US802235A - Change-machine. - Google Patents

Description

- PATENTEDOOT. 1'7, 1905. T. I. POTTER.

CHANGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25,190-1.

3 SHEETSSHEBT l.

No. 802,235. PATBNTED 001?. 17, 1905.

- 'I'.I.POTTBR.

CHANGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25.1904. I

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORI/EYS N 5. PATENTED 001117 1905.

0 80223 T. I. POTTER CHANGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W THE 8858 JTTORNEYS monzva n. 69:11:

THOMAS IRVING POTTER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CHANGE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed November 25, 1904. Serial No. 234,179.

To (ti/Z whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS IRVING POTTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Change-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a machine adapted to any cash-drawer and from which change may be quickly and accurately made in predetermined amounts by simply pressing one or more of a series of keys, each designating a certain amount, and to provide a series of storage-chambers for the coins from which the change is to be made.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of adrawer and the change device in place in the drawer, a portion of which change device appears in section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the said drawer and the change device, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the drawer and the change device, the section being taken practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is also a transverse section through the drawer and the change device, the section being taken substantially on the line LA of Fig. 2.. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the chamber adapted to contain silver dollars, one of the silver dollars being shown in position; and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken practically on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, illustrating the latch for the cover of the front reservoir-compartment and the trip for the same.

A represents a money-drawer adapted for use wherever such a drawer is required, and- B represents the change attachment made to the same. This attachment, as shown, consists of a transverse partition 10, extending from the front to the rear of the drawer, the front of the drawer being open, and front longitudinal bars 11, the right-hand bar being more or less open at its bottom portion, as is shown in Fig. 4:. Longitudinal central divisional bars 12 and 13 are also provided,

together with side bars 13 and 12, whereby, as is shown in Fig. 2, the attachment is divided into practically four compartments, (designated, respectively, as B, B B", and B.) The compartment B is adapted to receive notes or bills, and the storage-receptacles, to be hereinafter described and which ase adapted to receive the change, pass from the front of the chamber B to the rear of the next transversely-following chamber B while the key-operating mechanism and parts directly associated therewith are located in the forward left-hand chamber 13*.

Five shafts D D D D D are journaled in the left-hand side bar 13 and the central divisional partition 10, the said shafts being mainly located in the forward left-hand compartment 13*. Tu addition to the five shafts just referred to other shafts are employed, (designated, respectively, as D D, D, D, and D These latter-named shafts extend partially within the forward left-hand compartment B", but are mainly located in the forward right-hand compartment B and all of them are mounted to turn in the divisional partition 10, which separates the compartments B and B Sundry of these shafts are likewise journaled in a partition let, located in the compartment B and others are journaled in a second partition15, located in the same compartment. Each shaft D, D, D D and D is provided with a branch at its righthand end, which branches extend out through the opening in the right-hand portion of the front bar 11 of the framing of the device. These forwardly-extendingbranches are designated, respectively, as (Z, being a portion of the shaft D, (Z being a portion of the shaft D, and (Z (Z and (1", respectively, shafts D", D, and D. Each of the shafts 1) D, D D, and D is likewise provided with a forwardly-extending member parallel with the members of the shafts D, D, D". D, and D". These members, which are designated, respectively, as (P, d, (Z (Z and d. likewise extend out through the opening at the bottom portion of the right-hand front bar 11 of the attachment. The rear shaft D within the left-hand front compartment B is provided with a series of upwardly-extending fingers 16, adapted to turn with the said shaft. The next forward shaft D within the same compartment is provided with two series of upwardly-extending fingers l7 and 18, sundry of the fingers in the series 18 being opposite those in the series l6 on the shaft as connected with the D. The shaft D is provided with four upwardly-extending fingers, (designated as 19, 20, 21, and 22,) and some of these fingers are opposite the fingers in the series on the shaft D. The next forward shaft D is provided with series of fingers in pairs, (designated as 23, 2 1, 25, and 26,) and sundry of these fingers 23, 24, 25), and 26 likewise register with the series of fingers 17 and 18 on the shaft D. With reference to the forward shaft D this shaft is provided with a series of fingers singly mounted, the said fingers being designated as 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34:. Some of these fingers are in alinement with the fingers on the shaft 1), others being in alinement with the fingers on the shaft D, and others again are in alinement with the fingers 16 on the rear shaft D.

