Patent GB-146438-A (GB)
Title: Monetary item subtracting and recording apparatus for use in issuing cheques
IPC: G06C27/00
Filed: 1920-07-03
Abstract: 146,438. Abel, A. April 7, 1919, [Convention date]. Adding and subtracting apparatus.-Relates to a calculating-apparatus for use in a system of banking whereby cash payments are eliminated during commercial transactions and the state of the payer's bank account can be verified by the receiver of the cheque issued. The invention consists in the employment of a printing, adding, and subtracting device having a totalizer on which the bank balance of the user is shown, and to which new deposits can only be added by a bank official possessing the key to open the device. Operation by the user is limited to subtraction, and when a payment is to be made the actuating elements are set to the amount of the payment, which must he shown on the totalizer for inspection by the payee, and be printed on a cheque or an adhesive label to be withdrawn from the apparatus before the actuating-elements are reset. Interlocking arrangements are provided to allow only one cheque &c. to be withdrawn at a time; to minimize the risk of loss, the cheque book and calculating-apparatus are separate, each cheque being validated by affixing the label on which is printed the amount, with or without the date and a distinguishing mark. The cheque or label strip may be carried in a folded condition or by a roll within the device. Fraudulent operation of the totalizer past the zero point to issue a cheque for a larger amount than that shown thereon is prevented by locking the highest numeral wheel at the zero point, the lock only heing removable when opened by the bank official. Additions to the amount shown on the totalizer are effected by zeroizing the totalizer and subtracting the complement of the new balance. As an additional precaution against fraudulent opening, the lock is provided with an internal seal which must be renewed after opening. The calculating-apparatus is of a known kind, consisting of spring-retractecl toothed racks 1 engaging totalizer wheels 2, bearing indicating numerals, movement of which beyond the zero position is prevented by a catch 5, Fig. 4, engaging a notch 4 in a boss 3 on the highest wheel 2<a>. Printing on the detachable cheque or adhesive label is effected from type 10 on the racks 1 by cams 12 on a crank-operated shaft 11 which press the type on the strip 15, a platen 13 and ink ribbon 14 being provided therefor. A roller 18 determining the amount by which the strip 15 is withdrawn is locked against operation, until the value of the cheque has been set on the bars 1, transferred to the totalizer and printed, by a spring catch 24 engaging a snail cam 22, Fig. 5, on the shaft of the roller. The catch 24 is carried by a slide 27, which is lowered by a cam 25 on the shaft 11 towards the end of a revolution of a crank 16 connected thereto, return movement of the slide 27 being prevented by the engagement of the catch 24 with the enlarged part of the cam 22. Re-setting of the racks 1 by the springs 7 is allowed when a bar 34, Fig. 4, is removed from spring-retracted detents 8 by a crank-pin 30<a> on a ratchet-wheel 30 on the shaft 11 rocking a link 31 which is connected to the bar 34 by a pin-andslot connexion. The shaft 11 carrying the crank 16 is normally locked by a cam 38 engaged by a spring-controlled slide 37 raised by the manual inward movement of a frame 40 through a bellcrank lever 43. Such inward movement can, however, only take place when the bars 1 are in their initial position, holes 45 therein being then opposite to pins 44 on the frame. After the printing has been effected, a spring-retracted slide 21, Fig. 2, is lowered, to expose the edge of the paper strip, by pressure on a projection 47 and the strip is withdrawn by hand until the roller 18 is locked by the latch 24. The slide 21 is then allowed to return and the strip is torn off at the cutting edge of the slide. Backward rotation of the crank is prevented by a pawl 35 engaging the ratchet-wheel 30. The devices may be constructed on a large scale for use in works. factories, &c.