After-hours depository entrance

Claim 2

In an after-hours depository entrance including a housing having an article receiving opening and an article depositing opening; a rotor disposed in said housing and mounted for rotation about an axis, said rotor having an article receptacle therein extending axially thereof and a receptacle opening thereto communicating with said receiving opening when said rotor is in a first position, said receptacle communicating with said depositing opening when said rotor is rotated in a first direction to a second position, said article receptacle being effective when communicating with said receiving opening to contain an article introduced therein through said receiving and receptacle openings and when communicating with said depositing opening to displace such article therefrom through said depositing opening; a plurality of fixed article interceptors spaced in said rotor axially thereof, said interceptors extending transversely of said rotor axis and into and through said receptacle to substantially the periphery of said rotor as said receptacle is rotated with said rotor in said first direction past said depositing opening effective to engage such article and prevent further rotation of said rotor unless such article has been displaced as aforesaid from said receptacle, the walls of said receptacle being apertured effective to permit said interceptors so to extend thereinto and therethrough during said rotation; and means for driving rotation of said rotor in said first direction, the improvement in combination therewith comprising: means to prevent rotation of said rotor in a second direction opposite to said first direction during rotation thereof through a first arc defined by the arc of rotation of the trailing edge of said receptacle opening as said rotor is rotated in said first direction from a third position of said rotor in which said receptacle trailing edge is substantially coincidental with the leading edge of said receiving opening to a fourth position of said rotor in trailing relation to said first position thereof and in which said receptacle has at least completely passed said depository opening, said rotor being rotatable in either of said directions through a second arc defined by the arc of rotation of said receptacle trailing edge between said third rotor position and substantially at least said first rotor position.

Claim 3

The depository entrance of claim 1 wherein said article receptacle also communicates with said depositing opening through said receptacle opening when said rotor is in its second position, said receptacle opening being disposed upon the periphery of said rotor; and wherein said first and fourth rotor positions are coincidental.

Claim 4

The depository entrance of claim 2 wherein said rotor comprises an integral cylindrical drum and said receptacle comprises a pair of side walls integral with said drum extending inwardly thereof from said receptacle opening parallel to the axis of said drum and intersecting each other, and a pair of end walls integral with said drum and said side walls, said article receptacle being sufficiently commodious to contain bagged articles for deposit.

Claim 5

The depository entrance of claim 3 wherein each of said article interceptors comprises a sector plate extending from said drum axis radially outwards to substantially the peripheral wall of said drum and between substantially the leading edge of said depositing opening and the trailing edge of said receiving opening, said interceptor apertures comprising a plurality of pairs of slots in said side walls to accommodate said sector plates during rotation of said drum, said pairs of slots being spaced from each other axially of said drum, each pair of said slots joining each other at the intersection of said walls and extending outwards therefrom in respective ones of said side walls substantially to the peripheral wall of said drum.

Claim 6

The depository entrance of claim 4 wherein the periphery of said drum is provided with a plurality of axially spaced circumferential grooves therein, said housing having a set of fixed blocking pins, said pin set being disposed closely adjacent and in leading relation to the leading edge of said housing depositing opening, each of said pins engaging respective ones of said grooves.

Claim 7

The depository entrance of claim 5 wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a pawl carried by said housing and a ratchet wheel rotating with said drum, the ratchets of said wheel operatively engaging said pawl only through an arc corresponding to said first arc of rotation in order to prevent rotation of said drum in said second direction.

