Improvements in Cash Registers or Check Tills.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Registers or Check Tills.
;
I, GEORGE HUGHES of 23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad
by Wilhelm Auffermann, of 8, Worringerstrasse, Düsseldorf, Germany,
Manufacturer), and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The subject of the present invention is a cash register or check till which, on
opening and closing. the cash drawer, prints a check and totals the amounts put
in, besides having an arrangement for preventing the partial closing of the cash
drawer, in case the attendant should intend reopening the latter without the
apparatus having properly, operated, that is to say, without the check having been
printed and the amounts. totalled. In the annexed drawings,
Fig. 1 .represents a vertical longitudinal section,
Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross section,
Fig. 3 represents a horizontal cross section
Figs. 4 to 16 represent details.
The cash drawer A has at the top of one of its inner corners a rack B and a
slanting channel C formed by two upstanding sides, and this rack and the channel
are the parts which set the mechanism in motion. Above the drawer A and
extending. across the casing of the register is a shaft having at one end the
spur wheel which will be rotated by the rack B when the drawer A is pulled
out or pushed in. Near the other end of the shaft. 6 is a second spur wheel b³.
Some distance in front of the shaft 6 is another shaft 2 parallel with b¹ and
having on it the sleeve c¹ to which are attached the cheeks 6*. To this sleeve c¹
is. also attached the lug 3 which when the drawer A is pulled out passes into
the channel C by the upstanding sides of which it is caused to slide along the
shaft 2. Above the shaft and extending through each cheek 4 is a tubular
shaft G, (see Figs. 5.and.6), having at one end a ratchet wheel in which engages
a pawl 15. At the other end of the shaft G and loose thereon is a spur wheel
which is operated by the intermediate spur wheel (carried loosely on a pin 3
projecting from one of the cheeks ). The intermediate spur wheel is itself
rotated by the spur wheel on the shaft b¹. The spur wheel has an extended
hub provided with a peripheral cam-groove in which runs a pin at the knuckle
end of the lever by which means the lever is, oscillated on a pivot at the outer
end of an arm outstanding from one of the cheeks 6, a pin at the upturned end 26
of the lever running, in the grooved wheel at the end of shaft G. Behind
the spur wheel and gearing therewith is another spur wheel 28 (also loose on
a pin outstanding from one of the cheeks 6) carrying at one side an eccentrically
placed pin by which is lifted the pawl 10 pivotted at one end to one of the
cheeks and held in contact with the pin by a spring one end of which is
attached to the free end of the pawl 10 and the other end to one of the cheeks b*.
The pawl has on its underside a projection which engages with the shaft. G
until the outer end of 10 is raised by the pin . The wheel 2 is connected with
the shaft G so as to rotate therewith by the contact of the straight side of a
recess on the extended hub of wheel with the straight side of the projection ¿¹³

page_text: their
on the inner side of the grooved wheel . Within the tubular shaft G is a
spindle H having in it grooves h³. At the outer end of spindle H is a grooved
wheel held by a hanger h. This arrangement prevents the spindle itself
moving when the shaft G is slid along by the action of the sleeve c. On the
shaft are the discs g¹ (Fig. 4) in grooves in the peripheries of which are the
rings having teeth g³ round their outer diameters and indentations g* round
their inner diameters. The teeth are intended to work the counter K. In
a radial hole in the discs g' are the teeth g carried by a spindle encircled by the
spring . In the position of the parts as shown by Figs. 4 and 5, the spindle H
is so situated that the grooves are in the same plane as the teeth: 96 and when
the force of the spring g is overcome the teeth gu can move inwards by reason
of the ends of the spindles of the teeth g being free to enter the grooves h³, and
the rings 92 can be adjusted relatively to the discs g¹ and the shaft G. In the
position shown by Fig. 2 the spindle H is so situated, owing to the movement of
the shaft G along the spindle H, that the teeth are over the ungrooved parts of
the said spindle H, and the spindles of the teeth 6 being no longer
