Improvements in Cash Registers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registers.
We, JOHN ROBERT WARD, of Gore Villa, Darenth, Dartford, Kent, Inventor,
and JOHN RAVEN WARD, of 22 High Street, Harlesden, Middlesex, Cook and
Confectioner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This my invention has reference to certain new, useful, and essential improve-
ments in certain cash registers.
This present application for Patent relates more especially to those cash
registers described in Patent Specification No. 17134 bearing date November 24th,
1888, entitled "An Improved Cash Register and Indicator, Coin Detector and
Change-giving Apparatus," and to Patent Specification No. 1900 bearing date
February 2nd, 1889, entitled "Improved Registering Mechanism applicable to
certain Cash Registers and Indicators."
In Specification No. 17134 certain indicator rods are described which have
indicator tablets secured to their upper ends. Now, by this our invention we
construct said indicator rods with suitable spring clips at their upper ends which
are adapted to hold the tablets in such manner that they can be readily removed
and replaced by tablets having various numerals upon them to adapt them to coins
of various nationalities.
In this same application the depressible key-lever ends are described as having a
finger disc inscribed with a numeral. We now find it essential to make said discs
detachable so that they can be readily removed and be replaced by other discs
bearing numbers corresponding to the coinage mostly used in different trades, and
to suit the coinage of different countries.
In the same application certain vertical levers are described for revolving a
drum, and which levers engage certain pins projecting from one end of the drum
to rotate it at intervals. By these our improvements, however, we substitute for the
levers, a flat metal lever which extends up the side of the register, and which lever
has a longitudinal alot through which is passed a screw upon which the lever
reciprocates vertically. The said lever is formed with a projection on its edge
which engages one of the four corners of a square plate or nut secured to the
spindle of the drum, which is thereby rotated one quarter of a revolution. The
upper end of the lever is formed with a square hook which engages and passes
over the square nut or plate aforesaid and prevents the drum from making more
than one quarter of a revolution at each reciprocation of the lever. Moreover this
arrangement ensures that the drum does not make less than one quarter revolution
required. The lower end of the lever is pivotally secured to certain lifting levers
described in my former Specification, and from which levers it derives its
reciprocatory movement.
In order to prevent the drum herein before referred to from rotating too far, we
find it necessary to secure a ratchet-wheel and pawl to the end of the shaft carrying
the drum.
We find, that in cash registers constructed in accordance with my former
Specifications that coins sometimes found their way into the mechanism, which
thereby became temporarily disabled. By these improvements, therefore, we secure
in certain positions of the framework sheets of tin and glass which protect the
mechanism from stray coins and other articles which may fall into the various parts
of the register.
We have found that the key-levers described in the former Specifications do not
readily return when released to their normal positions, and for this reason, we now

page_text: secure suitable springs to a cross bar of the framework which bear upon the key-
levers and return them into their places when released. These springs are
preferably cut out of sheets of flat metal having saw-cuts or incisions in one edge
thereof to form a series of tongues or flat springs along its length.
In the former Specifications the side frames are described as being secured to
the base board of the wooden casing. We now find it essential to the rigidity of
the mechanism to secure them to a metal frame which can be secured to and
removed from the wooden base of the casing at will.
We now find it essential to carry up the indicator rods to a point above the side
frames and to surmount the wooden casing with a glass (casing through which the
numerals may be read.
In the former Specifications, no means of cleaning the drum was described, and
we therefore now find it essential to make a portion of the case removable so that
this may be readily effected.
In Specification No 1900" certain pawls are described which engage pin pro-
jections on the tape rollers which are thereby rotated. We now find it necessary
to keep the pawls in engagement with the pins, to make them reciprocate through
guides, preferably consisting of a piece of metal extending between the side frames
and having slots for said pawls to work in. We also find it necessary to flatten or
widen the points of said pawls.
In the former Specification No. 1900 certain tapes are described which are
wound over rollers at the front and rear of the casing. We now find it essential
to provide some means of keeping said tapes taut, and these means preferably
consist of a bar which extends between side frames and which has depending arms
with rollers at their lower ends which are kept pressed upon the tapes by suitable
spiral springs. We also find it essential to provide means for drawing the tape
rollers apart for adjusting the tapes, should they stretch. This we accomplish by
making the roller shaft-bearings in slots, and arranging set-screws in such manner
that the said bearings can be readily adjusted thereby.
