An Improved Cash-registering Till.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Cash-registering Till.
We, TIMOTHY SHEPHERD, of 34 Sheen Park, Richmond, in the County of
Surrey, Machinist, and JOHN BULLOCK CUMMING, of St. Mary's Chambers,
St. Mary Axe, in the City of London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention relates to an improved cash registering till and adding machine,
which consists of an ordinary cash drawer; we fix in a box containing three pairs of
hollow drums mounted and rotating on three spindles running in suitable framework
therein. The object of the upper drum on each spindle is to register the amount of
each purchase, whilst the lower drum is to add up the total thus registered. To
accomplish these ends we put on the periphery of the first pair of drums figures
from 0 to 19, or more; at equal distances apart for recording pounds. In the
same manner we put figures around the periphery of the second pair of drums
representing shillings from 0 to 19, whilst on the third pair we place figures
suitable for pence from 0 to 11 or 11 advancing by half pence or farthings as
previously determined. We then arrange in a line near the side of the afore-
mentioned box the three pairs of drums in consecutive order representing pounds,
shillings, and pence. This side of the box we make preferably of sheet metal, and
opposite the centre of each drum we cut out three narrow strips sufficiently wide to
expose one denomination of money on each drum at a time and no more.
This sheet
metal may be protected by a plain glass panel if desired.
In the front of the box working on a pin or hinge we put a piece of suitably shaped
metal or wood so as to cover the figures on the lower drums, whilst leaving the
upper unobscured.
This hinged piece is fastened in that position by a metal button inside the case.
Having given the foregoing general description of this invention we will proceed
to describe the details.
The upper drums on each spindle we will call the registering drums and the
lower ones we will call the adding drums. Each registering drum is fixed to its
respective spindle, whilst each adding drum works freely upon the same.
On the upper face of each drum-both adding and registering we place a ratchet
wheel having teeth of the same number as there are denominations of money around
its periphery. We then place in a suitable position three palls to engage with the
ratchets of the registering drums. Preferably on one spindle. These palls are
forced against the ratchets by means of a flat or spiral spring. Behind these palls
we place a sliding lever having its bearings on the case or frame before mentioned,
and its extremity projecting through the box into the cash drawer beneath with its
point tapered. As the drawer is pulled out the said lever is raised-which presses
against the palls or detents, thus releasing the drums held by them, which instantly
fly back to zero owing to the pressure of a common clock spring which we fix to
the spindle above the said ratchet.
On the bottom of each registering drum we fix a pall and spring to engage the
ratchet of each adding drum immediately below it, so that when the former is
moved forward the latter is moved also being forced forward by the said pall but on
the return of the registering drums the adding drums remain stationary; the palls
having slipped over the teeth in their backward motion. Around the circumference
of each adding drum we drill holes or cut notches at equal distances apart, corre-
sponding to the number of the denominations of money expressed thereon. On the
framework and under the pence adding drum we put a lever with or without a pall

page_text: attached to engage with the holes or notches of the shilling adding wheel drum.
At each side of this lever we place stops to limit its motion to the necessary amount,
and under the pence drum we put a projecting pin to catch this said lever so that
on its making a complete revolution it pushes the shilling drum one hole or
denomination forward, thus counting one shilling.
The same arrangement we place under the shilling adding drum which pushes
on one pound at each revolution of the shilling drum. The pound adding drum
is similarly geared to another when it is required to add up more than £20;
so that at each revolution it is pushed forward by a projecting pin, thereby
showing an increase of £20 by suitable figures placed around its face. Near to
each pair of drums we then place a rocking lever having an arm projecting
opposite the holes or notches in the adding drums and another projecting out
of the box or case, so that on the latter being forced back by one of the keys
hereafter described. The projecting arm is rocked into the holes of the adding
drums thus effectually stopping their further progress through the impetus given
to it.
On the end of each spindle afore mentioned which we make to project out
of the case.
We then fix a revolving dial and around the circumference of each
we put keys according to the number of the denominations of money expressed
on the respective drums; each key having figures representing the amount
immediately below it. These keys are made with pins, around which we put
spiral springs and after passing same through suitable apertures in the revolving
dial afore mentioned we put on a round nut or rivet the end of same to prevent
the key springing out. Each dial is forced against the arm projecting out of
the case by the pressure of the clock spring attached to the spindle; each having
a projecting pin from its lower surface to catch it at zero.
To register any amount the proper key is depressed and the dial turned, its pin
forming a stop at the right distance; to show a corresponding amount on the
registering dial through the aperture in the case when it arrives at the arm of the
rocking lever which locks it in that position.
