Patent GB-540732-A (GB)
Abstract: 540,732. Accounting-machines. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. April 25, 1940, No. 7458. Convention date, April 26, 1939. [Class 106 (i)] A cash register or similar accounting machine having a plurality of rows of totalizers each comprising adding elements and overflow elements is provided with a differential mechanism for each denominational order, each differential mechanism comprising a main actuator and a secondary actuator, the arrangement being such that each main actuator co-operates directly with the related adding elements, and its secondary actuation (which is normally inoperable) cooperates directly during total taking with related overflow elements. The main actuator also controls the adjusting of indicating mechanism and type wheels to indicate and print amounts entered upon or taken from the various totalizers. A " tens " transfer mechanism is provided for transferring from overflow wheels at one side of the adding wheels to overflow wheels at the other side. The machine is of the general type described in Specifications 8119/15, 199,046, 209,408, 227,852, [all in Class 106 (i)], and 280,828, [Class 100 (iv)], and has three rows of totalizers mounted on shafts 73, Figs. 4 and 25, arranged around a series of denominational adding racks or actuators controlled as to extent of movement during adding operations, by banks of amount keys 41, 42, 43, Fig. 1, one bank for each row of totalizers. The machine is actuated manually or by motor through a main shaft 40, Fig. 4. Three groups of keys 44, 45, 46, one group for each totalizer row are used to select (as described in Specification 199,046) the appropriate totalizers on the various totalizer lines, and also to set printing mechanism for printing characters designating the various totalizers. A total lever 47 conditions the machine in the usual manner for sub-total and grand-total takings, and also controls the selection of the various totalizer rows for engagement with the differential actuators as described in Specification 199,046, [Class 106 (i)]. Totalizers.-The three totalizer rows, Row I, Row II, Row III, Fig. 25, corresponding respectively to the keys 41, 42, 43 are each formed of a plurality of denominational adding wheels 74, 76 or 78 and overflow wheels 75, 77 or 79 journalled on a tube 73. The adding wheels (and similarly the overflow wheels) of the same denomination are grouped together. For example, in Row I corresponding to the amount keys 43, there are ten totalizers including four denominational groups of adding wheels 74 and six denominational groups of overflow wheels 75. In Row II overflow wheels 77 are arranged at both sides of the adding wheels, and in Row III they are adjacent the lowest order adding wheels. The construction and function of the adding and overflow wheels are described in Specification 199,046, [Class 106 (i)]. Totalizer selecting and engaging mechanism.- The mechanism for selecting under the control of the totalizer keys 44, 45, 46, Fig. 1, and engaging the totalizers with their respective actuators is similar to that described in Specification 199,046, [Class 106 (i)]. Amount differential units.-The differential unit for each bank of amount keys comprises a main actuator and a secondary actuator. The main actuators 84, 87, 90, Fig. 25, operate to add respectively on the totalizer wheels 74, 76, 78 ; to zeroize these wheels during reset operations ; and to zeroize the wheels during read operations and afterwards restore them to their previous positions. The corresponding secondary actuators 85-86, 88-89 and 91-92 operate only during read and reset operations and then only upon the overflow wheels 75, 77, 79. Differential mechanism.-The main actuators, for example the actuators 84 are each driven by a cam-actuated driving segment 100, Fig. 8, which during an invariable to-and-fro movement carries the actuator forward by means of a pawl 102 until the pawl is disconnected by the obstruction of the depressed amounts key 43 after which the actuator 84 is retained by notches 109 in a position corresponding to the key value. The selected totalizers are now moved simultaneously into engagement with their main actuators as described in Specification 199,046, [Class 106 (i)], and during the return movement of the driving segment 100 fingers 120 thereon restore the actuators to normal position and add the amounts represented by the depressed keys, Secondary actuator and its coupling means.- The secondary actuators are prevented from operating during adding operations, and are coupled to the main actuators during total taking operations by means controlled by the manually operated total lever 47, Fig. 1. The secondary actuators then function in the same manner as the main actuators. For example, the secondary actuator 85-86, Fig. 4, associated with the main actuator 84 referred to above and co-acting with the overflow wheels 77, 79, Fig. 25, is coupled to the main actuator 84 by raising or lowering the total lever 47 thereby rocking a hook 130, Fig. 4, on the secondary actuator into engagement with a pin 131 on the main actuator 85 so that the main and secondary actuators move in unison during a total taking operation. Transfer mechanism.