Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887.
I, BROWNE WOLSEY WEBB, of 444, Cainden Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to self-registering money-tills chiefly designed for the
prevention of fraud by persons who receive money in shops and other places, and
comprises various improvements hereinafter described whereby I increase the efficiency
of such tills.
My improvements are more particularly applicable to tills of that kind or class
wherein the total amount of money inserted is recorded in pounds, shillings and
pence, and wherein each payment may be readily seen by the customer making the
same, after the insertion of the coin or coins into the till and prior to the delivery
thereof into a closed drawer or other receptacle at the bottom of the till. But some
of my improvements are also advantageously applicable to other tills.
One feature of my said invention is the employment of discs or wheels having
numeral figures upon their peripheries, and so placed within the box or case of the
apparatus that one figure on each disc or wheel can be seen through an aperture
provided for the purpose in the said box or case. These discs or wheels are, in some
instances, arranged in pairs in combination with suitable mechanism so that the
insertion of a penny or halfpenny, for example, or of a shilling or florin, in the
apertures or slits provided therefor, will cause the partial rotation of one of the said
discs or wheels, while the insertion of a sixpence or of a half-sovereign in the
apertures or slits provided therefor will cause the partial rotation of the other disc or
wheel. The disc or wheel for registering the pennies and halfpennies is marked on
its periphery with two series of numerals indicating the several sums from a half-
penny up to five-pence halfpenny, a blank being left between the 5 of one series and
the of the other series. The disc or wheel for registering the sixpences is marked
with sixes at equal distances apart around its periphery, blank spaces being left
between the same equal in width to or slightly greater than a figure on the said disc,
so that, in the step-by-step rotation of the said disc, a six and a blank space will be
alternately brought opposite the corresponding aperture in the box or case. These
1

page_text: discs or wheels indicate or record the amounts inserted as follows, viz. ;-Assuming
that, when the discs are all at zero, the sum of £1,,2,, 2 is inserted in the till, the
figure 1 will appear opposite the pounds aperture in the box or case, 2 will appear
opposite the shillings aperture, 2 on the pence disc or wheel will appear opposite the
pence aperture and a blank space on the sixpence disc or wheel will also appear
opposite the pence aperture; if a sixpence is then inserted in the till, the corre-
sponding disc or wheel will be partially rotated to bring a 6 opposite the said aperture,
which, added to the 2 on the pence disc will make 8. If a penny is now inserted,
the pence disc will be rotated to bring 3 opposite the said aperture, making the
pence total 9; and the insertion of another halfpenny will cause the partial rotation
of the said disc to bring 4 opposite the said aperture and so on.
If another sixpence
is inserted, the corresponding disc will be partially rotated to bring a blank space
thereon opposite the said aperture and the shillings disc or wheel will be rotated one
step. Moreover if the pence disc shows 5 and the sixpence disc a blank, the
insertion of a halfpenny will bring a blank space on the pence disc and a six on the
sixpence disc into view.
The shillings disc or wheel is marked with two series of figures from 1 to 9 and
with a cipher between the 9 of one series and the 1 of the other series. The half-
sovereign disc or wheel is marked with a series of ones, placed at equal distances
apart around its periphery, blank spaces of suitable width being left between the
same, as above explained with reference to the sixpence disc. These discs or wheels
indicate the amounts inserted in the till substantially in the manner above described,
the insertion of a shilling or a two-shilling piece operating one dise and the insertion
of a half-sovereign operating the other disc.
It is obvious that, if desired, the apparatus may be adapted for use with decimal or
other coinage.
In some instances, instead of using two rotating discs or wheels, I use a rotating
shutter or screen in combination with a disc or wheel the periphery of which is
provided with two series of numeral figures placed side by side. One of these series
comprises figures indicating the several sums from a halfpenny to five-pence halfpenny,
a blank space being left or a cipher inserted between the and the 5. The other
series comprises figures indicating the several sums from sixpence to elevenpence
halfpenny.
The shutter or screen is provided with two series of apertures in its periphery,
which apertures are arranged alternately at either side of the said shutter or screen.
The disc is arranged to be rotated step by step by the insertion of pence or halfpence,
or of shillings or florins, as the case may be, substantially as above described; the
shutter or screen is arranged to be rotated step by step by the insertion of sixpences
or of half-sovereigns as the case may be. Assuming that the figure 1 of one series
and the 7 of the other series are opposite the aperture in the box or case, and the 7
is covered by the screen, the 1 alone being visible; then the insertion of a sixpence
in the till will cause the partial rotation of the said screen so that it will cover the 1
and uncover the 7, thus performing the addition of the 6 to the 1. If a half-penny
be then inserted, the disc will be rotated to bring the 7 into view. This arrangement
is very advantageous when the till is designed for use with decimal coinage.
Another feature of my said invention is the employment, in combination with each
aperture or slit for the insertion of the coins, of a lever pivotted to a suitable support
and held by a spring in such a position that, when the coin is inserted, it will
depress the said lever and thus operate the registering mechanism; the said spring,
by its reaction, pushes the coin along a chute or passage onto a pivotted plate,
upon which the coins are supported before they are permitted to fall into the
drawer or receptacle in the bottom of the till. A sheet of glass is fixed in the box
or case, through which the coins upon the said plate may be seen.
The said lever is preferably forked at its lower end so that it will engage with
another lever pivotted to a suitable support. This other lever is provided, at or near
one end, with a counterweight, and, at or near its other end, a pawl is pivotted to it.
This pawl is adapted to engage with a ratchet-wheel fixed upon a shaft, upon which

page_text: is also nxed one of the numerical discs or wheels. An adjusting screw is provided
for regulating the stroke or movement of the pawl-carrying lever.
