Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1888
Specification Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1888
I, JEROME JOSIAH WEBSTER, of 1 Maple Avenue, in the City of Somerville, in the
County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of the United States
of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to cash indicators and registers and consists in the devices
and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of the case and till (in
vertical section) and of the money-tray (also in vertical section) placed in said till,
and of the registering, indicating, alarm and till-locking devices; figure 2, a plan of
the parts shown in figure 1, omitting the case and till; figure 3, a left side elevation
of the parts shown in figure 2 mounted upon the case, which with the till and
money-tray contained therein, is shown in vertical section; figure 4, like figure 3,
omitting the registering gear, except that in figure 4 one of the keys is depressed and
the unlocking lever is raised out of its normal position, shown in figure 3: figure 5,
a left side elevation of the registering ratchet, a key (depressed), the graduated lever,
the pawl carried on said lever and the bar which operates the lever which unlocks the
signal-locking devices; figure 6, a vertical section from front to back on the line xx
in figure 2, the upper part of the frame which supports the guides, the signals and
signal-rods being broken away; figure 7, a front elevation of the parts shown in
figure 2 in their normal position; figures 8 and 9, rear elevations of the frame, the
signals and signal-rods, the grids, and the hooks which lock the grids, to hold up the
rear ends of the keys until they have been raised to their highest position and let go,
the grids being unlocked in figure 8 and locked in figure 9. The case is of the

page_text: usual construction and serves to support the indicating, registering, alarm and
till-locking devices, and contains a till T which, whon free to move, is thrown outward
by a spring t, secured to the case on the inside thereof behind the till and pressing
- against the till, in the usual manner. In practice, an upper part of the case (not
shown) conceals the registering and alarm devices and also the signals, except when
raised, the signals being then visible through glass windows, in the usual manner.
Upon the top or table cof the case are secured fulcrum-rod brackets fƒ¹, in which
turns the horizontal fulcrum-rod F.
Upon the fulcrum-rod F the key-levers or keys K turn (all having an equal range
of motion with each other) freely, being guided by vertical guides k, in the usual
manner. Above the rear ends of the keys are arranged vertical signal-rods S¹,
carrying at their upper ends signals S, marked with numbers corresponding to
numbers upon the buttons or flat front ends k¹ of the keys K, also in the usual
manner.
The signal-rods are guided vertically by passing through holes in two parallel
horizontal bars C₁ C² being lifted by the rear ends of the keys when the front ends
of the keys are depressed.
The signal-rods are arranged in oblique ranks, as shown in figures 1 and 2, to
save space and are each provided with forwardly-projecting pins s which, when the
signals are not raised, rest upon the lower guide-bar C and, when raised, are held
up by backwardly-projecting pins on the locking rod L. The locking rod L is
secured to vertical standards (C, which support the signal-rod guides C¹³, by
means of studs or screws which pass through longitudinal slots in said locking
rod and allow the same to have a longitudinal motion. Said locking rod is normally
pushed to the right by a spring connected to said locking rod and to one of the
standards which support the same, in such a manner as to bring each of the pins
directly above or below_(above, when the signals are not raised) one of the pins s.
When any of the keys K is depressed and the corresponding signal is theroby raised,
the locking rod is at the same time moved to the left, by means hereinafter described,
to allow the pin on the signal-rod of said signal to pass above the corresponding pin
on the locking bar, whereupon the locking bar, being released, springs to the right,
carrying one of its pins under the pin of said signal-rod, to support said signal in a
raised position until, another key being depressed, the locking rod is again moved to
the left, allowing the signal or signals previously raised to drop. The locking rod L
is provided with a dowuhanging arm, as shown in figures 2-4, which is provided
with a forwardly-projecting stud 1, the parallel sides of which are inclined downward
from left to right.
Above the keys and normally in contact therewith, back of the fulcrumn-rod, is a
horizontal bar B, rigidly connected by arms b to said fulcrum-rod, so that the
depression of any key raises said bar. Parallel with said bar B and above the same
is another bar B connected by the same arms b to the fulcrum-rod, said arms being
bent to support both of said bars B B¹, as shown in figure 5.
To a post P, back of the bar B, is pivoted the unlocking lever M, the
lower end of which reachos in front of said bar B₁ so that depressing any key
swings said lower end forward and causes the upper arm of said unlocking lover
to be depressed.
The parallel sides of the upper end of said unlocking lever are inclined downward
from left to right, said upper end being normally placed above the inclined
projection of the locking rod, so that when any key is depressed and the unlocking
lever is rocked, as above described, said upper end, being drawn down past the
projection, moves the locking rod to the left, allowing the signals then in a raised
position to drop and then letting go of the locking rod and allowing it to move
to the right, to hold up the signal raised by the key last depressed, after said
key is released. To a post P¹ is secured a small gong G, and to the same post
is pivoted the spring striking wire g₁ of the hammer g of said gong, being forced
by a spring ginto, or nearly into, contact with said gong, the spring g³ and

page_text: the striking wire being shown in figure 1 as both of one piece, the striking wire
being wound around the pivot g³ and then bent through an eye secured to said
post P¹.
