Improvements in Registering-tills.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Registering-tills.
I, JOHN NEVIL MASKELYNE, of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of till for receiving monies taken by attendants
in shops and elsewhere, in which the amount taken is simultaneously printed on the
bill and on a recording strip, and is also legibly indicated to the customer, so that he
may see that the amount recorded is correct; and the invention consists in a novel
arrangement of apparatus whereby the desire:l results are obtained in a more effectual
manner than heretofore.
The apparatus consists of a casing which may be of wood with a window in front,
and vertical slots at back. It is also provided with a cover or lid which is hinged to
the casing. The slots represent units and tens of pounds, shillings, and pence, and
each slot is provided with a number plate.
A frame is employed for carrying the mechanism, and is secured in the casing in
any convenient manner. On the top board of this frame, the printing mechanism and
registering web of paper are mounted.
To the back of the frame are secured guides, in which slides work. These slides
project through the slots, and are provided with knobs and pointers. Inside the
frame, the slides carry bars or arms, to which duplicate printing type bands are
secured by one end, the other end being connected to a weight. Secured to the slides
are weighted number tapes.
When the knobs with the slides are pushed down, motion is communicated to both
the printing bands and the registering tapes, and the types on the former, corre-
sponding to the numbers on the number plates, at which the knobs are stopped, are
brought into position for printing from, while the corresponding number on the
registering tape is brought opposite the window in the case.
When the knobs and slides are set or fixed at the required figures by means of
spring catches, the arms will be locked in that position by a vertical bar provided with
pins or projections, and mounted on pivots, so that it can be rocked. The bar will be
rocked so that the pins or projections will be swung round, so as to overlie the ends of
the arms which are depressed, and come under the arms that have not been depressed,
all of which are thereby prevented from moving until the locking mechanism is
released. The vertical bar is worked through a link motion, by depressing a hand
lever on the cover of the casing.
The lever connected with the last-named, projects forward through a slot in a plate
which closes in the mechanism, and its forked end takes onto a pin on a spindle or
rod, which works in guides secured to the plate, and carries at its upper end a shutter,
which, when in its normal position, is between the number tapes and the window in
the case, so that until the lover is depressed, the figures on the band will be hidden by
the shutter.
The till, when pushed in, is held by the spring catch, which is released by action of
the hand lever on the top of the box. When released, the till is pushed out by a
spring.
The registering web of paper mechanism consists of a spindle on which the web is
mounted, and a drawing-off roller worked by a pawl and ratchet movement actuated
by the hand lever aforesaid.
Between the drawing-off roller and the spindle, is fixed a pad under which the web
passes. The type on the lower type band pass under an inking 1oller, and are pressed

page_text: up against the paper and the pad by a spring presser bar, the free end of which is
attached to a lever actuated by the hand lever.
Above, and spanning the web mechanism, is a bridge, on the top of which is carried
an inking roller for the top type band and type, for acknowledging receipt with the
date. These latter are, under normal. conditions, covered by a pad carried by a plate,
which is pivotted to the bridge, and capable of being rocked to one side by means of
an arm fixed on one pivot, and provided with a pin, against which a finger on the
hand lever strikes.
The hand lever is pivotted to a post carried by the framework, and is provided with
projections which overlie certain working parts, or itself overlies certain working parts,
whereby, when it is depressed, the lever actuates the various mechanisms for forwarding
the paper web, printing the amount thereon, and removing the pad. It will also
actuate the locking mechanism, withdraw the shutter, aud strike the gong, and, finally,
will release the till, & it will be returned to its normal position by a spring.
When using the apparatus, the knobs are first brought down to the numbers
representing the amount to be paid, in which position they will be held by their catches.
The several types, and the numbers on the tapes, will thus be brought into position.
The bill is next placed under the pad, and the hand lever is depressed. The parts
will thus become locked, and the shutter withdrawn, so that the customer will be able
to see that the proper amount of the bill is being registered. No further sum can be
registered until the parts are unlocked and have returned to their normal position.
The unlocking is effected by means of a lever pivotted to a catch, so that as the
lever is pushed to one side, it will move the catch in a direction to withdraw it from
its notch. The mechanism will then be free to return to its normal position under the
influence of a suitable spring.
The slides are next released from the pins or notches by means of pivotted bent
bars, which are connected with, and actuated by the releasing lever, so as to push back
the catches of the slides, when the slides, under the influence of the weights on the
type and other bands, are brought back to the normal position, ready to register
another amount.
