IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OR PAYMENTS OF MONIES IN SHOPS AND OTHER PLACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Foster, of No. 15, Wheeler Gate, in the Town
and County of the Town of Nottingham, Ironmonger, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OR
PAYMENTS OF MONIES IN SHOPS AND OTHER PLACES."
ealed the 30th May 1876, and dated the 20th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Foster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1876.
16
WILLIAM FOSTER, of No. 15, Wheeler Gate, in the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham, Ironmonger. IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OR PAYMENTS OF MONIES IN SHOPS AND OTHER PLACES."
The object of my Invention is to afford means for the prevention and detection
of fraud or error in the receipt or payment of money in shops and other places.
For this purpose I form an opening in the counter or other surface to which the
apparatus is applied, through which a ticket or other indication of the amount
being received or paid is passed to a compartment formed by recessing, or by spring
pressure or otherwise retained on the surface of a drum or roller during part of its
rotation, which roller is actuated by means of a ratchet wheel, and operated by
suitable catches or stops applied to a drawer or receptacle for the monies to be paid
or received, which drawer or receptacle may be of the ordinary character of till
drawers, and may be retained within the box or case containing the apparatus by a
catch or stop, to be released when access thereto is required. When this receptacle
is drawn partly open, and before the contents are exposed, a stop or catch applied
thereon acts upon the ratchet wheel to cause a partial rotation to the drum or roller,
by which the indication of payment is passed onwards out of the reach of the
operator opposite to another opening protected by glass or other surface that will
admit of the indication being visible, whilst other stops or catches, before or on the
return of the drawer towards its closed position, act to prevent the ratchet wheel
being turned in the reverse direction, and also to insure successive portions of the
outer surface of the drum or roller in rotation being brought correctly in relation
to the opening in the counter or other surface ready for the reception of a fresh
indication of a payment, which in turn is passed onwards by the movement of the
receptacle of monies and parts acting therewith to the next position opposite the
[Price 6d1

page_text: second opening, and then is deposited in a suitable protected receiver provided for
the purpose.
The axis of the drum or roller is connected with suitable recording means by
which to indicate the number of part revolutions performed by the drum or roller,
and for this purpose I find the following arrangement to answor well-I provide a
grooved or other suitable roller applied to the axis of the drum, to the outer surface
of which is attached a band or tape bearing consecutive indications corresponding
with the movements of the drum, capable of being wound thereon in the revolution
of that drum or roller as it is unwound thereby from another grooved or other
suitable roller, provided with a handle or other means for rewinding thereon the
tape when required to reset the apparatus.
Each movement of the receptacle for the monies causes an audible signal to be
given by means of parts acting on bells or other suitable indicators.
In using my improvements the person receiving or paying the money enters the
amount upon a suitable card or surface, which is then placed through the opening
in the counter on the surface of the druin or wheel, and then opens the till or
receptacle to deposit or withdraw the indicated amount. The first movement of
the till or receptacle of money communicates motion to the drum, carrying out of
reach the indication, but placing it in a position so as to be visible until in the
further movement of the drum it is deposited in a locked receptacle or portion of
the box or case.
When it is required to ascertain the total amount of payments paid or received,
the total of the indications deposited are examined and compared with the original
and present contents of the till. A failure to deposit an indication before opening
the till or receptacle will be indicated by the difference in the number of part
revolutions indicated by the recording means and the number of indications or
tickets deposited.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Foster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th September
1876.
WILLIAM FOSTER, of No. 15, Wheeler Gate, in the Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, Ironmonger. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OR PAYMENTS OF MONIES IN SHOPS AND OTHER PLACES."
The object of my Invention is to afford means for the prevention and detection
of fraud or error in the receipt or payment of money in shops and other places.
