Patent GB-818166-A (GB)
Title: Cash registers or similar accounting machines
Filed: 1957-02-12
Abstract: 818,166. Cash registers. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Feb. 12, 1957 [March 9, 1956], No. 4725/57. Class 106 (1). In a cash register having a totalizer comprising positive and negative wheels geared together for reverse rotation, a single total-taking key operates through a shifting mechanism controlled by an overdraft mechanism to move the positive or negative wheels into alignment with the differential actuators, and also to control a zero stop for a differential mechanism controlling a symbol printing member, in accordance with the sign of the total. As described, the add/subtract totalizer is used for change computing. The invention is applied to a motor-driven cash register adapted for multiple - item transactions and having two columns of starting control keys 103 and 105-113, several columns of amount keys 102, clerk's keys 114, a release key 115 and a total control lever 116 provided with a lock 117 operated by an insertable key. Two lines of interspersed totalizers are provided. The lower (No. 1) line comprises reversely geared pinions 152, 153, Fig. 7, forming a Balance totalizer, a Taxable Item totalizer comprising pinions 154, and a Group totalizer comprising pinions 151. The upper (No. 2) line carries five totalizers for the different classes of goods as specified by the control keys 106 and 109-113. A single one of these totalizers receives items entered by the " Grocery " key 103 and those entered by the " Taxable Items " key 111. In a multiple-item transaction, the various non-taxable items are entered into the appropriate totalizers of the No. 2 line and into the positive side of the Balance totalizer, while taxable items are entered into the " Grocery " totalizer of the No. 2 line and into the Taxable Item totalizer. A Tax Total key 107 is then depressed to indicate the total contained in the Taxable Item totalizer and transfer it into the positive side of the Balance Totalizer. The operator then determines the tax to be paid and enters this by means of a Tax key 112 into the corresponding totalizer on the No. 2 line and into the positive side of the Balance Totalizer. Refunds may be entered, by means of a key 113, into the negative side of the Balance Totalizer and into the corresponding totalizer of the No. 2 line. A Total key 105 is then depressed to sub-total the Balance Totalizer, after which the amount tendered is set up and entered into the negative side of the Balance Totalizer by means of a key 103. Finally the total standing on the Balance Totalizer is taken'by means of a key 108 to indicate the change or the balance due from the customer according to the sign of the total. The key 108 may then function as a No Sale key. Selected items and totals are printed on a voucher and record strip. Selecting totalizers of No. 1 line.-The control keys effect the selection of the No. 1 line totalizers (a) by means of a control plate 164, Fig. 14, which is differentially rocked by studs in certain of the keys when they are depressed, and rotates, through a resilient coupling, a drum cam 140 so as to shift the line 134 axially to select a totalizer; and (b) by means of a control plate 175, Fig. 6, which differentially rocks a pitman 179 when certain of the keys are depressed so that a stud 180 in a cam-operated lever 181 will, during the machine cycle, engage different surfaces in the pitman and shift the latter, and the drum cam 140 to which it is connected, by different amounts. Normally, the Taxable Item totalizer is in alignment with the actuators and the pitman 179 is positioned so that the line will be shifted to select the add wheels of the Balance Totalizer. Depression of the Taxable Item key 111 moves the pitman 179 so that operation of the lever 181 will be ineffective to shift the pitman. Depression of either of the Refund or Amount Tendered keys 113, 103 rocks the plate 164 to select the subtract wheels of the Balance Totalizer and also rocks the plate 175 so as to prevent the abutment of a stud 183 in the pitman 179 against a fixed stop 184 which it would otherwise engage. The keys 109, 110, 112 do not affect the plate 164 or shift the plate 175 and consequently the pitman 179 is actuated to select the add wheels of the Balance Totalizer, which are also selected by the key 106 acting directly through the plate 164. The Tax Total key 107 affects neither of the plates 164, 175 but causes engagement of the line in both halves of the cycle. Consequently, during the first half, the Taxable Item totalizer is engaged in total-taking timing and during the second half, the pitman 179 selects the add wheels of the Balance Totalizer which thus receives the total taken from the Taxable Item Totalizer. The operation of the sub-total and total keys 105, 108 is described below. Balance totalizer.