Patent GB-190307522-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Cash Registers
Filed: 1903-03-31
Granted: 1903-07-23
Abstract: 7522. National Cash Register Co., [National Cash Register Co.]. March 31. Receipts, checking and recording; counting-apparatus.-A cash register is constructed to open a till, show a number tablet, operate a counting- mechanism, print the number, date, and a consecutive number on a strip, cut off the check therefrom, and present it. Several numbers may be printed on each check, or numbers can be printed continuously on the strip. A key 16 is provided for each value to be indicated, and an actuator 4 is intended to receive a full stroke forward and backward about pivots 3 when one key 16 has been depressed. The keys are pivoted on a shaft 17, and the rear end of the depressed key turns a lever 22, which depresses a latch 6 to release the actuator 4. The depressed key raises one of a row of tablet rods 23 a short distance, and enters between two of a row of bevelled latches 25 which retain it, and which do not afford room to admit another key, so that only one key can be operated at a time. The actuator 4 in its forward stroke turns a cam-lever (not shown), which moves a pivoted wing 35 to release an indicating-tablet remaining raised from a previous transaction. It also turns a stop 13, 10, releasing the pivoted cover 2 of a stationary till 1, whereupon a spring 15 throws the cover open. The actuator also by a link 39 raises a lever 38 and a tablet bar 42, which moves in a guide-groove so that it engages the selected tablet rod, and raises this to its full extent. The tablets can slide vertically in the tablet rods, and the raised tablet is engaged by the spring-actuated locking wing 35, and held up until the next transaction. The tablet rods have projections 46 at varying heights ; the raised tablet rod raises a horizontal bar 47 and thus turns a shaft 49, Fig. 6, to an extent depending on the particular key pressed. A toothed sector 48, Fig. 4, on the shaft 49, gears with a pinion loose on a " re-setting " shaft 53, and this drives a loose pinion on a "registering" shaft 55, a ratchet gear, and counting-wheels loose on the shaft 55. Another toothed segment 88, Fig. 6, on the shaft 49, turns a printing-wheel 85, carrying numbers corresponding to the keys. A notched wheel 89 and a stationary pawl ensure proper placing of these numbers for printing. Otherwise the segment 88 may itself carry the type. A date printer and a consecutive number printer are carried in a frame 115, under the printing-wheel 85. Printing on the paper strip is effected by movement of a platen 95, which is oscillated directly by an arm 106 of the actuator 4. The strip is passed under the fulcrum 96 of the platen, and under a spring in a delivery trough 102, projecting from the upper end of the platen, so that the printed part is directly accessible. The platen carries springs 139 to receive a loose check in order that further entries may be made on it. A jointed arm 94, loose on the shaft 49, is linked at 104 to the platen, and carries an inking-wheel over the three printing devices. Or the wheel 85 may emboss without being inked. The consecutive number printer is operated by a notched lever 134 engaging a pin on the platen 95. The paper strip is fed by rollers carried on the platen and operated by two successively-acting means. One means, giving a long feed, consists of ratchet gearing driven by a pinion engaging a toothed arm 116 of the stationary frame 115, as the platen swings. The second feed is a short one effected by a ratchet-wheel, attached to the upper feed-roller, engaging a stationary pawl 137 as the platen swings forward. The printed part of the strip is cut off to make a check, by a cutter sliding vertically down through the feedtrough 102, and co-operating with a stationary cutter below this trough. The cutter slide is raised by a cam 111 attached to the actuator 4, in opposition to a spring 108, and is then held up by a pivoted stop 112, movable by a pin on the cam 111 ; as the actuator completes its rearward stroke, another pin displaces the stop 112, and the cutter is operated by the spring 108. The actuator, in returning, also causes slotted links 50, 45, Fig. 4, to lower the bar 47 and close the till cover 2, positively, and the cam-lever (not shown) to raise the latches 25 and release the depressed key. The actuator is then re-locked by the latch 6. A handle permits the latches to be raised at any time, to release a key. In order to allow additional entries to be made on the strip, closely following a previous entry, a special key is provided, to be depressed before a key 16 is pressed, for each additional entry. This key causes a rod similar to the tablet rods, but not carrying a tablet, to be engaged and raised by the tablet bar 42 when the actuator is worked ; the rod is geared to a cam 127, Fig. 6, and this turns the frame 115 about the shaft 86, so as to lower the toothed arm 116 and stop the long feed, places a stop 128 so as to prevent the descent of the strip cutter, and withdraws the date and consecutive number printers out of reach of the platen. A pin on the toothed arm 130 of the frame 115 then prevents operation of the lever 134 and numbering-apparatus. A key 16 may then be depressed, to print a value. A " no-sale key is also provided, to operate a tablet rod, and raise the special key rod, so that only a zero or special indication is printed. The cam 127 may also be turned by a milled head, and held by a spring bolt, when items are to be printed continuously on the strip. The short feed always remains in action. A catch is provided to hold the till cover closed, when checks are to be printed only. The counting-mechanism 58, Fig. 4, is provided with means for re-setting it to zero, by turning the shaft 53 by a milled head, after disengaging a latch from a notched disc on this shaft. The counting-wheels 58 are geared together by ordinary carrying-wheels 63 on a shaft 64. When the shaft 53 is turned, cams on it move the shaft 64 forward so that the carrying-wheels 63 engage stationary teeth and leave the counting-wheels 58. The shaft 55 then makes a rotation, the shaft 53 being geared to it by a toothed and stop wheel engaging a corresponding wheel 72 on the shaft 55. The shaft 55 is notched to engage pawls on the counting-wheels and return these to zero. Simultaneously a cam on the shaft 53 raises a pivoted frame to engage pins ou the counting-wheels and positively stop these at zero. The completion of one turn of the shaft 53 leaves the counting- mechanism operative.