Patent GB-190225961-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Cash Registers.
Filed: 1902-11-25
Granted: 1903-04-02
Abstract: 25,961. National Cash Register Co., [National Cash Register Co.]. Nov. 25. Receipts, checking and recording.-In a cash register, shown in plan in Fig. 2, there are three similarly-constructed and operated banks of keys arranged to represent units of cents, tens of cents, and units of dollars. The pivoted key-levers 2 are formed with graduated vertical arms 6 and with tail-pieces 160, the tail-pieces normally resting upon a rigid cross-bar 7, supporting the stems 8 of the indicators 3, and co-operating with the usual pivoted pendent hangers or stops to prevent the simultaneous operation of two or more keys in the same bank. When the keys are operated, a bar 18 of a key-coupling frame 19 mounted on a rocking shaft 20 enters notches 16 in the arms 6 and locks all the operated keys to the coupler. The three register-operating rock-frames 23, one for each bank of keys, are journalled upon a rocking frame comprising a swinging shaft 24 mounted in pivoted side arms 25. Upon raising one of the registering- frames 23 by a key, the frame is coupled to the key by the engagement of a cross-bar 22 with a notch 17 on the arm 6, and the distance through which the frame 23 is rocked is determined by the distance of the notch 17 from the bar 22, thereby causing the segments 26 to make movements corresponding in value to the values of the operated keys. The latches 28 for locking the registering-frames in their lowest positions are released by the arms 6 striking the bar 32 on the initial movement of the keys. As the key - coupling frame 19 moves upwards, cam-discs 34 on the shaft 20 raise the antifriction rollers 33 on the pivoted arms 25, and cause the registering-segments 26 to mesh with their respective pinions 69, 70, 71. The arms 6 then engage the frames 23 and rock them upon the shaft 24 so as to turn the respective counterwheels according to the value of the operated keys. At the end of the downward movement of the keys, the key-coupling frame with the cams and other attachments is shifted laterally to the left by bevelled lugs. The cams 34 thereupon pass out from under the rollers 33, so that the registering- frame drops out of engagement with the counterpinions as soon as the pressure is removed from the key, the arms 25 being moved back positively by the cams 34. A stop is provided for preventing the key-coupling frame from rebounding after its lateral movement to the left, and a segmental rack, a pinion, and a ratchet-aud-pawl arrangement 41, 42, 42<a>, 42<b> compel a full stroke or a complete movement of the operated key in both directions. The stems 8 of the indicators 3 are operated by the tail-pieces 160 of the key-levers 2, and the supporting-frame 12 is rocked through a rack and pinion 130 by cams on the shaft 20. The cash drawer 47 is normally held closed by a pivoted latch-lever 50, which is operated on the return or downward movement of the key-coupling frame by an arm 54 on the cam 34 to release the drawer, so that the spring 44 can push it out by means of the lever 46 and the roller 48. So long as the drawer is closed, a shoulder 150 on the lever 46 holds the shoulder 153 on the key-locking lever 152 out of engagement with the bar 18, but as the drawer moves forwards, the locking-lever 152 is released and is forced by a spring over the coupling-bar 18. The lever 152 may, however, be held in an operative position by means of a lever 155. The transfer from the units of cents counterwheel 72 on the shaft 73 of the pinion 69 to the counter-wheel 76 and from the latter to the counter-wheel 77, that is from the counter-wheels receiving motion directly from the segments 26, is effected by a cam, a trip pawl, and a transfer pawl, the trip pawl being formed with a re-setting nose, by which, upon the transfer cam settling back to its proper position, it is returned to compensate for any overthrow of the transfer cam less than an entire notch. The transfer pawls are actuated by arms 85 secured on the key-coupling frame. The transfer devices of the remaining counter-wheels 87, which are journalled upon the turn-to-zero shaft 74, comprise gear-wheels 88, locking-discs 89 with single notches, and transfer discs 90 with single teeth, the gear-wheels 88 co-operating with a series of transfer pinions 91 provided with locking star-wheels 92 and mounted in a pivoted frame. Each transaction, as it is registered, is printed upon a tape 206, which is fed from the supply roll to the storage roll 204 by pivoted pawls 199, 200 actuated by a roller 197 on the arm of the platen 191, an independent hand-actuating disc 209 being also provided. The printing-wheels or typecarriers 175, one for each bank of keys, are actuated through pinions 179, 180, 181 and racks 177 by plates 162 with inclined slots 161, in which the rear ends 160 of the finger keys 2 engage. Approximately half of these slots incline in one direction and half in the other, whereby less movement is required to adjust the type-carriers to printing- position than if the slots were all inclined in the same direction, and the disadvantages consequent on excessive momentum are avoided. This feature of the invention is applicable to other machines. The time allowed for setting the type-wheels &c. may be varied by increasing or decreasing the straight portions of the slots. Plates 165 are provided for locking the plates 162, and are released by the contact of the tail-pieces 160 of the keys with the shoulders 172. The lower half of the periphery of each printing-wheel 175 is provided with ten printing-types ranging from " 0 " to " 9," the '' 0 " being in the middle of the other numerals, and the upper half of the printing-wheels are provided with ten notches 182<a>, which are locked by a bar 183 actuated from the key-coupling frame through the levers 188, 184<a> and the pin and camslot 186, 187, so that the printing-type are aligned to the exact printing - position. The flexible printing-platen 191 is carried by a pivoted lever 192, which is actuated by an arm 195 on the rockshaft 20, being depressed to its full extent and then released during the upward movement of the coupler. The endless inking-ribbon 225 passes over guide rollers and plates 226, 227, and is fed from the key-coupler by a toothed wheel on one of the rollers 226. The printing-mechanism may be rendered inoperative by engaging the latch lever 192<b> with the pin 192<a>. As the key-coupler commences its backward movement, a lug 132 on the rock-shaft 20 releases the spring clapper 129 and sounds the bell 121, unless the bell has been removed from the path of the clapper by releasing the screw bolt 126 from the recess 127 and engaging it with the recess 128.