Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Recording, the Sales or other Transactions in Mercantile..
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Recording, the Sales
or other Transactions in Mercantile. Business.
I, AZEL CLARENCE HOUGH, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at South Butler, in the County of Wayne and State of New York, ope
of the United States of America, Merchant, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved machine for the convenient
record of the sales or other transactions in' mercantile businesses and 'the' 'like:* In
my machine I use a roll or continuous piece of paper on which the desired entries
are to be made, which paper is moved or fed a short portion at a time opposite an
opening in the machine casing, each time that the cash-drawer is opened. The
entry opening being wide enough for but one record on the next following operation
of: the drawer, the record just made will be moved away therefrom and a fresh,"
or clean surface presented for the reception of the next record, that, or those
previously made thus becoming: inaccessible, except by opening the casing.
The paper is carried from the roll to a drum that rotates on a horizontal axis,
and the periphery of said drum moves past the record slot, so that it form's a
support for the paper while the entry is being made, the diameter of the drum
being so great that the supporting surface has but little curvature. This drum
constitutes one feature of the invention.
A further feature of the invention resides in the construction of the face or cap
plate which is placed over the drum and has the slot or opening through which
access is had to the paper thereon to make an entry.
Another feature is a combination lever lock, whose proper manipulation is
necessary before the cash-drawer can be opened. Said lock comprises as its
actuating means, a series of keys, any of which may be rendered inactive, to allow
the opening of the drawer, and in connection with this arrangement, an alarm
mechanism is provided which will be set in action whenever an inactive key is
manipulated. The alarm thus sounded consists of a series of taps on a gong or
other sonorous device, to distinguish from the alarm that is made, consisting of a
single tap when the lock is properly operated to open the drawer. The alarms
sounded by manipulation of the wrong keys thus render difficult, without détection;
any experimenting with the keys, to ascertain the combination.
The several features above indicated, as well as others of less importance," but
of value, will be fully hereinafter described.
To the end of producing a machine for the purpose na med, my invention consists
in the cash-recorder; and in the parts thereof, constructed and operating substantially
as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically
defined in the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with

page_text: the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this Specification, and in
which drawings
Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine, with the top of the casing removed.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the face or cap plate.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section showing a modification of said plate.
Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views showing two modes of securing the
free end of the recording paper to the recording drum.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view, in section, showing the locking and alarm
mechanisms.
Figure 8 is a bottom plan view, with the casing or housing of the locking
mechanism.
Figure 9 is a detail view of the housing or casing for the keys.
The casing, A, of my machine, is shown as constructed in the form of a desk
and is designed to securely enclose the recording mechanism and record, so as to
prevent access to the same by unauthorised persons, being, to this end, provided
with some suitable lock. For the convenient accommodation of the recording and
lever lock mechanism a compartment a is provided in said casing to one side of the
drawer B, but, as this location is merely one of convenience, any other that may
prove desirable may be given them. Suitably journalled on a horizontal axis, in a
Frame C that is secured to the casing A is the recording drum, D, the upper
portion of whose circumference lies just below the top of the casing A. Said
drum may be constructed of metal, wood, papier mache, or other suitable material,
and has such diameter that a small section of its periphery is practically a flat
surface. To it, is attached the free end of the roll of paper E, on which the
record is to be made, which paper, by a succession of movements of the drum on
its axis is gradually wound upon the same, and in being wound is caused to pass
and be exposed at a record opening or slot provided in a face-plate F, to be
presently described; that is placed over the drum. When the drum is made of
sheet metal, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, the free end of the paper E may be
attached thereto, as best shown in Figure 5, by forming a slit in the periphery of
the drum, of the width of the paper, and securing to the inner side of said
periphery a plate d in such position that a space will be left between the latter and
the drum's periphery, a short distance to one side of the slit. The end of the
paper is inserted through the slit and passed into said space, being thus held in a
position in which it will be prevented from separation from the drum. Another
mode of attachment is shown in Figure 6. A slit is made in the drum which opens
into a larger round opening d¹ a short distance inward from the circumference, in
which is a slit rod d². The end of the paper, with this construction, is passed
through the slit in the drum and into the slit in the rod d², the two slits being
placed in alignment, and the latter is then turned around, to move its slit out of
alignment with the other. To facilitate such turning the rod is extended at one
end beyond the side of the drum, in position to be grasped by the fingers.
The drum, if desirable, may be provided on each edge with continuous
flanges, or a series of radial projections, to prevent lateral displacement of the
recording paper.