A hammer-lever g³, consisting of a lower arm which rests against the left
side of the striking wire and an upper arm g, turns on said pivot g³. A
downward projection 1 from the locking rod L prosses against the upper arm g
and, when the locking rod is moved to the left, draws the hammer away from
said gong and, suddenly releasing said hammer-lever, when said locking rod
springs to the right, allows said hammer to strike the gong to call the
attention of customers. The fulcrum-rod is provided with a backwardly-extending
arm (see figure 1) and a bolt F1, provided with a backwardly and downwardly
bevelled lower end, is passed through a hole in the table c, the upper end
of said bolt being provided with one or more lateral cars f³ which rest upon said
arm f³.
The bolt F is long enough to reach down in front of the back side of the till or
in front of a bracket t³, secured to said back of said till, so that, when the till is
pushed in under the bevelled lower end of the bolt, the bolt is raised up and then
drops of its own weight down in front of said bracket t³ and prevents the till from
being drawn out, until one of the keys is depressed and the fulcrum-rod
is rocked.
The graduated registering lover I consists of a bar i parallel to the fulcrum-rod F,
in the rear of the same and above the keys K, and connected to said fulcrum-rod by
arms which turn loosely on said rod, the under side of said bar being provided
with steps or graduations so that, when none of the keys are depressed, the lowest
surface of said bar i is out of contact with the key (marked 10) immediately below
said lowest surface at the extreme left, said lowest surface of said bar then resting
upon a step, and the vertical distance between said bar and the successive key
increasing from left to right, from key to key. The registering ratchet R turns
upon a horizontal shaft supported upon posts P3 and is engaged and actuated
by a pawl pivoted on the registering lever in the rear of said ratchet, the teeth
of said ratchet being of uniform size and the steps of said registering lever
being so graduated that the depression of any key and the raising of the
graduated bar and the pawl will move the ratchet through an angular
distance represented by a number of the teeth corresponding to the number borne
by said key.
The registering ratchet R has, preferably, one hundred teeth, so that when used
for.registering cents a complete revolution of the same will indicate the receipt of
one dollar. A retaining pawl is used to prevent the ratchet from being turned
backward by the friction of the actuating pawl I. A registering gear R¹ is pivoted
on the post P3 preferably a little higher than the ratchet, in order that the ratchet
may not interfere with the reading of the figures upon the gear, the ratchet_and
gear serving as dials and having their teeth numbered, as shown in figure 1. Upon
the post P is pivoted the pawl I by the pivot p which passes through a longitudinal
slot in said pawl I, said pawl having a tooth which engages with the teeth of
said gear, and having also a downward projection which is hevelled off on its under
surface, as shown in figure 4, so that a projection on the ratchet R will strike
said bevelled surface and lift the tooth of said last named pawl out of engage-
ment with said gear and carry it into the next space between toeth and upon the
further rotation of said ratchet, will be moved clear of said pawl, allowing it to
drop into engagement with said gear, whereupon said last named pawl will be
caused by a spring connecting the upper end of said pawl and the post P,
to move longitudinally downward and backward, turning said gear through an
angular distance represented by one tooth of said gear, so that a complete revolution
of said gear will register one hundred times as much as a complete revolution of
said ratchet, if the gear has the same number of teeth as said ratchet, and each has
one hundred teeth.

page_text: It is necessary that a partial registration of the amount taken by the person
operating the indicator should not be made with dishonest intention or by carelessness.
Accordingly, I provide the means described below for holding any key depressed,
_ unless said key is depressed to its fullest extent. The grid D consists of a frame of
vertical and substantially parallel rack-bars & equal in number to the keys, the
notches of said bars d being so arranged that the keys can be depressed, that is,
that their rear ends can be raised by sliding over the teeth or notches and pushing
the grids to one side (to the right, as one faces the machine, to the left in figures &
and 9), the grid being pivoted at d² to the upper ends of parallel inclined arms d³,
said arms being pivoted at their lower ends to brackets d secured to the table, so
that the weight of the rack-bars keeps their notched sides normally pressed against
the keys, so that depressing any key causes its rear end to engage with the notches d
of its rack-bar and holds up said rear end or, in other words, keeps the key
depressed.
