Improvements in Checking Apparatus for Registering Payments on Vehicles and Commercial Transactions generally.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
Improvements in Checking Apparatus for Registering Payments on
Vehicles and Commercial Transactions generally.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM PHILLIPS, of No. 2, Harcourt Villas, Harcourt Road,
Bexley Heath, in the County of Kent, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in checking apparatus for register-
ing payments on vehicles, and commercial transactions generally, and has for its
object the prevention of fraud by means of three separate checks, as for instance-
in the case of an omnibus or tramway ticket punch, there is provided firstly, an
audible sigual denoting the amount paid by the passenger, secondly a scaled
register of each amount, and thirdly an automatic way bill, which is not accessible
to any person but duly authorized officials. An additional advantage is in the
manner of punching the tickets, which practically prevents them from being
employed a second time. In adapting my invention to a checking and registering
system, such as may be used at large commercial establishments, such as stores
and the like, I employ the same mechanism, with certain modifications of detail,
the essential features of the said invention remaining the same.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a metallic frame with one or
more parallel guides formed upon or attached to one side of it. These are dove-
tailed to allow of the free action of sliding racks. For the purposes of clear-
description I will premise that there are four such guides and sliding racks upon
the frame, corresponding respectively to one penny. twopence, threepence, and.
fourpence, or any other predetermined rate or value of coinage or tokens. Each..
rack engages with a pinion, loosely fitted upon its arbor, but connected to a
toothed wheel forming the first member of a train of gearing, by means of a
ratchet, pawl and detent, so that during the inward movement of the rack the
pinion revolves freely without moving said gearing. At the back of the frame
and opposite to each rack and gear, I place a coiled spring, within a drum, in
tension, with an extended lever upon the arbor thereof, which engages with a pin
attached to the sliding rack and moving with it in a slot formed in the frame.
Thus the inward movement of said rack does not move the gearing, but winds the
spring by moving the lever through the arc of a circle. The spring being thus
in tension, reacts upon the train of wheels, which terminate with a flyer, or air
governor, the pinion now being held by the ratchet and pawl returning the rack
to its normal position. Transversely across the frame, and supported by suitable
bearings, I place a spindle, having a crank or lever affixed thereto opposite each
rack. Said crank or lever carries as many pins or projections as there are coins
to register, and thus the first would have one pin, the second two, and so on up to
the required range. Upon, or attached to each rack is a pivotted trip catch, which
trips over the pins on the inward movement and on the outward movement (which
is controlled by the coiled spring as hereinbefore described) said trip catch lifts
each pin until the particular rack operated has reached its normal position. This

page_text: lifting movement of the crank causes a partial movement of the transverse spindle
each time, and a suitable hammer or striker being affixed thereto will ring a bell
or gong a number of strokes corresponding to said pins, and consequently the
value of the sliding rack that is operated. It will be seen that the transverse
spindle with its hammer or striker is common to all the racks and gears, and is
only varied in its action by whichever may be operated. A step by step train of
gearing starting from the lowest figure in the range, constitutes a register, and
upon the back of the frame I mount two drums, one with a roll of paper which
in this case is ruled or marked with five partitions. The movement of each or
any of the racks is caused by a simple pawl and ratchet to advance said paper roll
one degree, it being wound upon the drum that was originally empty. The racks
are each provided with rocking levers, terminating in punches, so that each longi-
tudinal division of the paper may be punched at each degree according to the
value of the money or token paid. The central division is provided with an inde-
pendent punch of different conformation, and is used to mark half, or any other
portion of a journey. Thus the paper roll when spread out presents a correct way
bill, showing in regular columns the value of the payments in their several degrees,
the central division marking at regular intervals the predetermined distance,
journey, or part of a journey. This part of the apparatus is enclosed in a locked
case enclosing the frame hereinbefore described but the index or indices which
may or may not be attached to the step by step train of wheels may be visible
through a glazed opening in the case aforesaid. Each of the sliding racks on being
pressed inwards depresses a lever which is common to them all, and carries at one
extremity a punch, within the case. The ordinary ticket is pressed diagonally
into a slot formed in the cover, and one of the racks, corresponding to the fare
paid, is depressed, punching a U shaped piece out of the ticket. Upon the
automatic return of the rack, a corresponding number of strokes are given to the
bell or gong, and the amount registered upon the roll of paper which constitutes
the automatic way bill, and the index also shows the particular amount registered.
