Iж- PROVEMENTS IN PUNCHING, REGISTERING, AND ALARM APPARATUS FOR PRE- VENTING FRAUD BY THE CONDUCIORS OF OMNIBUSES AND TRAMWAY CARS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "Iж-
PROVEMENTS IN PUNCHING, REGISTERING, AND ALARM APPARATUS FOR PRE-
VENTING FRAUD BY THE CONDUCIORS OF OMNIBUSES AND TRAMWAY CARS,
AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES" A communication from abroad by James Henry
Small, of Buffalo, New York, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUNCHING, REGISTERING,
AND ALARM APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FRAUD BY THE CONDUCTORS OF OMNI-
BUSES AND TRAMWAY CARS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication
This Invention combines in one device a duplex cash recorder or printer, and an
alarm, and it consists more particularly in a double working caso or shell having in
one end an ordinary punch, and in the other end an arrangement of numbering
wheels, which are moved by duplicated wheels or slides on the outside of the case,
whereby any number or amount desired may be set and printed inside by means
of an inking ribbon or its equivalent upon a ticket inserted in the jaws, and the
same number or numbers be also printed upon a registering strip of paper inside
the case, so that every item of cash received by the user will be printed on the
ticket, and appear upon the strip inside the case. A bell is combined with the
above apparatus, whereby an alarm is given when or after a ticket is printed. No
alarm is given when the punch is used.
The said Invention further consists in a peculiar lock or stop interposed in the
jaw of the printing end of the device, which prevents the operation of the jaws
unless a ticket is inserted in the slot to displace the stop.
This Invention furthermore consists in an arrangement of racks, pinions, and
slides to take the place of the outside numbering wheels if desired.
The two halves or portions of the case are pivoted together. Attached to the
shell, and running forward, and above it is a hooded lever or jaw which fits partly

page_text: down over the top and sides of the shell. An arm or lever is attached to or forms
part of the said shell, and extends backward between the sides of the shell, and
terminates in a pawl for tripping the hammer of the bell. Another hooded lever
extends down in a slot in the said lever or arm, and is pivoted in the centre. I
provide the apparatus with three wheels or discs having figures on their peripheries,
and the same figures opposite each other on the same wheel, so that whatever
figure is upperinost a similar figure will be directly opposite on its under side.
One of these wheels is mounted upon a shaft which passes through the side of the
shell, and is provided with another wheel upon the outside. The second wheel is
mounted upon a loose sleeve, which fits over the aforesaid shaft, and also passes
through the shell and ends in a second disc just inside of the first wheel, but a
trifle larger than it, while the third wheel is mounted upon a second sleeve, which
fits over the first sleeve and shaft, and out through the side of the shell, and ends
in a third wheel, which is slightly larger than the second wheel. These outer
wheels are mounted in a frame by a hanger, which is pivoted to the centre of the
shell. The opening or slot in the side of the shell through which the shaft and the
sleeves of the discs pass is elongated to allow a little play up and down. One half
the surface of these outside wheels will be numbered to correspond with the
numbers on the interior wheels, the other half of each wheel is provided with
teeth.
There are two drums or rollers, upon which an inking ribbon is wound, and
which passes outside of the wheels, and is kept from touching them by pins. One
of these drums is provided with a ratchet and pawl, the back end of the pawl
being attached to the shell, so that when the first-named hooded lever is operated
the pawl will act upon the drum and wind up a portion of the ribbon so as to
present a fresh portion to the wheels at each time of printing Two other diums
are provided, upon which a paper strip or ribbon is wound. This strip passes over
the outside of pins, which prevent its touching the inking ribbon. One drum has
a ratchet and pawl, the latter being fastened to the inside of the said hooded lever,
so that every time the lever is forced down the pawl will take up one tooth of the
ratchet, and thus move the paper along the length of one figure and give a fresh
space above the wheels upon which to print the next amount.
A locking device is placed in the printing end of the recorder or case to prevent
the operation of the jaws, except when a ticket is inserted in the slit or opening
to unlock it. This device comprises a vertical bolt or bar, the lower end obstructing
the back of the said slit. It is pivoted in the centre around a stationary circular
plate, and continued upward until the top rests against a stop. This centre plate
has within it a spring hanger, which supports the shaft of the wheels and returns
them upward when forced down for printing by the lever
The arrangement for operating the inside numbering wheels to take the place of
the outside wheels if desired comprises pinions attached to each of the wheels, and
provided with racks which are connected to strips or slides outside the case These
slides will be marked or stamped with figures to correspond with those on the
inside printing wheels, so that whatever figures show on the printing wheels at the
top and bottom will also appear on the strips, so that the person using the recorder
may know and set what amount is to be printed. Ratchet teeth and springs are
provided for the said slides to hold them tightly enough to prevent their being
moved except when pins which operate the slides are pushed along. This is a very
simple and convenient arrangement, and in most cases will he used instead of the
wheels. The said racks and slides may be made in the form of segments if desired
to occupy less room, and not interfere with the ribbons and druins.
Extra numbering wheels may be added to indicate days, months, years, and the
like if desired. Their operation will be the same as that of the others above
described.
The inking ribbon may be endless, and operated by rubber friction rollers if
desired to keep up the necessary supply of ink.
One side of the printing part of the shell is made removable in order to see at

