Patent GB-127228-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Cash Registers or the like.
IPC: G06C7/10
Filed: 1918-07-22
Abstract: 127,228. National Cash Register Co., (Assignees of Fuller, F. L.). May 23, 1918. [Convention date]. Cash registers.-Relates to cash registers of the kind described in Specification 21213/03 and consists in the provision of a keyboard, including item and special transaction keys, in place of the setting levers previously employed, and of a differential mechanism co-operating therewith. Depression of a special key is necessary to unlock the main operating handle, and an error lever is provided which can only be operated when the handle is in the neutral position. Keyboards; keyboard interlocks.-The banks of keys are carried by separate, removable, sheet metal key frames 36 integral with which are latch plates 39 formed with the usual notches 40. Moving on studs 48, 49 on the key frames are the slotted ends of key detent plates 50, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 provided with inclined slots 51 with which engage pins 46 on the key posts. The detent plates move against the influence of springs 52 connected to three-armed levers 54, pivoted on the studs 48, arms 55 of which are provided with stepped shoulders 56, 57 adapted to engage lugs 58 carried by the detent plates. Depression of the keys forces the detent plates downward in which position they are held to lock the key banks by the engagement of the lugs 58 by the shoulders 57 of the levers 54 which are rocked by the springs 52. Stops 60 are provided on the key frames to limit the return movement of the levers 54. Operation of the machine is only possible after depression of one of a series of special transaction keys 35, a pin 76 on the lever 54 of which rocks a bell-crank lever 350, Fig. 4, a pin 352 thereon serving to rock a shaft 32 through a slotted cam plate 353. Rotation of the shaft 32 removes a notched latch arm 30 from a pin 28 carried by a spring-retracted locking pawl 25 engaging a shouldered plate 26 on a shaft 24 driven by gearing from the main operating-shaft. Error levers.-Incorrectly depressed keys are freed by movement of a bell-crank lever 67 mounted on a shaft 68, Fig. 2, to which is secured a series of arms 75 adapted to engage studs 76 carried by extensions 77 of the levers 54 and thereby remove the stops 56 from the detent bars of all depressed keys. Operation of the error lever can only be effected before the operation of the . machine when the cranked end 70 thereof is opposite a gap 71 in a flange 72 carried by a wheel 21 driven from the main operating shaft. Differential mechanism; differentially - moved indicators.-Secured to a transverse shaft 85 are actuating segments 86, one for each key bank, and loose on the shaft is a corresponding number of differential segments 86 provided with teeth 1103 engaging racks 104 and terminating in radial arms 65, to which are pivoted at 89 latch levers 88, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, having teeth 90 adapted to engage the notches 40 and feet 91 to slide on the edges of the segments 86. Pivoted on the upper ends of the latch levers are one-way pawls 92, the tails 94 of which are spring- pressed into engagement with pins 95 on the latch levers. Before movement of the operating handle the feet 91 are held away from the differential segments by one-way spring pawls 97, carried by extensions 99 of the levers 54, engaging pins 100 on the latch levers, these parts being omitted from the special key latch-lever. In operation the depression of the keys moves the latch plates 50 and causes the levers 54 to rock in a counterclockwise direction. thus disengaging the pawls 97 from the pins 100 and allowing the feet 91 to engage the edges of the segments 86 under the influence of springs 105. Movement of the operating shaft imparts a reciprocating movement to the shaft 85 and its attached parts through cams 79 and toothed sectors 83, 84. The first movement of the segments 86 is clockwise, and towards the end thereof the feet 91 engage shoulders 106 in the segments 86, thus withdrawing the teeth 90 from the latch plates 39. On the return movement the segments 86 carry with them the differential segments 87, through the latch plates 88 and the arms 65, until the latch plates are removed from the notches 106 by the contact of the pawls 92 with the depressed keys, the segments being locked in this position by the engagement of the teeth 90 with the latch plates 39. During this movement of the segments 87 the racks are lifted to move both the indicator 14 and the totalizer 5 to an amount corresponding to the keys depressed, the counter being drawn downwards over the ascending racks as described in Specification 127,237. On a second operation 'the foot falls into the notch 106 on the upward movement of the segment 86, and the differential segments and the indicators are moved to the zero position by shoulders 107 on the segments 86 engaging pins 108 on the differential segments, the pawl 92 being rocked by any depressed key. If no key be depressed in a bank on a second operation the pin 100, in its return movement, rides over the pawl 97, the zero notch 40 being enlarged to allow this. A positive lock for the item keys during operation is effected by flanges 109 on the segments 86 which pass above or below pins 98 on the extensions 99 of the levers 54. Key release.-At the conclusion of each operation of the machine the levers 54 are rocked to release the key detent plates 50 by pins 163 on the segments 86 striking the parts 77 of the levers, the motion being produced by a projection 162 on the cam 79.