Patent GB-330631-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to indicating mechanism for cash registers and similar accounting machines
IPC: G06C11/02
Filed: 1929-03-14
Abstract: 330,631. National Cash Register Co., Ltd., (National Cash Register Co.). March 14, 1929. Cash registers with differentiallymoved indicators.-In an indicating- mechanism for cash registers and similar accounting - machines, the selection of indicia for display is accomplished by rotating and axially shifting indicating-members of polygonal cross section. The invention is described as applied to a machine of the key set and operated type having three banks of value keys and a " no sale " key. Each bank of value keys angularly sets an indicator in front of the machine through a differential mechanism and " minimum-movement " device. As shown in Fig. 2, a sector 39 is differentially set by the keys 35 of the dimes bank. Rotation of the sector 39 is communicated to an indicator 79 through an actuating- sector 50 mounted on the shaft 40 carrying the sector 39. The sector 50 is caused to follow the movements of the sector 39 by a " minimum-movement " beam 53, that has oppositely projecting pins 52 engaging cam slots 51, 64 in the sectors 39, 50, respectively, is pivoted to a link 55, and is actuated by the key coupler 57 through a cam slot 62. The indicators, Figs. 2 and 4, are each formed from a single length of tube swaged to form two angularly-staggered, pentagonal prisms, and are each secured by spiders 201, 203 to a hub 200 that is axially slidable on a square shaft 78, angularly set in the manner described above. Even numbers are marked on the faces of the upper prisms and odd numbers on the lower. Corresponding indicators in the front and rear rows are operably connected; the dimes indicators through pinion 90, Fig. 6, sector 91 and pinion 95; the cents indicators through pinion 113, sector 114, link 115, sector 117 and pinion 118; and the dollars indicators in a similar manner to the cents indicators. Means for aligning the indicators comprise rollers 156, Fig. 5, carried by a bail 157 and normally pressed into engagement with notched discs 155 on the indicator shafts. During the setting of the indicators, the aligning- rollers are disabled by means comprising camdiscs 186 rotated by links 177 at each movement of the key coupler. The rotation of the camdiscs causes an upward movement of rollers 189 that, through toggle links 190, 191 and pin 195 on the lever 198, effects an anticlockwise rotation of arms 158 causing the bail 157 to free the indicators. Simultaneously with their angular setting, the indicators are all raised on their supporting shafts by a frame 178, Fig. 4, that is operated from the key coupler through the links 177 and carries collars 204 engaging beneath the sleeves 200. At the upward limit of movement of the indicators, detents 211, Fig. 2, carried by the levers 192, 193 of the aligning- mechanism, engage beneath and retain in raised position those indicators that have a flat face disposed opposite a reading window 96. Indicators not so retained return to their lower position upon release of the keys. Front and rear transaction indicators, Fig. 13, comprise two horizontally-mounted, pentagonal prisms 250, 251, interconnected by sectors 258 and arranged normally to present the word " Cash." Upon depression of the " No Sale " key 270, the indicators are rotated by the cam-faced upper end 271 of a pitman 267 to the " No Sale " position, in which position they are retained by a latch that cooperates with a cam-plate 287 on the shaft of the front indicator 250. Upon depression of a valve key, the indicators are returned to the normal " Cash " position by a spring 260, the latch having been disabled by the pin 195 of the aligning-mechanism.