Another important feature of my present invention is the provision of means for
regulating the length of stroke or movement of the operating pawls, and preventing
the movement of the ratchet-wheels by their momentum, after the pawls have ceased
to act thereon. For this purpose, I, in some instances, employ a stop so placed that,
when the pawl has turned the ratchet-wheel through the desired angle, the said pawl
prevented will strike the said stop, and any further movement of the ratchet-wheel will be
by the interposition of the pawl between the ratchet-wheel and the stop. The said pawl
thus acts like a brake to arrest the movement of the said wheel. The combination of the
pawl, the ratchet-wheel and the stop in this manner is very advantageous where it is
desired to impart positive step-by-step rotation to a ratchet-wheel. I sometimes
employ an adjustable device for limiting the backward motion of the pawl and
regulating the length of its stroke or movement.
My improved till is sometimes constructed to register by the aid of electricity, so
that, if desired, the registering mechanism may be separate from the till and may be
placed at a considerable distance therefrom. I provide means whereby, when a coin
is inserted in the till, it will close an electric circuit in which is included an electro-
magnet for operating the registering mechanism, or will alternately close and open
the said circuit one or more times as may be required.
My improved registering mechanism is preferably constructed as hereinafter
described, that is to say:-The shaft on which the pence disc is fixed is arranged to
rotate independently of the shaft on which the sixpence disc is fixed, with the
exception of the temporary connection hereinafter referred to. I sometimes fit one of
the said shafts to rotate within the other shaft. The lever and pawl of the halfpence
mechanism is arranged to rotate the shaft of the pence disc through an angle of say
fifteen degrees whenever a halfpenny is inserted in the till. The lever and pawl of
the pence mechanism is arranged to rotate the same shaft through an angle of say
thirty degrees whenever a penny is inserted. Suitable stops are provided for limiting
the movement of the pawls and levers, and retaining pawls are provided for preventing
backward movement of the ratchet-wheels.
Two arms are fixed upon the shaft of the pence and halfpence mechanism and are
arranged to act upon an arm fixed upon another shaft carried in suitable bearings.
Another arm is fixed on this shaft and is provided with a pivotted tooth provided with
a counterweight or a spring which tends to hold the said tooth in position to act
upon a toothed wheel fixed upon the shaft of the sixpence disc, so that, in each half
revolution of the pence disc, the sixpence disc will be rotated one step. The shaft for
transmitting motion from the pence disc to the sixpence disc is provided with a
counterweight for keeping the same in position to be moved by the arms on the shaft
of the pence disc. The lever and pawl of the sixpence mechanism are arranged to
rotate the disc thereof through an angle of say fifteen degrees whenever a sixpence is
inserted in the till, so as to bring a figure 6 and a blank space alternately in front of
the pence aperture in the box or case of the apparatus.
In every alternate movement of the sixpence disc, the shillings disc must be rotated
one step. For this purpose, I employ mechanism similar to that above described for
transinitting motion from the pence disc to the sixpence disc, but, instead of using
arms like those on the shaft of the pence disc, I fix on the shaft of the sixpence disc
a toothed wheel having twelve teeth.
The mechanism for the shillings, florins and half-sovereigns is similar in construc-
tion to that for the halfpence, pence and sixpences.
I sometimes so construct the mechanism that, when a sixpence or other coin of
greater value than a penny is inserted in the till, the pence disc will be rotated through
an angle proportionate to the value of the said coin.
When the till is to operate by the aid of electricity, I employ mechanisin somewhat
similar to that above described, but instead of the said mechanism being operated
directly by the coins as they are forced through the apertures or slits, it is operated
by means of electro-magnets, the coins, when inserted, simply closing the electric

page_text: circuits in which the said magnets are included or alternately closing and opening the
said circuits as above mentioned. The aforesaid levers and pawls for operating the
different shafts are dispensed with and replaced by pivotted armatures provided with
pawls, or the armatures are attached to the levers carrying the pawls. Each of these
armatures is preferably provided with an adjustable counterweight whereby it will be
moved away from its magnet after each operation of the corresponding ratchet-wheel.
The said armatures are, in some instances, so arranged that they will be acted upon by
only one pole or polar extension of the magnet; in other instances, they are so
arranged that both poles or polar extensions of the magnet will act upon them.
Moreover the said armatures are, in some instances, so constructed and arranged that
they will have a long stroke or movement.
1 sometimes use a bent armature which extends across one end of the magnet and
along one side thereof so that it may be acted upon by both poles or polar extensions
of the said magnet.
To provide for the opening and closing of the several circuits by the insertion of
the different coins, I prefer to employ mercury contacts arranged in combination with
pivotted troughs or chutes, as hereinafter set forth, that is to say:-In cases where
contact requires to be made only once in the passage of a coin from the slit provided
for its insertion to the aforesaid pivotted plate, I attach a trough or chute to a lever
pivotted to a suitable support and provided with a counter-weight which tends to hold
the said trough or chute in position to receive a coin; and I combine, with the said
trough or chute, two pins, wires or other contact-pieces, which are arranged above two
cups of mercury properly connected in the circuit. When a coin is inserted, the said
lever is turned on its pivot until the said pins or wires are moved down into the
mercury and the circuit is thus completed; the coin then drops into another chute
and then upon the pivotted plate or it may drop directly upon the said plate. The
trough or chute is then raised by its counterweight and the circuit thus opened.
