Improvements in Apparatus for Counting or Adding, Indicating, and Recording Cash or other Quantities.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1591
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Counting or Adding, Indicating, and
Recording Cash or other Quantities.
I, ROBERT LAMONT, of Market Lane, Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :—
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of apparatus for
counting or adding, indicating, and recording cash or other quantities, so as to
render the same inore accurate and convenient, and useful for checking and
other purposes.
In apparatus constructed or arranged according to one modification and for
dealing with cash quantities, I provide small hand wheels for acting on the
mechanism, namely one for farthings, one for pence, one for shillings, and one or
more for pounds; and at each operation any one or more of the hand-wheels are
turned to extents corresponding to the amounts required to be added, indicated, or
recorded. The handwheel spindles, which have on them ratchet wheels to prevent
backward turning, and notched disks for locking them, are parallel to each other,
and act through bevil wheels on counting wheels which are carried on spindles at
right angles to the handwheel spindles and all in the same line. As each counting
wheel completes a turn it, as in ordinary counting apparatus, causes the wheel of
next higher value to turn to the extent of one number, this carrying forward being
effected in any suitable known manner, but preferably by a tube loose on a spindle
parallel to the counting-wheel spindle and having pinions on its ends, one pinion
being constructed to be acted on once for each turn of the lower-value wheel whilst the
other gears in the ordinary way with a spurwheel forming part of the higher-value
wheels. The parts are arranged so that the carrying forward from a lower-value
wheel to a higher-value wheel does not interfere with, and is not interfered with by,
the direct action on the higher-value wheel from its own handwheel. The arrange-
ment for this purpose is susceptible of modification. In one modification the spur-
wheel ucted on by the carrying-forward mechanism carries on a stud fixed in its
face at a convenient distance from the centre a pinion and small spurwheel formed
or fixed together the spurwheel gearing on its outer side with internal teeth on the
counter wheel. The pinion gears on its inner side with a spurwheel turning
(through the bevil wheels hereinbefore mentioned) with the relative handwheel. The
numbers of teeth of the several wheels are arranged so that when the handwheel
is turned the counter wheel rotates in the opposite direction to the spurwheel turned
by the handwheel; and when the large spurwheel is turned by the carrying-
forward mechanism it turns the counter wheel to the proper extent through the
same gearing but without moving the handwheel spindle. According to another
modification two ratchet wheels with catches are employed so that either the carrying-
forward or the direct action may be transmitted independently of the other.
in order to prevent inaccuracy from the possibility of the catches sticking on the
points of the ratchet teeth the direct action is communicated to a worm and worm-
wheel, and the worm is by a cam and spring or by a cam alone, made to move to
and fro on end at each turn in a manner to take a catch over the edge of a ratchet
tooth if sticking. In a third modification a combination of an eccentric and a
bypocycloidal wheel are employed to obtain the same result.
But
For indicating purposes the hand wheel spindles have on them piuions which are
loose but can be engaged with the spindles by clutches; and these pinions gear
with racks on vertical bars which bars by other racks act on disks bearing mumerals

page_text: which appear at openings to form the indications. Instead of the disks or wheels
immediately acted on by the vertical bars being the indicating disks, or in addition
thereto they may be connected by bands or toothed gearing to other indicating
disks facing in another or any desired direction. After each indication the clutches
are disengaged and the vertical bars are moved in a manner to make every disk
show zero.
For recording or printing any amount or sum shown by the counter wheels or
indicating disks, each handwheel spindle has on a part of it engaged and disengaged
by the clutch hereinbefore mentioned, a pulley a band from which passes round a
printing roller. The bands from all the pulleys pass round sectional printing
rollers, arranged together in the same line, and the bands have on them suitable
types which may be automatically inked in any convenient way.
When any
numeral is indicated as hereinbefore described the corresponding type is brought
into the printing position. The printing operation is effected automatically or by
means of a spindle turned by the operator, a cam on it causing a lever to push
up a ribbon of paper into contact with the types; and as the spindle is turned
further a crank or eccentric pin on the cam disk by a connecting rod acting on a
spindle feed device moves forward the paper and finally cuts off the part printed
Oll. Thus if my improved apparatus is used in connection with cash receipts in a
shop, a customer can see the amount of his payment indicated and can receive a
printed slip showing the amount.