On the cash drawer being withdrawn, it rings a bell inside the box and raises the
palls that holds the registering drums, whereupon they instantly fly back to zero
by the force of the clock spring afore-mentioned; leaving the adding wheels
stationary, and on the next amount being registered the last amount is thus added
to it; showing the total on the lower drums and the last amount on the upper or
registering drums.
It will be understood that the foregoing is given by way of illustration and that
the shapes, materials and parts or combination of parts may be varied in many
ways within the scope of our invention.
Dated this 21st day of July 1893.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Cash-registering Till.
We, TIMOTHY SHEPHERD, of No. 34 Sheen Park, Richmond, in the County of 4
Surrey, Machinist, and JOHN BULLOCK CUMMING of St. Mary's Chambers,
St. Mary Axe, in the City of London, 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 :-
Our present invention is a development of the machine which is the subject- 5
matter of a prior application by us for Letters Patent No. 4,474 dated March 1,
1893.

page_text: In the Specification of such prior application there is described a cash registering
till and adding machine wherein, to indicate and record cash taken, dials are
rotated by means of spring pushes which at a period of revolution of such dials
come in contact with a stop. On the same spindle as each of such dials are two
drums, one for indicating or registering and the other for recording or adding the
amount registered, figures being carried on the peripheries of such drums for that
purpose. The indicating or registering drum on each spindle is rigidly affixed
thereto but the recording or adding drum rotates thereon the two being connected
by a pawl and ratchet in such manner that whilst the former after each operation
of the till returns to zero, the latter moves in an advancing direction only.
In use we have found that, when constructed in the manner described in our said
prior Specification, the recording drums have a tendency to "race" or bound on
owing to the impetus given them by the rotation and sudden stoppage of the
indicating drums.
To obviate this disadvantage and to effect further improvements in detail is the
the object of our present invention.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows a front elevation of our till.
Figure 2 is a top view thereof with the lid removed.
Figure 3 is a section through the line x-x in Figure 2 while
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively top view with one indicating drum removed,
and a back elevation, showing in detail our improved devices.
Referring to the drawings, a is the cash drawer; 61, 62, 63 are the three spindles
carrying the revolving dials c', c², c³, the indicating drums d', d³, d³ and the recording
drums e, e, e respectively (which latter are obscured from view by the hinged
flap shown broken in Figure 1). 9 is the spring for returning the indicating
drums; are the solid plates in which the spindles revolve. The revolving dials
are, for the sake of lightness, made as shown and through them pass the requisite
number of spring pushes A appropriately numbered as shown in Figure 2, but
which, to avoid confusion, are, with the exception of one, omitted from Figures 1
and 3. These spring pushes consist of a suitably shaped button-head screwing
into a stem around which a spring A' is located between the two plates of such
revolving dials.
According to our present invention we form the drums with notches i or holes in
lieu thereof instead of, as in our prior invention, with projecting teeth. These
notches or their equivalents are equal in number to the denominations of money
expressed on each drum.
j
7"
For the purpose of adding from the drum of lower denomination to that of
higher denomination, a lever carrying a pawl k oscillates upon the plate h about
its fulcrum . This lever ; is provided with projections p and Я for the purposes
hereinafter mentioned. A fixed stop pin n limits the motion of the lever ; which
latter is continually pulled towards n by a suitable spring m. A. spring continually
pulls the pawl k into gear with the adjoining drum. A retaining pawls is pulled
by a spring t into gear with the recording drum of lowest denomination to prevent
the running back of the mechanism. Beneath the adding drums a projecting pin u
is placed which at a period of revolution comes into contact with the lever at the
point q. On the face of each adding drum a pawl and spring v is placed. On the
face of each indicating drum a stop-pin w is fixed so as to come into contact with a
projection on the upper plate h.
At
At suitable points and near to each pair of drums are spindles y having their
bearings in the plates h. To the upper part of each spindle at a point above the
upper plate is rigidly fixed an arm z which is pulled towards / by a spring 7.
that part of each spindle y opposite the holes or notches in the adding drum a
rocking lever L having arms 1 and 2 is fixed. On arm 2 is a projecting angular
piece 3. Fitting loosely on the spindle y above the last-mentioned rocking lever
is a sneck 4 adapted to gear with the indicating drum. On this sneck is a projecting
angular arm 5 and to the boss of the sneck is attached a spring 6,

page_text: On each spindle 61, 62, 63 located beneath the lower plate his rigidly fixed a
metal drum D shown in Figure provided with a slot S in its periphery into
which, when the spindles with their attachments are in a zero position, a gravity
pawl P fixed at a suitable point on the cash drawer a is free to enter.
