Improvements in Cash Registers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Lelt, 24th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registers.
I, ALFRED STEER, of 12 St. Martin's Road, Stockwell, in the County of Surrey,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in cash registers, and the objects of it are
to provide improved methods of and means for exhibiting the value of the purchase
to the customer, for registering the number of such values, each denomination by
itself, as well as for registering the total values of the respective denominations.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a compartment for each
denomination. These compartments are arranged preferably in a column and their
interiors are visible to the customer. Access to each is through a slot preferably,
in the back thereof. Each slot is only large enough to pass one coin at a time.
The bottom of each compartment is a trap door. All the trap doors are linked
together so as to be opened by an exposed push piece or its equivalent. When the
latter is operated, the coins in all the compartments are emptied into a locked
divided till, according to their values, and a bell is rung. The trap doors are
returned automatically as soon as the push piece is released.
Change distinct from the cash in the locked till-is provided from which the
equivalent of the customer's coin or coins is taken in such denominations as will
permit of the value of the purchase being exhibited by dropping the proper coin
or coins into the respective compartment or compartments. The remainder is the
customer's change. A concealed counter is combined with each compartment in
such a way as to be operated by the passage of the coin through the slot. Each
time that a coin is pushed through the slot, the counter moves one step. Its
reading is visible through a slot in the frame of the register, and the value of
each reading is the latter multiplied by the value of the respective denominations.
Or the counter may be made so as to present a reading of values instead of
number of coins.
Dated this 24th day of November 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registers.
I, ALFRED STEER, of 12 St. Martin's Road, Stockwell, in the County of Surrey,
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 :—
My invention relates to improvements in cash registers, and the objects of it are
to provide improved methods of and means for exhibiting the value of the purchase
to the customer, and for registering either the number of such values, each
denomination by itself, or for registering the total value of the respective
denominations.
.
In many of the cash registers or tills which have been devised, provision has
been made, by means of a series of compartments, for keeping the actual coins
which the customer has paid to the salesman, on view for some time before they

page_text: are dropped into the common till, but, according to the present invention, a
separate compartment is provided for each coin or value, i.e., one for the half crowns,
another for the florins, another for the sixpences, another for the twopences and
so on. The object of such provision is that all the obverse or reverse of all the
coins which make up the total of one purchase shall be exposed singly to the
customers inspection instead of being confused together in one compartment.
These separate compartments are arranged in a column, and their interiors are
visible to the customer. Access to each compartment is through a slot or opening
which is, preferably, in the back of the column. Each slot is only large enough
to pass one value at a time. The bottom of each compartment is a trap door.
All the trap doors are linked together so as to be opened simultaneously by
means of an exposed push piece or its equivalent. When the latter is operated,
the coins in all the compartments are emptied by gravity into a locked till in
the base of the column. The opening of the series of trap doors is accompanied
by the sounding of a gong after which all the doors of the series are closed
automatically.
Change distinct from the cash in the locked till-is provided from which the
equivalent of the customer's coin or coins is taken in such denominations as will
permit of the value of the purchase being exhibited by dropping the proper coin
or coins into the respective compartment or compartments. The remainder is the
customer's change.
A concealed counter is combined with each compartment in such a way that it
must be moved on one step by each passage of the coin or coins representing one
value through the slot. The reading of the counter is visible through a slot or
a series of sight holes in the case of the register. When the counter is constructed
to register the number of coins paid into the respective compartment, the value of
each reading is the said reading multiplied by the value of the respective denomina-
tion. But the counter may be made so as to be capable of adding the value of
each subsequent payment to the amount already registered. The advantage of
this alternative construction of counter is that the multiplication of the number
of coins by the value of their denomination is obviated.
In order that the invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe it and them in
detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as
part of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a column cash register made according to
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation corresponding therewith.
Fig. 3 is a plan of a coin counter.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation corresponding with Figures 1 and 2, but with a portion
of the front plate of the case broken away.
Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of a modified form of coin seat.
