Patent GB-970251-A (GB)
Abstract: 970, 251. Cash registers; change-giving; subtraction. ANKER-WERKE A.G. Oct. 4,1960 [Feb. 6, 1960; March 5,1960], No. 33988/60. Headings G4B and G4T. In a cash register adapted for use in multipleitem operations to provide a subtotal of the items, to calculate the difference between this subtotal and an amount tendered, i.e., the change to be given, and to indicate this difference in a final total operation, a single total key is used to initiate both the subtotal and the final total operations. In a modification, the same key is also used to  initiate the payment (subtraction) operation in which the change is calculated. The cash register has several columns of amount keys, a column of item keys for selecting item totalizers and a column of type-of-operation keys for controlling the engagement of "plus" and "minus" balance totalizers. The differential mechanism controlled by the latter is also controlled by other devices as described below so that the one key may have different effects and this differential mechanism controls symbol printing mechanism so that the symbols printed correspond with the operations actually carried out. Printing is effected in known manner (not described) on a voucher and on a record strip. Starting and driving mechanism. On depression of a starting key, a known interlocking device 80, Fig. 3, frees a plate 79 on a release shaft 77 which is then rocked counter-clockwise by a spring 81. The release shaft actuates key-locking slides 20. A coupling control lever 101 is freed by the plate 79 for actuation by a spring 111 and allows a gear wheel 104 in a gear train between the motor 123 and mainshaft 100 to become effective. Also, a link 114 is depressed to actuate a motor switch 124 and raise a pawl 118 from a stop 120 on the mainshaft 100. A cycle of operation thus takes place at the end of which a roller 98 restores a cam arm 122 fast with the pawl 118 and so, through the link 114, lowers the control lever 101 to arrest the gear wheel 104. Finally, a roller 94 rocks a lever 92 linked to the plate 79 to restore the latter and the release shaft 77. Differential mechanism. In each order, a cam 190 on the mainshaft 100, Fig. 4, acts through a segment 194 to drive a segment 175 first counter-clockwise and then clockwise. Each segment 175 drives a segment 167 until an arm 165 is arrested by the stem of the depressed key whereupon the drive connection, Fig. 5 (not shown), is broken and the segment 167 is latched in its differential position until the return movement of the segment 175. The segments 167 position indicator drums 314 and, through nested tubes 301, printing wheels. The arms 165 are linked to actuating segments 392, Figs. 6 and 8 Addition and subtraction arrangements. The machine has "minus" and "plus" balance totalizers 386, 387, Fig. 8, each comprising pairs of reversely geared add and subtract pinions 390, 391 respectively. In the zero condition, the plus and minus totalizers stand at zero and "negative zero" (i.e., with nine registered in each order) respectively. The amounts registered by the two totalizers thus always differ by one so that positive totals are taken from the add pinions of the plus totalizer and true negative totals from the subtract pinions of the minus totalizer. These totalizers may be shifted axially to align the add or subtract pinions with the actuating segments 392 by arms 397, 398 coupled to rods 382, 385. The arms 397, 398 may be coupled for movement by projections 431,432 on a shaft 430 by the movement to the right or left respectively of slides 403, 404 shifted by levers 412, 413 associated with feelers 408,409, which, when released by an arm 435 to the action of springs 410, 411, sense a control plate 420, see also Fig. 7. The plate 420 is normally in the position shown in which both feelers 408, 409 are blocked against effective movement, but is moved by depression of a Total key 7, Fig. 6, to allow movement of the feeler 408 only so as to select the negative pinions of the minus mechanism for the taking of a negative total, and by depression of a Payment key 11 to a position in which both feelers can move so as to select the negative sides of both totalizers to effect subtraction. Controlling engagement of totalizers. The shafts 382, 383, Figs. 8 and 13 of the "minus" and "plus" totalizers may be rocked by levers 517 and 525 which may be selectively coupled to slides 506, 512. The slide 506 is moved, in accordance with the control keys depressed, so as to effect the engagement in add, total or subtotal timing while the slide 512 is always moved to effect engagement in add timing. For these purposes, the slides 506 and 512 are respectively positioned through gearing by a shaft 225, Fig. 6, and by a plate 226 freely pivoted on that shaft. The plate 226 is rocked by cams on the mainshaft 100 in add timing and similar plates 227, 228 are rocked in subtotal and total timing. All three plates are notched