The whole is enclosed, as hereinbefore described within a suitable case and carried
by means of a strap or otherwise by the official appointed to use it. The projecting
ends of the racks are fitted with proper press buttons or the like, and all the parts
are enclosed so as to be as compact as possible.
In adapting my invention to cash tills and check registering apparatus, I use the
same mechanism as described in the former case, preferably using a single rack and
gear, and altering the other parts to suit the required conditions and where the
cash transactions are carried out by payment without a ticket, I dispense with the
punch and ticket slot, and use the registering apparatus only.
Improvements in Checking Apparatus for Registering Payments on
Vehicles and Commercial Transactions generally.
Ï, FREDERICK WILLIAM PHILLIPS, of 2, Harcourt Villas, Harcourt Road,
Bexley Heath, in the County of Kent, Mechanician, 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:―
My invention relates to certain improvements in checking apparatus for register-
ing payments on vehicles, and commercial transactions generally, and has for its

page_text: objects the prevention of fraud by means of three separate checks, as for instance
in the case of an omnibus or tramcar ticket punch; there is provided firstly, an aud-
ible signal denoting the amount paid by the passenger secondly, a scaled register or
indicator of such amount, and thirdly, an automatically operated way bill which is not
accessible to any person but duly authorised officials. An additional advantage is in
the manner of punching the tickets which practically prevents them from being
employed a second time. In adapting my invention to a checking and registering
system such as may be used at large commercial establishments, such as stores
and the like, I employ the same mechanism with certain modifications of detail,
the essential features of the said invention remaining the same.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the
accompanying two sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a perspective
view of a four push vehicle check punch, which I have chosen as an example for
illustration. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism with the cover
removed, and Figure 3 a back elevation thereof. Figure 4 is an end sectional
elevation of the same on the line 1-2 Figure 2, and Figure 5 a front elevation
of a key, rack, striker and spring shown detached, with a transverse section of the
slide shown above. Figure 6, Sheet 2, is a plan view of the under side of the base
plate showing the register punches for the automatic way bill. Figure 7 is an
elevation of the back of the slide plate, showing the coiled springs. Figure 8 is
a plan and elevation of the ticket punch and plate, shown detached. Figure 9
is a ticket, showing the manner of punching. Figure 10 shews a part of the way.
bill and winding drum. For clearer illustration Figures 2, 4, 6 and 7 are drawn
to a larger scale. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.
In carrying my invention into effect, I mount a vertical plate A upon a base B,
with one or more parallel guides a formed upon it. In the example chosen as an
illustration, there are four of these guides a carrying sliding racks b and suitably.
dovetailed or otherwise shaped to retain them in position whilst freely moving up
or down. Each sliding rack corresponds to a price or fare, such as one penný,
two pence, three pence, and four pence, or any other predetermined rate or value
of coinage or tokens. A rack is shown separately by Figure 5, the sectional view
showing the fit within the guides a formed in the plate A. Each rack engages
with a pinion 15, loosely fitted upon its arbor, but carrying a ratchet wheel d
which revolves upon the face of and concentric with a toothed wheel e, to which
it is connected by a pawl and spring, so that the racks b may be pushed up without
revolving said wheel e, which engages with a pinion f carrying upon its arbor
a toothed wheel I, which drives a flyer or air resistance C by means of a pinion h.
This arrangement is clearly shown by Figures 2 and 4. A slot i is formed through
the plate A in the centre of each guide a and a pin j. Figures 5 and 7 passes
through to the back, and being attached to the rack brises and falls with it. At
the back of the plate A, and attached to it, are spring boxes 1), with coiled springs
inside them, and arranged as shown by Figure 7. A slotted lever arm
the
arbor of each spring connects it with the corresponding rack by the pin j. The
spring is thus placed in tension when the rack is raised and depresses it slowly
as the train of gearing and the flyer Care actuated. Transversely across the
plate A I fix a spindle E carrying levers F opposite each rack, and kept in position
by a spring G or equivalent means. At the lower end of each lever is a trip
catch controlled by a spring and stop. Upon the corresponding rack is a boss m
carrying one or more pins according to the number of pence or other rate corres-
ponuing to each rack. When said rack bis pressed upwards the pins on m lift the
trip catch without moving the lever F, but on the downward stroke the trip
catch is held by the stop (Figure 4) and the lever F moved back each time that
a pin passes the bevelled end of l. A rod H carrying a striker is fixed. to the
spindle E, and thus strikes the gong I a number of times equal to the amount paid.