It will be understood that allof the fingers on the shafts above mentioned are within the left-hand forward compartment B, and likewise within this compartment B fingers are mounted on the auxiliary shafts D, D, D D and D, and at each end of the said shafts D D D and D an upwardly-extending finger is secured, while at the end of the shaft 1)", which extends into the forward left-hand compartment B, two fingers are secured. The fingers on the shafts D D, D and D are designated, respectively, as 35, 36, 37, and 38, while the two fingers on the forward shaft D' are designated as 39 and 40, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In connection with the shafts above mentioned and the fingers carried by the shafts a series of key-levers C is employed, which keylevers are in two rows, alternating one with the other, as is shown in Fig. 1, and the said key-levers operate in slots produced in the upper edge of the right-hand front bar 11, as is shown also in Fig. 1. Each key-lever C is adapted to operate upon one, two, or more of the fingers on the various shafts which have been described, so as to produce one or more movements of one or more forward terminals of the said shafts in order to release one or more coins from one or more coin-receptacles, to be hereafter described, at each operation of the key-lever. Each key-lever is provided with a thumb-piece which extends out beyond the front of the drawer, as is shown in Fig. 1, and each key-lever bears a designation. The various designations read in proper order of five, from the unit 5 to 500/ representing five dollars, although I do not confine myself to any particular arrangement of such members or any particular arrangement of the key-levers, it being necessary only that their arrangement shall be such that when operated they will cause the amount of change expressed on their faces to be discharged from the machine when the levers are operated. These key-levers Care held in normal position and are restored to normal position when released through'the medium of springs 43, which engage with their upper edges at the rear, the said springs being secured between bars 12, extending longitudinally at the forward portion of the front lefthand compartment B", as is shown in Fig. 3, and particularly in the same figure it will be observed that the key-levers C are pivotally mounted at their rear ends on a common shaft 11, extending from one end of the compartment B to the other at its rear, and in the same figure it will be observed that each of the key-levers is provided with one or more downwardly-extending fingers 0. These fingers c on the key-levers C engage with .the forward upper edges of the lingers on the various shafts which have been named. By reference to this same Fig. 3 it will be observed that both the fingers on the shaft and the engaging fingers extending from the key-levers are made more or less tapering, so that in clined faces will meet, thus bringing about not only a positive but a quickaction.

As an example of the operation of the machine at this point it may be stated that the key-lever G, bearing the designation O5, representing five cents, when pressed operates one finger 2'7 on the forward shaft D". If the key-lever bearing the designation 25 is pressed downward, it operates one of the fingers in the series 17 on the shaft D; but if, for example, the key-lever bearing the number 55, representing fifty five cents, is pressed downward it operates the linger 31 on the front shaft D", and at the same time it operates the second finger from the left on the rear shaft D. This combination or this single operation of the ke vlevers is clearly shown in Fig. 2 and it is thought need not be described in detail, as it may suflice to state that the levers operate the fingers on the various shafts mentioned in such manner as to discharge coin from receptacles to be hereinafter described to the value which is expressed on the key lever or levers operated.

A cover M is provided for the drawer, particularly that portion of it which extends over the compartments B and B", and such cover 4% is attached to lugs 45 at the side portions of the structure. The forward extensions from the various shafts are in the nature of crank-arms, as they extend more or less downward and then forwardly outward, as is shown in Fig. 4, and their action when the shaft is turned is an upward and a downward motion, as is likewise indicated in the same figure. The outer or crank arm terminals of all of the shafts are held in their lower or normal position (shown in Fig. 4) by means of a yoke 46, which is pivoted in the compartment B", as is shown in Fig. 4e, and this yoke is held down to its work by means of a spring 17. in Fig. 1.)

