US3582618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paper currency counting apparatus
Assignee: Brandt Automatic Cashier Co
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Filing: 1968-01-23
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1988-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A currency counting machine is shown in which bills are fed singly from a stack in a receiving compartment through a counting compartment to a delivery compartment. The counting compartment includes a grounded runway over which bills are conveyed and spaced electrically conductive flexible brushes are mounted on the underside of a removable cover spaced above the runway. The brushes normally contact the runway but the contact is broken by bills passing between the brushes and runway. The passage of bills as sensed by the brushes operate in an electrical control circuit to prevent the flow of bills from the receiving compartment to the counting compartment if bills are not continuously fed, to eject from the counting compartment bills which are improperly spaced, and to register the count of properly spaced bills in counters and a settable predetermined count mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles T Bergman
- 👤 James H Tanner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M7/00; G06M7/02; G06M7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
In a paper currency counting machine having a receiving compartment for receiving bills as a stack, a counting compartment, a delivery compartment, feeding means for removing bills singly from said stack and feeding said bills to said counting compartment, conveying means for conveying bills through said counting compartment to said delivery compartment, and an electrically actuated counter, the combination comprising: electrically conductive runway means in said counting compartment over which bills are conveyed by said conveying means; a first electrically conductive flexible brush normally in contact with said runway means and which contact is broken by the passage of a bill between said brush and said runway means; a source of current; an electric circuit including said brush and said runway means and first electric control means adapted when actuated to connect said counter to said source, said first control means being actuated by the breaking of the contact between said brush and said runway means as each bill passes to record the count of bills on said counter; electrically actuable ejection means in advance of said first brush in said counting compartment and adapted when actuated to divert bills from said counting compartment; and second and third electrically conductive flexible brushes normally in contact with said runway means, said second and third brushes beinG spaced apart a distance greater than the width of a single bill, said electric circuit including said second and third brushes and a second electric control means adapted to connect said ejection means to said source when said contact of said second brush with said runway means is broken by a bill before the preceding bill breaks the contact of said third brush with said runway means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
In a paper currency counting machine having a receiving compartment for receiving bills as a stack, a counting compartment, a delivery compartment, feeding means for removing bills singly from said stack and feeding said bills to said counting compartment, conveying means for conveying bills through said counting compartment to said delivery compartment, and an electrically actuated counter, the combination comprising: electrically conductive runway means in said counting compartment over which bills are conveyed by said conveying means; a first electrically conductive flexible brush normally in contact with said runway means and which contact is broken by the passage of a bill between said brush and said runway means; a source of current; an electric circuit including said brush and said runway means and first electric control means adapted when actuated to connect said counter to said source, said first control means being actuated by the breaking of the contact between said brush and said runway means as each bill passes to record the count of bills on said counter; electrically actuable ejection means in advance of said first brush in said counting compartment and adapted when actuated to divert bills from said counting compartment; and second and third electrically conductive flexible brushes normally in contact with said runway means, said second and third brushes beinG spaced apart a distance greater than the width of a single bill, said electric circuit including said second and third brushes and a second electric control means adapted to connect said ejection means to said source when said contact of said second brush with said runway means is broken by a bill before the preceding bill breaks the contact of said third brush with said runway means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein there is electrically actuable means for halting the feeding of bills to said counting compartment; together with a fourth electrically conductive brush normally in contact with said runway means adjacent said receiving compartment, said electric circuit also including said fourth brush, time-delay means, and third electric control means adapted when not actuated to connect said electrically actuable means to said source to halt the feeding of bills, the breaking of the contact between said fourth brush and said runway means by the passage of each bill therebetween actuating said third control means, and said time-delay means maintaining said third control means actuated for only the normal period of time between the passage of bills past said fourth brush.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 2 together with a removable cover spaced above said runway means and wherein said brushes are each mounted on the underside of said cover and depend therefrom to contact said runway means when said cover is in place.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said runway means is a runway plate and wherein said counting compartment is defined by said runway plate and spaced front and rear frames, said cover being hinged on said frames, and said brushes each being mounted in an insulated brush holder secured to said cover; together with a flexible contact strip mounted on each holder and connected to a respective brush, said contact strips projecting transversely from said holders towards said side frames, and contacts mounted on said side frames to be engaged by respective ones of said contact strips when said cover is closed, whereby opening of said cover removes the engagement of said contact strips with said contacts to remove said brushes from said electric circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
278 words
In a paper currency counting machine having a receiving compartment for receiving bills as a stack, a counting compartment, a delivery compartment, feeding means for removing bills singly from said stack and feeding said bills to said counting compartment, conveying means for conveying bills through said counting compartment to said delivery compartment, electrically actuable feed stop means for halting the feeding of bills to said counting compartment, electrically actuable ejection means intermediate of said counting compartment and adapted when actuated to divert bills from said counting compartment, and predetermined count means responsive to electrical signals to register the count of bills and to actuate said feed stop means at the end of a predetermined count, the combination comprising: electrically conductive runway means in said counting compartment over which bills are conveyed by said conveying means; first and second electrically conductive flexible brushes normally in contact with said runway means in advance of said ejection means, said brushes being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of a single bill; a source of current; an electric circuit including said brushes and said runway means and connected to said predetermined count means; and electric control means in said electric circuit adapted to transmit a signal to said predetermined count means when the contact between said second brush and said runway means is broken by a bill and said first brush is in contact with said runway means, and further adapted to connect said source to said ejection means when the contact of said first brush with said runway means is broken by a bill before the preceding bill breaks the contact of said second brush with said runway means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
