Improvements in Cash-registers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash-registers.
We, SOPHUS HARTMANN, of Tempelhofer Ufer 18, Berlin, Germany, and HUGO
KOENIG, of Bachstr. 4, Berlin, Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in cash registers particularly in such as
are fitted with a pointer or hand indicating on a dial every paid amount and con-
nected to a counting clock-work registering the total of all paid amounts. There-
fore it is required always to return the pointer to its zero-point, whenever a paid
amount is to be registered. The object of our invention is a device, which com-
pels the operator to return the pointer, whatever its position on the scale or dial
to its zero point, before another amount can be registered. In this manner that
other amount is counted fully instead of only the difference of said amount and
the foregoing amount, thus preventing any error or fraud by the operator. We
attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in
which
Figs. 1-4 show a side-and a front-view of the mechanism indicating four
different positions in its operation.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
jo
Upon the spindle a, carrying the pointer and tending to be turned back by a
spiral spring to the starting point of the pointer at zero, whenever it is turned
forward, thereby transmitting in the usual manner the forward movement of the
pointer to the counting clockwork, is mounted with its socket 1, which can be
thrust back and forth by a milled head, the toothed coupling-disc c to be coupled
in and out of a like disc b, which is fastened to the frame work h.
The loose coupling disc c carries a hooked catch d, which, when the said disc is
turned to indicate an amount, catches the tip of a pin e, which is movable in a
tube o and can yield under the influence of a spiral springs within the tube;
this tube is connected to a stop-piece by a spiral spring f. The tube-piece o
is by means of its socket n loosely fitted upon the spindle a, while the stop-piece is
fixed to the spindle a, so the tube piece o can turn upon the spindle within an
angle (Fig. 3 and 4), which limit it given by the stop-piece.
a
Fig. 1 shows the loose coupling-disc at its starting-point, said disc c being
swung back by the torsion spring fastened at 9 and pushed into its locked
position by the action of the spiral spring m. The catch is in this position
situated sideways and in line with the front face of the pin e (see Fig. 1, side
view).
Fig. 2 shows the coupling-disc thrust forward by the operator and turned with
the pointer to indicate an amount of payment. Now the hook of the catch dis
situated sideways of the tip of pine and therefore the catch is taking the latter
around with it. The sliding of the coupling disc c is terminated by the slit i
in its socket and the pin k on the spindle. The tube o is pressed by the catch d
contrary to the stress of the spring f against the upper stop of the stop piece p
(Fig 2. side view).

page_text: Fig. 3 shows the coupling disc locked by the operator at the point which is to
be indicated, the hook of the catch is situated just in front of the face of the
pin e, which freed of the catch d has been swung back against the other stop of
the stop piece through the angle a in consequence of the stress of the spring f.
Fig. 4 shows the coupling-disc unlocked and thrust forward when an other
amount of payment is to be indicated. The catch d is pushed against and over
the beveled face of the pin e, the spring-s yielding to the compression, and the
hook catches the pin e behind its tip. Thus the coupling-disc cannot, if the
operator would by error or bad intention turn it from its last point further on
directly to the point nextly to be indicated in the expectation that the apparatus
would indicate the difference of the last and the, next.payment and he could take
the rest, be locked at this next point to be indicated. It must return to its
starting-point, where the tip of.the..pine comes free from the hook, because at
this point a projection t of the tube o meets with a stop g at the bottom of the
frame work, which stops the further swinging of the tube, and the tube. stops
the further swinging. of the spindle , because the upper stop of the stop-piece p
strikes against the tube. Now the pin.e. assumes the position as in Fig. 1. the
coupling-disc is locked. under the..action of the spring.m.and the mechanism is
free to indicate that next payment counting from zero upward.
Having now particularly described and ascertained. the.. nature of our said
invention, and in what manner, the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1/ In a device for controlling cash-registers the combination of a pointer-
shaft adapted to return to its zero-point with an arresting or coupling disc
mounted thereon and means adapted to prevent said disc from being locked and
to cause it to turn back to its zero-point substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
4*
P
27 In a device for controlling cash-registers the combination of a spring-
actuated pointer-shaft returning to its zero-point, a spring acting on said
shaft, an arresting or coupling disc c movably mounted on said shaft, a hooked
catch d attached to said dise and catching the tip of a pin e upwardly spring-
pressed within a tube o, this 'tube o turnably mounted on said shaft with a socket n
and governed by a spring f, said spring, a stop-piece connected therewith and
fixed on said shaft, said upwardly spring-pressed pin e having a beveled tip
turning in front of the hooked catch, when the coupling disc is turned and
locked, and yieldingly passing behind the hook, when the coupling disc is
unlocked again, thus preventing the indicating substantially as described and for
the purpose set forth.
'