free to enter the grooves, the rings g2 become coupled with the discs g¹ and
with the shaft G so that the discs g' and rings 2 must rotate with the said shaft G
which itself is prevented by the ratchet wheel and pawl from rotating
except in one direction. Above the shaft G is another shaft F which carries
inside one another the tubular hubs of the quadrants f¹ having on
peripheries numerals for indicating the amount paid and showing the said
amount through the openings E. The hubs of the quadrants f¹ have teeth f
which on drawing out or replacing the drawer A will gear with the teeth g³ of
the rings 92. The ends of the tubular hubs project one beyond the other and are
furnished with wheels m', having numeral types round their peripheries, so
arranged that when any particular numeral shows behind the opening E, the
corresponding numeral on m² is localised at L, (Fig. 1). In front of the discs
93 is a bar having pivotted to it the bent lever f, f, the end f being furnished
with a projection f which is kept in one of the spaces between the teeth f² by
the outward action of the spring f. Extending from one of the cheeks 6 to
the other of them is a bar fi (see Figs. 3, 10 and 11), which is notched so as to
provide stops f" and spaces f³. When the drawer A is closed (see Fig. 3), the
quadrants are rigidly held by the projections f³ on the end f of lever
ff, entering one of the spaces between the teeth f, the ends f resting on
the stops f. When the sleeve c¹ is slid sideways the ends f³ can enter the
spaces (Fig. 10), on the teeth f overcoming the spring f by contact with the
projection f. The effect of this "locking" the quadrants f¹ is that the teeth g³
of the rings g will, (after each side movement of the sleeve c¹ and the mechanism
between the cheeks 64) be again able to enter the spaces between the teeth f
which they could not do if the quadrants f¹ could be displaced while the teeth g³
stand alongside the teeth f³.
The
The ticket printing arrangement is shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. At one
end of the shaft 1 is a spur wheel motion from which is transmitted to the
spur wheel 6 by means of a rack having teeth at one end on the opposite side
to that at the other end or by intermediate spur wheels or any other means
which will ensure the spur wheel 66 rotating in the opposite direction to the
wheel b. On the axle 7 of the wheel 66 is a crank 68 (Fig. 9) which carries at
its slotted end the pin of the crank n¹ of the ticket-printer.
wheel is co-axial with the crank which runs freely on its axle n³. The
crank n has two pawls n³, n, which engage with the ratchet wheels n³, nº;
n5 being rigidly attached to the axle n², and no free to rotate thereon and with it
the spur wheel m². To the axle n² is likewise firmly attached the cylinder n²
over which runs the strip of paper 8 as it unwinds from the roller N and from
which strip the portion forming the ticket will eventually be cut off. The
cylinder n serves also as a printing roller, the name of the firm using the
appliance being put on its circumference, so that when the strip of paper n³ is

page_text: pushed forward, the cylinder n³, inked, by the roller n³, prints the name of the
tirm on the ticket, a counter cylinder pressing the strip of paper against the
cylinder n. To prevent the axle 2 from following the backward movement
of the pawl na ratchet wheel n₁0 is arranged at one of its outer ends. The
pawl n operates the spur wheel m² in the opposite direction to that of the pawl n³
and the wheel m* carried by the pin m³, is set in motion by the intermediate
wheel m³ which gears with the wheels m² and m*.
The pin m has an eccentric pin p' which when the wheel m¹ rotates causes
the lever p² to oscillate on its pivot p and move the movable cutter p against the
fixed one p thus cutting off the ticket. (See Figs. 14 and 15). Simultaneously
(and by the action of the lever 22) the roller p fixed to the free end of the
lever presses the strip of paper 8 against the type-wheels m' so that the
numerals under the roller pe are printed on the ticket. As already mentioned
those numerals are the ones which are shown through the opening E by the
respective quadrants f¹. In order that a combined elastic and rolling pressure
may be given to the strip of paper passing over the type wheels m', the roller p
is pivotted to one end of the lever p2 in such a manner as to extend the spring pi
when the lever p falls on the paper. A spring 28 (Fig. 15), presses the cutter p
against the lever 22 and the latter against the eccentric pin p¹ on the pin m³.
