Improvements in or relating to Cash Registers and Indicators, sometimes termed Check Tills
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1995
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Cash Registers and Indicators,
sometimes termed Check Tills
1, REGINALD IIADDAN, of the Fum of Herbert Iladdan and Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, W.C. London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, a communication to me from abroad by The National Cash Register
Company of Dayton, State of Ohio, United States of America and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement
-
My invention relates to that class of machines in which the indicating and
registering mechanisms are actuated by a pointer moving over a dial, as
distinguished from machines in which such mechanisms are actuated by a series
of keys; and it consists in ceitam novel constructions, arrangements, combinations
and modes of operation of the parts which will be hereinafter fully descubed and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure
is a perspective view of the machine within its casing;
Figue 2 a front elevation with the casing in section, to expose the parts within,
Figure 3 a corresponding real clevation;
Figure 4a top plan view with the top of the casing, bearing the numbering dials
over which the pointers move, removed;
Figure 5 a horizontal section approximately on the line 5-5 of Figures 2
and 3,
nod
Figure 6 a muddle transverse vertical section
'
Figure 7, a vertical section approximately on the line 7-7 of Figures 2 and 3,
Figure 8 a plan view of the top plate of the casing, showing the dials
The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the
figmes
There are two sets of mechanisms, for indicating and registering different
denominations, as dollars and cents, or shillings and pence, operated by two inde-
pendent handles. These handles consist of pointers A A. fast upon the upper ends
of vertical shafts B B journaled at their upper and lower ends in beatings in the
framework C and co-operating with dials D D upon the top plate of the casing E.
The pointers have suitable knobs F for moving them over the dials In the
present stance the right hand mechanism may be taken to be that for midicating
and registering cents, and the left hand one dollars Each mechanism has two
indicating wheels or drums, one adapted to expose its numbers at a sight opening
in the front plate of the casing, and the other to expose its numbers at a similar
opening in the rear plate thereof These indicators are mounted upon the two
vertical shafts and are free to turn the eon. A gear G last upon the upper side of
the upper one I of the two right hand indicators meshes with a gear I inst upon
the upper end of the hub or sleeve K of the lower one J of the two left hand
indicators, such sleeve extending upward though the hub of the upper left hand
indicator O, Figure 6 The lower one L of the two night hand indicators has fust
upon its upper side, between it and the indicator II, a gear M which meshes with
the gear N fast upon the under side of the upper one of the two left hand
indicators The result of this connection of the two sets of indicators is that the
dicators Haud J are geared together and move in unison, while the indicators L

page_text: and are likewise geared together The numbers are so arranged upon the
several indicators that when a given number upon the upper right hand indicator
is exposed at its window in the front of the casing the corresponding number upon
the lower left hand indicator will be exposed at its window in the tear side of the
casing, and when a given number upon the upper left hand indicator is exposed at
the front the corresponding number upon the lower right band one will be exposed
at the real
At each operation of the machine, therefore, the indication will be
displayed at both front and rear of the machine.
The hub P of the lower right hand indicator L has fast upon its lower end a
gear Q which meshes with a gear-toothed segment R pivoted upon the upper end
of a post S and yieldingly held in the position shown, against a stop T, by means
of a spring U coiled around the hub of the segment and secured thereto at one end
and at its other to the stop T The indicator L, and consequently the indicator O
geared to it, are held in normal position by this spring, with their ciphers or blank
spices exposed at the windows in the casing. The lower left hand indicator and
the upper right hand one are held in normal position in a similar manner, by means
of a segment meshing with a gear W fast upon the lower end of the hub X of
the dientor and a spring Y acting upon the segment The hubs of the
indicators Land J also have fast upon then lower ends, immediately below the
gears and W, ratchets Z and with which co-operate holding pawls A'B',
Figure 5, to temporarily hold the indicators in the positions to which they may be
moved against the tension of the spinge.
