Improved Means and Apparatus for Indicating and Recording Amounts Taken in Places of Business.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Indicating and Recording
Amounts Taken in Places of Business.
I CHARLES LENI of the Red Lion Inn Acton in the County of Middlesex,
Licensed Victualler do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the various apparatus now in use for the above purpose the record is made by
printing marking or piercing a roll or band of paper or other material such roll or
band having to be removed from the machine for the purpose of taking the record
or links, chains or bands passing over pullies or drums and marked with different
values are observed by the proprietor or his agent at certain points in their travel
through apertures provided for the purpose. The object of my present invention
is to simplify this latter class of apparatus and in carrying it into effect instead
of marking the values on links, chains or bands travelling over drums or pullies I
mark such figures or values upon the drums or wheels themselves or upon a
band of paper, metal or other material which is secured closely to and upon
the periphery of each wheel or drum of the series composing the working part
of the machine in constructing which I provide a frame standing upon a suitable
base to which may be secured the usual box like covering of the apparatus with
its locking and closing device.
Within this frame I mount a solid or tubular spindle or shaft permanently
fixed longitudinally thereon and upon this 1 mount free to revolve thereon but
frictionally controlled a number of wheels or drums on the pheripheries of which
or on bands secured thereto are marked the various values or denominations
required in the business and in any desirable manner either consecutively or
accumulatively or otherwise.
Running longitudinally of the case or cover and in any suitable position
is a slit or aperture or a succession of the same beneath which each division of the
drums or wheels is brought by each action of the machine on the particular
drum or wheel operated upon and at the same moment a flag or disc or like indi-
cator is raised at the back (or other portion) of the case for observation by the
customer.
I secure in a convenient position at the side of and to each wheel or drum a series
of ratchet teeth or a ratchet wheel the number of teeth corresponding to the
number of divisions marked upon the periphery of the wheel or drum. The number
of wheels and size of case will depend upon the number of different values required
to be recorded and indicated thus for an omnibus perhaps only three values and
three wheels would be necessary whilst for a restaurant twenty or more might be
required.
The diameter of the wheels or drums and the size of the divisions marked
on their peripheries will also be governed by the length of time between each
examination or the amount of business transacted.
The drums are actuated by a set of levers one to each drum. These levers are
fulcrummed on a rod running parallel to the shaft and near the base or in separate
bearings similarly placed. The front of each lever projects through the outer case
and carries the finger plate or button on which is marked the amount represented
by the particular wheel or drum that the lever operates, at or near the opposite
end is a counterweight and near the fulcrum I pivot a straight or bent bar
extending as far as the ratchets and carrying (also pivotted to its extremity) a pawl
or other device for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel on the central shaft I
mount a collar carrying a projecting arm which is pivotted likewise to the upright

page_text: bar carrying the pawl. Thus when the front of the lever is depressed by means of
the finger plate the bar and pawl engaging in the ratchet are pulled down and the
wheel or drum moved to the extent of one division or number, on the finger being
removed the bar rises and the pawl engages the next ratchet or tooth and another
number or division of the wheel is ready to be drawn under the aperture for
observation when the lever is next operated.
The indicating mechanism is arranged as follows. Bars carrying sleeves or
housings are arranged along the back of the frame and within the sleeves or
housings work freely vertical light rods or the like carrying at their upper
extremities plates, discs or flags on which are marked values or numbers
corresponding to those on the finger plates, there being a vertical rod and disc to
each lever.
The lower extremity of each rod rests on the rear of its respective lever and
when the latter is operated and the rear extremity thereof raised the rod is carried
upwards and the disc or flag on its summit exposed to view and remaining so
exposed until another lever is operated when it is released and falls back again
upon the end of its lever and this is effected as follows. I pivot a flat bar at each
end of the frame at one edge only. The other edge resting in a notch in one of
two notches which I cut in each vertical rod one below the other, when the rod is
raised the lower notch passes the loosely pivotted bar and rests upon it until the
said bar is moved backwards by the passing of another rod when the first rod is
released and falls to its normal position.
By any simple mechanism the operating of the lever may be made to sound an
electric or ordinary bell. It will thus be seen that each time a finger plate_is
pressed a fresh number or division on the wheel or drum is brought under the
observation aperture and at the same time the indicating disc is exposed to view
and a bell or other alarm sounded.
It will also be seen that the wheels heing set to zero or an observation of each
wheel being taken through the aperture by the proprietor and entered in a book
or the like the person receiving money for sales may place this in the till or
give change after actuating by the lever the wheel representing the amount
received and this may continue until the wheel has made one revolution or the
proprietor has again inspected the wheels and calculated the amount taken and
recorded by the several wheels since the last inspection.
After making one revolution ench wheel is stopped by means of a hook engaging
with a stop on the wheel (or other device) until released by the proprietor or his
agent.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1891.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Indicating and Recording
Amounts Taken in Places of Business.
I CHARLES LENI of the Red Lion Inn, Acton in the County of Middlesex
Licensed Victualler 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 :—
In the various apparatus now in use for the above purpose the record is made by
printing marking or piercing a roll or band of paper or other material such roll or
band having to be removed from the machine for the purpose of taking the record,
or links, chains or bands passing over pullies or drums and marked with different
values are observed by the proprietor or his agent, at certain points in their travel,
through apertures provided for the purpose. The object of my present invention
is to simplify this latter class of apparatus and in carrying it into effect instead

