Patent GB-489693-A (GB)
Abstract: 489,693. Accounting-machines. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO., Ltd. (National Cash Register Co.) Nov. 2, 1936, No. 29752. [Class 106 (i)] In a cash register or similar accounting- machine having a balance totalizer for computing a new balance resulting from an old balance and a positive or nega. tive item or series of items, the entry of an old balance is prevented until the item or series of items has been entered. In machines for dealing with banking transactions it is usual to enter the old balance, then the items and to complete the series of operations by taking the new balance. In such a machine, no record is obtained of the sum deposited or withdrawn in a series of transactions involving the entry of a plurality of items. In order that this may be done, it is now proposed to enter and take the total of the items prior to the entry of the old balance. The series of operations is effected with the usual operation control lever 141, Fig. 1, in " Add " position, mechanism being provided to enforce the following sequence. Firstly, the entry of an item by depression of the appropriate deposit key D or withdrawal key W followed by depression of a motor bar 24. The second operation is optional, and may consist in the entry of a second item in a manner similar to the former or, alternatively, in the entry of the old balance by depression of the appropriate one of two old balance keys P-OB, N-OB followed by the depression of the motor bar 24. If a second item is entered, the next operation is again optional and may consist in the entry of a third item, or, by the depression of a second motor bar 424, the taking of a subtotal from the balance totalizer whereby the total of the two items is printed. After the entry of a third or subsequent item, the same option obtains. However, after the taking of a subtotal, the old balance keys only are released and an old balance entering operation must ensue. This operation, whether it follows one or a number of item-entering operations, is succeeded immediately and automatically by a new balance operation wherein the balance totalizer is zeroized and the new balance recorded. Keyboard. The machine is provided in addition to the usual amount keys 150, Fig. 1, totalizer-selecting keys 151, transaction keys 149, operation-control lever 141 and totalizerselecting levers 142, with two motor bars 24, 424, of which the upper is used in taking a subtotal from the balance totalizer and the lower in all other operations. The new balance keys P-NB, N-NB have no heads and are selected by the balance totalizer according as to whether the total standing thereon is positive or negative, the selected key being depressed automatically in the new balance cycle of operation. The motor bars each cooperate with alternatively operable pairs of stems 20, 22 and 420, 422, respectively, to select the add or subtract side of the balance totalizer for actuation. The stems 20, 22 of the motor bar 24 are selected by the transaction keys 149, and the stems of the motor bar 424 by the sign of the total in the balance totalizer. Differential mechanism. The differential mechanism for all the banks is similar and of the kind described in Specification 474,051. Totalizers. The machine is provided with a balance totalizer, and with a row of totalizers associated with each of the key banks 149, 151, Fig. 1. These are of the known construction described in Specification 345,029, the balance totalizer being provided with overdraft mechanism of the kind described in Specification 368,117. Totalizer engaging-mechanism. The engaging mechanism for the balance totalizer is of known kind comprising a pair of mutilated pinions 31, 245, Fig. 11, adjustable axially of a shaft 246 selectively to engage a group of gears 26 on a shaft 27, whereby the totalizer may be engaged for adding, subtotal or total taking. The pinions 31, 245 are normally positioned for addition, but are adjusted to subtotal. taking position upon depression of the motor bar 424 and to total-taking position by the cycle control mechanism prior to the taking of a new balance. The engaging mechanism for the remaining totalizers is separate from but similar to that for the balance totalizer and is controlled by the operation control lever in known manner. Cycle-control mechanism. In all normal add and total taking operations, the main shaft 28, Fig. 10, is released for a single revolution. However, in an operation initiated by entering an old balance, it is necessary that the main shaft make two revolutions to enable the new balance to be taken automatically during the second cycle. The machine is freed by depression of one or other of the motor bars 24, 424 which, through a slide 35 rocks a lever 37 counterclockwise. A second lever 39 moves with the lever 37 and removes its stop 259 from the path of a stud 40a, whereby a pitman 40 and levers 41, 44 are permitted to rock to release known clutch mechanism