Improvements in or relating to Key Mechanisms for Cash Registers, Calculating Machines, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar.,
1898
Improvements in or relating to Key Mechanisms for Cash Registers,
Calculating Machines, and the like.
(A communication from ROCHESTER CASH REGISTER COMPANY, a Corporation
organised 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, Holborn Circus, London,
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 particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In the drawings accompanying this specification,-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention;
Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a top plan of two of the actuating springs illustrating the connections;
Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the slotted key plates;
Figs. 6 and 7 are face views of said key plates;
Figs. 8 and 9 are opposite side elevations of the latch plates; and
Fig. 10 is a side view showing the driving mechanism
This invention is applicable to cash registers, calculating machines and like
instruments of the two-motion type, viz., that type in which the actuation of the
keys results in setting the mechanism in position or condition to be operated to
a degree corresponding to the key actuated; and then the mechanism is either
operated or returned to its initial position by a separate power device, such as a
lever or crank.
In the device shown, the crank II*, (Figure 10) provided with a suitable handle,
transmits power by suitable connecting devices, to the registering, indicating or
printing mechanism of the machine. The crank H is adapted to revolve in one
direction only and for that purpose is provided with a ratchet wheel h on its axis,
a pawl h engaging said ratchet wheel, and a spring 2 to press said pawl into such
engagement. On the crank shaft is a gear wheel H which meshes with other
suitable gear wheels for driving the parts of the mechanism. One of the gear
wheels H bears a crank pin to which is attached a link I pivoted to a block I³
which slides vertically in guides 3 on the frame A5 of the machine. From this
block Is depends a link 12, to which is fastened a horizontal bail I¹ which rises
and falls once with each rotation of the crank.
The keys A, A, A², (Figure 1) by which this machine is set, are of the push
button variety. Each key has a head a, (Figures 2 & 4) a stem a', a lug or
vin aª on one side and a lug or pin a³ on the other side of the stem. The keys

page_text: are arranged in different banks, as shown in Fig. 1, one bank being devoted to
each denomination of money or of units. In certain of the cash registers, another
bank is devoted to characterizing marks to indicate the origin or character of
the transaction; as for instance, in Fig. 1, the bank on the left has a series of
letters upon the respective keys to adapt it to set mechanism for indicating, record-
ing or printing corresponding characterizing marks. The bank on the right in
said Fig. 1 is adapted to units or in cash registers to cents. The bank in the
middle is devoted, as shown, to dollars. Cash registers of this type have only
the Figures 1 to 9 upon the keys of each bank where the notation is decimal.
The zeros are not shown on the keys, but are shown on indicators of suitable form
and construction and are also usually printed by type which are at the normal
position of rest of the printing mechanism.
The key stems a¹ slide in suitable radial guide slots in curved brackets B,
there being one bracket for each bank of keys. In the arrangement of the device
shown in the drawings, there are five of these radial slots in a row on one side of
the bracket and four like slots in a row on the other side of the bracket, the
positions of the slots on one side alternating with those on the other side of the
bracket; hence the key stems and heads may he arranged compactly, as shown.
The pin a (Figure 4) on the end of each key stem, is connected to a spring a
attached to a pin b' on the under side of the bracket, so that the spring always
tends to pull the key outward, and when the stem is pushed inward for operation
of the machine, the spring is put under tension. The slots in the bracket B are
square and the key stems are also square in the form shown, but any other
device for permitting longitudinal movement of the key stems and at the same
time pati !!!
from taxing mony he employed. The pins a²
On
extend sideways from the key stems so as to project outward from the slots.
each side of the bracket B is a stop plate 1), 1', which is pivoted to rock on an
axis E from the centre of which the key stems radiate. Two plates D D¹ are pro-
vided for each bank of keys and are fastened rigidly together by a
sleeved, and this sleeve turns upon the axis within the sleeve. The
stop plates 1) ]) are segmental in form and have near their peripheries
a series of parallel slots 100, 101 and 102 cut in their side faces and
in arcs drawn from the center of the axis on radii of different lengths. The
lengths of these slots are proportionate to the value of the keys to be operated in
order to allow the stop plates to be rocked to different degrees and stopped at
different points by an operated key according to its value. Thus the operation of
the key marked 1 permits a certain movement of the plates and the key marked 2
permits twice as much movement, and so on.
The slots are separated from each other and from the edge of the plate D₁ by
webs or flanges 103, 104, 105, (Figures 6 & 7) and the shortest of these slots is
nearest the axis of the plate, while the longest is farthest therefrom on each plate.
Through the webs and leading into the slots from the outer sides are open-
ings 1, 2, 349d. When the plates 1 D are in their normal position of
rest, these openings are opposite the positions of the pins a and are of such size
with reference to the pins that a pin can enter an opening only when it registers
exactly. If the plate is moved from its normal position of rest, the webs come
under the pins a of the unoperated keys and over the pins of the operated keys,
whereby the unoperated keys are locked in inoperative positions and the operated
keys are locked in operative positions to stop the plate in its rocking movement
about its center of oscillation.
The slots have abutments 1d1, 2d1, 3d, 9d1, so far distant from the
corresponding openings 14, 24, 9d that, when the plate is rocked and an
abutment strikes the pin a³ of a key, the plate will be stopped against the pin
at a distance from the initial position of the plate corresponding in extent to the
amount of movement necessary for setting the register so as to register an amount
corresponding to the operated key. Thus the slot 100 in plate D has a stop or
abutment 3d in it for contact with the pin a³ of the "3" key, which is adapted