Inasmuch as the two mecban.sms are substantially alike a detailed description of
the night hand one will suffice for both. The vertical shaft B of this ght hand
mechanism has fast upon it immediately below the ratchet Z a disk C' which has
projection D upon its upper side, Figure 3, adapted to co-operate with a pro-
Jection upon the lower side of the ratchet Z, by means of which when the
pointer A upon the upper end of the shaft is turned forward over its dial the
indicator L will be cared forward with the shaft to expose at its window in
the casing the number at which the pointer may be arrested. The engagement of
the pan with the ratchet Z serves to hold the indicator from return movement
under the stress of its spring when the pointer is released in the manner hereafter
described and returned with the shaft to normal position A coiled spring F¹
surrounding and connected at one end to the lower end of the shaft R, Figure 6,
operates to return the latter and the pointer to such position when they are
released Splined upon the lower end of the shaft B is one member G of a
clutch whose second member II is fast upon the under side of a gear I loose
upon the shaft and meshing with a gear J, Figure 2, loose upon the hub of the
registering wheel K which is mounted upon a post L'. The hub of this wheel
has fast upon its lower end beneath the gear J, a ratchet M' with which
co-operates a pawl N' pivoted to the under side of the gear and spring-pressed
against the intehet, to cause the gear to carry the wheel with it in a forward
direction but also permit the wheel to be moved forward independently of the
gear for a pin pose hereafter referred to The clutch member G' is shitted into
and out of engagement with the member II' by means of a shifter O' pivoted at
its middle to a vertical support upon the base plate and having a forked end
provided with pins fitting in a circumferential groove in the hub of the member G¹
as usual
A paul Q pivoted to a post R' and spring-pressed against a ratchet S¹
fast upon the upper side of the gear I prevents backward movement of the gear
and registering wheel A stukei T fast upon the pan Qis vibrated against a
gong U¹ to sound the same as the ratchet S is turned forward and its teeth moved
under the pawl. A coiled spring U beneath the inner end of the shilter O
normally holds the clutch members G' II' in engagement, so that when the pointer
and shaft are tuned for ward from normal position the gear I will be turned with
them and the registering wheel advanced to register the amount represented by
the number upon the dial to which the pointer is turned
When the pointer 18
eleased from the hand of the operator the continued engagement of the clutch

page_text: members will cause the ratchet S and paw! Q' to hold the shaft and pointer from
return movement under the influence of the sping F1 at the lower end of the
shaft until the clutch members are disengaged. This disengagement is effected
by means of a cain or shoulder V1 upon a vertically sliding plate W' co-operating
with the outer end of the shifter O' When this plate lifted the cain V will
lift the outer end of the shifter and depress its inner end against the resistance of
the spring U and disengage the clutch, whereupon the spring F will restore the
shaft and pointer to initial position. The vertically moving plate W₁ is actuated
by the money drawer X of the machine, which is confined in the base or
compartment Y¹ upon which the framework of the machine rests As seen in
Figures 6 and 7 the lower end of the plate W¹ extends down through an opening
in the top of this drawer compartment and carries an anti-friction roller co-operating
with one of the sides of the diawer. The side of the drawer is provided with a
recess in its upper edge at A" in which the lower end of the plate W' tests when
the drawer is in closed position. When the drawer is pulled outward the inclined
rear side of the recess ides under the roller and lifts the plate and causes the
cam V¹ to move the shifter and disengage the clutch in the manner before
explained. In this manner after a pointer has been turned forward to a given
point, to make an indication and registration, the opening of the drawer will release
it and permit its spring to return it to normal position.
As heretofore stated the engagement of the pawl A with the ratchet Z will
hold the indicator in the position to which it has been moved, after the shaft and
pointer bave been released and totuned to normal position. The opening of the
money diawer therefore has no effect upon the indication, which remains displayed
after the drawer is closed. The indicator is released and returned to normal
position at the next forward movement of the pointer, to effect a new indication
and registration, in the following manner, and by the following means. Splined
upon the downwardly extended hub of the disk C' by whose projection D' the
indicator is turned forward, Figure 3, as before explained, is a vertically movable
disk B having a pendent hub provided with a cucumferential groove in which fits
pins in the forked end of a second shifter C similar to the shifter O¹ before
descubed, pivoted at its middle to the saine support, and co-operating at its outer
end with a cam D upon the same vertically movable plate W A coiled
spring E" beneath the shifter yieldingly holds its inner end and the disk B m
then upper normal position, and when the drawer is opened and the plate W lifted
the cam D will lift the outer end of the shifter and lower the disk The
periphery of the disk is provided at one point with a notch F", Figure 6, in
which, when the pointer, slinit and disk are in normal position, with the pointer
standing at zero on the dial, fits a pin G" upon the under side of the pawl A¹
which engages the ratchet Z, and, as before explained, holds the indicator from
return movement. At the hist forward movement of the pointer this notch m
the disk will be carried away from the pin and as the latter is forced outward and
caused to ride over the periphery of the disk the pawl will be disengaged from the
ratchet and the indicatoi released and returned to initial or zero position by the
spring U acting upon the segment R. It may or may not return all the way to
initial position, but will move backward until it either reaches such position or
until its projection E' contacts with the forwardly moving projection D¹ on the
disk C. Inasmuch as during the forward movement of the indicator the pawl A'
is held out of engagement with the ratchet Z by the disk B just described it
follows that, until the pawl is permitted to re-engage the ratchet, the indicator will
be held from return movement solely by the projection D' upon the disk C, by
which it has been tuned forward As before explained, the pointer and shalt and
disk Cremain in the forward position to which they are turned until the drawer
18 opened and the clutch members G' II' disengaged by the shifter O', and when
the diawet 18 opened and the release of those parts thus effected the shifter Cu
simultaneously throws the disk B" downward and disengages it from the pin Gu
upon the uudet side of the pawl A', thereby permitting the pawl to re-engage the

page_text: ratchet and bold the indicator in position after the pointer and parts moving
with it have returned to initial position.
