US3343640A - Cancellable disk-token systems - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 26, 1967 G. N. WAGENHAUSER CANCELLABLE DI SK-TOKEN SYSTEMS Filed June 28, 1966 XNVENTOR C1 EORGE N. WAGENHAUSER BY i ATTO NEY United States Patent O1 3,343,640 CANCELLABLE DISK-TOKEN SYSTEMS George N. Wagenhauser, New York, N.Y., assigner of one-third to Edward Langerman, and one-third to Joseph Bragin, both of Philadelphia, Pa.

Fiied June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,278 4 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A system for collecting tokens, such as parking meters, turnstiles, etc., which comprises a housing having an insert-slot for a token, a vertical passage aligned with the slot, the passage including a larger section to accommodale the main flat portion of a token and a smaller section to accommodate a smaller spherical protuberance on the token. A spring-biased abrading wheel is rotatably positioned on a spindle within the housing and is actuated by an external handle or knob. The wheel, when rotated, grinds `down the protuberance on the token, which is then frictionally disengaged from the wheel and falls through the passage to a collection chamber. Meanwhile, the rotation of the spindle actuates a gear train which, in turn, actuates a clock mechanism or signal.

This invention relates to disk-tokens and systems utilizing the same, and it particularly relates to disk-tokens having removable cancellable inserts and to systems, such as parking meters and the like, in which these tokens are used.

Tokens, which can be purchased prior to use and which can correspond to any predetermined value such as two for a quarter or similar odd denominations not possible with monetary coins, are being increasingly used for parking meters, subway and bus entrance turnstiles and the like. However, coincident with such increasing use, is the increasing problem of preventing pilfering of tokens from the meter or turnstile or the like and re-use by the thief or other unauthorized person.

Various attempts have heretofore been made to solve this problem, as for example, by permanently disguring the token or destroying it after it has been deposited. However, this is so expensive that it is usually less costly to take a chance on pilfering and unauthorized re-use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system whereby the tokens can be cancelled to prevent unauthorized re-use while, at the same time, the tokens themselves can be used over and over again by authorized persons.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system of the above type wherein both the tokens and the token-receiving mechanism are relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use and easy to maintain.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a top perspective view of a token embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a parking meter embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view showing the operating elements of the parking meter illustrated in FIG. 2, the parts being shown just prior to being actuated by the token.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the parts in operation.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view showing the token of FIG. 1 after it has passed through the parking meter.

3,343,640 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 Referring now yin greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown in FIG. l a disk-type token 10 made of either metal, plastic or any other desirable and feasible material, which is provided with a central aperture, Within this central aperture is forcetted a hemispherical insert 12 of relatively hard material which is yet suiiiciently soft to be easily ground down, grooved, or otherwise marked by a knurled wheel or the like. Although the insert 12 is held securely within the aperture by the frictional force fit, it may be removed by suiicient pressure Supplied either by a hand tool or a power tool such as a hand or power-operated hammer or a special machine adapted forV such purpose.

The token 10, shown in FIG. l, is adapted to be inserted in a token-slot 14 at the top of a chute 16 provided on a parking meter or the like, generally designated 18. The parking meter 18 has a window 2t) with a timed indicator hand 22 movable along a scale 24. The indicator hand 22 is set in motion for a predetermined time by insertion of the token 10 in the slot 14 and by rotation of the knob 26 in the full direction of the arrow shown thereon until halted by a stop means (not shown). When the knob is turned to its fully rotated position, the indicator 22 is set at the right-hand end of the scale (as viewed in FIG. l) and then moves back in accordance with a clock mechanism of the standard type (not shown) until it reaches the left-hand end. At this time, a red ag or the like pops up in the ordinary manner of parking meters generally, such flag and the mechanism for operating it being of the standard type and therefore not here illustrated.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the token 10, having the extending spherical insert 12, is inserted in the slot 10 it falls through a key-like passage 28 in an inner wall 3i), one part of the passage 2S (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) being relatively wide to encompass the disk itself while another part is smaller to receive the spherical protuberance 12. As the disk falls to a certain position, the insert E2 contacts a knurled wheel 32 mounted on a spindle 34. The spindle 34 is connected at its front end to a pin 36 by means of a universal joint 33. The pin 36 is mounted for rotation in a journal 4t) in the front wall of the housing 42 of the parking meter and extends through the front wall to a position forwardly thereof. Here, it is connected to the knob 26 previously described. The rear end of the spindle 34 is positioned in an elongated slot 44 provided in a bracket 46 integral with the inner surface of the rear wall of the housing 42. Behind the knurled wheel 32, the spindle 34 is provided with a gear 48, and between the gear 43 and the bracket 46, a spring 50 is connected between the spindle 34 and the inner wall 30 ofthe housing.