By my arrangement of the parts, the same number cannot be twice exposed to the
customer's view, without being registered, as is the case with same known apparatus
of the class, and I have therefore provided a perfect check on the amounts received.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1890.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Registering-tills.
I JOHN NEVIL MASKELYNE of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 :—
This invention relates to that class of till for receiving monies taken by attendants
in shops and elsewhere, in which the amount taken is simultaneously printed on the
bill and on a recording strip, and is also legibly indicated to the customer, so that he
may see that the amount recorded is correct; and the invention consists in a novel
arrangement of apparatus whereby the desired results are obtained in a more effectual
manner than heretofore.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a view of the front or the customer's side of a registering till constructed
according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a view of the back or attendant's side.
Fig. 3. is a plan view, with the cover or lid removed.
Fig. 4 is an elevation with the front boards removed, partly in section, and with.
some of the mechanism broken away.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line xx, Fig. 4, and
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan on the line y y, Figs. 4 and 5.
A is the casing, which may be of wood, with a window A' in front, and vertical
slots A at back. A³ is a cover or lid fitted to the casing A. The slots A2 represent
units and tens of pounds, shillings, and pence, and each slot is provided with a number
plate A', as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.
B is a frame (see Fig. 4) for carrying the mechanism, and is secured in the casing A
in any convenient manner. On the top hoard B' of this frame, the printing mechanism
and registering web of paper (to he more fully described) are mounted.
To the back of the frame are secured guides C (Figs. 5 and 6), in which slides C¹
work. These slides C¹ project through the slots A2, and are provided with knobs C³
and pointers C³. Inside the frame, the slides are provided with spring catches C*,
which take against pins or into notches C³ at the back of the guides C, such pins or
notches corresponding in position to the numbers on the number plates A*, one to
each number. The slides C¹ carry bars or arms C, to which the printing type bands D
are secured.
These type bands D may consist of india rubber bands, on which the type are
formed at the requisite distances apart, mounted upon tape or other suitable material
that will not stretch, and secured in duplicate (one for printing on the bill, and the
other for printing on the registering strip), at one end to a weight D', and at
the other end to the arms Cº.
Secured by one end to the slides C¹ are tapes D2, on which numbers corresponding
to those on the printing bands D, and also on the number plates A', are printed. The
other ends of these tapes are attached to weights D³. One of the pair of printing
bands D passes over the guide pulleys E E¹, for printing on the registering web, and
the other over the guide pulleys E2 E3 and the plate E*, for printing on the customer's
bill.
The bands D² pass over guide pulleys E5 E6, which are suitably carried by the
framework B.
When the knobs C² with the slides C are pushed down, motion is communicated to
both the printing bands D and registering tapes D³, and the types on the former
corresponding to the numbers on the number plates A at which the knobs are stopped,
are brought into position for printing from, while the corresponding number on the
registering tape D is brought opposite the window A' in the case A.
When the knobs and slides are set or fixed at the required figures by means of the
spring catches C before referred to, the arms C are to be locked in that position.
The locking mechanism consists of a vertical bar F provided with pins or pro-
jections F, and mounted on pivots so that it can be rocked. The bar will be rocked
so that the pins or projections F will be swung round into the dotted position of
Fig. 6, in which position they will overlie the ends of the arms C, which are depressed,
and these arms will thereby be prevented from moving either up or down. The top
pin F will come under any of the arms that have not been depressed, and they also
will be prevented from moving until the locking mechanism is released.
The vertical bar F carries an arm F2 pivotted to a horizontal bar F³, which can be
slidden backwards' and forwards by means of the bell crank lever F (Figs. 4, 5,
and 6), one end of which works in the slot of the projecting arm F attached to the
bar F. The other arm of the bell crank is connected with a lever F, which is
actuated by depressing the rod F7, as will be hereafter explained.
The rod F has a pin F, which strikes against the tail of the gong lever F® as the
rod is pushed down, the said rod F7 being held down by means of a spring catch F1,
which takes into a notch F" in the side thereof (see Fig. 4).
The lever F® projects forward through a slot in a plate G (Fig. 5), which closes in
the mechanism, and its forked end takes onto a pin G² on a spindle or rod G¹. This
rod works in guides secured to the plate G, and carries at its upper end a shutter G³,
which, when in its normal position, is between the number tapes D² and the window A
in the case A, so that until the lever F is depressed, the figures on the band will be
hidden by the shutter.

page_text: His the till which, when pushed in, is held by the spring catch H'. This spring
catch is released by the rod H2, which will be depressed as hereafter to be explained.
When released, the till is pushed out by the spring H³.
