Improvements in Cash-registers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
Improvements in Cash-registers.
We, JOHN BRADBURY BENTON, of 1263 Clinton Place Elizabeth, in the
County of Union, and State of New Jersey, and EDWARD BERNARD HESS, of
351 West 28th Street in the City, County and State of New York all in the
United States of America, Gentlemen, 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:-
This invention relates to that class of registers in which registration is effected
by the rotation of numbered indicating wheels adapted to be rotated to different
positions to indicate different amounts and to be re-set after each registration
preparatory to the next operation. The objects aimed at are cheapness of con-
struction, reliability, ease of manipulation, and to prevent surreptitious or fraudulent
operation by unauthorized persons in the absence of those having charge of the
machine. To these ends the invention consists in the construction and combinations
of parts as hereinafter fully described and claimed.
-
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention and form a part of
this specification:
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the operating mechanism, the front of the
case being broken away.
Fig. 2 is a side view from the right hand side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, .
the case being shown in central vertical section.
Fig. 2 is a detail plan view, and Fig. 2B, a side view of a portion of the
re-setting mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a side view from the left-hand side the case being omitted.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line a-a in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line b-b.
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line c-c in Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a vertical detail section in the plane indicated by the line d-d in Fig. 6
looking in the direction indicated by the arrow at the right.
.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view showing the relations of the bell-hammer and
the change-lever.
Fig. 9 is a section on the line e-e in Fig. 4.
Fig. 10 is a section on the line f-fin Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 a section on the line g-g in Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 a section on the line h-h in Fig. 9.
Fig. 13 a detail view showing the means for controlling the change-lever.
Fig. 14 a section on the line i-i in Fig. 13.
:
Fig. 15 a vertical section on the line d-d in Fig. 6 looking in the direction
indicated by the arrow at the left.
Fig. 16 shows in side and in plan view the lever or dog for holding the hammer.
in set position.
Fig. 17 shows a section of the main shaft.
Figs. 18 and 19 are sections taken respectively on the lines j-j and k-k
in Fig. 17.
Fig. 20 is a vertical detail section through the top of the case showing the means
for controlling the screen which hides the permanent register.
Fig. 21 is a plan view looking downward from the line in Fig. 4.....

page_text: Fig. 22 is a section on the line m-m in Fig. 21 and
Fig. 23 is a vertical section on the line n-n in Fig. 22.
Fig. 24 is a detail view showing means for preventing over-rotation of the
permanent register.
Referring to the drawings:
1, 1, designate two side-plates or standards connected by rods and shafts herein-
after more particularly referred to and designated, the whole constituting a frame
for the support of the operating mechanism.
2 designates the main shaft mounted in bearings in the frame-standards and
projecting through the same at both ends, one end being provided with a crank 3,
whereby it is adapted to be turned.
At the same side of the machine at which the crank 3 is located and outside of
the frame-standard, is a segmental rack 4 mounted to swing back and forth on an
axis or rod 85, and on the shaft 2 at the side of said rack is a cam 6 (see Figs. 2
and 2) which, when the shaft 2 is turned, works against an anti-friction roller 7
mounted on the side of the rack to throw the latter forward. At the rear the
rack is provided with a forwardly extending arm 8 which stands out from the face
far enough to permit the cam to pass back of the same, that is, between the arm
and the body of the rack. The cam is formed with an offset arm 9 arranged to
pass the roller 7 and carrying at its end an anti-friction roller 10 which wipes
against the arm 8 to move the rack backward from its forward position, the cam
and its arm 9 thus operating alternately to impart a forward and a backward
movement to the rack during each rotation of the shaft 2. The registering and
indicating mechanism comprehends three sets of rotatable wheels, two of which
being geared and operating together synchronously, constitute cost or price
indicators for indicating individual sales and the other set a permanent register for
registering the aggregate amount of successive sales.. Of the two sets of cost-
indicating wheels one set is intended to serve as an indicator for the benefit and
covenience of the salesman or operator to enable him to observe the operation of
the apparatus and to determine when the proper amount has been registered. They
also serve as a means for operating the other set which become visible only on the
opening of the till and which are intended for the observation of the purchaser or
others in the establishment to exhibit the amount of the sale or to show whether
the proper registration has been made.
The sales indicators are turned back and re-set after each operation but the
permanent register wheels constantly turn forward in the same direction.
Referring now again to the drawings and particularly Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11,
12 & 21 13 designates a series of indicator wheels mounted loosely on a shaft 11
and capable of independent rotation thereon, and above this series loosely mounted
on a rod 12 is a second series 14, preferably larger than those of the first or lower
series. These wheels all have on their peripheral surfaces the nine digits and a
cipher arranged in regular numerical order and running from the front backwards
over the top.
Each of the wheels of the two series referred to has attached to the side thereof
a sprocket or chain wheel 16: and corresponding wheels of the two series are geared
together by chains 17 running on said sprocket wheels, so that the two wheels of
each pair move synchronously in registering and in. re-setting.
