Improvements in or connected with Cash Registers or Money Tills.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1892–Accepted, 24th Sept., 1002
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1994 Accepic, DOE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cash Registers or Money Tills.
A communication from abroad by AUSTIN B. HAYDEN, of Kansas City, in
the County of Jackson and State of Missouri, United States of America,
Engineer.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E..of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The object of this invention is to combine with a till a cash-register having a
much greater capacity than those now in use.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the register complete with the parts in their
normal positions.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the entire registering mechanism removed from
its case.
Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking downward.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the registering mechanism removed from the case,
illustrating particularly the indicating devices and the manner of reading amounts
recorded and added together.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross section through the apparatus from front to rear on
the line 6-6, Figure 7.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross section on the line 6--6 of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the apparatus with the back of the case removed and
a portion of the till broken away to expose other parts to view.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2 showing more
particularly the devices for turning the registering drums.
Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the base of the apparatus with the till,
till cover, etcetera.
Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the tiers of finger-keys; the plates
for locking them temporarily in position, and the stop pins actuated both to stop
the registering devices at the proper point, and prevent the same from racing or
running ahead by reason of their momentum.
Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the devices which act immediately in
connection with the till cover, to lock the same and to release the finger-keys.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation showing the device through which the till
cover acts to release the finger-keys and restore the registering devices to their
normal positions.
Figure 13 is a vertical section through the registering mechanism from right to
left on the line 13-13 of Figure 5.
Figure 14 is a view of one of the plates for temporarily locking the finger-keys
of one tier when pushed inward.
Figure 15 is a view in perspective of the rock-shaft and connections through
which one tier of keys acts to operate the corresponding registering drum.
Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the devices for concealing the indicating
or registering devices until the till is closed.
Figure 17 is a top plan view of the base portion of the apparatus showing more
particularly, the till, till cover and alarm bell.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of a detent.
The apparatus comprises first, a till, a sliding cover therefor, and if desired a
secondary sliding till beneath the same cover; second, a registering mechanism
controlled by finger-keys for the purpose of registering and indicating the amount

page_text: of the purchases; third, circuit connections through which the actions of the till
cover and the registering devices are made interdependent.
In order that the structure may be more easily understood, the parts in the order
above named will be described.
"
Referring to the drawings-
A, represents a stationary base which may be of any suitable form adapted to
contain the till and to give support to a superstructure in which the registering
mechanism is mounted. B is a stationary till mounted in the base, and C, a cover
arranged to slide forward and backward for the purpose of exposing or closing the
till, as required. D is a secondary till arranged to slide forward and backward in
the main till in such manner as to be closed by the cover C. The sliding till and
the cover may be mounted in guides of any suitable character which will admit of
their being easily moved but it is preferable to sustain them at the sides and at the
rear end by wheels d attached thereto and arranged to travel upon suitable guide
rails d¹. In order to close the till cover automatically whenever it is released,
springs may be connected therewith, which may be replaced, however, by springs
of any other form and arrangement adapted to perform the same office.
In the rear part of the base-frame is mounted a bell E, sustained by a crank
shaft e, projecting through the case to the exterior so that the bell may be thrown
at will from the operative position shown in full lines in Figures 7 and 17, to the
inoperative position shown in dotted lines. In order to sound this bell whenever
the till cover is opened or closed, a striker e' is provided carried by a rock-shaft e
having an arme acted upon by a pivoted rocking plate e separately shown in
Figure 18, in the path of the guide-roller attached to the back of the till-cover.
As the cover is moved the roller rides over and rocks the plate e, which, through
the intermediate parts, causes the sounding of the bell. The foregoing parts
constitute the entire till mechanism.
Passing now to the registering mechanism, F F1 F, etcetera, represent finger
keys arranged in four vertical rows or ranks representing respectively the different
numbers or values which will be registered by operating them. Each tier of keys
operate upon its own registering drums. As each tier of keys and all its connections
are the same as those in each of the other tiers a description of one tier will answer
for all.
