Improvements in or relating to Locking Mechanism for Cash Registers or Check Tills.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Locking Mechanism for Cash
Registers or Check Tills.
(A communication from ROCHESTER CASH REGISTER COMPANY, a Corporation
organized and existing under the Laws of the State of New York, in the
United States of America, and having its principal place of business in the City
of Rochester, in said State.)
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
In the drawings accompanying this Specification;
-
Fig. 1 is a section on the broken line 1-1 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of my device with the back plates of the casing removed;
Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.
The drawings show the application of this device to a cash register which is not
part of this invention, except as to the means herein described and claimed for
focking the driving handle while the drawer is open and the means for locking the
driving mechanism till a predetermined setting device has operated; but the
improvements herein set forth are applicable to cash registers and like mechanisms
of other construction than that shown, provided such cash registers and other
like mechanisms are of the two-motion type, viz., that type in which there is a
setting mechanism for setting the registering or other parts for operation and a
handle device, such as a crank or lever, for actuating the mechanism in accordance
with the actuation of the setting mechanism.
In the drawings U is a cash drawer movable in and out by means of the endless
band or chain Us attached to the bottom of the drawer and passing around a
pulley U loose on the driving shaft E3. The driving shaft 3 is positively driven
or operated in one direction by a crank H acting through a suitable train of
gears, such as H, H³, H³, Fig. 2. Inside the pulley is a clutch device, whereby,
on driving the shaft 3 in one direction, such as that of the arrow in Fig. 1, the
pulley is driven with the shaft, under which circumstances the endless chain pulls
the drawer U open. The chain passes under the drawer around guide pulleys u and
around a guide pulley u under the front part of the drawer. A suitable catch Un
connects the drawer to the chain, preferably at the back of the drawer, so that on
revolving the pulley U, the drawer can be projected from its casing by the pulling
action of the chain. The drawer itself moves on suitable rollers, as u, which run
on guideways Uº.
The setting mechanism, in the particular form shown, consists of a finger plate C
which is supported by an arm C and rocks upon a shaft B; and there is one of
these finger plates for each denomination of currency in a cash register, but, as
will be seen, this invention is applicable to a cash register having any movable

page_text: form of setting device and a separate driving device. Each of these finger plates
bears an operating arm C and a toothed segment plate I, which is locked by a
dog d', the whole series of dogs heing rigidly fixed upon a shaft and operated
by a suitable mechanism driven by the crank H. The finger plates C are moved
differentially to and from a stop bar a'. Connected to each finger plate C is an
arm C, which is connected to one end of a connecting link, the other end of which
is attached to a lever, movable upon an axis C³.
In a cash register, there may be a series of four numeral finger plates, in which
case the machine will be capable of operation with reference to amounts up to
$99.99.
It is desirable in cash registers of high grade, to include a mechanism for
indicating what operator (or the origin of the transaction), or what kind of goods
to which the transaction refers, (or the character of the transaction). This is
usually done by providing a manually operated apparatus, such as the finger
plate C or a series of keys capable of being set to operate an indicator which has
upon it, to correspond with the finger plate or keys, a series of characterizing
letters, as A, B, C, * to indicate the origin of the transaction, (the operator
or department of the store), with or without an additional series of characterizing
marks, such as "Paid In,"
," "Paid Out," "No Sale," "Cigars," "Drugs," to
indicate the character of the transaction or character of goods sold. In
the form of device shown, there are a series of four numeral keys or
finger plates, each one connected to a connecting link (20, (si, ('29
and (21 ich of which hin! is connected to
Bl
(10
connected
A finger
to its finger plate and to one of the parallel arms FA CATS CA
plate C, situated on the extreme right, if seen from the back in Fig. 2. (and thus
situated on the extreme left of a view showing the front of the machine), is
connected by an arm_("" to a connecting link (and a parallel arm (hung
from the shaft (". The arms (110 and (in this case, are of equal length and in
their motion thus produce a substantially parallel movement of the two arms and
a nearly straight line movement of the connecting link. The finger plate of this
system, which bears the characterizing marks above described, is arranged so that
it is necessary for the operator to set this mechanism indicating the origin or
character of the transaction before a numeral indication can be registered. This
is valuable in cash registers and particularly in department stores where there
are several clerks in each department and where the proprietor desires to keep
the accounts of the particular departments and of the several clerks indepen-
dently; and this result is desirable also in cases where checks are printed which
must be presented to a cashier for payment or where a check is delivered to be
preserved by the customer. In case of mistake on the part of the customer or
clerk, the check shows in what department and with what clerk, the transaction
was conducted.