At the sides of the respective indicator wheels 13 opposite the sprocket wheels
thereon, are four register wheels 15 constructed as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 22,
with ten spur teeth equally spaced and numbered between said teeth to correspond
with the indicator wheels, the numerals running in the same direction. These
wheels constitute the permanent. register or totalizer of the machine and they are
actuated by or through the wheels 13, the latter being impelled by springs 18,
and their movements controlled by. anchor escapements 19. provided with key-
levers 20, so that by the operation of the latter step-by-step movements are
produced.
The springs 18 are located within the annular sprocket wheels '16 at the sides of
1

page_text: the indicator wheels 13, one end being attached to said wheels and the other end
to plates 21 mounted on the shaft 11 and held against rotation by a rod 22 extending
through the same back of the register wheels.
The wheels 13 are cup-shaped as shown in Fig. 9 and on the inner side of the
rim of each is pivoted a spring-pawl 23 which is thrown out into engagement with the
teeth of the adjacent permanent register wheel, the arrangement being such that
when the wheels 13 move forward they carry the permanent register wheels forward
also, and such that the wheels 13 may turn backward independently. Pawls 24
Figs. 4, 5, 21, & 22 mounted on a rod 25 extending above the wheels 13, 15
engage the teeth of the latter and prevent backward rotation.
The escapements 19 mounted to rock on a rod 26 are thrown in one direction by
springs 21 and in the other direction by the operator pressing upon the finger
keys 20. The pallets of the escapement co-act with the teeth of the permanent
register wheels 15 to produce a step-by-step movement the said wheels moving
forward one step for each depression of the keys.
It will be thus understood that the springs 18 act directly upon the wheels 13 to
drive the same that these, through their pawls 23 actuate the wheels 15, and that
each pair of wheels 13, 15, is controlled by an escapement operated through a key-
lever, to produce a step-by-step movement.
In the normal position of parts, that is to say, in the position assumed by the
parts after each registration, and before another registration can be made, the
wheels 13, 14, stand at zero, with all the zero characters in line opposite the sight
openings 28, 29, in the front of the case, from which position they are moved step-
by-step by the manipulation of the finger-keys 20%. The two wheels at the right
of each series indicate cents and tens of cents, and those at the left dollars and 'tens
of dollars, as usual in registers of this character, the indicating capacity of these
wheels thus being ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents. Of course it will be
understood that the capacity can be increased to any desired extent by adding
wheels at the left.
A registration having been made, the till or cash drawer 30 Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, is
opened to deposit therein the cash received, or to make change which operation,
through the instrumentalities hereinafter described, locks the registering mechanism
and renders it inoperative in which condition it remains until the drawer is closed
and the indicator wheels are re-set to zero.
At one side of the machine (the left as viewed in Fig. 1) is a lever 31
Figs. 1, 3, 13, 14, pivoted on a pin 32 projecting from the frame-standard and held
up normally by a spring 33. This lever (which may be denominated the "change
lever") extends forward to the front of the machine and is provided at its front
end with a finger-key 31 iu range with the finger-keys 20%, but somewhat lower
(see Figs. 1 and 3) to enable it to be readily distinguished by its position. In the
lower part of the frame is mounted a rock-shaft 34 Figs. 3, 6, 7, 15, provided with
a crank-arm 35 with which lever 31 is connected by a coupling-link 36 so that
when the lever is depressed the shaft is rocked. The shaft is also provided with a
second crank-arm 37 which extends in a backward direction, and at the side of said
second crank-arm is loosely mounted a vertically-swinging plate 38 notched at its
free or swinging end as at 39, and in the normal position of parts engaging the rear
end of the cash drawer to lock the same. A pin 37, projecting from the plate 38
overlies the arm 37, the arrangement being such that when the lever 31 is
depressed and the shaft 34 rocked, the locking plate 38 is lifted out of engagement
with the drawer to permit the latter to be thrown forward by an ejector as herein-
alter explained.
On the main shaft 2 at the side of the lever 31 is fixed a cup-shaped disk 40
Figs. 13 14, into the open side of which a pin 41 projecting from the side of the
lever extends. The annular flange or rim of the disk has a notch 42 which in the
normal position of the parts stands vertically below the pin 41 so that the latter
may pass thereinto or therethrough when the lever is depressed.
As soon as the lever is released it returns to its normal position under the

page_text: ondence of TUS spring 35. The purpose of this construction will be explained
: presently.
At or near its mid-length the main shaft 2 is provided with a backwardly-facing
lug or shoulder 43 Figs. 7, 17, 18 which, for convenience, we form on a sleeve or
collar 42ª mounted and made fast ou the shaft, and on a rod or axis 44 at the back
of the machine we mount a swinging arm 45 which extends forward to said lug or
shoulder 43. Below the arm 45 on the shaft 34 is loosely mounted a vertically
swinging arm 46 the rear end of which rests on the back end of the till 30 (see
Fige. 7 and 15) and which is connected by a coupling rod or plate 47 with the
swinging arm 45 the arrangement being such that when the drawer is closed the
arms 45 46, will both be elevated, the former standing above the lug 43 and such
that when the drawer is opened they fall to a lower position, the arm 45 then
standing in the path of lug 43 whereby the shaft 2 is locked against rotation.