Each of the keys consists, as shown in Figures 5 6 and 10 of a horizontal slide
or plate having at the front end a guiding and sustaining neck with a finger-
key thereon, and a lateral projecting shoulder f' and having at the rear end an
inclined surface f³, a notch and a laterally projecting stud f. Each key is
mounted to slide freely forward and backward in vertical frame plates "". Near
the inner ends of the keys there is mounted a vertical rock-shaft G having at the
top and bottom crank-arms carrying a vertical rod 9', Figure 15. This rod g' lies
behind the lateral studs fof the keys so that whenever a key is pushed inward its
stud acting on the rod causes a partial rotation of the shaft G. The shaft G
carries at its upper end a sector pinion g', which engages a pinion g³ fixed to a
vertical drum or cylinder H, the outer surface of which is provided with numerals
from one to ten, exposed one at a time through an opening in the front of the case,
as shown in Figures 1 and 5. When, therefore, any key in the tier is pushed inward,
its stud acts to turn the shaft G, which, through its pinion g, rotates the drum to
different positions so as to expose the appropriate numbers, the studs are located
on the respective keys at different distances from their inner ends. The several
keys act, therefore, to turn the shaft G, and the indicator drum different distances.
When the keys are pushed suddenly inward, the indicator drum receives a high
velocity and acquires a momentum which tends to carry it beyond the proper point
to prevent which stops are used. These stop devices consist, as shown in
Figure 10, of a series of vertical sliding wires 1 projecting upward through the
top of the frame in position to encounter the dog 9 carried, as shown in
Figure 15, on the end of an arm ge fixed rigidly to the top of the rock shaft G.
The lower ends of these stop wires are bent into angular forms and guided

page_text: in eyes i, so that they may rise and fall freely. Each wire is carried on the
inclined surface of one of the finger keys. When therefore, a key is pressed
inward to operate the indicating drum its surface f³ lifts the appropriate stop
wire into the path of the dog so that when the drum is turned sufficiently
to expose the number represented by the key, the dog will encounter the stop-
pin and further motion of the parts will be prevented.
It will of course be understood that each pin stops the drum in a position
appropriate to the particular key by which it is at the moment actuated.
For purpose which will hereinafter appear it is desirable to lock the keys in
position when they are pressed inward to register the amount of the purchase, and
to hold them in this position until the till-cover is again closed. For this purpose
near the ends of the keys is mounted a vertical gravitating bar J having lateral
ears; riding on the inclined edges of the keys, so that whenever a key is pressed
inward until its notch f is in line with the bar J, the bar will fall and its car j will
enter the notch and hold the key in position, as shown near the bottom of Figure 6.
For the purpose of pushing the keys outward and restoring them to their original
positions after they are released, a heavy vertical bar K is mounted at the side of
the tier and guided at its upper end by links & pivoted to the front of the frame see
Figures 5 and 6.
This bar rests normally against the inside of the shoulders f₁ of all the keys,
and when a key is pushed inward it causes the bar to swing inward and upward as
shown in Figure 6. When the key is released, the gravitating bar, guided by the
links, swings forward and pushes the key before it. By this simple device the
usual restoring spring is enabled to be dispensed with and the many troubles
attending its use are avoided.
In order that the till-cover may release the registering drums and keys and
restore them to their normal positions, and that on the other hand, the till-cover
may be locked open until the amount has been properly registered, provision is
made as follows:-
The four vertical bars J, which lock the keys, are all connected at their lower
ends by sliding joints to a horizontal bail or bar M, sustained by backwardly-
turned arms m, mounted on horizontal pivots m'. This gravitating bar or bail is
provided, as shown in Figures 3 and 11, with an arm m³, carrying a vertical
screw, m³, lying above a finger m pivoted to a stationary part of the frame.
This finger m carries on its side a trip finger m³, pivoted thereto, at m³, and
acting against a stop-pin, m', thereon. The till-cover is provided at its rear edge
with a rigid shoulder m, which stands, when the cover is closed, forward of the
trip-finger m³.
The parts operate as follows:-
Assume that a series of finger-keys have been pushed inward to effect the
registration, that they are held inward by the locking bars J, and that the till-cover
is closed: If now the till-cover be opened by sliding it backward its shoulder m,
will act on the trip finger m³, causing it to lift the finger m', which in turn acts
against the screw m lifting the bail M, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 12. The
bail in rising lifts all the bars J and thereby releases the finger-keys which are
pushed forward by the gravitating bar K before referred to. As the fingers move
forward they permit the stop-pins 1, to descend by gravity to their original
positions. In order to hold the till-cover the bail M is provided with a depending
lip m³, which engages teeth m fixed on the top of the till-cover, so that as the
cover completes the making of change and thereafter manipulates the keys to
effect registration. When a key is pushed inward it lifts the locking-bar J, which
in turn lifts the bail and disengages the lip m³, from the till-cover allowing the
cover to return automatically under the influence of the springs to its closed
position. This leaves the registration of the amount received still in view and
leaves the till-cover in a locked position so that it cannot be again opened without
restoring the indicator drums to their normal positions and thereby indicating the
fact of the opening.

