Improvements in Cash Registers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registers.
We, ALFRED STEER, of No. 12, Saint Martins Road, Stockwell, in the County
of Surrey, Commercial Traveller, and WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of No. 964, Grays Inn
Buildings, Roseberry Avenue, in the County of London, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in cash registers, and its object is to
provide a low priced and reliable cash register adapted in respect of its size to be
used at either the salesman's counter or the cashier's desk.
An
In carrying it into effect, we provide a circular drum supported upon a column
in or upon which it can be turned round from the salesman to the customer.
alarm is provided to sound at each rotation.
The drum is charged with discs of paper set out with circular bands to receive
the number of the salesman, the amount of the purchase and the amount tendered.
A suitable lock-up cover is provided through an opening in which the next line on
the disc is presented, and after the figures have been filled in, the register is turned
round and shown to the customer. The opening is wide enough to show several
entries and a few following blank spaces. When a full disc is removed from the
drum the remainder are raised by suitable springs.
The register discs are moved one space at a time, about their axis, by a coiled
spring. An automatic detent is released by actuating an external stud or catch,
and each time this is done the discs are moved one space, the automatic engagement
of the detent with a suitable ratchet preventing the further notion unless or until
the stud or catch be actuated again. The till is also provided with an automatic
register so as to record the number of times it is opened.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Cash Registers.
We, ALFRED STEER, of No. 12 Saint Martins Road, Stockwell, in the County
of Surrey, Commercial Traveller, and WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of No. 96ª Grays Inn
Buildings, Roseberry Avenue, in the County of London, Engineer, 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:
Our invention relates to improvements in cash registers, and its object is to
provide a low priced and reliable cash register adapted in respect of its size to be
used at either the salesman's counter or at the cashier's desk.
It consists in the combination of a drum containing disc or circular sheet to
receive the entries of the cash transactions and which is capable of a reciprocating
rotary motion through half a circle, coiled spring which being put into compression
or tension by one motion-that of turning the sheet from the customer to the
salesman produces the second one-that of presenting the new entry on the sheet

page_text: to the customer, and an external stud or catch, detent and ratchet, or toothed
device through which, under the action of the coiled spring already mentioned, the
disc is turned about its axis far enough to 'move the last entry away and to present
a blank space for the next one.
In order that the invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, we will describe it and them in
detail referring in so doing to the accompanying figures, which are to be taken as
part of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a register made according to the present
invention.
i
Fig. 2 is a plan of the device for turning the register sheet.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation corresponding with Fig. 1 and shewing the register
sheet in the position into which it is moved just before the last entry is submitted
to the customer's inspection.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation. The full and dotted lines illustrate respectively the
two terminal positions of the register.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the underside of the desk upon which the. register sheet is
carried.
Fig. 6 is a plan of a blank register sheet.
a is the stand of the register. a is a cup upon its top. This спр is provided
for the purpose of receiving the coiled spring b. e is a pin standing up centrally
above the spring. Its function is to serve as a pivot for the register drum next.
described.
d is a hollow drum. It is of a sufficient depth and diameter to receive the
register sheet and its desk, and is held at an angle with the horizon in order that
that portion of the register sheet upon which the next entry is to be made and
then shewn to the customer, may slope conveniently for being written upon by the
salesman or the cashier and the entry read by the customer. d is a disc of a
smaller diameter than the drum and made fast to it by a web or casing d² shaped
like the envelope of a cone. This web may be replaced by arms but the advantage
of it as compared with arms is that it encases the mechanism by which the register
sheet is moved. d3 is the drum cover. It is shewn as hinged along the top at d
and provided with a knob d near the opposite edge by means of which it can be
raised when access to the drum becomes necessary for the purpose of replacing a
full register sheet by a blank one. The drum is also provided with a suitable lock.
Any suitable devices by which access to the drum by an authorised individual can
be provided for, may be made use of.
is a stud standing up from the centre of the bottom of the drum at right
angles therewith. Its function is to serve as a pivot for the register desk. d is a
nipple fitting over the stud. is a radial slot in the drum cover. It is of the
proper length and width to expose as much space as one entry requires. is a
glazed segmental frame fast to the cover which is cut away for a corresponding
area. This frame may be of any suitable size. It is shewn as being as large as
three slots d so that three entries can be read through the glass.
e is the register desk. A central hole of a sufficient diameter is cut in it to allow
of it being passed over and then turned freely about the nipple d. e, el are
annular bearing surfaces. e' is a circular rack on the under side of the desk and
concentric therewith.
is the register sheet. is the central hole which is passed over the nipple d',
and a second hole which is passed over a small steadying stud 3 for the purpose
of making the sheet move with the desk. These sheets may be divided radially
as well as into concentric bands.
9 is a flanged nut adapted by being screwed down the nipple d' to keep the
register sheet flat upon its desk e. g is a holding nut and washer engaging with
the stud . The drum cover is dished in the centre to make room for as many of
the last mentioned parts as project above the register sheet.