and actuate a switch arm 267. In normal machine operations, the shaft 42 carrying the levers 41, 44 is rocked at the end of the first cycle to arrest the machine, the shaft being controlled for this purpose by a cam 88, Fig. 14, cooperating with a roller 89a on an arm 89 of the shaft. However, in an operation initiated by the depression of an old balance key, the cam 88 is shifted axially out of the path of the roller 89a to permit a second cycle. This shifting of the cam 88 is effected by the differential mechanism for the transaction bank, through a cam-drum 109 controlled thereby. In the second cycle, one of the new balance keys is automatically depressed and the differential mechanism returns the cam 88 to operative position to arrest the machine at the end of this cycle. In order to change the timing of the balance-totalizer engaging- mechanism from adding to total-taking for the second cycle, the timing mechanism is connected through epicyclic gearing to a pitman 64 controlled alternatively by two cam discs 65, Fig. 12, and 66, Fig. 13. In normal operations, a stud 64a on the pitman engages the concentric groove in cam disc 65 and the pitman is not moved. Depression of an old balance key, however, shifts the cam discs axially to engage the cam groove of disc 66 with a stud 64b on the pitman, with the result that the timing mechanism is adjusted for total taking towards the end of the first cycle. The pitman is returned at the end of the second cycle by an offset part of the groove in disc 65. Automatic selection and depression of new balance keys. A slide 97, Fig. 12, in the transaction bank is raised and lowered in known manner by the overdraft mechanism of the balance totalizer, alternatively to engage a bifurcated arm 98 with a stud 100 of the positive new balance key or an arm 99 with a stud 101 of the negative new balance key. Towards the end of an old balance operation, a bell-crank 94 operatively connected to the pitman 64 is rocked clockwise to depress the appropriate key through its bifurcated arm. Selection of appropriate side of balance totalizer. The appropriate side of the balance totalizer is selected in all operations, other than a total-taking operation, by the stems, 20, 22, Figs. 1 and 10, of the motor bar 24, the stems being themselves selected by bifurcated arms 17, 18, Fig. 11, on a slide 16 controlled by the transaction keys. In a new balance operation, the stem is selected upon the automatic depression of the appropriate new balance key and the selected stem is then depressed by a bell-crank 115 that is rocked clockwise at the beginning of the new balance operation. For this purpose, a link 117 depends from the bell - crank into the path of a bail 92 connected to the pitman 64, the arrangement being such that upon the movement of the pitman to the right at the end of an old balance operation, a stud 117a on the link is moved into the path of an arm 118 that receives a counterclockwise rotation during each cycle. In subtotal-taking operations, the appropriate side of the balance totalizer is selected by the overdraft mechanism which positions a slide 416 carrying bifurcated arms 417, 418 for alternatively connecting the stems 420, 422 to the motor bar 424. Keyboard interlocks ; sequence arrangements. The sequence of operations is enforced by two detents 300, 319, Fig. 24, in the transaction bank, and a detent 345, Fig. 31, in the motor-bar bank. The two detents in the transaction bank are connected by pin-and-slot 318, 317 and spring 316, the rearward detent 300 being urged downwardly by a spring 305. In the normal position of the parts shown in Figs. 24 and 31, only the transaction keys D, W are depressible, the old balance keys being locked by surfaces 367 of detent 300, the motor bar 24 being locked by surface 376 of detent 345, and the subtotal motor bar 424 being locked by a slotted arm 340 connected through a sleeve to an arm 338, Fig. 24, carrying a pin 523 restrained by a surface 375 of detent 300. Entering first item. Upon the depression of one of the item keys D, W, the detent 300 is moved upwardly and the detent 319 downwardly. The movement of detent 319 locks the old balance keys by surfaces 379, while the movement of detent 300 shifts the detent 345 upwardly to release the motor bar 24 and lock the subtotal motor bar by means of surface 382. The connection between detents 300 and 345 includes a lever 328, Figs. 24 and 30, pivoted on a pin 327 of detent 300 and connected by a link 353, arm 351, sleeve 352 and arm 354, Fig. 31, to a link 355 carrying stud 356 that is normally engaged within the upper part of a slot 357 in detent 345. After the item has been entered, the depressed item key is released and the detent 319 returns to normal position, but the detent 300 is retained in its lower position by a pawl 307 engaging a notch 310 therein. With the machine in this condition, the item keys, old balance keys and motor bar 24 are all free to be depressed. Entering old balance