page_text: of marking the values on links chains or bands travelling over drums or pullies I
mark such figures or values upon the drums or wheels themselves or upon a band
of paper, metal or other material which is secured closely to and upon the
periphery of each wheel or drum of the series composing the working part of the
machine.
I will now proceed to describe the construction of my apparatus and the operation
of the mechanism and in order to explain these more effectually I have caused to
be attached to this Specification a sheet of drawings whereon
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism, and
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus.
I provide a frame A. standing upon a suitable base B. to which may be secured
the usual box like covering Č. of the apparatus with its locking and closing
device.
Within this frame A. I mount a solid or tubular spindle or shaft D. permanently
fixed longitudinally thereon and upon this shaft D. I'mount free to revolve thereon
but frictionally controlled a number of wheels or drums E. E. E. on the
peripheries of which or on bands secured thereto are marked the various values
or denominations required in the business and in any desirable manner either
consecutively or accumulatively or otherwise.
Running longitudinally of the case or cover and in any suitable position such as
shewn in Fig. 2 is a slit or aperture F (or a succession of the same) beneath which each
division of the drums or wheels is brought by each action of the mechanism on the
particular drum or wheel operated upon, and at the same moment a flag or disc G.
or like indicator is raised at the back (or other portion) of the case for observation
by the customer.
I secure in a convenient position at the side of and to each wheel or drum a series
of ratchet teeth or a ratchet wheel H. H. H. the number of teeth corresponding
to the number of divisions marked upon the periphery of the wheel or drum-the
number of wheels and size of case will depend upon the number of different values
required to be recorded and indicated, thus, for an omnibus perhaps only three
values and three wheels would be necessary whilst for a restaurant twenty or more
might be required. The diameter of the wheels or drums and the size of the divisions
marked on their peripheries will also be governed by the length of time between
each examination of the record or the amount of business transacted.
The drums are actuated by a set of levers I. I. I. one to each drum-these
levers are fulcrummed at J.-on a rod running parallel to the shaft and near the
base, or, in suitable bearings such as K. K. The front of each lever projects
through the outer case and carries the finger plate or button L. on which is marked
the amount represented by the particular wheel or drum that such lever operates.
The opposite end or rear of the lever is thickened or weighted so as to form a
counterweight and at a convenient point say M. on each lever I pivot a bent lever N.
having a short vertical arm terminating in a bevelled tooth O. which when the
button end of the lever is depressed engages with one of the teeth of the ratchet
wheel and pushes the drum to which it is attached forward one division the
opposite or longer arm P. is bent upwardly and when the tooth O. engages the
ratchet the point Q. also enters between two of the teeth of said ratchet wheel
below the point at which the tooth O. engages and acts as a stop or brake.
The indicating mechanism is arranged as follows. Bars R. carrying sleeves or
housings are arranged along the back of the frame and within the sleeves or
housings work freely vertical light rods or the like S. S. carrying at their upper
extremities plates, discs, or flags G. G. on which are marked values or numbers
corresponding to those on the finger plates there being a vertical rod and disc to
each lever.
The lower extremity of each rod rests on the rear of its respective lever and
when the latter is operated and the rear extremity thereof raised the rod is carried
upwards and the disc or flag on its summit exposed to view and remaining so
exposed until another lever is operated when it is released and falls back again

page_text: upon the end of its lever and this is effected as follows. I pivot a flat bar U. at each
end of the frame at one edge only, the other edge resting in one or two
notches VV' which I cut in each vertical rod one below the other, when the rod is
raised the lower notch V₁ passes the loosely pivotted bar U. and rests upon it
until the said bar is moved backwards by the passing of another rod when the first
rod is released and falls to its normal position.
By any simple mechanism the operating of the lever may be made to sound an
electric or ordinary bell. It will thus be seen that each time a finger plate is
pressed a fresh number or division on the wheel or drum is brought under the
observation aperture F. and at the same time the indicating disc G. is exposed to 1
view and a bell or other alarm sounded.
It will also be seen that the wheels being set to zero or an observation of each
wheel being taken through the aperture by the proprietor and entered in a book
or the like the person receiving money for sales may place this in the till or give
change after actuating by the lever the wheel representing the amount received
and this may continue until the wheel has made one revolution or the proprietor has
again inspected the wheels and calculated the amount taken and recorded by the
several wheels since the last inspection.
After making one revolution each wheel is stopped by means of a hook engaging
with a stop on the wheel (or other device) until released by the proprietor or his
agent or in place of stopping the drums by means of a hook I may arrange a
numbered sprocket wheel W. actuated by a pin W₁ or equivalent device on the
drum so that each revolution of the drum causes this wheel to turn through a
portion of its course-say making one complete revolution to 10 revolutions of the
drum and in this case it is not absolutely necessary to reset the apparatus till after
the entire revolution of the sprocket wheel geared into each drum.
On the face of each tooth of the sprocket wheel (or on a band or tape secured
on a drum fixed close to the sprocket wheel or forming part thereof) I mark
consecutive or other numbers or tokens which may be readily noted by means of a
sight bar X running along the top or side of the said wheels, the figure found or
seen immediately under or opposite the sight bar shewing the number of revolutions
of the main drum by which that particular wheel is actuated stops Z. on the sight
bar X engage with projections Z' on the sprocket wheels after each entire
revolution and a similar sight bar Y. may be fixed at a convenient point over the
main drums E.
The device shown on drawing for operating the bell is constructed as follows-a
flat bar a runs throughout the length of the machine over the ends of the levers I.
and is pivotted on one edge b. to standards c. and rests nominally on a stop d.
When a lever is operated it strikes and raises the bar a. which strikes the trigger e.
of the bell or gong f. but I may use any other form of alarm operated by the
levers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which it is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
The omencement and construction of annaratus for registering amounts taken in
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.