A sale indication and registration having been made the lever is depressed to
open the drawer as above explained. As the drawer moves forward the rear end
thereof gradually moves out from under the arm 46 permitting the latter and the
arm 45 to fall and lock the shaft 2, the latter being then incapable of rotation so
long as the drawer remains open. Change having been inade or the cash received
deposited the drawer is closed whereby the arm 46 is raised and the shaft 2
unlocked to permit the indicator wheels to be set back to zero. The construction
and operation of the re-setting mechanism are as follows:
The swinging segmental rack 4 meshes with a gear wheel 11, Figs. 1, 2, on
shaft 11, and by its forward and backward movements imparted as above explained,
imparts reciprocating rotary movement to shaft 11 on which the indicator wheels 13
are loosely mounted. The said wheels are cupshaped as shown in Figs. 9 and 11
and within the same the shaft is provided with fixed radial arms 48 (Fig. 10)
which coming in contact with stops 49 (see Figs. 9 and 10) carry the wheels around
also, the range of movement of the rack 4 and the size of gear 11ª, being so
proportioned that a full movement of the rack from one of its positions to the other
imparts a full rotation to the shaft, the latter thus having a full rotation imparted
to it by the forward movement and being returned to normal position by the
backward movement of the rack.
When the lever 31 is depressed to unlock the cash drawer, the pin 41 passes
through the notch 42 the arrangement being such that when the machine is in
operative condition the notch stands immediately below the pin. As soon as the
lever is released it returns to normal position as indicated in Figs. 13 and 14,
carrying the pin back within the rim of the disk 40. The initial rotary movement
of the shaft 2 (which is rotatable only after the lever 31 has been operated) carries
the notch 42 out of coincidence with the pin 41 so that the lever cannot be again
depressed during the re-setting operation but remains locked until said operation is
completed from which it will be understood that the drawer having been once
opened and closed it cannot be again opened until the re-setting is completed and
the apparatus restored to operative condition.
As above explained the wheels 13, impelled by the springs 18, carry the
permanent register wheels 15 forward through the action of spring pawls 23, the
wheels 15 being controlled by the escapements 19 and prevented from rotating
backward by pawls 24. The pawls 23 being the only connection between the
wheels 13, 15, the former are capable of rotating backward independently, while
the latter rotate continuously forward, successive sales indications being thus carried
over and added to the amount previously registered by the wheels 15.
In the operation of indicating sales the indicator wheels 13, 14, starting from the
zero position effect their highest indication on the completion of the ninth forward
step, it being evident that a tenth step would carry them around to the starting
point with the zero characters opposite the sight openings. They are therefore
each limited to nine forward steps, or nine-tenths of a rotation, and this is effected
by providing the wheels 13 at suitable points with radially projecting stop pins 50
which coming in contact with a horizontal bar 51 arrest thein on the completion of

page_text: the ninth forward movement or impulse with the highest numerals showing throngi
the sight openings in the case.
The different wheels 13 of the series have no operative connection with each
other and are therefore adapted to be operated separately in any order, or all
together, as may be found convenient or expedient in practice. Thus, supposing a
sale of twenty-three dollars and forty-five cents is to be indicated and registered
the left hand lever is operated twice, the second lever three times, the third lever
four times and the fourth or right hand lever five times, the corresponding indicator
and register wheels controlled thereby being advanced respectively the same
number of steps. The operation may however be materially abbreviated by
depressing all the levers 20 together twice then omitting the first or left hand one
and operating the remaining three, then omitting the first two and operating the
remaining two, then omitting the first three and operating the last at the right,
making in all five operations instead of fourteen, as when the levers are operatel
separately. Or the operation may be reversed beginning at the right and taking
up the levers towards, the left in reverse order from that in which they are dropped
or omitted as above set forth.
Necessarily, the sprocket chains 17 which connect the indicator wheels 13, 14,
are small and light and in the ordinary operation of the machine they would be
liable to stretch under the strain put upon them by the weight and momentum of
the wheels 14 in re-setting to zero. In order to avoid this we provide for each
wheel 14 a vibrating stop lever 52 Figs. 3, 4, 5, located at the side thereof and
mounted on a rod 53. The upper ends of these levers are held back by springs 54
and stand in the paths of laterally-projecting lugs 55, of the wheels, the arrange-
ment being such that as the wheels approach the zero position the lugs strike the
levers and carry them forward putting the springs 54 under tension and gradually
taking up the momentum.
56 designates a signal or alarm bell mounted on a support 57 preferably within
the frame adjacent to one of the frame standards 1. 58 is the bell-hammer in the.
shape of a reciprocating rod mounted in bearing lugs 59, 60 formed on the inner
side of the frame standard and thrown against the bell by a spring 61 mounted
thereon between the lug 60 and a fixed collar 62. The hainmer is retracted by
a crank arm 63 on the main shaft 2, said arm 63 being preferably formed on the
sleeve 42. When the shaft is rotated to re-set the indicator wheels the arm 63
wipes against the collar 62 and carries the hammer-rod forward to the position
shown in Figs. 3 and 8 where a head 65 thereon is engaged and held by a lever 64
fixed on a shaft 65º.
