Improvements in Cash Registering and Indicating Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registering and Indicating Apparatus.
We, THE DESANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, and WILLIAM FRANCIS ZENT
DESANT, Electrician, both of No. 80 Broadway, New York United States of
America, 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:―
"
Our invention relates particularly to improvements in cash registers of that type
in which the amount of a purchase is prominently indicated to the purchaser by the
machine at the time of the making of the purchase and a permanent registration
thereof is simultaneously made; and its objects are as follows:
First. The construction of a cash register of the type above mentioned which
shall indicate the amount of the purchase made and simultaneously put in operation,
mechanism which will run continuously and effect a successive registration of any
number of purchases no matter how frequently or how many times the apparatus
be actuated.
Second. The construction of a cash register which indicates to the purchaser at
each operation the amount of the purchase and is caused to simultaneously register
the same on any one of two or more separate registering apparatus designed to be
used each for an independent class of sales, as for instance, soda, drugs, or cigars.
Third. To construct a cash register which shall at each operation leave an
indication of the amount of the last purchase until again actuated, and simul-
taneously actuate registering mechanism in any one of two or more independent
sets of registering apparatus the separate amounts of such purchases.
Fourth. The construction of a cash register adapted to display to the purchaser
the amount of his purchase until a second or additional purchase is made, and to
simultaneously make a registration thereof in any one of a series of independent
registering apparatus located either in the body of the machine or at one or more
distant points.
Fifth. To construct a cash register adapted to indicate to the purchaser the
amount of the purchase and to simultaneously make a registration thereof upon
registering mechanism, and this entirely independent of the amount of the purchase
and with a minimum number of operating parts.
Sixth. To devise a register of the type named in which the amount of each
purchase is left prominently displayed to the purchaser until the machine is
actuated to register a new purchase and to simultaneously make a registration of
each purchase at one or more distant points.
Seventh. The construction of a cash register of the type nanied having the
several characteristics pointed out in connection with the description of the
apparatus and of its mode of operation.
These several objects are effected by our novel cash register, for a full under-
standing of which reference is had to the following Specification, the especial
features of novelty in our invention being hereinafter more particularly described.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the entire apparatus.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same with the back or door removed for the
purpose of illustrating the interior operative parts of the apparatus.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine as seen looking at Figure 1 from the
right to the left hand side of the drawing in the direction of the arrows.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the body of the machine on
line Figure 2, and as seen looking from the left toward the right hand side of
the drawing in the direction of the arrows.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 are a detail sectional and side elevation respectively of the
registering apparatus.
Figure 7 is a broken sectional view taken on the zigzag line y y of Figure 4.
Figures 8 and 9 are detail views of the gearing and connections between the
operating handle and the source of power which impels the registering mechanism.
Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on line z z of Figure 2, and as seen
looking from the left toward the right hand side of the drawing, illustrating the
switching apparatus and indicator for the three independent electrical circuits
running to the three independent registering electro-magnets shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line z¹¹ Figure 2, illustrating
said electro-magnets and their operative parts in elevation.
Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the registering electro-magnets,
their mechanical connections with the registering apparatus, and electrical and
mechanical connections with the machine, illustrating also the controlling battery
in circuit.
Similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
several figures of the drawings.
B represents the enclosing box made of metal or other durable material and
provided with a door D on its rear face which affords access to the interior
mechanism. C represents the cash drawer of usual pattern located in the base of
the apparatus and held in its inward position by a locking dog 13, and adapted
when released from the influence of this dog to be thrust outward in the position
shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 by a strong spiral spring S secured in the rear
and at the base of the machine, see also Figure 2.
L represents the operating lever loosely pivoted on the outer end of the main
shaft 3, journaled in the side pieces 2, 2, of the frame, which side pieces are in turn
secured by screws on the inside of the box B, see Figure 7. The operating
lever L is provided with a pivoted extension L' extending through a vertical slot
in an oval projecting portion E on the front side of the machine, H being an
operating handle for manipulating the lever L, extension L' and their connecting
parts. The extension L' is pivoted to the upper end of the operating lever L on a
pivot 16 and is provided with a bell crank arm 9 and a pair of pins 15, 15, adapted
to come into mechanical contact with the opposite edges of the lever L so as to
allow the pivoted extension L' and its connected parts to assume two different
positions, shown in full and dotted lines respectively.
