US1807196A - Multiple fare collecting and change making machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1931- c. E. CHALMERS 1,807,196

IULTIPLE FARE COLLECTING AND CHANGE IAKING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1925 s She e tS-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

I N VEN TOR.

CIMHLES E. C/MLHERS A TTORNEYS May 26, 1931. c. E. CHALMERS IULTIPLE FARE COLLECTING AND CHANGE IAKIIIG MACHINE Filed March 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N VEN TOR. CHARLES E. C/MLMEfi A TTORNEYS May 26, 1931. c. E. CHALMERS MULTIPLE FARE COLLECTING AND CHANGE IAKING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a z m G 5 ||T+ G I KIJITT I 5 I. l m I ,HHII Tu H W 6 7 4| .1 i; W w w M INVENTOR.

. CHARLES E. cmnms BY m ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. CHALMERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed March 5, 1925. Serial No. 13,384.

This invention relates to multiple fare collecting and change making machines and While the embodiment herein illustrated is described as being utilized primarily for collecting fares on motive vehicles, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such use, as it will be readily manifest from the following description and the accompanying drawings that it has numerous other kindred uses and applications.

The invention has to do with a simple and improved machine of the above character which is not only capable of receiving the exact fare, but which will return the necessary change whenever a passenger drops a coin therein of a denomination or value higher than the price of such fare, and for the purposes of elucidating the principles of my invention, the preferred embodiment illustrated and described is designed upon a five cent fare basis; consequently the change re-- turned, if any, is either five cents or a multiple thereof.

One of the more important features of the present invention is the provision of improved mechanism for receiving one or a multiple of fares from a. coin of any denomination deposited in the machine, in combination with improved mechanism employed in connection therewith for registering on a single counter the exact number of fares taken from said coin, or, more broadly stated, for registering the net amount of cash received in or collected by the machine.

It is important in a machine of this character to provide mechanism which will enable the collection of a. plurality of fares from coins of higher denomination which have been deposited. The specific embodiment of my invention herein illustrated and described is provided with such mechanism and the same is so constructed and arranged that it will collect one, two three, four or five fares from a quarter or a half dollar, and after electing the number of fares to be collected, the same will not be registered on the machine after the deposit of the coin until the operating handle has been actuated. This prevents tampering by unauthorized persons. Where a ten cent piece has been deposited, it will register one or two fares, but if only one fare is collected from the coin, the )roper amount of change will be returned. lit will, of course, be understood that when the exact fare is deposited (in this case a five cent piece) no change will be returned, and incidentally no change mechanism will be actuated, but that the receipt of the same will be properly registered. The machine is equipped with improved manually operated means, preferably on the top thereof, for controlling or determining the number of fares to be collected from any particular coin of a higher denomination than that of the exact fare charged.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated and described herein, the coins utilized for making change comprises preferably only five and twenty-five cent pieces, as that reduces very materially the bulk of the machine as compared with a machine embodying the same principles, and which utilizes only one coin or a different group of coins for making change. On the other hand, this enables the mechanism to be reduced to a much simpler form, as compared with a machine embodying the same principles and which is equipped to return more than the stated number of change coins. However, it will be readily apparent'that the invention is not limited in this respect to the specific form hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor is it to be understood that the invention is to be limited to a form of machine capable of receiving only a five cent fare. In short, the principles are the same irrespective of the number of coins utilized for making change and irrespective of the fare charged. In a machine which utilizes only the five and twenty-five cent pieces in making change, I have found it to be inconvenient to carry in the change box the necessary supply of five cent pieces to make change particularly over long routes or where the trafiic is heavy. Accordingly I have devised means automatically actuated from'the operating crank to utilize for change making purposes all, if necessary, of the fivev cent and twenty-five cent pieces deposited by the passengers in payment of their fares. The coins deposited by the passengers and utilized for change making purposes are supplied to the storage magazines and discharged from the bottom thereof, the parts being so timed and so related that the mechanism for feeding the coins to said magazine will not interfere with the mechanism for returning change therefrom. The improvements in this regard are considered as among the more important features of my invention.

One of the serious objections heretofore of all coin operated machines, is the fraudulent use made of the same by the deposit therein of slugs and spurious coins. This objection is entirely overcome in this machine for the reason that any slug or spurious coin dropped into the coin chute may be readily returned or rejected by the operator without interfering in the least with the receiving of the genuine coins deposited. In keeping with the foregoing mechanismis provided under the control of the operator for directing the coins in said chute at will either into a passageway leading the same to an operative position in the machine, or into a passageway to enable the return of the coin deposited. And in case the coins are returned I have provided means for making a register thereof, and another important feature of my invention resides in the simple mechanism which I have devised for effecting the return of spurious coins in combination with the registering mechanism associated therewith.

