An improved Cash and Time Checking Apparatus.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov.. 1887
Specification Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
An improved Cash and Time Checking Apparatus.
I, JOHN ROBERT WARD, of 11 Russell Gardens, Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Cook and Confectioner 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 my invention relates to an improved checking-apparatus; and which invention
has for its object, firstly to check the time at which shop assistants arrive at their
place of business, secondly to check the amount of money taken by said assistants,
and thirdly to check the receipts of waiters, barmen, and other servants to whom
money is entrusted, in the manner hereinafter set forth, and I now proceed to describe
my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the
figures and letters of reference marked thereon, similar letters indicating like parts
throughout.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of my invention.
Fig. 2, is a part sectional side elevation of my invention shewing an alternative
method of fitting the speaking tube. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a "break"
in the tubing forming a part of my invention. Fig. 4. shews a method of coupling
two tubes together.
Fig. 5, is an elevation of a portion of tubing forming a speaking-tube and check-
receiver combined.
Fig. 6. is a plan view of the valve as shewn in Fig. 2. Fig. 7, is a section taken
through two rooms and the kitchen of an ordinary eating-house or restaurant, shewing
how my invention may be applied.
Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken through Fig. 7. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 shew the kind
of check used with my invention.
My invention consists essentially of a rectangular case, the framework (A,) of
which may be constructed of metal or wood, and which casing is fitted with a till or
receiver for the checks or coins. The said till may consist of a rectangular box which
is located in the lower part of the casing A, and rendered secure by the door B
provided with a lock C, or if preferred the till or receiver may consist of a simple
drawer provided with a reliable lock and key. The sides of and top of said casing
consist preferably of plates of glass D through which the checks in the apparatus
Price 8d.1

page_text: may be clearly seen. Inside the casing A are two rectangular pieces of glass, or
other material E and F, the plate F being preferably of ground glass or other opaque
material. The said plates E and F are attached to pieces of metal G which are
suitably journalled in the back and front of the apparatus, and provided with levers H
by which said plates E and F may be tilted to an angle. At the rear of the apparatus
is a stop J, which consists of a rubber or leather washer secured upon a pin, and which
serves to prevent the plate E from being tilted too high.
A gong or bell K is fitted in the casing as shewn upon which the checks fall, and
which bell attracts attention to the apparatus. The said bell K may be fitted as an
electric bell of ordinary construction, and to act independently of the falling checks.
The wires from the electric bell may be carried to the rooms above and fitted to an
ordinary switch, by actuating which, attention may be called to the speaking tube.
Inserted in the top of the apparatus is the tubing or pipe L, the lower part of which
is fitted with a valve, which consists of a flat piece of metal R upon a wire S which
projects over the apparatus and is provided with a ring or handle N and which piece
of metal slides into a casing M, formed for its reception. The tube L is provided
with a speaking tube O, which may be carried to any convenient place, and may if
desired be provided with a flexible tube and whistle as is usual. When the tubing L
is carried down to the apparatus from any considerable height, it is found convenient
to construct it with breaks P which are formed by making the tubing I. bear off at
an angle, and inserting therein pieces of india-rubber Q, or other suitable material as
shewn more clearly in Fig. 3.
These said "breaks" P, serve to arrest the fall of the checks or coins, which would
otherwise enter the checking apparatus with great force.
An alternative method of arranging the speaking tube O and the valve is shewn in
Fig. 2 where the speaking tube Ŏ is carried straight to the front of the apparatus,
and the valve placed inside the apparatus and held in place by lugs T attached to one
of the lugs T and to the wire S is a spiral spring U, which serves to open the valve
when released.
Fig. 5 shews the upper end of the tube L formed into a mouth-piece V and the
check receptacle W formed with the cap W₁ provided with a finger-piece W2 by means
of which the cap W₁ may be readily opened or closed. When the tubing L is carried
through several floors and it is necessary to keep the tubing separate for different
apparatus it is sometimes found convenient to couple the two or more tubes together
by bands Y, or staples driven into the wall, and as the tubing L is preferably made
flat, it will readily adapt itself to this arrangement.
My invention is conveniently used in combination with a lift A¹, (Figs. 7 and 8)
where the tubing L is shewn conveniently carried down the side of said lift A¹ to the
apparatus A of which two are shewn, one for each room. The apparatus A are
numbered to correspond with the number of the rooms. It will be seen that in
room No. 1, the tubing L is provided with a branch L' which is fixed in the top of
the counter B for the reception of the checks or coins, whilst the tubing L is carried
up and forms the speaking tube with the mouth piece V.
In room No. 2 is shewn a separate tubing L which is carried down the tubing L
as far as convenient, and is provided with a mouth-piece V, and a check or coin
recepticle W, as hereinbefore described.
In Fig. 8, the tubing Lis shewn provided with a flexible tube C³, and mouth piece V
in which may be inserted a whistle (2.
This my improved apparatus may be used for checking cash but I prefer to use
checks, which consist of metal discs, Figs. 9, 10, 11, the values of which may either
be distinguished by different colours or the values may be imprinted thereon in
figures.
When the checks are provided with figures as shewn in Figs. 10 and 11 I use but
one apparatus for any number of rooms, as the figure above the line represents the
number of the room from which they came, whilst the figures below the line indicate
the value of the check and the money received by the waiter. When found convenien

page_text: I may dispense with the tubing L, and fit an apparatus, for each assistant, in
the counter.
The manner in which my said invention is performed is as follows:-
When my improved checking apparatus is used to check the time of arrival of the
assistants, they place a check known by its number, into the mouth of the tubing,
and it travels into the apparatus, in front of which is the checking clerk who notes
the time at which the check enters the apparatus, upon a sheet of paper provided for
the purpose.
In order to check the receipts of said assistants, a check representing the amount
of the purchase is placed into the mouth of the tubing L, which is fitted into the top
of the counter, and which check is preferably placed in the mouth of the tubing by
the customer, and it then travels into the apparatus where the amount of the check
and the number of the assistant are registered by the checking clerk.
When my improved checking apparatus, is used in restaurants, the waiter, barman
or other servant, after taking his orders, places a check representing the value of the
order into the receptacle W and it then travels down the tube into the apparatus, and
in falling rings the bell K, and rests upon the plate E. The cook whose attention
has been called by the bell, closes the tube L with the valve on the apparatus, and
the waiter, who has closed the cap W (Fig. 5) cominunicates his orders to the cook
through the tube L. The cook then tilts the plate upon which is the check, and the
said check then falls on to the plate F from whence it may be tilted into the till, after
doing which the cook sends the provisions up the lift A¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The combination, in a checking-apparatus of the frame A made of metal, wood
or other suitable material, of a till fitted into said frame, of the plates E and F
journalled in the sides of said frame, of the gong K fitted to the side of said frame
all substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination in a checking apparatus of the tubing L fitted into the top
of said check-receiver, of a valve connected with said tubing, of the speaking-tube O,
the breaks P fitted with pieces of india-rubber or other suitable material Q, and
means whereby said tubing L may be run together, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The construction and general arrangement of my improved checking-apparatus,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, set forth in the claims
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 16th day of November 1887.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.