The drum is given a partial revolution each time the drawer is opened, by a pawl
and ratchet mechanism, that is actuated by the drawer. Said mechanism com-
prises a ratchet-wheel D', that is carried by the drum, being attached to one of its
sides, and a pawl or dog g that is carried on the end of a swinging arm or lever G,
that for convenience is hung or pivoted on the shaft of the drum, so as to move
freely thereon, and not be moved thereby. Said lever G at its outer end has a
downwardly extending arm g' which at its lower end carries a friction roller g², that
rests upon the upper edge of the side of the drawer B that adjoins the compart-
ment a. Such drawer side has a depression that forms a cam surface & to engage 5
the roller g² as the drawer moves outward, and causes the lever G to move upward
and carry with it the pawl g which being in engagement with a tooth of the

page_text: wheel D' will rotate the latter and so the drum D a predetermined distance. When
the cam surface 6 passes out of contact with the roller 92, the latter will simply.
have the horizontal position of the edge of the drawer to engage it, and the upward
swing of the arm will cease, notwithstanding the continuous outward movement of:
the drawer. On the return of the drawer to its closed position, the arm g¹ and
roller g³ will drop back into the depression and place the pawl in position to again
move the drum, in the manner just set forth. Backward movement of the drum is
prevented by a stop-dog or pawl that engages the teeth of the ratchet-wheel D'.
The roll of blank paper is supported on a shaft or spindle that journaled at
its ends in two standards c that rise from and form a part of the frame C. On its
way to the drum D the paper passes beneath a roller ', flanged at its ends and
supported in the lower end of lugs or brackets that depend from the casing top.
A flat spring C¹ fixed at its lower end to the frame C and having its curved free
end bearing against the periphery of the roll, operates to prevent the too rapid or
free unwinding of the paper, as the drum D is rotated.
C
Secured to the top of the casing A; so as to cover an opening therein over the
drum D, is a face or cap-plate F, in which is provided a slot or opening f having a
length equal to the width of the said paper, through which access is had to the
latter for making thereon the desired entry. Such slot is formed by the rear edge
of a plate of glass I, held in place by a suitable frame C2 and the front edge of a
flexible plate J. The glass is made wide enough to render visible several entries
made on the paper, after they have been moved away from the slot, but, while
rendering them visible, they are of course inaccessible to any unauthorised person,
who might be interested in altering them. The opening covered by the glass, is
narrower than the record paper, so as to leave a narrow margin which will become
invisible as soon as the paper moves past the slot. I make this provision in order
to permit the making of such private entries as may be desirable, such as the
profits made upon the particular sale just made, etc. These on the opening of the
cash drawer, after the sale, to put the money therein, will be immediately concealed
by being passed beneath the opaque portion of the glass plate.
The plate J is made of spring metal, is attached fixedly at its rear edge to
the under side of the face-plate and rests at its forward free edge yieldingly
upon the paper on the drum D. Being made elastic or yielding it always adapts
itself to the thickness of the paper on the drum D and rests in contact therewith,.
whether one or more layers are upon the same. It not only acts to keep the
surface to be written on always smooth, but also clearly defines such surface. "
Instead of this spring plate, a rigid plate J may be used, as shown in Figure 4,
which will be hinged at its rear edge to the under side of the face-plate, and be
yieldingly held in contact with the paper on the drum, by a flat spring J2.
The cash-drawer is projected outward automatically when the locking mechanism
to be described, is actuated, by means of a spring K, interposed between its rear
end and the adjacent end of the casing. It is locked shut against the outward.
pressure of the spring, by means of a vertically movable bolt or latch bar L,
whose lower end engages a notch 1 in the upper edge of the side of the drawer
adjacent to the compartment a. The bolt L is adapted to be disengaged from
the drawer by means of a pivoted swinging frame N, having a projection or arm n
whose end engages a recess or cavity made in the bolt about midway of its
length, moves the bolt to disengage it from the drawer, and its movement to
actuate the bolt is effected through a horizontally movable push-rod or key M,
whose outer end is enlarged, as shown, for convenient engagement by the thumb.
Said rod is pivotally connected to ears or lugs m' which project from the
upper part of the frame, and is normally pressed outward by a coiled spring m²
that encircles it.