The actuation of the change return mechanism is controlled through the intermediary of the coins after the same have been properly located in operative position in the machine. In the present embodiment of my invention this is accomplished by the sequence of operations of the various parts in performing their respective functions. The mechanism for accomplishing this result is an important feature of my invention.

Another of the more important features of this invention is the incorporation in a machine of this type of simple mechanism for taking care of all of the features above related, and in the ability of the machine to be readily applied to collecting machines of general application and use.

Further objects, features and advantages of construction and mode of operation will more fully appear from the detailed description below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of the front cover or wall of the machine showing the main operating handle, the fare controlling lever, the coin return receptacle and the transparent member to enable the inspection of the coins deposited.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the machine, this view being on an enlarged scale as compared with Fig. 1.

In the drawings herewith I have illustrated in sufficient detail, in compliance with the patent statutes, the necessary mechanism for enabling one skilled in this art to build a machine embodying my invention for the specific purpose of collecting fares, charges and etc. Furthermore it will be apparent from the detailed description below how the same may be'employed for the sole purpose of making change. Some of the more important features of the mechanism, in fact a number of the essential features, are not illustrated herein as they constitute the subject matter of a separate patent, which issued under date of April 21, 1931 and numbered 1,801,798, to which reference is hereby made.

The description will be more readily followed if it is borne in mind some of the more important features of construction and operation of the machine as a whole. The invention, among other things, comprises (1) means for enabling the coins to be examined; (2) mechanism to enable spurious coins or slugs to be rejected; (3) mechanism for controlling the admission of coins into operative IOU position in the machine; (4) mechanism controlled by the diameter of the coin deposited for determining the amount of change to be returned; (5) setting mechanism for collecting a predetermined number of fares irre spective of the size of the coin deposited; (6) a single counter common to the different denominations of coins deposited for registering the total number of fares collected; (7) change ejector mechanism common to the coins of different denominations; and (8) mechanism utilized by coins deposited for the sole purpose of change making. It may be stated at this point that after the deposit of a genuine coin it is only necessary to operate the operating crank 80 to return the appropriate change, except when a plurality of fares are to be collected from a particular coin in which case the arm 157 is also adjusted along the sector 160. The arm 157, however, is automatically returned to its normal position, indicated in Fig. 1, after each crank operation.

Referring to the drawings in detail reference numeral 10 designates the front wall ofthe machine provided with a change return receptacle 11 adjacent the lower end of the machine and a counter 12 preferably 10- cated at the top of the machine. The front wall is also equipped with a member 13 properly located to enable an inspection of the coins deposited in the machine.

As stated above the machine herein illustrated and described is capable of retaining one fare or a multiple of fares. The mechanism illustrated in the drawings common to the mechanism illustrated and described in my co-pending application above referred to is not described herein except in so far as it is necessary to describe the same in its use for receiving or retaining multiple fares. In other words the description herein is confined more or less strictly to the necessary mechanism for retaining multiple fares.

I will first describe in detail the setting mechanism, controlled by the arm 157, for

determining the amount of fares to be 001- lected, it being understood that where a pluralit of fares are to be collected from a particular coin deposited, the arm 157 is moved an appropriate distance over the sector 160. The lever 157 is mounted upon a sleeve 15 suitably j ournaled in the front wall 10 of the housing or casing. On the opposite side of the wall 10 is mounted a member 16 having at one end a sector-like extension 17 and at its other end an arm 18. J ournaled in the sleeve 15 is a shaft 19 upon the outer end of which is fixed a lever 20 employed for rejecting any particular coin deposited in operative position in the machine and corresponds to the lever 170 of my co-pending application above referred to. The mechanism attached to the shaft 19 of the rejection lever 20 need not be here described as that has already been described in detail in my said co-pending application. The shaft 19 is provided with a central longitudinal perforation therethrough for receiving the rod 21 upon the outer end of which is mounted a push button 22. Upon the opposite end of this rod 21 is fixed a collar 23 having an arm extending upwardly therefrom. One end of the plunger 25 is pivoted to the arm 24 the other end of the plunger being equipped with a head 26 adapted to be brought into and out of interlocking engagement with the teeth 27 mounted upon the sector 17. These teeth 27 are clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The same is true with respect to the head 26. The plunger 25 is mounted in a bearing 28 supported by means of a bracket 29 projecting from the front wall 10 of the machine. For the purpose of maintaining the head 26 normally in the path of rotation of the teeth 27 a spring 30 is employed, this spring being interposed between the head 26 and the bearing or sleeve 28. A bearing 31 fixed to the bracket 29 is provided with a slot 32 therethrough to receive one end of a releasing rod 40. The mechanism just described enables the oper-. ator, upon the inward manipulation of the push button 22 to reset the lever 157 in case it has been erroneously set by the operator. The push button 22 therefore may be referred to as an error key.