Claim 8

In an after-hours depository entrance including a housing having an article receiving opening and an article depositing opening; a rotor disposed in said housing and mounted for rotation about an axis, said rotor having an article receptacle therein extending axially thereof and a receptacle opening thereto communicating with said receiving opening when said rotor is in a first position, said receptacle communicating with said depositing opening when said rotor is rotated in a first direction to a second position, said article receptacle being effective when communicating with said receiving opening to contain an article introduced therein through said receiving and receptacle openings and when communicating with said depositing opening to displace such article therefrom through said depositing opening; a plurality of fixed article interceptors spaced in said rotor axially thereof, said inTerceptors extending transversely of said rotor axis and into and through said receptacle to substantially the periphery of said rotor as said receptacle is rotated with said rotor in said first direction past said depositing opening effective to engage such article and prevent further rotation of said rotor unless such article has been displaced as aforesaid from said receptacle, the walls of said receptacle being apertured effective to permit said interceptors so to extend thereinto and there-through during said rotation; means to prevent rotation of said rotor in a second direction opposite to said first direction during rotation thereof through a first arc defined by the arc of rotation of the trailing edge of said receptacle opening as said rotor is rotated in said first direction from a third position of said rotor in which said receptacle trailing edge is substantially coincidental with the leading edge of said receiving opening to a fourth position of said rotor in trailing relation to said first position thereof and in which said receptacle has at least completely passed said depositing opening; and means for driving rotation of said rotor in said first direction, the improvement in combination therewith of closure means for said receiving opening; said closure means comprising: cover means surrounding said housing effective to provide weather protection therearound and fixedly spaced forwardly of said receiving opening, said cover means having an aperture therein in substantial registry with said receiving opening in said housing; and closing means movably mounted between said cover means and said receiving opening, said closing means overlying said receiving opening and being slidable entirely within said cover means across said receiving opening and said cover aperture from a position closing said receiving opening to a position affording access thereto, marginal areas of said cover aperture overlapping marginal areas of said closing means when in its closure position effective to prevent access to said receiving opening by weather elements entering said cover aperture.

Claim 9

In an after-hours depository entrance including a housing having an article receiving opening and an article depositing opening; a rotor disposed in said housing and mounted for rotation about an axis, said rotor having an article receptacle therein extending axially thereof and a receptacle opening thereto communicating with said receiving opening when said rotor is in a first position, said receptacle communicating with said depositing opening when said rotor is rotated in a first direction to a second position, said article receptacle being effective when communicating with said receiving opening to contain an article introduced therein through said receiving and receptacle openings and when communicating with said depositing opening to displace such article therefrom through said depositing opening; a plurality of fixed article interceptors spaced in said rotor axially thereof, said inTerceptors extending transversely of said rotor axis and into and through said receptacle to substantially the periphery of said rotor as said receptacle is rotated with said rotor in said first direction past said depositing opening effective to engage such article and prevent further rotation of said rotor unless such article has been displaced as aforesaid from said receptacle, the walls of said receptacle being apertured effective to permit said interceptors so to extend thereinto and there-through during said rotation; means to prevent rotation of said rotor in a second direction opposite to said first direction during rotation thereof through a first arc defined by the arc of rotation of the trailing edge of said receptacle opening as said rotor is rotated in said first direction from a third position of said rotor in which said receptacle trailing edge is substantially coincidental with the leading edge of said receiving opening to a fourth position of said rotor in trailing relation to said first position thereof and in which said receptacle has at least completely passed said depositing opening; and means for driving rotation of said rotor in said first direction, the improvement in combination therewith of closure means for said receiving opening; said closure means comprising: cover means surrounding said housing effective to provide weather protection therearound and fixedly spaced forwardly of said receiving opening, said cover means having an aperture therein in substantial registry with said receiving opening in said housing; and closing means movably mounted between said cover means and said receiving opening, said closing means overlying said receiving opening and being slidable entirely within said cover means across said receiving opening and said cover aperture from a position closing said receiving opening to a position affording access thereto, marginal areas of said cover aperture overlapping marginal areas of said closing means when in its closure position effective to prevent access to said receiving opening by weather elements entering said cover aperture.

Claim 10

The depository entrance of claim 7 including an electric motor providing said driving rotation of said rotor when connected to a source of electrical energy; and switch means operatively associated with said closing means for energizing said motor to cause rotation of said rotor in said first direction thereof when said closing means is moved from said access position toward said closure position and said rotor is in its first position, said switch means being also operatively associated with said rotor for de-energizing said motor to halt said rotor when said rotor is thereafter in its fourth position.

