US3470993A - Coin actuated calendar bank - Google Patents

Description

1969 D. A. NELSON ET AL 3,470,993

COIN ACTUATED CALENDAR BANK Filed March 51, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. A. NELSON ETAL 3,470,993-

COIN ACTUATED CALENDAR BANK 4 Oct. 7, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31, 1967 Qatari 6. aim/2w X/M d C'lw y Oct. 7, 1969 DA. NELSON ET AL COIN ACTUATED CALENDAR BANK 5 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed March 31. 1967 MM z WW" W wm w MAM MW Oct. 7, 1969 D. A. NELSON ETAL 7 3,470,993

COIN ACTUATED CALENDAR BANK Filed March :51, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 dttwxaw Oct.'7, 1969 D. A. NELSON ET AL 3,470,993

COIN ACTUATED CALENDAR BANK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 31. 1967 Z k aw 4 4 a aw M United States Patent U.S. Cl. 19472 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a coin register calendar bank which displays the day of the week and day of the month through windows in a face plate. The day of the month display includes a serrated or stepped date indicator line helically arranged around an elongate drum. The serrations on the indicator line register with day of the month numerals along the margins of a display window. The day of the week information is contained on a separate drum. A coin actuated drive which includes a ratchet and pawl arrangement to convert linear motion of a coin slide into rotary motion indexes the day of the month drum of a revolution and the day of the week drum of a revolution each time a coin is inserted. -Any conventional coin, regardless of size, will actuate the mechanism to advance the drum one increment. The user inserts one coin (of any denomination) each day.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a coin register or coin actuated calendar bank which utilizes a relatively wide drum containing a serrated date indicator line which is arranged circumferentially and longitudinally around the drum in the form of a helical path spanning the length of the drum. The drum is located behind a face platae assembly which has a transparent relatively narrow and elongated window which spans the length of the drum for visual display of the date indicator line contained on the drum. The numerical days of the month are printed on the face plate assembly and extend longitudinally of the window. The indicator line has thirty-one serrations which successively register with thirty-one day of the month numerals as the drum is daily or periodically indexed of a revolution by a coin actuated drive.

Day of the week indicia for four weeks are contained on a separate relatively narrow in width drum located at one end of the day of the month drum and co-axial therewith. The indicia contained on the day of the week drum register at a separate display window in the face plate assembly. This drum rotates with the date of the month drum through a differential gear train which advances the day of the week drum of a revolution as the date of the month drum advances of a revolution.

The invention also provides an escapement, or overrunning coin actuated drive which advances the date drums in response to coin pressure as a coin is inserted in the bank. The coin actuated drive includes a spring biased coin slide with a pilot finger which together with a fixed pilot finger forms the sides of the coin receiving throat. The coin throat will accommodate coins of various denominations or sizes. Upon insertion of a coin the coin slide moves longitudinally within a guide, increasing the gap between the pilot fingers. The spring tension on the coin slide and the resulting forces on the partially inserted coin affords a snap action assist, which ejects the coin into the coin compartment.

The coin actuated drive also includes a ratchet and index pawl arrangement with a ratchet wheel being secured to one end of the date of the month drum. The index pawl is connected to the coin slide to convert the linear motion of the coin slide into rotary motion. This connection includes a projection on the index pawl assembly which rides in a track or slot in the coin slide. During the initial movement of the coin slide, upon insertion of a coin, the projection is in an oblique or cam portion of the coin slide track. The oblique portion is transverse to the direction of linear movement and retains the projection until the index pawl hits a stop, after the drum has advanced A of a revolution. The projection then rides into an overtravel portion of the track as the coin slide continues linear movement under coin pressure to widen the gap between the pilot fingers to receive the coin. This overtravel feature affords accommodation of coins of various sizes and denominations. The mechanism setting is such that the insertion of any size coin will actuate it to advance the drum one indicia one day.

The day of the week drum is provided with a one-way clutch for adjustment to correlate the day of the week with the day of the month.

