Improvements in Cash Registers and Indicators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registers and Indicators.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of 18 Buckingham Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, a com-
munication to me from abroad by The National Cash Register Company, of Dayton,
in the State of Ohio, United States of America, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention has for its object an improvement in the construction of this class of
machines, and its novelty will be herein set forth and specifically pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine with the near side of the case
and framework removed.
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the machine looking at it in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, and with the case and the registering mechanism
removed.
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the lower part of the machine and drawer
compartment, showing the money drawer open.
Figure 4 is a detail view of a portion of the rear side of the machine, showing the
locking bolt and actuating lever.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 represent details to be referred to hereafter.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.
The first feature of my invention relates to the tablet-raising and supporting
mechanism. The machine is inclosed in the usual locked case or cabinet A, having at
its upper rear portion the glass covered reading openings B for the exposure of the
indicating tablets, and having in its lower portion a drawer compartment containing
the money drawer or till C. D are the side uprights of the framework of the machine.
E are the operating keys, pivoted on the shaft F, their front ends extending through
slots in the casing and provided each with the usual numbered button G, and their
rear ends resting on any suitable cross-piece i. HI are the two banks of registering
wheels strung upon the shafts extending across the framework of the machine, the
wheels of the lower bank being actuated in the usual manner by dogs J pivoted to the
keys E.
K is the usual vibrating re-setting frame hung by side arms a on the shaft F
and extending across the tops of the keys in rear of said shaft. L is the gong and M
the spring-pressed gong-hammer arranged to be actuated by the operation of any
key, through the medium of the bell-crank N pivoted at b to the upright D and
connected at its forward end to the side arm a of the vibrating frame K, and carry-
ing at its upper rear end a tripping dog c engaging with a wiper block d on the
gong hammer M. O is the locking bolt for the money drawer, actuated to release
the drawer whenever any key is operated, through the medium of the pivoted bolt-
lever P and rear extension e of the bell-crank N, as hereinafter more fully described.
Qare the tablet rods, arranged in guides R and carrying at their upper ends the
indicating tablets S. T is a slotted supporting bar extending laterally across the
machine immediately in rear of the rear ends of the keys and arranged to have
lateral play in slots in the side uprights D of the framework. The walls on one
side of the slots f in this bar are inclined or beveled, as shown, said inclines
terminating at their upper ends in off sets or shoulders g. The lower ends of the
tablet rods are provided on their front sides with projections h which extend
forward through the slots in the supporting bar T and rest on the rear ends of
the operating keys E. A spring U holds the bar T normally pressed to one side
with the inclined walls of its slots over the projections h of the tablet rods, as shown
in Figure 2.

page_text: From this construction it will be seen that upon operating any key its rear end
will lift its tablet rod, whose projection h, bearing against the inclined wall of its
slot f, will push the bar T aside until said projection passes above the incline, where-
upon the spring U will return the bar T to its normal position and the projection
will be caught upon the shoulder g and the tablet rod held up with its tablet
exposed to view. Upon releasing the operated key the latter will drop back to its
normal position, its dog J effect a fresh engagement with the ratchet of its register-
ing wheel H, and the vibrating frame K, tripping dog c and drawer bolt O will be
re-set, ready for a second operation, while the tablet rod will remain elevated with
its tablet exposed to view.
While in Figures 1 and 21 have shown the projections as consisting of pius
inserted through holes in the lower ends of the tablet rods, any suitable form of
projection may be used, or the lower end of the tablet rod itself may be bent at
right angles to its vertical portion to form the projection, as seen in Figures 5 and 7.
Again as seen in Figures 6 and 8, the supporting bar may be located in rear of
the tablet rods, in which event the tablet rods may rest directly on the keys while the
projections on their rear side extend through the slots in the bar T, or, as seen in
Figures 8, the front ends of the pins which form the projections may rest on the
rear ends of the keys, while their rear ends extend through the slots in said bar.
Also, while I have shown and described the supporting bar T as being held in and
returned to its normal position by means of a spring U, this spring may be dispensed
with and the same result accomplished by inclining the upper portions of the left
hand walls of the slots over the vertical portions of said slots.
22
The next feature of my invention relates to the employment in this class of
machines, of a series of "Paid In," "Paid Out," "Charge," "Check" and "Change"
keys, with corresponding registering wheels and indicating tablets, in addition and
supplemental to the usual operating keys, tablets and registering wheels. In the
present machine I have illustrated, in Figures 2, 9, 10, and 11, five of these keys,
with their corresponding indicating tablets, marked respectively "Paid In," "Paid
Out," "Charge," "Check" and " Change," and their corresponding registering
wheels H bear on their periphery a series of numbers of multiples of one, and
each is arranged to be turned one number at each operation of its key, to register the
total number of operations of such key. The first three of these keys are designed
to be used in connection with a system of credit and chargo tickets, in the following
manner: The "Paid In" and "Paid Out" signs indicate respoctively paid in and
paid out on account. When the cashier or proprietor receives any money which is
to be credited to the account of the party paying, ho operates the "Paid In" key
of the machine, places the money in the drawer, and puts in with it a 66 Paid In
ticket having written on it the name of the party paying and the amount paid.