The drawer moves outward to open in the direction shown by the arrow in
Fig. 1. On the inside of the casing A' which encloses the drawer, is mechanism
for stopping the handle H at its normal position of rest. for preventing rotation
of the handle in the operative direction until a selected finger plate or key is
operated and for preventing a second operation of the handle until the drawer
is fully closed. To the inside of the casing is pivoted a plate 101 by the
pivots 1011. This plate has a pin 100 which projects outwardly through the side
of the casing A¹ into the path of the handle H in such a position as-to stop
the latter in its normal position of rest. In the form of device shown, the
handle H bears a pin extending inwardly from the side of the handle adjacent
to the casing and the pin 100 stops the handle by contact with the pin h. The
plate 101 may be pressed inwardly by a push button 102, which has a stem 103
passing through the casing A¹ and connected with the plate 101. The push
button 102 is out of the path of the pin 4 and does not extend outwardly from
the casing A¹ so far as to he struck by the handle H. The push button 102 is
placed close to the handle H so that while the fingers of the operator clasp

page_text: the handle, his thumb may be placed upon the push button 102 which may thus be
pushed in at the same time that the crank His started in its revolution. When
the push button 102 is pressed inwardly, the pin 100 is moved inward so far as to
permit the pin h' to pass the same, and as above described, the handle may move
a predetermined distance (enough to pass the stop and to permit the stop to
return to initial position again), before the drawer begins to open. The drawer U
has a rail or bar 105 on its side, near the free edge of the plate 101 which
opposite to the rail has a lug or projection 106. Opposite to the position
of the lug 106, when' the drawer is stationary and is fully closed, is a
socket 107, in which the lug fits closely, thus interposing a stop in the path of
the drawer when the button 102 is pressed inward. A spring 1012 attached to
the casing A¹ acts upon the plate 101 to move the lug 100 automatically out of
the path of the drawer U and the pin 100 into the path of the crank H* or pin h*.
The lock for the device can therefore be released only when the drawer is in its
initial or fully closed, position.
The plate 101 also actuates a bar 200 movable in guides 201 transversely across
the machine, and normally pressed toward the plate 101 by a spring 202. At
the end of the bar 200 opposite to that end which is actuated by the plate 101, is a
block 203 which abuts against a movable part of a selected setting device, such
as a block on the connecting link C. This block C, when its key is in the
unoperated position, lies between a stationary abutment A¹ in the frame of
the machine and the block 203.
If, now, it is attempted to press in the push button 102, before operating the key
which actuates or permits the movement of the predetermined connecting link C,
the block 203 presses against the block (, which presses against the abutment A¹
and as the bar 200 is rigid, the plate 101 cannot be pressed in far. enough to
remove the pin 100 from the path of the pin h, and hence the crank or driver H
cannot be turned until the key of the link C is operated, and removes the
block C from the path of motion of the block 203. If, however, the key is
actuated whereby the link C is moved and the block C is removed from its
position shown in the full lines in the drawings to a position, as for instance, that
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the bar 200 may be then moved longitudinally
by the inward motion of the plate 101 and the pin 100 is removed from the path
of the pin h, whereupon the crank H' may be turned and the machine operated.
The method of operation herein shown is easily and obviously applicable to
machines having moving gear wheels or moving segments, for the block C³ may
be attached to or be part of a segment or a wheel, and, if desirable, a suitable
abutment A5 may be provided, whereupon the operation of the parts will be the
same; for the movement of such segment or wheel will remove the block (25 from
a position which prevents the movement of the bar 200.
If any key, which controls, through suitable connections, the movement of the
block C, is a key bearing one or more letters or other characterizing words or
symbols, it will become necessary to operate this key and thus indicate the
character or origin of the transaction before the other or numeral keys of the cash
register can be operated.
The chain Us is firmly attached to the pulley U, as by the pins U, and a
suitable device is provided whereby the rotation of the shaft E3 from the initial
position of rest of the handle H, shown in Fig. 1, to the same position again,
produces a sufficient revolution of the pulley U to throw the drawer open.