Other feature of the invention include a face plate assembly which includes a frame, a face, an intermediate plate and a mounting plate which are assembled to form a laminar unitary structure which is pre-assembled and subsequently mounted to the frame supporting the drums. The numerical day of the month indicia are printed on the face adjacent the transparent Window which permits visal observation of the indicator line contained on the drum.

A removable panel with a self-contained locking mechanism at the rear of the bank housing facilitates access to the coin compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a front and side perspective view showing the external appearance of the coin register calendar bank.

FIGURE 2 is a front perspective view of the bank shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear view, partially in section, showing the removable panel and coin compartment lock.

FIGURE 4 is the covering sleeve for the date of the month drum containing the indicator marks.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, partially broken away top view of the bank along line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the coin actuated drive and date drums.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged side view in vertical section with the coin slide in a closed position.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged side view similar to FIGURE 7, showing the overtravel of the coin slide.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged side view similar to FIGURE 8, with the coin slide returning to a closed position.

FIGURE 10 is an exploded view of the face plate assembly.

FIGURE 11 is a rear view of the face plate assembly shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view along line 12--12 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 13-13 of FIGURE 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a coin register calendar bank which is generally designated 10, and which has a case or housing 12 supported on a pedestal 14. The housing 12 and pedestal 14 are desirably constructed of an impact resistant plastic. A rectangular opening 15 at the front of the housing 12 permits insertion of a subassembly consisting of the drums and the drive mechanism. A face plate sub-assembly 1 6, hereinafter described in detail, closes the front opening 15. The face plate subassembly 16 has a long, narrow window 17, with thirtyone numerals representing the day of the month displayed along the longitudinal margins of the window 17 As shown in FIGURE 2, the odd numbered date numerals 1 through 31 are in a consecutive row 18 above the window 17, and the even numbered date numerals 2 through 30 are arranged in a row 19 beneath the Window 17. Such arrangement permits the use of larger numbers to facilitate reading. However, the numerals could be in one row in a complete consecutive series. The face plate assembly 16 also is provided with a window 23 for display of the day of the week indicia as hereinafter described in detail. One side of the housing 12 is provided with a coin opening 25 which is large enough to receive the largest of the commonly used coins.

The correct day of the month is determined by observing the indicator line 27 which is displayed through window 17 and which registers with day of the month numerals contained on the face plate assembly 16. The indicator line as best illustrated in FIGURE 6 comprises a series of thirty-one serrations, steps or graduations which extend longitudinally and circumferentially about the date of the month drum 30 in the form of a single helix with the helix spanning the length of the drum. A series of numerals arranged in a helix on the drum could be used. The indicator line 27 can be imprinted on a sheet of paper 34 as shown in FIGURE 4, with a portion 35, coated with bright color such as Day Glow, and outlined with a stepped margin 27. The remaining portion 36 of the sheet may have a light colored background which will appear forwardly or to the right of the indicator line 27 in the window 17. The sheet 34 is secured to surface 32 of the hollow drum 30.

Indexing the drum 30 as hereinafter described in detail, upon insertion of coins in the coin slot 25, progressively advances the indicator line 27 longitudinally of the window 17, from left to right, and successively registers the serrations or steps with the corresponding numerals. Each time a coin of any denomination is inserted, drum 30 is indexed A of a revolution positioning one of the thirtyone steps or serrations in registration with the appropriate date of the month numeral.

The day of the week abbreviations for four weeks or 28 days are circumferentially arranged on a drum 42 (FIG. 6). The drum 42 is located at one end of the drum 30, is co-axial therewith and rotatably supported on the shaft 43 which also supports drum 30. The drum 42 is of the same diameter as the drum 30 but relatively narrow in width or length as compared with the drum 30.