PP represent push buttons with numerals on their faces indicating the amounts
of purchases, there being twenty of these buttons with pins extending through the
projecting portion E and the face of the box B. The inner ends of these pins are
surrounded by spiral springs 17 adapted to restore them to their outer position.
Said pins are also provided with lateral projections or arms 14, adapted to slide in
slots into the path of a pin 19 on the upper end of lever L.
N is a ratchet wheel rigidly secured to the shaft 3, and having ratchet teeth
adapted to receive an actuating pawl 5, normally held in position against its face
by a yielding spring 4, said pawl and spring being carried on the inner face of the
operating arm L, see Figures 4 and 7.
18 is a holding or retaining pawl secured to one of the side pieces 22 and
adapted to retain the ratchet wheel N from returning under stress of a main
spring S secured at one end to the shaft 3 and at the other to a main driving gear
wheel G loosely pivoted on the shaft 3, see Figure 7. N₁ is a second ratchet
wheel the duplicate of the ratchet wheel N, with the exception that the ratchet
teeth incline in the reverse direction from those of the former ratchet wheel so as
to enable a frictional brake lever h secured to a cross rod V to prevent motion in
the direction of the arrow, see Figures 8 and 9. As seen in Figures 8 and 9 the
free end of the brake lever h is not hook-shaped to such an extent as to engage the
ratchet teeth, the function of this brake lever being to prevent the two wheels N
and N1 from being driven forward beyond the limit of the throw of the propelling
lever L when the latter is driven down under a vigorous blow on the operating

page_text: motion.
This ratchet wheel N₁ is, like its companion ratchet wheel N, rigidly secured to
the shaft 3 so that they both move together under the downward influence of the
operating lever L, but the wheel N¹ carries on one of its faces a loosely pivoted
notched and grooved stop wheel O of well known form the grooves of which fit
accurately the conformation of the hub of the loosely pivoted gear wheel G, g being
a tooth upon one side of this hub adapted to mesh with the notches on the stop
wheel, there being shown five such notches and four grooves, such apparatus being
well known in time mechanism, music boxes and other devices for preventing
overwinding.
The gear wheel G meshes with a pinion journalled in the side pieces 22 on a
shaft carrying a second gear wheel G¹ provided with a definite number of pins t t
located at equal distances apart on one of its lateral faces and adapted to place the
springs in contact with each other and afterwards permit the interruption of
such contacts as the wheel rotates in the direction of the arrow, see Figure 12.
This gear wheel meshes with a second pinion carried by a second shaft provided
with a worm gear adapted to impart a rotary motion to a governing fly fan F
supported by a vertical shaft journalled in bearings carried by one of the side
supports 2, 2, see Figures 2, 4 and 7.
D and D are drums, the former journalled in a pair of standards QQ'at the
top of the machine and the latter in standards 1, 1 at the bottom of the machine,
the function of these drums being to carry the indicating tape T permanently
attached at one end to the drum D' and at the other to the drum D. S' is a
spiral spring having one end secured to one of the standards 1, 1, and the other
under tension to some portion of the drum D'. The indicating tape T has printed
or otherwise displayed upon its outer surface a series of numbers or characters
corresponding with the numbers or characters on the outer faces of the push
buttons P, P, the characters or numbers of smaller dimension being near that end
of the tape secured to the drum D³ and increasing as they near the end attached to
the drum D, as clearly shown in Figure 2, the relation between these numbers on
the tape T and those on the push buttons P being such that when the pin 19 on the
upper end of the operating lever L rests against any one of the stop pins 14 the
number on the face of that push button will correspond with the number on
the tape Tat that instant visible in the opening at the top of the box, see
Figure 1. G' is a ratchet wheel carried on the same shaft which supports the
upper drum D and c is an operating chain attached at one end to a drum upon this
shaft and at the other to the upper end of the operating lever L.