Claim 11

The depository entrance of claim 8 wherein in said fourth rotor position the trailing edge of said receiving opening is disposed between the leading and trailing edges of said receptacle opening.

Claim 12

The depository entrance of claim 9 wherein said rotation preventing means for said rotor permits rotation thereof in either of said directions through a second arc defined by the arc of rotation of said receptacle trailing edge between said third rotor position and substantially at least said first rotor position.

Claim 13

The depository entrance of claim 10 wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a pawl carried by said housing and a ratchet wheel rotating with said rotor, the ratchets of said wheel operatively engaging said pawl only through an arc corresponding to said first arc of rotation in order to prevent rotation of said rotor in said second direction.

Claim 14

The depository entrance of claim 10 wherein said switch means comprises first and second switches, each of said switches having first and second switch contacts, said first contacts being in parallel circuit relation to said second contacts, the circuit making members of both of said switches being in series with said motor, the circuit making member of said first switch being operatively associated with said closing means aNd engaging its second contact and the circuit making member of said second switch being operatively associated with said rotor and engaging its first contact both when said closing means is in its closure position and said rotor is in its fourth position, the circuit making member of said first switch moving to engage its first contact when said closing means is moved toward its access position, thereby energizing said motor to initiate rotation of said rotor in said first direction, the circuit making member of said second switch moving to engage its second contact when said rotor is thereafter in its first position, thereby de-energizing said motor, the circuit making member of said first switch moving to engage its second contact upon movement of said closing means toward its closure position, thereby energizing said motor to again initiate rotation of said rotor in said first direction, the circuit making member of said second switch moving to engage its first contact when said rotor is thereafter in its fourth position, thereby de-energizing said motor.

Claim 15

The depository entrance of claim 8 wherein said cover aperture and receiving opening are sufficiently commodious to receive therethrough and said article receptacle is sufficiently commodious to contain therein bagged articles for deposit; and wherein said closing means includes a restricted opening therethrough suitable only for the passage therethrough of envelopes or the like, said envelope opening being disposed to one side of said receiving opening and said cover aperture and out of communication therewith when said closing means is in its closure position, said closing means being slidable across said receiving opening in a first direction to an envelope depositing position in which said envelope opening is in communication with said receiving opening and said cover aperture and in a second direction opposite to said first direction to a bag depositing position in which substantially the entire area of said receiving opening is in communication with said cover aperture.

Claim 16

The depository entrance of claim 13 wherein said rotation preventing means for said rotor permits rotation thereof in either of said directions through a second arc defined by the arc of rotation of said receptacle trailing edge between said third rotor position and substantially at least said first rotor position.

Claim 17

The depository entrance of claim 14 wherein said closing means comprises a door panel and wherein the planes of said receiving opening, door panel and cover aperture are substantially vertical, said door panel being vertically slidably in each of said directions of movement thereof, said envelope opening being disposed below said receiving opening and cover aperture when said door panel is in its closure position, said door panel being raisable in said first direction of movement thereof to said envelope depositing position and lowerable in said second direction of movement thereof to said bag depositing position, and including means biasing said door panel to its closure position.

Claim 18

The depository entrance of claim 15 wherein a portion of said door panel is transparent sufficient to afford visual access therethrough and through said receiving opening when said door panel is in its closure position, and including means for locking said door panel against movement to its bag depositing position, said locking means being accessable from the front of said cover means for locking and unlocking of said door panel, said locking means permitting movement of said door panel to its envelope depositing position independently of said locking means.

Claim 19

The depository entrance of claim 15 wherein said article receptacle also communicates with said depositing opening through said receptacle opening when said rotor is in its second position, said receptacle opening being disposed upon the periphery of said rotor; and wherein in said fourth rotor position the trailing edge of said receptacle opening is disposed between the Leading edge of said depositing opening and the trailing edge of said receiving opening.

