Improvements in Apparatus for Receiving and Registering Tickets and Fares.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Apparatus for Receiving and Registering Tickets
and Fares.
I, OSCAR LEGROS, of North Bay, District of Nipissing, and Province of Ontario,
Canada, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement: —
This invention relates to fare box registers and has for its object to provide a
portable register for keeping account of the tickets and money placed therein,
the register being adapted also to sound an alarm whenever a fare is placed
therein and also to punch or otherwise mutilate the tickets as they are inserted
therein, thus rendering the same unfit for further use and preventing the con-
ductor from surreptitiously removing the tickets from their receptacle and using
the same again.
The device while adapted to punch or mutilate the tickets placed therein does
not prevent the insertion of coins, provision being made for allowing the coins to
pass into the same receptacle with the tickets without the punch being brought
into action. Provision is also made for returning the several parts of the
mechanism to their normal positions after a fare has been inserted. The detailed
objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined
description.
The invention consists in an improved fare box register embodying certain
novel features and details of construction hereinafter fully set forth, illustrated in
the drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fare box register constructed in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view looking towards the opposite side of the casing.
Figure three (3) is a detail perspective view showing the manner in which the
plunger communicates motion to the other parts of the machine.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line -x of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken through the lower portion of the case
looking upward, showing the register and the aperture in the intermediate
partition.
Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures
of the drawings.
Referring to the drawings, designates a suitable case or box in which the
operative parts of the register are mounted. This case comprises opposing sides 2,
ends 3, top 4 and bottom 5. At one end of the case is arranged a loop or elliptical
shaped handle 6 by which the device may be carried in the hand of the conductor.
Arranged at a suitable elevation within the case or box 1 is a horizontal diaphragm
or partition 7 dividing the upper portion of the case from the lower portion, the
latter constituting the receptacle 8 for the car tickets, money, etc.
9 designates a slot or aperture in the top of the case through which the tickets.

page_text: and money are inserted, and arranged below said aperture is a hopper shaped com-
partment 10 having a contracting or converging bottom 11 terminating in a dis-
charge spout or opening. 12 through which the fares pass. Arranged below the
discharge 12 is a pair of rollers or cylinders 13 which may be either of metal or
rubber or a combination of both, the same being mounted fast upon parallel
axles 14. One of the rollers 13 is provided with a longitudinal series of radial
openings 15 in which are arranged punches 16 backed up by spiral springs 17
which serve to project said punches beyond the periphery of the roller or cylinder
for causing them to enter correspondingly located recesses 18 in the opposing
roller. These punches operate upon the tickets as they pass between the rollers
and serve to mutilate or puncture the same, thus rendering the tickets unfit for
further use.
rest or
The shafts 14 are provided at their ends with intermeshing spur pinions 19
which cause the rollers 13 to revolve simultaneously in opposite directions.
Arranged at one side of the innermost spur pinion 19 is a spur gear wheel 20
mounted on a stud shaft 21 and carrying with it a ratchet wheel 22 fast on the
wheel 20. 23 designates an arm which is fulcrumed on the axle 21 and which
carries at its outer or free end a spring actuated pawl 24 engaging the teeth of
the ratchet wheel 22. Reciprocating through the top of the case or box 1 is
a plunger 25 having at its upper end a push button or head 26 wherewith it may
be operated. The plunger 25 is normally upheld by means of a coil spring 27
disposed around said plunger and bearing at its lower end upon a
bracket 28 while its upper end is seated against an annular flange or collar 29 on
the plunger, the tension of said spring being thus exerted to lift the plunger
while at the same time allowing the plunger to be depressed. The plunger slides
through bearings 30 in the top of the casing and in the bracket 28. Connected
pivotally to the lower end of the plunger 25 is a link 31 which connects pivotally
at it's opposite end to the arm 23 above referred to. Thus, as the plunger is
depressed, the arm 23 is swung around the axle 21 as a centre, carrying the pawl
with it and imparting a rotary motion to the ratchet wheel 22 and spur gear
wheel 20. This in turn actuates the pinions 19 and causes the inner adjacent
surfaces of the rollers 13 to move downward. A ticket or fare which has previously
been placed in the hopper or receptacle 10 is caught between the rollers and carried
downward and upon being released by the rollers gravitates through an opening 32
in the intermediate partition 7 and thence into the receptacle 8. The punches 16
are so located on the periphery of their rollers that they will not be brought into
action until they have nearly completed an entire revolution. Therefore a piece
of money may pass between the rollers without coming in contact with said
punches, but in the case of a ticket, by reason of the length of such ticket, the
punches will be brought into action before the ticket has passed entirely through
or between the rollers, and as a result the punches will operate upon said ticket
and serve to puncture or mutilate the same in such a manner that said ticket
cannot thereafter be used.
+
33 designates a bell or gong arranged within the case and secured to one wall
of the casing by means of a post 34 seated near its base against a rubber washer or
packing ring 35. 36 designates a clapper or hammer adapted to contact with the
bell for giving a signal. This clapper or hammer is mounted upon one end of the
lever 37 which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends, as shown at 38. Connected to
the opposite end of the lever is a retracting spring 39 for returning the lever to
its normal position after the same has been operated upon. This end of the lever
is projected into the path of the pin or stud 40 extending from one end of the
roller 13. Just before the roller 13 completes its revolution in a backward'
direction, the lever 37 is acted upon in such a manner as to throw the hammer or
clapper 36 forcibly against the bell thus sounding an alarm and advising the
passenger that his fare has been registered.
41 designates a series of registering discs provided on their peripheries with
numerals and adapted to take up each other consecutively so as to accurately record

