Year: 1888

page_text: I, BRUCE JOHNSTON, of the Kings Arms Hotel, Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as.
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in money tills for checking and
recording money taken.
The improved till takes the form of a drawer having at the front three knobs
or handles corresponding respectively to pounds shillings and pence (or for use abroad
the handles would be arranged to suit the currency of the country).
When these handles are all at zero position the drawer is bolted and cannot be
opened.
Attached to each handle there is a pointer. Circles of figures are also inscribed
upon the front of the drawer.
The cashier having to put money into the drawer first turns the handles so as to
place the pointers at figures indicating the sum to be put into the till. If the sum be
less than a shilling only the pence handle is turned and its pointer is brought to the
figure indicating the number of pence (and also half pence where necessary). If
shillings and pounds are also to be paid in these handles are also turned to appró-
priate positions. The drawer is then opened money is put in and change taken out
if necessary leaving a balance put into the drawer corresponding to the amount
indicated by the pointers. The check upon error or fraud is obtained in this way :-
at the same time that the pointers are set, dials are also moved into position to show
to the customer and others the amount which the cashier proposes to pay in and the
same information is also conveyed by audible signals.
There is an indicating dial on each axis and figures are painted on the dial.
When the dial revolves these figures in turn present themselves at an aperture in the
case through which they can be seen and read. At the commencement let it, be
assumed that the dial is at the zero position then when the handle is turned to
unbolt the drawer this dial although loose on the axis is carried round with it by a
:

page_text: a like
projection on a ratchet wheel which is fast upon the axis thrusting against
projection on another ratchet wheel which is attached to the indicating disc. Pawls
tben fall into the teeth of both the ratchets and retain them so long as the drawer is
open.
These public indicating dials do not move with the till drawer as the drawer opens
but remain with the casing in which the drawer is contained; to admit of this
independent movement of the drawer the axes are made telescopic. There is also a
third ratchet wheel loose on each axis, this is at the front near the handle but within
the drawer and carried by the wheel there is a dial like those previously described
but smaller and invisible except to an authorized inspector who obtains access to
these dials by unlocking a sliding trap: they show the total sum taken since the
dials were set to zero and the reading of these discs should correspond with the sum
of money found in the till. When either bandle is turned to unbolt the drawer a
pawl carried by a disc fixed upon the axis rotates the corresponding ratchet and disc
and at the same time a retaining pawl passes over pins projecting from the side of the
wheel. These retaining pawls and pins serve two purposes, they prevent the wheel
ever rotating in a backward direction, and they cause small spring hammers which
they carry to strike upon bells and give audible signals. Thus two strokes on the
pence bell may mean two pence and if three strokes on the shillings bell be also heard
the sum going to be put into the till is understood to be three shillings and two pence
and so on.
The dials visible to the customer will indicate the same amount. It bas
already been stated that these pawls prevent their ratchet. wheels from-turning-back-
wards. Now as the pence wheel completes a rotation a pin upon it moving a driving
lever turns the shilling wheel one space and similarly as the shilling wheel completes
a rotation it moves the pounds wheel. The handles and their axes return each time
that the drawer is closed and stops prevent them ever completing a rotation in either
direction.
-In connection with each axis there is a coiled spring which after the handle has
been turned to open the drawer tends to bring it back but a pawl already reforred to
prevents the return taking place immediately.
Also the dial discs visible to the customer have springs connected with them
and they tend to return to the zero position but in like manner are prevented from
immediately doing so.
The bolting and unbolting of the till drawer is effected by a sliding bolt upon the
drawer case which engages with a projection from the inner end of the drawer.
When either of the axes are turned a cam like flange on the ratchet wheel fixed on
the axis thrusts against a projection on the bolt and moves it in its guides so as to
liberate the drawer. When after putting in the money the till drawer is again closed
pivoted inclines at its inner end operate against corresponding inclines on fingers and
move these fingers so as to lift out the pawls which retain the axes. The springs then
take the axes back to the zero positions. The bolt returns with the axes but the
indicating dials remain where they were placed so that the customer can still read the
amount which he has or should have paid and the inspector (when he pleases) can read
upon the locked up dials the total amount of the takings. When however the till is
next used in opening the drawer inclines upon it operate upon levers and these in
turn lift the pawls which retain the public dials; these dials then place themselves
in accordance with the setting of the handles for the payment now about to be
made.
Dutal thi 11
† 1000