278 words
In a paper currency counting machine having a receiving compartment for receiving bills as a stack, a counting compartment, a delivery compartment, feeding means for removing bills singly from said stack and feeding said bills to said counting compartment, conveying means for conveying bills through said counting compartment to said delivery compartment, electrically actuable feed stop means for halting the feeding of bills to said counting compartment, electrically actuable ejection means intermediate of said counting compartment and adapted when actuated to divert bills from said counting compartment, and predetermined count means responsive to electrical signals to register the count of bills and to actuate said feed stop means at the end of a predetermined count, the combination comprising: electrically conductive runway means in said counting compartment over which bills are conveyed by said conveying means; first and second electrically conductive flexible brushes normally in contact with said runway means in advance of said ejection means, said brushes being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of a single bill; a source of current; an electric circuit including said brushes and said runway means and connected to said predetermined count means; and electric control means in said electric circuit adapted to transmit a signal to said predetermined count means when the contact between said second brush and said runway means is broken by a bill and said first brush is in contact with said runway means, and further adapted to connect said source to said ejection means when the contact of said first brush with said runway means is broken by a bill before the preceding bill breaks the contact of said second brush with said runway means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
The combinatiOn of claim 5 together with a third electrically conductive flexible brush normally in contact with said runway means adjacent said receiving compartment, said electric circuit including said third brush, time-delay means, and second electric control means adapted when not actuated to connect said feed stop means to said source; the breaking of the contact between said third brush and said runway means by the passage of each bill therebetween actuating said second control means, and said time-delay means maintaining said third control means actuated for only the normal period of time between the passage of successive bills past said third brush.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination of claim 6 together with an electrically actuated counter, a fourth electrically conductive flexible brush normally in contact with said runway means, said electric circuit including said fourth brush and third electric control means adapted when actuated by the breaking of the contact between said fourth brush and said runway means to connect said counter to said source to record the count of the bill on said counter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 7 together with a removable cover spaced above said runway means and wherein said brushes are each mounted on the underside of said cover and depend therefrom to contact said runway means when said cover is in place.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said runway means is grounded, and wherein said first electric control means comprises a pair of relays, the coil of each relay being shorted out when said second brush is in contact with said runway means, the coil of one relay being energized whenever the contact of said second brush with said runway means is broken by a bill to close a normally open relay switch in the connection of said ejection means with said source, the coil of the other relay being energized when said first brush is in contact with said runway means and the contact of said second brush with said runway means is broken to open a normally closed relay switch in said connection of said ejection means with said source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said second and third electric control means each comprise a relay the coil of which is shorted out when the third or fourth brush respectively is in contact with said runway means, said cold being energized when the contacts of said third and fourth brushes are broken by the passage of bills.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein the energization of said coil of said other relay also closes a relay switch to connect said predetermined count means to said source to signal a count of a bill.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein there is time-delay means associated with the coil of said other relay to maintain the coil of said other relay energized until said second brush again contacts said runway means, to short out such coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a paper currency counting machine having a receiving compartment for receiving bills as a stack, a counting compartment, a delivery compartment, feeding means for removing bills singly from said stack and feeding said bills to said counting compartment, means for conveying bills from said counting compartment to said delivery compartment, and electrically actuable means for registering the count of bills conveyed to said delivery compartment, the combination comprising: spaced front and rear frames in said counting compartment; an electrically conductive runway in said counting compartment between said frames; means for conveying bills through said counting compartment over said runway; a cover hinged to said frames above said runway; a plurality of spaced electrically conductive flexible brushes mounted on the underside of said cover and depending therefrom, said brushes contacting said runway when said cover is closed and the contact between a respective brush and said runway being broken by the passage of a bill over said runway; electrical conductor means normally connecting said brushes to a source of cUrrent when said cover is closed and adapted to be opened when said cover is raised to thereby open the circuit between said brushes and said source of current; and electric control means responsive to the making and breaking of the contacts of said brushes with said runway to control said actuable means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a paper currency counting machine having a receiving compartment for receiving bills as a stack, a counting compartment, a delivery compartment, feeding means for removing bills singly from said stack and feeding said bills to said counting compartment, means for conveying bills from said counting compartment to said delivery compartment, and electrically actuable means for registering the count of bills conveyed to said delivery compartment, the combination comprising: spaced front and rear frames in said counting compartment; an electrically conductive runway in said counting compartment between said frames; means for conveying bills through said counting compartment over said runway; a cover hinged to said frames above said runway; a plurality of spaced electrically conductive flexible brushes mounted on the underside of said cover and depending therefrom, said brushes contacting said runway when said cover is closed and the contact between a respective brush and said runway being broken by the passage of a bill over said runway; electrical conductor means normally connecting said brushes to a source of cUrrent when said cover is closed and adapted to be opened when said cover is raised to thereby open the circuit between said brushes and said source of current; and electric control means responsive to the making and breaking of the contacts of said brushes with said runway to control said actuable means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein each of said brushes is mounted in an insulated brush holder secured to the underside of said cover; and wherein said electrical conductor means comprises a flexible contact strip mounted in each brush holder and electrically connected to the brush, said contact strips projecting transversely from said holders toward said side frames, and contacts mounted on said side frames to be engaged by respective ones of said contact strips when said cover is closed, said contact strips disengaging said contacts when said cover is open, said contacts being connected to said source of current.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |