Patent GB-265208-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to cash registers of the key-set and key-operated type
IPC: G06C7/10
Filed: 1927-01-27
Abstract: 265,208. National Cash Register Co., (Assignees of Frank, J. P.). Jan. 28, 1926, [Convention date]. Cash registers of the key set and operated type are provided with a line of multiple-totalizers adapted by means of keys to be selected and moved into engagement with the actuators for item-entering and for taking (by printing) totals and subtotals. Differential actuating-mechanism. The amount keys 35, Fig. 2, of usual construction co-operate with a number of couplers (one for each denomination) fixed to the shaft 56 and have differential cam slots 47 for controlling the extent of movement of the actuating-racks 112. For this purpose the slots for each denomination engage a roller 107 on a lever 108 the other end of which has a pin 111 to limit the counterclockwise travel of the rack when this is driven by mechanism as follows. The rack together with a complementarily driven plate 113, Fig. 22, is pivoted at 75 and the rack and plate are adapted to be displaced in opposite directions at each operation of the machine. The rack has an extension 114 slotted to engage a pin 116 on an arm 117 of a plate 122, and the plate 113 has a similar arm 118 engaging a pin 120 on another arm 121 of the plate 122. This plate is slidably mounted on the pivot 75 and is provided with a slot 124 engaged by a roller 125 carried by a lever 126 loose on the shaft 56 and rocked up and down at each operation of the machine by a cam 135 pinned to a shaft 138 oscillated from the coupler shaft 56. When, therefore, in an item-entering operation the coupler is rocked, the roller 125 raises the plate 122 so as first to rock the actuating rack to the left until it is stopped by the differentially-positioned pin 111 and then to displace the plate 113 to the right to a complementary extent. Unless a key in the denomination concerned has been operated the actuating- rack is kept stationary by an abutment arm 147, Fig. 2, connected to a yoke 149 adapted to be engaged by a projection 151 of a key when operated. The racks in addition to actuating the totalizer wheels position item type-wheels through pinions 165 and the usual nested sleeves. Full-stroke mechanism. To compel full operation of the key counter shaft 56, a ratchet plate 59, Fig. 13, fixed on the end of the shaft cooperates with a pivoted tooth 60 controlled by a spring 64 tending to maintain it in normal position. Transaction and total control keys. The total keys 37, 37, Fig. 9, co-operate with a. coupler 71 fixed to the shaft 56 and the transaction keys 36, Fig. 5, with a coupler 72 loose on this shaft. A transaction key must be depressed before any amount or total keys and for this purpose the coupler 71 is normally locked by a shouldered arm 74 pivoted at 75 and connected by a yoke 77 with another arm 79 engaging the coupler 72 so that operation of a transaction key rocks the arm 74 counterclockwise to free the couplers for the other groups of keys. Moreover the transaction key depressed is locked down until an amount or total key is depressed, for the transaction coupler 72 when raised is upheld by a latch 86, Fig. 5, spring-drawn to the left. Depression of a key in one of the other groups of keys rocks an arm 91 hub-connected to the latch so as to displace this to free the transaction coupler. As this coupler is only loosely mounted on shaft 56 it is necessary to provide means for the return of the coupler simultaneously with the other couplers. To this end a plate 93 slidably mounted on the total coupler 71 is drawn by a spring 97 into contact with the fixed rod 40 and an enlargement contains a slot 98 with an offset portion 100 to receive a pin 99 projecting from the adjacent transaction coupler 72. When a transaction key is depressed the pin rises in the slot, but when the coupler 71 ascends owing to depression of an amount key or total key the plate will slide to the left and the pin 99 will be received by the offset 100 so that the couplers will be temporarily locked together and will therefore ascend in unison. Totalizers. In this machine there are four totalizers allotted respectively to the usual four kinds of transaction and arranged in denominational groups on the one shaft 174, Fig. 2, supported by arms 175 from a shaft 177. The totalizer shaft 174 is shifted axially, to select the totalizer for engagement with the actuating- racks, by means of a cam drum 184, Fig. 5, rotatably set from the transaction keys by the action of the cam surface of the keys upon rollers 180 carried by arms 181 rigid with a toothed sector 182 gearing with a spur-wheel on the drum. The cam groove of the latter is engaged by a roller on a duplicated arm 187 fixed to a rod 188 connected by an arm with the totalizer shaft 174. Engagement of totalizer for item-entering, controlling. The shaft 177 is rocked to engage the selected totalizer pinions with the actuating- racks by