft for rotation with respect thereto and each being normally tions on the pawl actuator, and the half-dollar stop means comprising a fixed stop member adapted to a ratchet gear rotatably mounted on the first shaft; engage a corresponding shoulder on the pawl actua nickel, a dime, a quarter, and a half-dollar crank ator;

lever, each rotatably mounted on the first shaft and means for reciprocally rotating the pawl actuator to each being spring biased to a given rest position; and from its given rest position; and

nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar relay means for counter gear means controlled by the extent of rotation rotating each of the respective crank levers away of the ratchet gear, from their respective given rest positions; whereby upon energization of the respective nickel,

a pawl actuator rotatably mounted on the first shaft dime, quarter, and half-dollar solenoid means the and spring biased to a given rest position; corresponding crank lever is actuated such that rean advancing pawl carried by the pawl actuator and ciprocation of the pawl actuator through its preadapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet gear; determined extent of rotation can serve to effect rolever means carried by the pawl actuator and extending tation of the ratchet gear by a corresponding extent. in the respective paths of movement of the crank 14. A device for totalizing cumulative income-values levers; comprising:

a second shaft fixedly positioned in the housing; a frame;

a first cam stop member rotatably mounted on the secrotatable actuator means; 0nd shaft and adapted for actuation by rotation of the rotatable ratchet means; nickel crank lever to arrest the movement thereof means normally retaining the said rotatable actuator after the nickel crank lever has rotated the pawl acand ratchet means in respective given initial disposituator by a given amount and for actuation by rotions; tation of the quarter crank lever to arrest the movecredit signal means adapted to be actuated in selective ment thereof after the quarter crank lever has rotated response to the value of an income increment to be the pawl actuator by five times the said amount; credited;

a second cam stop member rotatably mounted on the means responsive to the credit signal means for effectsecond shaft and adapted for actuation by rotation ing reciprocal rotation of the rotatable actuator of the dime crank lever to arrest the movement theremeans away from and back to its initial disposition; of after the dime crank lever has rotated the pawl aca plurality of independent stop means limiting the extent tuator by twice the said amount; of rotation of the rotatable actuator means to an a limit bar fixedly positioned in the housing to arrest amount corresponding to the income value signaled the movement of the half-dollar crank lever after by the credit signal means, each of the stop means the half-dollar crank lever has rotated the pawl accomprising a stop member mounted in the frame and tuator by ten times the said amount; and adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder porcounter gear means controlled by the extent of rotation located on the rotatable actuator means, and tion of the ratchet gear, each of the stop means being adapted to function whereby energization of the respective nickel, dime, separately of the other stop means;

quarter, and half-dollar relay means actuates the driving pawl means responsive to rotation of the rotatcorresponding crank lever so as to reciprocate the able actuator means in its direction of rotation back pawl actuator through a predetermined extent of to its initial disposition for effecting rotation of the rotation and thereby to rotate the ratchet gear by a rotatable ratchet means away from its initial disposicorresponding extent; tion in the same direction and to the same extent 13. A device for cumulatively totalizing in incremental as the rotation of the rotatable actuator means in its am unts t Values of nickels, dimes, quarters, and halfdirection of rotation back to its initial disposition; dollars which are deposited in a coin-receiving mechaand gflg fgg oomprlses: means responsive to the extent of rotation of the rotatusl a Shaft fixed y P one i the o s g; 3133 eratchet means for indicating the signaled income 15. An income totalizing device for totalizing in incremental amounts the cumulative value of coins deposited in a coin-receiving mechanism comprising:

a shaft;

retained in a given rest position; nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar solenoid means; first rotatable member mounted the Shaft; means responsive to actuation of said solenoid means Second Potatable member mounted on Shaft} for effecting rotation of each of the corresponding means normally retaining the Said members In a glvell crank levers away from its respective given rest posirelative angular Orientation; tion; coin signal means selectively responsive to the denomination of a coin deposited in the coin-receiving mechanism;