A series of coin-containing receptacles is mounted in the compartments B and I3", extending practically from the front to the rear (Shown of the attachment. These coin 7 receiving receptacles are adapted to receive, one, nickels; the next, dimes; the next, twenty-livecent pieces; the next, fifty-cent pieces, and the last, silver dollars. These receptacles are designated on the drawings as E, E, E E and E. Each receptacle is provided with a spring 48 at its rear portion, which tends to force the coins 49 contained therein toward the front of the receptacle, where they are prevented from accidentally leaving the receptacle through the medium of guards 50, loeated at their lower side portions. Each receptaele is open at its outer end except where the guards 50 are located, and in the bottom of the said receptacles at the front and between the guards a space 52 is provided of desired width. These spaces receive the upper edges of one or more dispensing-fingers, so called because they are adapted to force a coin out from the receptacle containing it. A single dispensing-finger is employed for the receptacle containing the nickels and the receptacle containing the quarters; but two dispensing-fingers are employed in connection with the receptacle containing the dimes and the receptacle containing the half-dollars, while four of such dispensing-fingers are employed in connection with the receptacle E", containing the silver dollars. WVhen two dispensing-fingers 51 are employed, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the upper edge of one is wider than the upper edge of the other, so that in the upward movement of one dispensing'finger only one coin will be lifted; but in the upward movement of the seconddispensing finger two coins will be extracted from the receptacle. Where four dispensingfingers are employed, (designated on the drawings as 1, 2, 3, and 4,) the same method is employed in the construction of the dispensinglinger. The dispensing-finger marked 1 will remove but one dollar from the receptacle, the dispensing-finger marked 2 will remove two dollars, the dispensing-finger marked 3 will abstract three dollars, and the dispensing-finger marked 4 will remove four dollars fromthe receptacle E* when the lever controlling said finger is operated.

The dispensing-fingers 51 are pivotally attached, as is shown at 53 in Fig. 4, to the forward ends of the crank-arm terminals of the shafts operated by the key-levers. ln order that the various dispensing-fingers shall be held up to their work, a guard 54 is employed, pivotally attached by means of brackets 55 to the front portion of the compartment B and the said guard is provided with suitable projections held in engagement with the various dispensing-fingers 51 by means of a spring 57, attached to the frame of the device' and to an arm 56, which extends from the guard 54.

A casing is located at the front of the l l l l compartment B. This casing is provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined rear section I) and with end portions 6, which meet a central portion 6?. This central portion 6 is in the nature of a drop-door, being held in closed position by a weighted arm 6 a spring, or its equivalent in order that when the key-lever is operated to effect the removal of acoin or coinsfrom the receptacles the operator with the fingers of ,the other hand by pressing back the arm 6? can open the door b and cause the coin or coins removed from the receptacles to drop in the palm of the hand, and by releasing the arm 5 the door b automatically closes. I g I It is very desirable that an alarm should be sounded each time the key-lever C is pressed down to make change and that at the same time access to the upper portion of the front casing should be obtained in order to permit the operator to place the amount of coin re ceived in the proper receptacles E, E, E E and E*. To that end a shaft M is journaled in the side walls of the left-hand forward chamber B at the front ofsaid chamber, which shaft is provided with a crank-arm 63, extending transversely below all of the key-levers -O,'and at the end of the said crank-shaft M which projects into the chamber B contain,- ing the changereceptacles forwardly-extending trip-arm 64 is attached or made integral with the said shaft. The outer or forward end of the trip-arm 64 is flattened, and such arm is of such weight as to normally have a downward and forward inclination, imparting thereby the normal-upward inclination to the crank-arm 63. The flattened end of the trip-arm 64 at the upward movement of the said trip-arm engages with a latch 67, secured to the cover 65 for the front casing 60, and releases said latch from a keeper 68 on the end wall of the casing 60, as is shown in Figs. 4 and'6, and when such release is effected the cover 65 is thrown open by a spring 66. (Illustrated in Fig. 4.)

Atthe left-hand end of the crank-shaft M a down wardly-extending finger 69 is secured,

.as is shown in Fig. 3,'which \vhenthe cranksection. of the crank-shaft is pressed downward by operating any given key-lever G strikes a pivoted hammer 70 of a gong 71 and raises the -said hammer, then quickly releases it and permits said hammer to strike the gong. As the crank-section of the crank-shaft M is depressed the trip-arm 64 is raised and releases the latch 67, thus permitting the door 65 to fly open.

It is sometimes necessary to open thedoor ver is in no manner connected with any of the mechanism for releasing coin from the coin-receiving receptacles.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten t 1. Ina change-machine, a series of coin-receiving receptacles, a series of shafts at right angles to the coin-receiving receptacles and having at one end right-angular members extending to the delivery ends of the said receptacles, pivoted and spring-pressed dispensing-fingers on the ends of the angular members of the said shafts, and key-levers in operative connection with the said shafts.

2. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receiving receptacles, a series of rock-shafts at right angles to the coin-receiving receptacles and having right-angular'members extending to the delivery ends of the said receptacles, pivoted dispensing-fingers on the angular members of the shafts, a pivoted and spring-pressed guard in engagement with the dispensing-fingers, and key-levers operatively connected with the said shafts.

3. In a change-machine,-a series of coin-receiving receptacles, a series of rock-shafts at right angles to the coin-receiving receptacles and having right-angularmembers extending to the delivery ends of the said receptacles, pivoted dispensing-fingers on the angular members of the shafts, a'pivoted and spring-pressed guard having a series of projections engaging the dispensing-fingers, key-levers, and means for operating the shafts from the key-levers.

4. Ina change-machine, a series of coin-receiving receptacles having follower-springs therein, the said receptacles having their outer ends open and provided with guards at said ends at each side of the center at their lower portions, frock-shafts having extensions extending to the delivery ends of the receptacles beneath the spaces between the guards, pivoted and spring-pressed dispensing-fingers on the ends of the extensions of the shaft and projecting into the spaces between the guards, key-levers, and means for operating the shafts from the key-levers.

5. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receiving receptacles having follower-springs therein, the said receptacles having their outer ends open and provided at their open outer ends with guards at'each side of the center of their lower portions, rock-shafts having extensions which are carried beneath the spaces between each set of the guards of the said receptacles, dispensing-fingers carried by the extensions of the said shafts to operate all the coins in the said receptacles and working in the said spaces between the guards at the open ends of said receptacles, key-levers in operative engagement with the said shafts, a pivoted pressure-bar having extensions therefrom, the extensions being in engagement with the said dispensing-fingers, and a springcontrolled keeper for the extensions from the said shafts.

6. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, having their outer ends open and provided with guard-flanges at the side portions of their open ends, the guard-flanges of each set being separated by a space, a series of shafts, operating-fingers carried by the said shafts, arranged in predetermined order, extensions from the said shafts, which extend beneath the open end portions of the receptacles, dispensing-fingers pivoted to the extension portions of the said shafts and working in the spaces between the guard-flanges of the difi erentsets and adapted for engagement with the coins in the receptacles at the open ends of the latter, a pivotal pressure-guard engaging with the said dispensing-fingers, a series of key-levers, and operating-fingers extending down from the said key-levers in engagement with corresponding operating-fingers on the said shafts.

7. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, means for discharging coins from the receptacles, a casing at the delivery end of the coin-receptacles, a cover for the casing, a latch for the cover, and means for releasing the latch at each time change is made.

8. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, key-controlled means for discharging coins from the receptacles, a casing at the delivery end of the coin-receptacles, a cover for the casing, a latch for the cover, and means for operating the latch to release the cover each time a key is operated.

9. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, key-levers, means for discharging the coins from the receptacles, a casing at the delivery end of the receptacles, a springpressed cover for the receptacles, and a releasing device for the cover operated by a key.

10. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, means for discharging the coins from the receptacles, a casing at the delivery end of the receptacles and provided with a hinged cover, a latch for the cover, a gong, and means for releasing the latch and sounding the gong whenever a coin is removed from a receptacle.

11. In achange-machine, aplurality of coinreceptacles, a casing at the delivery end of the receptacles and having a hinged cover, a latch for the cover, dispensing-fingers, keylevers, means for operating the dis 'Jensingfingers from the key-levers, a rock-shaft below the key-levers, an arm extending from the rock-shaft into engagement with the latch of the cover, a finger also on the rock-shaft, a pivoted hammer engaged by the linger, and a gong.

12. In a change-machine, a plurality of coinreceptacles, a plurality of shafts provided with upwardly-extending lugs and having extensions extending to the delivery end of the ing the said shafts from the keys.

H. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, a series of shafts having angular extensions extending to the delivery ends of the receptacles, sundry of the extensions being grouped together to provide a plurality of shafts for some of the receptacles, a pivoted dispensing-linger on each shaft extension, a pivoted and spring-pressed guard in front of the dispensing-fingers and engaging the said a fingers to hold them in position, pivoted keylevers, and means for operating the shafts from the key-levers.

In testimony \vhereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

T. IRVING POTTER.

itnesses:

ELIZABETH V. REARDON, T. B. POTTER.

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