Said lever lies alongside of and in close proximity to the change lever, and
has at its rear end a laterally-projecting pin 66 which underlies the change
lever, the arrangement being such that when the change lever is depressed to
open the drawer as already explained, the bell-hammer is tripped and the bell
sounded.
It will thus be seen that the bell-hammer has no connection with the indicating
and registering mechanism, that it is retracted and set in the act of re-setting
the indicator wheels after an indication and registration and before the next, and
that it is released and the bell sounded simultaneously with the opening of the
drawer, while in other crank machines with which we are acquainted the alarm
mechanism is set by the operation of the registering mechanism in the act of
making a registration.
.
The hammer rod is prevented from turning in its bearings lugs by a guide
pin 67 projecting through the lug 60. The hammer spring 61 should be of such
length that it will reach its full expansion just before the hammer strikes the bell,
the stroke in such case being completed by momentum after the spring ceases to
act. Under such arrangement à spring or elastic buffer 61° (Fig. 5) located
between the head 65 and the frame will throw the hammer back out of contact
with the bell after its stroke has been delivered whereby any interruption or
deadening of the sound will be avoided.
;

page_text: In the practical operation and use of this indicator and register it will be found
expedient not to re-set to zero immediately after making an indication and regis-
tration, but to let it.remain in unset condition until a new sale is to be indicated
and registered, in order that the last indication may remain visible during the
interim. Safety therefore requires that during such interim a surreptitious
opening of the drawer and also further operation of the indicating and registering
mechanism shall be prevented.
We have above described means for preventing the cash drawer from being
opened during the re-setting of the indicator wheels; we find it expedient also to
prevent a second opening prior to re-setting and for this purpose we provide the
following devices.
At the side of the hammer-head 65 is mounted a swinging dog 68 Figs. 5, 8,
which extends above the head and on the lever 31 is a pin 69 which when the
hammer is in its unset position overlies said dog (see Fig. 8) and prevents the
lever from being operated until the hammer has been reset which is effected during
the operation of resetting the indicating devices to zero. When the lever is
depressed to open the drawer and ring the bell, as already fully explained, the pin 69
passes down behind the dog 68 so that when the hammer in delivering its stroke
carries the dog against the pin, the latter arrests the dog and turns it forward on
its pivot 70. As soon as the lever is released it returns to normal position under
the influence of its spring 33, the pin 69 passing above the dog 68 when the latter
snaps thereunder under the influence of a spring 71 and prevents further operation
of the lever so long as the hammer remains unset.
A sale having been indicated and registered and the cash drawer opened to
make change the registering and indicating mechanisms are locked against further
operation by the following means: In the lower part of the frame on a rod 72
Figs. 4, 5, 6, at the rear is fulcrumed a vertically swinging lever 73 to which a
spring 74 is applied to throw it upward. The lever has near its mid-length a
vertical arm 75. On the main shaft 2 is fixed a ratchet wheel 76 on the side of
which is formed a lug 77 (Fig. 4) which, when the wheel and shaft are rotated
strikes upon the top of the vertical arm 7 and depresses the lever, the latter
being then engaged and held by a swinging arm 78 fixed on the shaft 65", and
having a spring 79 applied thereto to throw it into engagement.
.
The operation is as follows: The lever 31 being depressed to open the drawer
or till as already explained, its action upon the lever 64 rocks the shaft 65, and
throws the arm 78 out of engagement with the lever 73 when the latter is thrown
upward by its spring 74 (see broken lines in Fig. 4).
Beneath the key levers 20, on a rod 80 Figs. 4 & 5 is mounted a plate 81 which
when the register is in operative position stands in the position indicated by full
lines in Fig. 4 leaving sufficient space between it and the key levers to permit the
latter to be operated. This plate 81 is formed with an arm 81ª which is coupled
with the lever 73 by a connecting link 82 the arrangement being such that when
the lever is released and thrown up the plate is turned to the position indicated by
broken lines, when its edge stands in close proximity to the key levers and prevents
the latter from being operated, the effect of which is that after the drawer has
been opened no further indication or registration can be made until the machine
has been re-set to zero.
The ratchet wheel 76 may have any preferred number of teeth and it is
controlled by a pawl 83 mounted on the rod 80 to prevent backward rotation.
At the side of the lever 73 is arranged a dog 84 which is loosely mounted on a
rod 85 so as to be capable of swinging back and forth. The leg of this dog has
formed in it a cam slot 86 which inclines upward and forward, that is, towards the
front of the machine, and into which a pin 87 carried by the lever 73 projects,
the arrangement being such that when the lever is depressed the dog stands in the
position shown in Fig. 5. The dog is formed with a horizontally extending
head 84, on which is pivoted as at 84, a block 84°, capable of swinging vertically
to a limited extent. This block is pressed upward by a spring 88 interposed

page_text: between the two parts. On the side of the ratchet wheel 76 is formed a lug 89.
which when the shaft 2 is turned to re-set the register comes in contact with the
block 84° and arrests the movement.