A pawl engaging in a ratchet wheel fixed on the pin m³ prevents the axle
and the printing arrangements from following the backward movement of the
pawl n
In Fig. 12 is shown the mechanism for preventing the till from being partly
closed, with the intention of opening it again before the registering device has
acted, (that is, before the ticket has been printed and the amount paid added up).
On the shaft b (see also Fig. 3), is a ratchet wheel r having a pin 2 outstanding
at one side. A pawl engaging in the ratchet wheel r has two extensions r
and, one of them, 74, serving for the adjustment of the pawl by the pin 2,
and the other,, having a recess at its outer end. According to the position
of the pawl 3, one or other of the elevations or 8, of the spring enters the
recess and retains the pawl in position, the movement of the pawl being limited
by the pin 10. In the position of the pawl 3 shown in the drawing the ratchet
wheel is free to rotate until the pin 2 has pressed against the extension
the pawl from the other side and the pawl itself has fallen into the teeth of
the ratchet wheel r¹. The rotation of the ratchet wheel in the other direction
will then follow until the pawl is again lifted out of the teeth of the ratchet
wheel.
of
In order to exhibit the amount to be paid by the customer the salesman must
first pull forwards the drawer A in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1.
The rack B will then engage with the spur wheel 2 carried by the shaft and
consequently rotate the wheel 62 and shaft 61 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The spur
wheel 6 also carried by the shaft transmits this motion through the intermediate
wheel to the other spur wheel free to turn loosely at one end of the tubular
shaft G, the wheel in turn rotating the spur wheel which is also free to turn
on a spindle. The diameters of these wheels are such that and 28 make one
revolution while makes somewhat more than a revolution so that the recess 213
in the hub of does not exactly meet the projection 2 on the grooved wheel,
after the wheel 22 has rotated, but has gone somewhat farther.
a farther extent the
Meanwhile upon the cash drawer A being opened to
oblique channel C moves aside the lug e³ and the sleeve c¹ slides on the shaft
together with the adding-up mechanism (between the cheeks b) carried by the
said sleeve, whereby the rings g² rotating round the discs g', and the tubular
shaft G are brought into engagement with the teeth f2 of the hubs of the
quadrants f¹ carried by the shaft F. (see Fig. 8).
ment of the adding-up) mechanism the spaces f8
arm f of the lever f f (Fig. 10) so that the latter,
overcome by the adjusting of the quadrants f¹ can
<<
By this sideward displace-
in the bar come under
upon the spiral spring being
give way" in the spaces f8.

page_text: As the shaft H within the tubular one G has not been displaced with the adding-
up mechanism, and its grooves now meet the teeth g, the rings can now
rotate round the discs g.
The above mentioned motion of the shaft b will likewise have been communi-
cated to the spur wheels 66 and axles by the spur wheel carried on the said
shaft (see Fig. 13). The crank 68 (Fig. 9) fixed to the axle 67 and engaging with
the pin of crank (free to run on the shaft 2) will have rotated the latter to
the extent of one revolution and the crank n' also, as well as the shaft n² itself,
by means of the ratchet wheel (Fig. 16) carried by the shaft 2 together with
the cylinder. Thus the ticket strip running between the cylinder and the
counter-cylinder 2 is moved for a certain distance between the cutters 45,
and then pushed farther between the type-wheels m¹ and the printing-roller p
(Figs. 14 and 15) the text engraved or otherwise formed on the circumference
of the cylinder being printed on the ticket-strip 8, for which purpose the
roller supplies the requisite ink.
After the quadrants f¹ have been released by the opening of the cash drawer A,
the latter is brought into engagement with the adding-up mechanism, and the
ticket strip n pushed forwards, the amount to be paid by the customer can be
adjusted by the quadrants f¹. This is effected in the following manner:
The salesman moves the quadrants f until the ciphers corresponding to the
amount to be paid by the purchaser are shown through the openings E. At
the same time the characters on the type-wheels m¹ corresponding to these
ciphers are brought under the ticket-strip and consequently under the printing-
roller (Fig. 14) at L (Fig. 1).
