Patent GB-534146-A (GB)
Abstract: 534,146. Typewriters &c. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Aug. 17, 1939, No. 23720. Convention date, Aug. 25, 1938. [Class 100 (iv)] [Also in Group XIX] A key-lever set and operated machine prints a record of each transaction, and has totalizers for two clerks, I and II, from each of which a total may be printed by rocking the printing frame and the totalizers may be reset to zero after printing the total thereon. The machine is generally of the type described in Specifications 330,631, [Class 106 (i)], and 371,435, [Group XIX], tens transfer for the totalizers being of the type shown in Specification 346,465, [Group XIX]. The machine is key operated and partial depression of a monetary key causes the resilient edge 33 of the coupler 30 to be hooked under a shoulder 34 on the depressed key. After all the keys for an item are depressed complete depression of one will cause all the coupled keys to effect operation. The driving shaft 36 of the machine is driven by an arm 35 (Fig. 15) loose on the coupler shaft 32, and pinned at 56 to the coupler the arm acting through a rack and pinion 38 and 37, the motions of the rack 38 up and down being guided by a nose 41 engaging a guide 42 under control of a throw over spring 43. A ratchet and pawl 45 and 46 renders the pinion 37 irreversible and ensures a complete reciprocation. The pawl 46 may be raised by a release key 23 if mistaken operation of the machine necessitates avoiding a full stroke. Printing mechanism.-The keys through known differential mechanism drive detail printing wheels 65 on a shaft 83, printing wheels 66 on a shaft 85 associated with a totalizer engaged by the I clerk key, and printing wheels 67 on a shaft 86 operated by a totalizer associated with the II clerk key. The printing hammer 162 (Fig. 8) is operated by a bell crank lever 163 operated by a cam 167 on the driving shaft 36 of the machine against the action of springs 164 and 165. The printing platen 115 is pivoted on a rod 114 and is held away from the type wheels by a spring 171 until a rear extension arm 170 tongued and grooved to it is struck by the hammer. When totals are being taken the operating shaft 36 of the machine does not move and the hammer is manually actuated by a lever 137, a shoulder 174 on which wipes over and depresses a pawl 175 on the hammer. If it is desired to take a total from the I totalizer a handle 178 is actuated which operates lever 137 and causes a stud 179 thereon to enter a slot 180 and rock the printing frame to bring the platen over the I totalizer. If a total is to be taken from the II totalizer a handle 188 moves the printing frame and causes stud 179 to enter a slot 189 and bring the platen over the II totalizer. Spring 165 is attached to a stud 181 and spring 164 to stud 182. As the printer frame is rocked a cam 185 rocks a lever 183 carrying stud 182 and stretches spring 164. The hammer thus strikes with greater force when impression is taken from the wider total counters. When the frame rocks completion of the printing operation is ensured by the full stroke mechanism described below. The totalizers are reset by notches on the counter spindle engaging pawls on the wheels as described in Specification 408,975, [Group XIX]. When stud 179 enters slot 180 it strikes a cam plate 214 Fig. 10 that slides the spindle of totalizer I into mesh with the reset rack on lever 197 and locks the cam plate 2,15 of totalizer II. When stud 179 enters slot 189 it strikes cam 215 that puts resetting pinion 195 of totalizer II into gear with the reset rack and locks cam 214 of totalizer I. The operating lever 197 of the re-setting racks also moves a cam plate 216 which has a tooth to engage a notch in the printing mechanism shaft 136 and prevents printing during re-setting. The locking of either cam plates 214 or 215 by the other is effected by a lever 210 with studs 212, 213 at opposite ends engaging the plates. Printer frame lock.-A control lever operates a shaft 77 carrying three cams 262, Fig. 17, 209 and 222, Fig. 10, engaging with the printing and re-setting means. In one position the cams lock the total printing and re-setting means. In another position totals only may be printed. In a third position totals may be printed and totalizers reset. The machine is covered by a cabinet preventing manipulation of the mechanism except through the keys and control levers. A lid 266, Fig. 17, gives access to the printing means under the control of a key lock, and to the record strip, the supply roll of which is mounted at the lower end of a lever 118 and the winding-on roll on the pivot of the lever, the pawls being arranged to move the strip from the reading point to the printing point and back to the reading point with appropriate feed. A lever 127 for manually feeding the record strip step by step can be used with the lid open ; or when the lid is shut a thumb-piece 272 on a sliding link 270 operating a lever 275 bearing against the lever 127 may be used to feed the strip by hand. Reading and writing apertures for the latest items on the strip are provided and opening of the lid gives access to the transaction operation counters. The control lever when set for total taking or re-setting also removes latches from the bolt of the cabinet key lock and unlocks the lid. Ink ribbon mechanism.-The ribbon passes across the printing wheels and is wound at each end round a spool. The left spool 94, Fig. 17, is driven a step each printing operation by a ratchet 146 and pawl 140 operated by a lever 142 and pin 139 on the printing frame. A friction coupling is interposed between this spool and its driving ratchet wheel. The other spool can be driven in either direction as desired by a ratchet, the first spool either causing its friction drive to slip or taking up the slack owing to its own drive. The direction of movement of the ink ribbon is of the kind disclosed in U.S.A. Specification 1,628.164. Full stroke mechanism.-In addition to the full stroke ratchet and pawls 45, 46 for the coupler drive to the main shaft described above ; a full stroke in printing a total is ensured by a pair of pawls 158, 159 pivoted on studs on the printer frame which in normal home position as shown in Fig. 8 rest with 159 against a fixed frame bar 303. When the frame is moved forward to print a total a spring between them causes the edge of pawl 158 to snap into a notch 156 in the other holding it so as to prevent complete return to normal. On the return from printing the lever 137 strikes the pawl 175 which strikes the pawl 158 away from a pin 91 and the latter disengages pawl 158 from the notch 156 allowing the parts to come to normal position. A similar device having two pawls with spring between ensures full stroke of the re-setting lever. These full-stroke mechanisms are similar to that described in U.S.A. Specification 1,870,004. Totalizing-counters for clerks I and II are mounted on frames 400, 401, Fig. 10, pivoted at 398 and 399 and are rocked into gear with the key-set racks by one or other of a pair of cam levers 414, 415 Fig. 17 pivoted on a plate 413 pivoted on cross bar 51 and actuated by forked levers swinging on the ends of rocking pawls 409, 410 one of which 410, is shown positioned to swing idly into a gap in a totalizer-selecting plate 418 pivoted on the cross bar 51, the other 409 being blocked by a tooth on the plate 418 and thus rendering its lever 414 effective when a main cam on shaft 36 swings a plate engaging the forked lever swinging on its pawl 409, to engage the counter and add in the item set. The counter parts for Clerk I are normally in position for adding the item as shown in Fig. 10; but if the key for Clerk II is depressed a pin 421 on it engages a slot 420 on the plate 418 to hold pawl 410 for action and let 409 swing idly. Both totalizers are held out of action if either a "Paid Out" or "No Sale" key is depressed, each of these keys having a pin to rock a plate pivoted on cross bar 51 and render the forked levers ineffective to engage either counter.