Patent GB-285500-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to cash registers
IPC: G06C7/10
Filed: 1928-02-18
Abstract: 285,500. National Cash Register Co., (Assignees of Robertson, W. H.). Feb. 19, 1927, [Convention date]. Cash registers with operating means; tickets, issuing. -A cash register is provided with means whereby, without previous manipulation, the item pertaining to the last operation of the machine may be repeated as the item of a new operation. Moreover in a similar manner the total taken and cleared from the totalizer may be entered again in the machine. The machine described belongs to one of the known types of cash register, but modifications are introduced to adapt the machine for registering fares and issuing tickets on or in connection with vehicles. The machine has seven banks of numeral keys 50, Fig. 1, a transaction bank 69, a total and sub-total control lever 162, a release or starting key 76 and a repeat key 164. Of the numeral banks the two left-hand banks are used only for setting up numbers denoting departure stations, and the neighbouring two banks similarly serve for destinations, while the remainder are amount or fare banks. After setting up the particulars on the keyboard the operator depresses the releasekey to start the motor or permit of hand operation. The complete item is thereupon exposed on the indicators 320, and printed on a record-strip and a voucher-strip, the voucher is severed and ejected, and the fare entered in the totalizer. If another and similar ticket is then required, the operator need only depress the repeat key 164, whereupon the previous item (preserved in the normal manner by the indicators) is again entered in the totalizer and indicated and printed as in the first operation. Thus any number of tickets may be issued and the fares registered by repeated operation of the machine by means of the key 164. Depression of this key after a total-taking operation will similarly result in the entering of the total as a new item. Keyboard. The keys are mounted in the known manner and are latched down and locked by the ordinary detent and locking plates. The keys of the two left-hand or departure banks and the transaction keys 69 remain down until released by hand, but. the other keys are released at the end of an operation as usual. Machine release. The machine is released for operation by depression either of the release. key 76 or of the repeat key 164. When the release kev is depressed a pin 115, Fig. 4, rocks a pawl 114 pivoted at 121 so as to allow a link 110 to descend and consequently an arm 104 to release the clutch mechanism and switch in the motor. The pawl 114 is provided with the known spring- controlled pawl 122 for preventing a second operation by continued depression of the release key. Machine locks. (1) The machine cannot be released unless the operator's identification key is in position. This key when inserted rocks a shaft 125, Fig. 4, to the position shown in order to remove an arm 126 from the path of shoulder 127 on pawl 114. (2) A proprietor's key controls a lever 135, to place a pin 138 into or out of the path of the tail of the pawl 114. (3) A finger lever 145, when rotated counterclockwise by the operator, positions a stud 147 in a notch 148 in the pawl 114, thus preventing accidental operation of the machine. Control of keys by operating means. The keylocking plates 60, Fig. 3, are operated by connection with the machine release link 110, a stud 155, Fig. 4, on which engages a bifurcated arm of a yoke 157. When this yoke rocks to the left due to the release of the link it will cam arms 159 upwards and through studs 158 raise the plates to lock the keys. Transaction key control of machine. The link 110 cannot descend to release the machine unless a transaction key has been depressed to remove an arm from blocking the yoke 157. A second arm operated by the transaction detent plate ensures release of the yoke only when the key has been fully depressed. Release of amount and destination keys at end of operation of machine. The detent plates for these keys are each provided with a stud 170, Fig. 3, engaged by an arm 171 fast on shaft 160. Also fixed to this shaft is an arm 173, Fig. 8, having a pin 174 engaged by an arm 175 pivoted at 176. Normally embracing a stud 177 on this arm 175 is a hooked pitman 178 urged by a spring 179 into operative engagement with a cam 181 on the main shaft 80. In ordinary operations therefore, the link is cammed to the left to rock the shaft 160 clockwise and through the arms 171 depress the detent plates to liberate the keys. The arms are broad enough also to depress studs 185 and thereby positively restore the key-locking plates 60. Error-lever. Amount and destination keys can be released by means of a finger lever 191, Fig. 8, the upwardly-directed arm of which can engage a pin 194 and so rock the shaft 160 to free the keys, as above described. The machine cannot be released for operation while the error lever is displaced, and vice