page_text: the end of a trip, or when the conductor hands in his account, exactly how much
cash is registered on the paper slip. At each trip a new slip will be put in. This
removable part is sealed to prevent tampering with the interior of the apparatus.

page_text: J
second disc j¹ just inside of the first wheel 3, but slightly larger than the same, while
the third wheel ¹¹ is mounted upon a second sleeve which fits over the first sleeve
and shaft i, and passing out through the side of the shell ends in a third wheel j";
which is slightly larger than the second wheel j¹. These outer wheels j, 7, 11, are
mounted in a frame G by a hanger which is pivoted to the centre of the shell at a
The opening or slot q in the side of the shell A through which the shaft i and the
sleeves of the discs and j pass, is elongated to allow a little play up and down for
the purpose herein-after described. One half the surface of these outside wheels is
numbered from 1 to 10 to correspond with the numbers on the interior wheels h, h¹, ¹¹;
the other half of each wheel is provided with teeth, k, l, are two drums or rollers,
upon which an inking ribbon is wound, which ribbon passes outside of the wheels h,
¹, ¹¹, and is kept from touching them at any point by pins m, m. One of these
drums is provided with a ratchet and pawl n, o, the back end of the pawl being
attached to the shell A, so that when the lever C is operated the pawl will act upon
the drum, and wind up a portion of the ribbon to present a fresh portion to the
wheels at each time of printing; P, p², are two other drums similar to the drums, h²,
and upon which a paper strip or ribbon is wound as shown. This strip passes over
the outside of pins, r, which prevent its touching the inking ribbon that runs
between it and the wheels. The drum p has a ratchet and pawls, the latter being
fastened to the inside of the lever C, so that every time the lever is forced down the
pawl will take up one tooth of the ratchet, and thus move the paper along the
length of one figure and present a fresh space above the wheels upon which to print
the next amount as clearly shown in Figure 1.
A locking device is placed in the printing end of the recorder or case A, which
prevents the operation of the jaws except when a ticket is inserted in the slit or
opening to unlock it This device consists of a vertical bolt or bar H, the lower
end obstincting the back of the slit g¹. It is pivoted in the centre around a
stationary circular plate I, and continued upward until the top rests against a
stop u This centre plate I has within it a spring hanger J which supports the
shaft i of the wheels h, h¹, h¹¹, and returns them upward when forced down for
printing by the level C. When in its ordinary or vertical position the bar H locks
the jaw lever C, and prevents it being pushed down, or in other words it prevents
the operation of the printing end of tho said device. It does not however interfere
with the punching end, as the punching lover F works independently of all the
other parts as before explained.
The operation of the whole apparatus is as follows:-When a passenger pays his
fare the conductor turns the outside wheels 1, 1,, or draws the slides, as shown in
Figure 5 until the right amount paid appears through the opening in the case G
(the wheels turn either way) which at the same time will bring the same numbers
(both above and below) on the printing wheels h, h¹, h, the lower portion or half
of the wheels i, j, j, being provided with ratchet teeth, in which springs or
stops v, v, v, fit to prevent their being too easily turned or accidentally displaced.
The operator or conductor then inserts a fare ticket in the slit g', which pushes the
lock bar H back until it is thrown from the stop u, when the lever C may be
forced downward by the pressure of the hand which brings a rubber cushion
attached to the under side of the lever down upon the paper strip, and then upon
the inking ribbon and numbering wheels, when the number will be printed by
this means upon the paper strip. The same pressure upon the lever forces the
wheels h, h¹, h, down until they come in contact with the ticket, when the same
number will be printed simultaneously upon the ticket by means of the interposed
inking ribbon. This ticket is then withdrawn, and given to the passenger as a
receipt for his fare, and is taken up and punched afterward if desired by the con-
ductor. The lever C being fastened to and forming part of the shell A will cause
the shell to rise and fall with it and open and close, and thus cause the pawl o to
act upon the ink ribbon drum herein-before explained. This rising and falling of
the shell will also cause the bell E to be sounded by tripping the hammer c by the
pawl or trip b, but not until after the printing is accomplished.