So as to prevent improper use of the machine it will be understood, however, that mechanism must be provided to prevent the operation of the error key 22 after the main operating crank 80 has been partially rotated. To accomplish this a lever 35 pivoted intermediate its length is provided, one end of which contacts with the inner end of the rod 21, (or with the collar 23) and the other I end of which is normally in alignment with a notch 36 of the main operating disc 83. It will therefore be seen that upon the slightest movement or rotation of the disc 83 the perforation 36 is brought out of alignment with the lever 35 so that the end 37 of said lever is prevented from movement by the contact of the latter with the surface of the disc 83. This prevents the manipulation of the error key after the initial movement of the main operating lever 80. The lever 35 is normally held out of engagement with the notch 36 by means of a spring 38.

Reference has been previously made to a releasing lever to enable the setting lever 157 to be restored to normal position. This lever or rather arm 40 is mounted to be guided by means of the bearing member 31 located at one end of the rod or lever and the lug 41 mounted at the other end thereof. The end 42 of the rod 40 is adapted to be engaged by means of a cam 43 located upon the periphery of the disc 83, this cam being so constructed and arranged that it will engage the end 42 of the rod 40 upon the return stroke of the .operating crank 80. The operation of the lever 40 by means of the cam 43 imparts longitudinal movement to the former with a result that the projection 44 thereon engages with the pin 45 to move the latter longitudinally of the bearing 28, the pin 45 being fixed to the plunger 25. The bearing 28 has a slot 46 therein through which the pin 45 projects. It will therefore be seen that as the pin 45 and plunger 25 are moved longitudinally by means of the lever 40 the head 26 will be brought out of the path of the movement of the teeth 27 of the member 17 thus enabling the lever 157 to be restored to normal position under the action of the spring 47, the latter being under sufiicient tension erful enough for that purpose. The lever 40 is held in normal position by means of the spring 48. The movement of the lever 40 under the action of the spring 48 is limited by means of a pin 49 (see Fig. 3) mounted on the extreme outer end thereof, the latter abutting against the member 31. To take up the recoil from the action of the spring 47 a dashpot arrangement is employed (see Fig. 2) comprising a cylinder 50, a suitable piston mounted therein, a piston rod one end of which is connected to the piston and the and made pow- I other end of which is connected to the arm 18 and a spring one end of which is connected to the arm 18 and the other end of which is connected to a pin projecting from the body of the cylinder 50.

Connected to the arm 18 of the member 16 is one end of a lever the other end of which is pivoted to one end of a link 61. The other end of the link 61 is pivotally connectedto a slide 62 operating in a bracket 63 projecting upwardly from the plate 64: of the machine. The slide 62 is provided with a bevelled end 65 over which the pin 66 upon the pawl 67 is adapted to slide. This pawl 67 is pivoted to the bell crank lever 97-97 and corresponds in all essential respects to the bell crank lever and pawl illustrated in my copending application above referred to. A movement of the setting lever 157 imparts a corresponding movement to the slide 62 the arrangements being such that when set in the various positions the slide 62 will be so positioned as to enable the pin 66 to ride down the bevelled edge 65 of said slide 62 to engage the teeth 70, 71, 72 or 73 depending upon whether or not one, two, three, or four coins are to be returned. The slide 62 is illustrated in Fig. 2 in normal position to collect one fare from any particular coin deposited. The other mechanism associated with and oper ated by the pawl 67 is illustrated in my copending application above referred to and need not be described herein.

Pivotally mounted at 17 a to the sector arm 17 is one end of the link 81 the other end of which is pivotally connected to a lever 82 pivoted to the stud 83 projecting from the rear wall of the machine. The other end of the lever 82 is pivoted to one end of the link 84 the other end of this link having a lost motion connection with the plunger 85 corresponding to the link 156 in my (to-pending application. The plunger 85 is mounted to reciprocate in a sleeve 86 of the bracket 87 the latterbeing fixed to the side wall of the machine. The plunger 85 is operated by the mechanism illustrated in my co-pending application which is employed to operate the link 156. The link 84 is provided intermediate its ends with a projection 90 which normally engages with one arm 91 of a bell crank pivoted at 92 the other arm 93 of the bell crank being provided with a sector gear 94 which meshes with a pinion 95 of a suitable counter, so constructed and arranged to operate the counting mechanism upon the downward movement of the plunger 85 but to have a lost motion action therewith upon the return movement of these parts as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The mechanism described serves to operate not only the trip counter 12 but the master counter 96.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that when the machine is to be emplayed solely for the purpose of change making it is only necessary to provide on the sector arm 160 a suitable, say zero, indication and to move the setting lever 157 over said zero indication also an additional zero notch with which the impositive lock is adapted to engage. The operation therefore, of the lever 157 to the zero position for change making urposes brings the stud 90 upon the link 84 eyond the outer end of the arm 91 thus not operating the latter upon the downward movement of the plunger 85. The movement of the setting arm 157 to the zero position also brings the slide 62 to the right as illustrated in Fig. 2 (by mechanism previously described) so that the pawl 67 mounted upon the arm 97 is adapted to engage an extra tooth (not shown) located at the right of tooth 7 0 illustrated in Fig. 2. The five teeth are so constructed as to occupy the same space and distance as the four teeth illustrated. This enables a throw of the rack upon which the teeth 70, etc., are mounted to discharge an extra nickel from the change pocket. In this case it is only necessary however, to change the ratio of the gears and 111 which correspond to gears 108 and 109 respectively of my co-pending application above referred to. A pin 112, illustrated in Fig. 2, serves to limit the return movement of the arm 18 and therefore of the setting lever 157 I have illustrated and described what I now consider the preferred form of my invention. A number of the parts have been illustrated more or less diagrammatically and the size, proportion and construction of the various elements shown in the present embodiment are intended to serve forillustrative purposes only. It is therefore to be expressly understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein illustrated and described as many changes may be made in points of detail and various other embodiments resorted to without deviatingfrom the true spirit and scope of my invention.