Claim 20

The depository entrance of claim 17 wherein said switch means comprises a first switch operated by movement of said door panel and a second switch operated by rotation of said rotor, said switches having interconnected first switch contacts and interconnected second switch contacts in parallel circuit relation, the circuit making members of both of said switches being in series with said motor, the circuit making member of said first switch engaging its second contact and the circuit making member of said second switch engaging its first contact when said door panel is in its closure position and said rotor is in its fourth position; first switch operating means carried by said door panel for causing the circuit making member of said first switch to engage its first contact when said closing means is moved to either its envelope or bag depositing positions, thereby energizing said motor to initiate rotation of said rotor in said first direction; and second switch operating means carried by said rotor for causing the circuit making member of said second switch to engage its second contact when said rotor is thereafter in its first position, thereby de-energizing said motor, said first switch operating means causing the circuit making member of said first switch to engage its second contact upon movement of said door panel to its closure position, thereby energizing said motor to again initiate rotation of said rotor in said first direction, said second switch operating means causing the circuit making member of said second switch to engage its first contact when said rotor is again in its fourth position, thereby de-energizing said motor.

Claim 21

The depository entrance of claim 18 wherein said second switch operating means comprises a cam rotating with said rotor having a cam surface thereon operating the circuit making member of said second switch effective to cause said circuit making member to engage its first contact during an arc of rotation of said rotor in said first direction thereof from said fourth to said first rotor positions, said circuit making member being otherwise engaged with the second contact of said second switch during further rotation of said disc until said rotor is again in its fourth position.

Claim 22

The depository entrance of claim 18 wherein said rotor comprises an integral cylindrical drum and said receptacle comprises a pair of side walls integral with said drum extending inwardly thereof from said receptacle opening parallel to the axis of said drum and intersecting each other, and a pair of end walls integral with said drum and said side walls.

Claim 23

The depository entrance of claim 20 wherein each of said article interceptors comprises a sector plate extending from said drum axis radially outwards to substantially the peripheral wall of said drum and between substantially the leading edge of said depositing opening and the trailing edge of said receiving opening, said interceptor apertures comprising a plurality of pairs of slots in said side walls to accommodate said sector plates during rotation of said drum, said pairs of slots being spaced from each other axially of said drum, each pair of said slots joining each other at the intersection of said walls and extending outwards therefrom in respective ones of said side walls substantially to the peripheral wall of said drum.

Claim 24

The depository entrance of claim 21 wherein the periphery of said drum is provided with a plurality of axially spaced circumferential grooves therein, said housing having a set of fixed blocking pins, said pin set being disposed closely adjacent and in leading relation to the leading edge of said housing depositing opening, each of said pins engaging respective ones of said grooves.

Claim 25

For use with an after-hours depository entrance having a housing with an upright article receiving opening therein, a closing assembly for such opening comprising: means for mounting said asSembly to such housing over such receiving opening; cover means carried by said mounting means having a front portion with an aperture therethrough effective to receive bagged deposits, said cover means being adapted to spacedly surround such receiving opening with the rear face of said cover front portion in spaced forward relation thereto and said aperture in registry therewith when said assembly is operatively mounted to such housing as aforesaid; and movable closing means overlying the rear face of said cover aperture and carried by said mounting means, said closing means including a restricted opening therethrough suitable only for the passage therethrough and through said cover aperture of envelopes or the like, said closing means being slidably movable across said cover aperture in a first direction to an envelope depositing position and in a second direction opposite to said first direction to a bag depositing position in which substantially the entirety of said cover aperture is available for bagged deposits therethrough, marginal areas of said aperture overlapping marginal areas of said closing means effective to prevent access to such receiving opening by weather elements entering said aperture when said assembly is mounted as aforesaid.

