Improvements in Check Tills.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1892.
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Check Tills.
I, EZRA LOFTS, of 32 Station Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The two chief objects which I have had in view in these improvements are
security and simplicity in the various ways of making this apparatus so as to suit
the different trades, and consequently cheapness. The details of the invention may
be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention which will be
understood from the following description.
The till is formed by a suitable casing or framework which I will call the box
and in this works a drawer provided with coin bowls. Above the till drawer in
the box is the working mechanism which may be constructed as follows. Across
the box is a spindle which in one construction carries a drum roller or equivalent
on which to wind the paper which is supplied from a roll of paper which may be
placed on another spindle placed across the box, and in another construction carries
receptacles for numbered tickets. Upon this spindle is a wheel with the inclined
faces of the teeth of which engage wedges or inclined planes carried by a
reciprocating frame which may be operated from outside the case by means of a
pin or handle; the operation of this mechanism is that when the knob outside the
case, and with it the reciprocating frame is moved in one direction one of the
wedges entering between two of the teeth of the toothed wheel forces it round to
a certain extent and holds it there and while in that position the drawer can be
withdrawn so far as the stop, with which it is provided, will allow and the money
can be got at. Upon the closing of the drawer the reciprocating frame which is
preferably made of iron and is therefore heavy enough to fall of its own accord
when the closing of the drawer permits of this, but may be operated in one
direction by a spring if preferred, moves back automatically to its original or
normal position and the second wedge entering between two teeth of the toothed
wheel completes the amount of revolution (equal to the amount of one tooth) which
it is necessary to effect at each operation of the apparatus. The toothed wheel and
drun or spindle are now locked and cannot be turned until a fresh operation of the
machine is made. The paper carried by the drum may be ruled into spaces for
pounds, shillings and pence, or the like and is so arranged that sufficient space to
write upon is exposed but owing to the movement above described as soon as the
drawer is closed and the drum or roller is revolved that portion of paper previously
exposed is moved forward so that it cannot now be got at and the amount written
upon it is placed out of the reach of the person operating the till although it may
still be visible if desired under glass. Should the attendant fail to write the
amount upon the paper a blank space will be exposed and disclose the negligence.
Upon the toothed wheel spindle is also carried a drum having preferably radial
pockets into which the money which enters through a suitable coin shoot of the box
falls and where if desired it may for a time be visible through glass in the case:
ultimately as the drum revolves the coins it contained are discharged either into
the coin drawer or into another drawer or receptacle or merely on to the bottom of
the box above the drawer if such bottom be provided. The coin shoot may be
closed by the action of closing the drawer.
The reciprocating wedge frame may be arranged in any convenient manner to
lock the drawer as by means of a piece projecting from the frame and entering a
slot or opening in the drawer.
With the arrangement of wedge frame above described the toothed wheel cannot

page_text: be turned excepting by the operation of the frame which performs the two
functions of revolving the wheel and also locking it but as it is desirable that the
toothed wheel and its drum and radial pockets should not be permitted to have
play or back-lash when the drawer is opened which to a certain extent would occur
if the frame were allowed to slip back after being moved to allow of the opening of
the drawer, I prefer to prevent this by providing a stop adapted to slide in suitable
grooves, brackets or equivalent which may be carried upon one of the sides of the
box; this stop is caught by the drawer when it is closed and is moved clear of the
wedge frame but upon the opening of the drawer the stop moves under the influence
of a spring and takes its place under or in contiguity to the wedge frame and
prevents it slipping back. This same spring will have the effect of starting the
drawer in its outward movement and may also if desired ring the alarm bell, this
however may be accomplished by the movement of the frame or drawer or in any
other desired manner. As above described the wedge frame would reciprocate in
a vertical direction but although that is a convenient way of arranging it I do not
bind myself to that arrangement.
By making the box of separate walls connected together by screws rivets or other
suitable means I am able to cast in a piece with each wall all the necessary fittings,
such as bosses slides guides channels or the like both for the fixed and moving
parts of the apparatus and thus greatly reduce the cost as well as increase the
simplicity of the whole apparatus. The top may be formed of glass or partly of
glass and partly of the material say for example cast iron of which the apparatus
is constructed and may be arranged to slide in grooves formed in the side walls the
ends securing the sides in place. It is convenient to make the top in more than
one piece by which arrangement a portion may be of glass and another portion may
be the lid and bridge to write upon which is to be secured by the lock which
prevents unauthorized access to the interior, as the whole of the top is secured in
place by the one lock.