The upper side d of each of the upper notches d is a longer incline than the upper
side of any of the notches below it and overhangs such lower notches, so that when a key
is engaged with the upper notch of its rack-bar, a still further depression of said key
causes the rear end of said key to push the grid still further (to the left in figures 8
and 9), until none of the teeth of said rack-bar are vertically below said key, the grid being
held in this position by a hook D', pivoted on a bracket supported on the lower signal-
rod guide C, which hook drops over a projection on the top of the grid and allows the
key to resume its normal position. The falling of the rear end of the key allows the
bar B¹ to fall and the unlocking lever to be restored to its normal position by the wire
spring m (figure 1), the ends of which are secured to said lever and to the post P,
respectively, said spring being wound around the pivot m' of said lever, the inclined
upper end of said lever allowing it to slide up over the projection, above described.
The unlocking lever has a third arm m² which reaches under said hook D¹ and lifts
the same when said lever returns to its normal position, releasing the grid which then
returns to its normal position. The notches in the several rack-bars vary in number,
as shown in figures 8 and 9, it being necessary only that the keys should be prevented
from returning to their normal position after the registration is begun and before it is
completed. Hence, the rack-bar for any key has a number of notches equal to the
number of ratchet-teeth which represent the angular distance said ratchet is capable
of being revolved by a complete depression of that key; thus, the rack-bar of the key
marked "1" has one notch, the rack-bar of the key marked "5," five notches,-the
notches being of such a length and so arranged as to engage a key just when the key
turns tho ratchet the distance represented by a tooth of said ratchet, so that a depression
of the key marked "1" does not affect the registration until just at the time when the
notch of the rack-bar engages said.lever and, if said key be released before engaging
with said notch, the key will return to its normal position and the ratchet, if turned a
part only of the distanco represented by a tooth, will be turned back again that
amount by the pressure of the retaining pawl on the face of a tooth of said
ratchet.
The above described construction prevents a partial registration. The pressure of
the rack-bars against their keys may be increased and the return movement of the
grid be made quicker and more certain by a spring d' secured to the standard C
and pressing against the end of said grid.
To insure perfect accuracy and in justice to the operator, it is also necessary to
prevent the possibility of over-registration or registering a greater amount than is
received or is intended to be registered.
To this end, there is a series of hooks E (see figures 1 and 6) pivoted below the
keys, back of the fulcrum-rod, and having the upper ends or hooks proper e bent
forward, as shown, there being as many hooks E as keys.
The shank e¹ of each hook E has an inclined slot, the upper end of which is
nearer than the lower to the fulcrum-rod, to receive a pin k², one such pin projecting
from each key and entering one of said slots e, said slots being so shaped

page_text: and arranged as to allow the pins k² to move freely in them as the keys are
depressed.
The depression of any key causes the corresponding hook E to swing about its
pivot, throwing the upper end e of said hook forward above the registering lever,
and limiting the upward motion of said lever, to prevent said registering lever and its
pawl (by their momentuin) from turning the ratchet too far. As the depression of
the different keys is intended to register different amounts, by raising the registering
lever through arcs of different lengths, the hooks are of different lengths and the
upper ends of said hooks are bent further forward the higher the amounts intended to
be registered by their respective keys, to allow the graduated bar of the registering
lever to move forward as it rises above its fulcrum. The distance between any key
and its hook when the former is raised should be just the vertical depth of said
graduated bar when raised, at the point where the key and hook strike it. In order
that the sudden depression of a key may not cause the graduated bar to rebound from
the key before the hook reaches over it, the lower part of the slot is adapted to move
the hook immediately upon beginning to depress said koy and said slot is thence con-
tinued upward in a curve which is concentric with the axis of the fulcrum F when the
hook E is sufficiently over said graduated bar, the upper part of said slot e² allowing a
loss of motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination of a series of keys and a grid composed of rack-bars adapted to
be pressed automatically against said keys, and provided with notches, adapted to
engage said keys, said grid being adapted to be moved laterally, when said keys are
depressed to allow said keys to pass said notches, each of said rack bars being
provided with an incline above said notchos and overhanging said notches, whereby
the raising of the rear ends of said keys to the tops of said inclines will move all
of said notches out from under said keys and allow the same to return to their
normal position, as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination of a series of keys and a grid composed of rack-bars adapted
to be pressed against said keys by their own gravity, and provided with notches
adapted to engage said keys, said grid being adapted to be moved laterally, when
any of said keys are depressed, to allow said keys to pass said notches, each of said
rack-bars being provided with an incline above said notches and overhanging said
notches, whereby the raising of the rear ends of said keys to the tops of said inclines
will move all of said notches out from under said keys and allow the same to return to
their normal position, as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination of a series of keys, a grid composed of rack-bars adapted to he
automatically pressed against said keys and provided with notches adapted to engage
said keys, said grid being adapted to be moved laterally, when any of said keys are
depressed, to allow the rear ends of said keys to pass said notches, each of said rack-
bars being provided with an incline above its notches, whereby the raising of the rear
ends of said keys to the tops of said inclines will move all of said notches out from
under said keys, and allow said keys to return to their normal position, said grid
being provided with a projection, and a hook adapted to swing over said projection
and to prevent said notches from engaging with said keys, as and for the purpose
specified.
