Document removal and reinsertion detector

• US 3,913,087 A
• Filed: 01/06/1975
• Issued: 10/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John E. Mcbrian
• Original Assignee: John E. Mcbrian
• Inventors: McBrian, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wannisky, William M.
• Application Number:
  US05/539,043
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 340/280,282,421 200/DIG.38,61.59,61.62,61.76 109/38 116/76
• US Class Current: 340/568.7
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/38 Money till drawer operated

Abstract

A detector for providing a visual indication when a document, such as a currency instrument or bill, is removed from a slotted receptacle and thereafter reinserted in an effort to avoid discovery that the currency was temporarily withdrawn from the receptacle. Also included is a microswitch, not visible exteriorly of the currency withdrawal and reinsertion detector, for triggering a remote alarm upon removal of currency from the receptacle.

Claims

1. A currency removal and reinsertion detector comprising:

a base having a currency supporting surface, a cover overlying said base and having a currency restraining surface, said cover being fixedly secured relative to said base with said currency restraining and currency supporting surfaces in closely spaced confronting relation establishing a currency receiving slot into which currency can be inserted for placement between said surfaces, a ferromagnetic element having a mounting section and a telltale section, said mounting section being mounted relative to said base and cover to position said telltale section inaccessibly within said slot for movement therein alternatively between upper and lower positions overlying and underlying, respectively, currency inserted in said slot, said cover being provided with a viewing window therein overlying said telltale section to permit visual inspection of the position, upper or lower, of said telltale section relative to currency inserted in said slot, and a magnet for moving said telltale section to its upper position to permit currency inserted in said slot to underlie said telltale section, said telltale section returning to its lower position upon removal from said slot of currency initially underlying said telltale, whereby reinsertion of said currency initially underlying said telltale without concurrent attraction thereof by said magnet will place said reinserted currency overlying said telltale section and obscure it from view through said window, thereby providing a visual indication that currency initially inserted in said slot concurrent with magnetic attraction of said telltale section has been removed and reinserted.

2. The detector of claim 1 wherein said currency supporting surface includes a recess, said telltale section is a leaf spring normally biased into said recess by said mounting section to underlie currency which is inserted in said slot in the absence of magnetic attraction of said telltale section.

3. The detector of claim 1 wherein said cover includes an aperture aligned with said telltale section and wherein said magnet is insertable into said aperture to magnetically attract said element.

4. The detector of claim 1 wherein said window is a single aperture in said cover serving the dual purpose of a) permitting visual inspection of said telltale position and b) insertion of said magnet therein for magnetically attracting said telltale section to its upper position.

5. The detector of claim 4 wherein said element underlies at least the entire cross-sectional area of said aperture.

6. The detector of claim 1 further including:

a blind recess in said confronting surface of said cover in communication with said slot, an alarm, a microswitch electrically connected to said alarm and having a switch-actuating arm biased to span said slot established by said confronting surfaces with a portion thereof extending into said blind recess in the absence of currency in said slot, said arm portion being movable into said recess to actuate said microswitch and trigger said alarm upon removal of currency from said slot, and said cover being opaque and said blind recess in nonalignment with said window to preclude viewing said microswitch arm exteriorly of said cover.

7. A method of detecting removal and reinsertion of currency in a slot established by closely spaced confronting surfaces of a base and cover, comprising the steps of:

a magnetically attracting and thereby moving a ferromagnetic element located in the slot which is biased toward the confronting surface of the base, to a position spaced from the surface of the base, initially inserting currency in the slot between the base surface and the ferromagnetic element while the element is spaced from the base surface by magnetic attraction thereof, removing the inserted currency from between the element and base surface, reinserting currency in the slot between the ferromagnetic element and the confronting surface of the cover in the absence of magnetic attraction of the element to a position spaced from the confronting surface of the base, and viewing the position of the ferromagnetic element relative to the inserted currency through a window in the cover aligned with the element.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said magnetic attraction step includes inserting a magnet into an aperture in the cover aligned with the element to magnetically attract the element, wherein said initial currency insertion step includes inserting currency into the slot while the magnet is in the aperture magnetically attracting the element, and wherein said currency reinsertion step includes reinserting currency into the slot with the magnet removed from the cover aperture.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the magnetic attraction step includes inserting a magnet into the viewing window to magnetically attract the element, wherein said initial currency insertion step includes inserting currency into the slot while the magnet is in the window magnetically attracting the element, and wherein said currency reinsertion step includes reinserting currency into the slot with the magnet removed from the viewing window.