For this purpose I form an opening in the counter or other surface to which the
apparatus is applied, through which a ticket or other indication of the amount
being received or paid is passed to a compartment formed by recessing, or to be held
by spring pressure or otherwise retained on the surface of a drum or roller during
part of the rotation of such drum or roller. This drum or roller is actuated by
means of a ratchet wheel, and operated by suitable catches or stops applied to a
drawer or receptacle for the monics to be paid or received, and which drawer or
receptacle may be of the ordinary character of till drawers, and may be retained
within the box or case containing the apparatus by a catch or stop, to be released
when access thereto is required. When this drawer or receptacle is drawn partly
open, and before the contents are exposed, a catch applied thereto acts upon the
ratchet wheel to cause a partial rotation to the drum or roller, by which the ticket
or other indication of payment is carried forward out of the reach of the operator,
and opposite to another opening protected by glass or other surface that will admit
of the ticket or other indication being visible until the next change. Other stops
or catches, before or on the return of the drawer towards its closed position, act to
prevent the ratchet wheel being turned in the reverse direction, and also to ensure
successive portions of the outer surface of the drum or roller in rotation being

page_text: Figure 1 shows a plan view; Figuro 2, a front view; Figure 3, an end view;
Figure 4, a sectional end view; and Figure 5, a sectional plan view of apparatus
arranged according to my Invention.
Figures 6 and 7 show corresponding views to Figures 4 and 5, but with the parts
in different positions.
Figure 8 shows a ticket of the character I employ; and Figures 9 and 10, parts
separately.
In cach of the Figures the same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever
they occur.
a, a, shows the outer case or frame of the apparatus, and 6 represents an upper
plate projecting above the upper surface of the outer case a, and adapted to pass
through an opening formed for it in the counter or other surface to which the appa-
ratus is applied, so that the upper surface of this plate b may correspond, if desired,
with the upper surface of the counter or other surface to which it is applied; b'
represents the opening in tho plate b through which the ticket or other indication is
passed, and which is received into one of the recesses or chambers c¹ formed on the
surface of the drum or cylinder c; and b is the opening in the plate b through
which the ticket or other indication is next seen after movement has been given to
the cylinder or drum c such as would carry it partially round a distance such as to
admit of the ticket first placed thereon being moved forward so that a second may
be received thereon, and so on in succession; this drum or cylinder c is provided
with ten recesses c¹ on its surface, and it has consequently ten successive partial
rotations given to it, to as to bring ten separate portions of its surface (each formed
to receive a ticket or other indication) separately under the opening b¹ during one
revolution of it, but this number may be varied; d is another cylinder which is
arranged to make a partial rotation to every entire rotation of the cylinder c. As
shown, the wheel d is arranged to make one-fortieth of a revolution to each entire
rotation of the cylindor c, so that assuming each compartment or recess in the
surface of the drum or cylinder c to be numbered consecutively 1 to 10, and each
part surface of the circumference of the wheel d to be marked consecutively in tens,
0, 10, 20, 30, 40, &c., the sum of the numbers appearing on the two surfaces should
represent simply the number of tickets or other indications that have been passed
into the apparatus. The opening 63 in the plate b is that through which the repre-
sentative number for the time being on the surface of the wheel d is seen.
the openings 6 and 63 are lined with glass or other suitable transparent media, so
that whilst the indications presented to such openings may be readily seen through
them, such indications cannot be tampered with.
Both
e represents the till or money drawer into which the money received is to be
placed, and from which change to be given is taken; this drawer is represented as
divided into three compartments 1, 2, 3, for the reception of three classes of coins,
but this may be varied.
fff, are receptacles for the tickets to be used, such as represented at Figure 8.

page_text: On each of these tickets, previous to its being placed through the opening 6' in the
plate b, should be indicated the amount of the transaction it is to represent, together
with an indication to represent the person who made it, and if need be, also the
character of the transaction.
The receptacles f, f, may be varied in number, or even size, to suit the require
ments of the case.
