US1731929A - Cash register - Google Patents

Description

-Qct. 15, 1929. J. .1. KLOSTERMAN 9 CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 amvemto z Joleph J. Kloaterman J. J. KLOSTERMAN Oct. 15, 192 9.

' CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1929. J. J. KLOSTERMAN 1,731,929

QASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.4

as: s can a bu 111 SERID 3 M Joseph J. finer? CASH REGISTER Filed Feb. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elma/M01 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH J. KLOSTERMAN, F DAYTON,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND CASH REGISTER Application filed February 12, 1923. Serial No. 618,553.

This invention relates to improvements in accounting machines and has more particular relation to those which, in addition to accumulating amounts in a totalizer, make a printed record of all transactions, and indicate the same, and print and issue a receipt for each transaction.

It is an object of this invention to provide mechanism for releasing a registering machine for operation incidental to setting up or indexing an amount on the keyboard. In case of a motor driven machine, it is also an object to make the circuit through the motor at the same time the machine is released.

It is also an object of this invention to provide two-part keys, one part for indexing purposes and to select for operation, the other part which controls a totalizer actuator.

It is a further object to provide a key lever comprising two parts constructed to move as a unit during setting-up or indexing operations by manipulation of the front part of the key, and to permit the rear part tobe moved independently of the front part during completion of an operation of the machine by means of a crank or motor or other operating means.

Specifically, an object of this invention is a modification of the mechanism of machines of the general type disclosed, to provide for a control of the differentially operating actu ating means, and a releaseof the machine by a slight depression of manipulative portions of two-part keys; to reduce the numberof manipulations required to enter a transac-- tion; to provide for an easier key action by operating fewer parts from the key coupler; and to provide means other than keys, for operating the key coupler after it has received its initial movement under the action of the manipulative portions of the keys as amounts are set up;

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter. described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of part of the machine to which this embodiment of the invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a. vertical sectional view of the ma chine.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the totalizer, shown partly in cross section.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing a part of the printing mechanism, together withthe operating handle. 4

Fig. 5 is a view of a receipt. issued by the machine.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the electric motor driving mechanism.

F ig. 7 is a side elevational view of the mechanism between the right side frame and the printer frame.

F ig.' 8 is a detail view of the key coupler driving mechanism.

The above mentioned improvements have been shown applied to a machine of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, issued to Thomas Carney, No. 588,127, granted August 17, 1897, and Letters Patent of the United States, issued to Edward J. Von Pein, Re; 15,883, ranted August 5, 1924.

The machine disclosed is, in general, the same as that shown in the Carney and Von Pein patents referred to. Only so much of the general mechanism is disclosed as is necessary to give an understanding of this improvement, and the machine will be described only in so far as is necessary to understand the invention here involved.

The machine comprises a plurality of groups of'amount or item keys. a totalizer, item entering,-item printing and item indicating mechanism. an d'a driving means. The

23. Near the front end of the release bar the machine.

keyboard comprises a plurality of groups of item or amount keys comprising front levers 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) and rear levers 21, pivoted on a transverse rod 22 mounted in the side frames 23 -of the machine. The front levers 20 are provided with lateral pins 24 projecting over forwardly extending arms 25 of the rear levers 21 to impart movement thereto. Downward movement of the front lever 20 of a key rocks the corresponding rear lever 21 to raise its rear end and swing a key coupler 26 clockwise (Fig. 2) about its pivots 27 in the side frames 23 a sufi= cient distance to cause a lip 28 on the key coupler to engage aslot in the rear lever 21 of the key operated.

As the key coupler 26 receives only an initial movement from a key, its final move ment to operate the totalizers, type wheels and indicators is supplied through a driving mechanism operated by a crank (Fig 42 (Fig. 8) provided with a cam race 43- shaped to give anoscillatory movement to the key coupler 26. 'Motion is transmitted from the cam to thekey coupler by a pitman at forked at one end to slidably engage he shaft 40, and connected at its other end by a stud 45 to an arm 46 secured to the right hand key coupler pivot 27. The pitma'n carries aroller i7 cooperating with the cam 'race 43. The cam race has a widened portion 48 to permit the key coupler 26 to' be given its initial movement by operation of a key, as previously described. The shaft 40 is given one counter-clockwise rotation at each operation of the machine by the crank 35. r r