If contact is to be made twice in the passage of a coin from the slit to the pivotted
plate, I sometimes provide a lever carrying a trough or chute as above described and
I attach to each end of the said lever a contact pin or wire arranged to dip into a cup
of mercury. When this lever is in one of its extreme positions, one of the said pins
or wires will be in the mercury; when the lever is in the reverse position, the other
pin or wire will be in the mercury; and when the lever is horizontal, both pins or
wires will be in the mercury and the circuit will be complete. Therefore, when a
coin is inserted in the trough or chute and turns the said lever on its pivot, the
corresponding circuit will be closed and opened, and, when the coin leaves the said
trough or chute and the counterweight moves back the lever, the said circuit will
again be closed and opened.
In other instances, I use two pivotted troughs or chutes and a fixed chute so
arranged in combination with each other that, when a coin is inserted in one of the
said pivotted troughs or chutes, it will operate the same and thus close the circuit;
will then pass into the fixed chute, thus permitting the counterweight to open the
said circuit; and will then enter the other pivotted trough or chute and operate the
same to again close the said circuit; and will then drop from this trough or chute,
thus permitting the counterweight thereof to again open the said circuit.
Instead of the said troughs or chutes, I sometimes use levers arranged within
suitable guide-ways for the coins.
In some instances, I employ dials in place of the aforesaid discs or wheels, which
dials are marked with numeral figures on one side thereof.
When the till is operated by the aid of electricity, I prefer to employ an electric
bell of the kind or class described in the specification of former Letters Patent dated
3rd October 1882, No. 4712, wherein the armature and clapper are connected and are
suspended from the top of the bell within the same. I prefer to attach this bell to the
top of the box or case, and to connect it with the devices hereinafter described.
I provide mechanism whereby, when the drawer of the till is opened, the aforesaid
pivotted plate will be moved to permit any money thereon to fall into the said drawer,
and the hell will be sounded.

page_text: The pivotted plate is acted upon by a spring which tends to hold it in position to
support the coins inserted in the till. The said plate is connected with a bar fitted to
slide longitudinally in guides attached to the box or case. A vertical arm is secured
to this bar and is provided with a spring catch with which a shoulder or projection
on the drawer is adapted to engage when the drawer is opened. An adjustable stop
is provided in the box or case so that, when the said sliding bar has been moved back
a certain distance by the opening of the drawer, the said stop will disengage the said
catch from the shoulder or projection on the drawer. The said catch will yield,
when the drawer is closed, to permit the said shoulder or projection to again engage
with it.
When the till is to be operated by mechanical power, an arm or projection is
provided upon the said sliding bar, so that, in the opening of the drawer, it will
engage with a pivotted tooth carried by a lever to which the clapper or striker of the
bell is attached. This tooth is acted upon by a spring so that it will yield to permit
the passage of the said arm beneath it when the drawer is closed. The said lever is
acted upon by a spring whereby it is held against an adjustable stop. The drawer is
made to extend beyond the pivotted plate so that when the drawer is opened and the
plate drawn back, any money on the said plate will fall into the drawer.
When the till is to be operated by the aid of electricity, I provide means whereby
the circuit in which the magnet of the bell is included will be closed and opened by
the act of opening and closing the drawer. For instance, I arrange within the box
or case, at the back of the drawer, a pin or rod acted upon by a spring which tends
to hold it in contact with a fixed piece and thus close the said circuit. When the
drawer is closed, the spring is compressed and the said pin or rod is held out of
contact with the said piece. Therefore, so long as the drawer remains closed, it keeps
the circuit open, but, when the drawer is opened, the said spring, by its reaction,
closes the circuit and the bell is rung.
I sometimes employ a change-indicator, that is to say, a dial provided with numeral
figures and one or more pointers which can be set independently of each other to
show how much money has been given to the shop-attendant for use in giving change
to customers.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in and relating to Self-registering Money-tills.
I, BROWNE WOLSEY WEBB, of 444 Camden Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to self registering money-tills chiefly designed for the
prevention of fraud by persons who receive money in shops and other places; and
my said invention comprises various improvements hereinafter described whereby
I increase the efficiency of such tills.
My improvements are more particularly applicable to tills of that kind or class
wherein the total amount of money inserted is recorded in pounds, shillings and
pence, or other coinage, and wherein each payınent may be readily seen by the
customer making the same, after the insertion of the coin or coins into the till and
prior to the delivery thereof into a drawer or other receptacle at the bottom of
the till.
Certain of my improvements are, however, advantageously applicable to other tills.
My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of one form of my improved self registering
money-till.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line x, x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the registering mechanism, the
top plate being removed.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line a, a, Figure 2 also drawn
to an enlarged scale.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are different views hereinafter described showing a modification
of my invention.
Figure 8 is a sectional side elevation of another form or modification of my
improved self-registering money-till adapted to be operated by means of electricity.
Figure 9 is a sectional plan of the same taken on the line y, y Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a plan of the circuit making and breaking device which is adapted to
be operated by the weight of a coin or coins.
Figure 11 is a front elevation of the dials.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the box or case which contains the operating mechanism and which is provided
with a door B at the back thereof. A window C is fitted in the front of the said box
or case and is painted or otherwise rendered opaque, suitable apertures or transparent
spaces being left, through which the numbers representing the total amount deposited
in the till can be seen.
The registering mechanism is enclosed in a frame D which is supported in a
suitable position in the box or case A by brackets E. The top plate D¹ of the

page_text: frame D is provided with apertures or slits through which the coins can be dropped
into the apparatus.
a is the wheel or dial for registering the pence and half-pence inserted in the till.
This wheel or dial is fixed upon a shaft a' carried in suitable bearings in the frame D,
upon which shaft are also fixed ratchet-wheels a², a², each having twenty four teeth.