The spring 88 forms a cushion to prevent jar and undue strain.
The lug 89 is so located with reference to the dog 84 and the numerals on the
indicator wheels that it contacts with the dog and arrests the movement at the
instant the said wheels reach the zero position.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that after the indicator.
wheels have been re-set preparatory to a new indication and registration the parts
will stand in the relative positions shown in Fig. 5, and in full lines in Fig. 4 and
that when an indication has been made and the drawer opened they stand as
shown in broken lines in Fig. 4, the registering and indicating mechanisms being
then locked and inoperative. Also that the drawer having once been opened and
closed it cannot again be opened until the indicator has been re-set to zero.
In Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 90 desiguates a movable screen mounted on the rod 12 and
extending across the indicator wheels 14 in front thereof. This screen is connected
with the lever 73 by a connecting rod 91 and therefore moves synchronously, with
the said lever. When the register is in operative condition, that is, when the
indicator wheels 13, 14, stand in the zero position after re-setting, it stands opposite.
the sight opening 29 and hides the indicator wheels from view and it remains in
this position while the next indication and registration is being made and until the
drawer is opened. The operation of opening the drawer releases the lever 73 as
already explained, which being thrown up by its spring 74 raises the screen 90 and
exposes the indication. When the indicator is re-set preparatory to the next.
operation the lever is depressed and the screen drawn down.
•
On the shaft 11 is also mounted a screen 93 which extends in front of the
indicator and register wheels 13, 15, opposite the sight opening 28. This screen is
intended to hide only the permanent register wheels and it is therefore provided
with openings opposite the wheels 13 these, as before stated, being intended for
the benefit of the operator who is thereby enabled to observe the operation of the..
register and to see when the proper indication and registration has been made.
A rod 94 is pivotally connected with the screen 93 and with the reciprocating bolt
of a lock 95 of any preferred style or construction, mounted within the register :
case (see Fig. 20) and adapted to be operated from the exterior. By shooting the
bolt of the lock the screen is lowered to expose the permanent register wheels 15.
through the sight opening 28. The lock is supposed to be under the control of the
proprietor or person in charge who may at any time observe the state of the
permanent register by operating the lock.
As will be understood from the foregoing description the several wheels of each
series are entirely separate from each other and capable of independent rotation.
As in all permanent registers or adding machines the proper operation requires
that the tens be carried over from each wheel of lower order to that of the next
higher order. In other words that on the completion of a full rotation of any wheel
of lower order the next higher wheel be advanced one step or one-tenth of a.
rotation. This, in the present case, is accomplished by the following devices:-
The three key levers 20 towards the left of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1 aré.
each provided with a tripping plate 96 Figs. 21, 22, mounted at the side thereof on
a. pin or axis 97 sustained in laterally-projecting lugs 98. The plates are adapted to
rock on their pins or axes and are held at the limit of movement in either direction:
by flat springs 99 attached to the levers and bearing against the beveled or rounded
ends of arms or lugs 100 projecting through openings in the levers (see Figs. 21,
22, 23).
Each plate 96 has an angular vertical projection 101 which in one position of
the plate stands in the path of movement of a depending lug 115 (Figs. 1
and 4) on the underside of the bar 51 and in the other position permits the said
lug to pass.

page_text: The bar 51 has legs 51* which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a
rod or axis 102 on which they are adapted to swing back and forth, as indicated by
broken lines in Fig. 3. The lugs 115 are beveled at the rear to form cams which
act against the sides of the projections 101 to turn the latter aside and permit the
bar to return to its normal position after being swung forward.
.
At their rear ends the plates 96 are provided with arms 103 (Figs. 21, 22,) which
extend into the paths of laterally projecting pirs 104 on the respective register
wheels towards the right, the arrangement being such that on the completion of a
full rotation of any wheel 15 its pin will strike and depress the arm 103 rocking
the plate 96 and throwing the projection 101 thereon into the path of the lug 115
which co-operates therewith, so that when the bar 51 moves forward thercover the
key 20 will be depressed and the register wheels controlled thereby permitted to
take a step forward under the influence of spring 18. This operation takes place
on the re-setting of the register to zero preparatory to making a new registration,
the bar 51 being thrown out by a cam 105 on the left-hand end of the main shaft 2
which cam wipes against an anti-friction roller 106 mounted at the side of the
leg 51 (see Figs. 1 and 3). After the cam passes the roller the bar is returned to
normal position by a spring or springs 107.
The angular projections 101 of the several levers are arranged at different
distances from the fulcrum on which the levers are mounted, the distance
increasing from right to left so that when the bar 51 moves out the several key
levers are depressed in succession the object being to carry the tens of any wheel
of lower order over, before the wheel of higher order to which they are carried
changes its position. Thus, supposing all the wheels 15 to stand at the "9"
position the whole registering 99, 99, if a registration be made on the right hand
(cents) wheel the forward movement thereof will trip the plate 96 mounted on the
second lever from the right and throw the angular projection 101 thereof into the
path of the lug 115 so that in re-setting the indicator the bar 51 will depress said
second lever and permit the wheel controlled thereby to move forward one step.
