Patent GB-822428-A (GB)
Abstract: 822,428. Cash registers. BEAVIS, E. T. (National Registrier Kassen Augsburg G.m.b.H.) Oct. 30, 1957, No. 33904/57. Class 106 (1). A cash register has a set of differential actuators settable under the control of amount keys for actuating an item totalizer and a second set of actuators for actuating a group totalizer, a mechanism normally coupling the second set of actuators to the first set for simultaneous operation, and means, under the control of control keys, for rendering the coupling mechanism ineffective in certain operations. The invention is applied to a machine having an add/subtract item totalizer on one line and four interspersed group totalizers on another line selected under the control of four clerks' keys. Both sets of actuators are effective when the items of a multiple item transaction are entered by means of an Itemizer Key, and both are effective following depression of a Single-item Key, but in this case the item totalizer is effectively disengaged as described below. The item totalizer actuators only are effective in Subtract, Total and Subtotal operations. Differential mechanism.-In each order, a pair of complementarily movable differential members 111, 112, Fig. 2, are caused to embrace the stem of the depressed amount key and to set a type wheel and an indicator drum 148 accordingly as described in Specification 703,886. The member 111 which moves an amount directly corresponding to the value of the depressed key acts through a link 152 to rock an actuating segment 151 about a shaft 153. The latter is mounted in arms 207, Figs. 3 and 16, rockable about a shaft 185 to mesh the segments 151 with pinions 154 driving the item totalizer wheels. Also pivoted on the shaft 153 adjacent each segment 151 is a segment 158 which, when the shaft 153 is rocked round the shaft 185, engages a pinion 159, Fig. 7, geared to the selected group totalizer. An arm 200 pivoted at 201 on the segment 158 has an ear normally engaged in a slot of the segment 151 so as to couple the segment 158 to the differential mechanism. The segments 158 are uncoupled by counterclockwise movement of the shaft 153, pawls 196 on the latter engaging pins 199 in the coupling arms 200 and camming them clockwise so that rear portions 204 enter a longitudinal groove in the shaft 153. When uncoupled the segments 158 are held by springs 213 against an aligning rod 212. Preventing actuation of a group totalizer.-On depression of the Subtract Key 103, Fig. 5, a plate 172 is cammed downwardly and through a link 178 rocks an arm 179 which couples a camactuated bar, Fig. 6 (not shown), to a lever 192 connected to the shaft 153. Thus, early in the machine cycle the shaft 153 is rocked so as to uncouple the actuating segments 158 for the group totalizers as described above. Depression of the Total Key 104 or Subtotal Key 105 has the same effect, a plate 168 being cammed downwardly and, through a stud 173, shifting the plate 172. Totalizer selection.-A differential mechanism associated with the bank of four clerks' keys positions a drum cam 238, Fig. 7, which shifts the No. 2 totalizer line shaft axially to engage riders 245 with internal teeth of the wheels of the totalizer corresponding to the clerks' key depressed. The riders move in grooves 244 in bushes 165 fast with the driving pinions 164 geared to the pinions 159 engaged by the actuating segments 158. Addition and subtraction.-The plus wheels 263, Figs. 7 and 8, of the item totalizer are geared through pinions 277, 279 and 280 to the minus wheels 264 and the interspersed sets of plus and minus wheels are selected for actuation by riders 262 by axial movement of the No. 1 line shaft in a similar manner to the clerks' totalizers. In this case, however, the riders can assume a blank position in which no totalizer wheels are actuated, and, moreover, the drum cam 253 is directly operated by depression of one of the control keys through a section having cam notches by which it is differentially positioned by studs in the key stems. Depression of an Itemizer Key which is offset from the other control keys causes depression of a blind keystem in the bank of control keys and this postions the No. 1 line to select the plus wheels. The Total and Subtotal Keys also select the plus wheels, whereas the Subtract Key selects the minus wheels and a Single-item Key moves the riders to the blank position so that the item totalizer is not actuated. Tens transfer.