To provide for the partial rotation of the wheel or dial a by the insertion of a penny
or of a half penny into the aperture or slit a* in the top plate D₁ designed for its
reception, a bent arm a is pivoted to the said top-plate beneath each of the said
apertures and is arranged to act upon a lever a pivoted at a to a bracket on the
plate D forming part of the frame D. This bent arm a' is acted upon by a spring a
which tends to hold the said arm against the open edge of a chute or guide b fixed
beneath the aperture a*. The said arm as is forked at its lower end to fit over the
lever a so that, when a coin is put into one of the apertures or slits a' the said coin
will not fall directly into the till but will rest partly upon the bent arın a³ and partly
upon one edge of the slit a* as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. By pressing the
coin downward, the bent arın a³ will be forced away from the side of the chute or
guide 6 and will compress the spring a³, and actuate the lever a which by means of
a pawl a pivoted thereto, will act upon the corresponding ratchet wheel and partially
rotate the registering wheel or dial a. As soon as the coin has moved the bent arm a
a sufficient distance to allow the said coin to pass through the slit a' the spring a will
react and throw the coin onto a pivoted plate E' hereinafter described. The short
arm of each lever a is provided with an adjustable counter-weight a and an
adjusting screw all is provided for regulating the movement of the said lever.
6, 61 are stops secured to the plate D³ of the frame D, and so arranged as to prevent
the movement of the ratchet-wheels by the pawls through a greater distance than is
required.
The wheels or dials a, c and the other registering wheels or dials in the till shown
in Figures 1 to 4 have the numerals arranged around their peripheries instead of
upon one of their faces as heretofore. By this means I am enabled to simplify the
construction of the mechanism by arranging all the shafts for operating the dials in
axial alignment I can, therefore, make the said mechanism very compact.
The mechanism above described is so arranged that the insertion of a half-penny
will only move the corresponding ratchet wheel, and consequently the wheel or dial a
through a distance equal to the length of one tooth thereof, whilst the insertion of a
penny will cause the imovement of the corresponding ratchet-wheel and consequently
the wheel or dial a through a distance equal to the length of two teeth of the said
ratchet-wheel. It will thus be seen that the registration of the pence and half-pence
is effected by the same wheel or dial, and that by the insertion of coins of different
value the same wheel or dial is rotated through different angles according to the value
of the said coins. Spring pawls 62 are fixed on the underside of the stops 6' to engage
with the teeth of the ratchet wheels and prevent their rotation in the reverse direction.
63 is a hollow shaft which is carried in suitable bearings in the frame D and has
one end of the shaft a' fitted to rotate therein. On this shaft 63 is fixed the sixpence
wheel or dial c. The said shaft is arranged to rotate independently of the shaft a¹,
which, however, is provided with the means hereinafter described for imparting a
step-by-step motion to the said shaft 6, that is to say :- is a two armed lever fixed
upon the shaft a¹ and adapted to engage with an arm b³ fixed upon a rock-shaft 66
which is carried in suitable bearings in the frame D. 67 is another arm fixed upon
the said shaft & and carrying a pivoted tooth 68 provided with a counter-weight 6,
and having a pin 60 fixed therein. This pivoted tooth is adapted to engage with the
teeth of a ratchet wheel c fixed upon the shaft 63, so that, in each half revolution of
the shaft a', one arm of the lever will engage with the arm on the shaft 66, and
will operate the toothed wheel c' and thereby partially rotate the sixpence disc c and
thus indicate when six pence or twelve half-pence have been inserted.
A balance weight 6" is fixed to the shaft to bring the said shaft back to its normal
position after it has been operated by the lever 6. A stop c² is provided for preventing
the arm 6 from moving too far, and the pin 610 ensures the proper movement of the

page_text: toothed wheel c¹. Wheels or dials and lever and pawl mechanism substantially the
same as those above described are employed for registering the insertion of shillings
and florins.
The numerical wheel or dial a for registering the pence and half-pence is marked
on its periphery with two series of numerals indicating the several sums from up
to 5, a blank being left between the 5 of one series and the of the other series.
The numerical wheel or dial c for registering the sixpences is marked with sixes at
equal distances apart around its periphery, blank spaces being left between the same
equal in width to, or slightly greater than a figure on the said wheel or dial so that,
in the step-by-step rotation of the said dial e a six and a blank space will be alternately
brought opposite the corresponding aperture in the window C.
The shillings wheel or dial d is marked with two series of figures from 1 to 9 and
with a cipher between the 9 of one series and the 1 of the other series.
The half sovereigns wheel or dial e is marked with a series of ones, placed at equal
distances apart around its periphery, blank spaces of suitable width being left between
the same as above explained with reference to the sixpence wheel or dial.
sovereigns dial is marked with consecutive numbers from one upwards as may be
desired.
The
In every alternate movement of the sixpence wheel or dial c, the shillings wheel or
dial d has to be moved one step. For this purpose I employ mechanism somewhat
similar to that above described for transmitting motion from the pence wheel or dial a
to the sixpence wheel or dial c, that is to say, I fix upon the shaft 63 a wheel c³ having
twelve teeth, these teeth are adapted to engage with a tooth or projection et on a
lever provided with a counterweight c*. This lover is fixed upon a short shaft c"
which is carried in a bearing in the bracket D₁ attached to the frame D. On the
other end of the said shaft c is fixed a lever or arm c7, upon which are fixed two
teeth, adapted to engage with the teeth of another wheel d¹ fixed upon the
shaft d², which carries the shillings-wheel or dial d. An adjusting screw d³ is fitted
into a projection on the bracket 1 for the purpose of regulating the movement of
the lever or arm c.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that in every alternate movement
of the sixpence wheel or dial the shillings wheel or dial will move once. Moreover,
as the sixpence-wheel or dial is moved one step in each half revolution of the pence
wheel or dial, it is evident that the shillings wheel or dial will be moved one step in
every complete revolution of the pence wheel or dial.