Rotation of drum 42, of a revolution to index the next successive day of the week indicia into registration at window 23 is eifectuated by a differential gear train which includes a pinion 45 secured to or integral with end cap 44. The end cap 44 has a large hub 46 which projects into the drum 30. Angular displacement or relative rotation of the cap 44 with respect to drum 30 is prevented by a tab 48 which engages with, or interfits in notch 50 in drum 30.

As best shown in FIGURES and 6, pinion 45 drives an idler pinion 52 secured to a stub shaft 54 which is rotatably supported on a bracket 56 which is secured to a U-shaped frame 58 as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Shaft 54 is thus radially offset from shaft 43. A second idler pinion 60 is secured to shaft 54 and engages a pinion 62 which is carried on shaft 43. Idler gear 52 can be spot Welded at its center to idler gear 60 through bracket 56 thus el m nating the shaft 54. Shaft 43 is rptatably sup- 4 ported by side legs 66 and 68 of frame 58. The pinion 62 has a boss 70 which extends into an aperture 72 in the drum 42 and thus rotatably supports the drum 42 on shaft 43. The pitch of the idler pinion 52 is less than idler pinion 60 so that drum 42 advances of a revolution as the drum 30 advances of a revolution. In practical embodiments of the invention, the pinion 45 has 31 teeth, pinion 62 has 28 teeth, and pinions 52 and 60 have 20 teeth.

The pinion 62 drives the drum 42 through a pair of interlocking or meshing opposed crown ratchets 74 and 76, with the ratchet 74 being integral with or fixed to pinion 62 and the ratchet 76 being integral with or fixed to the drum 42. A spring 77 is arranged around shaft 43 and extends into the open end 79 of the drum 42 to bias the crown ratchet 76 against the ratchet 74. Such arrangement functions as a one-way clutch which can be disengaged to effect rotation of the drum 42 to correlate the day of the week 40 with the correct day of the month. A knurled ring 78 on the drum 42 projects through a slot 8.0 in the lower wall 82 of the housing 12 as best shown in FIGURE 2, to facilitate manipulation of the drum 42.

In accordance with the invention, coin actuated means is provided for indexing the drum 30 for successive registration of the serrations of the date indicator line 27 with the date numerals on the face plate assembly 16. In the disclosed construction such means includes a ratchet and pawl movement or escapement which converts the rectilinear motion of a slide into rotary motion of the drum 30. The coin slot or opening 25 in the housing 12 is aligned with an inner slot (FIG. 7) in a bracket 96 secured to the frame 58. The slot 95 is of sufficient length and width to receive coins of various sizes and denominations.

The coin receiving edges of the slot 95 comprise at one end of the slot a fixed guide or pilot finger 98 which is integral with or secured to bracket 96 and which extends slightly into slot 95 at an oblique angle (FIG. 6). The coin slide 90 has a similar obliquely inclined pilot finger 99 in converging and allochiral relation to finger 98. The slide 90 has a track or slot 101 which co-operates with a projection peg or nib 102 as hereinafter described to advance the drum. The slide 90 is mounted to bracket 96 by a shoe 103 (FIG. 13) which functions as a slide and which travels in guides 104 in bracket 96. Guides 104 comprise inturned stepped flanges on plates 94. The plates 94 are riveted or otherwise secured to bracket 96. The pilot finger 99 connects the shoe 103 and the coin slide 90. The shoe 103 and pilot finger 99 can be formed at one end of the coin slide stramping by a progressive die.

Lateral control of an inserted coin 97 (FIG. 13) is afforded by two outturned opposed tabs 105 on plates 94 which provide a coin insert throat 111. The edges of tabs 105 adjacent coin slide 90 provide a stop against which spring 106 normally biases the coin slide to a retracted position. The stop maintains a gap 100 between the pilot fingers less than the diameter of the smallest COlIlS.

Spring 106 has an eye at one end hooked to a tab or car 107 fixed to bracket 96 with the other end hooked to a tab or ear 128 on coin 90. Ear 107 can be struck from bracket 96 or plate 94.