The
The mode of operating the machine and the actions of its various parts are
as follows: Each purchase is indicated and its amount recorded by depressing
the spring push bearing the amount on its head corresponding to the amount
and denomination required and in the same action rotating the dial. This carries
both indicating and recording drums in an advancing direction to a corresponding
degree until, owing to the depressing of the particular spring push then in use
and the consequent protrusion of its stem beneath the others, the push comes
into contact with the arm z oscillating it as shown in broken lines in Figure 4.
The spindle y (see Figure 5) thereupon turns on its axis rocking arm 1 of the
rocking lever L into gear with the recording drum thereby stopping its impetus.
The sneck 4, being continually pulled by the action of the spring 6 into engage-
ment with the indicating-drum, operates to retain such drum in its described
position till the removal of the sneck is effected as hereinafter described.
amount thus registered is held in view through the apertures in the case as
shown in Figure 1. Upon the withdrawal of the cash drawer a for the purpose
of depositing the cash and the obtaining of the change at the time of the next
purchase it leaves the projecting angular piece 3 on the arm 2 of the rocking
lever L and the whole spindle y with its attachments being subject to the more
powerful spring 7, the arm 2 is rocked into gear with the adding drum.
Consequent upon this movement of arm 2, the opposite arm, 1, of the rocking
lever is rocked in an opposite direction, coming, during its path of motion,
into contact with the projecting angular arm 5 of the sneck 4 raising the latter
out of gear from the indicating drum. The indicating drum thereupon returns
to its starting point under the influence of the spring 9, its teeth slipping over
the pawl v during the backward motion. This device it will be seen serves to
lock the recording drum while the indicating drum is returning to its zero position.
A bell B (Figure 2) may be suitably fixed adapted to ring upon withdrawal
of the cash drawer in the well-understood way. Referring now to Figure 3 it
will be seen that upon withdrawing the cash drawer the gravity pawl P, being
free to move in the direction indicated, will pass any portion of the periphery
of the drum D but upon the return motion of the drawer it will only pass
through the slot S and such slot S is only in a position to receive it when the
indicating drum is in its zero position. Consequently the mechanism is locked,
the drawer cannot be closed, or a transaction indicated till the indicating drum
has returned to zero, the drawer closed, and in its action the mechanism released
for further operation. Upon the closing of the cash drawer its back portion
comes into contact with the projecting angular piece 3 thereby raising arm 2
of the rocking lever L out of gear so that the next purchase can be recorded.
It is unnecessary to describe the operation in relation to the distinct pairs of
drums, it being evident that the one description is applicable to every pair of
drums used, and that the recording drums are at each operation pushed forward
by the indicating drums and held stationary while the indicating drums are
returning to their zero position.
The operation of the adding gear for converting an amount from a lower
denomination into a higher one is as follows:-At each revolution of, say, the
pence recording drum the stop u (see Figure 4) comes into contact with the
prominence g of the lever ; which is then resting against stop n. The lever is
thereby caused to move forward with its pawl k to the position indicated by
the broken lines thus advancing the adjacent (shilling) recording drum one notch
whereupon the prominence p gears with another notch of the same drum effectually
arresting its further progress. After the stop u has passed the prominence q
the spring m pulls the lever j with its attachments to the stop n ready for

page_text: action at the next revolution. It will be understood that this device is placed
between each pair of drums.
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. In a cash registering till or like apparatus a counting lever j, having
prominences p and and carrying a pawl k, pivotted and adapted to oscillate
between adjacent recording drums or their equivalents and together operating to
convert a maximum amount of lower denomination to one minimum amount of the
next denomination substantially as set forth.
2. In a cash registering till or like apparatus wherein amounts are indicated or
recorded by means of revolving drums or their equivalents, an arm and a lever L
provided with arms 1 and 2 and projecting angular piece 3 rigidly affixed to a
spindle, and a sneck 4 with its angular piece 5 fitted loosely on such spindle
together adapted to be rocked in and out of gear and serving to arrest, retain and
release the said drums.
3. In a cash registering till or like apparatus wherein amounts are indicated or
recorded by means of revolving drums or their equivalents, the combination with
the gravity pawl P suitably fixed to the cash drawer, of the drum D provided with
a slot Frigidly fixed to the spindle carrying the indicating drum serving to prevent
the closing of the cash drawer till the indicating drum is in its zero position
substantially as set forth.
4. In a cash registering till or like apparatus comprising an indicating and
recording drum on one spindle and wherein two or more sets of drums are located
adjacent to each other, the arrangement and combination of parts so constructed
and operating that, upon withdrawal of the cash drawer the indicating drums are
released and during withdrawal both indicating and recording drums are locked
and the cash drawer prevented from closing till the indicating drums have returned
to their zero position substantially as set forth.
Dated this 91at dow of Mo 1904
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.