The frame N is in the form of a parallelograin, whose ends are shorter than
its sides, and is pivoted at its ends so as to rock on a horizontal axis. Said
frame constitutes part of, and is a co-operative element in the lock, which is
supported by and partly enclosed in a casing or housing O that is secured to the
:

page_text: rear side of the casing A by screws passing from the inside thereof so as to extend
partially within and partially without the casing A. The outwardly projecting
portion is on the same side as that on which the cash-drawer opens, and it houses
the key levers P on all sides except the bottom, so that they are invisible except
to one looking at them from below. There are five of these key-levers P, as
shown, and these for the purpose of distinguishing from the push-rod or key M,
which I term the operative key, and the other keys, which I term the retaining
keys, and the latter I again designate as proper or improper keys according as to
whether they are arranged to permit or prevent by their manipulation, the swinging
of the, frame N by pressing inward upon the operative key. The five keys Pare
precisely alike in construction, and are pivoted midway of their ends, and side by
side on a horizontal shaft P' that is secured to side plates or extensions o, o, of the
casing O.
At its end outside of the drawer-casing A each key is formed for ready engage-
ment by the finger, and at its end inside the drawer-casing, it carries a vertically
disposed screw p. The screw p is vertically adjustable, and has a length equal to
the distance between the upper and lower sides n', n², of the frame N, and as the
latter, when the bolt L is in locking position is inclined from a vertical line, so
that the upper side n' is in the rear, and the lower side n² in advance of the upper
and lower ends respectively of the screw, it will be seen that said screw can be
adjusted so that its upper end, when the lever P is not actuated, will be struck by
the upper side of the frame N, if it be attempted to move the latter inward by
the operative key; or so that its lower end, when depressed by the actuating
key will be struck by the lower side n² and will prevent movement of the frame.
And further, said screw can be so adjusted, that when the key is actuated it
will be out of the way of both sides of the frame, and the latter may thus be
swung to raise the bolt.
With this adjustment, the top of the screw will, when the key is at rest, be
in the first named position, and the key will be a proper key. As a gauge to
determine the proper adjustment necessary to constitute a proper key, a rear-
wardly projecting rib.or flange n is provided on the upper side of the swinging
frame, with reference to which the heads of the screws can be placed, as for
instance, by comparing the lower side of the head with the upper face of the
flange. The improper keys, of course must have their screws so adjusted, that with
the keys at rest, the screws will, at top and bottom, clear both sides of the frame,.
and it follows that with this adjustment, when an improper key is actuated, the
lower end of the screw will be projected across the path of the lower side of the
swinging frame, and will prevent its movement.
Whenever an improper key is actuated, an alarm consisting of several taps, is
sounded on a bell or gong Q, by a hammer s that is vibrated by a spring actuated
mechanism, S, composed of a train of gears and pinions. The hammer is on the
same arbor with a pallet s that is actuated by an escape wheel s2, and also attached
to said arbor, is.an.arm si, that controls the movement of the mechanism S through
the pallet and escape-wheel. This is done by means of a vertically movable rod t,
whose lower end is loosely connected to the arm by a loop at the end of the
latter, which rod, when at the upper limit of its motion, holds said arm from being
vibrated, by the mechanism S, but which, when lowered, permits it, and so the
hammer,, to vibrate and sound the gong by a repetition of taps. The upper end of
the rod t is connected to the crank or radial arm t' of a horizontal rock-shaft T,
that extends parallel with but in a slightly higher plane than the shaft P₁ and is
journalled in the side pieces o of the casing O.
Said shaft is adapted to be moved by means of arms U that are placed thereon,
one for each retaining key P, which have lateral extensions u, that by a lateral
adjustment of the arms along the shaft, are adapted to be engaged by lugs.or
projections.pon the inner ends of the keys P, when they are arranged as improper
key Screws are provided, by means of which the position of the arms of the
shaft, either for engagement by the key-lugs p², or out of their way, may be fixed.
11

page_text: The inner end of each key P, is forked or bifurcated, so as to have a portion
extending over the shaft T above and below the same for engagement thereby, to
limit the motion of the key, up and down. Each retaining key is returned to and
kept in its normal position, by a spring that is passed around a rod V placed just
below the shaft P and has one end bearing against the inner end of the key and its
other end bearing against a second rod V placed just below the other..
">
To sound an alarm, each time, and just before the cash-drawer is opened, when
the proper keys are actuated, a hammer W, is provided which depends from a
plate u pivoted by a screw to one of the side pieces o of the casing O. To said
plate w, is pivoted a swinging dog or pawl w' having a portion with an abrupt and
an inclined face projecting below the plate w, and a lug or extension y to engage
the screw on its upper side. A lug or stud n' on the end of the frame N, is located
relative to the dog w, so that when the frame is swung to lift the drawer bolt that'
the abrupt side of the dog will be engaged by the lug, and by reason of the lug y
and pivot screw a, the plate w will be rocked on its pivot against the stress of a
spring arm Z, and the hammer W moved away from.the gong Q. Because of the
different centers of motion, the lug will pass out of engagement with the dog,
and the spring Z will, being free to act, return. the parts to and beyond their
former position, and strike the hammer with some violence against .the gong Q,
giving a single tap. When the frame N returns to its former position, under
pressure of the spring on the operative key M, the lug n will engage the inclined.
side of the dog, and lift the same out of its path, until its abrupt side is passed,
whereupon the dog will drop into position, to again be ready to actuate the.
hammer.