The counter wheels hereinbefore mentioned have numerals marked on them
which are shown in suitable positions but these indications may be under a cover
kept locked, and will show when desired the sum of any number of separate
amounts that have been counted or indicated.
For shop purposes I arrange in connection with the apparatus, a drawer into
which cash payments may be put, and a stud on the drawer is arranged to act on a
lever to engage and disengage the clutches, whilst another stud will by acting on
the vertical rack bars move the indicating disks and the type bands into their zero
positions. When an operator is about to put a payment into the drawer he first
turns the handwheels to correspond with the amount, secondly gives half a turn to
the spindle acting on the printing appliance, thirdly opens the drawer puts
in the cash and closes the drawer, and finally gives the spindle, a second half
turn. The cycle of movements may however be arranged in any other convenient
way.
Any of the devices herein before described may be modified by the substitution
of known or obvious equivalents.
Dated this Eighteenth day of April 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Counting or Adding, Indicating, and
Recording Cash or other Quantities.
1. ROBERT LAMONT, of Market Lane, Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, 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, that is to say :—
so as to
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of apparatus for
counting or adding, indicating, and recording cash or other quantities,
render the same more accurate and convenient, and useful for checking and other
purposes.
My improved apparatus comprises handwheels by means of which the quantities
to be dealt with are made to be indicated and recorded: also special mechanism for
carrying quantities, as from units to tens for example, without interfering with

page_text: the action of the parts to which the quantities may be said to be carried; also
indicating disks showing the quantities correspon ling to the movements given to
the handwheels; also reversed indicating disks showing the same quantities on the
opposite side of the apparatus; also printing applianes for recording the quantities:
also devices for setting the indicating disks to zero: also a drawer for receiving
cash and devices connecting the drawer with other parts of the apparatus; and also
other details hereinafter described in connection with the main parts.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append four sheets of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to in describing my improved apparatus.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a horizontal section the front of the apparatus being
at the bottom.
Figure, 2, is a vertical section as taken near the back of the apparatus and as
viewed towards the front and showing the backs of indicating disks which face
the operator, the reversed disks facing the other way being supposed to be
removed.
Figure, 3, is an elevation of the front end which does not extend up as high as
the back part.
Figures, 4, and, 5, are enlarged face view and section of one set of the carrying
parts.
Figure, 6, is a vertical section of some parts as at right angles to Figure, 3.
Figure, 7, is a plan of parts by which some of the reversed disks are actuated.
Figures, 8, and, 9, are a face view and section showing a second modification of
the "carrying mechanism; and
"
Figures, 10, and 11, are a section and face view showing a third modification of
the "carrying mechanism.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
My improved mechanism may be arranged in a casing of any suitable form and
plain or ornamental externally. The casing partly shown in the drawings is of a
rectangular form in plan, and also in elevation but the top of the front or that facing
the operator (a shop salesman for example) is lower than that of the back part.
the lower front part there is a drawer, A, for putting in cash; in the front of the
upper back part there are openings in which appear numerals indicating quantities;
and in the other side of the back part, that are in the outer side, which will be in
view of a customer if the apparatus is placed on a shop counter, openings for
showing like numerals but reversed in order so as to be properly seen on the outer
side. Various spindles and other details of the mechanism are carried in metal or
other frames, bars, or brackets in the manner usual in clockwork or in any other
suitable manner. For brevity's sake some expressions, such as adding,"
carrying and the like, are used as signifying the mechanical actions corre-
sponding to such operations.
6.
