IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MONEY TILLS OR CABINETS, WITH APPLIANCES FOR CHECKING RECEIPTS OF CASH."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Hawkins, of Disraeli Road, near Stratford, in
the County of Essex, Telegraph Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND CONNECTED WITH MONEY TILLS OR CABINETS, WITH APPLIANCES FOR
CHECKING RECEIPTS OF CASH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Hawkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1881.
FREDERICK HAWKINS, of Disraeli Road, near Stratford, in the County of Essex,
Telegraph Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MONEY TILLS
OR CABINETS, WITH APPLIANCES FOR CHECKING RECEIPTS OF CASH."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in money tills or cabinets with
appliances for checking receipts of cash, and consists mainly of an apparatus in
which are slots through which the coin received in payment is permitted to fall,
and in falling to come in contact with studs or projections adjusted to the weight
of such coin as to shift their position and establish an electrical connection
through an armature and coil with a bell or other indicator, the coin then passing
into a drawer or receptacle. The drawer is provided with an appliance; so that
when being drawn out establishes electrical connection with a sound producing
apparatus.
As part of the cabinet or till is a series of partitions or shelves for holding a fixed
amount of coin for change purposes, and according to the value of the coin tendered
it would be inserted through a slot indicating that value. This coin in its descent
would fall upon the projecting pins, and by its weight will put the armature into
contact with the coil of that division of the cabinet, and also make a connection
with another coil whose armature would release a wheel and a strip of glass which
covers up the openings in the shelves, and so expose the amount upon the shelf in
order that the assistant may give the customer the required amount of change.
Each coin taken, upon which change is necessary, is passed into a slot forming part
of a distinct portion of the cabinet, and this portion has its own wheel, glass strip,
and electrical appliances, and the slots are so made, or the relative distance of the
TD 077

page_text: pins in them are so arranged that on a coin of different value being put in in
mistake or purposely, the amount of change of less value than that desired will
present itself, which will necessarily be a disadvantage to the assistant.
The wheel mechanism is or may be connected with a sound giving apparatus
(electrically) within the cabinet, and the cord by which the glass strip (or a metal
strip) is suspended is arranged to open connection with a coil to produce a sound
at a distance from the cabinet, to indicate that one or other of the tiers of shelves
is empty, and must be provided with a further supply of money for change
purposes.
The several coins taken upon which change has to be given may be isolated with
regard to their respective value by partitions in the drawers, or by having separate
drawers for coins of the same values, the drawers being under lock and key, and
so fitted with electrical contact appliances that sound on a special bell or gong or
its equivalent may be produced.
By my Invention every motion of the various moveable parts of my cabinet or
till is indicated at the time by electricity, notwithstanding the value of the coin
received and whether change has to be given or not. The glass or metal strip is
so arranged that its descent is governed by an armature to the depth of one shelf
only at one time, and the insertion of a fresh coin only can cause it to uncover a
second one.
I provide open bowls for copper coins.
The cabinet is self contained, and only such as when the indications of receipt of
coin or of fraudelent manipulations of the drawers or other parts which are out of
the control of an assistant are in progress is it necessary that signals should be
operated away from the cabinet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Hawkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1881.
FREDERICK HAWKINS, of Disraeli Road, near Stratford, in the County of Essex,
Telegraph Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MONEY TILLS
OR CABINETS WITH APPLIANCES FOR CHECKING RECEIPTS OF CASH."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in money tills or cabinets with
appliances for checking receipts of cash, and consists mainly of an apparatus in
which are slots through which the coin received in payment is permitted to fall,
and in falling to come in contact with studs or projections adjusted to the size of
such coin, and establish an electrical connection through a coil with a bell or other
indicator, the coin then passing Into a drawer or receptacle. The drawer is provided
with an appliance so that when being drawn out, an electrical connection is
established with a sound producing apparatus at a distance from the cabinet. As
part of the cabinet or till is a series of partitions or shelves for holding a fixed
amount of coin for change purposes, and according to the value of the coin tendered
it would be inserted through a slot indicating that value. This coin in its descent
would fall upon the projecting pins or studs and by its size would put the pins or
studs into contact with the coil (of that division of the cabinet) whose armature
would release a wheel and a strip of glass which covers up the openings in the
shelves, and so expose the amount upon that shelf in order that the assistant may
give the customer the required amount of change. Each coin taken, upon which
change is necessary, is passed into a slot forming a portion of the cabinet, and this
portion has its own wheel, glass strip, and electrical appliances, and the slots are
so made, or the relative distance of the pins in them are so arranged that on a
coin of different value being put in in mistake or purposely, no change can be
obtained, the coin being deposited with other coins of different value, which is
lost to the manipulator, and can only be recovered by application to the person in
charge of the apparatus, who will on, examination of the coins in the drawer of
that particular part find if there is a coin of other value than that intended.
The wheel mechanism is or may be connected with a sound giving apparatus
(electrically) by wires within or without the cabinet, and the cord by which the
glass strip (or a metal strip) is suspended, is arranged to make connection when
near the bottom of the slide by a spring or springs, with a coil to produce a sound
at a distance from the cabinet to indicate that one or other of the tiers of shelves
is empty and must be provided with a further supply of money for change
purposes.
The several coins taken, upon which change has to be given, may be isolated
with regard to their respective value by partitions in the drawers, or by having
separate drawers for coins of the same values, the drawers being under lock and
key and so fitted with electrical contact appliances that sound on a special bell or
gong, or its equivalent, may be produced.
By my Invention, every motion of the various moveable parts of my cabinet or
till is actuated and indicated at the time by electricity, notwithstanding the value
of the coin received and whether change has to be given or not. The glass or metal
strip is so arranged that its descent is governed by an armature to the depth of
one shelf only at one time, and the insertion of a fresh coin only can cause it to
uncover a second one. I provide open bowls for copper coins.
The cabinet is self contained, and only such as when the indications of receipts
of coin should signals be heard at the cabinet, or by fraudulent manipulation of
the drawers on the distant bell or gong, or its equivalent.