The spring arm Z extends from a coil around the shaft V, from which another
arm Z' extends to the crank arm t¹ of the rock-shaft T, to restore said shaft and its
connecting parts to the position from which they are moved by the actuation of an
improper key. The upward movement of the arm t' is limited by a stop lug o' on
the side piece o, of the casing O, against which it strikes..
It will be understood that the swinging frame N is journalled in the side pieces o.
and that proper guide plates are provided for the drawer-bolt to move through:,
The position of the retaining keys is indicated on the casing O. by means of a mark
or index of placed on the front lower edge thereof, opposite each.key,
The use and operation of my invention will be readily understood, and is as
follows:-
Having determined what the combination shall be, that is, which shall be the
proper keys and which the improper, the screws of the former. are adjusted vertically,
so that when the key is depressed at its rear end, there will be no interference with,
the swinging of the frame N, by an inward pressure upon the operative key, and the,
screws of the improper keys are adjusted so that when the said keys are at rest, the.
screws will not prevent the swinging of the said frame, but when the keys, one or
all, are actuated, the lower end of the screw will be in the path of the lower side n?.
of the frame. Next, the arms U on the rock-shaft T are adjusted to a position on
the shaft so that. with reference to a proper key, the extension. u of an. arm, will
not be struck by the lug p² on the key when it is actuated, and with reference to an
improper key, so that said extension. will be engaged by the lug, and the shaft T
rocked, to allow the mechanism S to cause vibration of the hammer s, and the
sounding of several strokes on the gong Q. When the proper keys are actuated, a
single tone will be struck on the gong by the mechanism described, and there being,
nothing when said keys are depressed, to prevent the swinging of the frame N, the
operative key is pressed inward to swing said frame, and the latter through its
arm n will lift the bolt L out of engagement with the locking notch in the drawer,
side, and the drawer be free to be opened. The drawer will now be projected.
outward by the pressure of the spring K, and in its. outward movement,, by means
of the pawl and ratchet mechanism described, partially turn the drum D and move,
the paper and carry the entry which was made before the lock. mechanism was,

page_text: actuated, under the glass I where it will be visible, but inaccessible to unauthorized
persons. Such private entries as were made on the narrow margin of the paper,
will be carried under the opaque portion of the face plate adjoining the glass, and
be immediately concealed.
The movement of the drum to carry the entry just made beyond the slot will
bring to the latter a clean or fresh surface on which the next record is to be made.
As changes or variations may be made from the mechanism shown and described,
by the skilled mechanic, which will not involve departure from the scope of my
invention, I regard myself as being entitled to make the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination, with a casing having a slot, a paper receiving drum having a
portion of its periphery adjacent to said slot to serve as a support for the paper while
a record is being made thereon, substantially as described.
2. In combination with a casing having a slot, a paper receiving drum, serving to
support the paper while an entry is being made through the slot, one edge of the
slot being formed by a plate that extends crosswise of and rests yieldingly upon the
drum periphery, to adapt itself to varying thicknesses of paper thereon, substantially
as shown and described.
3. In combination with the casing having a slot, a paper receiving drum, serving
to support the paper while an entry is being made through the slot, and a spring-
plate having a free edge that rests upon the drum periphery and forms an edge of the
slot and adapts itself to varying thicknesses of paper thereon, substantially as
described.
.
4. A recording mechanism employing a movable record receiving strip having
an entry slot affording access to the latter, and a transparent section that is
narrower than the width of the record receiving strip, and the entry slot, to
disclose only a portion of the entry, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
5. In combination with a casing having a slot, a paper receiving drum having a
portion of its periphery adjacent to said slot to serve as a support for the paper
while an entry is being made, a yielding plate having its free edge resting on said
periphery, to form one side of said slot, and a transparent plate forming the other
side of said slot, and suitable means for rotating the drum, substantially as described.
6. In a cash-recorder employing a movable record strip, a drum for receiving
and moving said strip as it rotates, and means for rotating said drum step by step,
comprising a ratchet wheel attached thereto, the pivoted pawl carrying arm, and
a sliding drawer adapted to raise said arm, substantially as shown and described.