The gear 48 is normally maintained just slightly out of engagement with a gear 52 by the spring 50 (as shown in FIG. 3). The gear 52 is mounted on a shaft 54 that is rotatably journaled, at one end, in a bushing 56 in the rear Wall of the housing, and, at the other end, in a bushing 53 in the front wall of the housing. Spaced from the gear 52 longitudinally of the shaft 54 is a gear 60.

A micro-switch 62 has its contact normally out of engagement with the Spindle 34 (as in FIG. 3) but is engaged therewith when the spindle is in the position shown in FIG. 4.

In operation, as the token 1G contacts the knurled wheel 32, it moves it to the left (as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4) and also causes it to ride up into the position shown in FIG. 4, against the bias of the spring 59. Then 0 when the knob 26 is turned, it rotates the spindle 34- 3 face of the insert 12 of the disk l0 until it has the appearance shown in FlG. 5. As soon as it grinds it down sufficiently to release its frictional engagement therewith, the token falls through the passage 28 into a collection chamber or the like. The wheel 32 is held from maintaining its engagement with the ground-down disk by the engagement of the gears 48 and 52 which, while in mesh, are being rotated by lthe knob 26 acting through the pin 36 and the spindle 34. The rotation of the gears 4S and 52 causes the shaft 54 to rotate, and this, in turn, causes rotation of the gear 60.

The gear 60 is the iirst gear of a clock train of standard design (not shown). As the clock train is actuated, it winds the clock mechanism to a predetermined degree, as for example, sufficient to cause it to operate for sixty minutes or whatever other time interval is desired. Meanwhile, after the knob 26 is released, the spring 5% pulls the gear 48 out of engagement with the gear 52 and sets the machine in a ready position for the next token.

The used disks can thereafter be removed vfrom the collection chamber and the ground-down inserts i2 can then be knocked out and replaced by new ones.

Although the inserts 12 are here illustrated as being hemispherical in shape, any other desired shape can be used, preferably one which would lbe difficult for an unauthorized person to duplicate.

The micro-switch 62 is provided for the purpose of energizing a signal light or the like. However, it may also be used to energize an electrical system to operate another mechanism. This would be particularly useful when the present invention is utilized with a turnstile or the like in a subway, street car or bus system. In such case, the micro-switch might be used by itself, without the gear 52, shaft 54 and clock train gear 6d, to release the turnstile to permit entrance of the passenger. It might also be used to energize a counting mechanism to record the number of passengers or other people being admitted.

Obviously, many modications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Y The invention claimed is:

1. A disk-token system comprising a housing, a slot in said housing, a passage in said housing connecting with one end of said slot, a disk-token movable through said slot and passage, said disk-token having an aperture therein with an insert removably secured therein, said insert extending away from one face of said disk-token, marking means for distorting said insert as it passes through said passage, indicating means operatively connected with said marking means, and actuating means for simultaneously operating said marking means and said indicating means, said indicating means being operatively connected to a clock mechanism which is operatively connected to said marking means.

2. A disk-token system comprising a housing, a slot in said housing, a passage in said housing connecting with one end of said slot, a disk-token movable through said slot and passage, said disk-token having an aperture therein with an insert removably secured therein, said insert extending away from one face of said Idisk-token, marking means for distorting said insert as it passes through said passage, indicating means operatively connected with said marking means, and actuating means for simultaneously operating said marking means and said indicating means, said marking means comprising a knurled wheel mounted on a rotatable spindle which is` resiliently biased toward said passage, said spindle being operatively connecte-d to a rotatable knob.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said indicating means is operatively connected to a micro-switch which is in operative engagement with said marking means.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said spindle has a gear thereon constructed and arranged to meshingly engage a second gear on a rotatable shaft against the resilient bias, said shaft having a third gear in operative engagement with a clock train.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,794,869 6/ 1957 Noregaard.

WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DISK-TOKEN SYSTEM COMPRISING A HOUSING, A SLOT IN SAID HOUSING, A PASSAGE IN SAID HOUSING CONNECTING WITH ONE END OF SAID SLOT, A DISK-TOKEN MOVABLE THROUGH SAID SLOT AND PASSAGE, SAID DISK-TOKEN HAVING AN APERTURE THEREING WITH AN INSERT REMOVABLY SECURE THEREIN, SAID INSERT EXTENDING AWAY FROM ONE FACE OF SAID DISK-TOKEN, MARKING MEANS FOR DISTORTING SAID INSERT AS IT PASSES THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, INDICATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID MARKING MEANS, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATING SAID MARKING MEANS AND SAID INDICATING MEANS, SAID INDICATING MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A CLOCK MECHANISM WHICH IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MARKING MEANS.

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