In this connection reference is hereby made to my copending application, Serial No. 354,491, filed April 12, 1929, wherein I have claimed certain features of my invention shown and described herein; in other words, the patentable subject matter common to this application and my said copending application is claimed in the latter.

What I claim is:

1. In a multiple fare collecting machine having a single chute for receiving the deposited, coins of different denominations, and means for ejecting a change coin or coins controlled by deposited coins of any denomination in combination with a single means for varying at the will of the operator the fraction returned of any particular coin, deposited, and an error means to reset the single means, and means to lock the error means against actuation upon the machine being partially operated.

2. In a multiple fare collecting machine havin means for receiving deposited coins of di erent denominations; and means controlled by the deposited coins for ejecting a change coin or coins; in combination with means comprising a single manually manipulable element for varyin the number. of change coins to be ejecte during the op: eration of the ejecting means; and means for resetting said manually manipulable element to normal position at the will of the operator, said resetting means comprising means actuated by a push button operatively disposed at the exterior of the machine and adapted to reset said manually manipulable element irres ective of the position to which it ma have reen set.

3. n a multiple fare collecting machine havin means for receiving deposited coins of di erent denominations; and means controlled by the denominations of the de sited coins for ejecting change coin or coins; in combination with means comprising a single manuall mani ulable element for varying the num r of change coins to be ejected during the operation of the ejectin means; and means for resetting said manua ly manipulable element to normal position at the will of the operator, said resetting means comprising meansactuated by a push button operatively disposed at the exterior of the machine; and means controlled by the ejecting means for locking said push button means during the operation of said ejecting means.

4. n a multiple fare collecting machine having means for receiving deposited coins of different denominations; and means controlled by the denominations of the deposited coins for ejecting change coin or coins; in combination with means comprising a single manuall mani ulable element for varying the num. r of cliange coins to be ejected during the operation of the ejecting means; and means for resetting said manually mani ulable element to normal position at the W111 of the operator, said resetting means comprising means actuated by a push button operatively disposed at the exterior of the machine; and means controlled by the ejecting means for locking said push button means during the operation of said ejecting means, and means operated by the ejecting means for resetting said manually manipulable element to normal position when said ejecting means returns to normal position.

5. In a multiple fare collecting machine having means for receiving deposited coins of different denominations; and means controlled by the denominations of the deposited coins for ejecting change coin or coins; in combination with means comprising a single manuall manipulable element for varying the num r of c ange coins to be ejected during the operation of the ejectin means; and means for resetting said manua y manipulable element to normal position at the will of the operator, said resettin means comprising a push button operatively disposed at the exterior of the machine to release said manually manipulable element, a spring to return said element to normal position, and dash pot means to regulate the return of said element; and means controlled by the ejecting means for locking said push button means during the operation of said ejecting means.

6. In a multiple fare collecting machine having means for receiving de osited coins of different denominations; an means controlled by the denominations of the deposited coins for ejecting change coin or coins; in combination with meanscomprising a single manuall mani ulable element for varying the num er of c ange coins to be ejected during the operation 0 the ejecting means; and means for resetting said manually manipulable element to normal position at the will of the operator, said resettin means comprising a push button operatlvely disposed at the exterior of the machine to releasevsaid manually manipulable element, a spring to return said element to normal position and dash pot means to regulate the return of said element; means controlled by the ejecting means for lockin said push button means during the operation of said ejecting means, and means operated by the ejecting means for resetting said manually manipulable element to normal POSiiiit n when said ejecting means returns to normal osition.

In testimony whereof. have hereunto set my hand this 4 day of March, 1925.

CHARLES E. CIIALMERS.

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