10 is a pivoted arm provided with a pawl 12 adapted to enter the ratchet teeth
of the ratchet wheel G³ this pivoted arm being connected by a long link 11 with a
bell crank lever 7 pivoted to one of the side pieces 2. One of the arms of this bell
crank lever 7 is adjustably connected through a second long link 25 with the
pivoted dog 13 at the base of the machine, while the other end thereof is connected
through a link 8 with the arm 9 of the pivoted extension L¹. To the upper end of
arm 9 is connected by screws an angular arm 20 substantially parallel with the
operating lever L and having its free end secured through a long link 26 to one of
the arms of a second bell crank lever 6 pivoted to the lower end of the operating
arm L. The other end of the bell crank lever 6 is secured to the lower end of a
strong spiral spring R having its upper end attached to the standard Q, the function
of this spiral spring being to restore the operating lever after each operation. B' is
a tap bell secured by a standard m to the base of the machine and c³ is a clapper
therefor carried on the free end of the pivoted locking dog 13 and adapted to ring
the bell each time the cash drawer is opened, as shown in dotted lines.
M M' and M², see Figures 11 and 12, are electro-magnets located in circuit with
the battery B A through conductors w w¹ w and w³ said magnets being provided
with armature levers a a¹ and a³, the usual retractile springs and impelling
rawls p p and p' adapted to impart rotary motion step by step to ratchet

page_text: wheels and ³ operatively connected with registering mechanism K and K
such as is shown in Figures 5 and 6 and where each forward step of the ratchet
wheel makes an individual record of a stated amount say 5 cents, such registering
apparatus being well known in the art. The ratchet wheels. r and r, Figure 12,
are provided with holding or locking pawls of known form for preventing backward
motion.
"
S, Figures 1, 10 and 12, is a switch lever having a handle H' extending through
a vertical slot in a second projecting portion E' in the face of the box B. This
switch lever S is connected by a link 1 with a bell crank lever at attached to the
axis of a rotary quadrant D' journalled on the inside of the machine in the rear of
an opening and carrying on its face an indication of three classes of purchases,
as for instance "soda," "drugs cigars,' see Figures 1 and 10. This switch
lever S is adapted to contact with the conducting plates e e¹ and e³ connected
respectively to conductors w w¹ and w², the arrangement being such that when the
lever S is in contact with any particular one of the plates e e' or the rotary
quadrant D will be so located as to indicate which class of purchases will be
registered or recorded on actuating the machine.
The registering mechanism shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the controlling electro-
magnets with their electrical and mechanical connections shown in Figure 11 are
all secured at one side of the box shown in position on the left in Figure 2, so
that the registration or indication of the amounts purchased appears through
openings in the lateral face or side of the box, as shown in Figure 3, the operating
battery B A being preferably enclosed in the box out of access of the operator
and all under lock and key.
The apparatus as so far described is designed to give individual registration of
fixed amounts in multiples of five on three different individual registers controlled
by the electro-magnets M M' and M². With this apparatus therefore, we are
enabled to register any amount from 5 cents upward and on any one of the
individual registers. In some classes of purchases, however, notably drugs, dry
goods, stationary and the like, it often occurs that purchases amount to less than
5 cents and for the purpose of providing for this exigency we use an individual or
supplemental registering device operatively connected with one of the registers,
indicated in Figures 11 and 12 as "drugs" and additional means for effecting this
registration. G' is a ratchet wheel carried by a shaft journalled in standards on the
inside of the box and having attached to it an operating lever S' extending through
a vertical slot in a third projecting portion E on the front face of the box, the
ratchet wheel being provided with four equally distributed pins t₁t adapted to
successively close and interrupt the circuit of the battery B A through the
yielding springs ss and the shunt w and electro-magnet M. The lever S' is
connected by a link to the free end of a bell crank lever a' attached to a shaft
carrying a rotary quadrant D' similar in all respects to the above described rotary
quadrant D¹, see Figure 10, and having printed or otherwise indicated on its
surface the characters "1 ct.
" " 2 cts.'