The operating crank 35, which is normally locked against operation, is unlocked by V depressing the front lever 20 of one of the lever keys 20, 21. A downwardly extending locking arm or detainer 52 (Fig. 7), freely mounted upon a stud 53 projecting from the side frame 23, carries a'fiat-sided pin 54% normally in the path of a plate 55 secured to a cam 56 rotating with the shaft 40. The lower end of the locking arm 52 is bifurcated to embrace a pin 57 secured in a'horizontal release bar 58 slidably mounted upon pins 59 and 60 secured in the side frame 58 is a latch 61 and a restoring pawl 62 freely mounted on a stud 63-secured in'the bar. The restoring pawl- 62 is longer than the .latch 61. Springs 64 and 65 attached to the latch 61 and restoring pawl 62 respectively, and to the bar 58, tend at all times to move the latch and pawl in a clockwise direction. The forward end of the latch 61 7) is provided with a shoulder 66 adapted to contact a flat-sided arresting pin 67 mounted in the side frame 23. With the latch 61 in this position, the release bar 58 is retained in its forward position against the tension of a spring 68 attached to the rea lease bar and to a pin in the side frame. When the latch 61 is moved counter-clockwise by depressing a lever key 20, 21, as hereinafter described, the shoulder 66 of thelatch is disengaged from the pin 67 to en able the spring 68 to move the release bar 58 toward the right (Fig. 7), and rock the locking arm 52'counter-clockw1se thereby re- ,moving the flat-sided pin 54: from the path of the plate 55 on the cam 56, to permit the driving shaft it) to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. -'The studs .59 and 60 limit the movement of the release bar 58. As the plate 55 approaches its home position near the end of an operation, it wipes against a second normally ineffective fiat-sided pin 69 secured in the locking arm 52, and moves the locking arm clockwise back to home position, as shown in Fig. 7.

The pin 69, against which the plate 55 wipes to restore the locking arm, is shifted into the path ofthe cam plate 55 when the release bar 58 is freed to the action of its sprlng 68, and as the cam plate 55 wipes past the pin 69, to. restore the locking arm 52, it brings the stop pin 5 1 back into the path of the cam plate 55 to arrest the latter at the completion of a complete rotation. V V

The cam plate 55, in restoring the locking arm 52, also restores the release bar 58 connected thereto, to enable the latch 61 to snap over the stud 67 and retain the release bar 58 in set position.

The restoring pawl 62 has a formed car 73 which overlaps the forward end of the latch 61 to rock this latch counter-clockwise on its pivot 63, when the latch 61 is moved to unlock the machine. not primarily intended for thus rocking the latch 61, inasmuch as this could be accomplished by forming an car on the latch 61. The real object in providing'the restoring pawl 62, is to provide. a meansto restore a link 78 to its normal position, as will be hereinafter described. out at this time that,when the pawl 62 is lowered, by a projection at on the link 78, and the latch 61 released from the stud 67, the spring 68 moves the link 58 to the right, and

However, the ear 73 is t is suficient to point the ear 73 then lies between the stud 67 and the projection 84 on the link7 8.

A cross-shaft 74 (Fig. 7) journaled in the side frame 23 is rocked clockwise when a lever key is depressed, as will hereinafter be described.

Secured to this shaft 7 4c, and outturned end of the latch 61 l latch 61 side of the right hand side frame, is an arm carrying a pin 76 which traverses an elongated cam slot 77 formed in a trip link 78. This trip link is pivoted upon a stud 79 secured in an arm 80 freely mounted upon a stud 81 secured in the side frame. A spring 82 attached to the trip link 78 and to a pin in the side frame, tends to move both the link 78 and the arm 80 on their respective pivots in clockwise direction. As the plate 7 8 moves downward upon the depression of a key 20, a shoulder 83 on the link 78 hooks under the flat side of the pin or abutment 67 to lock the trip bar in its operated position. The projection 84 on the trip link 78 presses downwardly on the ear 73 of the restoring pawl 62 and rotates both the latch 61 and pawl 62 counter-clockwise, to disengage the latch 61 from the pin 67 and permit the release bar 58, under the influence of its spring 68, to move toward the right. The release bar 58, when thus moved to the right, withdraws the free end of the pawl 62 from beneath the projection 84 on the link 78, and moves the upbeneath the stud 67. After the ear 73 of the pawl 62 has been moved from beneath the projection 84, the spring 65 rocks said pawl clockwise until an edge 70 strikes the fiat side of the stud 67, to position the car 73 to the right of the projection 84, so that later when the release bar 58 is returning to its normal position, the ear 73 on the pawl 62 will contact the right hand side of the projection 84, and rock the link 78 counter-clockwise to disengage the shoulder 83 from the stationary pin 67, and permit the spring 82 to restore the link and rock the cross-shaft 74 counter-clockwise to their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 7.