At the front above the drawer, A, there are handwheels, B, which the operator
turns to the extents corresponding to the numbers of the quantities to be indicated
and otherwise dealt with, these handwheels being on horizontal spindles, B 1, which
have on them ratchet wheels, B 2, prevented by pawls from turning excepting in
the direction indicated by arrows. Each spindle, B 1, by a pair of bevil wheels, B 3,
turns a sleeve or elongated boss, B4, running loose on a spindle, and passing
(excepting the case of the extreme right-hand spindle) loosely through a spur-
wheel. C, on the inner side of which spurwheel the boss has fixed on it a smaller
spurwheel, C 1. On a pin, (2, fixed in the larger spurwheel, C, there is loose a
planet wheel, C3, which is in part a pinion gearing with the wheel, C 1, and in part
a larger pinion gearing with internal teeth formed on a rimmed disk or counter
wheel, E. The parts of this gearing are proportioned so that any angular (that is
rotative) movement of the wheel, C1, produces an equal but reversed movement of
the rimmed disk, E. When a quantity is carried forward from parts dealing with
lower quantities (as from pence to shillings for example) it is communicated to the

page_text: larger spurwheel, C, by a pinion, C4, on a tubular spindle, C 5, and through the
action of the pin, C 2, and of the planet wheel, (3, gives a proper movement to
the rimmed disk, E, without turning the smaller wheel, C1, this wheel being, in
fact, held stationary by the friction of the parts connected with it except when
turned by means of its proper handwheel, B. Each rimmed disk, E, effects the
carrying forward once for each complete turn by means of the well known device
fully shown in Figures, 4, and 5. Each tube, C5, has on its right-hand end a
pinion, C 6, with some of its teeth longer than the others, and when not turning
resting on the edge or rim of the disk, E. The disk E has formed on it a
projecting part, E1, formed with two teeth to gear with the pinion, C6, and with a
notch between those teeth extending sufficiently to allow one of the longer teeth of
the pinion to pass round, these longer teeth preventing the turning of the pinion
excepting when the part, Ei, passes. The several rimmed disks or counter
wheels, E, shown in Figure, 1, have numerals marked on their outer surfaces; these
are however not for the ordinary indications, but for showing the summation of a
number of separate sums or quantities, and they may be covered by a shutter
ordinarily locked and accessible only to the proprietor or manager of the establish-
ment. The disks, E, represent severally hundreds, tens, and units of pounds,
shillings, pence, and farthings, as indicated by the reference letters, and
numerals, 100 L, 10, 11, S, D, F, in Figure, 1. The farthing parts having
nothing carried to them, the bevil wheel, B3, and rimmed disk, E, are fixed and
turned together, and as there is no reversal between them the bevil wheel on the
spindle, B1, is reversed as compared with the others. The shilling" rimmed
disk, E, having to turn once for twenty separate numbers, and it being inconvenient
to similarly turn the corresponding handwheel, B, a set of toothed wheels, B5, is
introduced to turn the bevil wheels B 3, once for two turns of the handwheel B.
6:
The hand wheel spindles, B 1, are continued through beyond the parts described
in the preceding paragraph and have on them tubes or sleeves, G, made with clutch
disks. G 1, at their back ends. Each clutch disk, G 1, has fixed in it a number of
pins, indicated by dotted lines in Figure, 1, and which passing through the holes in
a middle disk formed on the spindle, B 1, project, when in the engaging position,
into holes in a clutch disk, G2, on the front end of a tube or sleeve, G3, having on
it a pinion, G4. The several pinions, G 4, gear with vertical rack bars, G5, which
at their upper ends gear with pinions, H, turning with front or inner indicating
disks, H 1, the several indicating disks being arranged in positions suitable for
showing numerals at openings situated in a line across the front of the higher part
of the casing. This arrangement will be easily understood on considering Figure, 2,
in which the backs of these disks are shown the numerals being indicated by dotted
lines. Thus farthings are shown at the outer part of the horizontal diameter of the
disk, pence and pounds at the bottoms of the vertical diameters, and shillings at the
top of the vertical diameter. When indicating the vertical rack bars, G 5, at
the left-hand side in each case, as seen in Figure, 2, descend and the right-hand
bars ascend; and the disks, H 1, are restored to zero positions by a horizontal
bar, J, which, rising, pushes up any lowered left-hand bar, the corresponding right-
hand bars then descending and encountering the bar, J, thereby acting as stops and
preventing the left-hand bars from being jerked up too far. Before, however, the
disks, H 1, can be turned back the clutch disks, G1, G2, must be disengaged,
which action is effected by means of a bar, K, engaging in grooves in enlarged
parts at the front ends of the clutch tubes, G. The manner of moving the
bars, J, and, K, is hereinafter explained.
Two of the reverse disks, H2, which are shown in plan in Figure, 7, and
which indicate at openings in the outer vertical face of the casing are moved
by means of horizontal rack bars, 11, 12, carried in guides and gearing with
pinions appertaining to the several disk. The front pence and poil disks, H 1,
are fast on spindles having on them pinions, L3, L4, gearing each with one
end of a rack bar, L1, L2, and the other end of each rack bar gears with a
pinion, L 5, L 6, on the tubular boss of each of the reverse indicating disks, H 2.

