Patent GB-531081-A (GB)
Abstract: 531,081. Cash registers. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. June 20, 1939, No. 18012. Convention date, June 22, 1938. [Class 106 (i)] In a cash register or similar accounting machine a combination of a fixed number of control keys may select a variable combination of counters for operation. The invention is described with reference to Specifications 8119/15 and 248,002, [both in Class 106 (i)], and utilizes counters of the type disclosed by Specification 191,349, [Class 106 (i)], to indicate the number of items by each clerk, the complete transactions registered by each clerk, the total cash transactions, the total cash items &c. as illustrated in Fig. 2, the counters being arranged in parallel relation in front of the keyboard. Differential setting for counter control. - Clerks' keys 51, Fig. 3, control the setting of differential control arm 121 mounted on stud 119 and driven by cam groove 138 through a latch mechanism carried on shaft 124 in known manner through latch and link mechanism to differentially position lever 153 and shaft 98, pinion 157 and shaft 102, Fig. 6. The shaft 104 is differentially set by the transaction keys through sleeves 91 and 99 on shafts 92 and 98. Total control lever.-The total control lever is of the usual Shipley type and conditions the machine for single and two-cycle operations. Movement of the total lever from normal or- " add " position rotates shaft 188 which has at its two ends oppositely faced cams 193, 194 to shift shaft 104, Fig. 6 (and Fig. 8 not shown) to the right for a purpose to be described later. Counters, operating.-Four rods 230 corresponding to the rows of counters are connected by links 232, 233, Figs. 6, 10, 12 to form an actuating frame, and have pivotally mounted thereon, separated by sleeves, bifurcated levers 226 for actuating each of the counters. The frame is reciprocated once each cycle by linkage from cam 235 on gear 43, Fig. 12, so that when the lower ends of levers 226 are held, the yokes 222 rock to actuate the counters. Counters, selecting.-Each counter-actuating lever 226 is pivotally attached to a horizontal bar 250 supported beneath the actuating frame by this lever 226 and one or two pivotally attached arms 251. Each bar 250 has a downward projection 252 carrying a stud 253 and associated with each bar is a feeling lever 254 pivoted on a rod 255 which is raised once each cycle by levers 256, 257 rocked with shaft 258, which is rocked by the action of roller 295 on cam-slotted arm 296, Fig. 12, roller 295 being carried by arm 237 rocked by cam 235 on gear 43. The feeling levers 254 normally rest on fixed rods 287, 288 as shown, and when the levers 254 are raised by rod 255 the forward ends are either raised clear of studs 253 on rods 250 or remain in blocking position due to the action of spring 286 according to the reaction of projections 284, 285 on levers 254 with notched discs carried by the differentially positioned shafts 102, 104. When the levers 254 block the studs 253, the movement of the actuating frame operates the corresponding counters. Those levers 254 lifted clear of studs 253 allow idle pivoting of the corresponding levers 226 with no actuation of the corresponding counters. Rod 259 acts as a forward stop for the bars 250 and associated mechanism. Shaft 102 carries ten discs 270-279 and shaft 104 carries nineteen pairs of discs, e.g., 280-283, each pair of which is associated with one of the counters. Each of discs 270-279 co-operates with one of said pairs of discs on shaft 104 to control the selection of counters, while each of the nine remaining pairs of discs on shaft 104 is adapted to control alone the selection of its counter. Alternatively, these nine pairs of discs may also have an associated disc on shaft 102. For normal or adding operations, the right hand disc on shaft 104 controls either alone or with its associated disc on shaft 102 the selection of its associated counter, but when the total lever is moved to item total taking position, shaft 104 is moved to the right as already described, and the left hand disc controls either alone or with its associated disc on shaft 102 the selection of its associated counter. A counter is selected when the projections 284, 285, on lever 254 being raised by rod 255, each engage a notch in the associated discs, or in the case when only the one disc on shaft 104 controls the counter, when the projection 284 engages a notch in that disc. The lever 254 then