versa, for an extension 195 of the yoke 157 interlocks with a stud 196 on the error lever. Another arm 205 of the error lever is adapted through a yoke 208 to rock an arm 209 to maintain the clutch latch if the release key 76 should be operated with the error lever partially depressed. Differential mechanism. This is of a known type, an universal bail 221, Fig. 3, when swung to the left by cam action from the main shaft, permitting toothed segments 216 to move under spring influence until stopped by depressed keys. Upon the restoring movement of the bail the segments appertaining to the amount banks effect the actuation of the totalizer 230 swung meanwhile into engagement therewith. Operation counter. A known form of counter is fed one step at each operation of the machine. Totalizer. The totalizer pinions 230, Fig. 4, one for each amount bank and four overflow pinions located in the station banks, are supported on a shaft 260 carried by arms 261 fixed to a shaft 262 adapted to be rocked by an arm 263 and link 264. A stud 265 on this link is normally embraced by the bifurcated end of a lever 267 rocked by a cam on the main shaft 80 to time the engagement of the totalizer for adding operations. Each totalizer pinion is aligned, when out of engagement, by a pawl 276, Fig. 3, pivoted on an arm 275 fixed to the shaft 262. The pawl is urged by a spring 278 against a stud 277, but when the totalizer is moved into engagement by the rocking of shaft 262 the tail of the pawl strikes a flange 280 to disengage the pawl from the pinion- Indicating-mechanism. Indicating-drums 320, Fig. 3, are differentially set during the return stroke of the bail 221 so as to show the item set up on the keyboard. For this purpose toothed sector 321, loose on shaft 215 and geared through pinions 322 with the drums, are coupled with the corresponding differential actuators 216 by means of floating pinions 340. At the commencement of an operation these pinions are disengaged to allow the forward movement of the bail 221 to restore the sectors 321 and therefore the indicating drums to the zero position. The floating pinions are then re-engaged to effect the adjustment of the drums to the new item by the return stroke of the bail. The means for shifting the pinions in and out of gear with the sectors 321 and actuators 216 are not the same for the amount and destination banks as for the departure and transaction banks. The amount &c. pinions are loose on a rod 341 suspended by arms fixed on a shaft 343. An arm 344, Fig. 8, fast on this shaft has a stud 345 normally engaged by a notch in a pitman 346 guided at 347 by a slot in the repeat key 164 and pivoted to an arm secured to shaft 210 adapted to be rocked by an arm 349 and cam 352, Fig. 15, on the main shaft 80. The coupling pinions for the departure station banks are controlled bv an arm 365 fast on shaft 210 and bifurcated to engage loosely the rod supporting the pinions. The transaction bank pinion is moved in and out of engagement by the hooked end 360 of arm 349 loosely engaging the rod 361 on which the pinion is mounted. Repeat mechanism. In a repeat operation, initiated by depression of the key 164, the item set up in the previous operation and left standing on the indicators and on the sectors 321 is entered again in the machine and this is brought about by maintaining the coupling pinions 340 in gear with the sectors and actuators throughout the operation. The key when depressed disengages the pitman 346, Fig. 8, from stud 345 and thereby breaks the control by shaft 210 of the coupling pinions for the amount and destination banks; the pinions for the other banks are. unaffected and they will function in the ordinary way, the keys for these banks being still latched down. With the amount &c. coupling pinions in mesh therefore, the advance of the universal rod 221 will carry the sectors 321 back to zero as usual and simultaneously will reset the amount &c. actuators by movement thereof to the same extent. On its return the rod will accordingly actuate the totalizer and re-set the indicators &c. to their former positions. The repeat key also serves to' release the machine and for this purpose a stud 410, Fig. 8, on the key rocks an arm 412 and shaft 413 counterclockwise so that another arm 414. Fig. 4, displaces the pawl 114 clockwise to release the link 110. The arm 412 is held by a spring in the normal position but may be rocked either way, namely, counterclockwise as stated to free the machine or clockwise by means of the total lever as described later; in the latter case an edge 422 comes below the stud 410 to prevent depression of the key. The zero stop pawls of the amount and destination banks must be disabled in repeat operations and a stud 430 on the release key is therefore provided to engage an arm 432 and rock a shaft 433, other arms of which, 434, Fig. 12, disable the stop pawls 62 and also obstruct pawls 437 (loose on the detent plates 57) to prevent depression of keys in these banks. Conversely any depressio