page_text: As the rack bars L1, L2, cross each other they are arranged to gear on
opposite sides of the pinions. The reverse shilling indicating disk does not
require reversal of motion but merely to have the numerals properly shown on
it. The reverse farthing indicating disk, H3, indicated by dotted lines in
Figure, 2, is turned by an endless band or pitch chain from a pulley or sprocket
wheel turning with the front farthing disk.
For recording or printing any amount or sum shown by the counter wheels, E,
or indicating disks, HI, the pinion tube, G3, on each handwheel spindle, B 1, and
which is engaged and disengaged by means of the clutch tube, G, acts by means of
a pinion, M, on it, on a double open sector, M 1, having printing type on its outer
arc, this device being a preferable equivalent for the band with printing type
on it, mentioned in my Provisional Specification. The arrangement is shown in
Figures, 1, 2, and 6. The pinions, M, act on toothed arcs at the inner ends of the
several double sectors, M 1, which are centered on spindles and made open in a
manner to clear the various spindles, whilst they are of different sizes suitable for
bringing all the printing arcs together at the side of the casing. In Figure, 2, the
sectors, MI, are shown all with their zero types (at the bottom of their ares) in
the printing position; and when any number is indicated on a disk, H 1, the corre-
sponding sector is brought into the printing position.
seen in
Any suitable known kind of inking apparatus may be adopted, as for example, an
ink ribbon applied as in many typewriters. In Figure, 2, such an ink ribbon, N, is
shown by peculiar dotting as passing round guide pulleys round an extended circuit
within the casing of the apparatus, this ribbon passing between the types and the
paper to be printed. The paper, shown by a dotted line, N 1, in Figure, 2, is drawn
off an external roll (not shown) and passes round guide pulleys along the bottom of
the casing and up to the printing position, at the right-hand side as
Figure, 2. At the proper time the paper is struck against the ink ribbon and type
by an impression bar, N 2, at the upper end of a lever, N 3, moved by a tappet
roller, P, on a disk P 1, fixed on a crank shaft, P2, which the operator turns by
means of a handle P 3, (Figure, 1) at its front end. The cranked part of the
shaft, P2, is connected by a pair of rods. P 4, to a slide, Q, guided to work on the
outer side of a fixed plate, Q1, which is formed with a slot having passing through
it a rod, Q2, jointed at its outer end to the slide, Q, and passing through a short
slot in an inner slide, Q 3, to a lever Q4, centered on the inner slide and forming
part of a serrated plate, Q5. When the outer slide, Q, which is shown in its
lowest position, is moved upwards it first by the rod, 2, and lever, Q4, closes the
gripping plate, Q5, on the paper, and then the inner slide, Q3, moving upwards
by the action of the rod, Q2, carries up the gripping plate and paper, the paper
passing out through a curved slit through the fixed plate, Q1. The paper passes
out on to a small table, R, and on the return downwards of the slide, Q, is cut off
by a knife fixed on the lower part of that slide and acting against a knife fixed to
the fixed plate, Q. Whilst on the table, R, the paper may have the shopkeeper's
name or advertisement printed on it by a plate, RI. fixed on a spindle, R 2, and
turned down at the proper time by means of a pinion, R 3, on that spindle, acted on
by a rack, R4, connected by a rod, R 5, to the clutch bar, K. At each printing
action the ink ribbon, N, is moved by the action of a rod, N 2, on the outer slide, Q,
on an outer gripping plate, N 3, jointed to a lever, № 4, which has at its end an
inner gripping plate, N 5, the ribbon being between the plates, N 3, N 5.
When the operator has, by turning the handwheels, B, caused a certain sum to
be indicated, he has, in order to bring about the succeeding operations, to move a
handled lever, T, at the left-hand side of the drawer, A, Figure, 3, towards the
right. The lever, T, which is centered on a fixed stud, T 1, moves a bar, T 2,
which has on it studs adapted to engage in notches in wheels, B 6, on the hand-
wheel spindles, B 1, so as to lock those spindles. At the same time the lever, T,
moves a pin, T 3, on its lower part out of a notch in a disk fast on the shaft, P 2;
and this shaft can then be turned. A complete turu must be given to the shaft, P 2,
and the notch brought round into proper position for receiving the pin, T 3, before

page_text: the lever, T, can be moved so as to release the handwheel spindles, B 1, a pawl
acting on a ratchet wheel, T 4, on the shaft preventing it from turning except in one
direction.