-The add and subtract pinions 152 153, Fig. 7, of each order have laterallyoffset bearing surfaces 156 rotatable in bearing members 147, 150, and have internal teeth engaged respectively by two intermeshing pinions 155 (see also Fig. 9) rotatable on rods 145, 146 secured in end members 147. The add and subtract pinions are thus geared to rotate in opposite directions. The interspersed wheels 151, 154 of the other (add) totalizers on the No. 1 line are rotatable externally on the bearing members 147, 150. Taking positive and negative totals and subtotals.-On the occurrence of an overdraft in the Balance Totalizer, a bail 201, Fig. 11, is rocked counterclockwise by the long tooth of the highest order totalizer wheel. A shaft 207 (see also Fig. 13) in the frame 161 of the No. 1 totalizer line is thus rocked clockwise and, since at this time the totalizer, being engaged, is to the left of the position shown, a stud 215 in a link 209 is moved over a stud 216 in an arm 217. Consequently, when a cam-controlled shaft 214 rocks and depresses the link 209, the arm 217 is also lowered and rocks a pawl 222. At this time, the subtract pinions of the Balance Totalizer are aligned with the actuators and so the pawl 222, which is moved axially with the No. 1 totalizer line, is aligned with a lever 227 and the latter is depressed. A stud 231 in the lever 227 co-operates with a slot in a latch-plate 228 so that the latter latches the lever 227 in its moved position in which it holds a control plate 234, Fig. 14, in a clockwise position. If the key 105 or the key 108 is then depressed, the stud 163 in the key stem will engage a surface 240 or 241 of the plate 234 which will thus be rocked further clockwise and will engage a stud 244 in the control plate 164 to rock that clockwise also. The drum cam 140 positioned by the plate 164 is thus rotated to shift the No. 1 line 134 to align the subtract pinions of the Balance Totalizer with the actuators in the ensuing subtotal or total operation. The plate 234 also releases the zero stop 238, 239, Fig. 17, for the Row 2 transaction differential mechanism for movement to an effective position so that a Change symbol is indicated and/or recorded instead of a Balance Due symbol. When, after going negative, the balance becomes positive again, the pawl 222, Fig. 13, is again lowered as described above, but is now aligned with the latch 228 which is rocked to release the lever 227 for return to its normal position. On depression of the key 105 or the key 108 when the balance is positive, the control plate 164 is rocked by the corresponding stud 163 sufficiently to cause the add wheels of the Balance Totalizer to be aligned with the actuators. Controlling engagement of No. 1 line totalizers. -The frame carrying the No. 1 line of totalizers is moved towards and from the actuators by the rocking of an arm formed with a cam slot engaged by a roller 261, Fig. 6, in an arm 262, movement of which is effected, for engagement purposes, by add and reset pitmans 266, 267, actuated by two cam levers 271, having studs moving in slots in the left ends of the pitmans. By raising or lowering those ends, the pitmans are selectively rendered effective as described in Specification 765,449. The pitmans are raised and lowered by a link 274 coupled to a segment 276 which is rocked clockwise on depression of the key 105 or the key 107 to cause engagement of the No. 1 line during both halves of the machine cycle. The link 274 is also positioned under the control of a lever 279 having a stud 281 in a slot of a segment 283 coupled by a lever 285 and a shaft 286 to the total control lever 116, Fig. 10. On depression of the key 108, a lever 600, Fig. 6, is rocked and co-operates with the stud 281 to rock the lever 279 so as to cause engagement of the totalizer line in total-taking timing. The totalizer line is disengaged by a link 290 actuated by a cam lever 291. Detent pawls 300, Fig. 12, for the totalizer pinions are disengaged as the line is moved to engaged position by a bail rod 303, supported in the totalizer frame and actuated by movement of the frame. During disengagement of the totalizer line, the bail is controlled by a mainshaft cam, Fig. 18 (not shown), so as to hold the pawls in an intermediate position in which they permit movement of the totalizer pinions in either direction so as to allow for transfer movements in either direction of rotation in the Balance Totalizer wheels. Fugitive one arrangements.-When the balance passes through zero, the lever 201, Fig. 11, is rocked and a lever 325, Fig. 12, on the shaft 207 raises a latch 328 to free a slide 332 for movement into engagement with a rod 335. After the totalizer has been disengaged, the slide 332 is allowed to move further by the rod 335 which is actuated by a cam, and a pawl 338 adds one into the selected add or subtract wheel of the lowest order of the Balance Totalizer. No. 2 totalizer line. Controlling printing on record strip.-The five interspersed add totalizers on the No. 2 line are selected by means of a drum cam 367, Fig. 8, positioned by a plate 374 having cam projections engaged by studs 163