page_text: Experience has shown it to be desirable to conceal the registration until the
till-cover is closed. This is effected by mounting in the front of the case
immediately in front of the indicating drums a horizontal slide, N, (see Figures 5
and 16), provided with openings so that when these openings are brought in
register with those in the case, the drums will be exposed to view, but when the
slide is moved out of this position it will close the openings in the case and conceal
the drum. This slide is actuated by the upper end of a lever, n, urged in one
direction by spring n', and having its lower end pivoted to the case at n², and
provided with a lateral extension, n³, riding on a bar, n*, fixed to the till-cover and
bevelled at its rear end, as shown in Figures 9, 16, 17 etatera. When the till-cover
is closed the lever n stands in the position shown by full lines in 16, 16, exposing
the drums to view, but as the till-cover is opened the bar n under-riding the end of
the lever causes the latter to assume the position shown in dotted lines, thereby
concealing the drums.
The various parts above described are provided with thirty-six keys in four tiers
of nine each representing the values indicated thereon in the drawings. This
is a complete and operative registering apparatus adapted to indicate amounts to
ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents.
In order, however, to adapt the apparatus for registering still larger amounts
and for adding such amounts together so that the total sales for a long period of
time may be registered, a supplemental registering mechanism is provided at the
top of the apparatus which will now be described, referring particularly to
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 13.
On the upper end of each of the rock-shafts G, are mounted loosely registering.
wheels PP etcetera these wheels and their connections being constructed in
duplicate. Each wheel is provided with peripheral ratchet teeth engaged by the
dog g before referred to as being carried by the arm g, fixed to the top of the
rock-shaft. When, therefore, either of the shafts is moved by the operation of
the finger-keys to turn the registering drum, the arm 9, will also be turned and its
dog 9, caused to advance the wheel Pa corresponding distance according to the
system of computation employed, but my correspondent commonly provides them
each with sixty teeth divided into groups of ten. To each wheel P is fixed a
wheel p having a tooth or projection for every ten teeth on the main wheel. This
secondary wheel, p, acts on one end of a pivoted lever, p', which is connected by a
wire, p, with a swinging-arm p, carrying a pivoted dog,'', which engages the
teeth of the next wheel P, on the left. The same connections exist between the
second and third wheels and between the third and fourth wheels, so that whenever
any one of the wheels in the series is advanced ten teeth it acts through the
intermediate devices to turn the next wheel to the left one tooth.
The main wheels P P¹ etcetera are provided in their upper faces adjacent to the
respective teeth, with numerals, exposed to view one at a time through openings in
overlying plates p. Owing to the connections between the wheels and the relations
between their numerals, they will register correctly in accordance with the decimal
system.
As a still further development of the system for effecting high registration in the
top of the frame are mounted four smaller registering wheels QQ, etcetera, formed
with ratchet teeth on the periphery. The first of these wheels Q is actuated by a
pawl y, moved in turn by a lever ', acted upon by a stud or projection on the
under side of the wheel P. The wheel Q carries an eccentric hub or wheel g³,
having two teeth or projectious which operate a lever ³, carrying a pawl q', which
in turn actuates the wheel Q. The wheel Qis connected by like devices with
wheel Q', and the latter in turn with wheel Q. The wheels Q Q' etcetera are
covered by a plate R having openings through which the figures on the upper face
of the wheel are exposed one at a time. The top of the case will be constructed of
glass or provided with a hinged lid to admit of the registration being viewed
at will.
The manner in which the successive registering wheels are advanced inter-

page_text: mittingly, each by its predecessor, will be apparent to every skilled mechanic and
to those familiar with registering and calculating mechanisms, and need not,
therefore, be further described herein.
Briefly considered, the operation of this apparatus as a whole is as follows:-
The last registration being in view, the till-cover closed, and the keys locked in
the positions in which they were last placed to effect the registration, the operator
pushes the till-cover closed. The effect of this action is to unlock the keys and
effect their restoration and the registration of the registering drums to their normal
positions, the drums being at the same instant concealed from sight and the till-
cover locked in its open position. The operator having use of the till next pushes
in the appropriate keys to register the amount of the sale and in so doing he
releases the till-cover, which immediately closes, at the same time exposing the
registration on the drum to view.