The up-turned end of the latch 61 is long enough so that, when the bar 58 is moved to the right, said up-turned end will remain beneath the stud 67, sliding along the under side thereof. Therefore, both the pawl 62 and are provided to prevent an immediate or repeat operation of the machine, should the operator hold one of the keys 20 in its depressed position. Moreover, the ear 73, by being on the pawl 62, and separate from the latch 61, is, as above described, permitted to rock independently of the latch 61 to position said ear 7 3 high enough, after said ear has been withdrawn from the projection 84, so that it will be at the right ig. 7) of said projection. Now when the bar 58 is posi tively moved to the left, the link 7 8 will be swung around its pivot 79 and released from the stud 67. The latch 61 wi l also rock clockwise independently of the pawl 62, and latch the bar 58 in its normal position. The construction and operation of the pawl 62 and latch 61 are substantially the same as that disclosed in the United States patent to Von Pein, granted July 20, 1926, the application for which was filed April 4, 1921.

The clockwise movement (Fig. 7) and counter-clockwise movement (Fig. 2) of the cross-shaft 74 at the beginning of an operation is caused b depressing the front lever 20 of a key. Eac 1 key has a lug 85 with an inclined edge 86 engaging an angle plate 87 supported by a plurality of arms 88 secured to the cross-shaft 74. As the cross-shaft is rocked counter-clockwise (Fig. 2), the beveled edge on the angle plate 87 passes over the upper inclined end 96 of the arm 25 of the rear lever 21 of the depressed key, and under the lower edges of the undepressed keys. By this construction the undepressed keys 20 are locked against manipulation during operation of the machine, as well as by the lip 28 on the key coupler 26 as it passes in front of the curved edges on the rear levers 21 of the keys. The engagement of the shoulder 83 on link locks the trip plate 87 in its operated position, until released by the restoration of the slide 58 to its set position.

Pivotally connected to the rear end of each rear lever 21 of the keys is an upwardly extending actuator controller 97 adapted to en gage a bail 98 carried by a rocking frame 99 pivoted on a transverse rod 100, to rock said frame a distance proportionate to the key depressed. denominational group of keys 20, and each of the frames has operatively connected to it a registering segment 101. All of this is well understood in the art and forms no part of this invention.

Totalz'zz'ng mechanism The totalizer disclosed (Figs. 2 and 3) is known as a Reading totalizer. It is supported in a pivotally mounted frame 102 adapted to be rocked to move the totalizer into and out of engagement with the registering segments 101. \Vhen so engaged, gears 103 carried by the rotatable elements 115 of the totalizer are turned as the segments are rocked.

The totalizer is rocked into engagement with the registering segments 101 by a cam 107 2) carried by a main shaft 108 and cooperating with rollers 109 on a bifurcated lever 110 secured to the totalizer frame 102. The shaft 108 is journaled in the side frames 23 and is given a rotation at each operation of the machine by the driving shaft 40 (Figs. 7 and 8) through the gear 42, meshing with an intermediate pinion 111, which meshes with a gear 112 secured to the shaft 108. The totalizer wheels 115 are of well known construction, as is also the transfer mechanism, which includes a pivoted lever 116 carrying spring-pressed pawls 117 cooperating with trip pawls 118.

Indicating mechanism- The rear lever 21 of each item key operates a tablet indicator 122 (Fig. 2) to display nu- 78 with the pin 67 There is a rocking frame for each merals and characters corresponding to like numerals and characters on the front lever 20 of the key, all of which is well known, and is shown here for illustrative purposes only.

Printing mechanism The segments 101 also mesh with pinions 123 (Fig. 2). One of these pinions is secured to the left hand end of a shaft 124 while the others are mounted upon the left hand ends of telescopic sleeves 125(Fig. 4) to communicate motion to printing wheels 126 (Figs. 1 and 4) for printing the amount of the transaction, as shown at the point 127 on an issuing receipt 128, shown in Fig. 5.

The receipt 128 is detached from a supply strip 129 4) which passes under guide rollers 130 and 131 and between feed rollers 132 and 133 mounted on studs supported in the printer frame 41. This strip 129 passes beneath the printing wheels 126, date and con secutive number wheels 134, and electroplates 135 and 136, and above an impression member 137 so that when the impression member is operated, an impression is made upon said strip to form the receipt 128 (Fig. 5).