The pressure of the pilot fingers 98 and 99 on coin 97 as it is inserted in throat 111 caused by spring bias affords a snap action on the coin 97 as the center of the coin passes the pilot fingers 98 and 99. Such snap action functions as an assist which projects the coin into the coin compartment 109 located within housing 12 and behind frame 58. 4

Motion transmitting means are provided connecting the coin slide 90 and the drum 30 for indexing the drum. Such means converts the linear movement of the coin slide 90 into rotary movement of the drums 30' and 42. The means includes a track or slot 101 in coin slide 90.

The track has an elongate section 108 and an oblique section or offset leg 114 with an inclined shoulder or cam surface 112 (FIG. 6). The track follower or projection peg or nib 102, which can be extruded, and which is located on arm 113, rides in the track 101. A guide pin or nib 119 (FIGS. 6, 7) on frame leg 68 extends into slot 101 to furnish support for coin slide 90. The peg 102 is located on a clutch arm 113 which is pivotally supported on a boss 115 on end cap 116. End cap 116 has a ratchet wheel 117 and a large hub 118 which projects into a hollow drum 30. As with the end cap 44 relative angular movement between the cap 116 and the drum 30 is prevented by a tab 120 which interfits with notch 121 in drum 30.

An index drive pawl 125 is pivotally secured to clutch arm 113 by a shoulder rivet 126 or the like (FIG. 6). The index pawl 125 has a tooth or pallet 130- which engages the teeth of ratchet wheel 117.

The clutch arm 113 co-operates with a spring biased non-return or anti-backlash pawl 134 which is pivotally mounted to frame leg 68 on a shoulder rivet or pin 132 (FIGS. 7, 8) and which extends through an aperture 133 in clutch arm 113, and which has a pallet 135 which engages ratchet wheel 117 to prevent clockwise backlash or rotation of the drum 30' upon release of the coin slide 90 as a coin is ejected into the coin compartment 109. Non-return pawl 134 also secures drum 30 against reverse rotation when drum 42 is manually advanced to correlate the day of the week with the appropriate day of the month.

Biasing of the pawls 125 and 134 against ratchet wheel 117 is afforded by a spring 140 which is secured at its middle to frame leg 68 by a rivet 136 (IGS. 7, 8) and which has two spring fingers 141 and 142.

The insertion of a coin in throat 111 will cam coin slide 90 toward the drum 30. By reason of the engagement of the follower 102 in offset leg 114 of track 101, the clutch arm 113 will pivot counter clockwise about boss 115, as shown in FIGURE 8. This releases hook portion or finger 127 from frictional engagement with non-return pawlv 134 and permits pallet 135 to oscillate about pin 132 under pressure of the teeth on ratchet wheel 117, thereby permitting rotation of the drum 30. Continued movement of the coin slide 90 results in advancing or indexing of the drum 30 under pressure of pallet 130. When the drum 30 has been advanced 1 of a revolution the index pawl 125 hits a stop lug 145 struck from frame leg 68. The stop lug 145 arrests further movement of the index pawl 125 and the drum 30.

The peg 102 rotates counter clockwise with arm 113 as the drum 30 is advanced until it aligns with elongate section 108 of track 101, as shown in FIGURE 8. In this position the slide can no longer exert driving pressure on the peg 102 and pawl 125. Continued movement of the coin slide 90, as for instance, under the pressure of a large diameter coin, will result in the peg 102 sliding along the elongate track section 108. This permits overtravel of the slide 90 beyond the point where it would otherwise be stopped by contact of the peg 102 against shoulder 112. This permits passage of the coin through the throat 111 and slot 95 once the drum 30* has been indexed during the initial movement of the coin slide 90.

When the coin has been ejected into the coin compartment 109 and the coin slide 90 returns to its normal retracted position under bias of spring 106, as shown in FIGURE 7, the clutch arm 113 will pivot clockwise toward the non-return pawl 134, as shown in FIGURE 9, and return to engagement with the non-return pawl 134, as shown in FIGURE 7. The index pawl 125 returns to engagement with ratchet 117, as shown in FIGURE 7.