In the modified form where tickets or the like are employed in place of the strip
of paper the toothed wheel spindle may carry the before-mentioned coin drum and
may have also a roller or drums carrying pockets into which the tickets, counters
or the like, which may advantageously be of different colours, and bearing each its
appropriate amount marked upon it, may be placed through suitable openings
provided for the purpose.
Dated this 1st day of June 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Check Tills.
I, EZRA LOFTS of 32 Station Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight, Engineer, 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:-
This invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a till constructed according to this
invention with the operating mechanism in its lowest position and showing the
drawer in position closed;
Figure 2 is a similar view but with the lower portion removed, the operating
mechanism in its raised position and the drawer pulled out.
Figure 3 is a plan and
Fig
Figure 4 is a detail of a portion of the mechanism.
Figure 5 is a cross section and
TR

page_text: Figure 7 is a partial section of the apparatus showing a second strip of papers and
Figure 8 is a cross section of the machine showing the same adaptation in another
view.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The till is formed by a suitable casing or frame-work A which I will call the
box, and in this works a drawer B provided with coin bowls B¹. Above the till
drawer in the box A is the working mechanism which may be constructed as
follows:-Across the box is a spindle C which carries a drum roller or equiva-
lent C¹ on which to wind the paper D supplied from a roll D₁ carried on another
spindle D' preferably extended across the box. Upon the spindle C is a wheel E
with the inclined faces of the teeth E¹ of which engage wedges or inclined planes F
carried by a reciprocating frame F¹ which may be operated from outside the case
by means of the handle F2; the operation of this portion of the mechanism is so
arranged that when the handle F2 and with it the reciprocating frame is moved in
one direction, one of the wedges F entering between two of the teeth E¹ of the
toothed wheel E forces it round to a certain extent, and holds it there, and while
in that position the drawer B can be withdrawn so far as the stop B2 with which it
is provided will allow and the money can be got at. Upon the closing of the
drawer the reciprocating frame F' which is preferably made of iron and is therefore
heavy enough to fall of its own accord when the closing of the drawer permits of
this, but it may be operated in one direction by a spring F3 if preferred, moves
back automatically to its original or normal position, and the second wedge entering
between two of the teeth E completes the extent of revolution of the wheel E
and drum C (equal to the amount of one of the teeth (which it is necessary to
effect at each operation of the apparatus. In Figure 1 the apparatus is shown
with the handle F2 and frame F¹ in their lowest positions the top wedge F being
engaged between two of the teeth E and preventing the wheel and drum from
turning; in Figure 2 the handle F2 is raised to its top limit the bottom wedge F
being shown between two of the teeth E' locking the wheel and drum while the
drawer B has been pulled out as far as the stop B will allow, the coins it contains
being thus accessible to the operator. In Figure the spring F3 which would
always be in a state of compression is shown extended forcing down the frame Fl
while in Figure 2 the same spring is shown compressed in consequence of the
upward movement of the frame.
The frame F' carries a stop G which enters the recess B³ in the side of the
drawer; in Figure 1 the stop G is shown in the recess B³ thus locking the drawer
and preventing it from being moved while in Figure 2 the Frame FL being raised
the stop G has risen with it and been withdrawn from the recess B³ in consequence
of which the drawer B can be pulled out. As it is desirable that the paper D
should be moved at each operation of the apparatus to the extent of one space only
(the length of the paper to a space depending upon the arrangement and propor-
tions of the operating mechanism and the size of the roller C¹) some means should
be provided to secure the frame F¹ in its highest position while the drawer is out
so that the frame cannot be returned until the drawer is closed; this might be
effected by the drawer itself preventing the return of the stop G and thus controlling
the frame F', but this would not suffice when the tail end of the drawer is drawn
out beyond the stop G. To prevent this and effect the locking of the frame F¹ as
described the sliding bolt H is provided and controlled by the spring H' fastened
at H to any suitable fixed part of the framework and at H³ to the back end of the
bolt H, and being in a state of tension has the tendency to drive the bolt forward
in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. Consequently as soon as the frame Fl is
raised the bolt H shoots underneath it and prevents its return at the same time
impelling forward the drawer B the back end of the bolt H being extended at H
so as to cause it to engage with the back end of the drawer, and thus shoot it
forward as described. The bolt H being inaccessible from outside the case can
only be withdrawn by the complete closing of the drawer and as the frame F¹
cannot be moved until the bolt is withdrawn and until the space B³ of the drawer

page_text: coincides with the stop G, and since the wheel E cannot turn until it is disengaged
from the wedge F which is between two of its teeth while the drawer is out it will
be seen that an effectual simultaneous movement of the drawer and paper and the
effective locking of both these parts, excepting during their appointed movements,
is effected.