The sum to be paid having been thus indicated to the buyer, the cash drawer A
is again closed. The oblique channel C again moves the lug and brings the
sleeve and the whole adding-up mechanism into the former position, the
rings, 2 on the discs g at the same time also coming out of the spaces between
the teeth f. By this backward movement of the adding-up mechanism the
recesses in the bar fi are likewise again brought between the levers f f³,
whereby the latter cannot "give way," and consequently firmly hold in position
the quadrants f¹. Any alteration of the amount as indicated by previously set
quadrants f is therefore impossible. Nor is any alteration possible with the
rings as the shaft H has again resumed its former position in which the
teeth 96 cannot shift.
Upon the cash drawer A being further closed the rack B again engages with
the wheel 62 and rotates it and the shaft 1 in the opposite direction to that in
which they rotated when the drawer was opened. This motion of the shaft b¹
is transmitted by the wheel 63 to the wheels ¹, and 28. Towards the end of the
rotation of the wheel the cam-groove on the hub of the latter moves the
lever, the lever then by its end pushing sideways the grooved wheel and
consequently the shaft G on which it is carried. In this way the rings g2 are
made to engage with the counter K (Fig. 11) and the wheel goes back to the
extent of the course it pursued too far upon the opening of the cash drawer A.
Thereupon the recess 13 in the hub of this wheel meets the projection 12 of the
grooved wheel, after the pin has removed the pawl 10 which firmly holds
the shaft G. The groove wheel 7, shaft G, discs g₁ and rings g² also take part
in the further rotation of the wheel, the rings g² operating the counter K by
which the amounts are added up. After the rings have been rotated to a certain
extent, they are moved out of gear with the counter by the cam-groove and the
lever in order that they may complete their revolution. The object of this
is that the whole of the teeth of the rings 2 shall not always act on the counter K,
but only as many as are moved forward by means of the quadrants f¹ when they
are adjusted to show the amount which is payable.
Upon this backward movement of the shaft 1 (brought about by the closing
of the drawer A) the wheel 66, together with crank 68 (actuating the ticket printer
and crank carried loosely on shaft n²), is again rotated, but in the opposite

page_text: direction, by the wheel 65 and the rack, (see Fig. 14). By means of the pawl n*,
the crank n operates the ratchet wheel 6, the wheel m² transmitting this move-
ment again through the intermediate wheel m³ to the wheel m' or its axle m³.
The axle m thus set in motion presses the oscillating lever p² and the printing-
roller 6 against the type-wheels m' and consequently against the ticket strip n
by means of the eccentrically placed pin p', and by the rolling pressure exercised
through the roller the types at L are printed on the ticket-strip 8. In
descending, the lever p² simultaneously moves the movable cutter p against the
fixed one p and so cuts off the required ticket. After the lever p² has been.
again raised the ticket slides out through a shoot in front of the apparatus and
can be handed to the customer as a receipt.
The small type-wheels adjoining the large ones m' are employed for printing
the date on the ticket and are adjusted daily.
By the machine operated as above described the amount to be paid is indicated
to the purchaser and a dated receipt handed to him, the adding-up mechanism
transmitting the said amount to the counter, from which can at any time. be
ascertained the total value of the sales.
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:-
In cash register tills the combination of parts substantially as described in the
above specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereby on
the opening and closing of the cash drawer, the amount put in when the drawer
is opened is added to the previous amounts and the amount paid simultaneously
printed on a strip of paper upon the drawer being closed and the piece of paper
cut off for handing to the purchaser as a voucher, provision being made for
preventing the drawer being re-opened except after it has been completely closed,
the distinguishing feature of the combination being a rack and an oblique
channel on the drawer by which the various parts of the combination are put in
action.
Dated this 28th day of Anust 1800
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