This will in turn set the plate 96 of the next key-lever so that this will be
depressed by the further or continued movement of the bar 51 and so on to the
end of the series, each wheel of lower order carrying its tens over before the next
wheel to which they are carried moves forward.
It will be noted that since no tens are carried to the first or cents-wheel, the lever
which controls the latter is not provided with a plate 96.
The
In order to increase the registering capacity of the permanent register without
increasing the size of the machine or adding to the operative mechanism, we mount
at the side of the left-hand wheel 15 on a spindle 111, Figs. 5, 24 projecting
from the frame standard, a small wheel 112 numbered in the same manner as the
larger wheels, and also having ten radial teeth which are engaged by a spring-
pressed friction pawl 113, to hold the wheel in position by frictional contact.
spindle on which this wheel is mounted stands in front of the shaft 11 (see Fig. 5)
the position being such that the front of the wheel is in approximately the same
vertical plane as the front of the adjaceat wheel 15. The wheel 112 is advanced
step-by-step by a pin 114 projecting laterally from wheel 15 and engaging the
teeth of the small wheel, the arrangement being such that the small wheel is
advanced one step at the completion of each rotation of the wheel 115.
Over-rotation of the wheel 112 is prevented by means of a stop-piu 126 which
projects from the frame into the path of a pin 125 carried by the wheel (see
Fig. 24).
It has been explained above that the key-levers 20 are locked against operation
while the drawer is open by the plate 81 connected with and operated by the lever 73.
Since, however the lever 73 is depressed and the locking plate returned to the position
indicated in Fig. 5 and also by full lines in Fig. 4, by the initial movement of the
main shaft it follows that without other means for locking the key-levers they
would be unlocked and capable of being operated during the greater part of the

page_text: rotation of the main shaft. Such additional locking means are provided as
follows: whereby as soon as the re-setting operation begins, and before the
plate 81 reaches: a position to permit their operation, the key-levers are again
locked, and kept locked until the shaft completes,its rotation and the indicator.is
fully. re-set.
The key-levers 20 which are all alike, are formed with depending projections, 108
Fig. 4, which stand immediately above the main, shaft 2, and on, the latter, or
preferably on the sleeve, 42 (see Figs. 17 and 19) mounted, thereon are collars 109
which underlie the projections of the respective levers. These collars have openings
or are cut away as at 110 said openings being disposed with relation to the normal
position of the shaft to permit the key-levers to be depressed when the register is
in operative condition. These openings gradually increase in extent from right to
left, for the purpose of permitting the depression of the several -key-levers in
succession during the rotation, of the shaft to effect the carrying operation as above
explained, and the arrangement is such that as soon as a key-lever returns to
normal position after being depressed by the bar 51 the collars. 109 pass under
the projections 108 and lock the levers to prevent further operation, until the
shaft completes, its rotation and the indicator is fully reset to zero. The widest
opening 110-that in the collar at the left is such that the lever controlled, by
said, collar will be locked thereby before it is unlocked by the return of the plate 81
towards its normal position.
The drawer or till 30 is automatically thrown out and opened when unlocked by
two swinging lever-arms 116 pivoted at 117 in the top, of the case near the
respective sides thereof (see Figs. 1 and 2), and preferably connected, at the top. by
a cross-bar 116, which may be integral therewith, the ejector being thus con-
The arms 116
veniently formed of a single bar of metal bent into inverted U form.
are thrown forward by springs. 118. applied. at, or near, the pivots on which they
swing. At their lower ends..they are. provided with right angular forwardly
extending forks 119 which engage laterally projecting pins 120 at the rear. end: of
the drawer.
In the bottom of the case at or near the front thereof are rollers 121 Fig. 2 on
which the drawer runs and at its rear end the drawer carries one or more
rollers 122 which run under a track-rail or rails 123. The swinging ends of the
arms 116 travel in curved paths and by reason of their engagement with the
pins 120 impart to the rear end of the drawer a reciprocating vertical movement
as it opens or closes. Therefore the portion of the track-rails within the range of
movement of the arms 116 is curved. as.at 124 to afford the rollers, 122 continuous
bearing, smoothness of operation being secured thereby..
The range of movement of the swinging arms 116 and the length of the
forks 119 are such that the rear end of the drawer is, sustained by the latter during
at least one-half of its forward movement after which the preponderance of. weight
being in front of the rollers 121 the rear end will be held up during the continued
movement until fully open. Preferably the straight front portion of the upper
track-rail or rails (when more than one is provided) is slightly higher than the plane
of the rollers 122, in the closed position so that after the pins 120 leave the forks
the front of the drawer will have a gradually descending movement in a curved
path, the result being ease of movement.
By applying the swinging arms and the springs in the manner shown and
described, a substantially uniform spring action is available through a relatively
long range of movement with but slight expansion whereas when the spring is
applied directly to the drawer as heretofore a long range of expansion is required,
with the result that during such expansion .the spring gradually loses force
becoming weaker and weaker as the drawer moves forward.