The mechanism for transmitting step-by-step movement from the shillings wheel
or dial d to the half-sovereigns wheel or dial e and from the shillings dial and half
sovereigns dial to the sovereigns dial f is similar to that used for transmitting the
movements from the pence to the sixpence wheel or dial and from these dials to the
shillings dial, with the exception that, instead of using a double armed lever, I fix
on the wheel d¹ two lugs or projections d* situated diametrically opposite each other
these lugs or projections engage with a projection on the lever d³ fixed on the shaft d
and operates the half-sovereigns dial e by means of mechanism substantially as above
described for operating the sixpence dial.
When a coin is inserted in the aperture or slit provided for its reception in the
plate D¹ and operates the registering mechanism as hereinbefore described, it is, as
above stated, thrown by the reaction of the spring a upon the pivoted plate or
container E¹ upon which the coins inserted in the till are supported before they are
permitted to fall into a drawer or receptacle in the bottom of the till as hereinafter
described, a sheet of glass F is fixed in the front of the box or case, through which
the coins upon the said plate may be seen.
I provide mechanism in combination with the pivoted plate E¹ whereby, when the
drawer G is opened the aforesaid pivoted plate will be moved to permit any money
thereon to fall into the said drawer, and the bell will be sounded. The said pivotted
plate E¹ is carried by vertical rods g pivoted at g¹ to the box or case A. The said
plate is acted upon by a spring which tends to hold it against the glass F so that
it will support the coins inserted in the till. A rod E is coupled at E³ to one side
:

page_text: of the plate E¹ in such a manner as to permit the movement of the said plate as
hereinafter explained. The lower end of the rod E2 is connected with a bar g³ fitted
to slide longitudinally in guides g* attached to the box or case A. A vertical arm g³
is secured to the bar 93 and has pivotted to the lower end thereof a spring catch 9°
which is adapted to engage with a projection 97 on a bracket g* secured to one side
of the drawer G, when the said drawer is opened.
An adjustable stop 98 is provided in the box or case A so that, when the sliding
bar 3 has been moved back a certain distance by the opening of the drawer, the said
stop will compress the spring 98 and disengage the catch 9 from the projection g'.
The catch 9 will yield, when the drawer is closed, so as to allow the projection g' to
pass under and again engage with it.
The spring catch is provided with an adjusting nut g¹ by which the height of the
said catch may be regulated as desired.
The vertical arm g³ is provided with a projection g", which is adapted to engage
with a tooth / carried by, and pivoted to a lever h¹ to which the clapper or striker h
of the bell G is attached, the lever h¹ is pivoted at h³ to the box or case A and is
acted upon by a spring * whereby it is held against an adjusting screw h. The
pivoted tooth h is acted upon by a spring he which tends to hold the said tooth against
a stop fixed in the lever h, so that it will yield to permit the passage of the
projection g¹¹ beneath it when the drawer is closed.
The drawer G is made to extend beyond the pivoted plate E¹ so that, when the said
drawer is opened and the plate drawn back, any money which may be resting upon
the said plate will fall into the drawer.
The operation of my improved till is as follows, that is to say :-The insertion of
a half penny in the half-pence slit acting through the medium of the ratchet wheel a²
moves the wheel or dial a one step while the insertion of a penny in the pence-slit,
acting through the medium of the ratchet-wheel a³ moves the wheel or dial a two
steps. The said wheels are each provided with 24 teeth, so that by inserting twelve
half-pence or six pennies in their respective slits, the sixpence wheel or dial e will be
moved one step by means of the double armed lever and the mechanism operated
thereby as hereinbefore described, thus registering sixpence. If a sixpence is inserted
in the sixpence slit, it will move the ratchet-wheel co, which has twenty four teeth,
and the other wheels fixed on the shaft 63, one step; as, however, the wheel c³ has
only half as many teeth as the ratchet-wheel, c¹, the said wheel c³ will operate the
shillings mechanism only in each alternate movement. The insertion of a shilling
in the slit provided therefor will cause the ratchet wheel e¹, which has twenty teeth,
to move through a distance equal to the length of one tooth, whereas if a two-shilling
piece be inserted in the slit provided for its reception, it will cause the ratchet-wheel e
to move through a distance equal to the length of two teeth and will therefore cause
the shillings wheel or dial d to move two steps. It will be understood by referring to
Figures 2 and 3, that, when the wheel d¹ has moved through half a revolution or
when ten shillings have been inserted in the shillings slit, the projection d on the
said wheel will transmit motion from the wheel d¹ to the half sovereigns wheel or diale
and when twenty shillings or two half sovereigns have been inserted motion will be
transmitted to the sovereigns wheel or dial f.
The wheels or dials a, c, d, e and f, indicate or record the amounts inserted as
follows viz. Assuming that when the discs are all at zero, the sum of £1,,2,, 2 is
inserted in the till, the figure 1 will appear opposite the pounds aperture in the box
or case A, 2 will appear opposite the shillings aperture, 24 on the pence wheel or dial
will appear opposite the pence-aperture and a blank space on the sixpence wheel or
dial will also appear opposite the pence aperture; if a sixpence is then inserted in the
till, the wheel or dial c will be partially rotated to bring a 6 opposite the pence
aperture, which, added to the 2 on the pence disc will make 8. If a penny is now
nserted, the pence wheel or dial a will be rotated to bring 3 opposite the said
perture, making the pence total 9 and the insertion of another half-penny will
;
B

page_text: cause the partial rotation of the pence dial to bring 4 opposite the said aperture and
so on. If another sixpence is inserted, the dial c will be partially rotated to bring a
blank space thereon opposite the pence aperture, and the shillings dial d will be
rotated one step. Moreover if the pence dial a shows 5 and the sixpence dial a
blank, the insertion of a half penny will bring a blank space on the pence dial and a 6
on the sixpence dial into view.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide a mechanical money
till wherein the total amount of money inserted during a day or other period of time
will be recorded in pounds, shillings and pence or other coinage, the insertion of
coins of different value causing the registration of the aggregate value of the said
coins.
