Patent GB-190722221-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Accounting Machines applicable more particularly to Cash and Credit Registers
Inventor: CHURCH EDMUND SHIRLEY
Filed: 1907-10-08
Granted: 1908-10-08
Abstract: 22,221. Church, E. S. Oct. 11, 1906, [date applied for under Patents Act, 1901]. Typewriters and like machines.-Relates to improvements in connexion with cash registers, adapting them to keep any number of separate accounts. The system employs for each account a detachable entry-retaining device which retains the total entries up to date and can be inserted in the machine, allowing its total to be added to or diminished by the amount of the present transaction, this total being printed on a record slip and on a voucher from the machine or an inserted slip, the complete total remaining in the entry-retaining device, which is then ejected from the machine ; means are also provided for printing the total in the device without any transaction. Interlocking-means are provided for preventing the operation of the machine unless the entry-retaining device is inserted and for locking it in position till the operation is complete, a further interlock preventing the operation of the amount keys if a bill of the amount to date only is required. A special drawer is provided for the detachable devices, and furnished with means for reading the amounts, and a key is fitted to release a wrong device from the machine without operation. The improvements also comprise transfer mechanism for the register. The improvements are shown applied to a cash register of the kind described in Specification No. 9400, A.D. 1897. The entryretaining device 71a, Figs. 19 and 20, which is inserted in the machine as shown in Fig. 4, has a number of spring-controlled racks 60 for the amount normally held locked by a broad spring- pressed pivoted catch 61, the rear end 64 of which extends over identifying-slides 65, which have notches 69 alined by the machine so as to allow the catch 61 to be raised by a pin 126 in order to free the amount racks 60 for resetting. The final exact alinement of the notches 69 is ensured only by a justifying-lever for the racks 81 operated by the lever 102 and cam 103. On inserting the device, the machine is set free, as explained below, by the lever 313 engaging the cam 311 on the device, and, on operating the handle, slides 71 are thrown forward by the frame 74a, 75, in which they are spring-mounted, and the cam 84, and set by means of pin-and-slot gear from the printing-segments 80 to the entry in the device; the register wheels 82, which are normally at zero, are then rocked into gear with the racks 81 of the printing-segments by the cam 106, whereupon the amount of the present transaction is set up on the machine and through gearing 22, 47 and nested sleeves 50 is communicated to the gears 154, 155, the latter operating the adding-racks 156 and subtracting racks 157, one or other of which is brought into gear, by the transverse movement of the supporting-bar 159, with the register wheels 82, the amount in these being thus increased or diminished in accordance with the transaction. The register being finally brought into gear with the printing- segments 81, the cam 84 throws the frame 74<a>, 75 forward, allowing the bars 71 to operate the segments 80 until stopped by the zeroizing-pawls 306, Fig. 9, of the register 82 engaging the bevelled zeroizing-tongue on their spindle, which is brought into engaging position by the pin 303, Fig. 7, and fixed cam-slot 304. At the same time the rods 71 set the entry-retaining device to the new amount, the catch-plate 61 having been disengaged by the pin 126 operated by the lever 131, Fig. 13, and sliding plate 137 operated from the cam 104. The adding-racks are normally in position to gear with the register 82, but, when subtraction is necessary, as for "Void," "Received on account," and "Paid "out" transactions, then keys operate cam-slots 186, Fig. 15, in a sliding-plate 184 having a bevelled end engaging a corresponding incline 182, Fig. 7, in the supporting-bar 159 for the racks 156, 157, which is restored to normal position by a spring. The keys for " Bill " and " Charge " do not alter the position of the racks transversely. Transfer mechanism is fitted to the adding-rack 156, and operates also for subtracting through the gear 155, and consists of transfer pawls 169, Figs. 4 and 7, spring-pressed and pivoted on actuating-bars 161, operated through levers by the staggered cams 165, the transfer pawls being normally supported by tripping-pawls 171, Fig. 7, pivoted on the shaft 159 and adapted to engage tripping-pins on the register 82, and normally returned to position by the blade springs 172<a> when the tails of the transfer pawls are engaged by the restoring-bar 403, actuated by the lever frame 402, which is pin-and-slot geared to a lever 88 which operates a screen 86<a> for normally covering the rods 71, as shown, the lever 88 being operated by a cam finger 89 on the shaft 85. The transfer motion of the racks 156, 157 is allowed by