connection through an arm 203, Fig. 9, with a roller 202 engaging a cam slot 200, Fig. 17, in a primary plate 201 pivoted on the shaft 75. A secondary plate 204 is similarly pivoted and the two plates receive complementary movements in opposite directions by means similar to those used in connection with the actuating racks and comprising the slidable plate 205 and the roller 214 mounted on the oscillated arm 215. In item-entering, the primary plate 201 is held against movement until near the end of the downward stroke of the keys whereupon it is released so that by its clockwise motion it may cause the totalizer to engage for actuation during the return of the actuating-racks. This temporary obstruction of the primary plate 201 is effected by a spring-controlled pawl 225 pivoted at 226 and normally blocking a pin 228 on the plate 201. When the driving pin 214 ascends therefore the secondary plate 204 moves first and at the end of its stroke a pin 232 upon it strikes against the pawl to free the pin 228 and allow the primary plate to perform its clockwise movement and cause the engagement of the totalizer. At the end of this movement the plate 201 is held again by a pawl 234 springing in rear of the pin 228 and thus remains in its totalizer-engaging position until towards the end of the return stroke of the keys when the plate 204 having reached its home position a pin 236 on it displaces the pawl 234 and so frees the plate 201 for its return movement. Totalizer-aligning mechanism. The totalizer wheels are normally aligned by bifurcated members such as 244, Fig. 2, pinned to a shaft 246 carried by the totalizer-supporting arms 175. Secured to one end of this shaft is a forked arm 247, Fig. 25. straddling a fixed pin 248, the effect of which provision is that tha upper aligning plate remains in engagement with the totalizer pinions through their travel towards the actuating-racks until the lower fork abuts against the pin whereupon the upper plate becomes stationary. The lower plate then receives the pinions but is slotted in the plane of the racks to permit rotation of the engaged pinions. Transfer-mechanism. A trip arm 252, Fig. 22. is connected by a hub to an arm 257 having two notches 258, 259, the outer of which is normally engaged by a pin 260 on an arm 261 serving as a stop limiting the return to home position of the actuating-rack 112. At transfer the tooth 297 on the totalizer wheel rocks the trip arm 252 and notched arm 257 to free the stop arm 261 which thereupon is pulled to the right by a spring 262 and is then held with its pin 260 in the other notch 258. Consequently when the rack returns clockwise to perform the actuation it is free to move one tooth beyond home position and so to effect transfer. The extra movement of the rack in this way is rendered possible by a preliminary displacement of the complementary plate 113 due to the action of the driving roller 125 on the cam edge of arm 141. At the end of the operation of the machine the shaft 253 is given a counterclockwise displacement to release the stop arm 261 which together with the rack 112 is then restored to normal position by the complete return of plate 113 acting through a pin 269. The rocking movement of the shaft 253 are derived from the coupler shaft 56 through a one-way pawl and a link. Printing totals and sub-totals.-To take these totals the corresponding total-control key 38 or 37, Fig. 9, is depressed subsequently to operation of a transaction key for selecting the totalizer. The depression of the sub-total key 37 effects through a cam slot 285 the counterclockwise displacement of a pivoted plate 288, Fig. 11, a pin 290 on which thus frees a spring-controlled pawl 291 to enable it to rock counterclockwise to obstruct a pin 296 on the plate 204. This plate being held therefore, the driving roller 214 causes the plate 201 to move first with the result that the totalizer is engaged with the actuating-racks at the beginning of the operation. The plate 201 is normally held against such movement, however, by a pawl 227 engaging a pin 228, but the shifting of arm 288 by the key rocks the pawl by means of a pin 284 so as to release the plate. The retaining pawl 291 is rocked to free the plate 204 again by a pin 298 on plate 201. The total having been transmitted by the driving of the racks as limited by the abutment of the transfer teeth with the trip arms 252, it is necessary on the return stroke to maintain the engagement of the totalizer with the racks and therefore the plate 201 must be held displaced until the amounts have been restored. This is accomplished by the pawl 234 which, as in item-entering operations, takes behind the pin 228 and holds the plate 201 until release is effected by the return of the plate 204 acting through the pin 236. The obstructing arm 147, Fig. 2, has to be removed to allow the movement of the actuating-rack 112 and this is effected by a link 155 pivoted to an arm 157 fixed to a shaft 158 rocked by connections 306, 309, Fig. 9, with the plate 288. Moreo