Although the registration or indication on the drum is of a temporary character
the registration on the top wheels continues and is of a permanent character, the
sum total of all the sales being indicated thereon.
Dated this 28th day of September 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cash Registers or Money Tills
A communication by AUSTIN B. HAYDEN, of Kansas City, in the County of
Jackson and State of Missouri, United States of America, Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
The object of this invention is to combine with a till a cash-register having a
much greater capacity than those now in use.
In the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification―
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the register complete with the parts in their
normal positions.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the entire registering mechanism removed from
its case.
Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking downward.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the registering mechanism removed from the case,
illustrating particularly the indicating devices and the manner of reading amounts
recorded and added together.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross section through the apparatus from front to rear on
the line 6-6, Figure 7.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the apparatus with the back of the case removed and
a portion of the till broken away to expose other parts to view.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2 showing more
particularly the devices for turning the registering drums.
Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the base of the apparatus with the.till,
till cover, etcetera.
Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the tiers of finger-keys; the plates for
locking them temporarily in position, and the stop pins actuated both to stop the
registering devices at the proper point, and prevent the same from racing or running
ahead by reason of their momentum.

page_text: Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the devices which act immediately in
connection with the till cover, to lock the same and to release the finger-keys.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation showing the device through which the till
cover acts to release the finger-keys and restore the registering devices to their
normal positions.
Figure 13 is a vertical section through the registering mechanism from right to
left on the line 13-13 of Figure 5.
Figure 14 is a view of one of the plates for temporarily locking the finger-keys
of one tier when pushed inward.
Figure 15 is a view in perspective of the rock-shaft and connections through
which one tier of keys acts to operate the corresponding registering drum.
Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the devices for concealing the indicating
or registering devices until the till is closed.
•
Figure 17 is a top plan view of the base portion of the apparatus showing more
particularly the till, till cover and alarm bell.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of a detent.
The apparatus comprises first, a till, a sliding cover therefor, and if desired, a
secondary sliding till beneath the same cover; second, a registering mechanism
controlled by finger-keys for the purpose of registering and indicating the amount
of the purchases; third, circuit connections through which the actions of the till
cover and the registering devices are made interdependent.
In order that the structure may be more easily understood, the parts in the order
above named will be described.
Referring to the drawings-
A., represents a stationary base which may be of any suitable form adapted to
coutain the till and to give support to a superstructure in which the registering
mechanism is mounted. B is a stationary till mounted in the base, and C, a cover
arranged to slide forward and backward for the purpose of exposing or closing the
till, as required.
D is a secondary till arranged to slide forward and backward in the main till in
such manner as to be closed by the cover C. The sliding till and the cover may
be mounted in guides of any suitable character which will admit of their being
easily moved, but it is preferable to sustain them at the sides and at the rear end
by wheels d, attached thereto and arranged to travel upon suitable guide-rails d¹.
In order to close the till cover automatically whenever it is released, springs d
Figs. 9 & 17 may be connected therewith, which may be replaced, however, by
springs of any other form and arrangement adapted to perform the same office.
In the rear part of the base-frame is mounted a bell E sustained by a crank-
shaft e, projecting through the case to the exterior so that the bell may be thrown
at will from the operative position shown in full lines in Figures 7 and 17, to the
inoperative position shown in dotted lines. In order to sound this bell whenever
the till cover is opened or closed, a striker e' is provided carried by a rock shaft e²
having an arm e acted upon by a pivoted rocking-plate e separately shown in
Figure 18 in the path of the guide roller attached to the back of the till-cover.
As the cover is moved the roller rides over and rocks the plate e', which, through
the intermediate parts, causes the sounding of the bell. The foregoing parts
constitute the entire till mechanism.
Passing now to the registering mechanism, F F1 F, etcetera, represent finger-keys
arranged in four vertical rows or ranks representing respectively the different
numbers or values which will be registered by operating them. Each tier of keys
operates upon its own registering drums. As each tier of keys and all its
connections are the same as those in each of the other tiers a description of one
tier will answer for all.