In order to ensure that each rack b shall be pressed to the full length of its travel,
and the proper audible signal obtained, I place a transverse spindle J near. the
k
upon

page_text: base plate B, carrying cranks K opposite, and corresponding to each rack b. Upon
the outside of each crank K a pin 13 is fixed so that it is clear of the flyer C of the
train nearest to it when the crank K is in its normal position. A trip catch 17
is pivotted on the face of said crank K, with its point inclining towards the rack b,
Figure 4. A projecting piece 14 upon the rack 6 is arranged to come into contact
with 17 directly the rack is moved upwards, and moving the crank K brings the
pin 13 in the path of the flyer C, stopping its motion until the projecting piece 14
is clear of the trip catch 17..This being effected when the complete travel of the
rack is accomplished. The downward movement simply deflects the trip catch 17
and allows the crank K to resume its normal position. This mechanical action has
a double purpose, in that it checks the train during the upward movement, and
also prevents two rings being given for a fourpenny fare, and so on, and the
spindle J being common to all the racks, it follows that if it is displaced by reason
of one not being pushed inwards to its full extent, the rest are locked and inopera-
tive until the one in question has been pressed home. It is obvious that in both
cases I may reverse the arrangement by placing the trip catches 7 and 17 upon
the rack 6 and the pins m and projection 14 upon the cranks F and K respectively
without departing from my invention. A bar L is pivotted at- q q underneath the
base plate B, and has cranks M, M¹ attached to it. The tapered lower ends of
M rest upon pins at the lower extremities of the racks b above the push buttons
which terminate them. Thus, either of said racks being pressed on the upward
movement causes the bar L to be deflected. The crank M¹ presses against a second
crank N which carries the slotted lower end of the ticket punch o shown more
distinctly by the detached view Figure 8. Said punch works freely through the
lower jaw OT into the matrix O each time that the bar L is deflected, that is to say,
by the movement of either of the racks b, and a semi-circular piece is punched out
of the ticket as shown by Figure 9. This is the preferable method of punching,
since a used ticket is more likely to start a crack from the puncture when bent
than would be the case if the hicle were circular as is usual. A spring s is fixed
to the base B and its free end enclosed by the punch o, keeping it in a normal
open position, and also tending to maintain the bar L in a similar position. Another
crank P is fixed to the bar L which raises and lowers a slide Q which carries a
pawlt engaging with a ratchet u mounted upon a spindle v which passes through
a plate A and carries a winding drum R, Figures 3, 4, and 10 behind it. Thus,
as the bar L is common to all the racks b, the inward movement of either of them
advances it one tooth, the pawl t having a vertical clearance on the upstroke pre-
venting it from feeding at a greater rate.
Said drum R fits freely upon a square
on the spindle v, so that it may readily be withdrawn when required, a spring
key wor like contrivance holding it in position. A drum of paper S, Figure
arranged to unroll as the drum R is fed, the strip a passing under a guide and
blank box T over a punch block U carrying five punches hereinafter to be
described. The paper is held upon the feeding drum R by a hinged spring clip y,
Figure 10, with teeth for securely holding it. In Figure 2 certain levers 3, 4, 5
and 6 are shown as broken off, so that the introduction of the punching gear
hereinbefore mentioned should not impede the clearness of the drawing. But
upon Figure 3, the action of the lever 3, resting upon the pin of the rack b is
shown, and the plan view of the bottom of the base plate B, Figure 6 shows the
whole arrangement. A lever 3, the free end of which rests upon the pin of rack b
is pivotted at 7, and carries the end of a second lever 8 by a coupling link z to
allow of free inovement. The lever 8 is pivotted at 9 and is kept in its normal
position by a flat spring 10. A punch 11 passing through the punch block U
engages with said lever 8, so that when the rack 6 is pressed inwards, the outer
member of lever 3 is raised, depressing the inner member and the outer member
of lever 8. The inner member of lever 8 carrying the punch 11 is thus raised against
the spring 10, and the strip is punched. In the plan view Figure 6 the aforesaid
arrangement is simply followed, with the exception that the angle of each lever
necessarily varies according to its position, and the figures indicating the parts
is

page_text: are the same. Lever for instance is arranged so as to operate its punch from
the opposite side. A central punch V operated by a press button W against a
spring X is termed the way bill punch, and marks. the end, half, or any pre-
determined part of a journey upon the travelling strip of paper called the way,
bill; shown by a Figures 3 and 10.
