Patent GB-660632-A (GB)
Title: Cash registers and similar accounting machines
IPC: G06C11/08
Filed: 1949-11-09
Abstract: 660,632. Cash registers. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Nov. 9,1949 [Sept. 16, 1949], No. 28691/49. Class 106 (i). In a cash register or similar accounting machine adapted to provide a perforated record of data entered, movement of the transaction control to a certain position locks the data entering devices and causes a record to be perforated indicative of said certain position. The invention is applied to a machine for registering purchases in a co-operative society stores. The machine is similar to that described in Specification 651,626 but includes members' number setting levers 900 in addition to amount levers 71, a transaction lever 200, a clerks' lever 117 and four removable clerks' release keys 210. A perforating mechanism at the centre of the machine punches details of purchases on an audit tape for subsequent use in an analysing machine. Entries on the tape of non-members' purchases are preceded by a special coded entry which controls the analysing machine to skip the non-members purchase; this coded entry is punched during an additional machine operation with the transaction lever in its ninth position which locks the amount levers in home position and disables a receipt printing mechanism and cash drawer release. The machine has a line of four interspersed totalizers selected by the clerks' lever 117. Geared to the totalizer wheels is a correspondingly interspersed line of printing wheels from which the clerks' totals can be printed manually on an inserted card without a machine operation, as described in Specification 660,644. Amount differential mechanism. The amount levers 71 (Fig. 2) pivot on the main shaft 37 and have integral gear sectors 85 engaging gears 86 connected through systems of nested tubes with the audit tape perforating mechanism at the centre and printing lines at the left of the machine. An arm 97 adjacent each amount lever is connected by a link 98 to a corresponding totalizer actuating segment 99 mounted in a frame 101, a spring 104 holding each arm 97 up to a pin 96 on its amount lever. During a machine cycle and with the amount levers adjusted, cams 110, 111 on the main shaft 37 first rock the frame about a shaft 103 to engage the segments 99 with totalizer drive gears 105. A cam 112 next engages a roller 113 on the link 98 to restore the segments 99 against the springs 104 to enter the amount on the selected totalizer. The segments 99 are then disengaged and finally allowed to return to set position. Rollers 73 on spring-actuated arms 74 engage notched segments 72 of the amount levers to retain them in adjusted position. Transaction lever mechanism. The transaction lever 200 (Fig. 24) has a toothed portion 207 for adjusting the printing lines and control discs for the perforating mechanism. In the first six positions, set items are entered on the totalizers and printed. In the seventh and eighth positions a linkage 201, 202 rocks lockout segments 204 to engage over surfaces 206 on the amount differential setting arms 97 to retain them unactuated. The item is then printed as a " Charge " or " Paid out," but is not entered on a totalizer. The transaction lever cannot be moved beyond the sixth position unless all the amount levers are in home position, the arms 97 otherwise engaging before the segments 204 and preventing such movement. In moving to the ninth position, a pin 830 on the transaction lever lifts an arm 831 and a connected yoke 832 to bring a locking-bar 838 behind the arms 74 to lock the amount levers against actuation; an issuing receipt printer is disabled, the clerks' drawers remain looked and the machine functions only to punch the special code on the audit tape. Totalizing mechanism. The four clerks' totalizers are interspersed in denominational groups. In each denomination there is a pinion 107 (Fig. 9) driven by the corresponding differential gear 105 and secured to a sleeve 118 on which the four totalizer wheels 119 are freely mounted. Coupling members 128 pass through slots in the sleeves 118 to engage internal teeth on the totalizer wheels and are adjusted to select the required totalizer wheels by endwise movement of a shaft 114 by means of a drum cam (not shown) rotated by the clerks' lever 117. To prevent accidental rotation of unselected totalizer wheels, a locking shaft 124 engages between teeth of wheels 145 meshing with them. The locking-shaft is adjusted with the shaft 114 and has clearance slots 147 for releasing the selected totalizer wheels. Transfer mechanism. Studs 175 (Fig. 9) on the totalizer wheels at the transfer point are adapted to trip a latch 176 (see also Fig. 2) in each order to release a transfer pawl 177 for engagement with the pinion 107 of the next higher order. Each transfer pawl 177 is carried by a lever 183 and, during a machine cycle, a series of cams 181 rock the levers in turn causing such pawls 177 as are released to make a trans. fer