Each of the keys consists, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 10 of a horizontal slide
or plate having at the front end a guiding and sustaining neck fl with a finger-
key thereon and a lateral projecting shoulder f" and having at the rear end an
inclined surface ƒ³, a notch fand a laterally projecting stud ƒ³. Each key is

page_text: mounted to slide freely forward and backward in vertical frame plates 7. Near
the inner ends of the keys there is mounted a vertical rock shaft G, having at the
top and bottom crank arms carrying a vertical rod g', Figure 15. This rod g' lies
behind the lateral studs f Fig. 3 of the keys so that whenever a key is pushed
inward its stud acting on the rod g' causes a partial rotation of the shaft G. The
shaft G carries at its upper end a sector pinion g³, which engages a pinion g² fixed
to a vertical drum or cylinder H, the outer surface of which is provided with
numerals from one to ten, exposed one at a time through an opening in the front of
the case, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. When, therefore, any key in the tier is
pushed inward, its stud facts to turn the shaft G, which, through its pinion g,
rotates the drum to different positions so as to expose the appropriate numbers.
The studs are located on the respective keys at different distances from their
inner ends. The several keys act, therefore, to turn the shaft G, and the indicator
drum different distances.
When the keys are pushed suddenly inward, the indicator drum receives a high
velocity and acquires a momentum which tends to carry it beyond the proper point
to prevent which stops are used. These stop devices consist, as shown in Figure 10,
of a series of vertical sliding wires 1 projecting upward through the top of the
frame in position to encounter the dog carried, as shown in Figure 15 on the
end of an arm g fixed rigidly to the top of the rock shaft G. The lower ends of
these stop wires are bent into angular forms and guided in eyes i so that they may
rise and fall freely. Each wire is carried on the inclined surface f³ of one of the
finger keys. When, therefore, a key is pressed inward to operate the indicating
drum, its surface f³ lifts the appropriate stop wire into the path of the dog y so
that when the drum is turned sufficiently to expose the number represented by the
key, the dog will encounter the stop-pin and further motion of the parts will be
prevented.
It will of course be understood that each pin stops the drum in a position
appropriate to the particular key by which it is at the moment actuated.
For purpose which will hereinafter appear it is desirable to lock the keys in
position when they are pressed inward to register the amount of the purchase, and
to hold them in this position until the till-cover is again closed. For this purpose
near the ends of the keys is mounted a vertical gravitating bar J having lateral
ears j riding on the inclined edges f³ of the keys, so that whenever a key is pressed
inward until its notch is in line with the bar J, the bar will fall and its ear j
will enter the notch and hold the key in position, as shown near the bottom of
Figure 6.
For the purpose of pushing the keys outward and restoring them to their original
positions after they are released, a heavy vertical bar K is mounted at the side of
the tier and guided at its upper end by links & pivoted to the front of the frame,
see Figures 5 and 6. This bar rests normally against the inside of the shoulders *
of all the keys, and when a key is pushed inward it causes the bar to swing inward
and upward as shown in Figure 6. When the key is released, the gravitating bar
guided by the links swings forward and pushes the key before it. By this simple
device the usual restoring spring is enabled to be dispensed with and the many
troubles attending its use are avoided.
In order that the till-cover may release the registering drums and keys and
restore them to their normal positions, and that on the other hand, the till-cover
may be locked open until the amount has been properly registered, provision is
made as follows-
The four vertical bars J, which lock the keys, are all connected at their lower
ends by sliding joints to a horizontal bail or bar M, sustained by backwardly
turned arms m mounted on horizontal pivots m'. This gravitating bar or bail is
provided, as shown in Figures 3 and 11, with an arm m³ carrying a vertical screw m³
lying above a finger m pivoted to a stationary part of the frame. This finger m*
carries on its side a trip finger m³ pivoted thereto at me and acting against a stop-

page_text: pinthereon. The till-cover is provided at its rear edge with a rigid shoulder m³
Fig. 9 which stands, when the cover is closed, forward of the trip-finger m³.
