337,478. National Cash Register Co., Ltd., (National Cash Register Co.). Aug. 6, 1929. Hammer-impression arrangements. - In impression arrangements for cash registers and like machines having means for effecting two or more hammer-strokes during one cycle, independent hammer-operating means normally held in retracted position are released successively and are restored during one cycle. The platen 47, Figs. 1 and 3, is secured to a yoke 49, 50 pivoted on a stud 51 and provided with a cross-rod 53 which is held by means of a light spring 52 in contact with independent operating-means or bell-cranks 60, 61 pivoted on the stud. The bell-cranks 60, are restrained by a bail 65 secured to a rock-shaft 68 which is connected by linkage 80 to a rocker 84, Fig. 8, co-operating with cams 80, 81 on a shaft 82. Spring- urged detents 78, 79 pivoted on the shaft 68 have hooked ends adjacent to the bell-cranks, and shoulders 92, 93 in the path of the bail 65, the shoulder 92 being in advance of the shoulder 93. The movements of the bell-cranks are limited by a collar on the shaft 68, the bellcrank 61 having slightly greater movement than the bell-crank 60. On operation of the shaft 82, the cam 81 causes the bail to make three downward steps separated by pauses. During the first step the bell-cranks are released and permitted to engage the detents, and during the second step the bail engages the shoulder 92, thereby releasing the detent 78 and permitting the bell-crank 60 to operate the hammer. Thereupon the spring 52 retracts the hammer until the cross-rod 53 engages the bell-crank 60, and during the third step of the bail it engages the shoulder 93, the detent 79 being thereby released to permit of the bell-crank 61 operating the hammer. The cam 80 restores the bail in a continuous movement during which the bell-cranks are restored, the detents abutting on the ends of the bell-cranks until the latter are fully restored and then moving into normal position. To prevent operation of the hammer when no slip is present to receive the impressions, the device shown in Fig. 8 may be provided for locking the hammer until a slip is inserted in the shoot 31. The device comprises a rocking feeler 149 connected to an arm 151 engaging a pin 152 on a latch 146 which is pivoted on the bail-operating link 89 and co-operates with a stop 148. The link 89 has a slot 141 engaging a pin 87 on the rocker 86, a spring 142 being arranged between the pin and a pin 143 on the link. When no slip is present, the latch engages the stop and blocks the link, the pin 87 moving idly in the slot 141. When however a slip is inserted, the feeler and the arm 151 are raised and the latch is released, thereby permitting operation of the hammer. The shaft 68 may be provided with a hook 144 which engages a pin 145 on the yoke 49 to bold the hammer in retracted position, the hook being released when the shaft is rocked. The hammer may be adapted to give more than two impressions, and in machines having a set of hammers selectively operated for column-printing, each hammer may be associated with the above-described mechanism.