Patent GB-338413-A (GB)
Abstract: 338,413. Bock, G. Dec. 24, 1929. Counters for coins; zeroizing-mechanism.-A coin handling and counting machine comprises a feed hopper, a series of tubular guide members: which are loosely jointed together and which direct the coins to a stationary guide membersituated a short distance above a counting plate,. and an automatically oscillated trap door in the bottom of the hopper. A device for shaking the guide members, means to prevent the operation of the trap door when the guide members are filled with coins, and means to uncouple automatically the driving means when the maximum number of coins corresponding to a particular adjustment of the counting means has been counted are also provided. The machine is divided into a number of sections each adapted to deal with a particular type of coin and the motive power, supplied by rotation of the crank 5, is transmitted by a series of cogs to the common shaft 13. In each section, a disc 15 is slidably feathered to the shaft and is connected to a, lever 110, on operation of which the disc 15 and a cogwheel 16 loosely mounted on the shaft are interconnected so that rotation is imparted to the chain wheel 21. By means of a chain 24, chain wheels 25 and 43 are rotated and therefore cams 28, 29 and 41. The latter operates a shaking device 36 whilst the cam plates 28, 29 lift a rod 31 on successive rotations, to operate the trap door 3 through the piston 32 and thus control the passage of coins from the hopper 2 to the guide 33, which is in the form of a number of funnel shaped portions loosely jointed together. Should the latter be full of coins the motion of the piston is prevented and the trap door remains closed. The hopper and other parts of the machine may be provided with sound-deadening linings. The chain drive 47 also causes rotation of the chain wheel 48 together with cogs 45 and 50 and therefore of a cog 52 and chain wheel 53 and 54 carrying the chain 55, which is provided with a number of claws adapted to carry coins from the plate 34 to displace the wheel 84 before passing to the channel 85. The wheel 84, the position of which on the lever may be adjusted to suit coins of different diameter, is connected to a bell crank lever 78, 79, 80, the portion 78 of which carries pawls 81 adapted to rotate, a drum 75 through one step on each displacement of the wheel 84. The drum 75 carries a counting strip 68 provided with numbers visible through the aperture 86 and also with guide holes fitting on elevations carried by the drum. The drum 65, which is loose on the shaft 64 and is controlled by a spring 66, carries the loosely coiled counting strip which is withdrawn therefrom and coiled on the drum 76 at each movement of the counting drum 75, the spring 66 being simultaneously brought into tension, so that when the lever 94 is depressed to cause the withdrawal of drums 87 and 76 and the detent and driving pawls of the drum 75, the strip is re-coiled on the drum 65. In order to bring about automatic uncoupling of the drive a small aperture is provided in the counting strip just following the position of the maximum number thereof. This aperture engages a wheel on a lever 100; the wheel 104 is thus rotated and a lever 106 pivoted at 108 tilted through the cable 105. The catch 109 is drawn out of engagement with the lever 111 so that the latter is free to move about its fulcrum 111 under the influence of the spring 115. The disc 15 and cogwheel 16 are therefore disengaged. A hook 97 is adapted to engage an aperture below the zero of the counting strip to give an accurate adjustment thereof, while an anchor 70 and a ratchet wheel 72 are provided for adjusting the tension of the spring 66.