In some instances, instead of using two rotating wheels or dials in proximity to
each other for the pence and sixpences or for the shillings and half sovereigns, I use
a rotating shutter or screen i, Figures 5 to 7, in combination with a wheel or dial i
the periphery of which is provided with two series of numeral figures placed side by
side. One of these series comprises figures indicating the several sums from a half-
penny to five-pence half-penny, a blank space being left or a cipher inserted between
the and the 51. The other series comprises figures indicating the several sums
from sixpence to elevenpence halfpenny. The shutter or screen is provided with two
series of apertures in its periphery, which apertures are arranged alternately at
either side of the said shutter or screen. The disc is arranged to be rotated step by
step by the insertion of pence or halfpence or of shillings or florins as the case may
be, substantially as above described the shutter or screen i is arranged to be rotated
step by step by the insertion of sixpences or of half-sovereigns as the case may be.
Assuming that the figure 1 of one series and the 7 of the other series are opposite
the aperture in the box or case, and the 7 is covered by the screen, the 1 alone being
visible, then the insertion of a sixpence in the till will cause the partial rotation of
the said screen so that it will cover the and uncover the 7, thus performing the
addition of the 6 to the 1. If a halfpenny be inserted, the disc will be rotated to
bring the 7 into view. This arrangement is very advantageous when the till is
designed for use with decimal coinage.
In Figures 8 to 11 I have shown one of my improved tills adapted to be operated
by the aid of electricity. I provide the means hereinafter described whereby, when a
coin is inserted in the said till, it will close an electric circuit in which is included an
electro-magnet for operating the registering mechanism or will alternately close and
open the said circuit one or more times as may be required. I employ registering
mechanism somewhat similar to that above described instead, however, of the said
mechanism being operated directly by the coins as they are forced through the
apertures or slits provided for their reception, it is operated by means of electro-
magnets, the coins when inserted, simply closing the electric circuit in which the
said magnets are included.
To provide for the opening and closing of the several circuits by the insertion of
the different coins, I employ mercury contacts arranged in combination with pivoted
troughs or chutes as hereinafter set forth, that is to say :-The contact making and
breaking devices are all arranged upon a platform H secured to the top of the box or
case A by suitable distance pieces or rods H². The troughs or chutes for the different
coins are arranged directly beneath the slits provided therefor in the plate D¹, for
example the trough or chute i which corresponds to the halfpence slit in the plate D¹,
is secured to a lever ¹, pivoted to a bracket 2 on the platform H. The said trough i
is provided with contact pins 3 so arranged that, when a halfpenny is put into the
till, the lever ¹ will be turned upon its pivot and will depress the said pins into
mercury cups, and will thereby complete the circuit for operating the corresponding
dial.
The coin will then fall through guide-ways H2 into inclined. troughs H³ and will
then be deposited upon the pivoted plate E¹.

page_text: Adjusting screws 2 are inserted in brackets attached to the platform H for
regulating the movement of the levers carrying the troughs.
When a penny is inserted in the till contact must be made twice during the passage
of the coin from the slit to the pivoted plate; for this purpose I provide a lever
carrying a trough or chute as above described, and attached to the ends of the said
lever are contact pins arranged to dip into mercury cups 8. When the lever ³ is
at one extremity of its movement, one of the pins will be in the mercury; when the
lever is at the other extremity of its movement, the other pin will be in the
mercury; and, when the lever is horizontal, both pins will be in the mercury and
the circuit will be complete. Therefore, when a coin is inserted in the trough or
chute and turns the lever on its pivot, the corresponding circuit will be closed
and opened, and, when the coin leaves the said trough or chute and the counterweight
moves back the lever, the said circuit will again be closed and opened. The contact
making and breaking devices for the three-penny pieces, the shillings and the
sovereigns are substantially the same as that described for the halfpennies, and that
for the two-shilling pieces is the same as that above described for the pennies.
The device which I use for the sixpences and the half-sovereigns comprises three
pivoted troughs or chutes j, j ; the chutes and 1 are provided with contact
pins arranged to dip into double mercury cups j³, j. When a sixpence falls
into the trough or chute, the weight thereof causes the contact pins j₁ to dip into
the mercury cups, thus completing the circuit. The coin then passes onto the
trough or chute thus allowing the weight to open the circuit. The coin then
passes onto the trough or chute j, and again makes contact by depressing the pins 3
into the mercury cups, thereby completing the circuit. The trough or chute j is
pivoted at and is provided with an arm 8 which extends beneath the trough or
chute so that, as soon as the said coin has fallen from the chute jupon the pivoted
plate E, contact at is again broken by the weight of the trough or chute j
Instead of the said troughs or chutes I sometimes use levers arranged within suitable
guide-ways for the coins.
The registering mechanism is arranged below the contact making and breaking
devices and is connected up by suitable wires. The said registering mechanism may,
however, be placed in any other suitable position either inside or outside of the box
or case. The said mechanism is enclosed in a frame I which is held in position in
the box or case A by suitable clamping screws I'.
The registering dials are numbered or marked as shown in Figure 11, and a sheet
of glass I is fitted into the side of the box or case A and is provided with suitable
apertures or spaces through which the figures indicating the amount inserted in the
till may
be seen from the outside. The dial I³ for registering the pence and half-
pence is marked on one side thereof with numerals indicating the several sums
from up to 11, a blank being left, or a cipher inserted between the and the 11.