J is the registering web of paper mechanism, which consists of a spindle on which
the web is mounted, and a drawing off roller worked by a pawl and ratchet movement J*,
actuated as hereinafter described.
Between the drawing off roller and the spindle is fixed a pad under which the web
passes. The type on the lower type band pass under an inking roller, and are pressed
up against the paper and the pad by a spring presser lever J¹, the shorter arm
of which underlies the tappet M, carried by a lever M, which will be hereinafter
described.
Above, and spanning the web mechanism J, is a bridge K, on the top of which is
carried an inking roller K' for the top type band. The type K2 (see Fig. 3) for
acknowledging receipt," with the date, are, under normal conditions, covered by an
inking pad carried by a plate L, which is pivotted to the bridge K. This plate L
is capable of being rocked to one side by means of an arm L* fixed on a pivot,
and provided with a pin L', against which a finger L2 strikes, as will be hereafter
described.
M is a lever which is pivotted to a post M' carried by the framework. This lever M
carries the finger L2; it overlies the rods F' and H2; it is provided with a finger M²,
which tips the lever J'; it is also provided with a laterally projecting plate M³, on
which a rod M rests, and it has also a lateral projection which works the pawl and
ratchet mechanism J*. It will thus be seen that this lever M, when it is depressed,
will actuate the mechanisms for forwarding the paper web, printing the amount thereon,
and removing the pad L. It will also actuate the locking mechanism, withdraw the
shutter, and strike the gong, and finally will release the till. It will be returned to
its normal position by a spring N, see Fig. 4.
The rod M and the lever M will be depressed by the hand lever P, fulcrummed on
the cover of the case A. This lever P is provided with an impression pad P¹, which
presses the customer's bill (placed under it) down onto the type, whereby the amount
is printed on the bill. The spring N, acting through the lever M and rod M,
serves to return the hand lever P, and maintain it in the normal
position.
or raised
When using the apparatus, the knobs C² (Fig. 6) are first brought down to
the numbers representing the amount to be paid, in which position they will be
held by their catches (4. The several types and the numbers on the tapes will
thus be brought into position.
The bill is next placed under the pad P¹, and the hand lever P is depressed. The
parts will thus become locked (as before described), and the shutter withdrawn, so that
the customer will be able to see that the proper amount of the bill is being registered.
No further sum can be registered until the parts are unlocked and have returned to
their normal position.
The unlocking is effected by means of the lever R (see Fig. 3). This lever, which
is fulcrummed at R', is pivotted to the catch F10, so that as the lever is pushed in the
direction of the arrow, the catch is withdrawn from the notch F in the rod F. The
lever F will then be free to return to its normal position under the influence of a
suitable spring (not shown in the drawing), and the bar F will be swung on its
pivot, so that the pins F¹ are clear of the arms C, see the drawn position of
Fig. 6.
The slides are next released from the pins or notches C by means of the
pivotted bent bars S.
At the top, the bars S project beyond their pivots, and are
connected to a bar S', which receives longitudinal motion from a pendent lever S2
pivotted to the bridge K, and which takes into a forked piece S³ on the bar S'. This
lever S² is connected by a link S with the lever R, the motion of which is thus com-
municated to the bar S¹, and by it to the bent bars S. The vertical portions of the
bars S, when the bars are rocked on their pivots, strike against the pins of the catches C*,
and push them back from the notches or pins C5 on the guides C, and the slides C',

page_text: under the influence of the weights D¹ D³, are brought back to the normal position,
ready to register another amount.
I prefer that the weights D' D³ shall work in separate compartments formed by
plates T secured to the frame, or in any other convenient manner, so that they may
not get jamined against one another.
The operation of the machine will be as follows:-
•
:-
Suppose the amount to be recorded is one pound fifteen shillings and sixpence
halfpenny (£1 15 6), the knobs C are pushed down by the cashier to the several
numbers, as indicated at Fig. 2, and are held there by the respective catches C. This
action will cause the number and type bands D2 and D, in connection with the knobs
through the arms C, to be drawn up, so as to bring the corresponding numbers on
the bands D opposite the window A', as shewn in Fig. 1 (they will, however, for the
time being, be hidden by the shutter G³), and the type corresponding to those numbers
into position for printing, that is to say, one set above the spring pad J for printing
on the endless band, and the other set above the bridge K, and under the pad P¹ on
the lever P, for printing on the customer's bill.