.""3 cts." "4 cts." in sequence, the arrange-
ment being such that when this lever is in its uppermost position the character "1 ct."
is displayed at the opening 1' and when in its lowermost position the character "4 cts."
is likewise displayed, the characters "2 cts.," and "3 cts." being indicated for
intermediate positions. The operating lever S' is provided with a propelling pawl,
and a locking pawl is also provided as shown in Figure 11, for preventing backward
motion of the ratchet wheel G*.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
"
On inspection of Figure 1, it appears that the last purchase made was for
cigars" as indicated at the opening I on the left, and the amount of the
purchase was 5 cents as indicated on the tape T through the central opening I at
the top. The total amount of all the previous purchases upon all the registers is
indicated by the numbers appearing through the openings in the side face of the
machine under the words "soda "drugs" "cigars," the total number in each
instance representing the number of 5 cent pieces and any amount less than 5 cents

page_text: being indicated on the supplemental indicator through the opening I³ on the front
side of the machine, as shown in Figure 1.
Suppose now that a purchase of cigars to the amount of 50 cents is made, the
operator first takes hold of the handle H and moves it gently in the direction of
the arrow (see Figure 4). In doing this he turns the pivoted extension L' about
its pivot pin 16, causing the arms 9 and 20 and their connected parts to assume
the positions shown in dotted lines. The arm 9 therefore transmits motion through
link 8, bell crank lever 7, link 25, and pivoted dog 13, at the bottom of the box,
thus causing this dog to release the change drawer C and allow it to assume the
position shown in dotted lines at the bottom of the drawing, Figure 4, under the
influence of the strong spiral spring $. At the same time that the dog is released
a forward motion is imparted to the clapper c secured to its free or upper end and
the bell is rung.
Returning now to the bell crank lever 7, motion is also transmitted through a
second long link 11 to the lower end of the pivoted arm 10 causing it to assume
the position shown in dotted lines, thereby releasing the ratchet wheel G³ from the
holding pawl 12, and allowing the drum D' to be rotated to the right in the
direction of the full line arrows under the influence of tape T, impelling drum D',
and spiral spring S. This causes the tape to return to its starting point so that
the character "5" disappears from the opening I, and the word "change" appears
at the opening. The operator now with his other hand firmly presses in the
button P having the number 50 upon its face and at the same time continues the
forward movement of the handle H in the direction of the arrow until the stop
pin 19 comes into mechanical contact with the like stop pin 14 carried by the pin
which supports the button 50. This forward movement of the extension L' and
operating lever L imparts through pawl 5 a corresponding forward motion of the
ratches wheels N and N¹ thereby winding up or putting under stress the main
spring S attached at one end to the shaft 3, and at the other to the main driving
gear wheel G. The stop wheel O carried by the ratchet wheel N' advances with
the ratchet wheel and permits the spring S' to cause the gear wheel G to follow
with a speed dependent upon the strain upon the spring S2 and the regulating
influence of the fly fan F. There is a fixed angular relation, of course, between
the location of the push buttons P and a corresponding relation between the
gearing and the pins t carried by the gear wheel Gsuch that the circuit will be
made and broken between the springs ss, see Figure 12, a definite number of
times for each position of the operating arm L corresponding to each particular
push button P. In the case in hand this relation is such that the gear wheel G'
will make two complete revolutions thereby making and breaking the circuit
of the battery B A through the springs & s, conductor w³, magnet M³, conductor w³
and switch S ten times, and hence imparting to the ratchet wheel ten steps
forward indicating on that register at the bottom of Figure 3, ten more 5 ct. pcs.;
in other words the next registration would be 98,770. As the operating arm L
descends the chain c attached to its outer end causes the drums D and D and also
the tape T carried by them to move in the direction of the dotted arrows so that
when the arm reaches its lowest position opposite the push button 50, the
character 50 on the tape will appear at the opening I at the top of the machine.