To give audible notice of the opening of the drawer a gong or equivalent I may
be secured inside the case operated by a trip hammer I pivotted in the box, the
tail of the hammer being arranged to engage with a projection J connected with the
frame F. The frame F¹ may be carried in any suitable guides or equivalent which
will allow of its free reciprocation in the plane of its proper movement.
not as
The paper band D may be carried over a supporting table A' where it is
accessible from the outside so as to enable the operator to write upon it the amount
to be placed into the till; the paper may be ruled into columns or otherwise or
required and I prefer to make some portion of the top of the box A of
glass so that the interior operations may be visible. The top K I prefer to slide
in grooves A2 in the box and to make the table A' independent of the box and to
slide it into the same groove which carries the front portion K' of the top K.
This it will be seen is at a slightly lower level than the rest of the groove an
arrangement which conveniently allows of the paper D passing over the table A¹
and under the top K, the top K' being formed with raised sides or edges K² which
fit against the ends of A' and thus prevent the withdrawal of either the table A'
or the top K. I may fit a lock L inside the box A through which a key-hole L'
may be provided the bolt of the lock engaging with a suitable recess or stop in or
upon the part K'; by this arrangement it will be seen that the one lock closes and
secures the whole of the top.
The drawer B is intended to contain change, only the receipts of the till being
placed in one or more inspection devices which may be carried on the outside of the
box or in a special recess or receptacle provided within the box. The coin is
placed through the slot M' which in the arrangement illustrated is formed in the
top of the chamber or excrescence M upon the outside of the box A. The
spindle C passes through the side of A and carries the wheel N which as shown
in the detail Figure 4 is provided with a number of divisions or vanes N' like a
paddle wheel each vane terminating in a peripheral extension N2 so arranged that
when the apparatus in its normal position and out of use and the drawer closed,
the coin slot M¹ is closed by one of the extensions N2, but when the wheel N makes
its half movement upon the first half of the operation of the machine and the drawer
is pulled out the open space N³ between the back of one vane and the front of the
peripheral extension N2 of the next vane is placed underneath the slot M' and the
coin can be received between the two vanes. Any desired number of these coin-
receiving wheels may be employed and placed either outside the box A or inside
if space be provided for the purpose; each receptacle could then be used for coins
of one value, but the outside ones only would serve as coin exhibitors unless special
arrangements such as glass let in in particular parts were provided for this purpose.
This portion of the apparatus is intended to act as a coin exhibitor by providing
the extension M with a glass front M² as the coins being inserted into the wheel N
from above will remain therein during several operations of the till before they
drop out into the space O in which they are ultimately received, the box M for
this purpose being under lock and key either separately or in conjunction with the
general locking of the whole till.
To prevent the possibility of the spindle C being revolved in the wrong direction
a ratchet wheel P is secured upon the spindle in any convenient part and with this
engage any desired number, preferably three, pawls Q each of which I prefer to
provide with two faces Q₁ either of which may engage with any of the teeth of the
ratchet wheel P. By this arrangement it will be seen that it is virtually impossible
for the wheel P and consequently the spindle C and it attachments to travel in the
wrong direction.
As above described the wedge frame would reciprocate in a vertical direction

page_text: |but although that is a convenient way of arranging it I do not bind myself to that
arrangement.
By making the box of separate walls connected together by screws rivets or other
suitable means I am able to cast in a piece with each wall all the necessary fittings,
such as bosses, slides, guides, channels or the like both for the fixed and moving parts
of the apparatus and thus greatly reduce the cost as well as increase the simplicity of
the whole apparatus. The top may be formed of glass or partly of glass and partly
of the material say for example cast iron of which the apparatus is constructed and
may be arranged to slide in grooves formed in the side walls the ends securing the
sides in place. It is convenient to make the top in more than one piece by which
arrangement a portion may be of glass and another portion may be the lid and
bridge to write upon which is to be secured by the lock which prevents unauthorized
access to the interior, as the whole of the top is secured in place by the one lock.