Claim 26

For use with an after-hours depository entrance having a housing with an upright article receiving opening therein, a closing assembly for such opening comprising: means for mounting said asSembly to such housing over such receiving opening; cover means carried by said mounting means having a front portion with an aperture therethrough effective to receive bagged deposits, said cover means being adapted to spacedly surround such receiving opening with the rear face of said cover front portion in spaced forward relation thereto and said aperture in registry therewith when said assembly is operatively mounted to such housing as aforesaid; and movable closing means overlying the rear face of said cover aperture and carried by said mounting means, said closing means including a restricted opening therethrough suitable only for the passage therethrough and through said cover aperture of envelopes or the like, said closing means being slidably movable across said cover aperture in a first direction to an envelope depositing position and in a second direction opposite to said first direction to a bag depositing position in which substantially the entirety of said cover aperture is available for bagged deposits therethrough, marginal areas of said aperture overlapping marginal areas of said closing means effective to prevent access to such receiving opening by weather elements entering said aperture when said assembly is mounted as aforesaid.

Claim 27

The closing assembly of claim 23 wherein said mounting means includes a mounting plate spaced from the rear face of said cover front portion and adapted to be secured to such housing about such receiving opening, said mounting plate having n aperture therein in registry with said cover aperture and sufficiently extensive for the passage therethrough of bagged deposits; and wherein said closing means comprises a door panel carried by said mounting plate and disposed between said mounting plate and said cover means for slidable movement across said cover and plate apertures in said directions to said envelope and bag depositing positions, said cover means being also carried by said mounting plate and closing the front face thereof.

Claim 28

The closing assembly of claim 24 wherein a portion of said door panel is transparent sufficient to afford visual access therethrough and through said plate aperture when said door panel is in its closure position; and including means connected to said mounting plate and door panel for biasing said door panel to its closure position.

Claim 29

The closing assembly of claim 25 including means for locking said door panel against movement to its bag depositing position, said locking means being carried by said closing assembly and accessible from the front face of said cover front portion for locking and unlocking of said door panel, said locking means permitting movement of said door panel to its envelope depositing position independently of said locking means.

Claim 30

The depository entrance of claim 7 wherein said article receptacle also communicates with said depositing opening through said receptacle opening when said rotor is in its second position, said receptacle opening being disposed upon the periphery of said rotor.

Claim 31

The depository entrance of claim 27 wherein said cover aperture and receiving opening are sufficiently commodious to receive therethrough and said article receptacle is sufficiently commodious to contain therein bagged articles for deposit; and wherein said closing means includes a restricted opening therethrough suitable only for the passage therethrough of envelopes or the like, said envelope opening being disposed to one side of said receiving opening and said cover aperture and out of communication therewith when said closing means is in its closure position, said closing means being slidable across said receiving opening in a first direction to an envelope depositing position in which said envelope opening is in communication with said receiving opening and said cover aperture and in a second direction opposite to said first direction to a bag depositing position in which substantially the entire area of said receiving opening is in communication with said cover apErture.

Claim 32

The depository entrance of claim 28 wherein said closing means comprises a door panel and wherein the planes of said receiving opening, door panel and cover aperture are substantially vertical, said door panel being vertically slidably in each of said directions of movement thereof, said envelope opening being disposed below said receiving opening and cover aperture when said door panel is in its closure position, said door panel being raisable in said first direction of movement thereof to said envelope depositing position and lowerable in said second direction of movement thereof to said bag depositing position, and including means biasing said door panel to its closure position.

Claim 33

The depository entrance of claim 29 wherein a portion of said door panel is transparent sufficient to afford visual access therethrough and through said receiving opening when said door panel is in its closure position, and including means for locking said door panel against movement to its bag depositing position, said locking means being accessable from the front of said cover means for locking and unlocking of said door panel, said locking means permitting movement of said door panel to its envelope depositing position independently of said locking means.

Claim 34

The depository entrance of claim 29 wherein said rotation preventing means for said rotor permits rotation thereof in either of said directions through a second arc defined by the arc of rotation of said receptacle trailing edge between said third rotor position and substantially at least said first rotor position.