Improvements in Money-tills or Apparatus for Recording and Checking the Amounts Received.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Money-tills or Apparatus for Recording and
Checking the Amounts Received.
I, THOMAS O'BRIEN, of 45 Fern Grove, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of check till in which the amounts are recorded
on a travelling band of paper (or on a ticket of paper or the like) which is moved
forward a given distance each time the money drawer is open and closed, such as is
described in the Specification of Loft's Patent No. 2153 of 1875.
As hitherto constructed it is necessary. for the assistant to employ his two hands
in both opening and closing the cash drawer-in opening it one hand to push in the
drawer against the spring so as to release the knob or button which secures it, and
in shutting it one hand to push the drawer shut against the spring and hold it until
secured by the knob and the other to turn the knob to secure the drawer.
The object of my invention is to render the cash drawer capable of being operated
by an assistant with using only one hand while the other remains free to handle
money without at the same time impairing the efficiency of the apparatus.
This I find I can do by applying a small latch or catch which will automatically
engage and hold the drawer closed against the spring when it has been pushed in,
leaving the rotation of the button to move forward the paper and again release the
catch.
In carrying out the invention I affix inside the case of the apparatus one or more
pivoted levers or ratchets and to the sideward projecting part of the front of the
drawer or other convenient part thereof, a small latch, which as the drawer is being
closed will come into contact with the pivoted lever or pawl and raise it so as to
engage therewith. One end of the lever rests on an eccentric or cam on the shaft
rotated by the button or knob and as the shaft turns the lever is raised and the
catch released which allows the drawer to be opened. This catch holds the drawer
shut when closed relieving the knob directly of that function, the knob being
retained to rotate the shaft which rotation releases the catch or latch which retains
the drawer closed and moves forward the paper or its equivalent upon which the
records of the transactions are kept. To prevent the knob being accidentally
moved a small spring is placed at one side of it which can be easily depressed by
the thumb or otherwise as the knob is being turned.
Dated this 9th day of October 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Money-tills or Apparatus for Recording and
Checking the Amounts Received.
1, THOMAS O'BRIEN, of 45 Fern Grove, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Commercial Traveller, 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 check till in which the amounts are recorded
on a travelling band of paper (or on a ticket of paper or the like) which is moved
forward a given distance each time the money drawer is opened and closed, such as

page_text: is described in the Specification of Loft's Patent No. 2153 of 1875 and 1687
of 1876.
As hitherto constructed it is necessary for the assistant to employ his two hands
in both opening and closing the cash drawer-in opening it one hand to push in the
drawer against the spring so as to release the knob or button which secures it, and
when shutting it one hand to push the drawer in against the spring and hold it until
secured by the knob and the other to turn the knob to secure the drawer.
The object of my invention is to render the cash drawer capable of being operated
by an assistant with using only one hand while the other remains free to handle
the money without at the same time impairing the efficiency of the apparatus.
This I find I can do by applying a small latch or catch which will automatically
engage and hold the drawer closed against the spring when it has been pushed in,
leaving the rotation of the button to move forward the paper and again release the
catch.
It will be fully described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1. sectional elevation (drawer_open).
Fig. 2. part sectional plan enlarged (drawer open).
Fig. 3. part end elevation (drawer closed) and held by the button G after catch J
is released.
Fig. 4. front elevation of cam, ratchet wheel and pawls shewing their position
when button G is vertical.
The outer case A the money drawer B the paper drum C the worm D on shaft d
for rotating the paper drum the alarm bell E with hammer e and the spring F for
pushing out the drawer and the button G for actuating the worm D and holding the
drawer closed are all constructed and arranged in any convenient manner as
heretofore.
Inside the case A. in addition to the ratchet H and pawl which prevent the
button G and worm D being turned in the wrong direction I place on the shaft d a
cam or eccentric I with a latch or lever i engaging therewith which is raised at
every half revolution of the cam and to the projecting part of the front of the
drawer or to other convenient part I attach a catch J which as the drawer is being
closed will pass under or come into contact with the lever and engage with it and
hold the drawer shut.
One end of the latch or lever rests upon the cam or eccentric I and as the
shaft d and button G are rotated the latch is raised out of contact with the catch.J
at each half revolution and the catch J is thereby released and the drawer made
free to open when clear of the button G. The drawer is however, prevented
opening before the shaft & has made half a revolution-by the button G against
which the edge of the front part of the drawer comes in contact as soon as the
catch is released.
To prevent the latch i engaging again with the catch J as the cam rotates and
before the drawer has been opened I make the plate K against which the button G
bears with an inclined face so that as the button rotates the drawer moves out
slightly and when the latch falls again the catch J has been withdrawn so that the
latch cannot engage with it until the drawer has been again pushed in.
A small spring 1 is placed at one side of button G. which can easily be depressed
by the thumb or otherwise as the button is being turned this spring prevents the
button being inadvertently moved forward from the vertical position when the
drawer is open or otherwise when not intended.
Although I at present prefer the arrangement of the several parts shown it is
evident that the catch J may be placed against the side of the drawer in any
convenient position and the lever or latch extended to engage with it and for the
plate spring L may be substituted a spiral spring let into the case and fitted with a
bullet or other suitable head.
The latch and catch J hold the drawer shut when closed relieving the button G
directly of that function the button being retaired to rotate the shaft d and
subsequently hold the drawer from opening until half a revolution has been made.

page_text: The rotation of the button G releases the latch i from the catch J and as heretofore
also through the worm D rotates the paper drum C and moves forward the paper
or its equivalent upon which the records of the transactions are kept, and through
the came and hammer e rings the alarm bell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
In a check till of the class referred to the combination with the drawer and
mechanism which moves the paper drum of a cam or eccentric (such as 1) a latch
which is raised thereby (such as i) a catch affixed to the drawer (such as J) which
engages with the catch when the drawer is shut, and an incline on the front of the
drawer (such as K) against which the button rests with or without a spring such as L
substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of July 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.