and cooperate with a stud 220 in an arm 221 pivoted at 222 on an arm 223 fast on the shaft 225 so that the latter is coupled to one of the three plates depending on the position of the stud 220 in the notches. This is varied by arms 216, 218 positioned by a cam 213 set by the type-of-operation differential mechanism, Fig. 6. This differential mechanism is also controlled by the key 7 and by a stop member 250 which is moved to an effective position when the total is positive and withdrawn when the total is negative under the control of a cam 442 connected to the highest order add pinion of the "minus" totalizer, which registers 9 when the total is negative or zero. When a positive total is registered, the stop 250 is effective and the slide 506 is caused to move in subtotal timing but when a negative total is registered, the stop 250 is ineffective and, in a cycle initiated by the key 7, the type-of-operation differential mechanism is arrested by that key and the slide 506 is caused to move in total timing. The coupling of the levers 517, 525, Fig. 13, to the slides 506, 512 is effected by arms 514, 522, 531, 532 respectively connected to arms 536, 550, 551, 552 which sense notches in slides 544, 545 positioned respectively by the differential mechanisms controlled by the totalizer selecting keys and type-of-operation keys. Operation. Various items are entered using item totalizer selector keys and in these operations both the "minus" and "plus" totalizers are engaged in add timing, the lever s 517, 525, Fig. 13, being coupled to the slide 512 by the positioning of the slide 544 under the control of the item key differential mechanism. The control plate 420 remains in the Fig. 7 position so that the positive wheels 390, Fig. 8, of both "minus" and "plus" totalizers are engaged by the actuator segments 392. The key 7, Fig. 6, is then depressed. As the total is positive, the stop 250 is effective and the type-of-operation differential mechanism causes the slide 506 to be coupled to engage the "plus" totalizer and causes the slide 506 to be moved in subtotal timing. If an amount larger than the subtotal is tendered, the amount is entered using the Payment key 11, Fig. 7, which moves the control plate 420 to cause both "plus" and "minus" totalizers to be shifted axially to align their subtract pinions 391 with the actuating segments 392. As in the item-entering operations, both totalizers are engaged in add timing. The amount tendered is thus subtracted from the total leaving a negative total equal to the change that should be given. The key 7 is then depressed again but as the total is now negative the stop 250 is ineffective and the type-of-operation differential mechanism now causes the slide 506 to be moved in total timing. Moreover, the slide 506 is coupled to engage the "minus" totalizer, the slide 512 is coupled to engage the "plus" totalizer, and the control plate 420 is set so that the "minus" totalizer is shifted to align the subtract pinions 391 with the actuating segments 392. A true negative total (equal to the change to be given) is thus taken from the subtract pinions of the "minus" totalizer and this amount is added to the "plus" totalizer so as to leave it in zero condition. First modification. An additional control key 8, Fig. 6, may be provided in the type-of-operation bank for use in obtaining the sub-total of the items in place of the key 7, then if the exact amount is tendered by the customer, the multiple-item operation may be concluded by one further-operation only-a total operation initiated by the key 7. For this purpose, the control mechanism is modified so that the use of the key 7 when the total is positive causes (a) the coupling of the "plus" totalizer to the type-of-operation slide 506 and the operation of that slide in total timing and (b) the shifting of the "minus" totalizer to align its subtract pinions with the actuating segments and the coupling of that totalizer to the slide 512 which moves in add timing. Thus, the total is taken from the "plus" totalizer and the "minus" totalizer is restored to zero condition. If the amount tendered is greater than the total of the items, then that amount is entered as before using the Payment key 11 and the change is indicated and the totalizers restored to zero by operation of the key 7. Second modification. In a second modification, one key 17, Figs. 27 and 28, is used to initiate subtotal, payment (subtraction) and total operations. When several items have been entered, depression of the key 17, which replaces the key 7, initiates a subtotal operation, the type-of-operation differential arm 165 being arrested by the stop 250 rendered effective due to the positive total standing on the balance totalizers. The key 17 also acts on a slide 62, Fig. 28, which positions the control plate 420, Fig. 7 in its appropriate central position. Then, when an amount tendered is set up, the amount keys 6, Fig. 22, through slides 36 rock a