page_text: I, BRUOE JOHNSTON, of the Kings Arms Hotel, Croydon, in the County of Surrey,
Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the saine is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object improvements in money tills for checking and
recording money taken.
The improved till takes the form of a drawer having at the front three knobs or
handles corresponding respectively to pounds shillings and pence (or for use abroad
the handles would be arranged to suit the currency of the country).
When these handles are all at zero position the drawer is bolted and cannot be
opened.
Attached to each handle there is a pointer. Circles of figures are also inscribed
upon the front of the drawer or vice versa.
The cashier having to put money into the drawer first turns the handles so as to
place the pointers at figures indicating the sum to be put into the till. If the sum
be less than a shilling only the pence handle is turned and its pointer is brought to
the figure indicating the number of pence (and also half pence where necessary). If
shillings and pounds are also to be paid in these handles are also turned to appropriate
positions. The drawer is then opened money is put in and change taken out if
necessary leaving a balance put into the drawer corresponding to the amount indicated
by the pointers. The check upon error or frand is obtained in this way; when the
pointers are set, and the drawer is opened dials aro moved into position to show to
the customer and others the amount which the cashier proposes to pay in and the
same information is also conveyed by audible signals.
There is an indicating dial on each axis and figures are painted on the dial. When
the dial revolves these figures in turn present themselves at an aperture in the case
through which they can be seen and read. At the commencement let it be assumed
that the dial is at the zero position; then when the handle is turned to unbolt the
drawer this dial although loose on the axis is carried round with it by a projection on
a ratchet wheel which is fast upon the axis thrusting against a like projection on

page_text: another ratchet wheel which is attached to the indicating disc. Pawls then fall into
the teeth of both the ratchets and retain them. There is also a third ratchet wheel
loose on each axis, and on the wheel there is a dial like those previously described but
smaller and invisible except to an authorized inspector who obtains access to these
dials by unlocking a sliding trap upon the cover of the case. These dials show the
total sum taken since the dials were set to zero and the reading of these dials should
correspond with the sum of money found in the till. When either handle is turned
to unbolt the drawer a pawl carried by a disc fixed upon the axis rotates the corre-
sponding ratchet and dial and at the same time a retaining pawl passes over the teeth
of the ratchet. These retaining pawls serve two purposes, they prevent the wheel
ever rotating in a backward direction, and they cause small spring hammers which
they carry to strike upon bells and give audible signals. Thus two strokes on the
pence bell may mean two pence and if three strokes on the shillings bell be also
heard. the sum going to be put into the till is understood to be three shillings and
two pence and so on. The dials visible to the customer will indicate the same
amount. It has already been stated that these pawls prevent their ratchet wheels
from turning backwards. Now as the pence wheel completes a rotation a pin upon
it moving a driving lever turns the shilling wheel one space and similarly as the
shilling wheel completes a rotation it moves the pounds wheel. The handles and their
axes return each time that the drawer is closed and stops prevent them ever com-
pleting a rotation in either direction.
In connection with each axis there is a coiled spring which after the handle has
been turned to open the drawer tends to bring it-back-but-a-pawlalready referred to-
-prevents the-return-taking place immediately.
Also the dial discs visible to the customer have springs connected with them and
they tend to return to the zero position but in like manner are prevented from
immediately doing so.
The bolting and unbolting of the_till_drawer_is_effected-by-a-sliding-bolt-which
-engages with a projection from the inner end of the drawer. When either of the
axes are turned a cain like incline on the edge of the disc fixed on the axis thrusts
ugainst a projection on the bolt and moves it in its guides so as to liberate the drawer.
When after putting in the money the till drawer is again closed pivoted inclines at its
inner end operates against corresponding inclines on fingers and move these fingers
so as to lift out the pawls which retain the axes. The springs then take the axes
back to the zero positions. The bolt returns with the axes but the indicating dials
remain where they were placed so that the customer can still read the amount which
he has or should have paid and the inspector (when he pleases) can read upon the
locked up dials the total amount of the takings. When however the till is next used
in opening the drawer inclines upon it operate upon levers and these in turn lift the
pawls which retain the public dials; these dials then place themselves in accordance
with the setting of the handles for the payment now about to be made.
In order that my said Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a till constructed in accordance with my invention.

