Device For Slitting The Sidewall Of A Wrapping Of A Roll Of Coins

Abstract

A device for slitting the sidewall of a wrapping of a roll of coins which includes a frame that has a plunger passage therein. The plunger passage has an axis and an open end. A plunger is axially slidable in the plunger passage. First bias means applies an axial force on the plunger tending to force it out of the plunger passage. Slitting means is mounted to the frame so as to be movable laterally relative to the axis, toward and away from the same. Linkage means interlinks the plunger and the slitting means, whereby pressing the end of a wrapped roll of coins against the plunger to force the plunger into the plunger passage to a sufficient depth will cause the linkage means to force the slitting means toward the axis and sufficiently far into the plunger passage so that it will slit the sidewall of the coin wrapper.

Description

This invention relates to a device for slitting the sidewall of the wrapping of a roll of coins.

The opening of a roll of coins, especially the type of roll that has a crimped-over end, is time consuming and difficult. Persons who must open large numbers of these rolls often attempt to do so by breaking it over an edge with the consequent risk of the scattering of coins, or by prying them apart, perhaps with the fingernails, with the risk of paper cuts and broken fingernails. Quite apart from the physical inconvenience of opening these coin wrappers, there is an economic aspect as well, especially when the coins are to be utilized to operate devices such as slot machines, because the time spent in opening the roll could instead be spent in operating the machine. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide means for quickly slitting the sidewall of a roll of coins, preferably, but not necessarily, at a location adjacent to the end thereof, so that the crimped-over end may either be totally cut off or, if preferred, may be slit part of the way around so that it may readily be torn off.

It is an object of this invention to provide such apparatus in an elegantly simple construction which is rugged and able to withstand abuse. Further, it is an object of this invention to utilize a very sharp blade, such as a razor blade, but in such a way that it is impossible for a person to be cut by the blade.

Apparatus according to this invention includes a frame that has a plunger passage therein. The plunger passage has an axis and an open end. A plunger is disposed in the said plunger passage and is axially slidable in it. Bias means applies an axial force on the said plunger, tending to force the plunger out of the open end. A slitting means is mounted to the frame so as to be movable laterally relative to the axis, toward and away from the same. Linkage means interlinks the plunger and the slitting means, whereby pressing the plunger into the plunger passage to a sufficient depth will cause the linkage means to force the slitting means toward the axis sufficiently far into the plunger passage to slit the sidewall of a coin wrapper which is pressing the plunger into the plunger passage.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, the linkage means comprises a lever having a first and a second arm, the first arm being engageable by the plunger so as to rock the lever, thereby to press the slitting means against and into the sidewall of the coin wrapper.

The above and other features of this invention will be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a right-hand end view of FIG. 1 with the front cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section principally taken at line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary axial cross-sections showing the device of FIGS. 1-3 in two sequential operating positions.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a roll slitter 10 according to the invention. It includes a base 11 and a cover 12. The cover is removable from the base and is held to it by fastener 13 which can be removed to release the cover.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the cover has an aperture 14 which is rimmed by a grommet 15. Inside the cover, there is a frame 20 attached to or forming part of the base. The frame includes a support 21 which embraces a sleeve 22 that is press-fitted into an aperture 23 in the support so that it is rigidly fixed to the frame and in effect forms a part of it. A yoke 25 is mounted, such as by a fastener 26, to the support and provides a backing surface 27 which is fixed in space relative to the support.

A pair of uprights 28 (only one of which is shown) rises to a level above sleeve 22. A pair of guide passages 30, 31 are formed in the support, and receive a pair of guide pins 32, 33. The guide pins are vertically slidable as in FIG. 2.

A mount 35 is attached to the two guide pins so that it moves with the guide pins, and includes a threaded opening 36 to receive an attachment means in the form of a threaded fastener 37 to hold a blade 38 to the mount. A pair of alignment pins 39, 40 are formed on the mount to hold the blade in alignment. The combination of guide passages, guide pins, and the mount is sometimes herein called "guide means" for the blade. The blade is sometimes referred to as a "slitting means."

The sleeve 22 has a plunger passage 45 which is cylindrical and extends along an axis 46. The plunger passage has an open end 47 with a bell mouth 48 adjacent to the open end. The outside of the sleeve fits snugly into grommet 15. The plunger passage has an enlarged portion 49 adjacent to the bell mouth, and a region of reduced diameter where it rather closely fits the outer surface of a plunger 50 which is slidably fitted therein. The sleeve also includes an aperture 51 for a purpose yet to be described.

