IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TILLS OR APPARATUS FOR THE RECEPTION AND PREVENTING FRAUDULENT ABSTRACTION OF MONEY IN BARS, SHOPS, AND SIMILAR PLACES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edward Boyce, of Westbourne Park, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO TILLS OR APPARATUS FOR THE RECEPTION AND PREVENTING
FRAUDULENT ABSTRACTION OF MONEY IN BARS, SHOPS, AND SIMILAR
PLACES."
THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward Boyce at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1881.
THOMAS EDWARD BOYCE, of Westbourne Park, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TILLS OR APPARATUS FOR THE RECEPTION
AND PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT ABSTRACTION OF MONEY IN BARS, SHOPS,
AND SIMILAR PLACES."
This Invention has for its object the construction of a cheap, simple, and effective
till apparatus for the use of publicans, hotel and shop keepers, and others.
It consists of a case or cabinet suitably constructed having a glazed opening at
or near the top of the front or face. Behind this I arrange an endless travelling
band divided by rods or partitions into spaces. On the horizontal top of the case
I arrange a slot at each side over the travelling band. Above the band and
working on the bottom of each slot I place a slide with a stud or handle projecting
through one of the slots, so that when drawn back a bell or alarm is struck, and
the other slot uncovered and the band advanced, so that a piece of money can be
dropped through this slot into the vacant space in it below. The money therefore
cannot be dropped into a partition till the bell is rung and the band advanced, which
it does only in one direction, preventing its being moved back and money
abstracted. As the band travels on the pieces of money as they successively arrive
at a pivoted piece of spring metal are thrown into a shoot, from which they slide
through a small sleeve of textile or other material into a pivoted trunk or shoot.
The spindle of this trunk carries a counterbalanced wheel advantageously connected
by a gut band or chain, with another wheel on the spindle of an indicator finger
capable of being set on a dial. Below the trunk I arrange vertical shoots or guides

page_text: over a drawer in the cabinet or case divided into various spaces by inclined
partitions, so that by moving the dial finger the trunk may be actuated, and be set
over any space corresponding to any period of time, as indicated on the dial,
whereby the money received during said period may be directed into the desired
compartment. A pivoted ratchet retains the trunk in position, and can only be
released when the proprietor or manager opens the cabinet with his key. The
attendant at the bar or counter cannot therefore alter the position of the trunk to
deliver into another compartment.
A shelf or shelves for trays are fitted on the top of the apparatus, the silver or
gold received being dropped through the slot.
I may arrange an automatic weighing apparatus over a slot at the top and vary
the details accordingly, so that only sovereigns of full weight can pass into the
spaces on the band or bands.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Thomas Edward
Boyce in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th October 1881.
THOMAS EDWARD BOYCE, of Westbourne Park, in the County of. Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TILLS OR APPARATUS FOR THE RECEPTION
AND PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT ABSTRACTION OF MONEY IN BARS, SHOPS,
AND SIMILAR PLACES."
This Invention has for its object the construction of a cheap, simple, and effective
till apparatus for the use of publicans, hotel and shop keepers, and others.
It consists of a case or cabinet suitably constructed having a glazed opening at
or near the top of the front or face. Behind this I arrange an endless travelling
band divided by rods or partitions into spaces. On the horizontal top of the case
I arrange a slot at each side over the travelling band. Above the band and
working on the bottom of each slot I place a slide, with a stud or handle projecting
through one of the slots, so that when drawn back an alarm or bell is struck, and
the other slot uncovered and the band advanced, so that a piece of money can be
dropped through this slot into the vacant space beneath.
The money therefore cannot be dropped into a partition till the bell is rung and
the band advanced, which it does only in one direction, preventing its being moved
back and money abstracted. As the band travels on the pieces of money as they
successively arrive at a pivoted piece of spring metal are thrown into a shoot, from
which they slide through a small sleeve of textile or other material into a pivoted
trunk or shoot.
