Improvements in Till Checking Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 25th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Till Checking Machines.
I, JOSEPH PARNELL LIDSTONE, of Dartmouth in the County of Devon,
Builder and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is the construction of an improved machine, or
apparatus, for adding together the sums of money paid into a till, exhibiting the
amount of each payment and the actual coins inserted and for other purposes.
The machine is arranged to add pounds, shillings, and pence, or other monetary
values required, the principles of construction remaining the same in each case.
As an illustration of the construction of the machine, I will describe one
designed to deal with pounds, shillings, and pence. The said machine consists
externally of a box or case of suitable form, within which the mechanism is con-
tained. One or more rods or spindles are fixed within the case and upon this rod,
or rods, levers are pivoted. The levers are provided where necessary with counter
weights or springs, which cause them to fall when released, as hereinafter
described. The number of levers provided is governed by the number of figures to
be added, thus in the machine under consideration, there would be levers for
farthings, levers for pence, levers for shillings, and levers for pounds, enabling the
machine to add up to any number of pounds 19s. 114d., according to the number of
levers in the pounds division. The inner end of each lever works on and is held
in position by suitable guides. On one side of each lever, a ratchet or other suit-
able wheel is placed on a spindle and rotated by means of a suitable pawl, the
amount of rotation being governed by the amount of depression given to the lever.
Projecting through the front of the case are a series of studs furnished with
buttons, each marked with a different value of coin and pressed outwards by
springs; when any one of these studs is pushed in it is retained by a catch and
determines the distance the lever to which it belongs can fall. The levers are held
up by a bar, which when lowered by a main lever projecting through the front of
the case, permits the descent of any lever or levers of which the aforesaid studs
have been pushed in. This main lever, when lowered is held down by a catch, but
rises automatically when the catch is released.
"
The addition is shewn upon a series of small openings, or dials, placed preferably
in the upper part of the front of the case, but they can be arranged in any other
convenient place if preferred; connected with each dial is a rotating disc having
numbers upon its face, the size of the dial being only sufficient to exhibit one
number at a time; if preferred a stationary disc may be employed with a revolving
pointer, or a revolving disc against a fixed pointer. These discs are operated from
the aforesaid wheels on the spindles in any convenient manner and any suitable
arrangement may be employed for communicating motion from each disc to the
next disc, when any number has to be added to a disc which will cause the amount
to equal or exceed the total number to be shewn thereon, and necessitate "1
of
any
being carried to the next disc. When the bar of the main lever rises it lifts
the levers, which have been allowed to fall, to their normal position and these
levers as they rise add the last payment to the revolving dials, while at the same
time the catches which held the pressed in studs are released, allowing these studs
to resume their original position. After performing a calculation on the machine
it is necessary to return all the discs to zero before another calculation can be
performed, and for this purpose I provide each disc with a toothed wheel, having
a tooth omitted opposite the zero on the disc. A sliding rack engages this series
of wheels and on pulling out the said rack, every wheel will be rotated until the

page_text: gap in the teeth comes opposite the rack, thus leaving the whole series of discs
exhibiting "0" or zero. This rack has inclined pieces which lift it out of contact
with the wheels when its stroke is finished, leaving them free to be rotated again
by the movement of the levers and wheels as before. In place of a rack, each disc
may be returned to zero by means of a separate ratchet and pawl arrangement.
To exhibit the amount of each payment into the till, a short arm is affixed to
each lever, carrying at its end a strip having a series of figures arranged vertically
thereon, and moving under an opening in the case only large enough to exhibit
one figure at a time. These figures are so arranged that the one shewn at the
opening, when the lever has dropped, will correspond with the figure on the button
of the stud which was pushed in to define the travel of the lever. To economise
space the figures on the moving strips are preferably so arranged that a portion of
each figure forms a portion of the adjoining figure.
The coins as paid into the machine, are dropped into buckets or suitable
receptacles on the periphery of a wheel, capable of rotation on a spindle inside
the case.
This wheel works opposite an opening large enough to exhibit four, five,
or other desired number of buckets and on each payment the wheel moves one
division, so that the coin, or coins, forming a payment, remain in sight during the
subsequent three, four, or other desired number of payments.