Plunger 50 includes a bore 55 in its end facing the yoke. It also includes an external peripheral groove 56. The groove is bounded by a first abutment 57, a second abutment 58, and an axially extending surface 59 which forms the base of the groove and is preferably cylindrical. There is a reference axial spacing between the abutments 57 and 58. A collar 60 peripherally surrounds the plunger at a spacing from the free end 61 of the plunger and extends substantially the full radial (lateral) distance across the annular spacing 62 between the outside of the outer wall of the plunger and the inner wall of the enlarged portion 49 of the plunger passage. The collar is axially spaced from the free end of the plunger, and this spacing is preferably selected so that, when the exposed end of a stack of coins 65 in a wrapper 66 having a crimped end 67 is brought against the free end, the crimped end extends almost to the collar. The collar will largely occlude this passage and will prevent pieces of material from falling into the mechanism itself. The actuating force is derived from the force of the roll exerted against the free end of the plunger.

A slot 68 is formed through the wall of the sleeve to admit the blade to the passage. The blade in its mount moves laterally relative to the axis, toward and away from the same, and into and out of said slot.

Linkage means 70 is provided for moving the slitting means in response to movement of the plunger. The linkage includes a pivot pin 71 which is removably fitted into uprights 28 so as pivotally to support a lever 72. The lever has a first arm 73 and a second arm 74. The first arm has a first contact surface 75 and a second contact surface 76. They are spaced apart adjacent to a base surface 77 by a width which is less than the reference spacing between the abutments 57 and 58. Therefore, there can be some initial axial sliding motion of the plunger without actuation of the linkage means. A contact point 78 is provided on the second arm, these arms being related to the pivot as a first degree lever. Clockwise motion of the lever will depress the guide means, and counter-clockwise motion will permit the guide means to rise.

First bias means 80 comprises a coil spring bearing against the yoke and seated in bore 55 in the plunger. This first bias means tends to force the plunger out of the open end of the plunger passage. Second bias means 81 comprises coil springs 82, 83 which surround respective guide pins and bias the mount in an upward direction in FIGS. 2 and 3 so as to tend to remove the blade from the plunger passage. The first bias means is, therefore, a coil spring interposed between the frame and the plunger, and the second bias means is a piar of coil springs disposed between the frame and the mount.

The operation of this device will now be described. First, it should be noted that this device is intended for use by members of the general public who might have a tendency to abuse it if possible. This construction is quite rugged and resistant to abuse. It is entirely encased by the cover except for the projecting end of the plunger. It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the plunger is forced outwardly by the first bias means so as substantially to fill the open end of the plunger passage. If a person were to attempt to cut himself by pressing in on the plunger, he would find that, by the time he reached a position where cutting might occur, such as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum excursion of the blade is not very great, and furthermore, it would be difficult for him to get any appreciable portion of his finger into the relatively narrow annular spacing between the outside of the plunger and the inside of the enlarged portion 49. For most axial positions of the plunger, the blade is not even moved into the plunger passage. Of course, when the coin roll itself is inserted into the plunger passage, it is impossible for the finger to reach the blade.

The device may be disassembled by removing fastener means 13, sliding the cover to the right in FIG. 3 so that the grommet clears the sleeve, and lifting off the cover. The entire device can be taken apart by pulling out the pivot pin, which will release the lever. Then the guide means can be lifted free, and the plunger can be pulled out to the right in FIG. 3. Assembly comprises a reversal of these actions. The blade, when dulled or broken, may readily be replaced simply by loosening fastener 37 and removing and replacing the blade.

In operation, a roll 85 of coins is pressed against the free end of the plunger with the end of the stack of coins bearing against the end surface of the plunger, and the crimped end projecting toward the collar. The roll is then pushed to move the plunger inwardly into the plunger passage, and soon will reach the position of FIG. 4. During this initial motion, the base surface 77 will have slid along axially extending surface 59 as the second abutment 58 moves away from the contact surface 76 and abutment 57 moves toward contact surface 75. Until elements 57 and 75 contact each other, there can be no downward movement of the blade, and therefore, this initial movement of the plunger is resisted only by the force of the first bias means and does not cause early movement of the slitter means.

