Improvements in Cash Registers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
Improvements in Cash Registers.
We, THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY LIMITED, of 337, Strand, W.C.,
London, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention a com-
munication to us from abroad by Thomas Carney, of Dayton, State of Ohio, in the
United States of America, Manufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in cash registers and has more particular
relation to that class of machines which print a record or detail strip of the trans-
actions. One of the several objects of the invention is the application of an
improved detail strip printer to the type of machine described in Specification
No. 5729 and dated March 19, 1895.
The invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrange-
ments of parts all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and
claimed. In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification Fig. 1
represents a side elevation of the devices embodying this invention applied to a
machine of the type described and illustrated in the aforesaid Letters Patent.
Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same and Fig. 3 represents a vertical
transverse section through the said machine on the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is
an enlarged view of part of Fig. 2.
In the said drawings 1 represents the frame of the machine, and 2 the printing
platen. The construction and operation of the keys, registering mechanism and
indicators is substantially the same as that described in the above mentioned patent
and attention is therefore called to the same for a detail description of said devices.
One exception to the above statement is that the keys are arranged in three banks
representing respectively a five cent bank, a tens of cents bank and a units of
dollars bank. The single key 6 of the five cent bank is arranged to operate a
movable frame 7 while each of the keys 8 and 9 of the tens of cents bank is arranged
to operate a movable frame 10 in practically the same manner as described in the
aforesaid Letters Patent with a few exceptions hereinafter noted. The units of
dollars keys 11 are arranged to actuate a movable frame 12 similar to the frame 10
and adapted to be operated in substantially the same manner. Each of the frames 7,
10, and 12 is connected to one of a series of operating rack segments 13, 14 and 15 so
as to operate the same and impart a greater or less movement according to the
value of the key pressed. Each of the keys 8, which represent the uneven
multiples of five, is of equal value, with relation to the frame 10, as the preceed-
ing key 9 representing one of the even multiples of five and will thus only move
said frame to an equal extent. It is therefore necessary to actuate both of the
frames 7 and 10 upon one of the keys 8 being depressed and to accomplish this
result I provide a journaled frame 16 mounted upon the pivot shaft of the keys.
This frame is provided on its under side with a plurality of spaced pendant lugs 17
so located as to lie directly over the inner portions of the keys 8. By this struc-
ture when any one of the keys 8 is depressed the rear portion of the same contacts
with the lug 17 lying above it and thus raises and rocks the frame 16. This
action of the frame causes a rearwardly extending arm 18 mounted thereon to be
raised simultaneously therewith and thus operate a vertical bar 69 pivotally con-
Price 8d 1

page_text: nected thereto; said bar 69 operating. the frame. 7 in the manner of the usual bars
described in said patent. The five cent key to which the bar 69 properly belongs
is not positively connected thereto but is adapted to strike one of the pendent pro-
jections 17 when operated and thus rock the frame 16 and actuate the frame 7.
Otherwise the key 6 is practically the same as the other keys both in construction
and operation. By means of the above construction the five cent key frame 7 is
operated upon the operation of any of the keys 8 as well as the key frame 10 proper
of said keys and the registration is thus recorded upon both the five cent counter
wheel and the tens of cents, counter wheel. Any operation of the keys 9 will
simply result in the movement of the frame 10 as none of the projections 17 are
located above said keys. The keys of the five cent bank and the tens of cents
bank, excepting the last two in the latter bank, are arranged so that their rear
ends' lie in proximity to a series of pivoted auxiliary lock hangers which prevént
more than one of the said keys being operated at the same time. Each of the rack
segments 13, 14 and 15 meshes with one of a series of pinions 19, 20 and 21 which
are respectively connected to the printing wheels 22, 23, and 24 as follows:--
The pinion 19 is loosely mounted upon a shaft 25 and is provided with a sleeve 26
having a notch 27 formed therein for the reception of a lug 28 mounted upon a
collar 29 which is secured rigidly to the said shaft. The lug 28 is of less width
than the notch 27 into which it projects so that the pinion 19 may have a slight
movement independent of the collar 29 to permit of the correct aligning of the
printing wheel connected to the outer end of the shaft 25 as hereinafter more
particularly set forth. The pinions 20 and 21 are also constructed as above
described and have their respective collars mounted on nested sleeves which
surround the shaft 25 and support the several remaining printing wheels. By
means of the above described connections the printing wheels 22, 23 and 24 are
moved through the medium of the segmental racks 13, 14 and 15 to an extent
equal to the values of the keys pressed. In order to bring the desired characters
of the printing wheels into proper alignment with the platen 2, each of the said
wheels is provided with a star wheel 30 which is arranged to be engaged by one