7. In a cash-recorder employing a movable record strip, a drum to receive and
move said strip, and support the same while a record is being made, and means for
rotating the drum, comprising a ratchet wheel secured thereto, a pawl to co-operate
with aaid' wheel, the pivoted arm carrying said pawl, whose pivot is the drum axis,
the downward extension on said arm, and a sliding drawer having a cam surface
to engage said extension to raise said arm, substantially as described.
8. In a cash-recorder employing a movable record strip, the standards to support
the latter in the form of a roll, a spring plate bearing against the roll, the drum
receiving the strip directly from the roll, the roller depending from the casing top
and engaging the strip between the roll and drum, the sliding spring-actuated
drawer, and the pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by the latter as it moves
outward to rotate the drum, and the locking mechanism for the drawer, substan-
tially as described.
9. In combination with the recording mechanism of a cash-recorder, a sliding
drawer, adapted to actuate said mechanism, the lock for the drawer having several
keys any of which are adapted to be set to release said drawer, and an alarm

page_text: mechanism comprising a gong or the like on which several tones are adapted to be
struck when an improper key is actuated, substantially as described.
10. In combination with the recording mechanism, of a cash-recorder, a sliding
drawer adapted to actuate said mechanism, the lock for the drawer having several
keys any of which are adapted to be set to release said drawer, a gong or the
like, and the two hammers to sound different alarms on the gong, according to the
keys that are actuated, substantially as described.
11. In combination, a lock having several keys, any of which are adapted to be
set to act as releasing keys, and an alarm mechanism adapted to sound several tones
when an improper key is actuated, substantially as described.
12. In combination with a cash-drawer, and its locking mechanism, a gong, a
vibratory hammer, and the spring-actuated motor to operate said hammer, sub-
stantially as described.
13. In combination with a cash-drawer and its locking mechanism, a gong, a
spring-actuated motor having a scape wheel and pallet, the pallet arbor, the
hammer on the pallet arbor, the detent arm also on said arbor, and the keys
adapted to release said arm, to permit the motor to actuate said hammer,
substantially as described.
14. In combination, the sliding locking-bolt, the swinging frame to move the
latter, and the series of keys adapted to obstruct or to permit said frame to be
moved to slide said bolt, substantially as specified.
15. In combination, the locking-bolt, the swinging frame to actuate the same,
the series of keys, and an adjustable stop device or screw carried by each key to
co-operate with said frame, substantially as specified.
16. In combination, the locking-bolt, the pivoted swinging frame, the arm thereon
engaging the bolt, the series of pivoted keys, and the adjustable screw carried
by each key, adapted to co-operate with said frame, substantially as shown and
described.
17. In combination, the locking-bolt, the pivoted swinging frame, the arm
thereon engaging the bolt, the series of pivoted keys, the adjustable screw carried
by each key, the rib or flange on the frame serving as a gauge for the adjustment
of the screw, and the key or rod attached to the frame to swing the same, sub-
stantially as described.
18. In combination with the pivoted keys, the rock-shaft T, an arm on said shaft
for each key adapted to be engaged thereby, and the alarm mechanism actuated by
said rock-shaft, substantially as described.
19. In combination with the pivoted keys having each a lateral extension, a
rock-shaft, the arm for each key on said shaft adapted to be engaged by said
extension, the crank-arm on the shaft, the alarm mechanism and the rod between
the latter and said crank-arm, adapted to set said alarm mechanism in operation,
substantially as shown and described and for the purpose specified.
20. In combination, the sliding locking-bolt, the pivoted swinging frame con-
nected with the bolt, the key for swinging the frame, the spring for maintaining
said latter parts in their normal position, pivoted keys, carrying screws or pins to
co-operate with said frame, the bell-hammer adapted to be actuated by said frame,
the rock-shaft, the arms thereon, one for each key, the spring-actuated motor
having an escape wheel and pallet, the second hammer carried by the pallet-arbor,
the detent arm also on said arbor, the rod connecting said arm with the rock-shaft,
and the forks on the keys embracing said shafts, substantially as specified.
21. In combination, the several keys, the swinging frame, the bell-hammer
carried by the pivoted plate w, the pivoted dog w₁ carried by said plate, and the
lug on the frame to engage said dog, substantially as described.
22. A housing for a series of keys, having indices on its outside to designate the
position of the several keys, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
23. A cash-recorder, having a suitable casing, a cash-drawer, locking mechanism
for the drawer actuated by several keys, and a housing for the keys that encloses

page_text: them on all sides except the bottom, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 30th day of November 1892.
JENSEN & SON;
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.