Patent GB-659591-A (GB)
Abstract: 659,591. Cash registers &c. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. July 29, 1949, No. 19954. Convention date, Oct. 30, 1948. [Class 106 (i)] A cash register or similar accounting-machine including a differential mechanism settable under key control to select one of a group of item counters for operation, means to condition the machine to perform a series of multiple-item entering operations, and means to take a total of the series of multiple items, is provided with holding means which, when the machine is performing multiple-item entering, holds the differential mechanism ineffective to select an item counter during entry of each item of the series, the holding means being disabled when the total-taking means is operated. The invention is adapted for use with machines of the type shown in Specification 176,781, [Class 106 (i)]. Specifications 191,349, 248,002 and 318,568, [all in Class 106 (i)], also are referred to. For a single-item transaction the operator, after setting up the amount, depresses a key in row 3, Fig. 2 (which keys control totalizers allocated to various departments or types of merchandise), one of the clerks keys, row 2, and one of the upper keys in row 1 designating, e.g., the type of transaction, such as " cash," " charge "or "paid-out." With the total lever 41 in the " add '' position, the machine is put through a cycle to register and record the amount set up on the keys. Also a count of " 1 " is entered in the appropriate clerk's counter; rotation of the main shaft 30, Fig. 4, is transmitted through spiral gears 92, 93, to a sleeve 94 bearing a plate 95, Fig. 11, which carries two pawls 96, 99 spring-urged into engagement with a lug 97 on a shaft 91. A cam 110, Fig. 3, on the shaft 91 rocks a follower arm 111 and, coupled with it, an arm 114 pivoted to a link 116 comprising a pin 117 engaging a notch 118 of an arm 119 secured to a flanged sleeve 120 having another arm 122 which is coupled by a pin and slot to rock a small bell-crank 82. Counter-clockwise movement of the bell-crank 82 pulls down a notched bar 81 and actuates one of the clerks' counters 71 according to the position of a selecting arm 80, in known manner. For multiple-item entries, the " List " key, row 1, Fig. 2, is operated in conjunction with the amount keys and keys in rows 2 and 3. In this case the clerk's counter must not be actuated for each item nor for a sub-total taking operation when the total lever 41 is moved to " Read row 1," but a count of " 1 " must be entered in the appropriate counter when the final total is taken with the total lever 41 in the " Clear row 1 " position. When the " List " key 43, Fig. 1, is depressed a pin 55 on the key stem cams a lever 57 in a clockwise direction, and an arm 181 moves downwardly whereupon a spring 187 rocks arms 186, 183 counterclockwise, maintaining a pin 182 in engagement with the arm 181. The end 192 of the arm 183 blocks the movement of an arm 193 associated with the clerk's counter selecting arm 80, Fig. 3, so that even though the counter-operating linkage, described above, is operated during each entry of a multiple-item transaction, the clerk's counter is not selected and will not be actuated. When the total lever is moved to " Clear row 1,"  however, a pin 191 (shown dotted in Fig. 1) on the total arm blocks the inward movement of the arm 183 so that the clerk's counter selecting arm 80 is free to move. During " read " and total-taking operations the main shaft 30 is given two complete rotations, and in order to prevent operation of the clerk's counter mechanism during the first rotation, an arm 101 is rocked by known means and, through a link 103, moves a finger 106 into the path of the tail of pawl 96, Fig. 11, whereby the pawl is disengaged from and rides over, the lug 97 on the shaft 91. After the first rotation the finger 106 is moved clear and the shaft 91 is driven to operate the clerk's counter. When the total lever 41 is in the " Add " or the " Clear row 1 " position a stud 162, Fig. 4, on an arm 163 is located in the inner concentric portion of a camslot 161 fixed to the total lever 41. When the total lever is moved to any other position, the arm 163 is cammed in a clockwise direction and a pin 166 on an arm 165, moving with the arm 163, rocks arms 168, 170 counterclockwise. A pin 171, Fig. 3, on the arm 170, sliding in a cam slot 172, rocks the link 116 to disengage the stud 117 from the slot 118 in the arm 119, thus disabling the clerk's counter operating linkage. After total - taking the total lever 41 is returned to the " Add " position automatically in known manner, a sector 209, Fig. 8, driving a partial pinion 210 together with a collar 204 and rollers 202 one of which engages a lug 201 when in the " Clear row 1 " position and so restores it to the " Add " position. In the present embodiment means for automatically returning the lever from the sub-totalling " read row 1 " position is also provided. A bell-crank 246 pivotally mounted on a member 241 has a finger 248 spring-urged into contact with one of the rollers 202 which, at the proper time, rocks the bell-crank clockwise to bring a pin 247 on the other arm in contact with the lug 201 when in the " read row 1 " position, thus restoring it to the central position.