The impression member 137 is operated by an arm 138 loosely mounted on a stud 139 supported by .the printer plate 41. The forward end of this arm 138 carries a screw stud 140 projecting into an elongated slot 141 in the impression member 137. The arm 138 is given an oscillating motion at each opera.- tion of the machine by a cam groove 142 formed. in the side of the gear 39, with which cooperates a roller 143 freely mounted on a stud secured in the arm 138.

To secure a visible impression, a suitable continuous inking ribbon passes around guide rollers 147 and 148 mounted on the printer frame, and over an inking roller 149 mounted on a stud projecting from the printer frame 41. This ribbon is held taut by a tension roller 150 supported in a frame mounted upon a rod 151 pivoted in the printer frame. The ribbon is fed at each operation of the machine by any suitable feeding mechanism connected to the inking roller 149.

The lower paper feed roller 132 (Fig. 4), secured to a shaft 158, is always turned step by step counter-clockwise by a spring-tensioned pawl 154 (Fig. 7) mounted on a pi oted arm 155'and engaging a ratchet wheel 156 secured to the shaft 158. The pawl arm 155 is secured to a pinion 157 freely mounted upon the shaft 158. A spring actuated pawl 153 (Fig. 4) engaging a ratchet wheel 152 secured to the lower feed roller 132 prevents a retrograde movement of the paper feed roll-- ers. Meshing with the pinion 157 7) is a gear segment 159 journaled upon a stud 160 supported in the printer frame 41. The gear segment 159 is oscillated during each operation of the machine by two cams 56 and 161 secured to the driving shaft 40. These cams engage rollers 163 and 164 respectively, carried on downwardly extending diverging arms 165 and 166 forming a part of the gear segment 159. Other parts of the gear segment are shown broken away, as they do not enter into this invention.

The upper paper feed roller 133 (Fig. 4) is carried on a pivoted arm 167 and is held in contact with the lower paper strip 129 above the feed roller 132 by a spring 168. A lever 169 cooperates with the arm 167 to separate the feed rollers 132, 133 when threading a new supply strip 129. a

Only so much of the printer mechanism is disclosed as enters into the invention here involved.

E Zeotm'c driving mechanism The driving mechanism previously described is manually operated. The machine, however, may be operated by an electric motor or other suitable power means. Referring to Fig. 6, a portion of an electric motor driving clutch is shown connected by a train of gears to the driving shaft 40. The complete motor driving mechanism is disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States to C. F. Kettering and W. A. Chryst, No. 1,144,418, granted June 29, 1915. Only so much of the motor driving mechanism is heredisclosed as is necessary to describe the control of the motive power by the item keys 20.

he electric motor driving mechanism is normally retained in an inactive state by a swinging dog 173 pivoted upon the driving shaft 40. This dog is formed at its lower free end 174 to engage with various members of the driving clutch for opening and closing the circuit switch and stopping the driving shaft. r

The depression of an item key 20 causes a horizontal trip bar 175 (Fig. 6), which corresponds to the bar 58 (Fig. 7), and is operated in a similar manner, to rock toward the right and move the dog 173 counter-clockwise to start the motor. The trip bar 175 is guided by a stud 176 secured in the side frame 23 and it is connected to the swinging dog 17 3 by a vertical slot 177 engaging a pin 178 projecting laterally from the swinging dog. As the lower end 174 of the swinging member disengages from the clutch members 179, the motor starts and thereafter completes the operation of the machine. Secured to the clutch member 179 is a gear 180 meshing with an intermediate gear 181 which meshes with the gear 42 secured to the driving shaft 40, previously described. The intermediate gear 181 is freely mounted on a stud 182 supported in the side frame 23. Secured to this gear is a tappet 183 which, as the gear 181 rotates clockwise contacts a pin 184 mounted in the swinging dog 173, and returns the dog to its normal position to break the electric circuit,

- tion,

stop the driving mechanism, and move the trip bar 17 5 toward the left to its normal posirestoring the various parts associated therewith to their normal positions, as previously described in connection with the bar 58 (Fig. 7). The widened portion of the cam race 43 in drive gear 42 before referred to, also permits the driving shaft 40 to complete its rotation without interference from the key coupler 26, which returns to its home position only after the release bar 58 or trip bar 175 is moved to the left to stop the machine and to swing the angle plate 87 to release the keys.

In a manually operated machine, the operator depresses item keys 20 corresponding to the value of the transaction, which imparts an initial movement to the parts associated with the keys and releases the operating crank 35, which the operator turns clockwise twice to complete the operation of the machine. This causes the item to be entered in the totalizer 115, displayed by the indicators 122, and printed on a portion of the receipt strip 129, which is then fed out of the machine.