Between the pulley U and the shaft 3 is a clutch device. Inside the rim of
the pulley is a cam U having an abutment end u; and fast on the shaft E³ is a
pawl arm a bearing a pawl U pressed by a spring in a direction to engage
the abutment when the shaft turns as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The
pawl has an end which extends within the rim of the pulley to engage the
abutment u. A suitable part G of the frame carries a stationary cam u, which
holds the pawl in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the cam U' can pass the
pawl without touching it. On rotating the shaft E, the pawl moves off from

page_text: or disengages from the cam 23 and engages the abutment ², after having moved
a predetermined distance from its initial position; and when this engagement takes
place, the drawer begins to be opened. The further rotation of the crank to
complete its movement, brings the pawl back to a position of engagement with
the stationary cam and the driving shaft is arrested with the pawl in the initial
position, shown in Fig. 1. The drawer is now fully opened and it must be closed
by hand, which moves the chain and drives the pulley U backward on the
stationary shaft . But if the initial position of the cam 7 was, as shown in
Fig. 1, a certain distance ahead of the pawl, then the complete return movement
of the drawer rotates the pulley until the drawer is returned to its initial position
and the cam also returns to its initial position. Thus these parts are reset to the
positions whereby it is necessary for the driver to move a predetermined distance
from its starting point.
If the plate 101 is pressed in, the lug 106 enters the socket 107 and the pin h¹
may move past the pin 100. After the pin 7 has passed the pin 100, the drawer
begins to move, opens fully, but the rail 105 on its side is long enough to remain
opposite the lug or pin 106 and, while the drawer is open, the push button 102
cannot be pressed in because the stop or lug 106 comes in contact with the rail or
bar 105 on the side of the drawer and prevents the inward movement of the
plate 101, but as soon as the drawer is again closed, the socket 107 stands opposite
the stop or lug 106 and the handle may be again rotated to open the drawer,
provided the push button is pressed in. A lock 108 may be attached to the
casing A¹, having a bolt 109, which may be thrown to prevent the inward move-
ment of the plate 101, and thus the machine may be locked against any operation
1. t the H
Inle that the mas He may ha t that it i not moressary to operate the
character or letter key before operating the numeral keys, the following
mechanism is provided. The block 203 is hinged to the bar 200, as by the
pivot 204, Fig. 4 and 5. Pivoted to the har 200, is a plate 2005, which may be
swung around its pivot 206 to support the block 203 in position for engagement
against the block (2) When the plate 205 is swung into position shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 4, the plate 2033 may fall into position shown by dotted lines in
Fig. 5, so that if the bar 200 is moved by the plate 201, the block 203 will not
come in contact with the block (23, but if the block 203 is raised into the position to
make contact with the block (and the plate 205 is swung into the position
shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the block 203 will be supported in suitable position
to make contact with the block (and compel the operation of the key affecting
the movement of said block (before any other key in the machine can be
operated.
Thus there is produced a mechanism for cash registers, comprising a driver, a
stop movable into the path of a movable or sliding part (such as the drawer), which
is actuated by the driver when said part is stationary. Thus the drawer cannot be
pulled open by extraneous means, at the moment the driver-lock is released
because the drawer-stop is in its slot and the driver must pass the driver-lock in
order to permit the drawer to be released. The driver or crank does not begin to
move the drawer or start until the driver has moved a predetermined distance from
its initial position, thus permitting the spring 1012 to move the stop out of the
path of the drawer, but move the other stop into position to stop the driver when
the latter returns to its initial position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
-
1. In a cash register having a setting mechanism, an operating lever and a cash
drawer opened by said lever, the combination with a lock normally projecting
into the path of the lever, of means for preventing the removal of the lock from
the path of the lever except when the drawer is in the closed position.

page_text: 2. In a cash register having a setting mechanism an operating lever and a cash
drawer opened by said lever the combination with a lock normally projecting into
the path of the lever of means controlled by the drawer for preventing the removal
of the lock from the path of the lever except when the drawer is in the closed
position.
3. In a cash register having a setting mechanism, an operating lever and a
cash drawer, the combination with a lock normally projecting into the path of
the lever, of manually operated means for removing the lock from the path of
the lever and means for preventing the actuation of the manually operated means
except when the drawer is in the closed position.
4. In a cash register having a setting mechanism, an operating lever and a
cash drawer, the combination with a lock normally projecting into the path of the
lever, of manually operated means for removing the lock from the path of the
lever, and means controlled by the drawer for preventing the actuation of
the manually operated means except when the drawer is in the closed position.