When he pays out money which is to be charged to the party to whom it is paid, ho
operates the
Paid Out" key, takes the money out of the drawer, and puts in the
drawer a "Paid Out" ticket, having written on it the amount paid out and the name
of the person to whom it was paid. Whenever a sale is made on credit, the
"Charge" key is operated and a
" Charge "ticket is put in the drawer, having
written on it the name of the purchaser and a memorandum of the goods sold and
price charged for same. The "Change" key is operated whenever access to the cash
drawer is desired for the purpose of making change for third parties, or for any other
purpose when it is desired not to register any amount on the cash registering
mechanism. When the proprietor opens the machine at the end of the day's
business, to take off the registrations and count the cash in the money drawer, he will
add to the amount he finds in the drawer the total amount indicated on the "Paid
Out" tickets, and he will subtract from this sum the total amount indicated on the
"Paid In" tickets; the remainder should correspond to the total amount registered
on the cash registering wheels. The numbers on the "Paid In," "Paid Out" and
Charge" wheels should correspond to the number of like tickets in the drawer, so
that if the cashier or proprietor has during the day neglected to make a memorandum
of any such transactions he will readily detect it and endeavour to recall to mind what

page_text: it was.
He can transfer the memoranda from these tickets to his books at leisure.
The number which appears on the "Change" registering wheel will indicate the
number of times the cash drawer has been opened for the mere purpose of making
change, or such other purposes as the "Change" key may be used for, while the
"Check" key is designed for any other special purposes for which it may be desired
to use it.
It is the design and object of these supplemental keys, and especially of the first
three, to enable the proprietor to keep a complete and accurate record of all the
financial transaction in his business during the day. It is the duty of the person
having charge of the machine to go to it and operate one of the keys whenever any
such transaction is made, no matter whether it is a sale of goods for cash, a sale on
credit, the paying in of money on account, or the paying out of money on account.
In the last three cases it obviates the necessity of entering each transaction on the
books at the time it is made, and yet keeps a record of it to prevent its being forgotten
and to insure its entry thereon in due time.
The next feature of my invention relates to the money drawer or till, and consists
in a novel method in propelling such drawer from its compartment in the machine.
Heretofore the drawer in these machines had been arranged to be moved in and out
of its compartment in a horizontal plane, suitable means being provided for locking it
in its closed position and for unlocking it when it was desired to open it. For the
purpose of automatically propelling the drawer from or partially from its compart-
ment when unlocked, it has been the practice to employ a spring, arranged to be put
under tension when the drawer is pushed into its compartment and to propel it there-
from when unlocked, or independent weights so connected with the drawer as to be
lifted when the drawer was moved into position in its compartment and to throw it
out when unlocked. My present invention consists in doing away with the use of
such springs or weights and causing the drawer when released to be automatically
propelled from its compartment by its own gravity. In Figures 1 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings I have illustrated one method of accomplishing this result, by
the employment in the drawer compartment of an incline which the drawer asconds
as it is pushed into its compartment and down which it travels by its own gravity,
when released, to propel itself out of its compartment.
The drawer compartment U in the lower part of the case is provided on each sido
with downwardly and forwardly extending inclines V upon which rests and travels
the drawer C which has a correspondingly inclined lower side. W are suitable guide
strips secured to the lower outer edges of the drawer and arranged to fit in the
groove X formed between the guide strips Y and inclines V in the sides of the drawer
compartment. Z are friction rollers journaled in and projecting slightly above the
surface of the incline V to facilitate the movements of the drawer. Secured to the
upper rear crosspiece A¹ of the drawer is the metal plate B' having an opening C
arranged, when the drawer is closed, to be engaged by the locking bolt O to lock the
drawer in its compartiment. This locking bolt plays up and down through suitable
guides and is carried on the end of the pivoted lever P, Figure 4, extending from
the bolt to one side of the machine and having its outer end bent up to be engaged
by the rear extension e of the bell-crank arm n, so that whenever that arm is actuated
by the operation of any key its rear extension é depresses the outer end of the lever P
and lifts the bolt O to release the drawer. A suitable spring bearing against the
under side of the lever P bolds it in its normal position, with the bolt O down.
Secured to the under side of the money box of the drawer is a rearwardly extending
spring hook or catch D₁ arranged when the drawer is partially propelled from its
compartment, to come in contact with and be caught by a stop plate E¹ secured to
the bottom of the drawer compartment at its front side and bent up into the path of
travel of the hook A¹.