The pawl A is connected by a link II, Figures 2 and 3, to the pawl B'
which co-operates with the ratchet 2 of the indicator J of the left hand set,
which paw B is provided with a pin Gsimilar to the
pin Gu
upon the
pan A and co-operating with a disk B upon the left hand shaft B, so that
whenever either pointer is turned forward the indicators of both sets will be
released.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that, with both indicators
set to make an indication representing dollars and cente, at the first forward
movement of either pointer both indicators will be released and returned to
normal position, and that, after one or both pointers have been turned forward
the necessary distance to effect the new indication, the opening of the money
drawer will release them and permit them to netuin to itial position, while
the indicators will remain in indicating position after the diawer is closed and
mitil one of the pointers is again turned for ward
The parts co-operating with the left hand set of indicators and corresponding
to the parts above described in connection with the right hand once need not be
referred to in detail They have been indicated on the drawings by letters of
reference corresponding to the letters on the right hand set but in the third
power, thus A, B, C, &c.
Inasmuch as the drawer is to be pulled open by hand, it follows that, so far
as the operations above described are concerned, it may or may not be provided
with a lock, but it is preferable to employ a lock for it controlled by the
indicating and registering mechanisms, and the one illustrated in the drawings
may be now described. It consists of a peadent bolt H secured to a laterally
sliding plate mounted in guide-ways upon the base plate of the hamework
near its forward edge, Figures 4, 5, and 7. The bolt II extends down through
an opening in the top of the drawer compartment and co-operates at its lower
end with a recess J in one of the partitions K" of the drawer. When the
bolt stands in this access the drawer is locked, and when the plate I" is slid
Interally of the machine the bolt will be carried out of the recess and the
drawer unlocked. The plate 1" has igidly secured to it two car wardly
extending aims J, Figures 5 and 7, whose curved en ends co-operate
espectively with dishs fast upon the lower ends of the shafts B below
the lower members of the two clutches. Each of the disks K is provided
with a notch, in which notches the rear ends of the aims Jest when tho
pointers and shafts are in initial position, being yieldingly held in engagement
therewith by spring L" pulling the plate 1" to the right. When either pointer
is turned forward from initial position the plate 1" will be slid to the left and the
locking bolt be disengaged from the recess in the diawer, When the drawer
is pulled out and the pointers and shafts released and returned to initial position
the notches in the disks K will be brought into position to receive the ends of
the aims Jagain, but the engagement of the locking bult H with the left
side of the partition K" of the drawer will prevent the plate "etmuing to
avimal position under the influence of its spring L" until the drawer is pushed in
again, whereupon as the recess or notch the partition comes opposite the bolt
the plate will spring to the night and the drawer become locked.
In normal position the pointers A A rest against stops M" M" projecting
upward from the top cross plate of the framework through the top of the casing,
Figure 4. For the purpose of preventing the pointers being returned too quickly
and violently to normal position when released there are provided two escapement
lever N N pivoted to the top plate of the framework and co-operating with
toothed wheels "O" fast upon the respective shalis B B below the pointers.