When the operator releases the handle H it is returned to its normal position
under the influence of the strong spiral spring R, the first effect of which, however,
is felt through the bell crank lever 6 and link 26 and arm 20 to restore the pivoted
extension L to the position shown in full lines, and also permitting the latter
through its arm 9, link 8, bell crank lever 7, link 11, and pivoted arm 10, to
replace the locking pawl 12 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel G³
thereby locking the drum D in the position it assumed when the operating lever
was in its lower position and displaying the character 50 on the tape T opposite
the opening I, in place of the character 5 which originally appeared before that
opening. There thus appears to the purchaser an indication of the amount of his
purchase and this amount continues to be thus indicated until a succeeding purchase

page_text: is made when, through a like manipulation, the tape T is released and allowed to
return to normal position, after which the apparatus is actuated as before.
By virtue of the relation of the two ratchet wheels N N', the stop wheel O and
the lose gear wheel G, we are enabled to cause any number of registrations to any
amount to be made in rapid sequence, the total amount of the purchases being
governed only by the number of teeth in the stop wheel O. For ordinary uses a
stop wheel having five teeth, like that shown in the drawing, will give sufficient
range, so that it will be understood that the operating lever L may be manipulated
as often as desired in sequence and that the amount of each purchase will appear
at the opening I in sequence, and that the registering mechanism will continue to
run after a series of such purchases has been made for a length of time dependent
upon the total amount of the purchase, the operator never having to wait for the
_apparatus to register.
When it is desired to register a purchase on the "soda" register the switch S is
simply turned to the lower position in contact with the plate e thereby disconnecting
the magnet M and connecting the magnet M in circuit. In like manner for
registering &
the switch is turned to the middle position in
purchase "drugs
contact with the plate e' connecting the magnet M' in circuit.
The
Suppose now that a purchase is to be made in "drugs" and that the amount
is 1, 2, 3 or 4 cents more or less, the supplemental register shown on the right in
Figure 1 and also in Figure 11, is brought into play. If the purchase amounts to,
say 52 cents, the registering mechanism will be operated as before and in place
of 18060 on the "drug" register, Figure 3, 18070 will appear, and 50 will appear
as before at the opening I, Figure 1, thus showing a purchase of 50 cents.
additional 2 cents is registered by the supplemental register by turning the
switch S to the position shown in Figures 1 and 11. No registration will be
made, however, on the "drug" register proper until the switch handle S¹ has been
advanced through three additional forward steps, thereby causing one of the pins t¹
carried by the ratchet wheel G to momentarily close the shunt circuit to through
the magnet M¹. In other words, the supplemental apparatus controlled by the
switch S' is an indicating device only for amounts of less than 5 cents, but registers
all amounts aggregating that amount. Of course it will be understood that these
supplemental devices might be applied to each of the other individual registering
circuits if desired.
We do not limit ourselves to the specific mechanism herein described and shown
for attaining the objects enumerated at the commencement of this Specification
as we believe it is broadly new with us to effect the results named and in the
manner specified without relation to any special form of mechanism, and many
of the details of our apparatus may be materially departed from and still come
within the scope of our claims hereinafter made. We have illustrated and
described electrically controlled recording or registering mechanism, but it will be
readily understood by those skilled in the art that the power impelled gear
To illustrate our
wheel G may actuate mechanically the registering devices.
meaning, there might be three such wheels on a single shaft only one of which
is provided with teeth and geared to the source of power, but each provided with
an equal number of pins tt adapted to actuate pivoted levers carrying pawls p
on their free ends for positively propelling ratchet wheels r connected directly to
registering devices, as now, any mechanical means in the nature of sliding supports
being utilized for sliding the pivoted levers laterally into and out of the paths
of the pins t on the separate wheels, the pawl levers being provided with retractile
springs as before. Our claims are therefore directed generally to a cash register
having the characteristics described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1 A cash register having an indicator for indicating the amount of each

page_text: purchase to the purchaser, a power impelled registering mechanism for registering
the same, in combination with a single operating arm or lever adapted to set the
indicator and to simultaneously revive the source of power each time a purchase
is registered, and mechanical connections between the operating arm and the
power impelled mechanism whereby the mechanism may be operated an indefinite
number of times and allowed to register the summation of the purchases at a
given or normal speed substantially as described.