When it is desired to entirely remove the drawer, the spring hook can be pressed
up by the hand to release it from the stop plate E'.
It results from this construction and arrangement that, the drawer being locked in
its compartment as shown in Figure 1, upon the operation of a key it will be released

page_text: and will travel down the incline V to the position shown in Figure 3, where
convenient access can be had to it for the purpose of depositing money and making
change. Upon pushing the drawer back into its compartment it will become auto-
matically locked and held therein until another key is operated. In this manner I am
able to do away with the use of springs and independent weights for propelling the
drawer from its compartment and cause it to be propelled therefrom by its own
gravity.
It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular construction
and arrangement of the parts which I have shown and described, as that may be
largely varied without departing from my invention. For instance, the inclines V
might be dispensed with and a series of rollers arranged in inclined order for the
drawer to travel on, be employed their stead.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of a series of operating keys
of fixed value pivoted on a horizontal shaft at the front of the machine, a horizontal
supporting bar extending transversely across the machine in rear of the rear ends of
the keys and provided with a series of vertical slots each having an inclined wall and
supporting shoulder, and a series of vertical tablet rods arranged in guides and
actuated by said operating keys and carrying at their upper ends indicating tablets
and provided at their lower ends with projections which extend through the slots in
said supporting bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of a series of operating keys
of fixed values pivoted on a horizontal shaft at the front of the machine, and a
registering mechanism operated by said keys to register the value thereof, a horizontal
supporting bar extending transversely across the inachine in rear of the rear ends of
the keys and provided with a series of vertical slots each having an inclined wall and
supporting shoulder, and a series of vertical tablet rods arranged in guides and
actuated by said operating keys and carrying at their upper ends indicating tablets
and provided at their lower ends with projections which extend through the slots in
said supporting bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of a series of operating keys
of fixed values pivoted on a horizontal shaft at the front of the machine, a horizontal
supporting bar extending transversely across the machine in rear of the rear ends of
the keys and provided with a series of vertical slots each having an inclined wall and
supporting shoulder and a series of vertical tablet rods arranged in guides, carrying
at their upper ends indicating tablets, and provided at their lower ends with projections
which extend through the slots in said supporting bar and are engaged by the rear
ends of the pivoted operating keys, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of a series of operating keys
of fixed values pivoted on a horizontal shaft at the front of the machine, a series of
registering wheels operated by said keys to register the value thereof, a horizontal
supporting bar extending transversely across the machine in rear of the rear ends of
the keys and provided with a series of vertical slots each having an inclined wall and
supporting shoulder, and a series of vertical tablet rods arranged in guides, carrying
at their upper ends indicating tablets, and provided at their lower ends with pro-
jections which extend through the slots in said supporting bar and are engaged
by the rear ends of the pivoted operating keys, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
5. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of the operating keys E
pivoted on the shaft F, slotted supporting bar T extending transversely across the
machine in rear of the rear ends of said keys, and the vertical tablet rods Q
carrying at their upper ends the indicating tablets S provided at their lower ends
with the projections; extending through the slots in the bar T, substantially as and
for the purpose described.

page_text: 6. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of the operating keys E
pivoted on the shaft F and provided with the actuating dogs J, registering wheels H,
slotted supporting bar T extending transversely across the machine in rear of the
rear ends of the keys, and the vertical tablet rods Q carrying at their upper ends the
indicating tablets S and provided at their lower ends with the projections / extending
through the slots in the bar T, substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. In a cash register and indicator having a series of operating keys of fixed values
actuating a series of indicating tablets and a registering mechanism, to indicate and
register the cash sales corresponding to the values of said keys, the combination of a
supplemental operating key having on its front end a button bearing the sign
"Paid In," and indicating tablet actuated thereby and bearing a corresponding sign,
and a registering wheel operated by said supplemental key and bearing on its
periphery a series of numbers in multiples of one, said supplemental key, tablet and
registering wheel being designed and arranged to indicate each receipt of money on
account and to register the total number of such receipts, substantially as described.
8. In a cash register and indicator having a series of operating keys of fixed values
actuating a series of indicating tablets and a registering mechanism, to indicate and
register the cash sales corresponding to the values of said keys, the combination of
a supplemental operating key having on its front end a button bearing the sign
"Paid Out," an indicating tablet actuated thereby and bearing a corresponding sign,
and a registering wheel operated by said supplemental key and bearing on its
periphery a series of numbers in multiples of one, said supplemental key, tablet and
registering wheel being designed and arranged to indicate each payment of money
out on account and to register the total number of such payments, substantially as
and for the purposo described.