5. In a cash register, the combination with a setting mechanism, a crank, and
a cash drawer opened by the movement of the crank, of a locking device normally
projecting into the path of the crank, and a manually operated device for removing
the locking device from the path of the crank which is prevented from operation
by the drawer except when the drawer is in its closed position.
6. In a cash register, the combination with a setting mechanism, a crank, and
a cash drawer opened by the movement of the crank, of a locking device normally
projecting into the path of the crank, and a manually operated device for removing
the locking device from the path of the crank, which is held from operation by the
drawer while the drawer is open to any degree, but when the drawer is closed,
permits a portion of the manually operated device to enter a socket in the drawer
and remove the locking device from the path of the crank.
7. In a cash register the combination with a driver of a movable part operated
in one direction by the driver but starting after the driver has moved a predeter-
mined distance from its initial position, a stop for the movable part, a driver stop
normally in the path of the driver, means for moving the first mentioned stop
into the path of the movable part while the latter is stationary in its initial
position and for moving the driver stop out of the path of the driver, means for
automatically moving the first stop out of the path of the movable part and the
driver-stop into the path of the driver when the latter has passed its stop and has
moved the predetermined distance, and means for retaining the driver stop in
the path of the driver while the movable part is out of its initial position.
8. In a cash register, the combination with a driver, of a sliding part operated in
one direction by the driver but starting after the driver has moved a predeter-
mined distance from its initial position, a stop for the sliding part, a driver-stop
normally in the path of the driver, means for moving the first mentioned stop
into the path of the sliding part while the latter is stationary and in its initial
position and for moving the driver-stop out of the path of the driver, means for
automatically moving the stop out of the path of the sliding part and the driver-
stop into the path of the driver when the latter has passed its stop and has moved
the predetermined distance, and means for retaining the stop in the path of the
driver while the movable part is out of its initial position.
9. In a cash register, the combination with a driver, of a cash drawer operated
in one direction by the driver but starting after the driver has moved a predeter-
mined distance from initial position, a drawer-stop, a driver-stop normally in the
path of the driver, means for moving the drawer-stop into the path of the cash
drawer while the latter is stationary in its initial position and for moving the
driver-stop out of the path of the driver, means for automatically moving the
drawer-stop out of the path of the cash drawer and the driver-stop into the path
of the driver when the driver has passed its stop and has moved the predeter-
mined distance, and means for retaining the stop in the path of the driver while
the drawer is out of its initial position.

page_text: 10. In a cash register, the combination with a series of setting mechanisms,
of a rotary crank for the registering mechanism, a cash drawer opened by the
operation of the crank but remaining at rest in its closed position until the crani:
has moved a predetermined distance, a pin projecting into the path of movement
of the crank, a drawer-pin projecting into the path of the drawer when the first
named pin has moved out of the path of the crank, means for simultaneously
moving these pins into and out of the path of the drawer and out of and into the
path of the crank, means for automatically removing the one pin from the path
of the drawer and for moving the other pin into the path of the crank, and means
brought into action by the movement of the drawer for retaining this latter pin
in the path of the crank while the drawer is open to any degree.
11. In a cash register having a setting mechanism an operating lever and a
cash drawer opened by this lever, the combination with a lock normally project-
ing into the path of the lever, of means for preventing the removal of the lock
from the path of the lever except when the drawer is in the closed position and
provided with a locking device releasable by movement of a part of the setting
mechanism.
12. In a cash register having a setting mechanism an operating lever and a
cash drawer opened by this lever, the combination with a lock normally projecting
into the path of the lever, of means controlled by the drawer for preventing the
removal of the lock from the path of the lever except when the drawer is in the
closed pa ition and provided with a locking device releasable by movement of a
part on the setting inchanism.
133. In a cash register having a setting mechanism, an operating lever and a ch
drawer, the combination with a lock normally projecting into the path of the
lever, of manually operated means for removing the lock from the path of the
lever, means for preventing the actuation of the manually operated means except
when the drawer is in the closed position, and a locking device for the manually
operated means releasable by movement of a part of the setting mechanism.
14. In a cash register having a setting mechanism, an operating lever and a cash
drawer, the combination with a lock normally projecting into the path of the
lever, manually operated means for removing the lock from the path of the lever,
means controlled by the drawer for preventing the actuation of the manually
operated means except when the drawer is in the closed position, and a locking
device for the manually operated means releasable by movement of a part of the
setting mechanism.