page_text: to enter through an opening 3d; and the pin a² of the "9" key enters an open-
ing 9 leading into the slot 100, which is long enough to permit the maximum
swing of the plate before the abutments 9d1 stops it. The pin of the "7" key
moves into the slot 101 through the opening 7 leading from the slot 100 to the
slot 101 and the swing of the plate is stopped against it by the end 7 of the
slot 101. The openings for the pins a into the inner slots 101 and 102 lead from
the next adjacent outer slots and the pins a rest in these outer slots, whereby a
very compact arrangement is provided.
Of course two or more keys may be simultaneously operated, but in any such
case the key of lowest value is the only one which is effective in stopping its plate.
For instance, if the "1" key and the "8" key are both simultaneously pressed
inward, the plates D and D¹ will be arrested as soon as the stop for the "1" key
has come against the pin a² of that key, and this will have occurred before the
stop for the "8" key will have come in contact with the pin on that key.
Each pair of plates 1) ])' has an arm D provided at its end with a pin which
rests in the slot 10 of an ear do of a plug slide D. But it is obvious that the
differential movement of the plates 1) D₁ or one of them, is suitable to produce
the differential movement necessary to set any well known cash registering
mechanism of the two-motion type.
In order to throw the sector-shaped plates D D¹ forward in the direction of the
arrow, 1, in Figure 2, and to give them a normal tendency to move in this one
direction, a spring motor mechanism is provided which may be connected to it in
any suitable manner. In order however to provide a spring with a long life, a
coiled spring Z is employed attached to the frame A5 of the machine and also
attached to a link 1 pivoted to the arm D and to a parallel arm D³, which last
mentioned arm is of substantially the same length as the arm 1 and is pivoted
on a shaft De parallel to the axis of oscillation of the plates D D'. The spring
is attached to the link D at a point distant from its attachment to the frame A³
and tends to pull the link and swing the arm D³ and with it the plates D D¹ in the
direction of the arrow, 1, in Fig. 2.
In the form of device shown, when the bail I rises, it makes contact with and
lifts the car which oscillates the arm D2 and with it the plate D¹, arm D³ and
link D', stretching the spring Z and putting it under tension. When one of the
plates, as for instance, the plate D¹, reaches its normal position of rest, the spring-
operated latch F, pivoted to the bracket B, engages a notch f in the edge of said
plate and the parts are held with the spring Z under tension, ready for another
operation. When the plates D D¹ reach said normal position of rest and are
latched as just stated, the openings 1ª, 2d, etc., in the webs 103, 104, 105 of the
plates, come opposite the positions of the pins a² on the key stems, and the
operated keys may spring out under the impulse of their springs a¹ to their original
unoperated positions.
In order to detach the latch F from the plates D D¹, a mechanism is provided
situated between said plates D D¹ and consisting of a sleeve Go surrounding the
sleeve d of said plates and capable of independent oscillation thereon. The
pin a³ of each key stem to which the spring a' is attached, normally rests
adjacent to a lug 9 upon one of two latch plates G G¹. This lug has an inclined
surface g, and a toe on one of the plates G G¹ is normally held against a lug G³
upon the bracket B by means of a spring G³. There is a bevelled lug g for each
key stem and the two latch plates G G₁ are integral or move as if integral.
The latch F is pivoted to the frame, as at F¹, and has an angle arm F or bell
crank, which is pivoted, as at f, to one of the plates G G¹. An oscillation of the
plates G G in the direction of the arrow marked 2 in Fig. 2, stretches the
spring G³ and releases the latch F from its notch f in the plates D¹, thereby per-
mitting the plate to be thrown forward under the influence of its spring Z until
it stops against a pin on the operated key stem. This movement of the plates G G¹
is produced by the pressure of the pin a³ on any of the key stems against the