The dial 1 for registering the shillings is marked on one side at equal distances apart
with numerals from 1 to 19 a cipher being inserted between the first and last of these
figures. The pounds dial I' is marked in the same manner as the shillings dial I*.
The dials I, I, I are fixed upon shafts J, J and J. The several electro-magnets
are included in the circuits which are completed by the insertion of the different coins
above mentioned, that is to say :-the electro magnet K is included in the circuit
which is closed and opened once by the insertion of a half penny and twice by the
insertion of a penny. The electro-magnet K' is included in the circuit which is
closed and opened once by the insertion of a three-penny piece and twice by the
insertion of a sixpence. The circuits which are completed by the insertion of a
shilling, two shillings and a sovereign include the electro-magnets K³, K³ and K*
respectively.
The electro-magnet K is provided with a lever k to which is adjustably secured the
armature actuated by the pole piece k*, the said lever is pivoted to a bracket k³
attached to the frame I. The lever is, moreover, provided with a pawl ³ having

page_text: an adjustable counterweight ; this pawl is adapted to engage with a ratchet
wheel secured to the shaft J.
A suitable retaining pawl which is acted upon by a spring is also provided to
prevent the rotation of the said ratchet wheel in the wrong direction. The lever k
is provided with an adjustable weight 47 carried by a rod which is pivoted to the
bracket attached to the frame I, the end of the rod is forked and carries an
antifriction roller 10 which bears on the under side of one extremity of the lever k
so that the said lever and the armature will thereby be moved away from the
electro-magnet K when the circuit which contains the same is opened. The lever k
is provided with an adjusting screw k¹ which fits into a rod k¹² attached to the side
of the frame I whereby the movement of the armature to and away from the polar
extensions is regulated.
When a half-penny is inserted in the till it makes contact once as above described
and therefore depresses the lever konce, thereby moving the ratchet-wheel one
step. If, however, a penny is inserted it makes contact twice and therefore causes
the electro-magnet to operate the armature twice thereby moving the said ratchet
wheel through two steps.
I provide means whereby, in each complete revolution of the shaft J, the shaft Ji
will be rotated one step; this is effected by means of a rod pivoted at to the
bottom of the frame I, the said rod is provided with a pawl which engages with a
ratchet-wheel upon the shaft J', the said pawl is kept in engagement with the
ratchet-wheel by means of the adjustable weight . The lever is extended to, or a
short distance beyond, the centre of the shaft J, and has an extension at its end,
which carries two screws 1°, 17; the end of the screw rests upon the edge of a cam 18
while the screw rests upon the shaft J when the lever is in its lowest position. An
adjustable weight is fitted upon the rod to ensure the proper action of the same, so
that, in each revolution of the shaft J, the lever will be raised and will then fall over
the step in the cam thereby operating the ratchet-wheel ³ one step.
The mechanism for transmitting the step-by-step motion from the shillings shaft J
to the pounds shaft J2 is shown in Figure 8 and is substantially the same as that
above described.
The mechanism which is operated by the insertion of a three-penny piece or a
sixpence is similar in construction to the half-pence and pence mechanism, instead,
however, of the ratchet-wheel being fixed directly upon the shaft, it is fixed upon a
counter-shaft m one end of which is supported in a suitable bracket m³ the other end
being carried in frame 1. The said shaft m is connected to the shaft J by a toothed
wheel m¹ fixed on the said shaft and which gears with a pinion m² on the shaft J.
These wheels are designed to give the desired increase in the movement of the dial I³,
that is to say when a three-penny piece is inserted and the circuit completed once
the dial 1 will be caused to move through six steps or a quarter of a revolution. If
however, a sixpence is inserted, which will complete the circuit twice, the said dial
will move through twelve steps or half a revolution.
The registering mechanism for the shillings and sovereigns is substantially the same
as that for the pence and half-pence and the mechanism for the two shilling pieces is
similar to that for the three-penny pieces and sixpences.
The armatures are, in some instances, so arranged that they will be acted upon by
only one pole of the magnet as seen at A¹ Figure 9, in other cases they are so arranged
that both poles of the magnet will act upon the said armatures.
I sometimes use a bent armature, as shown in Figure 8, which extends across one
end of the magnet and along one side thereof so that it may be acted upon by both
poles of the said magnet.
When the till is to be operated by electricity it is connected to any suitable source
of supply through terminals L, L, L' in the side of the box or case.
The plate or
platform H is also provided with terminals H, H³, H*, H³, H³ and H', which are
connected by suitable wires to other terminals I, I, I, I, 10 and I" fixed on the

page_text: side of the frame 1 of the registering mechanism, the various circuits being connected
with the said terminals as hereinafter described.
The pivoted plate E' is operated each time the drawer is pulled out substantially in
the manner above described, instead however of operating the bell by mechanical
means, I employ an electric bell of the kind or class described in the specification of
foriner Letters Patent dated 3rd October 1882 No. 4712 wherein the armature and
clapper are suspended from the top of the bell within the same. The said bell is
attached to the top of the box or case A, and the magnet thereof is included in a
circuit which is closed each time the drawer is opened, by means of the device herein-
after described, that is to say I arrange within the box or case A at the back of the
drawer, a contact pin or rod n which is enclosed in a casing n' and is acted upon by a
spring n² which tends to press the said pin against the contact piece n³ and thus close
the circuit. The said pin is provided with an extension n' which, when the drawer is
closed, engages with the back thereof and thereby holds the said pin out of engage-
ment with the piece n³; therefore as long as the drawer remains closed, it keeps the
circuit open, when however the said drawer is opened, the spring n² by its reaction
closes the circuit. The current then passes from the terminal L' through the bell and
rings the same, and then passes through the terminal L and through the contacts n³
and n to the negative terminal L.
