IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TILLS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Low Edward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1883.
JAMES LOW EDWARD of 33 Southampton Buildings, Holborn. London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TILLS
"
The object of this invention is to prevent mistake or fraud on the part of
persons engaged in taking money and giving change at a bar, counter or other
place of public resort
My invention combines the two essential advantages of great simplicity of
construction and perfect effect and is as follows:-
I make a framework consisting of two uprights-a top and bottom cross rail-
and a hollow plinth-Between or in such uprights I mount two plates of glass-
slightly out of the perpendicular, and of equal size which form a front and back
plate. These plates rest on the plinth and are secured at the top by a face piece
and screws or otherwise so as to prevent their being withdrawn-Between these
plates I fit two vertical slides placed at a Similar angle and each having an equal
number of oblique recessed grooved arms One of these slides is stationary and the
other is a working slide When the slides are in position the extremities of such
arms are immediately opposite and close to each other-The top of the working
slide is furnished with a lever arm whereby it can be depressed while a shoulder is
formed on its outer edge by which when so depressed a coiled spring mounted on a
vertical rod fitted in a groove in one of the uprights is compressed When the
lever arm is released such spring recoils and forces the slide back into position A
slot is formed in the back of the lever arm to allow of its travelling over a pin
fixed in the top rail which pin prevents the slide being withdrawn surreptitiously
from the frame The bottom of such working slide is fitted with a small arm
which projecting obliquely therefrom when the slide is depressed comes in contact
with and deflects a spring fitted inside the plinth. This spring is so adjusted that
at a certain point in the downward travel of the working slide it disengages itself
from the arm and rebounding strikes a gong fitted inside the plinth-thus giving
an alarm whenever the working Slide is depressed The stationary slide is also
similarly secured by a pin or otherwise and both slides can be drawn out when
desired by actuating a spring fitted in the top rail which alternately releases first
one and then the other

page_text: A batten is fitted to the top and bottom cross rail and these battens carry
suitable springs which serve to hold the front and back plates and slides in position
while by their play they afford scope for the up and down travel of the working
slide The framework may either be glazed or left open at the back as preferred
A slot is formed in the top rail through which the coins are dropped
When the slides are in position their curved arms form heart shaped hollows and
the operation of my invention is as follows:-A coin being dropped through the slot
in the top rail it lodges in the grooves of the first pair of arms at the bottom of
the first hollow-The lever arm of the working slide is then depressed when it
falls into the next hollow where it remains until the lever arm is again depressed
when it falls into the next hollow and so on until it falls through the bottom of the
plinth into the till drawer over which the apparatus is placed and secured by screws
or otherwise Preferably I make the apparatus with four hollows but any greater
or less number may be employed.
The advantages of this improved construction of till are 1°. It ensures giving
correct change as the coin taken remains visible through the front and back
plates 2° It prevents fraud as the money once placed therein it cannot be taken
out without breaking the apparatus save by the person who has the pass key of
the till.