-In Fig. 4 is shown a typical transfer mechanism for one totalizer wheel 74 of the upper totalizer row (Row I). A toothed transfer arm 184 is mounted on the hub of the next higher main actuator 84. As the totalizer wheel 74 passes from " 9 " to " 0," a long tooth 200 thereon rocks two transfer pawls 201, 202 thereby removing a finger 206 from a pin 207 on the transfer arm 184 and allowing a spring to rock the transfer arm to the left to form a continuation of the teeth on the actuator. Upon the counter-clockwise return of the actuator (then in mesh with the totalizer wheel) the teeth on the transfer arm impart an extra step forward to the higher totalizer wheel 74. Transfer arms for the overflow wheels 75 operate in the same manner as the transfer arms 184. In the front totalizer row (Row III, Fig. 25) transfer between the adding wheels is effected by transfer arms similar to the arms 184 referred to above. Between the lower and higher order overflow wheels transfer is effected by transfer arms 186, Fig. 4. The transfer from the left-hand totalizer wheel T (Row III), Fig. 25, to the corresponding overflow wheel (T on the extreme right of Row III) is effected by a long tooth on the totalizer wheel operating through pawl mechanism to allow the appropriate transfer arm 186, Fig. 4, to move up to its secondary actuator rack 86 and effect a transfer near the end of an adding operation. The transfer from the right-hand overflow wheel T to the next three higher overflow wheels takes place by the transfer arms 186 in the manner described above. In the back totalizer row (Row II, Fig. 25) transfer between the adding and overflow wheels is effected in the same manner as that described above. Transfer mechanism restoring means.-After a transfer operation, the transfer arms 184 and pawls 201, 202, Fig. 4, are restored by rotation of a spider 214 actuated by the driving segments of the next lower order. During its movement, the spider displaces a catch 211 to liberate the pawls 201, 202. The secondary actuators 85-86 associated with the differential unit of next higher order then push back the transfer arms 184 until they are retained in the restored position by the pawls. During the first part of an operation, the transfer mechanism of the overflow wheels of the front and back totalizer rows (displaced by the previous operation) is restored by re-latching mechanism actuated upon the first oscillatory movement of the shaft 101. Total taking operations.-Manual adjustment of the total lever 47, Fig. 1, selects the required totalizer line for a sub-total or grand-total taking operation, and depression of the appropriate totalizer key, 44, 45 or 46 controls the endwise shifting of the totalizer row to bring the desired totalizer into alignment with the differential actuators as described in Specification 8119/15, [Class 106 (i)]. Movement of the total lever 47 rotates a shaft 162, Fig 26, in a clockwise direction and an additional rotation followed by an equal reverse rotation is imparted to the shaft by cam mechanism in the manner described in Specification 8119/15, [Class 106 (i)]. The additional rotation rocks a shaft 294, Fig. 19, coupled by a link 301 to a spider 304, causing the spider to move the noses 307 of levers 306 into the paths of the long teeth 200 of the totalizer wheels. Each actuator 84 as it is moved by its driving segment turns its totalizer wheel to the zero position whereupon the long tooth 200 strikes the nose 307 and rocks the spider 304. The spider rocks a pawl 312 into engagement with a toothed segment 314 thereby arresting the segment, and the segment, operating by means of a diagonal slot 106 disengages a latch from the actuator-driving segment thereby arresting the actuator 84 in a position corresponding to the amount standing on the totalizer wheel. As described in Specification 8119/15, [Class 106 (i)], the original amounts are added back on to the totalizer wheels on subtotal taking but the wheels are zeroized on grandtotal taking. Indicating mechanism.-The amounts set up on the different keyboard sections are separately and simultaneously indicated by elevating indicators of the usual type. Printing mechanism.-The printing mechanism, is of the type described in Specification 280,828, [Class 100 (iv)], and prints on both a detail strip and an inserted slip the amounts set up on the different sections of the keyboard, transaction characters for each amount, and the date. Two similar rows of type wheels, one for each record are simultaneously set by common means and each row includes three sets of type wheels 340, 341, 342, Fig. 32, corresponding to the three groups of amount keys 41, 42, 43, Fig. 1, and three printing wheels 343, 344, 345 a