In Specification No. 190089 certain steel bands are described which have figures
printed upon them, and which bands are arranged in pairs in such manner that one
band moves in successive stages to indicate units and tens, and the other adjacent
band hundreds and thousands. "Now, by our present invention, we dispense with one of
the bands, and, consequently, one set of pawl-levers for driving it. In place of the
band with which we dispense we employ certain numeral wheels, which are secured
in line along the front plate of the register, and which are adapted to be rotated in
successive stages each time a projection on the steel band comes in contact with a
tooth on each wheel. These wheels are arranged in pairs and add up and register
after the manner of the wheels and dials employed in an ordinary gas-meter.
By a simple arrangement of springs and levers these discs and bands can be readily
and simultaneously returned to their normal position, namely, to "zero."
We moreover have provided certain wheels or bands which are rotated as each
key-lever is struck, and which adds up the amount contained in the tills. In
some cases we may provide a pointer which gradually rises and indicates numbers
which represent the amount in the tills as each successive coin or coins are
taken.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1801
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registers.
We, JOHN ROBERT WARD, of Gore Villa, Darenth, Dartford, Kent, Inventor,
and JOHN RAVEN WARD, of 22 High Street Harlesden, Middlesex, Cook and
Confectioner, 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 our invention has reference to certain new, useful and essential improve-
ments in cash registers.
This present application for Patent relates more especially to those cash
registers described in Patent Specification No. 17134 bearing date November 24th
1888, entitled "An Improved Cash Register and Indicator, Coin Detector and
Charge-giving Apparatus," and to Patent Specification No. 1900 bearing date
February 2nd, 1889, entitled "Improved Registering Mechanism applicable to
certain Cash Registers and Indicators."
I now proceed to describe my improvements, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings and to the figures of reference marked thereon, like figures
referring to like parts throughout all the views.
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of so much of a cash register and indicator necessary
to shew my improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2. is a detail view of one of the rollers.
Fig. 3. is a detail view in section of a part of the roller shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4. is a detail view of a guide-bar for guiding the levers and bands shewn in
Fig. 1, & Fig. 5 is an end view thereof.
Fig. 6. is a plan of a detachable portion of the key-levers.
Fig. 7. is a detail view of the stop-bar hereinafter referred to.
Figs. 8 & 9. are detail views of the indicator rods.
In Specification No. 17134 certain indicator rods are described (Figs. 8 & 9.)
which have indicator tablets 1, secured to their upper ends. Now by this our
invention, we construct said indicator rods with spring-clips 2, at their upper ends,
which clips are adapted to hold the tablets in such manner that they can be readily
removed and be replaced by tablets having various numerals upon them to adapt
them to coins of various nationalities.
In this same application, the depressible key-levers 3 are described as having
their ends formed with a finger disc 4, inscribed with a numeral corresponding
with the numerals upon the indicator tablets. We now find it essential to make
the said finger discs detachable by forming them with a screw-stud 5, which
engages a screw-threaded socket 6 formed at the end of the levers. By this
improvement the discs can be readily removed and be replaced by other discs
bearing numbers corresponding to the coinage mostly used in different trades, and
to suit the coinage of different countries.
In the same Specification certain vertical levers are described for revolving a
drum 7, (Fig. 1), and which levers engage certain pins projecting from one end of
the drum, to rotate it at intervals. By these our improvements however, we
substitute for the levers, a flat metal lever 8 which extends up the side of the
register-frame 9 and which lever has a longitudinal slot 10, through which is passed
a screw 11 upon which the lever reciprocates vertically. The said lever is formed
with a projection 12 on its edge which engages one of the four corners of a square
plate or nut 14, secured to the spindle of the drum, which is thereby rotated one
quarter of a revolution. The upper end of the lever is formed with a square
hook 13 which engages and passes over the square nut or plate 14 and prevents the
drum from making more than one quarter of a revolution at each recíprocation of
the lever. Moreover this arrangement ensures that the drum does not make less
than one quarter of a revolution required. The broken lines shew the lever in its

page_text: highest and lowest position. The lower end of the lever is pivotally secured at 15
(the pivot working in a slot 16 in the frame) to certain lifting-levers described in
the former Specifications referred to, and from which levers it derives its
reciprocation.