15. In a cash register, the combination with a setting mechanism, a crank, and a
cash drawer opened by the movement of the crank, of a locking device normally
projecting into the path of the crank, a manually operated device for removing this
locking device from the path of the crank which is prevented from operation by the
drawer except when the drawer is in its closed position, and a locking device for
the manually operated means releasable by movement of a part of the setting
mechanism.
16. In a cash register, the combination with a setting mechanism, a crank, and
a cash drawer opened by the movement of the crank, of a locking device normally
projecting into the path of the crank, and a manually operated device for removing
this locking device from the path of the crank which is held from operation by
the drawer while the drawer is open to any degree, but when the drawer is closed,
permits a portion of the manually operated device to enter a socket in the drawer
and remove the locking device from the path of the crank, and a locking device
for the manually operated means releasable by movement of a part of the setting
mechanism.
17. In a cash register the combination with a driver of a movable part operated
in one direction by the driver but starting after the driver has moved a predeter-
mined distance from its initial position, a stop for the movable part, a driver-stop
normally in the path of the driver, means for moving the first mentioned stop
into the path of the movable part while the latter is stationary in its initial

page_text: position and for moving the driver-stop out of the path of the driver, means for
automatically moving the first stop out of the path of the movable part and the
driver-stop into the path of the driver when the latter has passed its stop and has
moved the predetermined distance, means for retaining the driver-stop in the path
of the driver while the movable part is out of its initial position, a series of
setting mechanisms for the register and means for retaining the driver-stop in
the path of the driver releasable by the operation of a particular setting mechanism.
18. In a cash register, the combination with a driver, of a cash drawer operated
in one direction by the driver but starting after the driver has moved a predeter-
mined distance from its initial position, a drawer-stop, a driver-stop normally in
the path of the driver, means for moving the drawer-stop into the path of the
cash drawer while the latter is stationary in its initial position and for moving
the driver-stop out of the path of the driver means for automatically imoving the
drawer-stop out of the path of the cash drawer and the driver-stop into the path
of the driver when the latter has passed its stop and has moved the predetermined
distance, means for retaining the stop in the path of the driver while the drawer
is out of its initial position, a series of setting mechanisms for the register and
means for retaining the driver-stop in the path of the driver releasable by the
operation of a particular setting mechanism.
19. In a cash register, the combination with a series of setting mechanisms, of
a rotary crank for the registering mechanism, a cash drawer opened by the
operation of this crank but remaining at rest in its closed position until the crank
has moved a predetermined distance, a pin projecting into the path of movement
of the crank, a drawer-pin projecting into the path of the drawer when the first
named pin has moved out of the path of the crank, means for simultaneously
moving these pins into and out of the path of the drawer and out of and into
the path of the crank, means for automatically removing the one pin from the path
of the drawer and for moving the other pin into the path of the crank, means
brought into action by the movement of the drawer for retaining the latter pin in
the path of the crank while the drawer is open to any degree, and a bolt for
retaining this pin in the path of the crank, which bolt is released by the movement
of a particular setting mechanism.
20. In a cash register, the combination with a series of setting mechanisms, of a
rotary crank H* geared to a driving shaft E³, a cash drawer opened by the rotation
of the crank and having a rail 105 and a socket 107 on its side, and a rocking
plate such as 101 having a pin 100 normally in the path of the crank, and a pin 106
movable into the socket 107 only when the drawer is fully closed, this pin 106 being
held outward by the rail 105 when the drawer is open to any degree thereby
holding the pin 100 in the path of the crank.
21. In a cash register, the combination with a series of setting mechanisms, of
a rotary crank H¹ geared to a driving shaft E³, a cash drawer opened by the
rotation of a crank and having a rail 105 and a socket 107 on its side, a rocking
plate such as 101 having a pin 100 normally in the path of the crank, and a
pin 106 movable into the socket 107 only when the drawer is fully closed, this pin 106
being held outward by the rail 105 when the drawer is open to any degree and a
bar 200 moved by the plate 101, a movable part C of one of the setting mechan-
isms in the path of movement of the bar 200 preventing its movement by the
plate to remove the pin 100 from the path of the crank until the setting mechanism
is moved out of the path of the bar.