After abutment 57 reaches contact surface 75, and movement of the plunger to the left in FIG. 3 continues, then surface 75 acts as a cam on the edge of abutment surface 57, and will cause the lever to rotate clockwise, so that its contact point 78 presses down on the mount, forcing the blade through slot 68 and into the passage toward the sidewall of the wrapper. This movement will not be completed, of course, until collar 60 has passed the axial position of the blade so that there is no interference between them. After the collar has passed slot 68, further movement to the left will cause the blade to cut into and through the sidewall 86 of the wrapper 66. Little, if any, bending of the blade will occur because it will be the usual thing for the user to twist the roll at this time. Also, the distance of penetration is exaggerated in FIGS. 4 and 5 for purposes of illustration. In fact, it is only the thickness of the conventional paper wrapping, perhaps about 0.020 inch.

When the device is in the position of FIG. 5, the roll will be rotated around axis 46, and this will slit the sidewall of the wrapping. If desired, the coil may be turned a complete revolution which will remove the crimped end 67 completely. On the other hand, it may be desired just to give it a partial turn because this will make a sufficient incision that a major portion of the periphery of the crimped end can readily be grasped and the remainder torn off, which is almost as convenient for the user as the complete removal of the crimped end.

Should the crimped end be completely cut and removed, it will be ejected by the plunger when it returns under the impulse of the two bias means. When the roll is removed by pulling it away from the plunger, the initial return of the plunger will be caused by a combination of forces of both of the bias means. The second bias means will cause the lever to rotate counter-clockwise until the base surface 77 again engages the axially extending surface 59, after which there can be no further counter-clockwise rotation, this being resisted by the contact between these two surfaces. Then the first bias means continues to move the plunger to the right in FIG. 3 to a position shown therein until the abutment 58 strikes contact surface 76 and prevents further movement of the plunger, and it awaits the next cycle.

This invention thereby provides an elegantly simple device which cannot injure the user, and which is rugged and readily serviced.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description, which is given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. Apparatus for slitting the sidewall of the wrapping of a roll of coins, comprising: a frame having a plunger passage therein, said plunger passage having an axis and an open end; a plunger in said plunger passage, said plunger being axially slidable therein; first bias means applying an axial force on said plunger tending to move it out of the open end; slitting means mounted to said frame so as to be movable laterally relative to said axis toward and away from the same; and linkage means interlinking the plunger and the slitting means, whereby pressing the plunger into the plunger passage to a sufficient depth will cause the linkage means to force the slitting means into the plunger passage so as to slit the sidewall of a coin wrapper of a roll of coins which bears axially against the plunger.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which guide means is mounted to said frame for lateral movement, and in which the slitting means comprises a blade mounted to said guide means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which second bias means is provided which applies a force to the guide means forcing it laterally away from the axis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the linkage means comprises a lever having a pivot and a first arm and a second arm, the first arm being engageable by the plunger, and the guide means being engageable by the second arm when the plunger is pressed into the plunger passage, whereby the lever rotates around the pivot and the second arm presses the guide means so as to move the slitting means toward the axis and thereby slit the sidewall.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which guide means is mounted to said frame for lateral movement, and in which the slitting means comprises a blade mounted to said blade mount.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which second bias means is provided which applies a force to the guide means forcing it laterally away from the axis.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which a first abutment is formed on the plunger which is so disposed as to contact the linkage means whereby to force it to press the guide means laterally toward the axis.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the linkage means comprises a lever having a pivot and a first arm and a second arm, the first arm being engageable by the second arm when the plunger is pressed into the plunger passage whereby the lever rotates around the pivot, and the second arm presses the guide means so as to move the slitting means toward the axis and thereby slit the sidewall, the first abutment bearing against the first arm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which a second abutment is formed on said plunger, said second abutment being engageable to the first arm when the plunger is moved as far out of the plunger passage as is permissible, whereby to prevent further outward movement of the plunger.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the first arm has an axial width, and in which the abutments are spaced apart by an axial spacing, said axial spacing between said abutments being greater than said width.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which guide means is mounted to said frame for lateral movement, and in which the slitting means comprises a blade mounted to said guide means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which second bias means is provided which applies a force to the guide means forcing it laterally away from the axis.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein an axially extending surface is provided on the plunger between the abutments, the first arm bearing against the said surface to limit the travel of the guide means away from the axis in one angular position of the first arm.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the first bias means is a coil spring compressed between the frame and the plunger, and the second bias means comprises a coil spring compressed between the frame and the guide means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which a collar is formed around said plunger at an axial location spaced from the free end thereof, which collar extends substantially across an annular spacing between the plunger and the wall of the plunger passage adjacent to the open end of the plunger passage.