It, is manifest that instead of the form of spring shown in the drawings any of
the well-known forms either expanding or contracting may be used, it being oply
essential that they be applied at or near the pivotal point of the swinging
B

page_text: arms so as to give a wide range of action with relatively slight expansion or
contraction.
It is also manifest that the upper prong of the fork 119 may be omitted without
impairing the operativeness of the ejector it being unnecessary to hold the drawer
down, and the lower arm being sufficient in conjunction with the track and rollers
to guide it.
The case A which encloses the operating mechanism is securely closed and is not
intended to be opened except for the purpose of making repairs as may be required
as the result of careless and violent manipulation so that no opportunity can be
afforded through carelessness in leaving the case open or unlocked for surreptitious
tampering with the indicating and registering mechanisms.
It will be noted from the foregoing description that the only function of the
key-levers 20 is to operate the escapements whereby the movements of the register
and indicator wheels are controlled and that therefore they are adapted to be
operated with ease and facility, mere touches being required to depress them.
This machine constructed as above described is intended to register money
divided into decimal denominations and therefore the indicator wheels 13 are each
provided with ten teeth. To register currency differently divided as for instance
English currency, the first wheel at the right should have twelve teeth and the
second twenty, so that twelve steps of the first wheel required to register the
number of pence in a shilling shall move the shillings-wheel forward one step, and
so that twenty steps or impulses of the shillings-wheel shall be required to move
the first pounds-wheel and carry over to the same the twenty shillings registered
by a full rotation. The two wheels at the left will remain as shown and described
and will register, respectively, units and tens of pounds.
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. The combination of a system of rotary, spring-impelled indicator wheels,
manually operated escapements adapted and operating to permit regular step-by-
step movements of said wheels under the influence of their impelling springs,
mechanism for re-setting said wheels to zero, and means actuated by the re-setting
mechanism for locking the escapements during the re-setting operation.
2. The combination of a system of rotary spring impelled indicator wheels,
manually operated escapements arranged and adapted to permit successive step-
by-step movements of said wheels under the influence of their impelling springs, a
cash drawer, an automatically operating locking device for securing the drawer
a lever for unlocking the drawer and devices under the control of said lever for
locking the escapements on the opening of the drawer.
3. The combination of a system of rotary spring impelled indicator wheels, means
for controlling the movements thereof, a re-setting mechanism including a rotatable
shaft, a cash drawer or till, a vibrating arm controlled and operated by the till to
lock the shaft on opening the drawer and to unlock it on closing the same.
4. The combination of a rotary reciprocating shaft, a series of spring impelled
indicator wheels loosely mounted thereon, means for controlling the movements of
said wheels, a re-setting mechanism for returning the wheels to zero, the same
comprehending a shaft capable of turning in one direction only, gearing actuated
by said last-named shaft for imparting reciprocatory motion to said first-named
shaft and separable connections between the latter and the wheels thereon, as and
for the purpose described.
5. The combination of a rotatable shaft provided with a gear wheel, a segmental
rack for driving said gear and rack, a second rotatable shaft provided with means
for imparting reciprocating movements to said rack, spring-actuated indicator
wheels loosely mounted on the first-named shaft, escapements provided with
key-levers for controlling the movements of the register wheels and separable

page_text: connections between the indicator wheels. and their shaft whereby rotation of the
latter in one direction resets the wheels and whereby the shaft is permitted to
return to normal position independently of the wheels.
6. The combination of a rotatable shaft provided with a gear wheel, spring
actuated indicator wheels loosely mounted on said shaft, escapements provided with
key-levers for controlling the movements of the indicator wheels, a swinging
segmental rack in gear with said gear wheel, a main.shaft adapted to be turned by
hand, a cam and an oppositely extending arm on the main shaft adapted to act on
the segment alternately to reciprocate the same and separable connections between
the indicator wheels and. their shaft as and. for the purposes described.
7. In a cash register and indicator, the combination with the indicating devices
and with the enclosing case, the latter having a sight opening, of a screen movable
to and from a position opposite said opening, a rotatable shaft and mechanism
operated thereby for resetting the indicating devices to zero, a spring pressed
vibrating lever arranged and adapted to be depressed against the force of its
spring by a lug or projection on the shaft, means for automatically engaging and
holding said. lever in its depressed position, a change lever and. intermediate
connections for releasing, said vibrating lever and a connection between the latter
and the movable screen, substantially as shown and described.
8. In a cash register, the combination of a movable cash drawer or till, a
swinging bar adapted to engage and lock the drawer in a closed position, a. change
lever and connections operated thereby to unlock the drawer, a horizontal rotary
shaft, a cup-shaped disk thereon adjacent to the change lever, a pin on the lever
extending into the open side of said disk, the rim of the latter having a notch
which in the normal position of the shaft permits the pin to pass therethrough
and the lever to be depressed. whereby after the opening of the drawer and the
return. of the change lever to normal position the latter is locked by a partial
rotation of the shaft...