The drum R shown in Figures 5 and 6 would be fixed upon the spindle C in
place of either the drum C or wheel N previously described or in place of both C'
and N; this drum R may be used for cash only, for tickets only, or for both. It
consists of any suitable drum or centre upon which is arranged what may be
termed a grid which consists of a series of pheripheral ribs S divided into com-
partments by the projections S₁ and having passages or channels S2 extending
entirely around the drum. Into these spaces S² project the prongs of a fixed
fork T the object of which is to knock off any coin or ticket which may be
adhering to the grid S, it having been found that sometimes with machines of
this class some adhesive material is employed to cause the coins to stick to the
drum and means are then employed for removing the coin through the slit by
which it was inserted. In the present instance the coin is inserted by the slit M¹
as before but this is blocked between each compartment of the grid by the row of
projections S' which remain under the coin slot M' when the roller is at rest.
it is necessary or at least desirable to pass at each half operation of the machine
sufficient space under the coin slit (which is preferably placed at an angle to
facilitate the insertion of the coin as shown in Figure 5) to accommodate the coin
and as this would be the greater part of the surface to be moved at one complete
operation of the machine, the concluding movement upon the closing of the drawer
being in this instance but slight, the shape and arrangement of the operating
wedges F and teeth E' of the wheel E may be constructed or altered to produce
this effect.
As
The drum as above described will be suitable for either tickets or coins or may
be arranged for both in which case it would preferably have six rows of compart-
ments arranged side by side upon the periphery of the drum, 3 for pounds, shillings,
and pence in coins, and 3 for pounds, shillings and pence in tickets. Instead of
making a single drum as shown in Figures 5 and 6 do for both coins and tickets
separate drums may be employed.
Where it is desired to give a written coupon or record to the customer this may
be effected by placing above the paper D a strip U with a transfer sheet W which
may be secured in the machine in any convenient manner; the strip U may be
carried on a roller or may be merely a roll of paper carried in a suitable receptacle
within the case and may be perforated to divide it into short lengths as required.
I am aware of my British Patent No. 438 dated 8th January 1892, in which a
movement similar to that described for operating this check till is disclosed and I
do not broadly claim anything therein.
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. In a cash till the combination with the roller C₁ and paper band D of a
wheel E having angular teeth such as E' reciprocating driving frame F F' and
ratchet wheel and pawls substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.

page_text: 2. The combination with a cash till of a driving mechanism consisting of a
wheel E having angular teeth such as E' and a reciprocating driving frame such
as F having operating teeth or wedges such as F substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a cash till the combination with roller C' band D wheel E and reciprocating
driving frame F F¹ of a coin receiving wheel such as N substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a cash till a coin receiving and exhibiting device such as N N¹ N² N³
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with a cash till of a coin exhibiting device carried upon the
spindle of the paper actuating roller substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination with a cash till of a coin exhibiting device carried upon the
end of the spindle of the roller which actuates the paper band and placed in a
special case outside the main apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
7. In a cash till the combination with the cash drawer of a reciprocating driving
frame such as F¹ having a locking bolt or projection such as G adapted to engage
with the said drawer for the purpose of retaining it in its closed position substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In a cash till the combination with the cash drawer and a reciprocating driving
frame such as F adapted to lock the drawer in its closed position of a spring-
controlled sliding bolt such as H H adapted to lock the sliding frame in the
position in which it releases the drawer and at the same time to push the drawer
open substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a cash till the combination with a reciprocating driving frame such as F¹
having a bolt G for locking the cash drawer of a spring-controlled sliding bolt such
as H for the purpose of locking the frame in the position in which it releases the
cash drawer substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
10. In a cash till the combination of a coin drum and a ticket drum as described.
11. In a cash till the combination with the operating or driving spindle C of a
ticket drum or a ticket and cash drum substantially as described.
12. In a cash till a coin drum substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
13. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete cash
till substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 27th day of February 1893.
EZRA LOFTS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.