In the former Specifications the side frames 9 are described as being secured to
the base-board of the wooden casing. We now find it essential to effect rigidity of
the mechanism to secure them to a rectangular metal frame 17 which can be
secured to and removed from the wooden base of the casing at will.
In Specification No. 1900 certain pawls 18 are described which engage teeth
on band rollers which are thereby rotated. We now find it necessary to keep the
pawls in engagement with the teeth, to make them reciprocate through guides 19
(Figs. 4 & 5.) preferably consisting of a piece of metal extending between the side-
frames and having slots 20 for said pawls to work in. Slots 21 are also formed in
this bar to guide the bands hereinafter referred to. We also find it necessary to
flatten or widen the points of said pawls to prevent their slipping to one side of the
pins or teeth upon the rollers.
In the former Specification No. 1900 certain tapes are described which are
wound over rollers at the front & rear of the casing. We now find it essential to
provide means for drawing the rollers apart in order to adjust and keep the tapes
or bands taut should they stretch. This we accomplish by journalling the roller-
shafts 23 & 24 in carriages 25 & 26 one of which (25) is secured to the frame by
screws 27 passed through slots 28 in such manner as to allow of a longitudinal
adjustment. A set-screw 29 is fitted in the framework as shewn to adjust the
carriage when turned. This carriage also carries roller-shafts 30 & 31 and these
spindles carry sets of rollers 32 & 33. These rollers are imprinted with numerals
upon their peripheries which represent tens and hundreds or thousands, whilst the
numerals upon the bands represent units. The rollers 32 have pins 34 upon their
peripheries one of which is engaged by the pin 35 on the band 22 at each complete
revolution thereof. Each roller 32 has a pin 36 at its side which, when it has
made one complete revolution engages one of the teeth 37 of the roller 32 and
carries it round one stage of a revolution. By this mechanism the numerals are
added at each stroke of the key-levers and are read after the manner of reading a
gas-meter. A chain 40 running over sprocket-wheels 41 serves to rotate both sets
of rollers when winding the bands back to zero ;-a handle or key 42 being applied
to one sprocket wheel for the purpose.
A bell-crank-lever 43 carrying a bar 44 is journalled in the side-frames 9
in such manner that the bar 44 comes under the levers 3 (when it is turned into
that position) and prevents their being operated during the rewinding of the bands
& rollers, or when the register is not required. The other arm 45 of the lever 43
extends downwardly through a cam-slot 46 in the end of a bar 47 which has
slots 48 through which pass screws 49. This bar is thus fitted to slide upon a piece
of metal 50, bent to a right angle and secured at its ends to the opposite
carriages 25. This bar 50 is formed with a slot 57 through which the numerals
upon the bands may be read. The bar 47 has teeth 51 which engage the pin 35
on the band 22 when the bar is pushed inwards and causes the bands to stop at
zero when they are being wound. The bar 47 is reciprocated automatically when
the bar 43 is turned and its arm slides in the cam-slot. Each of the rollers (shewn
in detail in Figs. 2 & 3) rotate upon their shafts by friction, so that when (by
winding) the bands are brought to the "zero point it will rotate upon its shaft
until all the bands are at zero." The friction mechanism consists of a pin 60
which reciprocates in a cavity 61 in the web of the roller and is pressed against
the shaft by a spiral spring 62. The pin is prevented from coming out of the slot
by a screw 63.
"
We find that in cash registers constructed in accordance with the former Specifi-
cations, that coins sometimes found their way into the mechanism which thereby
became temporally disabled. By these improvements therefore, we secure in
certain and suitable positions of the framework sheets of tin and glass which protect

page_text: the mechanism from stray coins and other articles which may fall into various
parts of the register.
We also find it essential to carry up the indicator rods to a point above the
side-frames and to surmount the wooden casing with a glass casing through which
the numerals may be read.
In the former Specifications, no means of cleaning the drum was described, and
we therefore now find it essential to make a portion of the case removable (in any
well-known way) so that this may be readily effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
The herein-described improvements in cash registers, all substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicants' Agent.