The next operation is to place the bill in position, and depress the lever P, which,
by means of its pad P', presses the bill onto the type, and prints there on the amount
of the bill and an acknowledgement. At the same time, the type on the second band
are pressed against the recording web of paper J, as follows:-The lever P pushes
down bolt M, which rests on the ledge M³, and depresses lever M; the finger M² on
the lever M depresses the short arm of the lever J, and raises the spring pad which
underlies the type bands D, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 5, and presses
up the type against the paper.
The same movement of the lever P lowers the shutter G³, and exposes the numbers
on band D² to view; thus the lever M overlies and depresses rod F7 connected to
lever F, which acts on the pin G2 of the shutter rod G₁, and pushes down this rod
with the shutter, see Fig. 5.
The parts will be held down by the spring catch F
the rod F7 (see Figs. 3 and 5).
taking into the notch F" on
The depression of the lever P also locks the arms C, so that the numbers shall not
be changed without registering.
The action is as follows:-The lever F is connected to, and rocks the bell crank F4
(Figs. 4 and 6), which works in and moves to the right the arm F' projecting from the
bar or slide F3. The bar is pivotted to the arm F2 mounted on the vertical bar F,
and as the bar F3 moves to the right, the bar F is turned on its pivots, and brings the
fingers F across the line of movement of the arms (see dotted position Fig. 6)
which are thereby locked, and cannot be moved until released.
The gong is struck by the action of the parts F and F (see Figs. 4 and 6), as the
roi E is pushed down.
The uncovering of the type K2, representing the acknowledgement of the amount,
is also produced by the movement of the lever P in the following manner :-The lever M,
by the finger L², presses down the pin L' on the arm L* attached to the pivotted
cover L, so that the cover is rocked on its pivot backwards clear of the type K², see
Fig. 3.
The till drawer is also released by the action of the lever P. The free end of the
lever M strikes against the rod H2, which rests upon the spring catch 11' (see Fig. 5),
and depresses the catch.
Thus, by the depression of the lever P, the following operations, as before stated,
are effected, iz. The printing on the bill and recording paper; the locking of the
type and number bands in the position in which they are set; the striking of a gong ;
the lowering of the shutter, and the releasing of the till drawer.
The releasing is effected by means of the lever R; thus, by pressing the lever R in
the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3), the catch F10 is withdrawn from the notch Fin
the rod F. This rod is then, under the influence of a suitable spring (not shown),
caused to rise, and draws up the lever F, and with it the shutter G³. The rising of
the lever F moves the locking mechanism F F F F F F in the opposite direction,

page_text: and releases the arms (). The release of the type and number bands is effected
direct by the lever R; thus, the lever R has a pin which works in a link S. At a
certain part of the movement of the lever, the link is pulled over; this rocks the
lever S2 (see Fig. 4), which works in the socket S³ of the bar S', and shifts the bar
laterally. The bar is pivotted to the pivotted bent bars S, which, as the bar S¹ is
moved laterally, are caused to strike against the catches C of the slides C, and release
these latter, which, by the weights D¹ D³, are returned to their normal position at the
top of the guides.
It will be seen by following out the working of the parts, that the same number
cannot be twice exposed to the customer's view, without being registered, as is the
case of some known apparatus of the class, and I have therefore provided a perfect
check on the amounts received.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would here remark that I do not
confine myself to the exact mechanical details shown and described, as these may
obviously be varied without departing from my invention, but what 1 claim is :-
--
1. In apparatus for simultaneously printing upon a bill and on a recording web,
and for visibly indicating the amount of money taken in a transaction, the combination
of series of slides C', provided with catches, weighted indicating number bands D²,
projecting arms C, duplicate weighted type bands D, and a means for pressing the
bill and a web of paper against the types, as set forth.
2. The combination of series of slides (provided with catches, weighted indicating
number bands D2, a shutter arrangement, and a series of rods and levers for actuating
the shutter, and means for operating said rods and levers as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. The combination with slides C¹ having arms C and number and type bands, of
an oscillating locking frame, an arrangement of actuating levers and bars in connection
with the frame, and means for operating said levers and bars, as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. The combination with slides C', having arms C and number and type bands, of
an oscillating locking frame, an arrangement of actuating levers and bars in connection
with the frame, means for operating said levers and bars, and means for unlocking
said frame, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of series of slides C', provided with catches, number bands,
arms C, duplicate type bands, locking devices, shutter arrangement, unlocking devices,
series of rods, levers, and lever bars, for actuating the various parts, and means for
operating the said rods, levers, and bars, and for pressing the bill and web of paper
against the types, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The arrangement of apparatus for simultaneously printing upon a bill and on a
recording web, and for visibly indicating the amount of money taken in a transaction,
as herein shown and described.
1
+000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.