In cases where it is desired to take change from the drawer of the machine, I
place behind the front of the case, sliding plates, which are so arranged as to auto-
matically lock the drawer when closed. The aforesaid sliding studs work through
slots in these plates and each is provided with an inclined piece, which on pressing
in the stud raises the plate and so unlocks the drawer. In this case I may so
arrange the drawer that the motion of opening it will pull down the lever or levers
required to record the payment made. Any one of the sliding plates when raised
rings a bell, by means of any suitable device, and when such sliding plate is not
employed, the main lever is caused to ring the bell. The till drawer may also if
desired be arranged to ring the bell when drawn open.
If desired a disc, or dial may be added to the machine, provided around its face
with a series of sets of dials, each set being similar to the recording dials on the
machine. This disc is moved one division every hour, or other required period of
time, by means of a clock, and one set of dials at a time is connected with the
recording dials on the machine, so that each particular set of dials on the disc
forms a record of the amount of money taken during the hour or other period of
time between the movements of the disc.
Dated this 25th day of September 1890.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Till Checking Machines.
I, JOSEPH PARNELL LIDSTONE, of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon,
Builder and Surveyor, 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 :-
The object of my invention is the construction of an improved machine or
apparatus for adding together the sums of money paid into a till exhibiting the
amount of each payment and the actual coins inserted, and for other purposes.
The machine is arranged to add pounds shillings and pence, or other monetary
values required, the principles of construction remaining the same in each case.
As an illustration of the construction of the machine, I will describe one designed
to deal with pounds shillings and pence. The said machine consists externally
of a box or case of suitable form, within which the mechanism is contained,

page_text: One or more rods or spindles are fixed within the case, and upon this rod or
rods, levers are pivoted. The levers are provided where necessary with counter
weights or springs, which cause them to fall when released as hereinafter described.
The number of levers provided is governed by the number of figures to be added,
thus in the machine under consideration there would be levers for farthings, levers
for pence levers for shillings and levers for pounds, enabling the machine to add
up to any number of pounds-19s. 11 d. according to the number of levers in the
pounds division. The inner end of each lever works on and is held by suitable
guides. On one side of each lever a ratchet or other suitable wheel is placed on a
spindle and rotated by means of a suitable pawl, the amount of rotation being
governed by the amount of depression given to the lever. Projecting through the
front of the case are a series of studs furnished with buttons, each marked with a
different value of coin and pressed outwards by springs, when any one of these
studs is pushed in it is retained by a catch, and determines the distance the lever
to which it belongs can fall. The levers are held up by a bar, which when lowered
by a main lever projecting through the front of the case, permits the descent of
any lever or levers of which the aforesaid studs have been pushed in. This main
lever when lowered, is held down by a catch, but rises automatically when the
catch is released.
The addition is shown upon a series of small openings or dials placed preferably
in the upper part of the front of the case, but they can be arranged in any other
convenient place if preferred; connected with each dial is a rotating disc having
numbers upon its face, the size of the dial being only sufficient to exhibit one
number at a time, it preferred a stationary disc may be employed with a revolving
pointer or a revolving disc against a fixed pointer. These discs are operated
from the aforesaid wheels on the spindles in any convenient manner, and any
suitable arrangement may be employed for communicating motion from each disc
to the next disc, when any number has to be added to a disc, which will cause
the amount to equal or exceed the total number to be shewn thereon and
necessitate "1" being carried to the next disc. When the bar of the main lever
rises, it lifts any of the levers which have been allowed to fall to their normal
position and these levers as they rise add the last payment to the recording dials,
while at the same time the catches which hold the pressed in studs are released,
allowing these studs to resume their original position. After performing a
calculation on the machine, it is necessary to return all the discs to zero before
another calculation can be performed, and for this purpose I provide each disc with
a toothed wheel having a tooth omitted opposite the zero on the disc. A sliding
rack engages this series of wheels and on pulling out the said rack every wheel will
be rotated until the gap in the teeth comes opposite the rack, thus leaving the
whole series of dises exhibiting "0"
This rack has inclined pieces
which lift it out of contact with the wheels when its stroke is finished, leaving
them free to be rotated again by the movement of the levers and wheels as before.
In place of a rack each disc may be returned to zero by means of a separate
ratchet and pawl arrangement.
or zero.