page_text: The printing mechanism may be operated by pushing down the lever or hood F
until it strikes the arın D, which will then be carried down with it, and consequently
raise the shell upward, and thus effect the printing in the same manner as before
Figures 5 and 6 show an arrangement for operating the inside numbering wheels
to take the place of the outside wheels if desired. It consists of pinions t, t, t¹¹,
attached to each of the wheels h, h¹, h¹¹, and provided with racks which are
connected to strips or slides w, w¹, w¹¹, outside the case, as shown. These slides are
marked or stamped with figures to correspond with those on the inside printing
wheels, so that whatever figures show on the printing wheels at the top and bottom,
as explained, will also appear on the strips, so that the person using the recorder
may know and set the amount that is to be printed. Ratchet teeth and springs are
to be provided for the slides to hold them tightly enough to prevent their being
moved, except when the pins x, x, which operate the slides are pushed along. This
is very simple and convenient mechanism, and in most cases will be used instead of
the wheels," The racks and slides may be made in the form of segments, as
shown in Figure 7, if desired, to occupy less room and not interfere with the ribbons
and drums
When the conductor simply desires to punch a ticket it is placed in the slit gand
the lever F pushed down until it strikes the arm D which is locked in place by the
locking bar H, and thus the sounding of the bell is prevented except when a ticket
is printed.
b
It is not important or desirable that an alarm should be given when a ticket is
merely punched.
By these simple arrangements a printed-record is kept in the said apparatus or
device of the amount of cash received from each passenger by the conductor, and a
receipt is given to every passenger for the fare paid and with the amount printed
thereon The said apparatus may also be used with slight modifications as a cash
recorder in business houses, restaurants, steam boats, and otherwise as a check upon
dishonest employés.
Extra numbering wheels may be added to indicate days, months, years, and other
divisions if desired; their operation will be precisely the same as in the apparatus
above described.
The inking ribbon may be endless and operated by rubber friction rollers if
desired, to keep up the necessary supply of ink.
One side of the printing part of the shell A is made removable, in order that at
the end of a trip, or when the conductor hands in his account, it may be seen
exactly how much cash is registered on the paper slip. This strip is taken out, and
as the figures are all printed under each other they are casily added up, and the
result is the total in cash fares for which the conductor is responsible. At each trip
a new slip will be put in; this removable part is scaled at 2, 2, so as to prevent
tampering with the interior.
It will be seen that this apparatus is not what is commonly termed an "alarm
punch," as the bell cannot be rung when the punch is used, and can only be sounded
after a ticket is printed, to indicate its registration on the slip inside the case and
the absence of fraud in the issue of the ticket.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the saine, I wish it understood
that I claim in and forming part of an apparatus or device for the purposes above
specified
First. The case provided with the slit in combination with the lever and spring
lock, all arranged and operating as above specified.
Second. The combination of druins and printing wheels which operate in con-
nection with a registering paper strip and inking ribbon, as herein specified.
Third. The combination of the duplicate number wheels, one series arranged
inside and the other outside the case, and so operating that by setting the outside
series of wheels the inside wheels are correspondingly moved into position to print,
as herein described,

page_text: Fourth. The combination of the printing wheels, having duplex numbers so
arranged on their periphery that the opposite numbers shall correspond therewith,
and the outside setting wheels or slides whereby the inside wheels may be set as
desired with the paper strip feeding mechanism, as above set forth
Fifth. The combination of the ticket fare printing mechanism, the paper strip
registering mechanism, and alarm bell mechanism, as specified
Sixth. The combination with the outside setting wheels and frame of the spring
stops, as specified.
Seventh. The spring hanger in combination with the wheel shaft and centre plate
provided with a slot, all arranged and oporating as herein specified
Eighth. The combination of the pinions attached to or forming part of the
printing wheels, the racks, and the indexed slides, all arranged and operating as
herein set forth.
Ninth. An apparatus or device consisting of the parts shewn in the accompanying
Drawings, constructed, combined, and operating as above described and for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
DAT
TAT