Patent GB-143311-A (GB)
Abstract: 143,311. Haddan, A. J. H., (National Cash Register Co.). Feb. 19, 1919. Cash-registers with operating-means; keyboards; differential mechanism; full-stroke mechanism; tablet indicators; flashes.-In keyboard machines of the single-bank independently-operated type, (1) the single bank of keys controls all the differentially-set segments for controlling printing and totalizing of items &c., of which one segment is provided for each denomination of the item, one for the character of the transaction, and one for clerk's initial, (2) a form of lateralshift denomination-selecting mechanism is provided, which in itself forms the subject of Specification 143,462, (3) the keys controlling credit transactions disable the totalizing-mechanism, and (4) certain features of novelty are provided in the flash and indicating mechanism. (1) The ten keys 40, Figs. 4 and 5, each represent a digit and a clerk's initial; in addition, keys 0, 1, 2, 3 represent " cash," '' paid out," " charge," and " received on account," while the key 9 is a " no-sale " key. All keys are pivoted on the shaft 29, Fig. 5, and are provided with slots 46, through all of which passes a bar 47 carried by two arms 48 pivoted on a shaft 49 and passing through a lug on an arm 50 pivoted at 49 and provided with a toothed quadrant 51. A crowding lock is provided so that, when one key is depressed, no ether key can be depressed, and, in addition, when a key is depressed, the bar 47 is moved into the horizontal portions of the key-slot, and an additional lock is effected. The differentially-moved segments 130 are mounted on nested sleeves 140 on a cross-rod 141, the three sectors on the left (Fig. 4) corresponding to " amount," while the two on the right are for clerk's initial and character of transaction. (2) A set of item wheels 66 is carried loosely on a sleeve 70 mounted on a fixed bar 71, and normally in the position shown in Fig. 4, out of engagement with either the actuator 51 or the segments 130. The sleeve, together with the item wheels, is moved step by step to the left successively, upon depression of the keys, by means of a cam-ridge 86 moving between the teeth of a rack 78, Fig. 4, attached to the sleeve 70. The cam-ridge 86 is formed on a flange 85, Fig. 15, carried at the end of an arm 84 pivoted at 59. A rod 57 carried by arms pivoted at 59 passes through slots 64 formed in the key-levers. The depression of a key swings the arm 84, Fig. 7, about its centre, and also moves the rod 57 into the parts of the slots 64 which are circular, thus giving a lock to the keylevers. The two sets of slots are so arranged that, during a depression of a key, the first part of the key movement causes the end item wheel on the left to be moved into engagement with the actuator 51 owing to the shape of the cam-ridge. During the middle part of the key movement, no lateral motion is given to the item wheels, but the inclined portions of the slots 46 cause the actuator 51, and also the item wheel in engagement therewith, to be moved differentially according to the value of the key. The last part of the key movement causes the item wheels to be slid a half-step to the left to bring the end item wheel into engagement with the end sector 130 on the right. The key-lever is returned by a spring, and, during this movement, the rack 78 is lifted and kept alined while lifted by the top teeth engaging the nose 101 on an arm 102 pivoted at 59. The last key but one depressed corresponds to the clerk's initial, the last key to the character of the transaction or the " no sale." When the whole item, together with the clerk's initial and transaction, has been set up, it may be viewed through holes in the frame. The item is transferred to the printing-wheels by the operation of the main handle to zeroize the item wheels. The main handle drives the main shaft 29 through a oneway clutch. A bar 151 carried by two sectors 153 passes through slots in the item wheels. The sectors gear with sectors 154 which are rotated by cams from the main shaft. Rotation of the latter first zeroizes the item wheels, the item being thrown into tha differential sectors 130 and through the nested sleeves 140, sectors 145, wheels 146, and further nested sleeves to the printing- wheels 149. The last part of the movement of the main handle, through cam mechanism, rocks a cam 111 which engages a roller 113 on the sleeve 70 and moves the item wheels to normal, the rack being again lifted to permit of this. The rack is lifted when the end of a slot 100 in the flange 85 meets the lug 99 carried by the sleeve 82 and rocks the latter, and with it the arm 94. Similarly, when the main handle is rocked, the arm 102 is rocked, and a lug 126 engages a rod 97 and rocks the sleeve 82. A lug 109 on the disk 96, carried by the sleeve 82 and in contact with the flange 85, ensures that a key once started must be completely depressed. (3) The totalizer is carried at 201 by arms 203 rigid with a lever 202 pivoted at 135. A pivoted forked part 2033 embraces a pin 207 carried bv an arm pivoted at 209. A link of the part 2033 carries a pin 204 engaging the lower part of a member 177, which is rocked by cam-gear, so that the lever 202 is rocked to bring the totalizer into gear with teeth on the amount-printing wheels before the item wheels are zeroized. Projections on the key-levers overlap or underlap a shaft 211, Fig. 7, carried by arms pivoted at 209, so that when a credit key is depressed, the shaft 209 is rocked, and with it the arm 208, which carries down the part 2033 and disconnects the pin 204 from the part 177, whereby the totalizer is not actuated. (4) The indicating-tablets are carried in frames 253. Five amount frames are provided, a transaction frame, and a clerk initial frame. The two latter indicate at both front and back of the machine. Of the amount indicators, the first and fifth indicate hundreds and units at the front, while the second and fourth indicate units and hundreds at the back. The first and fourth are connected, and also the second and fifth, the third indicating on both sides. The franues are carried on members 255 pivoted at 158, and are positioned according to the segments 130, and operated from the main handle. A plate with holes through which the indicator tablets are viewed is moved against the influence of a spring when the " no sale " key is depressed, partly to screen the indication at the back of the machine.