To exhibit the amount of each payment into the till a short arm is affixed to
each lever carrying at its end a strip having a series of figures arranged vertically
thereon and moving under an opening in the case only large enough to exhibit
one figure at a time. These figures are so arranged that the one shewn at the
opening when the lever has dropped will correspond with the figure on the button
of the stud which was pushed in to define the travel of the lever. To economise
space the figures on the moving strips are preferably so arranged that a portion of
each figure forms a portion of the adjoining figure.
The coins as paid into the machine are dropped into buckets or suitable
receptacles on the periphery of a wheel capable of rotation on spindle inside
This wheel works opposite an opening large enough to exhibit four
five or other desired number of buckets and on each payment the wheel moves one
the case.

page_text: division, so that the coin or coins forming a payment remain in sight during the
subsequent three four or other desired number of payments.
In cases where it is desired to take change from the drawer of the machine I
place behind the front of the case sliding plates which are so arranged as to lock
the drawer when closed. The aforesaid sliding studs work through slots in these
plates and each is provided with an inclined piece which on pressing in the stud
raises the plate and so unlocks the drawer. In this case I may so arrange the
drawer that the motion of opening it will pull down the lever or levers required to
record the payment made.
Any one of the sliding plates when raised rings a bell by means of any suitable
device and when such sliding plate is not employed, the main lever is caused to
ring the bell. The till drawer may also if desired be arranged to ring the bell
when drawn open.
If desired a disc or dial may be added to the machine provided around its face
with a series of sets of dials each set being similar to the recording dials on the
machine.
This disc is moved one division every hour or other required period of time by
means of a clock, and one set of dials at a time is connected with the recording
dials on the machine so that each particular set of dials on the disc forms a record
of the amount of money taken during the hour or other period of time between the
movements of the disc.
The accompanying three sheets of drawings illustrate the principal parts of a
till checking machine constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through the machine, shewing the main
rod or spindle, one of the levers working thereon with its locking device and
ratchet wheel and pawl, the bar for raising and lowering the levers, one set of
sliding studs with their locking plate, and the till drawer.
Fig. 2 is a similar section, shewing the main rod or spindle, the aforesaid bar and
the lever actuating same with its counterweight and catch, the stud locking plate
and releasing device, the till drawer lock and the bell.
Two figures have been employed to show the above parts in order to avoid
confusion.
Fig. 3 is a part elevation, partly in section, of the coin wheel and mechanism
actuating same.
Fig. 4 is a plan of one of the recording dials.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same and its actuating mechanism.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the rack apparatus for returning the dials to zero.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the drawings.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the outer box or case of the machine, made
in this instance of a cylindrical form, of sufficient length to contain the various
parts of the mechanism and mounted upon a base B, containing a till drawer C.
Any other suitable form for the case, may however be employed.
Ď is a rod or spindle fixed in the centre of the case and extending its whole
length. Some of the principal parts of the apparatus are carried by this rod, and
it forms the fulcrum or centre about which they turn.
A set of levers or tumblers, of which one is shewn at E, work freely upon the
rod D. The machine illustrated is intended for pounds, shillings, pence and
farthings, it has therefore five such levers one for the pounds, one for shillings up
to nine shillings, one for ten shillings, one for pence, and one for farthings.
The eleven sliding studs F represent the pence studs, and the lever E is the
pence lever. Each stud is provided with a button F to receive the pressure of
the finger, and these buttons are marked with the numbers 1 to 11, commencing at
the top stud. The studs work through holes in the outer case A and the guide
plate H. They are pressed outwards by springs J, and are furnished with inclined
pieces and stops, to be presently described.
A sleeve K is affixed to one side of the lever E, and the outer end of this sleeve

page_text: carries an arm L, to the end of which is fixed a curved strip M, having the
numbers 0 to 11 marked upon its outer side. These numbers are exhibited through
an aperture N in the case at the side of the studs F.
PP are arms turning freely upon the sleeve K, and carrying, fixed to their
ends, the curved strip Q. The studs F pass through apertures in this plate, which
forms their locking device.
R is a bar extending nearly the whole length of the machine and carried
by an arm at each end turning about the rod D. One of these arms is shewn
at S, Fig. 2.
Affixed to an arm S, preferably the one at the right hand end of the machine,
is a long lever T. The end of this lever works through a slot V in the case, its
motion being about a quarter of a circle. It is held normally in an upright position
by the counterweight W, but when pulled down to the position shewn in dotted.
lines, which is the end of its stroke, is held in such position by the spring bolt X.
When this lever is lowered the bar R moves with it as one piece.
