Patent GB-501443-A (GB)
Abstract: 501,443. Cash registers. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. July 23, 1937, No. 20408. Convention date, July 23, 1936. [Class 100 (iv)] [Also in Group XIX] Type - wheel actions: hummer - impression arrangements.-The printing-mechanism of a cash register or similar accounting-machine comprises a number of type carriers mounted within a drum rotatable to present the carriers successively to each of a number of spaced platens, the platens being selectively operable to take impressions from desired type carriers as they are presented thereto. The invention is described as applied to a machine for use in registering multiple-item transactions of three distinct classes and single-item transactions, and for taking totals from the usual auxiliary totalizers. Printing is effected on an' inserted slip, voucher, and record strip by means of roller platens 301, 401, 501, Fig. 4, that press the respective record materials against the periphery of a drum carrying four lines of type-wheels I.... IV and rotated through one revolution at each operation. The platens are variously controlled in different types of operation to select the record materials and the line or lines of type for printing on one or more of them. The data set on the keyboard is transmitted to the type-wheels through epicyclic gearing to enable the connections to be maintained during the rotation of the drum. The machine is provided with the usual amount keys 10, Fig. 1, motor bar 19, and commodity, clerks' and transaction keys 11 ... 13. A special key bank includes keys 14 ... 16, to condition the machine for entering three distinct types of multiple-item transaction, multiple-item total-taking being initiated automatically in an operation in which one of these special keys but no amount key is depressed. If key 14 is depressed, a multiple-item voucher, Fig. 29, is issued and slip printing is suppressed. Key 16 is depressed when it is desired to sum the items' written on a multiple-item slip, Fig. 31, and receipt that slip by printing the total thereon, voucher-issue being suppressed. Key 15 is depressed to receipt a number of single-item slips and obtain the total of those items, this total being printed only on the record strip and voucher-issue being suppressed during the whole series of operations. A stay-down key 18, controlled by a lock, suppresses voucherissue in single-item " Cash " transactions, and slip printing in all single-item operations. Date-setting wheels 52 are accessible through an aperture in the keyboard. The differential mechanisms for the various banks are similar and of the known type described in Specification 466,118, (Group XIX]. The printing drum comprises four lines of type-wheels I ... IV, Figs. 4 and 5, supported between rings 95, 96 and rotatable as a unit about a shaft 59. Line I includes type-wheels 905 for the four lower denominations of the amount and a word-drum 908 set by the keys 11, Fig. 1, to print the names of the commodities as shown in Figs. 28 and 29. Lines II and IV each include a complete set of type-wheels, namely: date wheels 901 set by manually adjustable wheels 52, Figs. 1 and 5, consecutivenumber wheels 902 advanced in single-item and total-taking operations, a commoditysymbol wheel 903, a clerks' number wheel 904, amount wheels 905, a transaction wheel 906, and a mode of operation wheel 907 set by the keys of the special bank. Line III, Fig. 6, includes wheels 905 for the four lower denominations of the amount, and commoditysymbol and clerks' number wheels 903, 904. Lines I and III are used for printing items on the voucher strip and record strip, respectively, the type on the amount wheels of these lines being smaller than that on the amount wheels of lines II and IV to distinguish items from totals. Corresponding type-wheels of the various lines all mesh with a common internal-external gear ring 88 rotatable on a disc rigid with the shaft 59. With the exception of those for the consecutive-number wheels, each gear ring 88 is connected by a pinion 82, shaft or sleeve 81, pinion 80 and planetary wheel 79 to a second series of internal-external gear rings 50 set by the differential mechanisms 22 and dating wheels 52. The drum is locked in position while the type-wheels are being set in the first half of each machine cycle. After having been set, the type-wheels are aligned by a bail 171, Fig. 4, engaging the gear rings 88, and the drum is given a complete clockwise rotation in the second half of the cycle by a drive gear 105, Fig. 5, meshing with teeth on the ring 95, this rotation being permitted by the planetary wheels. In addition to the lines of type-wheels, the printing drum carries an electro 148, Fig. 4, for heading vouchers. For the purpose of resetting the consecutive number wheels 902 of lines II and IV, these are connected by the associated gear rings 88 to a set of wheels 912 on a notched shaft 130 of the drum, which shaft is adapted for rotation by