of a series of aligning arms or pawls 31 formed on a pivoted frame 32. This frame
is provided with an operating arm 33 having a nose 34 formed on its lower end
and normally forced into engagement with a cam wheel 35 by a coil spring 36
which latter is mounted in a socketed lug 37 secured to the frame and engages the
side of said arm. The said cam wheel 35 is fast upon a shaft 38 which is rotated
upon the operation of a key by a double acting loop rack substantially the same
as described in the before mentioned patent. The endless inking ribbon or tape 39
extends directly under the printing'wheels and passes about anti-friction rollers 40,
41 and 42 and also about a feeding roller 43 which latter is covered with a friction
felt to prevent slipping of the ribbon thereon. This roller 43 is provided with a
gear wheel 44 meshing with an intermediate gear 45 which in turn meshes with
a gear 46 journalled on the frame. The said latter gear carries a ratchet wheel 47
and a spool 48; the latter being arranged to receive the detail strip 49 and draw
it forward after each printing operation. The forward step by step movement
of the spool is effected by means of a spring pressed hook pawl 50 which is mounted
upon an arm 51 fast to the extended journal end 52 of the key coupling bar of the
machine and receives motion therefrom. A spring pressed pawl 53" is also mounted
on the frame and engages the ratchet wheel 47 to prevent any backward move-
ment of the same. The before mentioned strip 49 passes over two spaced sup-
porting bars 53 and 54 and under the ribbon 39, and is fed from a supply roller
or spool 55. As the inking ribbon may become stretched by constant use I provide
means for keeping it under tension at all times and thus avoiding any slipping on
the feed roller. This tension device comprises a pivoted yoke 56 in which is
journalled a heavy anti-friction roller 57 arranged to rest upon the inking ribbon
and thus by its gravitating action keeps the ribbon taut at all times. The platen 2
before mentioned is preferably formed of rubber or other resilient material and is
mounted on a pivoted arm 58 which is normally forced upward by a spring 59

page_text: mounted under the same. Said arm is depressed against the tension of the spring 59
by a cam 60 mounted on the shaft 38 and engaging a nose 61 formed on said arm.
The construction of the cam 60 is such that the arm 58 is depressed gradually and
then allowed to suddenly fly,back so as to secure a hammering or tapping stroke
of the platen. The outer end of the arm 58 is provided with a spring pressed
plunger rod 62 which is adapted to contact with the bar 53. By this means the
platen is first thrown up against the detail strip with the aforesaid tapping stroke
and then positively forced away from the same by the plunger rod and its spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a cash register, the combination with printing wheels each provided with
a star wheel, of a pivoted frame carrying aligning arms adapted to engage said star
wheels simultaneously, an operating arm connected to said frame, and a cam con-
nected to the moving parts of the machine and engaging said arm for operating it.
2. In a cash register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a movable
platen carrying arm, means for operating said arm and a spring pressed plunger
mounted on said arm and arranged to engage a stationary portion of the frame to
force the platen away from the printing devices.
3. In a cash register, the combination with a registering mechanism of a
plurality of printing wheels, aligning devices for said wheels connected to the
moving parts of the machine, and means connecting the registering mechanism
with the printing wheels for moving the latter but at the same time allowing
them to be aligned independently of the movements of the registering mechanism.
4. In a cash register, the combination with a plurality of operating racks, of a
shaft, nested sleeves mounted over said shaft, collars fast on said shaft and sleeves
and each formed with a projection, pinions meshing with the racks and each formed
with a recess to receive its respective projection, printing wheels mounted on said
shaft and sleeves and aligning devices for said wheels.
5. In a cash register, the combination with a printing mechanism of an inking
ribbon and a gravitating device engaging said ribbon to hold it taut at all times.
6. In a cash register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of an inking
ribbon, and means for exerting a pressure against said ribbon to hold it taut at all
times.
7. In a cash register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of an endless
inking ribbon, a friction roller for moving said ribbon forward and a gravitating
device engaging said ribbon to hold it taut and prevent its slipping on said roller.
8. In a cash register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of an inking
ribbon, a friction roller for moving said ribbon forward, gearing for operating said
roller, a record strip winding roller mounted on one of said gears, and means con-
necting said roller to the moving parts of the machine.
9. In a cash register, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a record
strip, a winding roller for the same, a ratchet wheel connected to said roller, an arm
mounted on one of the movable parts and a spring pressed pawl mounted on said
arm and engaging said ratchet wheel.
10. In a cash register, the combination with printing wheels each provided with
a star wheel, of a frame having aligning pawls arranged to engage said star wheels,
an arm mounted on said frame, a spring normally forcing said arm forward and
a cam connected to the movable parts of the machine for forcing said arm against
the tension of the spring.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.