Patent GB-677950-A (GB)
Abstract: 677,950. Cash-registers and ticket printing machines. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Aug. 23, 1950 [Aug. 31, 1949], No. 20826/50. Classes 106 (i) and 106 (iii). In a cash register, or similar machine, having a plurality of totalizers with individual consecutive number mechanisms, keys for selecting the totalizers also select the related consecutive number mechanism for actuation by a common advancing mechanism and for engagement with a common set of consecutive numberprinting elements. The machine shown is a ticket-printing and issuing machine for four classes of theatre tickets. It is similar to a cash register, but has ticket value presetting keys 21 in place of item keys and four value storage devices in place of totalizers. In an initial series of operations and with a control lever 159 at "set," the values of the four classes are entered in succession on the four storage devices by means of the keys 21. With the lever 159 then at " ticket issuing," tickets are printed by depressing motorized keys 85- 88 according to the classes required, the keys selecting the corresponding storage devices to control the printing mechanism to print the preset class values as in a cash register subtotal-taking operation. Separate consecutive number devices are associated with each class and are selected with the storage devices to control printing of the consecutive number in each class. Prints are repeated on a detail strip and, at the conclusion of a business period, the machine is cleared by operating the keys 85-88 in succession with the lever 159 at "reset" when the four class values are printed on the detail strip with the corresponding numbers of tickets issued. Value storage and consecutive number devices. The value storage devices comprise four sets of wheels 84 (Fig. 10), interspersed in three denominational groups, and the consecutive number devices similarly four sets of wheels 92 interspersed in four denominational groups. They are mounted on a sleeve 93 axially shiftable, to align the selected wheels with actuators 37 (see also Fig. 1), by means of a drum cam 103 rotated, through a bell-crank 108, by a selecting plate 113 with V-notches 117-120 adapted to be differentially cammed by pins 121 on the keys 85-88. The sleeve 93 is mounted in a frame 95 which is rocked by a shaft 96 to engage the selected wheels with, and disengage them from the actuators at times determined by the control lever 159. A slotted bar 163 locks unselected wheels and pawls 164 lock the selected wheels when not engaged with the actuators. Setting the storage devices. Each actuator 37 moves to differentially-set position, determined by engagement of an extension 36 with the stem of a depressed key 21, when released to the action of its spring 39 by clockwise movement of a universal bar 40. Zero stops 33 retain the actuator when no key 21 is operated, and similar stops retain the four actuators of the consecutive number devices during this operation. Return of the bar 40 restores the actuators 37 and the digit values are transmitted to the value storage wheels 84 which are then swung into engagement. This is repeated for each of the four storage devices, and the four values are indicated and printed as in a ticket-issuing operation. Ticket issuing. Each actuator 56 has an adjacent companion sector 54 to which it can be coupled by a pinion 57, the sectors 54 driving gears 61 connected through nested sleeves 62 with ticket and detail strip printing rolls, and through gearing 64, 68 with front and rear indicator drums 67, 69. During the forward stroke of the bar 40, the wheels 84 and 92 are engaged with the actuators 37 and the zero stops swung clear so that the actuators are differentially set according to the values standing on the wheels as they are run back to zero. During return of the bar 40, the pinions 57 are engaged to couple the sectors 54 to the actuators so that the printing rolls and indicator drums are correspondingly positioned. The wheels 84 and 92 remain engaged during return of the actuators so that they revert to their settings. Resetting. With the lever 59 at " reset," the action is as for " ticket issuing" except that the wheels 84 and 92 are disengaged from the actuators when the actuators restore, and therefore remain in zero position, the four class values being printed with the numbers of tickets issued in each class. Consecutive number advancing mechanism. Engaging the units wheel 92 is an advancing pawl 205 (Fig. 5), carried by an arm 197 urged to rotate clockwise about the shaft 96 by a spring 198, but normally held by engagement of a retaining lever 193 with an ear 196 thereon. During each machine cycle, a roller 187 on a cam 188 on the main shaft 133 trips a catch 190 to release the retaining lever 193, so that the arm 197 is then free to follow a rod 200 under the action of its spring 198. The rod 200 is swung clockwise and back at an appropriate time, and the released arm 197 advances the units wheel 92 one step by means of its pawl 205. Carry to higher orders is effected by similar mechanism released by a long tooth of the lower wheel instead of by the roller 187. Control of operation. The control lever 159 (Fig. 12), is pivoted at 38 and has a pin 218 which cams an arm 220 in the " ticket issuing" and " reset " positions, the arm 220, by means of a shaft 51 (see also Fig. 1), then disengaging the zero stops from the actuators 37 to allow them to be set by the wheels 84 and 92. Rocking of the shaft 96 to engage the wheels 84 and 92 with their actuators is effected, according to the setting of the lever 159, by one of three followers 146, 147 and 148 rocked in appropriate timing by cams on the main shaft 133. Secured to the shaft 96 is an arm 142 carrying a link 144 with a pin 145 engageable with notches in the three followers, and the lever 159 has a second pin 158 which cams an arm 155 to shift the link 144 to engage the pin 145 with the appropriate cam follower. The follower 148 is secured to a shaft 149 which it rocks to engage and disengage the coupling pinions 57 (Fig. 1), with the actuators 37 and their companion sectors 54.