an insertable key to zeroize the wheels 912 in usual manner and with them the type-wheels 902. The roller platens 301, 401, 501, Fig. 4, for the slip, voucher, and record strip, are mounted on arms of shafts 345, 545, 518 respectively, and are connected to operating bell-cranks through compression springs 346. The platens are rocked by means of cams on a shaft 200 to take impressions from desired type on the printing drum, the effectivity of the various cams being controlled by cam discs on shafts 200, 201 and by a rock shaft 150. The shaft 150 is rocked clockwise towards the end of the first half of all single-item and total-taking operations and is restored towards the end of such operations. The record strip 502, Figs. 4 and 27, receives an impression at each machine operation. If the operation consists in the entry of an item of a multiple-item transaction, the impression is taken from line III, Fig. 6, of the printing drum. In all other operations the impression is taken from line IV. For this purpose, the platen-operating bell-crank 547, Fig. 4, is normally connected by a link 548 and stud 551 to an actuating crank 552 rocked by a cam 556 of shaft 201. However, in single item total-taking operations, the clockwise rocking of shaft 150 lowers the link 548 to disconnect the stud 551 from the crank 552 and engage a second stud 561 with an actuating crank 562 rocked by another cam 566 of shaft 201. Printing on the slip is effected by platen 301, Fig. 4, co-operating with type lines II and IV to give the duplicate print shown in Fig. 31. Slips are printed in single-item operations, in multiple-item entering operations controlled by key 15, and in multiple-item total-taking operations controlled by key 16. A slip feeler disables the platen operating means in the absence of a slip. The platen is actuated by a cam 354, Fig. 12, acting through a crank 352, stud 351, lever 348 and the operating bell-crank 347. While the cam-shaft 201 is at rest, the stud 351 is disengaged from the crank 352 by a cam 327 acting through a lever 325 and link 349 to hold the lever 348 depressed. When the shaft 201 rotates, the lever will become coupled to the crank unless it is maintained depressed by a lever 386 carried by a shaft 371 positioned under the control of the slip feeler. The feeler comprises fingers 380, Fig. 4, carried by a shaft 379 and rocked at each operation to sense the presence or absence' of a slip on a plate 300. If a slip is present, the lever 386 is rocked one step counter clockwise to free a stud 385 on the lever 348 and render the platen effective. Alternatively, if no slip is present, the lever rocks two steps to restrain the lever and disable the platen. Slip printing is prevented in all multiple-item operations controlled by the key 14 and in all single-item operations controlled by key 18, the lever 386 being held in the position shown by a lever 381 rocked clockwise by a cam disc 384 set by the differential of the special bank. .Coupling of the lever 348 to the crank 352 may also be prevented by pawls 309, 331; Fig. 13, intercepting a shoulder 350 of the link 349. The pawl 309 is controlled by a disc 313, set by the differential of the special bank, and is also controlled by the shaft 150 that is rocked in all single-item and total-taking operations, with the result that the pawl is effective tu prevent slip printing in the itementering operations of a transaction controlled by key 16, Fig. 1. The pawl 331 is controlled by a disc 333, set by the differential of the special bank, and is also controlled by a lever 335 rocked counterclockwise upon depression of an amount key, with the result that this pawl is effective to prevent slip printing in multiple-item total-taking operations controlled by the key 15, Fig. 1, and in all normal total and subtotal taking operations. The platen 401, Fig. 4, for the voucher is actuated by two cams 454, 464, Fig. 14, on the shaft 201. In multiple-item entering operations, cam 454 is effective to cause a print from type line I thus recording the item and the name of the commodity, Fig. 29. In multipleitem total-taking operations, cam 464 becomes effective to cause prints from the duplicate type lines II and IV and from the electro. In single-item operations both cams are effective to print a voucher such as that shown in Fig. 28, from type lines I, II and IV, and the electro. Vouchers are printed in singleitem operations unless a slip is present. In single-item '' Charge " and " Paid on Account " operations, both voucher and slip are printed. Voucher printing in single-item " Cash '' operations may be prevented by depressing a key 18 in the special bank. Vouchers are printed in multiple-item operations controlled by key 14, but not in those controlled by key 15 or 16. Voucher-printing is normally effected in total and subtotal taking operations but may be suppressed by inserting a slip that is not itself printed. The connections between the cams 454, 464 and the platen-operating bel