The parts operate as follows-
Assume that a series of finger-keys have been pushed inward to effect the
registration, that they are held inward by the locking bars J and that the till
cover is closed. If now the till cover be opened by sliding it backward, its
shoulder m³ will act on the trip finger m³ causing it to lift the finger m which in
turn acts against the screw m³, lifting the bail M as shown by dotted lines in
Figure 12. The bail in rising lifts all the bars J and thereby releases the finger
keys which are pushed forward by the gravitating bar K before referred to. As
the fingers move forward they permit the stop-pins I to descend by gravity to their
original positions. In order to hold the till-cover, the bail M is provided with a
depending lip m which engages teeth m fixed on the top of the till-cover, so that
as the cover completes the making of change it thereafter manipulates the keys to
effect registration. When a key is pushed inward it lifts the locking bar J which
in turn lifts the bail and disengages the lip m' from the till cover allowing the
cover to return automatically under the influence of the springs to its closed
position. This leaves the registration of the amount received still in view and
leaves the till cover in a locked position so that it cannot be again opened without
restoring the indicator drums to their normal positions and thereby indicating the
fact of the opening.
Experience has shown it to be desirable to conceal the registration until the till-
cover is closed. This is effected by mounting in the front of the case immediately
in front of the indicating drums a horizontal slide N (see Figures 5 and 16),
provided with openings so that when these openings are brought in register with
those in the case, the drums will be exposed to view, but when the slide is moved
out of this position it will close the openings in the case and conceal the drum.
This slide is actuated by the upper end of a lever n urged in one direction by
spring n' and having its lower end pivoted to the case at n' and provided with a
lateral extension ³ riding on a bar fixed to the till-cover and bevelled at its
rear end, as shown in Figure 16. When the till-cover is closed, the lever n stands
in the position shown by full lines in 16, 16, exposing the drums to view, but as the
till cover is opened the bar n under-riding the end of the lever causes the latter
to assume the position shown in dotted lines thereby concealing the drums.
The various parts above described are provided with thirty-six keys in four tiers
of nine each representing the values indicated thereon in the drawings. This is a
complete and operative registering apparatus adapted to indicate amounts to ninety-
nine dollars and ninety-nine cents.
In order, however, to adapt the apparatus for registering still larger amounts
and for adding such amounts together so that the total sales for a long period of
time may be registered, a supplemental registering mechanism is provided at the
top of the apparatus which will now be described referring particularly to
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 13.
On the upper end of each of the rock-shafts G, are mounted loosely registering
wheels PP, etcetera, these wheels and their connections being constructed in
duplicate. Each wheel is provided with peripheral ratchet teeth engaged by
the dog before referred to as being carried by the arm ge fixed to the top of the
rock-shaft. When, therefore, either of the shafts is moved by the operation of
the finger-keys to turn the registering drum, the arm g will also be turned and its
dog caused to advance the wheel a corresponding distance according to the
system of computation employed, but my correspondent commonly provides them
each with sixty teeth divided into groups of ten. To each wheel P is fixed a
wheel p having a tooth or projection for every ten teeth on the main wheel. This
secondary wheel p acts on one end of a pivoted lever pl which is connected by a
wire p³ with a swinging arm p³ carrying a pivoted dog p¹ which engages the teeth
of the next wheel P on the left. The same connections exist between the second

page_text: and third wheels and between the third and fourth wheels, so that whenever any
one of the wheels in the series is advanced ten teeth, it acts through the inter-
mediate devices to turn the next wheel to the left one tooth.
The main wheels P P', etcetera, are provided, in their upper faces adjacent to
the respective teeth, with numerals, exposed to view one at a time through openings
in overlying plates po. Owing to the connections between the wheels and the
relations between their numerals, they will register correctly in accordance with
the decimal system.
As a still further development of the system for effecting high registration in
the top of the frame are mounted four smaller registering wheels QQ, etcetera,
formed with ratchet teeth on the periphery. The first of these wheels Qis
actuated by a pawly moved in turn by a lever g' acted upon by a stud or projection
on the underside of the wheel P. The wheel Q carries an eccentric hub or wheel q
having two teeth or projections which operate a lever q³ carrying a pawl q', which
in turn actuates the wheel Q. The wheel Q is connected by like devices with
wheel Q and the latter in turn with wheel Q. The wheels QQ, etcetera, are
covered by a plate R having openings through which the figures on the upper face
of the wheel are exposed one at a time. The top of the case will be constructed
of glass or provided with a hinged lid to admit of the registration being viewed
at will.
The manner in which the successive registering wheels are advanced intermittingly,
each by its predecessor, will be apparent to every skilled mechanic and to those
familiar with registering and calculating mechanisms, and need not, therefore, be
further described herein.