4. The combination of a series of keys, a grid composed of rack-bars, provided with
notches and adapted to be automatically pressed against said keys and to engage said
keys, each of said bars being provided above its notches with an incline, the upper
end of which overhangs said notches, whereby raising the rear end of any of said keys
to the top of an incline will move said grid to one side of said keys, said grid being
provided with a projection, and a hook, turning on a stationary pivot and adapted to
engage with said projection, to prevent said grid from returning to its normal position,

page_text: a bar arranged above said keys and adapted to be raised by raising the rear ends of
any of said keys, a lever provided with an arm which reaches under said hook, said
lever being adapted to be operated to depress said arm, to allow said hook to engage
said projection when said bar is raised, and a spring to rock said lever upon its
Fulcrum when said keys are restored to their normal position-and-to-raise said hook
out of engagement with said projection to allow said grid to return to its normal
position, as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination of a series of keys having a uniform range of motion, and a
graduated lever arranged to be struck and to be moved by any of said keys when the
same are depressed, the under side of said lever being provided with as many steps
or graduations as there are keys, whereby the distance through which said fever is
moved is determined by the key which is struck or depressed, the registering ratchet
and a pawl pivoted to said lever, as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination of a series of keys having a uniform range of motion, a
registering lever arranged to be struck and moved by any of said keys when the latter
are depressed, said registering lever being provided on its under surface above said
keys with steps or graduations, a registering ratchet, a pawl pivoted to said registering
lever and engaging said ratchet, said keys being differently numbered and the number
on each key representing the number of teeth by which said ratchet is rotated by a
single depression of said key, as and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination of the registering ratchet, the registering gear, a pawl having
a slot and being pivoted through said slot to allow said pawl a longitudinal motion,
said pawl having a tooth which engages with the teeth of said registering gear and
having also a downward projection bovelled off on its under surface, said ratchet being
provided with a projection arranged to strike the bevelled surface of said pawl and to
raise the tooth of said pawl out of engagement with said gear and to allow it to drop
into the next space between teeth of said gear and a spring arranged to draw the
upper end of said pawl downward into engagement with said gear and, by restoring
said pawl to position, to rotate said gear one tooth during every complete revolution
of said ratchet, as and for the purpose specified.
8. The combination of a series of keys, a pin projecting from each of said keys, a
series of hooks pivoted below said keys, the registering lever arranged above said keys
and provided with steps or graduations equal in number to said keys, the shanks of
said hooks having each an inclined slot which receive the pins upon said keys and said
hooks being of different lengths and adapted to be thrown into engagement with said
registering lever, to prevent said lever from being carried beyond its proper limit
by its own momentum, when raised by any of said keys, as and for the purpose
specified.
9. The combination of a series of keys, a pin projecting from each of said keys, a
registering lever arranged above said keys and provided with steps or graduations
equal in number to said keys, a series of hooks equal in number to said keys pivoted
below said keys and each having an inclined slot to receive the pin upon one of
said keys, said hooks being adapted to be moved by the depression of said keys and
the movement of said pins in said slots, to engage with said graduated registering
lever, and each of said hooks being of a suitable length to prevent said s
registering lever from being carried by its own momentun higher than the key
appropriated to said hook, should raise said lever, a registering ratchet and a pawl
pivoted on said registering lever and engaging said ratchet, as and for the purpose
specified.
10. The combination of the frame, the locking rod, provided with a projection
and adapted to slide in said frame, a spring adapted to draw said locking rod endwise
in one direction, an unlocking lever adapted, when turned upon its fulcrum to press
against said projection and to move said locking rod against the resistance of said
spring and to pass by said projection and to release said locking rod, said
locking rod being provided with a series of pins and a series of rods, guided
vertically in said frame and each provided with a pin adapted, when raised above

page_text: a pin on said locking rod, to be supported thereby, as and for the purpose
specified.
11. The combination of the frame, the locking rod, provided with an incline and
adapted to slide end wise on said frame, a spring adapted to draw said locking rod
5 in one direction, an unlocking lever adapted, when turned upon its fulcrum, to
press against said incline and to move said locking rod against the resistance of
said spring and to pass by said incline to release said locking rod, signals provided
with stems or signal rods, guided vertically in said frame, and having projections,
said locking rod being provided with projections equal in number to the number of
O said signal rods, a series of keys equal in number to said signal rods, one of said
sigual rods normally resting on each of said keys, and a bar resting upon said keys
and adapted to engage and to turn said unlocking lever when any of said keys are
depressed, as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 20th day of April A.D. 1887.
5
Witnesses:
ALBERT MONROE MOORE.
GERTRUDE MERILLA DAY.
JEROME JOSIAH WEBSTER.
Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand,
Agents.