page_text: My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Sheet of Drawings, in
which Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a sectional view, and Figure 3 a
transverse section through the line x, y, of Figure 1.
A is the cabinet; B, B, a series of apertures or slots varying in width and length
with indications of the various gold and silver coins in circulation marked over or
behind them, into which slots or apertures the money of corresponding value is
placed as taken by an assistant. The coin is dropped into a slot and falls upon the
projecting end a of a weighted plate and pushes it in in order to pass by it. In
doing so, the end 6 of the plate becomes pressed against the spring c and completes
an electrical circuit by conducting wires fitted between the spring c, the plate a, b,
and the bell or gong d, with the battery C, whereby a sound is produced indicating
that a coin has been passed into the slot. The coin after having passed the end of the
plate a falls into the drawer or receptacle D, and the spring returns the plate a, b,
to its normal position ready to be acted upon in a similar manner by the next coin
of the same value which may be dropped into the same slot.
In the Drawing, Figure 1, I show three of such drawers or receptacles, but these
may be increased or reduced in number as found necessary.
On the back of each of the drawers I fit a bulb or catch plate e, which fits
loosely in a space formed between two spring plates f, g, as in Figure 4, without
touching them when the drawer is closed; but directly the drawer is pulled
outwards the bulb or catch plate e comes into contact with the two spring
plates f, g, and completes an electrical circuit between themselves and other
conducting wires and the gong by the battery C, to indicate that the drawer is
being opened.
The circuit is also completed when the drawer is being shut to. Behind the first
series of slots before mentioned is a second series h, as shown on Figure 3, and also
marked with the symbols of the gold and silver coin in circulation. These are to
be used for coin on which change has to be given only. The coin, say, half crown
piece, on being dropped into the slot bearing the 2/6 symbol, falls upon two studs
or pins i, j, (shown separately in the detail view, Figure 5), and closes a circuit
between them and conducting wires arranged between the battery with or without
a gong.
The action of the coin dropping on the two pins form an electrical connection
with the coils 2, which attracts the armature m from the wheel n, and allows the
wheel to revolve the distance of one tooth. During this operation the spring 8
will be brought into contact with one tooth (the normal position of the spring
being out of contact), and passes the current into the coil s¹, which attracts the
insulated armature r, as shown at Figure 5, and thus releases the coin ; the electrical
circuit being then broken, the spring & returns to its first position, the current
passing also with the coil 7 fitted at a distance to attract the armature m from the
tooth of the wheel n, which permits the wheel to travel round sufficiently for the
strip of glass p to uncover the upper of a series of compartments q, q, which are
arranged in a superposed manner, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, to allow the attendant
in charge to withdraw the half crown's worth of change therefrom, the several
compartments of that superposed series having been previously furnished with this
change money for the purpose.
Simultaneously with the movement of the wheel n the half crown piece
becomes released and falls into the drawer or receptacle E. The studs or pins
which held it having been drawn away by the attraction of the armaturer by the
coil s¹.
The two studs or pins i, j, are attached to springs k, k¹, and pole pieces or
armatures r, r, divided and insulated by ebonite or other material r
The drawer E, into which the half crown piece falls, is fitted with a bulb or
plate e at the back, and is put into circuit to act upon a gong in a similar manner
as that described with reference to the drawer D to indicate its being opened or
closed.
The conducting wires and the gong of the drawers D, E, may be within the

page_text: cabinet or at a distance from it, say, in the sitting room in which the sound would
be audible to the occupants.
The strip of glass, or it may be metal or other material, if desired, has a cord t
and a counter weight u attached; and when the strip has descended as to uncover
the lower compartiment of its series the metal sockets v on its bottom presses a
spring w, and establishes an electrical communication and a sounding of the gong
in the distance.
Supposing the attendant has to take ninepence from the half crown, he first
deposits the half crown in the "change" slot, and then removes the change of that
value from the compartment, say, a one shilling piece, two sixpenny pieces, and
two threepenny pieces from the now uncovered compartment which he finds therein
as change; he then places one of the sixpenny pieces into its proper slot as money
taken, and also one of the threepenny pieces into its proper slot, two distinct sounds
would be heard which would indicate the coins passed into the receptacle, and
hands the customer the other one shilling piece, the other sixpenny piece, and the
other threepenny piece as his correct change.
It will be seen that with each slot for change money there is a distinct wheel
and glass strip as described with reference to the half crown one, so that each time
change has to be given a corresponding action takes place of the appliances without
regard to the coin tendered.
I provide a couple of open bowls F, F, for the reception of copper coin, it not
being necessary to check them on account of weight and bulkiness.
When a threepenny piece is presented from which two pence has to be taken,
the silver coin would be put into its slot, which would cause its bell or gong to be
heard, and a penny piece would be taken from one of the bowls for change.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
The apparatus and appliances arranged, fitted, and acting in the manner described,
whereby a checking of money payments and of exchanges of money are indicated
electrically and audibly, as set forth.
Secondly. I claim the divided and insulated armature 7 in combination with the
two studs i, j, acting in the manner and for the purposes described.
Thirdly. I claim the intermittent motion toothed wheel n in combination with
the armature m and the spring & electrically connecting the wheel n with the
coil 8 and armature r for the simultaneous release of the coin, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Hawkins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
FREDERICK HAWKINS. (L.S.)