The spindle of this trunk carries a counterbalanced wheel advantageously
connected by a gut band or chain with another wheel on the spindle of an
indicator finger capable of being set on a dial. Below the trunk I arrange
vertical shoots or guides over a drawer in the cabinet or case divided into various
spaces by inclined partitions, so that by moving the dial finger the trunk may be
actuated, and be set over any space corresponding to any period of time, as
indicated on the dial, whereby the money received during said period may be
directed into the desired compartment.
A pivoted ratchet retains the trunk in position, and can only be released when
the proprietor or manager opens the cabinet with his key. The attendant at the
bar or counter cannot therefore alter the position of the trunk to deliver into
another compartment unless by an arrangement hereafter described. A shelf or
shelves for trays are fitted on the top of the apparatus, the silver or gold received
being dropped through the slot.
I may arrange an automatic weighing apparatus over a slot at the top and vary
the details accordingly, so that only sovereigns of full weight can pass into the
spaces on the band or bands.
And in order that my Invention may be understood and carried into practical
effect, I have annexed the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, in which—
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my till.
Fig. 2, a side view of same.
Fig. 3, a front view with the door removed.
Fig. 4, a vertical side section.
Fig. 5, a plan of top.
Fig. 6, a plan of the same with the cover removed.
A is the case or cabinet constructed of suitable material B; the glazed opening
hewing the coins; C, the leather band fitted with fingers or pieces D forming
compartiments, and travelling over drums E, E; F is the slide furnished with slots
liding on pins G, G, or in other convenient manner, and moved by handle H
working throug slot I in the top of the cabinet; I' is the money slot. It is kent

page_text: closed by a piece of metal moved laterally by a pin in the slide taking into a slot
in said piece when the slide is drawn back, as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and
so arranged that if the coin does not pass fairly through no alarm is sounded when
the slide is moved to free it; J are knobs or projections on the band, and K is a
pawl on the slide advancing one knob each time the slide is drawn forward, and
consequently a coin towards the shoot; L is the end of a bell lever which is struck
by one of the knobs J each time the band is advanced, and the bell thereby rung;
M is a sheet of opaque glass behind the band to hide the other mechanism. These
glass bearing surfaces considerably reduce the friction of the travelling band.
The coins travel along the band and strike a spring N (dotted in Fig. 4), from
whence they pass down shoot or sleeve O into pivoted trunk P; a wheel Qis
mounted on the spindle of this trunk and connected by a band or chain, as before
described, to the index wheel R; S¹ is a counterweight on the wheel Q, a spring
can be substituted if desired; S is the ratchet taking into a pin T on the trunk,
and holding it over any of the vertical compartments U, U, delivering the coins
into any of the compartments V of the drawer W.
These drawer compartments are made with inclined bottoms, each two alternately
forward and the next backward, as shown in Fig. 4; X are slots in each compart-
ment for discharging the money by pulling up a slide; Y is a gold drawer, and Z,
the slot in the top of the case to supply it.
A¹ are bowls for holding coin.
B', shelves holding change (say, silver), not in present use, and which is reflected
in mirrors C¹, C₁; D', a block to support the leather band, and E', a glass block
over which the same slides.
If the landlord or proprietor should be going out and is desirous of allowing the
attendant to reset the till at a future hour, he withdraws the takings up to the
time he leaves, and gives said attendant a key opening a small drawer giving
access to the ratchet (but not the drawer), so that this can be moved to free the
trunk P and reset it by the index finger, as before described; thus on his return he
knows to what hour the takings correspond.
It will be seen that the details of my Invention are capable of modification
without departure from the principle.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that what I desire to claim as
novel and original is,―
Firstly. The method of exhibiting the coins in front of the case or till by
causing the same to be dropped into and carried along till discharged by an endless
belt or band divided into suitable compartments, or equivalent mechanism, as
described.
Secondly. The pivoted trunk and arrangements as described (or their equivalent),
for moving and holding the same to discharge the coins into any desired compart-
ment or space corresponding to a stated period of time.
Thirdly. The arrangement of drawers or compartments provided with inclined
bottoms, substantially as and for purposes described.
Fourthly. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of apparatus,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edward Boyce, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 22nd day of September, in the year of our Lord' 1881.