The outer end of the drum spindle v. carries an index Y Figure 1, which indicates
at sight each. fare registered, and an ordinary train of wheels connected to this,
within the case causes the multiplying index Z to further indicate the aggregate.
I may, however, use a separate dial and index for each rack, so that all the
amounts may be read at sight.
Now the manner in which the different checks are simultaneously effected is
as follows, that is to say,
A ticket is placed in the slot between the punch blocks 0 0¹, and either of the
racks raised by pressing the button, the number or position of the rack corres-
ponding to the fare or payment. For example, suppose this to be b, corresponding
to threepence, the ticket is punched, and if the rack be pressed to its full travel
it will cause the bell I to be struck three times. If, however, the full travel is
not given, the bell will not strike, and that rack and the other racks be rendered
inoperative on the downward movement until the first is cleared. The way bill
is also fed forward and the punch 11 corresponding to the rack b perforates it in
the right place, and the sight indicator Y is also moved to register a fare or pay-
ment. It will be seen then, that the purchaser or passenger has an ocular as well
as an audible demonstration of the due registry of payment, whilst the travelling
register or way bill shows at sight the various payments and their several amounts.
Referring now to Figure 10, the way bill a has been marked by its central punch
in due course, and one shilling and seven pence are registered beyond the way bill
mark. Another check consists in the collection of the punched blanks above the
punch block 0, which may be withdrawn by means of a suitable lid or drawer.
The whole is enclosed within a case as shown by Figure 1, so that no part may be
tampered with, and is made of light and strong material.
In adapting my invention to cash tills and stationary check registering apparatus,
I use the same mechanism, merely modifying the details to suit the different con-
ditions of application.
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 -
First. In checking apparatus for registering payments on vehicles and similar
commercial transactions, the combination and arrangement of parts substantially
as herein described and shown by the drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Second. In checking apparatus for registering payments on vehicles and similar
commercial transactions the combination of a rack with striking pins m, check
lever K, fly train and spring box D with a rocking spindle L operating a punch o,
and register feed bar and register punch 11 substantially as herein described
with reference to the drawings.
Third. In checking apparatus for registering payments on vehicles and similar
commercial transactions, the combination of an automatically fed drum R carry-
ing a paper register punched at intervals, with a bell and striker. and sight indi-
cating dials arranged and operated in connection with a ticket punch substantially
as herein described and shown by the drawings.
Fourth. In checking apparatus for registering payments on vehicles and similar
commercial transactions, the combination of a rack 6 with a check K preventing
any return action until the completion of the stroke, and a multiple bell striking
device operating on the return action, substantially as herein described with
reference to the appended drawings.
Fifth. In checking apparatus for registering payments on veliicles and similar
commercial transactions, the combination of a rack 6 with a rocking bar L operat-

page_text: ing a ticket punch o and register feed and also a register punch by a lever 3,
substantially as herein described with reference to the appended drawings.
Sixth. In checking apparatus for registering payments on vehicles and similar
commercial transactions, the method of and means for registering the payments
on a continuous slip in direct lines representing the value of each payment, marked
at the end or any part of the journey by a separately operated punch V in com-
bination with an audible signal, and dial indicator, substantially as herein described
and shown by the appended drawings..
Seventh. In checking apparatus for registering payments on vehicles and similar
commercial transactions, the combination of one or more racks 6 with independent
dial indicators substantially as described.
FREDK. WALKER,
Registered Patent Agent,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, London, E.
Agent for the Applicant.