page_text: the fares deposited in the box or case. The partition 7 is provided with a rect-
angular aperture 42 through which the state of the register may be observed when
the door 43 which gives access to the receptacle 8 has been opened for the purpose of
removing the fares therefrom. The door 43 is hinged at one edge as shown at 44,
and is provided at its free edge with a suitable lock 45 adapting said door to be
opened by means of a key, indicated at 46. The axles 14 of the rollers 13 are
journaled at one end in the side wall of the casing, as shown at 47 and at their
opposite ends in an arm or bracket 48 located intermediate the rollers and the
registering discs 41, said bracket 48 being formed integrally with or connected to
the partition 7.
The operation of the register is as follows: The plunger when depressed
rotates the ratchet wheel and rollers sufficiently to cause the latter to make a com-
plete revolution each time a fare is collected and the push button pressed fairly
down. Every time a fare is placed in the receptacle and the plunger depressed
the bell will indicate the proper movement of the mechanism contained in the
box or case and the fact that the fare has been registered. In view of the fact that
each and every ticket between the rollers or cylinders 13 is punched or mutilated
the use of said tickets by a dishonest employee is rendered impossible. Access
can only be had to the interior of the box or case by means of a person in pos-
session of a key. At the end of each trip the clerk of receipts opens the box,
makes note of the number registered and counts the cash as well as the tickets,
which must correspond in number to the state of the register. Retrograde move-
ment of the ratchet wheel 22 is prevented by means of the spring actuated
detent 49. With the register herein above described it is almost an impossibility
for a dishonest conductor to cheat the company.
It will of course be understood that the device is susceptible of changes in form,
proportion and minor details of construction which may accordingly be resorted to
without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
1. The combination with a receptacle for fares, of a pair of rollers located below
the discharge end thereof, a receptacle located under said rollers, and means of
rotating said rollers in opposite directions for insuring the feeding of the fares to
the last named receptacle, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a receptacle for fares, of a pair of rollers rotating in
opposite directions, one of said rollers being provided with a relatively movable
punch, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination with a. receptacle for fares, of a pair of rollers rotating in
opposite directions, one of said rollers being provided with one or more punches,
and the other roller having recesses to receive said punches, substantially as
described.
4. The combination with a receptacle for fares, of a pair of rollers one of which
is provided with one or more recesses, and one or more spring actuated punches
carried by the opposing roller, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. The combination with a receptacle for receiving fares, of a pair of rollers one
of which is provided with one or more recesses, a plunger carried by the other
roller and adapted to enter said recesses, and means for simultaneously rotating
said rollers in opposite directions, the punch being so arranged that said rollers
will nearly complete one revolution before the punch is thrown into action, sub-
stantially as described.
6. The combination- with a receptacle for fares, of a pair of feeding and punch-
ing rolls, means whereby said rolls are caused to rotate in opposite directions, a
gear wheel meshing with one of said rollers, a plunger operating through the

page_text: wheel of the receptacle, and connections between said plunger and gear wheel
whereby the latter is rotated when the plunger is depressed, substantially as
described.
7. The combination with a box or casing, of a fare receptacle therein, punching
rollers arranged at the discharge end of said receptacle, gear wheels mounted on
said rollers and meshing with each other, a spur gear wheel meshing with one
of said gears, a ratchet wheel rigidly connected to said spur gear, an arm fulcrumed
on the axis of said spur gear, a plunger, a pivotal link interposed between said
plunger and arm, a pawl carried by said arm and engaging the ratchet disc, and
a spring actuated detent for preventing retrograde movement of said ratchet disc,
all arranged for joint operation, substantially as described.
8. The combination with a fare register, of a box or casing embodying a fare
receptacle, means therein for feeding and punching the fares, a plunger for operat-
ing said mechanism, and a handle connected to the casing and arranged within
the normal plane thereof, substantially as described.
9. In a fare box register, the combination with a box or casing, of a hopper
shaped receptacle for the fares, a pair of feeding and punching rollers located.
beneath the discharge end thereof, means for simultaneously rotating said rollers
in opposite directions, a bell, a lever having at one end a hammer and at its
opposite end a retracting spring, and a pin or stud on one of the rollers adapted
to contact with said lever for actuating the bell hammer, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of November 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.