Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
F272RL3641CAN
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Backqround of the Invention~ :~
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The present invention relates to an electronic `.
currency counterO ~ore particularly, the invention relates
to an electronic currency counter for counting a stac~ of
paper currencyO
Electronic currency counters are disclosed in the
following United States paten~ U.SO patent No. 3,222,057, .
issued December 7, 1965 to Couri, U.S. patent No. 3~447,655,
issued June 3, 1969 to Tanaka et al, U.S. patent No. ~ ;
3,487,905, issued January 6, 1970 to James, Sr~, U.SO patent ;~.`
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No~ 3,655,186, issued April ll, 1972 to Bayha, U.SO patent
~oO 3,683,943, issued August.15, 1972 to De~repy and U.S.
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patent No. 3,731,799, issued May 8, 1973 to Meloni et al.
Objects of the inven~ion are to provide an electron-
ic currency counter of simple structure, which is inexpensive .~.
in manufacture, readily and conveniently fits in a pocket or
handbag, and functions efficiently, effectively and reliably
to count a stack of paper money with considerable accuracy
and great rapidity. The:electronic currency counter of the -
invention also counts any stack of papers
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Brief Summarv of the Invention: ;~
In accordance with the invention, an electronic
currency counter for counting a stack of paper currency
comprises a pocket-sized housing having a ledge extending
therefrom bordered by a pair of spaced parallel side walls
perpendicular to the ledge for accommodating at least one
end part of a stack of paper currency. A source of light is
provided in one of the side walls for providing a beam of
l.ight extending to the other of the side waIls and extending
from the ledge to the top of the other side wall. A plural-
ity of photoresponsive cells are provided on the other of
the side walls for recelving the beam from the source of
light. The photoresponsive cells are arranged in rows
parallel to the ledge. Each of the rows of cells is dimens-
ioned to correspond to the t~ic~ness of a single piece of
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~paper currency. The photoresponsive cells function as a
currency sensor and produce an electric signal for each row
of cells obstructed and therefore for eac~ piece of paper
currencyO A counter in the housing is electricalLy connect-
ed to the cells and counts the electrical signals producedtherebyO An indicator in the housing is electrically
connected to the counter for ~isually indicating the count
of the counterO A source of electrical energy in the housing
is electrically connected to the indicator and t~e source of
light wheréby the indicator indicates the number of pieces
of paper currency in the stack of currency.
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The indicator includes a pointer, a stack thick-
ness scale, a currency denomination scale, a currency i
piece number scale and a currency sum total scaleO : ;
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Brief Description of the Drawinqs:
In order that the invention may be readily ;~
carried inko effect, it will now be described with reference ~
to the accompanying drawings, wherein: -
FIGo 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of
the electronic currency counter of the invention;
FIG~ 2 is a view, o~ an enlarged scale, partly
cutaway and partly in section, of the embodiment of
FIG~ l; and ~ ~:
FIG~ 3 is a schematic block diagram of the
embodiment o FIGo lo
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Detailed Description of the Invention:
The electronic currency counter of the invention : -
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counts a stack of paper currency L (FIGSo 1 and 2) of any ~ ;
denominations or of any sovereignty. The currency counter :
of the invention comprises a poc~et-sized housing 2 (FIGS~
. 20 1 and 2) having a ledge 3 (FIGo 2) extending therefrom and
bordered by a pair of spaced parallel side walls 4 and 5
~~ (FIG~ 1) perpendicular to the~ledge 3 for accommodating one !;
end part of a stack of paper currency 1, as shown in
FIGS~ 1 and 2.
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A source of light 6 of any suitable type (FIG. 1)
is mounted in the side wall 5 and comprises any suitable ~
light source such as, for example, a lamp or plurality of ~ ;
lamps. The light source 6 provides a beam of light extend- ;
ing to the other side wall 4 and extending from the ledye 3
to the top of the side wall 4. ;
A plurality of photoresponsive cells 7 (FIGSo 1
and 2) of any suitable type are mounted on the other side ;~
walL 4 for receiving the beam from the source of light 6.
The photoresponsive cells 7 are arranged in rows parallel
to the ledge 3. Each of the rows of photoresponsive cells ~ ;~
7 is dimensioned to correspond to the thickness of a single ~
piece of p!aper currency or any ot:her type of paper which is ~ -
being counted. The photoresponsive cells 7 function as a ;~
currency sensor 7 (FIG~ 3) and produce an electri~al signal
for each row of cells obstructed, and therefore for each
piece of paper currency. ~
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A counter 8 of any suitable type (FIG~ 3) in the
housing 2 is electrically connected to the photoresponsive
cells or currency sensor 7 and functions to count t~e elect-
rical signals produced by said photoresponsive cells.
An indicator 9 of any sultable type (FIGo 3) is ;` :`
provided in the housing and is electrically connected to
the counter 8 for visually indicating the count of said `~
counter.
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A source of electrical energy 10 (FIG. 3)
which may comprise any suitable battery or batteries, ~ -
which may be rechargeable, is provided in the housing 2 ~ -
and is electrically connected to the indicator 9 and the
source of light 6, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the source
of light is energized to produce the aforedescribed beam
of lightO The indicator 9 thus functions to indicate the
number of pieces of paper currency in the stac~ of
currency 1.
An ON/OFF manually operated switch 11 is
connec-ted in the circuit shown in FIG. 3 to permit energi-
zation and deenergization of the electronic currency ; `;
counter.
The indicator 9/ as shown in FIG. 1, includes a
pointer 12, a stack thickness scale 13, a currency denomin- -~
ation scale 14, a currency piece number scale 15 and a
currency sum total scale 16. The user of the electronic ~ ~
currency counter of the invention may thus see, at a glance, ~ .
what the result of the count is~
While the invention has been described by means
of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, I do
not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications
will occur to those skilled in the art without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