I sometimes employ a change indicator, that is to say, a dial provided with numeral
figures and one or more pointers which can be set independently of each other to
show how much money has been given to the shop attendant for use in giving change
to customers.
The operation of my improved electrical money till is as follows;-that is to say:-
Supposing the positive wire is connected from the terminal L² to the terminal H* on
the plate or platform H, and a half-penny inserted in the slit corresponding thereto,
the said coin will fall into the chute i and will depress the lever thereby dipping the
contact pins in the mercury cups and thus completing the circuit when the
current will flow from the terminal H through the wires O and O¹ to the terminal H°
and thence through the terminal I to the electro-magnet K which attracts its
armature and thereby moves the dial 13 through one step. The current then passes
out through the negative terminals 111 and L to the battery.
By the insertion of a penny in the slit provided therefor contact is made twice and
the current each time passes from the terminal H to the mercury cup and through
the lever, mercury cup * and wire o' to the terminals Hand I then from said
terminal T to electro-magnet K as described for the half-penny.
The insertion of a threepenny piece will complete the circuit once through
terminal H wire o, shunt o then through mercury cups and wire o³, terminals H
and I to the electro magnet K', which by means of the wheel m' and pinion m' will
cause the dial to move through six steps as before described. When a sixpence is
inserted the circuit is completed twice as before described, the current in the first
place passing from wire through shunt of mercury cups shunt of wire o³
terminals Hand 1º to the electro magnet K' which will operate the dial I³ through
six steps. When the circuit is completed the second time by the sixpence, the
current passes through terminals H wire o mercury cups j, wire o shunt 0°, wire o³
terminals H and I to the electro magnet as in the first instance. The insertion of a
shilling in the till completes the circuit once through terminal H* wire o shunt oº,
wire terminals H7 and I to electro magnet K which thereby operates the dial I
one step. The insertion of a two shilling piece completes the circuit twice each time
through terminal H wire o mercury cup 0, rod, mercury cup 12, shunt 08,
wire o terminals H and I to the electro magnet K2, which operates the dial I
two steps.
By the insertion of a half sovereign the circuit will be completed twice in the first
place, through terminal H, wire o shunts 10 and o" mercury cup 13, wire 012,
terminals H and 17 to electro magnet K³ which operates the dial through five

page_text: steps. The circuit is completed the second time for the half sovereign through the
terminal H wire o mercury cups 14 wires o13 and o¹² terminals H and I as in the
first instance. The insertion of a sovereign completes the circuit once through
the terminal H', wire o shunt o¹0 mercury cups wire o¹ terminals H and I to
the electro magnet K* which thereby operates the dial 15 one step.
It is obvious that, although I have described my improved till as constructed to
register the amounts inserted according to the English coinage, it may be adapted
to the French, German, Belgian or any other monetary scale or system. It is obvious,
moreover, that fixed dials and movable pointers may be substituted for the movable
wheels or dials above described.
I use the term "mechanical money-till" in this specification to distinguish a money-
till operated solely by mechanical power from a money-till which is operated by the
aid of electricity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I do not
claim broadly or irrespectively of my improvements as herein set forth a money-till
operated by the aid of electricity and so constructed as to register the total amount
inserted therein during a day or other period of time; but I claim :-
First A mechanical self-registering money-till which is so constructed that, upon
the insertion of coins of different value into the slits or apertures designed for their
reception, the aggregate or collective value of the said coins will be indicated by the
registering mechanism.
Second A money-till wherein the registering wheels or dials have the numbers
marked upon their peripheries, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third The employment, in a mechanical money-till, of means whereby the
insertion of coins of different value will cause the movement of the same wheel, dial
or pointer through different angles according to the value of the said coins, as above
specified.
Fourth-The employment of a pivoted arm supported by a spring and arranged to
actuate the registering mechanism upon the insertion of a coin into the slit or
aperture designed for its reception and then throw the said coin into a container
or receptacle, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifth-The combination, with the said pivoted arm, of a lever carrying a pawl
adapted to engage with a ratchet-wheel on the shaft of the registering wheel or dial
(with or without the stop for arresting the movement of the said pawl and lever) all
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Sixth The improved mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described, whereby
I provide for partially rotating the shillings-dial in each revolution of the pence-dial
and in every alternate movement of the sixpence-dial, or for partially rotating the
sovereigns-dial in each revolution of the shillings-dial and in every alternate
movement of the half-sovereigns dial, as above specified.
Seventh-The improved means, substantially as described, whereby, when the
drawer of the till is opened, the inclined plate will be moved to permit the coins
thereon to fall into the said drawer, as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Eighth The employment, in an electrical money-till, of a lever or levers in
combination with one or more mercury contacts or circuit-closing devices, substantially
as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Ninth A self-registering money-till wherein the insertion of a sixpence, half-
sovereign or similar coin into the aperture designed for its reception will cause the
partial rotation of a separate numerical wheel or dial or of a shutter, for the purposes
above specified.
Tenth The improved device, constructed substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, for sounding a bell when
the drawer of the till is opened, as above specified.

page_text: Eleventh-The combination of parts comprising the numerical wheel or dial, the
shutter and means for operating the same, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Twelfth The improved mechanical money-till consisting of the parts constructed
and combined substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the
drawings for the purposes specified.
Thirteenth The improved means, substantially as herein before described, whereby
I provide for electrically operating the registering wheels, dials or pointers.
Fourteenth-The improved electrical self-registering money-till consisting of the
parts constructed and combined substantially as described with reference to Figures 8
to 11 of the drawings for the purposes specified.
Dated this 17th day of August 1887.
BROWNE WOLSEY WEBB.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.