2. A cash register having indicating and power impelle registering devices, a
single operating arın or lever geared to both and adapted to simultaneously set the
indicator and wind up the source of power, and mechanical connections between the
operating arm and the power impelled registering mechanisin whereby the apparatus
may be operated an indefinite number of times and allowed to make a summation of
the registration of the purchases thereafter, substantially as described.
3. A cash register provided with power impelled registering mechanism, an
indicator, a series of indicating stops, an operating arm or lever adapted to
simultaneously set the indicator and restore or bring into action the source of power,
and mechanical connections between the operating arm or lever and the power
impelled registering mechanism whereby the source of power may be continuously
replenished as the operating arm is successively actuated and the registering
mechanism allowed to complete a summation of the registration after all of the
purchases have been made, substantially as described.
4. A cash register, provided with an indicator for indicating to the purchaser the
amount of each purchase; a single operating handle or lever connected thereto
with indicating stops for limiting the movement of said lever, in combination with
one or more electro-magnetic registering devices operatively connected to power
impelled mechanism controlled by the same handle, substantially as described.
5. A cash register having an indicator for indicating to each purchaser the
amount of his purchase, a power impelled mechanism geared to registering
mechanism and a single operating handle or lever, in combination with a series of
indicator stops for limiting the throw of the lever, substantially as described.
6. A cash register provided with a single indicator for temporarily displaying the
amount of each purchase and two or more independent registers operatively
connected at will to a single operating lever and adapted to make each a registration
of a different class of purchases, in combination with mechanical connections
between the indicator and each register whereby it may indicate for any one of the
registers as desired, substantially as described.
7. A cash register having two or more independent registering devices, an
indicator common to all of said registers but adapted to indicate for one at a time
only, and an operating handle or lever in combination with indicating stops for
limiting the throw or movement of said handle, substantially as described.
8. A cash register having a single indicator for displaying to each purchaser the
amount of his purchase, in combination with two or more electro-magnetic
registering devices operatively controlled by the same means which controls the
movement of the indicator, substantially as described.
9. A cash register having an indicator adapted to display the amount of each
purchase during the interval of time between succeeding purchases in combination
with an electro-magnetic registering device and power impelled circuit breaking
mechanism operatively connected to a single operating lever which sets the
indicator and simultaneously replenishes the source of power, said indicator being
also provided with mechanism for releasing and restoring it to normal position after
each purchase, substantially as described.
10. A cash register having an indicator adapted to display the amounts of
purchases during intervals of time between succeeding purchases, in combination
with two or more independent electro-magnetic registering devices each adapted to
make a registration of an independent class of purchases and intermediate
mechanical and electrical connections whereby the indicator answers for either
register at will, substantially as described.

page_text: 11. A cash register provided with positively impelled registering mechanism and
indicating mechanism for indicating to the purchaser the amount of his purchase,
in combination with a cash drawer and intermediate gearing and mechanical
connections between said registering and indicating mechanism and the cash drawer,
whereby successive purchases-may be indicated, the cash drawer released and
locked and the registering mechanism continuously re-wound at each purchase and
left to run continuously after a series of purchases until the total registration is
effected, substantially as described.
12. A cash register provided with positively impelled registering mechanism in
combination with indicating mechanisin for indicating to the purchaser the amount
of his purchase, and intermediate gearing whereby successive purchases may be
indicated and the registering mechanism continuously re-wound at each purchase
and left to run continuously after a series of purchases until the total registration
is effected, substantially as described.
13. A cash register provided with positively impelled registering mechanism and
indicating mechanism for indicating to the purchaser the amount of his purchase,
and intermediate gearing whereby successive purchases may be indicated and the
registering mechanism continuously re-wound at each purchase and left to run
continuously after a series of purchases until the total registration is effected, in
combination with a supplemental register adapted to register amounts smaller than
the smallest amount indicated on the main register and having operative connections
with the main register, whereby when the summation of the amounts on the
supplemental register equals the smallest amount indicated on the main register
such additional amount will be registered on said main register, substantially as
described.
Dated this 28th day of February 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.