crank means responsive to the coin signal means for rotating the first rotatable member relative to the 14 located on the rotatable actuator, and each stop means being independently responsive to a particular predetermined income increment to limit the extent of rotation of the rotatable actuator to an amount second rotatable member by a predetermined angular corresponding to the value accorded to the said preincrement in a given direction; determined income increment; stop means comprising an adjustable stop member driving pawl means responsive to rotation of the rotat cated adjacent the first rotatable member and adapted able actuator means in one of its directions of rotato engage a corresponding shoulder portion located tion for effecting rotation of the rotatable ratchet on the first rotatable member to thereby limit the ex- 10 means away from its initial disposition in the same tent of rotation of the first rotatable member to the direction and to the same extent as the rotation said angular increment, the stop member being actuof the rotatable actuator means; and ated by the crank means during rotation of the first means responsive to the extent of rotation of the rorotatable member with respect to the second rotatable tat-able ratchet means for indicating the signaled member; 15 income value. means responsive to deviation of the said members 17. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means from the said orientation for reversedly rotating both responsive to the credit signal means comprises a pluthe first rotatable member and the second rotatable rality of crank means each individually responsive to a member by the said angular increment; and particular income increment to engage the rotatable acmeans responsive to rotation of the second rotatable 20 t-uator and rotate it an amount corresponding to the inmember for indicating the value of the deposited C Ine value associated with the said particular income i increment; and each crank means contacts a cam flange 16. A device for totalizing cumulative income values on a Corresponding adjustable p means to Cause the i i said stop means to engage the rotatable actuator means a f and limit the extent of rotation thereof. rotatable actuator means; rotatable ratchet means; References Cited mean; nrzrlmatilly retaining thet said rotatab:el-atuator UNITED STATES PATENTS S gns? 0 6 means 111 respec 1V6 gwen 1m 13 ISPOSI 1,390,584 9/1921 Paul i 235 32 credit signal means adapted to be actuated in selective 2352847 7/1944 Malchlom et 235*32 response to the value of an income increment to be 2410708 11/1946 Brelther et a1 X credited; 2,4 3,502 7/1947 Jorgensen 235- 32 means responsive to the credit signal means for effect- 1/1956 Melcher et 340*203 ing reciprocal rotation of the rotatable actuator means 35 3156339 11/1964 Klefer et away from and back to its initial disposition; 3179225 4/1965 Murphy 235-400 X a plurality of adjustable independent top means, ea h 3220645 11/1965 Walsh 235 91 X stop means corn risin an ad'ustable sto member located adjacent the r otatable actuator n ieans and 40 RICHARD WILKINSON Pnmary Examine"- adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder portion S. A, WAL, T. J. ANDERSON, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

15. AN INCOME TOTALIZING DEVICE FOR TOTALIZING IN INCREMENTAL AMOUNTS THE CUMULATIVE VALUE OF COINS DEPOSITED IN A COIN-RECEIVING MECHANISM COMPRISING: A SHAFT; A FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT; A SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT; MEANS NORMALLY RETAINING THE SAID MEMBERS IN A GIVEN RELATIVE ANGULAR ORIENTATION; COIN SIGNAL MEANS SELECTIVELY RESPONSIVE TO THE DENOMINATION OF A COIN DEPOSITED IN THE COIN-RECEIVING MECHANISM; CRANK MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE COIN SIGNAL MEANS FOR ROTATING THE FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER BY A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR INCREMENT IN A GIVEN DIRECTION; STOP MEANS COMPRISING AN ADJUSTABLE STOP MEMBER LOCATED ADJACENT THE FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A CORRESPONDING SHOULDER PORTION LOCATED ON THE FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER TO THEREBY LIMIT THE EXTENT OF ROTATION OF THE FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER TO THE SAID ANGULAR INCREMENT, THE STOP MEMBER BEING ACTUATED BY THE CRANK MEANS DURING ROTATION OF THE FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO DEVIATION OF THE SAID MEMBERS FROM THE SAID ORIENTATION FOR REVERSEDLY ROTATING BOTH THE FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER AND THE SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER BY THE SAID ANGULAR INCREMENT; AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ROTATION OF THE SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER FOR INDICATING THE VALUE OF THE DEPOSITED COIN.