Patent GB-190408710-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Tell-tale Devices for Cash Registers with Multiple Cash Receptacles.
Filed: 1904-04-15
Granted: 1905-04-06
Abstract: 8710. National Cash Register Co., [National Cash Register Co.]. April 15. Receipts, checking and recording.-Modifications and additions to the apparatus described in Specification No. 1653, A.D. 1902, for the purpose of signalling improper use of the drawers and clerks' keys of a cash register, are shown, and include both electrical and mechanical arrangements for sounding bells. In the crosssection, Fig. 2, two of the nine cash drawers 1 appear, and to each of these is allotted one of the clerks' keys 2. An electric circuit includes the battery 29, bell terminals 27, 30, the segmental plate 6 and springs 7 touching it, the metal blocks 8 to which the springs are attached, the fixed plates 11 at the back of the drawers, the springs 13, and a fixed plate 14 which they are adapted to touch. When one of the keys 24 is depressed, the bolt 19 of the corresponding drawer is raised by the pivoted lever 23 out of engagement with the catch 20, and the outward motion of the drawer caused by the spring 21 removes an arm on the drawer end and allows contact to be made between the parts 13, 14. The bell will therefore ring unless the proper clerk's key has been pushed in and the insulated pin 3 thereon has depressed the spring 7 and broken the circuit. The bell may be actually rung by a local circuit under the control of a relay such as is shown in Fig. 10, where the electromagnet 126 attracts the armature 127 and causes the arm 128, which carries it, to swing about a pivot 130, make the necessary contact for the local circuit at the screw 131, and move into the second notch of the gravity piece 136, which must be lifted by hand before the bell will stop. The relay may be in a locked cabinet of the machine only accessible to certain persons. Fig. 9 shows equivalent mechanical arrangements in which the opening of a drawer removes the block 118 from beneath the pin 117 on the weighted rod 112, the consequent fall of which carries the detent 119 out of gear with the escapement wheel 121 of the spring motor, whereupon the escapement 123 and hammer 124 are operated to ring'the bell. If, however, the proper key 2<a> has been previously depressed, the bar 110 will be in position below the pin 111 to preventthe fall of the rod. The particular clerk's key struck is held down and the others locked by a detent pfate 35 pivoted on the main shaft 36. A second plate 37 pivoted on the spindle 40 has its circular edge concentric with the shaft 36, and is swung forwards by the pin 3 when a key is depressed, the movement of the slot 38 allowing the pin 39 on the detent plate to drop, so that one of the hooked portions 34 near its circumference may hold down the pin 3 of the key struck, and the surfaces 42 may come underneath and lock the remaining keys. In the operation of the machine, the lever 33 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to its highest position and returned, and during the first stroke the pin 56 on the attached arm 53 will pass underneath the cam edge 50 of a pawl 49, which is carried by the lever 48 and controlled by a spring 52 and pin 51, the pawl rising to allow the pin 56 to pass, but on the return it will ride above the pawl, rotating the lever and throwing up the transverse rod so as to elevate the feet 43 of all the detent plates. A reversing pawl and rack 57, 58 ensure full throw being given to the main arm 53. Normally, the lever 33 is held in the position shown by a hook 89 and pin 90, but the fall of the clerks' keys detent-plate lifts the pin 96 and lever 94, the upper end of which displaces the hook by means of the pin 93, leaving the lever free. Omission to finally depress the lever is guarded against by linkwork operating a rack and pinion, the latter carrying an indicator which displays " Sale not Registered" in any position of the lever save the lowest. The amount indicating wheels are unlocked and return to zero when a clerk's key is depressed, and again locked by the final downward stroke of the lever. To effect this, the pawl 59 on the plate 37 is so controlled by a spring and pin that on the movement of the plate it trips the latch 63 and allows a spring'to rock the arm 67 and throw detents thereon out of gear with toothed wheels on the indicators, the arm being afterwards restored by linkwork, one member 77, Fig. 7, of which is operated by a segmental arm 83 pivoted to the main arm 53 and having cam-surfaces which engage with and rock a pin 81 on the frame 78 to which the link 77 is pivoted. The yokes operated by the various banks of keys carry type-segments, and upon the main arm is a toothed sector 106, Fig. 6, gearing with a pinion 103 with ratchet - driving for the sleeve 101, upon which is a cam whereby a pivoted platen arm is lifted and the record paper forced against the types in the printing-position. Similar arrangements may be made in machines having a separate counter for each cash drawer, or a movable lever instead of clerks' keys, and the signalling-appliances may consist of electric lights or annunciators in place of bells, and be situated at any distance from the cash register.