Fig. 6 is a plan thereof.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a is a hollow column which forms the case of the
improved cash register. It stands upon the base a¹ in which the lock up till a²
slides, and is divided into as many compartments as there are denominations of
money to be dealt with. The register illustrated is a seven-compartiment one, that
being the number of denominations with which it is capable of dealing. Each
compartment is restricted to one denomination which is prominently indicated on
the outside of the case. The register illustrated was made to deal with coins of
the following denominations:-1d., 2d., 3d., 6d., 1s., 2s. and 2s. 6d., and with these
only.
The column is divided into compartments by trap doors b, b. All the compart-
ments are counterparts of each other in respect of construction and their combined
mechanism, so that a description of one will suffice for a description of all.
is a transverse axis which has its bearings in the respective sides of the case a.
The object of the axis is to provide for a trap door swinging so as to open the

page_text: compartment in the direction of the till and for its closure afterwards. For that
reason, the trap door and axis are either fast together, or the former rocks upon
the latter. The normal position of a trap door is one sloping downwards towards
the front of the register-see Figures 1 and 4-for the purpose of presenting
either the obverse or reverse of the customer's coin to him.
I have shewn each trap door as extending from the back to the front of the case.
I may, if I choose, substitute a fixed inclined shelf extending from the back of the
case to nearly the front, and making up the remaining distance to the front of the
case with the trap door which is pivotted to the said shelf.
c is an opening in the back of the case a. c is a revolving multiple coin seat.
Its axis is horizontal, the ends c² of it having their bearings in blocks which are
made fast to the face of the back of the case a in such a position that the seat can
be revolved through the opening. The latter is not larger than suffices to allow of
this revolution. The seat c¹ has three cavities formed in it. The opening c is
further sufficiently high for the coin cavities to incline downwards towards the
partition as the coin seat is revolved. These cavities are counterparts of each
other in size and position. The size is adapted to receive the particular coin or
coins (for a 2d. cavity will necessarily receive two coins) to which the respective
compartment is restricted, leaving a small segment projecting beyond the mouth.
The three cavities radiate at equal angles from their common axis. The value of
the respective coin is marked on each face of the seat between the cavities. cis
an extension of the opening c cut in the top edge of it. It is adapted, in respect of
both position and size, to just pass the projecting segment of the coin. c is a disc
fast upon the axis of the coin seat. It has as many equidistant notches in its
periphery as there are cavities in the coin seat. e is an automatic spring detent
adapted to always press upon the periphery of the disc e the notches of which are
so positioned therein that the detent engages in one of them at the moment when
a cavity is turned up into the vertical plane, i.e., just before its mouth enters the
opening c. d is a cam fast upon the axis of the coin seat. It has as many steps as
the latter has cavities. dis an automatic spring detent adapted to always press
upon the periphery of the cam and to lock behind one of its steps at the moment
that the detent engages in a notch c². The counter illustrated is adapted to
register the number of values paid into the compartment, and as it carries three
discs, up to 999 values. is the loop which serves as the frame of its mechanism.
This frame is made fast to the inside of the back of the case a in any convenient
way. d³ is the ratchet of the counter. It is supported in such a position that one
of its teeth is always in the path of the projecting coin segment already referred to.
It is fitted with the usual automatic detent. d, d³, d are the units, tens and
hundreds discs. These are driven in the usual way through a pin upon the side of
the driver engaging once in each revolution with a pinion opposite it in the same
vertical plane, the latter engaging in a gear wheel on the side of the driven disc.
d', d', d' are the three sight holes at which the discs d', d³, de respectively present
their readings.
With reference to the coin seat it must be understood that it may be circular in
cross section instead of being a hollow sided triangle. The advantage of its being
circular is that such a shape will keep the opening c closed and of its being as
illustrated, that the hollow sides present convenient pushing surfaces for the
cashier's fingers. I do not limit myself to the number of cavities in a coin seat but
I suggest three as a convenient one. The coin seats illustrated are intended to
be revolved in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 and the counter
ratchet is set accordingly, but the direction of rotation may be reversed if
preferred.
My invention requires that all the platforms shall occupy the same position at
one time, and that when they are moved they shall all move together. Any suitable
connecting device and mechanism for actuating it may be made use of. The
connecting device illustrated consists of a vertical rod e which stands, preferably
behind the platforms and in one of the back corners of the case, e¹ is a lug on the

page_text: adjacent edge of each platform and e³ is a pin the shank of which is passed through
a corresponding hole in the lug and screwed into the rod c. The connection
between the said shank and the hole in the lug is a pivotal one. 3, 4 are
respectively a slot provided near the top of the column to receive the top of the
rod, and a slot in the top of the base a' through which the bottom end of the rod
passes downwards to meet its actuating device. a3 is the slot in the top of the base
through which the coins falling from the respective compartment, drop into the till.