page_text: By turning the axis any figure upon the collar can be brought up to.mo pomo
ixed to the case.
Assuming the till to be intended for use with English money one collar is
graduated for pounds say up to twenty, another for shillings up to twenty,
and the third for pence and half pence up to twelve. On each axis there is a
disc d similarly graduated on both its sides and a wheel e graduated on the
Also each axis carries
periphery, both of these are free to turn on the axis.
but fast thereon a ratchet wheel and a disc g. The wheel of forms a spring
box, and contains a coiled spring within it fixed at one end to the wheel and at the
other to the bearing in which the axis turns-d' is a ratchet wheel fixed to the
Hise d. this wheel also forms a spring box and contains a coiled spring within it ;
30 that both the axes c c and the discs d. d after they have been turned tend to return
when they are free to do so. There is a projection d* on the disc d and a corre-
sponding projection f× on the wheel f. and by these projections the disc is carried
round when the axis is turned by means of the handle. Both are retained by pawls-
the pawl drops into the teeth of the ratchet d' and the pawl i. into the teeth of the
ratchet f
The drawer has ǹ hook b¹ upon it and when the axes c are at their zero position"
this hook is engaged with a finger on a locking bolt . The axes e pass by
elongated holes through the bolt. The bolt is able to slide a short distanco on the
axes and a spring causes it to engage with the hook. k² are studs upon the bolt
and these at the zero position of the axes are lodged in inclined recesses in the
peripheries of the discs but by turning either of the axes the bolt is displaced and
the drawer liberated. The operator using the till when wishing to open the drawer
should turn the axes until the sum he intends to put in is indicated by the pointers a*
upon the collars e¹ and in starting from zero the discs d and wheels e will be turned
with the axes and will give by their graduations similar indications. The drawer b
has on either side of it an inclined groove and studs projecting from the levers!
enter these grooves. The levers have their fulcra at and they are connected
at their further ends by a bar ; on this bar the tails of the pawls h rest so that
these pawls are lifted out of the teeth of the wheels d in opening as well as
in closing the drawer. The wheels d¹ consequently when the drawer opens will be
brought back until the projections dx and fx are in contact but in starting from
zero they would already be in this position. Hence when the drawer is open the
indications of the discs & correspond necessarily with those of the collars c¹.
drawer 6 also carries the pivotted projections *, these operate only in the final
closing of the drawer they then press down the inclined heads of the fingers or
levers m thereby raising the hinder ends of these levers and lifting the pawls i from
the teeth of the wheels f. The axes c then return by the operation of the springs
and the catches n drop in beneath the levers m to keep the pawls out until the axes
have reached the zero position and then pins on the wheels strike the catches
closed the axes c return to the zero
out; consequently each time the drawer
position but this takes place when the discs are no longer free so that these remain
indicating the numbers to which the collars c' c' were last set.
The
In
The discs carry pawls g' and these engage with ratchet wheels el fixed to the
wheels e.
Other pawls oo engage with the wheels e so that when the axes care
turned forward the wheels e revolve with them but the wheels e never return.
connection with the pawls oo are hammers o' which strike upon bells o' as each tooth
is passed. g* are stops on the discs g which by coming against abutments prevent
the axes e completing the rotation. On the wheel e on the first axis c there is a
pin ex which as the zero point of the wheel is passed operates on a rocking lever p
carrying a pawl which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel e' on the next
axis c and so moves it a step. Similarly the third axis is movel a step when the
second axis passes its zero point; hence the wheels e serve to keep a continuous
count.
The wheels e can be set again to zero from time to time when the case is unlocked
and onened.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A till substantially as described provided with a money drawer or receptacle,
and axes by which the drawer may be unlocked and indicating discs set such axes
being so arranged that when the drawer has been opened and closed they have
returned to their zero positions leaving the discs as they have been set.
2. A till substantially as described with a money drawer or receptacle and axes
operating as above set forth and also giving motion to dials which indicate the sum
of the figures which have been exhibited by the discs.
3. A till substantially as described and represented by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 12th des
1000
BRUCE JOHNSTON.