For the purpose of preventing both pointers being turned forward at the same
ume there are provided two locking pawls PP pivoted to a plate Q near its
opposite ends and co-operating with the toothed wheels O" O". "The plate Qis

page_text: pivoted near its inaute to the top plate of the framework, and the adjustment is
such that when one pawl P is disengaged from its wheel O" the other pawl must
be engaged with the other wheel. The pawls are free to turn upon their pivots in
one duection but not in the other, owing to stops R" R" with which they contact
and against which they are yieldingly held by springs S" S". It will be seen that
when the pointers are turned forward, in the direction of the arrows, the pawls
cannot yield on then pivots, so that when either pointer is moved the other will be
locked. When, however, the pointers are released the pawls are free to yield on
their pivots in their opposite directions, to permit the pointers to simultaneously
return to normal position under the influence of their springs
At each complete revolution of the cents registering wheel K¹ one dollar will be
transferred to and added upon the dollar registering wheel T" by means of a
transfer pawl U, Figure 5, pivoted to the left hand end of a lever V" whose
ight hand end co-operates with a projection W upon the wheel K' at each
complete revolution of the latter, while at each half iovolution of the wheel T"
the wheel X registering tens of dollars will be advanced one number by
projections Yu upon
the wheel T which engage the ratchet of the wheel X".
As before explained, the gear J' by which the wheel K 15 actuated is loose upon
the hub of the wheel and canes a pawl N' which co-operates with a ratchet M'
fast upon the lower end of the hub of the wheel. This connection causes the gear
to tun the wheel forward with it, but also permits the wheel to be turned forward
independently of the gear, and the wheel bas upon the upper end of its hub a thumb
piece by which it may be so turned independently of the gear to reset it to
zero at any time desired The dollar Legistering wheel is similaily connected
to its actuating gear, so that it may likewise be readily reset to zero, as may
also the wheel X", which has no actuating gear but is intermittently actuated
by the wheel T".
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clann 18
1. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of an oscillatory operating
shaft, a handle or pointer moving over a dial, lor taming the shalt in one direction, and
a sping for resetting it, a clutch member turning with the shaft, a second member
Ιογει upon the shaft, a ratchet and pawl for preventing backward movement of the
loose clutch member, a money drawer, and a shitter for the clutch actuated by the
drane to break the clutch and permit the shaft to bo reset by its spring.
2 In a cash register aud indicator, the combination of an oscillatory operating
shaft, a handle or pointer moving over a dial, for turning the shalt in one direction,
and a spring for resetting it, a clutch member splined upon the shaft, a second
member loose upon the shaft, a gear wheel and ratchet tunning with the latter
member, a register driven by the gear. a pawl co-operating with the ratchet to
prevent backward movement of the gear and clutch member, a money drawer,
and a shifter for the first clutch member actuated by the diawer to break the
clutch upon the movement of the drawer, and permit the shaft and pointer to be
reset by their sping
3. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of the vertical shaft B
having the pointer A co-operating with the dial, the clutch member G'aplined upon
the shaft, the member Hloose thereon and the ratchet and pawl to preventing
backward movement of it, the shilter O¹lo the member G', the money drawer,
and the vertically sliding plate W₁ actuated by the drawer and having the cam
shoulder V co-operating with the shifter O', substantially as described.
4. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of an oscillatory operating
shaft, a handle or pointer fast thereon and co-operating with a dial, a resetting
sping therefor, an indicator loose upon the shaft and a spring for resetting it,
incans intermediate the shaft and indicator for turning the latter with the shaft in
oue direction, a ratohet and pawl for holding the indicator in the position to which

page_text: it may be moved by the shaft, and means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet
at the first forward movement of the shaft and permitting its re-engagement
therewith when the pointer begins its backward movement
3. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of an oscillatory operating
shaft, a handle or pointer fast thereon and co-operating with a dial, a resetting
spring therefor, an indicator loose upon the shaft and a resetting spring for it,
means intermediate the shaft and indicator for turning the latter with the shaft
in one direction, a ratchet and pawl for holding the indicato in the position 10
which it may be moved by the shaft, a money drawer, means controlled by the
drawer for holding the pointer and shaft in the position to which they may be
turned, and means actuated by the shaft to disengage the pawl from the ratchet at
the first movement of the shaft and permit it to re-engage it when the pointer and
shaft nie released by movement of the diawei.
6. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of an oscillatory operating
shaft, a handle or pointer for tuining the same in one direction and a spring for
resetting it, an indicator loose upon the shaft and a resetting sping for it, means
intermediate the shaft and indicator for turning the latter with the shaft in one
direction, a ratchet and pawl for holding the udicator in the position to which it
may be moved by the shaft, a money drawer, means controlled by the drawer for
holding the pointer and shaft in the position to which they may be tuned, a disk
splined upon the shaft and provided with a notch in which a projection upon the
pan rests when the parts are in normal position, by which disk the pawl is
disengaged from the ratchet when the shaft is turned forward, and a shifter
actuated by the drawer to slide the disk out of engagement with the pawl when the
drawer is moved, to permit the panl to re-engage the latchet
7. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of the shaft B having the
punter A co-operating with a dial, a resetting sping F for the shaft, the clutch
mumber G splined upon the shaft, the co-operating clutch member H' loose
thereou and the Latchet and pawl for preventing backward movement of it, the
shifter for the member G', the iudicato L loose upon the shaft, the resetting
spring therefor, the part D' timing with the shaft and co-operating with a part
turning with the indicator to carry the latter forward with the shaft, the ratchet Z
turning with the indicator, the pawl A' co-operating therewith to prevent backward
movement of the indicator. the sliding disk B turning with the shaft, having the
notch and co-operating with the pawl A', the shifter for the disk, the money
drawer, and the vertically sliding plate Wuctuated thereby and having the cam
shoulders co-operating with the shifters O', and C" for the pin pose described
8 In a cash register and indicator, the combination of the shaft B having the
pointer A co-operating with the dial, a resetting sping F for the shaft, the clutch
member G splined upon the shaft, the co-operating clutch member H¹ loose
tboreon and the ratchet and pawl for preventing backward movement of it, the
shifter for the member G', the indicator L loose upon the shait, the ratchet Z
aud gear turning with the indicator, the segment R meshing with the gear, the
spung U acting on the segment, the disk fast upon the shaft and having the
projection D' co-operating with the projection E' où the antchet, the pawl A¹
co-operating with the ratchet, the sliding disk B turning with the shaft, having
the notch in its periphery and co-operating with a pin G upon the pawl A', the
shifter C for the disk B", the inouey drawer, and the vertically reciprocating
plate W having the cam shouldors V₁D" co-operating with the shifters O¹ and Cli
and extending at its lower end into the drawer-compartment and carrying a roller
co-operating with a recess m the side of the drawer, substantially as described.
9. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of the two operating
shafts B B having the pointers A A co-operating with the dials, the indicators HĽ
loose upon one shaft and the indicators JO loose upon the other, the indicator H
being geared to the indicator J, and the indicator L to the indicator O, resetting
springs for the indicators, connections between each shaft and ono of its indicators
for causing the shaft to carry the indicator for ward with it, a pawl and ratchet

page_text: co-operating with one indicator on each shaft to prevent backward movement of it.
a connection between the two pawls to cause them to move into and out of engage-
ment with the ratchets in unison, and means actuated by the shafts to disengage
the pawls from the ratchets at the forward movement of either shaft and permit
their re-engagement at the backward movement of the shafts, substantially as
described
10. In a cash register and indicator, the combination of the two operating
shafts B B having the pointers A A co-operating with the dials, the indicators HIL
loose upon one shaft and the indicators JO loose upon the other, the indicator H
beng geared to the indicate J, and the indicator L to the indicator O, resetting
spings for the shafts and indicators, connections between each shaft and one of its
indicators for causing the shaft to carry the indicator forward with it, the
atchets Z Z tuning with the indicators LJ, the pawl A'B' co-operating with
said ratchets and connected by the link II, the disks B B splined upon the
shafts beneath the ratchets and pawls and co-operating with the pawl, the
shifters CC for disengaging the disks from the pawls, the clutch members H'H
loose thereon, the ratchets and pawls for preventing backward movement of the
members H, the shifters Of O for the members G1 G, the money drawer,
and the vertically shdmg plates WW actuated thereby and provided with the
cams VD and VD co-operating with the shutters O₁ C" and "C",
substantially as described
In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the two operating
shafts and the indicating and registering mechanisms actuated thereby, of the
toothed wheels O" fast upon the shafts, the pivoted plate Q" and the pawls P" pи
pivoted thereon and movable in one direction from normal position but not in the
other, and co-operating with the wheels 00" to prevent simultaneous forward
movement of the shafts B B but permit simultaneous backward movement
of them.
12. lua cash register and indicator, the combination, with the operating shaft E
and its resetting sping, and the indicating and registering mechanisms Actuated by
the shaft, of the toothed wheel O" fast upon the shaft and the escapement level N¹¹
co-operating therewith, for the purpose specified
17h 1
11005