springs 179, Fig. 8, between the pinions 155 and their actuating-devices. Printing is effected on the record strip 200 and on the voucher strip separately, the latter being cut off by the knife 225 and carried out of the machine transversely on a table 240 supported by arms 241 on sliding sleeves, a slit 226 in the table allowing the passage of the voucher slip. The two strokes are delivered by levers 263, 267, Fig. 13, the former carrying the platen, both being drawn down by means of the cam 260, the first printing on the voucher or inserted slip and the second on the record slip when the projection is freed from the catch-lever 269 by the action of the levers 272, 274, Fig. 5, on engagement by a pin'276 on the table-carrying sleeve 243. The table is drawn into the machine from its normal outward position by the camactuated lever 245, Fig. 18, engaging a pin on the table-carrying sleeve 243, which is connected to the frame by a spring for normally thrusting out the table. The knife is operated by the lever 415, Fig. 13, and cam 413, and the feed of the inkribbon and record strip by the spring-pawl 206 and link 210 oscillated by a crank on the shaft 24, the length of the slot in the link determining the feed of the strip. The voucher strip passes through a pivoted guide 222 between printing and feed rollers 224, 223, the former having adjustable matter, numbering and dating wheels, or the like and being inked by a roller carried by the pivoted guide. The feed-roller 223 is carried eccentrically on a spindle, as shown, so as to allow the voucher strip feed to, be thrown off by means of the link 231, Fig. 15, when the " Charge " key is depressed, as on this operation the amount is printed on a separate slip placed on the table, which is then pushed into the machine. In this case the pin 244, Fig. 18, engages a spring latch 254, until released by the lever 245, whereupon the table ejects the slip in the usual way. The pivoted guide 222 and inking-roller are rocked in this operation so that the printing-roller 224 is not unnecessarily inked. To necessitate the insertion of the check table with the slip in the case of a "Charge" transaction, the lever 371, Fig. 15, is adapted to be engaged by the charge key and to hold down the arm 376 of a locking-device, described below, unless the slip table inserted has carried the pin 377 on the supporting-sleeve against the lever 371, thrusting it transversely out of engagement with the locking arm 376. The means for unlocking the machine by insertion of the entryretaining device, and for locking this in position until the operation is completed, is shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 15. The entry device has a cam 311 with notch 312, which on insertion raises the lever 313, lowering the lever 315, Fig. 15, and sliding plate 318 until the projection 322 on the latter passes the spring pawl 325 pivoted on the bent-lever 323. The lever 313 then falling into the notch 312 raises the pawl 325, allowing the lever 323 to be rocked forward, by the spring 331 pulling down the near arm of the lever, thus at the same time displacing the stop 329 from in front of the piece 330 attached to the operating-pinion 38. The notch 328 on the lever 323 simultaneously receives the projection 322, thus holding the lever 313 in locked engagement with the notched cam 311 of the entry device. A wrong-entry device is released by depressing the key 353, which operates levers 356, 360, Fig. 2, and releases the projection 322 and lever catch 313. Simultaneously, a second locking pin on the side of the entry-retaining device is released from a pin 337, Fig. 13, on a spring plate 338, which is moved transversely by the bevelled nose 353<g> of the lever 353<d>, also operated by the release key ; the machine being locked meanwhile by the arm 361 engaging the cam disk 363. The shaft 324 and lever 323 are rocked until a projection 351 engaging the nose 322 raises the lever catch 313 sufficiently to clear the cam 311, whereupon the entry device is ejected by the spring plunger 341. This additional motion of the plate 318 and lever 313 is normally effected by the roller 332, Fig. 2, on the pinion 37 engaging the rear end of the lever 323. The catch-pin 337 is normally moved to release position by the incline 340 on the sliding plate 137. Depression of the amount keys is prevented when it is required to print only the amount on the entry device, the " Bill" key for this purpose rocking a lever so as to bring its slotted end against a pin on a transverse shaft 385, the pins 387, Fig. 3, on which are thus held in engagement with a slotted plate 386 attached to links 384 pivoted to the amount key detent plates as shown, thus preventing displacement of the latter and operation of the keys. Depression of one of the " Special " keys releases by means of their detent plate and shaft 394 the special drawer for the entry devices, which is fitted with plungers 418 operating indicating-wheels 412 so as to read off the amount, this indicating- mechanism being in a locked compartment in the drawer.