Patent GB-1147115-A (GB)
Title: Cash register or similar business machine
IPC: G07G1/10
Filed: 1967-11-29
Abstract: 1,147,115. Calculating machines; cash registers &c. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. 20 Nov., 1967 [12 Dec., 1966], No. 54295/67. Headings G4B and G4T. A cash register or the like is provided with a main operating shaft including independently rotatable shaft portions M1, M2 each arranged to complete a single cycle of rotation during a machine cycle, one shaft portion M1 commencing a cycle of rotation at the commencement of a machine cycle, and the other shaft portion M2 commencing a cycle of rotation at a first or second predetermined time after the commencement of the machine cycle under the control of selectively operable control means, whereby the overall cycling time of the main operating shaft may be adapted to the type of machine operation to be performed. For example, during data entry the shaft portion M2 commences rotation at a first predetermined time to provide a "short cycle", while for total taking the shaft portion M2 commences rotation at a second predetermined time to provide a "long cycle". A motor 20 drives a shaft 35 through a gear train 26-32 and a pail and ratchet clutch 38, 40. The shaft portions M1, M2 are driven from shaft 35 by gears 45, 47 loose on the shaft 35 and pawl and ratchet clutches 43, 66 and 44, 90. Drive is transmitted from gear 47 to the shaft portion M2 by gears 48 and 53 meshing with gears 51, 52 on shaft 50. On depressing a start key or the like, lever 57 is released to the action of spring 58 whereby shaft 55 is rotated counterclockwise to pivot link 59 moving member 63 co-operating with pawl 66. The latter engages ratchet 43 to couple the drive to shaft portion M1. Trip plates 70, 80 are mounted on a shaft 37 and coupled by a cross-bar 74 when the cross-bar is in its lowered position. A stud 73 on gear 45 engages the trip plate 70 to pivot the trip plates simultaneously, after the gear 45 has rotated a predetermined amount. The trip plate 80 drives member 89 through links 82, 84-85 to couple pawl 90 with ratchet 44 and transmit drive to the shaft portion M2 a predetermined time after shaft portion M1 commences rotation. During total taking the cross-bar 74 is lifted by members 75-79 to uncouple trip plates 70, 80. Stud 73 in now ineffective to operate trip plate 80. A stud 93 on gear 45 engages both trip plates as the gear rotates to clutch the drive to shaft portion M2 at a later predetermined time after shaft portion M1 commences rotation. To ensure a complete revolution of each shaft portion, paths 66, 90 have projections 68, 92 engaging guides 17a, 16a in stationary plates 17, 16 which prevent disengagement of the pawl and ratchet clutches except at recesses in the guides. Link 85 has an extension projecting into the path of stud 93 to return member 89 to its initial position and ensure termination of the drive to gear 47 after one revolution. A spring-loaded lever 99 engaging a cam 97 on the shaft portion M2, co-operates with a recess in the cam to yieldably maintain the shaft portion M2 in its home position. A second spring-loaded lever 105 engaging a cam 103 on shaft portion M2, yieldably maintains a gear 102 in its home position, said gear co-operating with gear 46 on shaft portion M1 through gears 108, 109 on shaft 107.