Briefly considered, the operation of this apparatus as a whole is as follows-
The last registration being in view, the till-cover closed, and the keys locked in
the positions in which they were last placed to effect the registration, the operator
pushes the till cover opened. The effect of this action is to unlock the keys and
effect their restoration and the registration of the registering drums to their normal
positions, the drums being at the same instant concealed from sight and the till-
cover locked in its open position. The operator having use of the till next pushes
in the appropriate keys to register the amount of the sale and in so doing he
releases the till-cover, which immediately closes, at the same time exposing the
registration on the drum to view.
Although the registration or indication on the drum is of a temporary character
the registration on the top wheels continues and is of a permanent character, the
sum total of all the sales being indicated thereon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what. manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is-
1. In a cash-register, a line of sliding finger-keys, a rock-shaft with a projection
against which the respective keys act to return it different distances and an
indicating drum operated by the rock-shaft substantially as described and shown.
2. In a cash-register, the rock-shaft G with rod or projection y, in combination
with the indicating drum geared to the shaft, and the series of finger-keys having
the projections so located as to move the rod g different distances.
3. In a cash-register, the combination of an indicating drum, a series of finger-
keys and connections through which they turn the drum different distances, and a
series of stop devices actuated by the respective keys to limit the motion imparted
to the drum.
4. In a cash-register, the combination of a rank of finger-keys, a rock-shaft on
which the keys act to turn the same different distances respectively, an arm on the
rock-shaft, and a series of stop wires connected to the respective keys and acting
to arrest the arm at different points; whereby each key is enabled to turn the shaft
to a distinctive position and there stop it.
5. In combination with the indicating drum, its pinion, the rock-shaft provided
B

page_text: with the sector pinion and rod g, and the sliding finger-keys adapted to move the
rod
9, different distances; whereby each key is enabled to turn the drum 'to a
distinctive position.
6. In a cash-register, a tier of sliding keys in combination with the gravitating
bar K, and guides to cause its lateral motion; whereby it is enabled to return
either of the keys to the normal position.
7. In combination with the tier of sliding-keys, a gravitating plate adapted to
engage and hold them when they are moved inward.
8. In a cash-register, a line of finger-keys each notched or shouldered, and a
locking bar, common to all the keys, to engage and hold them when they are
advanced to effect the registration.
9. In a cash-register, a rotary registering drum, a series of finger-keys and
intermediate connections through which they turn the drum different distances, a
locking device to hold the keys when advanced, and means to restore the parts
when unlocked, in combination with a movable till-cover acting to disengage the
key-locking device.
10. In a cash-register, a movable till-cover, a registering mechanism, and inter-
mediate devices through which the cover acts in opening to restore the registering
mechanism to its normal condition.
11. In combination with a series of finger-keys, a registering mechanism
connected therewith and operated thereby, locking devices to temporarily hold the
keys when actuated, means to restore the parts when released, a movable till-cover
which acts in opening to disengage said locking device, and a device connected
with the registering mechanism to hold the till-cover open until the registering
keys are again actuated to effect a registration.
12. In a cash-register, the tiers of sliding finger-keys with bevelled ends, and
studs in combination with the rock-shaft G, provided with rod g', pinion E and
arm 9, the indicating drum geared to said pinion, the pawl g³, carried by arm g,
the toothed register wheel with which the pawl engages, and the stop wire, I, acted
upon by the respective keys; whereby the drum is caused to indicate temporarily
the amount of the last sale, and the wheel caused to indicate the sum total of the
sales.
13. The tier of finger-keys, the rock-shaft G having the rod or projection through
which it is turned different distances by the respective keys, the drum H, geared to
the shaft, the pawl-carrying arm attached to the shaft, and the toothed indicator-
wheel engaged by the pawl.
14. In a cash-register, the register-actuating keys, their locking bars, and the
bail or bar M, connected therewith, in combination with the dog attached to the
bail to lock the till-cover, the sliding till-cover, its closing springs and the pivoted
finger through which the till-cover acts to raise the bail; whereby the opening of
the cover is caused to restore the registering devices to their normal position, and
the actuation of the registering devices caused to close the cover.
15. In combination with the bell, its striker, and the pivoted striker-actuating
plate, the sliding till-cover arranged to operate the plate.
16. In combination with the till-cover and the striker actuated thereby, the bell
and its sustaining crank having a projected portion through which it may be
operated to carry the bell to an inactive position.
17. In a cash-register, the combination of an indicator or register, a shutter to
conceal the registration from view, and a sliding till-cover by which the shutter i
operated.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.