page_text: inclined surface g¹ of any of the lugs g on either of the plates G or G¹. When a
key stem a¹ is depressed and held down by engagement of one of its lateral pins_a³
with the under side of one of the webs in a plate D or D¹, its pin a³ remains
against a lug g and the plates G G remain in their retracted positions; but as
soon as the plates D D¹ are moved backward to their initial position, the operated
key stem springs outward through its opening in the wall or web of the slot in
which the lateral projection as was held, and then the latch F immediately
engages its notch f and retains the plates D D¹ in their initial or normal position.
As the slots in the plates D D¹ may be considered to end at the abutments,
the slots are of different lengths proportionate to the value of the operated key
which acts in that slot to stop the movement or swing of the rocking plates after
permitting an oscillation sufficient to set the register to the required degree, or,
in other words, to permit an actuation of the register proportionate to the value
of said key.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this 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 key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a plate normally tending to move in one direction and having
a series of slots therein of different lengths, of a series of movable keys having a
stationary support, each key having a projection adapted to enter one of said
slots and stop the movement of the plate in a position corresponding to the value
of the onerated key, e retainer for the nl to role al hy the arbution at any key.
and connections from the plate to a register, whereby the ngider is it for
operation.
2. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a rocking plate normally tending to move in one direction
and having a series of slots therein of different lengths, of a series of movable
keys radially arranged in a stationary support and adapted to slide toward and
from the centre of movement of the rocking plate, each key having a projection
adapted to enter one of the slots and stop the movement of the plate when the
latter reaches a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, a retainer
for the plate released by the actuation of any key and connections from the plate
to a register whereby the register is set for operation.
3. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a rocking plate having a series of slots therein of different
lengths, of a spring connected thereto and adapted to rock the plate in one direc-
tion, a series of keys radially arranged in a stationary support and adapted to
slide toward and from the centre of movement of the rocking plate, each key
having a projection adapted to enter one of the slots and stop the movement of
the plate when the latter reaches a position corresponding to the value of the
operated key, a retainer for the plate released by the actuation of any key, and
connections from the plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation.
4. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with an oscillating sector-shaped plate having a series of arc-
shaped slots of different lengths on its side face, of mechanism normally tending
to move the plate in one direction, a series of radially arranged keys in a station-
ary support, each having a lateral projection adapted to enter one of the slots
and stop the movement of the oscillating plate in a position corresponding to the
value of the operated key, a retainer for the plate released by the actuation of any
key, and connections from the plate to a register whereby the register is set for
operation.
5. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a pair of oscillating sector-shaped plates having on their
adjacent side faces a series of slots of different lengths cut in ares having radi
of different lengths from the centre of each sector, of mechanism normally tend

page_text: ing to move the plates in one direction, two rows of radially sliding keys, each key
in each row having a lateral projection adapted to enter one of the slots in one
of the oscillating plates through an opening in its wall and stop the movement
of the plates in a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, a retainer
for the plates released by the actuation of any key, and connections from the
plates to a register for setting the register for operation.
6. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with an oscillating sector-shaped plate having a series of arc-
shaped slots of different lengths on its side face, of mechanism normally tending
to move the plate in one direction, a series of radially arranged sliding keys in
a stationary support, each having a lateral pin adapted to enter one of the slots
and stop the movement of the oscillating plate in a position corresponding to
the value of the operated key, connections from the plate to a register whereby the
register is set for operation, and a retainer released by the actuation of any key
for holding the plate in its normal position of rest.
7. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a rocking plate normally tending to move in one direction
and having a series of slots therein of different lengths, of a series of keys radially
arranged in a stationary support and movable toward and from the centre of
movement of the rocking plate, each key having a lateral pin adapted to enter
one of the slots and stop the movement of the rocking plate when the latter
reaches a position corresponding to the value of the operated key, connections
from the plate to a register whereby the register is set for operation, a latch
adapted to engage the rocking plate and hold the same in its normal position and
a latch plate moved by the actuation of any key for releasing the latch from the
rocking plate.
8. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a plate normally tending to move in one direction and having
a series of slots of different lengths in the side thereof, of a series of keys arranged
in a stationary support and movable across the line of movement of the plate,
each key having a lateral pin adapted to enter one of the slots through its wall
and stop the movement of the plate when the latter reaches a position correspond-
ing to the value of the operated key, connections from the plate to a register
whereby the register is set for operation, a movable latch plate operated by any
key, and a retainer for the plate released by the movement of the latch plate.
9. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a rocking plate normally tending to rock on an axis in
one direction provided with a series of slots of different lengths in the side thereof,
of a series of keys arranged in a stationary support and movable toward and from
the centre of oscillation of the rocking plate, each key having a lateral pin adapted
to enter one of the slots through its wall and stop the oscillation of the plate when
it reaches a position corresponding to the value of an operated key, connections from
the plate to a register for setting it for operation, a latch plate oscillating on the
same axis as the rocking plate and operated by any key, and a latch for the rock-
ing plate released by the movement of the latch plate.
10. In a key mechanism for cash registers, calculating machines and the like,
the combination with a pair of oscillating sector-shaped plates having on their
adjacent side faces a series of slots of different lengths cut in arcs
having radii of different lengths from the centre of each sector, of
mechanism normally tending to move the plates in one direction, two
rows of radially sliding keys, each key in each row having a lateral projection
adapted to enter one of the slots in one of the plates through an opening in its
wall, and stop the movement of the plates in a position corresponding to the value
of the operated key, a pair of latch plates oscillating on the same axis as the
sector-shaped plates and provided with lugs having inclined faces engaged by
pins on the keys whereby the latch plate is moved by the actuation of any key,

page_text: and a latch mechanism for retaining the sector-shaped plates is released by the
movement of the latch plate.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.