The foregoing structure may be characterized as a drive escapement with an overrunning coin actuated drive.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the rear of the housing 12 is provided with a removable panel which fits into a rectangular opening 151 in the rear wall 152 of housing 12. The panel 150 contains a pivotally supported key actuated locking bar 153 which has end portions or tips 154 which extend into the coin compartment and prevent removal of panel 150. Locking arm 153 is pivotal between lock and unlock positions and is retained in such positions by projections 155 on metal plate 156. Key pressure moves the locking bar 153 over and past projections 155 to the desired position. As shown in FIG- URE 3, a conscience slot 157 can be provided at the rear of housing 12, for insertion of coins without advancing the drums.

The face plate assembly 16 of the bank embodying the invention includes a laminar structure which has a metallic rectangular frame 160 (FIG. 10) having a decorative finish or luster with a plurality of mounting tabs 161 and flanges 162, and a plastic face 164 which has printed thereon the day of the month indicia and any desired advertising information or message. Face 164 has two transparent window openings 165 and 166 which permit visual observation of the indicia contained on the date drums. The face plate assembly 16 also includes an intermediate plate 167 which desirably has an attractive luster and is similar in appearance to frame 160. Plate 167 has slots 170 and 171 with each slot having obliquely inwardly extending margins 181 which are aligned with the transparent window openings 165 and 166 in face 164. The transparent window openings 165 and 166 together with slots 170 and 171 form the windows 23 and 17. The face plate assembly also includes a mounting plate 172 which has an elongated slot 173 for visual observation of the indicia contained on date drums 30 and 42. Mounting plate 172 also has rearwardly extending mounting ears 174 with apertures 175 which snap over projections 176 on frame legs 66 and 68 to lock the face plate assembly to the frame. Alignment of slots 170 and 171 in plate 167 with windows 165 and 166 in face 164 is accomplished by projections 180 which extend rearwardly from plate 167 and which interfit with apertures 183 in mounting plate 172.

The face plate sub-assembly 16 is pre-assembled by insetting the face 164, the window plate 167 and mounting plate 172 within the flanges 162 of frame 160. The mounting tabs 161 are then clamped over mounting plate 172 to form a unitary laminar structure. The face plate assembly 16 can then be secured to the frame legs 66 and 68 and projected into the housing. Frame 58 is provided with mounting ears 182 which facilitate securing the frame 58 to the housing 12. Snap fasteners or other fastening devices can be utilized for this purpose.

We claim:

1. In a bank having a rotatable drum date indicator means and a Window through which a portion of the drum is observed, means for indexing said drum including a coin actuated slide, means mounting said slide for rectilinear movement between a closed position and an open position, and means connecting said slide and said drum for indexing said drum for registration of said date indicator means in said window during movement of said slide.

2. The bank of claim 1 in which the last mentioned means comprises an escapement responsive to insertion of a coin of any conventional size into the bank.

3; A bank in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means mounting said coin slide for rectilinear motion comprises a bracket having a slot, and wherein said coin slide has a shoe movable in guides on said bracket, said shoe and said coin slide being connected by a pilot finger which extends obliquely inwardly toward said slot in said bracket, a fixed pilot finger spaced from said pilot finger on said coin slide, said fixed pilot finger converging inwardly and obliquely toward said slot in allochiral relation to said pilot finger on said coin slide, and means biasing said coin slide toward said fixed pilot finger.

4. A bank in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means connectlng said coin slide and said drum for indexing said drum comprises a ratchet Wheel located on said drum adjacent said coin slide, an index pawl pivotally mounted to said frame, and means connecting said coin slide to said index pawl, said means affording rotary movement of said index pawl during linear movement of said coin slide.