The mechanism for actuating the connecting device is as follows. fis a push
piece. It stands up through the top of the base a¹. f is a lever having its
fulcrum at One end of it is pivottally connected to the adjacent end of the
push piece f, and the other to the bottom end of the rod e by means of a pin e fast
upon the rod and projecting from it at a right angle into a slot f³ cut in the vertical
plane along the said end of the lever. This slot as well as those e³, et are,
necessarily, of practically equal length, their function being to provide for the
lateral motion of the rod e. f is a spring provided to raise the push piece after
each depression.
g is a gong; g¹, its trigger; 9², its hammer, and g³, the spring for returning the
trigger. The latter is actuated by a pine projecting from the top of the rod e, and
which engages and lifts an extension g' of the adjacent trigger end as the push fis
depressed, and then slips past it.
The cash register illustrated has registered the payment into its compartments
of 510 pence, 621 twopences, 331 threepences, 521 sixpences, 222 shillings,
452 florins and 382 halfcrowns. It is used and acts as follows. Assuming that the
purchase money is 2s. 6d., and that the customer gives the salesman a florin and a
sixpence or the latter value in coppers, the florin is dropped into the top cavity in
the 2s. coin seat, and the sixpence into the top cavity of the 6d. coin seat. Or, if
coppers were given instead of a sixpence, they are distributed among the 3d. 2d.
and 1d. compartments. Each coin seat used is pushed until it is stopped by the
next engagement of the detents c, d with the disc c and cam & respectively. The
respective coin cavity has by then passed the horizontal and shot its coin on to
the platform. The push piece is then depressed, thereby sounding the gong,
opening the compartments and allowing all the coins making up the purchase money.
to drop into the till.
I do not confine myself to the construction of coin seat described above, inasmuch
as I may, according to my invention, modify it to any extent, provided that the
counter ratchet is engaged and moved one step by the forced entry into or motion
in the compartment, of a segment of the coin projecting beyond the coin seat. Such
a modification is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The coin seat is the top of the
slider in front of a rim ¹. The slider has a to and fro horizontal motion at a
proper height for the projecting segment of the coin to engage with the counter
ratchet. It is held to the front of the case a as follows. .h2, h² are a pair of
brackets upon which the coin seat rests and moves. They are set wide enough
apart to allow of the push piece ³ moving between them. is a tube fast to the
thumb piece. It is slotted along its top to provide for its receiving and passing
in either direction, a stopping piece h³ fixed to the inner face of the back of the
case a and standing before the opening made in the latter for the tube h. he is a
returning spring adapted to work between the opposite faces of the push piece ³
and the stopping piece 45. The return of the coin with the coin seat is prevented
by the counter detent pressing upon the projecting segment of the former and so
tipping it off the latter.
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. The combination of compartments, transparent fronts to the compartments and
pivotted trap door bottoms to the compartments always inclined downwards towards
the said transparent fronts and adapted to be opened and closed simultaneously.

page_text: 2. The combination of a series of compartments controlled as to simultaneous
opening and closing by a single push piece, or its equivalent, with a series of coin
seats and counters, the latter adapted to be moved one step by the forced entry
into, or motion in, the respective compartment, of a projecting segment of the
respective coin.
3. The combination of hollow column divided into compartments by pivotted
trap doors connected together so as to move simultaneously, moveable coin seats in
one side of the column and counters adapted to be actuated by a projecting segment
of the coin in or on the coin seat when the said coin is pushed into the
compartment.
4. The combination with a vertical hollow column; of a series of pivotted trap
doors forming as many compartments in the said column, a push piece or its
equivalent, and mechanism by which the motion thereof can drop all the trap
doors thereby opening all the compartments simultaneously, automatic returning
mechanism and glazed sight spaces through which the coins in the compartments
are visible to the customer.
Dated this 24th day of August. 1893.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.