page_text: A is a short shaft having its bearing parallel with the desk in a block and its
cap fast to the underside of the drum. It carries on its inner end a star wheel¹²,
and on its outer end a spur wheel. The latter is always in gear with the circular
rack e, while the diameter of the former keeps its teeth almost touching the edge
of the cup a¹ in order that a stud a fast upon the top of the said cup shall engage
the star wheel. once each time that the register, is used. is a detent carried by
the casing and held in operative contact with the wheel 3 by a spring h³.
The inner end of the spring is held fast in any convenient way, e.g., by being
made fast to the side of the cup a', while its inner end is made fast to the drum d
by being connected to a collar held to the disc d by a pin 10.
i is an alarm bell carried by the disc d¹.
stud on the edge of the cup.
Its trigger is engaged by the fixed
A cash register made as above described is used as follows:-
At the moment that the cash transaction is ripe for being entered on the register,
the latter stands facing the customer, presenting a blank space on the register sheet
at the entering slot ds. The last preceding entries are behind the glazed frame dº.
The salesman or cashier takes hold of the drum d and pulls it round till the top
of it faces him, holding it in that position whilst he makes an entry of the transaction
on the register sheet. The direction of this motion is indicated by the arrow on
Fig. 2. During it, that tooth of the star wheel which stood behind the stud a
clears the latter, and the spring is wound up. As soon as the entry has been
made, the cashier releases the drum. The spring forthwith pulls it round to face
the customer and during that motion the last mentioned tooth on the star wheel A
This motion is
is engaged by the stud a² and the star wheel moved one tooth.
transferred through the spur wheel and circular rack e² to the register sheet f
which it rotates for the width of the entering slot, so that by the time that the
sheet faces the customer, the entry of his purchase is behind the lowest glazed
partition of the frame d³.
It is to be distinctly understood that the present invention is not limited to the
details of the mechanism illustrated in respect either of the particular details of it
or of their respective positions and engagements, and that both such details as
well as positions and engagements may be varied, provided that the discharge of
the several functions hereinbefore set forth is duly provided for. Subject to this
explanation we say that :-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of circular register sheet, circular support or desk for the
same and mechanical provision for its being turned in either direction about a
vertical pivot.
2. The combination of coiled spring having one end made fast to the desk or to
its equivalent on which is supported a circular register sheet and the other end of
it to a fixed point, said spring being adapted to be wound up by the motion of the
said desk about a vertical pivot and gearing by means of which the return motion
of the desk about the said pivot gives it an additional movement about the same.
3. The combination of register sheet held either in the plane of the horizon or
at an angle therewith, a vertical pivot upon which it can be turned by hand from
customer to salesman or cashier, and automatic mechanism adapted to return the
said sheet from before the salesman or cashier to face the customer.
4. In a cash register, an automatic mechanism adapted to be put into operative
condition by turning the register sheet through as much of a circle as suffices to
bring it in front of the salesinan or cashier, and capable then of returning the
register sheet to face the customer.
3. The combination of drum adapted to contain and support the register sheet,
drum cover having entering slot and glazed frame, vertical pivot for the said drum

page_text: to be turned on, coiled spring, stud and toothed gear for returning the drum and
moving the register sheet.
6. The general construction of cash registers, as set forth.
Dated this and dox of January 1893
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.;
Agents for the Applicants.