Y is a bolt locking the till drawer C, it is withdrawn when the lever T is pulled
down, by the pin Z working in the slotted link a.
This lever also rings the bell 6, by means of the short arm c lifting the hammer
spring d.
A ratchet wheel e is placed on the rod D against each lever E and is operated
by a pawl on the lever. Fixed to the ratchet wheel is a bevel wheel Fig. 5,
gearing with a bevel pinion h, which rotates a spindle i, carrying a disc j.
At the left-hand end of the case is a wheel Fig. 3 turning upon the rod D,
and provided on its periphery with buckets or compartments 1, to receive coins,
which are dropped through a slot m in the case. n is an opening in the case of
sufficient size to exhibit four compartments of the wheel at a time. This opening
is covered with glass or other transparent substance. p is a ratchet wheel fixed
to the wheel and operated by the pawly on the arm r. This arm is affixed to
one of the arms S, so that when the Joe T is pulled down the wheel is moved.
In order that the wheel shall be m only the space of one compartment / at
each stroke of the lever, the pawl avels for the greater part of its stroke on
the fixed guard plate s, it then drops to the ratchet wheel and moves it the space
of one tooth only. By this means e sh payment of coin into the machine remains
visible at the opening n during the four succeeding payments. The coins on
reaching the bottom of the wheel fall into the drawer C.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. Assuming that a payment of seven
pence has been made, the money is dropped through the slot m, and falls into the
compartment l. The stud F2, having the figure 7 upon its button, is then pressed
in. The inclined piece t upon the stud lifts the plate Q, which, when the stud is
pressed in as far as it will go, drops down again slightly upon the raised part u and
locks the stud by falling behind the shoulder v.. At the same time all the other
studs in the set are locked and prevented from being pushed in because the plate Q
is now opposite all the shoulders w on these studs. A part of the plate is shewn
broken off in this position with regard to the studs immediately above and below
F2 only, but the whole plate would in reality be in this position. The lever T
is now pulled down and automatically locked by the bolt X, the bar R descending
with the lever, permits the lever E to fall until arrested by the projecting end
of F and the figure 7 on the strip M appears at the opening N. The bell b is at
the same time rung to give notice that a payment has been recorded, and the
drawer C is unlocked, and the wheel k moved one division.
To record the next payment, the spring bolt X is pulled out, the lever T and
bar R then rise by means of the counterweight W, and carry the lever E back
to its normal position, so that "0" again appears at the opening N.
As the bar R rises a projection a fixed on it, strikes and then passes a finger y
on the lever, the end 2 of the said lever by this movement comes in contact with
the arm P and so momentarily raises the plate Q sufficiently to allow the stud F2

page_text: to fly back by means of its spring. The plate Q then drops to its normal position
and the studs F are again free to be pushed in as required.
As the lever E returns it carries the ratchet wheel e round with it, by means of
the pawl an amount corresponding to the distance it had been permitted to drop,
and by means of the bevel gears and the discj is rotated in the same propor-
tion. This disc has the numbers "0" to "11" marked around on its face and one
number at a time is seen through the dial opening 3 in the lid 4.
In the present
instance, if the previous number of pence shewa at the opening 3 had been "8,"
seven pence being added the figure "3" becomes visible, and one shilling is carried
forward to the shillings dial.
As a stud in the pence set only was assumed to be pushed in, it is manifest that
when the bar R was lowered not only would the pence lever F descend, but the
pounds shillings and farthings levers would also fall and to the lowest position.
To avoid this a bar 5 is fixed in the case, so that the arms L when pushed back
by the rising of the bar R come against it, and are held thereto by catches 6. A
narrow curved plate 7 is fitted to slide behind the plate Q in the arms P P, it is
held down by a spring 8, and the studs F pass through openings formed in it.
When a stud such as F, is pushed in, it raises the plate 7 by means of the incline t,
the plate then rests on the short flat place at the top of the incline and in rising a
pin 9 in the end of the plate 7 pushes against the piece 10 and so lifts the catch 6.
The arm L, strip M and lever E are then free to fall when the bar R is lowered,
but the corresponding arm, strip and lever of any other set cannot fall, unless a
stud of such set has been pushed in.
The piece 10 is so arranged that when the arm L rises, it passes over the pin 9
without affecting the catch 6. When the pressed-in stud is released, as before
described, the plate 7 is pulled down again by the spring 8.