In an electric, or other power-operated machine, the operator depresses the item keys 20, as in a manually operated machine. The initial movement of the parts associated with the keys occurs as above stated, and the power driving means is applied automatically to complete the operation of the machine, as the swinging dog 173 is rocked upwardly, as shown in the Kettering and Chryst patent previously referred to.

WVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a normally locked operating means, an amount key including two members pivoted on a common axis with one member furnishing an initial movement to the other member, and means operated by the first mentioned member to release the operating means to enable it to impart a continued movement to the second mentioned member, and a return movement to both members.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a normally locked operating means, a key coupler adapted to be oscillated by the operating means, amount keys adapted to furnish an initial movement in one direction to said key coupler, and means operated by said keys for rendering said operating means operable, to continue the movement of said key coupler.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a movable member supported by said frame, a plurality of lever keys each comprising a front and a rear member pivoted on a common axis, and means on each front member adapted, when the front member is depressed, to move said movable member into a cooperative relation with the rear members of undepressed keys to prevent manipulation thereof.

4. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of pivoted keys, each comprising a front manipulative member and a rear member provided with a forwardly extending projection, a locking plate, and a wedge on each front member for moving said locking plate into a position above or below the forwardly extending projections on said rear members.

5. In amachine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a driving shaft journaled in said frame, a movable member carryin'g. an obstruction, means secured to said driving shaft to normally engage said obstruction, a rocking shaft journaled in said frame, a lever key equipped with a cam surface, a member secured to said rocking shaft and adapted to be operated by said cam surface to rock said shaft, means intermediate said rocking shaft and said movable member to move said member and remove said obstruction, and means securedto said driving shaft to engage said movable member to return said obstruction to normal position.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of item entering key levers including front and rear members, said front and rear members having different degrees of movements, a key coupler resting on said rear members, an operating means for said key coupler,'and means operated by said front members-toconnect the rear members to the key coupler and partially operate the same, and to release said operating means after the key coupler has been lifted sufiiciently to couple thereto the rear members corresponding to the front members depressed, said second-mentioned means being inactive while the operating means is active.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame a swinging trip memberjournaled in said frame; a key lever comprising a front member and a rear member separately pivoted on a common center, the front member adapted to directly engage said swinging trip member to shift the same; a normally ineffective operating means, and means intermediate said swinging trip member and said operating means to render said operating means effective when the front member of said key lever shifts said swinging trip member.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with totalizer wheels, and actuators therefor; of sectional key levers, each including a front member and a rear member; actuator controllers connected to the rear members; a key coupler overlying the rear members; projections on the front members of the key levers; arms projecting forwardly from the rear members and extending beneath the projections toenable the key coupler to restore the front members of the key levers to normal position; means to operate the key coupler; a lock to prevent actuation of the operating means; and a combined trip and key-locking member operable by the front members of the key levers, to permit the lock to be disabled and to latch the undepressed keys against depression.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a totalizer, sectional keys to determine the amounts registered on the totalizer, the keys each including a front and a rear member; operating means for the keys; and a detainer to normally hold the operating means against operation; of a release mechanism for the detainer; a latch to hold the release mechanism in idle position; an abutment engaged by the latch; and a combined trip member and key'lock operated by depression of a key to displace the latch and lock the undepressed keys against depression and the depressed keys against restoration.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with manipulative devices, each device including separately mounted mem-' bers, one member adapted to be partially operated by the other member; operating means to complete the operation of said partially operated member; and a detainer to nor mally hold the operating means against operation; of a release mech anism'for the detainer; a latch to hold the release mechanism against operation; and tripping means 0perated by said other member to displace the latch,; and to lock the unoperated manipulativedevices against operation.

'11. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with manipulative devices, each device moludmg separately mounted members, one member'adapted to be partially op erated by the other member; operating means to complete the operation of said partially operated member and a detainer for the operating means; of arelease mechanism for the detainer a; latch to hold the release mechanism against operation;- a combined locking and tripping means operated by said other member to displace the latch and lock the unoperated manipulative devices against operation and means to hold the combined looking tion. a r V V 12. In a machine of the class' described, the combination with manipulativemembers; operating means; and a detainer for the operatingmeans 'ofa release mechanism for the detainer; alatch' to hold-the release mechanism against oper'ati0n'; av combined looking and tripplngmeans operated by a manipulative member to displace the latch and. lock and tripping member in operated posi- JOSEPH J. KLOSTERMAN.

Images