On the shaft, P2, there is a disk, P5, which prevents the drawer, A, from being
opened except when the shaft is turned half round to bring a cutaway part of the
disk to the side next the drawer. When the drawer, A, is drawn out an antifriction
roller, A 1, on its side acts on one cam-shaped inner side of the fork of a lever, A 2,
last on a rocking shaft, K 1, and levers, K2, on this shaft by rods, K 3, move the
clutch bar, K. When the drawer, A, is returned inwards the other side of the fork
of the lever, A. 2, is acted on by the roller, A 1, so as to move the clutch bar, K,
back again.
Another antifriction roller, A 3, on the side of the drawer acts on a
lever, 1, loose on a rocking shaft, J 2, and as the drawer moves out simply turns
and passes the lever, J1, letting it drop. On the inward movement of the drawer
the roller, A 3, moves the lever, J 1, backwards and then a projection on the lever
engages a lever, J 3, fast on the rocking shaft, J 2, and moves the shaft, the roller
ultimately passing the loose lever, J 1, and again letting it drop. The lever, J3
and a second like it on the shaft, J 2, are connected by rods, J 4, to the bar, J,
herein before referred to as returning the indicating disks H 1, H 2, to their zero
positions.
When an operator is about to put a payment into the drawer, A, he first turns
the handwheels, 13, to correspond with the amount, secondly after moving the
lever, T, gives half a turn to the shaft, P2, acting on the printing appliance,
thirdly opens the drawer puts in the cash and closes the drawer again, and finally
gives the shaft, P2, a second half turn. The cycle of movements may however be
arranged in any other convenient way.
In the modification of "carrying" mechanism shown in Figures, 8, and 9, two
ratchet wheels, U, U 1, with catches, are employed so that either the carrying or
the direct action may be transmitted independently of the other. In each case a
spindle, B7, acts by a worm on a worm wheel, U 2, in one piece with or fixed
to a disk, U 3, which has jointed to it a catch engaging with one ratchet wheel, U.
This ratchet wheel is made with a tube having loose on it the spurwheel, U 4,
which receives the "carrying" action and which has on it a catch engaging
with the second ratchet wheel, U 1, made in one piece with the rimmed disk or
counter wheel, E, and fixed on the tubular boss of the first ratchet wheel, U.
To prevent inaccuracy from the possibility of the catches sticking on the points
of the ratchet teeth the direct action is communicated by a worm on the
spindle, B7, which by means of a cam shaped disk, U5, on its end pressed by
a spring U 6, against an adjustable fixed stud, U 7, is made to move to and
fro' on end at each turn in a manner to take the catch beyond the edge of a
ratchet tooth and thereby prevent its sticking thereon.
In the modification shown in Figures 10, and 11, each rimmed disk or counter
wheel, E, is fast on a spindle, E 3, having at its "carrying" end an eccentric, E 4,
loose on which there is a hypocycloidal wheel, E 5. The wheel, E 5, gears with
internal hypocycloidal teeth on the next rimmed disk or counter wheel, and has
fixed in it a pin, E6, working in a radial slot in the disk, E7, moved directly
by the bevil wheels, B 3. In the direct action the hypocycloidal wheel, E5, is
carried round the eccentric, E4, whilst every turn of the eccentric causes the
wheel, E, to move to the extent of a tooth in advance of the disk, E 7.
Any of the devices hereinbefore described may be modified by the substitution
of known or obvious equivalents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what munner the same may be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. The combination of parts constituting as a whole my improved apparatus
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, to 7, of the

page_text: 6:
2. The carrying
**
mechanisin substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures, 1, 4 and 5, of the accompanying drawings.
3. The "carrying" mechanism substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figures 8, and 9, of the accompanying drawings.
4. The "carrying mechanism substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figures 10, and 11, of the accompanying drawings.
5. The arrangement of the indicating disks combined, with the parts for
moving them, and the parts for returning them to zero positions substantially as
hereinbefore described.
6. The printing devices substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The drawer arrangement combined with the locking and other devices
connected with it, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of January 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.