When a stud of any set has been pushed in, it, as before described, locks all the
other studs in its set, but the studs of any set of which one has not been pushed in
remain unlocked and after the lever T has been pulled down a stud in such set
could be pushed in which would allow its lever to fall and so make the record
incorrect. To render this impossible the main lever T is caused to lock all such
sets of studs in the following manner.
11 is a rock-shaft provided with arms 12, upon which rest prolongations Q¹ of
the plates Q.
A rod 13, carried in guides, rests upon an arm 14 also on the shaft 11. When
the bar R descends, a projection 15 thereon comes in contact with and pushes
down the rod 13 thereby raising such of the plates Q as have not been affected
and thus locking their studs.
Referring to Figs 4, 5 and 6 the disc j is not affixed to the spindle i, but it carries
a ratchet wheel 16, with which a pawl 17 on a disc 18 fixed on the spindle i engages.
A pinion 19 is also fixed to the disc j, and a sliding rack 20 engages with this and
the similar pinions on the other discs.
As shewn in Fig. 6 a tooth is omitted from the pinion 19, and thus when the
rack is moved the pinions are rotated, being capable of such motion through the
ratchet 16 and pawl 17, until the space comes opposite the rack. This space is
arranged so that when the pinions are in this position "0" will be shewn at all
the dials. The rack is guided at each end by a pin 21 working in a slot 22, the
incline part 23 of the slot takes the rack out of contact with the pinions, after
the discs have been put to zero, thus leaving them ready to commence a fresh
addition.
Although the operations of unlocking the till drawer and ringing the bell are
shewn as effected by the lever T, they can if preferred be operated from the plate Q
when it is raised by pressing in a stud.
It will be understood that the sets of parts for the different money values are
identical, with the exception of the number of sliding studs employed. Three
studs are required for farthings, eleven for pence and for shillings it is convenient

page_text: to employ nine and furnish a separate stud with levers &c. for ten shillings; for
the pounds as many studs can be provided as may be considered requisite. The
set of nine studs and the single stud making up nineteen shillings all record on
the same dial.
The studs for each denomination are preferably arranged in vertical rows on the
front of the machine, on one side of each row is the opening where is exhibited the
number corresponding with a pressed in stud; at the right-hand end is the main
lever and at the left the opening shewing the actual coins paid in, while the addition
dials are on the top.
This particular arrangement, though found convenient in practice, may be varied
if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. In a till checking machine, a wheel & with compartments on its periphery to
receive coins, which are discharged into a receptacle C, the wheel being moved
one division at each operation of the machine, and having several compartments
with their contained coins visible at one time through an opening n, substantially
as set forth.
2. In a till checking machine, an arm r, pawl q, ratchet wheel P and guard
plates for operating a coin wheel k, substantially as set forth.
3. In a till checking machine, the combination of sliding studs F, levers E,
plates M and ratchet wheels e, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a till checking machine, the combination of a lever T, bar R, counter-
weight W and lock X, with levers E, plates M and ratchet wheels e, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
12
5. In a till checking machine, sliding studs F, having inclines, projections
and shoulders and we, in combination with locking plates Q, substantially as
set forth.
6. In a till checking machine, the combination with levers E and arms L, of a
bar 5 and catches 6 released by plates 7 operated by studs F, substantially as
set forth.
7. In a till checking machine, the combination with locking plates Q, of a
rock shaft 11, having arms 12 and 13 and operated by a lever T, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a till checking machine, the combination with a lever T, of a pin Z and
link a for releasing a drawer lock Y, substantially as set forth.
9. In a till checking machine, the combination with a lever T, of an arm e for
ringing a bell b, substantially as set forth.
10. In a till checking machine, the combination with a lever T of an arm and
pawl for operating a coin wheel, substantially as set forth.
11. In a till checking machine, the combination with locking plates Q, of devices
for releasing a drawer lock and ringing a bell, substantially as set forth.
12. In a till checking machine, the combination with locking plates Q and a
bar R, of fingers and levers z with arms 2 and fingers y, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
13. In the adding dial mechanism of a till checking machine, the combination of
pinions 19 having one tooth omitted, with a rack 20, provided with inclined guides 23
for moving the dials to zero, substantially as set forth.
14. The whole combination of parts forming the till checking machine, constructed
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of July 1891
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.