The cylinders c and d are respectively affixed to their axes c² and d¹, which arc
supported in the frames b₁, bt, and the desired step by step partial rotary motions
are given to these cylinders in the following manner:-g is a frame which is con-
nected to the till or drawer c at g¹ so as to be moved to and fro with it, whilst it is
controlled in such movement to travel in direct lines by lugs or projections there-
from at g, g, embracing a stationary rod ; this frame g, by a stud i¹ projecting
therefrom, carries one end of the clawker i, which by a spring is borne upwards
against a stop 3, and into position for its hooked end to take on to a tootli of the
ratchet wheel c³, affixed to the cylinder c, so as to cause that cylinder c to make a
partial rotation equal to one-tenth of its entire rotation with every drawing out of
the till or drawer c, as indicated by Figures 6 and 7. Stops are applied to prevent
the drawer e being drawn out too far. j is a spring stop to prevent the return of the
wheel; and are other stops to aid in holding the wheels c, c³, correctly in
position. The stop is supported to turn on the pin in a recess formed for it in
the frame b', and it is borne upon by spring pressure with a tendency for its outer
end to hold on to the upper surface of one of the teeth of the wheel c³, except when
it is borne upon by the small roller , which is supported to turn on a pin as an axis
carried by a part of the frame g.
The desired step by step partial rotary motion is given to the cylinder d, as shewn
by means of a tappet or projection m affixed to or formed on the axis c, acting once
in each rotation of that axis on a corresponding projection m³, formed on the under-
side of the lever m, which is supported at one end to turn on the fixed stud m³,
carried by one of the side frames b', and at its other end by an adjustable stud m*,
carries the driver m³, the upper end of which is by spring pressure borne against the
surface of the ratchet toothed wheel 2, affixed to or formed on the side of the
wheel d. The lever, m² is also borne to the tappet m by spring pressure. The
lower end of the frame g, is formed into an arm to act in the opening or closing
or both of the till or drawer c, upon the arm 7 of an alarum of any suitable kind,
and which may be placed in the chamber o under a cover indicated by the dotted
lines o¹ or in other suitable locality, whilst the other portion of that chamber o
above and in front of the dotted line o', will act as the receiver for the tickets or
other indications as delivered from the surface of the wheel c. is a spring stop to
act in holding the till or drawer e closed, and which must first be drawn partly out
to release the till or drawer e, before that till or drawer can be opened.
In using this apparatus the person receiving or paying money will first enter the
amount ou a suitable ticket or surface, together with such other note or indication
determined upon, and he will then place that ticket or surface through the
opening into one of the recesses c¹ in the surface of the drum or cylinder c. He
will then release the spring stop p, and will. commence to pull out the drawer or
tille when before the receptacles 1, 2, 3, are in position for taking or receiving
money, a partial rotation will have been given to the wheel c, by which the ticket
just deposited thereon will have been removed from under the opening b', to under
the opening 6, and so out of reach of being tampered with, and the further opening
of the drawer or till e is effected without acting on the wheel c.
As these pro-
gressive partial rotations are given to the wheel c, the tickets placed thereon arc
received into the chamber o, where they are retained until removed by the unlocking
of the door o to this chamber o.
When it is required to ascertain the total amount of payments paid or received,
the total of the indications deposited are examined and compared with the original 5
and present contents of the till. A failure to deposit an indication before opening
the till or receptacle, will be indicated by the difference in the number of part

page_text: revolutions indicated by the recording incans, and the number of indications or
tickets deposited. In place of the roller d a grooved or other suitable roller may
be used to carry a band or tape bearing the consecutive indications.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in carrying the
same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise arrangements of parts as shown and described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention, but what I do claim
is, the arranging or combining parts forming means or apparatus for checking the
receipts or payments of monies in shops and other places, whereby a ticket or other
indication of the amount received or paid is capable. of being received into a com-
partment, which is then in the partial opening of the till or drawer, and before the
imonies in such till or drawer are rendered accessible, removed out of reach, and
whereby the numbers of tickets or indications and consequent part rotations may
be readily ascertained on inspection, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Foster, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM FOSTER. (L.S.)