-When a plus wheel 263, Figs. 7 and 8, of the item totalizer passes through its zero position, in either direction, a pin 290 therein rocks a latch 291, 293 so that an ear 296 of a transfer pawl 297 can move from a notch 294 into a notch 295. The pawl 297 is carried by a lever 299 which is rocked by a cam 303 to cause the pawl, when in released position, to engage and advance by one step a ratchet-wheel 259 fast with the driving pinion 156 of the next higher order. The pawl 297 is lifted by the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel so that its ear 296 re-enters the notch 294 of the latch 293. The transfer unit is added or subtracted according to whether the totalizer is set for addition or subtraction since the driving pinion 156 is coupled through its associated rider 262 with the plus or minus wheel, respectively. A similar transfer mechanism is provided for the interspersed clerks' totalizers. Controlling engagement of actuators.-The arms 207, Fig. 16, supporting the actuatorcarrying shaft 153 have rollers 313 in cam slots of arms 314 so that the actuators may be engaged with the pinions 154, 159 by raising the arms 314. A pin 319 passes through a slot 318, Fig. 18, in one of the arms 314 and also through a cam slot in an arm 321 positioned by a sector 336 set by studs in the stems of the control keys. The pin 319 also passes through slots in levers 324, 325, as shown in Fig. 18, and the levers 324 and 325 are rocked by cams 330, 331 during the forward and return strokes respectively. Depression of the Total Key, through the sector 336, positions the pin 319 in the centre of the slots so that the arms 314 are raised under the control of the lever 324 only and hence the actuators are engaged for the first part of the cycle. Depression of the Subtotal Key positions the pin 319 in the right-hand end of the slots so that both of the levers 324, 325 are effective to raise the arms 314. Consequently, the actuators are engaged initially and remain engaged for the return stroke. If the Singleitem Key, the Subtract Key, or the Itemizer Key is depressed, the pin 319 is moved to the left end of the slots where the lever 325 alone is effective so that the actuators are engaged during the return stroke only. Totals and subtotals.-Fast with each plus wheel of the item totalizer is a disc 268, Figs. 7 and 19, having a notch 343 in the zero position which is sensed by a lever 269. The levers 269 are normally held ineffective by arms 345 on a shaft 276 but on depression of either the Total or the Subtotal Key, the plate 168, Fig. 5, is cammed downwardly and an ear 368 thereof frees a lever 347 fast on the shaft 276 for release by a cam 350 so as to rock the arms 345 to release the sensing levers 269. The zero stops 124, Fig. 2, are also rocked by arms 359 on a shaft 222 rocked by means of a link 356 so that the actuating mechanism is able to drive the totalizer pinions to zero position where they are arrested by the levers 269, engaging the notches 343. While a lever 269 engages the periphery of its disc 268 a bent-over tail portion 353 engages over a stud 354 in the complementary differential member 112 which is thus held against movement until the main differential member has been set under the control of the totalizer pinion. On depression of a total key, the plate 168 rocks a yoke 377 which moves arms beneath studs in plates cammed downwardly by depression of amount keys which is consequently prevented. Moreover, if an amount key is depressed, the same mechanism will prevent depression of a total key. The yoke is also connected to a sector 385, Fig. 20, associated with the control keys so that on depression of either total key, all of the other control keys are blocked against depression. Blocking Single-item Key in multiple-item operations.-On depression of either the Itemizer Key 106, Fig. 20, or the Subtract Key 103, a sector 361 is cammed to the position shown, in which a portion 364 blocks depression of the Single-item Key 102. Initially, an extension 371 of the sector 361 is engaged over a pin 370 in a lever 367, 369 and an ear 372 of the latter is beneath a segment 373 of a gear 374 but on rotation of the gear, the lever is released to assume the position shown in which the pin 370 blocks return movement of the sector 361. Thus, the Single-item Key remains blocked until a total is taken. On depression of the Total Key 104, the lever 367, 369 is rocked to an intermediate position in which the sector 361 is held in blocking position but towards the end of the cycle, the cam segment 373 restores the lever to its former position and the sector 361 is released. Enforcing depression of a clerk's key.-A plate, Fig. 12 (not shown), is cammed upwardly by depression of any one of the clerk's keys so as to move a blocking portion from the path of an arm rocked by a machine release segment. The plate is latched in its moved position and itself latches the depressed key. The latch is rocked to release the plate and the key on depression of the Single-item Key or a total Key.