"
9. In a cash register and indicator having a series of operating keys of fixed values
actuating a series of indicating tablets and a registering mechanism, to indicate and
register the cash sales corresponding to the values of said keys, the combination of a
supplemental operating key having on its front end a button bearing the sign
Change," and indicating tablet actuated thereby and bearing a corresponding sign,
and a registering wheel operated by said supplemental key and bearing on its
periphery a series of numbers in multiples of one, said supplemental key, tablet and
registering wheel being designed and arranged to indicate each credit sale and to
register the total number of such sales, substantially as and for the purpose described.
10. In a cash register and indicator having a series of operating keys of fixed
values actuating a series of indicating tablets and registering mechanism, to indicate
and register the cash sales corresponding to the values of said keys, the combination
of a supplemental operating key having on its front end a button bearing the sign
Change," an indicating tablet actuated thereby and bearing a corresponding sign,
and a registering wheel operated by said supplemental key and bearing on its periphery
a series of numbers in multiples of one, said supplemental key, tablet and registering
wheel being designed and arranged to indicate each operation of the machine for
the purpose of making change and to register the total number of such operations,
substantially as described.
11. In a cash register and indicator having a series of operating keys of fixed.
values actuating a series of indicating tablets and registering mechanism, to indicate.
and register the cash sales corresponding to the values of said keys, the combination
of a supplemental oporating key having on its front end a button bearing a corre-
sponding sign, and a registering wheel operated by said supplemental key and bearing
on its periphery a series of numbers in multiples of one, said supplemental key,
tablet and registering wheel being designed and arranged to indicate each operation
of the machine for the purpose for which such "Check" key may be used, and to
register the total number of such operations, substantially as described.
12. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the operating keys, and
the case or cabinet provided with a drawer compartment, of a drawer fitted therein
and arranged when released to be automatically propelled therefrom by its own

page_text: gravity, and means for releasably holding the drawer in its compartment actuated
by the operating keys to release the drawer, substantially as described.
13. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the operating keys, and
the case or cabinet provided with a drawer compartment, of a drawer fitted therein
and arranged when released to be automatically propelled therefrom by its own
gravity, a locking device for locking the drawer in its compartment and actuated by
the operation of the keys to release the drawer, substantially as described.
14. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the operating keys, and
the case or cabinet provided with a drawer compartment, of a drawer fitted therein,
an incline upon the drawer travels in and out of its compartment, and means for
releasably holding the drawer in its compartment and actuated by the operating keys
to release the drawer, substantially as and for the purpose described.
15. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the operating keys, and
the case or cabinet provided with a drawer compartment, of a drawer fitted therein,
an incline upon which the drawer travels and out of its compartment, and a locking
device for locking the drawer in its compartment and actuated by the operation of the
keys to release the drawer, substantially as and for the purpose described.
16. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the case or cabinot
provided with a drawer compartment, of a drawer fitted therein, an incline upon
which the drawer travels in and out of its compartment, friction rollers interposed
between the drawer and incline, a locking device for locking the drawer in its
compartment, and the operating keys immediately connected with said locking device
to actuate the same to release the drawer, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
17. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the operating keys, and
the case or cabinet provided with a drawer compartment, of a drawer fitted therein,
an incline upon which the drawer travels in and out of its compartment, means for
releasably holding the drawer in its compartment and actuated by the operating keys
to release the drawer, and a stop for limiting the outward movement of the drawer,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
18. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the operating keys, and
the case or cabinet provided with a drawer compartment, of a drawer fitted therein,
an incline upon which the drawer travels in and out of its compartment, friction
rollers interposed between the drawer and incline, a locking device for locking the
drawer in its compartment and actuated by the operation of the key to release the
drawer, and a stop for limiting the outward movement of the drawer, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
19. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with a series of operating
keys, registering and indicating mechanisms actuated thereby to register and indicate
the values of the keys operated, and a case or cabinet provided with a drawer
compartment, of a drawer fitted in said compartment and arranged when released to
be automatically propelled therefrom by its own gravity, and a locking device for
holding the drawer in its compartment and actuated upon the operation of a key to
release the drawer, substantially as and for the purpose described.
20. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with a series of operating
keys, registering and indicating mechanisms actuated thereby to registor and indicate
the values of the keys operated, and a case or cabinet provided with a drawer
_compartment, of a drawer fitted in said compartment, an incline upon which the
drawer travels in and out of its compartment, and a locking device for holding the
drawer in its compartment and actuated by the operating keys to release the drawer,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
21. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with a series of operating
keys, registering and indicating mechanisms actuated thereby to register and indicate
the values of the keys operated, and a case or cabinet provided with a drawer
compartment, of a drawer fitted in said compartment and arranged when released to
be automatically propelled therefrom by its own gravity, a bar common to all of the

page_text: operating keys and actuated by the operation of any one of them, and a locking
device for holding the drawer in its compartment and actuated by the movement of
said bar, whereby when any key is operated its value is registered and indicated and
the drawer is released and automatically propelled from its compartment, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
D
102
11
J
T1 1000
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.