blocks the stud 253 and the actuating frame operates the associated lever 226 to operate the associated counter. Selecting means for total and sub-toatl counters. -Plates 300, 301 pinned together and loosely mounted on stud 302, Figs. 10, 12, and having notched openings 309, 311 co-operating with laterally projecting studs 306, 308 on feeling levers 303, 304 control the total and sub-total counters respectively, which are selected when the respective stud 306 or 308 engages the notch 310 or 312 in the openings 309, 311. The parts are normally positioned as shown, but movement of the total lever to total or subtotal taking position rocks shaft 92 and therefore arm 197 clockwise or counter-clockwise respectively, stud 321 rocking lever 323 carrying spring-pressed pawl 329 engaging one of three notches 330 on plate 301, Fig. 10, to rock plates 300, 301 counter-clockwise or clockwise respectively to effect the selection of the appropriate counter. As stated above, during total and sub-total taking operations, the machine receives two cycles of operation and the following means is provided for preventing the selection of these counters during the second cycle. Lever 340 is rocked clockwise once each cycle by pin 343 on disc 342 on main shaft 41, and toe 346 of lever 340 co-acts with one or other of cam surfaces 347, 348 on the lower side of plate 300 to return plates 300, 301 to ineffective position near the end of the first cycle of a two-cycle operation, pawl 329 engaging one or other of the outer notches 330 and holding plates 300, 301 in ineffective position during the second cycle, despite the position of lever 323. When the total lever is returned to normal position, lever 323 also returns to normal position and pawl 329 brings plates 300, 301 into effective position but toe 346 resets pawl 329 to normal position during the next single cycle or adding operation, during which cycle selection of the total or sub-total counters is prevented by two unnotched discs 349, 350 on shaft 104, which during single-cycle operations co-act with projections 305, 307 to prevent selection of the total and sub-total counters, but which in total taking positions are moved to the right with shaft 104 out of co-operative relationship with projections 305, 307 to leave control of the counters to plates 300, 301. The selection of counters other than total and sub-total is prevented during total-taking operations by a blocking bail 360, Fig. 6, which is operated near the end of the first cycle of the two-cycle operation and restored to inoperative position near the end of the second cycle. Counter reset mechanism.-Counter reset lever 380, Fig. 17, in its lower position can reset the individual clerks' and individual clerks' item counters on shafts 210, 211, and in its upper position the remaining counters except total and sub-total counters on shafts 212, 213. Shafts 210-213 each have a groove 394, Fig. 20, for co-acting with spring-pressed pawl 395 carried by each counter wheel 220 for resetting said wheel to zero. Shafts 210, 211 carry pinions meshing with idler gear 386 ; shafts 212, 213 carry pinions meshing with idler gear 388. Gears 386, 388 are separated by spacer plate 393 and mesh with gears 390, 391 respectively loosely mounted on stud 392. Lever 380 has studs 403 engaging slots 402 in disc 401 and on the opposite side, stud 404 adapted to slide idly in one or other of slots 405, 406 in gears 390, 391 and to engage an offset portion of the other of the slots 405, 406 to drive one or other of gears 390, 391 to reset the counters either on shafts 210 and 211 or on shafts 212 and 213. The return of lever 380 restores parts to normal positions, while movement of lever 380 out of its adjusted position is prevented by the positioning of stud 417 on one or other side of guide rail 415. Full stroke mechanism for lever 380 is provided and comprises two-armed pawl 420 slidable about its pivot 422, spring-pressed pawl 423 and the action of fingers 432, 435 of disc 401 on pawl 420. Locking means for total lever and counter reset lever.-Lock 440 (Fig. 18, not shown) controls a bar for locking the total lever from positions for taking the totals from clerks' totalizers or from transaction totalizers and also controls a lug which thiough linkage controls hook 453, Fig. 17, which normally engages over the end of arcuate plate 454 fast to disc 401. When the locking means is released, plate 454 guides hook 453 and prevents locking while lever 380 is out of home position.