5. A bank in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means connecting said coin slide to said pawl includes a clutch arm, means pivotally mounting said clutch arm for movement about an axis co-axial to the axis of said drum, means pivotally connecting said index pawl to said clutch arm, a track in said coin slide, said track having an elongate section and an oblique section, a projection peg on said clutch arm, said projection extending into said track and said projection being located in the oblique section and opposing rectilinear movement of said coin slide during indexing movement of said drum and said peg being aligned with said elongate section and affording overtravel of said coin slide after said drum is indexed, and means biasing said index pawl against said ratchet wheel. 9

6. A coin register calendar bank comprising a housing, coaxial first and second drums mounted in the housing, one drum bearing day of the week indicia and the other drum bearing day of the month indicia, a coin actuated drive for indexing one of said drums and a transmission between said drums for concurrently indexing the other said drum for simultaneous change in said day of the week indicia and said day of the month indicia in response to a single coin actuation of the drive.

7. A bank in accordance with claim 6 in which said drive includes a coin slide mounted on said housing for rectilinear movement, a clutch arm, said clutch arm having a projection peg, a track in said coin slide, said projection peg on said clutch arm riding in said track, said track having an elongate overtravel section and an oblique section, guide means on said housing projecting into said elongate section, an index pawl pivotally mounted to said clutch arm, said index pawl having a pallet, a stop lug on said frame arresting movement of said index pawl when the drum has advanced one increment, a ratchet wheel on said drum, said ratchet wheel having teeth engaging said pallet on said index pawl, a non-return pawl pivotally mounted to said frame, means biasing said non-return pawl and said index pawl against said ratchet wheel, a finger on said clutch arm, said finger being in releasable engagement with said nonretuin pawl to aiford counter clockwise rotation of said drum during coil slide movement toward said drum and prevent clockwise movement of said dmm during movement of said coin slide to a closed position.

8. A bank in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing has a coin compartment and a removable panel with locking means in said panel, said locking means being selectively movable between open and closed positions to etfect removal or locking of said panel in said housing.

9. A bank in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing includes a face plate assembly including a rectangular frame having rearwardly extending mounting tabs, a face having two transparent windows, one of said windows having a longitudinal length greater than the other of said windows, said window of the greater longitudinal length having date numerals printed adjacent said window, an intermediate plate having an elongated slot for visual observation of said date indicator means and a second slot for visual observation of said day of the week indicia, said slots in said intermediate plate having inwardly and obliquely extending margins, said intermediate plate having alignment projections, and a mounting plate having mounting ears and alignment apertures which interfit with said alignment projections on said intermediate plate to facilitate alignment of said slots in said intermediate plate with said transparent windows in said face.

10. The bank of claim 6 in which the day of the month indicia comprises a line comprising a series of steps which extend longitudinally and circumferentially in a generally helical path around the face of its drum.

11. The bank of claim 6 in combination with a clutch between said drums by which one drum may be turned with respect to the other drum to correlate the indicia on the respective drums.

12. The bank of claim 6 in which said coin actuated drive comprises an over-running escapement whereby a coin of any conventional size will actuate the drive.

13. The bank of claim 6 in which said one drum has twenty-eight indicia and said other drum has thirty-one indicia, and a clutch between said drums to permit indexing of said other drum with respect to said one drum at the beginning of each month, to correlate the indicia on the respective drums.

14. The bank of claim 6 in which said transmission comprises a differential whereby to index said other drum at a dilferent rate than the said one drum.

15. The bank of claim 14 in which said differential comprises gears respectively mounted on said drums and interconnected idler pinions respectively meshing with said gears, said gears having dilferent numbers of teeth whereby to turn at different rates.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 441,067 11/1890 Henderson 40-114 X 1,692,392 11/1928 Stevenson 40111 1,749,562 3 1930 Carroll 40l 11 2,680,506 6/1954 Woodruff 194-72 3,082,413 3/1963 Freedman 116-116 X 3,333,356 8/1967- Bosland 40-1 16 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,454 2/1908 Great Britain. 481,632 3/ 1938 Great Britain. 105,354 7/ 1963 Netherlands.

WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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