9. In a cash register the combination with the registering devices, the cash
drawer or till and means for locking the drawer, of a reciprocating bell hammer
means for retracting the hammer and means for holding it in retracted position,
a change lever for unlocking, the drawer and tripping the hammer, the lever
having a lateral. projection and a movable dog on the bell liammer adapted on the.
return of the change lever to normal position to engage and lock the same.
10. In a cash register the combination of indicating devices adapted' to be re-set
to zero, an alarm mechanism, a resetting mechanism adapted to simultaneously.
reset the indicating devices and the alarm mechanism, a cash drawer, an automatic
locking device for the same, a lever and connections therewith for simultaneously.
unlocking the drawer and tripping, the alarm mechanism, and a locking device
connected with the alarm mechanism and adapted on the return of said lever to
normal position to engage and lock the same, whereby a second opening of the
drawer is prevented until the indicating devices and the alarm mechanism have
been re-set.
11. In a cash register, the combination of a system of indicating devices adapted
to be re-set to zero, a resetting mechanism comprehending a rotatable shaft, a
movable dog arranged and adapted to lock said shaft, on the return of the
indicating devices, to zero, a vibrating lever operatively connected with said dog
and adapted to be operated by a lug or projection on the shaft, means for
automatically engaging and holding said lever, a change lever and connections
therewith for releasing the lever whereby the locking dog is thrown out of
action..
12. The combination of a system of indicating devices adapted to be re-set to
zero, a re-setting mechanism comprehending a. rotatable shait, a vibrating lever
movable towards and from the shaft, a movable locking dog operatively connected
with said lever, a lug on the shaft adapted to depress the lever and tirow the
locking dog, into the path.of a second lug or projection on the shaft to prevent

page_text: over-rotation of the latter, means for locking the lever in its depressed position
and a change lever arranged and adapted to throw said locking means out of
action.
13. The combination of a system of spring impelled indicating devices, escape-
ments provided with key-levers for controlling the same devices, a re-setting
mechanism for returning the indicating devices, a spring-pressed lever arranged
and adapted to be depressed by said re-setting mechanism in the operation of
re-setting the indicator, means for holding the lever in its depressed position,
a stop-plate mounted on an axis below the key-levers and operatively connected
with said spring-pressed lever and means for releasing the latter, the arrangement
being such that on the release of said lever the stop-plate will be turned into
position to prevent the operation of the key levers.
14. The combination of a system of spring impelled indicating devices escape-
ments provided with key-levers for controlling the same, a re-setting mechanism
for returning the indicating devices, a stop-plate mounted on an axis below the
key-levers and adapted to be turned to different positions to permit or prevent the
operation of the latter, spring-actuated connections for turning said plate into
active position and means connected with and operated by the re-setting mechanism
for turning it to inoperative position.
15. The combination of a rotary indicator wheel, a spring impelled driving
wheel, chain gear for imparting synchronous movements from one to the other,
means for re-setting to zero, and a spring stop arranged in the path of a projection
on one of said wheels to arrest the same with a yielding resistance.
16. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of a system of spring
impelled indicator wheels, escapements provided with key levers for controlling
said wheels, a resetting mechanism which comprehends a rotatable shaft extending
transversely below said escapements notched or open collars on said shaft below
the respective escapements and projections on the latter adapted to enter the
notches or openings in the collars when the register is in operative condition
whereby during the resetting operation the escapements are prevented from being
operated.
17. The combination of a system of indicating devices adapted to be re-set to
zero, a re-setting mechanism which comprehends a rotatable shaft, a crank arm
on said shaft, an alarm mechanism adapted to be set by said crank-arm in the
operation of re-setting the register and means for tripping said alarm mechanism.
18. The combination of a system of indicating devices adapted to be reset to
zero, a re-setting mechanism comprehending a rotatable shaft, a crank-arm on
said shaft, an alarm mechanism adapted to be set by said crank-arm in the
operation of resetting the register and a pawl and ratchet to prevent backward
rotation of the shaft.
.
19. In a cash register, the combination with the register case and with the
sliding drawer therein provided at its rear end with a lateral projection, of a
swinging arm pivoted in the case above the drawer and having at its swinging end
a right-angular finger which underlies the projection on the drawer and a spring
for actuating the arm whereby the drawer is sustained in its movements.
20. In a cash register, the combination with the register case and with the
sliding drawer therein of an ejector comprising a swinging arm pivoted above the
drawer and having a separable connection with the rear end of the latter of a
guide rail or track extending longitudinally above the drawer and having a curved
portion concentric with the pivot of the swinging bar and a roller mounted on the
drawer at the rear end thereof and adapted to run in contact with said guide rail
or track.
21. In a cash register, the combination with the register case, and with the
drawer or till therein, of an ejector comprising a swinging bar pivoted above the
drawer and having a separable connection with the rear end thereof, a spring for
actuating said arm, a guide rail or track extending longitudinally above the drawer

page_text: and having a curved portion concentric with the pivot of the swinging arm, a
roller mounted on the rear end of the drawer to run in contact with said guide rail
or track and supporting rollers at the front of the case to sustain the drawer in its
movements.
Dated this 21st dove of December 1895
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.