movement. Totalizer resetting. A reset shaft 146 (Fig. 2 and 9) carries reset wheels 145 permanently in mesh with the totalizer wheels 119 and is moved axially with the shafts 114 and 124, when the clerks' lever 117 is adjusted to select a totalizer, to align notches 349 with the reset wheels of the selected totalizer. The reset shaft is turned through one revolution through gearing 347, 348 by means of a key inserted to engage the gear 347, the notches picking up pawls within the selected reset wheels and restoring the selected totalizer to zero. A bail 312 (Fig. 2) associated with the machine lock mechanism holds the transfer pawls inactive when the lock is in the " reset " position. A pivoted flash 374 (Fig. 21) with a clearance opening 376 is controlled by a profiled cam-slot 371 to obstruct insertion of the reset key unless the clerks' lever 117 is correctly adjusted. Machine release. The machine is released by depressing a clerks' key 210, a stud 212 (Fig. 21) on the lock cylinder camming a segment 214 clockwise and a connected detent 221 counterclockwise to release a three-armed lever 224 to the action of a spring 226. One arm 227 of the lever 224 rocks the machine release shaft 230, a finger 231 on which closes the motor switch whilst a stop arm 57 releases a onerevolution clutch in the motor drive to the main shaft 37. Towards the end of the machine cycle, a stud 240 on a gear 241 on shaft 37 restores the three-armed lever and release shaft 230 to break the motor circuit and trip the clutch, the detent 221 returning under spring action to re-lock the three-armed lever. Should, however, the clerks' key be held depressed so that the detent 221 cannot return, the detent re-locks the lever 224 by engagement under a pawl 246 thereon in order to prevent a second operation. The pawl 246 is swept clear by the detent 221 upon depression of a key in normal operation. Interlocking arrangements. When the machine is released, a universal rod 220 (Fig. 2 and 24) on arms 219 on the shaft 218 of the machine release detent 221, is raised and engages behind the amount lever retaining arms 74, and similar retaining arms for the clerks' and transaction levers, so as to lock these levers whilst the machine is operating. If any of these levers is improperly adjusted the universal rod 220 engages under a step 259 in the corresponding arm 74 and the detent 221 cannot release the machine for operation. A similar interlock is provided between the account number levers 900 and the machine release shaft 230. A disc (not shown) connected with the clerks' lever 117 engages under the studs 212 of the clerks' key locks to secure them against operation, a slot in the disc clearing the stud of the lock to which the lever is adjusted. Indicators. The various setting levers are connected to indicator drums 80, 904 by links as 77 (Fig. 2) and gear sectors 78. When an amount lever 70 is operated, a shield 284 (Fig. 2) bearing the legend " Not registered " is lowered into position behind the front window 281; the shield is spring-actuated and normally held up by engagement of a pitman 274 over a catch 272, the retaining arm 74 of the operated amount lever tripping the catch to release the pitman and shield. During the machine cycle, a pin on the cam 111 rocks a bell-crank 279 to reset the pitman, and the shield is raised to reveal the legend " Registered " on a fixed plate 286. Corresponding legends for the rear window are marked on a rear extension of the shield 284. Machine lock. A key-operated lock barrel 290 (Fig. 21) has three positions of adjustment. In its intermediate or " add " position, the machine can be operated for entering items. When turned counterclockwise to the " locked " position, a pin 293 (Fig. 15) on the barrel, travelling in a slot 294 of a lever 295, rocks the lever clockwise to engage a stud 297 at its extremity into locking engagement with the three-armed lever 224 of the machine release mechanism to lock the machine against operation. When the lock is turned clockwise to the " reset " position, the lever 295 is again rocked to lock the machine against release. In addition, the pin 293 rocks a bell-crank 301 to draw a link 303 to the right; this rocks a locking finger 313 to release the totalizer printing mechanism as described in Specification 660,644, rocks a mask 322 to permit insertion of the totalizer resetting key, displaces a slide 330 to clear locking fingers 329 thereon from engagement with locking discs 327 on the resetting shafts 326 of clerks' counters 325 and clears a retaining flange 342 on the link 303 from a manual release slide for the clerks' cash drawers. During counterclockwise rotation of the lock, the pin 293 travels idly in an arcuate slot in the bellcrank 301. Cash drawer mechanism. Separate drawers 385-8 (Fig. 1 and 54) are provided for the four clerks and are selected for release by the clerks' lever 117, but release is prevented in the ninth position of the transaction lever 200. The drawers are retained against opening springs 389 by latches